Chip Shop Head

I grew up on UK Hip Hop back in the 80s.

I used to work in my mum’s takeaway shop every weekend and would play Hip Hop on my little Sony boombox whilst I served customers. People would be waiting for their chicken chow mein and sweet & sour pork whilst I would be playing Demon Boyz, Derek B (RIP), London Posse, Hijack and Cookie Crew, along with US Hip Hop.

Musically, the 80s will always be my favourite decade. People who know me, are aware of my huge love for 1988 Hip Hop in particular. Being fifteen was a big defining year for me. I started going to gigs and clubbing with my neighbour who was a few years older than me. We had a lot of great nights out, which I can still just about remember! We even had a random encounter with London Posse when they asked us where McDonald’s was after their show where they supported BDP. I was on a high from chatting to KRS as he was mingling with the crowd before going on stage, my Hip Hop bingo card that night was full!

Being fifteen and having access to Hip Hop and reggae (thanks to my neighbour who also loved it) was an interesting, awesome but also confusing and difficult time for me. I was usually always the only Chinese female at gigs and clubs and it made me stand out, which made me feel awkward as sometimes I became a target. There were times when I would get picked on, have drinks thrown at me or they would occasionally end in fights. I have to admit it was a total head fuck as I only wanted to dance and listen to amazing music whilst out with my friends, I didn’t expect to get into any trouble. But I did, and it became character building and made me even more determined not to let people put me off from enjoying what I could from life, which I used as a release from my difficult situation at home. Even now, when I get some randoms on social media telling me I don’t belong in the Hip Hop scene, or they kick off ‘cos I have shared a list of my favourite rappers which doesn’t include theirs, I laugh it off and think jog on. If fighting for your right as a teenager to be at a Hip Hop gig or club night isn’t a sign of true love for the music and culture, then what is?! 🤣

I was reminded recently about how amazing UK Hip Hop was back in the day thanks to a brilliant mix by my friend Jimmy Green, his mix has been on non stop repeat every day. It’s so good it’s a regular gym playlist and I’ve smashed a few PBs (personal bests, not peanut butter sarnies!) whilst listening to it. You can check out Mics in the Presence of Three Lions on Mixcloud. It’s one of the BEST mixes I’ve ever heard and is a firm favourite.

Cutmaster Swift and DJ Pogo will also forever be in my UK Hip Hop time capsule for their legendary skills on the turntables. I loved the fact they represented the UK, my friends and I were buzzing when Swift won the 1989 DMC World Final Championship. We couldn’t stop talking about it at school. Alyson Williams ‘Sleep Talk’ is still one of my favourite tracks, and who could forget Swift doing the funky chicken!

One UK Hip Hop album that will always hold a very special place in my heart is Demon Boyz ‘Recognition’. The iconic red and white album cover immediately brings back nostalgia and reminds me of the times I would replay the album multiple times. I would randomly say “Recognition’s what I’m looking” (I still do!) DJ Devastate, Demon D and Mike J were to me the ultimate trio, the three amigos. Demon D And Mike J were involved in local sound systems as teenagers and won a competition held by a radio station who were offering spots at one of their live gigs which brought them to the attention UK label Music of Life, owned by Simon Harris & Froggy (RIP) which at the time was a powerhouse for UK Hip Hop.

The back catalogue of Music of Life also contains tracks from MC Duke (RIP), Hijack, Hardnoise, Derek B, Kobalt 60, She Rockers, Overlord X, First Frontal Assault, Einstein, Lady Tame, Tenor Fly (RIP) and many others. Simon Harris also produced the breakbeat albums Beats, Breaks & Scratches comprising of 12 series, legendary drummer Clyde Stubblefield (RIP) was brought over to the UK to play the drums. The funky drummer is one of the most sampled drum breaks of all time, sadly Clyde Stubblefield never received any royalties due to copyright laws which at the time, recognised the legal author as the person who wrote the lyrics and the melody.

Big shout out also goes to Monie Love, MC Mell’O’, Blade, Outlaw Posse, Asher D, Daddy Freddy, Gunshot, Caveman, Silver Bullet, She Rockers, Bomb The Bass, SL Troopers, Roots Manuva, Blapps Posse, The 3 Knights and others who also provided the soundtrack to my teenage years.

I have barely even scratched the surface of what UK Hip Hop means to me, and how it felt to be there from the early years. The eighties was such a raw and emotional time, I was trying to find some meaning into my existence whilst fighting against a difficult home life, eventually being made homeless at seventeen which resulted in anger and confusion for many years. I was also subjected to racism on a regular basis, yet all I wanted was to fit into society and be accepted. One of the very few plus sides to being kicked out at such a young age is when I did eventually find my feet and some stability a few years later, it led me into the Jungle scene.

For many years, music has always been my sanctuary, a place where I go to escape and block out the many noises of the world. Music makes me feel joy, pain, melancholy, motivated, inspired, peaceful and so much more. Music is my lifeline, UK Hip Hop was the soundtrack of my teenage years.

I found a home in Hip Hop and Hip Hop found me.