Grime Genre Characteristics

Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop. Artist of this genre include people such as Dizzee Rascal, Wiley and Roll Deep. Some characteristics of this genre include:

• Complex 2-step, 4X4, breakbeats, generally around 140 beats per minute.
• Constructed from different synth, string and electronic sounds.
• Lyrics and music combine futuristic electronic elements and dark, guttural bass lines.
• Dizzee Rascal and Wiley were among the first to bring the genre to the attention of the mainstream media in 2003-4.
• Influences from a variety of different cultural styles as well as musical ones.
• Still in many respects considered to be underground music, even after mainstream exposure.
• Bass Guitars and Drum Machines.
• Tape Loops and Vocoders are often used.
• The trait of many Grime songs is to percieve the artist as if he/she is writing the music from their own point of view.
• Women are often present in the videos
• 'Urban' clothing. Hoodies and big jewellery; 'Bling'.
• Gangs of 'friends' behind them to show what it was like when they where growing up and also in high rise flats to show the location as well.
• Set at night or have dark lighting to match the aggressive feel of the music.