Lord Of The Mics, the colossal grime platform founded and led by Jammer and Ratty, is making its return for a massive eighth season. Over the years there have been some monumental clashes and warm-up sessions that have changed the face of the grime scene in ways you couldn’t imagine. In fact, LOTM can trace its history before grime even had a name. Those iconic clashes are embedded into the minds of any true grime fan. Kano vs. Wiley, Skepta vs. Devilman, Footsie vs. Scratchy, P Money vs. Big H… and the eighth edition looks like it’ll be just as heated and just as game-changing.

Ahead of the official release, we’ve teamed up with the LOTM team to exclusively premiere the batch of Hype Sessions. If, somehow, you’re not entirely familiar with the institution that is the Lord Of The Mics warm-up sessions, each clash is preceded by a quick filmed freestyle of each MC, which basically gives them all an opportunity to rile up their opponents and stoke the flames of competition in the hopes their opponent will get too heated and make a mistake.

TRENCH will be premiering all 18 Hype Sessions in the build-up to the full release of Lord Of The Mics 8. Today, we’re profiling rival spitters Rawza and Gen.

Coming from the hotbed of new wave grime talent, the competition in East Midlands is as heated as anywhere in the country. Although Rawza has plenty of fan favourite bangers in his arsenal, a quick Google will leave you inundated with cyphers, freestyles, radio sets and clashes. His stamina is unparalleled and his underground credentials unquestioned. Every platform in the scene has been hungrily clawing at Rawza to get him on their respective shows or podcasts lately, and for very good reason. More than any other match-ups in Lord Of The Mics 8, Rawza and Gen’s Hype Sessions got super heated and super personal. Whatever happens, you can be sure neither side is going to try and walk it.

East London’s Gen’s strength on the mic is the balance between the fury he brings with every bar and the cool-headed charm. Throwing out incendiary, provocative lines (“Don’t let Rawza clock your flow, you man, ‘cause he’ll jack it, Moncler”) with a knowing look in his eye, every bar Gen throws out is deliberate. Even in the most heated of moments, Gen is able to approach the situation with clarity and a cool head. If he can bring that calm and collected energy to the big night then the victory could well be his.