D Double E

Born Darren Dixon, the British rapper and grime pioneer D Double E stands among the central figures who helped shape the UK grime movement, guiding its emergence from the foundations of drum'n'bass, jungle, and garage. He first honed his MC skills over jungle rhythms at London house parties before quickly moving onto pirate radio airwaves. That early immersion in jungle fostered a rapid-fire delivery, requiring him to temper his pace once grime began taking shape. Over time his verses became recognized for weaving together dancehall, grime, and rap influences. During the genre's rise he joined forces with Ghetts, Kano, Marcus Nasty, Terror Danjah, and Dizzee Rascal to establish N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, yet eventually left the collective after clashing with its then-leader Marcus Nasty. In 2014 he assembled a tighter but equally potent unit alongside Monkstar and his longtime associate Footsie, naming the group Newham Generals after their East London roots. The crew inked a deal with Dizzee Rascal's independent imprint Dirtee Stank in 2004, though Monkstar departed shortly afterward over creative differences. Operating as a duo, they issued their first full-length project, Generally Speaking, in 2009. By 2014 Dixon had turned his attention to solo work, launching the Bluku Music label to release his own material. Through that outlet he dropped singles such as 2015's "Street Fighter Riddim" and 2017's "That's How I Like It," while continuing collaborations with fellow artists during the intervening years. His first solo album, Jackuum, arrived in 2018.