A couple of days ago my daughter told me that she really liked Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal because their lyrics were "really funny in a typically British kind of way."
I'm not a big fan of our Lily, so we'll draw a veil over that, but I immediately got what she meant. Lily specialises in a particular sort of British moaniness which is instantly recognisable. However, I hadn't thought of Dizzee as typically British until the girlchick pointed it out. But indeed he is and we love him for this sort of Ian Dury style lunacy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b94beDQQtWI
This set me thinking about some other artists from the same genre (UK grime) and yep, they're funny too. Here's Wiley with some foxy ladies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnezldGu7JU
Even the most mainstream UK grime artists are a bit funny. I'm not sure why I find this video by Tinchy Stryder ft N-Dubz hilarious, but I do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc7W8Q-g9Lg
Perhaps I just find it entertaining that Tinchy called his single "Number 1" (and yes, that's where it got to in the UK chart). My gay American friend Eric tells me that the key thing for understanding us Brits is appreciating The Importance of Not Being Earnest (that's to say, pretending to be very modest and laugh at yourself), so perhaps that's why Tinchy and Wiley are telling us that the ladies have got them whipped. This feels quite self deprecatingly funny after all the macho posturing of urban music.
However, of the three it is definitely Dizzee who is quintessentially British. I'm not sure why, but he's well on his way to national treasure status, right up there with Barbara Windsor and Red Rum. I'd love some transatlantic feedback on why that is ...
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So interesting. You'd think by now, the bridge would be musically gapped between your isle and our states...but it certainly isn't (and thank goodness for that.)
To me, this sounds like rap meets house from about 10 years ago. Maybe longer. Still interesting to see what you guys...that song went to Number one? Wow. It was the better of the songs, granted but...
I can't help but confess that there's something painful and a little awkward about Brits rapping. Is that discriminatory? I don't mean it to be. Heck, you guys pretty much trumped us when it came to classic rock.
Who's Barbara Winsor and Red Rum? Put up some video, Princess, so I can see quintessential Brit stuff. (Oh and embed the video in your post so we can hit play and not navigate away from your page.)
I'm thrilled to see you posting by the way. Keep it up. More! More! Encore!
Here's some really old school rap. This is Cypress Hill, one of my faves. To me, CH isn't really rap. It's sort of rap/rock fusion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkoQuWnJh64
(crappy video but good song. listen to loudly)
It's taken me years to appreciate any rap for a number of reasons. But the songs that nail it - even old school ones like this - are so...energetic.
So vital. I'm a big fan of Biggie as well. Never thought I'd say that.
In fact, "Number 1" went straight into the chart at No 1 and stayed there for three weeks, "Bonkers" was also a chart-topper and "Wearing my Rolex" peaked at no. 2. I think we do have different taste in rapping- Eminem is huge here, I think because he shares that slightly madcap, tongue in cheek style. (Dizzee's current album is called Tongue'n'Cheek no doubt for at least two reasons). We also get the mainstream US stuff like Black Eyed Peas and Flo-rida etc and previously Biggie and Tupac.
I think even teenage boys are a bit bored with the unrelieved sex/violence/bling stuff. To be a really successful British rapper I think you do have to be a bit of a comedian- and yes, I agree there is something a bit painful about Brits rapping.
Thanks for the tip about embedding- I will check that out. Red Rum was a horse- a real "people's favourite" so a bit like Seabiscuit. Barbara Windsor is an actress. She's now in her seventies, appears in a long running soap and is married to a guy who is 25 years younger. She is mainly famous for a series of cringe making comedy films from the 1960s, which consisted of terrible double entrendres and Barbara losing her bikini top every few minutes. I will put up some footage of Rummie and Babs once I have figured the embedding.
Thanks for the link to Cypress Hill- I'm at the office now, so I will play it later.