Hailing from Liverpool, 19 year old Starkey The Messenger (Gabriel Starkey) is an alternative hip hop producer, rapper, singer, multi-instrumentalist and poet.
His debut single ‘Wildfire’, released on 11/12/2020, was supported by BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Introducing Merseyside, Plus 1 Radio, House of Poets, Bido Lito and more. Starkey followed this up with the introspective ‘Seventh Step’, and soulful new release ‘Cocoa Butter’, garnering further attention for his unique, introspective and lyrical sound.
With a focus on social and political issues, Starkey pushes a brand of alternative hip hop influenced by UK artists such as Kojey Radical, Jay Prince and Loyle Carner, as well as US artists such as Saba, Noname and Mick Jenkins. However, he has ambitions to carve out his own space. He is set to release his debut EP in Autumn 2021.