{"id":2718,"date":"2023-07-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-15T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/news\/new-era-reykjavik-underground-icelands-hotbed-of-rap\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T14:10:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T12:10:52","slug":"new-era-reykjavik-underground-icelands-hotbed-of-rap","status":"publish","type":"snkr_news","link":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/news\/new-era-reykjavik-underground-icelands-hotbed-of-rap\/","title":{"rendered":"New Era on the road in Reykjav\u00edk&#8217;s hip-hop scene"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"\">New Era continues its global tour of underground music scenes and heads to the volcanic fields in northern Iceland to explore the up-and-coming rap scene in the capital city of Reykjavik.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-3.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">On a street corner in Reykjavik city center &#8211; or \u201c101\u201d as the locals call it &#8211; stands an old and colorful corrugated iron building known as Priki\u00f0 (pronounced \u201cPrikid\u201d): Priki\u00f0 is the vibrant heart of the Icelandic rap scene. <\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u201cIt is our church,\u201d says Joey Christ, one of the most famous rappers in town. \u201cThis is where artists get their first chance and this is where their legacy is cemented.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-video w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"padding-bottom:77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-type=\"video\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"\" data-rt-max-height=\"77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-dimensions=\"456:352\" data-page-url=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/intl-de\/artist\/76MhNEhAVHSwifZFFr7khX?si=PK16fpXuQdyX-TrBmEHJEQ\">\n<div id=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-17.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">Hip-hop has grown steadily in Iceland: Even now, there is a new generation of artists who are attracting the masses to Priki\u00f0 with their determined DIY attitude. <\/p>\n<p id=\"\">That&#8217;s why the sounds from Reykjavik are at the center of New Era&#8217;s latest music documentary. It is the second part of a documentary series that continues this year.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-video w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.206088992974244%\" data-rt-type=\"video\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"\" data-rt-max-height=\"56.206088992974244%\" data-rt-dimensions=\"854:480\" data-page-url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GOB-yh1j8mE&amp;t=120s\">\n<div id=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">With every film, New Era works with creative communities around the world and provides the funds and support that will push them even further.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-21.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">At the center of Reykjavik&#8217;s creative community is Geoffrey \u00de\u00f3r Huntingdon-Williams, manager of Priki\u00f0 and founder of Sticky Records. \u201cIceland is a creative and magical place to grow up,\u201d says Geoffrey. <\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-19.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u201cIn Reykjavik, rap has repeatedly appeared and disappeared. You could think about it in depth and trace it back to the story of old Norse rhymes and to the fact that we&#8217;ve always loved playing with words. But something about the energy of rap music can be transferred very well here.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-25.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">One of the artists that Geoffrey is most excited about right now is Elvar. Elvar was born in India, but has lived in Iceland since childhood and is known throughout the city for his album \u201cTROPEZOO\u201d.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-video w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"padding-bottom:77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-type=\"video\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"\" data-rt-max-height=\"77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-dimensions=\"456:352\" data-page-url=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/intl-de\/album\/2OCrRtijw4ses7MVUh930Z?si=is_2KDOTTtetu3DoJ_aVvw\">\n<div id=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">Another artist filling out Priki\u00f0 with her explosive live shows and frenetic DJ sets is Filipino-Icelandic artist Countess Malaise. \u201cI would describe my music as emotional, intense and sexy,\u201d she says. Her hit single \u201cTired of This Shit\u201d is a tongue-in-cheek and contagious ode to losing your control.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-video w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"padding-bottom:77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-type=\"video\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"\" data-rt-max-height=\"77.19298245614036%\" data-rt-dimensions=\"456:352\" data-page-url=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/intl-de\/artist\/728pPPz5YgcByHehEBT9Nv?si=DC5K-PeuQU-YMDFVqnNp2g\">\n<div id=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">Whenever artists like Elvar and Countess Malaise release new singles, they are enthusiastically received by the rap and electronic radio station \u00datvarp 101 in town. <\/p>\n<p id=\"\">The channel is another example of how the local rap scene supports itself, it was created by Joey Christ, who rose with the wave of 2015 and later opened shows for everyone from Young Thug to Migos.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-10.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u201cWe wanted to start this radio station to say something,\u201d says Joey. \u201cSo we wanted to play music that we liked and thought was relevant and fill a niche that we thought wasn&#8217;t being filled by other radio stations. We wanted to create a space where this culture gets the respect it deserves.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-5.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">In May of this year, New Era did its part to promote the special wave of talent emerging in Reykjavik with a sold-out show at Priki\u00f0, headlining Elvar and Countess Malaise, of course managed by Geoffrey. <\/p>\n<p id=\"\">New Era is available at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/43einhalb-newera\" target=\"_blank\">43einhalb<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/asphaltgold-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Asphaltgold<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/brooklyn-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Brooklyn<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/jumpnshoez-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Jumpnshoez<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/lessmoney-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Lessmoney<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/perplex-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Perplex<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/speed-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Speed<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/go.sneaker.de\/stormbreaker-newera\" target=\"_blank\">Stormbreaker<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"\" class=\"w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth\" style=\"max-width:1200px\" data-rt-type=\"image\" data-rt-align=\"fullwidth\" data-rt-max-width=\"1200px\">\n<div id=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/new-era-iceland-music-aw23-mood-26.jpg\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"\">\u200d<\/p>\n<p id=\"\">Photos via New Era<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Era continues its global tour of underground music scenes and heads to the volcanic fields in northern Iceland to explore the up-and-coming rap scene in the capital city of Reykjavik. \u200d \u200d On a street corner in Reykjavik city center &#8211; or \u201c101\u201d as the locals call it &#8211; stands an old and colorful [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2720,"template":"","meta":{"_snkr_related_release_include":"","_snkr_related_release_exclude":"","_snkr_is_opener":"0","_snkr_featured":"0","_snkr_homepage_highlight":""},"snkr_kategorie":[19],"snkr_tag":[97],"class_list":["post-2718","snkr_news","type-snkr_news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","snkr_kategorie-fashion","snkr_tag-new-era"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/snkr_news\/2718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/snkr_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/snkr_news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"snkr_kategorie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/snkr_kategorie?post=2718"},{"taxonomy":"snkr_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sneaker.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/snkr_tag?post=2718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}