Review: Tunnel Vision 5

Wiley knows how to create some hype. Had Tunnel Vision come out last week, it wouldn't have been all that, but dropping this in the same week as accouncing his retirement from the scene gives it a strange importance.

Sorry Sorry, Pardon, What? kicks off the album the way we've come to expect from Wiley and particularly this mixtape series. It's full of the energy and hyped up MC-ing that's so common in his recent output. Just to re-inforce the point, two war dubs aimed at Newham Generals and Nasty Jack follow. But then the tone starts to change and we see the otherside of Wiley - the guy who's been trying make it big for the scene and push things forward, with very little help and limited success. Tracks like One Line Flow, and Don't Do It, make these frustrations clear, with Wiley poking fun at his label mates and the scene he helped create on the former and asking those without their heart in it to give up on Don't Do It.

It's the following two R&G esque tracks that are the most revealing though. Sister Sister, like Friday Night off of 2nd Phaze, is one of those rare glimpses into the man behind the hype MC. With regard to his recent retirement, this tune illustrates the pressures on the MC from outside the game, the personal and family stuff. Paranoid Remix follows in a similar vein, albeit about love problems and that.

The thing that really comes across is that despite all these problems, Wiley can't stop. On Sister Sister he chats about carrying on the family tradition of music, started by his Father. He still talks about making it big in the future and being able to travel the world with his family. With these things in mind it seems unlikely Wiley would be happy taking a backseat in the progress of the scene.

Of course Wiley's constant references to his Ice-cold nature are intact as ever. As he reminds us on Paranoid Remix, Wiley's a clever guy. He's not scared to play with hype:

"I'm a dangerous boy and when it comes to cheating I'm cold like she is"

To my mind this is the best of the Tunnel Vision series. Truesay there are throwaway bits on there but taking this record in conjunction with Wiley's retirement announcement on Monday makes for some facinating listening. I'll put money on seeing Wiley back on the mic sooner rather than later.

News: Wiley Retires! (and other stories)

So, Wiley announces his retirement. Sounds pretty shocking doesn't it? In fact it sounds like the sort of rumour made up by hyped up kids on an internet forum, but has suprisingly been reported straight from the mans mouth by Hattie Collins of RWD Magazine. Reading the actual interview it becomes clear that Wiley will simply be taking a back seat for a while, producing rather than MC-ing. Seems like a fair choice. It also leaves him open for a Jigga Man type come back LP in a few years...

If you've ever missed out on classic mixtapes then I feel it's my duty to send you over to a new blog called Old Grime Mixtapes. It does exactly what it says on the tin, so go there and download old mixtapes to your heart's content.

I'm guessing Logan's show should be pretty interesting tonight given the breaking Wiley retirement news. He's now got his own archive of past shows, which updates a week behind the live ones. Hop over there for all your download needs.

If you've got any news, listings, records etc, email us.

News: New Dizzee, Album Rumours and Ravin' Reviews

It was another wicked show for Logan Sama on Kiss FM this week. As well as playing some current favourites from Roll Deep and Durrty Goodz he span a new track called Industry by Dizzee Rascal. Hopefully his album should be dropping around April this year. Rumours from the latest Vice Magazine (fantastic issue by the way - grab a copy!) suggest that previous versions have already been turned down by XL Records... Still, judging by Industry the material's sounding up to scratch to me!

London based Grimebloggers are all raving about the Dirty Canvas vs 7 Year Glitch dance that went down last week. Sounds like a good night. Videos over at Prancehall and Lower End, and the usual witty review from Hyperfrank.

Review: Rules & Regulations

Rules & Regulations is A LOT.

Having blown it slightly with In At The Deep End, it was important Roll Deep came back with a big record and this is it.

Danny Weed, Target and Wiley have served up a wicked range of productions for a start. It's kind of old-school Grime, in the sense that the tracks aren't overloaded with squeaky chipmunk vocals. There are also some references to styles past such as the "sino-grime" infused Celebrate produced by Danny Weed. Even the token R&G tracks are heavy. Ride or Die Chick is reminiscent of Dizzee's downtempo track Imagine off of Showtime and Floating Thru The Sky produced by Chunky Bizzle provides welcome respite from the albums aggressive sound at the halfway point.

The most impressive thing about this mixtape is its consistency. While there are a few stand out tracks like Badman and Babylon Burner, the rest hold up well too. Special mentions should go to tunes like Do Dis Ting and Pen Pals, which retain a slight pop flavour from the Relentless days, but don't compromise the grime sound.

Little needs to be said about the quality of Roll Deep's MCs. The addition of Skepta to this album is definitely beneficial, with him dropping particularly big bars on Do Dis Ting. Elsewhere Riko holds down the chorus on Pen Pals well and Scratchy and Breeze add a nice finishing verse to Babylon Burner. All in all it's the show of talent you'd expect from a crew of this calibre.

If there is criticism to be had it would merely be the contradictions of the lyrical content. While Roll Deep are to be commended for producing a quality edutainment track in the form of Badman, some of the subsequent gun lyrics jar somewhat. Given that Roll Deep seem so aware of the dangers of gun crime it does seem strange that there are still boasts of rolling with guns. This is a minor criticism in the context of the album though, as Badman has it's influence elsewhere in the media world.

Roll Deep have started the year with a bang. Hopefully this will force others to up their game, and if so we're in for quite a year.

News: Blackdown's Month in Grime, Prancehall's Do It! and Channel Me

Martin Clark's Month in Dubstep and Grime is pretty much an essential read in the world of Grime writing. This month is no different. January's offering focuses on the plight of the UK songstresses, and how they never manage to break the charts. If Amy Winehouse can do it I don't see why anyone else should be held back if marketed right. An interesting read still.

Also worth of your attention is Prancehall's party DoIt! which I believe is tonight at Vice's pub The Old Blue. Even if you can't make it down, check out the post over at Prancehall.com for vids Brazen and Tempa T skankin' like there's no tomorrow.

Talking of videos, H!H! has set up a little collection of Grime vids over at Youtube. If you have any recommendations for adds, just leave them in the comments below n I'll sort it out. Keep in mind that there will be some quality control, however hard that might be when dealing with Grime videos, haha. Anyway, check 'em out over at Channel -Me.

News: Logan's Show, Rules & Regulations, Tunnel Vision 5

Logan's Kiss show threw up a few interesting little details last night, namely that Roll Deep's loooong awaited mixtape Rules and Regulations should be out very very soon exclusively via UK Record Shop. No sign of anything up there yet. Not sure how much more battering my F5 button can take though so it better drop soon.

If you missed the show, check it out on the Kiss FM player. Listen out for Trim's new tune, a few cuts from Rules and Regulations and a studio visit from Faction G.

There are also rumours around the forums that Tunnel Vision 5 is dropping January 22nd. A few people are whispering that this'll be the last in the series, despite Wiley initially claiming it would go to ten. Still, a tracklisting and cover have supposedly been leaked. Check 'em out below.

News: Grime Podcast and Logan's New Year Show

Hype!Hype! aims to bring you up-to-date with the latest Grime news from around the the net 3 times a week. To kick things off here's a new Grime podcast from Aza T and an audio snippet from Logan Sama's NYD show featuring Roll Deep.

The third episode of Aza T's Grime Scene Podcast came out just before Christmas and made a nice early present. It's a legally assembled Grime Podcast featuring established artists together with some up n coming acts. Tracklisting below.

If you're on the ball you'll have caught Logan's New Year show with Roll Deep. If not, fear not, cos the rippers are on point as ever and have archived the show for lazier folks. Logan promises the full version in high quality later in the week...

Roll Deep on Logan's Show [mp3]


Tracklisting

The Movement - Skinny Sort (Remix) - http://www.myspace.com/misterdotslash
Gravity - Untitled ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/mrgravity1
Bouncer Ft K Sounds - I Swear Down ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/bouncerniteknights
Maniac - Peakness ***New***- http://www.myspace.com/maniacpro
Deverlish Ft Random Impulse - Freestyle ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/deverlish_productions
Skola - Movin ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/adynskola
Blackjack Ft Black The Ripper - Jacked ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/blacktheripper
Shotz - Stormy Weather Remix ***New***- http://www.myspace.com/shotcityrecords
Vener Remah Ft Saskilla Lady Fury Stormin - Catch You Alone ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/djsketche
Ratchet - Evil ***New***- http:///www.myspace.com/ratchetboy
Nocturnal Ft Demon - Really over***New***- http://www.myspace.com/thenocturnalist
Sly Rakkoon - Incite ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/slyrakkoon
Aza T Ft Devlin - Fire'in Vocal Remix ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/king_aza_t
SRC - Downward Spiral - http://www.myspace.com/src411
Ratchet Ft Chipmunk Cookie Black The Ripper - 99 ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/chipmunkartist
Merlin - Paths ***New*** - http://www.myspace.com/wizzards
Bashy - 4 O' Clock***New***- http://www.myspace.com/bashystar

Dizzee on 1xtra

It's almost 12th night, but don't let that dampen your spirits - it's the weekend and here's a wicked set from 1xtra's festive celebrations courtesy Dizzee Rascal and DJ Semtex.

The musical selection is perhaps not what you might expect and covers Grime, Hip-Hop, Garage, 'Ardcore n even a little bit of Rock n Roll. As Dizzee says, it's like listening to someone play records in their bedroom, with a few nice little karaoke moments. Starts a little bit slow, but you'll be singing along in no time.

Dizzee Rascal and Semtex X-Mas Takeover [mp3]

2006 Re-rewind

2006 seems to have been the year of the mixtape. Here's a quick little top 5, and some recommendations.

5. JME - Boy Better Know Mixtapes



JME's been working hard in double oh six. He spent 2005 bubbling under but really came through with some good material this year. The Boy Better Know mixtapes were peppered with classics, and he finished off the year by dropping Tropical as an example of things to come. The Boy Better Know T-shirt revolution has to get a mention too.
Duppy

4. Mercston - Da End of Da Beginning



The Movement were the breakthrough of the year. Mixtapes dropped from Ghetto, Scorcher and Mercston, Mercston's being the most consistent. Totally captured the summer vibe, with wicked tracks like Good Old Days and Summertime. The release was kinda overshadowed by Mercston being taken to court on charges of rape. Hopefully The Movement, heavily involved with Logan and his War Report, will keep the drama lyrically based in 2007.
Good Old Days

3. Ruff Sqwad - Guns and Roses 2


The failure of Roll Deep to truly cross over in 2005 kinda harmed the commercial prospects of Grime for the subsequent year, but that didn't stop Ruff Sqwad breaking through with a commercial quality release in the form of Guns and Roses 2. Guns and Roses 2 is stuffed with Ruff Sqwad classics and has quality artwork to match. The strength in terms of both production and lyrical content are astounding, with some of the overspill going onto Tinchy Stryder's Lost and Found and Slix's Down Vol.1.

2. Wonder - Welcome to Wonderland



Not strictly a mixtape, but definately the best Grime LP of the year. Rather than the rambling nature of a mixtape, Wonder edits his tracklist down to a near perfectly formed 14 tracks. Collaborations involve the likes of Kano, Sway, Gemma Fox and most effectively Nio on the track Best Foot Forward. Welcome to Wonderland is a good blueprint for future Grime "artist" albums. This gives me some hope for Skepta, Dizzee, Newham Generals and all the others dropping proper albums in the new year.

1. Wiley - Da 2nd Phaze



It would be hard not to put Wiley at Number 1 given the amount he's done for the scene this year. He's clashing everyone in the scene and he's got Tunnelvisions coming out of his ears, but it's the quality of Da 2nd Phaze that's really impressed. Even the best-intended Grime compilations couldn't put together as many stone cold classic tracks are the Eskiboi does on Da 2nd Phaze. Eskiboy, Gangsterz, Johnny Was A Badboy and Friday Night are worth entry price alone. Here's hoping he doesn't spread his talents too thin in 2007.

Honourable mentions to...

Wiley's Tunnel Vision, Sorcher's Simply Da Best, Tinchy Stryder's Underground, Slix's Down, Syer Bar's Boy With The Fire.

Buy them all from UK Record Shop