Conrad Shafie, better known as Blame, is an English DJ, musician, music producer, and songwriter. He is considered one of the pioneers of the drum and bass genre. Some of Blame's singles appeared on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

between 1992 and 2004.

Career

Blame grew up listening to electro and hip hop music. Whilst in school, Blame was exposed to House music from Europe and the United States and was inspired to combine hip hop breakbeats with House sounds. He then hired a community recording studio in

Luton Luton () is a town and unitary authority with borough status, in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 census, the Luton built-up area subdivision had a population of 211,228 and its built-up area, including the adjacent towns of Dunstable a ...

called the 33 Arts Centre to work on his own music and the resulting track was "Music Takes You", which ended up being signed to the

Moving Shadow Moving Shadow is an English breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum and bass record label which was founded in 1990 by Rob Playford. History The label began in 1990, operating from Playford's Stevenage home. Playford had become a focal point for ...

record label in 1991 while he was still a teenager. Moving Shadow also released Blame's singles "Feel The Energy", "Are You Dreaming", and "Neptune". Several of Blame's releases, including "Neptune", were heard at

Fabio (DJ) Fitzroy Heslop, better known as Fabio, is a British drum and bass DJ and producer. Fabio has been described as one of the best DJs of all time, and he with DJ partner Grooverider, are regarded as the "originators" of the scene.Good Looking Records Good Looking Records is a jungle and drum & bass record label, formed in 1991 by producer LTJ Bukem. The label specializes in jazz-influenced and atmospheric, so-called Intelligent Drum & Bass. Overview The label releases music which includ ...

then offered Blame a record contract. Blame went on to mix the ''Logical Progression 2'' and ''Progression Sessions 2'' compilations for

Good Looking Records Good Looking Records is a jungle and drum & bass record label, formed in 1991 by producer LTJ Bukem. The label specializes in jazz-influenced and atmospheric, so-called Intelligent Drum & Bass. Overview The label releases music which includ ...

. He also embarked on a worldwide DJ tour with

LTJ Bukem Daniel Williamson (born 20 September 1967), better known as LTJ Bukem (), is a British drum and bass musician, producer and DJ. He and his record label Good Looking are most associated with the jazzy, atmospheric side of drum and bass music. ...

. Singles from his time on Good Looking Records include "Visions Of Mars", "360 Clic", "Alpha:7", "Revival", "J-Walkin’" and "Centuries". In 1997, Blame launched 720 Degrees, a Drum and bass label that fused atmospheric and futuristic sci-fi sounds with

Techno Techno is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally music production, produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central Drum beat, rhythm is typ ...

inspired effects and synth sounds. ''Two Revolutions'' was his first DJ mix compilation album released on the label. In 2000 or so, Blame left

to release work on other labels in the Drum and Bass genre including

Metalheadz Metalheadz is a drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie. History Origins Goldie's early experiences of the rave scene, especially the club ''Rage'' had a profound effect on ...

, Charge Recordings, and

Hospital Records Hospital Records is a British independent record label based in South London. Primarily releasing drum and bass, the label was started in 1996 by Tony Colman (London Elektricity) and Chris Goss, and has grown in recent years to become one of ...

, along with his own newly launched independent version of his 720 Degrees imprint. In 2008, Blame released "Stay Forever", which aired on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

and was on the daytime playlist of BBC Radio 1Xtra. His follow up single, "Because of You", was released, featuring a vocal performance by Selah. It became the

Single of the Week on 2 February 2009,

Zane Lowe Alexander Zane Reid Lowe (born 7 August 1973) is a New Zealand radio DJ, live DJ, record producer, and television presenter. After an early career in music creation, production and DJing, he moved to the UK in 1997. He came to prominence thro ...

’s Hottest Record in the World, as well as being aired on daytime Radio 1. Blame entered into a recording contract with Newstate Music in 2010, which resulted in the release of ''The Music'', an album which featured vocal collaborations with Selah,

Tinchy Stryder Kwasi Esono Danquah III ( ; born 14 September 1986), known by the stage name Tinchy Stryder, is a Ghanaian-British rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and investor. Stryder has released three solo studio albums, '' Star in the Hood'' (2 ...

, Fuda Guy, Jocelyn Brown, Dynamite MC, Rodney P, DRS, Jenna G, Alex Mills, JT Fitz, Camilla Marie and Tom Sears. He then went on to remix the

David Guetta Pierre David Guetta ( , ; born 7 November 1967) is a French DJ and music producer. He has over 10 million album and 65 million single sales globally, with more than 10 billion streams. In 2011, 2020 and 2021, Guetta was voted the number one D ...

and

Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. During the gr ...

single "When Love Takes Over", the Robin S dance classic "Show Me Love", Raze's iconic "Break 4 Love", Sway's – "Level Up", Skepta's – "Make Peace Not War", and

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

's "I Want You Back". In 2018, Blame formed a group called the Social Misfits alongside DJ Concrete.

V Recordings V, or v, is the twenty-second and fifth-to-last letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''vee'' (pronounced ), plural ...

signed the project. Annie Mac, DJ Target, and Rene LaVice played songs from the release on

and BBC Radio 1Xtra. In May 2020, Blame's remix of "Step Tune" by T.R.A.C featuring

Random Movement Random Movement is the stage name of DJ and drum and bass musician Michael Richards. As a recording artist, he has many releases on Innerground Records, Fokuz Recordings, V Recordings, and his own label, Flight Pattern. Biography In 2003, Ri ...

and Adrienne Richards was released on

. In late 2020, Blame's "Lift Off" and "Star Traveller" were released on the newly formed Over/Shadow record label. The very first pressings were on a limited edition marbled vinyl. In February 2021, Blame announced that Violet Nights Recordings will begin releasing many of his previously unreleased dubplates. The label's first 12" release, Blame's "Understanding & Knowing" and "In My Soul", was released on 5 March 2021 on both black and violet vinyl.

Selected Discography

Albums

* ''Into The Void'' (Good Looking Records, 2002) * ''The Turning Point'' (720 Degrees, 2006) * ''The Music'' (New State Music, 2010)

EPs and singles

* "Music Takes You" (Moving Shadow, 1991) – #48 in UK, 1992 ** "Music Takes You" (2 Bad Mice, John B remixes) (Moving Shadow, 2002) – No. 79 in UK * "Feel The Energy" (Moving Shadow, 1993) * "Between Worlds" (EP) (Good Looking Records, 1998) (Wax Magazine's "Single Of The Month" for September 1998) * "Sleepwalker / Reptile" (with Mampi Swift) (Charge, 2004) – No. 82 in UK

Mixes as DJ

*Blame – Live @ Turnmills for Wax Magazine (DJ set), 1997 *Blame – Logical Progression Level 2 (DJ mix), GLR, 1997 *Blame Featuring DRS – Progression Sessions Two, GLR, 1998 *Blame's Two Revolutions (compilation, DJ mix, double CD), 720 Degrees, 1999 *Blame – KMag Presents... The 100th Issue Selection (CD, compilation, DJ mix) for Knowledge Magazine

Extended Discography

Albums

* ''Live @ Turnmills'' (DJ set for Wax Magazine, 1997) * ''Logical Progression Level 2'' (DJ mix) (

, 1997) * Blame Featuring DRS – ''Progression Sessions Two'' (Good Looking Records, 1998) * ''Two Revolutions'' (compilation, DJ mix, double CD) (720 Degrees, 1999) * KMag Presents... The 100th Issue Selection (CD, compilation, DJ mix) for Knowledge Magazine * ''Into The Void'' (GLR, 2002) * ''The Turning Point'' (720 Degrees, 2006) * ''The Music'' (New State Music, 2010)

EPs and Singles

* ''Music Takes You'' (

, 1991) (charted at # 48 in the UK, 1992) * ''Feel The Energy'' (Moving Shadow, 1993) * ''A21 / Sikological Hostage'' (Moving Shadow, 1993) * ''Sub Committee'' (Moving Shadow, 1994) * ''Heritage / Retrospect'' (Moving Shadow, 1996) * ''Neptune / Planet Neptune'' (Moving Shadow, 1996) * (with Deep Blue) ''Transitions / Re-Transitions'' (Moving Shadow, 1996) * ''Visions Of Mars / Centuries'' (Good Looking Records, 1996) * ''360° Clic / Overhead Projections'' (Good Looking Records, 1997) * (with Odyssey) ''Artificial Life / J-Walkin (720 Degrees, 1997) * (with Deep Blue) ''Transitions (Dom & Roland Remix) / De-Transitions'' 10" (Moving Shadow, 1997) * ''Cuban Lynx / Solitude'' (720 Degrees, 1997) * (with Appaloosa & DJ Dream) ''360° Clic / Overhead Projections / Night Train / Chord Data'' (Good Looking Records, 1997) * ''Alpha:7'' on Logical Progression, Level 3 (Good Looking Records, 1998) * ''Between Worlds'' (Good Looking Records, 1998) * (with

Seba (musician) Sebastian Ahrenberg, better known as Seba is a Swedish drum and bass producer and DJIMO Record"Seba Biography" '' IMO Records'', London, 17 October 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011. Seba is also the owner of ''Secret Operations'', a drum and b ...

} ''Sphere (Seba Remix) / Predator'' (Secret Operations, 1998) * ''Con / Con Dub'' (Secret Operations, 1998) * (with

Blu Mar Ten Blu Mar Ten is a music production outfit based in London, and is made up of Chris Marigold and Michael Tognarelli. History Blu Mar Ten's first track to be released was "The Fountain" / "Lunar" in 1996 on Way Out Records. The track appeared on ...

) ''Sphere / B.R.O.'' (1999) * (with Artemis) – ''Revival / Silver Dawn'' (Earth, 2000) * ''Firestorm'' EP (Good Looking Records, 2001) * ''Sigma'' EP (GLR, 2001) * as Dragonsword – ''Centre of the System / Plasma Eyes'' (720 Degrees, 2002) * ''Right Thru You / Rattlesnake'' (720 Degrees, 2003) * ''Asylum'' EP (720 Degrees, 2003) * ''The One / From This Planet'' (720 Degrees, 2003) * ''720 Revolution LP Sampler (Part Two)'' (720 Degrees, 2004) * ''Judas / Bakura'' (Part Two) (720 Degrees, 2004) * ''Medusa / Burnout'' (Metalheadz, 2004) * (with Mampi Swift) – ''The Rainman'' EP (Charge Recordings, 2004) * ''Closer / Citadel'' (720 Degrees, 2004) * ''720 Revolution LP Sampler Part 1'' (720 Degrees, 2004) * (with Mampi Swift) ''Sleepwalker / Reptile'' (Charge Recordings, 2004) * ''Desert Planet / Cyberun'' (720 Degrees, 2004) * ''Diablo / Indestructable'' (720 Degrees, 2005) * ''Red Alert / Alien Fire'' (720 Degrees, 2005) * ''Rise of the Machines'' (Charge Recordings, 2005) * ''Shadows Of Technology / Alpha Quadrant'' (720 Degrees, 2005) * ''The Search / Land Speed'' (

, 2005) * ''Artificial Environment / Wavelength'' (Moving Shadow, 2006) * ''Tyrant / Prophecy'' (Charge Recordings, 2006) * ''Take Me Away / Livewire'' (720 Degrees, 2006) * ''Thunder Run / Beholder'' (720 Degrees, 2006) * (vs. ASC & Aaron Myers) ''Amethyst / The Labyrinth'' (TestFlight Recordings, 2007) * ''Skyline VIP / The Bionic Man'' (720 Degrees, 2007) * ''Solar Burn / Solar Burn VIP'' (Charge Recordings, 2007) * ''Guardian Angel / Enduro'' (720 Degrees, 2007) * (with The Pedge & Apex Featuring Ayah) – ''Weapons Of Mass Creation 3 Sampler'' (Hospital Records, 2007) * ''Keep The Sunshine / Flashback'' (720 Degrees, 2008) * ''Stay Forever / Strikeforce'' (Charge Recordings, 2008) * ''Hold The Sunshine / Panic Stations'' (720 Degrees, 2008) * ''Hiro / Apocalypto'' (Blame Music, 2008) * ''Batcave / Harlem'' (Charge Recordings, 2008) * ''Out There / Rush'' (Charge Recordings, 2007) * ''Because Of You'' Featuring Selah (720 Degrees, 2009) * (Featuring Ruff Sqwad) – ''On My Own'' (New State Music, 2010) * (Featuring Fuda Guy & Camilla Marie) – ''Star'' (New State Music, 2010) * (Featuring Jocelyn Brown) – ''Set Me Free'' (New State Music, 2011) * (with

Dom & Roland Dom & Roland is the alias of British drum and bass producer Dominic Angas. The addition of "Roland" in the artist name refers to his Roland sampler. In 1996 he was signed to Moving Shadow recordings, releasing three albums and numerous singles ...

Rob Playford Moving Shadow is an English breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum and bass record label which was founded in 1990 by Rob Playford. History The label began in 1990, operating from Playford's Stevenage home. Playford had become a focal point f ...

, and

Goldie Clifford Joseph Price MBE (born 19 September 1965), better known as Goldie, is a British music producer and DJ. Initially gaining exposure for his work as a graffiti artist, Goldie became well known for his pioneering role as a musician in t ...

) – ''The Shadow (Hive Vip) / Music Takes You (John B Remix)'' (Scrunch Recordings) * ''Point 4 (Remix) / Elevations'' (acetate \

dubplate A dubplate is an acetate disc usually of 10 inches diameter, traditionally used by Recording studio, studios to test recordings prior to Audio mastering, mastering for the subsequent pressing of a vinyl record, but pioneered by reggae Reggae sound ...

) * ''Step Tune'' (Blame's remix) by T.R.A.C featuring Random Movement and Adrienne Richards (V Recordings, 2020) * ''Get Loose'' (Blame's remix) by Mr & Mrs Smith (

Champion Records (UK) Champion Records, based in the UK, is an independent record label founded by Mel Medalie in 1980, with an emphasis on soul and dance. Champion Records is based in London, and claims to be one of the oldest record companies with the same managem ...

, 2020)

Notes

References

{{Reflist Living people Breakbeat hardcore musicians English drum and bass musicians English DJs English record producers Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people)