Long before the Covid 18 Pandemic, We at King of the Beats started work on a project alongside L.A Posse / Main Source M.C Queens NYC legend Mikey D. 

We got about 6 tracks deep then, unfortunately, KOTB founder lost his job like many others in the Automotive Industry.  Mikey working on Pass The Torch Project took the reigns on the Project and set up his own distribution company and is putting out the project via his network.  Mikey has been super supportive and with his team locked in all the artwork created by Stevecasart. The Video was directed by Big Vegg. Photographer Calvin Smith all worked on the project.

This is one of the first beats I made for the project.  It sparked something off in Mikey.  On production is also Jay King who has produced the Follow-up Single, Look out for that.  We salute Mikey who has been putting in work behind the scenes with the help of  Rob Schwartz on this project.  Available on all Digital formats as of today.  Spotify Link here

These guys have been making some noise for a while in the big Smoke.  Djs Mr Higgs and Mr Parker have been holding court for a few years now.  It’s hard to drive through South London and not find a spot they haven’t played.

Andy Higgs and Graham Parker joined forces combining there knowledge and passion for music maintaining the old tradition of Hip Hop DJ culture.  Both of them are fantastic selectors and will always guarantee to play something that will have you digging for it the next day. They are not secretive in any way about what they play and will always be kind enough to give you the details on the tracks.  Their sets are made of records old and new. Playing you records that came out that week.  Anyhow, I have been to a few of their sessions and this week as I was in London I was invited to join the guys to play a set.  The venue Brixton’s now-infamous spot the Chip Shop.  This is a daytime event starting at 4pm which on this occasion continued almost to midnight (it was a late one). Thank God the Chip Shop is what it says a place that serves food.

Considering venues are limited we had a great turnout. From London Legend and En4orcer Crew member Billy Biznizz, Curoc from Son of Noise, Tom Dice from Don’t Bite Records and surprising us all DJ Rob Life of Breakin Bread fame made an appearance.

For when this country does open back up.   I would like hope that music lovers and followers of Hip Hop Culture, Breaks and samples.  Diggin Culture take the time out to check these guys.

I’m a couple days late on this, I had been away from my computer for 5 days.  The Main man returns with this outstanding mix.   I believe these are all beats produced by one of the best producers to come out of the UK.

Check out the video, support and share and of course purchase the LP 2 Sides of Barry by Si SPex on King of the Beats Records. 

That period of the 90s when B-boying came back.  One of the artists that caught my attention back then was the Dj Who went by the name Timber.  I had seen videos of him cutting up breaks for events, but in the heat of the moment, he would jump of the turntables and enter the circle. You could clearly see Timber was dedicated and passionate about this culture.

Years passed and we eventually crossed paths in Birmingham.  It was a pleasure meeting him.  What I like most about Timber is his dedication to this art form.  He went on his own journey. He is very independent and stands alone.  These are all traits of someone that has something special about them.  Now settled in Canada DJ Timber this week presents his Break Mix.  Its available to check out at his Band Camp.

Please check out his project Space Funk Here.

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.