Greasy Geezers
Encyclopedia
"Greasy Geezers" are a dance production unit based in East London whose production portfolio covers commercial urban/pop
, electro dance
, hip-hop
and go-go (DC) remakes. The group comprises of producers and songwriters whose background includes working with Sanctuary Music Management, Trinity Records and Sacred Records.
Greasy Geezers the name originates from the actual title of a record label established in 2002 by Najero Okenabirhie (previously working for Sanctuary Music Management on accountancy projects for Iron Maiden
and Bruce Dickinson
). This imprint label focused predominately on garage
releases. Most notable were releases presented by DJ Iron ‘Some Good Garage EP’. As the garage scene waned the label diversified and changed their roster becoming a nu-jazz down tempo entity. Greasy Geezers adapted to the new market with releases by neo-soul and Latin house
acts such as the Wah Wah Collective
and Gafanhoto Lingo. The soulful diversification proved successful and the Wah Wah Collective gained notoriety in leading UK soul magazines with releases on playlists at Kiss FM (Patrick Forge
), BBC Radio 1 (Giles Peterson), Smooth FM
(Rosie Kendrick) and in the US with Rafe Gomez (Groove Boutique) (New York).
who prior to the event were a video production group.
"Half is Mine" single (2005). In September 2010 The Wah Wah branch of the Greasy Geezers produced the single "Conceptual Love" by I-innovate artist Bada Badoo from X-factor (Season 7, ITV/SYCO UK)
.
From 2011 Greasy Geezers embarked on several dance remake projects starting with an adaptation of a 1990 UK Hip Hop single ‘Fry You Like Fish’ originally performed by Caveman. This original track is rooted in the UK hip hop scene and was originally supported by Tim Westwood
. A new 2011 electro adaptation called Fry You Like Fish @ The Jam was released in October 2011 . Greasy Geezers working with screen writers from I-innovate created viral online characters including ‘the greasy geezer’ who provides comedic short-films supporting their dance releases. The Greasy Geezers brand is the balance between entertainment and creative dance music adaptations with a secondary emphasis to provide a comedic perspective on UK urban life within the music scene.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, electro dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
, hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and go-go (DC) remakes. The group comprises of producers and songwriters whose background includes working with Sanctuary Music Management, Trinity Records and Sacred Records.
Greasy Geezers the name originates from the actual title of a record label established in 2002 by Najero Okenabirhie (previously working for Sanctuary Music Management on accountancy projects for Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
). This imprint label focused predominately on garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
releases. Most notable were releases presented by DJ Iron ‘Some Good Garage EP’. As the garage scene waned the label diversified and changed their roster becoming a nu-jazz down tempo entity. Greasy Geezers adapted to the new market with releases by neo-soul and Latin house
Latin house
Latin house is an electronic dance music subgenre that mixes together house and Latin American music, such as that of Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Cuban, Dominican and Colombian origin.-Origins:...
acts such as the Wah Wah Collective
The Wah Wah Collective
"The Wah Wah Collective" were initially a London based neo-soul underground music group who released vinyl only EP and Singles from 2002-2005. The music group gained notoriety for their mixture of neo-soul with alternative dance. The Wah Wah Collective founding members were Georgeyo and Najero...
and Gafanhoto Lingo. The soulful diversification proved successful and the Wah Wah Collective gained notoriety in leading UK soul magazines with releases on playlists at Kiss FM (Patrick Forge
Patrick Forge
Patrick Forge is a British jazz, jazz-dance and soul music DJ who spent much of the late 1980s and early 1990s DJing alongside Gilles Peterson at the famous Dingwalls club in Camden, North London....
), BBC Radio 1 (Giles Peterson), Smooth FM
102.2 Smooth FM
102.2 Smooth FM was an Independent Local Radio station for Greater London. It replaced 102.2 Jazz FM on the 7 June 2005 at 10am, with the help of R&B singer Lemar and the then breakfast show host Jon Scragg...
(Rosie Kendrick) and in the US with Rafe Gomez (Groove Boutique) (New York).
The Mid 00s
Greasy Geezers "The Label" was disbanded in 2008 coinciding with the liquidation of Goya and Pinnacle distribution who held all stock titles by the label. The label catalogue and copyrights were then transferred and held by new indie label I-innovate (UK)I-innovate (UK)
I-innovate is a London-based independent record label that diversified from video production in to music management from 2009. I-innovate were founded by Najero Okenabirhie in 2008. I-innovate work with freelance directors, marketers and artists in music and graphic design providing ad-hoc...
who prior to the event were a video production group.
2009 onwards
I-innovate (UK) in 2009 created the dance production unit called Greasy Geezers "The Dance Group" now composed of several dance producers including a team called Videoface previously from Trinity Records who gained notoriety in the soulful dance scene with the Norman JayNorman Jay
Norman Jay MBE is an innovative and pioneering British DJ. He first came to prominence playing unlicensed or 'warehouse' parties in the early 1980s, such as Shake 'n' Fingerpop. His diverse and deep musical knowledge and his refusal to be restricted to playing from any single genre distinguishes...
"Half is Mine" single (2005). In September 2010 The Wah Wah branch of the Greasy Geezers produced the single "Conceptual Love" by I-innovate artist Bada Badoo from X-factor (Season 7, ITV/SYCO UK)
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
.
From 2011 Greasy Geezers embarked on several dance remake projects starting with an adaptation of a 1990 UK Hip Hop single ‘Fry You Like Fish’ originally performed by Caveman. This original track is rooted in the UK hip hop scene and was originally supported by Tim Westwood
Tim Westwood
Timothy Westwood is an English DJ and presenter of radio and television. He also presents the UK version of the MTV show Pimp My Ride...
. A new 2011 electro adaptation called Fry You Like Fish @ The Jam was released in October 2011 . Greasy Geezers working with screen writers from I-innovate created viral online characters including ‘the greasy geezer’ who provides comedic short-films supporting their dance releases. The Greasy Geezers brand is the balance between entertainment and creative dance music adaptations with a secondary emphasis to provide a comedic perspective on UK urban life within the music scene.
Greasy Geezers 'The Label' - Vinyl Singles and EPs
- "Some Good Garage EP" (DJ Iron & Chino Presents, 2003)
- "Just Bounce" (Thunder & Flow, 2003)
- "Music Hitz Da Spot" (Hekcentrik, 2003)
- "Wild Wild West" (Thunder & Flow, 2004) (Promo)