10 Songs That Totally Define Grime Music
From 'Pow' to 'Shutdown', Grime has come a long way! Here are the top songs that have shaped the genre.
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1. Musical Mob - Pulse X (2002)
Although the song is little more than a 16-bar loop with a minimal kick and snare, the track's simplicity went on to influence the majority of production in the early years of the Grime scene.
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2. Dizzee Rascal - I LUV U (2003)
Taken from arguably the greatest Grime album ever, Dizzee Rascal's 'I LUV U' helped shape production and opened many people's minds to Dizzee's unique style of delivery.
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3. Lethal Bizzle - Pow (Forward) (2004)
Still one of the biggest songs in Grime, Lethal Bizzle's epic 'Pow (Forward)' featured the hottest MCs of the time, going back-to-back with their biggest lyrics. The perfect combination for a timeless classic.
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4. Kano - Ps and Qs (2005)
Kano's raw delivery over Davinche's bouncy production saw the East London MC take Grime to the mainstream. It definitely laid the foundation for a number of urban songs currently heard in the charts.
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5. Wiley - Eskimo (2002)
Widely know as the first ever Grime song, the hollow bass on Wiley's legendary 'Eskimo' anthem became a trademark of his sound as a producer and shaped most of the Grime tracks that followed in its era.
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6. Roll Deep - When I'm Ere (2005)
Despite never being released as an official single, 'When I'm Ere' remains of the group's biggest records to date. Every member of the crew delivered hot verses over classic production from Danny Weed - centered around his trademark 'gypsy accordion' and 'camera flash' sounds.
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7. JME - Serious (2005)
The arrival of Jamie Adenuga signalled the start of a change in Grime. His first single 'Serious' brought a new style of delivery and lyrical output to the scene. This song started a wave which is still going strong today.
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8. Jammer - Murkle Man (2006)
Grime music isn't all about intensity and aggression. Jammer's classic 'Murkle Man' video saw the MC run around his estate dressed as a superhero. However despite the song's comedic nature, it still remains one of the biggest in the genre and still gets big reactions when played in raves.
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9. Tempa T - Next Hype (2009)
Despite being involved in the scene for a number of years as part of 'Slew Dem Crew', Tempa T certified his status as a Grime legend with 'Next Hype'. The track was an incredible combination of energy, quotable lyrics and quintessential grimey production.
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10. Skepta - Shutdown (2015)
Skepta brought Grime to the world stage with his single 'Shutdown'. After chasing chart success in the past with a number of pop singles including 'Rolex Sweep' and 'Bad Boy', the North London MC returned to his roots with a Grime classic. From production, to lyrics, this is one of the biggest songs the scene has ever witnessed.
