Chrome Kids celebrate 2 years since our initial arrival as the ‘digitally mutated bastard offspring of Hip-hop’. Since the blog started in August 2008 to chart the rise of ‘post Hip-hop’ electronic music such as Glitch hop, Aqua Crunk and Future Blap it has grown into a DJ crew consisting of Welsh Dubstep supremos Monky and Stagga alongside myself (Kaptin). It’s been a great couple of years and we’ve recorded mixes for BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1Xtra amongst others, had our Elbow bootleg championed by Rob Da Bank and Colin Murray and rocked the Glastonbury Festival two years in a row with a sound which, like the blog, has grown to incorporate the ever blurring boundaries of Dubstep, UK Funky, Grime and Future Garage.
For the birthday party we have some of the artists who are making us most excited at the moment.
Blue Daisy (Black Acre)
The latest sensation from the Black Acre stable (Von D, Martlow, Akira Kiteshi) who strives to be a ‘representation of individuality’ and he’s not doing too badly. His beautifully crunchy digital ‘crackle inspired mutant funk music’ is packed full of meaning and emotion and has gathered praise from all corners of the bass music world. Mary Anne Hobbs in particular is a big fan, inviting the Camden dweller into the BBC Radio 1 studios for a mix and interview early on in his career.
Benjamin One
Who has cropped up many a time on the pages of Chrome Kids and his crooked bass driven productions have seen him sharing the stage alongside the likes of Glitch Mob, Anti Pop Consortium, Gaslamp Killer and Blackalicious. Ben was also featured on the DJ Shadow remix CD and is part of the Vertebrae crew alongside Awkward.
Friday 27th August: DJ Krust – Belief System (Benjamin One Remix) by cardiffartsinstitute
Monky
Part of the Chrome Kids family and an active force on the Cardiff scene since his turntablist days with Optimas Prime, he truly found his calling however with the advent of Dubstep. Both him and long term partner in Prime – Stagga, have developed sounds that are unique to the scene and have gained them a strong reputation, with Radio 1 plays from the likes of Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens. With a sound that is hard to pin down and floats around the outskirts of Dubstep and into the future, Monky has a lot of love from the scene’s heavy hitters such as N Type and Starkey and if recent shows in the US are anything to go by, there’s a definite worldwide appreciation for the sound he’s bringing.
Mr Healan
Starting in Cardiff’s Drum N Bass scene under the name Haze he was resident DJ alongside High Contrast at nights such as Silent Running and Enthusiasm, he has a great ear for subs and drum patterns and has definitely taken in the journeys of Hip-hop’s post Dilla producers as well as the current Dubstep generation. He has recently cropped up on Rinse FM, Sub FM and BBC 1Xtra, staking his name into the general arena like a flag in a battle zone.
Kaptin
Yes moi…Chrome Kids helmsman, part time DJ, semi-retired rapper and full time party provider.
