Top Buzz
Encyclopedia
Top Buzz are a British DJ / MC team, which performed at rave
events in the 1990s.
Top Buzz was originally formed in 1988 by MC Patrick McPhee ("Mad P") and DJ Mikee B, playing at house events, before being joined by DJ Jason Kyriakides ("Jason Jay" / "Jason Kaye") several years later. All originate from the Tottenham
area of north London.
They were of the first to popularise the darker sounds of jungle techno
as it began to emerge from the hardcore
rave sounds from 1992 (indeed allegedly claiming to have first coined the term). The band released the "Living in Darkness" EP on Basement Records in 1992, which encapsulates much of the flavour of the era. Top Buzz were headline performers at Amnesia House, Fantazia, Universe, Dreamscape, and Obsession events, amongst many others.
A distinct feature was the ragga
MCing of MC Patrick, strongly influenced by Jamaican dancehall roots. Patrick often referred to the team as "Two Blacks and a Bubble", a reference to the team's ethnic origins. The team later fell out, although they later reformed in the 21st century to perform at oldskool hardcore events across Britain.
, with Richard "Sticky" Forbes.
Mikee B became part of garage outfit Dreem Teem, with a slot on BBC Radio 1
until May 2005.
Patrick is the son of Cynthia Jarrett, who died in the Broadwater Farm Estate riots
in London in 1985. After Top Buzz, he later spent some time in prison.
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
events in the 1990s.
Top Buzz was originally formed in 1988 by MC Patrick McPhee ("Mad P") and DJ Mikee B, playing at house events, before being joined by DJ Jason Kyriakides ("Jason Jay" / "Jason Kaye") several years later. All originate from the Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
area of north London.
They were of the first to popularise the darker sounds of jungle techno
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
as it began to emerge from the hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore is a derivative of the acid house and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave scene.-The rave scene:...
rave sounds from 1992 (indeed allegedly claiming to have first coined the term). The band released the "Living in Darkness" EP on Basement Records in 1992, which encapsulates much of the flavour of the era. Top Buzz were headline performers at Amnesia House, Fantazia, Universe, Dreamscape, and Obsession events, amongst many others.
A distinct feature was the ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
MCing of MC Patrick, strongly influenced by Jamaican dancehall roots. Patrick often referred to the team as "Two Blacks and a Bubble", a reference to the team's ethnic origins. The team later fell out, although they later reformed in the 21st century to perform at oldskool hardcore events across Britain.
After Top Buzz
Jason Kaye has gone on to become a successful and influential producer of UK garageUK 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'...
, with Richard "Sticky" Forbes.
Mikee B became part of garage outfit Dreem Teem, with a slot on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
until May 2005.
Patrick is the son of Cynthia Jarrett, who died in the Broadwater Farm Estate riots
Broadwater Farm riot
The Broadwater Farm riot occurred around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham, North London, on 6 October 1985.The events of the day were dominated by two deaths. The first was that of Cynthia Jarrett, an African-Caribbean woman who died the previous day from a stroke during a police search of her...
in London in 1985. After Top Buzz, he later spent some time in prison.