Cover by PyroKidSosa
Lolingo x Elf – Freaky
‘Freaky’ sees Lolingo & Elf link up for the first time since 2015. Grainy guitar riffs, throbbing bass and flipped samples provide the canvas for Elf, who flexes his bedroom prowess and his love for ladies in Nike trainers. It’s a banger. The beat is bedroom playlist worthy, and Elf avoids the heavy-handed cliches emcees run the risk of falling into when making tracks about sex. Who said grime music couldn’t be alluring?
Renz – PullUpInaDinger (prod. By DJ Iyayi)
Grime emcees have spent the majority of March clashing. Amid all the war dubs came Renz’s ‘PullUpInaDinger’, a genuine high point even if it isn’t strictly a dub for anyone. ‘PullUpInaDinger’ sees Renz tear into a minimal eski instrumental, delivering bar after bar at jet-propeller speed. Fast, intense and unrelenting; it’s the type of grime music that gets the head moving and then some.
Jus Rival – Shaolin Techniques (prod. By Brelstaff)
Jus Rival’s latest tune, ‘Shaolin Techniques, sees him deliver pro wrestling and combat-related wordplays. The beat, produced by Brelstaff, is based around an eastern-inspired guitar riff, applying techniques used by crate-digging, instrumental hip-hop producers to grime. Any grime tune that references The King of Strong Style is worth a play in my book, so turn ‘Shaolin Techniques’ up loud.
Queenie – Moves
Twenty seconds into her latest track, ‘Moves’, Queenie spits: “when I’m in my bag / my therapist couldn’t unpack it”. That’s hard. The rest of the tune lives up to its early promise, with Queenie extolling the virtues of locking off social media, not talking too much and getting to the bag. You can always count on Queenie for top quality lyricism.
Dapz On The Map – Hunger Games (prod. By Swifta Beater)
Dapz On The Map marked his return to music this March with “Connecting Flights”. A two-track single, the opening track ‘Hunger Games’ caught my ear. Dapz spits about the rat race of the music game, the effects of acclaim in his hometown and takes stock in his journey so far. The instrumental, produced by Swifta Beater, is packed with deft melodies, and Dapz finds time to sing a hook or two toward the end of the tune. ‘Connecting Flights’ wets the appetite for a forthcoming album, a welcome comeback from a U.K heavyweight.
Roachee – Madness
Grime O.G Roachee has popped up on a few radio sets over the past eighteen months, and ‘Madness’ is his first drop of 2022. Here, he spits about the differing experiences of his inner circle, takes aim at the government and shouts out the family closest to him. While his delivery has calmed down since those early Risky Roadz freestyles, his flow is still on lock, and on ‘Madness’ he sounds comfortable in his position as grime elder with plenty of gems to pass on. I can’t wait to hear more.
Tintz – Black Attack (prod. By Olja Beats)
Tintz has built his rep across the underground over the past few years, and his ‘Black like…’ set of bars is a guaranteed reload on any set. ‘Black Attack’ — produced by Olja Beats — expands this set of bars into new territories over a soundscape of eerie strings and gritty bass lines. The video is slick, too, featuring some hard-hitting fight choreography courtesy of Jon E Clayface. I can see this one tearing up raves.
The Art of Grime 