How the UK changed Hip-Hop Forever

How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever

Original version

1xtra

1XTRA

Podcasts

Factual

Music: Hip Hop, RnB & Dancehall: Hip Hop

How The UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever

Ashley Walters explores the UK's influence on hip-hop.

British actor and rapper Ashley Walters explores the UK's influence on hip-hop.

To mark hip-hop's 50th anniversary this year, this series explores the UK's influence on hip-hop. From foundational British artists to the unexpected encounters that influenced a generation, each episode will tell the story of a surprising but significant link between the UK and a key moment in hip-hop history.

Each episode starts with a key moment. We'll then reveal the UK involvement through key interviews and archive moments, and ask why it matters now.

How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever: 4. Supa Dupa Southall

4. Supa Dupa Southall

BBC Radio 1Xtra - How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever, 4. Supa Dupa Southall

Ashley Walters finds out what happened when Timbaland went record shopping in Southall.

The story of how a British Indian sample CD ended up on one of hip hop’s most iconic tunes.

When Timbaland dropped Missy Elliott’s Get Your Freak On it kickstarted a trend of Indian and Arabic samples in hip-hop. Meanwhile in London, a group of producers and artists were inspired by Timbaland… and were also using the exact same sample CD. They were blending Bollywood tunes with hip-hop and came to be known as the Desi Beats scene, with artists like Jay Sean, Panjabi Hit Squad, Rishi Rich and Panjabi MC breaking through.

When Timbaland touched down in the UK a few years later, his first port of call was Southall, sometimes known as ‘little India’ and the heart of the Desi Beats scene.

In this episode we hear from Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Romesh Ranganathan, Rav Patti from Panjabi Hit Squad and Jay Sean.

Archive used in this episode:
Jay Sean, NPO FunX
Timbaland, Timbaland Youtube
Missy Elliott, Rick Rubin’s Broken Record podcast

Presenter: Ashley Walters
Producer: Emily Dicks
Written by Emily Dicks
Technical production: Ant Danbury
Additional production: Dari Samuels, Tommy Dixon and Zayna Shaikh
Editor for BBC Audio: Andy Worrell
Commissioning producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan
Commissioner for BBC Music: Will Wilkin
A BBC Audio production

BBC Radio 1Xtra

The biggest tunes, talent and mixes in new Black music

Accessibility links

Programme Index

How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever

4. Supa Dupa Southall

Genres

Brand

1xtra

About BBC Radio 1Xtra