The Deep Dive
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THE Clockwise from far left: Caroline Simionescu-Marin, Ebi Sampson, Nadia Khan, DEEP Damaris Rex-Taylor DIVE and Laughta RUN THIS TOWNYou won’t know the names of these five You can name a couple of Stormzy tracks, know that Skepta cleaned up women – – but they’re influential at every awards ceremony, but what yet you may not know about grime is that, thanked his female managers, Grace Ladoja behind the scenes, the UK’s hottest and Radha Medar, and it was a pertinent players in the UK’s biggest music scene genre is powered by women. reminder that it is actually women who are Unlike American rap and hip-hop, guiding this stereotypically male genre to which has been dogged by accusations its current wave of popularity. of misogyny, grime, the rap sub-genre Because a surprisingly large number characterised by frenetic beats and rapid- of women are managing successful male fire vocals, has a much more socially acts, from Lethal Bizzle (he of the hilarious conscious reputation and readily celebrates online video in which he taught Dame the women who play a role in its creation. Judi Dench how to rap) to Chip, who won Last year, for example, Skepta invited Best Grime Act at the MOBO Awards in his mum on stage when he collected his November last year. As grime increases its WORDS JORDAN BAssett Mercury Prize (she danced around joyously share hold over mainstream popular culture, PHOTOGRAPHS MAXIMILIAN HetherINGTON and went viral). During his speech, he Grazia met the women bossing the scene. 103 THE DEEP DIVE ‘it’s a motherlY ‘WOMEN HAVE TO RELATIOnship’ SUPPORT EACH Other’ Ebi Sampson, 28 going off on a tangent. He apologised Act: 67 meekly before refocusing his chat. She says Damaris Rex-Taylor that, in her experience, ‘The guys find it Label: Disturbing London One year ago, Ebi co-founded management easier to work with females, to be honest consultancy Leo Sounds after a career in and open with us. We’re friends and Damaris, general manager at Disturbing fashion saw her work with music acts. She managers. It’s a motherly relationship.’ London, Tinie Tempah’s record and clothes manages PR for 67 (pronounced six seven), UK rap has become more socially label, says, ‘Grime has always fought its way explaining that most of the group, from conscious as grime has reached a wider through. Acts don’t go by the old-boy Brixton, ‘came from single parent homes. audience, she says. ‘[Artists] are so aware system – they kind of can’t, because they Their mum was the strongest figure in their that people listen to what they say. didn’t go to the right school or have the lives, they have the utmost respect for women’. You’ve got so many young kids that look right industry connections – so grime is 67’s videos feature lots of macho up to these massive UK artists now. It’s a good example of music that’s ripping up posturing, yet Ebi bosses them around, a worldwide platform, so they wanna the rule book.’ This self-starting spirit, she telling them where to sit, admonishing share and be so much more conscious says, has created more diversity behind the them if they go off-script. During a recent about what they say. People look up to scenes. ‘The whole industry has always been interview, she cut in to correct Dimzy for them; you feel it more now than ever.’ very male-dominated, but management is an area that has increased its female power. Still, there should be more of us.’ Damaris worked at record labels EMI and Parlophone before she took charge of Disturbing London. ‘Naturally I’ve been ‘WE HAVE TO BE around a lot more men – very supportive BETTER THAN men; I definitely want to get that across,’ she says. Disturbing was founded by Tempah THE GUYs’ and his business partner Dumi Oburota, so, ultimately, it is a company run by men. But, Nadia Khan, 33, and her signing, Damaris says, ‘There are a lot of women Laughta, 28 coming up in music. Women have got into Acts: Lethal Bizzle and Laughta groups and realised we have to support each other. It’s up to women and men to support Nadia has been Lethal Bizzle’s manager for female talent from boardroom to stage.’ 14 years, when grime was just starting out. AMARIS OUSE OUSE D ‘GRIme’s about the ‘I was the only female manager I knew of. It’s H CHNAIDER; CHNAIDER; S KINCARE AND AND KINCARE S changed a lot over the last few years.’ She WEARS AROLINE UNDERDOG WINNING’ attributes this to the mainstream popularity C SENIA ISLEY K grime has gained. As the scene has expanded, S Caroline Simionescu-Marin, 22 AIRCARE. AIRCARE. so too have the opportunities, so women like H Project: New Gen her can usher in other female talent. BI WEARS CAMO JACKET, WEARS CAMO JACKET, BI VEDA VEDA E ‘It’s still very male-dominated, but more A A former editor of grime website GRM Daily, Caroline is a ANDUCA USING ONKI. ONKI. women are realising they can go for those M talent scout at the label XL Recordings. She compiled last M IM L ARS AND ARS ERRI ILA AT URBANOUTFITTERS.COM; EARRINGS, EARRINGS, URBANOUTFITTERS.COM; AT ILA roles,’ she says. ‘Any young female managers CLOTHES. ALL HER OWN WEARS ADIA year’s New Gen album featuring new urban music talent – F T N I come across, I always speak to and mentor.’ N including Ray BLK, who went on to win the BBC’s Sound IKE. IKE. OOMI J Nadia manages female rapper Laughta, N Of 2017, previously awarded to Adele and Sam Smith. ONON AT AT ONON 28, whose recent single Pree My Ting was N Caroline claims grime is inherently progressive and has ; SWEATSHIRT AND TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS, BOTTOMS, TRACKSUIT AND SWEATSHIRT ; produced by Jammer, a member of Skepta’s AND AMES opened up more opportunities for women. ‘It has an J ANDUCA USING ELINE M OODWOOD; MINISKIRT, MINISKIRT, OODWOOD; group BBK. Laughta confirms it’s much C independent spirit, helping the underdog win,’ she says. W ASOS ERRI harder for women to succeed as rappers. T ‘It’s so rebellious and punk in essence. Everybody wants to ANUSHKA; TRAINERS, TRAINERS, ANUSHKA; -SHIRT, -SHIRT, N ‘I can’t say that women don’t face more T tap into it now.’ She was inspired to create New Gen after LIZABETH AND LIZABETH EVES AT AT EVES barriers,’ she says. ‘We have to prove ourselves E seeing grime go from niche to mainstream. ‘I remember N 10 times harder. We have to be better than AND MAKE-UP: AIR going to see Stormzy in a venue with 50 people,’ she says. UTFITTERS; UTFITTERS; H EUSA O the guys.’ Yet Laughta has taken action. N ‘Then I saw him at Brixton Academy with 5,000.’ For all IRD; RINGS, RINGS, IRD; AUGHTA WEARS JACKET, WEARS JACKET, AUGHTA B In 2015 she hosted Female Hype, a series L this positivity, she ‘wasn’t totally happy’ to have just two RBAN of shows held at London club Queen of U women on the album. ‘At that point there weren’t as many ENNY J Hoxton, which championed female rap ESIGNS. women coming through.’ She’s confident that the sequel ITCHELL, AND ITCHELL, D M OLLAND; LEATHER TROUSERS, TROUSERS, LEATHER OLLAND; talent. ‘I did it for the cause,’ she says, H will work towards gender equality. ‘I’ve already found ISHO TYLIST: CHLOE FORDE. CHLOE FORDE. TYLIST: AUL AUL PUFFA JACKET, JACKET, PUFFA S P ‘I had to throw myself on the stage.’ OF BOTTOMS, TRACKSUIT HER OWN; AND NECKLACE, WEARS SHIRT M EARRINGS, some amazingly talented female artists,’ she says. 104.