Giggs

Giggs, born Nathaniel Thompson and also known as Hollowman, is a British rapper from the Gloucester Grove Estate in Peckham, South London, and one of the founding figures of UK Road Rap. He leads the SN1 collective, whose members have included Gunna Dee, Joe Grind, Kyze and Tiny Boost. After serving a prison sentence for firearms possession, Giggs turned to rap seriously following his release in 2005, quickly building an underground following through a string of independently released mixtapes.

His early work with SN1, including Bloody Raw and SN1 – The Beginning…, established him as a formidable voice on the London scene, but it was the collaborative mixtapes of 2006 and 2007 — Hollow Grind with his brother Joe Grind, Hollow Meets Blade with Blade Brown, and Ard Bodied with Dubz — that cemented his status. Tracks from Ard Bodied, particularly «Pain Is The Essence» and «Talkin da Hardest», became defining anthems of UK Road Rap and remain touchstones of the genre.

Giggs is known for his low, gravelly delivery, menacing yet melodic flow, and vivid, unflinching storytelling drawn from life on the streets of Peckham, repeated run-ins with the justice system and obstacles placed by the Metropolitan Police, which for years restricted his ability to perform live. His influence extends well beyond road rap: he has collaborated with major UK and international artists and helped pave the way for the wider acceptance of UK rap and grime in the British mainstream.