When you think of cutting edge music scenes you would be forgiven for not thinking of Gloucester. An MC by the name of Griz-O turns the tables on that argument with his breakthrough mixtape ‘No Mans Land’.
Last week I was covering the Raise the Bar challenge at the Red Bull Studios in Liverpool Street that involved aspiring lyricists getting in the booth and dropping 16 bars over a beat produced by Z-dot. Five lucky MC’s would be selected from the vast number of entrants to be a part of final cut. Artist’s came from far and wide to give it a go. This is where I came across the towering figure who went by the name of Griz–O.
I had a chance to catch up with Griz-O about his experience of the challenge that’s when I found that he’d traveled from Gloucester to take part. Immediately I was struck by his desire and focus just to be at the event. He spoke of the grime / rap scene in Gloucester not being as vibrant as it could be and how London is the place to be music wise. Griz felt warmly received by the London based MC’s and spoke of the unity amongst the scene currently.
Blame it on his daddy as he played Pac & Big in the car when Grizzy was a wee nipper. You can feel the influence of both those artists in his music. Biggie’s multi – Layered word play and Pac’s conscience fiery delivery is embodied within his music.
‘Have you ever been stuck in a place? You know so well but you can’t find the words to explain, can’t find a way to escape, Juggling pleasure and pain’. That’s the first line off his first track produced by Sh$M ‘No Mans Land’ it grabs your attention as it conjures up images of not quite being where you want to be. From that line I knew that this guy had something to say. The rest of track is equally as thought provoking and moving as you hear one man’s dream to be better than before.
Produced by Esta ‘Anonymous’ lifts a sample off the beautiful in every way Sade’s ‘Is it a crime’. Here Griz takes us through a poetic tale of a love that didn’t quite work out. We can all relate to that person we thought would be the one only for things to go unfortunately wrong. The sample fits Griz’s slowed down flow like a glove, a story of a lost love.
I really enjoyed the joint ‘How Life Goes’ Featuring Janita, produced by Neguim Beats. It’s that type of hip hop that I classify as realism. Griz-0 gives an honest narration on the life that we are living. Questioning some of the things that are celebrated in the scene such as drug dealing, gun violence and the way we sometimes degrade our women. The skill Griz pulls off here is avoiding coming off as preachy.
There are many other highlights such as ‘Bounce’ which Griz-0 performed in London @iluvlive #LoveAcoustic https://t.co/SDXTqn4ZUq .
This is something that you can just kick back to with a tasty Juice and whatever else you like as Griz kicks it fly and fresh on this beat produced by JD Reid. This is sumptuous hip hop at its finest as Grizzy drops bars like ‘For the club nights when its dub time let it bounce, Get the club hype with these punch lines and the bounce, Bring the good vibes for the good times lets bounce.’ For me it’s+ got that classic knock that you just trill to.
‘Killa MC’ is Griz-0 at his most lyrically sinister as he slices and dices through his versus’s with verve and vigour. With air tight delivery he describes with bravado his status in the industry. On ‘Go Griz’ its more of the same as he really takes it up a notch as he picks off anybody in his was and really makes statement of intent ‘I’m a menace with the tekkers call me Beckham I’m a legend, I spit that Armageddon I’m Ali, Tyson and Lennox behead em I bring that tekken.’ Yeah this guy is serious and I’m excited about his next move.
‘Crazy’ produced by Pascaal and ‘Midnight Memories Part 2’ produced by ID Labs are both outstanding in their own right as they both follow a melodic path with Griz dropping jewel after jewel. Verbally the guy is sitting on a cloud as he isn’t afraid to get a touch sentimental as he describes a good ole fashioned link up on ‘Crazy’ and you literally feel that excitement of the event of the first date, well-crafted indeed. On ‘Midnight Memories’ it’s a nostalgic journey into adolescence about how everything felt brand new and the general innocence that those memories conjure up.
Runway Ft. DJ Fade (Prod. Esta & Mr Carmack) feels epic as Griz – 0 signs off with credibility as he ticks off his bucket list on this one. He’s measuring his success so far over a melodic production that fits like a pair of Paul Smiths. Chasing his dreams he is and keeping it real he does. This is a refreshing piece of music and if you’re Hip Hop then it’s a must.
He’s got Gloucester on his back and he’s on this ting like fiends on smack. I had to get that in as I do like a lyric.
Big things popping for this chap No doubt about it. Check him out on the links below:
Soundcloud.com/Griz-O
Twitter.com/GrizOfficial
GrizOfficial.com
Editor: Adrian T
