Bob Vylan are an English punk-rap duo based in London, active since 2017. The group consists of Bobby Vylan on guitar and vocals and Bobbie Vylan on drums. The two performers use stage names in order to maintain their privacy. The name Bob Vylan is a play on the name Bob Dylan and the word “villain.” Their music combines punk rock, hip-hop, grime and hardcore, and has been described as punk rap, rap rock and alternative rock.
Bobby and Bobbie Vylan formed the group in Ipswich in 2017, playing their first concert just two weeks after forming. As a teenager, Bobby performed slam poetry under the name Nee Hi, receiving coverage from the BBC in the mid-2000s. During their first year, Bob Vylan released four singles and two EPs, Dread and Vylan, through their own Ghost Theatre label. Following a DIY approach, the musicians personally delivered their releases to record stores and organised their own shows.
Their debut album, We Live Here, was released independently in 2020 after the band said that the music industry had considered the material “too extreme.” The album was followed by tours supporting The Offspring and Biffy Clyro, as well as appearances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Their second studio album, Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life, was released in 2022 and reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. The album earned Bob Vylan Best Album at the Kerrang! Awards and Best Alternative Music Act at the MOBO Awards. Their third studio album, Humble as the Sun, was released in 2024 and reached number one on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart.
Bob Vylan’s lyrics address subjects including racism, police violence, economic inequality, gentrification, homophobia, toxic masculinity, mental health and the experiences of Black people in Europe. Their music combines grime and punk with elements of dancehall, reggae and spoken-word poetry. Their cited influences include Johnny Rotten, Akala, Dizzee Rascal, Stormzy, Skepta and Whitney Houston.
The duo have performed at festivals including Reading, Leeds, Coachella, Glastonbury, Riot Fest and Pukkelpop. In 2025, their Glastonbury performance became the subject of controversy because of political statements and a chant involving the IDF, followed by cancelled performances and the revocation of their US visas. A UK police investigation into the Glastonbury incident concluded in December 2025 without criminal prosecution. In 2026, Bob Vylan also initiated legal proceedings against several media organisations.
