A Lofi instrumental Hip Hop album with a sprinkle of Dub added to spice it up. As a fan of Hip Hop beats, the dusty gritty production and the use of 12 bit technology to manipulate sound in the late 80’s and early 90’s. This instrumental Hip Hop album was made with that feeling in mind. To add my spin on what gravitated me towards Hip Hop and early days as an MC rapping on breakbeats. Here is my take on the instrumentals and also my contribution to the culture. Definitely not my first release but the first to focus solely on the music itself. The dub track represents the beginning of my journey which eventually led to Hip Hop and other forms of music not covered on this project.

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This project represents moving from Kensal Rise to the area of the new development of Stonebridge in 1975 and growing up from the early years to mid teens. Each track is name after a Flat (Apartment) that existed on that side of Stonebridge Estate. In those days, there was a community where everyone knew each other, grew up together, rode bikes, learned to skateboard and also roller skate on the balconies and walkways that linked all of the Flats (Apartments). You could travel from the front flat/apartment Gardiner Court all the way through the walkways to Donovan Court without getting wet on a rainy day.

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For children it was an ideallic experience growing up with your friends nearby, limited traffic and an assortment of playgrounds to choose from.

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As we grew older there were parties, local community centres to attend where you had a safe place to go in the evenings run by local community volunteers and leaders.

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In the early days in Stonebridge, the locals built a studio right in the middle of the estate. Reggae was the foundation music in the area and Sound-systems were very much the culture. You were either in one or followed one. This led to the development of music generally as Sound-systems were founded in Stonebridge. The track Exton Crescent is an ode to that. The area generated a great deal of talented musicians, DJ’s, MC’s.

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As with most things, they change and the area was affected by economic challenges and various nefarious issues. This project focuses on the good times as a child growing up.

By ’83 I left Stonebridge and moved out to the boarders of Harlesden & Kensal Green where another chapter started that will be covered on another project.