Taco Hemingway's Jarmark
Rapper Taco Hemingway, who became the first Polish artist to be streamed a billion times on Spotify as of 2021, released Jarmark (Fair) as his most politically charged album to date. Known as “the voice of a generation with nothing to say”, Hemingway defies this label on Jarmark with a bold, critical perspective on modern Poland. The album's lead single, 'Polskie Tango', released just two days before the 2020 Polish presidential election, helped frame the album as a timely intervention in a deeply divided society.
The book examines Jarmark as a cultural reflection of Poland's postsocialist history, migration and populist turn. It examines the album's lyrical and musical characteristics within the context of Polish rap history and Hemingway's career trajectory. It also analyses the album's impact through fan responses on social media, critical reviews, sales and awards, presenting Jarmark as both a personal and national statement at a critical juncture for Poland.
The paperback edition of the book will be published on February 6th, 2025, as part of Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series.
Order via Bloomsbury
SEEN Magazine
SEEN is an independent music magazine which celebrates global majority and marginalised artists, journalists, communities, music scenes and audiences. Its central concept champions diverse and unheard voices representative of cultural landscapes in the UK and globally – but usually not included in mainstream music publications due to systemic lack of representation in the music industry and journalism.
SEEN also curates exhibitions and music events. Previous collaborations have included a day-long takeover of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum in 2023 which celebrated the sounds and heritage of South Asian diaspora and global majority artists as part of Manchester International Festival. Exhibitions have included 2023's SEEN In The Windows in collaboration with Manchester's Platt Hall, which exhibited photography and excerpts of articles that were commissioned for Issue One of SEEN and a photography exhibition of Daniel Oyegade's work at the city's Longsight Art Space. In 2023, SEEN was nominated for a Manchester Culture Award in the 'Made in Manchester' category.
Ongoing collaborations include programming the Bexley Square stage at Sounds from the Other City festival in Salford and events at Manchester's SOUP music venue and club. 2025 will see SEEN publish Issue Two, focusing on decolonising electronic music.
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Journalism
Selected Feature Writing
Published in Vice, i-D, Dazed, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, The Face, The Fader, Crack Magazine and Interview Magazine, amongst others.
2024
salute: push the system
A cover profile of Vienna-born, Manchester-based artist salute, discussing their musical upbringing, commitment to Black artistry, and forthcoming debut album on Ninja Tune.
DJ Mag
2024
DJ Paulette has always been one step ahead
An in-depth interview with DJ Paulette discussing her pioneering career and forthcoming book Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ.
Mixmag
2023
Putting on Black Rap Gigs Is Still As Hard As Ever
An investigation into the challenges Black rap artists and promoters face in securing live performance opportunities.
VICE
2023
Blackpool Grime Revisited: How the Jokers Came Out on Top
A look into the evolution of Blackpool's grime scene and the artists who have risen above internet memes.
VICE
2023
Why Do All the Festival Lineups Look and Feel the Same?
An analysis of the homogenization of UK festival lineups and its implications for the music industry.
VICE
2023
British R&B Is Thriving. Why Is It Being Ignored?
A discussion on the overlooked success of the UK's R&B scene despite industry recognition.
VICE
2021
A Barrier to Being Seen: Ageism and Sexism Intersect on the Dance Floor
An exploration of how ageism and sexism intersect in the electronic music scene, examining the challenges faced by older female DJs and their fight for visibility and respect.
Resident Advisor
2021
The UK Is Overlooking Its Homegrown Polish Rappers
An exploration of the growing Polish rap scene and its potential in the UK market.
VICE
2020
The unstoppable rise of Michael Bibi
A cover feature exploring Michael Bibi's ascent in the tech-house scene, highlighting his work with Solid Grooves and his impact on electronic music.
Mixmag
2020
Prosecuting Rap: how a UK legal project is fighting the use of rap lyrics in court
A long-read on the growing trend of using rap lyrics as evidence in UK criminal trials, its impact on young Black men, and the Manchester project working to challenge it.
DJ Mag
2020
Nothing but herself: Why Teni The Entertainer is a new kind of pop star
A cover profile of Nigerian artist Teni The Entertainer, highlighting her unique blend of afropop, rap, and comedy, and her challenge to traditional gender norms.
Mixmag
2019
The forgotten history of the Reno: Manchester’s original nightclub for mixed race youth
A look into the legacy of the Reno nightclub and its significance for Manchester's mixed-race community.
i-D
2019
How Musicians Re-Adjust to Public Life After Time in Prison
An investigation into how musicians navigate the challenges of reintegrating into public life and reviving their careers after serving time in prison.
VICE
2019
With Poland’s LGBTQ+ community under attack, its club scene is resisting
An exploration of how Poland's music community is creating safe spaces amid rising homophobia.
Dazed
2018
The women who’ve been written out of Manchester clubbing history
A tribute to women like DJ Paulette, Lucy Scher, and Ang Matthews, who were vital to Manchester's Haçienda nightclub and nightlife culture at large, but whose stories are rarely told.
Dazed
2018
These Artists Are Battling the Dilution of Caribbean Sound System Culture
An exploration of how artists like GAIKA and director Sean Frank are addressing the challenges posed by gentrification and policing to Caribbean sound system culture in London and New York.
VICE
2018
070 Shake is the haunting voice who shines on Kanye and Pusha’s albums
An interview with the 20-year-old rapper and singer about signing to G.O.O.D Music and Xanax addiction.
Dazed
2017
Rap hero: J Hus is the optimistic soundtrack to Britain's turbulent times
A cover feature profile of J Hus, exploring how his unique blend of dancehall and Afrobeats has brightened up a bleak period in Britain.
Mixmag
2016
Fuck Your Weak Views: 19-Year-Old Shogun is Scotland’s Great Rap Hope
An exploration of 19-year-old Scottish rapper Shogun's rise from Paisley to national attention, highlighting his raw lyrical talent and the challenges he faces in a burgeoning Scottish grime scene.
VICE
2016
A Look Inside Blackpool’s Burgeoning Grime Scene
A scene report on Blackpool's controversial grime scene, highlighting how young MCs use online platforms to express themselves amid the town's socio-economic challenges and mixed public reactions.
VICE
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2025). Taco Hemingway’s Jarmark. London: Bloomsbury.
Nel, François and Rymajdo, Kamila. (2024). “The drivers of change that affect the supply of trustworthy, public-interest news in the UK - findings from a multi-stakeholder, participatory foresight study.” In Media and Communications Journal. Lisbon: Cogitatio Press.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2023). “Polish hip hop at home and abroad: return migration in the work of Taco Hemingway.” In Journal of World Popular Music. Sheffield: Equinox Publishing.
Reisner, Latoya and Rymajdo, Kamila. (2022). “The 0161 rap gap: The marginalisation of Black rap musicians in Manchester’s live music scene.” In Popular Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2021). “Ageism and Sexism in Manchester’s Club Culture.” In E. Mazierska, T. Rigg, L. Gillon (Eds.) The Evolution of Electronic Dance Music. London: Bloomsbury.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2020). “‘It’s Grime Up North’: Examining the Phenomenon of Blackpool Grime.” In E. Mazierska (Ed.) Blackpool in Film and Popular Music. London: Routledge.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2019). “Polish music in British nightclubs. Examining how nostalgic longing brought disco polo and Polish hip hop to the United Kingdom.” In P. Galuszka (Ed.) Made In Poland: Studies in Popular Music. London: Routledge.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2018). “The Hidden Worker Bees – Advanced Neoliberalism and Manchester’s Underground Club Scene.” In E. Mazierska, T. Rigg, L. Gillon (Eds.) Popular Music in the Post-Digital Age: Politics, Economy, Culture and Technology. London: Bloomsbury.
Mazierska, Ewa and Rymajdo, Kamila. (2017). “The North and Europe in 24 Hour Party People and Control.” In E. Mazierska (Ed.) Heading North. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2017). “Why is everyone not falling in love? Love, Sex and Neoliberalism in Film Adaptations of Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, The Informers and American Psycho” In L. Kristensen and E. Mazierska (Eds.) Contemporary Cinema and Ideology. London: Routledge.
Rymajdo, Kamila. (2016). “Hashtag 0161: Did Bugzy Malone put Manny on the map?” in Popular Music History. Sheffield: Equinox.
2024
Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX), Manchester, UK
Presented a paper on the marginalisation of Black rap musicians in Manchester’s live music scene as part of the SEEN panel at WOMEX which explored ethics, resistance and the decolonisation of global music.
2023
European Media Management Association, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
Presented a paper on British media management responses to the war in Ukraine within the context of culture and entertainment.
2023
Association for Journalism Education Annual Conference, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
Co-presented a paper on News Futures 2035, a foresight study on the future of trustworthy public-interest news in the UK conducted by the University of Central Lancashire.
2023
Diversity and Inclusivity in the Music Industry Conference, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Panelist at a conference discussing diversity and inclusivity in the UK music industry.
2016
Future Sound Music conference at University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Presented a paper on the changing social status of musicians within the wider shifts affecting the music industry since digitalisation.
2015
Mediating the North conference at University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Presenting two papers, I discussed nostalgia within music promotion in Manchester and the social integration potential of staging Polish hip hop events in the UK.
