However youth in the UK had a whole separate set of influences to draw upon, apart from those emanating from New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Soul and Funk were deeply embedded in our society and Punk was the anger music of the time. Quite often it seemed as though Reggae and Dancehall from the Caribbean was more relevant. Because of these different influences UK artists would go on to pioneer original styles like Ragga/Hip Hop.

Hip Hop's magnetism was nevertheless extremely attractive and soon these sounds could be heard in clubs, on the streets and in school yards on boom boxes. Hop Hop, although always constantly developing had been through its embryonic stage, and had become a credible art form in its own right. In a few short years Hip Hop had developed and refined four core elements which British kids were beginning to incorporate into their lives. I spent the next few years listening to US Hip Hop, tagging up and bunking of lessons to go breakin' in the school hall, but some others were more productive.

The first records I remember that came out of the UK that were accepted by heads in the Hip Hop circle, although not 100% Hip Hop were 'Duck Rock' and 'Buffalo Gals' by Malcolm McClaren and 'Beat Box' by the Art of Noise from 1983 (later used as the beat for one of Ice T's tracks in the film Breakdance). Another early and obscure record was Ricky & The Mutations obscure early rap tune from circa 1983 with lots of "Ms Thatcher Snippets" and vocoded lyrics. Also in terms of being some of the first released music from this side of the pond was Steve Ignorant who released a 7" called 'Rat Rap Rock' and The Evasions' 'Wikka Wrap' - a weird funk jam with an Alan Whicker-soundalike rapping over it, both from 1981. There were quite a few UK rap tunes back then, however many were not to be considered authentic mainly due to their novelty nature. Demonstrating this the first Brits to hit the mainstream airwaves rapping were artists like Adam Ant - 'Ant Rap', George Michael in Wham and Captain Sensible. Like the earlier Ian Dury & The Blockheads who occasionally dropped in a rap style like on 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' these artists were adopting a new style rather than helping to originate it, but, at least they got out there and paved the way for others to follow.

Crews were forming and looking up to bands like Captain Rock, the Cold Crush Brothers, Kurtis Blow, Marley Marl, Spoonie Gee, UTFO and Whodini, writers like Seen and Scheme, and breakers like the NYC Breakers and the Rock Steady Crew. Along with the New school exploding in America with artists like Run DMC, Kings of Pressure and Boogie Down Productions etc. it was time for the UK to represent for itself and talk to its own people. At this stage thanks must be given to the Street Sounds Record label which released the 'Electro' Hip Hop compilations from 1983. Morgan Kahn's Street Sounds, I feel were instrumental in making this music more accessible and helped immensely to promote it by releasing the UK-Electro LP in 1984. Early UK artists on this record were: Zer-O, Syncbeat, Broken Glass (who featured Kermit, an MC who would later form the Ruthless Rap Assassins with other members of another crew - Dangerous 2), Forevereaction and the Rapologists. Streets Ahead were also on this LP and they would later go on to produce a lot of soundtrack music for television programmes. These tracks were mostly on the Electro/Electronic music tip, which shows the UK's propensity towards this type of music and the potential future lure of House music and later Jungle/Drum and Bass for budding Hip Hop producers and rappers.

Everything had been pretty much underground and live until 1984 when a few records began seeping into the market place. Broken Glass' 'Style Of The Street' from the UK Electro LP was released as a 12" on Streetwave, The Rapologists who were also on the UK Electro LP with 'Hip Hop Beat', released their 'Kids Rap' / 'Party Rap' 12" on Billy Boy records and as well as Newtrament's 'London Bridge Is Falling Down' and Team 3 B with their 'Closer To You' / 'Machine Rap' / 'Murderation Style (Dub Mix)' 12" on Elite and that was about it!

1985 only saw another handful of records released, Birmingham's Jump with 'Feel It', DJ Richie Rich made his first appearance with 'Don't Be Flash' a 12" released on Manchester's Spin Offs label. Elite continued breaking ground and showing themselves to be an important early factor in the genres development with the release of D.S.M.'s 'Warriors Groove' a 12" for which the label linked with major affiliated Ten for a bigger push. Dizzi Heights from the Krew was one of the first major label signees and with his Dizzi Heights Quartet dropped 'The Gospel! (tell it like it is)' for Parlophone. Although he had a few releases he is fondly remembered for the Electro Rock video, again one of the first from this country and something that helped propel him to be one of the best known acts of the time. Other artists releasing records back in 1985 included the City Limits Crew who had 'Fresher Than Ever' released on Survival. Their main MC was Pretty Boy G who went on to become an accomplished actor and even played Eastenders’ Paul Newman for a number of years.

One of the pioneering UK crews was the Family Quest who along with the Mixmasters and the Syndicate used to play regularly at Spats in Covent Garden in Westwood’s days back when Kofi would host / MC. This was the early days of Hip Hop’s development in this country, so anyone performing or participating in the genre was very influential and helped form the scene. With out them things would not have turned out the way they did. These artists are responsible in part for the meteoric growth in the popularity of Hip Hop over here.

The Family Quest crew were comprised of Chico MC, Emix, Dirty Harry and Mystery MC. Their first appearance on wax was a featured appearance on the 1984 released Outer Space ’84 Rap by Automation (2) on Jungle Rhythm Records. However The Family Quest were most known for their single Sleepwalking released on Morgan Kahn’s Streetsounds label in 1986. The track was the only UK track to appear on Steetsounds Electro 13 and was co-produced by none other than David Toop who went on to write the worthy tome on Hip Hop - Rap Attack. Amongst The Family Quest’s accomplishments, they performed at the massive UK Fresh '86 event which was one of the most influential concerts ever, with over 16,000 people crammed into Wembley Arena to watch the likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Mantronix and many other legends of Hip Hop.

Chico MC is still performing to this day and was so respected and renowned in his time that he had the title of Daddy Hip Hop. Emix is currently hosting shows in Austria, but has a wealth of credits to his name and some not recognised. For example he wrote Feel Free and received no credit and was additionally an occasional MC for Soul II Soul. Whilst Jazzie B (Beresford) is credited with much of the success of Soul To Soul it was the likes of producer / engineer Nellie Hooper that were the real driving forces behind the sound system.

One MC that paved the way for live Hip Hop performance was Jive Junior, but people have said that he was a bit of a biter and wouldn’t always drop original lyrics. The Family Quest had links with Bristol’s Wild Bunch who later mutated into the world famous Massive Attack and other artists making moves at the time included Freshski, who it is generally felt did not receive the recognition he deserved. Dave Cash C was the original white MC to gain respect and along with Pretty Boy G, Freshski, Dizzi Heights and Chico MC he was considered to be a good rapper at the time.

Other artists who were starting to emerge at this time also included: Junior Gee and the A Team, MC Westrock and Dynamic Three. Other DJs of the time were the Imperial Mixers, a very young Cutmaster Swift and Newtrament of course was running his Rock Box jams in West London. The Electro's were initially mixed by Mastermind, and it seems that UK DJs were the first to show their skills and fully embrace what Hip Hop stands for.

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