Grime 3.0: The Iconic Genre's latest iteration
Grime is a British music genre that emerged at the beginning of the 2000s. Since its inception, Grime has had a rocky relationship with the mainstream. Originating from underground scenes in East London, grime has flirted with the mainstream twice: first during the early 2010s with the pop-grime wave, and then with grime 2.0 in the mid-to-late 2010s.
2023 was a big year for the genre, with new releases from people like Manga Saint Hilare, Squintz, and KwolleM. 2024 looks to be even better with upcoming albums from artists including Ghetts, Skepta, and P Money. When artists like these release new music, it generates interest in their old work. Their album promotion and coverage also attract new listeners, generating more fans.
In the past few months, we’ve already seen artists like AJ Tracey, Griminal, and Trim return to the genre. The return of artists like these brings their fans back to their work and generate publicity.
Balamii radio has contributed to a more niche and less traditional grime wave, with shows like Victory Lap and DotWav Notwave putting on for artists like Kibo and Capo Lee alongside bigger fish like Dave and Central Cee. This mixture of both bigger and smaller artists draws interest from their audience and encourages the audience to think of the lesser-known artists in the same vein as the more well-known ones. This also gives the smaller artists more legitimacy and inspires fans to listen to other similar artists.
Alternatively, people like KwolleM and Wize are championing the TikTok-viral mellow grime surge, with the former releasing one of last year’s best albums under Corteiz’s RULES THE WORLD Records. Producer-led projects are also coming back into fashion, with people like Oakland and Atum breathing new life into classic grime freestyles. One of the most notable examples of this is Ryder, who produced two brand-new tracks for Skepta himself after a series of TikTok-viral remixes.
Many up-and-coming artists are also championing the genre in unexpected ways, with the likes of Kibo and Reek0 working with people in the alternative UK rap scene, like Lauzza and 5eb, exposing them to a much wider audience.
There are also more talented MCs than ever, including people like Squintz, Blay Vision, and Chamber 45, who presented Netflix's radio show on NTS just recently.
Some people argue that grime has always thrived and found the most success underground, and has always and will always have people dedicated to the genre that are making quality work, so why does it even need a resurgence?
Regardless, grime has proven its resilience and adaptability over the years, always finding a way to remain relevant, whether in the mainstream or underground. It's clear that the genre is far from finished, with a vibrant wave of new talent and seasoned grime veterans continuing to innovate and push boundaries. As the genre enters a new era, it carries with it a sense of optimism and excitement. The future of grime is looking brighter than ever, with artists old and new breathing life into the genre and ensuring its continued growth and evolution, with a resurgence of the genre imminent..