Grime and UK rap 2020

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.