Veteran MC Verb T returns with the massive new double album ‘To Love a Phantom’

Thomas Conning has been a stalwart of the UK hip-hop scene since the late ‘90s. Alongside peers like Jehst and Task Force, he helped define UK hip-hop’s underground sound, standing out for his smooth and sharp wordplay. In 2011 he joined forces with Fliptrix, Leaf Dog and BVA to form The Four Owls, a hip-hop supergroup whose impeccable chemistry and throwback boom-bap style completely rejuvenated the UK scene.

With over a dozen albums to his name, Verb T is not only one of the most prolific artists in UK hip-hop history, but also a mentor who frequently ushers new talent to the forefront. A few months ago we featured his collaboration with Dublin’s Outstraight Records, combining forces with their eclectic roster on an impromptu studio session that quickly snowballed into a full 12-track album. And he’s already back with yet another huge release.

The sprawling double album To Love a Phantom is billed as his most ambitious offering to date, reuniting with Canadian producer Vic Grimes for a 26-track epic that shifts from classic boom-bap to ambient noir, representing a massive step up in both scale and creativity for the pair. The stacked list of guest features reads like a who’s who of the UK underground with fellow Four Owls crewmates dropping by for hard-hitting cameos, as well as veterans such as Task Force’s Farma G, Nottingham’s Scorzayzee, and rapid-fire champion Harry Shotta, but its the new wave of talent Verb brings in that demonstrates his role as a mentor that nurtures the scene. Rising star TrueMendous, up-and-comers JayaHadADream and Isaiah Dreads, and the Outstraight MCs Beano and Don Kobz all make appearances, building up to well over a dozen guest contributions across the project.

To Love a Phantom looks set to be a career high point in an already staggering journey for Verb T, so we hit him up to find out more:

This album looks like a massive celebration of the UK hip-hop community. Can you talk about what the scene means to you personally, and why you chose the guests that you did?

I had in my head while I was making this album that it was a movie or theatrical production so when I chose the guests I took on the role of casting director. When I would hear the beats Vic sent me the theme for the song and different MCs would come into my head like “they would sound good on this”. I started with people I had worked with before and knew then expanded to people I was a fan of who I thought would work well on the songs I sent them.

I didn’t consciously try to make it a celebration of the UK scene although I see why it feels like that as I’m lucky enough to have a lot of great artists from here on the album. Vic is from Canada and I had wanted to maybe get some features from Canadian and American rappers but I didn’t end up reaching out to anyone. I also have Beano and Don Kobz from Ireland who I have a great working relationship with.

What are you setting out to do on To Love a Phantom that you haven’t done before?

It’s my first double album, and it really is two different sounds and sides to the same story. I would say I’ve had projects where there is a theme and narrative threading the whole album together but with TLAP I’ve honed that process and added more layers to the narrative. I feel like this project highlights the next developmental stage of my career as a rapper, writer and man. In terms of technique I’m always trying to find new pockets to rhyme in or ways to deliver my verses and in the 2-3 years I’ve been writing these tracks I’ve been going through life changes and learning new lessons that only come with time.

What inspired the choice to go so big with this release?

The idea just grew like that. I had so many beats from Vic and as I was writing two different sounds developed. As the last album me and Vic did had no features we were talking about adding some people on to this project, as the track list grew the list of features did as well. I feel like an album with this many songs needed extra voices.

What is it about Vic Grimes’ production that makes him the perfect fit for the project?

His sound is inspired by cinema and soundtracks and the phantom theme that emerged on our first project was inspired by his beats. His music has so much character and the atmosphere his production creates is just as vital to tell the story as what I wrote.

Can you talk about the link up with Outstraight and how Dual Odyssey came about?

I was booked for a show in Dublin and wanted to get into the studio while I was there, we made the song Topsy Turvy and I loved the process and the vibe the guys had in the studio. Next day my flight got grounded due to a storm so I got back in the studio and made more tracks and we kept going. There is a great creative chemistry and all the lads at the label are great people too so it’s always a pleasure to hang out as well.

You’re known for giving younger MCs space to freestyle with you and encouraging them along their way. Can you talk about what makes you want to take someone under your wing?

I am just following what I was always taught coming up as an MC, all the people in the UK who I looked up to showed me love, support and guidance in some shape or form, whether it was advice, words of encouragement or the opportunity to rap with them and even make songs. I wouldn’t be here without that.

Has mentoring younger MCs changed your creative approach in any way?

I wouldn’t say so, it’s inspirational and fulfilling to watch talent grow and I guess that in itself can push me creatively, but my process is one that’s remained the same for ever.

How would you describe what you do differently compared to more mainstream rappers?

I’m not sure, I don’t know how different the process is. Maybe the focus is different, I’d like to think outside of heavily manufactured pop records even the most mainstream rappers will be trying to evoke a mood or create music to make people feel something. I am dedicated to the art of writing songs and rapping and maybe my focus is more on these things than a mainstream artist might be but I don’t know that.

Are you ever going to slow down?

Funny thing is, I feel like I’m creating at a very steady pace. I might speed up before I slow down.

Verb T is hitting the road with his new album ‘To Love a Phantom’, bringing it live across 12 dates from February to April 2026.

Tickets on sale now: https://linktr.ee/verbt

TOUR DATES:

FEB 07 – Bournemouth, The Four Horsemen
FEB 12 – Manchester, The Blues Kitchen
FEB 13 – Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
FEB 19 – Dublin, The Big Romance
FEB 21 – Southampton, Heartbreakers
FEB 27 – London, Jazz Cafe
FEB 28 – Brighton, Alphabet
MAR 07 – Barrow, B.U.M.S
MAR 21 – Northampton, The Black Prince
APR 04 – Bristol, Jam Jar
APR 10 – Graz, Music House
APR 11 – Vienna, B72