Listen to DJ Win’s Manchester rap mix
Aitch’s DJ guides us through the NQ roster on THE FACE’s cover.
Gracing the cover of THE FACE’s spring print issue is NQ. The Manchester-based “360 entertainment company”, which is behind the staggering success of Aitch, has a growing roster of artists on its label and massive ambitions.
DJ Win has been there from the start. Alongside NQ’s CEO Adex, in the mid-2010s Win kept an eye out for promising talent at open mic nights in Manchester hosted by the likes Stage & Radio and Pie Radio. Since signing up Aitch, NQ has taken on artists such Mastermind, Ayo Britain, Zeph, Culps and producers LiTek and WhyJay, while London rapper Poundz has joined NQ management.
Check out a Q&A with DJ Win and listen to his special NQ Face Mix below.
Tell us a bit about your role with NQ…
I’m the co-founder and a producer/artist [on the NQ label]. I helped establish the company with just an idea to build an infrastructure in Manchester and to unify the city. Then, later, I got more into the creative side of the music industry, so I thought it was only right to sign to the label that I helped build.
How was life on the road as Aitch’s DJ?
Crazy and mad surreal… from literally touring around Europe, being in different countries and cities each day, to [hearing] thousands of people screaming out your name. It’s crazy to say the least, but all in all it made me very grateful for the position that I’m in and the life I’m able to live.
Other than artists on the NQ roster, who are some Manchester musicians that The Face’s readers should check out?
There’s a lot of talent in Manchester. Obviously, we can’t sign everyone, but we support everything that comes out of Manchester. Some of my personal favourite artists coming out of the city are Svmi, Tyreezy, SIM, K Ace and Feeemo, to name a few.
Tracklist:
Aitch – Safe to Say
Ayo Britain – Nene
Poundz – AMG
Aitch – Triggered
Ayo Britain – Only Wanna Flex
Culps – Really Real
Mastermind – Losses
Ayo Britain x Double Lz – Money
Zeph – Time
Zeph – Element
Aitch – Like Them
Aitch – Already ft. Tyreezy
Aitch – Weekday ft. MoStack
Mastermind – Crash It ft. Abra Cadabra
Aitch & AJ Tracey – Rain
Aitch – Wait
Culps – Paranoia
Zeph – Heart of an Angel ft. Pezmo
Zeph – Y u H8
Mastermind – Wavetime
Culps – Blatantly
Aitch – Mice
Young T & Bugsey – Strike a Pose ft. Aitch
S1mba – Rover (remix) ft. Poundz
Ed Sheeran – Take me Back to London (Sir Spyro remix) ft. Stormzy, Jaykae & Aitch
Aitch – Straight Rhymez
