Everyone knows grime gets a hell of a lot of unwarranted negative publicity. Many associate the music with guns, violence and crime but of course there is more to it than what is viewed from the surface. If people took time to listen to (insert mc name)'s mixtape/album, they would see that this is the complete opposite. The majority of the music displays a positive message or vibe which ironically, is the complete opposite to what 'listener A' would believe. But my point being, if this is the case, why is this so different to the US Hip Hop that has flooded the British charts in recent years? Rappers chatting about their ho's, cars and how much money they have. My opinion is that although we shouldn't ignore the US as a whole, we should be supporting our own. What I can't comprehend is how someone can sit there and listen to someone boast down the microphone about their riches and lifestyle. I feel that as a listener, you should be able to relate what your hearing. Don't get me wrong, I do like US Hip Hop and grew up on it but why would you want to know why Mims is hot or why 50 Cent is a P.I.M.P?.
People within the scene (including myself) can see how much musical talent we hold but there seems to be a wall between the artist and the record company. The issue is, if a person decides to buy an American artists album, it could potentially stop the next UK artists chance of a deal as they will find their path blocked as despite what many believe, there is a size to the current 'urban' market and we find ourselves literally swimming against the tide.
A good example of this is to visit HMV's 'urban' section and note how much unecessary competition our artists face. Thankfully, the internet has provided a welcome outlet for sales of grime mixtapes/albums so let's hope this grows.People within the scene (including myself) can see how much musical talent we hold but there seems to be a wall between the artist and the record company. The issue is, if a person decides to buy an American artists album, it could potentially stop the next UK artists chance of a deal as they will find their path blocked as despite what many believe, there is a size to the current 'urban' market and we find ourselves literally swimming against the tide.
As many of you will know, only a select few have broken through such as Kano, Dizzee, Roll Deep, Lethal B and to a certain extent Wiley. The labels are of an opinion that it's all too similar and maybe not diverse enough. They seem to want to pigeonhole this certain musical genre. Unfortunately for them, grime is fighting back, the likes of JME's label www.myspace.com/boybetterknow and Wiley's http://www.myspace.com/ESKIBEATRECORDINGS are the perfect example to show that you don't need a major backer to bring success. However, the next challenge for them and their labelmates is to find a way to appeal to a new audience and bring in more fans. With that said, during the summer, JME and Skepta (along with dj Maximum) played the BBC's new talent stage at Glastonbury and gained television exposure for their efforts.
To watch this, click here
These guys I feel, are a shining example for any new artist to follow who are finding support difficult to come by.
At this point, I have to give props to BBC 1xtra. Despite their recent upheaval of their dj lineup/show schedule, they continue to air the 100% Homegrown shows with Ras Kwame and Twin B respectively. Credit also has to go to Kiss FM's Logan Sama (he host's the UK's only legal grime show), and again 1Xtra dj's Target, DJ Q and Cameo
With support such as the above, grime can only become bigger and better and be as profitable and successful as the US Hip Hop industry has been over the past 15 years.
