Chip has been an established and well respected name in the U.K. scene for a long time. He entered a highly competitive grime scene at the young age of 16, and since then has been able to put together multiple bodies of work that will be cemented in Grime history.

With his 11th mixtape and latest release "Snakes and Ladders", Chip has once again reiterated his lyrical ability.

The album started off with "No Goat which was a strong introduction to this project. This focused on wordplay over a dark production. He makes it clear that he views himself as one of the best in the scene, where he calls himself the "coldest in the country". He also went on to claim that the desire to be a versatile artist in this day and age is a result of him "Everybody wanna be versatile, now lowe it, it's cause of me"

"I'm the first MC who has conquered the charts and can confidently step in the field. Not many would have predicted this for me at 25. "Chip's versatility as an artist is undeniable. He has been able to back up his statements in tracks such as "Give Tanks" featuring Mavado - where he effortlessly glides across a summer type, chord based beat. This song wasn't entirely about heavy world play, but rather an emphasis on his difficult childhood, and the long road he has taken to be where he is today. Chip has worked with Mavado before, on tracks such as "Every Gyal" released back in 2011.

Chip has proved his ability to move away from Grime on many occasions, but "Give Tanks" is just a reminder of this.The album itself presented various styles of production. Throughout the album, I found myself constantly anticipating what the next track would bring. Chip even dived into the Afrobeats world in the track "See Through" featuring Kida Kudz. Chip rode the beat effortlessly, diving in and out of a Patois accent. This gave the track Dancehall and Afrobeats fusion. Combined with a smooth bassline, this track came together very well.

I had high expectations of "Ignite" as soon as I saw the features. This track featured JME & Dizzee Rascal. With another two pioneers in the grime scene joining Chip, you can only expect greatness. I must say - I was not disappointed. They provided their expected lyrical dominance on an old school, gritty grime production.The album also includes a sample from the classic "T2 - Heartbroken". The track is called "Grown Flex" and features Bugzy Malone.

This is a collaboration that many wouldn't imagine a few years ago, but the duo put their past beef to the side to create an impressive rendition of a classic track. As you come to the end of the project, you will find the track "0420" - where Chip shows us more of a vulnerable side of himself with his bars. He speaks about the death of his uncle, and the death of his close friend and UK Artist, Black The Ripper. He opens about his struggles by saying he is "Torn between seeing a therapist or a pastor". Further on in the track, he opens about Bugzy Malone's bike accident, and he prayed for his recovery.

Whilst this track was released last year, I felt it fit perfectly into the project. Throughout the Album, Chip spoke a lot about where he came from, and all of the things he has gained due to his successful career. He also speaks about his confidence in his ability on countless occasions. "0420", however, brought light on the fact that success does not eradicate struggles of mental health and grief.

Overall, this is a very solid project. Chip was never outshone by any of his features, and no matter the type of production, he always kept his bars and delivery at an optimal level. I would say that the release of this project is a brilliant start to the year for Chip and he has certainly set the bar high for future projects to come.

Rating 9/10