Blade - Mind Of An Ordinary Citizen / Forward mp3 album

I remember reading a review around the time this was released (I think it was in "Jocks" magaxine - remember that one?) where the reviewer wrote something like "if you went to New York with all this speeded-up UK Hip-Hop, they would laugh at you". The article was clearly referring to tracks such as "Forward" and similar tracks by other UKHH artists.Needless to say, I could see the future, so I thought to myself "let them laugh if they want, if they don't like it, they can **** off!". The origins of breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum & bass were only just appearing, and it was those faster-than-average UKHH tracks which were influencing this scene. And as U.S. Hip-Hop became more "gangsta" and less conscious/fun, I was moving away from it - bragging about the number of bitches/gold chains/dollars you had, or the number of drive-bys you had done, told me nothing about living in the run-down city I lived in back then, so I was getting increasingly fed up with U.S. rappers. But it didn't matter: the UK was producing a fair bit of good hip-hop anyway, which I could relate to, as well as the constant developments within the rave scene. So in amongst my house, techno and early breakbeat hardcore records, I would find this one. While Side 1 is not one of the fast tunes I referred to above, it's one of the early masterpieces of UKHH, with superb rapping, beats, and lyrics I could identify with. Flip the 12" over, and it's a manic scratch-fest courtesy of DJ Renegade - if this tune doesn't make you want to put your hands on the decks and start pulling a record backwards and forwards, then nothing will.It's hard to say which side is better, as the two sides are quite different, but both out-and-out classics. If I could give this 12" six stars, I would. One of my best records of 1990 (and what a year THAT was!), and still a firm favourite today.

great uk hip hop,amazing mic controller,superfresh production and serious scratches! a 12" you must have....big respect to Dj renegade blade2000adeefreshness...

Bought this 12 from Blade himself, at the junction of Carnaby Street & Beak Street. He'd been turned away from Red Records on Beak Street, where he was attempting to get them to stock it.

Can't Forget the A Side!! one of THE UK hip hop anthems. Remember first hearing it on Max N Dave and my mind being blown. Another essential from Blade

Forget the A side the B side is the killer cut on this 12"!! Fast and furious lyrics from Blade coupled with wicked scratching from Dj Renegade make this one of the finest UK hip hop tracks ever produced. They dont make em like this anymore!!