Essential Skream

As you should already know, Skream's officially played his last dubstep show for the time being. To some, it might seem like an abrupt decision, but f

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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As you should already know, Skream's officially played his last dubstep show for the time being. To some, it might seem like an abrupt decision, but for those of us who have been paying attention, we've seen the writing on the wall for a while. No matter what circumstances brought about Skream's shift in sound, he's been consciously moving from the dubstep/140BPM/bass music sound to different tempos, namely house and (recently) disco. Along with Benga, Skream is the host of BBC Radio 1's Dubstep Show, and they even have a special "130 at 11:30" segment, where they play a firing track in the 130BPM range. This isn't new.

At DAD, however, we have to mark these occasions. Like many dubstep heads who've been around since the "Dubstep Warz," Skream was one of the figures that got us into the dubstep sound in the first place. Over the last eight years (!), he's left a trail of destroyed bassbins, punishing any soundsystem that stepped up, trying to contain his low-end. We wanted to look back at the essential dubstep tracks in Skream's catalog, not as a swan song or lamenting for the past, but just to remember that, hell, some producers get tired and need to explore other genres, especially when they've helped nurture and progress something as huge as dubstep now is.

Skream - "Midnight Request Line"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2005

Skream's "Midnight Request Line" is seen as one of the most important tunes within the dubstep scene. It was definitely the first crossover track that dubstep had ever seen while maintaining an eerie feel through out. Minor chords bringing out major change, and Skream didn't even know it. "Midnight Request Line" was the introduction to dubstep for many.

Loefah & Skream - "28g"

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Label: Tectonic

Year: 2005

Loefah's one of those producers that you always hear being brought up, but the lack of tunes in his catalog has people sleeping on him. Tectonic's third release featured two tunes produced by Loefah and Skream, and this one maintains a macabre vibe; you might need to leave the lights on while this one drops. Great look at the open space that tunes used to have back in the day.

Skream - "Bahl Fwd"

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Label: Tectonic
Year: 2006

The percussion on this one is key; sure, it's probably just a great sample that he looped up, but throwing it around such a monstrous bassline adds a lot ot the heavy, dub-wise sound that he was going for. The bassline on this one is deadly, too. One for the sub-lovers.

Skream - "0800 Dub"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2006

Skream's Skreamizm and Freeizm series have been great glimpses into the tunes he has sitting in the vaults, and this gem from Skreamizm Vol. 2 holds tight, not wanting to let go. He flips a simple melody out of a sung note, slaps it atop an infectious bassline, then dabbles some added zaniness around it, turning what could be a subtle beat into something much more.

Skream - "Stagger"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2006

Track #1 from Skream's debut album, Skream!, "Stagger" was the best way to introduce those who might know Skream from a couple of his more moody bit to. Full of dub-wise flavoring, from the echo'd keys to the classic toastin' vocal snippets, this one goes from a more modern (at the time) wobble flavor to a huge, throwback dub tune. Great to see the roots of the dub scene thrown in a more "current" state of sound.

Skream - "Dutch Flowerz"

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Label: Tempa
Year: 2006

It's interesting to see how much of a dub ethos a number of his earlier productions had laced throught them. "Dutch Flowerz" comes on like a Sunday afternoon weed session, full of hope, bounce, and life. Slinky bass thrown in to awaken the soul. Get high to this, then go fly to this.

Distance vs. Skream - "Political Warfare"

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Label: Chestplate

Year: 2007

One for the headnodders right here. The layering of that guitar over the plodding, deep bass is a thing of beauty. A glance at the past with through today's eyes. Distance and Skream had been doing it since the beginning, and them aligning for this beast is so necessary.

Skream - "2D"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2008

The funk going on within this one is next level. Feels like a twisted jam found inside the world's coolest computer. We don't know it to be law, but this feels like his lowkey nod to the soundscapes that Aphex Twin would cook up.

La Roux - "In for the Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix)"

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Label: Kitsuné Music

Year: 2009

Few tunes like this remix created new dubsteppers. Appearing not only as an official remix, the track found its way into an episode of HBO's Entourage, a commericial for 2009 video game Bayonetta, and the trailer for the 2012 movie Dredd. The song is an abosolutely intense slow-burn with La Roux's sensous vocals taking on a new sinister feel as Skream provides the low-end wobbles. The track's pure unbridled emotion has made this an no-questions-asked classic.

Skream - "Trapped In A Dark Bubble"

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Label: Tectonic

Year: 2009

Tectonic is one of those "buy on sight" imprints for serious dubstep/bass music heads, and seeing Skream's name on a release should mean "buy two copies because we'll rinse the first." "Trapped In A Dark Bubble" sounds just like you'd expect being trapped in a dark bubble would feel, if that bubble happened to be sitting on top of a massive subwoofer. All kinds of bubbly reverberations going down in that bassline, with the percussion and keys raining down. All-encompassing tune.

Skream - "Wibbler"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2010

Skream's sophomore album, Outside The Box, was definitely that, but he didn't abandon the dubstep that got people into his tunes in the first place. "Wibbler" feels like its born from the depths of the sea, shooting through the frozen waters and rising mightily above the surface. Total destruction once this one hits.

Skream - "Lightnin' VIP"

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Label: n/a

Year: 2010

Skream's Freeizm album was a great Christmas treat in 2010, and when you turned on cuts like "Lightnin' VIP," which is a full-on bassline assault, accented by some great amen break edits, you knew he was way too giving. It's like buying your mom a sweater and she bought you a car. Maybe not. Whatever the case may be, Skream's love of old school jungle is alive, well, and on display in huge monsters like this.

Skream - "CTO"

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Label: n/a

Year: 2010

2010 was all about the fierce freebies from Skream, and "CTO" (aka "Croydon Take Over") was one of the fiercest. There's not much that's needed around a big bassline. Sure, the drums add the proper emphasis and "oomph" to the tune, but this is all about that heavyweight BASS.

Skream - "Raw Dogz"

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Label: n/a

Year: 2010

Tunes like this are immediate reloads. That Wu-Tang sampling intro leading into that disgusting drop is just too much to let sit. During their Magnetic Man campaign, Skream promised that if their single "I Need Air" hit the Top 10, he'd give this badboy away for free, and he kept his word. Now you have a dubstep anthem for your Grand Theft Auto sessions.

Skream - "Kinky"

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Label: Ringo
Year: 2010

And now you have a dubstep beast to soundtrack your latest bedroom sessions, or wherever you get it popping. All about maintaining a rhyhthm, no matter what's thrown at you. Get your dub-infuesed tantric on.

Skream ft. Sam Frank - "Where You Should Be"

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Label: Tempa

Year: 2011

Magic. A perfect example of being open to what a producer can provide. It's one thing to expect Skream to come correct with a vocalist. This is pure aural ecstacy. Sam Frank and Skream craft some beautiful tracks together, and this is the biggest example of how their chemistry can move mountains. Truly makes the hair stand up on our necks, arms, and soul. This is "change your life" music.

Skream & Example - "Shot Yourself in the Foot Again"

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Label: Ministry of Sound

Year: 2011

Skream has a great track record in both moody, eerie tunes and working with vocalists, and someone like Example knows how to weave his way into big dance tracks, so this one is a match made in heaven. You get the emotional vibe from Example with the gutteral release from that unforgettable bass.

Skream - "Nefariousa"

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Label: Scion A/V

Year: 2011

Skream's great at a lot of things, and when he gets into that twisted, noise-y side of his dubstep production, watch out. There's nothing to do but freak the fuck out, kind of like how the sad clown does in this clip.

THE 10 BEST DUBSTEP MUSIC VIDEOS OF ALL TIME

Skream - "Rigging"

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Label: Disfigured Dubz
Year: 2011

Instantly recognizable, infinitely lethal, "Rigging" is one of those tunes that might cause a room full of people to riot. Those omnious sounds in the intro let you hear this one coming a mile away, but once it's here, you're trapped. A great trap to be in, as this one is all bass and fury, but a trap nonetheless.

Skream - "Mood to Funk"

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Label: Digital Soundboy
Year: 2013

This tune right here has gone through a number of different names, from "Mood2Fuck" and "Buffalo Kut," and had been on the wishlists of many dubstep fans who love those no nonsense, hoodie-wearing stormers that Skream provides. There's not much to complain about here - you've got your huge, hypnotic bassline being accented by a number of different sounds and counter-melodies, but really it's just about that huge bass, primed and ready to damage your system(s).

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