Who is RL Grime? RL Grime Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like RL Grime
When Adam digs into his Spotify list for artists worth spotlighting, RL Grime stands out immediately. Not just because the music hits hard, but because of the artistry behind it. RL Grime built something real in the trap and bass music space over more than a decade of consistent output, genre-defining releases, and a commitment to quality that most producers only talk about.
4D4M respects producers who understand the emotional weight of a well-placed drop. RL Grime gets it. His sets and releases carry atmosphere and intention, which is why his catalog stays relevant and new audiences keep discovering his work.
Who Is RL Grime?
RL Grime is an American DJ and record producer based in Los Angeles, California, who specializes in trap and bass music. He is a member of the LA electronic music collective WeDidIt, which helped shape his early career. His debut EP Grapes arrived in April 2012 on WeDidIt, followed by High Beams in July 2013 on Fool’s Gold Records. High Beams debuted at No. 8 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart and hit No. 1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart.
In 2019, RL Grime founded Sable Valley, his own record label that has become a home for bass and trap artists. His Halloween mixes, released annually since October 2012, have grown into one of electronic music’s most anticipated traditions. His second studio album, Nova, dropped in 2018 and featured collaborations with Miguel, Ty Dolla $ign, and 070 Shake.
RL Grime’s Sound Explained
RL Grime operates at the intersection of trap, future bass, and bass music. His productions use heavy trap percussion: rolling hi-hats, snappy snares, and 808 bass patterns that hit with real physical weight. What separates him from generic trap producers is his melodic sensibility. He layers those drums with lush synths, pitched vocal chops, and harmonic progressions that create genuine emotional impact alongside the physical punch.
His collaborations with R&B and hip-hop vocalists give his music crossover appeal without compromising its electronic identity. Tracks like “Stay For It” with Miguel and “I Wanna Know” with Daya show how he integrates vocal performances into a production context without the track losing its bass-driven core.
Top 10 Tracks by RL Grime
- UCLA (feat. 24hrs): Signature blend of smooth R&B vocals over a hard trap production framework. Clean, confident, undeniable.
- I Wanna Know (feat. Daya): Polished festival trap with a massive hook. Daya’s vocals sit perfectly over RL Grime’s driving production.
- SMACK TALK (ISOxo, Knock2, RL Grime, ISOKNOCK): Heavyweight collab stacking three significant bass music names for peak-time energy.
- come aliv3 (feat. Knock2, Abi Flynn): Bridges RL Grime’s trap roots with Knock2’s bass house sensibility.
- Pour Your Heart Out (feat. 070 Shake): Emotional weight meets bass production. 070 Shake adds genuine texture to a deep track.
- The Hills (RL Grime Remix): His remix of The Weeknd became a festival staple, reframing a pop record inside a trap production context.
- Take It Away (feat. Ty Dolla $ign, TK Kravitz): Hard trap paired with Ty Dolla $ign’s distinctive vocal style. Built for serious sound systems.
- Core: Instrumental trap at its best. No features needed. The production speaks entirely for itself.
- Formula (feat. Juelz): Driving, percussive, relentlessly energetic. A standout for anyone chasing high-BPM momentum.
- Stay For It (feat. Miguel): Possibly his most polished track, pairing Miguel’s vocal range with a production that shifts moods across its runtime.
Why 4D4M Vibes With RL Grime
There are producers who make tracks, and producers who build worlds. RL Grime falls in the second category. His catalog across albums, EPs, remixes, and Halloween mixes adds up to a cohesive artistic statement. That kind of long-game thinking resonates with how 4D4M approaches building a musical identity.
The bass weight is another connection point. Adam’s sets in the dubstep and bass music space share the same priority: low frequencies that communicate physically with audiences. RL Grime’s 808s hit correctly, his sub-bass is present without muddiness, and his mixdowns carry professional punch.
RL Grime Discography
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Grapes EP | WeDidIt |
| 2013 | High Beams EP | Fool’s Gold Records |
| 2014 | Void | Fool’s Gold Records |
| 2018 | Nova | Sable Valley |
| 2019 | Sable Valley Vol. 1 | Sable Valley |
| 2021 | Sable Valley Vol. 2 | Sable Valley |
Live and Touring
RL Grime is a festival headliner whose name appears regularly on lineups at EDC, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. His live sets pull from his full catalog, mixing originals with remixes and curation picks from the broader trap and bass world. The Halloween mixes showcase how he thinks as a selector: genre-spanning, high-energy, with a cinematic arc across the full runtime.
For festival bookings at this level, production quality and crowd connection are non-negotiable. RL Grime delivers on both, which is why he commands top-tier billing years into his career.
RL Grime FAQ
What genre does RL Grime produce?
RL Grime produces trap and bass music as his primary output, with elements of future bass and festival trap throughout his catalog. His sound bridges electronic production with R&B and hip-hop vocal styles, creating tracks that work across festival stages and more intimate settings. His genre identity has stayed consistent while his production craft has evolved from early WeDidIt releases to the polished Sable Valley era. He moves across trap subgenres with genuine fluidity rather than chasing trends.
What is RL Grime famous for?
RL Grime is famous for his annual Halloween mixes, launched in October 2012 and continuing through at least 2023. Each mix has become a cultural event in electronic music, featuring cinematic intros and genre-spanning track selection. Beyond the mixes, he’s known for his albums Void and Nova (2018), founding Sable Valley Records in 2019, and his remix of The Weeknd’s “The Hills” which became a festival staple bringing his name to broader audiences.
Where is RL Grime from?
RL Grime is an American producer based in Los Angeles, California. He is a member of the LA electronic music collective WeDidIt, which shaped the city’s electronic scene during the early 2010s. The LA connection is reflected in his bass-heavy, R&B-influenced production style that shares DNA with the broader LA beat scene. His Sable Valley label keeps that regional thread alive even as his fanbase has gone international.
What is Sable Valley?
Sable Valley is a record label founded by RL Grime in February 2019. It serves as a home for bass and trap artists who align with RL Grime’s production aesthetic. The label has expanded beyond releasing music into a broader community and event brand. For fans of his sound, Sable Valley is the best place to find new artists operating in the same sonic territory: heavy production, quality sound design, and clear artistic vision.
Has RL Grime won any awards?
RL Grime has received significant industry recognition including charting releases and consistent top-tier festival bookings. His High Beams EP hit No. 1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart and No. 8 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart. His sustained presence at major festival lineups and continued chart performance across more than a decade represent a meaningful body of career achievement. His influence on trap EDM production is widely acknowledged by producers and DJs.
What collaborations has RL Grime done?
Key collaborations include Miguel on “Stay For It,” Ty Dolla $ign and TK Kravitz on “Take It Away,” 070 Shake on “Pour Your Heart Out,” Daya on “I Wanna Know,” and 24hrs on “UCLA.” On the electronic side, he has worked with Knock2, ISOxo, ISOKNOCK, and Juelz. He has also produced remixes for Benny Benassi, Chief Keef, Jamie Lidell, and Shlohmo. His remix of The Weeknd’s “The Hills” remains one of his most recognized works.
Where can I follow RL Grime online?
RL Grime maintains active profiles across major platforms. His Spotify hosts his complete catalog. His SoundCloud at soundcloud.com/rlgrime features tracks and mixes including the Halloween series. He posts on Twitter as @RLGrime and Instagram as @rlgrime. His official website rlgrime.com carries show dates and news. For Sable Valley releases and the broader label community, following the Sable Valley accounts provides additional context beyond his personal channels.
RL Grime Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | soundcloud.com/rlgrime |
| @RLGrime | |
| @rlgrime | |
| RLGrime on Facebook | |
| YouTube | RL Grime on YouTube |
| Official Site | rlgrime.com |
