January: 18 albums you need to hear this month

P Money 'Live & Direct' (Rinse)

2016 has now seen some dynamite albums from grime’s old guard: obviously Skepta’s was the highest profile, but Flowdan and Durrty Goodz have also delivered. Now it’s Southeast London’s turn, as P Money from The OGs turns in his debut full-length after years of graft – not just on the grime scene, but as the go-to MC during dubstep’s peak years, too. He’s not compromised one bit, either. This is total grime: ugly, mean, argumentative and un-PC in the extreme, but possessed of a razor-sharp intellect and a big heart. The beats are big and belligerent and P’s wordplay is on point. This is another brilliant sign that grime’s maturity doesn’t mean mellowing out. Joe Muggs

8/10