10 Classic Rave Tracks Played by DJ Hype from 1988-1994

One of the best scratch DJs in British dance music history is DJ Hype. If there’s one DJ who brought turntable trickery to the early dance music scene, it was him. Not only is he a former UK DMC champion, he’s also a great music producer.

However, most people remember DJ Hype for his belting jungle and drum and bass years when they think of him. But he was already mixing and scratching well before that. He played many banging tunes before the jungle years; tracks that don’t get much attention these days.

And that’s what we’re going to cover in today’s blog post, namely tracks which he played in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Now here’s a warning and disclaimer: This is not meant to be a definitive list. It’s just my opinion and opinions are subjective. I write these articles to revisit past eras and spotlight overlooked areas of the early rave scene.

If you’d like to add anything to this article, just add a comment below. I always respond to comments and I love to talk music.

Early Career

DJ Hype (real name Kevin Ford) is a British turntablist, DJ, and record producer. Born in London in 1968, he began his music career in the 1980s. His foray into the music world started as a teenager in 1982. Based in East London, he lent his skills to PJ and Smiley’s sound system project, Heatwave. This collaboration ultimately evolved into the renowned entity known as Shut Up and Dance.

In 1989, DJ Hype joined a famous pirate radio station in London, where he quickly gained popularity due to his innovative sets and scratching skills. Around this time, he also began producing tracks, co-producing tracks like “The Bee” and “£10 to get in” with the Scientist.

In 1993, he released his first breakbeat hardcore single, “Chopper,” on Suburban Base Records. This underrated gem helped establish him as a prominent figure in the UK music scene.

Throughout the early 1990s, Hype continued to produce and release successful tracks, including “Shot in the Dark,” “Roll the Beats,” and “Peace, Love and Unity.”

He also collaborated with other prominent artists, such as Ganja Kru and DJ Zinc.

In 1994, Hype founded his record label, Ganja Records, which became one of the most influential labels in the drum and bass scene. The label released some of the most iconic tracks of the jungle and early drum & bass genres, including “Super Sharp Shooter” by Ganja Kru and “Fade Away” by Dopestyle.

Hype’s contribution to the development of early breakbeat hardcore, jungle, and drum & bass music cannot be overstated. He helped shape the sound of the genre and influenced countless artists and DJs who followed. Legend is an understatement.

DJ Hype Scratching

Below is some footage of the great man scratching. Sorry about the quality, it’s hard finding clear footage of him in action.

How to scratch like DJ Hype

I’ve been asked in the past how DJ Hype scratches. His cuts are fairly simple but he’s a master of using simple cuts exceptionally well. If you look at his crossfader control it’s fairly basic. A lot of this (i think stems) from the fact that Hype developed his craft decades ago when there was no such thing as dedicated scratch mixers. He started scratching when many DJ mixers didn’t even have cross faders and DJ’s had to use the up faders.

Anyway below are a couple of videos I’ve found which highlight some of his techniques:

Tracks DJ Hype Played between 88-94

Most DJ Hype fans are aware of the jungle and drum & bass the man played. But we’re now going to look at some of the stuff he was playing before his jungle days.

Now this is just a small section of tracks that the man played around 88-94. It’d be impossible to list every tune he played from that era. But what I want to achieve with this article is to highlight some of the lesser-known tunes which Hype played during those formative years.

1. Acen – Trip II The Moon – Part 1

Acen (real name Syed Ahsen Razvi) was a hardcore breakbeat producer most widely known for his tracks which were released on Production House label. “Trip II The Moon – Part 1” by Acen was a very popular breakbeat hardcore track from 1992.

It’s a record which has aged well. I still like to play this tune out today, resulting in people losing it on the dancefloor. It’s a fast record clocking in over 140BPM, but by 1992 a lot of the music coming from the South was speeding up. And you can start to hear that jungle just starting to break through.

Memorable bits of this track: The start – easily recognizable, the pounding beats, and finally the amazing piano breakdown. Hell, this tune has a great breakdown which is still effective today. Class tune. Probably, IMO, the best tune by Acen.

2. Blame – Music Takes You

A track which still hold up well today. And another track which can be heard heralding the oncoming jungle sound around the time of its release. Conrad – the producer of this track – made this tune when he was 17 and was instantly signed. The legend Rob Playford (Moving Shadow) was also involved in the production of this track.

3. The Ragga Twins – Shine Eye

Early ragga breakbeat stomper. And another Ragga Twins classic on the ”Shut Up and Dance” label. The Ragga Twins produced some cracking tracks over the years. They really do deserve much more recognition.

This track features a heavy bassline and fast-paced vocals that are typical of the ragga jungle sound. Also it uses a cheeky sample of Geneside II’s “Naramine” (one of the best breakbeat hardcore tunes ever).

4. Dance Conspiracy – Dub War

Dub war is a great example of an early proto ragga jungle track. If you speed it up to about 150 BPM is sounds like jungle.

This track made heavy use of the classic sample by “The Lafayette Afro Rock Band” and their track “Darkest Light”. This is a track which has been used in many hip-hop, RnB, breakbeat hardcore, dance, pop, jungle, D&B, tracks. Suffice to say it was sampled a lot in the 90s and 00s.

The lacquer cut was also done by Porky.

5. Meat Beat Manifesto – Radio Babylon

A track that’s a real mish mash of sample which just work. Not only that, but it became a timeless classic, and a record you still hear today.

The track is famous for its use of a live Cheryl Lynn Live:

https://youtu.be/QAJQ4n_qxNY?t=481

And it also sampled Boney M:

https://youtu.be/ZAKf1W7Bowc?t=42

The track also has a very memorable and catchy baseline which was then sampled by many other great records.

A very famous record which samples the bass of this track was Future Sound of London’s – Papua New Guinea.

Radio Babylon features on this oldschool mix of mine if you want to grab yourself a copy. Click here for a download.

6. Code 4 – Ecstasy II

Catchy breakbeat techno white label. Samples a lesser-known K-Klass tune namely “Loafman”. And “Smart Systems – Tingler”. Which is another breakbeat stormer on the Jumpin Pumping Label.

I think “Smart Systems” is another pseudonym of Future Sound of London. It was released solely as a stamped white label, but the pressing has got its fair share of niggles. The main complaint being the dodgy mastering – especially that pesky weak left channel on the A side. However, despite its technical faults the track is a proper “oldskool belter”, capturing the very essence of the breakbeat techno from that era. Bottom line: “Code 4 – Ecstasy” is a must-listen for anyone up for loves music of that era.

7. Numbers & Feelings – So Lonely

Numbers & Feelings – “So Lonely”, is a moody House and Techno track from 1991. Released under Be.S.T. Records in the Netherlands, the track boasts of three impressive versions: “Techno Blanc Work”, “Beautiful Kilimanjaro Work”, and “Everest Soul Work”, each clocking over 7 minutes.

To sum it up, “Numbers & Feelings – So Lonely” is a good example of the weirder techno/house from that era. And it just goes to show some of the different stuff DJ Hype was playing around then. In fact, many DJs were playing a mixture of stuff back then as the dance scene hadn’t really split into the more commonly known genres which we know today. Also, there wasn’t as much music available to play so DJs couldn’t create their own signature style as easily.

8. Circuit Breaker – Experiments In Sound

Late 1991 acid techno track made by Richie Hawtin. This 12″ was playable at 33 and 45 RPM. When released it marked a period when European techno was evolving and was getting harder and faster.

Also, many artists started using multiple ‘k’s in their track spellings (tekkkkkkno) – the more ‘k’s the more techno! The record itself is a mixture of acid and straight euro sounding techno.

“Open Your Mind” stood out for its dark, acidic nature, very similar sound to early Underground Resistance tracks.

Meanwhile, “Overkill” sounds very much like Hardfloor’s “Acperience 1” Personally, I prefer this track, I always thought Acperience was too long and overrated.

This is a good EP, it’s doubtful you’ll hear it much these days. Never mind someone like DJ Hype playing. But back then there was less music to play, the scene had only just started to fragment, and DJs were more up for playing anything.

9. F.U.S.E – Substance Abuse

F.U.S.E stands for Further Underground Sound Experiments, and it’s another name used by techno legend Richie Hawtin. Probably one of the biggest and widely known techno tracks of all time. And it’s a track which you still hear today. It’s aged very well and still sound raw.

The leading track, “Substance Abuse,” stands out for its drugged-filled intensity and deep, haunting soundscapes – proper acid techno.

“F.U.2 (Re-Edit)” is very similar sounding to Hawtin’s Circuit Breaker (above), particularly resembling “Overkill” with its signature acid sound and echoing claps. Many say that this track was Hawtin’s answer to Beltram’s Energy Flash.

10. Problem House – Party People

“Problem House – Vol. II,” released in 1991 under the excellent Hithouse Records, is a great example of early ’90s Belgian Techno. The EP has many great tracks but “Party People,” is the killer. It was a big track which got played everywhere and a track which still gets played today.

I’ve heard this being played at my local The Angels and Bowlers, I’ve heard it many oldskool nights over the years. It’s a track which has aged well.

The track includes a vocal sample from Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force’s ‘Planet Rock’ Produced and arranged by the late and great Peter Slaghuis, who was the founder of HitHouse Records. Sadly, he died in a car accident in 1991. His death was a real shame because he was an excellent producer, making music under a variety of aliases. If he was still around today it’d have been interesting to see what he would have accomplished.

I need to get a fresh copy of this record as some cunt nicked mine years ago.

The End

So, I hope you enjoyed my list of tracks Played by DJ Hype from 1988-1994. The aim of this list was to bring attention to some of the other stuff the great DJ played.

Obviously, he played many more tracks than the ones on this list. And please remember folks a list like this is subjective.

If you think I’ve missed anything just stick it in a comment below. I always reply?.

But I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with myself. Ta.

Keep on scratching.

James DJ Kippax