Four New Grime Kids

Grime is going through a bit of a make-or-break period right now. Most of the better MCs have long given up trying to be grimey and are now doing pop songs with 80s revivalists and covering the Ting Tings (Dizzee) or taking their shirts off in videos and wearing chains and diamonds so fake they look like the ones that kids wear for a joke at fancy dress parties (Tinchy). Let’s not even mention aspiring kids’ TV presenter Skepta and his new best mate Timmy Mallett.

So thank God for a new breed of young grime artists coming along like sportswear-adorned John Connors to save the post-apocalyptic grime scene from dodgy electro beats, embarrassing dance routines and Jo Whiley’s Radio 1 show.

GRIMINAL

Age: 17

From: Greengate, east London

GCSEs: “Passed all of them”

What made you want to become a grime MC?

What was your favourite subject in school?

CHIPMUNK

Age: 17

From: Tottenham, north London

GCSEs: 5 As and 4 Bs

When did you start MCing?

When you started MCing at 14, who did you want to be like?

MANIAC

Age: 18

From: Bow, east London

GCSEs: 7 A-Cs

How did you get your break?

ICE KID

Age: 17

From: Shepherd’s Bush, west London

GCSEs: None

Are you still in school?

What were your favourite subjects at school?