A New Plan?

I noticed from Plan B's recent new single "She Said" that the guy seems to be making a foray into the commercial market with his new material. Fair play to the guy, I'm a big fan of his first album and his recent work with Chase & Status has pretty much had his name firmly in UK's collective consciousness considering C&S's fanboy pull.

Selling out is an issue all people need to deal with if they want to make it big. Some people sell out in a BAD BAD way. Think Will.I.Am and Black Eyed Peas. Never a great group in the first place in my opinion, but any group who can bring out "Joints + Jams" that boast a producer (Will.I.Am) capable of making thought-provoking and great jazzy albums like "Lost Change OST" should NOT be able to be caught dead making the kind of tripe they are right now.

Dizzee Rascal towed the line quite thinly with his "Tongue N Cheek" album, which was a solar system away from the hip-hop sensibilities that ran through his previous effort "Maths + English". Dizzee got away with it for two reasons though. First reason being that he has always flirted with the dance scene ever since his debut LP. Hell, Stand Up Tall was his biggest hit to date at one point and that's basically an emcee rhyming over a full on dance track. Second reason....Bonkers was, well bonkers. It took the UK by storm, opened him up to a whole new scene without actually forgetting his roots. Dizzee never changed his actual style, just his sound. Its the same Dizzee but with dance producers instead of hip-hop/grime beatmakers. I applaud him for that (even though you can get fucked if I'm listening to his new LP!).

Plan B hasn't even had to tow the line too much really. He's on Jonathan Ross in a suit and bowtie. He's singing more and rapping less. But the music hasnt lost any of its vigour and appeal. One thing you can count on with Plan B is passion. It pulses in his veins and I hope that continues with his new material. The new song is so-so. Not my favourite I must admit but it has appeal and will double his fanbase overnight without proverbially milking the lovepump of a pop audience.

Plan B's flirtation with drum and bass hasnt gone unnoticed and arguably some of his better work has came on those few forays into this scene. 16-Bit have dropped a dubstep remix of the track and for me it beats the hell out of the original. I'm not exactly going to masturbate over dubstep (there are enough trendy sites out there that will do it for me) but I will admit it seems to be the new genre to capture the imagination of young urban music fans these days despite being around for a good few years now. Should UK hip-hop embrace these new sounds and make an effort with more cross-overs? You be the judge, here's the track...


Plan B - She Said - (16Bit Remix) by SniperInTheMist