Lead Wetsuit Schematics: Navigating the Failure of Scottish Rap with Tzusan & Shogun

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Tzusan and Shogun have carved out a unique sound on their latest LP, Lead Wetsuit Schematics, which explores the obstacles to successful rap music in Scotland. This self-help guide to failure is a testament to their creative independence and perseverance in the face of a fractured and competitive Scottish rap scene.

The album has a sludgy texture and obscure samples that draw the listener deeper into its murky world. Explosive verses drop out of nowhere, while surprise features pop out from behind hazes of distortion. The project delivers a beautiful message buried beneath all of this, as Tzusan and Shogun grapple with the obstacles to successful rap music in Scotland.

Without labelling a manatee a mermaid, Lead Wetsuit Schematics is an underground classic, enlisting the drug-fuelled entendres of Sonnyjim, Roll Deep alumni Manga Saint Hilare, CMPND cornerstone Vitamin G, Aussie High Focus signing Nelson Dialect, and the enigmatic Senso Zentinel.

Tzusan’s refined taste for unusual words and obscure delicacies can be found all over the project, from the carefully unsettled production to the literal rolled up schematics of album artwork littered around his room. Shogun, on the other hand, brings to the table his unrestrained flow and no-fucks attitude, which made him a fan favourite on the 2020 season of Krept and Konan’s Rap Game UK.

Their creative collaboration began when Shogun caught sight of Tzusan’s ‘Holograms’ back in 2020, and it’s been uphill (or downhill) since then. The two have developed a maturity that was not spotlighted on either of their more publicised ventures and have created a self-help guide to failure, as they navigate the Scottish rap scene’s challenges.

Lead Wetsuit Schematics aims to be a good influence for others on the scene, with Shogun rapping on ‘Dhukit’, “These are crayon-written blueprints / so the kiddies can try and do this”. Tzusan mentioned their desire to see more initiatives like AudioActive in their community, which has been a blessing for them.

Lead Wetsuit Schematics is not for the faint-hearted, as it seeps into the listener’s consciousness like a toxic substance. Tzusan and Shogun have created an underground classic that offers a unique and challenging experience for those who dare to listen. They have shown that it’s possible to be creative and independent, despite a fractured and competitive Scottish rap scene, and offer blueprints for other aspiring artists in the process.