“My Whole Borough’s Got My Back, ‘Ca I’m The Best Thing Out Of Lewisham Since Ian Wright”

If you havn’t heard ANY vocalled versions of Davinche’s “Rider” beat yet, then you must’ve been living in an igloo. In deep, deep Antartica. The beat has had tons and tons of vocals,  not all of which made the offcial mixtape (Unlucky Maxwell), however the ones that did have done more than impress me. Here’s a quick bit on each:

Version Featuring Keedo, Ghetts, JME & Steelo. Well this was the very 1st version we heard and it’s been stuck in my head for a long time. Keedo’s snappy flow, Ghetts eternally clever lyrics and catchy beat riding both combine well with Steelo’s all so smooth and gentle hook. Wasn’t feeling JME too much, the bars were a little less hyped then the ones we previously heard.

Version Feauturing Wiley. Another example of why Eskiboy sits on that throne. Catchy bars, catchy flow, he absolutly smashes this one. You heard this one as the intro on “See Clear Now” with bars like “Mic wars I’ll never retreat one, You see one you’ll never defeat one” & “So cold, after me the heat’s done”. Not the CD’s best, but a contender all the same.

Version Feauturing Tinchy Stryder. Proves why Tinchy is one of the scenes most promising MC’s, providing he doesn’t leave Grime to choke on the dust. Nigh-on perfect timing and a catchy chorus. Best version at this stage.

Version Featuring Tinie Tempah. I’ve never really been imprseed by Tinie, with the exception of songs “Tears” & “South East Of The Thames” (co-incdently produced by Davinche also) and I wasn’t over impressed by this either. A very, very irritating hook ruins something that started promisingly.

Version Featuring Skepta. Despite the fantastic flow and bars from the self proclaimed champion, the Tim Westwood show rip consits of gaps and mixed out words. You don’t get to experience the full potential. If this had been a studio song, it would’ve worked a whole lot better. At this point Tinchy’s still winning.

Version Featuring Clea & Bashy (Riding For Love). Clea’s beautiful vocals flow easy on the listener and it’s all going well until Bashy gets on the mic and starts making silly noises, over emphasizing the end of every rhyme. Clea does manage to recover it towards the end with the hook and her smooth but powerful voice.

Version Featuring Ny. Ny has a truly beautiful voice and is showcased wonderfully on this song.I loved the bit at 1:00 when the song just stops and starts again with Ny banging out a wonderful song.

Version Feauturing Little Dee. The best on the CD, no doubt. The whole flow just makes love with the beat (yes no homo or whatever) and shows how much Little Dee has improved in every department (see earlier bracketd comment). The flow, the content and the general sound. I love the way during certain parts of the song it’s stoppped and sound effects play e.g during the “Ian Wright” bit the crowd cheers in the background. Definatly a tune I’ll be rinsing daily. So many different parts I could just grab and go “look, there, that’s the best part .”

Version Featuring Keedo. I did like this version also, the auto-tune hook did sound frightfully worng however. Keedo does need to make music a lot more and if this is anything to go by then let’s pray.

Version Featuring Wretch 32. The best behind Little Dee’s. Wrecth yet again proving why he’s in a lot of people’s top 3 or top 5, and in almost everyone’s top 10. A very clever man providing pherhaps the most “technical” version.

Version Featuring Big Rem. Not feeling this one really. It all sounded very clashy, the timing was off a lot and I say that only because it was so noticeable. The hook couldn’t save it neither, Rem choosing a Nigerian accent which doesn’t accompany the tune very well at all.

So there you have it. Not entirely perfect, but defiantly a nice mixtape. We need to see more production-specific CD’s in grime, I’d love to see one done for all of Danny Weeds “Activity” vocals. Davinche has done himself proud with this, I am defiantly looking forward to his album “Open Minded”.

Purchase the mixtape from UK Record Shop.