UK artists need to 'break' the UK market before they can conquer the US one.

As said many times before. People in the UK have been drilled deep with US hip-hop. And the accent to boot. So it'll take time to adapt and all that.

This is from talking to a wide range of people who listen to hip-hop and music in general.

Look at the US underground. Now the UK one is developing. And has some great artists. But from a neutral point of view (let's say, er, i dunno, Japan) US is stronger. The main reason so many UK people who have 'found' UK hip-hop and got into it, are saying UK hip-hop is better and all that. Is because it's closer to home. They relate more easily. The overall slang and terminology used has a lot of UK/Jamaica in it.

Don't get ahead of yourselves. It's brooding with talent. But it needs time and productive progression (I mean hey, for example, i think Roots Manuva is one of the best in the world at the type of hip-hop he 'does'....but...och! forget it!..)...