Listen to a complete history of Grime Tapes

Grime is, as we all know, one of the the best sorts of music ever, but – because it happened essentially not on record so much as on radio – frustratingly tricky to experience again. Grime Tapes, a now-defunct website aimed to redress this, by collecting and posting radio rips from the golden age. Anyway, on the last Wire radio show, they told the story of the project, and over at thewire.co.uk, you can download the best tapes that featured on Grime Tapes. The list is below, click here, to grab them yourself.

DJ EZ & MC Rankin on Freek FM (1998)
(pirate tape from personal collection)

DJ Double O And MC Sharky P on Ice FM (1997)
(pirate tape from personal collection)

Heartless Crew at Sun City, Cardiff (2001)
(from tape pack)

Pay As U Go at La Cosa Nostra (2002)
(from tape pack)

Heartless Crew versus Pay As You Go clash at Destiny, London (2001)
(from tape pack)

Pay As U Go slew Heartless Crew on Rinse FM (2001)
(pirate tape from personal collection)

DJ Slimzee with Wiley and Dizzee at Sidewinder, Milton Keynes Studio Mix (2002)
(from tape pack)

Flow Dan and Jamakabi Twin Towers Mix (Rinse FM) (2002)
(pirate tape from personal collection)

DJ Karnage Ice Rink Megamix on Rinse FM (2003)
(pirate tape from personal collection)

Roll Deep at Sidewinder, Milton Keynes (2002)
(from tape pack)