The winter chill may still be hanging round, but it won’t be long until we’re slapping on the sunscreen for another festival season — and already Longitude has marked itself out as one of the most anticipated events in many a year.

No small amount of the buzz is down to the return of the inimitable Kendrick Lamar. Having garnered a mantle-troubling amount of awards for To Pimp A Butterfly, the Compton man is widely regarded as not only one of music’s biggest stars, but one of the most important cultural figures today. Paul Nolan looks at the making of the man, while Dan Rys turns back the clock to the beginning of Lamar’s career. And Maverick Sabre offers an artist’s perspective on why everyone is talking about K Dot.

We couldn’t let Mav go without sitting down for a chinwag on what he’s got going on, so ahead of his Bow St. Sessions appearance he chats with Colm O’Regan about working with Joey Bada$$ and the journey that led to his latest album Innerstanding.

Our Hot for 2016 special sees Pleasure Beach and Anne Marie Nicholson talk ahead of a year that should see their respective stocks soar, while we profile 50 acts from both here and overseas that are likely to soundtrack your year.

There’s also an interview with Room producer Ed Guiney, a chat with Rob Doyle about his new novel, This Is The Ritual, and an in-depth natter with one of our best hopes at the upcoming Olympics, Paddy Barnes.

Add in all the usual news, reviews, interviews, previews and much, much more, and you’re looking at another jam-packed issue of Hot Press, on shelves now!

To buy the new Hot Press, with our cover star Kendrick Lamar, simply click here.
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