Tuesday Morning Hangover aka Blak Twang – Dettwork Southeast Re-release party
It’s been 18 years since the hip hop classic that almost was. Blak Twang, AKA Tony Rotton’s Dettwork Southeast, saw a short promotional run on cassette tape that was supposed to be the precursor to a full album release. For whatever reason, this release never happened but word spread from the few promo copies that made it out and as Rotton gained wider recognition, Dettwork Southeast came to be seen as a massive influence on UK hip hop; frequently making ‘top UK hip hop’ lists despite its lack of an actual release.
Lo fi beats, a powerful flow and a dance hall influence are particularly evident on Don’t Let Dem Fool You and Queens Head as they combine to create a unique, audio experience. Cameos from Roots Manuva, Fallacy and Seanie T are all welcome additions to the mix, but it is Rotton’s lyrical dexterity and staunchly South London turn of phrase which will have you returning to the record time and time again. Alongside The Clash’s London Calling, this is one of the best cultural odes the city has had dedicated to it and is undoubtedly a product of those grey streets.
Fast forward to 2014 and Sony Music have seen fit to finally give this album a legitimate airing. The album is going to be fully re-mastered and will include a bonus track in the form of a remix of the title track – this time around featuring Jehst, Rodney P and Black the Ripper.
For those willing to take on a Tuesday morning hangover, Monday the 22nd of September will see the album’s release party going off at Camden’s Jazz Café. The Jazz Café has been at its current location ( two minutes from Camden Town tube station) since 1990, and while the booze ain’t cheap, the door prices shouldn’t set you back too much. Also, the vibes are good and the sound quality is usually top notch.
It seems to be slowly becoming the London hip hop venue of choice, with luminaries such as De La Soul, Smif N Wessun and Souls of Mischief having raised the roof off its dimly lit interior in recent years. Blak Twang is no stranger to the venue, having been involved in the Zain’s Autism Network event which gathered together some of UK hip hop’s leading lights a couple of years back and with the album’s solid line up of guest appearances, some live surprises are not out of the question.
If you want to hear the genesis of modern UK hip hop in a form intrinsically intertwined with the streets of London, this is a gig you can’t afford to miss. Tickets can be bought here.
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