Was saddened to hear of the death of Gemini recently as he was a unique talent and legendary amongst UK hip hop fans across the board. I bought Hardnoise's records because of their name on the record sleeve and probably how they presented themselves. None of their singles had b-boy style photographs of the group and in that they maintained a kind of identity without revealing their identities if you get me - the sleeve this 12" comes in has a reversed polarity shot and you can't make out their faces. I was blown away by 'Untitled' and when this one popped up in the rack it was and easy sell. Back when record shops were just about on every corner in the city I was kind of excited to get back home and play new stuff I hadn't already listened to, if only a snippet, in the shop and it's on this first track Gemini shines brightest. Dark, and at times apocalyptic rhymes - 'year 2000, people dying, people crying'...'thousands upon thousands will burn'.. are spat furiously alongside hardcore b-boy braggadocio - 'you'll never smoke hardnoise'...'eyes will open as we lay the foundations of true hip hop music' - which is my favourite line - project an image, for me, of invincibility, that they can't be touched, that they're on top of their game.
3 minutes and 44 seconds later the barrage continues with arguably the best rhyme of '91 as TLP1 destroys the mic in true UK style which was a whole lot different and maybe even some kind of rebellion to the running-on-the-spot dancy type stuff that was coming out of the US at the time. The title says it all. What I'd like to know is, where is part 2?
Great share, mate. This is my all time favourite UK Hip-hop release (esp Mice in the presence...). Sad to hear of Gemini's passing, he was one of UK's finest - and during it's golden era of Hip-hop. RIP Gemini.
ReplyDeleteBTW, one of my favourite parts of 'Mice' is the last verse, where TLP1 breaks down the name Hardnoise. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they don't make 'em like this any more. It's difficult to imagine how good the follow up single would've been had they made one. I presume it would be 'pure destructive power' which is dope, even the demo version which was pressed up recently but I'm not so sure it measures up to the awesome power of these two tracks.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to buy that CD, 'The Untitled Sessions EP'. Never heard 'Pure Destructive Power' either, which I know is on that CD and and was their first single but was released as a white label (?). Incidently, while we mourn Gemini, if you don't already have the Bushkiller 12" '92 Salute/Bushkiller Draw' I can rip a 320 copy for you to put up.
ReplyDelete'PDP' came out last year on the Gibo Productins label, an LP of demos and unreleased material followed, both still available from Suspect Packages. I do have both the Bushkiller 12"s, thanks for the offer though mate, cheers.
ReplyDeletePlease re up !
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