Where to start? So much is happening in the UK right now, it's a very exciting place to be and scene to be a part of. You've got Huntkillbury Finn making the come back of comebacks with his "Mummy's Little Soldier" EP, ripping it to shreds; you've got the Task Force album that has just dropped; MC Mello making a come back with Mark B, Aspects bringing revenge, New Flesh with "Eye of the Hurricane," Lewis and Blak Twang, and Roots M. all having dropped major releases, Mud Fam blowin' up all over the show; plus, you've got crews everywhere making and releasing dope Hip-Hop.

However, even to many in the UK, the Bubbling scene is oblique. They can't see through all of the viscous liquid which surrounds it and obscures it. It is still very underground. This is not a bad thing however, as if you wanted to do Hip-Hop here just to get paid, then you'd be a very poor person...get me?? I mean, if you want to do hip-hop here for the love, you're going to be rich...not materially of course, but emotionally. You'll get paid in full, in the currency of respect, friendship, and to some extent (if you're good) street acclaim. Of course, if you're lucky, you'll get a few penny's for your trouble as well (at least I hope you would).

Now, although there is so much good material coming out of the US, there is also a lot of shit, ...due to the fact they wack in their track. Have to go back and stack, 'cause they lack...the ingredient...er hang on..bloody EPMD. No,..er, right, wha' was I sayin' (?) ahh yes, that was it., due to the fact that it is possible to make "It" there without having any special talent.

Here of course, it is not. But, there is a paradox of kind as even if you have lots and lots of talent, its very difficult to break down that outer membrane of tough, cellulose that circles UK Hip-Hop. But, there has been some success in excavation here. For example, Roots Manuva has made much progress with his debut "Brand New Second Hand" (Big Dada); performing on Joe Wiley and getting much exposure in the more main stream national press. Progressing through that final layer, that final frontier of pink, sticky, ghost-busters 2 slime (that covered the library in the end) does not seem so impossible.

Especially when you think about what initial attempts have been made. The Late 80's/early 90's saw may be the peak of UK Hip-Hop. Hijack, Gunshot, London Posse, Braintax and BTI, The Demon Boys, Krispy, Katch 22, The Brotherhood, and groups like Hard Noise all launching barrages to propel Hip-Hop here to the front of Hip-Hop there. Especially in Europe. For example, Blade was absolutely huge in the EU. Also Gunshot. Both did much to bring Hip-Hop out there. Although this all tailed off a little during the recession, reaching the top of those times, and going even higher, does not, again, seem so impossible.

Also, economic factors are in our favour. After much research, findings indicate that big high points in The UK scene occur in times of economic prosperity. For example, the time remembered as may be the peak of Hip-Hop in the UK was the late 80's. and what was happening in the UK economy?..You had the Lawson housing boom, fuelling stock market highs. Then, it all came crashing down, with black Monday. And, surprise surprise, the UK scene started to follow and by the early 90's, was not at a high anymore. O.K, you had Gunshot releasing Patriot Games, but it got to a point where there were rarely any major UK releases. Especially with the popularising of house, then jungle, the thick coating of congealed bath-tub dirt began to grow ever thick around our beloved culture.

But today, it looks as though we are entering an economic "golden age". We have the lowest unemployment figure in Europe, the £ is still strong, the FTSE 100 share index has survived the Asian crisis and is still climbing to all time highs. Even with the start if EMU and the Euro (which is nearly reaching its $ peg; it's a good job we didn't join straight away after all), the UK seems to be still growing stronger.

And, so it looks like home grown Hip-Hop is too. I mean, we're going to be once again world leaders. They'll be saying in rhymes "America keeps on makin' it/England keeps in takin' it."

O.K, so I might be exaggerating a tiny little bit. We might never have a "rap industry" like America. But frankly, who wants one? And, in a way, it would be unrealistic to predict that the UK would have one. The UK and US are 2 extremely different places, with very very different social conditions and social history. Yes, Hip-Hop can and will be popular here. Hopefully, it won't be so hard for people to put their music out and make a little money. But, I don't think it will ever get to the point where Blak Twang are going to be rapping about having country house in Surrey, driving a Rolls, eating cucumber sandwiches (with out the crust of course), being lord of the manor and shopping at Harrods. I mean, that's just not going to happen. Thus, to every one who loves Hip-Hop and lives in the UK, there is a thriving UK scene, even if you can't see it right now. You might find it impossible to pick up the next Bury Crew EP or what ever, from you're local record shop, but trust me, there are other ways of getting it. Mail order direct from the label or from shops like MR. Bongos, or even through the web (if your reading this on the web, then as soon as you've finished, go and check: www.gunshotuk.com www.fastnet.co.uk/flat4 and www.ukhiphop.com , and also check out the links from those sites also.)

The bottom line is that UK Hip-Hop is ours. We don't have to listen to people rhyming about things we don't and probably never will be totally familiar with. Yes, much US (and Hip-Hop from other countries) stuff is very dope and well worth checking, but UK stuff is always as good now. So, save your dinner money, wash your dad's car or do what ever you've got to, and go and pick those apples that are in your own back garden. You know home grown produce is much tastier than imports...

Taken from The Blindside magazine…