Jme’s ‘Grime MC’ Is A Grassroots Triumph

It's a testament to his undiluted passion for grime...

Jme’s long-awaited fourth studio album ‘Grime MC’ has finally been released.

However, you will not find it on any of the streaming services you use daily, or even on YouTube. The North London MC has released the album solely on physical formats.

“Physical?!”

Yes, physical. The album can be bought as a CD or on vinyl. Jme’s idea behind this was to go back to the roots of his music career, shen streaming services weren’t available and had to channel into a pirate radio to hear the music of the streets.

Many now-iconic UK rap artists started their career on pirate radio stations i.e. Kano, Giggs, P Money, and Frisco. The only other way of listening to their music was to buy or bootleg their CD.

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The album is already set to mark its territory on the UK Top 40 this Friday with only physical copy sales to propel. This is a monumental feat for Jme. It’s something that many young aspiring MCs/rappers can draw inspiration and motivation from. It’s simple, and it’s true: hard work pays off.

This is a message Jme has been sending to the world since his song ‘WORK’ from 2015’s studio album ‘Integrity’. Talking about hard work, ‘Grime MC’ had no marketing campaign, Jme had only mentioned the album a few weeks before dropping it on the market.

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While this is remarkable in itself, the only time Jme had actually given fans a taster for what is to come was at a handful of cinema screenings across the UK and a pop-up stand in Boxpark Croydon over the summer just gone.

Jme relied on the grime community and his hardcore fan base to make a mark with this album, utlilising this album to channel his ideology that “music shouldn’t exist in the same place” which he had stated on the HalfCast podcast with ChuckieOnline.

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‘Grime MC’ pays homage to the beginning of the grime scene in the UK. The album plays like a pirate radio station,from back in the Meridian Crew days. Which is how Jme and his older brother Joseph Adenuga (the boy better known as Skepta) started their career in music: Jamie and Joseph created the collective and then the record label Boy Better Know.

To understand the vision Jamie Adenuga had for this album you need to spend time immersed in his previous studio albums. Jme has always had a love for raw and electric beats, giving him a distinct sound from other MCs on the scene.

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Across this 18-track LP he definitely wants to keep his sound and flow as genuine as it always has been. Tracks such as ‘96 Of My Life’, ‘You Watch Me’ and ‘You Know’ will be old-school Jme fans’ favourites – indeed, they all feel as though they could fit on ‘Famous?’, Jme’s first studio album back in 2008.

The consistency is uncanny. Jme keeps to his original sound, the music he has always wanted to make. Even with the changing direction of the UK grime scene in recent years, Jme has always been one that has paved his own lane in the industry, and kept true and focused on that path. Even after a four year hiatus, he comes back with an album that will be remembered by his fans as groundbreaking and revolutionary.

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Skepta is on the album, and the musical connection between the two Adenuga brothers is both legendary and unique, with a blend of raw talent, and exceptional poetry.

‘Grime MC’ also includes the talents of Peckham supremo Giggs, Big Zuu, P Money, Shakka, the godfather himself Wiley, President T, and Merky ACE. Every single one is known for their legendary status in the grime scene. All these talents make for an exceptional collection of songs, the mixture of different flows and beats creates a true and authentic UK sounding project.

The production talent, too, is vital to the conception of ‘Grime MC’, with the likes of Blay Vision, Deeco, Lewi B, Merky ACE, Preditah, and Tre Mission supplying beats. Each has their unique take on a beat, and each contributes to a beautiful symphony of pure British rap. He has worked with most of these producers in the past, for his older albums, knowing they’re going to elevate his sound to a whole new level.

The idea behind the release of the album is ingenious. It shows dedication, perseverance, and faith. Relying on his fanbase to go down to their local music store to buy a copy of the album is a leap of faith that has brought nothing but success. Jme’s vision of how music should be listened to comes from a place of passion and adoration for the sound of pure grime, something especially remarkable in this marketplace of the digital-age, where anybody can listen to any sound on the planet.

‘Grime MC’ sets itself apart and it is inspiring to see.

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'Grime MC' is out now.

Words: Ramy Abou-Setta

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