26 across: Hiphopper beat (2, 6)

His song was huge when I was of an age where watching Saturday morning music videos was the thing to do, and I loved the application of the MC so that beat = (MC) Hammer = hiphopper.

2 down: Dope surplus initally reduced in empty kibbutz (5)

Praising DA for his frequent use of uncommon letters has become de rigeur of late, but this incorporates both a k and a z as part of intersecting clues with surplus = glut, surplus initially reduced = lut and empty kibbutz = kz so that surplus initially reduced in empty kibbutz = klutz = dope.

7 down: Real timid (5)

I just liked how this double-meaning clue working with the added bonus of the theme: real = (mc) coy = timid.

23 across: Jack in East London cuddles 13-across (anaconda) cousin, wanting a musician (6)

I was convinced this one would be ripper until some cross clues proved that the clue was otherwise. And with those cross clues, I was able to see that this was a delightfully done jack in East London = hoist – h = oist, anaconda cousing wanting a = boa – a = bo, jack in East London cuddles anaconda cousin, wanting a = oboist = musician.

27, 28 across: Quit study among trees for giant chain 4-across (emblem) (6, 6)

I spent so long thinking quit = scotch because of the mc prefix that it was only towards the end that I noticed the fantastic direct clue in quit = go, study = den, trees = larches, quit study among trees = golden arches = giant chain emblem.