From the UK! The Allure of Grime — Essential Albums and Fan Favorites to Start With
The music known as “grime” is said to have its roots in UK garage and 2-step—styles of house music—while incorporating elements like rap and reggae, and it became a popular genre in the UK during the 2000s.
It’s incorrect to call it a subgenre of hip-hop; while there are similarities, there are also key differences.
For example, grime artists aren’t called rappers—they’re known as “grime MCs.”
For those of you interested in grime, we’re introducing some essential albums you should start with!
We’ve included recent landmark releases while keeping things beginner-friendly, so take this opportunity to check them out.
- Latest House Music [2025]
- Deep house masterpieces. Recommended popular tracks.
- Deep dive into classic and iconic tracks of UK Garage/2-step! Explaining the魅力 of garage music.
- Gaba’s classic songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- Floating Electronic Music: A Collection of Ambient Techno Masterpieces
- [2025] A roundup of recommended UK bands, featuring many up-and-coming artists!
- Reggaeton classics. Recommended popular songs.
- For rock fans too! Popular big beat groups and artists
- [Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know
- The Profound Appeal of Dub: Recommended Masterpieces and a Popular Classic
- [Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums Beginners Should Hear at Least Once
- [UK Music] A Britpop masterpiece. One recommended album.
- [For Beginners] A Roundup of Popular and Classic Brostep Tracks
From the UK! The Allure of Grime — Essential and Popular Albums to Start With (1–10)
The AvenueRoll Deep
The legendary grime music group Roll Deep.
Between 2001 and 2013, when they were active, they released many classic tracks.
They made their major debut in 2005.
The album they released that year, In at the Deep End, shocked many people.
That’s because it was made up entirely of tracks with a bright, fun vibe—something that hadn’t really existed in grime music until then.
Since grime often features intense and aggressive tracks, this album is also great to listen to as a palate cleanser in between.
Stigmata (Ft. Thes)Tre Mission
Tremission is a grime MC based in Canada, so he often uses beats with a different vibe from the UK scene.
That distinctive style has drawn attention, and these days he’s been releasing one collaboration after another with major UK grime MCs.
The track I especially recommend is called “Stigmata.” Its uniquely sacred-sounding beat combined with an intense flow creates a one-of-a-kind appeal.
If you’re interested in this song, be sure to check out the album of the same name.
RunFlowdan
Do you know jungle music? It’s a type of dance music that mainly features fast, synthesizer-driven sounds.
The person who brought elements of this jungle music into grime is the grime MC Flowdan.
His 2009 album “Original Dan” especially showcases that influence.
If you’re looking for high-tempo tracks you can dance to, definitely give it a listen.
From the UK! The Appeal of Grime — Essential and Popular Albums to Hear First (11–20)
SeriousJme
Jamie Adenuga, also known as Jme, is a rapper with many roles, including entrepreneur and philanthropist.
He became immersed in music production after starting out by making mobile phone ringtones on a Game Boy.
In 2008, he released his debut album, Famous.
The album is still cherished as a grime music classic.
By the way, Jamie Adenuga is the brother of Skepta, another artist in the grime scene.
FireLethal Bizzle
One artist who has gained popularity for his one-of-a-kind style is Lethal Bizzle.
His lyrics were so extreme at times that they were even banned from being played in clubs.
That might make him sound intimidating, but contrary to those lyrics, he actually has a beautiful singing voice.
This contrast is his greatest charm.
If you’re interested, I recommend his 2005 debut album, “Against All Oddz,” which is packed with his unique worldview.
Shut UpStormzy
In 2014, a newcomer burst onto the UK hip-hop scene: Stormzy.
He drew attention with his strong freestyle skills.
He then released his long-awaited debut album, Gang Signs & Prayer.
The album made waves for featuring many leading UK artists, including Jacob Anderson.
With such a stellar lineup, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Back to the 90’sJahmanji
Do you know Jammer? He’s the founder of Lord of the Mics, which you could call the UK’s version of Freestyle Dungeon.
He’s a legendary artist in his own right and a member of the grime collective Nasty Crew.
If you want to get into what makes him great, I recommend the album “Jammer.” As the self-titled name suggests, its level of polish is astounding.
Among the tracks, the one with a classical vibe, “Back to the 90’s,” is a must-listen for any grime fan.