Day 7: Celebrating Grime - Grime Veterans

To be honest with you my relationship with Grime has been a roller coaster of highs and lows.  I have been so proud to see the Grime scene develop over the last 10 years.  I began loving and supporting the  Grime scene in its early stage as it was a natural progression for Garage MCs seeking to spit more meaningful lyrics over a grittier beat rather than continuing with 'Olly Olly Olly, Oi, Oi Oi'.  About a year or so in to the scene, Grime became too violent in terms of lyrics and I just could not relate anymore.  I lost the emotional connection especially as an MC coming from North London.  I couldn't relate to guns and arms house and I'm gonna merk this and that so I decided to part ways.  However, saying that I still kept a close ear and listened to the  artists that I could relate to such as Crazy Titch, D Double E, Tinie Tempah, DaVinChe, Dizzee, Kano, Roll Deep, Boy Better Know, Ghetts, Lethal B, Bashy and Tinchy Stryder. These were the artists doing something different, creating a scene with a definite British and London stamp on it.  Talking in pounds and pence not dollars and cents these artists were making a difference.  I began to fall back in love with Grime about 3/4 years ago when I could see that, that generation of artist began to influence the younger artists paving the way for a new generation of Grime.  Anyway, without going on forever let's move onto one of my most recent favourite Grime tracks of all time.  UrbanVoice UK presents to you Grime veterans Ghetts and Tinchy Stryder with the track 'Grime Veterans'. It has been fun reminiscing about my most favourite Grime moments from the past 10 years and I have had some heated debates about the Grime scene this past week with my friends. I hope you have enjoyed the past 7 days of celebrating Grime as much as I have. Enjoy!

Day 6: Celebrating Grime - Ruff Sqwad

When we talk about Grime we know that it has East London origins and we can not talk about the origins of Grime with out talking about the crew known as Ruff Sqwad.  Ruff Sqwad are one of the founding groups of the Grime music genre, that was established in the early 2000s in Bow, East London along with other crews such as N.A.S.T.Y, Roll Deep, Newham Generals, and Boy Better Know.  One of my favourite Ruff Sqwad tracks in an instumental 'Burial'.  So many MCs have spat on and blessed this instrumental.  Released in 2006 on the Rock and Roll EP, Ruff Sqwad members included Shifty Rydos, Tinchy Stryder, Dirty Danger, DJ Scholar, Fuda Guy, Rapid and Slix.  The most famous member to branch out of the group is Tinchy Stryder who has gone on to represent the scene in the mainstream. Enjoy!

Day 4: Celebrating Grime - Kano P's & Q's

Celebrating day 4 of Grime's 10 year anniversary is none other than the Grime kid himself Kano. Kano emerged on the scene at the young age of 17.  He was formerly a key member of east London’s N.A.S.T.Y. (Natural Artistic Sounds Touching You) Crew.  Kano found wide spread recognition with his debut critically acclaimed album 'Home Sweet Home'.  This was my earliest memory of Kano along with his Grime clash against Wiley on Lord of the Mics.  Both of which are two of my favourite things about the scene.  From the first time I heard Kano spit, I was hooked and despite a couple of weaker tracks since he is still one of my favourite MCs to emerge from the UK Urban scene.  In my opinion he is one of the realest and smartest lyricists.  It was too hard for me to pick just 1 Kano track and so I have narrowed it down and picked 2.  Here are the videos for 1) Ps & Qs 2) Kano vs Wiley - Lord of the Mics. Enjoy!

Day 3: Celebrating Grime -Pay As U Go

This is now the third day of celebrating grime and I'm running out of space with too many options - 10 years is a lot to whittle down into 7 videos!  I have selected another early big track from 2002 from a time where there was crossover in sound styles, the near end of garage and beginning of grime. This track can be classed as a bit of both music styles. Here is one of my all time favourite crews with a track entitled 'Champagne Dance'.  This track was another massive club banger by none other than one of the original crews Pay As U Go.  See if you can spot a young Wiley.  Enjoy!

NEW VIDEO: MC Tigz - Gangster Remix (Produced By ZDot)

With the more light-hearted summer tracks out at the moment I've been missing the grimier tunes recently but I've got something new for you right here on UrbanVoice UK.  MC Tigz, a grime MC from Lewisham, London, and his first time on UrbanVoice UK, goes in hard spitting on the Gangster remix produced by ZDot.

Mashing up the beat hard here's MC Tigz, check it out below - if you like it just hit that 'like' button.  This has to be my track of the week and for that reason it's also going in the UVUK Playlist.

NEW VIDEO: Roll Deep - Swagger

UrbanVoice UK has always been a fan of Roll Deep supporting them from back in the day to their now mainstream success.  'Roll Deep are here' with a new video and tune entitled Swagger.  With a bouncy drum beat and flows from Roll Deep members Brazen, Flo Dan, J2K and Manga, the first time I heard Swagger I was a bit disappointed as I thought Roll Deep would have come with something a bit grimier given their recent chart success.  However, after the first 10 plays I have now decided that this one will definitely be going on my UVUK Playlist.  All of the Roll Deep members appear in the video and I actually like this video, even if it does contain the standard formula of women and cars.

Check out the new video from Roll Deep with Swagger!

Follow Roll Deep on Twitter:  @rolldeepuk

NEW SONG: Bashy Featuring Ed Sheeran - Angels Can't Fly

Is this the first of many songs that will be written about the London Riot?  Bashy a London grime mc and actor has written a true tale of street life in the UK. 

During a time when the UK is in uproar with rioting from London to Liverpool, the Street Commentator Bashy steps away from his acting spell to give his voice to the people.
Inspired by the talented Ed Sheeran, Bashy uses True Tiger's dubstep mix as the gritty back drop to express the ever so present frustrations of today's young people.

Listen carefully to Bashy's words.  Here is the track entitled Angels Can't Fly by Bashy featuring Ed Sheeran.

Enjoy!

NEW VIDEO: J2K- WTF (Electrik)

J2K a grime mc from East London and Roll Deep member has a new tune out today (7th August) entitled WTF.  UrbanVoice UK has posted the video for you right here. 

You can follow J2K on Twitter:@j2klive

WTF is OUT NOW available to download from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wtf-eletirck/id454325160

 

NEW VIDEO: Bounty Killa, Ghetts, Shystie, Trilla, 3.2.1 & English Frank - Limb By Limb [Music Video]

Heard this particular track at the beginning of the year and I've been looking for this video for ages.  Finally I have found it and I thought I would share.  This tune needs no review as you will see for yourself when you play the video.  Sit back, press play and enjoy!

Overall score: 5/5

Memory Lane: Devlin One Year On

Every now and again I like to go back a year or two to see how far certain UK artists have progressed.  The last year for this artist in particular has been a phenomonal success.  Even my female magazine tipped this artist off as the big artist to blow for 2011 at the beginning of the year - so that is saying something.  Devlin, a grime lyricist hailing from Dagenham, Essex has continued to impress.  So, let me take you back down memory lane to last year when Devlin featured on S.B.T.V spitting live.  This clip reminds you of what continuous hard work and talent can do for you.  Devlin goes in hard and you can rate Devlin's performance via the like and dislike buttons.

NEW VIDEO: D Double E - Bluku! Bluku! ft Dizzee Rascal (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Finally here it is, the official video for the track entitled - Bluku! Bluku! by D Double E featuring Dizzee Rascal.


UrbanVoice UK is loving this video and I have been waiting for its release. With a video that is a little bit more creative than your usual club setting with scantily clad ladies and VIP table's filled with alcohol.  It is also good to see Dizzee Rascal back on the grime collaborations - it's good too have you back Dizzee. 

Are you feeling Bluku! Bluku!?

Bluku! Bluku! is available to download now from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bluku!-bluku!-ep/id449602504

Artist Profile: Melo aka Murda Melz

Artist:           Melo aka Murda Melz
Genre:          Hip Hop, R&B, Grime, Soul, Funk, All that good stuff
Members:    Melo (Artist) Murda Melz (Producer)

Hometown:  Hackney, London

Record Label: LCM/RTR

About:         The Hoodz Favourite Producer!

Biography

Hailed as "The Hoods Favourite Producer"Melz has been going hard on the underground for quite some time,producing for the likes of Skinnyman, JMC, Mashtown, Fire Camp to name a few not to mention his own lyrical ability.  Considered as the U.K's answer to Kanye, Melz is has dropped his highly anticipated 22 track Mixtape/Pre Album entitled "The Essence Of An Artist" with every single track produced & performed by Melo himself.  If you don't already know about this emerging talent, get to know, Melo represents big things for sure.

Current Location:   Booth

General Manager:  China Bizzle

Booking Agent:       Bizzle

Press Contact:         chinabizzle@hotmail.co.uk

Influences:               Dre, Timbo, Dilla, Madlib, Kanye, Pac, Snoop, Hove..
Website:    http://www.myspace.com/murdam3lz
                   http://www.lcmovement.com

Follow on Twitter: @Murda_Melz

Wretch 32 - Don't Go

It seems that Wretch 32 is not going anywhere anytime soon and the boy from Tottenham seems to be placing a firm foot within the UK Music scene.  Out on 14th August Wretch 32 has come with another big track, Don't Go.  This time Wretch 32 has slowed the pace and shown us his softer side with a street style love tale fearturing Josh Kumra.

Urban Voice UK presents to you Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra with Don't Go - I smell a number 1 in the air with this one...