UK goes stateside
Wednesday 10 March 2010
More and more UK artists are being recognised across the pond.
‘Down’
Jay Sean, who was born and raised in Hounslow, has come a long way these past few years. He signed with Cash Money Records after being dropped from Virgin. Then in 2009, he teamed up with his new label mate Lil Wayne and released ‘Down’. The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, ending Black Eyed Peas’ 26-week reign at the top. The track also sold over three million digital copies in the US alone. Strangely though, ‘Down’ only reached no.3 in the UK.
Jay Sean is not a one hit wonder! He proved he had staying power when his second single ‘Do You Remember’ made the top 10 in the US.
Look out for Jay’s track ‘Lovedealer’ which features Justin Timberlake and Esmée Denters. It also looks like a collaboration with PCD’s Nicole Scherzinger is on the cards. The pair recently hinted at the possibility during a broadcast on a live stream. Rumour has it that the track will feature on Nicole’s next solo album.
‘Here Comes the Fuzz’
Producer, writer and DJ Mark Ronson, from London, is known for his genre-hopping tunes. His list of collaborations is like a who’s who of contemporary music. His first album ‘Here Comes the Fuzz’ featured tracks with Jack White, Sean Paul, Nate Dogg and Ghostface, and since then he has written music for Christina Aguilera.
Now he has caught Rihanna’s attention. "I still would love to work with Mark Ronson. We've been trying to work together for a while but we'll figure it out one day," she said in an interview on GMTV.
‘American Boy’
Back in the day, before she made it big with ‘American Boy’, Estelle was busy competing in the UK hip hop scene. Then she bumped into Kanye West outside a restaurant in Hollywood. "Yo’ Kanye, I'm a big fan…Where's John Legend? I've heard him on your mix CD," she shouted. And the rest is history.
‘American Boy’ was written by Estelle, Kanye and will.i.am, and was also produced by John Legend. It reached no.9 in the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Estelle a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Keep your eyes peeled for her track with Robin Thicke. "She's a rapper. She's a singer. She's a writer. So it was really meant to be, and when I had this record, I was thinking to myself that it was perfect (for Estelle)," explained Robin on the set of ‘Rollacoasta’.
‘Three Words’
Northern girl Cheryl Cole first hooked up with will.i.am on his single ‘Heartbreaker’. She auditioned for a role in his video during an episode of 'Passions of Girls Aloud' which was filmed in the States. She got the part and before Cheryl knew it she was also providing some backing vocals. will.i.am decided to return the favour by agreeing to feature on her second solo single ‘3 Words’.
It looks like their friendship is only just beginning. Cheryl has confirmed that she will be supporting BEP during their arena tour in May. Look out for her in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Watch this space…
Lily’s Wireless
After Lily Allen found out that Jay Z was interested in doing a duet with her at the Wireless Festival, she decided to postpone her ‘retirement’ to accept his offer.
Jay Z wasn’t prepared to take ‘no’ for an answer. "I bum-rushed them in the corner where they can't say no," admitted the Jigga Man.
The pair is set to storm the stage on 4th July at Hyde Park, London.
JLS stateside
Most people thought they had seen the last of JLS when the band lost to Alexandra Burke on X Factor. Now, two years later, they’ve notched up two no.1 singles and two Brit Awards – making them the only X Factor act that has ever won at the Brits.
In a recent interview with MTV’s Rickie Haywood, JLS admitted that they have high hopes to crack America. The band have reportedly signed a deal with a massive US label and hope to release ‘Everybody in Love’ stateside very soon.
Even Jay Z has the band’s back. "I liked JLS. I watched them do their show. They're a good band and remind me of 'N Sync, a band who do the boy band thing well," he said when he was backstage at the Brits.
