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Grime

PK1UP – Wordplay: When Southern Gothic Hip Hop Met UK Grime

Posted on 21 January 2025

Birmingham-based PK1UP’s single, Wordplay, produced by Tezza Beats, has earned the independent artist a spot on the UK hip-hop map. With a Southern Gothic backdrop framing his bars and beats, the trailblazing luminary broke the mould while ensuring the accessibility of the track was never compromised. It’s all rooted in his ability to interplay cadence with candour; the way the metric precision carries the raw vulnerability and well-earned swagger ensures that too many hits of this track are never enough.

With every new listen, you find a new facet of genius within the lyrics. Between the evolving reprises and the progressive narrative, Wordplay pulls you closer to the artist’s scarred psyche, which is exhibited without apology or apprehension. The melodies make it an effortless track to listen to, but there’s nothing easy about the lyrical content—that shit will stick with you long after the outro.

PK1UP, who is quickly becoming a name to know in UK rap, brings a fresh perspective to the scene. With a distinct sound influenced by Detroit/Flint beats and experiments in Southern Hip Hop, Drill, and Grime, he’s already released over ten tracks, two music videos, and a standout collaboration with NasP on If Rap Don’t Work.

Wordplay is pure urban aural gold, a testament to PK1UP’s relentless artistry and refusal to compromise on authenticity.

Wordplay is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

XII 44 and Griminal Hit Hard with the Dark Side of the Grind in ‘Drippy’

Posted on 10 December 2024

Two urban cultures collided when South London’s rap legend XII 44 and East London’s grime icon Griminal hooked up to drop ‘Drippy’, a high vibe hit that subversively flips the script on the typical high-life rap narrative. Far from a hollow ode to wealth and status, the track reveals the jagged edges of success, exposing the personal cost behind the luxury branded surface.

XII 44 used his high-fire bars to set the bar higher than the Shard by tapping into the energy of the beat to mirror the song’s gradual tonal shift. What starts as a light, accessible hook soon morphs into a moody vignette of the toll behind the grind.

Griminal’s signature grime flow punctuates the track with his kinetic cadence as the duo exposes the bitter truths of ambition to deliver a raw and relatable reality check to audiences instead of attempting to make others feel inferior by flexing an unobtainable lifestyle. The superficiality of surface-level success is laid bare, as is the duo’s undeniable respective and collaborative talent.

With a debut mixtape in the pipeline, XII 44 is continuing to gain momentum with each new release after making a name for himself by hitting stages alongside Snoop Dogg and Little Simz. If anyone has what it takes to verse their way to UK rap royalty in 2025, it’s him.

For the full experience, stream the official music video, which has already racked up over 42k streams, on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

David Rey Will Reign Over the Manchester Music Scene with His Grime Hit, Call Me King, ft Abnormal Sleepz

Posted on 9 August 2024

David Rey gave Manchester a place on the grime map with his latest single, Call Me King, featuring Abnormal Sleepz. Think of the Manchester music scene; The Smiths, Oasis and Stone Roses will immediately spring to mind, but if any artist can steal the psyche away from those luminaries, it’s Rey with this raw, cultivated track which pairs his hypnotically smooth flows with dark alt-electronic trip-hop-tinted beats which syncopate to the rhythm of the artist’s creative volition.

David Rey, originally hailing from Bermondsey and now a product of Manchester’s vibrant culture, has crafted his identity around the influences of UK grime legends like Ghetts and the resonant beats of American artists like Nipsey Hussle. His globe-spanning inspirations are evident in his music, which combines poignant introspection with visceral vitality.

Having graced the stages of over 35 venues domestically and abroad, Rey’s commanding presence is well-documented and celebrated, from performances that resonate with authenticity to airplay on platforms like BBC Radio 6 and Capital Xtra. His debut EP, Before I Begin, garnered notable praise for its lyrical depth and rhythmic sophistication, traits that continue to thrive in Call Me King.

The single itself is a study in contrasts: dark yet soulful, it delivers a mind-bending lush backdrop for Rey’s sharp, melodic flows. The track dives deep into the core of human connection and desire, rejecting the commonplace narratives of fleeting pleasures to focus on what truly resonates with the listener. George the Poet couldn’t have versed it better.

Call Me King will hit all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud, on August 9th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rourky initiated the cybernetic revolution of UK hip-hop with Cyborg ft Riley

Posted on 7 August 2024

Nathan O’ Rourke, known by his stage name Rourky, has been a sonic staple in the UK for over a decade. Hailing from Birmingham, the 31-year-old rapper has been honing his craft since his teenage years, releasing music globally since 2013. Aligning with TigerBloodMuzik Entertainment, Rourky has become bigger than his gargantuan beats.

His latest single, ‘Cyborg,’ featuring Riley Zm, a drill rapper from Zambia, is a high-octane hip-hop anthem, effortlessly commanding attention with its fiery rap bars blazing across cinematically elevated beats. The track utilises synthesised electronic orchestral motifs, adding an air of grandiosity that is efficaciously juxtaposed by the grit in Rourky’s grimey bars.

The interplay between Rourky and Riley ensures that ‘Cyborg’ unfolds as a dynamic track, embedding itself in the listener’s psyche long after the electrifying hit has faded to a close. Rourky’s charisma bleeds through every progression, as he positions himself at the vanguard of hip-hop’s cybernetic future with his playfully convictive hit.

Cyborg stormed the airwaves on August 2 via TigerBloodMuzik Entertainment; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

East Meets West in Koza’s Impassioned Inferno of a Drill Track, SHADOWS

Posted on 2 July 2024

Koza’s second single, SHADOWS is a fierily impassioned inferno of frenetic rap cadences that reach the pinnacle of rhythmic fervour; by embracing his cultural roots in the exotically produced hit, punctuated by hard-hitting drill beats, Koza couldn’t have been more authentic to himself in the soul-baring release, which delivers an unforgettable introduction to one of the hottest drill rappers on the UK scene right now. It’s only a matter of time before he teams up with GRM and goes viral.

There are few artists who can match his heat and do so with maximum conviction that spills straight through the soul instead of the ego; all the lyrics serve to viscerally make a statement of intent as they cut through the atmosphere laid out by the diaphanously ethereal Hollywood-esque backing vocals and delicate instrumental layers which contrast sharply with the bass-swathed beats.

SHADOWS is a significant shift from Koza’s debut track, KOHLI; by underpinning the release in his personal philosophy, modernising the East-meets-West production with ahead-of-the-curve beats and anchoring it in vulnerability by narrating themes of self-discovery, the breakthrough artist broke plenty of ground with this stormer.

SHADOWS dropped on June 28; jump on the track on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

YTN Tee lit up the UK rap scene with his vibe-heavy hit,  Lightsaber

Posted on 1 June 2024

YTN Tee used ‘the force’ to be a force to be reckoned with in the UK rap scene with his latest track, Lightsaber. With bars that flow with seamless rhythm and cheeky vibe-intense energy, YTN Tee carved a fresh edge into the industry through his roguishly razor-sharp wit. The only thing bigger than the expansively styled beats which paint across the hip-hop spectrum, produced by AyP, is YTN Tee’s presence in the mix as he waxes lyrical and never wanes.

Instead of joining the hip-hop flock and delivering hard and heavy lyrics, Lightsaber hits hard with the mischievously infectious buzz that reverberates throughout the single that will undoubtedly become the sunny-side-up hip-hop anthem of the summer. The track and music video flawlessly capture the spontaneous creativity that allowed the serotonin-soaked hit to pull together in a few days; it’s an explosion of uninhibited energy that sticks in the memory and strips away negativity. With an underpinned message life is what you make it, you’ll want to join YTN Tee at the vanguard of unabashed positivity as soon as you surrender to the groove.

Lightsaber is a culmination of YTN Tee’s experience in the industry. He started to cut his teeth at age 15 as a freestyler; since honing his talents, he’s racked up over 500k streams on his seminal release, Wazzup, and featured on BBC Introducing Northampton and 1Xtra. As only the start of what’s to come in 2024, YTN Tee isn’t an artist you will want to sleep on.

Lightsaber was officially released on May 29; stream the single on all major platforms via this link or watch the official music video, shot by SA, on YouTube.

Follow YTN Tee on Instagram.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

West-London’s Drill king, Light served fierce flows and savage lyricism with ‘Ko-Lee Noodles’

Posted on 16 April 2024

Light’s latest single, Ko-Lee Noodles, is an indomitable testament to the West-London-hailing rap artist’s fierce fortitude. His ever-growing loyal fanbase, which is pushing him ever closer to the 1 million stream mark, will note that his signature of mellifluous grooves, punchy flows savage lyricism has followed him into this drill hit, but this time, there’s a relentlessly fierce intensity to the release that is as real as it comes.

The last time something hit so hard, dinosaurs went extinct, but Light’s legacy in the UK rap scene will never die; he’ll be riding high for as long as he continues to wax lyrical with unparalleled ferocity.

With the melodic emotionally charged instrumentals tempering the energy while drenching the polished production in a haunting atmosphere, Light’s candour becomes all the more affecting in the confessionally confronting release.

Light was officially released on April 16; stream the single on Spotify or watch the official music video on the GRM Daily YouTube channel.

To stay up to date with all of the latest releases from Light, follow the luminary on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Touch down in ‘BUDAPEST’ with Zulu Abantu’s Seminal Alt-Hip-Hop Track

Posted on 4 April 2024

Zulu Abantu may have cut his teeth in the grime scene, but he is coming into his own through vibrant genre fusions, especially after the drop of his latest single, ‘BUDAPEST‘. This track is a cultural mosaic, melding the raw edge of grime with the soulful depths of R&B and the universal appeal of pop.

‘BUDAPEST’ resonates with an exotic flair, breaking the monocultural mould with its eastern rhythms that weave through the production atop the trap beats, while Zulu Abantu’s vocal versatility is on full display, proving that his voice can effortlessly bridge grime, R&B, and reggaeton.

For those who crave rap tracks that abstract from material reality and transport you to domains you’d die to explore in physical form, ‘BUDAPEST’ hits the mark. The hooks in this track are not just irresistible; they are a siren call to those seeking musical exploration beyond the conventional.

Zulu Abantu’s journey from grime to an eclectic mix of genres is a testament to his artistic evolution. With a decade of dedication to his craft, he’s got what it takes to perpetually change the atmosphere of the alt-hip-hop scene.

BUDAPEST hit the airwaves on March 20; stream the single on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London’s HBEEE played by his own rules in his viral rap track, Game Over

Posted on 7 March 2024

After teaming up with director Mani J for the official music video for his latest hit, Game Over, one of the hottest UK rappers, HBEEE racked up over 312k streams in the space of a month; the grime track is more than worth the viral hype.

If you can’t stand the superficiality of fake beauty, know how it feels to always have your walls up and live knowing that no one will ever understand the complexities that lie beneath your persona, Game Over will leave you vindicated by the volition.

With a lyrical intellect that rivals George the Poet’s, the hook-rife release will leave you ensnared from the first hit; the contrast between the warm, intricate and melodic instrumentals and female backing vox with HBEEE’s razor-sharp-with-grit cadence, it’s impossible not to be affected by the authentically stylised ingenuity in Game Over.

Stream the official music video on the GRM Daily YouTube channel now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ArkAngel47 flowed into the heart of memory in his alt-hip-hop track, nostalgia

Posted on 13 February 2024

ArkAngel47’s latest single, nostalgia, crashed into the alt-rap scene like a rogue wave, unapologetically dismantling the boundaries of the genre on February 8th. The raw, unfiltered plunge into the depths of memory, wrapped in a soundscape that defies easy categorisation, is an unconventional fusion that grips you from the first beat.

Imagine grime’s gritty pulse, new wave’s introspective echo, and alt-hip-hop’s rebellious spirit colliding around lyricism that balances candour and volition. Hit play and feel the push and pull of time as North West London’s grittiest poet waxes lyrical with melancholic wisdom. Nostalgia is beyond reminiscence; it is the dissection of the essence of the psychological phenomenon; an exposition of its sweet allure and sharp bite.

Musically, the track is a beast of its own making. The beats morph and twist before flooding into a melodious flow and glitching like a dream half-remembered as the backing vocals resonate as ethereal whispers from bygone days, adding layers of haunting depth to the track.

Mixed and mastered with the sharp ear of Kult Eviction at Kabin Studios, nostalgia is a testament to ArkAngel47’s raw talent and vision. With plenty more genre-fluid releases locked, loaded, and ready to drop throughout 2024, ArkAngel47 is one to watch.

Watch the official music video for nostalgia on YouTube, or add the single to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast