Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."Vol 1" may be optimistic; in spite of having been a presence on the UK music scene for half a decade now, grime has yet to make a convincing crossover into mainstream pop, the way American hip-hop has come to dominate popular music culture. This compilation of old and new cuts serves largely to remind one of how genre stars such as So Solid Crew, Dizzee Rascal and even the hugely hyped Ms Dynamite - represented here by "Envy", "I Luv U" and Sticky's "Booo!" respectively - have failed to capitalise on initial chart incursions. Part of the problem is the bogus anger and antagonism of many performers, a syndrome sharply observed by JME in "Serious", his update of Maxwell D's dancehall/garage stepper from 2000, where he professes bemusement about an MC who, even though "it's his birthday/ spits lyrics like it's the worst day". Not all Roll Deep alumni are thus afflicted: Kano's "Boys Love Girls" follows Dizzee in offering an amusing update of the current state of play in the battle of the sexes, and there's an engagingly squeaky charm to Stush's "Dollar Sign" that bodes well for her/their future.
DOWNLOAD THIS: Serious, Boys Love Girls, Dollar Sign, My Philosophy (Donae'o)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments