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Grime is a UK-born electronic dance music genre that emerged from UK garage and jungle in the early 2000s. Learn about its origins, characteristics, influences, and notable figures such as Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, and Skepta.
- Ghetts – “Practice Hours Freestyle”
- Devlin – “The Truth”
- Jme – “Punch in The Face”
- Ruff Sqwad – “Xtra”
- Skepta – “Duppy”
- Roll Deep – “When I’m Ere”
- More Fire Crew – “Oi!”
- Kano – “P’s & Q’s”
- Dizzee Rascal – “I Luv U”
- Wiley – “Wot Do You Call It?”
OK, so it’s not an actual track, it’s a freestyle, but few things show grime’s inherent hunger, skill, and resolve better than Ghetts’ “Practice Hours Freestyle.” Since his early days in the N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, Ghetts has been known for his uncompromisingly complex and hard-hitting lyrics. While it’s arguable that he is one of the most underrated MCs ...
A critique that’s often attached to grime is the genre’s inattention to lyricism. People tend to think that due to the repetition of bars and the lack of storytelling, grime MCs can’t be called great lyricists. But even of there were some evidence to support such a theory, MCs like Devlin tear it to shreds. Whether he is freestyling or laying down ...
“Ha! I’m Jme, my name is tattooed on the grime scene/ People don’t know how to test me, been doing this from 2003.” Those are the opening two lines of Jme’s eponymous “Jme,” taken from his second album, Blam!He goes on to declare himself a genius, telling whoever may be listening that they’ll never be like him. It’s pretty common for MCs — who can ...
In the same vein as Roll Deep and More Fire Crew, Ruff Sqwad was a tight-knit grime crew of close friends founded by Prince Rapid in 2001. While the crew is still active today, and has been over the years in different incarnations, the original members were Tinchy Stryder, Dirty Danger, Slix, Prince Rapid, Shifty Rydos, Fuda Guy, and DJ Scholar. Th...
Some people only became aware of Skepta quite recently, which is understandable when you consider recent events. He inspired the biggest hip-hop star in the world to get a Boy Better Know tattoo as well as “sign” to his label, and he released two critically and commercially successful tracks in the last two years. Though it might seem like an overn...
After his UK garage crew, Pay As U Go Cartel, split up, Wiley formed Roll Deep, a vast collection of MCs and DJs that has featured everyone from Skepta to Dizzee Rascal at some point in time, becoming something of a grime institution. Roll Deep released many mixtapes independently before releasing their debut album, In At The Deep End, but “When I’...
More Fire Crew were one of the first crews in grime music, and their success, as well as Wiley’s Roll Deep movement, paved the way for future crews such as Boy Better Know and the Newham Generals. More Fire Crew was made up of three members — Lethal Bizzle, Ozzie B, and Neeko — who formed in 2002 and released “Oi!,” which quickly became the inaugur...
One of the most memorable instrumentals in the history of grime was Kano’s debut single, “P’s & Q’s,” which took him from rising star of the underground to next in line for Dizzee Rascal’s throne. While this track showcases how grime should sound sonically, it’s also proof of the lyrical dexterity possessed by countless MCs, Kano being one of the g...
You may know him as the guy responsible for “Bonkers,” one of the most annoying yet popular songs of 2009, but in 2003 Dizzee Rascal was an entirely different beast. His debut single, “I Luv U,” broke out of the underground and became one of the first grime singles to chart in the UK. A stark contrast to his later work, “I Luv U” weaves a dark tale...
Every genre of music has a godfather, a forward-thinking pioneer whose existence and output left an indelible stamp genre’s future success. Just as James Brown became regarded as the Godfather Of Soul, and Iggy Pop the Godfather Of Punk, Wiley is surely the Godfather Of Grime. He invented a sound that became grime’s blueprint, and one of the best e...
- Stereogum
Jun 7, 2021 · What Is Grime Music? Grime is an eclectic style of British rap music that emerged in London in the early 2000s. Evolving from the UK garage music scene of the 1990s in London, grime music also includes hip hop, rap, and hardcore techno influences. Grime music is characterized by fast beats, electronic sounds, UK accents, and frenetic energy.
Learn how grime, London's greatest ever music scene, evolved from garage to world domination. Discover the key moments, artists and battles that shaped the sound of a generation.
- Skepta. As you probably know by now, Skepta is one of the most talented British artists. Pick any artistic focus, and Skepta probably takes the cake. Not only is he one of the best hip-hop artists, he's one of the best grime artists, and has arguably the most iconic catalog of any British artist of late, and that's saying quite a lot.
- Tinie Tempah. Tinie Tempah is yet another prominent name in grime that absolutely had to be mentioned in this list. Perhaps you've heard of him through his timeless classics like "Girls Like" or "Pass Out."
- Wiley. Wiley's name has popped up a couple times in this article already, and that has everything to do with his prominence in the genre of grime music.
- Ghetts. Ghetts is an absolutely legendary grime artist. He's got hits on hits. He's collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Skepta, and Stormzy, to name a few noteworthy names.
From Dizzee and Wiley to Kano and Skepta, and everyone else in between, we chart grime’s sonic evolution and its rise to power as the soundtrack of Britain’s youth.
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Jun 6, 2018 · Learn how grime evolved from UK garage to a global phenomenon, with 10 essential tunes by Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, Stormzy and more. Discover the genre's origins, influences, challenges and achievements in this comprehensive feature by Dan Hancox.
