- WHAT IS GRIME -

(Pic Source: Mistermix)

For this week's post I decided to get a bit of info on the Genre of "Grime" or "UK Grime." I managed to find DJ Juzlo, a Sydney DJ with a mad hard-on for the genre. He's instrumental in the Sydney scene and, without further ado, he's bringing you a brief history of Grime, Juzlo style. 

Enjoy.

GRIME

Grime music emerged around the early noughties as a mutated offspring of UK Garage, with dancehall and hip hop influences.

Grime is characterised by darker sounds and more abstract beats than Garage, with more of an urban output. Typified by a complex 2 step, 4x4, break beat (usually around the 140bpm mark) Grime is exactly how it sounds: grimy.

MCs were initially the major focus within the genre, and it’s these MCs who have spearheaded the campaign promote the scene through a huge pirate radio movement.

The lyrics of legendary Grime MC GHETTO say it all: 'Grime is Jungle in 96, and Garage in 99'.

What he means is that Grime gives you the aggressive Ragga style that pervaded Jungle in the mid-nineties, along with the darker, more abstract undertones that characterized Garage in the late nineties—the perfect mix of both.

 Among the first tracks to be labeled "Grime" as a genre in itself were 'Eskimo' by Wiley and "Pulse X" by Musical Mob, and coming from a Drum n Bass and Hip Hop background, hearing Grime was so refreshing to me. It was unique and energetic, and weirdly, smack bang in the middle of everything I loved about music.

Lately, with Dubstep’s rise in popularity, Grime has come to an interesting point in its evolution. These days the focus is shifting back onto dj's and producers, and we’re hearing a whole lot more grime tunes and instrumentals being mixed with Dubstep (and vice versa).

I love that this genre is so transparent and diverse, that a Grime track can be a dancefoor banger and it also can be a MC/rap tune with intense vocals.

A Grime gig could include a DJ rinsing out a set, or it could just as easily feature an MC crew performing live tracks! It’s the best of both worlds, and most of the time you’ll see MCs spitting their known bars over a DJ’s live set as opposed to set-out tracks from the MC’s album or ep.

In 2011, Grime has moved out of the local London scene and onto the global stage. Right here in Australia there is a passionate scene bubbling away and growing every day.

Expect to see more and more Grime artists make their way to our shores--starting off THIS SATURDAY SEPT 3RD @ GOOD GOD, with one of the hottest producers/DJs in the scene right now-- TEDDY MUSIC.

Come on down and see if you can make sense of all the crap I’ve just written…we’ll be gentle.

much love - juzlo