Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty, as we begin the countdown to JRF NYE, profiling each of the crews and DJ’s involved in the occasion, kicking it off by profiling UPROCK RECORDINGS (in two parts)…
PART ONE:
UPROCK Recordings is a label born out of the love of music and hip-hop culture in its purest forms; EMCEEING, DEEJAYING, B-BOYING & GRAFFITI ART – The four principal elements of hip-hop, that in today’s scene have long been forsaken. The name “UPROCK” comes from a dance form that developed out of the art of b-boying (breakdancing).
It was chosen as it encompassed the values that they stood for and wished to emulate – respect is only earned by proving you’re the freshest……’expression over aggression’.
Formed in the summer of 2000, UPROCK Recordings was a merging of two connoisseur music collectives: THE SOULMASTERS (Bunny ‘Ian Flaming’ Bread, Gus ‘Steve Austin’ Modest, Darren
‘Daz-I-Kue’ Benjamin) and LEADERS OF THE OLD SKOOL (Justin ‘TopRock’ McKenzie, ‘Adam Rock’ Moses, Jason ‘Motet’ Hicks). Both crews had a reputation for rocking parties by any means necessary, spinning Hip Hop, Soul, Rare Grooves, Boogie, Jazz, Funk, Afro Latin, Brokenbeats and specialising in seamlessly blending the old skool, with the cutting edge.
In 2003 UPROCK incorporated the skills and experience of Darren ‘Johnny Sumthin’ Reilly (SpreadLove/Sumthin Sumthin), who became an integral member of the team. Incidentally, it was in this year that Jazz re:freshed was created and captained by UPROCK members Justin McKenzie and Adam Moses.
Created as an extension of the internationally acclaimed Bugz In The Attic, by founding member Daz I Kue and positioned at the heart of the West London scene, UPROCK built a solid reputation around supporting and promoting quality music, as well as pushing boundaries with their unique approach to throwing parties/events and releasing music through the UPROCK Recordings record label. All the while developing a unique and extensive following of genuine lovers of good music, arts and fashion.
As well as working with the cream of highly respected UK and European artists and DJ’s (including Omar, TY, 4Hero, Incognito, etc). Uprock has also continually worked with the finest International artists too, having produced events with the likes of Ali Shaheed Muhammed (Tribe Called Quest), Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Maseo (De La Soul), Pharaohe Monch, etc… through to Soul and Jazz Legends such as Leon Ware, Azymuth and RAMP to name but a few.
The aim of UPROCK is to be universally appreciated, whilst remaining UK. It is a label that aims to become synonymous with quality whilst forging forward as the flagship in the movement they call…
“THE REBIRTH OF FRESH”.
PART TWO TOMORROW…
