it's a crying shame how this thread has descended into post a random youtube video and press post; proper fucking depressing.
why do you think this is slackk?
could it be because there just generally isnt much energy in the scene anymore - i must confess to being much less interested in grime the last 18months. There's nothing really interesting happening musically as far i can see - the character and personality of the sound has gradually been whittled away by the spectre of commercial success, or the promise of it.
I've instead turned more towards the road rap scene, i still love mc oriented music, i'm a sucker for intricate wordplay, clever rhymes and killer deliveries, but i also feel an energy and an enthusiasm coming through from that scene. It seems to have a clearly defined geographical and spiritual home, a roster or real characters , a lack of raves, but not a lack of work or work ethic - theres a lot of material to go through, but whats more, it seems to have a sense of ambition for the sound and the scene which grime has given up.
I still have love for the grime scene, i respect what some people are doing in trying to push things forward - elijah with the vinyl/instrumental side, real pioneers like d double (streetfigher) and trim (trim city) and obviously wiley still towers over the scene. But the constant forays into the commercial realm have just weakened the social and communal aspect to the scene. The scene is no longer so introverted, seeking to appeal to a wider audience, and in so doing, has lost its ferocity, energy and sonic appeal.One person who i think has managed that crossover quite well is JME, his new album is great, grime but poppy, but still has power and integrity.
I'm not blaming the mc's for making money, i'm blaming them for descending into commercialism too easily, sacrificing the culture and tradition that nurtured them and made them into stars, at least in the hood.