UK Hip Hop

The most interesting and exciting music currently being made in the UK is hip hop: Skitz, Roots Manuva, Taskforce and Braintax have been making consistently brilliant music for years and the fact that it hasn't received coverage in the mainstream music pres (Roots Manuva excepted) is by no means a mark of their quality. There are a lot more where they came from, too: Lost Island, Def Tex, Aspects, TY to name but a few. There's a thriving scene but it's way, way underground.

It took UK hip hop a long time to shake off its inferiority complex: whether US hip hop fans would take it seriously I've no idea. It might sound a bit skewed to them, and generally the production isn't expensive enough to have the glossy sheen of the likes of Jay-Z. The good stuff doesn't sound cheap though, just a bit rough. Which is how I like it.

I don't expect to hear another LP this year which excites me as much as "Countryman", or another track as downeright brilliant as "Junkyard", which is every bit as good as the Skitz / Manuva classic "Where My Mind Is At", happily also included. Of course, I haven't heard the forthcoming Braintax LP yet. I can hardly wait.

Hats off to the 23 Skiddoo chaps for prioritising "Countryman" over their retrospective series, by the way.

' How gadgie! get yersel a taxi, me bruthas a twat an' me fathas a radgie '

Derek and Keith are great names for rappers - Poo Duddy should've called himself Trevor

Indeed. And reminds me of long-ago debate surrounding Prince's name change, wherein the voted best alternate was... Davo. (Pronounced Dave-o, obviously.)

Look how long it took for West Coast tunes to get airplay in New Yiddy!

This doesn't mean we are starved of amazing tracks.Mud Fam,Task Force,Lewis Parker,Braintax,Profound,Blak Twang,Roots Manuva,MC D all hold down unique,uncompromisingly rugged styles for our pleasure.

The great thing about the UK scene is it's refusal to accept the money that labels are willing to throw around in an attempt to keep artistic control.

Artists like Skinny Man keep the output minimal but their presence on the scene is unrivalled.

For the US to accept us a middle ground would have to be reached.The closest thing we have at this point is Mark B and Blade.Even with a slightly broader appeal I have my doubts."Long Awaited" is one of the best UK tracks around but will they take to it?

To answer the question,I think our UK scene is far closer to the original roots of Hip-Hop than the polished,mass market American model.

Maybe we should be wondering whether we can take US Hip-Hop seriously anymore?

If Americans need subtitles for Jamie Oliver and Guy Ritchie films,how the fuck are you going to explain what a Cash Converter is!!!

ghostface killa - isn't

whereas skinnyman is a bloke who is well slenda

this statement is so patriotic it should be written on a big stuffy british monument somewhere. how about we both adandon each other's respective rap outputs and see who comes crawling back first? i mean, christ.

It's possible to like music while finding it totally irrelevant to your own life. That may not make you dislike it, but it may make it hard for you to take it seriously. I get the impression that's what Ed2G meant.

Mud Family Gunshot Lewis Parker Blade Skitz Ty Roots Manuva Mindbomb Dobie

bish bash bosh!

Look out for London Posse reissue soon.

Hijack had their moments, Rodney P, Scienz of Life (aren't they UK), but The Brotherhood - too worthy, if it weren't for the underdog I'd couldn't care less.

Geordie Racer: thanks for the plug :).

Anyhow, the key to the UK market is Radio 1 then gettin a video and mtv play, and a proper release of the single.

Radio 1 are now getting on UK hip hop, Mark B and Blade showed the hunger may be there, they need a tune to smash things up a bit, Which is why something like Twilight of the Gods, with loads of UK mc's on it could blow up, i mean that tune is the shit and i believe if was released today would get A listed on radio 1, the climate has changed, with Roots Manuva about to blow like Blade, with his new tune and album gettin big play....

Skitz should come up with a tune with Skinnyman, Phi Life Cypher, Rodney P and Blade on it..... rip the A List on radio 1 ..... Thatd be so cool....Westwood would not doubt be calling it "the hottest joint on the street"

Westwood has got on the uk a lot recently, maybe hes finally found where his roots lie, so when hes not repping for Flex or Def Jam, hes givin the UK big time... He has the biggest audience on Radio 1 (for a specialist show) and this means making a few UK tunes his reccommendation could lead to big things....lets hope

Well Roots Manuva's doing really well hes got playlisted on the A list on radio 1 and i think Rodney P's gonner get the same, lets hope they keep doing this.....more UK more UK dammit. Innercity FOlk would be brilliant to release for the summer, would be great.

Does anyone have any info on Skeleton, who did the fourth verse on Dj Skitz' Fingerprints of the Gods?

It's the only thing I've heard from him, and it's phenomenal.

He's on a Junior Disprol track as well with Jehst. Forget what it's called.

What is good these days? I haven't been paying attention.

SonnyJim ft Kashmere, Soweto Kinch and Logan - A Dying Breed

7/10 for MCing, mostly due to Muslim wine bar line
3/10 for beyond boring production

'87 BBC docu Bad Meaning Good
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5613791235023845032&ei=DtXhS5XKPJbj-Ab3mqWADA&q=bad+meaning+good#

yeah, just saw that on RichardXL's twt - too busy with listening clubs at the mo' but this should be good. Hope Derek B and Demon Boyz feature.

I like the "Pass Out" song a lot

Anyone like Jam Baxter? The new album is excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPRza_M_XQk