MC Duke (later just Duke) was a British rapper from the East End of London, who recorded with DJ Leader 1. He was one of the pioneers of the early British hardcore sound.
Duke began his career at a DMC World Championships after show party, where the winner of the MC battle competition got on stage and boasted that he would beat any rapper who challenged him. Duke climbed on stage to take the challenge, and emerged victorious.
He debuted with the track "Jus-Dis" on the compilation album Hard as Hell (Music of Life, 1987) - an album which also included Overlord X's first track before he was later signed by Mango Records: in later years, Duke and X would develop a grudge that led to both recording records to belittle the other. In 1988 Duke was support to Salt-N-Pepa on their UK tour.
A series of singles followed, with Duke finally pairing with long time partner DJ Leader 1 (sometimes DJ Leader One) on the single "Throw Your Hands in The Air" (Music of Life, 1989) and adding his name to the sleeve. Leader 1 had previously released the single "Silver Suckers" (Beast Records, 1987) with MC Clay Luv in the U.S. but stayed with Duke right up to their reincarnation as IC3 for the EPs Excalibur (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) and Untitled (Shut Up and Dance, 1992).
1989 saw Duke and Leader 1's first album - Organised Rhyme (Music of Life, 1989), and it was heavily featured on Music of Life's 1989 Hustlers Covention album. Later lampooned by Overlord X for having Duke on the cover "looking like a farmer" - and their most famous single, "I'm Riffin' (English Rasta)" (Music of Life, 1989).
In 2007 he also appeared in UK hip hop artist Charlie Sloth's song "Can't Forget About UK". The song was a tribute to pioneering rappers from the UK.
Discography
* Organised Rhyme (Music of Life, 1989)
* Return of the Dread-I (Music of Life, 1991)
[edit] Compilation appearance
* Hustlers Convention (1989)
Duke began his career at a DMC World Championships after show party, where the winner of the MC battle competition got on stage and boasted that he would beat any rapper who challenged him. Duke climbed on stage to take the challenge, and emerged victorious.
He debuted with the track "Jus-Dis" on the compilation album Hard as Hell (Music of Life, 1987) - an album which also included Overlord X's first track before he was later signed by Mango Records: in later years, Duke and X would develop a grudge that led to both recording records to belittle the other. In 1988 Duke was support to Salt-N-Pepa on their UK tour.
A series of singles followed, with Duke finally pairing with long time partner DJ Leader 1 (sometimes DJ Leader One) on the single "Throw Your Hands in The Air" (Music of Life, 1989) and adding his name to the sleeve. Leader 1 had previously released the single "Silver Suckers" (Beast Records, 1987) with MC Clay Luv in the U.S. but stayed with Duke right up to their reincarnation as IC3 for the EPs Excalibur (Shut Up and Dance, 1992) and Untitled (Shut Up and Dance, 1992).
1989 saw Duke and Leader 1's first album - Organised Rhyme (Music of Life, 1989), and it was heavily featured on Music of Life's 1989 Hustlers Covention album. Later lampooned by Overlord X for having Duke on the cover "looking like a farmer" - and their most famous single, "I'm Riffin' (English Rasta)" (Music of Life, 1989).
In 2007 he also appeared in UK hip hop artist Charlie Sloth's song "Can't Forget About UK". The song was a tribute to pioneering rappers from the UK.
Discography
* Organised Rhyme (Music of Life, 1989)
* Return of the Dread-I (Music of Life, 1991)
[edit] Compilation appearance
* Hustlers Convention (1989)
Category
🎵
Musique