Industry Takeover - Do Politics Have A Place In Music?

For those of you who say or said 'Grime Has No Meaning', you really should have attended Urban Development's Industry Takeover - Talking The Hardest' which showcased at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green last night. Not just for the urban showcase of talented musicians, but most importantly the debate.


The night kicked off with an in depth discussion from a panel of prominent individual know to both media and politics. Chantelle Fiddy, (Contributing editor of RWD Magazine) chaired the discussion between the five other guests. Ghetts, (Musician), Jody McIntyre (Poet and Political Activist), Fusion (Journalist, Producer and Educator), Austin Daboh, (Music manager of BBC 1xtra) and Helen Bray (ONS Stakeholder for 2011 census). The panellist battled it out, each bringing controversial ideas to the table in an attempt to answer the question, 'Does politics have a place in music?'

Over the years we've seen significant transitions in music from blues to jazz, reggae to hip hop and now grime. Yes, the genres may be different, but what they all share are the hidden messages of struggles, both socially and politically. In the 21st it seems even harder to act against politics, whether it be through marches and strikes such as the mass demonstrations against financial cuts in the education system or vocally through music and music videos.


The genre Grime to outsiders is seen as the 'gunk' of the streets - inner-city kids rapping about guns, crime and violence, yet to a majority this is the reality of everyday life, they take what they've learned from the streets and relay their struggles via music. Kano, Skepta, Dizze Rascal and Wiley have come from these very foundations and where they stand today proves allot about Grime.


Ghetts recently released the track 'Invisible' which was written to engage young people in participating in the 2011 census Although, the debate brought along ideas of intrusion and opposition the fact is more than 60% of the British people will fill it in, will you be one of them?