London Posse
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2010) |
London Posse | |
---|---|
Origin | British hip hop |
Years active | 1986–1996 |
Labels | Justice, Big Life, Mango, Bullitt |
Past members | Rodney P Bionic DJ Biznizz Sipho the Human Beatbox (deceased 2004) |
London Posse was a British hip hop group.[1][2] According to The Daily Telegraph, they "finally gave British rap an identity of its own."[3] London Posse member Bionic led the charge for UK and worldwide artists to use their own accents and languages rather than copy Americans and was the architect behind their biggest hit "Money Mad" introducing 'road style' to UK hip hop and mixing it with ragga/dancehall.
Formation
The group was formed by Sipho the Human Beatbox, and consisted of Sipho,
When the group first formed, it did not have a name, but while playing in New York City, they were constantly referred to as the "London Posse" because of their
After two more singles ("Tell Me Something" and "Jump Around"), Mango was closed down by its parent company and the London Posse moved to Bullitt Records,[7] run by their manager Errol Bull (who features on both "How's Life in London" and the Ragga remix). The group began recording a second album (preliminary titled "Ladies Love Roughnecks") but could not afford to release it with the financial responsibilities of running a label, so it was permanently shelved.[7] Instead, they released a selection of singles and guest spots with other artists.
1993 saw several tracks released as singles: "How's Life in London" / "Shut The Fuck Up" / "How I Make Papes" (Bullit), the "How's Life In London Bogle remix", produced by Dobie and Tony Gadd (of
London Posse reformed briefly in 1996 and their final release was "Style"[11] (Bullit), a drum and bass influenced track produced by Bionic which also featured a remix by The Nextmen (the Nextmen's first official remix).[9][12]
After the group disbanded, Bionic moved fully into drum and bass MCing and worked closely with
Rodney P formed a long-standing partnership with DJ Skitz to host a BBC Radio 1Xtra show and released a solo album – The Future – in 2004.[9] (An unreleased 2002 version of the album featured a track called "Hip Hop Gangster", featuring Sipho on beatbox.)[14] He has also worked with the Dub Pistols, the Nextmen, Freq Nasty, Skinnyman, Roots Manuva and Roni Size.
In 2001, Word Play Records reissued the album Gangster Chronicle, adding some (but not all) of the later material such as "How's Life in London" and "Pass the Rizla". A double CD reissue of this album featuring previously unreleased recordings and contemporary remixes was scheduled for June 2013.
Discography
Albums
- Gangster Chronicle (1990, Mango Records)
Singles
- "London Posse" / "My Beatbox Reggae Style" (1987, Big Life) – UK IndieNo. 11
- "Money Mad" (1988, Justice)
- "Live Like the Other Half Do" / "Money Mad (Remix)" (1989, Mango)
- "Tell Me Something" / "Original London Style" (1990, Mango)
- "Jump Around (Nomad Soul)" / "Gangster Chronicle Remix" / "Jump Around" (1991, Mango)
- "How's Life in London" / "How I Make Papes" / "Shut the Fuck Up" (1993, Bullitt)
- "How's Life in London (Ragga Mix)" (1993, Bullitt)
- "Supermodel" / "Here Comes the Rugged One" (1993, Bullitt)
- "Live Like the Other Half Do (Remix)" / "Feds" (credited to 'Jungle'; 1995, Bullitt)
- "Style" / "Style (Next Men Remix)" (1996, Bullitt)
Guest appearances
- "Pass the Rizla" (Ruffness: The British Underground EP) (XL, 1993)
- "Funky Rhyme, Funky Style" (PD3 featuring London Posse) (from the Noisy Music EP) (Payday, 1994)
References
- ISBN 0-7535-0252-6, p. 202
- ^ Kwaku (16 June 2001). "Wordplay Reissues Posse's Chronicles". Billboard. p. 26.
- ^ Lyle, Peter (12 April 2008). "An England Story: how Jamaica changed the voice of teenage Britain". The Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ ISBN 0-9517206-9-4, p. 135
- ^ "ELECTRO ROCK – A BBOY EVENT FROM LONDON 1985 (5OF7) – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Big Audio Dynamite – C'mon Every Beatbox (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Jimbo Jones's Convenience Store: London Posse: Roughneck Chronicles (The Biography)". Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Sipho & Bionic M.C. (london posse) 1986 interview & live set. – YouTube
- ^ a b c d "London Posse Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Fadele, Dele (30 June 2001). "London Posse : Gangster Chronicle". NME. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "London Posse – Style (Original) – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Male Vocalists | T R I C K Y N E R D . C O M // B L O G". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | Rodney P – The Future 2xLP [Riddim Killa / Low Life] Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Official website
- London Posse discography at Discogs
- London Posse on Heroes of UK Hip Hop.
- London Posse article on Low Life.
- [1] Jimbo Jones's Convenience Store: London Posse: Roughneck Chronicles (The Biography).