Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
Matt Berry hardly needs an introduction. He’s been a familiar face on British television since the early 2000s, captivating audiences with his bold personality and deep, commanding voice in cult comedies like Toast of London, What We Do In The Shadows and The IT Crowd. What many might not realize, though, is that Berry has also released ten studio albums throughout his career.
Music has been a constant in his life, and his upcoming album Heard Noises, out on 24 January 2025, is another milestone in his journey as a multi-talented artist. His work in music has brought some unexpected achievements, including contributing guitar and vocals to the Strictly Come Dancing theme song. Yet his path to becoming a musician was almost cut short before it truly began.
Berry’s passion for music started when he was young, but things took a turn at school. His teachers refused to let him study music as a GCSE subject because he couldn’t read sheet music. Instead of letting that stop him, he decided to prove them wrong and eventually succeeded. Looking back, he considers that rejection to have been a hidden gift, sparing him from turning something he loved into a chore.
Berry at the Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny premiere in London, 2023. Image: Fred Duval/Shutterstock
“I wasn’t even given the chance to spend any time at school doing music, even though it was obvious to all these teachers that it was the only thing that I was interested in and yet it was the only thing they wouldn’t allow me to do,” he recalls.
“I think it’s very different now. You can spend time at school doing music and not have to learn theory, which is fantastic and how it should have always been. If you’re a teacher that’s worth anything, and you spot that a kid is interested in one thing, then that’s what you should allow them to do while they’re under your care.”
Over the years, Berry has explored a wide mix of genres, from folk to Northern soul to psychedelic rock. One of his most playful projects was his 2020 release Television Themes, a collection of his takes on iconic tracks such as the Doctor Who and Rainbow theme songs.
With Heard Noises, Berry is taking a different approach. In the past, he followed a specific vision for each album, creating strict creative boundaries. He compared it to an artist limiting themselves to just four colors on a canvas. This time, though, he’s letting himself use the entire spectrum. “That kind of discipline pushes you to do things that you wouldn’t have done before. That can be interesting if you give yourself restrictions,” he says. “But with Heard Noises, I didn’t do that. I did whatever I wanted regardless of style or genre.”
The result is his most personal work yet. The album cover itself reflects his life, showing a table set with meaningful objects, each one representing a different part of his story. Among those items are Lazlo Cravensworth’s teeth from What We Do In The Shadows — the hit comedy series based on Taika Waititi’s vampire film, which wrapped after six successful seasons.
Berry usually keeps his acting and music careers separate, but this show was such a big part of his life that it inevitably bled into everything else. “It needs to be noted, not in loads of detail but that was that, here’s the evidence and let’s get on to the next thing,” he says. “I’m not a nostalgic man. I don’t ever look back at old stuff, once I’ve done something I tend to lose interest and can only think about the next thing.”
That “next thing” has included lending his voice to the acclaimed animated film The Wild Robot, alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal and Bill Nighy. The film tells the story of Roz, a robot who finds herself stranded on a deserted island and learns to adapt to its rugged environment, eventually becoming the adoptive parent of a gosling. Berry was drawn to the story as soon as he read the script, but it was when director Chris Sanders showed him a ten-minute preview that he knew it was something extraordinary.
“[Chris] turned all the lights off and we played it in the recording studio and, honestly, [I realised] that this is what I need to be doing. This is something that I need to now fully concentrate on because I knew it was going to be exceptional.” On the day this interview was published, The Wild Robot received an Oscar nomination — a well-earned recognition.
Heard Noises will be released on 24 January through Acid Jazz.
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Washington, D.C. — October 17, 2025 — Hip-hop visionary AL99 (pronounced “AL Nine-Nine”) returns with his latest single, “SuperDuper,” a commanding record that captures his creative independence, lyrical depth, and bold self-assurance. Now available on all streaming platforms, “SuperDuper” continues AL99’s momentum following his distribution deal between his company TPC Music Production (To Progress the Culture) and Universal Music Group/Bungalo, cementing his status as a standout independent artist pushing the boundaries of hip-hop.
A multi-potentialite who writes, produces, performs, and engineers his own music, AL99’s artistry defies convention. With “SuperDuper,” he delivers an anthem of triumph and growth, both personal and professional. “When I sat down to make that song, I was like, man, I’m just going to be talking on this one, just flexing, you know?” AL99 said. “I wanted to make a statement that I’ve been doing this independently for about six years, and now I’m leveling up. I just popped out feeling like a king.”
That spirit of confidence is what gives “SuperDuper” its edge. The song, born out of pure inspiration, came together naturally. “I watched this movie about Jonathan Larson, the playwright who wrote Rent, with my family,” he shared. “It reminded me that songs sometimes just come to you—you don’t plan them. That’s what happened here. I was just feeling it and decided, ‘It’s time to flex a little more.’”
Even the title of the track reflects AL99’s creative instincts. “I wanted something catchy that sticks in people’s minds,” he said. “I could’ve said ‘Super,’ but ‘SuperDuper’ has a rhythm and flow that grabs attention. It makes people curious.”
AL99 crafted the record with the same attention to detail that defines his growing body of work. “I was listening to an old Future album; it inspired me,” he explained. “I wanted to tap into that old-school trap sound, not the new drill stuff. So I made the beat first, then freestyled the lyrics as I typed them out. It just flowed naturally.” While he often records and mixes his own tracks from his home studio, “SuperDuper” was engineered by Damian LeClair Jr. at Salt Mine Studios in Arizona, a studio known for its collaborations with artists such as Lil Wayne and Ariana Grande. “They’ve worked with some huge artists, and I’ve built a relationship with them,” AL99 said.
Music runs deep in AL99’s family and identity. “My granddad sang in The Persuasions, so music runs in my family,” he said. “I grew up on everything—jazz, classic soul, classic rock, opera, hip-hop. I always remind myself to make what I’d want to hear.” That early exposure to diverse sounds has shaped his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. “When I make a trap song like ‘SuperDuper,’ it’s not just a trap song,” he explained. “I add meaning, storytelling, and theater to it. My music makes you think.
AL99’s creative drive began in childhood and persisted even when it wasn’t encouraged. “It wasn’t always supported,” he said. “My mom used to say, ‘Ain’t nobody shucking and jiving up in here.’ She wanted us to focus on school and sports. But I always came home and picked up that guitar. Eventually, I told her this was what I had to do—and she supported me.”
Beyond his sound, AL99 stands out for his philosophy on artistry and authenticity. “People always say, ‘Find your lane,’ and while I get that, you can still make different sounds within your lane,” he said. “Versatility is everything. If you’re just chasing a bag, you’ll fade away after a few songs. But real artists create because it’s who they are. People fall in love with you as a person.”
Already featured in XXL Magazine and Vigilante Radio, AL99 is no stranger to recognition, but “SuperDuper” represents something more: a declaration of freedom and focus. “It’s really go time now,” he shared about his new chapter with Universal Music Group/Bungalo. “When I was independent, I always knew I’d get to this level; I just didn’t know with which label. Now that I’m here, it’s about elevating everything. Nothing’s holding me back. I’m fully locked in.”
With “SuperDuper,” AL99 continues to prove that hip-hop can be confident, experimental, and deeply intentional all at once. His artistry, purpose, and personality converge to create something that not only sounds good but feels good. To keep up with AL99’s latest releases and behind-the-scenes content, follow him on Instagram.
About AL99
AL99 (pronounced “AL Nine-Nine”) is a multifaceted hip-hop artist, producer, and performer redefining the boundaries of modern rap. As the founder of TPC Music Production (To Progress the Culture), AL99 merges authenticity with ambition, crafting music that entertains, inspires, and moves the soul. With performances across the U.S. and a distribution partnership with Universal Music Group/Bungalo, AL99 continues to prove that versatility and vision are the cornerstones of greatness. Follow him on Instagram.
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