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Hello,
Hello,


I was a staff writer on the UK's longest running hip-hop magazine Hip-Hop Connection between 2000 and 2009, and also co-curated the exhibition Homegrown: The Story of UK Hip-Hop at Urbis in Manchester in 2009. If you like I can direct you to plenty of references in print dating back to 1987 that verify MoL's existence as an innovative and influential record label in UK hip-hop. Within the UK hip-hop community MoL produced a good proportion of what is now considered 'the canon' of UK rap between 1987 and 1991. They were the first label to release records by Hijack and Demon Boyz - the former group pioneering what later became known as the Britcore sound, the latter representing a key stage in the development of the British MC styles that drew on UK Caribbean dancehall styles - this is an important part of a UK MC style lineage that went through jungle, drum 'n' bass, garage and grime and ultimately results in many of the fast MC patterns that you can hear in the wave of British rappers that has now found pop chart success in the UK (eg Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, etc). Both Hijack and the Demon Boyz featured prominently in the top 10 of Hip-Hop Connection's top 100 UK rap singles of all time and of their top 100 UK rap albums. MoL also were very important in championing Ragga Hip-Hop (ie hip-hop rhythms with dancehall MCs, not rappers whose styles show a dancehall influence) with Asher D and Daddy Freddy. This was, to the best of my knowledge an unrecorded concept in 1987 when they released the single 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' - I have explored the area in depth as a journalist, curator, academic and, most importantly, fan. 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' is considered an iconic record in UK hip-hop circles, was one of the first UK produced hip-hop records to make an impact on New York hip-hop clubs and radio, and I would consider it a key record in the development of the intermixture of reggae and hip-hop that has characterised much British dance music. As for Derek B, he was indeed originally employed by MoL on the A&R side, and his first records were released on the label before he was signed to Phonogram - in fact, there is a strong argument to be made that the label acted as something of a sorting house for major labels' interests in British rap and dance acts. MoL was additionally responsible for releasing many key underground UK rap records by acts such as Hardnoise, MC Duke, She Rockers and the Three Kights, many of which are held up as examples of excellence in late 80s UK rap. In my opinion it would be a disservice to MoL's significant contribution to hip-hop and dance music in the UK if you were to delete their entry. For an idea of the scope of their involvement in the UK hip-hop scene during the 80s you should perhaps look at the labels section of Heroesofukhiphop.com which devotes a page to the releases on the label - though there is no text on the label itself, it should give you an idea of the size of the label's contribution relative to other listed labels (http://heroesofukhiphop.com/MusicOfLife.htm) - I should add, I am not in any way affiliated to that website. But as I say, I am happy to provide you with a list of music press references, so please email me at the address I registered with and I will do so.
I was a staff writer on the UK's longest running hip-hop magazine Hip-Hop Connection between 2000 and 2009, and also co-curated the exhibition Homegrown: The Story of UK Hip-Hop at Urbis in Manchester in 2009. If you like I can direct you to plenty of references in print dating back to 1987 that verify MoL's existence as an innovative and influential record label in UK hip-hop.
MoL produced a good proportion of what is now considered among the UK hip-hop community 'the canon' of UK rap between 1987 and 1991. They were the first label to release records by Hijack and Demon Boyz - the former group pioneering what later became known as the Britcore sound, the latter representing a key stage in the development of the British MC styles that drew on UK Caribbean dancehall techniques - this is an important part of a UK MC style lineage that went through jungle, drum 'n' bass, garage and grime and has ultimately resulted in many of the fast MC patterns that you can hear in the wave of British rappers that has now found pop chart success in the UK (eg Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, etc). Both Hijack and the Demon Boyz featured prominently in the top 10 of Hip-Hop Connection's top 100 UK rap singles of all time and of their top 100 UK rap albums.
MoL was also very important in championing Ragga Hip-Hop (ie hip-hop rhythms with dancehall MCs, not rappers whose styles show a dancehall influence) with Asher D and Daddy Freddy. This was, to the best of my knowledge an unrecorded concept in 1987 when they released the single 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' - I have, I should add, explored the area in depth as a journalist, curator, academic and, most importantly, fan. 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' is considered an iconic record in UK hip-hop circles, was one of the first UK produced hip-hop records to make an impact on New York hip-hop clubs and radio, and I would consider it a key record in the development of the intermixture of reggae and hip-hop that has characterised much British dance music. As for Derek B, he was indeed originally employed by MoL on the A&R side, and his first records were released on the label before he was signed to Phonogram - in fact, there is a strong argument to be made that the label acted as something of a sorting house for major labels' interests in British rap and dance acts. MoL was additionally responsible for releasing many key underground UK rap records by acts such as Hardnoise, MC Duke, She Rockers and the Three Kights, many of which are held up as examples of excellence in late 80s UK rap.
In my opinion it would be a disservice to MoL's significant contribution to hip-hop and dance music in the UK if you were to delete their entry. For an idea of the scope of their involvement in the UK hip-hop scene during the 80s you should perhaps look at the labels section of Heroesofukhiphop.com which devotes a page to the releases on MoL - though there is no text on the label itself, it should give you an idea of the size of the label's contribution relative to other listed labels (http://heroesofukhiphop.com/MusicOfLife.htm) - I am not, I should add, in any way affiliated to that website. But as I say, I am happy to provide you with a list of music press references, so please email me at the address I registered with and I will do so.


Best wishes,
Best wishes,

Revision as of 12:22, 3 November 2011

Hello,

I was a staff writer on the UK's longest running hip-hop magazine Hip-Hop Connection between 2000 and 2009, and also co-curated the exhibition Homegrown: The Story of UK Hip-Hop at Urbis in Manchester in 2009. If you like I can direct you to plenty of references in print dating back to 1987 that verify MoL's existence as an innovative and influential record label in UK hip-hop.

MoL produced a good proportion of what is now considered among the UK hip-hop community 'the canon' of UK rap between 1987 and 1991. They were the first label to release records by Hijack and Demon Boyz - the former group pioneering what later became known as the Britcore sound, the latter representing a key stage in the development of the British MC styles that drew on UK Caribbean dancehall techniques - this is an important part of a UK MC style lineage that went through jungle, drum 'n' bass, garage and grime and has ultimately resulted in many of the fast MC patterns that you can hear in the wave of British rappers that has now found pop chart success in the UK (eg Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, etc). Both Hijack and the Demon Boyz featured prominently in the top 10 of Hip-Hop Connection's top 100 UK rap singles of all time and of their top 100 UK rap albums.

MoL was also very important in championing Ragga Hip-Hop (ie hip-hop rhythms with dancehall MCs, not rappers whose styles show a dancehall influence) with Asher D and Daddy Freddy. This was, to the best of my knowledge an unrecorded concept in 1987 when they released the single 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' - I have, I should add, explored the area in depth as a journalist, curator, academic and, most importantly, fan. 'Ragamuffin Hip-Hop' is considered an iconic record in UK hip-hop circles, was one of the first UK produced hip-hop records to make an impact on New York hip-hop clubs and radio, and I would consider it a key record in the development of the intermixture of reggae and hip-hop that has characterised much British dance music. As for Derek B, he was indeed originally employed by MoL on the A&R side, and his first records were released on the label before he was signed to Phonogram - in fact, there is a strong argument to be made that the label acted as something of a sorting house for major labels' interests in British rap and dance acts. MoL was additionally responsible for releasing many key underground UK rap records by acts such as Hardnoise, MC Duke, She Rockers and the Three Kights, many of which are held up as examples of excellence in late 80s UK rap.

In my opinion it would be a disservice to MoL's significant contribution to hip-hop and dance music in the UK if you were to delete their entry. For an idea of the scope of their involvement in the UK hip-hop scene during the 80s you should perhaps look at the labels section of Heroesofukhiphop.com which devotes a page to the releases on MoL - though there is no text on the label itself, it should give you an idea of the size of the label's contribution relative to other listed labels (http://heroesofukhiphop.com/MusicOfLife.htm) - I am not, I should add, in any way affiliated to that website. But as I say, I am happy to provide you with a list of music press references, so please email me at the address I registered with and I will do so.

Best wishes,

James McNally — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jmcn74 (talk • contribs) 12:01, 3 November 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Music of Life

Music of Life (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log)
(Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)

Claims to be "influential" and "groundbreaking" in violation of WP:PEACOCK. Claims to have had a few hits, but I can't find anything on most of them — at least nothing tying to Music of Life. I couldn't find any sources anywhere for this label. Deprodded without comment. Ten Pound Hammer • (What did I screw up now?) 13:11, 30 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This debate has been included in the list of Music-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 18:07, 30 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Note: This debate has been included in the list of Business-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 18:07, 30 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

With respect may I please draw your attention to the Discogs page listing some of the releases, there have been many more: http://www.discogs.com/label/Music+Of+Life — Preceding unsigned comment added by Megalaser (talk • contribs) 21:50, 30 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Music of Life was indeed the first ever record label in the United Kingdom to be dedicated to releasing hip-hop. The first hit record to enter the UK popular music charts was the Music of Life artist Derek B. Music of Life was the first label to sign only UK hip hop artists and actively promote their material, at the time in 1986 there were no other UK hip hop labels, many others followed hence the label was groundbreaking being the first and influential in that other labels followed the same business model. The information on the Wikipedia page is true and accurate, I would be happy to provide evidence to support this and ask that this page please not be deleted, it represents many years of work from the many people connected with the label. I apologize for the fact that I am no expert on the many rules of Wikipedia but as mentioned would be happy to provide whatever evidence is required to prove all information on the Music of Life page is true and accurate. Many Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by Megalaser (talk • contribs) 21:39, 30 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

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