In 2011, Simon Wheatley released his photobook, Don't Call Me Urban! The Time Of Grime, which — as you can tell from its title — was fixated mainly on the genre of grime, but also featured kids from London's inner-city. For the past 12 years, the celebrated snapper has looked beyond the lens and gotten to know the people on a personal level which, in turn, has made his images some of the most iconic ones out. Dizzee Rascal, Crazy Titch, Wiley and Giggs are just a few notables who have played a part in Wheatley's journey—and one that hasn't yet stopped, as today (Tuesday 28th July) marks the launch of the book's iPad edition at the Apple store down in Covent Garden.
For Simon, this is a project he is most excited about. "The digital edition of Don't Call Me Urban! The Time of Grime is a journalistic update to the book that was launched in 2011," he explains, "glimpsing at the London riots, and going more deeply into the Olympics in Stratford as seen through the eyes of Chronik living in an area neglected by high-profile regeneration. There are other films, too — seven in total. The edition is also response to this new age where photographers have become videographers — due to the advent of DSLR cameras with video capability — and recognises the reality that most young people these days possess a visual literacy attuned more to the moving image. I've also updated the photography and included some work from back in the day that was omitted from the book, such as portraits of No Lay, Meridian Crew, and Crazy Titch himself."
And you'll be getting even more history for your dollar: "In the audio recordings, God's Gift talks about the beginnings of grime and its evolution; a Harlesden MC reflects on some of the shadier sides of the life he's lived, recalling the '90s and the influences that brought guns into the community; and a young female emcee from Bow discusses her experiences as a teenager in jail, where she gave birth to a child. Thanks to The Square, I'm fortunate to have a fantastic and cutting-edge soundtrack from an up-and-coming crew. I feel that the audiovisual element definitely adds another dimension to my work as a story-teller, allowing for greater understanding of a subject. For example, people outside the grime world who saw my debut video music, 'SITH Lord', view Roachee as someone really scary — but giving him the opportunity of a voiceover to reflect upon what the film is about and where it comes from in the context of his life, reveals him to be a sensitive and thoughtful individual."
History...
Get your copy of the book here.
