Urban music was massive in 2001 and it's set to get even bigger in 2002.
In this week's Newsround Extra Matthew Price took a look at the growth of the black music scene and found out why it's so popular.
In 2001 music like hip hop, drum'n'base, R'n'B and garage, was the biggest selling style of music, second to only to pop.
Outsold Hear'Say
Shaggy
Shaggy's single It Wasn't Me outsold everyone, including Hear'Say's big selling debut Pure and Simple.
Matthew asked Timmi from the Dreem Teem why urban music has become so popular.
"Acts that are coming through now, you know, Mis-Teeq and the Artful Dodger boys and Craig David, obviously they're going to look at these people as being icons or leaders in that field."
Keeping it real
Destiny's Child
Bands like So Solid Crew have made their fortune from singing about the streets where they grew up.
MC Romeo explained why this makes the music so popular:
"At the end of the day we're just keeping it real. Not watering anything down we're just telling it how it is and keeping it real.
It's a big buzz for kids. They love it."
And with Radio 1 launching a new Urban radio station later on this year, urban music looks here to stay.
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