INTRODUCING [SERIES 1: BLOG 3]: IZZIE GIBBS

Izzie Gibbs is a young MC from Northampton who has recently been creating a stir within the Midlands grime scene. Izzie is part of a grime collective known as East On The Map (EOTM) which includes other names such as Statz, Lox and other local MC's in the Northampton area. Izzie comes across as a fearless MC looking to get his name out there through deep content and sending.

Izzie has featured on Words Are Weapons on various occasions. WAW is a platform for artists to jump on to competitive grime clashes and to show lyrical ability. The Northampton MC has also recently featured on Silk City Radio's Prize Fighter 2 hosted by DJ Big Mikee. Izzie has performed freestyles for P110 Media, JDZ, GrimeBlog and other Midlands based Media channels showing he is fairly established this early on in his career. Izzie also jumped on the War Dub hype and released a track entitled Leng which didn't really get much of a response in truth however that is possibly because the names he was mentioning are thought of as levels above him. However in my opinion Izzie could hold it up against the majority of grime MC's nowadays and it was an opportunity which you have to admire Izzie for taking.

The video at the top of the page features Izzie's Shutdown Sessions for ImpactTV and this video is proof of how far he is come, for me at least this is one of the strongest performances he has come with and is certainly shines a glimmer of hope for Izzie's future. There is no doubt that Izzie has an eloquent flow but he has not always known how to control this flow tending to spray off beat in some instances as Sykx highlighted when he clashed Izzie on WAW. He went hard in the video the only criticism I would have of Izzie is that in some instances his bars do tend to be immature and he could come with some harder content as we've seen in other videos.

Izzie's upcoming project A.D.H.D is out soon. He is also due to feature on WAW against Highlife's Eze which is one to look out for.
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REVIEW: Flames - StoryTeller

Flames from Birmingham gives JDZMedia his StoryTeller. Flames has recently began to gain exposure in the Birmingham rap scene accompanied by fellow artist Young Smokes. The duo seem to have made a stir with there content and have earnt themselves a name within the scene.

Flames always comes with consistently deep content and it seems this video is no difference. As part of the StoryTeller series quite a few artists attempt to paint a picture as the series title suggest but few actually succeed with Flames being one of them. When he describes situations it does really make you think about what he's saying and his lyrics are quite hard hitting. Although his lyrics may not be relatable from my perspective I do believe what he is saying and as he mentions in his track The Truth he never tries to glamorize the lifestyle he leads. Flames is capable of switching his flow up to suit the beat and does this to his advantage in this freestyle.
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REVIEW: Deadly - TrendSetter

Deadly from Birmingham gives P110 his TrendSetter which is created for the elite of the grime scene to display there talent. Deadly who is part of both the NODB and StayFresh grime collectives is a leading figure within the Midlands grime scene so it is no wonder P110 have given him a TrendSetter.

The video itself is full of gritty content and an aggressive flow which we commonly see from Deadly. Deadly has the ability to hype you up within an instant and is certainly someone I frequently have on my playlist. He also switches up his flow a lot in the video and that is something which takes a lot of practice as well as lyrical ability to manage to do. 

Deadly currently has an album out on iTunes entitled My Side Of The Fence which you can purchase here. As mentioned in the video he also has a new project coming out called Out Ere which is due to come out shortly.
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REVIEW: DGS 4 7 19 - ImpactTV Freestyle

DGS is a young MC from Kettering that is slowly progressing in the Midlands grime scene. DGS has featured on the smaller Midlands media channels including OhNoLoweIt, ImpactTV and OneTakeTV with a mixed response to his videos.

In terms of the video DGS seems to have a skippy flow which does seem to be out of control at times but nevertheless people underestimate how hard it is to control a flow like DGS does. In my opinion the amount of negative comments he has got for this video are completely unjustified he does actually go in for a 15 year old.

DGS clearly has potential he just needs to develop his flow and looking through his videos he seems to be improving in every single one. As such a young MC he has to perfect his angle and try different things to see what works well for him. There could be a lot to come from this Kettering MC if he keeps going at the mic. DGS has a mixtape coming out soon called Parental Advisory Volume 1 so look out for that.

REVIEW: Sox - StoryTeller

Sox from Birmingham gives JDZmedia his StoryTeller. Sox is a well known force in the grime scene and currently represents Invasion Alert along with Vader, Jaykae, D2 and a variety of other well known MC's. Sox has featured on the LOTM (3) DVD in which he clashed Kozzie and has been on the path upwards ever since.

Sox is a skilled lyricist with clever wordplay frequently being incorporated into his bars. Sox shows exactly this in his StoryTeller but to begin with brings deep content with talk of Depzman's death, a friend who hung herself and a friend who was drink driving stating "it didn't end nice". Sox is always including something different and he seems to keen on sound effects or brief sequences of singing which is refreshing to hear than just straight bars. In this video Sox remixes the hook of Meridian Dan's track German Whip exchanging it for Japanese Bike which works quite well. Sox also makes a statement to rival grime MC Trilla by stating "Lord of the Mics 6, I will bax Trilla" clearly calling out the MC to take him on in the dungeon which will be interesting to see the outcome of that.

Sox currently has an E.P out with Smoke Darg entitled Constellation which you can get here. Sox has got a further project called Winning and Chilling coming soon. To view more of Sox you can watch him on his YouTube channel here or follow him on Twitter @Sox_Invasion.

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REVIEW: Pressure Ft. C4 - New Day

Pressure, one of the leading MC's from Birmingham brings us a collab with fellow Birmingham top boy C4 and what a combo this is! Pressure who represents StayFresh and C4 (or Mr OoRITE) are both veterans in the Midlands grime scene. Pressure has featured on the Lord of the Mics (IV) DVD in which he clashed MIK. C4 has steered away from the hype and has focused on making quality music and that is certainly what he does best.

I was quite suprised when the tune started and I heard C4 singing I was really quite impressed although he isn't the strongest vocalist the hook is really something to be proud of it is also extremely catchy. It's a side to C4 we haven't seen and certainly one I'd like to see more of. Later on in the track he reverts back to spitting, what we know him for and he truthfully tears it up and what would a tune be like with C4 on if he didn't ask for his slogan? OoRITE! There's a few things I've noticed with Pressure is he is consistent, raw and always willing to try something a bit different to the rest. The track itself is certainly inspiring and is in regards to making movements in the game by spreading the word of there music.

Pressure currently has a new project out entitled Grime Is Money which you can download here.

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REVIEW: Elf Kid X Lolingo - Return of Zelda (E.P)

 Track list:

 1. Intro

2. Talk Of The Town

3. Ready

4. All That Stuff Ft. Proton

5. In The Streets Ft. DeeJillz

6. Takeover Ft. Icon

7. How It Goes Ft. Dubz D

8. I'm Grime

9. My Don Ft. DeeJillz & Syder

10. Nowhere Ft. Ten Dixon

11. I'm So South London Ft. Blessed

12. The Purge (Instrumental)

 Download

 Elf Kid representing The Square links up with fellow South Londoner and Square member Lolingo to produce the sound of Lewisham grime in the form of the Return of Zelda (ROZ) E.P. The Square have recently come to my attention through a variety of there artists featuring on JDZmedia giving there Spitfire's which all popped off. I've been following Elf's work since then and I have been impressed with the return of a strong South London force.

The E.P reminds me of old school grime the way it is produced and definitely takes grime back to it's roots without no alteration I'm So South London especially stands out to me as an example of this. This isn't to say that the levels are on par with the past style it uses, the lyrics are hard hitting and this E.P impressed me from the first track I listened to. The beats on this E.P gassed me especially My Don, Ready and Nowhere I had to reload them a couple times before I listened to the full tracks. Lolingo also went extremely hard with his pure instrumental The Purge and you can see that Elf and Lolingo are a force to be reckoned with as a pair.

A track that really stands out to me is Day To Day which I noticed is not listed on the track list however I personally think this is the strongest track on the E.P. It is a deep tune, it's quite emotional and expresses frustrations with life which I think for a grime artists takes a lot to display on a tune. The hook is extremely catchy and I would love to see visuals for this track.

Overall the combination of Elf Kid and Lolingo is clearly too much to handle. They've certainly done South London proud and set levels for the rest of the MC's in the scene. This is proof that these two are a force to be feared in the scene. If you haven't already got this press that Download button above because this is a must have!

INTRODUCING [SERIES 1: BLOG 2]: SMUTTZ

Smuttz is a prospering artist from Derby, Smuttz is part of a grime movement known as Gritty Substances and has mingled with the most prominent artists in the Midlands grime scene. Smuttz currently has an E.P out entitled 'Eagle Eyes E.P' which can be downloaded here. Smuttz is making strong movements in the Midlands grime scene but certainly needs to widen his fanbase to elsewhere to push his career forward.

Smuttz frequently features on the leading media channels in the Midlands, JDZmedia and P110 Media. The video above entitled Don't Give A F__k  addresses his haters and displays strong wordplay to prove his talent as an artist. The hook in this tune is catchy in this track and had me repeating it even after the track had ended. 

Smuttz's flow is very unique, he includes quite coarse bars in his tracks and he certainly lives up to the movement name of Gritty Substances. However in the track below entitled Words Live On brought to us through JDZmedia details a more deep side to Smuttz detailing the death of his grandfather and grandmother. The title of the track is factual and words do truly live on which will live on beyond our lifetimes. This track really made me think about life and it portrayed a picture whilst he was spraying his bars. A touching sentiment and tribute to those he had lost.

  
Smuttz has a new project called #NoHoldinBack dropping in February this year and it'll be interesting to see the type of content he comes with. A talented artist with a lot to offer.