Today a sample of 6 of our finest urban artists took the genre to a whole new level and switched up the BBC Proms 1 Xtra styley. Urban Classics live back in 2012 was an event but this was an occasion. The Proms have been celebrating classical music for 119 years, and tonight it invited one of the UK's least appreciated genres and let it's ambassadors show the world how we do. It really felt like UK urban music got that seal of approval and was welcomed with open arms - forget the top 40, we roll with the BBC Proms now yo!
I was most excited to see what Lady Leshurr and Wretch 32 would do. As much as I love my Mr Wretchy Wretch (who may I add looked SUAVE as hell) my favourite of the night was Miss Lesh because she came out and just did her, herself, she and she only. She's already a female grime artist from *Lady Leshurr Voice* "BRUM BRUM BRUM BRUM" excelling in world whose A* students often come in the package of a London based male artist, yet still, even in the illustrious venue of Royal Albert Hall, she looked as comfortable as she would be spread across the sofa at home watching Eastenders. In her element, sporting her self branded "Lady Lesh" attire, bringing her feist to the front line, she tore up the stage. She was a perfect portrayal of the well blended union of two opposing genres without having to compromise (except one or two swear words).
It was great to also see that this fusion wasn't something that can only be achieved by some of our most talented urban musicians, but also obtainable for amateurs. Fazer managed to gather up a group of fine young artists and set them the challenge of firstly merging their own individual styles and then incorporating the BBC Symphony Orchestra. They pulled it off and the consequence was not only a great piece of music but more evidence supporting the argument that all elements of urban music - be it rap, soul singing, beatboxing - could walk hand in hand in harmony with classical music.
People often see that all that lies under the urban music bracket, infact lies on the other end of the universe from classical music. However music is a universal language and so in the presence of the coalition of two expressions of art, there was no translation required in sending out this very message. The going ons inside the Albert Hall on the evening of the 10th of August proved stereotypes of the like of "rap not being real music" wrong. If it wasn't real music it wouldn't sound so damn good on top of dirty bass or the double bass.
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I was most excited to see what Lady Leshurr and Wretch 32 would do. As much as I love my Mr Wretchy Wretch (who may I add looked SUAVE as hell) my favourite of the night was Miss Lesh because she came out and just did her, herself, she and she only. She's already a female grime artist from *Lady Leshurr Voice* "BRUM BRUM BRUM BRUM" excelling in world whose A* students often come in the package of a London based male artist, yet still, even in the illustrious venue of Royal Albert Hall, she looked as comfortable as she would be spread across the sofa at home watching Eastenders. In her element, sporting her self branded "Lady Lesh" attire, bringing her feist to the front line, she tore up the stage. She was a perfect portrayal of the well blended union of two opposing genres without having to compromise (except one or two swear words).
It was great to also see that this fusion wasn't something that can only be achieved by some of our most talented urban musicians, but also obtainable for amateurs. Fazer managed to gather up a group of fine young artists and set them the challenge of firstly merging their own individual styles and then incorporating the BBC Symphony Orchestra. They pulled it off and the consequence was not only a great piece of music but more evidence supporting the argument that all elements of urban music - be it rap, soul singing, beatboxing - could walk hand in hand in harmony with classical music.
People often see that all that lies under the urban music bracket, infact lies on the other end of the universe from classical music. However music is a universal language and so in the presence of the coalition of two expressions of art, there was no translation required in sending out this very message. The going ons inside the Albert Hall on the evening of the 10th of August proved stereotypes of the like of "rap not being real music" wrong. If it wasn't real music it wouldn't sound so damn good on top of dirty bass or the double bass.
