Positive Beat Records
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Positive Beat Records is a British independent record label formed in West London's Ladbroke Grove in 1987. The label presses and sells recordings of local artists.
History
The label's first single "Your Love Is Quality" was released on 7" and 12" vinyl by soul/dance group Interfaze with a video promo directed by Nic Hofmeyr filmed around Ladbroke Grove. The voice of Interfaze was Maxine Harvey a London soul music singer, who had been working on the local circuit.
1987 saw the release of the label's second single "It's Getting Ruff" by Rocky X and DD Dance two local emcees of North African extraction with a cover picture on the area of ground that was developed into Sainsburys. This year also saw the recording at Addis Ababa Studios on Harrow Road of Known 2 Be Down and its release through EMI and Jet Star distribution.
Over 20 local artists, loosely defined as "the Lay Low Crew" and led by Sir Drew, contributed to the 10 songs and it established the credibility of original British rap as opposed to copies of US styles.
After the album the label started the Positive Beat Roadshow linking in with Sahara Sound System for the next two years. The Roadshow worked by taking artists from the Known 2 Be Down project and local street poets, emcess, Djs and beat boxers around London to community centres and cultural events. The mainstays of the Roadshow were
1990 saw 12" single releases for two emcees who had built growing reputations from the roadshow performances, MC Reason with "Symbolise" and Jonie D with "Which Base". "Symbolise" got a lot of air play and Mix Mag called it ‘a home made contender for the jazz-rap scene’
1991 saw Jonie D release "Dance Positivo" which mixed hip hop and mambo brass that Mix Mag called "moody little beast" in predicting that Jonie D would become "a quietly unassuming star" [5]
The label's producer Skorpi described the vibe of the label "It's positivity. It's not called black neat, yellow beat, white beat or whatever beat. It's positive beat"[6]
Discography
Albums
- Known 2 Be Down (1987, Various)
- From Frontline To Theme Park (1992, Various)
Singles
- "Your Love Is Quality" (1987, Interfaze)
- "It’s Getting Ruff" (1987, Rocky X & DD Dance)
- "The Connection" (1988, Rapski)
- "Which Base?" / "Ride On" (1990, "Jonie D")
- "Symbolise" / "House Quake" (1990, "MC Reason")
- "Dance Positivo" (1991, "Jonie D")
References
- ^ Appio,I. "New Release." Time Out Magazine 9 December 1987
- ^ Matura, A & Morgan, M. "West London Bad Boys/The Beat Goes On." The Voice 27 October 1987
- ^ "New Releases." Mix Mag February 1991
- ^ Webster, M. "Reviews." Blues and Soul (577) 1990
- ^ M,J. "Dance Positive." Mix Mag (Vol.2 Issue No.7) Dec 1991
- ^ Fraser,N. "Hip Hops Positive Beat." Outlook Magazine (19) Jan 1991