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Too Many Man: Women of Grime

© Ellie Ramsden

Too Many Man: Women of Grime documents women involved in the UK grime scene, showcasing those behind the mic and behind the scenes, from MCs and DJs to producers and journalists. Since the genre began in the early 2000s, grime has been hugely male-dominated. Like many male-dominated spaces, women have a significant influence on the scene but often aren't given the same platform or recognition as their male counterparts. This project seeks to ask why and gives the women of Grime a platform to share their thoughts and experiences.

The project title is named after the 2009 song ‘Too Many Man’ by Skepta, in which the grime MC expresses his frustration with the “lack of women in clubs”; this is re-conceptualised as a comment on not only the club scene but a wider observation on the genre itself.

First published as a photo-book in 2019, a second edition was released in March 2021 and includes new and updated content. The project comprises portraits, interviews, handwritten lyrics, live music shots, and urban landscapes.

click to view the complete set of images in the archive

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