(From Positive Reaction album; 1991)
The classic U.K Rap single by the one and only U.K Rap group to be signed by Profile Records. I'm gonna call I'm Ready the most Rave-friendly U.K Rap song of the early 90s based on the empirical evidence it got played at a local Illegal Rave I went to in 1992 at the tender age of 14. Dubbed The Melt Down Zone, the party was hosted in a disused former Agri-Electrics building by some local pikeys who weren't fussy about letting underage kidz in as long as we had the £5 entry fee. The DJ was an ex Hip-Hop head who'd had his head/dick turned by the drugs and girls at Rave parties, but would still play some uptempo Rap tracks in amongst the Rave choonz. I have very specific memories of hearing I'm Ready and Naughty By Nature's O.P.P that night because they were 2 of my favourite singles of that era and it was the first time I'd heard Rap music played in what was, essentially, a club. I also have very specific memories of having to leave early because my parents wouldn't let me stay out beyond 10:30 PM. They f**k your adolescent nights up, your mum and dad.
I've always wondered whether Percee P & Ekim and/or T-Ray heard Caveman's Fry You Like Fish. It's plausible innit since Profile Records would have ensured the single made its way into New York's record shops.
15 comments:
Props to the Tim Westwood sighting at 2:43
That Crosstown Traffic sample will always be genius.
Would hear the occasional US rap songs at house parties around that same period, but the closest thing to UK rap (or any rap, for that matter) at raves and clubs was often proto-jungle like Rebel MC’s ‘The Wickedest Sound’. That choon was everywhere.
He pops up a few times throughout the video,
Unique 3's Musical Melody got play at the Melt Down Zone too.
Dj Mink - Hey Hey Can U Relate was very big in the raves.
Not heard that before. Definitely Rave-friendly.
Big tune. Reminds me of when Kiss FM first went legal.
Also, Derek B had a couple of 12s on Profile in the US. Rock The Beat had a little buzz out there iirc and he got included on Mr Magic's compilation album.
I'm sure I read somewhere that Bad Young Brother was a big choon in Louisiana.
Did not know Profile licenced some Derek singles. Can you think of any other examples of U.K Rappers getting licenced by U.S Rap labels?
Gotta love that Warlock Records licenced Voodoo Ray and Tommy Boy licenced a whole bunch of 808 State releases.
Derek B got signed to Rush Management so definitely had a presence in the US and was on some of the tours with PE and LL
Hijack being signed to Rhyme Syndicate is the obvious one although I dont think their album actually got a US release in the end.
Groundbreaker by Fallacy & Fusion was originally signed to Rawkus but then Rawkus merged with a major and it didnt happen
I guess the post grime lot like K-Koke and Lady Sovereign dont really count
If only Wild Pitch had licenced How's Life In London we coulda got an MC Serch tall-tale about Cockney yardies trying to assassinate him.
Cameron Paul- Brown Beats samples Derek B n that's basically like the other half of Bounce that's not Drag Rap. One listen n you'll get it for sure.
Derek Bs probably the most influential english rapper ever lol n likely none of the ppl he influenced ever listened to him
Tbf the song that was sampled is basically a poor mans bdp poetry so probably for the best.
I kinda wish I grew up on old brit rap so Id be desensitised to the fugazi accents like I am w the token jafakian songs on early 90s albums
Ah that's it yeah.
Silver Bullet - Bring Forth The Guillotine & 20 Seconds To Comply used to get dropped in early 90's raves alongside stuff like The Ragga Twins - Spliffhead & Illegal Gunshot before the bpms went up and Jungle took over.
I wish Stet had played 20 Seconds To Comply at the Melt Down Zone 😶
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