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)
I Luv UDizzee Rascal
When talking about grime music, you can’t ignore the presence of Dizzee Rascal.
He began composing at the age of 16 and has released numerous grime classics since then.
His debut single and signature track is “I Luv U.” This piece incorporates many punk elements, and its throbbing low-end that rumbles throughout is undeniably addictive.
If you’re interested, check out the album “Boy in da Corner,” which includes this song along with many other masterpieces.
Duppy (Doin’ It Again)Skepta
Skepta is a Nigerian rapper active in the UK.
The world he creates in his tracks—combining darkness with style—is highly compelling.
If you want to immerse yourself in his work all at once, the album “Greatest Hits” is a great choice.
As the title suggests, it features a carefully selected collection of his best songs.
From hard-hitting tracks to more relaxing ones, it offers a wide range of styles.
The cover art is fantastic as well, so I highly recommend picking up the CD.
Wot Do You Call It?Wiley
For anyone thinking about getting into grime music, there’s one artist you should check out first: Wiley.
He’s often called the godfather of grime for his major contributions to the genre’s development.
A great album that really captures his appeal is Treddin’ on Thin Ice, released in 2004.
Many of the tracks are fast-paced, so it’s also great as background music while you work.
Skengman(feat Stormzy)Ghetts
Mr.
Ghetts is also one of the artists who represent the grime music scene.
He has produced numerous hit songs to date.
Among them, the album most acclaimed by fans is Conflict of Interest, released in 2021.
The title translates into Japanese as rieki sōhan (conflict of interest).
Perhaps it carries the message that he poured in effort far beyond what the profits would justify to create the album.
XtraRuff Sqwad
The group said to be the originators of grime music is the grime collective Russ Spaada.
The members formed the group when they were in middle school and are credited with creating grime music.
Their signature work is the album Guns and Roses Volume.
2, which is even called the greatest grime album of all time.
Even beginners will likely grasp the appeal of this genre by listening to this album.
Oopsy DaisyChip
Chip is a heavyweight rapper with an impressive track record of wins at various music awards.
What cemented his status was his debut album, ‘I Am Chipmunk.
‘ As soon as it was released, the album shot straight to number one on the charts.
Note that there are actually two versions to be aware of when purchasing this album.
In 2010, Chip released a Platinum Edition that adds four tracks.
Naturally, that version is the one I recommend.
P’s and Q’sKano
Kano is a grime MC known for his impressive flow.
Recently, he’s also been active as an actor, so many people may have discovered him through that.
His debut album, P’s and Q’s, which he completed over more than two years, includes some of his signature tracks, such as Typical Me, which was also released as a single.
By the way, this album is also the best-selling among Kano’s releases.
Most of the tracks have a lively, high-energy vibe, making it perfect for when you want to get hyped.