"Right Now I'm Working On An Album, When It Comes Out It's Gonna Sell Like It's One Pound"

Having listened to a fair few radio sets in my time, I can say without much doubt that live radio can't be replicated. It's an immediate form, and Ghetts punching Silencer's Dirtbag right on the nose to start the set would have been even more gully in the moment.

This afternoon I willingly immersed myself into the Kisskube, arguably the clumsiest-named radio player on the net and, similar to David Blaine's willing immersion into that cube over the Thames, I found I couldn't get out. Every time I go into the Kube my computer freezes and whizzes frantically, as if on the wrong end of a virtual punch-up. It was a slog but things eventually got going, with even some new music to kick-off.

Roll Deep - Roll Deep Rally


J2K continues to breathe vitality into the entourage and, with the upbeat Swindle production, this is a nice little tune. Scratchy and Riko have featured quite a bit on the pirates recently, and hopefully recent momentum can be brought to the crew as a whole.

Still, where's Killa P?

Swindle's productions are at Spyro's mercy in a recent set with Purple and Realist. Have a listen. His instrumental CD, 'Cirriculum Vitae', is out on 30th March. Three days before, OT Crew's 'Left To Rot' should have landed. This should be on it.

O.T Crew - Military Strength (Radio Rip)


Dogzilla and Devlin have also been active on the pirates recently, as has Trim, who was Logan's first guest. He talked all yardie, emphasising his claims that he's one of, if not the best, yardie spitter in the game. An honourable mention was reserved for Doctor, and Riko was paternally referred to as 'the daddy'. I paused for thought.

Where's Killa P?

Ghetts had a laugh on the set while maintaining high levels of spitting. Wretch can still rhyme on grime with ease. It was a nice vibe, although it was compromised by the beat before Club 5. Someone tell me what it is. Please. It's driving me fucking mad.

Cheers.

Download the set here

TRACKLIST:

SILENCER // DIRT BAG
SILENCER // WORLD WAR 4
SILENCER // WORLD WAR 4 REMIX ?
SCHOLAR // 20 MINUTE MASSIVE
SILENCER // WIZARD
NOCTURNAL // VET
RAPID // NIGHT RYDER
RAPID // ???????????
SWINDLE // SWAGGER
WILEY // WREATH
MACABRE UNIT // TAKE TIME
????????? // ???????????
WILEY // CLUB 5
APPLE // MR BEAN ON DRUGS

'If You Ever Saw What The Skeng Did To The Tree'

I was planning to have a little analysis of Skepta's latest foray into this electro business, Sunglasses At Night. However, the forum people have their eyes on the ball and I was too late. Like Skepta on the Cypher video.

He wasn't the only one, and I rate Skepta highly still. But Sunglasses, as well as the collaboration with Ribz, doesn't really inspire any sort of confidence. Artists do have to show versatility these days, but you still have to do yourself justice. Skepta is better than this.

Skepta - Sunglasses At Night (Radio Rip)


The track was featured on Logan's show last Monday, along with a couple of other tunes that caught my ears. Bring Your Click should feature on Rapid's album, and the sooner that comes the better.

Rapid & Ruff Sqwad - Bring Your Click (Radio Rip)


I only deal in threes.

Bullet Ah Go Fly (Frisco Remix) Feat. Badness, Riko, Flow Dan & Killa P (Radio Rip)


Voltage was Logan's guest, and the MC was on the set with Realist and Scruface. The set was very good, with a top-notch selection that kept me from nodding off. Realist again proved why he's a name to be reckoned with, and was allowed more freedom than his appearance on Westwood a few weeks back, which involved being paraded by Asher D and only being able to spit on one beat. Voltage came with his trademark bars, and Scruface's skippy flow cut through the hype beats on offer.

Download Realist, Voltage and Scruface set from grimepedia.co.uk

TRACKLISTING:

Wiley // Before This
Maniac // Salt Fish
Rapid // License
Skepta // Skankin' Ting
Wiley // Club 8
DJ Oddz // Champion VIP
Rapid // Knightrider
JME // Napa Prince
Maniac // Headshot
Nocturnal // Don't Phone Me
Davinche // What Is Mine
Maniac // What The Rass
Joker // Holy Brook Park
Maniac // Thug
Rude Kid // UFO VIP
Wiley // 5.27 AM
Skeamz // Greengate Guys
Maniac // Rollin'
Rapid // F'in Riddim
TNT // Nissi
Maniac // Grime Kid
Macabre Unit // Take Time
Lewi White // Mountain
Footsie // Do You Hear Me (Arnie)

'She's Wearing The Rolex I'll Be Like Pass Me The Watch'

I used to dislike Westwood but, through listening to his shows more often after becoming a self-appointed grime patron, I've come to accept he has comic value. That said I rarely tune in to his show on a Sunday night. Rinse FM had a promising line-up but technology fucked off when it was needed so, with some thoroughly legal BBC backing, Westwood passed over the airwaves. I locked in.

Asher D turned up with Swindle and Realist. I rate Asher highly; he's released a lot of material, he was one of my favourite MCs in the So Solid Crew, and Bullet Boy was one of the best urban UK films I've seen. Not that making a UK urban film that's better than the rest is that difficult, but it was a good film all the same. He seems to have a plan with his label AD82 as well, and his recent signing of Realist seems shrewd, even if it's too early to make any major conclusions about it all.



Swindle is also a part of the AD82 roster but, unfortunately, Westwood wasn't too clued up on his movements, so had to ask what he was about. Swindle replied he released his 140 Mixtape, surely grateful for any sort of plug, only for Westwood to ruin everything by piping up with 'what dawg, Kano's joint'?

I laughed.

Westwood covered his tracks by suggesting Kano might have had a bite on the title name. He did quite a good job of it. Realist also did a good job too, barring over Nocturnal's Stay Down The Road remix which was a good selection that matched the hype. The bars were grimey but he also came across as a courteous chap in bigging up his mum not once, but twice.



A quick detour. I finally got round to listening to 140 Grime Street recently. After a few listens, it's not bad. There's some pretty good tracks on there, although some did make me wince, such as Don't Come Around Here, on which I expected Lil' John to start growling at any moment, and the totally unforgettable Soldier. The accapellas are good lyrically, but they highlight the newish, Kano slur, and Missing Me concludes with 'I garaged it, hip-hopped it, ragga'ed it, now it's back to grime because they've been missing me like Madeleine'.

...

140 Grime Street is a misleading title but it's a decent effort overall, with Hustler, Hunting We Will Go, These MCs, Anywhere We Go, and Seems Like Things Have Changed lighting the way. A journalist from the Guardian called the album 'tremendously heartening'. I think that's going a little far, but everyone is entitled to their opinion and, generally, I did enjoy the album. The Guardian article also claims that the album is a step 'back on the right path'. Hopefully Kano treads that path for a while yet.