EARLY UK HIP HOP ARTISTS
Hijack
INFORMATION
Members
Kamanchi Sly, DJ Supreme, DJ Undercover, Ulysses, Agent Fritz, Agent Clueso
Biography
Hijack came out of Brixton, London in 1988 when they signed to Music Of Life, and they dropped their debut single, the now legendary, 'Style Wars'. Their next release was the brilliant DJ Supreme produced 'Hold No Hostage' backed with 'Doomsday Of Rap', probably two of the best tunes ever to be released by a UK act, in my opinion. It was a release that grabbed the attention of hip hop fans all over Europe, with DJ's Supreme and Undercover showing the world how the UK DJ's do it and Kamanchi Sly dropping his trademark quick delivery.

Still on the underground scene, but with recognition growing all over Europe, ICE T heard Hijack on the radio and decided to sign them to his Rhyme Syndicate Records label in the USA. Their first release on the label, in 1989, was the Batman themed 'The Badman Is Robbin' which went on to reach the UK's Top 40 charts, giving it's listeners a taste of things to come with it's opening lines 'Taken From The Forthcoming Album, The Horns Of Jericho by Hijack'.

In between 'The Badman Is Robbin' and 'The Horns Of Jericho' album, Hijack released 'Style Warriors Revenge' back on the Music Of Life label as a stop gap while Hijack were waiting for their album to be released by Warners Brothers after the collapse of ICE T's Rhyme Syndicate Records.

Finally, 'The Horns Of Jericho' was unleashed to it's awaiting public in 1991 and is arguably the greatest hip hop album ever to be released outside of the USA. With classics like 'The Phantom Of The Opera' and 'Hijack The Terrorist Group', it was a groundbreaking release from a UK act, that set the standards for others to follow. Unfortunately, Warner Brothers never released the album to the US market and Hijack parted company with the label. Soon after the group split due to musical differences, DJ Supreme went on to launch Backbone Records, working with such artists as The Icepick. Kamanchi Sly and DJ Undercover went on to set up Reservoir Records as Mr Pink and Mr Blonde, releasing two singles and re-releasing 'The Original Horns Of Jericho' a limited edition double album featuring previously unreleased tracks and an instrumental record.

Kamanchi Sly then went on to become Unknown MC and set up Soulfood Records in 1998 with his brother DJ Pied Piper, they went on to produce for footballer Andy Cole on his single 'Outstanding'. They managed to reached the Number 1 spot with garage tune 'Do You Really Like It'.

In 2004 Kamanchi Sly is now back in the UK hip hop scene and has released two EP's on his new label Catalyst Recordings, look out for his new album 'The Holy Grail' this year, 2005. Many people would pay a lot of money to get Hijack back together again, I'm one of them, but, the chances seem remote, unfortunately.
Websites
http://www.hornsofjericho.com
http://www.djsupreme.com
http://www.kamanchisly.com
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles

STYLE WARS (Music Of Life - 1988)

Side 1
1. Style Wars
2. Style Wars (Instrumental)

Side 2
1. Style Wars (Bonus Beats)
1. Style Wars (Scratchapella)

HOLD NO HOSTAGE / DOOMSDAY OF RAP (Music Of Life - 1989)

Side 1
1. Hold No Hostage
2. Doomsday Of Rap

Side 2
1. Hold No Hostage (Instrumental)
2. Doomsday Of Rap (Instrumental)
3. The Sound Of Knell
4. The Drummer Of Doom
STYLE WARRIORS REVENGE (Music Of Life - 1989)

Side 1
1. Style Warriors Revenge

Side 2
1. Style Warriors Revenge (Instrumental)
THE BADMAN IS ROBBIN' (Rhyme Syndicate Records - 1989)

Side 1
1. The Badman Is Robbin'
2. The Badman Is Robbin' (Acapella)

Side 2
1. Hold No Hostage
2. Doomsday Of Rap
DADDY RICH (Warner Brothers - 1991)

Side 1
1. Daddy Rich (Part 1)

Side 2
1. Hijack The Terrorist Group
2. Daddy Rich (Part 2)
MR PINK AND MR BLONDE

PAYIN' THA PRICE / DEATH BEFORE DISHONOUR (Reservoir Records - 1996)

Side 1
Mr. Pink Of Hijack (DJ Undercover)
1. Payin' Tha Price (Radio Version)
2. Payin' Tha Price (Street Version)

Side 2
Mr. Blonde Of Hijack (Kamanchi Sly)
1. Death Before Dishonour (Radio Version)
2. Death Before Dishonour (Street Version)
MR PINK AND MR BLONDE

JAMAICA CRIMEWAVE (Reservoir Records - 1997)

 Side 1
1. Jamaica Crimewave (Street)
2. The Badman Is Robbin' (Acapella)
3. Jamaica Crimewave (DJ's Bonus Beats)
4. Jamaica Crimewave (Instrumental)

Side 2
1. The Badman Is Robbin' (Vocal)
2. Jamaica Crimewave (Acapella)
3. Bullshit
Albums







THE HORNS OF JERICHO (Rhyme Syndicate Records - 1991)

Side 1
1. Intro / Phantom Of The Opera
2. The Syndicate Outta Jail
3. Daddy Rich (Part 1)
4. Back To Brixton
5. Airwave Hijack

Side 2
1. Hijack The Terrorist Group
2. The Badman Is Robbin'
3. I Had To Serve You
4. Don't Go With Strangers
5. Brother Versus Brother
6. The Paranoid Schizophrenic With Homicidal Tendencies
7. The Contract (featuring Huntkillbury Finn, The Icepick, Shaka Shazam)










DJ SUPREME FROM HIJACK

STOLEN BEATS AND RIPPED OFF SCRATCHES (Music Of Life - 1992)

Side 1
1. Sustitution Revisited
2. Incorporated Beat
3. Hammond's Drummer
4. Big Soul
5. Kool's Return
6. Radio Break

Side 2
1. Impeach-The Sequel
2. Buddy's Solo
3. Hard N' Horny
4. Love Break
5. Dead Ringer
6. Jungle Vibez
7. 40 Scratch Grooves

























THE ORIGINAL HORNS OF JERICHO / INSTRUMENTAL MOVIE SOUNDTRACK
(Reservoir Records - 1997)

Side 1
1. The Shoguns Assassin
2. Syndicate Outta Jail
3. Daddy Rich
4. Back To Brixton
5. Hold No Hostage (Scratch Remix)

Side 2
1. Airwave Hijack
2. Badman Is Robbin
3. Kamanchi Sly = MC Squared
4. Don't Go With Strangers
5. Brother Versus Brother
6. The Paranoid Schizophrenic With Homicidal Tendencies
7. The Contract (featuring - Huntkillbury Finn , The Icepick , Shaka Shazam)
8. Murder In Tha' First Degree

Side 3
1. The Shoguns Assassin (Instrumental)
2. Syndicate Outta Jail (Instrumental)
3. Daddy Rich (Instrumental)
4. The Drummer (Instrumental)
5. Hold No Hostage (Scratch Remix Instrumental)

Side 4
1. Airwave Hijack (Instrumental)
2. Badman Is Robbin (Instrumental)
3. Kamanchi Sly Equals MC Squared (Instrumental)
4. Don't Go With Strangers (Instrumental)
5. Fings Are Gettin' Better (Instrumental)
6. Brother Versus Brother (Instrumental)
7. The Contract (Instrumental)









HI-PRO-JACK (White Label)

Side 1
1. Intro
2. Daddy Rich Pt.2
3. Stylewars
4. Hold No Hostage
5. Doomsday Of Rap
6. Stylewars Revenge

Side 2
1. Drummer Of Doomsday
2. Sound Of The Knell
3. Stylewars Instan
4. Stylewars Bonus Beat
5. Stylewars Scratcha Pella
6. Hold No Hostage Instrumental
7. Doomsday Instrumental
8. Stylewars Revenge Instrumental