Browsing Tag

grime

reubencmg looked beyond the surface level of scars in his compassionately raw rap track, Insecure

Posted on 31 January 2024

In his latest single, Insecure, the UK rapper reubencmg opened a narrative on how we can walk through life buried under the weight of our trauma which bears down on everything we do, from how we navigate relationships to what we will passively accept from life’s protagonists who bank on people being bruised enough to tolerate exploitation and humiliation.

With the soul in the backing vocals harmonising behind the George the Poet-esque spoken-word cadence, which adds to the melodiously wavy vibe of Insecure, reubencmg keeps it raw and real while delivering a gritty urban soundscape that people can seek solace within every time they need a reminder that every person you walk past in the street has their own demons to defeat and burdens biting down on their psyche.

Stream Insecure on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lem’s Sophomore Rap Track, S.A.D, Is A Stark Reflection of Modern Angst

Posted on 21 January 2024

In “S.A.D”, Lem’s second release, there’s an undeniable gravity that pulls you into the heart of today’s societal unease. The track starts with a haunting piano melody, subtly setting a sombre mood. As Lem’s verses unfold, there’s a tangible shift from mere melancholy to a profound, introspective exploration of contemporary disillusionment.

Lem’s lyrical prowess shines as he navigates through the complexities of modern life. His words are a candid portrayal of the pressures we face, from economic turmoil to the distorted realities perpetuated online. His approach is refreshingly sincere, standing out in a genre often dominated by surface-level expressions of frustration.

Lem’s raw narrative resonates with authenticity, offering listeners a glimpse into the struggles beneath the facade of everyday life. His choice to reveal the real sources of his anxiety and depression is both brave and rare, making “S.A.D” a standout piece in UK rap.

“S.A.D” is an impactful addition to Lem’s growing discography, showcasing his ability to articulate the complexities of the human psyche in a way that is both enlightening and deeply moving. It’s a compelling invitation to engage with his music and a strong indication of his potential to leave a lasting mark on the music scene.

S.A.D was officially released on January 12th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ADZii Boii – Let’s Go: a high-speed chase through the streets of raw, unfiltered lyrical genius

Posted on 5 January 2024
ADZii BOii

ADZii BOii, the Scottish hip-hop heavyweight, started 2024 with a seismic bang by unleashing his latest single, Let’s Go. Hit play and be flung into a high-speed chase through the streets of raw, unfiltered lyrical genius which cements his position as a formidable force in the hip-hop arena and offers a glimpse into his unapologetically candid mind.

The single is a masterclass in blending the ferocity of drill beats with the finesse of intelligent lyricism. ADZii BOii’s flow is a relentless force, intertwining with the pulsating beats to create a musical experience that’s both exhilarating and thought-provoking. The motorbike sound effects add to the high-octane atmosphere, painting a vivid picture of speed and agility that mirrors ADZii BOii’s rapid-fire delivery.

What sets Let’s Go apart is ADZii BOii’s ability to weave social commentary into his lyrics with a wit that’s both brutal and hilariously on point. The track is a rollercoaster of emotions, echoing the artist’s own life experiences. His storytelling prowess first showcased in his debut album, Colours, takes a more intense turn here, with each bar packed with meaning and raw energy.

The lion on the cover art is not just an image; it symbolises the aggression and power that ADZii Boii brings to the track. Notably, ADZii Boii is on a path to redefining the landscape of alternative hip-hop.

As we eagerly anticipate his second album, expected in Spring 2024, Let’s Go is a testament to ADZii Boii’s evolving artistry. Stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timmy – Speedy Gonzales: A Gritty Testament to UK Rap’s Evolving Landscape

Posted on 17 December 2023

Timmy’s latest track, ‘Speedy Gonzales‘ is a dark, gritty, and profoundly impactful testament to his burgeoning dominance in the rap scene. His ability to press the right lyrical buttons and pluck at the rawest melodic heartstrings is evident throughout the track, which is driven by Timmy’s impassioned delivery and the haunting, ethereal backing vocals that seamlessly blend with his grime bars and drill beats. It’s a vignette that takes you through the highs and lows of urban life, reflecting on the diminishing value placed on human existence.

The track’s pace is relentless, mirroring the artist’s namesake, Speedy Gonzales. Yet, it’s the depth of the lyrics and the sombre sonic imprint that truly sets this song apart. Timmy doesn’t just rap; he tells a story, painting a vivid picture of the struggles and realities faced in the streets. His words are convictive, cutting through the noise and leaving a lasting impression on the listener.

The track is a bold statement from an artist who is clearly not afraid to speak his truth. As the final beats of ‘Speedy Gonzales’ fade, you can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for what Timmy will do next. His talent is undeniable, and his ability to connect with the audience on a deeper level is beyond compare in the UK’s underground rap scene.

Watch the official music video for Speedy Gonzales via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

West London’s freshest trailblazer Zush held no prisoners with the killer cadence in ‘Playing for Keeps’

Posted on 7 December 2023

West London rap icon in the making Zush showcased a luminary on the cusp of great acclaim by unleashing his high-octane hit, Playing for Keeps, which flavours UK drill with a Caribbean kick while exhibiting his ability to hold his own against the charisma of Stormzy and Dave.

By bringing cultural flavour into the dark and ensnaring atmospheric Drill tones, the depth of the track is enhanced to the nth degree; from the first beat you are immersed in an adrenalizing aural visualisation of his infectiously visceral sonic signature.

After the success of his seminal single, We Got the Sauce, which saw his talent recognised by Pulse 88, Itch FM, GRM Daily, UGM, The Beat London, Westside FM, Bound 2 Blow and many more, Playing for Keeps is an impossible-to-ignore statement of intent from an artist who exhibits his determination in every facet of his captivating expression.

By honing his talents from a young age as a high school beat-maker, DJ in a rap group and percussionist in a steel band, Zush was primed to make an unforgettable entry into the domain of UK rap. The influence of hip-hop legends like Nas, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, and Pharrell, coupled with the Caribbean beats from his upbringing, is evident in Playing for Keeps, which fuses his reverence for sharp flows with his affinity towards his Caribbean roots, which pull through when he asserts his Caribbean accent in the chorus as a juxtaposition of the drill bars which exhibit his command of flow and cadence.

Playing for Keeps dropped on the 30th of November; stream it on Spotify and never miss another seminal release from Zush by following him on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lil Zino tore the stigma out of ‘PTSD’ with the drill debut of the year

Posted on 28 November 2023

After racking up over 206k streams on the official music video for his debut single, PTSD, and becoming a viral sensation on TikTok in the process, East London’s Lil Zino stormed into the rap scene with one of the strongest debuts of 2023.

With melodic minor key pseudo-trap instrumentals setting the cinematically melancholic tone, the atmosphere was set for Lil Zino to pour vulnerable candour into the track with his stonily steadfast vocal delivery which runs through in a magnetically paced cadence. While some rappers wear their trauma like a badge of honour, Lil Zino is adding nuance to the narrative by exhibiting the weight of scars, becoming one of the most authentic drill voices in the process.

There’s no understating the evocative pull of the track that projects an intimate vignette of the violent event, which led him to finding a necessary means of expression. By keeping his composure while painting a stark picture of the harsh realities of East London’s streets with his blunt bars, Lil Zino delivered a hauntingly affecting release, which will stay with you long after the outro.

Stream PTSD on SoundCloud or watch the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You will want Doller on speed dial after feeling the heat of the fusionist fire in his EP, Call Me

Posted on 14 November 2023

On November 3rd, UK’s fieriest genre fusionist Doller dropped his dynamic three-track EP, Call Me, to prove he’s lost none of the flair, flow, or finesse that has seen his audience stretch across the globe during his storming 15-year music career.

After track one unravels as an infectiously hooked garage hip-hop anthem, which efficaciously gets you in the groove and hot under the collar, Doller dips into a pseudo-trap iteration of dancehall before bringing in a smooth and steamy session of trap-soul. Achieving that feat of sonic eclecticism with three separate tracks would be one thing, but Doller exhibited his superlative versatility by reworking the same track while ensuring that each track stands by the volition of its own merit.

From the luxe high vibes that reverberate around the rhythmically arresting first single, which features MC Neat and Zara W, to the scintillating atmosphere in track two to the wavy, dreamy tonal hues within track three, which pays an intimate ode to intimacy with a little help from Aleisha Lee and Terry Trill, there’s something for everyone in the Call Me EP, which has established Doller as the baller of originality.

Before the release of Call Me, the Edmonton-originating artist who was born the roots reggae icon Kush Tafari and shares blood with the Jamaican rapper Flash earned endorsements from the likes of Ghetts, Tion Wayne, DJ Target, Charlie Sloth, Sian Anderson, Sir Spyro, Wiley, and Logan Sama. His music has also been synced into an MTV Base advert and the critically acclaimed film Sket. Over the years, he’s flitted between rap, dancehall, and trap-soul as his musical influences diversified. If one thing has remained a constant, it is the renown that has stemmed from his versatile style and impressive lyrical prowess. While some artists out there gas themselves up as a triple threat, Doller is asserting himself as the ultimate threat and one to watch throughout 2024.

Stream the Call Me EP on Spotify & SoundCloud.

Follow Doller on Facebook & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chiron Loxton rolled evocatively deep in his alt-rap track, The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets

Posted on 22 October 2023

After delivering one of the hottest electro-house hip-hop drops of the summer with his single, Ibiza, the alt-rap trailblazer Chiron Loxton’s mood has changed with the weather in his introspectively raw single, The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets.

Stunning, dark, and haunting in equal measure, the intricate instrumentals set the ambience and atmosphere for Loxton’s grimey rap bars to storm through, making it impossible not to lock into the candour and precision of the canter as the rap luminary attests to the necessity of creativity.

It’s a window into the experience of the artist, Loxton’s determination to keep his sanctity on the straight and narrow and perhaps most importantly, a manifesto on how to keep negativity at bay. If the Somerset, UK-hailing artist isn’t on your radar already, save space on it and await more hits which have the force to shift your perceptions into enlightenment.

The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets dropped on October 13; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Flow Queen, TAYLOR-LEIGH, Lit Up the Airwaves with ‘Jig Up’

Posted on 1 October 2023

By bringing witty brutality to her bars and an infectious sense of playfulness to her beats, the UK flow queen TAYLOR-LEIGH lit up the airwaves with her latest lyrically lascivious track, Jig Up.

To assert the authenticity in her sonic signature, TAYLOR-LEIGH kept her vox in the grime and garage arena while the keys almost brought a neo-classic touch to the RnB-esque melodies to deliver a boundary-less track that breaks down sonic barriers while ticking every hip-hop box.

There’s also a strikingly clever duality within the lyrics; when TAYLOR-LEIGH isn’t running through with tongue-in-cheek antagonism, she’s demonstrating her emotional intelligence that will undoubtedly embolden any woman who encounters this seminal track.

Jig Up was officially released on September 4; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bring Ibiza to your speakers with LE PASH’s sophomore UK house hit, Right Now, featuring LIANN

Posted on 27 July 2023
DJ LE PASH blew the roof off UK house with his sophomore single, Right Now; borrowing the soulfully smooth vocal lines from LIANN, he served up a scorching slice of summer that will blow smoke through your speakers as you groove to the urban dance licks, which pay homage to the 90s dance scene while adding a new trajectory to the evolution of the genre. With a sound so polished the Ibiza-euphoria emanating hit could have been produced by Mr Sheen, Right Now has all the makings of an EDM chart-topper.
LIANN’s strident-with-blissful-soul vocal lines are the perfect contrast to the garage-y rap bars that prove that America may be the homeland of hip-hop, but the UK will always reign supreme in its own gritty authentic vein.
Stream the anthemic Radio Edit and melodic acoustic rendition of Right Now on Spotify. 
Review by Amelia Vandergast