Black British National Anthems [Part One]

The ultimate road rap anthem comes courtesy of South Londoner Giggs, who spits over the beat to Stat Quo's "Here We Go" (produced by Dr. Dre). Later signed and released by XL Recordings, this cult classic is certified the hardest.

"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of UK export Soul II Soul’s most successful singles in the United States (and the only one to enter in the top 10).

Taken from his debut album, Home Sweet Home, 20 years later this song still sounds futuristic. A true grime classic produced by Davinche. The remix featured Demon, Ghetts and Lethal Bizzle. 

The second single from their 2001 debut album, 'They Don’t Know',  it hit no.1 in the UK singles chart. The song title alludes to the approximate 21 seconds that each of the band members is given to perform their rap.

From the 1982 album, 'The Youth Of Today', this hit was number one on the UK Singles Chart and in five other countries. The video, directed by Don Letts, was shot partly on the banks of the River Thames in London. 

Also known as the "Forward Riddim", "Pow!" was banned from most nightclubs in the UK due to the reaction it caused among punters - all out carnage on the dance floors. An earlier video to "Pow!" also exists. 

The debut single on Parlophone was the hit the label wasn't expecting. With Labrinth on the vocal hook, a remix also ensued featuring Snoop Dogg, released in the USA. "Pass Out" won a BRIT Award and an Ivor Novello.

Originally by Stevie Wonder, British acid jazz outfit Incognito made it their own in 1992. Taken from their third album, 'Tribes, Vibes and Scribes'. 

In 1996 Mark Morrison flipped the British R&B landscape with "Return Of The Mack", which reached number one in the UK - the first Black male solo artist to do so - and remained on the US Billboard charts for 40 consecutive weeks.

In 2003 Lemar was leading the British R&B charge. Containing a sample from Jay-Z’s "Can’t Knock The Hustle", two decades on, "50/50" has still got that soul swing we’re all after. Classic. 

Summing up the battle of the genres, namely the race to name 'grime' (as it became). "Wot Do U Call It", from Wiley's 2004 XL Recordings debut, 'Treddin’ On Thin Ice', remains a seminal cut. 

Hitting number 1 in the UK pop charts in 1988 with a remake of a song originally recorded by Tina Turner. 

Birmingham's finest, Jamelia, really broke through in 2000 with "Money", produced by Colin Emmanuel and featuring Beenie Man. Reaching the top 5 in the UK, when she was just 17 years young, the video still looks fresh 20 years on.