The Tribal Lords - Mispent Youth / Furburger

I know nothing of these guys except that they had another track released on the excellent compilation, 'Ruf Diamonds Volume 1' and they're obviously Mancunian. This, as far as I'm aware, is the only 12" they put out and it's on their own label. Quite tough to find for a fair price I think, I sold mine way back but people yet again want too much for an average record. Just because it's in Freddie Fresh's book with a 'price guide' don't mean it's worth four times the amount you would have paid for it in '91. Still, worth a listen.

Merry Christmas.

The Black Prophets - Fax On Wax

Re-up.

Download

Suggestion Of The Week - Beattrix - Grab The Mic / Passion

Excellent debut 7" from Beattrix with Junior Disprol providing the vocals on the A-Side and Dookie Squad doing the honours on the flip. Well worth your hard earned this one.

Listen and Buy Here

Or Here

True Style - Code Of Conduct

Re-up

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S.W.S. - Overture EP

Re-up

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S.W.S - Boys From The Bec

Re-up

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Hard II Kill - Massacre EP

Re-up.

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Standing Ovation - Shadows Of Mayhem

Re-up.

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VA - Hardcore One

The eighties has to be the decade that independent labels really flourished and just about anyone could get a record out, if only just the one. Here's a prime example of an independent release that is probably one of the best out there at the time. Groups like 'D 2 The K' and 'The Korperayshun' already had reasonably well received singles, relatively speaking but for the rest of them as far as I'm aware this was their only chance to shine. Some of them went on to release decent stuff under different guises - MC Dashy D had a dope single out on Kold Sweat as 'Drunken Master'  and DJ Quick continued in a production capacity -  but my personal fave is 'Into The Music' by MC Krazee A. I remember hearing it while I was out one night just hanging around in the streets as we often did and someone walking by with that track playing on his 'ghetto blaster' provoking me to seek out said track, which took a while, but I was obviously successful in the end. A really decent record this if you can find one and I would suggest it's worth a try.

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Newtrament - London Bridge Is Falling down

Always reminds me of (fairly) local legend Masterscratch this one. I've mentioned it before but back in the early eighties new tunes were quite difficult to get a hold of, mixtapes by a  proper dj even more so. When we got a hold of one of Masterscratch's new tape it was like your birthday all over again. I don't know how they got an hour up the road to my neck of the woods but his distribution department were excellent. In fact I only recently threw them out as I don't have a tape player any more. Happy days.

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Suggestion Of The Week - Hijack - The Horns Of Jericho (25th Anniversary Edition)

Buy this.
Soops comes with a fresh anniversary re-issue on triple coloured wax. Some still available here although there has been delay at the pressing stage for the black, white and grey package so I plumped for the yellow, red and blue but whatever you choose it'll be worth the wait for sure. Also comes with a free digital download so they've thought of everything. Firin'.

Hardnoise - Serve Tea, Then Murder / Mice In The Presence Of The Lion

Re-up.

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Prime Rhyme Masters - You Need Discipline

For me, one of the best UK hip hop records to come out on '91, maybe even ever. I used to buy everything Kold Sweat put out and there were some duds obviously but when you come home with something like this the weaker releases are forgotten for a minute and and you feel all nice inside. Kinda.

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Lady Tame - Loud Ladies

Here's an example of a rare record that's half decent but that's all that nowadays people want ridiculous amounts of money for. It pisses me off a little bit at how much some folk think their stuff is worth. I obviously still buy records and missed a lot when I was younger due to the record shops in the city where I live not getting everything in or maybe only one copy and I missed it or just not having enough money to buy everything on offer. I put what I would consider to be reasonable offers in on records on discogs quite a bit and nearly all of them are turned down. I put offers in on two pretty highly priced 12"s in March and they're still for sale now. Some of these sellers will be buried with their wax before they sell 'em at the over inflated prices they're asking. Just because a record is tough to find these days doesn't mean it's worth the earth and it also doesn't mean it's a dope jam either. There's one  of these on ebay right now. Have a listen and judge for yourselves if it's worth the asking price.

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Hardrock Soul Movement - Double Def Fresh (Get Stupid Fresh Remix)

I was doing some ironing last Sunday and some old Fawlty Towers marathon was showing on Gold (UK cable TV channel) and the 'I'm afraid it's not fresh' sample that's cut up on this record came from that show and I'd completely forgot until I heard Mrs. Hamilton say it in the 'Waldorf Salad' episode. A top show and an even better UK electro record. One of my all time faves and the how they build up the intro is an absolute killer. A damned fine record; Double Def Fresh for sure.

Don't mention the war..

The Black Prophets - Fax On Wax

Before their other pretty decent effort was released on the Kold Sweat label in '92 there was this. Due to some legal wranglings it was released on a stamped promo 12" only and also, I would guess, in limited quantities to boot. Personally I don't really like 'Fax On Wax' so I sold mine a few years back now but the 'Untitled' track on the flip is much better. According to discogs they put out another cut  earlier than these two on a compilation EP but this and 'Chapter One' were the only two records I ever owned.

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Suggestion Of The Week - Dj Supreme - Supreme Legacy Vol. 1

Buy this. Be quick though, only 4 left..
Edit* looks like they pressed up some more..

Purchase and sound snippets.

F9's - U.B. Nice

These were an acquired taste I think. A lot of his rhymes didn't, well, rhyme and the music wasn't what you might consider britcore but all that said I think they were pretty decent and apart from an album this the only record they ever made. Shame they had such a short lived but credible career.

Don't forget the nice.

Suggestion Of The Week - Deliverance - Rescue From Danger

Buy This.

Purchase and audio snippets

SL Troopers - Knowledge ...I'm Gonna Get Me Some

I went shopping for records last weekend and came home with nothing. I know according to recent statistics that vinyl is on the up and a lot of people are 'getting back in to it' but it's just not the same any more. I used to go up town at least twice a week and hardly ever came back empty handed, felt disappointed if I did. I remember the days when I used to come back with boss tunes like this..

'Tech 1 comes with the verbal stumlar'

Flintstone - Freedom Of Expression

Here's a record you might not have heard.It's not fantastic but the hip hop mix is decent mainly due to the good use of  Minnie Riperton's 'Inside My Love'. I have some time for that track, the others not so much but if  R & B crossover type stuff is your thing then you're in for a treat. Not to say that I never liked this era's R & B sound but I'm a little older and it's no longer for me.

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B.C. Of Bass Inc. - Rock The Boat

This was a sought after 12" once upon a time. Sounds a little dated to me now but it might have passed some of you by so dip your bread. 

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Powerlords - British Mic Control

Some UK cities got their own TV channel late last year and Sheffield's is called SLTV and I have a look very occasionally. They have a lot of radio(?) on there for some reason with photos sent in by viewers which are on a slide show kind of thing but sometimes you see the dj 'in action' and I happened upon a dance music show - I didn't watch for long - a few weeks back and the dude was mixing mp3s on a laptop which he'd placed neatly on top of an SL1200 turntable with the lid down. Is that how it's done these days?
Anyway, enjoy this mp3 which that bloke can download as well if he wants.Make his set a lot more interesting.

I am not a Luddite

Suggestion Of The Week - Whirlwind D & Specifik - B-Line Business

Buy this.

Hear

Purchase

Private Party - Don't Distress This Groove

Time for some so called 'golden era' UK niceness now with an early incarnation of Shut Up And Dance and a pretty decent record it is too. You'll recognise the sample and this is better than 'Planet E' for me anyway. As far as I'm aware they only made two 12"s as Private Party although there is a 7" listed on discogs accredited to them which I've never heard of and if anyone has any details then feel free to bring forth the knowledge. I think it might be another group with the same name myself but you never know.

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Suggestion Of The Week - Specifik & Project Cee - Future Shock 64

Buy this.

No soundclips. You'll just have to trust me.

Purchase

The Force - The Mission / Cash Crew - Microphone Maniac

I think you'll find this an interesting 12". The a-side is occupied by the Force with the under rated 'The Mission' and the b -side sports the debut cut from the Cash Crew, 'Microphone Maniac' . I recently sold this as I don't consider it a keeper but it's typical of the kind of fare I craved back in the mid to late eighties. That's not my writing on the label by the way. I bought it yonks back now and was a bit peeved when I first saw it but what the hell, it's gone now. Still, the promo is mad hard to find just now and I don't think there's any for sale in the UK right now either so if you want one you'll have to get your euros out. I think I shared this on Bust The Facts ages ago and someone used my scan on the youtube upload so I've put up the other side if he/she wants to utilise that as well.

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Suggestion Of The Week - Mister Jason Has A Posse - DJ Format's A-Z Of Classic Breaks Remix

Buy this.

Soundclip.

Purchase Here

Dominant Force - Raptivity

One of the best UK hip hop 12"s of all time in my opinion which is sticking my neck out a bit but when you've heard 'criminals' on the flip you'll know why. Yeah the break is ancient nowadays but the rumbling bassline will blow you windows out the frames for sure. I think this was their debut 12", 'We're Ready' being the follow up which I did have until recently but it's not a patch on this one. Solid britcore niceness and a relatively easy find these days so get on it.

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Art Of Noise - Into Battle

This was on my wants list for years and I finally purchased a decent copy for a fair price a few months back. I bought the UK release of 'Beat Box' back in '83 but it wasn't the version Ice T was freestyling to in the first Breakdance movie which disappointed me greatly at the time and I thought they'd made a special version just for Chris 'The Glove'. Not so as this is the jam right here using the
Oberheim DMX to full effect. The rest of the EP is alright I guess but I'm not that partial to any of the other tracks on here, might have been in '83 as they do capture the electro vibe pretty well considering they're no b-boys or b-girls. In fact judging by some of the comments on the sleeve I'd suggest they were up their own arses somewhat. But that said, you can't front on the fact that it's a def beat they made and if I ever come good on the lotto I'll get me one of those DMX machines and drive the missus nuts.

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Ambassadors Of Swing - Rap Game

This is a decent offering or at least 'Rap Game' is. The other two are fillers for me and not worth keeping which is why I sold it last week after 2 or 3 months of trying. I think the word 'swing' puts a lot of folk off. It would me. Hated that swing beat, baggy trouser wearing, running on the spot shite. Luckily DJ Marga and Hijack know the deal and produced a laid back jazzy head nodder. A perfect tune maybe but I have to downsize and this was a casualty of the 'cutbacks'.

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Jehst X Strange U - Dolph Lundgren

So, record store day came and went and this is how it went for me.
Decided to walk into the city centre with the missus and whilst doing so came across 'Spinning Discs', a new shop it seems, only about  a half mile from where I live and he had 'record store day' written on the window so I took a peek but he only had two Pulp lps in for RSD - something to do with how many hours you're open for in the week - so I went on my way but I will go back now I know it's there.
Arrived at 'Record Junkee', went upstairs to find the small room full of people but I managed to check out the 2 dozen or so 7"s that were there but it had gone already.
Went further up town to 'LP Record Store' and he had a list on the wall of RSD stuff and this wasn't on there but I checked out the 7" section anyway as the hope was still there but of course it wasn't.
Was ready for off but the snooker is on so I called in at the winter gardens to see if I could get on TV and Hazel had just finished a 'piece to camera' or whatever they call it and went and sat back down opposite Parrott and Davis. I watched for about two minutes and was on my way home when I remembered 'Vinyl Demand' who weren't on the RSD participating shops list but I went anyway but that was a wasted trip too so I went for the bus feeling a little fed up.
When I got home I looked on Disorda's fine website to find he was selling it and at the official price too so I ordered it from him and it arrived today.
All this made me realise that I don't really like record shopping any more. It isn't half as good as it used to be when I went two, sometimes three times a week and pretty much always came away with something. It's probably something to do with my age but I definitely liked it better that way.

Mad Doctor X - Project X

Not had much to do with the UK scene just lately but this one popped into my head so I thought I'd share it with you in case it's new to you. The Brotherhood sound the mightiest for me on the A1 & B2 cut, the other two are the pretty standard forgettable fare but each to their own I guess. Record store day tomorrow, going for the Jehst X Strange U 7" picture disc, only 500 pressed up, Stange U being my fave new UK crew. Killer tune, you should get one. Hopefully I will too..

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Suggestion(s) Of The Week - Juice MC.s / Criminal Minds / True Style

Buy this.

Listen & Purchase Here

Buy this too.

Listen & Purchase Here

And this.

Listen & Purchase Here

VA - Hard As Hell Four

Only bought this for two tracks:

B3 - First Frontal Assault - Hits From Small Arms Fire

and

B5 - Militant Posture - Dawn Of Terror

Both of which at the time of release were only available on this record. Track B2 is pretty fresh too; MC Duke drops the 'MC' prefix and brings it good style with a decent remix that I think is superior to the original found on his debut LP.
The FFA track is the one for me though, straight up needs a re-release on 12" if you ask me. Firin'..

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D Marcus C - Freedom

Here's a decent self released 12" which seems to go under the radar a heck of a lot. Once upon a year it would be fetching a few bob, nowadays it's a really easy find for the price of a bag o' chips. Always loved that 'Funk For The Folks' break too, killer.

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Suggestion Of The Week - Chrome & Illinspired - The All C n I

Buy this.

Hear 

Purchase Here or Here

Code Rudina - Social Anarchy

The internet has made the world very small and we can find just about anything online for nowt these days but not always. Sometimes you have to take the leap of faith and just buy something you've never heard before and hope when you spin it you're on to a winner. Sadly that's not always the case. I sold this maybe one or two weeks after I bought it, maybe three or four years back now and hopefully you'll understand why. I don't wish to show any disrespect to the artist in any way but unfortunately you can't like everything you ever buy. Quite a tough find this too. Shame.

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High Authority - I'm The Man

As far as I'm aware this was the only hip hop cut released on this label and it's a belter and makes excellent use of the Spencer Davis Group's 'I'm A Man' albeit slowed down a little but that makes it sound better in my opinion. And that's all I can say. D to the E to the R, E, K doesn't appear to have furthered his career in the field of hip hop music so this is his lasting legacy but at least it's a dope one.

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Tha 4orce & Poynt Blak - UK Rappcats

Why the hell this never had a vinyl release I'll never know. Promo CD and download only. An absolutely blazin' track, once you've heard Tha 4orce's verse mentioning loads of well known old school UK crews and emcees and you've picked yourself up off the floor, take another listen for the ones you missed. And a stoopid fresh jam that can utilise a really well known sample but still sound fresh deserves the vinyl treatment don't it? Someone sort it please.

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Son Of Noise - Crazy Mad Flow

Here's some ball bustin' britcore from a UK crew still active to my knowledge, not had the pleasure of a live performance yet but you never know. I remember HHC reviewing 'Retrocide 93' and picking up on Q-Roc's use of American slang, even mentioning Oreos which I don't think were commonplace back then - I prefer a nice custard cream myself - but I didn't care too much and bought it anyway. An absolutely firin' track, the intro alone will render you a quivering wreck. Thank God for Michael Viner..

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Suggestion Of The Week - First Frontal Assault - The Punisher EP

Buy this.

Hear.

Purchase.

True Style - Code Of Conduct EP

I had a new shelving system constructed recently to house my records instead of the crates I was using to try and utilise the little space I have and came across this heavy duty banger from '91. There's more unreleased demos here too which I downloaded from here some time ago although I think they've been removed now as this future release is in the pipeline maybe? Until then we're firin' in to 2015 with this true britcore classic.

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