Positive Beat Records
Encyclopedia
Positive Beat Records an independent record label formed in West London Ladbroke Grove in 1987. The label presses and sells recordings of local artists.
singer who had been working on the local circuit.
1987 saw the release of the label’s second single it’s Getting Ruff by Rocky X and DD Dance two local emcees of North African extraction with a cover picture on the area of ground that was developed into Sainsburys. This year also saw the recording at Addis Ababa Studios on Harrow Road of Known 2 Be Down and its release through EMI
and Jet Star distribution.
Over 20 local artists, loosely defined as "the Lay Low Crew" and led by Sir Drew, contributed to the 10 songs and it established the credibility of original British rap as opposed to copies of US styles. Time Out magazine called the album "matured, independent, thoughtful and assured" while The Voice ran a full page spread in October, 1987*. The launch party at the Tabernacle in Powis Square was a major local happening. After the albums release She Rockers
with Betty Boo
got signed to a major as did DJ Loose, who joined Cash Crew, Sir Drew,Iroc, and Flex became Mighty Ethnicz, Mell-o-D formed NSO and the scratch DJ DJ Streets Ahead gained worked on TV.
After the Album the label started the Positive Beat Roadshow linking in with Sahara Sound System for the next two years. The Roadshow worked by taking artisits from the Known 2 Be Down project and local street poets, emcess, Djs and beat boxers around London to community centres and cultural events. The mainstays of the Roadshow were MC Reason a local b-girl and emcee, DJ Chin, Jonie D, Scare 437, Rapski and Echo the human beat box. The resulting shows and interest generated culminated in events such as Raps New Generation at Dingwalls with Camden Arts and performances at Stratford Rex.
1990 saw 12” single releases for two emcees who had built growing reputations from the roadshow performances, MC Reason with Symbolise and Jonie D with Which Base. Symbolise got a lot of air play and Mix Mag called it ‘a home made contender for the jazz-rap scene’ while Which Base was performed on ITV
and Blues & Soul Magazine felt it would have ‘sound following from the hardcore’.
The label's producer Skorpi described the vibe of the label "It's positivity. It's not called black neat, yellow beat, white beat or whatever beat. It's positive beat"
History
The labels first single Your Love Is Quality was released on 7” and 12” vinyl by soul/dance group Interfaze with a video promo directed by Nic Hofmeyr filmed around Ladbroke Grove. The voice of Interfaze was Maxine Harvey a london soul musicSoul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer who had been working on the local circuit.
1987 saw the release of the label’s second single it’s Getting Ruff by Rocky X and DD Dance two local emcees of North African extraction with a cover picture on the area of ground that was developed into Sainsburys. This year also saw the recording at Addis Ababa Studios on Harrow Road of Known 2 Be Down and its release through EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and Jet Star distribution.
Over 20 local artists, loosely defined as "the Lay Low Crew" and led by Sir Drew, contributed to the 10 songs and it established the credibility of original British rap as opposed to copies of US styles. Time Out magazine called the album "matured, independent, thoughtful and assured" while The Voice ran a full page spread in October, 1987*. The launch party at the Tabernacle in Powis Square was a major local happening. After the albums release She Rockers
She Rockers
The She Rockers were a female hip hop trio from London, the most famous member of which was Betty Boo .-Career:...
with Betty Boo
Betty Boo
Alison Moira Clarkson better known as Betty Boo, is an English singer, songwriter and pop-rap artist...
got signed to a major as did DJ Loose, who joined Cash Crew, Sir Drew,Iroc, and Flex became Mighty Ethnicz, Mell-o-D formed NSO and the scratch DJ DJ Streets Ahead gained worked on TV.
After the Album the label started the Positive Beat Roadshow linking in with Sahara Sound System for the next two years. The Roadshow worked by taking artisits from the Known 2 Be Down project and local street poets, emcess, Djs and beat boxers around London to community centres and cultural events. The mainstays of the Roadshow were MC Reason a local b-girl and emcee, DJ Chin, Jonie D, Scare 437, Rapski and Echo the human beat box. The resulting shows and interest generated culminated in events such as Raps New Generation at Dingwalls with Camden Arts and performances at Stratford Rex.
1990 saw 12” single releases for two emcees who had built growing reputations from the roadshow performances, MC Reason with Symbolise and Jonie D with Which Base. Symbolise got a lot of air play and Mix Mag called it ‘a home made contender for the jazz-rap scene’ while Which Base was performed on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and Blues & Soul Magazine felt it would have ‘sound following from the hardcore’.
The label's producer Skorpi described the vibe of the label "It's positivity. It's not called black neat, yellow beat, white beat or whatever beat. It's positive beat"
Albums
- Known 2 Be Down (1987, Various)
- From Frontline To Theme Park (1992, Various)
Singles
- Your Love Is Quality (1987, Interfaze)
- It’s Getting Ruff (1987, Rocky X & DD Dance)
- The Connection (1988, Rapski)
- Which Base? / Ride On (1990, Jonie D)
- Symbolise / House Quake (1990, MC Reason)
- Dance Positivo (1991, Jonie D)