- Words Blessing Borode
With a number of Britain's biggest Grime MCs set to feature, new film 'Against All Odds' will also see the rebirth of iconic Grime TV station Channel U.
Legendary directors and Grime pioneers, Femi Oyeniran and Nicky “Slimting” Walker, have joined forces to create and star in the Grime movie ‘Against All Odds’.
Accompanied by an EP soundtrack from newly launched Motown Records UK, the movie brings together a number of legendary names in the Grime scene including D Double E, Sir Spyro, Jammer and Flowdan, as well as an all-star 2020 remix of Maxwell D’s “Serious” ft. Capo Lee, Novelist, So Large, Bruza & Tempa T.
‘Against All Odds’ pays homage to the roots of Grime music and it’s evolution from an underground phenomenon to its current status as the nation’s biggest British youth culture movement.
The film tells the story of a young MC who tries to establish himself within the growing UK grime scene. Set in the early 2000s against a London backdrop, the film re-imagines some ground-shifting moments in Grime history as well as live events such as ‘Young Man Standing’ and ‘Stampede’.
‘Against All Odds’ will be brought to life by a promising group of young actors – including the musician Miraa May, Tyrell Morgan and Gabin Kongolo – as well as MCs appearing as themselves, including D Double E, Ghetts, Jammer, Grime Gran and more.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. ‘Against All Odds’ will also be collaborating with Link Up TV to restore Grime TV station, Channel U on November 13th. The movie will premiere on the channel alongside a selection of old school Grime videos and classics like The Ace & Vis Show and Asqueezy’s Chart Show. This is another pivotal moment for Black creatives in the UK who are reshaping the landscape of culture both old and new.
Speaking on the news, Femi Oyeniran and Nicky “Slimting” Walker added: “’Against All Odds’ is our visual homage to one of the most potent expressions of Black British music – Grime. To get the opportunity to create the musical accompaniment to the first-ever Grime movie, with a team led by Rob Pascoe and Afryea Henry-Fontaine has been a pleasure. They have supported us every step of the way. The music and the film are a celebration of Black British Heritage; there is no better home for that, than the legendary Motown”.