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Hello Independent readers and welcome to my new column where I let you know what is going on in the underground music scene. I will be taking you through the hottest players in the various music scenes and all the exclusive news to go with it, with the odd comment piece as well. This month I talk with Big H, the grime scenes biggest selling artist of the moment and also news on 1DAYTHEMOVIE, which is being called the first ever UK hip-hop music film and more…
One To Watch: BIG H
Big H has been at the forefront of the grime music scene for a number of years now, working with the likes of Skepta, JME and Wiley to name a few, but now it’s his time to shine. “I first got into music with my brother Prez T and my two friends from Manchester, Cautios and Nova, respect to them because I know they’re still doing their thing,” says Big H. “But yeah, we started off as a group called ‘Darkside Crew’ and even at that time we still done our thing, the odd set and booking here and there, we were young though init. I then went to prison in Manchester and came back to London and that was when Meridian Crew really started. When I wrote my first lyric, the reaction I used to get from people made me feel like I was meant to do this.” Big H is known as one of the more, shall we say “street” acts when it comes to his lyrical content, he tends to rap about his life on the roads and the goings on that happen in north London (where he is from), i.e. the drugs and violence et al. With such content, you’d think he would be too much for some ears to handle, but yet he has managed to gain a steady following with thousands of fans all over the UK chomping at the bit to hear his music releases.
“I’m Big H and I’m the best. When I say best, I mean the best at what I do; I don’t dance or sing, so Michael Jackson can have that title,” explains Big H. “I’m not a footballer so I will give the title to Ronaldo. It’s a known fact that in the UK music scene I created a flow and style that inspired many of the UK acts that you see doing big things now.” Whether that last sentence is true or not, this MC has certainly beaten all the odds by becoming the current best selling act according to the biggest music retailer for underground urban music, UK Record Shop. Although we will never see him teaming up with Lily Allen for a duet, or seeing little girls bothering their parents for a Big H CD for Christmas, he seems to be content with the fans that understand him and want to listen to his style of music. “I’m not going to knock a next mans hustle, but put it this way, don’t expect to see me or anyone around me on any electro/house tunes. If they’re doing that then it is because they lack inspiration, I don’t agree with that. If I can see it’s a creative thing, then good luck to them.”
Big H – ‘Street Crime UK’ is out now – www.myspace.com/streetcrimecd
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Music News
This month, we saw the likes of Chipmunk win a Mobo (whether he deserved one over Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Styder, I beg to differ). While Tinchy Stryder got into some industry beef with electro/pop singer Elly Jackson of La Roux fame and more recently we saw two more grime acts get signed to a major, namely MC Jammer to Big Dada (Speech Debelle’s label) and Tinie Tempah, who was snapped up by EMI/Parlaphone. UK Asian R&B crooner Jay Sean also reached the number one spot on the US Billboard charts via Lil Wayne’s imprint label, Cash Money records with the single ‘Down’. And last but not least, there is a new film coming out November 6th that is being called ‘the first ever UK hip-hop musical,’ (as there are performances from grime to gospel featured throughout). Directed by the controversial Penny Woolcock, 1DAYTHEMOVIE is a portrayal of street life in Birmingham which references the trouble the city has faced with gang war. The Birmingham spreadsheets are claiming the film is ‘glorifying gangsters’, but I can honestly say that after watching the film twice, it’s a great and shockingly real depiction of how some of the UK youth are living today.
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Top 10 Tracks To Check Out This Month…
Skepta ft Jay Sean – ‘Lush’
Basement Jaxx ft Kelis, Chipmunk & Meleka – ‘Scars’
Newham Generals – ‘Hard’
Scorcher ft Liam Francis – ‘Lipsin Ting’
Tempa T – ‘Ring Off Da Ting’
Cheryl Cole ft Griminal – ‘Fight For Love’ (Crazy Cousinz remix)
Frisco – ‘Darkside’
Kosha – ‘Old Skool’
Uffie – ‘Pop The Glock’
Mz.Bratt ft Sadie Ama – ‘I Like You’
