Introducing: Aystar
Raised on the streets of Toxteth Liverpool, the area still healing from the aftermath of the riots a decade earlier, Aystar has become the voice of the Liverpool underground. Painting vivid pictures with his lyrics of what it’s like growing up in the Northwest of England. Often mistaken as grime artist due to his musical peers and supporters (Giggs, Wiley, Chip, Bugzy Malone), Aystar is at the core a rap artist. Influenced by early Eminem and D-12 - their extreme lyrics and wordplay and at times brutally honest storytelling can be heard in Aystar’s tracks today.
With Liverpool not having a thriving rap scene at the start of his career, YouTube freestyles and diss tracks was the only avenue for Aystar to build his audience and connect with other artists.
After stumbling across one of his freestyles on YouTube, UK legend Giggs took to Instagram to show his followers one of Aystar’s freestyles. In one of his now classic posts expressing...“the fucking Liverpool yutes are murking bruv...sounding like Cartel ta rass clart”. Though some may have brushed this off as a just a compliment it was in fact the beginning of a mutual friendship, so much that Giggs recruited Aystar to feature on his “Landlord” album.
The Album reached no.2 on the UK Albums chart and no.1 Independent album chart with Aystar’s featuring on the track “The Best”. Following on from the success of the Landlord Album and major love for the track The best Giggs invited Aystar to join him on his Landlord tour where Aystar had the opportunity to grow his fanbase and have a taste of what was to come.
The Guardian asked the question “Why doesn’t everyone rap in scouse?” Using him as examples of the changing trends of what a UK rap accent actually is and how there has never been a better time to be a rapper form outside of London - with Bugzy Malone, Aitch and Mist paving the way. Noting “with those long Rs and hard Cs, not to mention the vernacular - of all the various names for police used by rappers over the years, Aystar is the first I have heard use “plod”’.
BBC Radio 1 ’s Charlie Sloth has championed Aystar from early and has a great track record for spotting talent from outside of London. Inviting Aystar to test his talent in front of a global audience on his legendary Fire In The Booth rising to the moment and delivering an instant classic.
As well as inviting Aystar to jump on his debut album The Plug which featured Ghetts, Fredo, 21 Savage, Giggs, Abracadabra and many more. Once Charlie took the show on the road for his The Plug Tour Aystar was invited to join on performing in both Liverpool and the main London show alongside Fekky, Skrapz, Suspect and Michael Dapaah.
Following this Aystar performed at 1xtra Live in the Liverpool Echo Arena. Sharing the stage with J Hus, Stormzy, Giggs, Wretch 32, Wiley, Bugzy Malone and Pro Green.
Aystar was invited in 2019 to perform at Spotify’s Who We Be concert in Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse alongside Aitch, Pop Smoke. Bugzy Malone and Tion Wayne.
2021 saw the release of his eagerly awaited mixtape Scousematic 3, the final release from the Scousematic trilogy. Featuring singles with Digga D, Giggs, Ay Em and Youngs Tefflon. Followed by a performed at Reading and Leeds festival along side Digga D, OFB and M1llionz
The end of 2023 saw Aystar jump on the remix to the fellow Scouse rapper Mazza L20’s track Murdaside. His verse on the Scouse remix exploded on TikTok helping the track reach No.3 in the TikTok charts. It also reached No.18 in the official UK singles chart and staying in the top 40 for 3 weeks. With Aystar’s Scouse remix surpassing the main mix and the other remixes.
2024 is off to a bang with Aystar landing a sync for Guy Ritchies “The Gentlemen” on Netflix. The track “Kop That Shit” was originally released in 2018 on his Scousematic 2 mixtape. Making appearances on 50+ Shazam charts around the world including No.2 UK top 200, No.1 UK Rap/HipHop and No.16 Global Top 200.
NQ Talent
