Hangman- Dave (2018)

3AM and I wanted to write out today’s track before I change my mind because it deserves its respect. The first time I heard Santan was a while back, I can’t remember specifically. The first track of his that properly stuck with me was Thiago Silva, alongside AJ Tracey in 2016.

I fall in and out of love with Grime nowadays. Old school stuff will forever be a large part of my listening. Kano forever and always, A Little Darker- the mixtape produced in 2006 by Akala and Ms Dynamite, with some real turn back the clock names like Wariko.

I understand that Grime and Drill aren’t the same thing, but it’s clear there’s an influence of drill on Grime. I wouldn’t say I dislike it entirely, I like the distinct sound, a British reinvention of an American sound. It just isn’t the stuff I started listening to and still love.

That being said, there are still new-wave artists creating their own sounds that are genuinely interesting. Dave is a wordsmith, and this track is a perfect example of that. Every line is hard, incredible flow as standard and the video is simple but effective. The kind of track in which you hear something new every time you listen.

In no Dave track does he change his sound to fit a specific track, it sounds more like the track is fitted to him. That’s a credit to Santan and the producers he works with alike.

Watch the video while you’re here.

Enjoy.