SKIBADEE & DJ SL | JUNGLE SET 1996 | KOOL FM

Artwork by Take Me Back Pirate Radio Archives. MC Skibadee began his rise to the fame around 1994, firstly getting noticed by DJ Ash-A-Tack and getting booked for Thunder & Joy, he was becoming a ravers favourite. It was there he struck a partnership with DJ Wildchild who got him on to Kool FM and the duo started doing shows to together in 1995. He elevated his career and developed his style. Growing from strength to strength. He came up under the wing of the late and great MC Stevie Hyper D. In the 90s Kool FM became a playground for the best MCs already showcasing the likes of MC Navigator, MC Moose, MC 5ive-0, MC Det, The Ragga Twins, MC Stevie Hyper D, MC Co Gee and MC Remadee. 1996 was a pivotal year for Skiba, not only was the Jungle sound shifting but the role of the MC commanded more skills and gained respect. MCs were rhyming at greater speeds and were continuously writing lyrics. All in all it was now a different game and the landscape of the scene had changed. In the years that followed Skibadee was getting booked for all the big raves like One Nation, Club Telepathy, Jungle Fever, Kool Skool ’96 (where Skiba first met MC Stormin (RIP)), Pure Science, Desire, Best Of British, Accelerated Culture, Heat, Designer Label Ball, Breakin’ Science and many other celebrated DNB nights. The likes of Shabba D and Shockin’ B had left Weekend Rush FM 92.3 to join Kool FM and their presence was felt. Skiba forged a partnership with them calling themselves the SASAS. Meanwhile his link up with MC Det was also turning heads and so the duo recorded and released their first UK Hip Hop Album 2x Times Freestyle with singles “Slowmo“ and “New Style Avengers (1998). The success of these two high profile MCs shot them to the top. With the sudden death of Hyper D there was now a vacuum left for competing MCs to challenge for the MC crown. He raised his game, writing catchy lyrics and increasing his speed. He was now one of the most devastating MCs on the mic in DNB and was idolised by other sub-genre MCs to the DNB scene like UK Garage, Grime and Dubstep. Inspiring the likes of MC Stormin, Harry Shotta, D Double E, Skepta, Durrty Goodz and others. Jungle underwent a transformation to dark techie drums and bass. MCs had now adapted their styles to work with this sound. A new breed of MCs were emerging and DNB was taking off internationally. Skibadee would join forces with DJ Ruffstuff, Funsta MC and Harry Shotta to form The UNCZ (The Uncontrolabelz) which some say was the precursor for the SASASAS. Also running the “MC Convention“ rave nights with Shabba D under the name of Highly Blessed, where MCs were drawing in crowds in their thousands. He went on to achieve UK chart success and international recognition with his vocal version of “Twist Em Out“ by Dillinja, in 2003. Things were growing from strength to strength. Skiba was now touring the world with scores of DNB fans all over the globe from Russia, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Belgium, France Germany and to the USA. There was a growing appetite for double time MCing. In 2008 and 2009 Skibadee won best Lyrical MC and best “Hype MC“ in the UK Drum & Bass awards and 2010 was his third year in a row as the best “Crowd Hyper MC“ along with the prestigious “Stevie Hyper D Lifetime Achievement Award“. Throughout the 2010s we saw the formation of the SaSaSaS (Skibadee, Harry Shotta, Shabba D, Stormin MC, DJ Phantasy, Macky Gee) with releases: Anthem (2016), “Rampage Anthem“ (2017), “Where The Drumz At“ (2018), “MaaaaD“ (2018), “Skip To Da Beat“ (2018), “Run This Shit“ (2018), “River Monster (2018), “Phenomenon“ (2019), “Rampage Anthem VIP“ (2019) and many other tracks. Skibadee and Harry Shotta shot a crazy midair video in a helicopter, SaSaSaS - “The Chopper Freestyle“ and selling tickets out for festivals like “Westfest“ and “Rampage“, Super Sonix“. Also releasing Mix CDs with SaSaSaS - Viral Damage (The Mix), and, SaSaSaS - The Catalyst. Out to all the London FM pirates of the past. Here’s a list of some of our most loved pirate radio stations in frequency order from 1989-2005: Flava FM 87.6 / Shine FM 87.9 / Rude FM 88.2 / Impact FM 88.2 / Centreforce FM 88.3 / Unity FM 88.4 / Conflict FM 88.4 / Ice FM 88.4 / London Underground FM 89.4 / Defection FM 89.4 / Raw FM 90.0 / Raw Mission 90.0 / Pure Magic FM 90.2 / Pulse FM 90.6 / Chicago FM 90.6 / Mission FM 90.6 / Y2K FM 90.6 / Rinse FM 91.8 / Passion FM 91.8 / Weekend Rush FM 92.3 / Kik FM 92.3 / Deja Vu FM 92.3 / Taste FM 92.5 / Mac FM 92.7 / Format FM 93.2 / Touchdown FM 94.1 / Stompin’ FM 94.2 / Kool FM 94.5 / Origin FM 95.2 / Flashback FM 97.6 / Cyndicut FM 97.8 / Fantasy FM 98.6 / Future FM 99.1 / Upfront FM 99.3 / Rinse FM 100.3 / Pressure FM 100.4 / Don FM 100.5 / Eruption FM 101.3 / Erotic FM 101.3 / Freek FM 101.8 / Chillin’ FM 102.9 / Delight FM 103.0 / Flex FM 103.6 / Rude FM 104.3 / Ruud Awakening FM 104.3 / Don FM 105.7 / Girls FM 106.8 / Dream FM 107.6 #takemebackpirateradio #dnbmovementuk #skibadee