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> Artist: Severe Carnage
> Title: 'The Struggle Continues/Back To Basics'
> Label: white label
> Year: 1990
Throughout the '90s, the various British dance music genres were responsible for flooding the market with thousands of so-called 'white labels' owing, in hip hop's case, to the brave do-it-yourself ethic that was employed by many recording artists. This passion and hunger to reach out, without the support of a record label, was in part due to the fact that hip hop from the UK was largely ignored by the establishment save a few solitary forces such as Kold sweat and Vinyl Solution. Ten to fifteen years on, and typing 'white label' into an auction site or flicking through crates of discarded, largely unlabelled records can be an disheartening experience as you search for that shining gem amongst a bevy of mediocrity. However, it is an experience that most of us still revel in and one in which treasures can be found. Having discovered a number of cherished pieces in this way, I'd like to say that I found this particular twelve in a dusty box dwelling in a damp basement. However after years of fruitless digging, I have to admit that eBay came to the rescue!
Severe Carnage first formed in the late '80s as a B Boy collective, before releasing this white label twelve inch single at the turn of the decade. The crew entered the limelight as British hip hop reached a significant crossroads, where the commercial success of artists like Silver Bullet and Caveman was matched by the increasingly hardcore and fiercely independent stance of the movement that would later come to be known as Brit Core. To most of those passionate about the UK sound, 'The Struggle Continues' is regarded as falling into the latter category with its high octane approach to the art of hip hop. Described by Hip Hop Connection as '...hardcore UK hip hop courtesy of a menacing bunch of Chav types from Bognor Regis...', the music certainly conjures up this image, combining break neck beats with natural provincial diction. 'The Struggle Continues' is the highlight of this twelve and finds the crew primarily in battle mode with various references to their struggle (hence the title!) to make the jump to wax.
"The struggle continues, but I will win you, turn the white label suckers just to fulfil you, skill you ain't seen before, even though we cut a record it's the same old story..."
This theme was of course familiar (and rightly so), especially in the early 90s when British rap records were mostly shunned by the media, however, the crew also demonstrate a softer side through their shout out list. As well as thanking posse members, MC Pryme, in classic Saturday morning TV style, spares a few lines for "...my mum, dad, all my sisters and my girl Donna..." . On the flip, 'Back To Basics', once again features the full line up of MC Pryme, MC AKA (Also Known As), DJ Mack and Tiny C or CEE as he was also known. The crew assert themselves and continue to produce knock out blows. Finally, the record is rounded off with the pledge:
"...we'll be seeing you soon", paying homage to one of the stalwarts of late 80s hip hop, MC Duke.
Sadly, at least in hip hop circles, Severe Carnage did not reappear, however at least one of the members has remained in the realms of music production, albeit across a different genre. MC Pryme (Orson Bramley) can be found producing and playing (as a DJ) electronic forms such as modern Electro and Acid House. Consequently, this slab of vinyl is the only trace of this South Coast band, and given its white label pressing, it involves a bit of dedication and lots of dusty crate sessions. So for some, pursuing esoteric jewels such as this, the struggle continues... (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
> Title: 'The Struggle Continues/Back To Basics'
> Label: white label
> Year: 1990
Throughout the '90s, the various British dance music genres were responsible for flooding the market with thousands of so-called 'white labels' owing, in hip hop's case, to the brave do-it-yourself ethic that was employed by many recording artists. This passion and hunger to reach out, without the support of a record label, was in part due to the fact that hip hop from the UK was largely ignored by the establishment save a few solitary forces such as Kold sweat and Vinyl Solution. Ten to fifteen years on, and typing 'white label' into an auction site or flicking through crates of discarded, largely unlabelled records can be an disheartening experience as you search for that shining gem amongst a bevy of mediocrity. However, it is an experience that most of us still revel in and one in which treasures can be found. Having discovered a number of cherished pieces in this way, I'd like to say that I found this particular twelve in a dusty box dwelling in a damp basement. However after years of fruitless digging, I have to admit that eBay came to the rescue!
Severe Carnage first formed in the late '80s as a B Boy collective, before releasing this white label twelve inch single at the turn of the decade. The crew entered the limelight as British hip hop reached a significant crossroads, where the commercial success of artists like Silver Bullet and Caveman was matched by the increasingly hardcore and fiercely independent stance of the movement that would later come to be known as Brit Core. To most of those passionate about the UK sound, 'The Struggle Continues' is regarded as falling into the latter category with its high octane approach to the art of hip hop. Described by Hip Hop Connection as '...hardcore UK hip hop courtesy of a menacing bunch of Chav types from Bognor Regis...', the music certainly conjures up this image, combining break neck beats with natural provincial diction. 'The Struggle Continues' is the highlight of this twelve and finds the crew primarily in battle mode with various references to their struggle (hence the title!) to make the jump to wax.
"The struggle continues, but I will win you, turn the white label suckers just to fulfil you, skill you ain't seen before, even though we cut a record it's the same old story..."
This theme was of course familiar (and rightly so), especially in the early 90s when British rap records were mostly shunned by the media, however, the crew also demonstrate a softer side through their shout out list. As well as thanking posse members, MC Pryme, in classic Saturday morning TV style, spares a few lines for "...my mum, dad, all my sisters and my girl Donna..." . On the flip, 'Back To Basics', once again features the full line up of MC Pryme, MC AKA (Also Known As), DJ Mack and Tiny C or CEE as he was also known. The crew assert themselves and continue to produce knock out blows. Finally, the record is rounded off with the pledge:
"...we'll be seeing you soon", paying homage to one of the stalwarts of late 80s hip hop, MC Duke.
Sadly, at least in hip hop circles, Severe Carnage did not reappear, however at least one of the members has remained in the realms of music production, albeit across a different genre. MC Pryme (Orson Bramley) can be found producing and playing (as a DJ) electronic forms such as modern Electro and Acid House. Consequently, this slab of vinyl is the only trace of this South Coast band, and given its white label pressing, it involves a bit of dedication and lots of dusty crate sessions. So for some, pursuing esoteric jewels such as this, the struggle continues... (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
