With Dave and Central Cee currently at the peak of their musical powers, coming together to produce one of the UK’s coldest projects in Split Decision felt like a moment overdue for the culture.
The roll-out of the four-track E.P began with the release of “Sprinter”, a single which embodied where Cench and Dave can go with their sounds combined and what it might do for the scene. The notion of both artists making a tape together gradually started to build noise and as Monday arrived, so did Split Decision.
Wherever you look, the E.P has been well-received and welcomed with open arms. Two artists with huge potential had dropped together and surfaced a sound befitting of listeners longing for more.
With the gifted duo setting the bar for the rest of the U.K, thoughts have been shift to the wider industry and who else could come together and deliver a seminal joint body of work
Here at GRM Daily, we have compiled a list of 9 potential collaborations which we’d love to hear.
Potter Payper x Rimzee
Two artists who have showcased hard work really pays off. Consistency is key for both Potter and Rimzee who have played their part in keeping the U.K Rap scene relevant. With West Ham victorious in Europe, East London would reign supreme if these two joined forces and we’ve seen the potential in this link-up previously. Both rappers have already featured on each other’s mixtapes and a full-length Potter and Rimzee project would bring the real back and take the pair to a new level.
Little Simz x Knucks x Wretch 32
This is the only trio on the list and what a triple threat we’ve assembled. Lyricism comes to the forefront of our minds when we think of Little Simz, Knucks and Wretch 32. When it comes to passing the torch to the next generation, Wretch is no stranger and we only have to rewind to 2015 for the iconic Young Fire Old Flame with Avelino. With Little Simz and Knucks already paving their own lane and in the process, and doing it with such style, the talented trio would arguably make a statement to the scene with the smoothest project since 2020’s three-headed Insomnia.
NSG x Tion Wayne
We’re now accustomed to hearing seasonal bangers from these two. NSG and Tion Wayne have evolved their artistry ever since coming together for 2018’s summer anthem “Options”. Sold-out shows used to be on the vision board, now both have a fan base which takes them across the world. With the bar still set high six years later, a reunion sounds appealing and coming together for a series of tracks would be a challenge all would accept.
Strandz x Nippa
The ceiling for both these artists is limitless. Strandz and Nippa have freshly entered the scene’s doors, but have already grabbed our attention with every release throwing us back to the early 00’s. Both artists have a clear direction to where they want to head in and distinctively stand out when putting concepts together for their visuals. Whether it’s the grit and hustle in Strandz’s tone or the smooth vocals of Nippa, pairing these two as a duo would cause a problem.
Pa Salieu x Backroad Gee
When you think of two artists with unmatched energy and charisma, I’m sure Pa Salieu and BackRoad Gee come to mind. The emergence of a new wave of rappers surfaced when the duo combined for 2020 banger “My Family”, and they’ve stamped their authority on the game ever since. With a collection of head-bopping releases, it feels right to predict Pa and Backroad uniting once more and an E.P would please a lot of listeners.
SamRecks x Sam Wise
At the forefront of a new sound entering the U.K scene are namesakes SamRecks and Sam Wise. If it’s slick flows over a bouncy, energetic production you’re after, these two have a catalogue to showcase. The leaders of the new-school have developed their artistic ability and gone from strength-to-strength over the years. It comes as a surprise that they haven’t collaborated previously, but together SamRecks and Sam Wise would provide swagger, vibes and bars in abundance.
Jorja Smith x Crazy Cousinz
The sounds of “Little Things” are still resonating with us and it wouldn’t be crazy to suggest Jorja Smith pushing out more Garage and Funky House releases. With the throwback feels in full motion, pairing the legendary Crazy Cousinz with Walsall’s finest would offer ultimate vibes and music which would age like fine wine. It’s been 14 years since the instant classic “Do You Mind” surfaced and a Crazy Cousinz x Jorja Smith collaboration would only see their successes go full circle.
Nines x Fredo
We’ve already touched on the importance of keeping U.K Rap relevant and two other rappers who are notorious for telling their stories are Nines and Fredo. The Northwest of London has been home to a selection of hard-hitting artists, and you would be mistaken for not putting this pair at the forefront of the list. Both possess powers outside of music, and with business ventures already secured, they present themselves as the complete package. From “I See You Shining” to “They Aint 100”, Nines and Fred have the lyrical tools to align and work magic on a joint project.
Ghetts x Kano
When you put together two veterans who have overseen and stayed relevant in the game for the last 20 years, this one makes a lot of sense. Ghetts and Kano have shown numerous times over the decades that their chemistry is unrivalled. After countless Eskimo Dances, Logansama sets and album features, both men have built a rapport that is deeper than music. Dave and Central Cee are the current trendsetters, but if you walk into a room and see Newham’s answer to KDB and Haaland, the energy is different. Whilst Ghetts and Kano already have numerous hits combined, the missing puzzle piece is a joint project which has been overdue since the early 00’s.