This was drafted some time ago. It previously appeared on a now defunct site. A poor was to establish a new blog, but indicative of where this space will go – tackling genre’s, regional rap, and my favorite albums.
Much of my teen years were spent traversing a rough square from Mr. Bongo’s on Portland Street to Deal Real Records on Noel. A stop at Dark N Cold, tucked on D’Arbly about a block east of Blackmarket, rounded out the walk and together the three shops formed a living, breathing textbook on British rap music. Between the years 1996 and ’99 I found myself meeting members of 57th Dynasty, the turntablist Mr. Thing and the always entertaining Skinny Man. There were others, many to be fair, and each day brought more attention to a vibrant and bubbling scene resolute in its independence and eager for acceptance.
Rap, by nature, is rather ephemeral. Punch lines are driven by popular culture reference, immediacy privileged over lasting memory. There are times, clearly, where rap produces endearing, long lasting music, yet for the most part the hinges on a short burst collection of hits that captures attention for a few short weeks or months. The period of 96-99 had its great share of these tracks, but was capped by NEW MIC ORDER.
Partnering the duo Task Force, made up of brothers Chester P and Farma G, with producer/beat maker Mark B, New Mic Order, was released by Mark’s K-Boro imprint in the summer of ’99. Over eight full tracks, and a extended interlude, the brothers deliver a manifesto on the state of British rap. Chester and Farma are joined by short term collaborator Eno Red Rum, and MudFam bredren Skinny Man.
My introduction to Task Force had come via DJ Disorda’s mixtapes and PA tapes from the MUDLUMZ nights at Camden Lock. The recordings were largely informal. Chester P freestyles, enthralling as they were, did not prepare for the range of material on the album. The battle tracks were a given, but the intricate story telling and the introduction of a uniquely Task Force “day dream” style (more on this below) were unexpected. The breadth of style, approach and intent making New Mic Order .
Prior to New Mic Order, Mark B cut his chops working with DJ Vadim, and released the Hit Men For Hire LP in collaboration with rapper Blade. The backdrop he created for New Mic Order is fairly simple. Well paced drums and keys and sonic elements that assist in setting the perfect scene for a song’s content. As the record jacket suggest, Mark is presenting the MCs, and he provides a balanced theater for their performance.
Outdoing the competition plays a large role in the play. Chester, long noted for his freestyle and battle supremacy, there is not a single album or EP in the Task Force catalog that fails to have him flex competitive muscle. “The Lowdown Showdown,” “Brother’s McBane, “One Step Ahead,” all place the team at the pinnacle of raps competitive range. “Force the Resistance,” remains my personal favorite of the battle tracks on the record. Apart from the most winning quips, there is an underlying message that hip-hop is not about look, but spirit. A valuable reminder, and key to a UK scene that was populated, then and now, but a strong variety of characters.
Chester ends “Brothers McBane,” giving shine to the UKs biggest names. From his crew, the Mudlumz, to Bristol’s Aspects, few of the major figures in the scene are missed. His list is a past, present and future of UK rap, fitting on an album that pushes to promote true hip-hop values and make a call to arms for the UK scene.
What shines throughout the record is a reverence for all elements of hip-hop culture. Breakers, taggers, DJs and MCs all co-exist in Task Force’s world, none privileged over any other. This is testament to two things. The first, the brothers own upbringing in the culture. Having been members of Mudlumz and the Bury Crew, they are aware of the importance of mentors and learning the ropes. Why is this important? Because, in my mind, this aspect of hip-hop culture began to wain with the commercialization of the music. The dissolving of some of the core characteristics of early and roots hip-hop forms the catalyst for the New York rap “Renaissance” of the mid-late ‘90s, and Cincinnati’s Scribblejam. The London scene of that era mirrors American underground (sometimes in pure imitation, which I do not wish to get into here), with the elements consciously mingling.
Graffiti gets the most overt love of any of the elements (obviously, they are MCs so to say MCing gets the MOST love is a give). On New Mic Order, the brothers shift from an extended shout to London graf writers (“Writer’s Bench”) to a tale of a night’s painting. The sound of shaking can’s pepper the beat, as Chester and Farma prepare, embark and end a night of less than completely successful bombing. The honesty of their stories tempers the braggadocio of the battle raps. This approach has become something of a TASK FORCE hallmark, the songs from New Mic Order foreshadowing future efforts of social reality raps.
“Crime Waves,” most explicitly showcases the TASK FORCE method; clear, simple tales unhindered from the celebratory nature that plagues much of mainstream rap. Chester and Farma engage in simple crime, robbing a house, they are largely unsuccessful (they are, in fact, arrested), and despite the story being personal in nature, it speaks to a universal truth of social ills. The crux, crime doesn’t pay, but people need to eat. Ending with the repeated phrase, “At least we’ll get a proper meal behind bars,” the crime wave is humanized, a pointed rationale given to a criminal activity.
Throughout their careers, TASK FORCE have skillfully balanced a rare ability to approach rap from many of the key stylistic avenues. Story telling, reality rap, battling, these all fold into their output with one approach rarely outdoing the others. “Crime Waves” sets the scene for tracks like the “Junkyard” from Skitz’s Countrymen and “The City” on Chester’s recent solo effort. The brothers are not all talk, and behind the veneer of underground rap legend, Chester works to combat issues of social change, and has dreams of being London’s Mayor. I say this, mostly, to point to the fact that when Task Force spits “reality” raps, that is what they are. A true counter to coke fueled “reality” rap.
The keynote track of New Mic Order expresses a different reality all together. “It’s On You,” calls to arms the UK scene, promotes a do it yourself approach (this is really the TASK FORCE way), and bluntly says to other rappers in the mix, stop bitching. The late ‘90s were a time of hope for the British rap scene. Lots of talent bubbling, a belief that success for the whole was on the horizon. Yet, that was undercut by fear. The industry was against them. The outlets were not there. Radio ignored them. TASK FORCE take the logical step, fuck it its ours for the taking. Skinny Man, the lone outsider featured on the record, goes directly at the corporate machine, calling out MTV and others to support British hip-hop. The song clearly relates to direct issues of ’99, but the lessons speak to any period of major change in the recording industry.
That is what makes New Mic Order so great, the universality of theme. Separated from the other songs, as it is less overtly about hip-hop, “I WISH,” proves Task Forces capacity to produce endearing cuts without any connection to time or place. Much of UK underground rap suffers from too much malarky about the stars and the moon and metaphysics and so on and so forth. When Task Force hits the “day dream,” however, they manage to introduce something tangible. Experience with nature, as in “The Great Outdoors,” the title cut from their stellar Low Life released EP. “I WISH,” simply has the brothers, and Eno Red Rum, discussing what they want and what rather odd things they might do if wishes were available. Chester would become you to talk to him. Red Rum would have millions of fans. These are not wild wishes, and yet again their dreams are undercut by reality. Dreams don’t come true. The boys always remain grounded.
To place “classic” label on any record is an exercise in subjectivity. Of course, there are objective elements, aspects of the product that are easily quantifiable and speak to a level of excellence. Yet, in the end for each listener, no matter how technically good an album is, gut reaction will always trump what critics or others say. With “New Mic Order,” I have a gut reaction. It reminds me of a specific time, and somehow manages to relay a timeless feel too.
Track list:
one step ahead
i wish
brothers mcbane
the low down showdown
writers bench
Graforiginees
It’s On You
Crime Waves
Force the Resistence
