PREMIERE: Mogal - Tom Hardy Bars (Official Video) + 10 Questions

South West UK rapper Mogal is switching up the tempo with his new single ‘TOM HARDY BARS’, arriving independently across all streaming platforms on 21 September 2026.

Stepping beyond the boom bap sound that has shaped much of his previous work, Mogal pushes things up to 140 BPM for a faster, more danceable feel. The track also marks the beginning of a run of new material produced by German producer Hanses, with mixing and mastering handled by Daniel Habitus.

Based in Cornwall, Mogal has steadily built his reputation through sharp wordplay, storytelling and an increasingly strong live presence. He has supported the likes of Slum Village, Arrested Development, Obie Trice, Coops and Lords of the Underground, while collaborations with Dr Syntax, Illiterate and Verbz have further established his place within UK hip hop.

Even his name has its own piece of history. It dates back to an early freestyle session with friends at a reservoir near Falmouth, where a mispronunciation of The Jungle Book’s Mowgli as “Mogal” stopped the session in its tracks. The nickname stuck, and years later it remains the name behind an artist continuing to broaden his sound.

Mogal sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Woah, man started off with a big one! Music has been such a prominent part of my life since I was really small. My mum and dad split when I was small so my time was massively split. So from the start it’s always been two huge influences. My mum has always been more into folk based artists like Joanna Newsom and Amy Winehouse. Whereas my dad more into people like the Beatles & Bob Dylan. So that’s where my passion for music came from I think. It’s funny that my love for hip hop, I guess other than Gorrilaz & The Streets, actually came about later on into my mid teens. 

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

Love this question. I think my three biggest influences in music are Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn, Songer and Loyle Carner. If I had the opportunity to work with any of them honestly I wouldn’t know what to do with myself 😂. Recently watched Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn at Boomtown stood directly in the middle of the frontline bar sang every lyric and balled my little eyes out. Also had the opportunity to meet him after and had a little chat which really has made my year.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

Well I recently released an album with an Italian producer called ‘Mugensoul’ titled ‘A dog with a crown is hard to control’. It’s a 10 track project with a little bit of everything in terms of lyrics. The production is mainly boombap & lofi hip hop focused.

In terms of future projects. This single ‘Tom Hardy Bars’ is the first collaboration of many I have coming up with ‘Hanses’. Exploring further away from my usual confines of 80-95 bpm.

My new music for the next chapter will be focused on lofi grime, garage & more upbeat dance music. Double time flows and funny wordplay!

4. How would you describe your sound?

This is a difficult one to answer as I love genre hopping. But I guess one thing that is continuous throughout (unless blatantly obvious that I’m taking the mick) is honesty.

Writing is my passion. I do love rapping about nothing sometimes but my favourite music has always come when I’m venting or when I’m writing about something very specific.

Two examples of this would be, my 2024 single ‘Rest in beats’. A song I wrote shortly after losing a brother to suicide.

And my 2026 single ‘Sorry I don’t speak’ where I explore the emotion of knowing I can’t leave the living world because I’ve seen what it does to loved ones, but also not knowing how to deal with my own mental health. Which leads to this feeling of being trapped with nowhere to go.

I know it’s unrelated to this interview but if anyone is reading this and feels unable to talk about there emotions, there is help available. I’ve been in those shoes I love you.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Proudest moment to date. In 2019 I was played on 6music introducing which was big at the time for me but I’ve developed so much since then that it feels super distant. A big one this year has been being booked to play at Cornwalls biggest day party by ‘2SME’. Seeing my name alongside some of my uk hip hop idols like ‘Verb T’, ‘Verbz’ and ‘Pitch 92’ is a great feeling.

I’ve also had the incredible privilege of supporting some real legends of the scene solo and also alongside my brothers at DysFam.

Slum Village, Coops, Obie Trice, Arrested Development & Lords Of The Underground.

Cornish Bank & Princess Pavillion in Falmouth really blessed us with those sets.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

I think it’s important to just be yourself. It’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time.  Something that sounds so simple but sometimes can just feel so far from it ya know. I guess in my case maybe imposters syndrome.

It’s also ok to not be good at something. Thats how you get better. If you love it enough man you’ll start seeing that up turn. I’ve been rapping for over 10 years and still not ‘made it’ but I do it cos I love it and that’s enough. If I can be full time at some point then great but if not it’s still where the majority of my fun comes from!

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Yes absolutely there is! Here’s a few you should check out.

Con Cook.

This guys got crazy ability with his pen.

Beats are also a madness.

Deki Alem.

Swedish brothers these guys are great to get you up for a dance!

Granvil.

Irish hip hop super dope lyricist great wordplay. 

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I’m big on albums man. I think my love for albums became even more prominent after my first body of work. Here’s a few I’ve had on a lot lately.

Hopefully by Loyle Carner

All the flowers have bloomed by Kofi Stone

POWERSCROFT by IZCO

Addicted 2 Nostalgia by KillOWEN

Sweet American Boy by Honestav (guilty pleasure)

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I love skateboarding man I’ve fallen off it a little in recent months but the camaraderie in that community is something you rarely if ever find anywhere else. Another passion is football I’m an Arsenal fan and rarely miss watching a game! 

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Well my studio is my bedroom so this is gunna be a funny one to answer. I’d say 

1) BT headphones to really get me zoned in before trying to get some takes done.

2) Plenty of water.

3) and maybe a cheeky takeaway if I’m not totally broke.