BioTech wrote:
So what do people think of the streets?
I wouldn’t say I was a fan but i quite like some of their tracks and skinner just writes stuff that represents the true streets and goes through most young peoples minds… not some glamourised hardcore violent image.
his early stuff was good but TBH its similar to most urban music on the grime tip – dizzie rascal also does the “self-deprecating humour” stuff as well as many of the up and coming grime MC’s seem to do (OK I listen to it occasionally when I am near London and can pick up pirates).
The streets just managed to get a bit of cash of it on the upswing of this music briefly becoming “mainstream” (although ISTR he blew most of his royalties on crack and was (perhaps understandably IMO!) beaten by his own manager as he was fucking up both of their lives with his dysfunctional behaviour.
its a particularly British image that Skinner and other MCs of his ilk project – a bit more subtle macho posturing and misogyny (switching between that and paranoid insecurity) than the overt American style stuff. It may seem the MC is “putting himself down” but he still thinks he’s better than anyone else.
TBH I find most of it way too depressing and angst-ridden, steeped in a combination of self-pity and anger. Its better kids do this than become suicide bombers I suppose – but TBH most of this stuff is a bit like the Emo culture but with better breaks and basslines. .
