While grime is most certainly a London ting, Footsie, D Double E, and Tubby of Newham Generals escape their Eastern ends to go bashy in Berlin in this new video for "Battle," which also features Kanye signee Mr. Hudson sounding extremely un-ruffneck on the hook. The track is produced by Riddim Commission—the tag-team session of Rinse FM DJ Marco Del Horno (of Bullet Train Recordings) and production partner Swerve of Kiss FM, who notably crafted the beat for D Double's "Streetfighter," perhaps the best rap ever dedicated to the realm of Chun-Li and Blanka. Hadouken!The two have worked together before on the mighty "Ho! Riddim" for one of our favorite London labels Black Butter, so it's nice to mark their return with this bad-ass battle vibe that's less straight-up grime then a sort of bugged-out post-junglist pop. "Battle" has got plenty of nods to reggae/dancehall culture as well, namechecking dub heavyweight soundsystems like Kilimanjaro, Abba Shanti, and Saxon. Aight! Riddim Commission's Volume 1 EP, containing this tune plus collabs with J2K and Merky Ace, drops October 7 so look out for it and in the meantime holler at your dugs on the Riddim Commission Facebook. Ya dun kno.
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