Hype has been building about the grime MC ever since this track arrived on the internet and subsequently the radio. This was mainly due to him being shortlisted for the BBC Sound of 2011 list whose graduates from the school of 2010 were hits such as Ellie Goulding and Marina and the Diamonds so a bright 2011 is surely in store for the Tottenham born MC.
Wretch has been put alongside tips such as huge talent Jessie J and new indie rockers The Vaccines but with the UK urban scene flourishing in the last 6 months, Wretch’s 2011 definitely looks bright. He has come through the usual story of Grime MC’s, growing up in London and being part of a rap crew including one of 2010’s best rappers Devlin along with bright UK talent Scorcher.
The debut single from Wretch has gathered so much hype within the last few months with him getting recognised on radio stations all over the broadcasting spectrum having been Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World and received support from Annie Mac, Mistajam, Trevor Nelson, Ras Kwame and Seani B. I can only believe that the title of the track came from the beat that can only be described as ingenious as it sounds like a farmer trying to start his tractor, hence the ‘riding of the beat’. I may not have explained that with linguistic flair but when you hear the beat you will see what I am rambling on about.
Lyrically it is clinical as grime MC’s go with clever lyrics such as within the bridge; ‘my lifestyle’s terribly wild but you won’t catch me on the Jeremy Kyle show’ showing that he isn’t the average MC Joe that you catch off the streets of London, he can cut it with the cream of the grime crop.
The track also sees a feature from L who takes the song into a more old school r+b style that doesn’t quite seem to fit in with the song but nevertheless, this song is one that you love on the first listen then love it even more on the second listen.
This is the first we have seen as the London MC is emerging from the underground after he has collaborated with rappers such as 2010 hotshot Tinie Tempah, The Streets and Chipmunk. So the emergence of grime in the mainstream within 2010 could see this record go two ways. If it continues to grow and emerge as one of the fastest growing genre’s along with the likes of dubstep then this record could be huge but if the grime growth has just been a 6 month stint, then this great record could be left in the wilderness.
In my personal opinion, I hope it is the former rather than the latter as UK grime is getting its just rewards within the chart’s and fending off the US talent with ease. It has become a clique but team UK all day. With the likes of Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah and Devlin doing so well in 2010, could Wretch 32 be 2011’s hottest MC? Very likely with great lyrics and some great production work behind him, the tracks will just be coming thick and fast. The single is out in January 2011 after he has come fresh off a tour with another successful grime MC Professor Green, the hype just builds and builds.
Let’s hope that Wretch 32 doesn’t become one of the BBC Sound of 2011 nobodies and I hope that he will be attacking the charts with track after track throughout the whole of 2011. Watch out UK, name to follow.
Stereoboard Single Rating: 8/10
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The debut single from Wretch has gathered so much hype within the last few months with him getting recognised on radio stations all over the broadcasting spectrum having been Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World and received support from Annie Mac, Mistajam, Trevor Nelson, Ras Kwame and Seani B. I can only believe that the title of the track came from the beat that can only be described as ingenious as it sounds like a farmer trying to start his tractor, hence the ‘riding of the beat’. I may not have explained that with linguistic flair but when you hear the beat you will see what I am rambling on about.
