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UKMusic.com Ltd
Copyright © 2007
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Jan
01
2007
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UKMusic Guide To Grime |
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Sunday, 31 December 2006 |
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 With yet another new year just gone past our shoulders, in come another wave of genre confused events, CDs and DVDs to deafen our ears (as though I-pods aren’t bad enough). In 06’ we found grime haven in the forms of Risky Roads DVD, Wiley’s ‘Phaze’ albums, Boy Better Know ‘Tropical’ and Sidewinder events. It seems the UK has gone ‘grime crazy’, keeping up with regular grime news reports and so forth with huge distributions of Rwd Magazine (www.rwdmag.com) and the constant hype of Chantelle Fiddy’s ‘world of grime’ blog (www.chantellefiddy.blogspot.com) already attracting wide audiences. Born ostensibly from the streets and estates of East London, the music is steadily emerging towards the mainstream, becoming an investor’s paradise with the likes of Risky Roads and Sidewinder already pulling in figures from the market.
“A new emcee is born every week” as it’s often said, so it seems most of the youngsters in Britain are slowly becoming more into the genre. Though highly criticised by journalists and other artists, grime is slowly becoming more popular on Britain’s streets and already, businesses are slowly setting-up with aims of dominating the industry. Predictions of the genre slowly evolving from the music juggernaut it already is, have yet been proved wrong and luckily enough; UKMusic.com is on hand to give the grime thirsty heads out there some new shit to talk about!
We get first hand experience on the new grime events, artists and albums to look out for this year and discover which artists are making it big or who’s just trying to make a quick buck!
London Urban Collective (CD)
The London Urban Collective (formed by thirty heads) is a jam-packed album of hardcore rap/hip-hop. Although the cover looks every bit as dark and aggressive as the genre is theoretically labelled, much of the lyrics aren’t as violently satisfied in comparison to rap artists 50 Cent and Eminem’s. The singing complements the rapping quite well, though much talk of gold teeth and money does get boring after a while. What does this album measure overall? Very squeaky and many of the tracks (Mobb Rank Keep Up, Nature Speaks) sound rushed and very mediocre however, potential is noticed. Hopefully the fourth album (if released) will give us some more interesting things to get excited about.
Overall rating: 2/5
More info: www.londonurbancollective.com
Dirty Canvas (event)
Dirty Canvas, held at the ICA near Trafalgar Square (London) is the only night commemorated solemnly to the grime genre. With strong line ups, great music and previous triumphant nights, Dirty Canvas attracts a ripe and bookish type crowd, rather than the stereotypical hoody wearing, bottoms to their ankles, street kids. However; don’t be fooled by the overuse of hair gel and plain white T-shirts; these people know how to skank! With a room full of grime loving crowds, who form a large shield of straight pro gun fingers and rep the black thick-framed glasses back into fashion, where better than to spend your Saturday evening but skanking to the likes of Boy Better Know but at Dirty Canvas of course?
Rating: 4/5
More info: www.myspace.com/dirtycanvas
Major Motion ‘single’ “Oh God Boy Its Major – (single)
Wow! The first time Dr Evil (Austin Powers) has ever been used in a grime track, ever! Well what else are we to expect from a bunch of wannabes? Let’s break it down; ‘Mr. Felon’ considers himself to have so much cash, that women are bowing at his feet and is in the midst of planning a world take-over. The track ‘Oh God Boy Its Major’ is below mediocre and feels as though a fake accent and no energy has been put behind it. Is this guy only doing it for a quick buck? I think so (though I hardly consider anybody will be crazy enough to invest in such a shit single). Only one place for a CD like this, the bin!
Rating: 1/5
Lady Sovereign album ‘Public Warning’
The 13 carefully constructed tracks on ‘Public Warning’ are pure uncut UK garage which shows the genre is slowly reaching the States. Those who are unfamiliar of garage may find the album as a great intro into the genre, though others may see it too humorous for their liking. Sovereign’s voice sounds varied between tracks (one moment she is rapping, the other, moaning) and sounds very squeaky. However, she manages to release a roar of her own signature assertion which overall sounds amazing (as demonstrated in her hit track ‘Love Me or Hate Me’). The lyrics ‘I had a hamster but it died because I ignored it’ are damn right real and Lady Sov, manages to this all on her own. Unlike many other rap albums, Sov refuses to fill void spaces with D-list cameos however; Missy Elliott’s appearance on the album does make for pleasurable hearing. Which other UK artist can boast Missy E on their first album? The collection of Lady Sovereign’s earlier hits including ‘9 to 5’ and ‘A little bit of shhh’ is a very clever idea, being that the tracks were created on UK turf. It gives the Americans a brief outline of what us Brits are made of. That being said, Lady Sovereign's Public Warning is a solid debut. It manages to do what other U.K grime/garage albums haven't been able to achieve, that is interest a large U.S audience! Bravo Sov, bravo.
Rating: 4/5
More info: www.ladysovereign.com www.myspace.com/ladysovereign
Making Movez TV (DVD) Making Moves TV (MMT) is the newest grime DVD to hit our shelves this year. Providing us with valuable footage of Asher D, Taz, Ghetto, Wiley and the 2006 Summer Jam event, MMT has a new type of demo to offer us. The DVD has a catchy soundtrack (although it can get a bit annoying afterwards) Swearing, fight scenes and a great line-up although it is lacking female emcees such as Shystie, Lioness, Lady Fury and Nolay.
Rating: 4/5
More info: www.myspace.com/makingmoveztv
Words by Bertan Budak
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and its good its just a matter of taste
but i bet u dont like real rap anyways
sucker