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Shut Up & Dance – The Biography
 
 
   
 

Way back in 1986 there were four guys named Smiley, PJ, Dj Daddy & Dj Hype. They had built a sound system called Heatwave and come the weekend they would break into many a house or warehouse (unoccupied of course ) to start their own illegal raves, parties, knees-up, shindig, shabeenz etc.... This was the done thing back then and Smiley & PJ were rappers on the sound system but were also trying to get a record deal. No record label would sign them up, and so after many, many, many knock backs they decided to start their own label, Shut Up And Dance Music.

Their first release was a track titled 5,6,7,8, which was sold straight out of the boot of PJ’s ford escort. Other singles followed quickly, £10.00 To Get In, £20.00 To Get In, LamborghiniDerek Went Mad  and pretty soon an album Dance Before The Police Come which became an instant success, due to the love & support being shown from the pirate radio scene. The label grew from strength to strength and soon the guys decided to expand by signing artists to their label & producing the tracks for them as well. These artists included: The Ragga Twins, Nicolette, Peter Bouncer, Rum & Black & Ade to name a few.

 
     
now is early album
reggae oews me money dance before the police come
     
 

PJ & Smiley also started other record labels, Redlight (Drum & Bass), Ruff Quality (Experimental Breaks), & New Deal Recordings  (2 Step/Garage breakbeat). All of these labels had their share of success including tracks like Coca Cola, Bastards, True Vip, Holdtight the list was endless; and with the Shut Up And Dance label being the foundation which held it all together, world domination was merely a fat bassline away.

Travelling the world on a regular basis, & spreading that fat Shut Up And Dance sound is what the guys do regularly when they take to the stage to DJ and man does it rock. With Breaks, & Nu Skool Breaks being their music of choice to both play & produce, Add to that some classic Shut Up & Dance tracks and its one hell of a party, With Smiley on the decks,  and PJ on the mic. The mic playing just as much an important role as the tunes being played on the decks, with both adding to the great vibes and atmosphere.

 
     
  Successive albums have included:  
     
   
  “Reclaim the Streets” – (2004)  
     
  reclaim the streets album  
     
 

Reclaim The Streets  - was the home for such tracks as, Riot, Heaven On Earth, There’s Evil Amongst Us, The Bailiff Letter, Babymother Blues and of course, Reclaim the Streets (produced alongside DJ Hype) amongst others.

 
     
     
  Breakbeat Elite” – (2005)  
     
 
  breakbeat elite  
 
 

This was a project brought about to raise both awareness & funds for the continuing crisis in Sudan . All profits from this album went to OXFAM. This album aimed to bring this genre of music to the masses. Featuring some of the scenes most Established & Upcoming stars, with tracks contributed from the likes of Shut Up And Dance, Rennie Pilgrem, Plump DJ’s, Boabinga, Stanton Warriors, Krafty Kuts, Skool Of Thought & Aquasky.

 
     
     
  “The Great British Public”(2007)  
     
  the great british public  
     
 

Two years in the making and boy what an album. Contained such titles asOutta National Da Night Bus”, “Welcome To My Wild Side”,Make The Needle Jump, “Glory Days  and Culture Clash  this album was absolutely slamming. Guests on the album included Singing Fats, Tax Man from True Playerz, Nick Thayer, Reso, Wookie, A’de and many more.

 
     
  Also  
     
  “How the East Was Won 1989-2009” - (2009)  
     
  how the east was won  
     
  This album celebrates two decades of Shut Up & Dance, The Record label, The Group, & The Attitude. It spans 20 years, 11 albums, and multiple single releases. It features artists such as, Shut Up & Dance, The Ragga Twins, Peter Bouncer, Rum & Black & More. It contains some of the labels biggest ever releases & top sellers includiing:  Shine Eye, The Green Man, 5678, Spliffhead, Raving I'm Raving (Remix), No Doubt, Reclaim The Streets, Glory Days, Holdtight, & the classic Sensation.  
     
     
  So whether you’re a Shut up and Dance novice or a die hard fan, just tune in and travel the musical timeline that began in 1989 and is still continuing to this day.  
     
     
     
     
   
     
     
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  All content on this website copyright of Shut up And Dance Music (C) 2018