Monday 27 October 2008

It's A London Thing

Superlatives are often over used, become redundant and thrown out there like nobody's business. But when it comes to UK acts all should be savored and showered upon two of the greatest Rappers this country has ever produced - Rodney P & Bionic. The duo became the mainstay of London Posse and created the greatest UK rap record to date, bar none, if you don't know about 'Gangster Chronicles' then in my book you're simply not serious.


A classic album in every respect, the art work is probably my favorite of any UK release, well maybe it gets tipped by Klashnekoff's 'The Sagas...' and the 'Murda In Parrowdice' 12", but album art work is another story for another day.

So why is 'Gangster Chronicles' the greatest British Rap album of all time? Firstly the album set the foundations for the style that truly would dominate the scene today, a move away from the yankeefied voices of the mid 80s of the early rappers struggling to forge their own identity, towards the reggae soaked London patois so regularly used today in a diverse array of MC driven street music. It's a natural progression though, especially for the likes of Rodney P and Bionic, due to the city's relationship with Jamaica and the personal heritage of many UK artists with the island, it was only a matter of time before the slang would morph into a truly distinct London voice. With such a long line of artists working on Soundsystems, the dominance of the Soundsystem culture has morphed into all elements of UK street music from Drum & Bass to Hip Hop the trail always leads to the Soundsystem.

'Gangster Chronicles' not only sparked a change in style, it was also a pinnacle time for many prominent members of the London Hp Hop community. Regular readers will know I have a penchant for posting classic Westwood material, 'Gangster Chronicles' for me is a classic Westwood moment. Very little people recognize the impact Westwood has had over the years on the scene, its often overshadowed by those who only acknowledge the here and now. In 1988 Westwood released the heavyweight single 'Money Mad' on his Justice label before the Posse moved to Island Records' imprint Mango. I first came across Justice when I bought the very first Westwood compilation album, scrawling the sleeve notes I noted the label, delved a little deeper and its heritage is steeped in UK Hip Hop history. Check out this clip of Westwood and London Posse, a feature for BBC Open Space in 1987. See if you can spot the cameo of a certain Trevor Nelson.


London Posse's 'Gangster Chronicles is a certified classic, I could go on and on and develop this post in to a whos who of UK Hip Hop, the history the sound and the development, I won't. Perhaps I cut this post a little short, and what started as a review of the album developed into something else...

London Posse classic - 'Money Mad'


'Hows Life in London'


Cop 'Gangster Chronicles' Here

SHOUT OUT TO SLINGSHOT FOR THE HEADS UP ON THE FOOTAGE!

"If Your Names Not Down, You're Not Coming In!"