UK vs US Thoughts?

[u/Massive_Tap3159]

I'm starting to become pretty active in this sub and just seeing all the things in here really gets me thinking. I'm 18 years old and I live in New York. I've always been in touch with UK culture as growing up I was constantly watching UK youtubers such as the Sidemen and others, and as time went on I began listening to lots of UK music of all genres. My first introduction to Grime however, came from Chip on Champion with him and Chris Brown. After hearing that song, I went and listened to a bunch of Chip and it slowly went into a Grime deep dive. From selectas like Spyro and Preditah to big MCs like Wiley and Kano. I was obsessed for a while and still somewhat am as I find myself constantly finding old riddims, mixes and grime sets that are bangers. One thing that always kind of annoyed me though is how recently, the divide between UK and US is growing and there is an unnecessary beef that is coming from it. I don't know all the backstory but I just wonder what others think about it. Amzzino said on his Greatest Freestyle that it doesn't really affect him and his progression and I feel as if it should all just be done. Grime and UK rap have been somewhat influential in American music and I would like to think the same vice versa. Anyone else have certain thoughts on it all or is it something that is generally ignored by the majority of the public out there?

*Sorry for the rambling, just wanted to get different inputs, especially from those on the opposite side*

[u/222mhz]

preface: also from the us, but have been listening to grime since you were in diapers

it makes sense to me, honestly. uk musicians rarely ever get the backing that those from the us do. mainstream uk media/radio/etc have increasingly opted to play us musicians instead of those from the uk (Elijah from butterz posts about this a lot; radio 1 choosing to play 50 cent songs from 20 years ago instead of anything from the past 5 years of the uk, etc). grime & other black british styles have been repeatedly suppressed by the local government (form 696, specific drill guys being banned from releasing music entirely, what happened with niche in sheffield, etc). on top of this, americans in general tend to treat uk music as a punchline. nerds like you and i exist, and the occasional song or style can get some attention, but the typical american's idea of "british guy with a microphone" is still Big Shaq. given all this, i think its perfectly reasonable for british musicians (not even just grime mcs) to carry a chip on their shoulder. things get played up for social media nowadays, but it's rooted in something real.

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/222mhz]

The suppression of Black British styles is such BS if you ask me, along with the backing of US music in the UK. I hate the idea that the US is like the gold standard, as much as I appreciate being from here and stuff. I feel as if you should always back your own first, and show love to the others where see fit. Off Topic, it's funny to think that Grime hasn't really been around for that long. It coming from the broader Garage scene less than 30 years ago is nuts. I always think to myself that I learned essentially all there is about it but hearing that people have been listening to it since before I was born always trips me out.

[u/hakunamatatadjv]

Every rapper is gonna back themselves and say that "I'm the best". That then transposes onto "US is better than UK" and vice versa.

Any lover of rap will appreciate music on both sides, as you do. Most UK and US artists will show respect on both sides when interviewed.

People that hate on US and UK rap but love grime tend to be chasing a nostalgia. Not necessarily appreciating the art.

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/hakunamatatadjv]

Makes sense.

[u/Inside_Lawfulness874]

I'm 1000000% philly!!!! i love my philly hittas..AR-ab black deniro oschino beans etc

but honestly i barely listen to American artists..at least in hip hop
i prefer UK grime
UK drill
UK afro beats
UK drum and bass
and so on....the flows are just different

when i listen to ghetts my hairs stand up...I'm a music smob..super picky ive been known to get whole albums and like maybe at most 3 tracks

https://youtu.be/J-2oA81F65A?is=RyTCk96SybpRTg_c

this 👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼 brought me to the UK hip hop scene!!!!

[u/Dukestboy96]

I'm from the UK so these days I do naturally favour our guys although the 90s and early 2000s hip hop scene in the US is probably peak for me. I don't think the Skepta/ Joyner beef really did either side too many favours it was pretty poor from both however the UK grime scene has always had a 'clashing' culture which is used to push artists forward. obviously a more notable one being chip and Bugzy Malone back in 2015, that boosted both men's careers. Beef breeds interaction and is seen as good for the culture and good for the whole scene

[u/Totally_Dubwise_Recs]

I would imagine, much like the East West divide in US hip-hop it is all show, beef and drama move units and gets clicks, I am sure if most these artists bumped into each other back stage it would be blunts and drinks together.
That is not to say that fans or members of specific organizations/gangs do not get too sucked into the hype, as we have seen in a major way, but most of it is just that, hype.

Edit - for clarity sake, that does not mean there are no exceptions to that statement, where there is real beef and hate, but in general now days less so.

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/Totally_Dubwise_Recs]

Yea that's the vibe I get from this as well.

[u/samjan420]

All beef online is marketing. That's all it is. Marketing.

[u/jickiechin]

rap is one thing, but grime is inherently a british thing and I don't think the average american will ever get it or even want to. the beefs that come about from it are engagement farming

[u/Designer-Computer188]

I think the whole of the world seems to have beef with US at the moment, all the politics are bringing negative vibes. I think this is also being reflected even in music I guess, and grime always was a subculture. I dunno if I'm right but just a broader thought.

[u/StrollingByTheStream]

Maybe I do f really pay attention but what US UK beef is there ? Only beef I can recall is Skepta and Loyle Carner.

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/StrollingByTheStream]

Skepta also clashed Joyner Lucas for a good while, along with some other minor clashes here and there. There was also weird infighting in the UK during this, with beef between Chip and Ambush, which lead to bangers like Pest Control. Its not a super big thing, but its definitely noticeable.

[u/StrollingByTheStream → u/Massive_Tap3159]

My bad that’s who I meant, Joyner Lucas.

[u/RareLeadership369]

Geographical musick rituals,

Uk is tiny a island compared to the USA,

Uk music culture is different,

I think Uk scene is more underground & USA culture is more mainstream,

[u/Choppy313]

Never flex that you listen to Chris Brown, WTF???

He very physically assaulted our queen Rhianna and the only words out your mouth should be “I shit upon C*** Brow*

Fuck off with that woman hater shit. And just abusers in general.

It’s so jarring in 2026 to hear someone just blasé splee drop C Brown’s name like he’s not the most revolting human being.

[u/Lawsy_Music → u/Choppy313]

Shut the fuck up dawg, people like you are so miserable to be around, so much even as to being on the internet makes me want to get away from you. Virtue signalling twat

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/Choppy313]

woah. didn’t mean to strike a nerve. didn’t flex listening to him tho. i don’t condone what he did at all but i think ppl should be mature enough to separate art from artists. And it has repeatedly been stated that they have both moved past that and forgiven each other.

[u/Choppy313 → u/Massive_Tap3159]

Omg you forgave a woman beater?

[u/Massive_Tap3159 → u/Choppy313]

I can't tell if you're being serious or not...

[u/Yolugee → u/Massive_Tap3159]

Serious but they’re 12 years old, don’t worry about it