"We just thought, at last, a London date that won't get closed down," recalls Khan, of Lethal's invitation to play at the Barfly in Camden, the unofficial London home of indie. "And then we couldn't believe what it was like: indie kids go crazy!" Lethal was thrilled when he discovered how much easier it was to stage a show if it was billed as an indie event. "And I love performing to them kind of audiences because they really appreciate music," he says. "My part of town (the further reaches of east London) is really tense, trouble can kick off, but at these events people just have fun and take your music for what it is."
However, as one indie DJ points out: "Lethal Bizzle playing a few indie clubs and Statik mixing some songs into some other songs does not make a scene. It's not a new genre of music as such -- and mixing rap with guitars is nothing new anyway. Until they achieve a genuine level of collaboration, like Public Enemy did with Anthrax on Bring Tha Noize, I remain unconvinced."
To be fair, even Statik doesn't bill grindie as a "scene" and is aware that his mixtape is only the beginning. It's on his forthcoming album, Broadband, that he intends to really use artists from both worlds to create something new. The Rakes have recorded a track especially for it, and he's also been working with Doherty and former members of Test Icicles.
This actual fusion is something BBC Radio 1 DJ Ras Kwame can't wait to hear. "I've been really interested in all the grindie stuff, and when we had Statik on my show we had a fantastic response, but I haven't yet heard a record that is a real blend of the two. I think it'll take time, but it's definitely due to come."
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