born with a dope affliction . . . . . . .

In 1987 a young Duke walked into Buzby’s Night Club in London's Charing Cross Road, this was to be the
night that would change Dukes life forever.

It was the night after the D.M.C. World Championships at the Hippodrome and Hip Hop fever was gripping London like it
never had before.  The after-party was in full swing and many up and coming heads were in the house, Derek B, Lyndon C, Trevor Nelson, DJ Bizzness (or spider as he was known then) and DJ Pogo, the list was endless, even Westwood was there, glasses and moustache in full effect.

During one of the DJ’s sets an M.C. from Nottingham stepped up to let everybody know that he had won the D.M.C. M.C. battle and that he would battle anybody in the House.  Big mistake!  Duke although known as being the UK Hi-tech Breaking and Body Popping Champion also dabbled in the art of M.C.ing.  Needless to say the M.C. from Nottingham was destroyed to the cheers of the crowd as Duke dismantled him from his shoes to his hair cut.

Unknown to Duke, Derek B had just been signed to Music of Life Records and he asked Duke to meet him at the Company’s first home in Hanway Street, W1.  The following day Duke arrived, Derek B was late and whilst waiting Duke met Simon Harris who asked if he had a Demo, which Duke did not, but he was ready to rap live and did!  The contract was drawn up and signed within days.

 

Duke went on to become acclaimed as Best British performing artist of the Decade by Hip Hop Connection readers and was ranked as the number three M.C. in the world by the same magazine.  Duke also toured with Public Enemy, Demonboyz, LL Cool J, She Rockers, Eric B & Rakim, Einstein, KRS One, London Posse, Monie Love, Salt & Pepper, Mark the 45 King, and Sinead O’Connor, who even name-checks Duke on one of her albums.

Whilst touring, Duke regularly rocked the show to the dismay of many big American Artists who were headlining one night, but then found themselves supporting Duke at their next shows together.  Ask Mark the 45 King and K.C. Flight to name just a few!

Duke also found time to produce up and coming Rap artists from all over England for the release of the ground breaking ‘Royal Family’ Album. 

He also recorded a track for Ruby Turner’s Greatest Hits Album and had a track with Norman Jay for Global Village (Polydor).  Many samples of Duke’s hit record, I’m Riffin, appeared on various tracks from its release to the present day and no doubt will continue to do so as the Rap was the quality of nothing heard in England before!

 

From this Duke went onto produce music for labels like ‘Shut Up and Dance’ and ‘Suburban Base’ before launching his own labels ‘Hard Disk’ and Bluntly Speaking.’ 

After a two-year break from the game Music of Life approached Duke for a new album, this would have been his fourth for the Music of Life Label.

No other artist in the history of Music of Life has ever been asked to do this. At the same time a producer friend who had a record deal with the world renowned Norman Cook who has previously released a breakbeat album with Music of Life, asked Duke to work on his album for Norman’s Sony Distributed Label ‘Southern Fried’.  Although Duke needed to work on his own album, he agreed.  ‘Space Cowboy’ went on to have an incredible hit!  With three tracks on his album featuring MC Duke! 

Duke then went back to recording his fourth album, but his time he decided to revive the well know Royal Fam crew title from his second album for Music of Life. 

This meant going out and looking for the best of the best!  Look out for the next step in the Royal Fam saga coming to you soon.

 

Tracks available soon:
Free/I don’t care anymore
Miracles
I’m Riffin
The Final Conflict
Organised Rhyme (The Album - see below)
Sweet Power
Royal Male (E.P.)
Return of the Dredi (The Album - see below)

     

And many new and unreleased cuts available soon . . . . . . .

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