There’s UK music but where’s Dancehall?

British Drill, Rap and R'n'B artists all have a seat at the table - But there is a huge gap missing

Stylo G has been flying the flag for British artists

OVER THE last few years UK music has grown at a phenomenal pace and in a manner that I have never seen before.

I’ve watched artists like Chip, Skepta, Stormzy and Dizzee Rascal grow from boys on the corner into major stars that helped nurture the scene to where it is today.

I believe the current UK Dancehall scene is in the early stages compared to Grime/Drill etc

Sian Anderson

Artists born in Britain have influenced the next wave to believe that the dream is now very possible, when once upon a time we had to look at shores further afield for that inspiration. Seeing the likes of Fredo, Santan Dave and more recently Russ and Tion Wayne hit the top of the national charts with unfiltered street music was something that many UK artists could only dream of.

So it seems that Drill, UK Rap, R’n’B and Afro swing all seem to have a seat at the table – but what about Dancehall? Traditionally dancehall was the music that always had a turnover of artists that had the street buzzing with stars like General Levy, Sweetie Irie, Glamma Kid. Even if it wasn’t directly dancehall, acts like Top Cat lent that bashment flava to the genres of the time like Jungle and Garage.

But in the 2000s I personally believe there was a lull. Maybe that’s why we saw the other genres flourish as the talent and labels didn’t see UK Dancehall as a path to bright lights, big stages and big money, and focused on what seemed to be greener grass.

Two names that continued to fly that flag during that time was Stylo G and Gappy Ranks. However, in all honesty, two people cannot make a scene flourish, but the tide has been changing of late.

Sian Anderson, who signed one of the leading Dancehall acts in the UK, Alicai Harley to Saint Music/Parlophone Records, agrees with this sentiment. “One of the reasons I set up Saint Music was because I could see lots of UK artist bubbling.

“You can see now Alicai Harley, Shauna Sade, IQ and Big Zeeks, there’s a community UK people making good dancehall music.

Big Zeeks

“But if those people started to parr with each other a little bit more, if those people went out and did stage shows a little more, they could really cement themselves as the UK dancehall scene.”

Sian further went to explain that this is how it worked in the Afro Swing world, which we have seen grown into movement that dominates the airwaves here and crossed over into Africa bringing the artists with them.

What I have been witnessing on the underground is exactly this. The lockdown pushed everyone to social media and this brought a new awareness of UK Dancehall. With no shows or live events it was down to DJs and artists to bring entertainment.

First it was DJs Juggling, then soundclashes, now the artists have taken control of the LIVE button which has unearthed a multitude of artists that were not getting heard. They used this medium to full effect and even made it clear to me that they meant business. I had a few Insta “discussions” with the like of Supa Nytro, IQ, Styla British and Big Zeeks explaining how difficult it is to strike the balance of what gets played on the endz to what makes it to national radio.

But if they create the demand in the scene like Sian explained then myself and others would have to take notice. Creating demand is only one element, though! Ensuring you present yourself in a professional manner for me is the biggest
elephant in the room regarding our music, and not just from the UK. I constantly get emails with music not presented properly; can you imagine a how this is received by label execs or heads of radio stations?

HOME Business needs infrastructure and the home of Reggae and Dancehall, Jamaica doesn’t seem to have this in place.

Sian explains: “In Africa you have Warner Music and they have launched Spotify – Jamaica is not really there yet! So, to assume a major label in the UK has recognised a sick Dancehall act and will reach out and communicate with them just like that, it’s just not heard of.” Knowing how I navigate in the street of Kingston I can understand.

“You need to know a man that knows a man and I genuinely can understand that those barriers some may not go through especially as Dancehall is in the streets.

“What does that mean for UK Dancehall? I spoke with DJ Nate who is firmly part of the UK scene as a Radio DJ, Promoter and now producer with his latest riddim compilation Love Dreams that features mainly UK acts

“I believe the current UK Dancehall scene is in the early stages compared to Grime/Drill etc – the talent is/has always been there and those artists have found the motivation to make the first step in getting their music out there.

“DJs have also started to pay extra attention to the homegrown talent, after this the next steps will be building the infrastructure to push the movement to the masses and the people pulling the strings inside those corporate buildings.“

In truth every element has a role to play and the most important thing is seemingly that each “department” needs to work towards best practice. There needs to be a pulling together of the industry as a whole, and an “all for one” attitude to help the business as a whole, not just parts of it.

It’s a crazy time that we are living in

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