Harlem Spartans

Harlem Spartans are a UK drill collective from Kennington, South London, widely regarded as one of the foundational groups of the genre's early wave in the mid-2010s. Emerging from the Angell Town and surrounding areas, the group helped popularize the sparse, ominous production and confrontational lyricism that came to define UK drill's sound and aesthetic.

With a rotating and expansive lineup, Harlem Spartans built their reputation through raw, low-budget music videos and tracks like «Kennington Where It Started» and «Call Me A Spartan», which circulated widely on platforms like YouTube and helped establish drill as a dominant force in London's street rap scene. Members of the group also launched notable solo careers, most prominently Loski, who became one of UK drill's most recognizable names.

The group's history has been marked by real-world hardship, including the loss of several members to violence, a grim reality that has often been intertwined with the genre's narrative and media coverage. Despite this, Harlem Spartans remain a touchstone reference point for the UK drill movement, credited with shaping its early sonic template and launching the careers of several artists who went on to broader recognition.