Ryme Tyme’s life, as well as his career, has been steeped in music. From early influences from hip hop and funk, Ryme Tyme has progressed through a range of musical endeavours, all of which have added to his unique knowledge and experience of the game. Ryme Tyme got his start early, when, at the age of 12, he and his brother became the youngest members of one of Jamaica’s biggest dance crews, The Smugglers, which also began his love for being an emcee.

Upon returning to London, he enveloped himself in the electro and hip hop scenes, which led to his immersion in the rave scene. From house parties, to his first booking at Club Sterns in Worthing during the era of hardcore in 1990. Ryme expanding his sound through pirate radio stations such as Touchdown FM, then Don FM, and finally the mighty Kool FM.

Ryme explained: “The first DJ I mc’d for was Dr S Gachet at Club Sterns in 1990. I approached the MC at the time and said I was a good rapper. He unexpectedly passed me the mic so I dropped a few pre written rap flows. I got a great reaction from the crowd so decided to take it further.” After MCing for Orbital Records with DJ Trace and After Dark in the early 1990s, Ryme hooked up with Ed Rush and Nico around 91, which in turn led to meeting Optical. Ryme then went on to tour with Virus and No U Turn, and then on to studio work. He started making music in the mid-90s and his contribution as MC-turned-producer has been second to none.

RymeTyme’s approach to MC combines a range of factors. He uses his rhymes to enhance and combine with what the DJ is doing. His clear, rhythmic flows, metaphors and wordplay allows the dancers to connect with the music, and Ryme has always prided himself in putting himself in their place to get the most out of the set. His lyrical percussion moves the crowd, draws them in, and builds up the energy of any dance.

Ryme’s vocals have been used by many producers, and through his work with the leading lights of the scene, he has been hailed ‘the voice of neurofunk’. That list of producers and artists includes Ed Rush, Optical, Fierce, Trace, Audio, Optiv& BTK, Matrix, The Upbeats, Vicious Circle, Jade, Mindscape and Gridlok and he has been featured or has had releases on label such as Saigon, No U Turn, Virus and Moving Shadow.

RymeTyme’s achievements have been many and varied. From travelling to New York City back in the day with DJ Trace, where he was one of the first UK acts to perform at the legendary NASA at Club Shelter, his international career has included visits to Japan, Australia, North America and Europe. He has also performed in Russia, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Brazil and numerous other locations across the globe. His own releases have also reached far and wide.

From his debut Control and Lock on Saigon, Ryme Tyme has gone on to issue a number of critically and commercially successful releases. Fracture received great support from DJs like Ed Rush and Optical, Fierce and Bailey. The classic We Enter received a remix by Optical and also a video on MTV. Ryme Tyme’s future neurofunk style was born with the tracks likes Move VIP and Frogger which was released on Ryme’s own 1210 Recordings.

1210 Recordings has gone on to be recognised as the label for the cutting edge vibes of dark funk. The label has issued tracks and remixes from Bad Company, Fierce, Ed Rush, Optical, Trace, Cause4Concern, Bulletproof, Optiv, Crossfire and, of course, Ryme Tyme himself.

As we look to the future, it is bright indeed for the one like Ryme Tyme. He is planning more releases on 1210, and is currently working on a variety of vocal projects in collaboration with Ed Rush, Optical, Optiv, BTK and Audio amongst others. For someone so steeped in drum & bass culture, Ryme Tyme keeps his ears and eyes open to new and exciting possibilities for the music and its artists. Expect much more from Ryme Tyme in 2015.

Naomi JetBasel

DJ Alice

DJ SofīBern/Ethiopia

Diselecta EnergyCH / Gambia | Afro Energy

Hosted by MC QWERTYCH / Uganda

House Of PerreoLausanne

DJ SueñoMexico City

ISA GT

Von BikrävParis

KimberlaIDParis

Claude MurderParis

1luuBern

WinterBoston

MamalarkyAustin

golfjugoBern

CoilgunsNeuchâtel

PlessBern

Ele ATessin

PROLIXUK

STAMINA MCUK

Deejay MFBern

Toni BBern

MC RescFreiburg

Badboy MCBern

Joey Sassa

THE YOUNG GODSGeneva / Fribourg

Blanche BiauZürich

Dub AthleteBrighton

NightmanagerBasel

phrexBern

Firmly Rooted SoundsystemBristol

MS NinaMadrid

TendinitesLausanne

NEGRACONDAGuadalajara

Naomi JetBasel

DJ Alice

DJ SofīBern/Ethiopia

Diselecta EnergyCH / Gambia

Hosted by MC QWERTYCH / Uganda

Spice_babesBern

OpticalLondon

MC RymetymeLondon

Deejay MFBern

CronicWinterthur

RyckBern

MC RescFreiburg

The James Brown Tribute Show by SoulVision AllstarsBern

Stephan Eicher & OsomoBern

Fischermätteli Hood GängBern

Olekanone & NOVAZürich

zor-litZürich

EarthSeattle

Nataša Grujović & Steve MooreSeattle/Grujović

Big ZisZürich

FaberZürich

LoikaemiePlauen

PestpockenGiessen

BubonixLimburg an der Lahn

Naomi Jet
Basel

DJ Sofī
Bern/Ethiopia

Diselecta Energy
CH / Gambia | Afro Energy

Hosted by MC QWERTY
CH / Uganda

House Of Perreo
Lausanne

DJ Sueño
Mexico City

Von Bikräv
Paris

KimberlaID
Paris

Claude Murder
Paris

1luu
Bern

Winter
Boston

Mamalarky
Austin

golfjugo
Bern

Coilguns
Neuchâtel

Pless
Bern

Ele A
Tessin

PROLIX
UK

STAMINA MC
UK

Deejay MF
Bern

Toni B
Bern

MC Resc
Freiburg

Badboy MC
Bern

THE YOUNG GODS
Geneva / Fribourg

Blanche Biau
Zürich

Dub Athlete
Brighton

Nightmanager
Basel

phrex
Bern

Firmly Rooted Soundsystem
Bristol

MS Nina
Madrid

Tendinites
Lausanne

NEGRACONDA
Guadalajara

Naomi Jet
Basel

DJ Sofī
Bern/Ethiopia

Diselecta Energy
CH / Gambia

Hosted by MC QWERTY
CH / Uganda

Spice_babes
Bern

Optical
London

MC Rymetyme
London

Deejay MF
Bern

Cronic
Winterthur

Ryck
Bern

MC Resc
Freiburg

The James Brown Tribute Show by SoulVision Allstars
Bern

Stephan Eicher & Osomo
Bern

Fischermätteli Hood Gäng
Bern

Olekanone & NOVA
Zürich

zor-lit
Zürich

Earth
Seattle

Nataša Grujović & Steve Moore
Seattle/Grujović

Big Zis
Zürich

Faber
Zürich

Loikaemie
Plauen

Pestpocken
Giessen

Bubonix
Limburg an der Lahn