The Asian music scene has taken the world by surprise with its instant appeal globally. Over the years the genre, which consists of Bhangra, Bollywood and Desi music – to name a few, has been drifting in and out of the mainstream, leaving Asian artists to drift in and out too. However the artists in the scene have been extremely prominent and left strong marks in the music scene, allowing them to constantly come back with instant hits.

With any artist, breaking through into the mainstream market is not only difficult but extremely competitive and a big risk, treating the market as a shark infested sea that can either make you or break you. This is the reason why many artists choose to remain in the underground scene which allows them to gain a reputable name for themselves and a strong anti-mainstream audience; however this leaves very little space for revenue. The UK Asian scene is lucky on this front, as they are able to succeed in the mainstream, yet still maintain a strong underground fan base.

The past few years have exemplified the worldwide appeal of the Asian music scene which has led to popular mainstream collaborations with renowned artists in the industry. UK Asian artist MIA took the world by a storm with her distinctive, original sound and style. M.I.A’s first singles ‘Galang’ and ‘Bucky Done Gun’ contain a fusion of UK slang and Caribbean and Indian beats; and it was her inimitable style that made her an instantaneous hit. The 2008 summer hit ‘Paper Planes’ enabled M.I.A to gain international recognition, featured in the box office hit film ‘Pineapple Express’ and the notable ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The smash hit single led M.I.A to collaborate with the famous American Hip-Hop superstars Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I and Lil Wayne on a remix of the song titled ‘Swagga Like Us’.

With American Hip Hop being one of the most fashionable genres in the mainstream market, joining forces with a superstar rapper is likely to allow an artist to gain instant recognition. One of the Kings of the UK Asian music scene, the popular R&B star Jay Sean has done particularly well in the mainstream market, and has recently been signed to American Hip Hop label Cash Money Records; the golden ticket to take his talent to the motherland of mainstream music- the U.S.A. Cash Money Records president, Hip Hop artist Lil Wayne has already collaborate with Jay Sean on his latest single ‘Down’ which will be the first track to entice his new American fan base.

So the popularity of Asian music, or should I say the ‘Slumdog Millionaire era’ continues, as the fascination of the culture and the diversity within it has meant that it is has become a global success. A. R Rahman’s soundtrack music in Slumdog Millionaire led to a number of awards, worldwide appreciation and collaborations. The latest, major collaboration was with sensational American girl group The Pussycat Dolls, who teamed up with A.R Rahman to do a hot remake of the hit track ‘Jai Ho’. The collaborative track is a hybrid of strong pop vocals with Bollywood beats and has placed the Bollywood culture in the limelight of a market appealable to the younger generation.

So with a market full of trend-setting rappers, hot girl bands and originality, there is a constant appeal for Asian music, with its diverse artists and ground shaking beats! Keep checking out B4U’s The Vibe for the latest updates on the UK Asian Music Scene!