An absolutely classic old hardcore tune that was everyone's favourite back in the day. Rinsed by every DJ in every club across the UK this was one of 'THE' anthems of the time and cemented Slammin' Vinyls reputation as a major label to watch -or rather to have a listen to - whenever their distinctive radioactive logo popped up on the wall behind the counter at your local record store.
Sampling the piano break from another well known dance track from the same era - Hyper Go Go's classic track 'High' - original bad bay manages to mix happy vibes with rude boy samples like only oldskool hardcore can.
If they were around at the time and on 'the scene', this belter by D-force is bound to appear in most peoples top 5 hardcore tunes of all time. The vocal sample says it all. Original Bad Boy Riddims - Now watch dis! It has to be one of the top old skool tunes of all time and a shining example of the era.

A truly beautiful piece of music - to build a home is both haunting, yet warming and inspiring. I imagine this song will mean something different to everyone who hears it, but to me, for some reason, it reminds me of childhood.
I'd love to know what the lyrics were really about - and what they really meant to the person who wrote them.
The track itself is very down-tempo and consists mainly of a piece of music played on piano, but other elements, such as a selection of strings, add to the melancholy of the singer - Patrick Watcon's - voice and piano.
One of my favourite pieces of music - it's terribly sad and almost upsetting to listen to, but in a beautiful, uplifting way. A tragic masterpiece for me. A fairy-tale without the happy ending. The musical equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. You'll be weeping tears of joy from your inner soul, out of your ears cluching your pillow, screaming ''Why!!'' and ''Oh, the humanity!'' and when the track ends you'll just keep putting the needle to the start of the record and listening to it over and over and over again. That's how I'd describe it anyway. Steer clear of this if you are prone to depression or have ever had suicidal thoughts tough.

''Now, are you ready for some blood clot jungle techno?'' If so pick up this tune - it's a proper belter and a pure anthem from back in the day. After the instantly recognisable rally-cry of an intro is done, the tune gets going with a refreshingly different drum loop for the era. Then the heavy drums lead you into time stretched cries of ''Bloooooood Clot'' before the main vocal loop of ''It's the waaaaaaaaay'' comes in!
Later you're treated to a wicked breakdown laced with some funk:'' My feelings for you'' ring any bells?
One of my favourites from this era - single sided pressing - proper special. VIP in fact: very important plastic. Because no Drum & Bass collection is complete without this monster of a track. Pick it up now. I'm surprised how cheap copies are going for.

A great compilation that changed the direction of both my life and my musical influences forever. When I heard Frying The Fat it was the first time I'd ever heard such cool Hip Hop. Up until this came out I was purely into Drum and Bass, but felt I was beginning to grow out of that sound and was searching for something new. Something underground, raw, but a little more mature; at the time this album fitted the bill perfectly.
This compilation was my introduction to the Phenomenal Grand Central camp, and their amazing roster of artists. Ironically I picked it up because there was a track on there which had a slight Drum and Bass or break beat feel to it, and which I thought I could use in my sets (at the time I was all ready trying desperately to freshen them up with drum and bass that was a little different)... But I digress. Great as that track was, it was the others on the album that on a proper listen back home, captured my imagination. A mix of cool, laid back, Hip Hop beats, scratched vocal samples, and jazz and funk loops. This was the new sound I'd been looking for. Ten years on and this record is still always tucked away in my record box when I travel away for gigs. Certain tracks on here still sound fresh and better than a lot of today's offerings of the same ilk.
Stand out tracks are as you'd expect looking at the listing - Fat slug by Mr. Scruff, Concentrate by the genius that is Aim, as well as Funky Fresh Few's and Rae and Christian's contributions.
This is classic Grand Central and for me it's them at their best. It's a great collection of tracks that encapsulates the sound and style the label later became legendary for and is a good introduction to some or the better artists and producers on the imprint.

Because it's a favourite album of mine I've tried to write a review for this album now several times... but I Just can't. I can't put into words what a tragedy this album is. Not because it's no good, because it's amazing. This album is a tragedy because when you listen to it and compare it to the junk the BEPs churn out today, it shows just how much they fell off. How far they've fallen and sold out. Their new stuff in the charts is so, so bad, and this is so, so good - the mind boggles at what happened to lead them astray so badly to where they are today?
Look I'm not gonna go into it - I'll just say that the BEPs of today are commercial rap rubbish, but the BEPs of yesteryear (and this album in particular), were awesome. For some reason Yoko Ono springs to mind... Fergie has a lot to answer for.
When all's said and done though you should still grab a copy of this. It really is too good to pass up. Bridging the gap mixes Latin and calypso flavours, and classic boom bap hip hop with ease not to mention to great effect. But when you put this album on and listen to them spit ''money is a drug and MCs is on it'' the word 'ironic' doesn't even come close. It's just a shame they couldn't take their own advice.
Curse you Black Eyed Peas... This album is genius and hints at the music you could have made and what you could have been: amongst the greatest of all time. I loved you for this album, and now look, or should that be listen, to what you've become.

Because it's a favourite album of mine I've tried to write a review for this album now several times... but I Just can't. I can't put into words what a tragedy this album is. Not because it's no good, because it's amazing. This album is a tragedy because when you listen to it and compare it to the junk the BEPs churn out today, it shows just how much they fell off. How far they've fallen and sold out. Their new stuff in the charts is so, so bad, and this is so, so good - the mind boggles at what happened to lead them astray so badly to where they are today?
Look I'm not gonna go into it - I'll just say that the BEPs of today are commercial rap rubbish, but the BEPs of yesteryear (and this album in particular), were awesome. For some reason Yoko Ono springs to mind... Fergie has a lot to answer for.
When all's said and done though you should still grab a copy of this. It really is too good to pass up. Bridging the gap mixes Latin and calypso flavours, and classic boom bap hip hop with ease not to mention to great effect. But when you put this album on and listen to them spit ''money is a drug and MCs is on it'' the word 'ironic' doesn't even come close. It's just a shame they couldn't take their own advice.
Curse you Black Eyed Peas... This album is genius and hints at the music you could have made and what you could have been: amongst the greatest of all time. I loved you for this album, and now look, or should that be listen, to what you've become.

Because it's a favourite album of mine I've tried to write a review for this album now several times... but I Just can't. I can't put into words what a tragedy this album is. Not because it's no good, because it's amazing. This album is a tragedy because when you listen to it and compare it to the junk the BEPs churn out today, it shows just how much they fell off. How far they've fallen and sold out. Their new stuff in the charts is so, so bad, and this is so, so good - the mind boggles at what happened to lead them astray so badly to where they are today?
Look I'm not gonna go into it - I'll just say that the BEPs of today are commercial rap rubbish, but the BEPs of yesteryear (and this album in particular), were awesome. For some reason Yoko Ono springs to mind... Fergie has a lot to answer for.
When all's said and done though you should still grab a copy of this. It really is too good to pass up. Bridging the gap mixes Latin and calypso flavours, and classic boom bap hip hop with ease not to mention to great effect. But when you put this album on and listen to them spit ''money is a drug and MCs is on it'' the word 'ironic' doesn't even come close. It's just a shame they couldn't take their own advice.
Curse you Black Eyed Peas... This album is genius and hints at the music you could have made and what you could have been: amongst the greatest of all time. I loved you for this album, and now look, or should that be listen, to what you've become.

Possibly the greatest Hip Hop album of all time, from the greatest crew of all time. Do you want more by The Roots is awesome stuff - and still sounds as fresh and relevant today as when it first arrived on the scene.
Mix cool raps, with conscious thought, add a little jazz - okay make that a lot of jazz influenced playing - season with funky beats and you get this masterpiece.
This album and the crew - or rather band- sound at their best on this album, at least in my opinion. It's my favourite album of theirs by far. On it, the live keys are rich and lush, the double basses deep, the drums crisp, clean, sharp and clear. Add some interesting, playful filters, delays and other fx to some of the backing vocals and you have a great and engaging album. There's also a lot of beat boxing used to good effect in the production of some tracks on this, too.
Also, the band don't stick to one song formula. In tracks like essaywuman, they play with the whole idea of call and response. Black Thought (on the mic) throwing down some beat box for a little Q & A with first the drums, then the Keys. The whole album, and this track in particular, has a real live, playful, feel to it -as if it's being played on the spot right in front of you, and perhaps it's that that makes this album still as enjoyable to listen to as the first time I heard it. The roots are a great band and this album in particular is something very special. Do you want more? I know I do. That's why it's one of my most played albums ever.