When exploring the roots of grime music, Bexleyheath may not immediately stand out as a place of notable significance. While artists like Dizzee and Wiley have made their mark in Bow and BBK has dominated North London, this South East London suburb has mostly remained in the background regarding what is arguably the most crucial export of UK rap.
“It’s a part of London that doesn't really feel like London,” BexBlu explains to CLASH. The 20-year-old producer and artist has successfully revitalized the grime genre with his remixes and reinterpretations of classic freestyles, paying tribute to the sound that emerged from jungle music over twenty years ago and has fluctuated in popularity since. His name, referencing both his hometown and a non-alcoholic beer, was initially a pseudonym used to conceal his age when he began sharing his music on SoundCloud at the age of 14.
BexBlu attributes his musical preferences to his brothers, having been influenced by a rich blend of artists like Danny Brown, Freddie Gibbs, and Earl Sweatshirt. He admits that his initial interest in music creation was sparked by Ryan Gosling’s role in La La Land. “There’s a scene where he performs Thelonious Monk’s ‘Japanese Folk Song’. I just remember watching it and thinking, this is amazing.” Although he didn’t develop a passion for the piano, the chance to use a pirated version of FL Studio from his brother during the pandemic allowed Bex to dedicate himself to producing five beats a day as he refined his skills.
Through crate digging, YouTube exploration, and utilizing samples from friends, Bex absorbed as much as he could to perfect his technique. “I look to the greats to see how they accomplished it. My favorite producers include J Dilla, Madlib, The Alchemist, JPEGMAFIA, MF DOOM, and Kanye West. The list goes on. I try to take a bit from each of them and integrate that into my own sampling style.” This extensive diet of rap has directly influenced the soundscapes created by BexBlu. The resurgence of grime’s popularity in the mid-2010s was a pivotal period for him, with tracks like Skepta’s ‘Konnichiwa’ and Novelist’s ‘General Levy freestyle’ on 1Xtra inspiring him to dig deeper into the genre’s history.
This wide-ranging knowledge is evident in his edits, ranging from a reimagining of Joe James’ Tim and Barry freestyle from 2019 to a Big H freestyle from the Practice Hours era. “UK rappers possess a flow that enables them to glide over most beats, considering it aligns with the natural rhythm of grime,” he notes. Bex’s keen ear for soulful samples that match aggressive flows has allowed him to revitalize significant moments in grime, attracting a new audience in the process.
As a result, a new subgenre dubbed ‘mellow grime’ has emerged, featuring artists and producers alike. Bex is quick to mention that he isn’t the pioneer of this sound, giving credit to Hazey, Oakland, and Wilfred, who came before him. Nonetheless, he has made this style his own, alongside childhood friend Awaiting Kvng, mogleesounds, db., and prod. otis, positioning himself as a representative for a new generation of producers. “We aim to shine a light on the underground scene within our circle. We’re not overly tied to the industry; we just want to see how far we can push things in the coming years and what boundaries we can break.”
Having repurposed past sounds, Bex now seeks to shape the future by collaborating with emerging rap talent. His track ‘Elephant Roundabout’ featuring Saiming and afrosurrealist is among the standout tracks in the UK rap scene this year, and his ongoing collaboration with Paul Stephan has proven fruitful. Reflecting on his work with Stephan, he shares, “Creating songs has become one of my favorite activities. The edits are great, and I appreciate what they’ve done for me, but working with an artist is a different passion. You can dive deep into the song and identify specific sections you want to alter.”
At just 20, it's evident that BexBlu has made a significant impact in a short time, establishing himself as both an artist and producer and finding joy in both roles. From moments of disbelief, including recognition from Drake and Skepta freestyling over his beats, to collaborating in the studio with his idols, BexBlu may very well be the most promising producing talent to emerge from the scene in recent years.
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If you were to explore the roots of grime music, Bexleyheath might not immediately stand out as a notable location. The focus often remains on Dizzee and Wiley’s Bow.