*This article was originally published in 2021. Dive back in to celebrate the release of Rolling Stone!
South London collective D Block Europe have been smashing the scene for years, with fan favourites like “Kitchen Kings” and “UFO”. But they’ve been putting in work for years prior to packing out the 02 and Alexandra Palace. Ever since their classic mixtape Home Alone dropped in 2019, fans have been calling for a sequel to this watershed moment.
This Friday, the D Block Europe guys have finally answered fans prayers by confirming Home Alone 2. To Celebrate the momentous occasion, we take a look back at seven of their old school bangers! Take in the list below and let us know if we missed any!
1. Young Adz – “Daily Duppy”
Firstly, we start with an early offering from a teenage Young Adz. In this vintage instalment of GRM’s Daily Duppy series, the youngster lights up this deep freestyle that talks of the turbulent emotions that come with his street lifestyle. Perhaps this was the content that paved the way towards something much bigger…
2. Young Adz ft. Aero Sinc – “Diamonds”
It would be wrong to compile a list of underrated DBE tracks without including a track co-signed by legendary American rapper Jadakiss. Young Adz and Aero Sinc were the first acts to be signed by the European branch of D-Block Records, and this track cemented them as a collective that deserved the opportunity. The chill, mellow single focuses on the loyalty within the group that goes beyond music. A cameo appearance from Jadakiss himself demonstrated the strength of this surprise UK-US link up. Diamonds really are forever; the group is still going strong today.
3. Young Adz, Dirtbike Lil Bantz & Aero Sinc – “Ringing”
Easily one of the most slept on tracks from DBE, “Ringing” was overlooked in 2015 as UK rap began to reach unexpected heights of widespread popularity. The cruddy video is representative of the chaotic streets which the group were caught up in, with the track referencing “age 18 getting in kilos”, “no sleep” and “shutting down blocks”. Accompanied by a visual from prominent director Morgan Keyz, this offering does not disappoint.
4. Young Adz, Dirtbike Lil Bantz & Aero Sinc – “Make It Out”
This deep tune focused on the collective’s attempts to balance road and music, drawing on their desire to make it out of their dangerous lifestyle. The melodic vocals from Aero Sinc complement the gritty, painful lyrics offered by his peers. Evidently, the track was foreboding in terms of their future. The collective are set to embark on another tour, confirming the success of their route to stardom!
5. Young Adz, Dirtbike Lil Bantz & Aero Sinc – “Pablo”
Energy is the word for this upbeat banger. “Pablo” is of course a nod to the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and his Medellin drug cartel, with the group establishing themselves as London’s dope boys. The skippy verses and catchy chorus create a litty tune that should have hit millions of views back in 2015. By this point, D-Block Europe are an established brand, with each member sporting DBE apparel throughout the visual.
6. Dirtbike Lil Bantz – “Sorry Not Sorry”
Dirtbike Lil Bantz (now LB) dropped this solo track in early 2016, with nothing but money on his mind. The cinematic video by Toxic is indicative of his wealth, showing the young rapper circling around Central London in a fresh Rolls Royce. This remix of Bryson Tiller’s original 2015 track does not disappoint.
7. Young Adz x Dirtbike Lil Bantz – “I Know What I Mean”
Similar to their current style, this cold track showed the UK scene what it was missing. Other UK rappers such as Asco and Mitch had bodied this instrumental, but D-Block unsurprisingly added their own drip. A sound extract from the infamous film “Paid In Full” set the scene at the beginning of the tune. The duo used Canary Wharf’s skyline to accompany this experimental style that arguably birthed their current sound. The humorous ad-libs fitted perfectly with the hard-hitting wordplay offered by the south Londoners.