AJ Tracey has just released a new track called “Paid In Full.” I’ve never really dived into his catalog before, but I know he’s collaborated with artists I enjoy, like Giggs and Jorja Smith.

“Paid In Full” is a grime track. For those unfamiliar, grime is a genre that originated in the UK—born from a fusion of UK garage, hip hop, and dancehall. The press needed a term to describe the murky, aggressive sound coming out of inner-city London. If you were driving through Bow, East London in 1998, you might have caught grime on a pirate radio station. Interestingly, the name “grime” wasn’t coined by the artists themselves—it was given to them.

The story of grime’s rise is full of ups and downs, like most genres with underground roots. But what matters here is that artists like AJ Tracey are still releasing high-energy bangers that keep UK rap front and center on the global stage.

I used to listen to JME, Skepta, and Giggs a lot a few years ago. Based on “Paid In Full,” I’d say the spirit of that era is still going strong. The production feels fresh and modern: an aggressive kick paired with a super distorted 808 lays down an unmissable rhythm. AJ’s flow is tight, laced with reggae- and dub-inspired rapid-fire phrasing. There’s a string sample running through the background and what sounds like a Rhodes piano holding down the melody.

“Paid In Full” is bound to stir up some nostalgia for longtime grime fans. This might just be the right time to bring that sound back. It’s distinctly UK, and it's always exciting to hear culture express itself so clearly through music. Go give it a spin!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!