Trevor, aka Flinty Badman, and David, aka Deman Rocker — became known as MCs as part of North London’s Unity sound system and began operating as the Ragga Twins in 1989. Throughout 1992, they issued an array of 12″ singles through the self-named label run by Shut Up & Dance (who also did the production work), along with the album Reggae Owes Me Money (1991). These releases, containing tracks like “Illegal Gunshot,” “Spliffhead,” and an early featured role on Shut Up & Dance’s “Lamborghini,” were bold steps forward, fiercely energetic mutations of dancehall, hip-hop, and jungle. They resurfaced in 1995 on EMI with releases like “Freedom Train” and “Money,” they also compiled a second album, Rinsin Lyrics (1995). A number of singles appeared during the early 2000s, and in 2008 the Soul Jazz label compiled Ragga Twins Step Out, which focused on the Shut Up & Dance era.
Tune in on Tuesday 21st August from 20:00-22:00 with DJ Kane
