'He just wanted UK hip-hop to grow and he was absolutely pivotal to the movement' - Tributes played to Midlands hip-hop guru Martin Jones, the man who discovered Goldie
In the heart of the Black Country, long before UK hip-hop had a name on the global map, there was Martin Jones — a creative spirit who lived and breathed the culture.
On December 15, 2025, the scene lost one of its true pioneers: a man whose passion for graffiti, rap, and grassroots community building helped shape the Midlands hip-hop legacy.
Jones was perhaps best known for being among the first to recognise and support the talent of Wolverhampton artist Goldie, later a globally influential figure in graffiti, music and visual art.
Paul Pilgrim, a friend of Martin's from the hip-hop and graffiti scene, recalls Jones spotting Goldie’s potential early on, offering encouragement and guidance at a time when the scene existed almost entirely outside mainstream recognition.
"Martin was in with the right people, and when he started managing Goldie he managed to get him projects that other people like myself, even though we did similar art work, would never have had the opportunity," Paul explained. "Goldie was his main priority. Martin had managed the 'BBoys' breakdancing group first and because Goldie was in that group he spotted his talent from an early age.
