r&g

Once again a massive shout out to the Complex massive. They asked me to compile a list of rhythm and grime tracks worth revisiting, you can check the list out and read some small commentary on each selection here.

Some points of interest: there are loads of tunes not on the list because they're (currently) not on any sort of streaming platform such as YouTube or Soundcloud. Not to suggest that any one tune on the list would have instantly been "drop-able" but there are some absentees that exist only on old records and hard to find mix tapes. Such examples include Chanel & Skepta's 'Fly Away', the majority of DVA's 'Voice Of Grime' CD and other little gems that eventually I'll get around to ripping.

There was a lot of "do I or don't I" with the inclusion, or non-inclusion rather, of some tracks - I anticipate somebody dutifully reminding me of some obscure Mssingo bootleg they picked up at a Kale Milkshake selling record fair - ultimately I had to pick the tunes that I knew people would relate to in terms of the description I provided in the opening paragraph.

I believe I'm right in my comments r.e Terror's productions as well. His discography is a mighty one, with a lot of bits falling into the aforementioned ether of non-ripped vinyls and murky radio rips, he alone could've surely filled a list of the best rather than a revisiting piece and maybe that's a thought for future writing. No one will ever write a piece about r&g and not mention Ruff Sqwad - 'Together' was the obvious choice really. I wrestled with the idea of daring to include others like 'Ur Love Feels' and perhaps I should be berated for not opting for the even more prominent 'Functions', but the Wiley-influenced track made perfect sense to me.

To make the list appear at least slightly diverse, I chose the Scandalous Ultd and Low Deep tracks. Many of Scandalous' productions are often unspoken of, rather unfairly I might add, whereas it's seemingly Low Deep's instrumental contributions that only get noticed: I feel 'Unsung' as an album went a little under the radar.

Anyway, there's ten tracks in the list and a little bit of feedback would honestly be appreciated. Hit me up: @mfcfrankos.

So a Wiley book is happening

and as it's set to be a biography, some insight into a few career defining times would be an incredible read. Over the next few weeks I'll be covering some of my favourite Wiley moments, and the first one sees us as far back as 15 years ago.

The Slew Show

There's a plethora of incidents I could cover when talking about Wiley and radio, but I cherry-picked this one due to it's significance in Grime history. This is the radio show that followed on from the [now] infamous night at Destiny Nightclub, Watford, where the first of Wiley's widely acknowledged crews, Pay As You Go Cartel, had an impromptu clash with Heartless Crew.  and were (eventually) verbally ushered off stage by the crowd.

Listening back as I often do, I sometimes think the bars are childish and almost nothing more than juvenile re-workings of either their's or Heartless' bars, but to hear one crew directly addressing the other in the unswerving fashion Wiley and co did the following Sunday on Rinse (the accapella moment at around 23 minutes is a delight) was fresh not only to me, but many of the early Grime pirate-massive also.  With Grime now having two dozen photographers and a video crew at every rave, information on the dance finds it's way to the internet within minutes of people getting home. In them days, if you wasn't there yourself or didn't know someone who was, you had no idea what had gone down and naturally this fuelled the mystique of that set for me.

Knowing Wiley as most of us do, it isn't hard to conceptualize the time period between the rave ending and the set starting: the blue touch paper being lit and his inability to let things lie - the nothing to lose approach that has set him that well throughout his career, he's managed to outlast the majority of his adversaries - he outshines his crew on this set as well. Maxwell D epitomises the infantile nature of the lyrics I mentioned before, and whilst God'sGift strikes listeners over the radio as a man who would ask a Lion what it thinks it's looking at, he too gets lost in the hysteria.

This would be the first of almost literally a hundred lyrical incidents involving Wiley over the years but it sets the tone brilliantly, and was the door-opener for years of radio clashes to come. Discussion about any pre-existing rivalry between the two biggest Garage crews of that time (Grime not being the in name yet and So Solid victims of media assassination) is scarce online, so any revelations from Wiley that stretch further than his or Buskin NFTR interviews would be great. 

Skepta Top 25

Made a small contribution to this Complex UK piece, click the picture and read the full piece.

Some personal almost-made-it's:

Shadetek Feat. Skepta - Reign 

Here's Skepta making waves in the US before Drake even knew what Stone Island was. Those like me that are lucky enough to have this on vinyl will know that you can't reload the infamous "gun in my boxers bar" enough. Copies still floating, somewhere...

Skepta - Go On Then (Eye Of The Tiger mixtape)

Big tune from a big yet forgotten mixtape. One for the ravers.



Skepta - Pulse Eskimo a.k.a Gun Shot Riddim (Only up until 1.10 in this clip below, the other versions are either sped up or incorrectly labelled).

Well, can't have a blog named after it and not include it. Don't listen to YouTubers either, Skepta made this, not Wiley. This is my favourite Grime instrumental.



Skepta - Rockstar (Stageshow E.P)

Come on, we all know this beat.



I'd also recommend having a browse through YouTube, particularly SilverDrizzle's channel here, some good bits that probably won't see daylight.

Listen: Capo Lee / Frisco / Bloodline / Kano

Amidst the wait for new interviews, I'd recommend checking some tunes I've got on repeat below. Axe FM is often left out when we talk about classic stations that defined Grime in the formative era, but it's contribution was valuable and helped shape future routes for many of those who were involved whether DJing or spitting. Axe is where Capo Lee originally plied his trade on the decks, but it's only quite recently I've heard his vocal efforts via a plethora of radio sets that have culminated in the monster single "Liff".



Vocally uncompromising, Capo Lee's traditionally direct Grime flow dovetails smoothly into Mystry's powerful and borderline haunting melody - if Capo's shifts on the internet stations were just a preview, 'Liff' cements the North Londoner as one to keep an eye on. Buy the track here (acapella on there for the remix crew).

Sticking with evocative rhythms and the North London scene, one of my all time favourites President T returns with a titanic effort in 'Kill Off Killy'. A big factor towards his perpetual career within the scene could be his creation of one of Grime's most recognisable and popular flows: quirky and unique but delivered in a typically stern and menacing manner which coupled with a trademark JME beat makes for great listening.

"Stop all the talk / I said stop all the talk / Punch punch punch punch punch punch blaze blaze blaze blaze / knock man into a daze / just come back from war / without a graze / over a million views / and I ain't talking plays"

That harsh old-school delivery extends throughout Pres' crew-mates Bloodline. In this case Big H and Bossman Birdie also lend vocals on this bouncy Sir Spyro number (all of who should need little introduction to the advanced listener) available to buy here and certain to deliver a massive impact in the raves.

With Bloodline Crew being one side of the deformed Meridian outfit, Boy Better Know makes up the other half and it's Frisco representing here being the first MC to join forces with long-time Grime collaborators Chase and Status on their latest project "London Bars". Entitled 'Funny' this vibe isn't a million miles away from the aforementioned tracks, amalgamating a classic flow with a vigorous, pulsing instrumental and more of the same should be expected on the duos forthcoming EP. An essential buy so click here. Massive shout out to the Spongebob crew: those that know, know.



Wrapping up this unfavourably short post, we head East of the river to the man on a blazing hot-streak at the moment: Kano. His triumphant return to his Grime roots came in the form of some absolute belters - 'Hail' and 'New Banger' plus the JME assisted "Flow Of The Year" - now he gives us the enjoyable speaker rattling "Garage Skank". Full of what we can normally expect from one of the scenes most distinguished contributors in terms of delivery and content, he references bits and pieces that bring great memories to people who've followed his career from the start until now referencing names like Mike Skinner, Sharky Major and DJ Fonti.

"Likkle mad ting with Ramsey and them man there" - a nod to his previous encounters vs Marcus Nasty and co.

"I kept money in the box that my creps come in / before my first Wiley cheque come in / so what them man are flexin' / them man are keyboard flexin' / well / your girl's pum-pum stinks like the A13 Beckton exit"

"We can get old school we can get set shit" - Grime radio. Here.

Watch the Risky Roadz edited video below and buy the goods here.