Original Dope

At long last there seems to be not only an interest in the history of UK Hip Hop but some actual movement and action. Original Dope is a label headed up by Andy Cowan who some of you will know from his time editing Hip Hop Connection magazine.

OD seems to have a firm belief and statement and shows lots of promise with it's first two releases (see below) - the third release promises to be MC Dukes Organised Rhyme album and there has even been talk of a reissue of Hijacks Horns of Jericho but I wouldn't hold your breath about that one! I'd imagine the copyright issues and links to Rhyme Syndicate records would mean an international agreement would be needed before a release and that's not even factoring in the individual members of the group agreeing to this.

Original Dope is committed to preserving the legacy of the best hip-hop music on the planet. With a strong emphasis on classic British rap and lost American standards – if it bangs, we bring it! Curated by Andy Cowan, long-time editor of the world's original rap magazine Hip-Hop Connection, special care is taken to ensure all Original Dope releases have the extra boom your buck deserves. Every CD is a digitally remastered, expanded edition, with lavish packaging, exclusive liner notes, original photography and super rare bonus beats. Original Dope is an imprint of the Cherry Red Records group.

BLADE - The Lion Goes From Strength To Strength (No Compromise)
Hip-hop’s
first double album October 11 2010 ODOPE1002D

BUY NOW Blade carved himself a career out of sheer will power Despite cementing a fierce reputation on the UK hip-hop scene in the mid-80s, the Armenian-born rapper’s attempts to court a major deal – then seen as a prerequisite for success – had come to nought. Resourceful as ever, the self-styled Lyrical Maniac opted to go it alone, using both fair means and foul to establish his 691 Influential label, run from a spartanly furnished flat in south east London.

RUTHLESS RAP ASSASSINS - Killer Album – The 20th Anniversary Edition
Back on the racks October 11 2010 ODOPE1001

BUY NOW Ruthless Rap Assassins broke the mould. For a brief moment in 1990 they not only shifted the nucleus of UK rap away from the capital to their native Manchester, they also offered a thinking man’s alternative to the indie-dance stylings of Happy Mondays and Stone Roses then monopolizing the music press.Their debut LP, Killer Album, reflected the black British experience in a unique, often poignant way. All the way live from the notorious North Hulme estate, the trio of Anderson, Carson and a pre-Black Grape Kermit eschewed the phony Brooklyn accents of many London contemporaries for a hard-bitten, sometimes bitter but always razor sharp trawl through the harsh realities of low-budget living – packed with depth, humour and social comment. Using a sampledelic approach incorporating elements of rock, reggae, pop, jazz and even rock’n'roll – segued into a continuous soundscape by producer Greg Wilson’s guerilla mix skills – British rap’s three wise men’s open embrace of diversity has haunted the grooves of countless acts that have flowed in their wake.