Can't Test My Crew Nah They're Dreaming

The Newham Generals are being pampered by the big, papery arms of the Observer Music Monthly. Dressing up as doctors and being labelled as Dizzee's 'proteges' are small-fry, with the further coverage adding to one of the best grime album promotions to date.

Slick videos and Bell Dem viral controversy have complimented natural, increasing anticipation for an album that has been years in the waiting. The latest party trick is not a mere podcast, but a Dirtee Stank 'Cast'; Semtex is graciously given a chance to exorcise his South London howler from a while back, and crooner Chrome is wedged on at the end so that he doesn't ruin things too much.

But the Generals have always been on radio, in addition to touring all over the country and beyond. But with their new album comes fresh direction and purpose. Looking at the last six months, perhaps the same invigoration can be seen in the grime crew generally.

Little Nasty and Griminal are the young, dynamic core hauling up the weighty name of NASTY, supported by the highly unlikely return of Sharkey Major. Nasty Jack had one of the best releases in 'Shotta Music' last year and, with Stormin, he's keeping up appearances on Urban FM TV.

Slew Dem's Shorty Smalls seems more on music now than I can remember for a while, and Tempz continues to ride his own hype-machine in the run-up to his anticipated '2000 & Paaax'. Spooky is continually adding to his mixes archive, and his recent Oneaway Music set with G-Man heralds the MC's forthcoming debut mixtape, 'Hard Hustlin'.

Cold Blooded had a nice little reunion last month, and there's talk of The Movement coming back together again. To top off the teetering cake, the OT Crew turned up to Rinse last night with Dogzilla mentioning 'goosebumps' on his return to the station. The crew's CD 'Left To Rot' is planned for release on 27 March.

Why now? I'm not really sure, but it does go hand-in-hand with the general rise of radio within the last few months. Grime's traditional outlet has been bolstered by the novelty of Westwood's 1Xtra Rap Show wearing increasingly thin, and the refurbishment of its YouTube channel has undermined one of the show's main initial strengths.

Also, this is all happening at the expense of Boy Better Know, who for the last few years have formed the centre-point of grime's weekly radio schedule, and occupied the position of its most recognised crew. With Skepta and Wiley not so focused on the underground at the moment and other crews showing new intent, maybe the scene's structure is changing and becoming just a little bit more open.

Maybe nothing is changing; this could just be a big flash in the pan, a happy coincidence that all of these crews are making big, simultaneous noise. Either way, I'm not complaining.

'Spray Bars Shower, I've Got A Different Sort Of Power Yeah...

Shorty Smalls is one of my favourite MCs. I don't really know why. His delivery isn't perfect, his bars could be constructed better, and his workrate isn't great. In the current climate maybe that's part of the appeal; an MC who makes no pretensions and with no yearning for wider acclaim. Just like every other grime MC he may have weaknesses, but with a good flow when the bars are on-point, and the anthemic S.H.O.R.T.Y S.M.A.L.L.S that still gets wheels in the gaff, he has enough about him that warrants more attention than he gets.

Generally you won't be high in the grime conscience if you release next to nothing, and the situation takes a tragically comic edge given the 'Non Stop Working' mantra which, even more unfortunately, had to be printed on numerous T-Shirts. I'm not going to slag off the tees because, like most in grime, they're not laughable. Anyway I hope something is coming soon but sometimes hoping is all a bit pointless. I'm not necessarily old enough, but I am wise enough to realise that it's more likely that Ronald McDonald will turn up to Rinse next week to spray a couple bars sending for The Colonel and the Crispy Twister.

Mixtapes seem to be a standard for anyone in the scene who wants to be taken seriously, and Chipmunk thinks you can't be taken seriously if you don't have several tunes to your name. I respect the young man's output and it's propelled him where he is now, but with six promos and three mixtapes saying anything else would seem a bit silly. Nobody wants a punch in the face and Chip stuck to the script, yet Esco and Ice Kid to name a few prove happy exceptions to the rule. Silence has led to intrigue, with fans hyping in the expectation of something, and an over-indulgence on the few freestyles or features they can call their own.

I'm not sure what Esco and Ice Kid have lined up, though I think I do know. Chipmunk's debut album 'I Am Chipmunk' is due for release soon. I wish him every success but, whatever the measure of his future success, I'll always rate Shorty Smalls higher. I don't really know why.