1FGRM007 (Grime) sees the digit on the catalogue number roll over once more welcoming two of Grime’s most distinct voices together on the same track with Armour & Roachee, while Jon E Clayface makes his second appearance on the imprint with label veteran Fork And Knife. Hayz, who doubles up on a release for the first time, and newcomer Josef round off the release with two stand out instrumentals.

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1FGRM007

Armour has been out of the music game since his days as a N.A.S.T.Y Crew member, but dipping his toes in and out the water since 2016 has meant whenever he drops a track it usually makes a splash. Releasing just 3 tracks since his infamous ‘Pepper Pot’ release alongside P Jam, which still causes a ruckus in the raves 5 years on, 1Forty thought it was about time to bring him out once more for a legendary link up with Ruff Sqwads Roachee on the feature. No doubt two of the most iconic voices in the scene over the past 20 years jump on an instrumental from somewhat of a toddler in comparison, Hayz, having been established by the label in 2019. That being said an array of famous samples has brought to the table a nostalgic grime instrumental, perfect for Armour and Roachee to supply one of their most authentic Grime records in recent years ‘Link With Dem’.

Armour, healing from East London known for his patois-slinging and good-nature, is greatly respected by the early spitters and DJs in Grime. He was a prominent figure on pirate radio while riding with N.A.S.T.Y crew and featured on some of the most famous sets over the years such as Jammer’s Birthday Bash. Having somewhat of a cameo appearance in the scene now after a ten year stint out the game, he spends life away from music educating the less privileged on how to stay on the straight and narrow, leading by example, following his passion for music by still making time to record and appear on sets in his free time.

Roachee, MC and former member of Roll Deep having joined the collective in late 2004. Roachee is responsible for possibly Roll Deep’s most famous grime record When I’m ‘Ere which has rung out up and down the country since 2005. From 2010 to 2015 a run of features for the likes of Ghetts, Tinchy Stryder Devlin, Rival and Lil Nasty ensued, and even a send for Scorcher, in an attempt to ignite a clash for the highly anticipated return of Lord Of The Mics III. In that time he also joined Prince Rapid after a long time affiliation unofficially with Ruff Sqwad. Some time away from music ensued before a surge of radio appearances commended pre COVID-19 and into 2021 post lockdowns leading to his debut 1Forty release.

Whilst Leeds has had a Grime scene that has been quietly bubbling away for a few years on the MC front, there have been very few 140 producers who come through. Hayz was hellbent on changing that since landing on the 1Forty radar and has established that since his label debut with ‘Hightop’ in September 2019 and the VIP that followed. His debut EP landed on Rapture 4D’s critically acclaimed Plasma Abuse label in 2020, before leading on to what some are naming as a contender for EP of the year alongside 1Forty featured artists NothingNice and Logan, with the London City Warlord Riko Dan on the lead track, which release on Durkle Disco in February of this year. His most recent release came on 1Forty at the close of summer with a 2021 reboot freebie of Danny Weed’s iconic ‘Creeper’ instrumental.

Armour:
www.instagram.com/armourpslinger
www.twitter.com/armourpslinger

Roachee:
www.instagram.com/roachee_material
www.twitter.com/roachmaterial

@HayzUK
www.facebook.com/hayzbfd
www.instagram.com/_hayzuk
www.twitter.com/_hayzuk

Armour Ft Roachee - Link With Dem (Prod. Hayz)

It’s been nearly 2 years since Jon E Clayface was last seen on the label, opening the door for a long awaited return, this time alongside 1Forty’s other leading Grime & Dubstep producer Fork And Knife. This instrumental has been in the possession of the label since before Jon E Clayface’s last release so it’s been a long time in the making, and arguably one of Fork And Knife’s finest pieces of work to date. Clayface lays his aggressive style over the rolling dubstep tones to deliver ‘Come Correct’.

Recently moving to Bristol (another one), away from the capital, Fork And Knife has carved out a sound that pays homage to the underground scenes that have shaped him as a person over the past decade. Spreading his wings throughout Grime, Garage and Dubstep he’s applied techniques from producing different genres over the years with the result being unique structures with injections of sharp sound design using square wave basses and an often frantic yet stellar selection of drums. It’s not hard to understand why his sound is so original with 10 years of production under his belt.

Fork And Knife made his debut on the label with a giveaway ‘Real Monsters’ in 2018 which gathered support from the likes of Toddla T on BBC Radio 1, and its follow up ‘Real Monsters VIP’ for the ‘2 Years Of 1Forty’ Release, the latter the following summer. The end of 2019 saw a triple header producing Killa P’s ‘They Don’t Know’ and collaborating with 9TRANE for ‘Check It’ both on 1FGRM004 before another Single with Grime’s youngest prodigy SBK for ‘Bars’. Fork And Knife resumed his allegiance to Dubstep with ‘Reptar’ on the last GRM release, 1FGRM006 last December. This latest production makes it his 4th consecutive year on the label.

Exploding onto the scene in 2015 Jon has gained a huge amount of respect for his authenticity in his music which comes down to his personality and his lifestyle. What comes as a surprise to most is his influence of heavy metal from a young age which is applied to his lyricism, aggressive on the surface but full of depth. Owing a lot to Ten Dixon for first getting him to make the jump from producer and DJ to MC, and the likes of Balamii, Radar and Mode FM for giving him the platform to light up sets, Jon has more than held his own ever since on tracks and radio alike also owing plenty to his work ethic. Cosigned by the likes of Sian Anderson, Rude Kid and Spooky as well as working with the likes of P Money and Jammz 2020 was a defining year with a feature on Wiley’s album ‘Godfather 3’ alongside a couple of solo self releases. 2021 was his most active year yet amidst a pandemic with multiple projects alongside Ten Dixon and most recently his first collab with Fork And Knife on PAV4N (Foreign Beggars) label 4NC¥.

@ForkAndKnife000
www.facebook.com/forkandknife000
www.instagram.com/forkandknife000
www.twitter.com/forkandknife000

@JonEClayface
www.facebook.com/joneclayface
www.twitter.com/joneclayface
www.instagram.com/jon_e_clayface

Fork And Knife x Jon E Clayface - Come Correct

Hayz makes his first double header on the label, the first time an artist has done so since Fork And Knife (ironically on this same release) on 1FGRM004 back in September 2019. With the absence of his typical square wave sounds on the lead production with Armour & Roachee, it wouldn’t be a Hayz appearance without it, so he served up an instrumental to go along with the vocal release this time around.

Behind an intricate layered melody of the manipulated sound design from the Leeds producers typical square wave sound, lies a strong asian influence, paired with his usual style of aggressive hi hats to give it that authentic Grime sound and end result ‘Kyoto’.

@HayzUK:
www.facebook.com/hayzbfd
www.instagram.com/_hayzuk
www.twitter.com/_hayzuk

Hayz - Kyoto

Josef makes his debut on the label with a track that has all the elements to become a modern day dubstep slammer. Intertwining a distorted female sample throughout a warped dark bassline, intricate drum work and spooky FX it closes out the release with a fitting theme just in time for Halloween 6 days after 1FGRM007 drops.

Josef has been producing for a few years while he’s been studying at university in Leeds. The young producer from Cheltenham has only self released previously and furthermore has only put out Liquid (Drum And Bass). His first ever release was alongside Paige Eliza, some of whom may now know for her releases alongside Sammy Virji and more recently Flava D on Hospital Records as she continues to elevate through the underground. Since then Josef has put out a string of free downloads, both originals and bootlegs making this his first official paid release and also his first release away from Drum And Bass.

@J_Sef:
https://www.instagram.com/josef_uk_/

Josef - Shining

"1Forty have made quite a name for themselves with their genre-themed compilation EPs." - Complex UK

"I find it quite hard to find a lot of modern Grime with that weight it originated with, and its similar with the Funky but 1Forty seem to be finding these records and putting them out, keeping that flame alive." - Toddla T (BBC Radio 1)

Founded by @LOCKT1Forty

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1Forty captures the authenticity of the UK's best underground genres, by showcasing established and upcoming talent, whilst engineering its own sound and identity through the music we release and showcase. Grime, Bass, Garage & UK Funky.

On the 21st October 2016 1Forty launched at one of the biggest nightclub brands in the country.. Mint, Leeds. Welcoming @CausenAffect, @ChampionDJ & @SkepsisProducer. Since then the label has welcomed the likes of @TheDJOneman, @SpookyBizzle @NotionDJ @HolyGoof_UK @DJSlimzee @Killa-P-Music @Preditah @SwiftaBeater @SammyVirji @NuBassOfficial @TheCocoUK @Snow667 @JokerKapsize @DJSharda @YGG @SicariaSound @DJSirSpyro + more.

Since the launch of the Record Label (June 2017) and introducing its cycle of Genre Release compilations 1Forty has received coverage across publications including Red Bull, Complex UK, Mixmag, SB.TV, GRM Daily, DJ Mag & Trench Mag, major support on radio across BBC Radio 1 (inc. 1Forty Takeover w/ Toddla T), 1Xtra, Rinse FM, Beats 1, Radar Radio & Reprezent, and TV usage across Sky One, Sky Sports, BT Sport & BBC Three.