You really have to admire the brazenness of the UK’s grime artists in their prime, as captured in this expansive new documentary film, shown as part of the BBC’s Storyville strand. We’re shown a letter Lethal Bizzle wrote for this newspaper headlined “David Cameron is a donut”. We’re shown a pirate radio station based directly above Tottenham police’s CID office, run by a man who is captioned as being “Not a drug dealer”. We’re shown Ofcom mercilessly shutting down similar stations playing grime, and yet – within 20 years – BBC Four is broadcasting this tale of the against-all-odds success story of the genre: the faster, harder, sparser form of rap music that emerged from east London in the late 90s.
This 90-minute unnarrated documentary features most (but not all) of the pioneers of the scene, including Kano, Dizzee Rascal, D Double E, Jammer and Skepta. It is directed by the photographer and film-maker Ewen Spencer, who documented music scenes for the Face and Sleazenation in the early 00s. It’s a visual feast and a glorious flick book of British street style and flair dating back to 1990 – the year this story starts. As we’re initially guided through the eras of jungle and garage, the sonic precursors to grime, we’re simultaneously exposed to what ravers really looked like back then. People genuinely used to go to jungle raves in a wacky shirt and tie – and here’s the footage to prove it.
