History
Grime began in London in the early 2000s s1. It grew from UK garage and takes influence from jungle, dancehall and hip hop s1. The music has fast, syncopated breakbeats, usually around 140 beats per minute s1. The sound is often aggressive and jagged s1. MCing is a central part of the style s1. The lyrics often describe city life s1. Grime spread through pirate radio stations and underground parties s1. Wiley released the instrumental 'Eskimo' in 2002 and is often named as the creator of grime s2. Dizzee Rascal's 'I Luv U' followed in 2003 s2. His album Boy in Da Corner won the Mercury Prize that year s2. Other early names included Kano, Lethal Bizzle and Skepta s1. The scene also used tools such as Lord of the Mics and RWD magazine s1. Grime's rise has often been compared to punk rock s1. Pirate radio stations such as Rinse FM were its main home s2.
Sound
- Fast, syncopated breakbeats
- Heavy, aggressive bass
- Sparse, jagged melodies
- Rapped vocals from MCs
- A tempo around 140 beats per minute
Key figures
- Wiley — Producer and MC often called the creator of grime
- Dizzee Rascal — MC whose early records brought grime attention
- Skepta — London MC and a leading grime artist
- Kano — London MC from the early grime scene
Labels
- Wiley Kat Records — London , 2002
- XL Recordings — London , 1989
- Boy Better Know — London , 2005
- Rinse Recordings — London , 2006
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: UK Garage , 2-Step Garage , Jungle , Hip Hop Breaks
Sources
- Grime music — Wikipedia
- A brief history of grime — Time Out