Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: Bobby Friction is a unique artist in the British/Asian music scene through his 8 years being at the forefront of the music as a DJ, and through his award winning show on Radio 1 alongside Nihal. The Radio 1 show has connected a new generation of Asian listeners around the world into the mainstream, as well as introduced everyone else to the sounds of the British Asian Urban Nation.

He also presents the Official British Asian Album Chart Show on the BBC Asian Network. The only Official British Asian chart show in Britain.

Bobby Friction is a DJ/Artist who pioneered the club Kizmit and was started his career as a DJ with a residency at the legendary Swaraj @ The Blue Note, which showcased new Asian talent and sounds from across the Asian musical world in the late 90’s. He also DJ’ed at the equally renowned Shaanti club (The Custard Factory) in Birmingham, the first Asian club outside of London which completely redefined the British Asian musical experience from 2000 onwards. Over the years Bobby has represented the British Asian sound as a DJ all over the world and has built a reputation as a genre mixing Asian turntabilist from Asia to the US, and from the Middle East to the whole of Europe.

He was one of the founder members of Ecostani and still works alongside The Infinite Scale, his production partner. They have also been recording their own original material for the last 9 years and they’ve worked on numerous Remixes taking in Electronica to Bhangra, from House to Hip-Hop, through Bollywood, and back again. Bobby has also recorded tracks with the Mercury Music Award nominated Black Star Liner, starred in the BBC 1 documentary ‘This England’ and recently fronted the Channel 4 TV show ‘Bollywood Star’. He has also presented the documentary ‘The Countryside Sucks’ on Channel 4 and is a regular face on TV in the UK.

His British Asian Urban compilation ‘Friction’ (On SonyBMG India) has been certified an astounding 8x platinum in India since its release (April 2004), was in the top 5 for a year with an astounding 22 weeks @ #1. It has quite simply been a phenomenon and is seen by many across Asia as THE definitive album of the British/US Asian music scene.

Well, it’s hard to believe that all this happened 18 months ago, and now its time for Friction 2- and believe it or not its bigger, and better than Friction 1 (a tall statement to make!). Taking off from Friction 1, and inspired by the changes that have happened Brit asian scene (Its become bigger) and the world in general (Its become smaller) Friction 2 is a heady mix of party, protest, immigrant angst, cross cultural confusion, and more.. Bhangra, Hip hop, R&B, house, reggae, breakbeat. Its all here.

One thing for sure is Brit-Asian music, as a genre is growing, its fans are growing and Bobby’s place at the centre of it seems assured!
 
 
TRACKLIST FRICTION 2- THE PARTY CONTINUES.

1 GONNA MAKE IT- SHAMUR
2 BLACKSTABBERS FEAT DAZ DILLINGER/TRAY DEEE- MARK MORRISON
3 SEXY BOY (HUM TUM)- HARDKAUR
4 UNFINSHED BUSINESS-OMINOUS DJS
5 BORO BORO- ARASH
6 BLOOD BROTHERS-  KARMACY
7 STOLEN- JAY SEAN
8 CHALLA 2- SWAMI
9 NACH LEIN DE- DJ VIPS
10 MUNDAYA PAUNA BHANGRA- BOBBY B
11 KEEP IT UNDERCOVER- SUNIT AND RAKSTAR
12 SHAKE YA BANGLES- RUPEE BROTHAZ
13 BOL BREAKER- JANAKA SELEKTA
14 JAB TAC- SHE'S ALL THAT
15 RANG DE BASANTI- DJ ANOOP ABSOLUTE REMIX-  AR RAHMAN