Hype first became involved in music as a teenager in 1982, assisting PJ and Smiley with their sound system Heatwave in East London, which evolved into Shut Up and Dance.
Hype began producing in 1989, engineering and co-producing tracks (including "Exorcist" and "The Bee") for Kickin'Records, Strictly Underground and Suburban Base.
UK garage
UK garage, abbreviated as UKG, is a genre of electronic dance music which originated in England in the early to mid-1990s. The genre was most clearly inspired by garage house, but also incorporates elements from dance-pop, R&B, and jungle. It ...
producer Wookie remembers that Hype worked with The Scientist on "The Bee" to create one of the first jungle tunes to hit big, following "£10 to Get In" by Shut Up and Dance in 1989. Around this time, Hype hosted a show on the London
pirate radio
Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license.
In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially ...
station Fantasy FM, and he was famed for his mixing and scratching skills.
Suburban Base released Hype's track "Shot in the Dark" that made 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 ...
in 1993. By 1994, he had become a big name in the
breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore (also referred to as hardcore rave or oldskool hardcore) is a music genre of the very early 1990s that spawned from the UK rave scene. It combines four-on-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats usually sampled from hip hop. In ad ...
and jungle raves - landing awards for Best Male DJ and Best Radio DJ (in 1994 and 1995 respectively) at the UK's Hardcore Awards, and hosting a show on the legal station
Kiss 100
Kiss is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Kiss Network.
It is primarily aimed at the 15-34 age group and broadcasts nationally to the UK on DAB Digital Radio, as well as on FM in London, Bristol an ...
.
Hype's Ganja Records
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed ...
gained popularity primarily through dance floor fillers such as "You Must Think First", "Tiger Style" and DJ Zinc's "Super Sharp Shooter". Their popularity peaked in 1996 with the release of their first
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...
, ''Still Smokin' '', a label compilation released jointly by Ganja and Pascal's Frontline imprint. Re-released in 1997, its success also led to a major label deal with BMG's Parousia sub-label and the establishment of True Playaz, an MC-led deejay and production unit also including DJ Zinc, Pascal and Rude Bwoy Monty. Hype's 1997 Parousia EP, ''New Frontiers'', with Ganja Kru, reached No. 56 in the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
.
Hype is known for his jump-up deejay sets, including appearances at the Playaz night at Fabric.
On 30 March 2009, Hype released a new double albummix compilation on Rhino Records, entitled ''DJ Hype presents Drum and Bass Essentials''.
Discography
Singles/EPs
* ''Exorcist / The Bee'' (with The Scientist) (Kickin'Records)
* ''Shot in the Dark'' ( Suburban Base)
* ''Roll the Beats'' (Suburban Base)
* ''Computerised Cops / You Must Think First'' (with The Ganja Kru) (Ganja Records)
* ''Tiger Style / Mash Up da Place'' (with The Ganja Kru) (Ganja Records)
* ''Super Sharp Shooter'' (with The Ganja Kru) (Parousia/ BMG)
Mixes/compilations
* ''Drum & Bass Selection''
* ''
FabricLive.03
FabricLive.03 is a DJ mix compilation album by DJ Hype, as part of the FabricLive Mix Series.
Track listing
References
External links
*FabricFabricLive.03*Allmusic: FabricLive.03*Resident Advisor
''Resident Advisor'' (also known a ...
Andy C
Andrew John Clarke (born 7 April 1976) is a British DJ and record producer and is co-founder of RAM Records, a pioneering label in the drum and bass genre.
Music career
Early years
Andy C was a DJ in his own right but gained a strong reputa ...
* ''Dubplate Killaz''
* ''Dubplate Killaz 2: Return of the Ninja''
* ''World Dance - The Drum 'n' Bass Experience''
* ''Drum & Bass Arena Presents: DJ Hype''
* ''Drum & Bass Essentials'' - a triple CD compilation mixed by DJ Hype