Tag: london

Supanover has long been at the center of North London's Mud Family and has had a few heavy tracks out. Now he returns with a dark and moody black and white video for his When R They Gunna C? track which is available on Kemet Records. If you ain't heard of Supanover by now you are about to in a big way.
 

Task Force have to be one of the biggest UK groups out there with a large rep that s quite justified. For a few years now they have been trading their own path and this latest video is no different. Check out Farma and Chester as they dress all medieval and play the part of wandering minstrels.
 

The Foreign Beggars have to be one of the most universally respected crews out there at the moment. Their human beatboxer Shlomo also has to be one of the best on these shores at what he does. Recently he enthralled a live TV audience with a tremendous display of what an accomplished human beatboxer can acheive with just their vocal chords and a mic.

The Foreign Beggars have to be one of the most universally respected crews out there at the moment. Their Asylum Speakers LP was received to virtually universal acclaim. Shlomo is making big waves and Orifice Vulgatron simply blows people away with his rapid fire verbal bullets.
 

Due to the modest financial returns it offers the majority of its artists, British hip-hop has had more than its fair share of casualties over the years. One example of this is the defunct collective Lords of Rap. After releasing a string of singles in the early 1990s with limited success, the London-based quartet decided to split up. Eight years on, the group’s main producer and rapper Def G now goes by the name of Soliheen and was the man responsible for producing two of the tracks on Ty’s well-received debut LP as well as crafting beats for new rhyme-slinger Joker Starr.

“It’s based on a personality and a goal,” explains 21 year old Kebbie Conteh about the meaning behind his hip-hop moniker Joker Starr. “’Joker’ was given to me by my cousins when I was younger, and ‘star’ is what I want to be.” Having been rapping seriously for only three years, it is impressive what he has so far been able to achieve.

“Get a simple two-bar beat going with 8's on the hat kick on 1 of the first bar and snares on 2 and 4. Build a loop with whatever you’re working with, knock out a b-line, and then knock the kicks up to the b-line. Then work on any different sections if there are any, then arrange it. After that it’s all down to what the vocalist does with it.”

During the late 1990s, few UK rap acts were heard on the radio airwaves as much as East London’s Funky DL. His early tracks - ‘Da Individual’ and ‘1-2-2-1’ - were supported by the likes of Westwood, Max ‘n’ Dave and DJ 279, helping Funky DL to quickly build up a strong following. Critics were quick to disparage DL for rapping in an American accent but few could question the quality of his producing skills. His use of mellow jazz samples led to comparisons being made between his style and that of respected US artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Pete Rock.

Hijack came out of Brixton, London in 1988 when they signed to Music Of Life, and they dropped their debut single, the now legendary, 'Style Wars'. Ice-T heard the group and promptly signed them to his label. Hijack were one of the biggest groups the UK has ever produced and this single Daddy Rich dropped in 1991 as the group were set to drop their stunning Horns Of Jericho LP.