Happy Xmas!

Well, it's the big day tomorrow and as I sit here for a brief rest after doing last-minute oddjobs for the holidays whilst listening to the kids in ultra-hyper mode I thought I'd take this rare quiet moment to wish all the readers of this little Blog a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Oh, and if you're preparing the Christmas dinner tomorrow, here's a short educational and not-at-all-a-T-La-Rock-rip-off video to make sure you don't blow your kitchen up.

Here's to 2016.

Repo
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The Breaks - New Film Drama

The Breaks is a new tv film drama which is based in New York City during the beginning of hip hop's Golden Age.

Set in 1990 the soundtrack features music from De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, D-Nice, Bell Biv Devoe, Kool G Rap, Poor Righteous Teachers, LL Cool J and Public Enemy so already it sounds good.
The story follows the lives of Nikki, DeeVee and David as they each struggle to break into the music industry, as an executive, producer and radio programmer, respectively. Each is met with a great deal of push back, much of which is owed to the nascent nature of the Hip-Hop industry in that time period. The film is a strong reminder that, while it is a global cultural tour de force now, not too long ago, many thought Hip-Hop was just a passing fad.
Although it is just a tv drama at present, the makers are hoping that the demand is there for a full-blown series - the ending has been left on a cliffhanger to entice viewers - once it has aired on US tv on January 4th 2016.

This short video will explain all.

The NHS Xmas Jam 2015

This Saturday is the Annual Xmas jam for the No Half Steppin' crew.

As usual we go all out to bring you the deffest show in Norwich of the year.

Yes it's that time of year again. Get your Santa Kangols on and let the jingle bells rock!
We have a feast of a line up for you this year.

Chrome and Illinspired (B Line Recordings)
Heavy Links (B Line Recordings)
DJ Donnie Propa (The Ace Tape)
Music Lessons
The Original One (Def J/Kold Sweat)
Palma
DJ Just-1
Waxer and Repo 136 (ABU & DS going back to back!)

Hosted by Illinspired

We start at 7:00 in the basement.

This is the running order although I'm sure this is subject to change :-)


19:00 Chrome and Just-1 get the party started
20:00 Repo and Waxer
21:00 DJ Donnie Propa
21.30 Heavy Links
22:00 Chrome and Illinspired
22:30 Original One
23:00 Music lessons
23:30 Palma
00:15 No Half Steppin crew wrap it up!


All free, downstairs at The Rumsey Wells where it's small and intimate.

The Plastic Attack - Mike Allen /w Capt Rock & Repo

"Is everybody in....? Is everybody in....? The ceremony is about to begin"

I was lucky enough to guest on a radio show to share my thoughts on Mike Allen.

Last Friday (11th December) on Dublin DJ Laz-e's Plastic Attack featured myself alongside the eternally energetic Captain Rock as we spoke of our memories on how The Boss had affected us over the last 30+ years.
The Captain spoke enthusiastically about how Mike played his records when no one else was, UK Fresh and the Aleem Brothers.
I found myself lost in The Captain's utterly enthralling passion and general upbeat personality.
This is a man who has been working for many years in NYC's Parks and Recreation council department and yet still finds time to mentor young, vulnerable people to try and show them the right way.

Listen to it here:
http://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/rteradiowebpage.html#!rii=18%3A10501355%3A7384%3A11-12-2015%3A

 Remember, The Plastic Attack is on every Friday night, 9pm on 2XM digital radio.

Mike Tribute Show DOWNLOAD

Thanks to everyone who listened in last night. It was a really great to play such classic drum machine cuts from Mike's era.

Here's the download:



 https://hearthis.at/kxdhfWHR/the-hip-hop-sessions-on-future-radio-mike-allen-tribute-show-dec-2015/


The Hip Hop Sessions On Future Radio with JUST-1 and guest, Repo. This was a special one tonight, a Mike Allen Tribute show featuring songs and interviews from the era of Allen's Army On Manoeuvres.

01 The Russell Brothers - Party Scene (instrumental) (1983)
02 Word Of Mouth Ft DJ Cheese - King Kut (1985)
03 MC Shan - Beat Biter (1986)
04 Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - The Show (1985)
05 Run DMC - Jam Master Jay (1983)
06 Tricky Tee - Johnny The Fox (1985)
07 World Class Wreckin Cru - Surgery (Remix) (1985)
08 Tackhead Ft DJ Cheese - Is There A Way Out (1985)
09 Hashim Ft MC Devon - UK Fresh Anthem (1986)
10 Ultimate III - Ultimate III Live (1986)
11 Steady B - Just Call Us Def (1985)
12 Real Roxanne Interview (1986)
13 The Real Roxanne - Bang Zoom (Let's Go Go) (1986)
14 JD Krush - Krush Style (1986)
15 Information Society - Running (instrumental) (1986)
16 Mantronix - Needle To The Groove (1985)
17 Stetsasonic - Just Say Stet (1985)
18 Z-3 MC's - Triple Threat (1985)
19 Whodini - The Freaks Come Out At Night (1984)
20 LL Cool J Interview (1986)
21 The Majestic Crew - Thee Untold Story (1985)
22 UTFO - Leader Of The Pack (1985)
23 K-Rob - I'm A Homeboy (1986)
24 Just Ice - Put That Record Back On (1986)
25 Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde - Fast Life (1984)
26 The Fearless Four - Dedication (instrumental) (1984)

Hip Hop Sessions Show - Mike Allen Tribute TONITE

Following on from the weekend's sad news I want to let you know that I will be joining DJ JUST-1 in Norwich tonight on the weekly HIP HOP SESSIONS show where we will be doing a tribute to The Boss.

Please join us from 10pm tonight on http://futureradio.co.uk as we provide tunes that just may help you to re-live your teenage years for a couple of hours. Go and get all your old issues of The Street Scene out, lie on your bed on your tummy with a glass of Tizer and crank the radio up. Allen's Army is about to go out on manoeuvres.

The Boss Mike Allen R.I.P.

And so it seems that the inevitable has finally happened.

Last night (Friday) that great pioneering force of the 1980s UK hip hop scene, Mike "The Boss" Allen succumbed to Alzheimer's and sadly passed away at 8.45pm.

Some of us knew this was coming whilst I may imagine to a good few people this will come as a shock. Information about Mike's later years was hard to come by and given his deteriorating health then it's no wonder he was not all over social media. Until now.

A few years ago his record collection was put up for sale and some classic cuts were made available to the average Joe.
I managed to acquire Mike's own copy of Axel F / Like Eddie Did (by Det Reirruc / Club's Rappers) which he'd played many times and it still sounds fresh today.

Around this time I know that my good friend Waxer DiscoScratch had his hands on *the actual copy* of The Russell Brothers' The Party Scene 12" that Mike would faithfully play each week to introduce the Groove Hip Hop Sales Chart ("non-movers, sliders and led-sleds").
History.
My feelings probably mirror most of yours in that Allen's Army On Maneuvres on Capital Radio was our weekly religion. It took place during our formative years as teenagers and we were all lucky enough to hear such an informative, enthusiastic and truly unique individual on the airwaves playing us some of the most upfront and devastatingly fresh street music available.

Goodbye, 'Uncle Mike'.

"Respect. Truth is absolute."

Repo.






N.b. Check this link from Mike's rap radio rival at the time, Dave Pearce with a brief but lovely tribute.