Radio 1 Stories - It's Grime Up North

Charlie Sloth has been on a road-trip to find the hottest rappers up North and try to understand why rap music in the U.K is dominated by the London scene. He's travelled from Newcastle to Liverpool, Manchester to Sheffield, Huddersfield to Leeds - spent time in boxing gyms with aspiring MC's, and met feared battle-rappers working the night-shift in Morrisons. From rap to grime to bassline to house, this is the story of the MC scene in the North of England right now.
It's Grime Up North is Radio 1 and 1Xtra's first multi-platform documentary which means you can choose to watch or listen across the Radio, TV and Online.

[@willlaw1672]

just watched tower block dreams with a young charlie sloth. he had a interesting past. He was a knob in that and now he's a bigger knob.

[@leeoreilly6797]

Genuine lol! moment. Thank you.

[@jonnycope231]

Amazing! I also watched it the other day and though he’s a complete helmet.

[@cutseencinematics]

Yup

[@alexavfclineham7301]

I've somehow managed to avoid hearing much of Charlie sloth but watched that too because I've always liked skinnyman, sloth sounded like a whining little girl when he rhymed 😂

[@GARY.666]

Just watched that and now I’m here,,yea knob he is 😂

[@marie82924]

Ten years later he did what he set out to do .. he found the kings of the north facts Charlie sloth got my RESPECT

[@graff.life.82]

Ive watched all osheas battle raps. And was unusual to see him in the supermarket. Sober

[@Twelve50TV]

Big up Charlie for doing this but honestly this is 3 years old ! There are much more Grime artists from north making a presence. Mister Sloth i beg man do this again !!

[@richofficial2520]

100% facts!!!

[@paulwhite7760]

How things change mannys took the scene to a next level

[@enry898]

nuff respect for charlie, i feel like hes the only guy who cares about showcasing all these hidden talents, hes been doin it with fire in the booth for time. big up charlie !

[@greatestytcommentator]

That Toxteth Gal. "I'm speakin English..... Not Turkish"!! POW!

[@realtalkreactions8382]

His uncle the boxer is pat Barret - one of Manchester most fearsome gangster!! Also Zelfa Barret Uncle , real people

[@murkzyt6649]

5 years later, Geko & Tom zanetti are famous

[@irh1738]

And now we have Aitch, Meekz, Bugzy and many many others up North. Midlands already too many to name JayKae, Mist and all them man.

[@adamtaylor1831]

Always best nights in mission. Someone should bring it back 🙌🏻

[@user-or6jc1vm2w]

Charlie sloth in the toon! OIOIIII

[@edwardsmith4282]

He did call it, cos now Bugzy Malone is everywhere and he put manny on the map fam

[@Yung_Mango]

Bugzy is literally next to skepta,chip,jme,stormzy ect he deffo put manny on the map

[@curlyfm]

Edward Smith 01 stink 1, smelly fanny on the map.

[@talktothesand88]

He mentioned moston and that there hadn't been a superstar come out of there. Well then there comes aitch who is from moston. Crazy.

[@rippabongskeng]

someone shouldve just showed him JDZmedia

[@greatestytcommentator]

The internet is a Double Edged sword... if not nowadays.. a blunt rubbery sword.. Back in the Pirate Station days.. a good MC would stick out like a Married Mom... There were so many stations.. a decent MC would keep the dial LOCKED.

[@nickiwatkins1876]

13.00 the young girl smashed it 👌

[@talktothesand88]

Aitch is from moston. Sloth spoke it into existence. Mad.

[@mattep1ao]

Virus syndicate should of featured on this because they been big in the northern scene for 10 plus years they was on a tape pack I had from sidewinder in Milton Keynes where they smashed it easy the best set jus pure fire no daftness just pure lyrics all the way in comparison to the common grime sound of the early 2000s they killed those southerners that rave

[@Touching-cloth]

Good group an all

[@anthonymitchell8893]

virus I know a rapper corona virus he sick Bro not just sick he dead passed away with the coronary Ron no no phon a and he can't get a Bon a .r. I p Bro

[@wetbanditt4208]

18:34 shotty horroh said FRANK GALLAGHER is his inspiration. A pint 🍺 and to E's please Karen. ( shameless) if you know u know

[@j1m909]

88k views in 10 years that's mad

[@deebo268]

Dont knkw about grine up north but theres plenty crimeup north 😂

[@tomfum]

Never knew Tyler was on here C.O.Z BIG UP!

[@rk47_beats]

With the wing chun chain punch. Dayum.

[@ThisBelongsToAlexMc]

Oshea was better than every mc on this show

[@jakubyakub]

10:15 sloth starts saying tah as soon as he steps thru the door haha

[@fupamongoopa640]

What's he supposed to say? You people are all about hating and knocking each other down.

[@jakubyakub]

@@fupamongoopa640 yea true the only way to say thank you is tah, I was just being hateful and knocking Charlie down by making that observation.

[@chanel-joyseymour6034]

Swear down Blizzard and Lunar C exist yeah? I like the idea behind this documentary but it would be more worthwhile to show rappers actually up and coming rather than random kids with bars on road

[@AC-yh8im]

He dint show Sheffield off enough, like Skinz, Coco, deep green, kdot, g.t, lynchy, or venomous I know g.t and venomous are dead but search em up they're still good

[@hazzerday9082]

Cocos great

[@ForeverEngland76]

The only thing I got from this, is that Londoners are a bit thick 😄

[@talktothesand88]

Very

[@blazeofficialoneseven8683]

langz check hes music 🥶💥💥

[@KorfantaaageHDx]

believe it or no scotlands got serious hype

[@F1END.MEGALITHIC]

its mad people let the BBC gatekeep the UK scene. bun dem.

[@5edzstr916]

Bun dem 😅 Cringe

[@riseoftheright4216]

Init, BBC are paedophile protecters.

[@Scarz3ny]

They kidnap and kill every genre of music that has ever existed and turn it in to a cbeebies s**t show and force feed their cheesy self important virtue signalling persona as if they set the moral standard that is lapped up by middle class Instagram kids who think their "fighting injustices"

[@danielgardecki1046]

Here's a few of 100's of Grime artists (who occasionally do other genres like Bassline and R&B) from my city (a lot of them only started battling recently, but have been around for years) would put up a decent battle against most people: T-Kid #187, Darks (01274 Bradford vid on Vimeo), Dorzi #BOC #UND (Jealous Girl, Now You're Gone), Blazer Boccle #BOC (Local, Don't Get Gassed), Leejay #UND (1 Day Flow, In The City) Jakus #UND, Kenchy #UND, Youtie (Hometown), 1st Born #LCM (All For My Niggas, Forever), Mic Man Sparxxx #KUTM (Don't Watch That, Man Up North) as seen recently with Blazer Boccle and a few of KUTM on BBC Three's 'A.Dots - Story of Grime'.....and last of all the Don't Flop Legend 'Lunar C' (Jesus Swag, Free Weed For Single Mothers, Mug) who's collaborated with people like Hopsin, 360, Labrinth, KSI, Dott Rotten, Mic Righteous, Ghetts, JME, Scrufizzer, James Arthur, Maxsta, Marger, DJ Hoppa......All of these can be found on SBTV, GRM Daily, Link Up Tv, P110, JDZ Media etc and the usual Urban radio channels, but mainly on our local channel KODHTV (Check out the 'BFD Allstars - Biddi Bang' while you're there. Its just 1 of 100's of cyphers). #UpNorth #Bradford #Yorkshire

[@sketchsi]

Thats Deadly From NODB Dappy Ahaha

[@aidenBFD96]

IVE GOT RESPECT FRO THEM 2 RAPPERS BUT THERES TALENT IN BRAD FORD STANDERD THATS WHERE YOU TO COME SNM

[@talktothesand88]

Bbcc you wasn't wrong

[@leahdowling4784]

Come to Dublin next fam

[@revolutions88]

🇮🇪♥️

[@petemurphy8559]

Fam 😂😂😂

[@jay278822]

White girl saying fam just don't sit right 😂😂😂.

[@Scarz3ny]

@@jay278822 any person of any colour saying "fam" is a absolute c**t

[@talktothesand88]

@@jay278822 embarrassing init

[@ikonane]

Great initiative. It would be even better if you wrote down the names of all the MC that you visited in the description of this video which would make it easier for us to find them and to support them.

[@beIIend]

Does it matter if people like Dappy have heard of any MC's from up north? No! He's not gonna sign any1 cos he's bankrupt lol. These peoples heads are so far up their own arses that they wouldn't know if their next door neighbor was a sick rapper. Here's a few rappers from up north who have had hundreds of thousands of views on youtube with or without any1 from London knowing: Shotty Horror, Blizzard, Dialect, Oshea, Deffinition, Wrigley, Shifty, Aystar, Bowski, Matter, Lunar C, to mention a few. Climb out of your bubble and research them if you wish.

[@coreymichael1880]

Children of Zeus and Shotty 🔥

[@zMxsh]

Dappy tryna remember deadly nodb from brum lol

[@Versarocks]

gAS GANG R COMING 4 MAN

[@BenWindsorTV]

Hoodman was pretty big before under the name Fumin he had that hit sidetracked back in the day on channel u ! and was in dubplate drama

[@jay278822]

Hoodman and fumin are different people lmao 😂😂😂

[@greatestytcommentator]

Was this filmed prior to BBC shifting to Manny?

[@TheContactUnit]

All the northern Blah Records peeps are glaringly absent - Lee Scott; Black Josh; Nah Eto; Bisk; etc, etc...

[@123dannyunderworld]

how the fuk did you end up drivin that bruv?

[@yehitsphil]

birmingham bristol notts manchester all have known ppl in the grime scene tho

[@knightdriven4202]

There's one song Charlie does in tower block dreams and I can't find it fucking anywhere and it's the only decent thing I've ever heard him done

[@Pomni2024]

Welcome to Camden Town

[@knightdriven4202]

@@Pomni2024 the one where it sounds like his voice is breaking?

[@knightdriven4202]

@@Pomni2024 just listened to it and nah not it but thanks anyway. It's in the tower block documentary but it's only on for like 10 seconds

[@Fearless_Beggar]

MC Pitman shits on all these soggy biscuits from a great height

[@terrytwotoes3225]

Is that Charlie sloth

[@suppaagurl4841]

Liverpoooool fuckinel love dem

[@garethcollins1852]

London is the best...that's why all the talent is down south the majority off the time...is the home off the gods

[@AEDOI1]

Mac and zanetti !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@greatestytcommentator]

What about the Midlands.!

[@michaelmuirhead8874]

Teesside and tyneside

[@TheJazer3000]

did he even go huddersfield?

[@felicitytoad]

❤❤❤

[@badabingbadabong]

dappy at the start bottled it and started babbling, needs to lift his head up and look beyond N-Dubz

[@gueyguey5508]

Children of Zeus have vinyl in Japan nuff said

[@swisschris5695]

Shorty horrors the bomb

[@aidenBFD96]

ONE THING I GOT TO SAY IS WHY DID YOU NEVER COME TO BRADFORD

[@unknowncaves2099]

Sloth

[@aid4481]

Birmingham mc's?

[@seanr7322]

Midlands...

[@MrAdamPSimmons]

+sean r it's "up north" to people in London though

[@Yung_Mango]

+Adam Simmons So? that doesnt mean its Northern

[@cg5121]

sean r it’s not north 🙄

[@PatchedThePipe]

I'm sure Vito was spotted in that club.... 😉 If ye know you know

[@harrytaylor6565]

Then comes BMALONE

[@1disturbedjunglist]

Did he just put Dappy and Wretch 32 in the same sentence? Oh dear.

[@Patryk737]

44:42 Fruity Lops :D

[@Money79478]

FUCKING TRACK AT 44:20 ?????????????????????

[@themilitentz]

Newcastles fresh face is here check the page.. real business Dalish, Thanatos & Baddz on production OVER & OUT SOULJAHS!! REMEMBER WE NEED YOU

[@Trickersgame]

0.28.17 Tpain ft lil wayne

[@petemason6544]

Virus syndicate need a say more.

[@loui425]

haha what? the midlands/north scenes over taking london grime now!

[@SamScaysbrook]

telling me no one knows about shifty, oshea, lunar C etc..

[@Zinoman30]

MC Bonez

[@PatchedThePipe]

Even though it was way bk in 2012 if your wearing a Ecko hoodie instant L

[@a.v.london1952]

True, but if Ecko offered me an endorsement deal for £100000 a year I'd take it! shit I would wear Gola no cap! 😂

[@DC3Refom]

tom zaneti is gay lord

[@chriswood4059]

Ransom FA

[@loui425]

@freddily was that a joke? can only just about understand oshea

[@captainswag643]

I'd say the biggest northern rappers are tremz and bugzy

[@trapjerry848]

bruv how did they make charlie drive the whole country in some duss up nissan smh

[@liam1559]

dont quit your day job CS

[@timothygray7412]

1 like in six years for this comment, don't give up your day job to write comments

[@unitedqueendombob5951]

#DFAFD

[@tommooney6671]

Tremz

[@yehitsphil]

deadly is from brum or WV lol

[@Parkz91]

tom zanetti. leeds. RP wakefield

[@freddily]

What about the Scottish rap scene?

[@talktothesand88]

@@timothygray7412 hows he being negative?

[@timothygray7412]

@@talktothesand88 no sure bro I must have been drunk or something i withdraw the comment big up Scotland

[@CKBREEZY7]

Is that Prince Harry @ 0.46

[@hazboy2012]

Should of gone hudds

[@hyperdrewvids2348]

Geko my g

[@TeamToast]

@freddily hahah, you serious ?

[@projectb-audioz1532]

he needs a bigger car

[@justindabreu9445]

Bet he feels embarrassed that documentary where he acts like a real knob chav in his Burberry attire

[@hyperaptictv6851]

should of gone preston

[@spaghettilegs9882]

Because the North was all rave MC's not grime

[@flobfella3103]

No brum 👑town 👑 bad boys to come on Charlie👑my brother 😉you no say they don't call it the center and second city for nothing n we got top female mcs to .like London's got giggs 👑 Manchester👑meekz👑 Liverpool👑aystar and we have jaykay n safone n mist n 23drillas 👑jb👑remtrex👑👌🙏

[@zMxsh]

Brum had invasion alert and Stayfresh at this point, west midlands grime was popping at this point so was Notts as well

[@THEDONKDEVIL]

Some were good but tom zanetti was the best i thort. That club was rockin and he sounded sick.

[@themilitentz]

NEWCASTLE RIPPED IT UP>.... BIG SHOUT TO THE MANNY MC'S ASWELL.. BUT RICKY FURY SHOULDVE HAD IT LIKE

[@jamesparkerone]

mez

[@3kcs3kcs41]

Aitch was only 10 then lol

[@riseoftheright4216]

Sloth seems to have had an easy ride to get where he's got.

[@greatestytcommentator]

Yeah.. right

[@SLUMDOGRECORDSTV]

he didnt have any real rappers on there ,, just hype ting !!!!!

[@jakejeffery8097]

HOW IS CHARLIE FAMOUS THE DIV