makemymark

Scorcher: The indie man who got to the majors

Fresh from his role as Kemale in the brilliant ‘Top Boy’, North London M.C Scorcher unleashed his latest track, ‘Paint The Whole Town Red’, on Sunday. Produced by Kraze, the response to ‘PTWTR’ has been massive, clocking 5000 hits on YouTube already. The lyrical content is an expression of where Scorcher is at as an artist; supremely confident with the flow and reaping the rewards of his phenomenal work rate.

Scorcher signed a contract with Geffen Records, operating under the Universal umbrella in 2010. He has had mainstream chart success with his debut single, ‘It’s My Time’. As a result of the two E.P’s made available for free download since, the buzz surrounding his debut album on the label is huge.

My blog is dedicated to creativity and Scorcher is without doubt one of the most creative M.C’s in the scene. His verse on the 2005 Skepta production ‘Private Caller’ is head and shoulders above the rest; replacing every rhyming word with a synonym, the non-rhymes are distinctive and memorable. Grime fans had no choice but to stand up and take note.

Scorcher released his first mix tape, ‘Simply The Best’, in 2006, the title indicative of his relentless confidence. Angry and raw, ‘STB’ perfectly captures the attitude and essence of what grime music is all about. The lyrical content reflects the path Scorcher was taking at the time; in jail when the mix tape dropped, the positive feedback spurred him to pursue his musical career with a greater determination.

In 2007 and 2008, Scorcher dropped ‘Leader Of The New School’ and ‘Simply The Best Volume 2’. His second and third releases highlight his ability to diversify, switching the flow back and forth between grime and hip-hop with ease. His skilful use of metaphors and complex rhyme demonstrate his creative flair to great effect. Critics dwell on the portrayal of road life that the music depicts. The same critics embrace artists from across the Atlantic who rhyme about the same things.

Operating as a successful independent artist, Scorcher released ‘Concrete Jungle’ in 2009. Singles from the album, ‘I Know’ and ‘Lipsin Ting’ are YouTube monsters, with hits nearing the million mark. This success reiterates the massive fan base he had established; impressive considering artists with recording contracts can fail to generate as much interest. Detractors criticise the perceived move towards the mainstream, calling for the angry and raw Scorcher to return. I would point them in the direction of ‘Dark Knight’, the standout track on ‘Concrete Jungle’ and arguably the greatest grime track ever. The positive vibe of the music reflects the evolution of Scorcher as an artist; while never abandoning his roots, he had made the transition from road to music.