P Diddy: 'UK hip-hop to storm US charts'

P Diddy has predicted that UK hip-hop is "on the verge of breaking" the Billboard 100 in the US.

Speaking to BBC News, the rapper - real name Sean Combs - backed British artists Jay Sean and Taio Cruz.

Sean and Cruz have already topped the US charts this year, while Tinie Tempah is expected to lead the UK singles chart this week.

"I've always been abreast and respected the UK hip-hop scene and I look forward to great things," Diddy said. "I think in the past maybe some of the UK hip-hop artists weren't as authentic to where they come from.

"It's alright to be from the UK and it's alright to talk about what you want to talk about and not try to sound or be like somebody from the US. Just like the way in the US it took time for the South and the West Coast to break, it's the same thing and I just think that UK hip-hop is on the verge of breaking."

He insisted that there is now a "self-pride in UK hip-hop", adding: "That's the starting point. Hip-hop respects something that's authentic."