Tony Rotton, a.k.a. Blak Twang, started his career in south east London in the late 1990s. Since then the man has gained fame and approval in all the corners of the world from eastern Europe to Africa. Rotton spent his early years with the music of such names as Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Rakim and Public Enemy, but ventured into making his own music only after he realised that not all rap music needs to be made in the style of Americans. Blak Twang is, then, seriously into experiments and alternative views. His lyrics are political and prosaic at the same time, and about the topics he finds personally appealing. Renowned for his great live shows, Blak Twang writes all his material with live performances in mind.
Blak Twang's career got underway with a vengeance in 2002 with the third album Kik Off which was followed earlier this year by Rotton Club. Fans love him, but so do the jurors: he has picked up the MOBO Award for Best Hip Hop Artist, an African Kora award, a World Underground Music Award, and a nomination in the prestigious Source magazine awards for Best International Hip Hop Act. No wonder, then, that his contribution has been welcome on the albums by such artists as Wu-Tang Clan, Roots Manuva and Talib Kwel.
Blak Twang is as exciting a replacement for Maroons as anybody can image. More about the man and his music can be found at his home page at
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