What is it?
Music has the ability to travel globally has it is consumed by all. Which is why it also has the power and capacity to make its way into popular culture. Artist such as Stormzy & Skepta have to some degree made their way into popular culture through the musical genre of grime. Grime was born from numerous forms of music, drawing influences from Hip Hop, UK Garage, drum ‘n’ bass & Jungle to form its own genre of electronic dance music characterised by its 140bpm. Giving voice to the struggling London working class community before emerging in popularity around the 2000’s. Which was before mainly consumed by just the U.K before spreading its presence worldwide.
The affect of ‘cultural appropriation’ on the genre
The statement “Grime isn’t just music, it’s about the working class struggle & it’s new middle glass fans need to recognise the genre’s social importance” – Poppie Platt. Suggest that Grime new diverse audience of the middle class could also being ruining the culture of the genre. Leaving people to feel that how can they (the middle class) be apart of culture and lifestyle if they have never been apart of the struggle. Yet the genre new audience might come as an advantage helping increase its success and globalisation of the genre. Whilst forcing the middle class to hear their concerns in order for them to rethink their preconceptions of the working class.
Globalisation of the genre
Grime has the capacity to offer an identity. Which is open to all ethnicities, cultural & national backgrounds making it relatable worldwide. Although the contribution of the of black-culture can not be over-stated in the genre. With digital and social media potentially also at play for grime’s outbreak into mainstream music with introduction of Youtube allowing artist such as Stormzy to upload clips such as ‘Shut Up’ to a international audience allowing a much wider exposure for all artist and the genre.
Grimes ability to recognise nation’s issues & concern
“Im not a rapper, Im an activist” – Skepta. I think, that statement reflect’s how grime is intrinsic to London’s story and how it has given London’s street a voice. Using it has a platform to express all that is wrong, exploiting cultural and political issue’s which both can be seen in Skepta’s songs such as “Shutdown” urging people to listen to no politician. With his beliefs that the government is a gang and is bullying us. While “Man” Skepta happily announce how London’s come a long way from the days when white and blacks never use to mix. Showcasing how grime has given artist’s a voice to express all that is wrong with the world.
Referencing
- Adam, R 2018, “Home Sweet Home, That’s Where I Come From, Where I Got MyKnowledge of the Road and the Flow From” (Kano, “Home SweetHome”): Grime Music as an Expression of Identity in Postcolonial London: Popular Music and Society’, pp. 1-18, accessed 28th August 2019 from Scopus.
- Medium, 2016, accessed 28th August 2019,https://medium.com/@politicsndat/why-critics-of-the-uk-grime-scene-s-new-diverse-audience-need-to-fix-up-look-sharp-53d08ee7b696
- Time Out London, 2016, accessed 28th August 2019, https://www.timeout.com/london/music/skepta-interview-im-not-a-rapper-im-an-activist
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