WRITTEN BY OSCAR H. PHOTOS

Liverpool is making some serious noise in the rap scene right now – from the likes of Kasst to Esdeekid, Copdat to Koj, the city has undoubtedly brought a huge wave of talented artists to bring Scouse Rap to listeners from across the world. Artists create their own platform, but platforms documenting the different artists also need to exist to bring more exposure to those artists and help more underground artists grow, whichever city they represent. We have seen this in the past with platforms such as SBTV, created by the late Jamal Edwards, who sadly passed away in 2022.

When I met Blake, founder of 4MATT TV, outside an Unknown T x Slawn pop-up in Liverpool, I saw a clear vision from before 4MATT was even a platform – to represent the city’s musical talent, bringing exposure to the artists showcasing their scouse sound and energy.

Two years later, 4MATT TV has grown into a solid journalistic music platform, with a clear-cut focus on documenting Liverpool’s thriving rap scene, with an element of bringing people together to witness the journey of these upcoming artists, creating a community. From the live ‘Inside Sessions’ to interviews, marketing 4MATT through spray painting and stickers, documenting late night grime sets, 4MATT has done it all, and continues to pave the way for upcoming artists in Liverpool and grow his platform through doing so.

After the pop-up, Blake and I became good friends, so I’ve been to many of 4MATT’s shoots and interviews, and we’ve been to quite a few scouse rap cyphers. I have witnessed the vision grow massively. Upon reflecting on his journalistic journey so far, I decided to sit down with him to catch up about 4MATT, what the platform aims to achieve, the importance of the live Inside Sessions and why creating a platform for Liverpool’s musical artists is important.

HAZY: Please can you tell Hazy a bit more about why you started 4MATT, the motivation behind it, what it aims to showcase/provide?

4MATT: I started 4MATT purely because I felt there were people flying the flag for Liverpool who were not getting the recognition they deserved. More than anything, I wanted to build a community of people who love the music scene as much as I do and genuinely enjoy being part of it. The name 4MATT also comes from my late father Matt. It is a way of keeping his name and his passion alive, carrying that sense of community forward through the platform.

Liverpool rapper Copdat performing at one of the 4MATT Inside Sessions.

HAZY: You have recently started a series called Inside Sessions, which aim to provide an imitate experience for both the viewer and artist performing, with a live-band, exclusive interview etc. How do you aim for Inside Sessions to provide a platform for local artists to come together in person, and showcase their talent in a creative way?

4MATT: Inside Sessions for me is about giving viewers the chance to get to know the artist on a deeper level. The live music element is really important because live instruments allow artists to truly showcase their talent in a more organic way. Alongside the performance, the interview side helps people understand who the artist really is, allowing them to see the person behind the music. It is also about bringing people together in the same space and creating a shared experience where artists, musicians and creatives can connect in person.

Behind the scenes of Inside Sessions live performance at Arts Bar Hope Street.

“Inside Sessions for me is about giving viewers the chance to get to know the artist on a deeper level. The live music element is really important because live instruments allow artists to truly showcase their talent in a more organic wAY.”

HAZY: Liverpool rap has gained a lot of exposure in the past few months, with rappers such as Kasst, Esdeekid, KOJ, Copdat and several others making noise in the scene. Coming from the city yourself, why is it important for you to document Liverpool's scene and the artists who represent the city through their sound?

4MATT: Liverpool has gained a lot of exposure over the past few months and 2026 is definitely shaping up to be a huge year for the scene. For me, it’s important to document the noise coming out of the city because there is so much happening right now. There are loads of different sounds being made, especially within the underground, which is really on top at the moment. At the same time, the rap scene is being taken to new levels, as you have seen with things like the KOJ hologram, Liverpool Sound City events and the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekender Festival in Sefton Park. Having an independent platform is important to me because it allows me to capture the scene in my own way. Inside Sessions is a way of putting across my point of view, while still being part of a wider ecosystem of platforms pushing the scene forward. The scene is at a huge level right now and I just want to be part of it. I love creating.

HAZY: How can providing more platforms for local artists, such as Inside Sessions, help the scene grow and for artists to gain exposure? Do you believe enough is done to support Liverpool's rap scene from local institutions and venues?

4MATT: Providing more platforms for local artists like Inside Sessions helps the scene grow because it gives artists real visibility and new ways to be discovered. We have seen platforms come through the city over the years like LAB TV and newer ones like Involve Radio, all allowing local talent to express themselves in different ways. That variety keeps the scene exciting and refreshing, helping people stay up to date with artists they might not have heard before.

Inside Sessions in particular lets you hear artists from a different angle, which can really put you onto someone new.

In terms of support from local institutions and venues, there is definitely a gatekeeping culture, but at the same time people within the community are actively doing their part to shine a light on others. More can always be done, but my main advice is this: if you have an idea about how to bring people together, act on it. When people get involved and take initiative, the scene naturally grows.

HAZY: Walk us through the process of creating an 'Inside Session' shoot. Is there anything that goes into it behind the scenes that the audience seeing the end product may not expect?

4MATT: With Inside Sessions, there is a lot that goes into it behind the scenes including setting up the space, organising the artist and the band and getting everyone down on the day. It is always amazing to see how Harvey (4MATT’s cameraman and production assistant) puts everything together before we even step into the room. What starts as an empty space turns into something full of life once he has worked his magic. Alongside that, working with the band for the first Inside Sessions series, especially Leighton and Aziz, was something I really wanted to do and they are both incredibly talented. There is a lot of organisation involved, but I genuinely love it. I have always been good at multitasking, so it’s something I enjoy.

HAZY: The way in which you showcase 4MATT revolves around different physical creative art forms, such as creating stickers, spray painting the logo, bringing rappers and musicians together in-person for live events or shoots. How is this important to you as opposed to purely showcasing 4MATT's platform online?

4MATT: Alongside what 4MATT stands for, it is really important to create physical things - such as spray painting, making stickers and bringing people together in real spaces allows us to be creative in a hands-on way. It gives people something tangible to see and experience rather than putting everything online. With how much time we all spend on our phones, it’s important to step away from screens and be present in what is happening around you. That’s why it’s important that we keep pushing physical creative elements alongside the online platform.

Stickers and graffiti stencils have been instrumental in marketing the 4MATT brand.

There is no doubt that 4MATT’s aim is clear. To showcase the rap talent within Liverpool, and to create a community that can experience this talent. Through placing importance on live music sessions, interviews, creating graffiti stencils and stickers to market the brand, 4MATT seeks to build a platform everyone can access and experience in their own way, providing a more intimate and engaging experience for those interested in learning more about the artist.

Keep an eye out on 4MATT’s platform and the local talent he collaborates with next. You can find his online platforms on YouTube and Instagram below: