Style 43

At the end of 2007 SpeakersCorner closed its doors at the Jamm in Brixton. We didnt go to sleep.

The EOW:UK MC Challenge is up an running strong. More events including stages at festivals & a national tour due for 2008. Keeping our heart pumping on the monthly since Jan 2008 we’ve also been hosting a showcase & open mic event under the banner of The Peoples Army.

We’ve taken things deeper underground. Our philosophy has always been Free Entry Free Speech. After the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007 we came to the conclusion that we are at the restraints of a nanny state. This was enforced when the Lambeth Police began to demand that in order for us to continue functioning in Lambeth Borough we must introduce a members only scheme to our event, this meant that we would have to have a data bass of all our regulars names, emails & addresses. This can be good for our promotional mail outs etc.. but under the condition that the Lambeth police would have free access to the data we decided that we would instead lock the event off for a while to think things through.

At the same time Logic & Lowkey approached me with a venue hidden away under a railway arch on ColdHarbour Lane Brixton. It usually only holds private Reggae dances & clashes. We ran a jam there in Jan 2008 with Chester P, Kraftsmen, New World Order, Kasha, Big Cakes, Kalldean, Marlon Tate, Magda Sinit, Leddie & Smoggy. This was the start of something very raw. Turn out was capacity & the energy was hyped. Check the podcast from the night to get a feel.
Clink here for PODCAST.

The second event held in Feb 2008 seen Skinny Man, The IRS, Riz MC, iVerse, Lyrical Healer & DJ Excalibah come through and fuck shit up. Already we’ve built up regulars in the form of Chain of Command, The IRS, First & Last, TPS Crew, Cross Bone T & the Bangers crew to name jus a few.

The roots of the SpeakersCorner foundation crew is based in the Squat Party scene. Just dont mistake us for no crusty ketamin trance chancers. we’re all about the roots art & culture. Warehouse + SoundSystem + Engineer + Live Acts + DJs + MCs + VJs + Graffiti Artist + Bar + Security = Self Sustained Event. With The Peoples Army event we’ve come full circle. Everything is handled by The Peoples Army. In our house you have the freedom to smoke, the freedom from extortionate door & bar prices, & the freedom to feel relaxed & embraced by the positive sounds & vision of live Hip Hop, conscious lyricism & song in a comfortable liberated environment.

The next & third event as The Peoples Army is a dedication to Jonny Christ of The Kraftsmen. Jonny was stabbed to death a year+ ago in Stockwell under fu*kries real life circumstances. We aim to take a small donation on the night to help out his family. Jonny was a talented musician & producer, a nuttah who had nothing but good energy to give, a regular at Speakerscorner & somebody we miss. To celebrate his life & legacy we’re proud to present the LP Launch of Jonny’s blood brother & fellow Kraftsman: Frantic Frank..

Frantic Frank’s “The Hardway” LP is about to drop in a BIG way. You will get a copy. Somehow Franks gonna get it to you, he’s not called Frantic for nothing! Along side Frantic Frank is the entire Kraftsmen crew, Manic, Prodical Son & Mic Righteous. Prodical Son being a Capoeira teacher he will also be performing a display with his class as part of The Kraftsmens already frenetic live set.

Support comes from some of London’s finest underground groups & solo artist:
A.M.M.O, Prose (Steady & Efeks), Kasha, Crusada & Maverick Sabre..
+ Open Mic hosted by me (Snuff), Steas & NWO (Lowkey & Logic)

For those who have been already you know the cue, whats new is though, we now have a live rhythm section, more sound system, backdrops & projections. The Peoples Army is setting up to be much more than an event, it is a collection of artist and activist, watch out for our movements.

We keep this moving.