Verb T is a UK hip-hop artist, known as Thomas Conning. He is born in 1981 and is associated with The Four Owls and Invisible Inc.

Overview

Verb T starts writing raps at the age of eight and begins releasing records in 1999. He develops a conversational approach to rapping and builds a reputation in UK underground hip-hop for story-led verses, humour, and a slightly twisted comic outlook. He also uses the alter-ego Dick Trusay from time to time.

Style and themes

His writing is shaped by artists including Slick Rick, Al Green, De La Soul and Jimi Hendrix. The subjects in his work include social awareness, paranoia, drug addiction and self-improvement. The style is often described through its narrative focus and its skits as much as through its straight rap verses.

Early activity and releases

In the late 1990s he performs at open mic nights across London while recording early demo tracks with producer Harry Love. His first single is Ill Behaviour in 1999 on Ape Man Records. He then appears on mixtapes by DJs including M.K. from Kiss FM, which helps establish his profile.

In 2002 he releases Showbitchness with Harry Love on Low Life Records. Later that year, Low Life owner Braintax asks him to begin a full-length project with rapper Kashmere, leading to Backhand Slap Talk. That album appears on Low Life in 2004 and tours widely, with dates across the UK as well as in France, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Holland, Greece and the USA.

Collaborations

Verb T works with a wide range of artists in the UK and US independent hip-hop scenes. Collaborators include Jehst, Sway, Harry Love, William Orbit and Edwin Collins, as well as Ghost, Kashmere, Braintax, Ed O.G., Royce da 5'9", Taskforce, Juice, Last Skeptik, Sonny Jim, Fliptrix, Farma G, Dr Syntax, Jam Baxter, Grit Grama, Manage, Skrein, Metropolis and Coppertop.

He also records with Harry Love on Bring It Back to Basics, released on Silent Soundz in 2006 and regarded by many as a classic album. In 2007 he releases Broken Window with Last Skeptik, also on Silent Soundz. In 2008 he issues Verbs With a Vengeance on Thomas Records.

Selected releases

His discography includes Ill Behaviour (1999), Showbitchness (2002), Backhand Slap Talk (2004), I’m Not That Guy with Juice (2005), Bring It Back to Basics (2006), Broken Window (2007), Verbs With a Vengeance (2008) and Spar Zoot (2010). He also appears on a number of featured tracks and compilations, including songs with Jehst, Braintax, Fliptrix and Jam Baxter.