Agreeing with jonjon but to go a little further
British hip hop is distinct from its US roots in its harshness of beats and lyrical speed. Especially moving forward from the late eighties to the early nineties it became a movement forefronted by crews such as Gunshot , Hardnoise and Two Tone Committee.
A lot of it was very much influenced by the electro rythms of Depth Charge , IMO one of the most innovative and overlooked tune masters in the last decade.