UK Hip Hop/Grime

[Regular Chicken]

please....don't...

[buttgammon]

Here's my two pence worth...

IT'S ALL BOLLLOCKS.

Thank you very much for your informed and insightful post. If you would just be as kind as to tell me which UK hip-hop and grime artists you are acquainted with to get that impression from I would be very ungrateful but I'd still love it. Because it will be the shortest list ever.

[alan nagsworth]

Buttgammon...



"Just don't look!"

[Hank_Kingsley]

I've been feeling big cakes for a while....
[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=hUcbNhXj1Lo[/youtube]

There's loads of interesting rappers around at the moment. A lot of honkeys in Cambridge are rapping nowadays. S'citin.

[TC Raymond]

No wonder every time I use the word "chav" I get moaned at. It's because this supposedly highbrow forum is full of fucking chavs who enjoy the sound of ogres swearing over an eardrum-blistering beat.

[buttgammon]

Yawn yawn yawn yawn.


What you actually described would be an audio recording of 'The Worst of [banned troll]'s Posts' dubbed over some breakcore.

[alan nagsworth]

Right, but like Shoulders said, what about the people who listen to it? Over the past few days I've had more interesting discussions about relevant and interesting subjects than I've seen out of you for my entire duration here. Do you even know what it takes to produce music? These people aren't just jabbering on over a pre-created loop for someone else to tamper with, they're talented individuals witht he desire to express themselves with... you know what, fuck this. I'm not gonna rant on for you to have a wank in some Australian's hair over the fact that you managed to rile someone up again. I'm going to my happy place, if anyone needs me I'll be in the shower.

[drberbatov]

Has there ever been a beef between a UK MC and a US MC? I'd quite like to see that

[Mr Colossal]

Has there ever been a beef between a UK MC and a US MC? I'd quite like to see that

I remember reading something that i'm sure involved a uk rapper telling somebody he'd be gunned down if he ever set foot in the uk again, the american rapper shit himself and cancelled his us gigs at the last minute fearing a security breach, feigning 'illness', but i can't recall who was involved in the spat for the life of me.  Maybe Nas?  I'm sure somebody a lot more privvy  will be able to fill in the details, as google is eluding me.

And I mourn the loss of channel U.  There used to be some really comical late-night viewing... Wileys 'who ate all the pies' and somebody singing something about his 'pimp suit' spring to mind.

[chand]

But anyway, re: UKHH, I can't praise Akala and Braintax highly enough. Two great albums there, 'It's Not a Rumour' and 'Panorama' respectively.

Damn, I should really give 'Panorama' another listen, I bought it in a mad spree last year and probably didn't give it more than a couple of spins. I liked the previous album 'Biro Funk' a lot though.

Glad this thread was started, as it happens someone was asking me the other day to recommend him some new UK hip-hop and I pretty much drew a blank; the only albums I got recently were the aforementioned Braintax one and New Flesh's 'Universally Dirty', which had some good moments but I didn't feel it in quite the same way as 'Understanding', which I really love. So yeah, I'll check out some of the artists mentioned here.

In the meantime, no UKHH thread is complete without this, which I believe is referred to in the parlance of our times as a 'banger':

Fallacy - 'The Groundbreaker'
With Fusion on the beat there. 'Blackmarket Boy' was a really fun album, that was like four years ago. Briefly there was an idea that Fallacy might really cross over, I remember this single got a really positive write-up in the NME (I think it was single of the week), he was signed to Virgin and he was involving the likes of Shy FX & T Power on beats so some thought he might be able to have a wide appeal, but then I guess this was all just pre-The Streets. Anyway, regardless, this track still kicks my arse.

[glitch]

Here's my two pence worth...

IT'S ALL BOLLLOCKS.

Wow, that was unexpected.

[Hank_Kingsley]

I liked that Chand, nice track. I've only really got a passing interest in UKHH, i've got a lot of mates producing and making tracks though and it's great to dip your toes in a little bit.
Anyway, here are some of my local acts. I can't really vouch for their quality but it's interesting to hear some middle class rap, yeah? Oh dear:

  http://www.myspace.com/trontetsuoandtheboomhauersweepstakes
  http://www.myspace.com/smokemybeef 
  http://www.myspace.com/mrjimmydanger

[glitch]

Some kind of crazy disco hip hop, like Hollertronix and Spank Rock. S'an open discussion though so rant away! M.I.A. is fucking great.

I love M.I.A. despite some of the annoying samples she uses (in particular that fucking horn one). I have no idea where she fits. I detect a grime influence in there somewhere. Amused by the fact that she was encouraged into music by Peaches, as before I knew that I thought of her as a more socially-aware Peaches or something.

I love UK hip-hop though, so I'll have to check out some of these links.

[Hank_Kingsley]

Saw Lethal Bizzle supporting hardcore types Gallows on Sunday evening here in Cambridge.
Really really good stuff, very cool collaboration with Gallows as well. Great to see some genuine crossover stuff which actually works. The crowd, predominantly haircut kids, were going absolutely crazy and seemed pretty open minded about having a grime act supporting shouty metalcore shenanigans.

[Backstage With Slowdive]

Bit of a tangent...

I liked Roots Manuva's Run Come Save Me way back, but I agree with people who say Witness sounds like Dr Buck's Letter by The Fall. Is there any solid evidence of a Fall influence on younger techno hip-hop acts?

Thing is, I've heard believe the Fall do have a bit of a following amongst people who wouldn't give "indie music" the time of day.

[Famous Mortimer]

There's been lots of interesting stuff performed in this arena recently, the rather lovely blog at

http:.//pandarescue.blogspot.com

has links to a bunch of recent radio performances by studios full of the best names in the business. I listened to one, and...well, I didn't care for it all that much. I'm not sure what I expected though, and I've quite liked some of the singles that these people have put out, so I'll probably give it another go. But go check out some of his links, you might enjoy it.

[slackk]

http://pandarescue.blogspot.com

Rather bizarrely I get a hold tight on that blog, but I did up the mix so.

Anyway, I'm a big big grime fan and I hardly ever post here but still;

Aside from the names mentioned before, I'd recommend Young.Dot (or Dot Rotten as he's now known), undoubtedly. He put out a free mixtape, "This Is The Beginning," that's sick.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/jrl27b (he gave it away so I do too).

Er, the Durrty Goodz "Axiom" EP is definitely worth a purchase, Skepta's new album "Greatest Hits" as well.
Skepta- "In A Corner" http://download.yousendit.com/35D57FEE4313A71F
Durrty Goodz- "Switching Songs 2" http://www.moteldemoka.com/llapttop/durrty.mp3

I really like Tempa T as well, although he's got nothing out really. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr_P4ZOeSXU that's funny to me.

[Hank_Kingsley]

That dikhead ting was hillarious. Is that guy a care in the community case?

[slackk]

I saw him rap in a blue Sylvester jumper once.


And no.

[Hank_Kingsley]

Awesome.

[The Boston Crab]

Put in on mute and imagine he's singing I Just Called To Say I Love You.

[alan nagsworth]

Saw Lethal Bizzle supporting hardcore types Gallows on Sunday evening here in Cambridge.
Really really good stuff, very cool collaboration with Gallows as well. Great to see some genuine crossover stuff which actually works. The crowd, predominantly haircut kids, were going absolutely crazy and seemed pretty open minded about having a grime act supporting shouty metalcore shenanigans.

When I went to Dot To Dot Fest this year, Biz played before Gallows and when Gallows came on, they got Biz back onstage for a duet, with Gallows covering The Ruts' 'Staring At The Rude Boys' and Biz shouting the chorus out. Pretty much the same crowd who watched Bizzle stayed for Gallows. I thought the crowd was going wild for Bizzle until Gallows played, where we all jumped up, grabbed the canvas ceiling and ripped the fackin' thing down. Gig riots are so cool.

[Hank_Kingsley]

Bit of a tangent...

I liked Roots Manuva's Run Come Save Me way back, but I agree with people who say Witness sounds like Dr Buck's Letter by The Fall. Is there any solid evidence of a Fall influence on younger techno hip-hop acts?

Thing is, I've heard believe the Fall do have a bit of a following amongst people who wouldn't give "indie music" the time of day.

I initially read this and thought 'bah, what ishe talking about'. But, actually, going back and listening to the two songs in succession I have to say there are some similarities.
I'd have thought it was more to do with a dub influence though? Not that The Fall are particularly known for that, but it seems more apparent on that track.

Having said that though, there's absolutely no reason to presume Roots Manuva isn't a Fall fan. Hip-hop acts draw on some pretty diverse sources, my mate's making a rather lovely track which samples 'Tomorrow's Tears' by Cranes at the moment. Which is nice.

[Regular Chicken]

Manuva has a pretty wide array of influences I'm led to believe. I think he said somewhere that his favourite album was Kid A.

[Pogue Mahone]

I haven't listened to huge amount of grime other than Dizzee Rascal, bit I do especially like "Fix Up, Look Sharp" and "Stand Up Tall". Outside of the grime sphere, I'm a big fan the Herbaliser, with whose label (Ninja Tune) Wylie has worked. I'd recommend Blow Your Headphones, released by the Herbaliser in 1997. I hold somewhat of an affinity with that album as it was my first Herbaliser record. The album can be quite soothing, despite being full of heavy beats and slick scratches, which I also love. It has both helped psyche me up on occasion and served as a pre-sleep relaxation aid at other times. A lot of emphasis is placed on the instrumental aspect of the band's music, if you could call it instrumental, in the sense that they use turntables and much of the music is produced, although brass does feature in a fair amount of the work and is often a fundamental ingredient to a live show. Nevertheless, this album does contain a significant amount of solid MC-work. Female MC, What? What? (who later became known as Jean Grae) appears on a number of the tracks.

I saw DJ Yoda live in Derry last year and thought he was excellent; talanted, nostalgic, innovative and fun. I'd also listen to Roots Manuva. Admittedly not on a hip-hop album, but could "Suntoucher" on Groove Armada's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) be considered a UK hip-hop track in an odd sort of way due to the appearance of Jeru the Damaja on a UK act's album? I think it's a great opener to that album.

Anyone a fan of the Scratch Perverts? While this may be hard to listen to, it is very impressive.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=MqvWrK_jf3w[/youtube]

I saw Killa Kela beat-boxing live two tears ago. Here's a taster of his talents, which are very good.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=G0tLnS5o8fY[/youtube]

He's also had a stab at MCing and vocals. I like this one, "Reveal Your Inner Self", for its energy.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=KnCgMtkmj2Y[/youtube]

[thugler]

Anyone a fan of the Scratch Perverts? While this may be hard to listen to, it is very impressive.

I like the scratch perverts, but that was neither listenable or impressive. And I like some turntable wankery.

[Regular Chicken]

For UK hip hop crossovers, anyone heard "All Things To All Men" by Cinematic Orchestra featuring Roots Manuva? Not his best work lyrically, but the whole song works so well and it has a fantastic vibe and great instrumentation.

[chand]

Nevertheless, this album does contain a significant amount of solid MC-work. Female MC, What? What? (who later became known as Jean Grae) appears on a number of the tracks.

I loved that Herbaliser/Jean Grae track from the last album, the one which is ostensibly six totally-different MCs which actually all turned out to be Jean Grae, who was putting on voices and being pitchshifted by The Herbaliser:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_TEWZfIWAY[/youtube]

Such a noisy tune, that. Okay, I'll have to put up some UK hip-hop vids now to make up for that diversion into Jean Grae. Here's some New Flesh from '02, on a fucking glorious beat:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M46AsxZpXg[/youtube]

And this from their most recent album 'Universally Dirty', with a video which features, er, Juice Aleem and Toastie Tailor as astronauts getting on public transport, and Part 2 talking into a banana:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZKXEqKKbs[/youtube]

And this from some dudes I raved about in 2005, fbcfabric and Reindeer, who made an excellent album of kind of ambient, almost shoegazy stuff...this kind of sounds a bit like Boards Of Canada with someone ranting about societal breakdown in it:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFkl89uDCpc[/youtube]

[Pogue Mahone]

I like the scratch perverts, but that was neither listenable or impressive. And I like some turntable wankery.

Well, despite the somewhat cacophanous sound and lack of continuous melody throughout, the Scratch Perverts hold down a medley of rhythmic beats. I thought it was good, but then, maybe my own lack of talent when it comes to mixing and scratching makes me a poor impressionable.

[phes]

Not even sure what grime is(!) but I just posted a mix in Cookd and mixes with bits and bobs of hippety-hop in it - if you like that kinda thing.