4 U.K. Grime Rappers That Will Make You Hype
The U.K. has one of the most creative hip-hop scenes in the world. It stems from grime music, a genre created in London in the early 2000s.
What is Grime Music?
Grime draws influence from drum and bass, dancehall, hip hop, and jungle. The genre is gritty and can be heard in a club or while hotboxing a car. In fact, U.K. rap has been ahead of the curve for a long time. It allows for artists to not be boxed into one genre and prides itself on the importance of individuality.
The Grime genre emerged in London in the early 2000s. [The style is characterized by rapid, syncopated breakbeats, usually around 140 beats per minute, and frequently features an aggressive or jagged electronic sound.
Check out 4 up and coming U.K. grime rappers that will make you hype and keep you in control of the aux at any get-together!
Maxsta
Maxsta, a South London native, creates drill-heavy tracks about relationships, growing up, and making money. His most recent album, On The Buttons, is exclusive beats and shows his range as a musician and producer. Although, his songs are filled with intense sounds like police sirens and techno sounds. Obviously, he takes influence from grime legends like Wiley and Roll Deep, but puts his own twist on the constantly developing genre. Maxsta is a well-rounded rapper as he goes from slow, poetic verses to hard-hitting lines.
HYPE TRACKS TO HELP YOU BREAK INTO GRIME:
Guns and Roses, Take A Chance, and East London Is Back
Lava La Rue
Lava La Rue, the founder of nine8collective and queer artist, makes lo-fi hip hop that combines R&B, future soul, and grime. They are making space in the U.K. hip hop world for non-binary artists and emphasize DIY techniques throughout their work. On Instagram, you can find them posting videos with bedroom pop superstar, Clairo, and speaking at BLM protests. Lava La Rue’s music is funky, genre-bending, and has established them as an up-and-coming in the U.K. grime scene. I think Lava La Rue is the FUTURE of grime.
HYPE TRACKS TO HELP YOU BREAK INTO GRIME: Phoney, Lilo, and Burn
Slowthai
Okay, hear me out, I know he’s already broken some barriers. Tyron Frampton, better known by his stage name, Slowthai was born in North Hampton. And he will NOT let you forget it. His music is political, aggressive, and he’s as U.K. as it comes. Specifically, his debut album, Nothing Great About Britain, discusses Brexit, crazy nights out, and his family. Slowthai is putting UK grime rap on the map through collaborating with artists like Skepta, Disclosure, Aminé, James Blake, and Denzel Curry.
HYPE TRACKS TO HELP YOU BREAK INTO GRIME: Doorman, Gorgeous, and T N Biscuits
Lord Apex
At first, listen, it is almost hard to tell Lord Apex is British. His music takes influence from 90’s U.S. hip hop and grime. He describes his style as “counter-culture, because with me having so many different songs out – with all these various feels – it’s hard to categorise the music.” His tracks can be blasted at a sports game or during an art class. Lord Apex has been on the come-up for a while overseas, it’s just a matter of time before he finds success elsewhere.
HYPE TRACKS TO HELP YOU BREAK INTO GRIME: Raw Elegant, Sunny Daze, and Uk Shit
Finding Clarity Within Grime
A major theme in U.K. hip hop is bringing listeners into their everyday lives. There is no lyrical fluff from these artists. Therefore they only speak their truth, which is refreshing. Above all, these 4 up and coming U.K. grime rappers will make you hype and show you a new world you may not be familiar with.