Aftershock | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2003–2008 [2] |
| Labels | Aftershock Records |
| Past members |
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Aftershock was a British grime collective and record label founded by DJ/producer Terror Danjah and label manager Flash in 2003 [17] and primarily based in London. The collective included a variety of MCs, singers and record producers, with 26 members at its peak, [2] who contributed in smaller numbers to individual songs. [18] Two "divisions" of the crew, the Aftershock Lordz and Aftershock Hooligans, [19] [13] showcased younger members of the group, led by original members Triple Threat and Bruza respectively. [20]
Several members of Aftershock are recognised as pioneers of the rhythm and grime (R&G) subgenre, spotlighted through the softer productions of Terror Danjah and Scratcha DVA and the R&B-inspired vocals of members Gemma Fox and Elrae [4] and close collaborators Shola and Sadie Ama. [21] [3] [22] [2]
The crew released one studio album, Shock to the System, in 2007, and dispersed shortly after Terror Danjah split from the group and took a hiatus from music in 2008. [2] Several of its members subsequently found solo success in the United Kingdom, including Tinie Tempah, who has topped the UK Singles Chart seven times and earned multiple platinum certifications, and Mz Bratt, [23] who had a UK top 40 single with the Children in Need 2011 charity cover version of Massive Attack's "Teardrop". Sir Spyro followed Terror Danjah and Scratcha DVA's path in becoming a BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter and Specs Gonzalez found success as a media personality.
Aftershock Records was founded by DJ/producer Terror Danjah and label manager Flash in 2003, [17] initially serving solely as a record label and primary releasing music via the medium of vinyl. [24] Terror Danjah executive produced some of the label's first records, successfully convincing MCs to vocal instrumentals produced by childhood friends like D.O.K. [25] Early releases included underground hits such as Crazy Titch's 2003 single "I Can C U, U Can C Me (Say My Name, Crazy T)", [24] [4] Nasty Crew's 2003 single "Cock Back" featuring Titch and Riko Dan, Big E-D's 2003 single "Frontline" featuring D Double E, Bruza's 2004 singles "Bruzin'" and "Get Me", and Sadie Ama's 2004 single "So Sure" featuring Kano. [26] [20] [27] [28] [6] [16] The label also released fully instrumental bodies of work, including Terror Danjah's breakthrough EP Industry Standard and the 2004 various artist remix EP Payback, reportedly "one of Aftershock's top sellers". [17]
In 2004, Terror Danjah and Scratcha DVA (as Aftershock) began presenting the 'UKG M1X Show' on BBC Radio 1Xtra, [29] a fortnightly late show on Friday nights, alternating weeks with DJ Q. [9] [8] [30] [31] Shows would typically open with 30 minutes of R&G productions, followed by MC-led songs, [32] with Bruza and Triple Threat, both trusted collaborators of Terror Danjah's from his former jungle group Reckless Crew, joining as the group's first MCs. [8] Guests included Shola Ama, Sway and Roll Deep and as of 2005 their slot was four hours long, from 2-6am. [29] The show ended in 2006, [32] and Scratcha left the crew the same year due to feeling overshadowed. [8]
In keeping with rival crews' introductions of subsets of "youngers" into their ranks, original members Triple Threat and Bruza each assembled their own subgroups of Aftershock—Tha Lordz and The Hooligans respectively—with the intention of developing the careers of younger MCs. [20] Tha Lordz formed first in 2003, debuting with an appearance on Ras Kwame's 1Xtra show. [11] Both divisions released their own albums direct-to-consumer in 2006 via the crew's official website: Tha Lordz' House of Lordz Vol. 1, released 10 July 2006, featured members Triple Threat, Specs, Royal, Krucial and Cyclone, [11] while The Hooligans' It's Coming Home, released 7 December 2006, featured members Bruza, Tinie Tempah and D Dark [33] [13] and included multiple vocal versions of Tinie's single "Wifey", which had become a hit on Channel U, spending ten weeks at the top of the station's requests chart. [34]
The Aftershock collective came together as a whole to release its first and only album, Shock to the System, on 26 March 2007, which included nineteen tracks recorded between 2005 and 2006. [4] Various new members joined the crew during the process of recording the project, including Loudmouth Melvin, who brought his UK hip hop style to grime, [1] Mz Bratt, who Terror Danjah scouted via Myspace and open mic nights, [35] and Youf, who was introduced through his brother. [4] An album launch show took place at a Dirty Canvas night at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. [20] Terror Danjah described the record as "something like a Soul II Soul album, but for 2007. Different styles, different artists and people talking about what’s happening in our society." [1] He retrospectively expressed disappointment with the album's performance, claiming that "too much money was spent on the wrong things" and his solo Hardrive mixtape released the same year "had a better response". [16] He left Aftershock and took a hiatus from music shortly thereafter. [36] The group appeared twice on Tim Westwood's 1Xtra show in 2008, on 13 January and 10 August, with Sir Spyro assuming DJ duties on the latter occasion. [37]
| Title | Details | Featured members |
|---|---|---|
| House of Lordz Vol. 1(Aftershock presents Tha Lordz) |
| Terror Danjah, D.O.K., Magnum Force, DJ Capa, Triple Threat, Specs, Royal, Krucial, Cyclone, Bruza, Tinie Tempah, Badness, Devilman, Elrae, 2NICE, Mz Bratt |
| It's Coming Home(Aftershock Hooligans) |
| Terror Danjah, D.O.K., Magnum Force, D Dark, Bruza, Tinie Tempah, Royal, Krucial, Triple Threat, Gemma Fox, Elrae |
| Shock to the System |
| Terror Danjah, D.O.K., Magnum Force, Triple Threat, Royal, Bruza, Elrae, Devilman, Tinie Tempah, Loudmouth Melvin, Youf, Mz Bratt, Badness, Krucial, Gemma Fox, D Dark, Redz, Specs, 2NICE, Joci |
| Title | Details | Featured members |
|---|---|---|
| Shockin' Mixtape Vol. 1 |
| Terror Danjah, D.O.K., Magnum Force, Bruza, Elrae, Krucial, Royal, Triple Threat |
| Title | Details | Featured members |
|---|---|---|
| Roadsweeper |
| Terror Danjah, D.O.K., Magnum Force, Big E-D |
| Zumpi Central |
| Terror Danjah, Sir Spyro, D.O.K. |
| Year | Title | Featured members |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "With U" (featuring Shola Ama) | Terror Danjah |
| 2005 | "Not Convinced" (featuring Bruza, Shizzle, Napper and Fumin) | Terror Danjah, Bruza |
| Year | Title | Album | Featured members |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Doin' Me (Aftershock Hooligan Remix)" (Bruza featuring Aftershock Hooligans) | Doin' Me | Tinie Tempah, S-Kid, D Dark, Elrae |