My mum tells me she didn't understand a word of it (nothing new there then), but here's my recent piece in the Guardian Guide of emerging scene's from the urban underground. Quite a bit had to be cut out, so here it is in full...
Bassline, Dubstep, Juke, Hyphy, Grime, Grindie, Booty Bass, Jackin’ House, Dirty Pop... it can all get a bit much.Hattie Collins clears the confusion by getting up-to-date with the latest sounds from the urban underground.
Juke:
From: Chicago
Sounds like: Hyper hip-hop house
Like Hyphy, Crunk and Snap before it, Juke is less about the lyrics, and more about the moves. Spawned from the pulsating seeds of Chicago House, the 160 beats per minute delivered at high-velocity volume make it perfect not only for triple-time bump ‘n’ grind, but also some elaborate Sammy Davis Jr. type toe-work too. Originating in the late ‘80s, Juke is finally gaining exposure thanks to Dude N Nem’s single, Watch My Feet. The Chicago duo’s frenetic track boasts syrupy tempo changes, a stuttering hook, frantic footwork and seizure-giving synth; music snobs may sniff, but the sound, and dance, is steadily spreading around the United States.
Go To: YouTube.com and type in ‘Dude N Nem’ for the video and MySpace.com/djrashad to hear Ghettoteknitian’z remix of Kanye West’s Flashing Lights.
Bassline
From: Sheffield
Sounds like: UK Garage
Also occasionally referred to as Niche, as it originated around three years ago in the now-defunct Niche nightclub in Sheffield, many write off bassline's helium-inflated vocals and 4/4 beats as UKG with a bit more boom. However, Leeds producer T2 insists his inspiration is more House than Heartless Crew. His single, Heartbroken, already playlisted at Radio 1 and featured on T4, is threatening to do for Bassline what So Solid did for UK Garage. Previously the domain of northern and midland cities, areas below the Watford Gap are finally catching on after heavy rotation in Ayia Napa and Malia this summer. Plus the girls like it too, which helps. A lot.
Ones To Watch: T2, TRV, Platnum, Paleface, Nastee Boi, TS7, DJ Q, Mr. V, TRC, Delinquents, Jamie Duggan, Shaun Banger Scott, Gemma Fox, Jodie Aysha, X5 Dubz
Whoreditch:
From: East London
Sounds like: Grime, garage, jungle, electro, pop, rave…
Ok, so we made the name up, but picture lots of ironic ‘80s hairstyles, a whole lot of ‘brappage’, glow sticks, gun-finger and Peaches Geldof awash in bottles of blue Alize, Boy Better Know T’s and brightly-coloured BAPEs. West London night yOyO may have played a part, but only the east end could have created such jumble-sale style sounds. Populated by 333 rave Straight Outta Bethnal, recent events like Mindie, Urban Nerd and Dirty Canvas, and grimy yet glam girl group The Real Heat prove that right now there’s nothing more current than mixing and matching your music policy. All hail of course to the Godmother, Miss MIA.
Check out: Real Heat, Coconut Twins, Crackin’ Skulls, Tapedeck, yOyO, Urban Nerd, Mindi, Radioclit, Queenz Of Noise, MIA, Teens Of Thailand, Goldielocks, Silverlink…
Read: Styleslut.blogspot.com and SuperSuper magazine
Wear: Carrie ‘Cassette Playa’ Munden and Kesh’s Keshirts.
See For Yourself: yOyO Thursdays at Notting Hill Arts Club and Urban Nerd at 93 Feat East, Brick Lane, London November 17
Glo-ditch
From: Like, the Global Village, dude
Sounds like: MySpace
Ok, so we made this one up too. Borne from the same brain as Whoreditch, this international band of Robin Hood-like, cooler-than-cool kids magpie music that’s geographically disparate, but spiritually similar. Expect weird bleeps from the favela’s of Brazil, nut-cracking 808 from Miami and gritty Ghettotech from Detroit; as long as the drums are thunderous, the FX suitably warped and the vocalists brightly-dressed, you can call it what you like.
Listen to: DJ and producer Sinden’s Kiss FM show, Thurs 1am and online at totalkiss.com.
Check Out: Cool Kids, Kid Sister, Erol Alkan, Flosstradamus, Diplo, A-Trak, Aaron LaCrate, Diplo, Sinden, Spank Rock, Justice
See For Yourself: Get Familiar Vs. Fools Gold Ft. Kid Sister, Switch, A-Trak and more at Fabric, London on November 16
Honourable mentions:
Dirty Pop: Pioneered by UKG producer Sticky, DJ and beatmaker JC and 1Xtra’s DJ Cameo, it’s basically garage but a whole lot, well, dirtier.
Grime: No, it isn’t dead. Via DJ Logan’s 100% Grime show on Kiss FM and the RWDmag.com forum, MC’s Skepta, Scorcher, JME, Ghetto, Wiley, Jammer, Trim and 16 year-old Chipmunk are most definitely keeping the scene alive.
Grindie: Dead. Unless you write for the NME, your name’s Lethal Bizzle or you’re a member of Hadouken!.
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