I clearly spent a lot of time on this one. Meh. Think I could do a better job now, not quite sure what the point of this was. Feeling the title and cover though. Creeper is a historical English document, up there with Strawberry Fields. Creeper is a keeper hurhur
No Hats, No Hoods: Grimey Sampler 03
LINK ABOVE^
I have designed this mix to not only be an introduction to grime music, including classic old school dubs from 2003, newer tunes and exclusives ('dubplates'), but to the versatile and deep-rooted UK urban music scene.
This music is popular but remains 'underground' as mainstream radio and media rarely give it airplay.
This could be attributed to grime's (Met police-manufactured) association with riots, murders and of course rising crime rates and deprivation in London. Raves, once common, were shut down before they could start and are now a lot more thin on the ground.
Grime has grown to be a lot more diverse than the angry young scene that tore it's way out of the lightweight, skippy beats of UK Garage in 2002. Despite owing it's sound more to electronic, dance music, ragga and dub, grime still wouldn't exist without hip-hop or it's MC-led social commentary and narrative-based wordplay.
As a result the definition of 'grime' often blurs; the accepted tempo is 140bpm, but there are productions in 70 combined with the characteristic skipping snares and London vocals that have a more hip-hop feel but remain firmly planted on road.
Also integral to the character of UK 'urban' are the third-generation Anglo-Jamaican/Africans who have all brought their cultures to grime; and bashment (Jamaica's contemporary take on hip-hop) intermingles with the sounds of grime, reggae and dubstep on the streets of London.
What follows is UK-hip-hop-grimey-drum n' dub-two-step . Please partake and, hopefully, enjoy. As always, turn up that bass dial!
Here is a little something to read if you are listening and feeling the vibes:
1. Dizzee Rascal - Creeper
A 16-year old Dizzee Rascal spraying over what is considered to be the first 'grime' riddim: Danny Weed's 'Creeper'. Minimal, basic synth, no nonsense.
2. Dizzee Rascal (feat. Newham Generals) - My Life
Some 5/6 years after the previous track was recorded, Dizzee showcases the seminal signings to his 'Dirtee Stank' imprint. Dizzee is the first 'grime' artist to have scored a number one recently (albeit with a sound far removed from grime) with 'Dance Wiv Me'; having decided to bring a few grime staples along for the ride. After dropping his debut 'Boy In Da Corner' in 2004 and briefly bringing grime into the media spotlight by winning the Mercury Music Prize, he has since distanced himself from the 'grime' tag and left the scene to develop without his prodigious talent. 'Boy...' is still considered to be the archetypal grime album, and continues to be an incentive for young MC's to 'break'.
3. Rude Kid - Alien Skank
Instrumental. Riddim by young Alien Muzik producer and talent Rude Kid, this was very popular with DJ's on the underground in 2007.
4. D Double E (feat. JME) - Thuggish Ruggish
A classic Dr.Dre/West Coast-style production from 2006. Taken from D Double E's (one half of Newham Generals) hard-to-find solo mixtape. D Dubs was popular in grime's formative years for his often humorous rave bars, consisting of characteristic sounds and gimmicks. JME is now one of the scene's most popular MC/producers and is bordering on mainstream success in the UK.
5. Dimples - That's Life
Part of North London grime-intellectuals G-Fam, this is a slice of UK hip-hop from his last mixtape.
6. Jammer - Toxic Freestyle
Dreadlocked marijuana enthusiast/veteran producer/Neckle Camp founder Jammer jumps on mic for Britney Spears' 'Toxic', exclusively for a 2007 DJ Prancehall mix. Jammer recently signed to Dirtee Stank.
7. The Bug (feat. Killa P) - Skeng
A 'skeng' is Jamaican patois for a gun 
Cousin of scene veteran Flow Dan, Yardie-style MC Killa P is here enlisted by dubstep producer the Bug to make this swampy dirge of a track sound even more baked.
8. Skepta - In A Corner
Founder of leading grime label/recording group/T-shirt enterprise (yes, really) Boy Better Know, Skepta here turns the speed up (180bpm odd?) to drum n' bass levels and proceeds with his simple-but-effective delivery. Monster tune. From 2007's much anticipated mixtape 'Greatest Hits'. Skepta is the brother of JME.
9. Skit
10. Black the Ripper - In My Mind
This track is pure, sample-based, hip-hop swagger. Black made a name for himself on live video-feed Axe FM, winning many a battle tournament, but has seemingly outgrown his origins to become one of the most respected and conscientious lyricists in the scene.
11. Random Impulse - The Heroine
G-Fam member Impulse has been knocking around for a while, moonlighting as an in-demand producer of music for adverts, he's accustomed to utilising guitar parts in his music. This is aptly demonstrated in this emotional tour-de-force from one of my top mixtapes period, 'Full Metal Alchemist'.
12. Wiley - Mystic Forest
Instrumental. Grime producer/MC/founder of Roll Deep crew Wiley is often cited as the 'father of grime'. At 30 he is the oldest MC, having cut his teeth on jungle in the 90's. Still incredibly popular today with a high work rate, and in the unique position of having to compete with young artists who grew up on his music (grime is still young), this is one of an insane amount of classic Wiley riddims. Wiley was kept off the top spot in the charts this summer by Madonna with his dance-compromise hit 'Wearing My Rolex'.
13. Trim - Don't Talk (Clean)
Came into grime as a member of Roll Deep, fiercely independent MC Trim/Trimbal/Trimvan/Trimothy (and so on) came out with his first solo mixtape in early 2007. His off-kilter, deliberated flow and ability to get deeply personal in a clash has made him an unenviable opponent in the scene. His idiosyncratic sound has made him very popular with straight-grime and electronic fans alike.
14. Eskiboy (feat. Scorcher) - Red Light
A rapid shot of electro-grime from Eskiboy(aka Wiley)'s recent mixtape 'Umbrella Vol.1'. Eski is the second MC, following Scorcher, a popular North London MC and one-time rival from the Movement crew.
15. President T - Dis Likkle Yout
2005-2006 pirate radio mainstay Meridian Crew's senior member Pres T took 3 years to come out with a mixtape, and when he finally did, it was so lacklustre, he released it as a free download on MySpace. This track, however, is produced by one of several underage beat-making wonders - Bless Beats. Has odd subtlety and depth for a grime track.
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03-14-2009 10:51 AM 
