RABArtist: UK hip-hop independent keeps releasing amid local scene focus
Birmingham-based independent musician RABArtist, born Shane Gunnell, has released a steady run of singles in 2025 under his Lazy Bwoi Records imprint, continuing a career that began more than 15 years ago in the West Midlands hip-hop scene.
The artist, also known for work as a producer, emcee, singer, DJ and actor, issued “Hoe Love” on July 11, 2025, following “Sold Out” in April, and earlier collaborations with Milkz0121 on “Playing” (Feb. 14) and “I Do” (Feb. 7). Additional 2025 credits include work on tracks such as “Ecstasy” and “Sauce On Spill” involving Antony Walters. The releases fall under genres listed as hip-hop/rap, drill and bass, and grime on major platforms.
Gunnell, who hails from the West Midlands south of Birmingham, started performing in 2007 with the group Sumthin’ Special. After the group split in 2010, he pursued solo work first under the name R.A.B. and later as RABArtist. His artist biography and social profiles state that early solo material included production and music elements involving Snoop Dogg and D12 member Bizarre. He has described music as a vehicle for personal expression and has maintained an independent path managed through Lazy Bwoi Records, with publishing administration linked to Rkmg.
The 2025 singles form part of a longer pattern of regular digital releases. Earlier projects include the 2019 EP “Reflection,” the 2020 single “Ill,” and a series of 2023–2024 tracks such as “Ooh La La,” “Girl Like You,” “Avida” and “Preciosa,” several again featuring Milkz0121. Music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and other platforms. Spotify currently lists approximately 70 monthly listeners for the RABArtist profile.
RABArtist has drawn local attention within the West Midlands independent circuit. In 2019 he appeared on BBC Introducing for Hereford & Worcester, performing tracks from the “Reflection” project live and discussing his full-time focus on music after years of writing extensively. Host Andrew Marston described him at the time as delivering “an incredible vocal performance from one of the greatest rappers in the Midlands right now.” He has also been associated with Birmingham events, including TOT (Take Over the Town) showcases that feature multiple local artists.
His output mixes hip-hop, rap and R&B elements with drill and grime influences. Tracks such as “Ill” (2020) addressed themes of frustration and social distraction during the early pandemic period, while other material has explored personal loss and relationships. Collaborators frequently include Milkz0121 and Antony Walters. Production credits often list Lazy Bwoi or related handles, with engineering and visuals from consistent local creative partners
As an independent operator, RABArtist handles much of his own release cycle, from recording to digital distribution. Rkmg Publishing, the company linked to administration of his work, describes itself as an independent UK music publishing, artist development and creative events outfit focused on supporting independent artists and community engagement. The arrangement reflects a common model among UK regional acts who maintain ownership and output without major-label infrastructure.
The broader UK hip-hop and grime landscape continues to rely heavily on such independent pipelines. Artists based outside London often build audiences through consistent digital drops, local live events and cross-collaborations rather than chart-driven campaigns. RABArtist’s sustained release schedule in 2025—multiple singles across the first half of the year—illustrates one version of that approach: regular product, familiar collaborators, and a production handle that doubles as a label identity.
Community-facing activity appears alongside the recordings. Instagram posts and local event mentions show involvement in Birmingham showcases and West Midlands line-ups that platform multiple emerging and mid-career acts. These events function both as performance opportunities and as networking points for producers, visual artists and performers operating outside major industry hubs.
Earlier coverage, including a 2021 profile of a “Why’m I High?” remix, highlighted the personal content in some of his writing. In that piece, Gunnell linked specific verses to the deaths of family members and a close friend, underscoring a thread of autobiographical material that has appeared across different releases.
Streaming numbers remain modest by national standards, yet the catalogue continues to expand. Recent titles such as “Dreams Loading” (2026) and the 2025 batch sit alongside older material on the same artist pages, creating a continuous public discography that spans group beginnings, early solo experiments and the current independent phase.
For industry observers tracking regional UK rap, RABArtist represents a long-horizon independent trajectory: early group experience, claimed high-profile early connections, a shift to full independence, and ongoing output supported by a small network of recurring collaborators and local infrastructure. The 2025 singles, released under Lazy Bwoi Records with Rkmg administration, add further chapters to that record without altering the core self-managed model.
Listeners can find the latest material, including “Hoe Love,” “Sold Out,” “Playing” and “I Do,” on major streaming services under the RABArtist profile. Further releases and live appearances in the West Midlands are expected to continue under the same independent framework.
