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Jay J first broke onto the Rave scene back in 1991 when he began to MC for the now legendary DJ Slipmatt. They first met a few years earlier around 1989 whenJay J received a message that a couple of DJ’s/Producers were looking for Rappers to feature on a ‘Hip House’ record titled ‘Get Up & Dance’. Slipmatt andhis partner DJ Lime would travel to Ilford to collect a young Jay J, 16 at the time, and three other members of his crew MC’s LJ Rock, FLG along with DJDevious D to work on the track. The record was never released but Jay kept in touch and would do jingles for their pirate radio station RAW FM. It was twoyears later when Jay a 18 year old trainee Bricklayer, received a call from Slipmatt and Lime (SL2) asking him to be their MC. In 1991, SL2 had a new record‘DJ’s Take Control’ that was getting a lot of airplay on the pirate stations and had a lot of interest from major labels, namely XL Recordings. Jay a loverof Hip-Hop, took this as may be having to perform at a couple of Raves/Clubs here and there and was more than happy to be part of it. Little did he know‘DJ’s Take Control’/’Way In My Brain’ would go to number 11 in the national charts and kick start what would become a crazy few years, (never did finish thatBricklaying course).
In 1992, SL2 released their follow up single ‘On a Ragga Tip’, which went straight in the national charts at No.7 and peaked at No. 2 and remained in the top40 for 12 weeks and is still played today. Many Radio interviews and TV appearances followed including Top of the Pops and Dance Energy. By the end of theyear Jay had travelled to 9 different countries with SL2 including Japan, USA, Mexico, Spain and Holland. At the same time Jay had enhanced his reputation asan MC and became a resident for big Rave organisations such as Raindance.
SL2 had another top 40 hit with ‘Way in My Brain’ remix before the rave scene split into many different genres such as Hardcore, Jungle, House etc.
Simultaneously Devious D’s DJ career had taken off and the two would perform together at raves. They also collaborated in the studio making many tunes suchas ‘Time of Our Lives’/’Drive Ya Crazy’, ‘Sensational Junglist’ and ‘Put ‘em by the Bass Bin’. These were all released on Slipmatt & Limes ‘Awesome Records’,which Jay also got involved in by bringing forward artists such as IG1, R.A.W and Hyperactive.
Jay J is still busy today MC’ing at most of the big raves on both the Rave and Jungle scene, he still produces, DJ’s spinning Hip Hop & RnB and is known toput on the odd event with partner JBL under Original Concept.
Jay J on 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks':
Jay J & SL2 Videos: