An England Story

The Culture of the MC in the UK 1984-2008

Soul Jazz Records

Tracklisting

Information

The development of Black music in the United Kingdom owes much to the influence of Jamaican and US music on each succesive generation of Carribean immigrants to the UK - from Windrush to the present day. UK based MC’s take these influences, mix them up with local references and styles thus creating an identity of Black British culture. This is constantly evolving not just musically but also in terms of each subsequent generation’s relationship to British society. As Tricky put it in Massive Attack's Blue Lines, of "English upbringing, background Caribbean” An England Story shows the links and musical path from the arrival of UK Dancehall and Soundsystems in the early 1980s, through successive musical movements such as Jungle, UK Hip-Hop, up to today’s Garage, Grime and Dubstep. The global pre-eminence of American hip hop means that music like grime and UK hip hop is often seen as a form of rap, whereas it owes as much to reggae music and culture as it does to any American influence. Black music in Britain has fashioned its own identity in contrast to that of America, Africa, or elsewhere, by drawing on the unique relationship that the UK has with the Caribbean. As Rodney P (of celebrated 80s UK Hip-Hop group London Posse) says: "This is a UK thing, it's hip hop and it's reggae and we do reggae - and those Americans don't know about that". Since the evolution of the 'fast chat' dancehall style of the early 80s, the influence of reggae music and culture has been crucial to the development of urban music in Britain: from the heavy sampling of Jamaican vocals/instrumentals employed by jungle, hardcore and garage, to grime's London take on the soundclash, the riddim version and patois-inflected rhymes. The importance of the Jamaican soundsystem concept and its dubplates, specials, clashes and heavy, heavy bass is a constant throughout these different stylistic mutations “An essential primer for your head, hips and feet.” The Wire “Two-disc CD celebrating the history of the MC. Crank this up!” DJ “Soul Jazz records’ excellent new compilation says more about cultural integration than any number of Mobo awards” The Guardian Read the full review Here “England Story is a vital reminder of the power of the voice. Essential” Observer Music Monthly. Read the Full Review Here “The electrifying creativity on An England Story hints at how great the future could be. Bigots of all colours will hate it.” New Statesman. Read the full review Here “As much a history lesson as a compilation” Q Please note: Tracklist for LP Vol.1 is tracks 1-11 Tracklist for LP Vol.2 is tracks 12-21