Kieran Rates- Trim-I am

I love Trim, I wrote about how much in my MTV column.

See it here: http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/2795-kieran-rates-trim-i-am-lv-remix

Or below:

KIERAN RATES: TRIM – 'I AM' (LV REMIX)‏

Submitted by Joseph Patterson on Wed, 07/13/2011 - 12:59

in Exclusive Feature

I started my journey in music journalism talking about my love of grime music. The high-energy, fast-paced, sometimes angry and sometimes hilarious genre inevitably sits close to many Londoner's hearts. As a result, I have always had a soft spot for the sound and the newest addition to my personal grime airwaves comes via Trim...

The MC is deeply rooted in the grime scene, having working with Roll Deep in the early days and performing at raves across the country for as long as I can remember. Not to mention his impressive back catalogue: 'Monkey Features Vol 1' (and 2), 'Trim City', and the 'Soulfood' mixtapes, to name a few.

Trim’s 'I Am', from 'Monkey Features Vol 2', is a subtle declaration of self that appeals to me, because he doesn’t sound too earnest. The beats are sparse and rhythmic and enough to dance to without heading straight for the mosh pit. With elements of funky, dubstep and sing-a-long vocals, 'I Am' doesn’t have a 'Next Hype' (Tempa T) quality, instead, it’s upbeat with a relaxed feel.

It sounds like he’s leaning on the bar shrugging his shoulders, rather than smashing bottles of tequila on the floor and spraying himself with a beer pump. I mean, both are good, but everything in moderation.

The chilled delivery has a certain poetic quality to it, and the lyrics are filled with a sort of tongue in cheek honesty: "You don’t have to know of me/I’m Trim/I used to kind of flow off beat/but its fresh Trim now/I do not sleep..."

The most interesting element of this is the LV remix – who can cut and chop more than Jamie Oliver – which sees Trim get an up-tempo electro injection. The transition isn’t the smoothest, but it’s good. Good stuff from the Butterz camp, who seem to be consistently releasing quality tracks.

Trim comments: "I’d just like to say, producers such as TRC, Terror Danjah and Swindle are bringing that old school grime flavour back, and I love it." 

Me too! 

Trim’s new single, 'I Am', is out on August 15.

Stay up to date with Trim on Twitter – www.twitter.com/SithTrim

Words: Kieran Yates (@Kieran_Yates)