Photo: Shutterstock
The global impact of UK music was hailed trimphantly by Stormzy last night as he collected his second gong of the evening at the GRM Daily Rated Awards. The awards, which took place at the Roundhouse in Camden, celebrate the UK's grime scene.
"UK music we are fucking up the world right now," he said. "From now on you see these Americans they can suck our dicks. We are not playing this game anymore we are out here. UK music to the world."
2017 has indeed been a staggering year for the country with the likes of Stormzy, J-HUS, Stefflon Don, AJ Tracey and Dave at the forefront going from strength to strength from their base here in the UK.
Stormzy was responsible for the first grime album to ever reach No1 in the charts. This, together with his GQ man of the year award, is among the huge achievements he's had this year placing him on the frontline for UK rap and grime. But he was humble about his significance and whilst collecting his first award of the night and diverted praise towards women.
"Big up all the legendary girls of our industry, all the powerful women in the UK music scene", he said whilst collecting his award for best video. "I'm not going to name anyone because I don't want to leave anyone out, but if you watch the videos you will see all those amazing girls who helped make this happen."
And quite right. Of the women who've had an incredible 2017, Stefflon Don stands out as someone who is blazing a trail across the globe and she was a strong presence at the awards. She came on stage the night after she supported Future at the O2 Arena with choreographed dancers - and all her closest mates behind her. She dazzled at the front of the stage, her singing voice just as good her rapping, she went for her afrobeats hit 'Hurtin Me' and had the whole venue entranced.
Meanwhile, a new female artist who looks set to follow Stefflon Don into orbit is Lady Sanity, who collected the Get Rated Award. Speaking to Gigwise on the red (yellow) carpet, the 21-year-old MC from Birmingham revealed that she has an EP on its way called ‘For Figures’ - and is just one of many talents that demonstrate how the seed that was planted in London has grown and spread its branches all over the country. MIST, also from Birmingham - who was nominated at the awards - and Bugzy Malone from Manchester are just the tip of the iceberg as far as the UK’s fertile grime and rap scene is concerned. This national focus is quite different from the early 2000s which were much more London-centric, but ultimately it’s this nationwide scene that is making the nation more powerful.
Of course what's happening couldn’t have happened without the legends that cut their teeth on pirate radio and small clubs before the mainstream caught up. Lethal Bizzle, who first appeared as part of More Fire Crew way back in 2002, was given high praise by MistaJam. The presenter made wry reference to his EP title ‘You'll Never Make A Million From Grime’ before handing him the Legacy Award telling the audience, Bizzle, "Lay the blueprint for how we can all make a million from grime."
He also spoke about Lethal Bizzle’s infamous debut at Download Festival in 2008: "We were shut out of venues around the country. The winner of this award blazed the trail and literally stood on stage while the crowd were raining down bottles of piss on him. He (Lethal Bizzle) stood there and took it and proved that grime and UK rap deserve to be on festival stages in this country. And did he prove his pint?" Damn right he did.
Bizzle also echoed Stormzy's praise for women. He praised his manager Nadia Khan: "She’s been with me for over ten years. Having a woman as a manager is such an advantage in a male-dominated industry because they go so hard for you. That's definitely one of my keys to success."
Another legend of the scene that was honoured was Major Ace, who sadly passed away earlier this month.
Risky Roadz, one of the grime scene’s best-known video filmmakers, spoke exclusively with Gigwise about how important Major Ace was to him. He said, "A big influence for me was Pay As U Go... Without them it wouldn't be where it is now, God bless Major Ace.”
Tributes were made throughout the night to the sorely missed star, with one of the most poignant coming from Posty - the founder of GRM DLY – who said, "Thanks to everyone who came before us, thanks to everyone here now and welcome to everyone that comes after us may you do us proud. RIP to Major Ace." A standing ovation followed before Lethal Bizzle diffused the sadness with an electrifying set that demonstrated why he’s remained a scene favourite for over a decade.
The infectious energy at the awards shows was palpable. Lethal Bizzle's words "Keep going, keep striving for greatness.. " were encouraging but the sense of community stems from something much deeper. As Charlie Sloth pointed out to me on the yellow carpet, perhaps it's a result of desperate political times and a reaction to a neglectful government. “The fact things are hard, makes people put more into their own art to make their dreams come true," he said.
Stefflon Don is someone who inhabits the mindset that Sloth pointed out and is currently helping others follow in her path. Speaking to Radio 1 newsbeat she said people approach her and say, "I'm from the hood that couldn't happen to me. But most people who make it from the hood {...} Keep focusing on yourself. Let another persons success excite you and keep you more motivated." Wise words indeed from a star of a scene that's going stratospheric and showing no sign of slowing down.
The winners of the 2017 Rated Awards are as follows:
Best Album - J HUS - Common Sense
Best Track - J HUS - Did you See
Artist of the Year - Stormzy
Best Video - Stormzy - Big for Your Boots
Producer of the Year - Steel Banglez
Personality of the Year - Micheal Dapaah
Best DJ - Charlie Sloth
Video Director - Kaylum Dennis
Breakthrough- Not3s
Best Mixtape - Mo stack - High Street Kid
Legacy - Lethal Bizzle
Get Rated Award – Lady Sanity
