Billed as ‘The World’s First Ever Live Rap Album’, this is taken from a showcase put together by the Music of Life label, recorded at Cafe de’Paris London March 14th 1989, featuring Tim Westwood and a bunch of UK performers such as Demon Boyz, MC Duke, Merlin and Daddy Freddy, as well as The 45…
Category: London Blokes
The Wacky World of Rap White Labels: Pete Rock with extra cheese?
This one is from years back, when Pete Rock and CL Smooth bootlegs were the popping up every other day. I’m assuming the title is an attempt at some cheap humour, since three of these songs had very much ‘come out’ on movie soundtracks, and ‘In The House’ is just a regular old song from…
Crap Review, Great Hat
New Musical Express was, at one point, my only source of (somewhat) reliable rap news. Sure, most of the time they approached it with a confused British journalistic approach (‘hang about, you can’t call women skeezers AND rap politics…can you?’), but to their credit they let Westwood compile his Future Rap chart every week. Here’s…
The Wacky World of Pink Floyd Rap
Considering how influential Pink Floyd have been to popular music, it’s a little surprising how few rap songs have sampled them. Even more unfortunate is the fact that very few of that small group are any good. Here are eleven examples to consider in this tribute to the pointless listicles that once ruled the shitty…
Stream: Just-Ice interviewed by Mike Allen (R.I.P)
Here’s a vintage interview with Just-Ice from 1988 with the late, great Mike Allen. Just talks about his fronts, Sade and a single called ‘Poison’ which never came out. Courtesy of the P Brothers’ tape collection.
Three Bizarre Incidents Involving Rap on British TV
All of these clips are equal parts bizarre and amazing. The first features interviews with Schoolly-D and Mantronix while they were on tour in the UK, while overlaying ‘witty’ comments and alleged statistics about violence at rap shows in a manner which suggests that the producers of the segment were either taking the piss or…
The Guardian Comment Section Types The Darnedest Things: 50 Cent Edition
Andrew Emery (aka Drew Huge of Fatlace) penned a piece on 50 Cent’s recent fiscal hiccups/tactics for The Guardian this week, and as one might imagine the comment section was chock-full of outraged rap haters. The real keepers, of course, are the contributions from annoyed backpackers and Defenders Of The True School. These type of…
Video: Mantronix, T La Rock and Word of Mouth Live In The UK [1986]
Thanks to Drew Huge for spotting this classic clip of Rock Around The Clock, a hip-hop event broadcast on UK TV in 1986 featuring performances from Word of Mouth and DJ Cheese, Mantronix, T La Rock and local lads Phaze One, with commentary from Morgan Khan, Dave Pierce and John Peel (who was able to…
The Return of HHC’s Connections Page
Click for full-size Are you an ill homeboy looking to find a funky fresh fly girl to chill with after school? Then step on up the Hip Hop Connection‘s cleverly titled ‘Connections’ page and find a pen pal today! Sure, these ads were placed on the late 80’s but there’s a decent chance that some…
Stream: Boogie Down Productions – Live In London [1990]
DJ Kenny Parker has shared this recording of a Boogie Down Productions show at Brixton Academy, 1990. Highlights include the freestyle session where KRS kicks some rhymes that would appear on later albums. Also, it’s my birthday today so I’m off to drink some RAER whiskey and whatnot.
Video: Crate Diggers – Tim Westwood’s Vinyl Collection
Clearly need to send Mr. Westwood a properly fitted Conservative Rap Coalition polo in the near future.
The Juice Crew – 1990 Tim Westwood Freestyle
Here’s a Tim Westwood sure shot from 1990, courtesy of CRC member Palmer Stallings. Biz Markie, Tragedy, Craig G, Big Daddy Kane and MC Shan all drop verses, alhough sadly there’s no sign of TJ Swan despite him apparently being in the house. Shout-out to the other radio station that crosses the signal a few…