Caroline International UK head of urban Colin Batsa has tipped D-Block Europe to crack the US.
The South London rap duo have sold out two Alexandra Palace shows this weekend (November 22-23), as well as scoring a run of Top 20 singles and a pair of Top 10 mixtapes this year.
Batsa praised the duo’s work-rate, which has seen them graduate from the O2 Forum Kentish Town in March to Ally Pally.
“They’re urban rock stars and everyone just wants to see them,” said Batsa. “The growth has been exceptional.”
The PTSD mixtape (D-Block Europe/Caroline) peaked at No.4 and has sales to date of 51,484, according to the Official Charts Company.
“I don’t think anyone saw it coming,” said Batsa. “If you’re looking at the biggest groups this year, you have to put them in there. They are probably still under a lot of people’s radars, but not many groups have sold out 20,800 tickets in London in 20 minutes.”
They’re urban rock stars and everyone just wants to see them
Colin Batsa
The first mixtape, Home Alone, was issued in February and has sales to date of 62,873 (OCC).
“Apple and Spotify have given us support from day one,” said Batsa. “The streaming has been amazing. Their sound is unique in the urban space. It’s from the street, but it also has a commerciality to it that everyone can get into.”
Guests on the 28-track mixtape include AJ Tracey, Yxng Bane, Chip, M Huncho and Krept & Konan. Batsa predicted that more US rappers are set to work with the duo, following the feature on Nookie by Lil Baby.
“I believe they could be the first [UK] urban act to break America,” he added. “They’re like international rock stars in the urban field.”
He added: “We’d like to really break them into the mainstream. I would love them to be nominated at the BRITs in the British Group category – they deserve it.”
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