Newport-raised rapper wins £10,000 as judges herald ‘vision and ambition’ of three-part album Blood, Sweat & Fears

The underground rapper Lemfreck has beaten established stars such as Skindred and Gruff Rhys to win the 2024 Welsh music prize.

The 30-year-old from Newport, born Lemarl Freckleton, was given the award in recognition of his ambitious, deeply atmospheric three-part 2023 album Blood, Sweat & Fears. At the time of its release he said he intended it to “give a voice to those in our community. There are whole regions within Wales that are surrounded by poverty due to being purely forgotten by those in government. Our biggest fear is that we are never seen or heard.”