There’s something special about UK hip hop. It’s similar to American hip hop in the sense that it developed against a backdrop of race and class issues and embraces party culture, but it has taken a different musical direction. One good example of this is grime, a genre born out of the middle-class residential district of East London. By mixing a production style that borrows heavily from electronica with vocals directly inspired by hip hop, the UK created an entirely new kind of rap/hip hop.

The beat behind the genre—a dizzying mix of UK garage, drum and bass, dancehall, dubstep and hip hop—is cold and aggressive, and the rapping equally aggressive and twisted. The younger generation were immediately hooked by the sound. Many of the rappers who appeared beginning in the mid-2000s were naturally influenced by grime. It also spawned numerous subgenres as well, with some of the more notable being rhythm & grime, a combination of R&B’s characteristically seductive and sweet vocals; darkside, with its darker, more violent raps; and sublow, which uses layered synths and low, deep bass lines. The heyday of grime fever was a time to put the potential of UK hip hop on display. Grime is no longer the sole era by which UK hip hop is defined, but the fact is that it’s the best way to describe the sound of today’s hip hop in the UK. The reason for this is because both old and new rappers are still active in the genre, but even for rappers who aren’t considered grime, it’s necessary to take a look at the genre because of its influence. Several artists could be discussed within the frame of this interesting contradiction, but Aitch stands out the most.

Aitch made a hugely controversial claim on the radio station Capital XTRA in 2020, at the height of a diss battle between the two biggest names in grime, Stormzy and Wiley:

“No one younger than me is bothered about grime.”

People who consider grime to have been, and continue to be, the defining London sound took offense at Aitch’s statement, while those who emphasize more diverse creativity within the UK rap scene sympathized with his argument.

If Aitch were no one special in the music world, his remarks would have been written off as mere trolling, but he’s a rapper whose solid music mirrors his free-spirited words and actions. He not only works within grime but also jumps the fences between drill, trap and old-school hip hop, and shows technical and emotional maturity. Aitch has released three EPs to date, starting with On Your Marks in 2017, and has put out several hit singles. And, at long last, he will release his debut studio album, titled Close to Home, this August. The recent release of his single “1989” has only raised expectations for the talented Manchester rapper’s debut album even higher. The song samples “Fools Gold,” a classic dance-rock track from Manchester rock band The Stone Roses, and puts a more dynamic spin on it. On top of the beat, Aitch’s musical exploration through his limber flow and clever lyrics amp up the exciting atmosphere. For those of you who typically only listen to American hip hop, you’ll likely find it fun to listen to how the unique characteristics and style of his British accent give life to his raps.

There are plenty of rappers who can give you a feel for the UK scene on top of Stormzy and Wiley, mentioned earlier. Looking at 2021 alone, We’re All Alone in This Together by Dave, USEE4YOURSELF by IDK and similar albums have spawned hits for hip hop lovers outside the UK as well. Aitch deserves to be seen as a candidate for the next person in this relay race. Of course, it wouldn’t really be like him to care if he’s destined to take the baton.

TRIVIA

American R&B singer-songwriter Ashanti is given credit as an artist on the first single off Close to Home, “Baby,” released on March 10—but she didn’t actually sing on it. The song samples the vocals from her 2003 track “Rock wit U (Awww Baby)” so extensively that she ended up listed as one of the artists on “Baby.”