Help Musicians Partner with Tiffany Calver to Launch UK Rap Award Career Accelerator

26 November 2025 - Press release

 

• Help Musicians launches new Career Accelerator for rap artists.

• Charity joins forces with Tiffany Calver to highlight the contributions of UK rap.

• Addressing barriers facing Black and underrepresented artists in the music industry. 

Help Musicians today announces the launch of the UK Rap Award, a new career accelerator designed to support and elevate emerging artists working in rap. The initiative offers tailored career development support, access to networks, funding opportunities, and mentoring, all with the aim of empowering the next generation of UK rap talent.

The launch coincides with a new partnership between Help Musicians and radio DJ and broadcaster Tiffany Calver, one of the most influential voices in UK rap. Together, they will raise awareness of the genre’s cultural significance and the systemic barriers that continue to hold back many of its artists.

“UK rap is one of the most creative and authentic genres in British music, but it’s often had to work harder for recognition,” says Tiffany Calver. “Too many great artists face barriers that limit their opportunities. This award is about shifting that - making sure rap artists can build sustainable, long-term careers.” 

The service arrives following Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union’s Musicians’ Census, which revealed that 33% of musicians working in UK rap report low mental wellbeing. Research in partnership with Black Lives in Music also highlights the challenges facing UK rap artists: 35% of Black musicians work in genres of Black origin such as hip-hop/rap, and 63% report experiencing direct or indirect racism, with almost a third (29%) reporting discrimination as a significant barrier to entry.

These intersecting barriers mean many rappers find themselves excluded from mainstream opportunities, despite rap being one of the UK’s most listened-to genres.

Through the UK Rap Award, Help Musicians will provide emerging rap artists with equitable access to industry networks, career development opportunities, and targeted support for underrepresented musicians. 

The award includes:

• 1-to-1 business advice with industry experts

• Online meetups with fellow awardees and guest speakers

• A one-day peer and industry mixer in London

• Industry mentorships connecting artists with leading professionals

• Up to £3,000 to fund a music project

This combination ensures artists not only receive financial support but also the guidance, connections, and visibility needed to build sustainable careers in UK rap.

Laurie Oliva, Director of Services and Research at Help Musicians, says: “UK rap makes a significant impact on the sound and culture of British music, yet many artists in this area face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities and lead to financial and creative inequity. We’ve listened to musicians to ensure the UK Rap Award takes a bold approach to tackling all of those barriers, giving artists the step forward they need and, we hope, contributing to a more equitable music ecosystem. We want to empower the next generation of UK rap talent and ensure the genre’s creativity is celebrated and supported at every level - which means helping artists build networks, access mentoring and advice as well as financial support to create and share new music and develop their skills. We are really excited to work alongside partners in music to find these artists and work alongside them over the next 12 months."