I may take a lot of heat for this, but someone must say it. I honestly
believe the Black American music industry
is biased against foreign black artists - look at the Brand New Heavies,
whose new album, like it or not, is their most radio-friendly album yet,
and still have yet to make many urban station playlists. I may be wrong, but
why hasn't urban radio been hip to other black British/European, or even
Jamaican or - God forbid - African
artists, who are more worthy than the Puff Daddies and Boyz II Men ripoffs
in the US of A?
(I'm not trying to incite malicious debate, if someone out there has an
answer for me I'd like to listen to it).
The last black foreign act to make a significant mark on the US (and
perhaps the entire world) market was, of course, Soul II Soul. And of
course, they were probably one of the most influential artists of the 1990s
- you can spend a day counting all the songs released in the past 7 years
that had that 'Keep On Movin" beat.
On a less gripier tone, and speaking of S II S, their new album, "A Time
For Change", is pretty cool. Yes they've bought a ticket on the Drum N Bass
express, but Jazzie B has every right to. I think Jazzie even sings lead on
a song and actually sings much better now. Find out more at
http://www.soul2soul.co.uk
Elson