k-punk

undercurrent's evocation of east london is pretty dull. leave that job to people you actually live there, speak to people in the area and know something about the history and culture of the area

it draws attention to one of the worst aspects of blogging and grime. the tendency of people at a distance to romanticize the worst side of an area at the expense of the 99% of its other aspects. most people involved in the scene have pretty mundane, unexciting working class white and black lives. i think people are going to far with the grime/crime/reality thing

it is based on too many racist stereotypes, no matter how many disclaimers you want to make about neutral description

it is fictional reality, and no less real for that

'best new blog on the block'. . somewhat pre-mature i think

>undercurrent's evocation of east london is pretty dull.

This seems to contradict your later claims that it is also a 'romanticization' and 'based on stereotypes'. I should have thought Robin's description was the exact opposite of romanticization, actually.

>'best new blog on the block'. . somewhat pre-mature i think

Yeh, well we're all entitled to our opinions, so they say. Mine are based on reading Robin's consistently brilliant posts of the last 2 months.

see my response to jon's comments on undercurrent - no need to post multiple, identical slatings, eh?

As mark rightly says, inability to remain in the area denotes an inability, rather than a tendency, to romanticize.

I fully admit that I'm writing speculatively and from 'outside'. But since you're obviously privy to the inner workings of the scene what's your explanation: if all the people on the grime scene are just regular steady characters, quite satisfied with their lot and unaffected by any of the negative aspects of inner-city life, then what is the music all about, and where does it come from?