Roska returns to Bristol label Tectonic to release his brand new Hyperion EP on January 26th. The 3 tracks can be streamed ahead of the release, and show diverse beats from the producer; from melancholy to more upbeat. Listen below…
January 14, 2015
Genesis Elijah (@GenesisElijah) – This Year [Music Video]
Genesis Elijah kicks off 2015 with some striking visuals and deep issues in his bars for track This Year off his Private Moments In Public album. His delivery is fierce as ever, driven by his lyrical content and you can hear and see the realness in this brand new video.
January 9, 2015
Martel B – Badda Dan Dem Remix ft @MrBigzOfficial, @BigFris & @Young_Spray [Music Video]
East London’s Martel B enlists some heavyweight rappers for his afrobeats track Badda Den Bad remix making it an even badder tune than before. Listen to Bigz, BBK’s Frisco and Young Spray bring their individual elements to it mixing it up for a wicked remix.
January 8, 2015
Rival (@JusRival) – Soul Speech [Audio]
East London Grime MC Rival bares his soul about his thoughts on the UK music scene in his brand new, Kid D produced tune ,with the beat matching the thoughtful track. He brings up issues such as Stormzy winning the first Grime award at the MOBO’s and how someone more cemented in the scene should have won, whats changed in the scene and more. A good start to the year from Rival with more to come…
January 7, 2015
.@Stormzy1 Comes In 3rd On The BBC’s Sound Of 2015 List: I Name His Top Moments In 2014
Today Stormzy was named 3rd on the BBC’s Sound Of 2015 List which shows emerging artists for the year. This accomplishment is something the Croydon rapper should be proud of, it’s definitely no small feat and means he has been widely acknowledged by industry experts as well as by the public.
He spoke on it to the BBC saying: “That’s a bit of an overachievement for me, I can’t lie. Especially being an unsigned act and an MC, it’s overwhelming”
Adding on being unsigned “I’m at that period now where people are showing an interest, but nothing’s happened. I’m focused on the music. All the politics and that, I don’t pay attention to. But there’s a lot of interest. People overestimate how big it is to sign or not to sign. Don’t get me twisted, it’s probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make in your life – but in terms of focusing on being signed or not being signed, that’s not a good space to be in.”
I look at some of his biggest accomplishments in 2014
Performing On Jools Holland
This was huge news and one that most people fans or not, music industry or not when realising that Stormzy was a an unsigned,up and coming rapper had made it to perform live on one of the biggest music shows in the UK. This shows his already powerful and expanding status in music.
Releasing ‘Dreamer’s Disease’ EP
This was Stormzy’s first body of work to be released on iTunes and boy was it a goodun. It went in at No.1 on the iTunes Hip Hop/Rap chart and showed the haters that the South London MC was here to stay. 7 tracks deep with the hit ‘Not That Deep’ on it, it showcased the lyrical fury and ability of the fast rising talent.
Winning A MOBO
Stormzy beat nominees such as Skepta, JME, Lethal Bizzle, Wiley and more to the post this year to be crowned Best Grime Act of 2014 in his hometown of London.
This is just the beginning for him!
January 7, 2015
Krept (@KreptPlayDirty) – Ain’t On Nuttin Remix [Audio]
Krept covers Yungen ft Sneakbo‘s Ain’t On Nuttin, showcasing his lyrical ability and proving why he is one of the top MC’s in the country.
January 6, 2015
Kano (@TheRealKano) ‘Home Sweet Home’ album is 10 Years Old This Year: I Name My Top Tracks
2015 (Summer) is the year that marks the 10th anniversary of Kano’s debut album ‘Home Sweet Home’, one of the most influential albums in the UK Grime scene. I have decided to dedicate a blog to this album and my favourite tracks from the album and why…lets go back in time and remember one of the greatest albums in Grime. It was so hard to pick my top tracks but I had to be strict with myself and get it down to 7!
Big up Kano one of the best MC’s to touch the mic and don’t forget you can catch him at Fabric on January 17th for the 5th Butterz anniversary.
P’s & Q’s
The first one has to be P’s & Q’s which is still on an old skool mixed CD in my car and whenever it gets played is turned up loud. This is just a classic, catchy one that I think most people know, Grime fan or not.
Nite Nite
Another classic one. When Kano and The Streets hooked up for ‘Nite Nite’ the outcome was pretty magical. This one got the girls wanting to play the girl in the video and hooked on Kano’s deeper side and the boys looking for that chick.
Ghetto Kid
A grimy banger with Kano just being the raw, real Kano, there was no white wash to this song and this is simply why it’s in my top 5. Plus it features Ghetts on it.
Mic Check
‘Mic Check’ is a war riddim apart from the fact he’s not sending for anyone in particular, he is just stating that no one can fuck with him and his crew.
Reload It
Sick flow and lyrics on this tune “I get a reload purely for the flow”, calling out some MC’s such as Tinchy and Hyper when on the hook when he says they get no reloads. This tune is what the essence of Grime is on one track.
Sometimes
This shows the reflective and down to earth Kane Robinson. The man behind the music and the man who questioned why it was him that made it.. ..Well Kano I’m sure there’s a few of us that can answer that!
Nobody Don’t Dance No More
This tune hit the raves and was basically telling everyone to stop being stoosh standing on the edge of the dancefloors and just get up and have a good time! It definitely did as the rhythm got everyone moving and still does to this day when it comes on.
January 6, 2015
@TerrorDanjah & @Zed_Bias ft Olivia Louise – Telepathy [Audio]
Two UK veteran producers Terror Danjah and Zed Bias have joined for their garage toned track Telepathy which will be released on Champion DJ’s Formula Records. This one is sure to be a hit in the clubs…
January 5, 2015
@YungenPlayDirty ft @Sneakbo – Ain’t On Nuttin Remix pt 2 ft @Stormzy1 @Bashy @thisisangel @mrBennyBanks @JCLARKE_GHETTS & @cashtasticmusic
The original track for Ain’t On Nuttin was a banger off Yungen‘s Project Black & Red out in late 2014 ft Sneakbo. Now he brings some serious talent for a remix ft Stormzy, Bashy, Angel, Benny Banks, Ghetts and Cashtastic. Shit! Just watch below.
January 5, 2015
Five Emcee’s To Watch Out For In 2015 – @IsaiahDreads @swiftsqueeze4p @Novelist @SNOW667 @ThePotterBk @sleeks300 @inchawali101
I’ve named 5 of my top five artists to watch out for in 2015. See who I think has what it takes below and why…
Isaiah Dreads
A 16 year old grime MC from the West Country. He can already add to his credits performing at Glastonbury, Wireless and Isle of Wight as well as being Zane Low’s ‘Next Hype’ & Mistajam’s ‘Radio Ripper’ for track ‘U See Me’ produced by Preditah. He’s also received co-signs from other radio tastemakers Toddla T & DJ Target. Watch out for more from him this year including a mixtape.
Section Boyz
These guys have been on my radar for a while. A collective of rappers from South London including Swift, Deepee, Sleeks, Knine, Inch, Littlez & Reeko. 2014 saw them really cause a stir and got a lot more people taking notice especially with track ‘Delete My Number’ and mixtape ‘Sectionly’ making a big impact on the underground rap scene. 2015 should see the boys tighten up their game and really shine.
Novelist
I first met him in late 2013 and as I saw him freestyle in front of just a few people for a press day I was running I knew I was witnessing something special. Now he has everyone talking, the freestyle on Toddla T’s show over ‘Incredible’ was insane and he has released material on Rinse with Mumdance and now has signed to the legendary XL Recordings for new EP ‘1 Sec’. Founder of Lewisham grime crew The Square; they are essentially going to be the crew in years to come that rule.
Snowy
18 and from Nottingham, I spotted Snowy on social networks and a freestyle video on UGX with some of the other cities sick MC’s such as Dubzy, Vigilant and Fangol and DJ Cameo’s Gimme Grime freestyle alongside Manga and another that’s hotly tipped this year Izzie Gibbs. He really began to get recognition in 2013/2014 and in 2015 I look forward to hearing some really exciting new material from him. Go check out his soundcloud where you can hear two EP’s from him.
Potter Payper
This Essex rapper has been about on the underground for a little while, but incarcerations have held him back. 2015 should be his year and we will see a new project very soon to be exact 15/01/15 called ‘24’. Last year saw a host of videos and his mixtape ‘Training Day’ be released as well as an epic ‘Fire In The Booth’, ‘Crib Session’ on Westwood TV ‘Warm Up’ on SBTV and a lot more. On instagram we’ve seen potential collabs with Donae’o and Bonkaz. Watch out for him!
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