A 2004 CD Mixtape from the BeyondThere production team member and Mr Bongo record shop resident, DJ Kam.
This promo-only mix was released in a CD-single jewel case on his own Netgroove label and is filled with an often obscure and occasionally not-so-obscure, selection of Old School Hip Hop, some Independent Hip Hop he had been involved in making from the time, and a plethora of breaks and beats all seamlessly mixed and beatmatched.
Featuring: BeyondThere, Just Four, Grandmaster Flash, Spyder D, Kurtis Blow, Outlaw 4, Manzel, Fonda Rae, T-Ski Valley, Cotton Candi, Tom Tom Club, Soho, Kenny Dope and many more. No track listing was included with the release… so you will just have to figure that out yourself!
While much fuss is made about US hip-hop’s golden era, it’s very easy to forget that the British rap movement basked in similar glory around the same time. Quantity wise, the output might not have been equal – and understandably so, given the sheer size of the US and its obvious head start in the rap game – but in terms of quality, the UK had its fair share of recorded gems.
Taking inspiration from DJ Ivory’s Hear No Evil mixes, and more importantly the deliberate absence of a track listing, UK & Brighton-based Graff Legend Aroe, has forged an anonymous compilation of landmark classics, forgotten treasures and elusive rarities.
What unites each track is that they’re all culled from British rap’s back catalogue, a vinyl heritage that may prove more extensive than many would first realise.
Whether it sparks a sudden interest and new quests among the vinyl junkies with the will and the wallet to identify and acquire each record remains to be seen. Hopefully, what it does do is serve as a worthy salute to UK Rap history.
A 1998 promo-cassette-only release by the UK based production team “Beyond There”.
Made up of Kam, Tommy Koi & Huw Bowles of behind-the-counter-at-the-soho-Mr-Bongos-in-the-late-90s fame, this excellent 60 minute two-sided cassette was a mix that was originally broadcast on German radio station “93.0FM BTTB” (Back To The Basics) in November 1998.
The cassette cover artwork is by Graff legend Mode 2 (Chrome Angels / Crime Time Kings).
The following info and Bio is taken from the original A4 promo document…
“In 1999 the sound of underground London, and suburban and provincial England for that matter is hip hop. More precisely a hip hop increasingly built of the English language, slang and lyrics laid on top of traditional and rooted break beats and elaborate samples.
The 1980’s witnessed the exceptional growth of hip hop music worldwide, from a novelty fad to a viable multimillion dollar industry. Born in the Bronx, New York City out of poverty and struggle hip hop became the voice of a generation; its raw and uncompromising style unleashing the years of oppression and hardship felt by many of the MC’s and DJ’s involved.
In the UK at the same time, their senses numbed by a constant stream of chart music; the youth, feeling a need to express themselves but with no outlets were forced to look abroad. Then from across the atlantic came not just a music but a culture with a weight and passion that would leave no portion of the population immune to its effects. From the early days it became apparent that hip hop was a music of the youth; a street culture where the only entry requirements were enthusiasm, creativity and a love for the music.
The youth finally had an identity; although at this time heavily influenced by the US. As time has passed so has hip hop in the UK evolved, becoming more uniquely British and self-sufficient, American attitudes are now deemed inappropriate and far removed from the UK realities. The people had created a music for the people – by the people.
THE PIONEERS documentary presents its subject first hand, with a truthful and open-minded attitude. Within hip hop there exist certain stereotypes about how people perceive the music and the people related to it, these stereotypes often compounded by inaccurate media coverage; THE PIONEERS is the real story of the UK hip hop scene; the realities of the culture and the industry depicted through interviews, live performances, freestyles and recording sessions with all of the leading UK hip hop heads.
At present, although British hip hop is experiencing increased national radio play still many of the artists remain relatively anonymous – but for how long?“
The Pioneer Biographies (Taken from Original A4 Promo Document)
Disorda Having been involved in near enough all aspects of the UK Hip Hop scene in a professional capacity since 1995, Disorda has most certainly been there, done that!
From handling promotional and vocal duties for his own crew (Intelligent Madness’) first vinyl release in 96, hosting numerous radio shows throughout the country and indeed world-wide, organising and promoting his own hip hop jams, setting up and maintaining his own web site (www.suspect-packages.com), to running a mail order mix tape / CD / video company providing a platform for UK hip hop artists to gain valuable exposure via his UK Hustlerz and Mind The Gap mix tape series; sales of which have regularly reached as far afield as Japan and Australia. And this is the next instalment in his quest for world domination; THE PIONEERS. THE British hip hop documentary, directed and produced by Chris Leech and Daniel Rayner.
Chris Leech Annoyed and frustrated at the lack of passion in the majority of today’s filmmaking, Chris was spurred on to make THE PIONEERS. A project born out of a universal love of hip hop music and filmmaking, in which he has captured the raw energy of the UK’s underground hip hop scene.
Daniel Rayner Tired of Hollywood commercialism, Daniel found solace in the creativity of left-field, quality low budget films from France, China and Japan. This diet of film and documentary inspired him to inject a unique sprit and quality in to his work.
Whilst studying film at Newcastle, Daniel was involved in shooting various live music events around the country; clients included MTV and Tyne Tees Television.
As a film making team Chris and Daniel go back to their early teens; producing no-budget gore flics on an old super & camera.
YOUTUBE ONLY (XTRA CUT VERSION)
Note from MuggerHarris Youtube Page on this 2021 updated version of the documentary…
“Here is a new upload of ‘The Pioneers’ with some little added extras. We originally made it in 2000 before filming this kind of thing was easy, driving round the country using real maps and bulky camera gear. The film was made by a crew of two people with no backing hoping to catch a moment in Hip Hop history. It was all done out of love of the music, we were young and it was our first time doing anything like this. Somewhere the raw footage still exists with loads of unseen footage. A fresh reedit could still happen. I have no copy of this film and had to use a video upload of our film from youtube to make this cut. I’ve added some extra parts, if any artists want these bits removed just ask. This has been done for all those that want to look back at some fun, creative days of brilliant music. This is for those who want to remember a slice in time before everything was constantly filmed.“
A 2009 documentary following Skinnyman and Task Force, presented, produced and directed by Kate Yarwood.
The Back cover of the DVD summarises the documentary as follows:
British Beatz covers music and lifestyle, with raw live performances and extended interviews with U.K Hip Hop artists Skinnyman and Taskforce, as well as music video excerpts and interviews with “hoodie” school kids.
The music artists who are idols within youth culture and they are from poor backgrounds, council estates and social housing, but have managed to overcome many obstacles in their lives and still be successful. They talk about music scene, graffiti and social issues such as education, sex, drugs and single parenthood: “Don’t have babies when you’re a baby.” (Chester P – Taskforce). This is real reality TV. The music artists make radical comments on today’s society, as well as truthful statements about their lives and mistakes, in the hope that the young people who admire them will make better choices. “The positive of smoking weed is at first it’s fun. The negative is, for the rest of your life it’s not!” (Chester P, Taskforce).
Youth culture is crying out for something that reflects their real lifestyle. This documentary aims to encourage understanding of what drives our urban youth, who are rarely represented in the media, except in negative terms. It is driven by an understanding of the powerful role music plays within youth culture, as well as the sex and drugs lifestyle which accompanies it and aims, through the words of the artists they admire, to encourage youth to think twice before jumping into situations which could affect the rest of their lives.
British Beatz: Presented, Produced & Directed by Kate Yarwood – 2009 DVD (Cover Image)
After being mugged at gunpoint for in 2001, film maker David O’Neil was introduced to a section of British society both on his doorstep and a million miles away from the world he was living in.
“I was held up at gunpoint for my motorcycle, which sparked an interest in the lives of young people growing up in touching distance, but with a very different set of values and culture.”
Commissioned by the BBC for a 3 episode airing* he set about following a series of council estate residents with musical ambitions at foundational stages of their lives.
What resulted in the first episode was an incredible insight into the world of a late 20s Skinnyman as he recorded the material for his one and only album Council Estate Of Mind and a young Charlie Sloth trying to exit a world of weed sales and petty crime and find a route into the music industry through pirate radio and rap.
The documentary includes fantastic footage of Skinny as he navigates the environment that inspired the classic LP, hanging with other members of the Mud Fam in the park, headlining a Rawganics club night and in the Studio recording the LP with Baby J.
Charlie Sloth’s appearances are equally fascinating as we witness the positive youthful energy of a young man destined for a hugely successful radio career but still very much caught up in a life of petty crime, violence and run ins with the authorities.
Episode 1 – Spittin’ & Shottin’
The 2nd episode was directed by Adam Smith and is the infamous episode credited as the inspiration for People Just Do Nothing.
Episode 2 – Ghetto On Sea
*as of the time of posting – the third episode (also directed by David O’Neil) is nowhere to be found on the internet and is seemingly lost to time. If/when it eventually turns up, I will add it then.
DJ Flip (of Mud Fam renown) holds things down on the ones and twos whilst Mr Ti2bs handles the hosting duties on this truly excellent Itch FM Mix CD.
It features a veritable who’s who of UK Hip Hop underground heroes and up -and-comers of the era (2005) put together by Flip as a series of exclusives, remixes and freestyles. Featured artists include Klashnekoff, Kyza, Essa, Sway, MCD, Doc Brown, Verb T, Terra Firma, Asaviour & Supar Nova.
This is the second Mix CD in the two volume “The Lost City” series from Itch FM – the first is also on the Spines on the Shelves Mixcloud feed and features Skinnyman on hosting duties alongside DJ Flip.
The mid to late 1990s saw representatives of the Mud Fam and Bury Crew come together in their love of MC culture, build a street team alongside their herbal healing retail business and start hosting a regular live UK Hip Hop showcase in a variety of venues around London.
Mic Hosting duties on the nights were generally handled by the various Mud Fam and Bury Crew members with Intense, in particular, being instrumental in the promotion and organisation of the night.
Alongside the regular open mics the shows would feature regular appearances from the likes of Skinnyman, Chester P and the rest of Mud Fam and Bury alongside established UK Rap legends such as Silent Eclipse (MCD), unknown local MCs, emerging talent from within the scene at the time, and soon-to-be heavy hitters doing the rounds at the beginning of their careers (Roots Manuva and Blak Twang).
Below is an ever growing collection of the flyers and recordings from those nights that I will add to as I continue to scour the internet for the remnants of these scene-building moments in UK Hip Hop History…
