There's been a big battle at the moment in the British urban music scene between British urban and American urban. British urban has arguably had its biggest year yet, with it currently taking up more positions in the top 100 than the US equivalent, which itself has done very well also including it claiming the #1 single with Post Malone.

 

I must say whilst I find the recent UK urban domination very refreshing I generally find myself going back to the big American hits more; 'rockstar', 'Bodak Yellow', 'Unforgettable', 'Wild Thoughts' and 'HUMBLE' are all amongst my big faves of the year. So I'll be voting US.

 

My UK faves from the ones currently in the chart are 'Hurtin Me', 'Bestie', 'Man's Not Hot', 'Rihanna' and 'Did You See'.

I’m really not the biggest fan of most of the songs mentioned but even I’m offended at Chris & Kem’s inclusion.

The US by quite a landslide. The UK urban scene is pretty fantastic at the moment with emerging talents such as Stefflon Don, Mabel and J Hus but I've been going back to the American tracks a lot more. The only ones in that section that I haven't LOVED at one point are 1800 and "Questions" whereas "No Don", "Did You See" and "Hurtin' Me" are the only two I've really LOVED from the UK side of things.

I think I listen more to UK urban hits and champion them, but my three most played songs of the songs of the year have been American (Slide, Wild Thoughts, Passionfruit). I do think the UK is arguably more innovative, with Afrobeat and Dancehall dominating the streets as opposed to US trap.

UK urban is decent but US is generally better and most of the best urban songs of the year have been from US artists!

It's tough for me as their is faves from both sides of the pond atm. I put can't decide both brill as my answer but if I had to choose US slightly more.

Interesting how four songs in particular are standing out - Hurtin' Me, Bestie, Unforgettable and Wild Thoughts. The ones with the widest appeal perhaps?

 

I think urban hits from the UK are still regarded as a novelty almost. It still feels like a big thing when a new UK artist breaks the Top 40.

UK definitely, grime and UK garage are excellent although I wish UK garage came back more ('On My Mind' by Jorja Smith and Preditah is a start though)

 

US urban productions are too minimal at the minute for my liking :( Apart from 'Humble' - Kendrick Lamar (Skrillex remix) which is brill imo!

Edited October 16, 20177 yr by HissingSparkler

UK Urban has definitely improved this year for me (eg Stefflon Don, Yungen, J Hus, Giggs, even Bugzy Malone) but I think US urban will always trump the UK. I mean Wild Thoughts and especially Unforgettable have been some of the biggest songs this year yet no UK urban artists are anywhere near. Stormzy is the closest having 2 top ten hits... but one was featuring on a Little Mix song so I don't quite think that counts :lol:

UK Urban has definitely improved this year for me (eg Stefflon Don, Yungen, J Hus, Giggs, even Bugzy Malone) but I think US urban will always trump the UK. I mean Wild Thoughts and especially Unforgettable have been some of the biggest songs this year yet no UK urban artists are anywhere near. Stormzy is the closest having 2 top ten hits... but one was featuring on a Little Mix song so I don't quite think that counts :lol:

 

I think 'Did You See' has got to be up there, it has sold loads hasn't it? Not as much as an 'Unforgettable' but definitely not as far off as you're making out!

Did You See has sold 700k+, Unforgetable is on 1,100k+ so quite a difference but those sales are very impressive for J Hus.

I think I listen more to UK urban hits and champion them,but my three most played songs of the songs of the year have been American (Slide, Wild Thoughts, Passionfruit). I do think the UK is arguably more innovative, with Afrobeat and Dancehall dominating the streets as opposed to US trap.

Technically only Wild Thoughts is American no? because Drake is from Canada and Calvin Harris is from UK

Technically only Wild Thoughts is American no? because Drake is from Canada and Calvin Harris is from UK

 

Slide feels American though with both Frank Ocean and Migos on the track. :lol:

Still US tops the game - feel like their hip-hop is a bit more polished whereas UK's sounds like it's still developing? Guess it's my personal taste but my top 5 from the US all beat my top 5 from the UK.

UK: Hurtin' Me, Did You See, Memory Lane, Spirit, Man's Not Hot

US: 1-800-273-8255, HUMBLE, Butterfly Effect, Unforgettable, Young Dumb & Broke

Pretty impressive that there are more UK urban tracks in the charts than American ones at the moment tbh!

 

There are a lot of really good songs coming up from this new wave of African/Caribbean inspired British rappers (the switch from grime to this as the prominent sound of UK hip-hop has been so sudden!), at the moment though I think the American stuff still just about tops it, 'HUMBLE.', 'Unforgettable', 'XO TOUR Llif3' and 'rockstar' are among my favourite songs of the year. Voted for those four and 'Butterfly Effect' as another song I am currently loving a lot. From the UK I voted for 'Bestie', 'Man's Not Hot' (legit), 'No Don', 'Aladdin' and 'Did You See'.