BRISTOL’S 45-spinning maestro Scott Hendy AKA Boca 45 has just released his Donuts 2020 LP.
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We caught up with him this week and asked him to compile and talk us through a playlist of his top 10 favourite golden-era hip-hop tunes for our listening pleasure.
The list includes music from Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Klan, Jurrasic 5 and more.
Fresh Mc’s – Fresh – Profile 1983
“This is the 1st Hip Hop tune i knew all the words to! In Bristol where i grew up we discovered Hip Hop via Electro Street Sounds Compilation Albums. I think this track was on the 1st Electro album i owned #3. An absolute classic which also had Davey DMX & Divine Sounds on it. To us it sounded like something from outer space and different to the pop music we were hearing in the mid 80s. It changed me forever.”
Marley Marl – Marley Marl Scratch – NIA 1985
“Following on the Electro/Street Sounds thread i discovered this track on Electro #8. It’s still one on my favourite Hip Hop joints of all time. It’s so tough and rugged and hasn’t dated at all. This would had been made using really primitive equipment. Marley Marl went on to form The Juice Crew which included MC Craig G who features on my new LP which makes me mighty proud.”
Beastie Boys – The New Style – Def Jam 1986
“I remember hearing about The Beasties at school. Everybody used to nick VW signs to wear around their necks. Non of the VWs in South Bristol had front badges! Initially they were seen as a novelty / joke beer swigging band (which they were) but there was so much more to them as this early track proves. All of the Beastie Boys LPs up to “Hello Nasty” are genius – totally inspirational to me.”
EPMD – Strictly Business – Sleeping Bag 1988
“EPMD flipped the script of the by the late 80s. Loops and big samples were in like the “I Shot The Sheriff” sample here. It was smooth but still tough. Parish & Eric Sermon worked so well of each other and the production sounded completely new paving the way for a brand new decade and era in Hip Hop.”
A Tribe Called Quest – Buggin’ Out – Jive 1991
“That Bass Line ! – “Yo Microphone Check, what is this” Phife Dog says?! Low End Theory was such a Revolutionary album. It was one of the 1st times I’d heard Jazz being incorporated in tracks yet sounding hard and heavy. I’ve heard people saying that this album was the “Sergeant Peppers Heart Club Band” for hip hop. I’d say that I agree with that. They set the bar so high for every body (including themselves) after this belter of an album.”
Gangstarr – Ex Girl To The Next Girl – Chrysalis 1992
“This track is lifted from my favourite Gangstarr LP “Daily Operation”. It’s mad that I didn’t know that there was a video for this jazz tinged track – I’d never seen that before searching for this article, it’s crazy what you find on Youtube ! Primo is totally inspirational to my productions and was untouchable as a producer through the 90s into the 00s. When Guru and Primo musical locked horns it was dangerous.”
Wu Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck – Loud 1993
“WU was a weird one for me. At the they time I didn’t get them. I’m not entirely sure why it just didn’t connect with me. But by the early 00’s when I’d started making my own productions i was listening closely with the genius of RZAs many WU related productions. It’s so wonky, the imperfections in music is what makes it interesting and RZAs beats are full of that. I would’ve chosen a whole host of WU / affiliated tracks but i’ve gone for Protect Ya Neck!”
Jurassic 5 – Unified Rebelution – Blunt 1995
By the mid 90s being a Hip Hop maniac I found by dream job working behind the counter at Bristols Hip Hop Emporium “Purple Penguin Records” on Colston St. I think that we discovered this record via an importer we’d buy Hip Hop Wax from in the USA which i remember Chris Manak working at who later became Peanut Butter Wolf & started Stones Throw Records. We sold 100s of this record in the shop & even imported it and sold it to other stores around the UK so i feel that Ben & Purple Penguin should take some credit for spreading the word of Jurassic 5!
Reflection Eternal – Fortified Live – Rawkus 1997
“Rawkus was another BIG label for us at Purple Penguin. It was rooted in NYC and had that Big Apple thump. I love this tune SO much! When I found out what the sample was (Tom Drunk) I completely flipped out. All of the MCs work so well together, it’s ruff, its raw, it’s everything I love about Hip Hop.”
Lootpack – The Anthem – Stones Throw 1998
“This was Madlibs 1st crew. To me Madlib is one of the greatest to do it. If you’ve not heard of him you MUST investigate he’s done so many beats and projects and it’s all killer. On this track he gets busy on the SP1200 sounds great on rhymes along with Wildchid. This still sounds completely FRESH although it’s 22 years old. It’s like a fine wine! Enjoy x”
Boca 45 – 2020 Donuts is available HERE.
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