YES WE CAN!

Here’s a crazy thought, maybe I don’t completely understand this genre we call “Urban Desi”? Chances aren’t likely, simply because I pretty much know everything there is to know about anything, but let’s just say this is “hypothetically” the case.

Correct me if I’m wrong but this is my definition of “Urban Desi”: A genre where artists attempt to fuse the sounds of India (flute, tablas, hindi hook, etc.) with what we’ve learned to love here in the states (bass, hip-hop, pop, etc.) to produce a permutation of eastern and western music. (Maybe that’s why it is widely accepted in the UK, you know since it’s in the middle…man I crack myself up.) We’ve heard Jay, M.I.A and Timbaland successfully do this. So the problem isn’t that the music is “new” or that “Urban Desi” is in its infant stages, but more so the fact that the same people who embrace the music of Jay and M.I.A do not feel the same way about Urban Desi artists.

I think the first problem is change, we hate change. I know all of you would rather hear Jay, Fab, Biggie and Pac come out with new tracks instead of hearing some new guy release the most lyrically mind-blowing track (LUPE FIASCO). If Lupe’s lyrics were being fired out like a round of bullets from the mouth of Jay, he would have won “Best Rap Album” at the Grammy’s over Whack Wayne, oops I mean Lil’ Wayne. Sorry if I offended anyone, cough*JASON*cough.

Second and almost certainly the main cause to this epidemic is us, the South Asian community. Yes, I said it and I am not the only one who thinks so. As I was pre-gaming Saturday night (which in due course resulted with my head in a toilet at the end of the night, thank you MSU) someone said something to me that I’ve heard many times before -- “Indians are the most self-hating people”. Although I do not agree with this statement in its entirety, there is still some truth to it. Why is it that when we hear “Lean with it, rock with it” by Dem Franchise boys (worst name ever) we see every desi dancing with a gangsta lean, but when we hear “Bhangra 2 Step” by the Bilz we head straight to the bar so we don’t lose our buzz? Both tracks are equally dreadful. But it is probably because it’s cool to “Lean with it” because in the video JD was doing it while in the Bilz video it was, well, The Bilz doing it.

I think the only solution to this problem is having one of our very own artists’ breakthrough the scene (much like the Jonas Brothers did) so he/she is considered “cool” and we can be proud of one of our own! I know you guys are thinking, “Well M.I.A made it”, but honestly she is so bad-ass, she went ahead and created her own genre of music. Who the hell really knows how to define what it is, but its gangster and everyone loves it. And so we’re back to square one - what if we don’t have anyone “cool” enough in the Urban Desi scene right now?

Luckily I have a solution for all you Urban Desi artists trying to make it. Once you are ready to admit that you don’t have the swagger to be widely accepted (remember, the first step is admitting you have a problem) here in the states, the next step is to have someone who does have that rare ability to attract large audiences on your track…so maybe some of that “cool-ness” rubs off on you.

Kidd Skilly did it with “Ni Sohniye” when he brought Akon into the booth and guess what? It acutally worked. There was so much buzz around that track when it came out that even people who refrain from listening to “desi” music had to hear it for themselves. You all know I’m not a huge fan of singing (especially in a foreign language) but don’t tell me it wasn’t tight hearing Akon sing in Punjabi. I may not understand the hook but I bet you any money I can sing it word for word. The song was catchy and had a real nice vibe to it, but once again, it was one of those club tracks. Look, I’m okay with club tracks but I believe that an artist should have a few follow up tracks with that same sort of hype that aren’t intended for disco parties. I’m sure Skilly did not expect one song to put him in the spotlight permanently but once you tease us with a mainstream artist, we want more. It’s our nature, we’re greedy ass Americans. A lot easier said than done, I know, so big ups to Witnis for at least having the right idea. I am anxious to hear who is next.

What can we take away from all of this? A) Americans are greedy and don’t accept change unless it is of monetary value B) Indian Americans make it nearly impossible for you to succeed as if it wasn’t already hard enough. C) You need to have a huge bankroll to make bangers. I realize this sucks and wish it wasn’t the case but I’m about to go MLK on you guys real quick to motivate you: I have a dream, one day we will see Urban Desi artists on MTV (not MTV Desi); 15 yr old girls and boys (all sizes and colors) will be buying your poster and hanging it on their bedroom wall; and your CD will be sold in Target and not the local Indian grocery store next to the week old samosas. We might not see it tomorrow but I have faith, one day we will prosper…