Feature: War Dubz II

It all started with Bless Beats and an awkward attempt at something he used to be pretty good at, and from there the thinly-veiled Lord Of The Mics 5 promo stunt began to spiral with constant back-and-forths between the likes of Jammer, Wiley, JME, Preditah and Rude Kid over Twitter. Following this was a whole bundle of short, thrown-together pseudo-trap (and, admittedly, the odd banger) from not only the few producers who had started the whole thing but also, it seemed at least, anyone who's ever downloaded Fruity Loops and fancied a shot at the fast-dwindling limelight.

Severe quality control issues aside, the whole thing has had a fairly positive effect in terms of not only getting more producers back in front of their monitors again but also reigniting a debate about how grime sounds in 2013. And since we're not of the opinion that grime in 2013 sounds like trap, we were keen to see some younger blood coming through.

Wen came with a beat and arguably cleared the floor with everyone, and then wasn't included in the GrimeForum nominations. So it was that another previous guest of ours, Threnody, took it upon himself to instigate a new set of clashes, enlisting 22 of the best emerging grime producers to go head to head. Names were picked at random on Threnody's Sub.FM last week, with each producer given seven days to write a beat in their opponent's style but at a level that they could never reach.

The clashes are as follows, and will be aired live tonight, from 10-midnight GMT on Sub.FM.

1. Filter Dread vs. Dark0
2. Mella Dee vs. Arctic
3. Breen vs. Rabit
4. Chemist vs. Zha
5. Legend4ry vs. Name Pending
6. Mad EP vs. Crackatoa
7. Glot vs. Strict Face
8. Epoch vs. Underclass
9. Kakarot vs. Marcx
10. Dellity vs. College Hill
11. Majora vs. Mike Midnight

An unofficial vote will be judged from chatroom hype during the show, and an official vote will follow directly after the show right here on Hedmuk.

--- VOTING ---

The vote process is a simple one: all the clashes are available to stream in the players below, and the beat in each clash that has been favourited by the most people wins. To vote, simply click the 'Like' icon in the top right hand corner of the player.

Voting will close on Monday the 23th of September 2013.

1.   Filter Dread vs. Dark0


2.   Mella Dee vs. Arctic


3.   Breen vs. Rabit


4.   Chemist vs. Zha


5.   Legend4ry vs. Name Pending


6.   Mad EP vs. Crackatoa


7.   Glot vs. Strict Face


8.   Epoch vs. Underclass


9.   Kakarot vs. Marcx


10. Dellity vs. College Hill


11. Majora vs. Mike Midnight



To listen back to the War Dubz II show in full, use the player below to stream or download from here.

Threnody - War Dubz II - Sub FM by Threnody on Mixcloud

W.

Review: Merky ACE - All Or Nothing [NHNH1006CD]

Merky ACE's first CD was, back in 2011, a statement-maker: unrelenting, aggressive flows and smart-arse wordplay over brand new beats from a select bunch of producers, including the likes of Faze Miyake, Royal-T and Splurt Diablo, who were also beginning to make inroads into the grime scene. And despite the close-knit feel of the release, with other MC features being strictly Family Tree-related, the variation to be found on the CD was what made it so strong; this wasn't just a bunch of skits and half-cooked freestyles over the scene's current buzz-beats, and perhaps most importantly it felt genuine and honest in its boundary-pushing. By the time Jammer was deciding to introduce Waka Flocka Flame to grime by playing trap and Fekky, Merky and his team had been testing the borders between the dank lean of Dirty South hip hop and skippy double-time grime flows for years. 'All Or Nothing' is a follow-up full-length in the truest sense as we see how the young South Londoner's music grows as he does.

'You Think You Know Me', which featured on the stop-gap 'Catch Up EP', saw Merky taking on deeper, more personal material and 'All Or Nothing' sees him expand on this tone, positively diversifying his style. The reflective hook line on 'Intro' sets a casual pace from the off, stripped of the need to shout loudest in order to be heard. This sense of feeling comfortable within his own style, as though he's not having to try too hard to sound original is one of the most inviting aspects of Merky's approach and means that chorus-led tunes - so often standout casualties on a grime mixtape - don't sound overwrought or drenched in concept. As previously, though, and as should arguably be the case for any decent grime MC, when he's at his best is spraying 16s and bouncing flows back and forth with other crew members; these direct impact set-pieces (see 'Wack', 'R.I.P' or the title track, 'All Or Nothing') serve as constant and regular reminders as to why Merky and his fellow FT members have had the whole scene hot on their heels. Keeping with the team aesthetic, most of the producers who feature - including Faze, Splurt, Rude Kid, Zdot and Teddy Music/Silencer - also had offerings on 'Blue Battlefield' and the diversity shows again, with each beatsmith giving Merky different spaces to tangle his flows in.

'All Or Nothing' completes what 'Blue Battlefield' started, and as the first of a two-part collaboration with No Hats No Hoods sets up an exciting prospect for what can come next from the young talents on show here.

Merky ACE - All Or Nothing will be released by No Hats No Hoods Records on May 27th 2013 and is available to pre-order in physical format from the NHNH store now.

W.

Free Download: Trim - Bandoolou

One of the few MCs who has maintained a consistent trajectory in grime, Trim is known for his innovative flows and interesting beat selection. Following up from his recent, and celebrated, appearance on Damu's debut album, this ten-track release forms a medial point between Trim's experimental choice of beats and his roots in the original grime sound, as a former member of Roll Deep.

With beats from upfront grime producers such as Rude Kid and Teddy Music (aka Silencer) alongside producers, notably Harmonic 313, less likely to be seen credited on a grime mixtape, Bandoolou is more engaging than most.


Download: Trim - Bandoolou


Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. No For An Answer
3. Hate Me (feat. Obese, Nico Lindsay & Careless)
4. DAT
5. Freestyle (feat. Nico Lindsay)
6. Lord Of Lords (feat. Riko)
7. War Mode (feat. Scorcher)
8. Bandoolou (feat. Obese, Nico Lindsay & Careless)
9. Motto Freestyle
10. Bar So Hard


.Preacha.

J Sweet & Alias - FACT Mix 243

Yet another quality mix in the world-famous FACT series, this time coming from the genuine grime legends behind the Alias moniker. With their instantly-recognisable samples and growling basslines making a welcome comeback to the grime scene this year with a release on Logan Sama's Earth 616 label, this mix features plenty of new material from the outfit aswell as cuts from the likes of P Jam, Rude Kid, Royal T and Terror Danjah.


Download: J Sweet & Alias - FACT Mix 243


Tracklist:

J Sweet – Can’t Stop Grime
Rude Kid – Electric
J Sweet – Street Hawk
Pacha Beats & DJ Cameo – Bad Boy
Marxmen & Alias – Spartan Remix
J Sweet – OK
Royal T – Orangeade
Teeza – Bounce
J Sweet – 2 Track
P Jam – Spaz Out
Dr Speed – Barz
Terror Danjah – East Village
J Sweet & Alias – Clash
P Jam – Sore Foot
SX – Woooo Riddim
Alias – When The Music

.Preacha.

Rude Kid - Electric

After much of the hype surrounding Rude Kid's instantly recognizable instrumental, it has finally been confirmed with an official release on the consistently brilliant No Hats No Hoods.

The 12" can be pre-ordered here (direct from No Hats No Hoods) in advance of its release on the 10th of May. The release will coincide with the producer's debut CD, entitled 'Are You Ready', which is also available now for pre-order from No Hats No Hoods.









.Fukhed.

Ears to the ground...

Dubplate culture, although enviable for its sentimental value, is an exclusive one; the result of this being that many tunes never actually get a full release. Example: the VIP of Giant's banger 'Drumstick' was, when first played out, generally hailed as one of the best VIPs to be produced. Obviously, DJs and fans across the country begged for its release, but to no avail. The original tune was put out on Hench and that, it still seems, was that. However, there are definite positive aspects to this which must be noted. Firstly, the dubplate format is cheap enough to encourage producers to be more prolific and, furthermore, put much of their output onto wax to be played out by whoever is lucky enough to be getting a steady supply of these 'plates: this keeps the scene fresh. Secondly, hearing tunes played out on dubplate raises anticipation for tunes getting a full release; and these first few months of 2010 are looking ripe for such releases:


Kryptic Minds - Badman / Distant

Since the first airing of the smoke-drenched vocal that introduces this tune, 'Badman' has been on the wishlists of any and all fans of a deep, threatening bassline. The fact that N-Type, arguably the best tune selector in the game, chose to open his mix for Rinse 09 with it is testament to its weight. Yet, it did not make an appearance on 'One Of Us' (Kryptic Minds' outstanding LP released late last year on CD and to be pressed to 3-piece vinyl for early 2010). Dissapointment was not to be shouldered for long, though, as 'Badman', it was announced, was to be given its own release shortly after the album. Bad pressing, however, forced postponement on the release until early 2010 which, unless we are very much mistaken, is now. So: ears to the ground for this one.

Rude Kid - Electric

This one's on a grime flex, but is surrounded by similarly vague release news. Featuring as the instrumental for Scorcher's 'Spartan Gang', this tune can be heard in use as an instrumental countless times on any grime radio show. Despite the Kid's trademark "are you ready?" sample making consistent appearances in grime sets, he is also notorious for keeping his tunes to himself and putting very few out on general release. 'Electric', however, has been flagged for release this month on No Hats No Hoods. So: ears to the ground for this one.

Hatcha & N-Type Present: The Croydon Dubheadz Pt.II

Less ambiguity about this one, but certainly more anticipation as Hatcha (with easily one of the most upfront boxes around) and N-Type (also with a steady stream of dubplates coming his way) collaborate again for the second installment of 'The Croydon Dubheadz'. With the first installment housing its fair share of exclusives from some of the scene's biggest producers, the second looks to continue this idea. Hatcha revealed that the forthcoming double-pack will feature tracks from: Skream, Loefah, Hatcha, Kromestar, Lost, LD and Cluekid. Whilst lips have remained tight as to which tracks will appear, both Hatcha and N-Type have exercised their exclusive rights in playing tunes from the double-pack on their radio on shows on Kiss and Rinse FM respectively: Cluekid puts forth another unique blend of spacious, squelchy bass with a tune which apparently combines his early 'Toadstep'-era tunes with his more recent junglist output; Kromestar has, it would appear, found the middle ground between the deeper, ambient sounds of 'My Sound' with the thinner, more aggressive textures of his 'The Other Syde' collection; Hatcha's effort is a dark stomper in the form of a tighter, heavier take on tunes such as Coki's 'Goblin'. According to N-Type, pressing is now complete and the double-pack waits now on artwork and distribution only. So: ears to the ground...

.Fukhed.