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> Artist: Ricky & The Mutations
> Title: 'Thatcher Rap/Crisis'
> Label: Cool Ghoul
> Year: 1983
I spent some time deliberating whether or not to include this pioneering record in the hallowed review section of DWG for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, it is one of the earliest credible UK hip hop electro recordings, but at the same time I suspect not to everyone's taste within the usual DWG parameters. Equally, while this record is actually part of a very interesting and significant British Hip Hop story, it is a story that I have only managed to partly piece together and so questions remain unanswered. However, as we all know, some of the greatest tales ever told gave birth to a legacy of conspiracy and question. Actually I'd better stop there because apart from a few alleged 'dodgy deals' there certainly ain't no conspiracy here!
Let's kick things off by fast forwarding to 1987. One evening, listening to Mike Allen's legendary show on Capital, I remember hearing Jus Bad's 'Freestyle' for the first time. To me, it became an instant classic and within days I had purchased my first release on the awesome Tuff Groove label. I quickly followed suit with the Dynamic MCs and it was at this point that I became aware of a producer by the name of Ricky Rennalls. Through various interviews at the time with artists from the label, it became clear that some of his business practices were viewed as, let's just say, less than transparent! This of course was just hearsay, however what was clear was that he had an incredible ear for the music. It was at this point, that I noticed a distinctive ghost logo at the bottom of my generic Tuff Groove sleeve which I recognised. Eventually I traced it to my copy of 'Keep It On' by the Mutant Rockers. It was no surprise then, to find that Mr Rennalls had produced this electro classic too. It seemed then that Ricky Rennalls had been a player in both the electro revolution of the mid 80s alongside luminaries such as Hard Rock Soul Movement as well as in the UK's golden age.
You may by now be slowly lifting your finger nails from their cuticles after that rather extended preamble, however I thought it necessary, because it is the process by which I discovered the record that I am about to refer to! So, a few years ago as I was researching a piece for Undercover Magazine on early British Hip Hop, I learnt about a little known record entitled 'Thatcher Rap'. My initial thoughts, given that it was British, was that it was some kind of Spitting Image/Kenny Everett take on the genre. However, just as I was about to discard it, I noticed the Cool Ghoul logo and instantly made the connection between 'Rick' and 'Ricky' as well as 'Mutant' and 'Mutations'. Apart from the realisation that I was in fact a very sad individual, I could now place Mr Rennalls at the very birth of recorded credible Brit Hop alongside the likes of Junior Gee, Newtrament and Dizzi Heights.
So what about the record itself? Well, clearly the subject matter relates to the political situation like many others of the time. It is essentially an electro cut and paste with liberal helpings of synth which ensure that it does sound very dated! Add to this the 'electric toasting' of Phantom and you have an eclectic affair. In fact Phantom appeared on two earlier Cool Ghoul tracks 'Lazy Fascist' and 'Chant Down The National Front', both also clearly politically motivated but firmly rooted within the Reggae genre. I may not be painting the most attractive picture and it certainly is light years away from a Sport G record but despite this it does have a certain charm and innocence. Most importantly though, it does blend into the patchwork that existed at the first moments of recorded UK hip hop and further illustrates the journey that one of the UK's pioneering forefathers walked. I suppose what I'm saying is that it's a charming reminder and an artefact of that forgotten time.
Finally, it is worth also mentioning the b-side which provides a stripped down version in the form of 'Crisis' complete with some nice bongos - perhaps an easier listen to those less accustomed to the sound!
So there you have it, hip hop business man and producer Ricky Rok Rennalls' legacy. Well almost... What part did he actually play in the recording of 'Thatcher Rap'? I'm not clear, especially as it is credited to a Ricky Fitzalan - did he change his name? Was 'Rennalls' just a nickname? And whatever happened to Ricky and his 'Definitely Tuff' LP that was penned for release in 1988?
Without doubt one of UK hip hop's unsung heroes. The race to interview him is on...
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
> Title: 'Thatcher Rap/Crisis'
> Label: Cool Ghoul
> Year: 1983
I spent some time deliberating whether or not to include this pioneering record in the hallowed review section of DWG for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, it is one of the earliest credible UK hip hop electro recordings, but at the same time I suspect not to everyone's taste within the usual DWG parameters. Equally, while this record is actually part of a very interesting and significant British Hip Hop story, it is a story that I have only managed to partly piece together and so questions remain unanswered. However, as we all know, some of the greatest tales ever told gave birth to a legacy of conspiracy and question. Actually I'd better stop there because apart from a few alleged 'dodgy deals' there certainly ain't no conspiracy here!
Let's kick things off by fast forwarding to 1987. One evening, listening to Mike Allen's legendary show on Capital, I remember hearing Jus Bad's 'Freestyle' for the first time. To me, it became an instant classic and within days I had purchased my first release on the awesome Tuff Groove label. I quickly followed suit with the Dynamic MCs and it was at this point that I became aware of a producer by the name of Ricky Rennalls. Through various interviews at the time with artists from the label, it became clear that some of his business practices were viewed as, let's just say, less than transparent! This of course was just hearsay, however what was clear was that he had an incredible ear for the music. It was at this point, that I noticed a distinctive ghost logo at the bottom of my generic Tuff Groove sleeve which I recognised. Eventually I traced it to my copy of 'Keep It On' by the Mutant Rockers. It was no surprise then, to find that Mr Rennalls had produced this electro classic too. It seemed then that Ricky Rennalls had been a player in both the electro revolution of the mid 80s alongside luminaries such as Hard Rock Soul Movement as well as in the UK's golden age.
You may by now be slowly lifting your finger nails from their cuticles after that rather extended preamble, however I thought it necessary, because it is the process by which I discovered the record that I am about to refer to! So, a few years ago as I was researching a piece for Undercover Magazine on early British Hip Hop, I learnt about a little known record entitled 'Thatcher Rap'. My initial thoughts, given that it was British, was that it was some kind of Spitting Image/Kenny Everett take on the genre. However, just as I was about to discard it, I noticed the Cool Ghoul logo and instantly made the connection between 'Rick' and 'Ricky' as well as 'Mutant' and 'Mutations'. Apart from the realisation that I was in fact a very sad individual, I could now place Mr Rennalls at the very birth of recorded credible Brit Hop alongside the likes of Junior Gee, Newtrament and Dizzi Heights.
So what about the record itself? Well, clearly the subject matter relates to the political situation like many others of the time. It is essentially an electro cut and paste with liberal helpings of synth which ensure that it does sound very dated! Add to this the 'electric toasting' of Phantom and you have an eclectic affair. In fact Phantom appeared on two earlier Cool Ghoul tracks 'Lazy Fascist' and 'Chant Down The National Front', both also clearly politically motivated but firmly rooted within the Reggae genre. I may not be painting the most attractive picture and it certainly is light years away from a Sport G record but despite this it does have a certain charm and innocence. Most importantly though, it does blend into the patchwork that existed at the first moments of recorded UK hip hop and further illustrates the journey that one of the UK's pioneering forefathers walked. I suppose what I'm saying is that it's a charming reminder and an artefact of that forgotten time.
Finally, it is worth also mentioning the b-side which provides a stripped down version in the form of 'Crisis' complete with some nice bongos - perhaps an easier listen to those less accustomed to the sound!
So there you have it, hip hop business man and producer Ricky Rok Rennalls' legacy. Well almost... What part did he actually play in the recording of 'Thatcher Rap'? I'm not clear, especially as it is credited to a Ricky Fitzalan - did he change his name? Was 'Rennalls' just a nickname? And whatever happened to Ricky and his 'Definitely Tuff' LP that was penned for release in 1988?
Without doubt one of UK hip hop's unsung heroes. The race to interview him is on...
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
