THE PECKHAM ANTI-HERO: PS HITSQUAD ON ‘CHASING MY GRAVE’ AND LIFE AFTER LICENSE [BOLD 2026 INTERVIEW]
PS Hitsquad is not your typical rapper. At 24, the Peckham native has already lived through several lifetimes of the UK scene’s evolution. As a founding member of the pioneering Zone 2 crew, he was instrumental in shaping the first wave of London Drill before a period “at Her Majesty’s pleasure” temporarily halted his trajectory. Now, returning with a sharper focus and a stockpile of music, PS is ready to reclaim his position.
His brand new single, ‘Chasing My Grave’, serves as a hauntingly authentic window into his world, trading the bravado of the underground for a raw, lyrical exploration of his lived experience. We sat down with the South London don to discuss his craft, his evolution, and why he’s finally ready to embrace his potential.
Many people consider you one of the most lyrical rappers in UK Drill. What conscious effort do you make to bring that depth and wordplay to a genre that isn’t always known for it?
I’ve always had an affinity for words in general, playing with them gives me a rush of dopamine, I feel like a genius putting them together a certain way while expressing my thoughts, feelings and experiences.
In a past interview, you mentioned throwing away lyrics you wrote while you were away. What prompted that decision, and how did it change your approach to writing once you were back?
I do it all the time. I’ve always done it. Sometimes I just completely forget about tracks. I just think it’s a gift that I have so I try not to stress it too much, I’ll make another and another and another.
Your recent track ‘Turtle’ has been described as part of a “post-drill” movement, blending hazy synths with high-octane Rap. What five words would you use to define this new direction in your sound?
I don’t think there’s a new direction in my sound because I’ve been writing bars from before drill; I ain’t going nowhere.
Can you walk us through the moment in your creative process when a concept shifts from a “rapid-fire quip” or “punchline” to a fully structured verse?
I kinda like to think of running themes rather than 16s. I’m tryna focus abit on story telling stuff too you’ll see what I mean on my upcoming project ‘Life On License’.
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This interview is part of our long-form series, now hosted exclusively on our Substack. To read the full conversation with Chxrry and gain access to our archive of deep-dives into the architects of Hip Hop and global culture, head over to the Viper Substack.
[READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE]
From the Vault: PS Hitsquad in VIPER
This isn’t the first time the Hitsquad general has graced our pages. PS originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of VIPER, where he first opened up about his “unparalleled lyrical prowess” and the challenges of maintaining a career amidst constant setbacks. In that landmark interview, he famously discussed the bold decision to throw away bags of lyrics written during his time away, opting instead to start fresh and evolve his sound.
Buy the Summer 2021 Issue featuring PS Hitsquad here.
