This is both interesting and tragic to me.
Interesting because it is the natural conclusion of Wiley's career. Who really can't say that it was embarassing listening to Wiley talk about how he's at his "peak" in all the Tunnel Visions? Wiley had his time, and missed it by deciding to follow some delusions of commercial success and making some records that shot way below what he was capable of. It must be difficult now with the pressure of having a family, getting older, and having your chances at success like you planned it dwindling by the year.
It is tragic to me of course because Wiley was one of those MCs with the most "star-potential" in grime. He was charismatic, lyrically interesting, and as someone living outside of the U.K., the ONLY other person in grime that the average person knows about past Dizzee. With Wiley out of the game, I think grime is going to have an even harder time pulling itself out of the very difficult situation it appears to be in right now. If the person with the most chance of a different level of success has backed out because of his lack of faith in the game, that definitely isn't a good look.
Then again, grime for me has always been a love-hate affair. I've always loved it for being what I believe to be some of the best music being produced anywhere right now, but at the same time I have constantly been disappointed and frustrated from the beginning by the lack of organization, business sense, forsight, and occasionally misfortune, suffered by those involved in all levels of the scene.
Interesting because it is the natural conclusion of Wiley's career. Who really can't say that it was embarassing listening to Wiley talk about how he's at his "peak" in all the Tunnel Visions? Wiley had his time, and missed it by deciding to follow some delusions of commercial success and making some records that shot way below what he was capable of. It must be difficult now with the pressure of having a family, getting older, and having your chances at success like you planned it dwindling by the year.
It is tragic to me of course because Wiley was one of those MCs with the most "star-potential" in grime. He was charismatic, lyrically interesting, and as someone living outside of the U.K., the ONLY other person in grime that the average person knows about past Dizzee. With Wiley out of the game, I think grime is going to have an even harder time pulling itself out of the very difficult situation it appears to be in right now. If the person with the most chance of a different level of success has backed out because of his lack of faith in the game, that definitely isn't a good look.
Then again, grime for me has always been a love-hate affair. I've always loved it for being what I believe to be some of the best music being produced anywhere right now, but at the same time I have constantly been disappointed and frustrated from the beginning by the lack of organization, business sense, forsight, and occasionally misfortune, suffered by those involved in all levels of the scene.