For a round up of the first half of the year click here

Grime in 2010, how will it be remembered? For me it is most MCs starting the year wanting to be a pop star, and finishing the year saying 'Grime all day'. We literally went from Lethal B putting out electro house turkeys to saying 'Grime is back' in the space of 6 months, when he decided to embark on Pow 2011.

Wiley was part of 3 top 20s with dreadful pop music, but then has been constantly pumping out Grime tracks via his twitter. In the middle of this, we have a new generation of MCs that have come through in the time the established artists have been away who are going the total opposite direction. Intense flows, violent lyrics and choosing the rawest productions to a point it is nearly comical. They have been able to win over fans who want to put a middle finger to the indecision of the top boys whether they are Grime acts or not, and have quickly won over fans that want 'real grime' back.


I have been shocked this year at how very few real album projects have come out. Nothing from Skepta, Wiley, D Double E, Tempa T, P Money, Dot Rotten, Trim, Griminal, Mz Bratt, Durrty Goodz etc have had product, but nothing solid. In a way it is exciting because it leaves the door open for a flood of albums in 2011, but if you read my end of review of 2009, I expected that of 2010, so I would be naive to think that will happen. Hopefully when they land, they won't be plagued with the same tired concepts that have hurt Grime CDs for years. How great they are, Haters, Swagger, Money and Women.


Skepta has been the only artist this year that has made a genuine attempt to chart a Grime song. 'Cross My Heart' whether you like it or not, is a typical Skepta beat, and would get played on sets every week if it was just a instrumental track. The delivery is the same that he would use on Rinse FM or in a club, and I think he has come the closest to the happy medium, something that can fit into day time radio, without losing an edge on the production side.

I am still trying to work out why Grime acts find it so difficult to choose a song they want everyone to have, get it played by the top DJs, do a video and get it on iTunes within reasonable time. It is easier then ever, all you need is a Tunecore account, a video on youtube, a song and you are on your way. Gone are the days where people will tolerate waiting 4 months to get a track, those who do that with their best work will hurt as they will fail to capitalise on their hype time and time again until they learn how to effectively release.

JME had the formula right, you hear the tune, see the video and then you are able to buy four weeks later. Wiley experimented with an even tighter schedule. 'Radio Kid' was premiered on Logan Sama's radio show on Monday and released on Sunday. I think a lot more acts should think about that option first before they look at the 'easy way out' in a free download.

Onto my MC of 2010. P Money, who sums up for me, 'More with less'. He released no solo work this year, but featured on 'Ho Riddim' 'Slang Like This' and 'Sweet Shop' and saw his profile raise higher then ever. He can PA those tunes up and down the country alongside last years smashes 'Left The Room' and '1UP' and do full live sets with Grime & Dubstep DJs. He has shown he can do the big live shows, (him and Blacks at Rinse FMs 16th Birthday set with Plastician was massive), can do the lyrical war (does anyone disagree he ended Ghetts?) and he can do a track that isn't about how great his lyrics are or how cool he is (see Numb with Starkey).

The producers have had a good year, breaking out as individuals for the first time, and they have been using the exposure to great effect, working together more, doing DJ sets and I think making better Grime as a result. Without all the producer releases this year I would have had nothing to play, so next year I hope they are able to dictate to the MCs what the best tracks to vocal are, instead of it being the other way round as it has in years gone by. The dual project format that Maniac & Tinchy did a few years back is a system I could see working with Spooky & Kozzie or Swindle & Maxsta. Hopefully heads start to bump in the next few months to get some great vocals to some of the finest instrumental Grime made for a very long time.
The Grime remix this year has returned in a big way. Previously on Grime singles or vinyl it would have been packed with an 'outside the box' remix with someone who is making moves in another scene, to get the original track out there in different places. But now I think it is has been a stronger look for the unity of the scene to be remixing each others work. Terror Danjah's Air Bubble, D.O.Ks Chemical Planet, JME's CD Is Dead, SX's Woo Riddim have been given reworkings from top boys inside the scene, and that is something that wasn't happening at all last year. People were opting for a 'Funky' remix, a 'Dubstep' remix and a 'Bassline' remix.
The best example of a version excursion for the producers this year has been Spooky's Spartan which has been remixed by Teddy, D.O.K, Terror Danjah, Darq E Freaker, Darkos and others and it is all helping the notoriety of the original, bringing variety to DJs selection and giving new names exposure. I am all for it, and I hope that attitude continues in 2011.

Terror Danjah was the first to get the opportunity to showcase the new instrumental Grime movement to the world via his album with Hyperdub which got acclaim across the board. Hopefully that will open the door for a few newer names to showcase this style to a wider audience then the Grime scene. His recent Resident Advisor podcast and appearance alongside Kode 9 on our show can silence any doubt about his versatility as a producer and DJ.

One of the best things to happen this year was Skepta remixing Diddy. To witness it build from seeing Diddy ask for a Grime act on twitter, to seeing him reach out to Skepta (who I believe was the right choice) and a real banger.

There hasn't been as many great sets as there were in the first half of the year, but here are a few of my favourites:

Vectra, JJ & Wiley - Rinse FM 7/11/2010
Logan Sama with OGz - Kiss FM 19/11/2010
Logan Sama with JME, D Double E & Footsie 5/10/2010
JJ & Wiley Rinse FM 4/9/2010
JJ & P Money Rinse FM 25/8/2010


Some of my favourite videos

I saw a classic tweet from Wiley which said something along the lines of 'I hope you have all got your Grime singles ready to drop after Pow 2011 is released'. I hope that is what happens, and that energy can be brought back sustainably this time, with quality singles from the older acts right down to the newer acts. It is important that you guys that have read this blog, listened to the music, come to the raves and have posted on the forum continue to support the scene with your wallets this time otherwise there won't be another chance for Grime to rise again like we all want it to.

This is my last ever blog on this site, I feel it's inappropriate for what Butterz has developed into. We started out as a interview based blog back in 2007, interviewing people that didn't normally get the shine elsewhere: producers and Djs. That ethic continued into 2008, and I got seriously into DJing and debuted on Rinse FM in November. Up until early 2010 I balanced showcasing Skilliam & Is show with blogs about the grime scene, frustrations, new ideas and interviews.

2010 came and we started a label, so time wasn't on my side to write about the scene that I love anymore outside of publications, and it just became a more label focused site as the days went by, so I have decided to build a new one, fit for purpose to launch in the new year, and leave the Grime blogging behind. If you visit the Butterz.co.uk domain now, you have a micro version of what I want our final site to look like, mobile blogging, profiles on the artists, uStream section and space for our releases.

Hopefully I will still be given the opportunity from time to time to write in other places about my thoughts on the scene, but going forward I want to focus on DJing and building up the label and the artists I am helping come through.

Thank you to anyone that has ever read this, recommended us, featured the site in a magazine or linked us via your site. There are too many names to mention.

So until our new site is built catch us on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook for regular updates on our releases, Rinse FM shows and live sets..

Hope to see you in a club one day going mad to Grime

Peace

BR003 & BR004 are available now, which takes the release tally up to 5 for the year for Butterz, which im really happy with.

Air Bubble is a track Terror Danjah originally wrote for the first EP we released 'Bipolar' and I decided to let the parts out for everyone to remix. It ended up having well over 100 remixes which you can check out on soundcloud and youtube.

Starkey's remix is vinyl only, and Teezas is digital only, the digital will begin floating next month.

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D.O.K is an elusive character and it took us a while to decide what tracks of his to release. We wanted something totally different to his Hardrive release, and his forthcoming Hyperdub release, but still with his signature style. I hope you guys like it!

Watch out for our next event at East Village on 22nd December, London crew click attending, its free>>

I'm glad we got to release Royal T after two years of receiving music and watching him hone his skills. He sent me what ended up being his debut release '1UP' on the 13th November 08, when I was just getting into DJing seriously. I started on Rinse that same month, and two years later he is releasing on our label. No trendy remixes, no watered down approach, just 100% Grime from the man himself for the first time.

'Orangeade' came about as a joke mocking Teddy aka Silencer who claimed Gucci Manes 'Lemonade' was the best Grime tune at the moment. So for my Birthday back in July I asked Royal T to make me an alternative fizzy drink Grime track for us to play and it was born. People liked it, but it wasn't until P Money & Blacks guested on our show back in August we took the track seriously. I played it as the last song, and they tore it apart.

'The Whistle Song' was written back in February and it was going in and out of our selection as Royal T kept changing bits to it along the way. It was originally intended for No Hats No Hoods and for whatever reason they didn't like it but we did. The other core Grime DJs started regularly playing (and reloading) it and that is the first time it has really happened for a Butterz record.

'Music Please' is another favourite in our sets, but we decided to release the 'Devil Mix' instead just to make things interesting. Nobody releases them in Grime anymore, and I don't want this to cause a 'devil mix on every release' trend, but once in a while for this style of tune, it's good fun. For the DJs in the mix it gives you space to go crazy with it.

He is the youngest producer that we have released so far at 20 years old, and resides in Southampton. So producers that are outside the spiritual home of the Grime scene please never give up, location these days is a minor barrier in music. You can easily send us (and other DJs) music, and we do listen to everything.

Watch out for the full release hitting stores soon

P.S

Check out Wiley from his latest Rinse FM show over some of the latest Butterz material

More info on these soon

Couple of bits in the shops as well: Redeye / Boomkat / Chemical

Can also grab the slipmats here, they are very limited

We have been on radio a lot lately, so I thought I'd do a show post with all the shows incase you miss them as they are all very different.

We will back on Thursday 1-3am GMT

P.S

Where are you from where did the TRC name came from and what would you say was the first tune that got you noticed?

Im 21, from West Midlands, been producing since I was 17 now. My name is actually my little brothers name backwards (CRT) he makes beats as well. The first tune I made that probably got me noticed was a bassline track called Break Up VIP.

At the time when there were bassline remixes and compilations everywhere your name used to pop up a lot, since those have slowed down whats your relationship been like with the genre? Are you still making it are people raving to it? People from outside the midlands dont really understand it.

I still produce bassline and I always will. Since things have slowed down I've had time to concentrate on a lot of stuff I made from earlier that never really got spotted (Oo Aa Ee..) as a lot of my tunes that are out now I made when I was 17/18. Bassline comes more from up North then anything and was massive in most cities further up the map such as Leeds, Sheffield, Leceister etc and it takes time to get your head round it. I think people need to go on an adventure to one of the raves to see what impact it really has.

So when you where making tracks like Oo Aa Ee where you giving them to both bassline & grime DJs? or did you keep both sides of your production separate? That tune to me is like a bassline & grime hybrid

I made a lot of my bassline songs off the back of my grime instrumentals, especially that tune. I kind of kept them seperate but when I was younger found it hard to try get into grime so I became half hearted and just made the tunes for fun.

Did the lack of motivation come from not being able to work with the MCs or lack of support from the bigger DJs?

Both really, it seemed people were really stubborn and didn't want to listen to what I had to offer, its only when I got a name in bassline did people want to hear my stuff, and all people wanted to hear was bassline, so I just sat on my grime for a while. The only person that played 'Oo Aa Ee' from when I exported it out of reason was DVA and that was in 2006/2007.

Now that has changed what are you making in the present day? And whose music would make up a TRC DJ set at the moment?

Still bassline, grime and dubstep, keeping the dubstep hush for a while though. I'd say my favourite producers at the moment are probably Virgo, Mr Figz, Burgaboy, Benga + Skream, Joker, Champion, Rusko, Paleface, DJ Q, EK9, Teddy and Terror, and Spyro when ever he makes something.

Your using quite a few singers on your music which nobody else seems to be doing at the moment! Do you want to talk about the tunes you have, and the plans for them?

Yeah I have got a lot of vocals I did earlier this year, I've got a tune about to come out now called 'Drive Me' with Miss Fire. We did some stuff earlier on this year just to try and get people back used to the vocals and stuff. Its all about making tunes for girls, where ever girls go men follow so you hit both crowds. I also had a track come out called into you with one of my old friends Teresa. I've got some more vocals to come out with my singer Ruth as well and hope to work with more singers over the next few months.

Is that what your overall working towards kinda juss getting out a few singles to get your name popping or is there an overall project like a ep or mixtape coming?

I haven't really got a masterplan, the plan is just to make good music right now that people enjoy and love. I love making grime and bassline, and as long as people are jumping around or the tunes are getting wheels on sets I'm happy. I'm just trying to get as much out there as I can, but spread it out over time rather then flood peoples ears so they don't know what to listen to. Its kind of hard to juggle bassline and grime as well, as both listeners are stubborn to each others taste.

I'll eventually start working on a mixtape, the time isn't right yet, people get one gleam of hype and think 'Yes, do a mixtape with about 50 tunes so everyone knows me', where as I'd rather just keep coming out bits and bobs one by one until my names on everyones lips and they actually want to hear a mixtape.

Can you give us an early tip on some producers from the Midlands we should be looking out for in the near future?

My little brother CRT! He's too sick for his age better then most out there! Only just turned 17 he's on his grime. EK9, dubstep is ridiculous, already done some bits and bobs with Sukh Knight when he was round these sides. Mr Figz, RnG is absolutely nuts. Avirex & Hectic! Bassline producers, few I've been working with, Lil Stepz and Jack Swagger, they put out two new tunes last week which got massive feedback and theres youtube vids for those (TRCMusicTV).. I dont even need to say watch out but you all know my homie S-X, theres too many to list to be honest so much talent round here stretching from Birms to Wolves to Notts to lesta its madness. Flush UK Media and Stay Fresh, 2 big labels from the midlands you need to keep your eyes on. Flush have got so much going on right now, too many flush raw videos, Bassboy has a release coming out in a few weeks so look him up too.

Watch out for more TRC on Butterz in the future hopefully...

Oo Aa Ee VIP is out now on iTunes or on vinyl with 'Skipping Rope' and 'My Empire'