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Dub Vendor not only has the best selection of reggae music in London, it is home to some of the city’s finest reggae DJ’s, the Dub Vendor Allstars. They have been causing a big stir since the notorious ‘Sunset In The West’ dance in summer 2008 on the 25th of June, and more recently the ‘17 North Parade 50th Anniversary Party’ in celebration of 50 years of Randy’s Records, at Brixton Town Hall.
Individually each Dub Vendor Allstar has a wealth of knowledge and experience within reggae music. Papa Face has been a successful recording artist and worked alongside David Rodigan DJing and MCing for years. Oxman selects and MC’s for Soul Jazz. Teddy G was on Sweet Success and Natural Touch sound systems and a presenter on Rude Girls FM radio. Gaffa Blue is the dub plate king and currently runs the Nasty Rockers Sound. Supa 'Selecta' C has played on many UK sounds including Nasty Love and presented on Vibes FM. And finally Russ D of The Disciples and Boom Shacka Lacka Sound is a top roots/dub DJ who has played extensively throughout Europe.
Bookings: Alex: +44 (0) 207 622 4176, Mobile: +44 (0) 7860 161781
E-mail: Alex
Dub Vendor: Tel: +44 (0) 207 207 9390 Fax: +44 (0) 207 350 2688
E-mail: Dub Vendor
Websites:
Dub Vendor All Stars Facebook fan page
Papa Face
Soon after arriving at Dub Vendor as a customer, Papa Face was to be found working Saturdays on the other side of the counter. He and the owner John became friends and soon he was the first full time person to work in the Clapham Junction shop.
He had his own Brixton based sound system Mafia Black who played with and against all the top South London sounds in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Papa Face established a successful career as an artist with hits on Dub Vendor’s affiliated record label Fashion, some featuring Bionic Rhona. In 1984 Papa Face and a full live band performed for John Peel as part of the ‘Peel Sessions’ at Maida Vale. During this time he had several Top Ten tunes in the Reggae Charts including ‘Dance Pon The Corner’ and ‘To The Bump’.
John Dub Vendor introduced Papa Face to David Rodigan. From that day on Papa Face has worked alongside Rodigan djing, mcing and hosting clubs. Together they established one of London’s longest running Saturday night reggae clubs, at Gossips in the West End, later going on to help running the legendary Rodigan’s Reggae at Subterrania and then Mass in Brixton. He has played at numerous dances worldwide and can currently be found at Brixton’s Hootananny Bar on the last Thursday of every month. You can also hear Papa Face running down the Dub Vendor Top 20 Chart on Unique Radio every Tuesday between 2pm – 4pm.
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Papa Face is an all round top entertainer either as a super versatile selector or mic man.
He is the co-ordinator of the Dub Vendor Allstars when they make an appearance, as his wealth of experience and warm personality have the respect of all the crew.
Musical Mission:
“Just spreading the word, peace and love in the dancehalls. Be positive in everything we do”
Oxman
Since an early age Eddie ‘Oxman’ Brydson has been entertaining people, playing music and performing on the mic. It all started at his mother’s South London blues parties, the young Oxman used to hijack the decks whilst the guest sound systems such as Soferno B and Untouchables were taking a break. In 1976, he played regularly at Clouds on his friend’s sound Cala Hi. This sound was unique at the time as it was operating with twin decks.
By 1981 it was time for Oxman to have his own sound. He built Dill-Ox International, specialising in reggae but also encompassing Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, R n B, Salsa and House music. Oxman has provided rare tracks for Soul Jazz and Pressure Sounds compilations. He has also helped compile some of Jet Stars’ recent Reggae Hits series.
A problem for DJ’s can be keeping up with the latest musical trends, Oxman has had no such worries as he worked for Larry Lawrence in his Round Two record shop, followed by a spell at Mad Professor’s Ariwa shop. Nowadays, he is to be found behind the counter at Dub Vendor where he has been an integral member of the team for over ten years.
Oxman has worked on community stations Quest FM, Passion, Lightning and Vibes. He has played alongside Kiss FM’s David Rodigan, Choice FM’s Daddy Ernie and Manasseh with whom he regularly co presented their Kiss FM show. He has played throughout Europe and toured Australia with the Soul Jazz Sound System with whom he continues to select and MC for on a regular basis.
Ox is also a producer and lyricist. As part of the Wiz Kidz with Junior Dubs they remixed Capleton’s ‘Rome A Blaze’ for Jamaican label Pickout. His own label Dill Ox Inta has released tracks by notable JA and UK recording artists. Sizzla’s ‘Rastaman Chant’ on the ‘Vet Law’ rhythm reached No 2 in the Echoes Chart.
Musical Mission:
“Introducing the many overlooked gems to people, sharing and seeing the delightful look on peoples faces when I play something special, that element of surprise is priceless!”
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Supa Selecta C
One of the UK's fastest rising DJ's is Supa ‘Selecta’ C. He has been in the music business since the tender age of 8 when he became a member of the band Curfew who were similar to Musical Youth. At 11 years old Supa C had appeared on the ITV television show Free Time.
In the 80's, when not touring the country and performing on stage, he would go to his Uncle’s Sticksman sound system to DJ and sing. With his friends he formed a sound system in Battersea called First Class. By the end of the 80's he was a full-time selector.
In the 90's he was playing with many of the UK sound systems including Sir Coxsone, Saxon, Redhot, Asha World, Chris Goldfinger, Hustler, Young Destroyer, Governor Turbo and Goldhawk. In 1994 Supa C joined Vibes FM where he hosted two shows a week and sometimes more to cover for other DJ's at the station. That same year he was approached by Nasty Love's management to select on their sound system, where he remained for nine years.
Supa C has played out extensively around the UK, including frequent appearances at the Notting Hill Carnival, which is attended by over one million people. He has also been a guest on many occasions at David Rodigan’s legendary Subterrania nights.
In 2002 Supa C left Nasty Love to pursue his own career. Since then he has toured outside the UK in many countries including Israel, Italy, Spain, France and Jamaica.
Supa C has a wide selection of tunes and is a first class mic man. He won the Bologna Sound Clash against Kali Weed and has played alongside German Sound Sentinel at Valencia’s Riddim Wise Festival.
Musical Mission:
“Bringing reggae music to the forefront and keeping vinyl alive”
Links:
Gaffa Blue
Gaffa Blue started off as a selector on local sound systems in South London’s Battersea area. Young Diamond was the first, winning two youth sound competitions followed by Killer Watt and Nasty Love. He currently runs the original Nasty Rockers sound system.
With Nasty Love he played against Stone Love, Body Guard, Asha World,
Saxon, Love Injection, Sir Coxsone, Metro Media, Bass Odyssey, Gemini and Silverhawk sounds. He has played with Gussie P in Portugal alongside Gilles Peterson and Soul Jazz as well as DJing in Germany with Peter Hunningale.
He worked in the Dub Vendor shops for fifteen years before managing the distribution side of the business, Rockfort which he successfully ran for three years before leaving to set up his own business, GB Distribution. He regularly imports music from Jamaica, selling to all the local shops as well as repressing and reissuing rare recordings from a host of producers and artists including Eek A Mouse, Tenor Saw, Tapper Zukie, Big Yard, Glen Brown, Mafia & Fluxy, Revolutionary Sounds, Striker Lee, Jackpot and Nite Life Posse.
With such a wealth of music to source from Gaffa Blue is the dub plate king.
Musical Mission
“I try to play good music to keep the dance moving”
Teddy G (The Warrior)
Teddy G (The Warrior) grew up surrounded by music. His father was an avid collector and regularly hosted all night house parties. He was involved in sound system culture at an early age as his school had its own sound. A few members of the Saxon Sound also attended this school.
The first sound system Teddy G appeared on was South London’s Sweet Success, playing alongside sounds like Mellow Primetime, Fifth Avenue and Chris Goldfinger (Radio 1 and Asha World Movement). In addition, to playing on the big man sound Sweet Success, Teddy G joined party sound Natural Touch, which set him up to be the all round entertainer that he is today.
In 1994, Teddy G joined community radio station Rude Girls FM where he was, unusually, the only male DJ! It was on this station that he acquired his original DJ name Warrior courtesy of Dennis ‘Saxon’ Rowe.
Teddy G plays dancehall, revival reggae, R n B and rare groove. Having inherited his father’s music collection and working in Dub Vendor, he has access to the hottest vintage reggae as well as all the up to date sounds. At the shop he is known as The Oracle due to his encyclopaedic knowledge of reggae music.
Musical Mission:
“Wherever DJing takes me I’ll be happy. I just love music!”
Russ D
Russ D and his brother Lol (currently the Manager of Dub Vendor’s Mail Order Department) were dubbed The Disciples by legendary sound system operator Jah Shaka way back in the 80’s after they started supplying their productions to him for exclusive dubplate play. They went on to record and release 4 albums for his King Of The Zulu Tribe imprint.
In the early 80’s The Disciples formed their own sound system Boom Shacka Lacka and played dances up and down the UK, many alongside sounds/DJs like Rootsman, Iration Steppas, Aba-Shant-I and Channel One. Boom Shacka Lacka sound finished in ’96 but Russ D was in demand as a DJ. He continued to play at clubs, festivals and on other sounds both here in the UK and abroad travelling to Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Israel, Japan, Mexico and America.
Coming from the stable of Jah Shaka means roots dub music is to the fore, with selections from all era’s going back to the 60’s and forward to now. The Disciples have been prolific with their own productions and remixes with artists such as Sister Rasheda, Prince Allah, Prince Malachi, Michael Rose, Lutan Fyah, Ras McBean and others, also working with recording labels such as Universal Roots, Roots Hi-Tek, Addis Records, Cultural Warriors, Wiz Kidz, Reality Shock, Jah Warrior and Jah Tubby.
As a collector of the deepest of reggae music, from Studio One to Xterminator and all in between, Russ D showcased these selections through his online broadcasts, which have been archived on the Internet and are still available to hear. Reggae fans from all parts of the world love these shows.
Musical Mission:
"As a DJ of roots reggae I always thought it my mission to show and teach the people the music I love, its more than just playing a nice tune to dance to, its a message, an education and an upliftment."
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