Alright, if you didn't know, Migraine Skank was released on Sunday. Firstly, I would like to state, I have no indication of how well the song is doing in the charts. Either way, this was a post I was supposed to make on the weekend but never got round to it.
If you don't know the background; both are "UK Funky" songs. There are a bunch of "UK Funky" records released this week (Attaca Pesante feat Shea Soul - Make It Funky being the best of the rest for what I remember), but Migraine Skank is the only one signed to a major.
The hate first begun with MCs on what was a instrumental or female vocal-driven sound. Skank (them tunes sold on a dance) records are either loved or loathed by the "UK Funky" scene, especially by the purists - some of whom have claimed a new scene in effort to get away ('ang tite Circle).
Reason I put "UK Funky" in quotation marks is because many used to dispute whether these songs were UK Funky. I think that phase is over now though.
I think one of the main reasons them MC tunes got hate (and still do really) is they used to bootleg next producers tunes without permission. Migraine Skank is a prime example
DJ Gregory - Don't Panic
+ Hardhouse Banton - Sirens
But anyway, to the matter at hand, the similarities between the two records; apart from the obvious skank, they are still the only records from the scene to get a mainstream push with major backing. Considering this type of record was hated in the scene, it's ironic that through all the songs released and tearin up clubs, these are the two with the most push. Obviously down to being easier to sell, still funny though.
KIG peaked at no. 18 with theirs
Migraine Skank - Chart position TBC
Video for Video: HSKT was a disappointment. The no frills original was more fun than the video with a budget. Migraine Skank had no prior visuals so nothing to compare it to = win!
Chart 4 Chart: Where will Gracious K land? Will he equal or better KIG?
The label obviously saw the success of Head, Shoulders had and went for the next best thing (it's better than Jump In The Middle and Skank > Tribal Skank > Tribal Man Skank > Swine Flu, Jungle, Nando, Facebook...) but I'll be very surprised if it does better. Migraine Skank has been knocking about since the beginning of the year virtually. We complained KIG would have charted higher had it seen an earlier release date, but I think that was only about 3 months after the initial heat.
Another reason why I don't think it will fair as well is Head, Shoulders... was something everyone could directly relate to. More than just a skank it was (as @QoSFunky would describe it) a Nursery Grhyme thus making it instantly recognisable. This is just some bloke talking about Migraine Skank. And talking about Migraine Skank he does; that is where the lyrical content stops for this which could make it repetitive for those hearing outside of a club environment.
Apart from the 8 bar switch on the original when Hard House Banton's 'Sirens' kicks in, I start throwing my elbows around in excitement, gunfingers are aloft while others go down when Gracious K declares "They know me as K swear down", it's all left-hand, right-hand hokey-kokey turnaround knock-off stuff.
Top 40 should be the aim for this record IMO. If it gets top 30 that's a top 10, top 20 is a number 1.
Ironically, I feel Gracious K has made a genre-defining, underground classic for years to come. KIG sounds dated already.
I have a question though, with this commercial re-lick/ watered-down imitation of the original beats, will DJ Gregory and Hard House Banton get any royalties for this? Gracious still performs over the original PA, much harder hitting club-friendly, gunfinger reaction beats.
Disclaimer: if there is any wrong information (doubt there is) holla at me! Any "Why you tryna create beef in the scene/We Are The World/Kum-Bay-Ya" talks will point blank not be taken seriously, rags! This is my blog, I say what I wanna say. Don't care if you aren't competing with each other, I put the two songs up against each other. You gonna delete my post? Aawww'right den
*UPDATE* 19/10/09 Migraine Skank entered at number 52 in the top 100. Yes, that means it never beat Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toez. Labels holla at me. I'll sign the right songs
If you don't know the background; both are "UK Funky" songs. There are a bunch of "UK Funky" records released this week (Attaca Pesante feat Shea Soul - Make It Funky being the best of the rest for what I remember), but Migraine Skank is the only one signed to a major.
The hate first begun with MCs on what was a instrumental or female vocal-driven sound. Skank (them tunes sold on a dance) records are either loved or loathed by the "UK Funky" scene, especially by the purists - some of whom have claimed a new scene in effort to get away ('ang tite Circle).
Reason I put "UK Funky" in quotation marks is because many used to dispute whether these songs were UK Funky. I think that phase is over now though.
I think one of the main reasons them MC tunes got hate (and still do really) is they used to bootleg next producers tunes without permission. Migraine Skank is a prime example
DJ Gregory - Don't Panic
+ Hardhouse Banton - Sirens
But anyway, to the matter at hand, the similarities between the two records; apart from the obvious skank, they are still the only records from the scene to get a mainstream push with major backing. Considering this type of record was hated in the scene, it's ironic that through all the songs released and tearin up clubs, these are the two with the most push. Obviously down to being easier to sell, still funny though.
KIG peaked at no. 18 with theirs
Migraine Skank - Chart position TBC
Video for Video: HSKT was a disappointment. The no frills original was more fun than the video with a budget. Migraine Skank had no prior visuals so nothing to compare it to = win!
Chart 4 Chart: Where will Gracious K land? Will he equal or better KIG?
The label obviously saw the success of Head, Shoulders had and went for the next best thing (it's better than Jump In The Middle and Skank > Tribal Skank > Tribal Man Skank > Swine Flu, Jungle, Nando, Facebook...) but I'll be very surprised if it does better. Migraine Skank has been knocking about since the beginning of the year virtually. We complained KIG would have charted higher had it seen an earlier release date, but I think that was only about 3 months after the initial heat.
Another reason why I don't think it will fair as well is Head, Shoulders... was something everyone could directly relate to. More than just a skank it was (as @QoSFunky would describe it) a Nursery Grhyme thus making it instantly recognisable. This is just some bloke talking about Migraine Skank. And talking about Migraine Skank he does; that is where the lyrical content stops for this which could make it repetitive for those hearing outside of a club environment.
Apart from the 8 bar switch on the original when Hard House Banton's 'Sirens' kicks in, I start throwing my elbows around in excitement, gunfingers are aloft while others go down when Gracious K declares "They know me as K swear down", it's all left-hand, right-hand hokey-kokey turnaround knock-off stuff.
Top 40 should be the aim for this record IMO. If it gets top 30 that's a top 10, top 20 is a number 1.
Ironically, I feel Gracious K has made a genre-defining, underground classic for years to come. KIG sounds dated already.
I have a question though, with this commercial re-lick/ watered-down imitation of the original beats, will DJ Gregory and Hard House Banton get any royalties for this? Gracious still performs over the original PA, much harder hitting club-friendly, gunfinger reaction beats.
Disclaimer: if there is any wrong information (doubt there is) holla at me! Any "Why you tryna create beef in the scene/We Are The World/Kum-Bay-Ya" talks will point blank not be taken seriously, rags! This is my blog, I say what I wanna say. Don't care if you aren't competing with each other, I put the two songs up against each other. You gonna delete my post? Aawww'right den
*UPDATE* 19/10/09 Migraine Skank entered at number 52 in the top 100. Yes, that means it never beat Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toez. Labels holla at me. I'll sign the right songs
love the disclaimer!!
ReplyDeleteDope article
ReplyDeleteI thought about this article today as I looked to see where Migraine Skank charted......
ReplyDeleteThe question was whether Gracious would equal or better K.I.G? Unfortunately landing a new entry chart position of 54, I don't know if it'll be able to climb any higher than 18. More favoured on the Funky scene or not....
These record labels really don't put much effort into marketing these tracks that they sign. Maybe they need to research the market they're selling to more and how to reach them in a way that they'll actually buy......
Just a thought......