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. 

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‘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 ‘grime’s about the ‘I was the only female manager I knew of. It’s

changed a lot over the last few years.’ She wears aroline underdog winning’ attributes this to the mainstream popularity grime has gained. As the scene has expanded, Caroline Simionescu-Marin, 22 so too have the opportunities, so women like Project: New Gen her can usher in other female talent. C H aircare. veda ‘It’s still very male-dominated, but more A A former editor of grime website GRM Daily, Caroline is a women are realising they can go for those talent scout at the label XL Recordings. She compiled last roles,’ she says. ‘Any young female managers year’s New Gen album featuring new urban music talent – I come across, I always speak to and mentor.’ T erri M anduca and using S isley kincare including Ray BLK, who went on to win the BBC’s Sound Nadia manages female rapper Laughta, Of 2017, previously awarded to Adele and Sam Smith. 28, whose recent single Pree My Ting was Caroline claims grime is inherently progressive and has produced by Jammer, a member of Skepta’s opened up more opportunities for women. ‘It has an

group BBK. Laughta confirms it’s much H ouse wears camo jacket, E bi M onki. miniskirt, oodwood; independent spirit, helping the underdog win,’ she says. W chnaider; K senia S chnaider; bottoms, tracksuit and sweatshirt ASOS ;

harder for women to succeed as rappers. and T erri M anduca using N ars ‘It’s so rebellious and punk in essence. Everybody wants to -shirt, -shirt, ‘I can’t say that women don’t face more T tap into it now.’ She was inspired to create New Gen after barriers,’ she says. ‘We have to prove ourselves seeing grime go from niche to mainstream. ‘I remember 10 times harder. We have to be better than going to see Stormzy in a venue with 50 people,’ she says. the guys.’ Yet Laughta has taken action. ‘Then I saw him at Brixton Academy with 5,000.’ For all In 2015 she hosted Female Hype, a series this positivity, she ‘wasn’t totally happy’ to have just two of shows held at London club Queen of women on the album. ‘At that point there weren’t as many Hoxton, which championed female rap women coming through.’ She’s confident that the sequel talent. ‘I did it for the cause,’ she says, will work towards gender equality. ‘I’ve already found eves at at N eusa eves and M itchell, aul utfitters; U rban O utfitters; jacket, puffa onon at at C eline N onon and make-up: H air chloe forde. S tylist: P ‘I had to throw myself on the stage.’ D clothes. all her own wears N adia N ike. trainers, N anushka; trousers, leather of H olland; earrings, urbanoutfitters.com; at F ila bottoms, tracksuit her own; and necklace, wears shirt wears jacket, L aughta M isho D esigns. and J oomi L im and J ames E lizabeth rings, J enny B ird; earrings, some amazingly talented female artists,’ she says.

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