The top ten best Skream tracks in dubstep history

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen or heard much of Skream. The last time he played anywhere near me I drunkenly asked him all about the Brighton Party Bus… Forgetting (really) that he was from Croydon. I don’t use the term ‘parred’ very often, but I think it’s safe to say that’s well and truly what I got.

This time things are going to be different. I’m not going to drink (or speak), and besides—I’m a professional now.

The birthing partner of dubstep and most certainly its legal guardian, Skream has been twisting knobs and faders for longer than most of us have been eating solids. I’m lucky enough to have a lovely little club in the middle of pretty much nowhere within driving distance (I’m also lucky enough to have someone drive me in their car since I drove mine into the back of someone on the M6). SMACK (yep, like the drug, well done) is playing host to their first ever Global Warming launch party (an honour for a 600 capacity club in Leamington Spa might I add).

Before I impose myself onto anyone’s passenger seat, I’m usually asked to make a down payment in the form of a CD (plus petrol).

Here it is—sorry driver. The top ten best Skream tracks in dubstep history:

Midnight request line – You might recognise the melody in Midnight Request Line, not because you’re a dubstep connoisseur (you might be) but maybe a Steven Speilberg movie buff? Some smart Aleck made the comparison on YouTube and now it’s all we can think of when we hear it. Cheers, Aleck.

La Roux—In For The Kill (Skream remix) – That. Bassline. Five years ago, that bassline altercated with almost every single half-decent sub across the country. And if that pause at 3:55 doesn’t make you skream… This article is not for you.

Filth – Does exactly what it says on the tin: with a deeper bassline than a dig at your mum and a stabbier synth than a walk down Hackney High Street, ‘Filth’ needs no further commentary.

Skream and Benga – Ice Cream Jelly Roll – There’s a lot to be said about filthy dubstep, but in this case, words fail. An absolute blinder of a tune: not to everyone’s taste, mind.

Klaxons – it’s not over yet (Skream remix) –  Hands up – who remembers the Klaxons? (they’re back, by the way). Klaxons helped millions of youth in their time make that awkward transition from indie to dance, which is why it’s so iconic that Skream took that transition one step further and threw the youth into a complete state of disarray by adding a filthy bassline into the equation. Do we mosh? Do we bop? What do we do? Skank it out.

Kreepin’ – regardless of your thoughts on R&B, Aaliyah is not one to be remixed lightly.& If you’re a fan of the original, you should definitely check out beatboxer Rehzel champion these lyrics as if they were his own. This track holds particular value to me – it was the first time I ever heard anyone beatbox, and I would not believe for some months that he was making such amazing sounds with nothing more than his voice and a mic.

Anticipate feat. Sam Frank – hear me out on this one. Big room synths, granted. But who doesn’t love a bit of big room now and then? As a dubstep producer, this is probably as meaningful as it gets. The lyrics are about baby Skream, and for someone that was once considered a bit of a lothario, it’s pretty big of him to produce something so heart-warming.

Where You Should Be – already on number 8, but he’s got so much more to give?! I’m seriously contemplating making this a ‘Top Twelve’, but who’d read that? This is electronic ball room music. Hand in hand, head to shoulder and a quick fumble behind the bike sheds. If they even exist anymore.

Burning Up – If you didn’t just feel a shudder then, you should shut this page down. Immediately. Or maybe you’re just not listening to it on the right system. In which case, save me for later and come back when you’re not on your laptop. It’s hard to imagine this was released in 2009; there is nothing post-2000 about this track. And that’s what makes it so utterly spine-tingling.

Cassius – I Love You So (Skream Remix) – slap yourself like I just did if you almost forgot about Cassius. I’ve included the Annie Mac YouTube clip, because if you didn’t hear it from her, then you heard it too late. BRB – dancing on the ceiling.

So there you have it – Skream’s ultimate top ten tracks of all time. I only hope that you get half as much pleasure out of listening to this as I have. Think I’m wrong? Let me know! I could never fit all of Skream’s masterpieces into one page. I don’t have the time (nor do The Noise Gate have the bandwidth) and, quite frankly – neither does anyone else. The man is a master.