Musical Taste update - Grime

Man since leaving london there is only one thing I haven't been able to leave behind. Strangely enough that is the underground music scene, also known as Grime. For those who don't know what it is, it's a UK version of Rap/Hip-Hop, but with faster lyrics and grimier beats (hence the name). Most people would know the names of NDubz, Skepta and Whiley, the leaders of this type of music, however they are too commercial and sugar coated for my taste. So I will outline some artists I have to rate at the moment, some you may and may not know along with suggested listening.

My first choice is Ghetts, popular with the poverished in London as it is something they can relate too. His lines are a gutter poetry, a clever mixture of wordplay, realism and fantastic collaborations. His albulm Calm before the storm is a good place to start as some of these tunes have been in the charts such as Skadoosh and Artillery.

My next choice is what I would consider as one of the next big things. A North London boy,called Darkz, anyone who listens to Radio 1 Extra would have heard him and some of the following artists On 'Fire In the Booth'. His lines are an interesting wordplay and his flow is slightly easier on the ear than Ghetts but musically his equal. He is also a great producer! I would suggest listening to Shut up and He can't love you.

Another unknown star is Ragz Orginale. With a new albulm on the way, released in October called Re-Invention is about precisely that (yes with a feature from yours truely), he is an artist that uses dark humour to convey life in London as a youth. He is also a great dresser, reinventing fashion as well as the music scene. Suggested listening would have to be Episode (from the albulm) and Wordplay versus ragz orginale.

Now moving on to some one you may know, Plan B, actor and MC. He has starred in films alongside Noel Clark and Micheal Caine. His Albulm, the defamation of Strickland Banks is a concept albulm about a young man who is wrongly accused of Rape and his musical journey throughout. Its a mixture of Grime and Soul, pushing the boundries furthur, his next albulm is a reggae style one, so in short a very versatile performer. I would suggest you listen to Charmaine, Paint it blacker and Set me free.

A Hidden gem, is Dazzle, lesser known than Ragz and Darkz but still worth a listen, another North London lad, but looking to move up in the industry by mixing genres like Plan B, so high hopes for this one. Suggested listening would be Tired and Fire in the booth.

I love a deep underground producer called Uncle Mix, who founded Wordplay studios back in 1993. Just listen to any of the Wordplay versus stuff to hear his productions.

So go away and a listen and report back what you think.