Grime/UKG MCs - who is the greatest?

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I still can't get enough of Eskobar, now that (thanks to Keith McD), I know that it is him on "Big Bars". Also...does Doogz count?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

ludacris.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

oh YOU!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

hee hee.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

my favorite is probably sharkie. i dunno about "best".

does flo dan still do stuff regularly?

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Experts to thread!

I can't decide if "Big Mic Man" is genius or the weakest thing ever.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

heard in isolation i think it could be seen as weak, but i have it in a mix sandwiched between two sticky-esque rnb tracks and it sounds like gods own flatulence.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

IT'S MOOOEY d-double! UNNNHHH UNNNHH

― prima fassy (bob), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

yah, I'd say Doogz is up there and definitely Kano.

― Philippe, Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:59 (twenty-one years ago)

kano

then strider

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

It would have to depend on the moment and the riddim, but right now it's got to be Durrty Doogz. Other contenders would be Riko, Wiley, Kano and DEE.

― chantelle fiddy, Tuesday, 16 December 2003 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

c fiddy, i know that name... ive never heard doogz on a popular riddim or on the radio or such just a freestyle on westwood over 'made u look' (haha "big up the dirty dogs, they r big out there") and hold it down, the fusion single, which was aight i suppose. seems to be setting hisself against the grime mainstream huh? comes off a bit tryhard, and he can chill with the funny voices too. "it's reeal!" what yr fake yardie patois yeah?

― prima fassy (bob), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

chango mindington i thought u hated preachy sharkey!

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

he won me over with his big warm heart

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

us fat guys have to stick together

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

haha in rwd mag i think i read he still gets bullied by other members of nasty crew for having 10 GCSEs

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

btw are we all so damn hip that no one will step up and say dizzee?

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

We sure are, daddy-o.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

If you haven't got your hands on the Doogz mix cd yet you should try and hunt it down, it's called 2 Fast 2 Ferocious. Think I prefer hearing him on Sidewinder sets or radio though.

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 04:53 (twenty-one years ago)

i like that wiley (kylie) slew by doogz.

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 06:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Apart from Dizzy my favourites are Sharkie, Kano and Rico.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry to be dumb, but what is Grime??

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Grime's one of the three lose subgenres of UK garage (the other two being dubstep and urban house aka four-to-the-floor).

it's the biggest of the three and focuses towards MCs and more minimal dark tracks (with a hip hop twist). See Wiley's "eskimo" or Dizzee's "i love u" for big examples.

for the record my fave MCs are still Dizzee and Wiley, i don't care if they've blown up. Doogz is heavy still, and could yet "do a sean paul."

Riko smacks it on "Chosen Ones" by Target.
Kano's got something too.

― martin (martin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

oh and i can't get enough of Crazy D, but he's not a grime mc - he hosts on Hatcha's mezmerising dubstep sets.

― martin (martin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i was really really gutted to read that a tinchy strider solo lp is in the works and not a ruff sqwad one, the sqwad are the only repeat only grime group who actually know what it is to come bunched, work in a group dynamic, know how to start a tune, when to chant aggy together, never overdominate cos they understand the mash aesthetic of the tunes, ahhh everything! how'm i gonna survive without hearing "shifty mc and i dont fuck ABAAAAHT bare bad mans that i'm gonna take AAAHHHHT" like on 'raw 2 da core'! i dont wanna hear about them striving alone and them forcing me to empathise zzzz

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

like one's called mad max, see it's like they've all been watching the same films together and weave the sound rather than rapid happening to be the visionary overlord

― prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

to be honest EVERY MC out east (London) is "working on their album." None of them will ever come out unless a major forks out the cash ( and even then it isn't a given - look at heartless crew).

but "crew" LPs are seen as less profitable/marketable by majors as solo "artist" LPs [following on from the Eminem/D12 50cent/G unit solo MC/Crew format from hip hop time immermorial]

― martin (martin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, they're all great.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

true martin...how's your album coming along?

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

do i look like an MC?

― martin (martin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Well now you mention it, you and Scratchy could be brothers...

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

if i say you look like Sharky will i get a slap?

― martin (martin), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Splurt...you'll get yourself hurt...six foot deep you'll be buried in the dirt!

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

martin i'm suprised you think wiley's a better mc than doogz.

[also i have a tape for you at last!]

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

For me Wiley and Doogz are so different that they work in different ways. Although Doogz has amazing lyrcis and flow at times Wiley still works better, he's a veteran with a few tricks up his sleave that's for sure.

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahaha, from the 1Xtra board:

10 Top Mc's - Tichy Strider 4th post - 24 Oct 2003 17:44
I think that Mc B-live is anything, he's wack, begs american and needs to Fix Up and Look Sharp. Doogz and Wiley are runnin tingz in this music game.

1. Wiley 2. Doogz 3. Dizzie Raskal 4. Kano 5. Riko 6. D double E 7. Narstie from N.A.A 8. 9MM 9. Armour 10. Me (Tichy Strider)

Do u agree? This is my view of the ten best Mc's at the Moment, every 1 else needs 2 Sekkle esp B-Live.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Chantelle-I've been listening to 2 Fast 2 Ferocious, it's kind of crazy how Doogz lights up every track he's on, but some of the rest is a bit weak. The track with the Freeway (?) beat kills it, though.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

haha "me"

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

strider has gone over to some other crew hasnt he...the musketeers...

'me' was right though, b-live is the owrst mc i've heard ni garage. that street beats comp was ruined by him!

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Fiddo is right, though - Wiley's amazing, but there's no way I'd rate him a better MC than Dizzee.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I agree that there are some weak parts on 2 Fast 2 Ferocious, I've just been advised by Doogz that the big one is a new mix cd landing around January called Lord Of The Decks. I also heard that he's on Matt White's new mix cd which also has cameo's from DEE, J2K and some of the others. Not sure yet where to get either of these from...

As for B-Live, he has it's fanbase, and him and Viper hype up a crowd but can't say their style is my taste.

― chantelle fiddy, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

this'd be lord of the decks 2, right? glad it's finally coming out...

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

strider has gone over to some other crew hasnt he...the musketeers... whoops i am getting confused with ashman

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

check this url:

for a crazy set from rinse from 93 with wiley and others...the sound quality is er...grimey!

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i've said it loads of times before
sharky/stormin/kano/d.e.e/demon/jookie/gods gift/riko/wiley/dizzee/j2k/esko/maxwell/mighty moe/bushkin/doogz

plus...
monkey/scoobee/narstie/solo/antix/general LOK/all in one/dm/domino/capo/jamakabi/breeze/jet li/batchelor crew/j.me/crazy titch/strider/hyper/more fire (rehabilitation in progress/spyder b/clumsy/baby cham/dream/co-dees/KNIGHTZ OF THE ROUND TABLE (good to hear these boys on deja the other day)/dog z/major ace/flirta d/doneao/bashy/footz/rocky/stamina/flo dan/scratch/armour/dangermouse/

haven't heard ghetto yet, work's been getting in the way, need to check a nasty crew set soon...

― luka vandross, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 23:56 (twenty-one years ago)

baby cham!!!!!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 18 December 2003 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

B-live and viper appear bigger than they are play because they win awards with the Sidewinder lot...

don't watch that.

― martin (martin), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

i like lists as much as anyone but pff

it could have been luka said it first but yeah i like wiley's sort of wise thoughtful prescence, and i guess he's usually on his own beats so it seems he has more space and freedom to roam rather than the usual mc jostling. then again there is that verse on '2 far'

the album looks curious from afar, from the hyperdub interview and tracks trickling out onto 1xtra i think all the old unreleased rolldeep stuff is gonna end up there, like 'take time' (hurrah!) and 'i need someone', remember those wicked hypnotic rnb sample ones! add some eskimo action and it's defo gonna have some range to it, i wonder if it'll be too desultory and if wiley's persona can hold it together

― prima fassy (bob), Thursday, 18 December 2003 10:38 (twenty-one years ago)

oh that fake timbo one off lord of the decks too. anyone heard the nu 12 'pies', it's quite fun i suppose, i like it better than ground zero anyway

― prima fassy (bob), Thursday, 18 December 2003 10:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 30 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

bugz in the attic fabric mixes are all well but son it's no rainer truby trio - donaueschingen (donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitanskajutenremix)

― prima fassy (bob), Sunday, 28 December 2003 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

loveless....the most absurd album ever.

at least its got ursula rucker on it. shes alright. speaking of nu jazz, i was digging out my olf gilles p. tapes from kiss the other day. good to hear the klassix. fela, da lata, silent poets. i remember feverishly scribbling down the names as best i could transcribe them.

as regards grime, anyone know that the jammer tune is on the flip of the boys love girls 12"? that is gorgeous.

― ambrose (ambrose), Monday, 29 December 2003 09:14 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

itz all bout dougz but wiley iz stil der.big up n.a.s.t.y. u man r gimez

― west man, Wednesday, 17 March 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i do have to say pman/mark one were heavy on sat night

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 13:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll take your word for it and try to make it to see them here. I was having second thoughts.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Listen this is the list of Great UK / mc'S

1. Roots Manuva

2.Durrty Doogz

3.Prince Diamond aka Grimey MC

4.Rodney P

5. J2K

6. Plan B

7. Donaeo MC

There is one thing they all got in common their music is being played on www.invincibleradio.com (just request a track)...and listen live worldwide!!

― Justin Colmore, Tuesday, 30 March 2004 07:32 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

young.1 from bang bang may day gang BRIXTON IS DA BEST MC

― rapid sw9, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

i wonder how peoples lists have changed since this post got started........

― DVD (dickvandyke), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

1. Dizzee
2. Tinchy
3. Trim
4. D Double E
5. JME

(and a little mention for Bruza)

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

WHAT HAPPENNED TO SHARKIE MAJOR? :''''''(

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

1. RIKO DAN (BRAP BRAP BRAP!)
2. D Double E (MUI MUI!)
3. Flirta D (UUUUUUUUUNGH!)
4. Trim (TALIBAN!)
5. God's Gift (RUDE BWOY STYLEEEEEEE!)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

have we all forgotten abt goodz now? (ITZ REEEEEEEEEAL!! THEY DON'T KNOW!!)

― jermaine (jnoble), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Goodz is kind of annoying.

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Find threads from I Love Music, subject contains 'grime'.

72 results found:

― DAEREST V1CE MAGAZINE!!!!! (ex machina), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

I basically decided, after arguing pointlessly with Alex for hours, that I still don't really like the Riko/God's Gift style MC. The only Riko track I can actually get through is "Popadomz", and I still don't rate God's Gift. That style just seems like too much of an archetype to me.

xp yes Jon, we like grime. Maybe we should start a board about it!

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

6. Dizzee (Off 2 Work slipped him)
7. Lethal B (might rise after album gets released)
8. Bruza
9. Crazy Titch
10. Kano

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

You don't like "Chosen One"??!! You didn't tell me that, Adam! That's crazy talk.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

Oh no, I forgot Chosen One. I do like that.

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Popadomz is great, though!

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

But every Riko pirate session puts me to sleep. I realize that this borders on heresy for some people.

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

THAT'S HERESY!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

NEXT you'll be saying his blog is boring!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

not boring, no.

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Anyway I couldn't disagree more. Riko's sessions are generally the most exciting ones PLUS I love that he spits over dancehall riddims which is something that grime MCs should do more of instead of poorly using weak or omnipresent hip hop instrumentals. And I love the continuity between Riko and GG and Flowdan with yardie MCs. Fuck lame ass attempts to distance grime from that to align it with US MCing.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Why can't they just not use dancehall riddims OR hip hop beats?

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

Politics!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

What?

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:06 (twenty years ago)

Haha I want to hear these guys on Bionic Ras and I-Rob and Applause (and I'm not the only one)! Those riddims are great. As far as I know there is NOT a fanbase burning to hear versions of "Splash Waterfalls"!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:08 (twenty years ago)

Have you ever met a UK hip hop fan?

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

I played the "Anna/Down" video for my friend Howard who is from Jamaica. He just said it was wack. He seems to be a bit of a traditionalist. I bet hearing grime MCs over dancehall would make him mad.

― deej.., Friday, 17 June 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

"Have you ever met a UK hip hop fan?"

Only you!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:10 (twenty years ago)

And anything that makes purists mad is a good thing! Jamaicans couldn't stand or completely ignored jungle too!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:15 (twenty years ago)

Only you!

haHA

― the Stanmore signal (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:15 (twenty years ago)

Actually that jungle comment isn't totally true. Dave Kelly made a junglist riddim (Backyard, I think) and so did Steely and Cleevie (I can't remember it's name, but the big choon was a Ninjaman voicing.) So savvy Jamaican producers will borrow liberally from grime (see: the GRIMEY riddim haha which is not terribly grime, but still quite good.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 17 June 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

The grimiest riddim I thought was Knock-Out.

I agree that it's better for grime to version dancehall riddims than hip hop tracks. But that is just in line with the general principle that grime is better when it is more like dancehall.

I'm really liking Dream on the Aftershock Mix-Tape!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 20 June 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

That mixtape is so good. I am going to listen to it right now.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 20 June 2005 22:57 (twenty years ago)

some personal UK faves 2004-2005: D Double E, Flirta D, Slicks, Doctor, Bruza, Fumin', Purple, Footsie (yeah Footsie - !), Tugga War (for ragga "Ravin' " alone), Jon E Cash "it's a terrible life", - Crazy Titch and JME (man of the mo? or is Doctor?...) undeniable too.

prob forgot a few & there's the ones haven't i.d.'d (Tim d'you ever find out who's "essential/sensual"?)

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)

Did JME join Roll Deep?

― Semaphore Burns (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 00:48 (twenty years ago)

yeah...forgot Ears for "Happy Days" my Run The Road fave

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 00:52 (twenty years ago)

sorry the yeah was for I forgot, not your question

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 00:53 (twenty years ago)

But the answer does appear to be yes.

Happy Dayz is my favorite RTR track at the moment.

― Semaphore Burns (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 00:56 (twenty years ago)

Both Skepta and JME have joined Roll Deep.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 01:14 (twenty years ago)

Argh I meant Dream on the Aim High 2 mix-tape above. Is he on the Aftershock mix too? Excellent.

"prob forgot a few & there's the ones haven't i.d.'d (Tim d'you ever find out who's "essential/sensual"?) "

Yes! This is Mighty Mo from Heartless Crew!!! I hope he stages a comeback.

Roll Deep are like the Mafia - Taliban, JME, Wiley, Brazen, Flo Dan (who I've always thought is underrated - "They should know to NEVER CHAT SHIT about the Roll Deep Entourage!!!")... Plus Wiley, Danny Weed, Target and now Skepta on production, plus some of the best beats from Terra Danjah and Davinche!

Entouarage is the right word for them cos it sounds like "onslaught".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

hey Yay Area grime fans - heads up!

Grime City -

B.I.G and Get Low present the Bay Area's Only all UKG, Grime, 2 Step Monthly

The One, Subtek, Jamin Creed, Dj Munk, MC Child

This Weds June 23 930-130am FREE

Nickies BBQ (Haight and Fillmore, SF)

― heywood jablomi (heywood), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

also forgot Ribz

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

UK, no street cred... wear lacoste all day and eat potatoes and drive le mans. UK is CARLTON style. UK hip hop = Carlton rappers. aint much to know about the UK, buncha carltons, all about eating brussel sprouts and hot wiring jaguars. im on some inspector callahan type shit-- some charles bronson death wish type shit. buncha pull outta iraq type muthafuckas soundin all gay when they talk in the UK rappin bout how thur bitch made, would rather be at home wearin pink lacoste than blowin taliban headz off. we need more east indian rap, rap about reciting pi to the 3000th digit-- integral calculus lyricism-- some real shit-- rap about some computer programming.

― luriqua, Thursday, 19 July 2007 16:11 (eighteen years ago)

im all about that wig spliitin, cheddar stackin, pullin hoes type shit. fuck all that lacostey coste, catch feelin for hoes type shit. i like articulate, violent, fuck bitches, make money type shit

― luriqua, Thursday, 19 July 2007 16:33 (eighteen years ago)

terrible posts

― deej, Thursday, 19 July 2007 16:35 (eighteen years ago)

ten months pass...

Asher D

― The stickman from the hilarious "xkcd" comics, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 13:54 (seventeen years ago)

im all about that wig spliitin, cheddar stackin, pullin hoes type shit. fuck all that lacostey coste, catch feelin for hoes type shit. i like articulate, violent, fuck bitches, make money type shit

-- luriqua, Thursday, July 19, 2007 5:33 PM (10 months ago) Bookmark Link

― banriquit, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 14:00 (seventeen years ago)

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