Lately hip hop has branched and formed new varieties. One of these is called “Grime“. Often the explanations become rather diffusse when you try to explain what Grime is and how it sounds. You could say that it’s more dirty, heavier, more techno/electronica and a little darker than traditional rap. One of two grimers in Sweden, Kid Colt (to my knowledge, the other one is Max Peezay), was recently a much cheered guest on Contrahesive’s new album “Reflection is Relative” in the song “Gutter Music” and he has also released an mp3 together with Machete Productions.

Kid spits like he’s walked the streets of the London suburbs all his life. The Grime he produces is really hard, the flow heavy and the lyrics is high-octane. One can think about that if  Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer appeared geekish when the gangsta rap started, the gangsta rap now appears geekish as the Grime and Kid Colt comes out in the light, or darkness (!?).

Instead of me talking more about Kid Colt’s heavy style, I’ll let Kid Colt present himself and his Grime.

I asked Kid Colt on how his time in London has influenced him and how he discovered the grime:

It’s correct that I have lived in London, 6 years in two periods of time. Musically I only played drums in a harcore band, ha ha. Not that much hip hop then. But I did have a lot of friends that did hip hop and then there was a lot of grime-mc’s in my school. I obeserved the scene closely during my London years, but it wasn’t until I moved back to Sweden that I picked up the microphone and started rapping.

I also asked what he thinks about Dizzee Rascal and Max Peezay and if he could se himself in them:

I listened a lot to Dizzee’s first two records and he was one of my favourite MC’s for a long time. Today, though, I don’t know if he’s about grime at all. He doesn’t say that much nowadays, which is a pity. When I heard Discokommitéen for the first time I was really struck by it. I remember that I thought it was so damn’ big and it was partly because of that album that I wanted to do grime. Musically I don’t I recognise myself in any of these artists, but I have probably been more inflenced by Max Peezay since I do Swedish grime and my lyrics relate more to Sweden and my surroundings here.

Kid Colt – Flush out the crap (Machete Prod)

Kid Colt – Statement (Grime)

Kid Colt on Myspace

The vibes from Contrahesive takes you back to the heavy nineties with a touch of Fjärde Världen. Not least because of the genius producer Robin Banks’ ability to create feeling and thought in every beat, and Luuda’s verses, delivered softly just like Jay-Z but in Swedish.

The first time I heard Luuda was on Snook’s first album “Vi vet inte vart vi ska men vi ska komma dit” in the song “Har du tänkt på din egen begravning?” (“Have you thought about your own funeral?”), where he makes a masterly guest appearance. MC Porno I heard on Allears a year ago, and I have liked him since then. Especially for the song “Bob Dylan Is a Rapper”. Porno’s style is right up my alley, since hip hop and electronica are my two favourite genres. I think that Porno’s way of mixing these genres and at the same time have an international and unique sound, makes him stand out. And that the styles of the two rappers are so different makes this collaboration even more interesting.

Porno, Luuda and Robin Banks have together created the album “Reflection Is Relative”, which could be the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, Domino or any great movie. The album is real and doesn’t solve any political world problems, but the lack of good Swedish hip hop and autumn drabness.

Download Contrahesive’s “Reflection Is Relative” for free.

Contrahesive – One

Contrahesive – Gutter music

Contrahesive – Window view

So it’s time again to pick up my keyboard fingers. For a while my inside has been trying to formulate som thoughts about the album “Run Amok” (Svedjebruk), which is a co-op between the MC Porno and his musical beat master Spunk. Before this, I had heard a few demo versions of the songs, which made me writhe inside, so it has been hard to even get started to listen to the album with my really selective ears.

But what a surprise it was as I finally started listening, finding my head bopping from the first beat to the last spin. I don’t know if it’s because of Andreas Tillander’s mastering efforts or if it’s because I was in a bad mood before, but this really has it’s place for a hip hop nostalgic like me.

Even if I think that the production of “Do It Like I Do It” should be reconsidered, in general this is real quality. From the jazz sound of “Sit Back and Relax” to the Pharcyde inspired songs “Keep Running” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Streamed”. I sense that tilted lowrider feeling in my body and kind of glide down into my armchair.

The highlight of the album is the song that has the same title as this 11-songs-album. The song “Run Amok” really shows high quality. If you have the possibility, then you should buy a copy of this record, especially if you feel a little down and hip hop nostalgic in the autumn darkness.

Visit Porno on Myspace and Spunk on Myspace and both together in Amok on Myspace.

Here you can listen to and download a song with Porno in his band Contrahesive, consisting of Porno and Luuda.

Gutter Music

Contrahesive has recently released their debut album “Reflection Is Relative”. You can listen and download the entire album at Whoa.nu, the biggest hip hop-sajt in Sweden.

You can also listen to Porno at Sveriges Radio Metropol, spoken word