Grime Stories: Jammer’s basement, pirate radio and the genre’s legacy
We speak to Dhelia Snoussi – co-curator of the Grime Stories exhibition at the Museum of London – about the link between grime and gentrification
A new grime exhibition is coming to the Museum of London in June
‘Grime Stories: from the corner to the mainstream’ will open at the Museum of London on 17 June
Grime TV station Channel U is making a comeback
The influential station will return to TV after a two-year hiatus
The history of war dubs: How technology has changed the art of clashing
Jesse Bernard charts how technology has shaped the history of war dubs and clashing in grime
Grime’s second wave – Mixed by Elijah & Skilliam
Strap in as the Butterz founders take us on a journey through the first rumblings of grime’s resurgence right up to its current chart-topping dominance
JME announces Grime MC release date, shares tour details
The much-anticipated follow-up to Integrity> lands at the end of November
Britain’s rap revolution
The 2010s have been a dramatic time for Britain’s rappers and MCs. We trace the journey of UK rap through the decade – from grime’s identity crisis to Glastonbury fame and accolades
Rye Wax #1: Cabasa b2b Mika Oki
For their crackaud.io residency, beloved Peckham spot Rye Wax taps up a member of staff each month and pairs them with a close affiliate for an exclusive back-to-back. First up is Cabasa, who joins Mika Oki. Welcome to the basement
Drake addresses Wiley’s “culture vulture” comments
Drizzy responds to the criticism he’s received for his involvement with UK artists
Grime under threat from institutionalised racism, MPs say
A new report calls for action to safeguard the UK’s live music scene
Dan Hancox’s book Inner City Pressure will be getting its own television show
Pulse Films and Paramount Television are set to adapt Story of Grime for the screen
DJ Target’s Grime Kids book is getting a TV series adaptation
Mammoth Screen has optioned the television rights to the artist’s recently released publication
Wiley to play himself in new biopic
If you want a job done right, do it yourself
Selections: YGG
The three-member crew bring the selections, featuring tracks from Masick, GHSTLY XXVII, Deva Bratt and more
The Update: Novelist
As he gears up to release his debut album, we catch up with the Lewisham MC to talk broadening his sound, the explosion of grime and retaining creative control
D Double E drops new Skepta-featuring video Nang
Two figures from the UK grime scene collide in a new three-minute visual
Tributes paid after grime MC Stormin loses skin cancer battle
DJ Phantasy confirmed the news of his death on Monday morning
20 Rappers and MCs to Watch in 2018
Get to know 20 hungry new artists ready to make an impact on the UK scene over the next 12 months
Watch Butterz’ Elijah discuss grime, diversity and the internet at IAM Weekend 2017
In April of this year, Crack Magazine hosted a conversation at IAM Weekend, a conference…
Controversial risk assessment Form 696 to be removed
Sadiq Khan called for a review of the safety measurement, which has been called out for discriminating against black and ethnic minority artists
Sir Spyro replaces Logan Sama for BBC Radio 1Xtra’s weekly grime show
Logan Sama was dropped from the radio show for “ignorant and offensive” comments
Read an exclusive extract from Wiley’s upcoming autobiography
Wiley discusses the punk foundations of grime in this snippet from his official autobiography.
Grime 4 Corbyn influenced 24% of grime fans to vote Labour in General Election
Ticketmaster has published the first academic study on the genre in their State of Play report
Sadiq Khan calls for review of controversial 696 forms targeting grime acts
Form 696 will be reviewed by the Metropolitan Police
10 Upcoming Grime Producers You Need to Know
Tomas Fraser profiles ten producers – from Hastings to Tokyo – making their mark on the grime scene. Get to know them
Selections: Faze Miyake
Future-proof grime and spacey party music from the London DJ and producer in this exclusive Spotify playlist
Boy Better Know’s Glastonbury slot was another milestone for grime in the mainstream
Rounding off a monumental weekend for grime and UK rap artists, Boy Better Know headlined…
Wiley hints at a re-ignited Dizzee Rascal beef
Eskiboy has threatened a follow up to his classic Nightbus diss of The Movement from…
The Mandem Need You: Can Grime4Corbyn succeed where Red Wedge failed?
Tom Watson explores a very 2017 movement – and its echoes with pop’s Red Wedge coalition three decades ago
New ‘Grime 4 Corbyn’ website urges people to register to vote
They’re offering tickets to a secret party in London if you register
Pro-Corbyn grime posters spotted around London
Grime MCs Jme, AJ Tracey, Novelist and Akala have previously urged their Twitter followers to vote for the Labour leader
Stefflon Don gets real
Niloufar Haidari talks cake-making, YouTube comments and wining on Ed Sheeran with the ascendant star of UK rap
DJ Skrillz
A high-octane snapshot into the crowd-pleasing wave of DJ Skrillz and J Hus
Eight talking points from Gang Signs & Prayer
Carlos, Crazy Titch, confessions and Mumzy. #GSAP has got the timeline on fire, here are the initial takeaways.
Staying In
Your guide of what to watch, read and listen to this weekend
Devlin – The Devil In
Demons are fought and souls are searched on Devlin’s third album, but it’s the insular moments that resonate
When We Gonna Be Together: The Best Grime Love Songs
A selection of street serenades to soundtrack your Valentines Day, featuring Stormzy, Skepta, Ruff Sqwad and many more throwback classics
London turns out for Wiley‘s landmark Roundhouse show
Walking into The Roundhouse, the space already packed by 8pm, the audience a mixture of…
Stormzy unveils debut album artwork and title
It turns out #GSAP stands for Gang Signs & Prayer
New Gen – New Gen
17 young artists, including Stefflon Don and Ray BLK, from the UK rap and grime scenes step up in this XL-assisted comp. We go in.
JME to appear in Simon Amstell’s new movie about veganism
The grime MC will feature alongside including Martin Freeman, Joanna Lumley and Vanessa Feltz in Amstell’s directorial debut
Did Wiley just reveal that he’s playing Glastonbury 2017?
“Come to Glastonbury festival I need to show you something.”
Wiley – Godfather
For years, Wiley was seen as one of grime’s dominant narratives, but as he acknowledges on his latest album, his role is changing.
Staying In
We are nearly there now friends. We are nearly there now.
Skepta takes on Ally Pally with the gang
Hamda Issa-Salwe joins the 10,000-strong crowd for the Tottenham Top Boy’s victorious homecoming
Albums Of The Year 2016
The 100 best albums of the last 12 months, according to Crack Magazine
Skepta’s going on Top of the Pops
The BBC have announced the lineups for their yearly Christmas Day and New Years Eve editions…
Midnight Movement
Gwyn Thomas De Chroustchoff rounds up the best tracks being played and obeyed on dance floors around the world this month
Skepta wants to spends his Mercury Prize money on community projects
The Tottenham MC told The Evening Standard that he wants to spend his untouched prize…
MJ Cole and AJ Tracey snare London’s energy on The Rumble
Two of the capital’s finest link up to share a love-letter to London with a…
Dapper Laughs is hosting a grime night
Disgraced comedian Dapper Laughs is heading up an otherwise solid lineup of AJ Tracey, Ghetts,…
Skepta teams up with Section Boyz for Worst
“Theresa knows Britain is mine” Section Boyz dropped a new track featuring Skepta last night…
Listen to Elijah & Skilliam’s Grime 2016 compilation now
The latest edition of Elijah & Skilliam’s annual grime compilation is available to buy and…
The rhythm and spite of
Boy In Da Corner rekindled
The year Dizzee Rascal dropped out of college in 2002 he sat down with producer…
Sir Spyro:
Humble Awakening
Tomas Fraser speaks with one of instrumental grime’s unsung heroes.
Dizzee Rascal fans reflect on discovering Boy In Da Corner
We spoke to those in the queue for the Boy In Da Corner’s long-awaited homecoming about the impact of this landmark British release
Elijah & Skilliam announce Butterz Grime 2016 compilation
The Butterz bosses tap Skepta, Kano, Wiley and AJ Tracey for their roundup of the…
Wiley shares latest version of Godfather tracklist
Wiley’s latest album Godfather is due out at the end of October Wiley has shared…
Skepta has won the Mercury Prize
The UK MC’s album Konnichiwa has beaten the frontrunner, David Bowie’s Blackstar, to win this…
Blackpool’s teenybop grime scene is blowing up on YouTube
If the bars are to be believed then Blackpool’s 12 year olds are way more into guns, robbery and violence than we’d ever imagined
Turning Points:
Flava D
Grime has always been a fiercely independent music scene, from Wiley selling white labels out…
Skepta previews new song No Security, listen now
Skepta has teased his first new material since the surprise ILoveMakonnen collaboration Coming Soon via…
Skepta announces massive London show for December
Tickets for the Alexandra Palace show will go on sale on 12 August Last night…
Back On Road:
AJ Tracey‘s Transatlantic Takeover
From Ladbroke Grove to Long Island, AJ Tracey is poised to capitalise on the growing appetite for London Talent. Grant Brydon finds him in Queens, NY, taking stock of the hype thus far
Flohio is tearing up grime’s template
Growing up in South London, Flohio was engulfed in grime from an early age. Now the young MC reworks the genre’s template for a more experimental vision
Giggs – Landlord
It’s been three years since Giggs’ last retail album, and the South London Hollowman is…
Levelz:
Made in
Manchester
The ascendant Manchester collective of MCs, DJs and producers carry the torch for their city’s rebellious musical outlook. By Grant Brydon
Fresh Island carves its own niche in Croatia’s festival calendar
UK grime, hip-hop and RnB have overnight appeared in Croatia’s Novalja. Cue Mad Max-style scenes…
Skepta cancels Lollapalooza set due to Visa Issues
It’s not the first time Skepta has blocked from playing in the US. Last year…
Darren Platt, the founder of Channel U, has passed away
Lethal Bizzle, Tinchy Stryder and more have taken to Twitter to share their grief at…
The Bug and D Double E team up for the grime-tinged Box
The Bug and D Double E’s new collaboration premiered on Julie Adenuga’s Beats 1 show…
Skepta, Céon and Makonnen have linked up on ‘Coming Soon’
Coming Soon is a bouncy, tropical track that combines Skepta’s serious flow with Makonnen’s signature…
Novelist’s new track Snitches is his most experimental yet
Check out the latest addition to Novelist’s newly invented Ruff Sound genre, Snitches, in the…
Stormzy is taking 200 fans to Thorpe Park
Big Mike posted a series of Tweets about his birthday plans, Thorpe Park agreed to…
Murlo remixes AJ Tracey’s Naila
The Midlands-via-London producer adds his signature bounce to the rising grime star’s tune We were…
Check out a new zine dedicated to the grime scene
Skepta, Logan Sama, Jammz, Capo Lee and more feature in the black-and-white printed celebration of…
Wiley is releasing an autobiography in November
The book will accompany Wiley’s long-awaited album, Godfather, which is due to drop this coming…
Skepta – Konnichiwa
‘Konnichiwa’ is the sound of an artist winning after his genre has been ditched by the industry and stigmatised by the media
Stormzy and David Beckham unveil Manchester United’s new away kit
UK grime legend Stormzy teamed up with ex-footballer and general lovely man David Beckham today…
Artist reimagines grime stars as Pokémon cards
Brighton-based photographer Ben Gore has released a peek of his ‘Grimemon’ series including Skepta, JME,…
Stormzy and RAY BLK link up on new track My Hood
Up-and-coming London RnB singer RAY BLK has acquired the skills of beloved grime MC Stormzy for…
Listen to Skepta’s Konnichiwa now
Skepta’s hotly anticipated new album is on Spotify now Last night Skepta played a live…
Jeremy Corbyn follows Stormzy on Twitter
The Labour leader followed the grime don after Stormzy warned his followers against voting Goldsmith…
Skepta to celebrate Konnichiwa release with Boiler Room in Japan
Tune in later today to see the grime kingpin lay down some tunes alongside a…
Grime Karaoke announced for Fresh Island
Fresh Island takes place 12 – 14 July at Zrce Beach, Croatia This year’s Fresh…
Skepta announces mini-tour
Tickets are only available to fans who have pre-ordered Konnichiwa Skepta will be hitting the…
What did Top Boy do for grime?
As Drake and Skepta conspire to bring back Top Boy Ruby Atkin looks back at the series and discusses its impact on the genre that fed its aesthetic
Novelist takes a shot at David Cameron on new song, Tax the MPs
The Lewisham grime MC and producer takes Dodgy Dave to task in a hard new instrumental Recent…
Listen to Skepta’s new single Man (Gang)
Konnichiwa drops on 6 May Grime don Skepta has just shared the latest cut from…
Skepta announces Konnichiwa release date
Skepta dropped details of his long awaited album on Instagram It’s been one of the…
Kano – Made In the Manor
‘Made in the Manor’ is one of the first major full-lengths of grime 2.0; except, it’s not really grime
GAIKA announces new mixtape, world tour
GAIKA’s next mixtape SECURITY will be released on Mixpak “SECURITY is the anthropology of `burner…
Novelist drops heavy new instrumental Casper Riddim
Taking a break from rinsing David Cameron via YouTube, Nov returns with an aggressive new…
Watch JME show off his shiny Charizard collection
The excitable grime MC waxes lyrical on Pokémon cards in a new video for the…
Wiley announces new album
Godfather is dropping on 2 September Grime powerhouse Wiley took to Twitter this morning to…
Skepta announced as ‘Cultural Ambassador’ for Uniqlo
Clothing brand Uniqlo has revealed Skepta as one of six new cultural ambassadors As it…
Drake signs to grime label and collective Boy Better Know
After a surprise performance in London with Skepta and Section Boyz, the rapper announced the…
Big Narstie criticises lack of diversity at Brits
The organisers of the Brit Awards, which will take place tonight, have come under fire for the ceremony’s vastly white nominees
Skepta unveils Nike collaboration
Skepta posted the first pictures of his new Nike collaboration on Instagram earlier today Grime…
Watch footage from Novelist’s 19th birthday set
Risky Roadz cyphers return with footage from the grime party of the year Earlier this…
Skepta to headline Berghain this April
The world-conquering Shutdown don will be taking over the techno fortress this Spring One of the…
Perspective:
London to Tokyo
In this month’s perspective Butterz founder and prolific grime DJ Elijah reflects on the connection between London and Tokyo and what that suggests for the genre’s culture
Listen to Novelist’s Self-Produced Break In Your House Freestyle
The former Crack cover star dropped his latest track on SoundCloud on Saturday night Novelist…
100 more artists announced for The Great Escape
Chastity Belt, Muncie Girls, Lady LeShurr, Logan Sama and D Double E are amongst the…
6 New Videos You Need To See
Each week we round-up the best (and worst) new music videos out there
London rapper GAIKA shares new visuals
Brixton artist GAIKA has unveiled a video for his new track Bohdy Knows at 90,…
Radar Radio are broadcasting a Novelist birthday set tonight
Today is Novelist’s 19th birthday, and to celebrate, London’s Radar Radio are broadcasting a set…
Slimzee
Slimzee flits through a rapidly-mixed selection of sinister dubs and frosty instrumentals to devastating effect
Plastician to play ten year old Skepta and Plasticman set on Rinse tonight
Tune in to hear a throwback set featuring unreleased dubs from Coki, Skream, Joker, Mr Virgo, Skepta…
20 Questions:
Lady Leshurr
The First Lady of grime weighs in on our twenty questions, talking YouTube comments, Danny DeVito and where she was when found a slug in her sink
Stormzy is gunning for Christmas number 1
Big Mike has launched a campaign to make Shut Up number 1 this Christmas Another…
Miss Red drops NSFW Murder video
Miss Red has dropped her new music video for Murder On Friday Berlin-based Israeli MC…
Stormzy drops video for Beats 1-premiered new track
The video for Standard features Stormzy and Flipz going mad in a carpark wearing matching…
Stormzy’s new Beats 1 show will be called #MERKY
Cadbury Heath’s finest has bagged himself a weekly Friday night slot on the Apple radio…
Kode9:
Nothing is empty
The Hyperdub boss and sonic expert tells Tom Watson why he’s leaving his double life behind
In the Endz:
5 classic grime videos
Tomas Fraser selects five videos that prove grime is as gritty as ever
Craig David and Big Narstie have shared a new tune
Craig David first met Big Narstie on Mistajam’s Radio One show Let’s be honest, we’ve…
Novelist:
Next Generation
The young Lewisham MC is an unofficial mouthpiece for disenfranchised youth. Tomas Fraser looks towards a legacy with grime’s hardest working newcomer
Watch Wiley talk to pupils from his old school
Wiley has received the MOBOs’ new Paving The Way award The MOBO awards have presented…
Zomby – Let’s Jam EPs
Zomby has delivered a disparate two parter via XL, exploring dangerously familiar and curiously contrary territory across its two parts
Simple Things 2015: Jme and Skepta
Grime dons Skepta & JME shut down the Academy at this year’s Simple Things Festival…
Rabit – Communion
A record that throws bursts of chaos, dense thuds, swallowed samples and frenetic, sliced rhythms out in clouds, like black ink
The 23 moments that defined Skepta‘s biggest year so far
And it’s not over yet
Logan Sama – FabricLive 83
‘FabricLive 83’ is a warts and all collation of glossed up verses and 16 bar whomps that exploits Sama’s bloating black book of MC contacts
Drake’s got a BBK tattoo now
Yes, Drizzy has finally made the eternal commitment to Skepta and JME’s set Inked, permanently,…
Skepta’s been in the studio with Pharrell
While there’s still no news of a Konnichiwa release date, the unstoppable grime MC reveals…
5 Man United Moments with Riko Dan
Roll Deep legend Riko Dan shares his five most memorable moments from the history of Manchester United
Riko Dan to host regular football chat show
The Roll Deep MC will host his show Verbal Volley fortnightly on NTS Grime legend…
Artist Reuben Dangoor reimagines grime stars as historical figures
D Double E, Stormzy and Skepta all feature As a tribute to the grime scene…
Skepta + JME announce headline Brixton show
Novelist, Frisco, Casisdead and Section Boyz will support the December date Grime’s most high profile…
Turning Points:
Logan Sama
Grime ambassador and former Kiss FM resident Logan Sama tracks his journey from pirate radio obsessive to the genre’s self-instated curator
Elf Kid
If you caught Novelist & The Square at any club or festival this summer, the chances are you heard Elf Kid’s signature track Golden Boy
Tabloids are reporting Lily Allen took a swing for Skepta
The incident allegedly occurred backstage at LFW
Little Simz – A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons
It is no secret that hip-hop and grime are male-dominated genres – yet Simz has managed to elbow her way onto our airwaves
Listen to Wiley’s new single Standby
The grime kingpin is back Yep, Wiley has dropped a new single. It’s called Standby…
Skepta’s New Mixtape is Online Now
The grime MC dropped his new tape via SoundCloud this morning In case you missed…
Watch Novelist & The Square’s Black Cab Session
The Lewisham grime collective perform Lewisham McDeez with their former leader Following this week’s announcement…
Kahn, Commodo + Gantz – Volume 1
Kahn, Commodo & Gantz – each regarded as doyens in their own sonic field, take it upon themselves to circulate in unanimity.
Novelist releases freestyle in new video
Watch the Lewisham MC smash out a few bars on his drive
Aesthetic:
D Double E
We shot and interviewed D Double E, London’s most evergreen grime MC
Aesthetic: D Double E
Behind the scenes on our recent fashion shoot with the infamous D Double
Novelist has left The Square
The grime MC tweeted about his decision to leave the group earlier It looks like…
Skepta jumps on Jamie XX’s I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)
Skepta has laid down bars on Jamie XX’s Summer anthem I Know There’s Gonna Be…
Skepta announces mixtape with Westwood, drops updates on new album
And that Westwood tape is imminent Skepta has got Tim Westwood on board to host his…
20 Questions:
Big Narstie
He’s the grime MC, agony-uncle, and online personality that speaks for a generation
JME has made a mixtape in 48 hours
There’s a 12-minute ‘making of’ film too While his recent LP Integrity> took him three…
Drake and Skepta team up for Ojuelegba remix
Following a headline set at Wireless festival and a number of visits to Wimbledon, Drake’s…
JME is swapping vinyl for Pokémon cards
He’s swapping Integrity> on vinyl for a shiny Charizard JME has got a batch of…
Lemzly Dale and Boofy
Two of Bristol’s new school back-to-back
ONEMAN drops festival edits
The edits mix Skepta, JME, Young Thug and more ONEMAN has released a stream and…
P Money – Sounds & Gimmicks
Forget the clean-living that vegan JME attests to – Lewisham grime MC P Money puts…
JME saw Jurassic World and he didn’t enjoy it
Like, at all So JME went to see Jurassic World last night and didn’t rate…
Jme Integrity> Album Review
‘No label, no PR, no publisher…’ so goes JME’s Twitter bio, ‘no meat, no dairy…
Idris Elba has remixed Skepta’s Shutdown
The Luther actor has dropped a rework of Skepta’s grime banger Idris Elba has decided…
Jamie xx: In Colour
While there are many women making great club music, unfortunately the most common stereotype of “a…
Stormzy:
The rise of Big Mike
“I think the humour comes naturally,” drawls Stormzy. “A lot of grime lyrics are just funny.”
Watch Skepta perform ‘Shutdown’ on Jools Holland
“Mans has never been in Jools Holland when it’s shutdown, eh?” Former Crack cover star…
Stormzy drops new freestyle ‘Shut Up’
The 21-year-old MC spits over a classic beat. Following his appearance at The Great Escape…
In GIFs: Lords of The Manor
We sent one of our favourite photographers to document the chaos at King’s Weston House….
Lords of the Manor
On Easter bank holiday weekend, Crack joined forces with Red Bull Music Academy to host…
Mumdance X Novelist: minimalism in the ends
Deleting the presets and calibrating a new wave
Future Brown Album Review
The globally-informed and borderless ethos of Future Brown has been the focal point for the…
Skepta reclaims grime’s history for its true authors
With towering expectations for 2015, the revered MC rises to the challenge
A grime stalwart at 25, Preditah is hunting down the next hype
The Birmingham producer’s dead set on “perfecting that energy”
Kowton + Tessela: Two of the UK’s most exciting producers
The Bristol experimentalists in conversation