The Streets' Beats label is laid to rest

Mike Skinner's The Beats record label has been laid to rest this week. If the most well known rapper in the country can't get a record label off the ground it speaks volumes of how hard and tricky the current climate is for homegrown urban music, even for accessible, everyday rappers like Example (above), the Mitchell Brothers and Pro Green.

The question is what's gonna happen to these guys now? Mr Skinner's fine with his 679 Recordings deal - though maybe not if he records another egotistical LP prattling on about how hard it is being famous and rich. We'll soon find out - his fourth LP is due in the first half of this year. Thanks to 3BarFire crew for the info on The Beats...