 Rejjie Snow, Móglaí Bap, The Rubberbandits, Mango, Jafaris, Erica Cody, Jordan Adetunji, Denise Chaila, Versatile and Hare Squead represent a portion of the Irish hip-hop industry Fifty years ago this week hip-hop was born in the United States. But it would take a little longer to reach the island of Ireland. While hip-hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Dr Dre and Public Enemy dominated the American charts in the late '80s, new-age artist Enya and the Celt-rock Saw Doctors reigned supreme on Irish radio. But a new sound, and attitude, was about to disrupt the airwaves. The group, consisting of Dada Sloosh, DJ Mek, Mr Browne and Rí Rá, was formed in 1990 and are considered by many to be the forefathers of Irish hip-hop. Their sound was a melting pot of genres proudly delivered with an Irish accent, and they soon found themselves opening for the likes of Madness, U2 and the Beastie Boys. "Hip-hop was fundamental, that was always the base, but we listened to all sorts - reggae, funk, jazz, punk," Rí Rá told BBC News NI. "Sloosh brought the traditional Irish element in, we stewed it all together and made music that could've went anywhere." Image source, Paul Tarpey Image caption, Scary Éire are considered by many to be the first Irish hip-hop act Capturing the bleak realities of life in a pre-Celtic Tiger Ireland, the group's music caught on with many remembering their live session for RTÉ 2FM's Dave Fanning. Others, Rí Rá recalled, looked on with bemusement: "Not quite sure what they were hearing but kind of liking it, and some not so keen on it." He added: "From people within the hip-hop crowd it was a big thing. The support was massive. Like they had their own group now, their representatives, and we were it." Scary Éire subsequently became the first Irish rap act to sign a major label deal with Island Records but it was to be short-lived with only one single release, 1993's Dole Queue. The album){kind=link}
Fifty years ago this week hip-hop was born in the United States.
But it would take a little longer to reach the island of Ireland.
While hip-hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Dr Dre and Public Enemy dominated the American charts in the late ’80s, new-age artist Enya and the Celt-rock Saw Doctors reigned supreme on Irish radio.
But a new sound, and attitude, was about to disrupt the airwaves.
Enter, Scary Éire.