Wiley – On A Level @wileyupdates directed by @skepta

Wiley – On A Level

For a long time I’ve held the belief that without Boy Better Know there is no grime culture. Of course the genre would still exist but these guys are really the last ones left who genuinely embody the spirit and authenticity of the art-form. My point is proven through Wiley’s latest release ‘On A Level’, when was the last time you heard Wiley put out a song as grimey as that, it’s been years surely and the mixtape material he does doesn’t count. It was no surprise to me that the video is directed by Skepta and the whole BBK crew is in the video as well as some unusual but exciting guest cameos from Giggs and Stormzy.

This is what they do best; keep it fresh, exciting and original without much compromise from the dress code to the beat itself – everything is kept authentic and entertaining. Criticism of Wiley’s lyrical laziness in his latest project has been well documented but here he really is back on a level, the scenes in the video project him as the godfather with his consigliore of MC’s around him all dressed in black. The hook is strong and repetitive but naturally lacks the firepower of a Heatwave type record which is okay because the real ruggedness and authenticity of this track more than compensates for that.

The only remaining question for me is whether this is just a one-off because the unity depicted in this song and video is obviously prescribed by BBK and frankly, it’s what the UK scene has been crying out for. Yes we have our collaborations on mixtapes and we tweet each other’s releases but there’s never really been that consistent togetherness and substance on a mainstream level. The teamwork aspect of this video is refreshing and the remix of the song has me licking my lips already – long may it continue.

When A Mountain Loses a Rock

On 17^th August 2014, Beulah Jackson, the grandmother of Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson unfortunately passed away. The cliché that life is a rollercoaster springs to mind, a bittersweet cocktail of ups and downs that has the cruel ability to plummet you to the depths of despair at any given moment. With the triumph of his TV show and what appears to be the revival of the careers of his brothers in G Unit, the summer was a smash hit as far as 50 was concerned but it would have all came to an abrupt, crashing halt this evening.

For someone who is notoriously thick-skinned and as emotionless as the bullets which bled his fears out in 2000, it’s difficult and surreally heartbreaking to think about how he must be feeling now that he has lost the only thing that we know he truly cared about. In his groundbreaking interview with Oprah Winfrey, Curtis admits that she is his heart; she took care of him when he couldn’t and in his song ‘Talk About Me’ he recites from his grandmother’s perspective:

                                ‘ Look at my first grandbaby he’s a big rap star,
                                Bought me a house, diamonds and a brand new car,
                                I told him what it takes to go this far,
                                Boy I’m the reason you are what you are’

Who knew that the Teflon, tatted boss with a mogul status would regularly go back to his grandmother’s house to paint her toenails and just be content in her company. His entire world changed so rapidly in 2003 but it is evident through his lyrics and his interviews that his grandmother remained his gravitational pull, his heart and his rock. When Lloyd Banks’ father passed away, 50 admits that he didn’t understand why Banks was mourning and not working, to him death was detached from grief, he couldn’t empathise with it. I think now he understands what it feels like to be shot again, I have no doubt that this will hurt him more than the bullets could ever have done and the question remains how will the brave-faced boy from 134^th street move forward from this.

I wish him and his family my condolences.