Grime and UK rap 2020

It's a shame he felt the need to do Holiday and Bonkers at the end. Some of the very best grime ever in there though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMPr9XXGymA&ab_channel=HeadieOne

Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different. This is pop drill done properly and shows how this sound can go mainstream. Would have been nice if AJ and Stormzy's verses were longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjN2RhRyi8k&ab_channel=LadyLeshurr

Lady Leshurr - #UNLESHED 4. Lady Lesh is better at drill than almost all drillers, and she wears a big sombrero in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOJM_fNzkfw&ab_channel=AbraCadabra

Abra Cadabra Ft. RV x Kush x Double Lz x Bandokay x Lowkey x Dezzie - On Deck Remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwFu3nE1bNc&ab_channel=GRMDaily

Frosty Ft. Unknown T - Under Surveillance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZ31h78EMY&ab_channel=GRMDaily

K-Trap - Whip That Work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPe5tzoprOw&ab_channel=GRMDaily

Sykes Beats ft. #OFB Dezzie & Headie One - Chop It. I think Dezzie is my favourite new driller this year, even though he has a bit of a lisp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey5uynrMyOE&ab_channel=BigFrisVEVO

Frisco - Red Card (Official Video) ft. Skepta, Jammer, JME, Shorty. This is the best grime beat I've heard in ages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hze3Z4M-mbU&ab_channel=GRMDaily

Crazy Titch - Twice. Speaking of grime OGs, Titch has another new one. Sign the Justice For Titch petition here - https://www.change.org/p/criminal-cases-review-commission-justice-for-titch-everyone-deserves-a-fair-trial

Ah fuck. I think I see what's happened there. Let's try again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMPr9XXGymA&ab

Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different

Goddamnit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMPr9XXGymA

Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different

There we go. YouTube have put some bullshit on the end of their URLs with the channel name and what have you so you need to take that out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjN2RhRyi8k

Lady Leshurr - #UNLESHED 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOJM_fNzkfw

Abra Cadabra Ft. RV x Kush x Double Lz x Bandokay x Lowkey x Dezzie - On Deck Remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwFu3nE1bNc

Frosty Ft. Unknown T - Under Surveillance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZ31h78EMY

K-Trap - Whip That Work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPe5tzoprOw

Sykes Beats ft. #OFB Dezzie & Headie One - Chop It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey5uynrMyOE

Frisco - Red Card (Official Video) ft. Skepta, Jammer, JME, Shorty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hze3Z4M-mbU

Crazy Titch - Twice

thanks for the recommends!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-THyj_xY9Xk

Dottz • Electric Slide

Yeah that's great! I've been enjoying a lot of these recommendations lately, thanks.

You're welcome!

been sleeping on this thread all year, but I just heard the brilliant chorus to Pa Salieu's "Betty" and afaict (lots of dead vids with no labels upthread) it was never posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhmT77slD78

vybz does drill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHx7oiFmMJo

^^^ Vybz Kartel ft. Sikka Rymes, Lisa Mercedez & Massive B • Badman

afaict (*lots of dead vids with no labels upthread*) it was never posted*

That Pa Salieu tune hasn't been posted so thanks for sharing, it's a good one. He's making a name for himself in the scene. Loving his Afro-style approach to drill. The Vybz Kartel one is good too. He's got a great voice for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxTV3vODb3s

Pa Salieu - My Family feat BackRoad Gee - Here's another new Pa Salieu. Backroad Gee seems to be becoming the Tempa T of drill, ie he's not the best MC technically or lyrically but he shouts a lot and gets everyone gassed up. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM2Q6MAtcb8

Big Shaq - Anti Freestyle - Shaq is actually a good rapper. I've said it before but it bears repeating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kLt711HESg

M1LLIONZ - LAGGA - M1llionz visits Kenya. There's a lot more weaponry on show in this than you'd see in a vid shot in the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0mlxTVludQ

Teeway - Dinner Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMVOMfjPy4I

Dutchavelli - Bando Diaries (Remix) [feat. OneFour, Kekra, Noizy & DIVINE] - Dutch has brought along drillers from Australia, France, Albania and India for this remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JrlzjIeF6s

DigDat - Assassin Creed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajvIxmkvOG0

Morrisson - Brothers (Official Video) ft. Jordan

All of these Pa Salieu tunes are brilliant, I'm not so into drill but the injection of energy here is fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2YFJ2b_WEQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjiZvK7xKY

Chip - Flowers - Chip sends for Stormzy! And it's a good one, just as good as any of Wiley's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysn6r11-Fz4

Chip - Killer MC - I'm not sure if this is a Stormzy send or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAgw9YWY-A

Unknown P - Diss & Chips (Stormzy & Chip Beef) - Posh driller Unknown P with his thoughts on the matter. He's a comedy MC but he's just as good a rapper as most drillers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXb3qLYTqbY

Potter Payper - When I Was Little - Potter with a conscious one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qUFo86oaLI

#OFB BandoKay & Double Lz Featuring Abra Cadabra - BLM - A rare conscious drill track that also samples 'Spiders' by Coldplay. Makes sense really because drill producers love a bit of minor key piano. There was a grime tune back in the day that sampled this as well (by P Jam iirc). It wasn't very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaMlDJd7rG0

Dizzee Rascal, Smoke Boys - Act Like You Know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pipPosgTs

Smoke Boys Ft. Dizzee Rascal - Justin Bieber - Dizzee and Smoke Boys have done a couple of tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3ibYcsJEOo

Dutchavelli - Cool With Me (feat. M1llionz)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-m5zycBJU

Pa Salieu - Bang Out feat. Gazo [Kwes Darko Remix]

what do we think of the headie album? listened in the car last night and it's a bit of a hodgepodge, but there are some choice cuts. love the latest young t & bugsey pop-rap collab, the closer with kaash paige, and "parlez-vous anglais" was a lot of fun. my fav new solo track was probably "five figures," which was the one that felt closest to the headspace he was in on gang. the future connection didn't feel as convincing–the novelty of hearing future on a drill beat is cool, but his verse leaves a lot to be desired. idk what to make of the afrobeats section that crops up towards the end, but points to headie for giving it a shot.

Only listened a few times but I really like it. Not feeling the pop-rap tunes so much but he's at the stage where he's not going to do a whole album of road tunes so I think he gets the mix right. And it's gone to number one!

Also it doesn't look like Chip's getting a reply from Stormz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLiAIgsXnrk

Bis - Streets - A bit deeper than your average drill tune. Bis would have turned 21 on the day this came out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxgpwRSKspA

Ghetts - IC3 feat Skepta - Ghetts and Skeppy getting political.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYNCQGzCkfA

D Double E - Tell Me A Ting REMIX ft P-Money x Frisco x Backroad Gee x Novelist - Some more veterans on this. I think this is the first time I've heard a drill rapper on a straight up grime beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqGTrsWHTlA

Loski ft. Popcaan - Avengers - A rare UK/JA collab here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTvh27sr5NQ

Dezzie - Daily Duppy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEUAyneKIlc

Digga D - Chingy (It's Whatever)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37t670fE4Ts

PS Hitsquad - Bruce Willis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OCAcKvahOY

Chip - Ignite (ft. Jme & Dizzee Rascal) - I think this and Dizzee's other recent tune with Chip are the first time he's been on a tune with other high profile MCs since the Roll Deep/BIDC days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sa5GcmqoAc

Dizzee Rascal, Ocean Wisdom - Don't Be Dumb - These two work really well together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khenvzw4mHE

Abra Cadabra - Spin This Coupe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it0TOvEreJ8

BackRoad Gee x Lethal Bizzle x JME - Enough Is Enough - These two tracks could set off some serious moshpit action in normal times. The beat on this one almost sounds like old school grime to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5dIP5ERe60

K1 N15 - Bando

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAEcmCyEvkU

DigDat - VV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3G-NfxWHJY

Tion Wayne - Deluded (feat. MIST). Love this beat, so cold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk9V7zqYHEk

Russ Millions - Playground Finale

lots of quality there!

don't follow this thread too closely so apologies if repost but i really liked this

https://izco.bandcamp.com/album/warrior-chant-ps-in

maybe it's the pokemon / looney tunes 1-2 in the hook

I'm hopelessly obsessed with this M Huncho x Nafe Smallz song, couple other nice moments on the DNA mixtape too. They have good chemistry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swTSP7ymYsU

Really liked the Mez album Tyrone 3 that came out last month, I love his beat selection, some of the tracks have that old school grime sound. This one in particular is mad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNAnXH2fnOI

That's one of the better Huncho tracks I've heard. Not a big fan of that style tbh but he's good at what he does. Feeling that Mez track too, beat sounds almost like the grimier end of UK funky to me.

The Beeb have made a documentary about Digga D and it's an interesting watch. It's more about him trying to stay off road than about his background or his career to date and it takes a fairly sympathetic approach to his situation. It does make me angry that the government isn't doing to more to help a young man with PTSD but what do you expect.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08xkspf/defending-digga-d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_vdaZ2NesI

Digga D - Daily Duppy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLuP4N6Wp3E

Straight Murder (Giggs & David) - Dave shows Giggs how it's done on this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE7LJcss0l8

Abra Cadabra Ft. Kush - How We Living - I'm a sucker for those sinogrime style flute melodies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsuXCdCVMOI

Jammer Feat. JME - Ain't The Same - Gotta say that I've never really rated Jammer as an MC but he shells it on this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE7AXBELOU4

Pete & Bas ft. M24 - The Old Estate - Pete's verse on this, bloody hell

have been listening to the headie one album a bit lately and it would probably be one of my favourites of the year if it were a fair bit shorter, because it's pretty good at what it does, just that thing gets monotonous over its 20 tracks

almost afraid to admit that pete and baz 'lightwork freestyle' is one of my most played trax this year, certainly the one which has the most bars that remain stuck in my head.

the money comes blue, the money comes white, the money comes pink
now i'm washing out red with a petrol can in the bathroom sink

too many bands locked down in the basement
bought two flats and a loft extension
too many 22s tucked in the car door
looks like one of them bond inventions

pete and bas

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08xkspf/defending-digga-d

This is worth watching. Really like the track on the second half of his Daily Duppy too.

Agree about the Abra Cadabra track. Need to get around to listening to AC's mixtape/album.

I've been lurking on this thread on & off through the year but haven't bothered posting because I generally can't think of anything to say beyond 'this is big' or similar. Found a lot of great tunes through it though. It feels weird to post because we're real-world pals, but I do have to say thanks to paolo for all the good work.

I was wondering with the end-of-year poll coming up soon whether anyone had any favourite tunes or albums/mixtapes from the year? If there's any consensus picsk we could take them forward to the nominations.
I will try and post a list of faves in a while (it will mostly just be things that are already on this thread though).

J Hus is an obvious consensus pick as far as albums go. i just finally got around to Pa Salieu's Send Them to Coventry and it's great too

superb record

Lol me, I hadn't actually listened to the J Hus album when it came out (hadn't been too keen on Common Sense and just generally wasn't following new music at the time), but have now checked it out and of course it's great. Would definitely expect it to do well in the poll.

Favourite tracks of the year:
Abra Cadabra Ft. RV x Kush x Double Lz x Bandokay x Lowkey x Dezzie- On Deck Remix
Abra Cadabra - Spin This Coupe
Backroad Gee x JME x Lethal Bizzle - Enough is Enough
Backroad Gee ft Pa Salieu & Ambush - Party Popper
BandoKay & Double Lz ft Abra Cadabra - BLM
Clipz ft Ms Banks, Ms Dynamite & Jaykae - Again (Redlight remix)
Crazy Titch - Puff Chest
Dezzie - Buss It
Dezzie & Headie One - Chop It
Dizzee Rascal & Ocean Wisdom - Don't Be Dumb
Frisco ft Skepta, Jammer, JME & Shorty - Red Card
Ghetts ft Jaykae & Moonchild Sanelly - Mozambique
Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different
Headie One & Fred Again ft Jamie XX - Smoke
Ill Blu ft Bandokay x Double Lz - Magic
Izco & PK - Ps-In
Karma - Weirdest Zoo
Lady Leshurr - Unleshed 4
M1llionz - Lagga
M1llionz - Y Pree
Meekz x M1llionz x Teeway x Pa Salieu - Year of the Real
Mez - Silas
MizOrMac - Return Of The Mac
Pa Salieu - Bang Out, plus basically everything on the album
Smoke Boys ft Dizzee Rascal - Justin Bieber
Trizzac x Bgody - CD
Unknown T - Deh Deh
Unknown T x D Double E - Double Trouble
V9 - Vikings

There's probably some screwy choices in there reflecting the fact that I'm not all that deeply immersed in this stuff. I've probably underepresented the drill side of things as well: I feel like there's been loads of drill tracks that I've listened to and enjoyed but don't stand out when trying to pull together faves for a list.

With albums/mixtapes, my knowledge is sketchier again. Pa Salieu - Send Them to Coventry I agree with everyone is fantastic, and J Hus - Big Conspiracy too as above.

Unknown T - Rise Above Hate I thought was a really solid album. Maybe not many stand-out tracks and sometimes UT as an MC seems more interesting than the tunes, but I've still gone back to it a lot.

I thought the The BackRoad Gee - Mukta vs Mukta mixtape was a lot of fun. Just a short thing (7 tunes) and BRG sort of just does one thing, but worth checking out.

Enjoyed the Headie One - Edna album more than I thought I would. I guess I was expecting it to be an awkward crossover album but it overall it comes off quite well. It is quite split out in how it's structured I suppose, in that it's like here's the drill tunes, here's the crossover pop-rap tunes. The Gang EP I thought was excellent, & probably more consistent than Edna: obviously not hardcore at all but it just has this nice dreamy atmosphere right through it.

The Abra Cadabra - Product Of My Environment album is not really clicking with me so far I'm afraid. It feels like a bit of an awkward mish-mash of different things. Favourite tracks for me are probably the ones that I'd already heard: Spin This Coupe, On Deck, Show Me, How We Living. Will give it some more time though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbwQLqlJ7Y

LADY LESHURR - D.I.V - Lesh sends for Ivorian Doll ON HER BIRTHDAY after ID dissed her in her Daily Duppy. Why anyone would send for Lesh is just beyond me, there's really not many UK MCs that could go against her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlWQdq0XoIc

LADY LESHURR - ASTRONAUT - Just a wee quick one. Not sure how I feel about her outfit in this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjDpVpX-ZVg

Bugzy Malone - Cold Nights In The 61 - I'm not a big Bugzy Malone fan but I am feeling this one. It's a bit more subdued than his normal festival-style output.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Kn5wdke_A

JAY1 - GWOP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbS-EFmqudo

#OFB DZ x YF - Back 2 Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYFrR66KAew

RV & HEADIE ONE - BACK TO BACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpgQV-a9cXs

Dezzie X Headie One - Opp Diddy Bop

this has been a great thread for me this year, thanks!

Favourite tracks of the year:
Abra Cadabra Ft. RV x Kush x Double Lz x Bandokay x Lowkey x Dezzie- On Deck Remix
Abra Cadabra - Spin This Coupe
Backroad Gee x JME x Lethal Bizzle - Enough is Enough
Backroad Gee ft Pa Salieu & Ambush - Party Popper
BandoKay & Double Lz ft Abra Cadabra - BLM
Clipz ft Ms Banks, Ms Dynamite & Jaykae - Again (Redlight remix)
Crazy Titch - Puff Chest
Dezzie - Buss It
Dezzie & Headie One - Chop It
Dizzee Rascal & Ocean Wisdom - Don't Be Dumb
Frisco ft Skepta, Jammer, JME & Shorty - Red Card
Ghetts ft Jaykae & Moonchild Sanelly - Mozambique
Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different
Headie One & Fred Again ft Jamie XX - Smoke
Ill Blu ft Bandokay x Double Lz - Magic
Izco & PK - Ps-In
Karma - Weirdest Zoo
Lady Leshurr - Unleshed 4
M1llionz - Lagga
M1llionz - Y Pree
Meekz x M1llionz x Teeway x Pa Salieu - Year of the Real
Mez - Silas
MizOrMac - Return Of The Mac
Pa Salieu - Bang Out, plus basically everything on the album
Smoke Boys ft Dizzee Rascal - Justin Bieber
Trizzac x Bgody - CD
Unknown T - Deh Deh
Unknown T x D Double E - Double Trouble
V9 - Vikings

Checked the noms list: Spin This Coupe, Enough is Enough, Party Popper, Don't Be Dumb & Ain't it Different were already nominated, so I've now also nominated Again remix, Puff Chest, Buss It, Mozambique, Smoke, Magic, Ps-In, Weirdest Zoo, Unleshed 4, Lagga, Silas, CD, Deh Deh & Vikings (left off the others to avoid potential vote splitting, which was tough to do for some, especially On Deck remix which has been a BIG tune for me this year).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbwQLqlJ7Y

LADY LESHURR - D.I.V - Lesh sends for Ivorian Doll ON HER BIRTHDAY after ID dissed her in her Daily Duppy. Why anyone would send for Lesh is just beyond me, there's really not many UK MCs that could go against her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlWQdq0XoIc

LADY LESHURR - ASTRONAUT - Just a wee quick one. Not sure how I feel about her outfit in this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjDpVpX-ZVg

Bugzy Malone - Cold Nights In The 61 - I'm not a big Bugzy Malone fan but I am feeling this one. It's a bit more subdued than his normal festival-style output.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Kn5wdke_A

JAY1 - GWOP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbS-EFmqudo

#OFB DZ x YF - Back 2 Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYFrR66KAew

RV & HEADIE ONE - BACK TO BACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpgQV-a9cXs

Dezzie X Headie One - Opp Diddy Bop

Not really feeling the OFB tune but otherwise these are all great.
I find the beat on Cold Nights In The 61 quite hard to follow (think we have a thread about when that happens?) - it's good though.