The controversial hip-hop pioneer has been axed as part of a scheduling shake-up on Radio 1
Tim Westwood, the pioneering hip-hop DJ whose adopted “street”
patois divided listeners, has been axed as Radio 1’s voice of rap after
nearly 20 years on the station.
The middle-class son of the former Bishop of Peterborough, Westwood, 55, was
frequently mocked for speaking in the street slang of the largely black rap
artists he championed.
But the Sony Award-winning broadcaster also introduced generations of listeners
to the latest developments in hip-hop and helped a new wave of British performers
become stars in the US-dominated genre.
His close relationship with hip-hop’s biggest names, from Public Enemy
to Jay Z, who recognised the influence Westwood wielded over fans, delivered
many exclusives for the BBC.
Westwood joined Radio 1 in 1994 to present the station’s first dedicated
rap show.
He will be replaced by rising star Charlie Sloth, under a shake-up designed
to promote a new generation of “urban” presenters.
Westwood’s association with digital sister station 1Xtra, where he had
been one of the most prominent voices, will also come to an end.
Ben Cooper, Radio 1 Controller said: “I’d like to thank Tim for
the last 20 years on Radio 1. His passion for hip-hop is legendary. I wish him
all the very best.”
Westwood’s agent said he was unavailable to comment as he was preparing
to play a club show in Leeds on Friday night.
Sloth, a London-born hip hop artist and DJ, said: “It’s like a
dream come true for me and something that I’ve worked towards my whole
career, especially to be succeeding a legend like Tim Westwood who has done
so much for the game. I know they are big shoes to fill, but luckily, man’s
got fat feet.”
Radio 1 is seeking to reduce the average age of its listenership from 29 and
is prepared to lose long-standing presenters in order to appeal to a younger
audience.
Westwood hit the headlines when he was injured in a drive-by shooting in South
London in 1999. Gunmen on a motorbike reportedly pulled up alongside his Range
Rover and shot him and his assistant.
His show was accused of playing tracks which promoted knife violence by David
Cameron in a 2006 speech, a claim Radio 1 fiercely rejected.
The DJ was believed to have partly inspired Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic
creation Ali G, which satirised white rap fans’ attempts to copy the style
and speech patterns of black culture.
The winner of the 2010 Radio Academy John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution
to Music, Westwood could forge a new career broadcasting directly to his loyal
fanbase. He has more than 400,000 Twitter followers and his YouTube channel
has received more than 180 million views.
The shake-up gives a prominent new Saturday night role to Mistajam, the Nottingham
DJ who has risen up through the ranks.
Trevor Nelson, another veteran Radio 1 presenter, is staying. The urban music
host has renewed his contract with 1Xtra where he presents a weekday show. Nelson
will also continue to present a midweek soul show on Radio 2 and be a “part
of the Radio 1 family”, the BBC said.
Keeping it “real” – The thoughts of Tim Westwood
“It’s going to be up there. Yeah man, and also, yeah man. People
is really feeling that, so that should be real flavour.”
“So that’s the way it "s going down. Kick them to the curb man.
We’re gonna keep it real man.”
“What I must say to the mans and dems is the thing about the Westwood
after party is the ladies.”
“Go hard or go home! Go hard brother number one, two, three.”
“The bomb "s about to go off, baby.”
independent.co.uk/
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