The Hold Up

15/09/2026

Tradition + Innovation = Growth 🎤🌱

Hip-hop has always evolved.

The culture is rooted in its history, but it continues to grow through new artists, new sounds and new ideas.

Respect what came before you.
Learn from it.
Then bring something of your own.

You don’t have to choose between tradition and innovation.

The future of hip-hop comes from understanding the past while creating something new.

Tradition + Innovation = Growth.

Traddodiad + Arloesedd = Twf 🎤🌱

Mae hip-hop wastad wedi esblygu.

Mae’r diwylliant wedi’i wreiddio yn ei hanes, ond mae’n parhau i dyfu drwy artistiaid newydd, synau newydd a syniadau newydd.

Parcha’r hyn ddaeth o dy flaen.
Dysga ohono.
Yna ychwanega rywbeth o dy eiddo dy hun.

Does dim rhaid i ti ddewis rhwng traddodiad ac arloesedd.

Mae dyfodol hip-hop yn dod o ddeall y gorffennol wrth greu rhywbeth newydd.

Traddodiad + Arloesedd = Twf.

WelshHipHop

10/09/2026

Has Social Media Changed Hip-Hop? 📱🎤

Social media has completely changed how hip-hop is created, shared and discovered.

Artists can build an audience without waiting for a label, connect directly with fans and reach people all over the world.

But it’s also changed how artists feel they need to create — with trends, algorithms and numbers sometimes influencing what gets made.

Has social media helped hip-hop grow, or has it changed the culture too much?

There’s no right or wrong answer.

What do you think? 👇

Ydy’r Cyfryngau Cymdeithasol Wedi Newid Hip-Hop? 📱🎤

Mae’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol wedi newid yn llwyr sut mae hip-hop yn cael ei greu, ei rannu a’i ddarganfod.

Gall artistiaid adeiladu cynulleidfa heb orfod aros am label, cysylltu’n uniongyrchol â chefnogwyr a chyrraedd pobl ledled y byd.

Ond mae hefyd wedi newid sut mae artistiaid yn teimlo bod angen iddyn nhw greu — gyda thueddiadau, algorithmau a rhifau weithiau’n dylanwadu ar yr hyn sy’n cael ei greu.

Ydy’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol wedi helpu hip-hop i dyfu, neu ydy hi wedi newid y diwylliant gormod?

Does dim ateb cywir nac anghywir.

Beth wyt ti’n feddwl? 👇

MusicCulture

09/09/2026

An Overview of Summer at Off The Streets ☀️

We’ve been taking a moment to look back at everything we got up to during our Summer Programme and WOW.. what a jam-packed few weeks it was!

From swimming and cinema trips to cooking, sports, creative activities, new experiences and plenty of fun, our Summer Programme was filled with opportunities for children and young people to get involved in!

Here’s the summer by numbers -
✅ 71+ sessions facilitated
✅ 1,000+ participant interactions
✅ 31 new participants joined us
✅ 5 schools supported and over 120 participants reached through the Food & Fun programme

And behind every one of those numbers is a child or young person who came along, tried something new, made a friend, learnt a skill, built confidence, shared a laugh or simply had a brilliant time🤩

We’ve also been lucky enough to work alongside some fantastic partners throughout the summer, including Blaenau Gwent Libraries, FFIN DANCE, The Hold Up, Aneurin Leisure Sports Development and Motor Mango Arts - to name just a few. Partnership work helps us to bring even more exciting experiences and opportunities to our children and young people🫶🏻

However, the numbers only tell part of the story - the best part has been seeing our participants getting stuck in, supporting each other, trying new things and creating memories together!

We would like to give a HUGE thank you to every child and young person who joined us, every parent/carer who supported them, our amazing staff team, and all of the organisations and partners who helped make our summer programme possible. You definitely made it one to remember🤪

Over 71 sessions, over 1,000 interactions and COUNTLESS memories - what and AMAZING Summer😁

08/09/2026

Hip-Hop History: September

September has given hip-hop some seriously important moments.

From classic albums dropping and changing the sound of the culture, to records that introduced new voices, styles and ideas — the impact of these releases can still be heard today.

This month, we’re looking back at some of the standout hip-hop albums released in September and the influence they had on the culture.

Some became classics.
Some changed the direction of the genre.
Some simply gave us music we’re still listening to years later.

Which September release had the biggest impact on you? 👀

Welsh Translation

Hanes Hip-Hop: Medi 📚🎤

Mae mis Medi wedi rhoi rhai eiliadau hynod bwysig i hip-hop.

O albymau clasurol a gafodd eu rhyddhau ac a newidiodd sŵn y diwylliant, i recordiau a gyflwynodd leisiau, arddulliau a syniadau newydd — mae dylanwad y rhyddhau hyn i’w glywed hyd heddiw.

Y mis hwn, rydyn ni’n edrych yn ôl ar rai o’r albymau hip-hop mwyaf nodedig a ryddhawyd ym mis Medi a’r dylanwad a gawsant ar y diwylliant.

Daeth rhai yn glasuron.
Newidiodd rhai gyfeiriad y genre.
Ac roedd rhai yn syml yn rhoi cerddoriaeth i ni rydyn ni’n dal i wrando arni flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach.

Pa ryddhad ym mis Medi gafodd y dylanwad mwyaf arnat ti? 👀

ArtistDevelopment

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

Lansbury Park Hip-Hop Roulette 2026 🎤🔥

What a couple of days!

We had an amazing time bringing music, movement and creativity to Lansbury Park, with young people getting involved in everything from breakdancing and beatboxing to DJing, basketball, skateboarding, parkour and music production.

Big energy, plenty of creativity and some great moments throughout both days.

A massive thank you to everyone who came down, took part and helped make it happen. ❤️

.moon.face

Here’s a little look back

Roulette Hip-Hop Parc Lansbury 2026 🎤🔥

Am ddau ddiwrnod gwych!

Cawsom amser anhygoel yn dod â cherddoriaeth, symud a chreadigrwydd i Barc Lansbury, gyda phobl ifanc yn cymryd rhan mewn popeth o frec-ddawnsio a bît-bocsio i DJio, pêl-fasged, sglefrfyrddio, parkour a chynhyrchu cerddoriaeth.

Llawer o egni, digon o greadigrwydd a rhai eiliadau gwych drwy gydol y ddau ddiwrnod.

Diolch yn fawr i bawb a ddaeth draw, a gymerodd ran ac a helpodd i wneud iddo ddigwydd. ❤️

Dyma gip bach yn ôl ar y ddau ddiwrnod

01/09/2026

Hip-Hop Guide: How to Write Lyrics 🎤✍️

Writing lyrics can feel difficult when you’re just starting out, but the most important thing is simply to begin.

Start with something you know.

Write about your experiences, your thoughts, your surroundings or something you’re passionate about.

Don’t worry about making every line perfect straight away. Get your ideas down first, then go back and improve them.

Listen to different artists. Study how they use rhyme, rhythm and storytelling.

Most importantly, keep practising.

The more you write, the easier it becomes to find your own voice.

You don’t need to have all the answers before you start.

Just pick up a pen and write.

⸻

📌 Welsh Translation (Cymraeg)

Canllaw Hip-Hop: Sut i Ysgrifennu Geiriau 🎤✍️

Gall ysgrifennu geiriau deimlo’n anodd pan wyt ti newydd ddechrau, ond y peth pwysicaf yw dechrau.

Dechreua gyda rhywbeth rwyt ti’n ei wybod.

Ysgrifenna am dy brofiadau, dy feddyliau, dy amgylchedd neu rywbeth rwyt ti’n angerddol amdano.

Paid â phoeni am wneud pob llinell yn berffaith ar unwaith. Rho dy syniadau i lawr yn gyntaf, yna cer yn ôl i’w gwella.

Gwranda ar artistiaid gwahanol. Astudia sut maen nhw’n defnyddio odl, rhythm ac adrodd straeon.

Yn bwysicaf oll, dalia ati i ymarfer.

Po fwyaf rwyt ti’n ysgrifennu, yr hawsaf fydd hi i ddod o hyd i dy lais dy hun.

Does dim rhaid i ti wybod popeth cyn dechrau.

Dim ond cydio mewn beiro a dechrau ysgrifennu.

KeepCreating

27/08/2026

Real Talk: You’re Overthinking Your Music 🎤

Sometimes the biggest thing holding your music back isn’t the beat, the lyrics or the mix — it’s you thinking about it too much.

Not every decision needs hours of analysing.

Trust your instincts.
Finish the track.
Put it out.
Learn from it and move on to the next one.

Your music will improve through making more of it, not endlessly questioning every detail.

Stop chasing perfect.

Create, release, repeat.

⸻

📌 Welsh Translation (Cymraeg)

Gwir Sgwrs: Rwyt Ti’n Gor-feddwl Dy Gerddoriaeth 🎤

Weithiau, nid y beat, y geiriau na’r mix sy’n dal dy gerddoriaeth yn ôl — ti sy’n meddwl gormod amdani.

Does dim angen treulio oriau yn dadansoddi pob penderfyniad.

Ymddiried yn dy reddf.
Gorffen y trac.
Rhyddha fe.
Dysga ohono a symud ymlaen at yr un nesaf.

Bydd dy gerddoriaeth yn gwella drwy greu mwy ohoni, nid drwy gwestiynu pob manylyn yn ddiddiwedd.

Paid â mynd ar ôl perffeithrwydd.

Creu, rhyddhau, ailadrodd.

25/08/2026

Confidence Comes From Repetition 🎤

Confidence isn’t something you’re simply born with.

It comes from doing something again and again until it starts to feel natural.

Rehearse the verse.
Practise the performance.
Try the idea again.
Keep putting yourself out there.

The more you do it, the more comfortable you become.

Don’t wait to feel confident before you start.

Start, repeat, improve — and let the confidence follow.

⸻

📌 Welsh Translation (Cymraeg)

Mae Hyder yn Dod o Ailadrodd 🎤

Nid yw hyder yn rhywbeth rwyt ti’n cael dy eni ag ef yn unig.

Mae’n dod o wneud rhywbeth dro ar ôl tro nes ei fod yn dechrau teimlo’n naturiol.

Ymarfera’r pennill.
Ymarfera’r perfformiad.
Rho gynnig arall ar y syniad.
Dalia ati i roi dy hun allan yna.

Po fwyaf rwyt ti’n ei wneud, y mwyaf cyfforddus y byddi di’n teimlo.

Paid ag aros i deimlo’n hyderus cyn dechrau.

Dechreua, ailadrodda, gwella — a gad i’r hyder ddilyn.

20/08/2026

Fear Is Feedback 🎤

Fear doesn’t always mean you should stop.

Sometimes it means you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, trying something new or putting yourself out there.

That feeling can tell you where you’re growing.

Instead of asking, “What if it goes wrong?”
Ask, “What can I learn from this?”

Use the fear. Learn from it. Keep moving.

Growth often starts where comfort ends.

⸻

📌 Welsh Translation (Cymraeg)

Mae Ofn yn Adborth 🎤

Nid yw ofn bob amser yn golygu y dylech stopio.

Weithiau mae’n golygu dy fod yn camu y tu allan i dy barth cysur, yn rhoi cynnig ar rywbeth newydd neu’n rhoi dy hun allan yna.

Gall y teimlad hwnnw ddangos i ti ble rwyt ti’n tyfu.

Yn lle gofyn, “Beth os aiff o’i le?”
Gofynna, “Beth alla i ddysgu o hyn?”

Defnyddia’r ofn. Dysga ohono. Dalia ati i symud.

Yn aml, mae twf yn dechrau lle mae cysur yn dod i ben.