Dirty Danger: The 10 Deadliest Grime Beats Of All Time
Is there anyone so well placed to craft this list than the Ruff Sqwad master producer? From Wiley to JME, it's wall to wall bangers...
I’ve put together a list of the 10 deadliest grime beats of all time. Obviously this is just in my humble opinion although my opinion isn’t that humble because I’m certified in this ting. Most of these records are from what I like to think was the golden age of grime, a time when I was a young kid growing up in Bow, East London, where some of the most talented artists the UK has ever produced were making some of these classic tunes that were completely new and like nothing people had ever heard before. There’s also a few newer songs that keep to what I think is the true sound and spirit of grime music.
1) Danny Weed – Creeper
When I heard this for the first time, it was when grime was new and at its purest. I was hooked from the intro, and after that every time DJ Begg (Ruff Sqwad DJ) played it when we were on pirate radio I always wanted to grab the mic and spray some bars over it.
2) Dizzee Rascal – Ho
This was the craziest thing I’d ever heard in my life. The unorthodox patterns he uses with hi hats and voice samples really inspiring. I started doing the same off key stuff with my music at the time.
3) Wiley – Snowman
This song literally gives me chills… even now when I hear it I still get the same feeling. Wiley has always been a big producer throughout every stage of grime.
4) Jammer – Destruction
This song is a classic. Everyone knows and loves it. Big up Jammer ‘cos he’s a “Top Producer… rude boy!”
More…
Ruff Sqwad: The True Godfathers Of Grime
Swindle: Changing Up The Grime Scene
5) JME – Murkin
JME has always been that guy with the quirky, slightly out there sound. This song is one of the best examples of the contemporary grime sound. JME keeps it fresh but still keeps the same spirit and quality from the old days.
6) Skepta – Mike Lowry
This is a deadly beat from the intro with the sound of the door creaking open and then the gunshot. Skepta’s spitting complements the instrumental so perfectly, like it doesn’t really get much better than this song.
7) Ruff Sqwad – Xtra
As a producer Rapid was my partner in grime for the longest time. We influenced each other so much over the years. When he made this beat he set a new level of what could be done and inspired me to come harder.
8) Faze Miyake – Gunpowder
This beat is sick. That’s all. Just listen to it. It samples the beat from Wu Tang Clan’s Gravel Pit and I feel like I could spit bars over it all day everyday.
9) Double E and JME – Thuggsh Ruggish
I used to listen to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony a lot when I was younger and when I heard this it blew my mind because it was so different yet on a par with the song it sampled. You didn’t really hear stuff like this in grime before this song. It was so different and fresh even though it used an old classic in the sample.
10) Dirty Danger – Misty Cold
This had to make the list because I made this while I was still in school. People had it as their ringtone and they didn’t even know it was me who made it. I released it on white label and it sold over 2000 copies in record shops all over London. It was the most money I’d ever made from music at that time and I used the cash to buy myself a kitted out gold Fiat Punto.
Dirty Danger’s ‘Danger Season’ is out 19th May. Pre-order it here
If you like it, Pass it on
COMMENTS
Rhythm and Gash has gotta be the number one grime instrumental!