As ever, the Spread Love boys put on a blinder of a night, and it was all free. The show was dope ? I?d been an Akrobatik fan since his ?Ruff Enuff? and ?Say Yes, Say Word? 12?s, so was pretty hyped to see him perform, and he certainly didn?t disappoint.

Check the pictures below (if you look closely, you?ll see the likes of Yoda and James Lebens playing the background) and let me know what you think.

All the best,

Mark 563

Back again with another bunch of photos from back in the day. This time it?s some pictures I took of Stones Throw?s Lootpack @ Spread Love.

I?m not sure of the year, but I?d guess it to be around 2002 or ?03 ? maybe somebody can fill us in.

Spread Love @ the Social was the shit. Fat Lace Magazine?s DJ Yoda, Rob Bringur and James Lebens used to run the free, regular weeknight jump-off in the Social bar, tucked away on Little Portland Street in the West End.

Even though the venue is tiny, the guys always put on a cracking evening, and there was usually an international Hip Hop act performing live. This time it was the Lootpack, but for some reason Madlib wasn?t with the guys (if I remember rightly, around the time Madlib had announced that he?d given up emceeing live, in favour of concentrating on his beat making), so it was more like a Wildchild solo show, with DJ Rhomes on the ones and twos. Also, Oh No was along for the ride, as you?ll see in the pics.

Either way, it was one of many great nights put on by the Spread Love fellas. I always did my best to represent at the Social, which had a strange mix of after-work suits and Hip Hop heads. Still, they had some bonkers gourmet beans on toast at that joint.

Anyways, check the flicks (click to enlarge) and feel free to drop a comment.

Cheers,

Anyone who knows anything about Hip Hop record stores will be aware of the reputation Mr Bongo had. This was easily one of the dopest record shopping spots around. The guys that ran the joint - Kam, Huw 72 and Tommy Koi - really knew their stuff, so the stock was always on point.

My love affair with the store began while I was at University. With no decent record shops local to my Uni, I became a loyal Mr Bongo mail order customer, ringing Craig at the store on a weekly basis to get my vinyl fix. When we had a chance, me and my Uni mates would head into the West End and Mr Bongo would be our first port of call.

On Saturdays it was almost a guarantee that I could be found chilling at Mr Bongo, and as a result, when they became short-staffed one weekend, I was offered a Saturday job - I figured, if I was there all day anyways, I may as well get paid for it, eh?

Over the years of working there, I made crazy hook-ups with all manner of folks on the scene, scored mad vinyl gold, and most importantly made great friendships with the Bongo crew.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and in October 2004 the Mr Bongo record shop closed down. In celebration of the store, there was a 2 day closing down party that went off. On the Friday, after clearing the shop of any excess stock, there was a big piss up for the regular customers and staff (past and present), while the Saturday was an afternoon / evening in-store, with performances from Jehst, Yungun, Verb T, Kashmere, Ghost, Rodney P and Kamanchi Sly amongst others.

Both days were enjoyable but emotional, as it was clearly the end of an era.

Check the pictures below taken on both days. For some reason I have managed to feature in a few of my pictures, so not entirely sure who took those ones. The pictures from the Saturday in-store are of Jehst and Yungun with Kam on the wheels of steel, and an unrehearsed performance from staff members Tommy Koi and Wayne Wonda (click to enlarge).
Big up to all of the folks who made Mr Bongo what it was and who represented at the closing party - Kam, Huw, Tommy Koi, Rob Life, Craig, Shazer, Mr Lawson, Wayne Wonda, Kish, Tufkut, Ghost, Prone, Blufoot, M-One, Grace, Last Skeptik, Ishan, Mark Harris, Beat Trooper, Kope, Hannah, etc?
For more info? on Mr Bongo and it?s glory days, check out Kam?s blog: http://www.kamgotbeats.blogspot.com/

Until next time,

Mark 563

Ghost has been the most consistent member of the Wu on a solo tip, dropping gem after gem, and if you still haven?t peeped last years ?The Big Doe Rehab?, you?re slipping?

Here?s the sketch?

Let me know what you think?

Catch you next time?