Rapzcallion Circa 1994 A young defiant trailblazer redefines djing with explosive cutz and incendiary mc skillz coupled with irrefutable journalist moxie. The streets echoed his name, the industry plotted his downfall. Then, just as soon as the meteoric rise had started, it came to an abrupt end. Some say the industry plots finally extinguished a bright light, others point to market forces while there are those with tales of shadowy figures and assassination attempts... To understand this meteoric rise one must revisit humble beginnings... Circa 1982, a hyperactive music nutta residing on the notorious Kingsmead Estate, east London purchases what would become an influential long player. A passion for electro, rap and Hip Hop culture developed into an obsession for music and a need to share this passion with friends, family and ultimately the world. After brushes with breaking, popping and tagging the lure of rocking the crowd with two turntables and a microphone prove irresistible. Local youth club sessions were soon the order of the night, a heady mix of rap, reggae, soul and teenage hormones. The formulation of a sound system, Dirty Weekend proved to be a key vehicle giving access to house parties and the take over of disused flats in and around the east London area. The party had well and truly started. The early 90 s... a torrential downpour of words hit the page of Touch Magazine, an underground collection of street scribes hell-bent on challenging the status quo. After a few incendiary pieces the young scribe was given a column... Rapzscallion was born. Utilising the column as a marketing tool Rapzcallion built his reputation as a firebrand, pulling no punches as a scribe and lighting up the decks wherever he plied his trade. A new challenge materialised after graduation from the prestigious University of Westminster. With co-grads Lee Pinkerton (Ex Voice Newspaper Editor) and Justin Onyeka (New Nation Music Editor), Rapzcallion set up Power Moves, a press and pr company. Clients included RCA records, Island records and the Electric Theatre, Portobello Road, to name a few. With the column and turntable exploits came underground celebrity. TV and radio called (BBC, Sky), promoters cajoled (Notting Hill Carnival Main Stage, Essential Music Festival, Lennox Lewis). This was Rapzcallion s world and everything in it danced to that perfect beat. But just as the landscape seemed to be bathed in exquisite sunlight, darkness fell. Unhappy with being typecast as the one dimensional music journalist Rapzcallion quit Touch and eventually journalism altogether. Djing feared no better; an influx of bedroom djs attracted by glamour and the marketing of Djing as a viable career push dj fee s lower, only an elite few could justify top fight money, promoters knew that. Power Moves enjoyed two years before it too fell by the wayside, a product of insufficient clients and business immaturity. Rapzcallion retreated back into the shadows working with young people and lecturing at schools, colleges and Universities. The name of Rapzcallion became part of urban folklore, the new generation were never told about one of the architects...Rapzcallion observed... Time passed after much reflection and a near-fatal stabbing Rapzcallion has returned; ever still the firebrand but with a more sage-like outlook, ıI Dj now for pleasure which I think is much fun, djing is an art form of the highest order, when I was younger I think I forgot that for a minute I am no longer dictated to by record companies, TV and radio, who only care about sales and market shareğ.when I dj I dj to educate and rock the dance, standard practice... The architect rebuilds the foundation upon which all can play. |
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