iluvlive and Vibbar Present “3 AFTA7” – A Nostalgic Ode to Underground Rap Culture
iluvlive is proud to announce its latest collaboration with the collective Vibbar, unveiling a brand-new music experience, ‘3 AFTA7’. The event will take place on August 1st at The Social and will spotlight a fresh wave of UK grime and rap talent rooted in underground culture.
‘3 AFTA7’ is a homage to a time of underground raves, late-night cyphers, when calls were free after 7 pm and the grassroots of iluvlive — the spaces where many legendary rap artists first found a stage. It’s a nod to the nostalgia and culture that’s shaped UK grime and rap into what they are today. At its core, ‘3 AFTA7’ is about stripping things back to where it all started — the mic, the beat, and when the story mattered most.
iluvlive will partner with Vibbar on this new event as they share the same ethos to amplify music and creativity. Co-founder of Vibbar Poet’s states, ‘Vibbar takes many forms among a group of friends who share a creative outlook. We are keen to bring back a feeling of nostalgia through music and art, and we now want to do this in a live space. What better way to support new talent?’
There will be a ‘pass the aux’ segment allowing new artists entering rap to jump on the mic. The lineup will be kept under wraps, but expect the best in emerging rap and surprise guests.
Founded in 2004, iluvlive has always been rooted in platforming emerging Black British artists, offering them their first taste of the stage and nurturing their journey. From Wretch 32 to Little Simz, iluvlive has stood at the frontline of the UK’s musical evolution — and ‘3 AFTA7’ continues that legacy.
Managing Director Lauren Louise Powell says, ‘We are excited to partner with Vibbar to restore emerging rap to its roots. We want ‘‘3 AFTA7’ to remind people that we should support new talent to give them the best start. I’m also grateful to PPL for helping us make this possible and supporting grassroots music once again.’
Poet says: “London is a very special place with multiple cultures; therefore, the interpretations of creativity are extremely varied, and we need to have these events to showcase this talent.”
Sarah Wall, Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, said: "PPL is proud to support the fantastic work delivered by iluvlive. Lauren and the team do a fantastic job spotlighting emerging performers, with a great track record in providing the foundations for successful music careers. We're looking forward to seeing the exciting new talent at 3 AFTA7 at The Social next month."
Supported by
About PPL:
PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation (CMO) for performers and recording rightsholders. We help ensure that our members’ talent and investment is fairly rewarded.
We license recorded music in the UK when it is broadcast (TV and radio) or played in public places (retail, hospitality, workplaces, gyms, etc). When our members’ music is played around the world, they can appoint us to collect royalties through our network of more than 110 agreements with other CMOs.
Our members include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and global superstars.
In 2024, PPL’s revenue was over £300 million, the highest in the company’s 90-year history and we paid over 172,000 performers and recording rightsholders. In the last five years alone, PPL has distributed over £1.25 billion to performers and recording rightsholders.
About VIBBAR
When Vibbar started, the aim was to achieve one thing, to bring focus back to the artists/those on stage and create a space for people to have a good time.
Back in 2015, whilst watching Joel Baker perform, Poet and Jordy realised that loads of people in the room were having their own conversations and not respecting the artist on stage.
To them it made no sense and, nearly ten years later, the whole of Vibbar exists to ensure that whoever we bring in feels like they have the respect and attentin they
As a collective: Vibbar is a stand alone entity that functions primarily off of good vibes and great friendships.
The beauty in what we have is a space where all of our gifts, talents and hard work come together with the end product being seen across a plethora of different mediums.
On the surface, we may present as a group of friends who just make music but, we're actually so much more.
Consultants, painters, producers, composers, directors, DJs, videographers, tour managers... there's a lot in house that you'll probably never find out about until you ask.
Having collaborated with the likes of: Shola Ama, Kojey Radical, Ms Banks, J2K (Jason Black), Havana Club UK, Nike and many more; the Vibbar family extends much further than meets the eye.