The M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T
Top 3 selected crews in the game.
Since the commercial success of So Solid, the “crew” has been the functional unit of our emcee based format in grime. Each era of grime has been braced by a new click, from Pay As You Go, to Heartless, Roll Deep, to SLK, and so on.
The M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T are closer to the streets than any other click in the scene; the raw element they possess is often breath taking. But are they the best individually? Or is their crew status that has catapulted them into the forefront of the scene?
Funnily enough, this group do not see themselves as a ‘crew’, and seem to have conformed to this structure because it is the set standard for the UK right now…
Like most, the M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T is a group of like-minded people who came together through a mutual cause. The inspiration lay with scorcher, the phone calls were made, the meetings were set up, and the rest is history.
“scorcher had an idea for us to unite and become 1, we spoke about it on the phone decided who we thought would be good in the team; we then had a few meetings and became the movement.”
The M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T is an apt name. ‘Movement is defined as a group, a progression or a transfer… The ethos behind the group fits the name…. They are all about progression, raising the levels of music in the UK, and raising the balance of their bank accounts while getting more recognition.
At this moment in time, the supremacy for the best music unit in the UK music scene is being vied for. The pace seems to be set by the ‘Boy Better Know’ team (Headed by JME) and the M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T. You can get a copy of Logan Sama's war report and make your own mind up. If you are fan of grime you would have noticed that in the second half of 2006, there was a feirce battle between the two camps (Similar to the beef between Roll Deep and SLK).
These battles seem to define the scene and move it on. For SLK, the battle may have been the nails in the coffin. This may not be the case for Boy Better Know (BBK) and The M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T.
Recent words from Wretch show that the beef was just musical. Logan Sama has been playing tracks with both camps on, the hatchet has clearly been buried. Both camps have even done a tune together portraying a very strong message; this was either a publicity stunt or just friendly competition. Either way it has brought the scenes leaders closer together.
"Well I would say we are tempo specialist, this is because we can control any tempo we choose to".
For those who don't know, the members of the M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T are as follows, GHETTO, WRETCH 32, SCORCHER, MERCSTON (FREE MERCS, possibly April), LIGHTNIN, DEVLIN, DJ UNIQUE AND CAMERA MAN RSKY. This is an impressive CV. Each emcee/artist is a trendsetters in their own right. They define their sound as tempo specialists, meaning they don't just do grime, or the typical BPM people associate with grime. ‘Tempo Specialists’ is also the name of a collective mixtape, which was released late last year (2006) not surprisingly featuring the movement camp members over a range of tempos.
The grime scene, or UK scene, seems to have the most influence on them, as they cite the people that have gone clear such as Kano, Sway and So Solid. However, they also rate the new bloods in the scene. In terms of production, they see Magic Fingers, Terror Danger, Da vinche, Rapid, Naughty Boy, and Scorcher as people that are moving the sound of grime forward.
"What are your ambitions as the M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T? We wish to continue to raise the level of the UK music scene, until we get a lot more recognition as well as money."
Everybody knows you can not make a movement with no money, so like most other crews, they are all working on their solo projects and using the momentum of the group to push their personal movements forward. Getting paid seems to be on their minds, but the issue of majors versus independent routes is something they are not decided on… But don't worry you will be getting a M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T album, funded or unfunded.
"Also watch out for solo projects, mixtapes, DVDS, and a few surprises…"
Last but not least the crew wanted to shout out Living Production and also the whole of the music scene. LET’S RAISE THE LEVELS!!
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Myspace madness
http://www.myspace.com/ghettomc
http://www.myspace.com/rsky_riskyroadz
http://www.myspace.com/wretchclart
http://www.myspace.com/mercston
http://www.myspace.com/lightninmc
http://www.myspace.com/devlinot
http://www.myspace.com/scorchercb
Discology
Simply The Best – Scorcher
Learn From My Mixtape – wretch 32
2000&Life – Ghetto
Tales From The Crypt – Devlin
The End of the Beginning – Mercston
Written by HOG
A version of this also appears in JWG.
Make sure you get you copy NOW!
