September 16, 2004
Ancient Grime.
"My cousin came over to London town to check out how the people roll down."
Is this the UR-text of Grime? It's not a terribly distinctive record if the truth be told, delivered in an American accent, only passing references to (coughs) indigenous London in the form of complaints about "the boys in blue." But amazingly the aesthetic is quite grimy. The rhythm track even sounds like a Playstation offcut!
I thought the Greg Wilson-compiled UK Electro compilation on Streetsounds might predate this track, but no. That came out in June 1984, the label on this says 1983. As for that being the product of six distinct acts, Wilson sets the record straight here. Apparently the Rapologists contribution was the only one NOT masterminded by the collective of Wilson and his pals (Kermit from Broken Glass, later of the Ruthless Rap Assasins, musicians from Magazine and A Certain Ratio!) The bunch of aliases were concocted to give the illusion of a proclivity of UK Electro. Norty norty!
Here on this excellent site dedicated to UK Hip Hop there are details of other artists who emerged subsequent to Morgan Khan's compliation: ' Junior Gee and the A Team, MC Westrock, Jive Junior, Dynamic Three and Freshski.....etc....." The Newtrament record is on Jive, and subsequently I was curious to know about this record from 1985 also on Jive, and actually which is pretty excellent:
I think Jazzy Jeff IS American, but the record is recorded at Battery Studios, London. I'm confused! Have a look at this again if you have time, Simon's ultra-compressed notes on the Roots of Grime. That's a classic piece. Oh, but no more slagging off Nicky Lockett aka MC Tunes.
Posted by Woebot at September 16, 2004 08:49 PM