Don't Call Me Urban!: The Time of Grime - Signed

Don't Call Me Urban! is a raw and compelling visual documentary capturing the rise of grime and the harsh realities of life on London’s council estates. Photographer Simon Wheatley spent years inside the culture, documenting both its gritty street life and intimate moments, with access to key figures like Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, and Skepta.

More than a music book, it explores the social roots of grime, from drug use to postcode wars, and challenges the glamorized image of so-called “urban” culture. The title reflects a rejection of that label—one that many young black Britons feel doesn’t tell their story.