BARZ AND BRUTALISM

Barbican Estate ©George Whale
With its raw, heavily textured and robust aesthetics, the Barbican provided the striking backdrop visuals to the grime artists Skepta’s seminal music video “Shutdown”. The single and music video were both released in 2015 and is considered a “turning point for grime’s visuals and it’s music making their way into the mainstream” which makes the Barbican estate an important part of grime’s cultural heritage.
Kestrel House ©George Whale
Rut Blees Luxemburg photographed the tower in 1995 for her project “Towering Inferno” and the image of Kestrel House was also used as cover artwork for Mike Skinner and his group’s debut album, “Original Pirate Material” in 2002. Better known as ‘The Streets’, Skinner’s group receive critical acclaim and the title, and cover shot of the album, provides a source of inspiration for the sound and video recordings of MC’s across the grime and garage cultures, both of which broke into the mainstream popular culture through illegal pirate radio shows broadcast from Brutalist tower blocks across the capital.
Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate ©George Whale
With it’s dynamic and dramatic design, this Brutalist estate has been used a backdrop in several television programmes as well as for music and fashion adverts for Nike, JD Sports and MTV. More importantly, it has provided excellent visuals in numerous music videos for UK grime artists such as “Right Hand Man” by Deko, and “Nothing Like Yours” by Slewdem Mafia.
Kestrel House ©George Whale
Rut Blees Luxemburg photographed the tower in 1995 for her project “Towering Inferno” and the image of Kestrel House was also used as cover artwork for Mike Skinner and his group’s debut album, “Original Pirate Material” in 2002. Better known as ‘The Streets’, Skinner’s group receive critical acclaim and the title, and cover shot of the album, provides a source of inspiration for the sound and video recordings of MC’s across the grime and garage cultures, both of which broke into the mainstream popular culture through illegal pirate radio shows broadcast from Brutalist tower blocks across the capital.
Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate ©George Whale
With it’s dynamic and dramatic design, this Brutalist estate has been used a backdrop in several television programmes as well as for music and fashion adverts for Nike, JD Sports and MTV. More importantly, it has provided excellent visuals in numerous music videos for UK grime artists such as “Right Hand Man” by Deko, and “Nothing Like Yours” by Slewdem Mafia.
Broadwater Farm Estate ©George Whale
The Broadwater Farm estate is notoriously known for the murderous riots that took place there in 1985. These riots were triggered from the death of Cynthia Jarrett, the grandmother to the grime MC, Scorcher. She died of a heart attack in her flat on the estate when armed police officers raided it, looking for her son. The estate was used as the backdrop to Wretch 32’s music video “Unorthodox”, a grime MC who went to a local school. More commonly referred to as “The Farm”, the Broadwater Farm estate has clearly played an interesting role in London’s history and has a firm connection to the UK grime scene.
Barbican Estate ©George Whale
With its raw, heavily textured and robust aesthetics, the Barbican provided the striking backdrop visuals to the grime artists Skepta’s seminal music video “Shutdown”. The single and music video were both released in 2015 and is considered a “turning point for grime’s visuals and it’s music making their way into the mainstream” which makes the Barbican estate an important part of grime’s cultural heritage.
Trellick Tower ©George Whale
Trellick tower has developed an iconic relationship with grime music, providing the visuals for the American rapper Denzel Curry in his video for “Knotty Head (UK Remix)”. His video also features a West London grime MC, Ché Moran AKA AJ Tracey. The building was also used as the setting for Donae’o’s music video to “Black”, which features grime artists Dizzee Rascal and JME, along with many other grime MC’s making cameo appearances.
Trellick Tower ©George Whale
Trellick tower has developed an iconic relationship with grime music, providing the visuals for the American rapper Denzel Curry in his video for “Knotty Head (UK Remix)”. His video also features a West London grime MC, Ché Moran AKA AJ Tracey. The building was also used as the setting for Donae’o’s music video to “Black”, which features grime artists Dizzee Rascal and JME, along with many other grime MC’s making cameo appearances.
Worlds End Estate ©George Whale
Influencing fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, with the naming of her boutique, “World’s End” that defined the look of the punk era during the 1980s. Now, this Brutalist estate is having its effect on the UK grime scene, being used as one of the visual backdrops in the music video to “Samantha”, by up-and coming grime MCs, Dave and J Hus.
Tiverton Estate ©George Whale
Tiverton estate is home to one of the grime scenes most respected and intellectual lyricists, Jermaine Sinclair, AKA Wretch 32. He pays homage to this estate where he was raised when he created a digital monologue to question the meaning of a ‘modern day superstar’ in his video “When I see you, I see me”.
Barbican Estate ©George Whale
With its raw, heavily textured and robust aesthetics, the Barbican provided the striking backdrop visuals to the grime artists Skepta’s seminal music video “Shutdown”. The single and music video were both released in 2015 and is considered a “turning point for grime’s visuals and it’s music making their way into the mainstream” which makes the Barbican estate an important part of grime’s cultural heritage.
Aylesbury Estate ©George Whale
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, better known by his stage name, Tinie Tempah grew up on this estate paying tribute to his roots of where his musical career began back by shooting his music video “Find Me” featuring Jake Bugg on the estate.
Broadwater Farm Estate ©George Whale
The Broadwater Farm estate is notoriously known for the murderous riots that took place there in 1985. These riots were triggered from the death of Cynthia Jarrett, the grandmother to the grime MC, Scorcher. She died of a heart attack in her flat on the estate when armed police officers raided it, looking for her son. The estate was used as the backdrop to Wretch 32’s music video “Unorthodox”, a grime MC who went to a local school. More commonly referred to as “The Farm”, the Broadwater Farm estate has clearly played an interesting role in London’s history and has a firm connection to the UK grime scene.
Aylesbury Estate ©George Whale
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, better known by his stage name, Tinie Tempah grew up on this estate paying tribute to his roots of where his musical career began back by shooting his music video “Find Me” featuring Jake Bugg on the estate.
Barbican Estate ©George Whale
With its raw, heavily textured and robust aesthetics, the Barbican provided the striking backdrop visuals to the grime artists Skepta’s seminal music video “Shutdown”. The single and music video were both released in 2015 and is considered a “turning point for grime’s visuals and it’s music making their way into the mainstream” which makes the Barbican estate an important part of grime’s cultural heritage.
Worlds End Estate ©George Whale
Influencing fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, with the naming of her boutique, “World’s End” that defined the look of the punk era during the 1980s. Now, this Brutalist estate is having its effect on the UK grime scene, being used as one of the visual backdrops in the music video to “Samantha”, by up-and coming grime MCs, Dave and J Hus.
Balfron Tower ©George Whale
Balfron Tower, provided the visuals for the American rapper Denzel Curry in his video for “Knotty Head” and features MC AJ Tracey with cameo appearances from artists Dizzee Rascal and JME.
Trellick Tower ©George Whale
Trellick tower has developed an iconic relationship with grime music, providing the visuals for the American rapper Denzel Curry in his video for “Knotty Head (UK Remix)”. His video also features a West London grime MC, Ché Moran AKA AJ Tracey. The building was also used as the setting for Donae’o’s music video to “Black”, which features grime artists Dizzee Rascal and JME, along with many other grime MC’s making cameo appearances.
Worlds End Estate ©George Whale
Influencing fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, with the naming of her boutique, “World’s End” that defined the look of the punk era during the 1980s. Now, this Brutalist estate is having its effect on the UK grime scene, being used as one of the visual backdrops in the music video to “Samantha”, by up-and coming grime MCs, Dave and J Hus.
Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate ©George Whale
With it’s dynamic and dramatic design, this Brutalist estate has been used a backdrop in several television programmes as well as for music and fashion adverts for Nike, JD Sports and MTV. More importantly, it has provided excellent visuals in numerous music videos for UK grime artists such as “Right Hand Man” by Deko, and “Nothing Like Yours” by Slewdem Mafia.
Kestrel House ©George Whale
Rut Blees Luxemburg photographed the tower in 1995 for her project “Towering Inferno” and the image of Kestrel House was also used as cover artwork for Mike Skinner and his group’s debut album, “Original Pirate Material” in 2002. Better known as ‘The Streets’, Skinner’s group receive critical acclaim and the title, and cover shot of the album, provides a source of inspiration for the sound and video recordings of MC’s across the grime and garage cultures, both of which broke into the mainstream popular culture through illegal pirate radio shows broadcast from Brutalist tower blocks across the capital.

EXHIBITION

A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF SOME OF THE BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE OF LONDON THAT HAS HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EMERGENCE AND AESTHETICS OF UK RAP AND GRIME MUSIC

This seminal work by George Whale as part of his ‘Brutal Grime’ work, documents several Brutalist estates in London that extremely important to the British underground music sub-culture, ‘grime’. These buildings are the locations where grime music was born, broadcasted, filmed, performed, and some were even the estates where some of the UK’s the most successful rap and grime artists of today grew up.

With the prospect of demolition that has been looming over numerous Brutalist estates in London over the decades, the UK grime scene has become crucial in the resurgence of the popularity of Brutalism in our present-day culture.

His photo-zine documents a few of the most interesting estates that have already made their mark in popular UK grime culture and are now an integral part of British social, and architectural, heritage and intends to persuade audiences that these are buildings which should be considered an essential part of the UK grime scene’s development, and its aesthetics.

BRUTALIST ESTATES ASSOCIATED WITH ARTISTS

Giggs _ Sumner Road Estate, Peckham, South London
Skepta & JME _ Meridian Walk Estate, Tottenham, North London
Wretch 32 _ Tiverton Estate, Haringey, North London
AJ Tracey _ Hazlewood Estate, Kensington, West London
Wiley _ Clare House, Bow, East London
Tinie Tempah _ Aylesbury Estate, Southwark, South London
Dizzee Rascal _ Crossways Estate, Bow, East London
Lethal Bizzle _ Boundary Road Estate, Walthamstow, East London
Krept & Konan _ Red Hill and Central Hill Estate, Gipsy Hill, South London
K Koke _ Stonebridge Estate, Harlesden, North West London
Nines & Skrapz _ Church Road Estate, Harlesden, North London
Big Zuu & Fredo _ Mozart Estate, Queen’s Park, West London
Ghetts _ An estate in Plaistow, East London
Asher D _ North Peckham Estate, Peckham, South East London
Chip _ St. Anne’s Estate, Tottenham, North London
Abra Kadabra & Kush _ Broadwater Farm Estate, Tottenham
Youngs Teflon _ Aylesbury Estate
Ray BLK & Elf Kid _ Pepys Estate, Deptford
Scribz, Dimzy, Monkey – 67 _ Brixton/Tulse Hill Estate
Devlin _ Housing estate in Bermondsey/Dagenham
Skinnyman _ Six Acres Estate
D Double E _Wanstead Estate in East London
Bashy _ Kensal Rise, North West London
Tinchy Stryder _ Crossways Estate, East London
Dot Rotten/Zeph Ellis _ Stockwell, South London
Sneakbo _ Angell Town Estate, Brixton, South London
P Money _ Estate in Lewisham, South London

Source: George Whale

Authors and Credits George WhaleLocation Various, LondonLink https://www.georgewhale.com/