Steffan Cravos (born 1975, in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

) is a Welsh

rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

and hip hop musician and artist. As "DJ Lambchop", Cravos is known for his "rub and scratch"

turntablist Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into a PA system ...

style. He is also the founding member of

Tystion Tystion (English: Witnesses) was a Welsh language hip hop band from Wales. Background In 1996, MC Sleifar (Steffan Cravos) and G Man (Gruff Meredith) got together and released a few cassettes themselves. A year later they released the album ' ...

, a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

hip hop band. He was briefly involved with an early line-up of

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a psychedelic folk and alternative rock band which formed in Carmarthen, Wales, in 1991. The group performed music in both Welsh and English, and they had eight Top 75 singles on the UK Singles Chart during their car ...

playing violin and sound effects, and is credited on several songs on their early-years compilation ''

Patio A patio (, from es, patio ; "courtyard", "forecourt", "yard", "little garden") is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved. In Australia the term is expanded to include roofed stru ...

''.

Projects

Fitamin Un

In 1996, Cravos set up his own record label, Recordiau Fitamin Un. Fed up with the scene in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, he created it to be an outlet for some of his projects (like

) and other underground material. Other bands released on the label include

Llwybr Llaethog Llwybr Llaethog (Welsh for Milky Way, although the Milky Way has several names in Welsh folklore) are an experimental Welsh language band that effectively mix such varied musical genres as rap, dub, reggae, hip hop, and punk in their music. ...

, "Pep Le Pew", "Trawsfynydd Lo-Fi Liberation Front", and "Continuous Sound Labordy Swn Cont". All of Fitamin Un's releases have been archived by The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales at

The National Library of Wales The National Library of Wales ( cy, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru), Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million boo ...

.'Fitami Un' at The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales
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Radio Amgen

Radio Amgen provides numerous rare mp3's to listen to on the computer. The tracks are from an eclectic mix of artists in both Welsh and English languages, as well as links to artists, labels, other mp3s, and institutions. Radio Amgen translated as Alternative Radio, also gave many amateur djs and music producers the opportunity to showcase their creations. Such successful introducing radio shows include Dander Radio, produced by Aron Jones.

Tystion (1991–2002)

began in 1991. Cravos, aged 16, and influenced by the sounds of Public Enemy and

Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk rock, punk bands during its initial eight-year run. Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, sa ...

, worked from his bedroom in

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...

using two tape decks and a mixer. He wanted to create an answer to the current state of the Welsh musical mainstream. By 1995, he was joined by Gruff Meredith.

Lo-Cut and Sleifar

Cravos worked on this project with Murry the Hump member/producer Lo-Cut (Curig Huws) and put out an album in 2004 on Boobytrap Records. They were based in

and established their partnership in Paris. "Music for the feet and music for the mind" — their definition of hip-hop - is the English translation of the title.

Discography

Albums

Welsh language

In April 2005 Cravos became president and chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith (

Welsh Language Society The Welsh Language Society ( cy, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, often abbreviated to Cymdeithas yr Iaith or just Cymdeithas) is a direct action Advocacy group, pressure group in Wales campaigning for the right of Welsh people to use the Welsh lang ...

), having been involved with the society and its activities since the 1990s.

References

Projects

Brechdan Tywod
(in Welsh)
Lo-cut and SleiferRadio Amgen
(in Welsh)
Tystion

MP3s

Sleifar a'r Teulu, Sesiwn Radio 1
(in Welsh)

Welsh-language rap

On Rapping in WelshRappers take on the Bards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cravos, Steffan 1977 births Living people Musicians from Cardiff Welsh language activists Welsh-speaking musicians Welsh male rappers

Projects

Fitamin Un

Radio Amgen

Tystion (1991–2002)

Lo-Cut and Sleifar

Discography

Albums

Welsh language

See also

References

Projects

MP3s

Welsh-language rap