From the archives of the history of Hip-Hop, comes one of the most talked-about old-school events to happen on this side of the Atlantic. The ’Shaw Theatre Jam’ of 1985.

Featuring Hip-Hop legends from the Bronx to London, this is a serious slice of old-school Hip-Hop, and is available on vinyl from King of The Beats.
Dropping August 2020, and on wax for the first and last time in two volumes; Limited Edition. Order yours now!

More details to follow. Stay tuned.

I would like to present a new project that we would like to announce in partnership with The original Artful Dodger we are soon to release a very special LP.

In 1985 there was a very important event that happened in London. The Shaw Theatre Jam. It was an event where a crew from the States NYC came to the UK and performed alongside a host of UK artists. Cosmic Jamm, who was a mentor to many surprised our American guests and showed them that here in the UK that we really had some talent. The event itself for those that were there was monumental and plays an important role in Hip Hops evolutions within the UK. A culture was being born.

This is probably the most important post to date. For years many people know of me as a filmmaker. The man behind the King of the Beats series, The Turntable Trixters and the Paul C Film.

Before any of that, I started a project titled ‘The Men & Their Music’. This film got shelved. Years later after getting separated I embarked on a new journey, starting my project ‘Looking of the Perfect Beat’. I’ve counted already 9 trips to NYC just on this Project.

In 2015 I had completed a rough of the film that at the time I felt was ok, but after taking it to NYC a few of the artists I showed asked me to use some of the footage I filmed of them almost 20 years before.

I didn’t ever work in a conventional way. When I first started going to NYC I rolled up with a camera running around the city without much of plan. Over the years I had won and earned the respect of my peers in the states who understood what I was about and saw themselves my work ethic.

I didn’t ask for funding I never asked for help, but I remember clearly many people telling me I couldn’t do this. They felt I never had the skills. How’s this factory worker think he can make a movie. That motivated me, and because I knew that the artists believed in me that I would go make this film.

I funded this on factory wages in the midlands. I have fort through many battles internally and externally, lived on beans and toast for many years, deprived my self of holidays and weekends away determined to one day get this film done.

In 2013 I did release a trailer of what was the film at the time, but over the years it has changed dramatically.

For the last 16 years, I have been working 3 shifts in a factory. That I only get 2 weeks to leave I can book my self. So time for me is very precious. I would go to NYC to film.

We are now in 2020, and in this year we endure this COVID Pandemic. Like many of the Nation I was put on to Furlough. My first reaction was 2 weeks off I’m going to work on my film. This turned into 13 weeks, which then turned into a Redundancy.

Over the period I had no idea I would not be returning to work, So I buried my head into my film I would start editing from 4 am until about 7pm every day where discovering Zoom I would do sessions with the likes Jay King, Andy Higgs, Force, Coombes, Ray West, Keith, Cutmaster Swift, A.dee, Xzibet Blak, Dexter, and Luis Tineo ,the Legion,DJ Disk Johnny Juice, Cassandra, Donna She Rock, Gary Devastate, Sparkii, Rhettmatic, Neil Armstrong Marc Davis, Dug Infinate, Casanova Rud, Finley Bradford and a number of others where we would review the day’s edits or the film.

We would discuss the scenes and how to improve the film. We identified what was missing and looked towards who needs to be contacted to give the film what it’s missing.

This went on every single day for a minimum of 9 weeks solid. To a point, I just continued my self whilst learning about me losing my job.

One of the questions that kept coming up was how is this film going to be released. There are over 20 years of film in it. I have made two parts both 2.5 hours long. I have considered turning it to episodes. Which in the past I was against but seeing how streaming has evolved especially in this period it logically makes perfect sense to make it into a series.

I had booked a ticket to NYC leaving May 1^st. Which of course was canceled by the airline. So I have a credit on that ticket. Jazzy Jay reached out for a screening of the film after we discussed my situation and that both him and his wife Broadie’s got my back to return to NYC to tie up the film.

In the period I also let it be known I was looking for someone to come in and do an audio mix. I’m very grateful to Elliot Vaughan for rising to the Task. He is a very experienced engineer who has worked on many broadcast projects in the past.

Within the first 3 weeks of the Covid period, I produced 2 new trailers. The day I completed the first trailer was the first day I began to hear of friends passing on. My dear friend Micheal Lewington who lived across the street from my parents who the first family we got to know when we arrived here. He was a man that put me onto so many good Jazz records. Also, Passing was the son of my good friend Grand Master Caz who is in my film. That was the beginning. In those 8 weeks I lost 3 family members, (RIP my mother in law Elana Antonio) and 5 friends including TY.

When that happens and it all happens at once. It only makes you question your own mortality. This Covid is serious and it can be any one of us. This is one of the main reasons I chose to put this trailer out. Time is very precious and I must get this film done and out just in case it’s my turn next. If I don’t do this then I would never have achieved what I wanted.

I had to get in contact with Grand Master Caz and Preemo to make sure they were on board and still remember me as they were filmed many years ago. Maybe they forgot me. I was delighted and overwhelmed that they still believed in me and remembered me. Granting me the permission to go ahead with the film.

I have gone through some battles to make this film but honestly, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, close friends, and the many Artists who always supported me, although at times I feel alone. I would honestly not be here if it was not for you. For 2 years I woke up every morning wanting to die but having this, keeping myself busy making my music, helping others, working on my film does not give me the time to think of the bad things.

I would like to present one trailer. So that you can see what is in the making. Thank you to everyone that really supported my work.

I did not film the drone shots.  Id love to get them done though.

2 months ago we released the Album by Si Spex – Two Sides of Barry. For those who purchased the LP would see that mentioned on the Press Release, there was a private link to this film.

We decided due to the current situation and epidemic that we would now make this film available to the public as we have found our selves in a time where streaming film is at an all-time high.

What we present is a behind the scenes look at the project from the King of the beats Perspective.  Back in 1993  I met both Si Spex and Juliano from The Creators in Birmingham’s legendary spot Samebeat Records.  I was introduced to them by Damian who along Steve ran the store.   At that time I had already started my journey digging and sampling records.  It didn’t take long to realize that they were out of my league.

There knowledge and dedication to their art surpassed me.  It was the likes of them and Mark B that inspired me to go harder at it.

Years Later when I started filming people working on their craft we worked together on my project the King of the Beats, which was originally a film.  Both me and Si Spex kept in touch and maintained contact,  which years later led to this project.

I would like to thank all those who supported the project.  From purchasing it to all those who helped behind the scenes.

We apologize for the delays.   All items have been shipped today for all orders between 23.03.20 to 14.04.20.

So while Diamond D was on tour, we were able to take some of his time to review the New Album by Barry Beats on King of the Beats.  Barry himself played the lp to the legendary DITC Producer.

Barry explains in detail how he put some of the tracks together.  Tune in and see what Diamond D had to say.  If you have not got your copy order yours now.

We would like to thank everyone for the orders.  All items ordered up to the 23.03.20 have been shipped.  We would like to make a statement due to the current Government status regarding the movement in the UK.  Please accept our apologies for the delays in orders being shipped out.

We are now shipping orders.  We would like to thank all those that have supported the project so far making pre-orders.  My Self, Si Spex and the KOTB crew not to forget the team at AM Screenprint and Viynl Presents have worked hard together to present this superb package from one of the UKs finest producers.  If you have not ordered your copy yet go to shop here get yours now.

We at King of the Beats pride our selves on putting together more than just a lp, we are dedicated to putting together projects that capture the artists through the Medium of Sound, Audio and Visual.  Hip Hop Preservation.

We have changed our strategy on this project for future projects.  With the LP also now comes an exclusive film capturing an alternative behind the scenes look at how the LP Package was made.

Si Spex AKA Barry Beats, formally from the group The Creators who took part in 2 of the King of the Beats films releases his first solo LP with us.  Presenting 2 Sides of Barry. An instrumental beat voyage in 2 parts

Pre Order your copy here. 

PRE ORDER BONUS ve hypothetically come from.

We are planning a February release.  This is a Limited Edition Pressing.  Peep the fantastic trailer from the man himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNyU43iND4&t=1s

And if you haven’t heard the album check it out on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5V8aETP67vXNep3476O8MA

11^th October 2019 was the day that we took at trip to Hitchens, the destination Vinyl Presents, the Record Pressing plant. 

I was joined by long time associate and friend Kev Decosta and label partner Tha 4Orce.  On this occasion, we were accompanied by photographer Stuart Myers.  Those that follow the site may remember him from earlier in the year.  We worked on a project together.  I was looking for a photographer that could document our journey making records.

I have this vision and idea of what I wanted to capture and Stuart demonstrated on our last trip out that he had the eye, the technical skills, the passion and desire for his craft that I was looking for.  We were on the same page.

So 9:45 am we met at my home to embark on the day’s road trip.  Ahead of us was a 2-hour drive

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The 11th was the day we went to press the new release on King of the Beats Records.  TR Love’s In Street Concentration.  The task was the pressing of the LP than the assembly of the package.  All the components for the record come from different suppliers.  So instead of being printed at the plant in one place a lot of the items such as the Book, the press picture and 45 have been manufactured over the year in different places.

When we arrived we was met by Phil East, he has over 25 years of experience pressing records and today manages the plant. On this day he was personally pressing our LP.  The first 3 hours of his day was spent mixing the color of the lp.  We wanted something to match the cover and the autumn theme with the rusty orange leaves.

The plant its self is a relatively new site and the technology and machinery used to make the records is very new.  The new machines designed by Vinyl  Tech a Canadian company has changed the way records are pressed today.  Faster with less scrap.  Geared towards manufacturing for the independents.  Labels like our selves.

We found our selves a table and set up shop to assemble the new release.  What was interesting that I was able to video call TR and give him a live tour of the factory also showing him his LP being pressed.

At King of the beats, all of us involved have our fingers, input on every aspect of the project.  For me as a kid it was a dream to make a record. 25 years later here we are making them, producing them, creating the artwork, distributing them and also manufacturing them ourselves.

What we do isn’t easy to think we started this label by doing an event called king of the beats saving the door money and putting into a label pressing 45s to what we are doing now.

Tha 4Orce

The purpose of bringing Stuart was to capture and document our journey so that when finally this label clicks and gets the notice and can be put on the platform it deserves there will be a body of work and visual documentation that is there to tell our story. Who was involved in how we accomplished our goals with next to nothing.  This is a label built on passion experience and dedication.  All those involved have a vision and using our skills work together so that we can present the best version of ourselves and the artists we represent.

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We would like to thank Stuart Myers armed with a range of Cameras from Digital, Medium Format and a 35mm for his time and energy.

To follow up both Moe Loves LP and this years earlier release Dicemans ‘The Power Of Now’, we at King of the Beats are very proud to release the 3^rd lp from the Looking for the perfect beat series.  From the legendary group the Ultramagnetic M.C’s TR Love Presents ‘In Street Concentration’.

Imagine being a fly on the wall in Ced Gee Ultra lab as the group worked, experimented and developed their sound.  They contribution to Hip Hop was part of its Evolution.  TR Love presented a tape cassette that was recorded at the time.  It documents through the hands eyes and ears of TR LOVE his versions of some of the tracks that later appeared on the Iconic Classic ‘Critical Beatdown’. 

Some of his ideas that never made it too the album but as important, this lp gives examples of his mind state and vision as a programmer and beatmaker.

They helped create the blueprint, they changed the direction of hip hop music alongside producers like Marley Marl, 45 King and Jazzy Jay they pushed the boundaries of sample based music.

Here we present a behind the scenes look at the manufacturing of the record.  We would like to thank long time supporters Kev DaCosta and photographer Stuart Myers that joined me on the trip to the pressing plant.  Tha 4Orce for not just working on the LP but coming down to work with me pressing and packing the LP.  We are truly independent label,  From creating artwork, graphics photography and video.  We are involved in every process from original concept to delivering the end product to the market place.  We are the artists, delivering special packages direct to the consumer.

King of the Beats evolved over the years and changed its direction whilst working on tha 4Orces LP ‘Setting Standards’.  We decided to set the standard when it comes to creating a package that allows us not to just deliver musically but to equally deliver on visuals.

We would like to thank the Pressing Plant for allowing us to come in and film.  Phil East for his time and patience.  Breakbeat Lou, Marc Davis, Chris Malbon who all contributed to the film above.

We would like to thank everyone for your support.  Buy the LP here.