Grime Scene Saviour

Album ∙ Rap ∙ 2025

Chip

“Jesus died at 33 but I can’t give up now,” Chip claims in the opening statement of his Messianic fifth studio album, Grime Scene Saviour. Already a veteran of the industry at this point in his career, the UK rapper has stayed true to his early promise to never run out of bars—opponents, however, are less abundant these days. Chip sharpened his pen in prolific clashes with grime titans like Bugzy Malone and Stormzy over the years, but here his outlook is more king of the castle than knight in shining armor. With production harking back to the nascent period of grime—and the title track setting the stage for a momentous teamup with founding figures including Skepta, JME, and D Double E—the record serves to cherish, respect, and preserve the integrity of a culture that Chip has been central to shaping since he was a teenage boy. There is the occasional surprise: “Function Riddim” utilizing a pitch-shifted sample of Rose Royce’s “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” or Jastin Martin bringing an R&B twist to proceedings on “Not the Same,” but at its core Grime Scene Saviour is rooted in tradition. For true introspection, look to the record’s final minutes, which find Chip reflecting on the price of fame and the weight of responsibility, whether its the discipline it takes to stay on track (“Tao then Highlight Room”) or the sacrifices he has made on the way. “It’s hard being a celebrity/Kinda feels like I lost my teens…” he laments on “Sad Song.” It’s a sobering end to what is otherwise an illustrious showcase of the fruits of his labor, but to his credit, it sounds like grime’s biggest advocate wouldn’t change a thing.