Grime's second act has accelerated a golden age for London hip-hop. Its uncompromising authenticity has been key: To survive and thrive in this scene means proudly repping your city and culture, not looking covetously across the Atlantic. The result is a hyperlocal and progressive movement that might have its roots in grime but is constantly spawning fertile subgenres. Road rap and UK drill offer unvarnished documentation of London life, Afro-swing adds the infectious, sunnier effervescence—and that's just for starters. It's a melting pot that has provided British music with some of its most inventive, compelling, and successful artists. Our editors regularly update this playlist—if you hear something you like, add it to your library.