North London rapper CASisDEAD has been an enigmatic underground figure for over a decade, but he peeked his masked face from out of the shadows this week after winning Best Hip-Hop/Grime Act at the Brits.
Formerly known as MC Castro Saint, the rapper went into hibernation for five years and reemerged in 2012 with a new persona, and these days an uncanny valley hyper-real stretched rubber mask and a vibe rich in retrofuturist synths and dystopian narratives.
His long-awaited debut album, 2023’s Famous Last Words, boosted him to the top of the UK rap ladder with its elaborate character sketches and blend of stark night bus synths and 80s drum machines led by Kyle Dixon of Stranger Things theme fame.
The Brits win is his biggest crossover moment, after hype in alternative press for his calling card single Pat Earrings — and this week’s win and first high-profile tour will be remembered as a pivotal moment in UK rap history.
CASisDEAD plays the Button Factory in Dublin tonight
Moo Kid 