Kid Bookie Expounds Grime's Developments

Kid Bookie

Life in other places intrigues those foreign to the particular places. People want to know what influences the sounds and tastes of an area or learn about the traditions that are unique to a location. From there, people can find relatable qualities and inspiration based on how different or how similar various cultures are.

Learning anything new is important for pushing progress in all disciplines. For instance, music genres like baile funk from Brazil's favelas or grime from the United Kingdom all tell a narrative of a place and time on this earth that is special to the next territory. The music stands alone and also compares to what is popular, like grime and hip-hop.

People need to begin to understand unfamiliar things in order to appreciate them. So, to further the appreciation for grime, especially in the United States, InTheRough links with Kid Bookie, a grime artist from South East London, to speak on the genre's developments.

Kid Bookie adheres to fundamental grime practices with rhymes over electronic dance beats, like in his song "Calm Down." However, the artists' hip-hop lyricism shines in his freestyle with Tim Westwood or any number of his cyphers. Bookie also pushes grime and UK hip-hop's expansion in his latest mixtape, "You'll Rate Me When I'm Dead." The single "Premonition," which features both U.K. and U.S. talent courtesy of singer Christie, producer Dot Rotten, and Atlanta rapper Nasaan, respectively, leads the project.

As a movement, grime catches popular attention in the U.K. and it has crossed over into music culture in the States. Now, guided by questions from ITR staff, Kid Bookie expounds on the life and styles born from an independent and expressive art form that connects the world through the common ground of music.

1. How have you seen grime grow in the UK's urban communities?

Organically, within the decade-plus it's been in fruition, a new generation has grown up with the sound of British music as there go to commodity, from "U.K." Rap to Hip Hop (even though I hate labeling as music is a whole spectrum, not to limit sound by country) there's teenagers in college and secondary school that were just tadpoles in there Dad's nut sack when the sound was birthed.

2. Is grime fashion representative of youthfulness, UK weather, and creative expression to match the music? 

A lot of Grime fashion is a representative of what they see the key figures wearing and as always, influence the people below. I haven't seen a lot of fearless fashion within this culture yet as I believe there is still a stigma attached to being too expressive, in my humble opinion and what I mean by that is, look at Punk music, very fearless and rebellious in the style, Grime is dark and as its nature suggests, so is its garment choice.. I was at a Grime set the other day and it was all colours ranging from navy blue to black (obviously, until Summer comes around again and then it's maxi dress for everyone, even the dudes).

3. Jacket or sweater?

Jacket, universally fits anything.

4. How does grime have influence in UK popular culture?

I guess when something is the "in thing" the influx of what that popularity brings then serves as an influence to the masses. Some do their research, some enjoy what's current and consistently put out during it's 'hype' period, but as anything that's progressive, it's influence varies to who it gravitates towards it.

5. In your new single, "Premonition," you are seen wearing a Braves jacket. How does American sport transcend into grime and lifestyle in the UK?

America is a large country, it's influenced smaller nations for years, allowing us to manipulate the idea and create our own establishment, but just because we have.. doesn't mean you shouldn't try conquer the world with your art or with whatever ethos you carry. From Nike to other American brands. there's always been a sport influence in our scene, even country. Plus I did just come back from Atlanta watching the Braves at home and Nasaan IS an Atlanta-based artist, so I guess it correlated well.

6. What is your dream as you progress in life as a musician?

Well, a dream isn't real, so I try not to dream to face disappointment, I used to dream of fucking Buffy the vampire slayer and I always just woke up to disappointment anyway, so fuck dreams. I like to manifest reality, the power of thought and writing what you want into existence is WAY more powerful than any dream you can prep up to have, so I have 'premonitions'  (see what I did?).

SNE - Essence (extended play)

Via SNE's Instagram

Sound Never Ends. This is the truth because a sound is everywhere, and all people have to do is listen. However, in this instance, Sound Never Ends is a hip-hop artist from Hackney, a borough in London, England. "East end boy you can hear it in my tone," he says.

Abbreviated as SNE, the artist calls his sound "trillful," which is a blend of trap music stemming from gritty London neighborhoods and R&B soul music. In his new 14-track extended play called "Essence," SNE demonstrates the spirit of his environment, today's contemporary hip-hop, and his work. "My partner in the trap, me I'm trying to tell him it's a trap... he's just trying to get it where it's at I'm on the same thing."

"Every verse cocaine I told you already," he raps. The grind of running drugs and a trap house influences his sounds as much as the legal grind of trying to make it in the music industry. In the song "Titanic/Turbulence," SNE says, "I do this for my people I'm Corleone," a reference to Italian gangster and The Godfather Michael Corleone who lived and worked for his family. The UK rapper pulls from recognizable cultural icons to state his "Essence" project is just as iconic.

Great parts of "Essence" are hard and utilize alerting chimes, cool bass hits, synths, and cutting lyrics about hood life. Although, the smooth R&B styles are heavily present. The song "House of Love" has a groovy guitar and "442" features a classic '90s R&B tone. SNE's vocal ability shines in "Coolie Skit" and "Outro."

Listen to "Rödrigo" to hear SNE's smart mix of hard rap and passionate soul.

Overall, "Essence" by SNE shows the untapped talent coming from London's hip-hop scene. The project is intriguing because SNE shares his relatable experiences and lifestyle across the pond and puts them to a current and progressive sound.

SNE - Sorry For The Wait (Music Video)

Via  @hackneysgoldenchild on Instagram

Catching up with "Hackney's Golden Child," SNE, or Sound Never Ends, presents the visuals to his satisfying track, "Sorry For The Wait."

If you listened to InTheRough's newest playlist, then you are aware of the artists' quality, especially on his latest song, "Come Again."

The pleasant and "trillful," a mix of trap and R&B, intro of "Sorry For The Wait" leads to video of SNE's exciting life as a performer in East London. While he still lives with his mom, his come up is certainly strong. "My life's a whole lot of fun," he raps. "The shows are gold, the flows are gold, you know that."

Also, the song acknowledges the cultural value SNE is to the London borough of Hackney. "They love me here, they love me here, they need me," he claims.

Hear SNE's lovely music with the accompanying visual below.

Coco - MY G (Music Video)

East London birthed grime, what we in America would call British rap. The genre of music originates from dance tracks produced at 140 beats-per-minute which was then essentially rapped over. Grime's narrative is authentic to the life of disenfranchised British youths.

Progress continues for the genre as it has been around longer than a decade. Thanks to grime's founders, like Wiley, and current heavyweights, like Giggs, JME, and Skepta, the sound and participants' growth garners mainstream exposure.

The landscape supports talented contemporaries who push the quality of grime. For instance, Coco, a native of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, gains attention for his fiery lyrics laid over hitting bass-lines.

"This fire is gonna spread, My G. You're gonna need you're bed, My G... Real I am not a bootleg, My G," Coco raps in his new music video, "My G."

While Coco receives play on British radio waves such as BBC Radio 1Xtra, he also prepares for his first ever headline show held at O2 Academy2 in Islington, London.

Hear a taste of the UK's grime scene with "My G" below and watch a proper documentary on the culture on Viceland.

Cut to the Chase with Adian Coker

Adian Coker

Hip-hop creates a foundation and paves the way for "everyone to understand race and identity," said Eddie Huang, journalist, restaurateur, and rap fan, to Hot 97 radio station.

While hip-hop's roots remain in United States cities like New York and Los Angeles, people around the world relate to its authentic, confidence-filling, personal narrative.

Speaking to identity, South London rapper Adian Coker finds his voice in his new extended play, "Connect."

Calling his music "rap with pop sensibilities," his new work is truer to himself than ever. "It's more accessible really... it's still as smart as it was, it's just I'm out a lot more and obviously, as an artist I wanna hear my tunes in the club if I'm there," Coker said to Underground Kulture blog.

The UK artist has relied on his lyrical ability in the past, using punchlines and metaphors to build introspection. But, "Connect" offers an identifiable side to Coker presented in a playful musicality where listeners can vibe off the melodies, flows, and production.

Mixtapes and tracks dating back to 2012 bolstered Coker to right now, but how will his new effort progress his music career and how much does The States' contemporary rap scene impact his output?

InTheRough's curiosities were relayed to Coker by tenletterPR at a press event in Farringdon, London for the release of "Connect." 

Adian Coker: It's always about being consistent and putting more music out. As an up and coming artist, that's always going to be the key to progress.

ITR: Do you concern yourself with contemporary rap in the U.S.? If so, who influences your sound?

Adian Coker: Yeah of course. It's the soundtrack to every club I go to pretty much. When I'm making a record though, I try to stay away from listening to anything in my genre that's current. As hard as you might try, it always ends up influencing the sound - I never want a project I make to sound like a replica of something else.

ITR: What is your favorite record on "Connect" and why?

Adian Coker: That's tough. It changes daily at the moment. Currently, I'm listening to "Nothing New." It's a banger; I love the flow and the beat. "Iyamide's Son" is also a favourite of mine right now too.