Freestylers 'Raw As FucK' album

So, here's what you probably already know about The Freestylers. They've made over 45 records, sold 350,000 albums, scorched the charts with the hot-footer 'B-Boy Stance', appeared on Top of the Pops and opened for Lenny Kravitz.

've rocked Glastonbury, crisscrossed the world touring with a 12 piece band and now they're set to release their third album 'Raw As F**k.'

These breakbeat banditos met whilst both working at the studios of Fresh [later Freskanova] Records, way back in 1996. "We were just chatting about old hip hop records," recalls Aston. "And realised we both owned all the same tunes. We'd both been making house and Matt had this idea for an electro track so we just started working together." That electro track became 'Drop The Bomb' and on release in '97, launched the pair as The Freestylers. "The first record we ever sampled was by an act called Freestyle," Aston explains. "At that time sampling played such a major part in our sound, we felt it would be a fitting name."

Raised on a diet of Public Enemy, Afrika Bambaataa and, erm, The Jungle Book ["That soundtrack was the first record I ever bought," laughs Aston. "I was the original junglist!"], the Freestylers sound is rooted in hip hop but has evolved into a unique British concoction, taking in everything from dancehall to reggae, electro to soul and breakbeat to drum and bass.

"It's pretty tricky trying to sum us up," admits Matt. "Our sound is pretty raw, raw and very instant. Basically it's like breaks for the masses, but as we've both got pretty eclectic tastes we bring a whole spectrum of influences from the seventies onwards."

"Hip hop heads come to see us," continues Aston. "But so do ravers, reggae fans... it's quite mad really - two funky white boys bringing all these people together."

Debut single 'Drop The Bomb' soon saw a Stateside release [renamed AK48], and 'The Scratch City' and 'Uprock EPs' followed swiftly on its tail. But it was release of the jump-up breakers' anthem 'B-Boy Stance' and the boys' subsequent brush with the Gallagher brothers, that firmly put them on the media map. MC Tenor Fly's vocal appropriation of 'Wonderwall' didn't go down to well with the simian siblings, the Freestylers were forced back into the studio to re-record their masterpiece and the hype was enough to send "B Boy Stance" soaring into the Top 20. It was only when all the fuss had died down that everyone realised it probably would have got there anyway.

Things moved pretty quickly after that. Their debut album 'We Rock Hard' sold over 250,000 copies, the boys got a MOBO nomination and picked up the late Muzik Magazine's Best Band accolade.

It's the Freestylers' live performances that really set them apart from other dance acts. When playing live they have a full band on stage with them - guitarists, DJs, MCs, vocalists and a full rhythm section. "The sound we get together can best be described as a 3D effect to our albums," explains Matt. "When you listen to our albums then come to our shows, you'll see the sound literally come out at you - everything is dynamic."

And it was one of these electric live performances that caught the eye of rock lothario Lenny Kravitz, who was so impressed he personally chose them to open for him. The popularity of their debut album meant Matt and Aston could really take the Freestylers on the road, playing not only the biggest clubs and UK festivals, but also touring America.

The band soon capped a series of stunning live performances, with their legendary gig in front of 23,000 screaming fans on the World Jazz Stage at Glastonbury. The crowd was so blown away they clapped and cheered solidly for over fifteen minutes after the set finished and Time Out declared The Freestylers "the highlight of the entire festival."

A second album 'Pressure Point' followed and went on to sell over 100,000 copies. "We didn't want to just make a We Rock Hard Pt. 2," explains Aston. "We wanted to do something in our own distinct style, so we used influences that we had hints of on the first album, but made it harder and clubbier."

But after touring the new album, the boys decided to take a short break from the studio to recuperate and began to feel it was a time for a change of direction. "Our label Freskanova had stopped functioning," explains Matt. "We were feeling a little disillusioned, so we decided to get back to our grass roots and started doing some tracks for the label Against the Grain. We began to work on a project we called 'Raw as F**k' - it was great because no-one had any expectations of us. There was nothing to live up to and we feel the music became stronger as a result."

"We chose the name Raw As F**k, because it was brash and would stand out," continues Aston. "We released the track 'Punks' and it was meant to be a one off, but the reception was so good we just kept going. We ended up with three number one breaks tunes and won a best newcomer at the International Breakspoll Awards. Before we knew it, we had an album that we felt was our strongest to date."

From the slavering bass-carnivore 'Slammer,' to the purple-rain phunk of Push Up, from the off-wall vocals of Reprazent home-girl Onnalee on the album's first single 'Get a Life,' to the break-neck toasting of dapper-one Million Dan, 'Raw as F**k' is an ambitious album, aimed at more than just hardcore breaks fans. Over thirteen tracks it plays an exhilarating game of genre hop-scotch, the traditional Freestylers sounds on the raga-laced 'Boom Blast' and jungle stylings of 'Punks', sitting perfectly alongside more poignant moments like the epic 'Too Far' ["It's a slightly more chilled record," smiles Aston. "Well - we had to have one!"]

"We've got some great collaborations on there," adds Matt. "Mostly just people we know and respect who are all into what we are doing. At the end of the day," he concludes. "We just really enjoyed making this album. We've got to a stage where we don't feel we have anything to prove anymore. We can concentrate on having fun making music that people can dance their fucking ass off to."

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2 comments so far (Post your own)

1. At 19:07 on 05 Aug 2004, hstisgod rates it:not rated

I gotta be honest with ya... I havent listened to these guys since the days of "We Rock Hard" (still listen to it nowadays)....Ill never forget the crazy bidness I handed out to promote these guys... Magnets, stickers, and bubbles lol...Point being, I'll be picking up the last few releases now that Im not so skeptical. Nice Review...

Brian Rutherford

2. At 19:27 on 05 Aug 2004, hstisgod rates it: and wrote:

sorry clicked too fast and didnt rate ya

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Freestylers - Raw As FucK

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