Dubstep Hits The Charts

So, Magnetic Man's much-hyped single I Need Air hit the UK singles chart at number 10 this weekend.

Fantastic, about time!

The tune got massive support from Radio 1, plenty of airplay, and deserved to go all the way to the top in my opinion. A real piece of music made by real, talented musicians.

I must say well done to the guys behind the project, Skream, Benga and Artwork.

I Need Air - Magnetic Man



There's been an annoying reaction from certain Dubstep fans/purists who've criticised both the track and the team behind it. As always happens with music that started out as underground, people who follow it and see some of its pioneers make the charts decide that it's selling out or watered down... it's happened with Garage, Grime and Drum 'n' Bass, so it's unsurprising that the same thing has happened with Dubstep.

Skream, Benga and Artwork aren't just some bandwagon jumpers who've made a song purely with the intention of riding on the coat tails of other more prominent Dubstep artists. They're three DJs/producers who've been involved in the music since its, post-garage, embryonic stages and have helped push it forward to the stage it's at now.

So, if they want to make something that's a little more appealing to a mass audience, then who the hell can judge them?

Personally speaking, I like the tune, it's not my all-time favourite, but it's a good tune and does what it needs to do without moving too far away from the foundations of Dubstep.

In April 2008, when Dubstep was still relatively unknown, I interviewed Skream for the Sun Online and predicted that he was destined to make it big.

Read the piece I wrote here.

Two years on and he has a single in the UK Top 10.

I'm hoping to conduct a follow-up interview with him as soon as I can, so keep checking back to see what he has to say for himself.

In the meantime, here's a selection of Dubstep bits ... I'll be writing a lot more about the music very soon.

The Magnetic Man LP - featuring appearances from John Legend and Miss Dynamite - is due October 4th.

Is Everything Cool - Magnetic Man



Anti Social (Silkie and Quest) in the mix for Mary Ann Hobbs



(Untitled) - Skream and Silkie



Tek-A-Pill - Skream