grime
what it is
Grime is a genre of urban music that first emerged in Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily a development of UK garage, and dancehall. The emergence of grime is intrinsically connected to its origins on UK pirate radio, with many performers honing their skills and achieving underground success before approaching the mainstream. Like other garage variants or mutations, pirate radio stations were essential to the evolution of the genre.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make grime a playlist
turn these 40 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is grime?
Grime is a genre of urban music that first emerged in Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily a development of UK garage, and dancehall. The emergence of grime is intrinsically connected to its origins on UK pirate radio, with many performers honing their skills and achieving underground success before approaching the mainstream. Like other garage variants or mutations, pirate radio stations were essential to the evolution of the genre.
What are good grime albums to start with?
Try Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal, Two Fingers by Two Fingers, Jigsaw by Lady Sovereign, and KONNICHIWA by Skepta.
Who are some women making grime?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/grime/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making grime, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20