Proph Makes Sampling His Own on HURT’S THE NEW SEXY

South London’s Proph blends ambitious sampling with sharp lyricism on HURT’S THE NEW SEXY, signaling a creative revival in UK Hip-Hop

Written by Jule Riemenschneider

Photography by @mjvisuals1

Sampling has always been fundamental to UK Hip-Hop and its sub-genres. A few years ago, the scene was flooded with heavy-sampling drill productions, an era that quickly oversaturated a once exciting formula. Recently though, sampling has been revived in refreshing and innovative ways. Artists like Jim Legxacy are at the forefront of this new golden era of sampling. His album black british music (2025) utilised multiple samples across various genres, demonstrating his multi-faceted artistry and a project that is both nostalgic and forward thinking.

South-London rapper Proph is part of this creative resurgence. His latest mixtape, HURT’S THE NEW SEXY (2025) is filled with ambitious sampling-infused productions that blend old and new, complemented by clever wordplay and experimentation. 

The mixtape kicks off with ‘THERAPY’S EXPENSIVE,’ which utilises spoken word to introduce the theme of resilience as the backbone of the album. Proph tells Groove Magazine he wanted “the introduction to feel like a personal way to be introduced to the world,” and it achieves exactly that. At the core of HURT’S THE NEW SEXY is Proph’s commitment to honesty. It’s an amalgamation of “everything I’ve studied, like great music, and everything I’ve experienced in life and in music.” As such, the mixtape navigates finding a sense of honesty within himself and his sound. 

“I mean, I’m a hip hop guy, through and through to my core,” Proph explains when discussing the foundations of rap and how it’s inspired him in countless ways to express himself. His raw, undisputed talent as a rapper is on full display in ‘Trademark P,’ the mixtape’s standout track. The fiery, hard-hitting rap song showcases his effortless confidence and rapid flows.

The mixtape takes an R&B turn on ‘HIGH MAINTENANCE’ and ‘SOMETIMES,’ where Proph opts for a stripped-down, layered R&B track with a melodic hook. Growing up with Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo and Whitney Houston, RnB is tied to his childhood. He recalls Sunday mornings soundtracked by thumping R&B classics that bring “a feeling of being at home.” There's a sense of familiarity and comfort through the R&B tracks on HURT’S THE NEW SEXY, blending his early influences with a modern twist.  

“There are certain messages which you can convey more through melody,” he explains. “The way I make music is if I want to say something or feel a certain way, whatever means I use to get that message across.”  His sonic versatility is on full display while reinforcing a great sense of care and intent in the emotional resonance of his tracks. 

Meanwhile, the Neptunes’ inspiration blending with Tinashe’s ‘Nasty’ on ‘IG Baby’ is a prime example of Proph’s innovative production style. Proph sums up his creative process as “I like my music to feel like it’s just another world, something that you haven’t been to before.” Not only does he showcase his range, but he reiterates his ability to blend old with new. While the mixtape hops from genre to genre, it remains cohesive and crafted with exceptional care. 

Proph continues his streak of sampling excellence by reusing vintage samples in ‘RENDEZVOUS’ and ‘BITTUHSWEET’. He teams up with Jordy on ‘Rendezvous,’ a collaboration that satisfies long-time listeners and true rap fans alike. The track blends their back-to-back rap styles over a Baile-Funk inspired beat enriched with the nostalgic touch of a vintage sample. Their chemistry is undeniable, with sharp bars traded effortlessly over the production, reaffirming the chemistry between two of UK rap’s most compelling lyricists right now. 

Similarly, ‘BITTUHSWEET’ features a vintage sample, with his lyrics taking centre stage. As the closing track of the mixtape, Proph shares his frustrations with the game, personal loss, fame, and the lack of guidance. It’s a poignant, sincere, and introspective piece that reflects his honesty with himself and the world. The conversation concludes with the theme of honesty being his guiding principle in life and a key lesson from his music. He tells Groove Magazine that “honesty is the best policy,” and he never wants to dictate how listeners should feel. ‘I want you to feel,” he explains when describing what he loves about music. The mixtape delivers exactly that message; it’s honest in both its sonic and lyrical content and evokes emotions without feeling out of place or compromised. 

The project stands as a masterclass in sampling done right. It’s a creative push that doesn’t intimidate the rapper. Instead, Proph embraces it, using it as fuel to explore the sounds, themes and messages that make up the multifaceted artist. The result is a body of work that showcases an honest and intentional artist who is operating fully on his own terms.

With the recent release of HURT’S THE NEW SEXY Deluxe, fans can expect an extension of the record that delves deeper into emotional complexities and his artistic vision.