Mantronix – The Album

Mantronix and Hashim were in a class by themselves. Nobody has ever come close.

This blew my mind when I was 13 I don't like hip hop any more but Mantronix was different. So ahead of the curve. Still sounds mindblowing 36 years later. Still my No 1 album ever doubt it will be knocked off.

I heard Needle To The Groove on Capital Radio's Mike Allen's Army On Manoeuvres show in 1985 when I was 12 and it was THE S**T. I bought this on vinyl in a record shop in Kingston Upon Thames after school, in my ridiculously coloured blazer, a week later. It was an import and, for the time, horrendously expensive (£15.99 or thereabouts, in 1985). I begged my Mum for the extra cash I needed. The West Indian guys who owned the shop pi**ed themselves at this little white kid in his school uniform splashing the cash for it. I'm sure my Mum regretted giving me the cash as she was subjected to it on a daily basis. Buying it is a very fond memory and it's still loved and looked after 33 years later. Now it's my wife who rolls her eyes when I play it. But, when Bassline starts, I just sit back and smile.

Hardcore Hip-Hop must be the most underrated jam by the Mantronix duo. I mean, seriously. What the heck?! Why is it never mentioned in reviews or comments? Futuristicly Electro in style, seriously old school hip hop in attitude, and most definitely hardcore-to-the-bone in of attitude, hardness, rawness and intensity. It's a 'KIN belter.

What can I say other than this and a few other LP's from the 80's were THE essence of Hip Hop. You look up Hip Hop in the dictionary and this album should be one of the few that is almost a perfect representation of the term. So many have copied this sound and the cool thing to me is Mantronix even influenced many House, Techno and break beat music forms from this album alone. The man the myth the legend...Mantronix.

If by any means you never heard this chef d'oeuvre, do not miss the chance to hear this quintessential album made by one of the masters of the old school Hip Hop Kurtis Mantronik and his companion MC Tee. Perfect for the break dance lovers, the tracks brings the roots of Hip Hop melted with electro-funk influences. "Needle To The Groove" is a shining example and perhaps the most important tune of this Long Play, even though "Bassline" is another massive hit of that time, specially edited by The Latin Rascals. The Mega-Mix, specially edited by The Diamond Two of Chet Nunez & Charlie Dee is also highly recommended.