Liminal Sounds, Rhythm Factory, Whitechapel, London

What/Why:

SLIMZEE is a man that needs no introduction. Having played a part in the evolution of the UK underground from jungle through garage and on to grime, he is one of the best and most influential DJs of the last decade. From his early days in Pay As U Go to his famed appearances on Rinse to possession of the most sought after selection of dubplates in the game, there is no denying his credentials. If you want any further proof check some of his infamous sidewinder sets – that should be all the convincing you need.

YOUNGSTAR is perhaps the most important producer in grime’s rich history. As the man behind ‘Pulse X’, a track widely considered to be the first grime tune ever made, and a slew of other seminal tracks like ‘Bongo’, ‘Revival’ and ‘Formula’ to name a few, he has made an indelible mark on underground music in the UK over the last ten years. Such is the power and impact of his music that these tracks still regularly draw rewinds in clubs every weekend.

SLACKK first came on to our radar a while back with a stone cold re-imagining of a classic Wiley instrumental. While his music isn’t always so overtly grime influenced, this is symptomatic of how his music presents itself to us, channeling that sonic impact into something altogether new while skittering around in style from rugged house rhythms to squirming, overloaded acid tracks.

When you hear one of PEDRO 123’s tracks you will know it. With a sound that references classic grime productions and new school bass music in equal parts, his sparse tracks are built for those stop-you-in-your-tracks moments in the dance. Often jarring and never predictable, his leftfield vision of grime is starting to gain a lot of support, and deservedly so.

Having had him down for our second event, we couldn’t resist asking MIK back for more. In charge of one of the sharpest flows in grime, MIK has the ability to take any beat he works with and make it 100% his own.