So yeah, the eagerly anticipated diddy-skepta collab has arrived. And after over a combined 100,000 hits on youtube in the matter of just a few days, it’s got people talking.

I can’t lie, I am a fan. As soon as Logan Sama dropped it and we heard Diddy speaking over a Grime beat, a small part of me could not help but feel just a little proud. But does the collab really open up a new era in UK Urban music?

To be honest, I don’t think it does. This is not the first time American Hip Hop artists have collaborated with Grime artists. For instance, the Lethal Bizzle-Kray Twinz-Gappy Ranks-Twista collab back in ’05, and the Lil’ John ‘Pow’ remix with Busta Rhymes. Despite these collaborations, Grime remains where it always has been, at the bottom of the pile. As for those who are now having visions of Grime music blowing up in the US or even becoming commercially viable in Britain are clearly deluded.

As for Diddy, the collab was merely a marketing ploy for Dirty Money and their fail of a single ‘Hello Good Morning’ which did not impress, even in the states. He saw a potential fan-base that he could connect with in the UK. He didn’t make the track because he liked the sound of Grime.  I do not believe for a second that Diddy has the likes of D double E and Ghetto on repeat on his iPod. The way he hooked up with Skepta proves that he just wanted to work with the most popular Grime artist, not the best Grime artist (He asked his UK Twitter followers which Grime artist to work with-and most of them said Skepta).

As for the song itself, it captures what Grime was all about in the first place, and it’s not lyricism or musicality. However it provides the energy and hype that a Grime track should.

AJ Nair.

Wrote this for a magazine I work for…check ‘em out. http://live-east-mag.com/

Katy and Snoop Dogg have been two weeks at number one, they can’t possibly make it a third can they?

1. Airplanes (feat. Haley Williams)  

B.o.B

Atlantic

B.o.B finds himself at the number one spot once again after spending 7 weeks in the UK singles chart. A catchy chorus from Haley Williams works well with the hip-hop backbeat. Bobby Ray seems to have found a formula for creating chart toppers, with his last single ‘Nothin’ on You’ also grabbing the top spot. However, B.oB has gone in a different direction with ‘Airplanes’, creating a self-reflective track with deeper themes and content. It’s a song we can all relate to. It’s a great track, and I’m sure it will stay put at the top of the pile.

   

2. We No Speak Americano

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP

AATW/Sweat It Out

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP are at number two, moving up three places in the last week. After spending just two weeks in the charts ‘We No Speak Americano’ may have already reached its peak. I think there is too much competition from bigger names. But the clever sampling, beefy kicks and electro synths have done enough to get the track this far. It’s a quirky dance-floor filler. It’s what a club banger should be.

   

3. Love The Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna)

Eminem

Polydor

Eminem, who is arguably the best rapper alive, is at number three this week. After four weeks in the chart, ‘Love The Way You Lie’ is hanging in there. I think it’s a great collaboration, with both Rihanna and Eminem on top of their games at the moment. Unlike most rappers, Eminem doesn’t need a singer on a chorus to carry him, his lyricism does that for him. However, Rihanna’s vocals compliment him very well. I reckon the single has a few more weeks in the charts still left in it.

   

4. California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg)

Katy Perry

Virgin

Katy Perry has been slowly working her way down the chart, moving from two last week to four this week. It’s been in the charts now for four weeks, and I think it will be a slow and steady decline for ‘California Gurls’. As for the track itself, it’s a fun, uplifting summer tune, and you can’t really go wrong with hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg featuring. But, I do think that it’s on its way out of the charts.

 

5. Just Be Good To Green (feat. Lily Allen)

Professor Green

Virgin

‘Just Be Good To Green’ is a new entry n this week’s chart, and has gone straight into the number five spot. It’s a definite climber and I see it at least getting to the second spot. Green’s breakthrough to the mainstream has been received well, and his current single features Lily Allen who provides a great hook. The track also features some great production. The Allen-Green combo is one to watch out for. Professor Green’s last single ‘I Need You Tonight’ reached number three. I think the new single will do better.

  

 

AJ Nair.

Project 5.1 are an experimental Hip Hop/Jazz/Fusion band/collective. They’re bringing something fresh and new in a dying music industry. Live music is back. Check out the mini-doc that I made whilst following the band.

If you want to listen to real music check project 5.1 out at www.myspace.com/Project5point1 or check out their youtube page at www.youtube.com/Project5point1

AJ Nair.

Performer? Or spectator?

Haven’t really had the chance to blog this last month due to the lack of time on my hands. Juggling life as a Musician and a Journalist keeps me occupied. Music and Journalism go hand in hand, but are very different in that music puts you at the forefront, you are the subject. As a Journalist, you’re the commentator, observing the subject. Being both can be tough. Conflicts of interests are inevitable.

Having the flexibility of moving between the fields can have its perks. It allows me to make links on both sides, which is both beneficial for my music work and my journalistic work. Being a Journalist allows me to stay in touch with what’s current, it lets me have a feel of the climate, which in turn benefits me as a Rapper/Producer. Being a Rapper/Producer means that I’m actively involved with music and other musicians, giving me a unique insight into the field, helping me as a Music Journalist.

However, both areas are not secure career paths, and this is where the similarities between Journalism and Music come to light. Both require a fight for survival. That means 100% commitment. However, music for me is not a long-term career, but something that I enjoy doing. A passion. Journalism is something that I’m pursuing as a long-term career. Hopefully a degree in Journalism and a NCTJ accreditation will help me get there in an already competitive field.

I know that in actuality, I do not have to be committed to anything, apart from my degree, but writing for local magazines and running blogs help me feel as if I am progressing through a path that eventually leads somewhere.

On top of music and journalism, I also direct videos and take part in design work as a sideline business. All of which is enough to keep me occupied throughout the summer months. Until my second year at uni commences that is.

That’s just a little insight into what I’ve been up to really, normal transmission will resume shortly.

AJ Nair.

Drizzy.

Tomorrow sees the release of Drake’s eagerly anticipated debut studio album, ‘Thank Me Later’. After hearing of the featuring artists and super-producers who were working on the album, I went in with high expectations.

I’ve been listening to the album over the last week or so, and I’ve found myself taking a liking to the album. Drake’s lyrical ability and style is a matter of ones taste and preference. For me, his rapping voice has always been slightly annoying. I wouldn’t of minded if what he was saying was lyrical genius, but it wasn’t. I can only describe it as simple, vague word associations and similes that in actuality don’t really make sense. However, when compared to the rest of these mainstream rappers, he’s one of the best.

Drake sings as much as he raps. He should sing more. The combination of the production and Drake’s singing reminds me of a style quite Kanye-Esqe, a style reminiscent of Kanye’s ’808s and Heartbreak’ (even though Kanye only produces two tracks on ‘Thank Me Later’). The production makes the album worth listening to, with production from Swizz Beatz, Boi-1da and Timbaland. A producer called 40, who contributed to the production of 7 of the 14 songs, stood out on this album, with my favourite tracks off the album being produced by him. My favourites are ‘Fireworks’ featuring Alicia Keys, ‘Light Up’ with Jay-Z and ‘Cece’s Interlude’.

Overall, it’s a good album, worth listening to. Or buying, if people still do that. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 star rating.

AJ Nair.

Tweet Tweet.

The Internet is a tool that has been widely available for a long time now. I remember getting the first Internet connection in my house about ten years ago. From the get-go, the Internet was the place to be for business. Where there are people, there is money. One business in particular has benefited and lost out because of the Internet. The music biz.

The Internet has served as a platform for artists/label’s to market themselves and their music. Throughout the short life of commercial Internet, we have seen an array of trends come and go. The latest in a long line is Twitter.

Twitter is a great tool for artists and celebrities alike. They’re not just keeping their fans posted on new music and tour dates but are selling themselves as individuals. You’re not just buying into their music or brand, but you’re buying into their personality and character. It’s clever. By following someone, you’re allowing someone into your life, into your home feed. It allows celebrities/bands/artists to assert their presence. It’s also useful for those artists to see how popular they actually are. But here’s the problem. With this style of social networking, the unknown and the up-and-coming musicians will find it hard to get their foot in the door, especially with the death of Myspace turning the key and locking it.

We are in a new age of social networking. And the music industry is cashing in on it.

However, social networking, Internet promotion and YouTube are just a few things that have had a positive effect on the industry. Illegal downloads haven’t killed the music biz, it’s just altered it. More and more often we are seeing different ways in which artists are making money. Whether it’s clothing lines, sell-out tours or iPhone apps, everyone’s doing their bit to make some money out of their popularity. There’s no doubt that music is not as profitable as it once was, but that is the direction we’re heading in. Could we see the reigniting of live music? (with an actual band) Will Grime die? (Some argue it already has). The climate is uncertain. I look forward to seeing how the situation pans out.

AJ Nair.

Dizzee 'Bonkers' Rascal.

Dizzee finds himself at the number one spot yet again. A sight that’s not that uncommon these days. ‘Dirtee Disco’ tops the iTunes UK singles chart, days after its online release.

I sense a change in the waters of Britain’s music industry. In the same top ten, you’ll find four ‘Urban’ acts, with the likes of Roll Deep, Aggro and and N-Dubz gracing the same list.

Dizzee has managed to stay relevant in a scene that is constantly changing. Dizzee, Wiley and Kano were the only three to come from the Grime scene and achieve some mainstream success. Now, Dizzee is fighting to keep his place among the new wave of urban acts who have become household names. Hence the change of the style of music Dizzee’s putting out. It’s a long way off his earlier work, with tracks like ‘Bonkers’ being a stark contrast to ‘Jus a Rascal’ or ‘I Luv U’. However, it’s worked well for Dizzee Rascal, a Brit award proves that.

A full video hasn’t been released yet by the Dirtee Stank boss, but here’s a preview.

AJ Nair.

The video for Chris Brown’s ‘Deuces’ has been on repeat. I like it a lot. Nice one Chris. I like the direct digs at Rihanna, and the suggestion of offensive hand gestures (It may be peace, or an insult, not too sure). They’ve also used a very similar melody and synth sound to Rihanna’s ‘Te Amo’, which was a nice touch.

However, the rap verses from Weezy protégé Tyga and Kevin McCall conform to a new style of rap, spawned by the Young Money collective, a style that consists of vague word association, sounds cool and leaves audiences feeling clever when they understand the content. For instance, McCall raps: “She make me wanna leave the one I’m with, Usher Raymond”. It’s a style reminiscent of Drake or Nicki Minaj. This is the style that is becoming increasingly popular with mainstream rappers. Well, the people like it, so what’s the problem? What it comes down to is good production and a banging hook (The track is produced and written by Kevin McCall). ‘Deuces’ have both. I reckon Brown’s fans have forgiven him and will make ‘Deuces’ another Chris Brown hit.

AJ Nair.

N-Dubz join the likes of Kanye and Rihanna.

N-Dubz have confirmed that they have signed to Def Jam Records.

The trio have completed the deal, which will see the group produce 5 albums, with the US branch of the label instead of Def Jam’s UK subsidiary.

N-Dubz producer/rapper Fazer said: “Getting a US deal is something we’ve been working towards for a while and we can’t wait to get out to the States”.

I’m not too sure as to what the labels intentions are with N-Dubz. Will they be pushing the group in America as well as the rest of the world? To be honest, you can’t sell milk to the cows and N-Dubz are a RnB/Hip Hop band in America, the home of Hip Hop and RnB. I can just see the US rappers mocking their british accents. It will take something extraordinary for Americans to give N-Dubz credit. As for singers, it’s a different story, they are just singing, they are not selling their characters or personality as rappers do. That’s why Jay Sean has had the success he’s had. I think Dappy and Fazer will be made a laughing stock of if they seriously push themselves in the states.

I think that N-Dubz have earn’t it. They are one of my guilty pleasures. I actually like a lot of their stuff, even if they do leave a lot to be desired. I look forward to seeing how they’ll be received in the US.

AJ Nair.

Chipmunk’s new single has got to be my favourite yet. And it pains me to say it. But i like it. It gets a big thumbs up from me. Despite getting the mainstream recognition, the MOBO awards and the number one, Chipmunk has decided to flip the script for his second album. He’s looking to move away from the formula that got him to where he is now and take his music back to his roots. We can see the direction he’s heading in with the new single ‘Superstar’. The production has a kanye-esqe feel, and I quite like the sneeky James Brown sample in there too. Hip Hop is the way forward.

At the end of the day, whatever you may think about Chipmunk’s abilities as a lyricist, he is making good pop music. And that’s all it is. Pop. I guess this is ‘Hip Pop’.

AJ Nair.