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You wouldn’t necessarily think so, but grime isn’t the only thing going on in British rap right now.
South London’s Ben Coyle-Larner, with his spoonerised alias, has sold out a large venue next week thanks to a slow, hazy sound that owes more to the Nineties US hip hop of A Tribe Called Quest than the bulldog fury of grime.
There’s a sadness, not anger, at the heart of his casually delivered lyrics. On Cantona and BFG he raps about the death of his stepfather.
The music is characterised by live guitar and drums and a jazzy, relaxed feel.
He’s yet another BRIT School graduate, though it sounds as though education has not been easy. He has spoken about having dyslexia and ADHD, and recently set up a cookery school for teenagers with ADHD, a four-week project to demonstrate the hobby that he feels helped him with his condition.
His excess energy has also resulted in some delightfully mellow music.
Oct 5, Koko, NW1 (0870 432 5527, koko.uk.com)
