Introducing The Shortlist.
Featuring the hottest MC’s, rappers and artists that you’re going to be hearing a hell of a lot of over the next 12 months and beyond. From rap to grime, R&B to drill, there’s a flavour for everybody on our new album.
Handpicked by us at GRM Daily to create some original music, we’ve brought together the UK undergrounds freshest talent into one place, just for you.
This is the future of our scene and we’re over the moon to be able to provide this platform for them.
The album is out now across all streaming platforms: iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify. While you get familiar with the music, we thought it’s only right we start introducing the key players from the project.
Now, we’d like to introduce you to Ray Niro.
What ends are you repping?
“Born and bred in North London, Tottenham. Went school over here, most my people over here, but obviously I’ve got people all over north init. I’m trying to rep for the whole of the north and not just my part.”
How long have you been making music?
“I’ve been writing bars since I was like nine. I’ve been recording music since I was 13. I used to be part of a little group in school and we used to go to the studio there to record tracks. We’d put them out on YouTube and SoundCloud and shit. I’ve been doing music seriously though for close to a year..”
When did you first decide you wanted to be an MC? What gravitated you towards it?
“When I was a kid I dreamed of being a rapper. I saw people like Chipmunk making it, so I was thinking ‘boy if they can do that, then I can do that as well init. I first decided I wanted to rap when I was 13 and we were doing the songs as a group, that made me want to pursue it properly I just wanted to live that rapper life init. Making music, having fun, getting girls and all of that, that’s what gravitated me towards it.”
Who are your top five favourite MC’s and why?
“Top five, dead or alive, right now? Probably Big L, Biggie, Jay-Z, Youngs Teflon and Gucci Mane. But don’t quote me on that because it cold change at any moment. Everyone there is lyrical init, they’ve all got flow and can bounce on the beat. They’re all versatile, that’s why they make my top five.”
What do you want listeners to take away from a Ray Niro song?
“I just want people to take in my experiences and use them as motivation to try and get out the hood and try and better themselves.”
Tell me about “By The Gun”, your track on The Shortlist; who produced it, what’s the story behind it?
“It was produced by a guy called Ant Beatz, he does bare beats on YouTube. This one is a straight, bouncy hip-hop tune. It’s got some melodies on the hook done by a female singer and it’s just based on some real life experiences. Some stuff we’ve gone through going up, trying to get to this point, as well as various different type of people that I’ve met. That I’ve been around and am still around now.”
When can we expect a debut project from you? What can we expect from it?
“I can’t really say when I’m gonna be dropping one. I’ve got to make sure the time’s right. When I do, you can expect there to be bars, you can expect there to be melodies, some hype tracks with some energy. And some tracks straight from the heart, emotional tings and that (laughs).”
Out of everybody in the world – dead and alive – who would you most like to work with on a tune?
“Really and truly, I’d like to make a tune with Aaliyah. Get some old school vibes on there. I know that me and her on a tune would sound wavy.”
What are your aspirations for the next five years?
“To be a major artist worldwide. To be at least two albums in. I also want to have my own record label and be building up new artists.”
What’s on the near horizon for you? Anything the people should be looking out for?
“I’ve got a new track called “Free Up” dropping on the 1st May on GRM. This one is like a drill/trap song with a bounce too it. It’s got some energy there. Look out for that.”