Dance is killing UK Hip-Hop

So...Sway has done a dance record. Nothing wrong with that you'd say. To be honest, the song is't horrific or anything like that either. But there's a growing trend in the UK that if you're a rapper you have to throw a beat that was made at Wigan Pier behind your tracks just to get some success. For years now there have been countless forays into the dance scene for old, washed up r'n'b singers and a few rappers too, but recently UK hip-hop seems to have been struck with the cancer and its not good for the scene at all.

Personally I love the mixing of genres, the furrowing of new niche markets and the experimentation of artists, but when its done so shamelessly and obviously to generate money with no thought given to the quality control of the output and the integrity of the artist's product it really gets on my little "there-because-I-haven't-played-football-in-a-while" man tits.

Sway is probably the brightest star of UK hip-hop. Thats not even an understatement either. He's possibly not THE best UK artist there is, with the greatest discography or the greatest ability (although both are quite strong and it could be argued he is the best UK emcee right now), but there isn't an emcee from the UK right now with more potential to succeed than Sway. Dasafo could be big....and by big I mean the whole "break America, global stardom beckons" kind of big. Seriously.

Sway is probably the only artist aside from Dizzee (who has already suceeded in getting global mainstream exposure) from the UK rap scene who has the ability and potential to both stay true to his roots in both rap and grime scenes whilst simultaneously straddling the arse of the mainstream and riding it raw until he falls off in retirement with classic albums and international adulation in tow.

Thats what makes this a bit irritating, I feel like this track is a bit of a cop out. I sincerely hope its not a sign of things to come from Sway, but when you have Roll Deep (admittedly a group who were by and large a bit pants to start with) sitting in number one with a horrendous and shameless attempt at dance music, Tinie Tempah following up his "Pass Out" track with his won attempt which will undoubtedly be huge, and even sad R'n'B artists like Taio Cruz jumping on the bandwagon by doing a song with that slag Ke$ha (who looks like she has a fanny like a KFC bucket, with as much grease and batter spilling out of it aswell) its not looking good.

Dizzee Rascal is one guy I'd give a pass and an exception to. He was always an experimental type of guy and he has crossed over with a few dance tracks that are genuinely superb songs (I really don't care what you think, "Bonkers" truly was the british national anthem in 2009). He's done it the right way and kept his roots intact along with it.

Sway needs to do the same. Sort it out mate! And Donea'o...you're better than this aswell.