As part of Subway’s “Plant-Based Beats” campaign, the track seeks to champion veganism. Via PlantWave technology, the vegan artists were able to sample sounds from plants that are used as part of Subway’s plant-based menu. The campaign launch was accompanied by a video uploaded to TikTok, alongside a seven-minute YouTube documentary that depicts the recording process behind the track. Both pieces of content were directed by Jamal Edwards, founder of SB.TV.

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Whilst discussing the way in which ‘Vegang’ came about in a press release, P Money said, “Before Subway invited us to the indoor farm to record the plant-based beat, I couldn’t process the fact that a plant can make a sound but it’s actually mad! The bars in this track are about my journey to becoming a vegan and I’ve tried to incorporate the whole message behind what we’re trying to do with Earth Day and raising awareness. At the end of the day this is what we’re about.”

Star.One added, “This wasn’t something we’d done before but we’ve remixed the plants melody with our own vibes, to create the first ever plant-based grime beat! You have to kind of move with the times these days because people are demanding more vegan options, and so the fact that Subway are getting involved is wicked.”

This legendary MC and sibling production duo are historical collaborators. However, the last time that they linked up was on ‘Originators’ back in 2019, a high-octane, jungle-inspired track also featuring Scrufizzer and Maxta. Respectively, these artists have a long-standing history in the UK music scene, and so were a perfect fit for this campaign.

Angie Gosal, marketing director of Subway UK & Ireland, also spoke about the track in a press release. She said, “As more people champion plant-based lifestyles, we’re excited to be involved in the release of the first-ever grime track made from plant sounds. With our ever-expanding vegan range, Earth Day felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate Subway now having one of the biggest and tastiest plant-based menus on the high street, to offer you even more choice.”

There is certainly a growing sense in the mainstream that veganism could be play a serious part in the solution to environmental issues. Earth Day 2021 hopefully provided many people with a chance to re-consider the relationship between food, people, and the environment.

Watch the backstory of how ‘Vegang’ was created below:

P Money titled the mix-tape ‘While We Wait‘, because he viewed the project as an intermission, ‘While We Wait‘ for venues to reopen. Despite only being three tracks long, the E.P. demonstrates a diverse range of sound and feeling. Speaking on the release, P Money explains that :’While we wait for life to get back to normal and Venues to reopen I thought I’d give you a 3 track EP to get you through the next month or 2 until we drop the next project ‘Un-traditional E.P.’ by P Money x Silencer’.

It opens with ‘Bumbaclart Riddem‘, in which P Money goes lyric for lyric with Nottingham artist, Mez. It is fast paced and frantic, a mood which is in stark contrast to the second track. ‘Is Someone There?’, the mix-tape’s second song, is an emotional exploration. P Money opens up on his struggles with mental and physical health.

The mix-tape ends with the assertive, ‘Pagan’s Everywhere‘. It is a potent track which writhes with P Money’s traditional sound.

P Money has given fans a bonus with his new E.P., which opens a window into the breadth of the emcee’s talents. Be sure to take in the E.P.’s accompanying visuals below:

FINALLY they are scrapping Form 696. For anyone that doesn’t think it’s racist, in over a thousand shows we’ve had to fill it out once. That show was an event put on by the Jamaican tourist board.

— The Skints (@theskints) November 10, 2017

Form 696 was first introduced in 2005, and was used predominantly by the Metropolitan police. It was introduced in direct response to several shootings in nightclubs across England’s capital. The Form required promoters and licensees from all over the country to to fill out the form, which asks for the names, stage names, addresses and phone numbers of all promoters and artists at an event.  

Its official, a form that has attempted to block the music we love so much, from living in a live event space has been scrapped! #Form696 pic.twitter.com/EhRZie9z4k — Nokia Times (@nokia_times) November 10, 2017

The form first came under criticism as far back as 2009, when two questions asking for the ethnic make-up of the audience and music genre were removed from the form after many complaints of racism. Grime music was believed to be a specific target of this, with artists such as Giggs and P Money suffering heavily after information was passed on to police via the form, and both had their respective tours cancelled.

The Grime community has never forgotten this, and since 2009 have continued to point the finger at the police, claiming that Form 696 was manipulated to allow police to specifically target black music events in London.

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement on the scrapping of Form 696, which reads: “There is no doubt that over the last decade a number of serious incidents have been prevented through the effective exchange of information, advice and intelligence between the Met, promoters and venue managers as part of this process.

However, we also recognise recent concerns raised by members of the London music industry, particularly around a perception that events associated with some genres of music were disproportionately affected by this process.”

Event promoters and license holders in the UK are asked to fill out  a ‘Form 696′ before an some events featuring DJs and MCs. The intrusive form requests the names, stage names, addresses, and phone numbers of all promoters and artists at an event.

Victoria Derbyshire’s radio programme even found that some police forces are asking about the ethnic make-up of both the audience that will be in the event’s attendance, and of the music genre involved with the event. These regulations are still in place despite these questions being removed from the standard form after a review in 2009. However a further investigation using a Freedom of Information request has revealed that 16 other police forces use similar wording and similar versions of the form.

Police have defended themselves, stating that the form has helped to reduce crime and disorderly behaviour at these events, but the effect that their actions have had on the genre over the years has been telling. in 2010, Giggs had to cancel an entire tour following police advice, and even as recently as 2016 has claimed that he still faces “so much nonsense” when it comes to organising live shows. Boy Better Know member JME has been incredibly vocal about his dealings with the police in the past, and even took part in a 2014 documentary on the subject, which you can watch below.

Grime MC P Money also spoke to the BBC on the matter recently, finitely claiming ‘Form 696′ to be “a race thing”. P Money suggested that police deliberately targeted the grime genre above others, due to stereotyping, claiming “we know they’re just trying to shut down grime, because if it was anything else they wouldn’t have this issue,” he said. “If, for example, Ed Sheeran had a show and a fight broke out, he’s not going to do a 696 on his next arena tour.”

A statement from the Mayor of London’s  office on the matter read”We have supported a number of events that bring together the Met, music venues, and promoters to try to improve the understanding of when and how Risk Assessment Form 696 should be used.”