London Posse
Encyclopedia
London Posse was one of the earliest groups in the British hip hop
scene. It was formed by Sipho the Human Beatbox, along with Rodney P
, Bionic and DJ Biznezz. They formed for a tour of the US to support Mick Jones' (formerly of The Clash
) new group, Big Audio Dynamite
. When the group first formed, it did not have a name, but while playing in New York City
, it was constantly referred to as "the London Posse" because of its hometown
, and the name stuck. On their return, they released the single London Posse (Big Life
, 1987), produced by Tim Westwood
, which detailed their experiences. The single peaked at number eleven on the UK Independent Chart, staying in the chart for eleven weeks. After this release, Sipho and Biznezz left the group.
Rodney P
and Bionic continued to record, releasing the single "Money Mad" (Justice, 1988) with Westwood's Justice label. Then they moved to Island Records
subsidiary Mango to release more singles and their only album, Gangster Chronicle (Mango Records, 1990). With its roots in reggae
and New York
hip hop
, the album sounded quite different from the predominant hardcore
of their contemporaries, and cemented London Posse's reputation as one of the UK scene's most talented groups.
When Mango was closed down by its parent company, London Posse moved to Bullit, run by their manager Errol Bull. The group recorded a second album but could not afford to release it, so it was permanently shelved. This was because any money they received for their work was ploughed back into the record company. Insead, they released a selection of singles: "How's Life in London" (Bullit, 1993), "Supermodel" (Bullit, 1993) and "Style" (Bullit, 1996). Bionic moved into drum and bass
, while Rodney P continued as a solo artist. He formed a partnership with DJ Skitz
to host a BBC
1 Xtra radio show and released a solo album.
In 2001, Word Play Records reissued the album Gangster Chronicles, adding some later material such as "How's Life in London" and "Pass the Rizla
".
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
scene. It was formed by Sipho the Human Beatbox, along with Rodney P
Rodney P
Rodney P is an English MC who entered the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. He started out as a member of the London Posse, one of the UK's first home grown hip hop acts who were highly influential in the development of the genre. Rodney P has had one of the longest and most respected careers in UK...
, Bionic and DJ Biznezz. They formed for a tour of the US to support Mick Jones' (formerly of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
) new group, Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite are a British musical group formed in 1984 by the ex-guitarist and singer of the Clash, Mick Jones. The group are noted for their effective mixture of varied musical styles, incorporating elements of punk rock, dance music, hip hop, reggae, and funk...
. When the group first formed, it did not have a name, but while playing in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, it was constantly referred to as "the London Posse" because of its hometown
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the name stuck. On their return, they released the single London Posse (Big Life
Big Life
Big Life was a record label established in 1987 by Jazz Summers and Tim Parry. It featured hundreds of releases from artists such as The Orb, Stare, Yazz, Junior Reid, Coldcut, and De La Soul....
, 1987), produced by Tim Westwood
Tim Westwood
Timothy Westwood is an English DJ and presenter of radio and television. He also presents the UK version of the MTV show Pimp My Ride...
, which detailed their experiences. The single peaked at number eleven on the UK Independent Chart, staying in the chart for eleven weeks. After this release, Sipho and Biznezz left the group.
Rodney P
Rodney P
Rodney P is an English MC who entered the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. He started out as a member of the London Posse, one of the UK's first home grown hip hop acts who were highly influential in the development of the genre. Rodney P has had one of the longest and most respected careers in UK...
and Bionic continued to record, releasing the single "Money Mad" (Justice, 1988) with Westwood's Justice label. Then they moved to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
subsidiary Mango to release more singles and their only album, Gangster Chronicle (Mango Records, 1990). With its roots in reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, the album sounded quite different from the predominant hardcore
Hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
of their contemporaries, and cemented London Posse's reputation as one of the UK scene's most talented groups.
When Mango was closed down by its parent company, London Posse moved to Bullit, run by their manager Errol Bull. The group recorded a second album but could not afford to release it, so it was permanently shelved. This was because any money they received for their work was ploughed back into the record company. Insead, they released a selection of singles: "How's Life in London" (Bullit, 1993), "Supermodel" (Bullit, 1993) and "Style" (Bullit, 1996). Bionic moved into drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, while Rodney P continued as a solo artist. He formed a partnership with DJ Skitz
DJ Skitz
DJ Skitz or Skitz is a British DJ and music producer. He was born in 1970 in Cambridgeshire and started DJing in 1991. He has compiled a number of British Hip Hop compilations and other Hip Hop compilations. Along with Rodney P he produced the first track to ever be played on BBC Radio 1Xtra in...
to host a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
1 Xtra radio show and released a solo album.
In 2001, Word Play Records reissued the album Gangster Chronicles, adding some later material such as "How's Life in London" and "Pass the Rizla
Rizla
RizLa+ , known in English as Rizla is a brand of rolling papers and cigarette tubes or blanks in which tobacco is rolled or stuffed to form handmade cigarettes....
".
Singles
- London Posse (1987, Big Life) - UK Indie #11
- Money Mad (1988, Justice)
- Live Like the Other Half Do (1989, Mango)
- Tell Me Something (1990, Mango)
- Jump Around (1991, Mango)
- How's Life in London (1993, Bullitt)
- Supermodel (1993, Bullitt)
- Style (1996, Bullitt)