Grime_Music_from_architecture.pdf
Neil
Hello This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English I’m Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam
Neil
In this 6 Minute English, we’re talking about music What sort of music do you
like listening to, Sam?
Sam
Well, I wouldn’t say I have one specific type My taste in songs is more eclectic – a
word that describes taste which includes a wide variety of styles
Neil
Well, in this programme, we’re talking all about grime – a style of music which
originated in London – specifically in the tower blocks of east and southeast
London
Sam
Yes – the artists are predominantly young black men and often cite the decaying
tower blocks they grew up in as an inspiration for the urban style of music
Neil
Well, before we continue talking about grime music, I have a question for you,
Sam Stormzy is one of the most famous grime artists, but what is his real name?
Is it:
a) Michael Omari
b) Martin Owusu
c) Marvin Appiah
Sam
I think I might know this one – I’ll say a) Michael Omari
Neil
We can find out if you’re right at the end of this programme For many people,
knowing the origin of a type of music helps them to understand more about the
style and lyrics
Sam
Here’s writer Jude Yawson talking with BBC journalist Andrew Marr about his
experience growing up on an estate in southeast London on the BBC Radio 4
programme, Start the Week…
Jude Yawson
Yes, so I lived like on an estate It’s, it’s in Annerley, near Crystal Palace And for
me growing up with this experience was like literally acknowledging the different
cultures and peoples that lived within, like this state And it was around the age
of about, say, seven or eight – that’s when things for me and my particular estate
started to get a bit more contentious with the other people that were moving in
Kids were coming of age, becoming more like free and venturing out and around
the estate And, you know, police kind of, like harassing, but…
Andrew Marr
So you’ve got different cultures knocking into each other and the police
knocking into everybody else
Sam
So Jude Yawson describes his upbringing He used the word contentious – likely
to cause or create an argument – to describe life on the estate
Neil
Yes, and he said the kids were coming of age – meaning transitioning from a
child into an adult In his interview, he goes on to say how a teacher gave him the
advice that if he ever got stabbed, not to remove the knife - as he would bleed to
death
Sam
He says that at the age of 14 when he was told that, he felt grateful and that the
teacher was looking out for him, but in hindsight questions why a teenager
should receive that information
Neil
What this does is give us an insight into life and the background that led to some
people, like Stormzy, creating grime music He says that it started off in the
bedrooms and basements of tower blocks and homes in these areas of London,
with many artists’ works being broadcast on pirate radio stations
Sam
That said, for some people, this type of music represents something different
There are some who think the hard-hitting lyrics and strong beats glorify
violence They see it as an aggressive and violent form of music
Neil
However, Jude Yawson, speaking with Andrew Marr on BBC Radio 4 programme
Start the Week, has a different interpretation of what grime music is all about
Jude Yawson
I describe grime as like a soulful shout… there’s a necessity in literally getting all
of this content out of yourself And one of the most predominant grime artists,
Wiley, was basically the first person that created this sound – it’s like 140 beats
per minute Because that’s such a raw tune, but the chorus literally chants like
‘there are lots of signs in life, some that you may not realise’ And, for me, I was
listening to that as like an 11- or 12-year-old and it’s very existential
Sam
He used the word predominant, which describes the strongest or most important
thing, to describe the artist Wiley That’s who Jude Yawson says was the first
person to create the grime sound
Neil
He also used the verb chants – sings repeatedly over and over – to talk about the
chorus from one of Wiley’s songs
Sam
And he described the experience of listening to it as being existential – relating
to human existence
Neil
Which inspires me to go and listen to some grime music after today’s show, but
before we do – I asked you a question about the real name of the grime artist
Stormzy
Sam
You did And being a fan of many different music styles – I think I know this one! I
said a) Michael Omari
Neil
You really do know your music, Sam You’re right In fact, his full name is Michael
Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr I think that I’ll have to make the next question
much harder for you! So, before we leave today, let’s recap the vocabulary,
starting with eclectic, a word which describes taste which includes a wide variety
of styles
Sam
Contentious means creating or causing arguments
Neil
We also had coming of age – transitioning from child to adult
Sam
Predominant refers to something that is the strongest or most important
Neil
Chants is a verb which means sing or repeat the same thing over and over again
And existential means relating to human existence
Sam
Well, we certainty learnt a lot about grime music and its origin
Neil
There are lots more 6 Minute English programmes to enjoy on our website at
bbclearningenglishcom
Sam
Thanks for listening and goodbye
VOCABULARY
eclectic
describes taste which includes a wide variety of styles
contentious
creating or causing conflict
coming of age
becoming an adult
predominant
the strongest or most important
chants
sings the same thing over and over again
existential
relating to human existence
