- In recent years, a huge amount of column inches have been dedicated to grime's supposed comeback and the genre finally getting worldwide recognition. It's not without reason, as there were a number of pivotal moments this year. Perhaps most notable was Dizzee Rascal performing his Mercury Prize-winning Boy In Da Corner in its entirety for the first time—in New York, no less. This was also the year that grime received its second Mercury Prize, for Skepta's Konnichiwa. The style is more popular than ever, both at home and abroad, so Grime 2016, the second annual compilation from Elijah & Skilliam's Butterz label, is well-timed. If you're not already familiar the music, it's a perfect opportunity to look into what all the fuss is about, coming from a label that has consistently released some of the most vital grime tracks since its inception in 2010.
The term "grime" has come to tie together various increasingly disparate musical threads, from the video game-indebted melancholy of Mr. Mitch to the harsh abstraction on Mumdance and Logos' Different Circles label. This isn't the case here: Grime 2016 comprises only vocal tracks that keep the genre's foundations close to heart. That said, it still gives a pretty wide view of what the scene is capable of.
Kano's "GarageSkankFreestyle" has a poppy, radio-ready sheen, while Swindle & D Double E's "Lemon Trees" pairs self-deprecating humour with G-funk synths. The Murlo remix of AJ Tracey's "Naila," Dusky & Wiley's "Sort It Out Sharon" and Ghetts's "You Dun Know Already" are all dance floor weapons, leaning heavily on grime's garage roots. "iSwear," by Dapz On The Map, and "Moving," by Bugzy Malone, are the rarest gems: emotional and restrained grime tracks that actually work. "Stereotype" sees P Money fuelled by political rage, and The Bug & Riko Dan's "Iceman" goes for pure menace. Dread D & Jammz's "10 Missed Calls" is almost an archetypal grime record, with an explosive beat and a lecture on good phone etiquette. Trim shows up twice to rep vocal grime's experimental side. The only unnecessary track on Grime 2016 is Dizzee Rascal & Giggs's "Nutcracker," which feels like it's only here to get Dizzee on the tracklist.
Of the ten artists that appeared on the cover of Grime 2015, nine return this time. And 11 of these 42 tracks come from arguably the four biggest grime releases this year: Skepta's Konnichiwa, Kano's Made In The Manor, Swindle's Funk & Grime and 1-800-Dinosaur Presents Trim. As such, diehard grime fans may find the selection lacking, but the comp succeeds as a snapshot of where vocal grime is right now. The reality is that this scene is still very much dominated by its big names.
Even if you are a grime nerd, however, Grime 2016 is still worth picking up for the two continuous mixes. Elijah & Skilliam specialise in the kind of quick transitions and cuts the genre requires, especially when there are no instrumental tracks to space out the vocal lines. It might not be a particularly flashy approach, but it sure is effective. You'd be hard pressed to find a better mix of the year's biggest grime bangers.
TracklistCD1
01. Skepta - Lyrics feat. Novelist
02. Kano - 3 Wheel Ups feat. Wiley & Giggs
03. Souble S - Style & Flows feat. JME
04. P Money - 10/10
05. Capo Lee - Mud feat. D Double E
06. Wiley - P Money
07. Swindle - Lemon Trees feat. D Double E
08. AJ Tracey - Naila (Murlo Remix)
09. Kano - GarageSkankFreestyle
10. Newham Generals - Locked In
11. Ghetts & Rude Kid - One Take
12. Frisco - Them Man There
13. Mez & Davinche - Lex Luther feat. Stormzy
14. Skepta - Detox feat. Boy Better Know
15. Footsie - Hot Water feat. Giggs
16. The Bug - Iceman feat. Riko Dan
17. Chip - Where's Ice Kid At feat. Ice Kid
18. Dapz On The Map - iSwear
19. Bugzy Malone - Moving
20. P Money - Stereotype
CD2
01. Dusky - Sort It Out Sharon feat. Wiley
02. MJ Cole & AJ Tracey - The Rumble
03. Novelist - Endz
04. Trim - Man Like Me
05. Flowdan - Horror Show Style
06. JD. Reid - Roshi feat. D Double E
07. Commodo - Set It Straight feat. Rocks Foe
08. Ghetts - You Dun Know Already
09. TRC & P Money - Dun Know
10. C4 - Go Back feat. JME
11. Frisco - Raving Tonight feat. Skepta & Wiley
12. The Bug - Box feat. D Double E
13. Sir Spyro - Topper Top feat. Teddy Brukshot, Lady Chann & Killa P
14. Chase & Status - Funny feat. Frisco
15. Dread D & Jammz - 10 Missed Calls
16. President T - House & Pop feat. JME & Splurgeboys
17. Swindle - Works Haffi Run feat. Ghetts
18. Grim Sickers - Kane
19. Skepta - Man
20. Last Japan - Ascend feat. AJ Tracey
21. Dizzee Rascal - Nutcrackerz feat. Giggs
22. Trim - Before I Lied