Merky ACE explained

Merky ACE
Birth Name:Aisa Sampson[1]
Alias:Splurt Diablo
Birth Date:1992 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Peckham, London, England
Origin:Lewisham, London, England
Years Active:2009–present
Associated Acts:Tre Mission, Dizzee Rascal

Aisa Khan Sampson-Spencer (born 1 April 1992), known professionally as Merky ACE, is a British grime MC, rapper, songwriter and record producer from Lewisham, South London. He was a founding member of the grime collective Family Tree, and later Tizzy Gang, with whom he is still a part of. He also produces beats under the pseudonym Splurt Diablo.[2] His debut album, Blue Battlefield, was released on 3 April 2011.

Career

Merky ACE first came to prominence on the UK underground scene as part of grime's "new wave" in 2011.[3] In the same year he independently released his acclaimed Blue Battlefield mixtape and followed it up with the Catch Up EP in the same year.[4] [5] In 2012, Merky ACE recorded features for Dizzee Rascal's Dirtee TV 2 mixtape which was released on Christmas of that year.[6] In 2013, he released two mixtapes - All or Nothing and Play Your Position - through grime label NoHatsNoHoods.[7] [8] [9]

In 2014, Merky ACE was signed to Dizzee Rascal's label Dirtee Stank.[10] Merky ACE's first project on the label Peak Levels EP was released on 17 July 2015.[11] In late 2015, Merky ACE formed a new crew, Tizzy Gang alongside Tre Mission and Cadell; following this news, Family Tree disbanded shortly after in early 2016.[12] [13]

Merky was a joint executive producer of Tizzy Gang's debut collaborative album, Opps Next Door Vol. 1, which was released on 16 June 2017. He provided vocals for fifteen of the album's twenty tracks, and produced many of its tracks under his Splurt Diablo alias. The album's release was celebrated with a launch party at Relentless No. 5 in London.

His debut solo album, War Is Normal, was released on 11 May 2018. The album features the singles "TDF", "Black Hawk Down", and "Out of Order", which were released on 9 March, 16 March, and 23 March 2018 respectively. The first two of these tracks had previously premiered on his SoundCloud in 2016, as had "Ruff's the New Buff", "Crash Bang Sound", and "What's the Program?".

On 5 June 2020, Merky marked his first collaboration with fellow grime MC Capo Lee with a joint project, the Clash of the Pagans EP.[14]

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
Opps Next Door (with Tizzy Gang)
War is Normal
  • Released: 11 May 2018
  • Label: Tizzy Gang, TUISGE
  • Formats: Digital download

Mixtapes

TitleDetails
Headtop Turner
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Headtop Turner Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
Watch Me Leave Scars
  • Released: 17 February 2008
  • Label: Headtop Turner Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
NWO: New World Order
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Headtop Turner Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
Normal
  • Released: 8 May 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
Who's Merky?
  • Released: 9 August 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
Grime
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
The Ones That Didn't Make It
  • Released: 4 July 2010
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: CD, free digital download
Blue Battlefield
  • Released: 4 April 2011
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: CD, digital download
All Or Nothing
  • Released: 27 May 2013
  • Label: NoHatsNoHoods
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Play Your Position
  • Released: 14 October 2013
  • Label: NoHatsNoHoods
  • Formats: CD, digital download

EPs

TitleDetails
Shinobi (with Splurt Diablo)
  • Released: 27 October 2009
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Free digital download
The Recycle Bin
  • Released: 2 November 2010
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Free digital download
Catch Up
  • Released: 12 December 2011
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Digital download
Peak Levels
  • Released: 17 July 2015
  • Label: Dirtee Stank
  • Formats: Digital download
GOAT (Greatest of All Time) (with MIK)
  • Released: 11 January 2016
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
Catch Up Vol. 2
  • Released: 19 February 2016
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
Catch Up Vol. 3
  • Released: 12 October 2016
  • Label: Tizzy Gang, TUIGSE
  • Formats: Digital download
Personality Cult
  • Released: 29 September 2017
  • Label: Tizzy Gang, TUIGSE
  • Formats: Digital download
Catch Up Vol. 4
  • Released: 3 July 2020
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
Clash of the Pagans (with Capo Lee)
  • Released: 5 June 2020
  • Label: BLACC CIRC13
  • Formats: Free digital download

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2010"Blue Battle Kiwi"Non-album singles
"Greaze"
2011"Shutdown"
(with MIK)
2012"Eff Tizzy"All Or Nothing
"3 CDs Freestyle"Non-album single
2015"Cuss Match"Peak Levels EP
"El Peñol"Catch Up Vol. 2
"Polyphonic Ringtone"Catch Up Vol. 3
2017"Old Skool Roadman Jacket"
(with Tizzy Gang)
Opps Next Door Vol. 1
"Shekel"
(with Tizzy Gang)
"Opps Next Door"
(with Tizzy Gang)
"Our Queen"Personality Cult EP
"Ragu"
(featuring Southside JB and Ko-Kane)
2018"TDF"War is Normal
"Black Hawk Down"
"Out of Order"
2019"Look Like Loubz"Non-album single

As Splurt Diablo

Mixtapes and compilations

TitleDetails
Extra Terrestrial - The Splurt Diablo Anthology
  • Released: 1 May 2020
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
All About the Melanin
  • Released: 1 May 2020
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
/s
  • Released: 3 July 2020
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download
Blacc
  • Released: 7 August 2020
  • Label: Tizzy Gang
  • Formats: Digital download

EPs

TitleDetails
Vomit
  • Released: 1 March 2010
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Free digital download
Vomit Vol. 2
  • Released: 1 April 2010
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Free digital download
Vomit Vol. 3
  • Released: 1 May 2010
  • Label: Family Tree
  • Formats: Free digital download
J3
  • Released: 9 October 2013
  • Label: Oil Gang
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download
Throwbacks
  • Released: 11 August 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Free digital download
Cyborg Justice
  • Released: 17 January 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Bandcamp-exclusive digital download
Fatigue
  • Released: 15 February 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Bandcamp-exclusive digital download
CCTV Celeb
  • Released: 15 March 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Bandcamp-exclusive digital download
Hara-Kiri
  • Released: 21 April 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Bandcamp-exclusive digital download
Space Madness
  • Released: 17 May 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Bandcamp-exclusive digital download
Amped / Irn Bru
  • Released: 7 May 2018
  • Label: Blood Frenzy
  • Formats: 12" vinyl[15]

Awards and nominations

!|-| 2020| rowspan="1"| Jme featuring Merky ACE - "Live"| rowspan="1"| UK Music Video Awards Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video| | style="text-align:center;"|[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACE Repertory . 22 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191012060631/https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/work/886994694 . 12 October 2019 . live .
  2. Web site: Merk Diablo? Splurty Ace? Who's Who? - Radar Radio - Radar Radio . 9 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810150459/http://www.radarradio.com/blog/merky-ace-splurt-diablo-dj-mc-interview . 10 August 2016 . live .
  3. Web site: Merky Ace: Grime's New Prince MTV IGGY. mtviggy.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151005085300/http://www.mtviggy.com/interviews/merky-ace-grime-prince/. 5 October 2015. live.
  4. Web site: Wrap Up And Watch Out: Merky Ace MTV UK. mtv.co.uk. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001115248/http://www.mtv.co.uk/the-wrap-up/blog/wrap-up-and-watch-out-merky-ace. 1 October 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: Merky Ace - Catch Up EP (Advert & Tracklisting) - Hit The Floor. hitthefloor.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001090326/http://www.hitthefloor.com/music/urban/merky-ace-catch-up-ep-advert-tracklisting/. 1 October 2015. live.
  6. Web site: Download: Dizzee Rascal's 'Dirtee TV Vol. 2' Mixtape Prefix. prefixmag.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001163238/http://www.prefixmag.com/news/download-dizzee-rascals-dirtee-tv-vol-2-mixtape/72570/. 1 October 2015. live.
  7. Web site: Grime up-and-comer Merky Ace wants All or Nothing on new full-length - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.. factmag.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001163351/http://www.factmag.com/2013/04/05/grime-up-and-comer-merky-ace-wants-all-or-nothing-on-new-mixtape/. 1 October 2015. live.
  8. Web site: Sonic Router A Natural Balance: Talking Merky Ace's Second Album, Play Your Position. sonicrouter.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001213900/http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/10/a-natural-balance-talking-merky-aces-second-album-play-your-position/. 1 October 2015. live.
  9. Web site: Merky ACE - Play Your Position [Mixtape Premiere] - EARMILK. Earmilk. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151002030125/http://www.earmilk.com/2013/10/11/merky-ace-play-your-position-mixtape-premiere/. 2 October 2015. live.
  10. Web site: Premiere: Merky Ace Makes His Dirtee Stank Debut With "Cuss Match" (Prod. By Footsie) Complex UK. uk.complex.com. 30 September 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160106190829/http://uk.complex.com/music/2015/06/premiere-merky-ace-cuss-match-produced-by-footsie. 6 January 2016.
  11. Web site: MERKY ACE - "CUSS MATCH" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERES NOISEY. noisey.vice.com. 30 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151004161930/http://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/music-video-premieres/merky-ace-cuss-match-official-video. 4 October 2015. live.
  12. Web site: The Lowdown: In the Studio with...Tizzy Gang - SBTV . 18 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160520053504/http://www.sbtv.co.uk/read/features/in-the-studio-with-tizzy-gang/ . 20 May 2016 . dead .
  13. http://www.sbtv.co.uk/new_music/listen-merky-ace-tre-mission-and-cadell-team-up-on-hurt/
  14. Web site: Clash of the Pagans. 5 June 2020. bandcamp.
  15. Web site: Premiere: Splurt Diablo - Irn Bru [Blood Frenzy] | Insert . 3 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023175046/https://weareinsert.com/audio/premiere-splurt-diablo-irn-bru-blood-frenzy/ . 23 October 2019 . live .
  16. Web site: Paine. Andre. 6 November 2020. UK Music Video Awards 2020 Winners Revealed. 7 November 2020. Music Week.