personally. Coming from Newham, a borough in east London - the Generals comprise of a DJ and two MCs - DJ Tubby, Footsie, and D Double E. Signed to the Dizzee’s Dirtee Stank label, they represent a new era in the expansion of the UK street sound known as grime. Want proof? Check their mixtape, “Welcome to Newham Vol 1” produced in conjunction with underground dons Lord of the Decks. And if you can wait long enough until Dizzee’s third album, you’ll find Newham General productions on there too. Dizzee fans will already know D Double E, the uniquely-voiced MC who supplied the hook on Dizzee’s 2004 club banger “Give U More”. Dizzee and D Double had known each other for years, since meeting on pirate station Flava FM in 1999. When Dizzee approached D Double about his solo material, he discovered the rich seam of material the Generals had been working on. The trio formed late in 2003, graduating from grime’s legendary NASTY Crew, once also home to Kano. Growing up in Newham, Footsie and D Double were close neighbours and D Double and Monkey went to school together. They all lived along the same road in Newham…and do they still? “Of course man”, laughs Footsie. “Otherwise Newham Generals would be false advertising!” Footsie laughs a lot, but on the mic he’s ferocious yet unmistakable. Each of the Generals have individual and different lyrical flows not a given with some MCs and Footsies is gruffer than gruff. Monkey’s is rigid and clipped. D Double’s is fluid and mangled.