Released OTD 45 years ago Wha'ppen? may lack the brash immediacy of The Beat's debut LP, but its inventive mix of reggae, worldbeat and post-punk has been unfairly overlooked. And esp this morning, it's tales of youth unemployment, political cynicism and corrupt media seem as relevant as ever.

"And we are Screwing. Up our lives today" Soundtrack for this morning's English council election results.

Released 35 years ago OTD, a landmark album in the development of jungle, UK breakbeat and all that other good stuff. The Ragga Twins came correct over Shut Up and Dance's genre shredding production, sending UK rave culture into totally new territory.

Polling Stations open from 7am - 10pm 🗳️

Everybody knows Rock Lobster but 52 Girls just rocks!

Thinking about Ty on the 6th anniversary of his passing. The big man was a mighty talent taken way too soon. 📷Jennie Baptiste

The official poster for the 4K restoration of Ken Russell’s The Devils 👀 In theaters October 16 from Warner Bros. Clockwork.

Scotland, do not let Reform in tomorrow. Our communities and the future of our country will change for the worst if we do. They are multi-millionaires that are in it for their own greed and the short term, but the damage will be done. Get out there in numbers and vote to KEEP THE FASCISTS OUT.

I give you - the greatest Nas remix of all time! youtu.be/v9bHHRA_w6w?...

Respect to Butterfly for reppin the Cocteau Twins!

T La Rock. Big beats. Big words. Big rapper. #HipHopSky #VinylSky #MusicSky

Pepto Bismol Diarrhoea Man has arrived at the Met Gala. #metgala

Ugh. Back to the 9 to 5. youtu.be/B0UXUEpH3FM?...

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Hearts may just win the thing you know!

BOTD, 1938: Tyrone Davis (d. 2005). youtu.be/KBEaDbMNiLE?...

Big up SWG3 for 10 years of Yardworks, and all praise to the dope graf writers who took part over the weekend

This record changed my life. God bless you Jerry Dammers!

Remembering Adam Yauch as always. Forever loved and missed ❤️ 📷 Steve Granitz. Some Kind of Wonderful premiere LA, 24th February 1987.

Sheesh, Kurtis Mantronik was putting in the work back in May 86! Not content with releasing Music Madness he also produced Just Ice's Back to The Old School, released OTD 40 years ago and featuring this monster track.. youtu.be/bqiZP-XY1mE?...

Stetsasonic perform “Talkin’ All That Jazz” on ‘What’s Up, Dr. Ruth?” (1989)

This morning's Parkrun playlist starter youtu.be/v_CBSeCMlEA?...

END ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION OF WESTMINSTER

We're told that Scotland is overrun with asylum seekers. But actually, fewer than 7,000 people are seeking asylum here. That’s only 0.12% of the total population. They wouldn’t even fill Falkirk football stadium. Get the facts here: https://ow.ly/uLW950YQZti

In '86 hip-hop moved at dizzying speeds, in a state of compulsive reinvention. When Mantronix released Music Madness 40 years ago this month, its gleaming futuristic electro funk seemed cutting edge. A month later Eric B is President dropped making it obsolete overnight.

The Death of Spotify, or why streaming is "minutes away from becoming obsolete"

Police are appealing for help in the search for a 13-year-old Scottish schoolgirl who has been missing overnight

"It ain't where you're from, it's where ya at"

Douglas Hi-Fi, Bourke St, Melbourne, 1983.

#bandcampfriday you say? New joint from Al-J and yours truly is up! Al-J bringing the wisdom only age can grant. #boombap flavor for your ears. #hiphop kanemajor.bandcamp.com/track/all-my...

Damn! I miss those days when hip-hop was all about positivity and building a culture. youtu.be/DM17jvZJHVY?...

The Wickedest Sound dropped 35 years ago this month. Once heard, never forgotten it's ground-breaking blend of hip-hop, ragga and breakbeat dumbfounded the haters who'd labelled Rebel MC a sell out and lit a fire underneath the nascent jungle scene. Long live Congo Natty! youtu.be/TUGGbqoJ-rQ?...

Happy birthday to The Godfather of Ska 🎵🖤

Only 1 sleep to go before Bristolian jazz cats Deyu bring their MF Doom extravaganza to Glasgow. Get yerselves along to the Rumshack for Deyu Does Doom.

THOUSANDS of people are coming together in the marches and rallies SUTR Scotland is coordinating during this election campaign! After fantastic turnouts in Dundee, Edinburgh, St Andrews & Glasgow north, this weekend antiracists took to the streets in Aberdeen, Paisley and the Southside of Glasgow.

45 today! A more sombre turn from Madness with a much denser, harder sound, influenced by listening to LKJ. It marked a move away from their trademark ska sound but the video as ever was a madcap delight. More bands should appear in shop windows on Camden High Street. youtu.be/JmBA7e-G21Q?...

A bitter sweet release this. It was the Beat's biggest hit but came out at the same they were splitting up. I fucking loved The Beat. What an utterly brilliant pop band. They were teenage me's favourite act, and a gateway to The Specials, 70s reggae and all that other good stuff.

Yo Leroy!! The Beasties released Hold It Now Hit It 40 years ago today. It's a lairy Trouble Funk sampling classic. So like the man says pump it up homeboy, just don't stop.

Congratulations to the Queen on her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame “Early Influence Award” 2026 induction! 👑

What's that you say? Just over a week until Bristolian jazz experimenters Deyu come to Glasgow for a show playing nothing but MF Doom covers. Sign me up! deyumusic.co.uk

Happy 80th b'day Al Green. Was lucky enough to hear that peerless voice live. Mind you he almost caused a riot by refusing to encore. Only time I've heard an actual "Elvis has left the building" type announcement as the women of Glasgow tried to bumrush the stage. youtu.be/ieCX2-zW9Pg?...

This single isn't even close to being The Beta Band's best but the video on the other hand... youtu.be/5XdUt3iIkZ4?...

65 years ago today Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin - teenage resistance fighter, foundry man, dock worker, pilot and eventually OG cosmonaut - slipped loose the bounds of gravity to embrace immortality. youtu.be/w8HvhF5tIDE?...

"Back in the days when I was a teenager/Before I had status and before I had a pager..." Happy 56th birthday to Q-Tip, rapper/producer extraordinaire.

Legacy doesn’t erase the allegations. Death doesn’t either. You can be an originator and still be a piece of shit. #AfrikaBambaataa

Released in the UK #OTD in 1971. Delroy Wilson wrote Better Must Come as a personal reflection of his own situation. It resonated widely with the public, becoming a No.1 hit in JA and an election campaign song of the PNP... youtu.be/t3z-vesQTkw?... #reggae #reggaesky #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky

One of my favourite UK Hip Hop tunes!

Gym Soundtrack for Today: Demon Boyz - Recognition Recognition still hits as hard today as when it dropped. A true UK Hip Hop classic that helped define the sound. Big salute to my man DJ Devastate! Proud to be a part of the Summer Vibes crew with him, alongside DJ Son, Rob Jones, Mike & myself