How the UK changed Hip-Hop Forever

How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever

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Music: Hip Hop, RnB & Dancehall: Hip Hop

How The UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever

Ashley Walters explores the UK's influence on hip-hop.

British actor and rapper Ashley Walters explores the UK's influence on hip-hop.

To mark hip-hop's 50th anniversary this year, this series explores the UK's influence on hip-hop. From foundational British artists to the unexpected encounters that influenced a generation, each episode will tell the story of a surprising but significant link between the UK and a key moment in hip-hop history.

Each episode starts with a key moment. We'll then reveal the UK involvement through key interviews and archive moments, and ask why it matters now.

How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever: 3. The Ruler

3. The Ruler

BBC Radio 1Xtra - How the UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever, 3. The Ruler

Ashley Walters tells the story of one of the world’s most sampled records.

Did you know one of the world’s most sampled rappers is British?

What do Robbie Williams, Snoop and Miley Cyrus have in common? They all sample the same song, Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick’s La Di Da Di.

La Di Da Di is one of the most sampled records of all time, with artists still borrowing Slick Rick’s distinctive vocals, lyrics and ad libs for their own tunes nearly 40 years later. And one of the things that made Rick the Ruler’s vocals distinctive was his accent… because he was born in Mitcham. 

An instant classic when it dropped, La Di Da Di was also sampled by two of the biggest East and West Coast rappers at the height of the East/West divide within a couple of years of each other. But Rick wasn’t around to see the reaction.

This is the story of one of the first great British-born rappers who continues to influence hip hop right up until today.

In this episode we hear from Slick Rick, hip-hop journalist Elliott Wilson (Rap Radar), rapper Cookie Pryce, Romesh Ranganathan and Mark Ronson.

Archive in this episode:
Slick Rick on BBC Radio 1Xtra
Mark Ronson: How Sampling Transformed Music: TED Talk

Presenter: Ashley Walters
Producer: Emily Dicks
Written by Emily Dicks
Technical production: Ant Danbury
Additional production: Dari Samuels, Tommy Dixon and Zayna Shaikh
Editor for BBC Audio: Andy Worrell
Commissioning producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan
Commissioner for BBC Music: Will Wilkin
A BBC Audio production

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