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British MC Lethal Bizzle's explicit lyrics of violence and street tales of East London drew reaction and controversy but also gave him immense popularity among followers of garage and grime in the 2000s. Attracted to the intense energy of raves at a young age, Lethal B (born Maxwell Ansah) loved the speed of drum'n'bass. Artists like Roni Size and Shy FX first inspired him to do music, but early-'90s New York hip-hop also spoke to him -- particularly the street lyricism of Nas and the Notorious B.I.G. and the hardcore dynamism of the Wu-Tang Clan. Success from roaming London's pirate radio scene prompted him to leave college and join the More Fire Crew with associates Ozzie B and Neeko. The threesome's first single, "Oi!," was a Top Ten hit in the U.K., but the label dropped them soon after in 2002, due to lacking album sales.

Although it took a few years, Bizzle got back on his feet, forming his own Lethal Bizzle Records imprint in 2004. At the end of the year, he released the comeback single "Pow! (Forward)," also known as "Forward Riddim." Produced by Dexplicit, it entered at 11 on the U.K. pop chart and earned him a MOBO award for Best Single (he was also nominated for Best Newcomer). The song, however, ended up being banned by many major radio outlets and clubs, where some patrons had broken into fistfights during its playing. Bizzle's next set of singles, including "Uh Oh! (I'm Back)," also made it onto the U.K. charts and paved the way for his solo debut, Against All Oddz, released in mid-2005. Becoming one of the U.K.'s most popular underground artists, Bizzle took some of the brunt of growing backlash against grime music originating from some press and political pundits. He particularly was engaged in a verbal war with Conservative Party leader and MP David Cameron in 2006. Nevertheless, the rising grime MC was not fazed. He simultaneously prepared two albums for 2007: his second LP, Back to Bizznizz on the V2 label, and the debut of his new duo, Fire Camp, with old partner Ozzie B. In 2009 he left V2 for the indie Search & Destroy Records, where he released the album Go Hard. The Best of Bizzle compilation followed in 2011, along with a string of singles including "They Got It Wrong" with Wiley (2013) and the Top Ten hits "Rari WorkOut" (2014) and "Fester Skank" (2015). ~ Cyril Cordor

Repping his East London home with debut mixtape The Upper Clapton Dream, British rapper Rimzee established himself in the U.K. scene with tales of his home city's gritty underbelly. Though legal issues kept him out of the music game for an extensive stretch, he returned triumphantly to the scene in 2020 with sequel tape The Upper Clapton Dream 2.

Born to a single mother of five in E5's Upper Clapton, Ricardo Miles grew up far from cushy settings -- a struggle that manifested in his music under the alias of Rimzee. Honing his skills with freestyle after freestyle, the rapper was first brought to the public's attention with "2010 FREESTYLE," a series of street-level boasts delivered with Miles' effortless swagger. Through the subsequent years, Rimzee carved out a lane for himself in the U.K. rap landscape: "Here I Am" (2011) delivered an outlandish statement of self, "I'm On" (2011) proffered "real rap" stories of lavish living, and "Hometown" (2012) delivered a gritty homage to his harsh lifestyle. Rimzee's early singles culminated in a debut mixtape, The Upper Clapton Dream (2012), a passionately delivered set of bold boasts, introspective narratives, and candid reflections. Despite his upward momentum, the musician's career was stunted significantly by weapons charges brought against him; following the release of his debut tape, he was given a 13-year jail sentence.

Released in late 2019 after serving six-and-a-half years behind bars, Rimzee picked up exactly where he left off, returning to the music game with the singles "Go Time," "2 Do 1," "Down Below," and "Rapper Trapper." Adapting to a variety of trap-based stylings, his new output fused the sturdy vocals and defiant lyricism of his early career with the sounds of the modern rap landscape. After paying homage to his absence with "2020 Freestyle," Rimzee re-established his name with appearances on freestyle platforms Voice of the Streets, Tim Westwood, and Daily Duppy ahead of the release of his sophomore mixtape. Issued in December 2020, The Upper Clapton Dream 2 added modern stylings and greater introspection to his signature approach. ~ David Crone