Browsing Tag

grime

Masses Against the Classes: NIGHTSHIFT Joka-B x MrLee x Ultra_Eko

Posted on 5 May 2023

Punk may have lost its bite in the light of the global financial crisis, but grime artists are picking up the slack and sinking their teeth into the injustice that is cowing the majority into oppressed submission. For his latest single, NIGHTSHIFT, the West Yorkshire-hailing, rural Poland Emcee & Producer, MrLee versed for the masses with the help of Joka-B and Ultra_Eko.

By mixing light and dark tones in the polyphonic beats, MrLee created an emotionally rounded hit, rather than running through with nothing but the all too relatable working-class anger to give his succinct words even more resonant weight. But that isn’t to say he held any prisoners in his lyricism that has made him stand out in an oversaturated scene. He could more than stand his own against Bob Vylan and Kid Kapichi with the socially conscious lyricism in NIGHTSHIFT.

Hear NIGHTSHIFT from May 5th on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Look Better In Person: 3smuni prays for those close locked up in the system with Overseas

Posted on 3 February 2023

Showing us so much re-energized enthusiasm and compelling dynamite, 3smuni displays a compelling verve and shall drain away all doubts in the sink with Overseas.

3smuni is a South Africa-born London-based indie hip-hop artist & multi-instrumentalist who fuses drill, US and grime soundscapes into his own transcendent way.

Exhibiting to us what the youngsters are listening to as we speak, 3smuni is that young new school artist who seems to possess a rare insight into what is going to define the next generation. Absorbed in quality and always progressive, this is a thunderous display which will please many who love to hear what tomorrow is bringing.

Overseas from London-based indie hip-hop artist 3smuni is a magnificent track which will take our minds away from any current stresses and mould our minds into the future. Launched with a rather illumination-filled fragrance and never losing its shine for a second, we find a rather remarkable effort when the world needed it most.

Turn this up loud on Spotify. See more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Grime icon in the making, Jacob Briggs, has released a dizzying drop with ‘Bothered’.

Posted on 17 December 2022

Amalgamating the fiercest elements of trap, grime and drill, the UK icon in the making, Jacob Briggs, created a juggernaut of a hit with his latest single, Bothered, which officially dropped on December 9th.

Proving that grime hasn’t lost its flavour since Wiley gave us a taste in the early 00s, Bothered exhibits Briggs’ dizzying flow, which doesn’t sacrifice the lyrical content which puts to shame the archetypes built in the industry since it dawned.

The electronic music producer and creative artist started his sonic journey inspired by RnB and hip hop acts before creating his own rhythm-riding sonic signature that packs enough fervour to make your head spin. Watch this space before Briggs tears through it with the force of a lyrical tornado.

Feel the heat simmer from Bothered by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Hip Hop Got Hotter Through Dalts’ Latest Collab, ‘No Time’, featuring Jez, SK1NT and Charla Green

Posted on 21 June 2022
Dalts

Sheffield’s most infamous producer, DJ, events promoter, and label runner, Dalts, has contributed more than most to the UK music scene in the past five years. Now, he’s here with his latest single, No Time, featuring Jez, SK1NT and Charla Green.

The garagey hip-hop track uses old-school grooves, oscillating bass and skippy beats to keep the flow kicking under the clever vocal layering, which merges the originality of every featuring artist. From deadpan rap bars to distorted and transcending vocal samples, No Time is a hypnotic vibe tapestry which reminds you how great and gritty UK hip hop can be.

Check out Dalts on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Malta rapper Rheez. holds no prisoners in his sophomore single, PTSD

Posted on 6 May 2022

After a successful debut, new wave rap artist and producer Rheez. boldly blazed in with his sophomore single PTSD. If any track has the power to affirm just why so many people are losing their sanity lately, it’s this stormer of a grime and alt-hip hop cocktail.

The intro is an efficacious hook into the Malta-based artist’s candid track that holds no prisoners when picking out the most disparaging facets of our human existence. With lines such as “dad on the phone saying son they can’t clone you” and “Shout out to the internet champions, TikTok is your only throne” put up against each other, Rheez. tears through our obsession with superficiality and tendency to turn a blind eye to the real issues.

Rheez. may claim that he is turning nothing into something with his music, making humility another attractive aspect of his artistic presence. But his willingness to hold humanity accountable and speak out so convictively on one of the most stigmatised conditions known to man makes him equally as important as any of the overhyped artists with vacuous premises for their tracks.

PTSD was officially released on May 6th; you can check it out for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Rapper JPOW comes in with all guns blazing in ‘Socially Anti’, featuring Kirsty Clarke

Posted on 17 December 2021

For his latest release, Socially Anti, rapper and songwriter JPOW teamed up with Kirsty Clarke, who brought a breath-taking dynamic to this hard and fast hit. Her folkishly light vocal timbre and innocently soulful yet sharp style was the perfect contrast against JPOW’s dominant bars that affirm he takes no prisoners when he steps to the mic.

Without a doubt, the South Coast-hailing UK independent artist is one of the hottest new names in the UK rap scene. He takes the usual lyrical rap tropes and runs them through his scathing wit. As for the instrumentals, you would be hard-pressed to find a bolder mix of tone and texture. With the melodic reminiscences to Cosmo Shelldrake and the quivering classical notes around the snappy bass-drenched beats, Socially Anti is as cinematic as it is galvanising.

Check out the official lyric video for Socially Anti via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

East London’s Muzuri announced his arrival in the music scene with his debut single, 0127

Posted on 4 December 2021

East London rap artist, Muzuri has garnered plenty of hype with his debut release, 0127, which premiered on BBC Radio Essex on October 5th before officially releasing on October 15th.

The French rapper and songwriter takes influence from the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Static Major, but he left plenty of room for his own catchy sonic style in his debut which announces his arrival to the music scene and creates a vivid vignette of his life as an artist and hedonist.

With the arresting bounce of the snappy beats and the reverb around them, it is impossible not to get hooked into the atmosphere of 0127 which merges French and English hip hop culture. It’s a stellar track that succeeds in establishing Muzuri as one to watch.

0127 is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Roysson delivers a Hip Hop and Grime playlist staple with his latest release.

Posted on 23 September 2021

Roysson has been putting Hertfordshire on the hip hop map for the past ten years with his laceratingly sharp wit, massive beats and commanding persona. His standout single, Hip Hop and Grime, pays ode to the iconic UK grime style, but Roysson finds plenty of room to stamp down his signature genre-melding style that has been hyped by BBC Introducing and GRM Daily, amongst many others.

Hip Hop and Grime is an instantly galvanizing mix with the garagey beats, rapid-fire drill vocals and Roysson’s ability to create a gritty vignette of modern culture without ever having to pander to cultural stereotypes. If Stormzy, Dave, Skepta and Wiley are your playlist staples, you will find that Roysson fits in well right alongside them. With plenty more material locked, loaded and ready to drop, now is the perfect time to add him to your radar.

You can check out Roysson’s standout single, which has already racked up over 25k streams, on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jay Joe brought the best of UK hip hop with his latest release, Shaky.

Posted on 16 August 2021

London-born, Essex-based Rap artist Jay Joe dropped an instant grime classic with his latest single, Shaky. His energy, ensnaring. His lyrics, cutting, His beats, atmospheric; in usual drill hip hop fashion.

Fans of Tempa T, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal will want to make Shaky a playlist staple for its garagey beats, the adrenalizing aggression in the rap bars and Jay Joe’s ability to leave you floored with his lyrical flex. He’s already a firm fixture on the GRM Daily YouTube channel, but we highly doubt that will be the highest of accolades applied to Jay Joe’s gritty, scathing signature sound.

Shaky was released on August 15th; you can check out the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Always Worldwide: Excellent Luton emcee Crazy James impresses yet again on ‘That’s My Life Cuz’

Posted on 7 August 2021

Dropped off the brand new street-mood-lifter ‘Unsigned and Unspoilt Vol 1‘, Crazy James shows us the inner determination needed to get you to where you believe you are destined to be on ‘That’s My Life Cuz‘.

Crazy James is a supremely talented Luton, England-based hip-hop/grime artist. He creates that thoughtfully real music that is taken from his experiences of travelling all over the world, as he puts his heart on the bars of every line that he drops.

After headlining shows at the legendary Luna Lounge, Bear Club, and the O2 Academy, plus releasing his criminally underrated hard-hitting first music video ‘Cautious‘ late in 2019 – this is a top class musician that you need to know if you don’t already – as he is only getting warmed up, despite being one of the underground OG’s in this fickle game.

”This album has been 20 years in the making, through all my ups and downs, and over every challenge that was placed in front of me, out of the darkness came this masterpiece.” – Crazy James

This is the honest story about travelling around the world on tour and seeing many things that teach you life-changing lessons, as your hunger only elevates to a new ravenous level. It feels like he is only improving, never resting on his laurels and is only going to rip through the mic each time – as he shows new and old fans – that he is indeed the truth.

‘That’s My Life Cuz‘ from the highly-respected underground Luton, UK-based hardcore hip-hop/grime artist Crazy James, launches hotly like a massive missile into your curious mind, due to his intense barrage of rampaging bars that slams heavily into your unsuspecting face. This is that juggernaut type of music from a conscious man who has had a tough life – and who never took the easy temptation-riddled way out – that either leads you into those cold chains or six feet under.

This is easily one of the best songs of 2021, so turn it up real loud and embrace the understated brilliance.

Stream this fire new track on Spotify and see more on his IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen