I released this on cassette back in 2020 in association with Dig Mag, with the mighty most Martin Lovegrove.
It’s a digitally remastered 60-minute pause mix tape of unreleased Hip Hop performances recorded from radio broadcasts between 1983-1990 ! It’s more than a mere collection of audio files, it’s an act of Rap restoration and preservation.
It was a lot of fun to make, but what has struck me since 2020, is that:
A] Moving home from London to the English countryside, and putting the city in my rear view has created problems. A quieter life has obscured my focus on projects and B] I need to get back to business. The business of Rap radio ! To paraphrase Masta Ace, I’m sitting on chrome, literally [dozens of chrome Type2 tapes filled with unreleased gems]. As it goes, I’m actually sitting on gold. My archives are overflowing with a staggering, almost overwhelming mountain of ancient radio shows waiting to be excavated and transferred to digital. I’ve been digitising for decades. And I’m still not done ! While digging through this vast labyrinth of magnetic tape is a monumental task, making these foundational moments accessible once more has become my driving priority. The reality is stark: tape degrades, memories fade, and if I do not undertake this archival rescue mission now, these priceless recordings will be lost to history forever. This release was the first step in ensuring they endure. And the reason why I’m adding it now is because I have to get back on the horse. Sharing restored shows again in key and that will come very shortly. But getting this one back out there was first on my list. There are also a handful of projects in the works but info on those will come in due time.
The tape captures the ephemeral brilliance of unreleased Hip Hop performances, snatched directly from the airwaves of radio broadcasts between 1983 and 1990. These were a golden era of raw innovation, lyrical urgency, and clandestine tape-trading. For years, I have harboured a deep-seated mission to resurrect RRR and breathe new life into its legacy. If required, as a bonus, with each purchase of the whole album you can have a full length continuous mix. You decide whether you want 320 WAV or FLAC. After your purchase, just HMU at craig@randomrapradio if you want the full uninterrupted mix.
NB. This is my side-hustle. By day, I’m a features writer for Sneaker Freaker Magazine – a gig I’ve been lacing up since 2005. My work digs into the cultural intersections of sports footwear and Hip-Hop, bringing forgotten stories, influential characters and defining moments back into rotation. My mix-tape concepts follow a similar philosophy: digging through the archives to unearth the freestyles, live performances and interviews that deserve another spin.
