A couple weeks ago, there was a report on BBC News (I think it was) on artists like N-Dubz, Tinchy and Chipmunk. Innocently enough the Beeb described them as grime, and had a load of "urban industry" types, mainly in London, up in arms at the description.
Not long previously, 1Xtra had a huge showcase of the "hottest" "urban" talent in Sheffield at 1Xtra Live, and added to the above were artists like Sugababes, JLS etc.
This might just be me, but how many of these artists have a specifically "urban" sound? Theyre all on Majors and were instantly teamed up with hit making pop producers, and have done very well for themselves with a certain age bracket, but any number of artists could have performed over the majority of these productions from all sorts of genres.
If we take "urban" to mean specialist within r&b, hip hop, soul etc, traditionally those sounds would be far removed from these pop acts. Also given that a load of management companies and labels are lining up a conveyor belt of kids producing pretty much forgettable pop music for 2010, what is the defining line between the UK urban industry with artists who have a maturity and potential longevity in their careers, and this 10 a penny stuff being churned out?
Or are there examples out there you know of who stand a chance of turning the tide for this year?
twtr urbanelitepr
Not long previously, 1Xtra had a huge showcase of the "hottest" "urban" talent in Sheffield at 1Xtra Live, and added to the above were artists like Sugababes, JLS etc.
This might just be me, but how many of these artists have a specifically "urban" sound? Theyre all on Majors and were instantly teamed up with hit making pop producers, and have done very well for themselves with a certain age bracket, but any number of artists could have performed over the majority of these productions from all sorts of genres.
If we take "urban" to mean specialist within r&b, hip hop, soul etc, traditionally those sounds would be far removed from these pop acts. Also given that a load of management companies and labels are lining up a conveyor belt of kids producing pretty much forgettable pop music for 2010, what is the defining line between the UK urban industry with artists who have a maturity and potential longevity in their careers, and this 10 a penny stuff being churned out?
Or are there examples out there you know of who stand a chance of turning the tide for this year?
twtr urbanelitepr
reminds me of my brother.
