VLAD TV [@VladTV] is launching its UK arm led by DJ Dubl [@DJDUBL]

DJ Dubl has just been announced to be fronting the new UK branch of VLAD TV.

With UK music growing interest amongst US audiences VLAD TV is moving to capitalise on that by expanding into having a dedicated UK arm of the channel. The UK arm will see DJ Dubl as the lead interviewer and is going to be kicking off next week with OFB‘s Double Lz and Bandokay. The format will be the same as traditional VLAD interviews with it being a longform interview that is going to be broken down into clips as well as receive a full length release.

DJ Dubl has forged a strong reputation for discovering and championing emerging talents from the UK scene, he has presented several live broadcasts for BBC 1Xtra and is known for his own YouTube channel, having interviewed some of the biggest names in the country, including Giggs, J Hus, Wretch 32, Ms Banks, Stefflon Don and many more. He has also recorded interviews with international names such as Will.I.Am, Damian Marley, Ty Dolla $ign, Anne Marie and more recently released Pop Smoke’s first ever UK interview.

VLAD TV has been a staple channel for the US scene for a while and managed to rack up over 4 million subscribers on YouTube. It is one of the few platforms in the US dedicated to in depth interviews with the hottest artists and cultural icons of both the past and present. It has featured names like Mike Tyson, Boosie, Bobby Shmurda, Danny Trejo and more. Whilst having cemented itself as part of the culture it hasn’t been without its share of controversy. From claims of DJ Vlad being a culture vulture, not appropriately compensating the artists he features and even claims of Vlad working with the police the VLAD brand has seen a slight decline culturally over the years.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how this UK arm pans out. With a new voice who is well versed in the culture only time will tell how well this UK branch of VLAD TV will turn out. I’m hopeful that the brand name will continue to secure big names but that Dubl can show people the quality conversation we want without the negatives DJ Vlad has come to be synonymous with.