Joe Black x Squeeks — The Usual Suspects: Two Islington Icons Reunite

There's a particular type of anticipation that only UK rap can generate — the kind that doesn't come from hype cycles or industry push, but from years of earned respect, street credibility, and the quiet acknowledgement that certain artists simply belong together. When Joe Black and Squeeks announced The Usual Suspects, that feeling returned to the timeline with force.

Dropping April 30th, 2026, the joint project is a long time coming. Two Islington veterans. Two distinct voices. One project that has the potential to remind an entire generation exactly where UK rap came from.

The Backstory: North London's Finest

Both Joe Black and Squeeks are products of Islington — one of London's most culturally rich and historically underrepresented boroughs in mainstream music. Long before the UK rap scene gained the international profile it holds today, these two were laying foundational stones in their community, building discographies that would go on to influence a wave of artists who followed.

Joe Black (@joeblackuk) has built a reputation as one of the most consistent and lyrically sharp voices in UK underground rap. His catalogue — spanning mixtapes like Realionaire, Certified, and The Return of Real Rap — is a masterclass in storytelling rooted in lived experience. He doesn't perform struggle; he articulates it with precision and pride.

Squeeks (@squeekstp) is equally formidable. Known for his Islington-stamped style and unfiltered delivery, his Presidential Musiq (2015) and Nostalgia (2023) projects cemented him as a generational voice within UK road rap. Tracks like 2AM in Islington and his Squeeks Sundays freestyle series demonstrated that his pen never dulls — only sharpens with time.

The two have appeared on tracks together before — most notably the original Usual Suspects collaboration that hinted at the chemistry this joint project would eventually capture in full.

The Intro: Setting the Tone

The lead single, The Intro, arrived as a statement of intent. Produced by Westy On The Beats, it doesn't waste a bar. Both artists step in with the confidence of veterans who have nothing to prove — which, ironically, is exactly what makes the track so compelling. There's no posturing here. Just two emcees at the height of their craft, trading bars over production that feels engineered for this exact moment.

The visual, shot in cinematic red-tinted shadow, leans into the project's noir aesthetic. The Usual Suspects mug-shot artwork — both artists standing sharp against a police line-up backdrop — is one of the most visually arresting rollout images UK rap has produced this year.

The Instagram post from Squeeks: "Squeeks x Joe Black just dropped their FIRST single off Usual Suspects." It racked up nearly 8,000 likes within days. The streets noticed.

Why This Project Matters

In 2026, UK rap sits at an interesting crossroads. The genre has never been more commercially visible, yet there is a growing hunger — particularly among long-time listeners — for music that prioritises substance over streaming metrics. The Usual Suspects occupies that space without apology.

This isn't nostalgia bait. It isn't a cynical reunion designed to capitalise on legacy. It is two artists who have maintained relevance through consistency, returning to the format that first made them compelling: collaborative, honest, technically proficient rap music made for people who actually listen.

For UK listeners who came up on road rap, grime, and the post-2010 underground movement, this project carries genuine emotional weight. It is a document of a scene that never stopped existing, even when the cameras pointed elsewhere.

Stream & Follow

The Usual Suspects — Stream on Spotify

Joe Black on Spotify

Squeeks on Spotify

Joe Black — Instagram

Squeeks — Instagram

Westy On The Beats — Instagram

The Verdict

The Usual Suspects is more than a project — it is a reaffirmation. A reminder that the artists who built the foundation of UK rap are still here, still creating, and still capable of producing work that commands the full attention of anyone who calls themselves a genuine fan of the genre.

April 30th. Mark the calendar.

Two legends. One project. Reality rap is back.