Last year GRMdaily, in conjunction with KA drinks, launched the Rated Awards. The Rated Awards ceebrate and recognise genuine UK underground talent. It’s a platform that’s been needed for awhile now, a genuine alternative to the MOBOS which has long been out of touch with UK underground music. The launch of the Rated Awards was a genuine highlight of 2015. It’s about time the underground scene had a place to come together and celebrate its successes. This year’s edition of the awards show will be taking place on 7th September. We’ve gone through the list of nominees and decided on who we would like to see bring the award home!
Before you read on, it’s important to say that all the nominees thoroughly deserve recognition, these are just our opinions based on who we listen to and watch the most!!
BEST BREAKTHROUGH
NOMINEES: Avelino, AJ Tracey, Santan Dave, Mist, Nadia Rose, Ray BLK, Big Tobz, 67, C Biz, WSTRN
OUR WINNER – RAY BLK!
I love Ray Blk’s unique, raw and uncompromising style. I’ve been following her from early in 2015 and she’s continued to grow. Ray Blk has a nice balance between street buzz and strong industry support and her fanbase is continuing to grow. Her breakthrough track with Stormzy ‘My Hood’ has done massive things for her this year. Ray Blk is an artist on the rise who has the potential to break America and worldwide. If you are new to her sounds, checkout the ‘My Hood’ live lounge with Wretch 32 here.
PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
NOMINEES: Bashy, Poet & Vuj, 3 Shots Of Tequila, Kayode Ewumi, NFTR, John Boyega, Reggie Yates, Arnold Oceng, Julie Adenuga, Idris Elba
OUR WINNER – NFTR!
Launching in April 2015, NFTR has quickly become one of the most important platforms in the underground scene. The platform has provided some of the most entertaining and and insightful interviews we have ever seen in the UK. There is always a buzz when the next NFTR is about to drop, every interview is an event in itself! What makes NFTR so interesting is that they have great guests (even the elusive Wiley has been on twice!) and they ask the questions that other people are to afraid to address. The platform has become a staple part of the UK scene. Checkout our NFTR feature here as part of our article looking at the top interview platforms you should be watching.
BEST DJ
NOMINEES: Charlie Sloth, Manny Norte, Tim Westwood, Sian Anderson, Rude Kid, Siobhan Bell, DJ Semtex, DJ Target, Sir Spyro, Logan Sama
OUR WINNER – SIR SPYRO!
This may be a bit of a surprise but we’ve gone with one of the more underground names on the list. Sir Spyro is a vet in the grime scene who has risen through the ranks and now hosts a weekly slot on Rinse FM. It’s not easy to bring new artists through consistently and that’s exactly what Spyro does week in, week out. He is one of the best mixers in the game and his hard graft has definitely paid off this year with a slew of high profile shows in the UK and abroad. It’s about time his work is recognised. A true pioneer for the scene, Spyro’s productions have also shone this year in a big way. Checkout the Spro produced Storzmy track ‘Scary’ and Spyro’s latest Rinse FM show here.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
NOMINEES: Rude Kid, Sir Spyro, Z Dot, Nyge, Nana Rogues, ZXPH ELLIS, Donae’o, Diztortion, Carns Hill, Swifta Beater
OUR WINNER – RUDEKID!
Rudekid has had a monumentous year. As well his solo projects, he was responsible for producing one of the best projects of the year, 653 with Ghetts. Rudekid has been a top producer for years now and the last year has seen him take his sound to new heights. His innovative sounds are instantly recognisable and this is highlighted in the breakthrough track ‘One Take’. Probably half the grime scene did a ‘One Take’ version. Rudekid has the ability to make beats that sound both classic and innovative at the same time. And for that reason, he’s our producer of the year!
BEST VIDEO
NOMINEES: Skepta ‘Man (Gang)’, Kano ‘This Is England’, Nines ‘Intro’, Giggs ‘Whippin Excursion’, Wretch 32 x Avelino ‘Hulk Hogan’, Mr Bigz ‘Beluga Bitches Bollinger’, Tinie Tempah ft. Wizkid ‘Mamacita’, Tinie Tempah ‘Girls Like’, Ghetts ‘U Dun Know Already’, Lethal Bizzle ‘Wobble’
OUR WINNER – GHETTS ‘U DUN KNOW ALREADY’
There are so many good contenders in this category it was really hard to chose one. But personally, for me, Ghett’s ‘U Dun Know Already’ was VIBES! The simple but unique video encapsulated the vibe of the song perfectly. The performance from Ghetts and the colouring and the editing of the video make this a very special visual. The energy in this video makes it a must watch!
BEST MIXTAPE
NOMINEES: Fekky ‘Brandy & Coke’, 67 ‘In Skengs We Trust’, MoStack ‘Gangster With Banter’, Ghetts x Rude Kid ‘653’, Wretch 32 & Avelino ‘Young Fire Old Flame’, Bonkaz ‘Mixtape of The Year’, Chip ‘Rap vs Grime’, Kojey Radical ’23 Winters’, Youngs Teflon ‘Trillin 2’, P Money ‘Money Over Everyone 2’
OUR WINNER – Ghetts x Rudekid ‘653’
There are loads of good mixtapes in this category but I’ve gone with the one I’ve personally played the most. And that is Ghetts x Rudekid with ‘653’. The mixtape only features 6 tracks but they are all FIRE! The classic ‘One Take’ is on there long with the instrumental and they are joined by the heavyweights ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Serious Face’. The mixtape blends Rudekid’s unique production with Ghetts’ powerful bars making them a force to be reckoned with. This is a strong category and to be honest, any of the nominees could take the award home but for me, 653 is the winner.
BEST ARTIST
NOMINEES: Skepta, Giggs, Chip, Kano, Stormzy, Lady Leshurr, Lethal Bizzle, Section Boys, Bugzy Malone, Ghetts
OUR WINNER – SKEPTA!
There can only be one winner here. Skepta has had an absolutely massive impact across the world. The driving force behind Boy Better Know has had an immense year with so many highlights it’s hard to know where to start. From his massive London show with Kanye West, bringing our Drake at the Section Boyz show. performing at OVO Fest and shutting down NYC. All topped off with a cult classic album, Konnichiwa. Skepta is now a genuine cult figure across the world and this has all been done DIY through his label. Skepta showed us how to win on our own terms and we wrote all about it here!
BEST ALBUM
NOMINEES – Kano ‘Made In The Manor’, Skepta ‘Konnichiwa’, Little Simz ‘A A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons’, Skrapz ‘The End Of The Beginning’, Giggs ‘Landlord’, Section Boyz ‘Don’t Panic’, Bugzy Malone ‘Facing Time’, Frisco ‘System Killer’
OUR WINNER – Kano ‘Made In The Manor’
For me, this is a classic album. Kano delivers top class story telling over innovative production. The album takes you on a journey and almost forces you to reflect and reminisce. Songs like ‘Lil Sis’ and ‘Stranger’ are so relatable and Kano delivers true classic singles in Roadman Hymn, 3 Wheel Ups and Garage Skank. We dedicated a whole piece to this album in a previous piece, read how Kano changed the game here!
BEST TRACK
NOMINEES – Abra Cadabra ft. Krept and Konan ‘Robbery Remix’, Craig David x Big Narstie ‘When the Bassline Drops’, Kano ft. Giggs ‘3 Wheel Ups’, Fredo ‘They Ain’t 100’, Konan ‘Last Night In L.A’, WSTRN ‘In2’, Skepta ‘Man’, C Biz ‘The Game’s Mine’, Ghetts x Rude Kid ‘One Take’, 67 ft. Giggs ‘Let’s Lurk’
OUR WINNER – IN2
This is a hard one. ‘Robbery remix’ and ‘The Game’s Mine’ have both had the underground on lock. ‘3 Wheel Ups’ is a club smash and you can’t ignore ‘One Take’. But with that being said, I had to choose the track that has been the sound track to the last year both in the mainstream and the underground and that is WSTRN’s ‘IN2’. The track is a genuine smash, and even though it had the big label push it’s the quality of the song that has really got it to where it is. The irresitable melody and wicked production makes ‘IN2’ a true UK classic.
What are your thoughts on the nominees? Who do you want to see take home awards? Hit up on the socials!
Rated awards take place on 7th September. More information here: www.ratedawards.com
Elliott
One thought on “Who Should Win The #RatedAwards?!”