Some years back before the pandemic myself and 4orce started an event in Birmingham at the venue Alfie Birds which was once the Medicine Bar a very influential location throughout the 90s. We were also joined by DJ Spara former DMC champion and others.  

4orce had previously been working very closely with Creator Leke Adesaye (RIP) the man behind the Junglist Movement brand.  Together they created the HIP HOP Movement brand a spinoff of the Junglist one.  At a point Force wanted to put together a event / club night where we just get to play the music taking into account our roots and skills and abilities on the turntables. 

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Both of us love to digging for records, we both love traditional styles of DJing, cutting up doubles and scratching, both of us have produced records, 4orce is a very accomplished producer.  I had my brand ‘king of the beats’ which is very rooted in all of the above.  We have been doing this since we were children.  Together we agreed to come up with a new name and identity for the events and 4orce came with the name Absolute Hip Hop which was based on the Absolute Vodka brand.  The idea being was to aim for a sponsorship or collaboration in the future.  The name itself highlighted our passion for everything that makes hip hop all the music the influenced the culture. 

Individually we are influenced by many very different types of music but through the medium of hip hop and the way the traditional hip hop dj plays music very easily we are able to fuse the sounds to create in my eyes a very brilliant and individual soundscape.  

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We do not follow trends pay attention to what other djs are playing.  We go with our truths and personal feelings giving the listener a journey into music through from our personal pallet or crates you may say. 

When Alfie Birds closed, we then did a few pop up events at the records store ‘The Diskery’ and one or 2 events at the Hockley Social Club.

Force has always had a relationship with the label BBE long before he met me.  He was the only UK artist to be featured as part of their ‘Beat Generation’  sharing the stage with artists such as Dilla, Marley Marl, Jazzy Jeff and Pete Rock to name a few.  

Together we did two record release events at the BBE stores.  The original location and the new one.  Since those times 40rce has maintained his relationship with the BBE team. 

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This is a our passion, we are motivated and driven not just by music but everything that surrounds it the creativity the culture and the community and family built over years meeting people who have a similar mindset or compelled and gravitate to our energy.  This has been formed over years of activity.  

So when 4orce approached the BBE Store to put on an event they agreed.  Although midweek for now dedicated hip hop nights are not what they do, even though a lot of hip hop DJs do and have played there.

For those that don’t know too much about BBE and what it means to play there.  I would say from someone living outside of London that its really a very prestigious place to play. Some of the most respected DJs in black origin music play there.  It’s a hugely respected internationally known location.  As a label they have been behind close to 500 releases.   That’s a mammoth amount considering they are a indie label.  They don’t let anyone just play there. 

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Although we have done events previously at BBE.  What we are doing as Absolute Hip Hop this was our second event in the last 5 months.  Our first event London DJ both Mr Higgs and Mr Parker played.  Both of them have been actively djing in London for decades and are considered family. Check out their regular events at Brixtons Chip Shop. This goes back to what I said earlier in  regards to building a community over years.  Both of them are outstanding DJs who should be followed and checked out.  What can I say about the events.  Although we have been involved in a lot of projects and have a lot of output we are not part of the trendy community.  We exist on actual skills and ability and truth.

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We have had some truly incredible DJS who have taken the time out to join us for our events just to come and listen and relax, a nice night off for them,  that’s been for me very motivating and shows the love and deeper respect shared between us all as a community.  Some great artists have passed through.  Huge respect to 4Orces family that join us.  There is a small crew of dedicated people who make the effort to come out on a midweek evening who Im pleased to know that they enjey what we do. 

What we are aiming to build and grow here is an event where guests can be truly free to showcase their passion for music through the hip hop landscape of music and turntable skills. To be clear we do not get paid to do this event or charge anyone on the door.  This event has given us the opportunity to replant some seeds and help rebuild a community rooted in some very primitive and simple values.  As a label we are able to bring some of records and sell them to help get our music out there. 

At our last event Normski passed through.  He and 4orce have been friends since the early days.  This is a man who played a massive, monumental role in our music and culture.  One of the greatest photographers of our genre.  Influenced me for sure.  This is what we are seeing.  Truly great influential artists and DJs joining us for a night off.  I only wish that people can catch on to what we are doing and join us.  Don’t expect the rap top 20 always played records.  We are very aware of the BBE brand and what we do might be a little bit different, but we are about playing records in a way that we have seen that old formula passed on by the likes of Jazzy Jay and others works. 

We are grateful and thankful to all those that have been to our events and have supported us. 

If there is a Birmingham venue that would be interested in working with us to bring the Absolute Hip Hop Experience to their location. Get in touch.

Big thanks to Cristina Kalsi for the photographs