MC Mell'O'
Encyclopedia
MC Mell'O' comes from Battersea
in south London
, and was originally known for his bodypopping skills rather than his rapping, going under the tag Moomin. He was a member of various crews such as The 52 Flash Kru, the SAS (Strawberry all-stars) and Truly Unique, before getting caught up in the fledgling rap scene emerging in the late 1980s.
His first release was the single "Free Style / Proud" (Tuff Groove, 1988), which he recorded under the name "MC Mellow" as part of the Jus Bad crew, which featured Monie Love
, Sparki and DJ Pogo
. This was quickly followed by a guest spot on D2 The K's "Slow Jam" (BMP, 1988), changing his name to the more familiar spelling that he has used ever since.
Mell'O' signed to Republic Records
in the late 1980s, where he continued to work with DJ Pogo
. The first fruit of this collaboration was the "Comin' Correct/Wize/Bizzie Rhymin' EP" (Republic Records - 1989), which was followed by his only solo album Thoughts Released (Revelation I) (Republic Records - 1990). This album is now considered to be one of the true classics of the British hip hop
scene's early years, and is widely sought after amongst fans of the genre.
Unfortunately, following the release of this album and its single "Open Up Your Mind" (Republic Records, 1990), Mell'O' and his record company had a dispute over the terms of his contract, which kept a follow up album from being released. Eventually, Mell'O' left Republic, and moved to Funky Dred for the 1992 single "Mello's Gone Crazy". In the following years, Mell'O' had trouble settling with any one record company - in 1994 he released an EP with BMG
and an EP with the Stereo MCs
' company Natural Response. He later worked with producer Mark B on "Melloizdaman" (Jazz Fudge, 1999), but didn't get the success that the producer achieved with other UK legend Blade
. After a long period of being away from solo work, where he continued to collaborate with a wide variety of other artists, Mell'O' released "Give Them What They Want" (Sleeping Giants, 2005).
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was originally known for his bodypopping skills rather than his rapping, going under the tag Moomin. He was a member of various crews such as The 52 Flash Kru, the SAS (Strawberry all-stars) and Truly Unique, before getting caught up in the fledgling rap scene emerging in the late 1980s.
His first release was the single "Free Style / Proud" (Tuff Groove, 1988), which he recorded under the name "MC Mellow" as part of the Jus Bad crew, which featured Monie Love
Monie Love
Simone Riscoe , better known by her stage name Monie Love, is an English emcee and former radio personality in the United States...
, Sparki and DJ Pogo
DJ Pogo
DJ Pogo is a DJ/Producer from London, primarily known for his involvement with the British hip hop scene. He was part of the Jus Bad crew, which featured Monie Love, Sparki and MC Mell'O', who released the single "Free Style / Proud" ....
. This was quickly followed by a guest spot on D2 The K's "Slow Jam" (BMP, 1988), changing his name to the more familiar spelling that he has used ever since.
Mell'O' signed to Republic Records
Republic Records
Republic Records was a record label and subsidiary of Universal Motown Republic Group. They originally went by the name Cheese Factory Records...
in the late 1980s, where he continued to work with DJ Pogo
DJ Pogo
DJ Pogo is a DJ/Producer from London, primarily known for his involvement with the British hip hop scene. He was part of the Jus Bad crew, which featured Monie Love, Sparki and MC Mell'O', who released the single "Free Style / Proud" ....
. The first fruit of this collaboration was the "Comin' Correct/Wize/Bizzie Rhymin' EP" (Republic Records - 1989), which was followed by his only solo album Thoughts Released (Revelation I) (Republic Records - 1990). This album is now considered to be one of the true classics of the British hip hop
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
scene's early years, and is widely sought after amongst fans of the genre.
Unfortunately, following the release of this album and its single "Open Up Your Mind" (Republic Records, 1990), Mell'O' and his record company had a dispute over the terms of his contract, which kept a follow up album from being released. Eventually, Mell'O' left Republic, and moved to Funky Dred for the 1992 single "Mello's Gone Crazy". In the following years, Mell'O' had trouble settling with any one record company - in 1994 he released an EP with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
and an EP with the Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs are an English electronic dance group, which formed in Clapham, London in 1985. They are best known worldwide for their 1992 transatlantic Top 20 hit single, "Connected"...
' company Natural Response. He later worked with producer Mark B on "Melloizdaman" (Jazz Fudge, 1999), but didn't get the success that the producer achieved with other UK legend Blade
Blade (rapper)
Blade is a British rapper, born in the Armenian quarter of Iran and came to London when he was 7. His first single, Lyrical Maniac recorded in 1989, soon brought Blade to prominence in the fledgling British hip hop scene....
. After a long period of being away from solo work, where he continued to collaborate with a wide variety of other artists, Mell'O' released "Give Them What They Want" (Sleeping Giants, 2005).
Appears on
- "Slow Jam" by D2 The K from Hardcore One (BMP, 1988)
- "Beyond the 16th Parallel" B.R.O.T.H.E.R. movement (4th and Broadway, 1989)
- "Young Disciples Theme" by the Young DisciplesYoung DisciplesYoung Disciples was a British / American acid jazz band, formed in London in 1990 by Carleen Anderson , Marc Nelson plus Femi Williams ....
from Road to FreedomRoad to Freedom (album)Road to Freedom is the debut album of soul and jazz band Young Disciples, the only album the band ever released. Issued in 1991 on the Talkin' Loud label in the UK and on Polygram in the US, the critically well-received album was influential in the music genres of acid jazz and neo soul...
(Talkin' Loud, 1991) - "Hold You Back (Brixton Bass Mix)" by Blacksmith (BPM, 1990)
- "Senga Abele" by Manu DibangoManu Dibango-External links:*...
from The Rebirth of Cool Too (4th and Broadway, 1992) - "Dark and Sinister" by BladeBlade (rapper)Blade is a British rapper, born in the Armenian quarter of Iran and came to London when he was 7. His first single, Lyrical Maniac recorded in 1989, soon brought Blade to prominence in the fledgling British hip hop scene....
from The Lion Goes From Strength to Strength (No Compromise) (691 Influential, 1993) - "Reality Check" by Urban Species from Blanket (Talkin' Loud, 1998)
- ??? by Blacka'nizedBlacka'nizedBlacka'nized were a hip hop group from the mid-1990s, composed of Joseph Malik and A.J Nutall, hailing from Edinburgh.- History :Joseph Malik was born in Glasgow but moved through to Edinburgh in the early 1990s after visiting Edinburgh for the 1993 International Arts Festival and deciding not to...
from Fading Never EP (Yush, 1998) - "Solo Fumo" by Neffa from 107 elementi (BlackOut, 1998)
- "Ham n' Cheese" by Blacka'nizedBlacka'nizedBlacka'nized were a hip hop group from the mid-1990s, composed of Joseph Malik and A.J Nutall, hailing from Edinburgh.- History :Joseph Malik was born in Glasgow but moved through to Edinburgh in the early 1990s after visiting Edinburgh for the 1993 International Arts Festival and deciding not to...
from Yush Presents Blacka'nized (Yush, 1999) - "The English Patient" by GunshotGunshot (band)Gunshot was a British hip hop group, formed by MC Mercury, MC Alkaline, Q-Roc, DJ White Child Rix and DJ/MC Barry Blue in the area of Leyton in east London.-Career:...
from International Rescue (Words of Warning, 2000) - "Inner State of Mind" by Courtney PineCourtney PineCourtney Pine CBE is an English jazz musician. At school he studied the clarinet, although he is known primarily for his saxophone playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass Clarinet and keyboards...
from Back in the Day (Polygram, 2000)