6. Roll Deep - Rules & Regulations
As with Wiley and Ruff Sqwad, it was seriously difficult to choose a Roll Deep release that warranted inclusion over the others. Rules & Regulations is far from perfect - it's probably not even close to the crew's best - but its adventurous nature and multitude of styles makes it a useful starting point for those interested in getting into their output. Skepta, JME and Trim feature prominently, but really it's the strength in numbers that makes Roll Deep so effective. 13 excellent MCs all constantly trying to one-up each other throws up varying, but often magnificent, results. The second half, darker and more avant-garde than the first, drags this mixtape from being fairly average to being a definite must-listen. It features some of grime's most out-there moments. Whether you prefer Ruff Sqwad or Roll Deep probably depends on what you want out of grime. Ruff Sqwad are definitely the innovators, with a sound that is constantly shifting and production that works just as brilliantly on its own as it does when it is a platform for MCs. Roll Deep are the experts of the gang vocal, spitting rapid verses that rival those of any other crew in grime. Rules & Regulations shows off this approach very effectively.