This week we have the notorious LONDON POSSE which consisted of Sipho the Human Beatboxer, Rodney P, Bionic and DJ Bizznizz. Their name was originally given to them when they went out to New York to feature in the Boogie Down Productions video The Bridge is Over.

I very clearly remember their first single on Big Life in 1987 called ‘London Posse’ which was produced by none other than Tim Westwood.

The B-side, “My Beatbox Reggae Style”, had Sipho beat boxing, Bionic rapping and DJ Biznizz scratching and at that time it was the first UK track to consist solely of a beat box providing the backing.

LONDON POSSE – London Posse

LONDON POSSE – My Beatbox Reggae Style

Sipho originally formed the posse and gained his fame from performing on the 1986 Big Audio Dynamite single ‘C’mon Every Beatbox.’ Big Audio Dynamite was formed in 1984 by ex-guitarist and singer of The Clash, Mick Jones. Sipho was also recognised in his 1985 performance in the documentary Electrorock.

Rodney P also known as ‘da riddim killa,’ is one of the most respected UK Hip Hop artists/pioneers and in his career along with the London Posse has toured with some of the heavyweights such as Big Audio Dynamite, N.W.A, Public Enemy and Soul II Soul.

After their first single Sipho left to work with Derek B (another great UK Hip Hop MC) and DJ Bizznizz to work on Tim Westwood’s radio show. Bizznizz also DJ’d and produced some of the London Posse’s later tracks.

Rodney P and Bionic continued to record as a duo and after releasing the radio friendly ‘Money Mad,’ in 1988 on Tim Westwood’s Justice Label they eventually moved over to Island Records subsidiary Mango.

While at Mango they would write the reggae/New York influenced album ‘Gangster Chronicle,’ in 1990 which would cement the London Posse’s reputation as one of the UK scene’s most talented groups.

LONDON POSSE – How’s Life in London

The London Posse’s final release was ‘Style’ (Bullit) in 1996, a drum and bass influenced track produced by Bionic which also featured a remix by The Nextmen.

LONDON POSSE – Style

Bionic moved into drum and bass MCing and worked closely with Stevie Hyper D and also on Tricky’s ‘Juxtapose,’ and ‘Mission Accomplished,’ albums in 1999 and 2000 under the name ‘Mad Dog.’

Stay tuned next week Sunday for the UK Urban Music History – Volume 4.

You can cast your votes by making a comment at the bottom of this page or under the artists video choice FB link.

CHALKS CHOICE:

We start with CHALK and he has gone with the upbeat AZEALIA BANKS track 212. Great groove!

GLAMMA GODZ – A.D.E’s CHOICE:

Next up this week we have A.D.E front man for the GLAMMA GODZ and his choice is ASAP Rocky with the track WASSAP. Don’t quite get it myself but that is the joy of music it is subjective.

GLAMMA GODZ – JAY TRONICA’s CHOICE:

So we have the producer extraodinaire JAY TRONICA for the GLAMMA GODZ and his choice is the ever so freaky but cool DIE ANTWOORD with the banging track I FINK U FREEKY. What a cool video.

KiDD DYNOMITES CHOICE:

We end the challenge this week with KIDD DYNOMITE and he has decided to go for UK artist SWAY and the track STILL SPEEDIN. Great use of the sample for the hook by Black Box – Ride on time which in 1989 was a number one hit in the UK and Ireland.

VOTE FOR YOUR PICK OF THE WEEK BY MAKING A COMMENT BELOW!

Also let us know who you’re listening to this week!

See you all next week Wednesday at the same time. We will have four new selections from KiDD Dynomite, Glamma Godz and Chalk.

Produced By: KiDD Dynomite
Directed & Edited By: Peter “KiDD” Jones
Cameraman: Acen

INSTRUMENTAL DOWNLOAD: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ienpxg

Let us know what you think by leaving your comments below.

For more information on the KiDD and potential production work contact lloydj@inmycorner.co.uk

This week we have an artist from Stockwell, South London called SMILEY CULTURE who influenced and dominated the UK British reggae scene with his ‘Fast Chat’ style of MCing/toasting. He produced two of the most critically acclaimed independent singles in the 80′s called Cockney Translation and Police Officer.

Smiley Culture started off his career in the mighty sound system called Saxon Sound International and he worked with artists such as Tippa Irie and Maxi Priest.

His first single Cockney Translation released in 1984 was not only ground breaking but it also showed the diversity of cultures in England at that time and the close comparison between the varied working classes in terms of language. The single was dubbed the Jamaican guide to East End Cockney slang and was released on the 1980′s founded reggae label Fashion records.

COCKNEY TRANSLATION

Some of the UK black British artists that have been inspired by Smiley Culture are Roots Manuva and DJ Luck and MC Neat to name a few and when you see the clip below for WITNESS THE FITNESS or check out the track WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK you can here it at the core.

WITNESS THE FITNESS

Smiley’s ‘Fast Chat,’ style of toasting originated from the Jamaican DJ Ranking Joe aka Little Joy and this style has also gone on to influence the Jungle, Garage, Grime and Dub Step MC’s and DJ’s.

Smiley Cultures biggest selling single to date was the ever powerful ‘Police Officer,’ (late 1984) which was an autobiographical track about police stop and search until they realised he was someone famous. It went to number 12 in the UK charts and sold a staggering 160,000 copies. This independent success lead to his later deal with Polydor.

POLICE OFFICER

Smiley Culture sadly died in March 2011 but still to this day he manages to inspire a new generation off MC’s and DJ’s.

R.I.P – David Victor Emmanuel aka Smiley Culture (10 February 1963 – 15 March 2011)

Stay tuned next week Sunday for another UK Urban Music History insight.

Another great video by Hype Williams.

Let me know what you are listening too this week by leaving a comment below

We start off this week with CHALK’s selection which is the artist YELAWOLF. We could not find a video for his favorite track WRITE MY NAME so we have chosen one from Yelawolf featuring Kid Rock called LETS ROLL. He reminds me of Bubba Sparxxx.

GLAMMA GODZ CHOICE:

Next up this week we have A.D.E front man for the GLAMMA GODZ and his choice is THEOPHILUS LONDON with the track I STAND ALONE. Good one A.D.E

KiDD DYNOMITES CHOICE:

Last but by no means least this week we have KIDD DYNOMITE and his choice is the mighty KANYE WEST with the amazing track ALL OF THE LIGHTS featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi. This video never gets old and was directed by none other than Hype Williams.

Vote for your pick of the week from the selection above by making a commemnt below!

Let us know who you’re listening to this week!

See you all next week Wednesday at the same time. We will have three new selections from KiDD Dynomite, Glamma Godz and Chalk.

Kwes – Get Up:

So on the other side of the pond it seems that Drake and Big Sean are upsetting a few veterans in the game, namely Common and Ludacris. Look at the response they get back:

Common – Sweet

Ludacris – Bada Boom

Let me know your views!!

So it has become very apparent to me that over the years of managing and speaking to artists in the pop urban music scene that there is a lack of history and appreciation for how powerful the UK black music scene is and has helped pioneer the way for great artists from this country. In my opinion, some of these pioneers were Soul II Soul, Loose Ends, Cookie Crew and Monie Love.

As much as I feel no one is to blame I do feel with the rise of digital music we no longer have an appreciation of where our music has come from or who influenced it. Downloading a piece of music means that it has not got the credits or sample clearances so you can’t see who performed on the track unlike a CD or Vinyl.

Now, I am not saying digital music is a bad thing what I am simply saying is that in order to be great you have to at least know your history and have some kind of foundation in your market.

This weekly Sunday blog is for those who would like to find out a little bit more about the UK urban music scene and how it pioneered the way in the 80’s and early 90’s.

First up this week in no particular order of year is MC Duke.

MC DUKE

In 1987, hailing from East London came the mighty MC Duke who was on par with a lot of the US hardcore rappers at that time such as ICE T, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions – KRS-1 and Eric B and Rakim to name a few.

MC Duke was first exposed on the John Peel Sessions on Radio 1 in 1987 and his biggest rival was Hackney based MC Overlord X.

MC Duke and Overlord X were both on the ‘Hard as Hell,’ compilation of which MC Duke recorded the track ‘Jus-Dis.’

MC Duke went on to support Salt-N-Pepa on their UK tour in 1988.

This is footage of MC Duke on a popular show in the Late 80’s called Behind the Beat a part of DEF II (1988 – 1994) which was Janet Street Porter’s brainchild and was one of the first youth culture platforms showcasing black UK urban talent.

DEF II was also the place to watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and also had the popular DANCE ENERGY show presented by the ever popular Normski.

Around that time there was a movement of sportswear fashion and it influenced the rap world with brands such as Adidas, Le Coq Sportif and the unforgettable Kangol. It would later evolve into the Black Nationalism movement.

High-top fade haircuts were all the rage among the fellas as well as thick gold chains, multiple rings and name belts while the ladies would sport oversized gold door-knocker earrings.

You would wear brightly coloured name-brand tracksuits, sheepskin and leather bomber jackets with sneakers/trainers such as Adidas, Puma or Converse and ‘Phat,’ or oversized shoelaces.

Later on in his career MC Duke went on and signed to the mighty Shut Up and Dance record label for the IC3 Project.

Stay tuned next week Sunday for another UK Urban Music History insight

As much as I feel no one is to blame I do feel with the rise of digital music we no longer have an appreciation of where our music has come from or who influenced it. Downloading a piece of music means that it has not got the credits or sample clearances so you can’t see who performed on the track unlike a CD or Vinyl.

Now, I am not saying digital music is a bad thing what I am simply saying is that in order to be great you have to at least know your history and have some kind of foundation in your market.

This weekly Sunday blog is for those who would like to find out a little bit more about the UK urban music scene and how it pioneered the way in the 80’s and early 90’s.

First up this week in no particular order of year is MC Duke.

In 2012 IMC Entertainment will be launching its book publishing arm of the business featuring ethnic childrens books, new world cookery books and biographies from behind the scenes industry pioneers.

If you are a budding new or an established writer looking for exposure contact

 lloydj@inmycorner.co.uk

Regards

Lloyd J – Managing Director