![]() A situation happened with him, something which I’m in no position to speak about” – Shifty was badly injured in a car accident – “and he stopped doing music. “Shifty did a Tim Westwood freestyle in 2009 which got over 600,000 views on YouTube, which is sick for then. Trillary Banks: ‘In 2009, I used to spit out ‘Leicester City!’ before the track started.’ Photograph: Linda Nylind/The GuardianĪitch says a rap scene was coming together in Manchester, too – but shakily. “In 2009, 2010, I used to spit out ‘Leicester City!’ before the track started,” she says. “There always used to be that odd guy going: ‘Yo, Leicester!’” Trillary Banks was one of them. “Leicester has always had sick grime MCs,” Aitch says. The first thing to note is that this isn’t a sudden, random occurrence: Jaykae and Mist’s first official releases came in 2016, and before that, Birmingham propped up the grime scene after it had waned in London, as did Leicester. He, Jay1 and Leicester rapper Trillary Banks have come down to London for some overpriced drinks and ruminations on why, in 2019, a regional accent is as essential a rap accessory as a designer man-purse. “You think they’re untouchable, but they’re not.” ![]() “Everyone from London just supported everyone from London,” he says. Aitch scoffs at the city that once ruled British rap. Ed Sheeran was quick to notice the trend – he employed Aitch and Birmingham rapper Jaykae for a knowingly regional remix of Sheeran and Stormzy’s chart-topping ode to the capital, Take Me Back to London. Guesting on Strike a Pose was 19-year-old Mancunian Aitch, who has become the biggest success story of all, reaching No 2 in September with his endearingly lecherous Taste (Make It Shake), and scoring another Top 10 single, Buss Down, a month later. The Streets’ Mike Skinner may have kept his Brummie accent, but he had already left Birmingham by the time his debut was out. Core styles such as grime and drill emerged from the capital, as have the vast majority of the most significant British rappers of the past 20 years: Dizzee Rascal, J Hus, Wiley and Kano from the east AJ Tracey and Fredo from the west Skepta, JME and Wretch 32 from the north Stormzy, Dave and Giggs from the south. ![]() The oppressive price of cocktails is one of many reasons why the UK’s rap scene is currently flourishing beyond London. “It probably cost £10 for this!” Yep, not far off. “London is expensive, man.” He gestures at his passionfruit daiquiri. “Look at the house prices – it’s way cheaper in Cov,” notes Coventry’s Jay1. Even if they’re a successful rapper with sell-out tours and Top 20 hits under their belt, they will still be horrified. I f someone comes to visit London, it’s only ever a matter of minutes before they mention the price of two things: houses and alcoholic beverages.
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