Welcome to Aeroplane Dope's Myspace Page.
Aeroplane Dope ( Waz ) began experimenting with music at 14, playing with wav files in windows recorder before getting a demo version of Sonic Foundry Acid. With a newly purchased Roland XJ305 Groovesynth workstation, he began experimenting with composition of samples and put an album together titled Every man for himself and God against Everyone . At 16, he sold his album to friends and tutors at The Beauchamp College in south Leicestershire where he met Christopher Maughan (Lead Guitar) And Patrick Hammond (Bass) to Form Rebus. It was Christophers mother Paula Maughan who actually came up with the name Aeroplane Dope as well as Rebus!
Rebus Focused on Hip hop and Reggae although their love of all genres allowed them to produce a very versatile album titled Can I have a Word?. They couldnt find a suitable rapper and singer and so Aeroplane Dope took on the responsibility although he was very rusty at first.
As University life approached the band, they had to go their separate ways and until this day, Rebus have yet to work on new material.
Studying Architecture at De Montfort University Leicester, Aeroplane Dope began to DJ in his student flat and a new found love for Drum & Bass emerged as he grew tired of the poor quality of Hip hop records available at HMV. He had always been interested in Turntablism and Scratching and so began practice as soon as he had the right carts and mixer.
By his second year as a student, De Montfort University Leicester had lost their long held credit from the Architectural Registration Board to give Degrees to their Architecture students. This forced Aeroplane Dope to leave the university in search of a better one although his love for Architecture had never been strong and he doubted it was the right decision.
Aeroplane Dope began working in a small studio in order to gain some professional experience of music production. At the same time, Aeroplane Dope was approached by Laurence Bowen who was director of a TV production company called Feel Good Productions. Aeroplane Dope was given the job of writing melodies and sound FX for a small TV sitcom to be aired on Childrens ITV. No credit was paid towards Aeroplane Dopes work and no proof of his work was acknowledged on the show. Due to this disappointment, he decided to leave working in the audio studio in search of a better University to pursue an Architecture Degree again and was accepted into The Glasgow School of Art.
Moving to Glasgow opened many doors for Aeroplane Dope as he began to explore the Drum & Bass scene. www.scottishdrumandbass.com allowed him to meet many DJs, promoters and producers, many of which became good friends. He got his first ever DJ gig at www.theliquidlounge.co.uk and became a regular to DJ alongside some new found friends. It was here he met Yellow Benzene, Gonzo, Calaco Jack and Baraka; some regular DJs at The Liquid Lounge.
A DJ affiliate group called Relapse was formed consisting of Aeroplane Dope, Yellow Benzene, Kappa & D-Fade. They began running Drum & Bass nights at Glasgow University Union which was a success until it was banned for provoking drug abuse which was completely unfounded. Nevertheless, Relapse tried to get as many gigs in and around Glasgow as they could as they all had a love for Drum & Bass.
Gonzo, a Ragga Jungle and Drum & Bass DJ became interested in Aeroplane Dopes Production and 2D graphics skills and before long, they were regularly sharing ideas and doing regular mixes. DJ Alcane , Gonzos new flatmate from Dumfries joined the gang and made Aeroplane Dope a resident and member of Red Alert; a group of DJs and MCs that has been running in Scotland for over since the turn of the new millennium.
Aeroplane Dope became a respected Drum & Bass MC and Host as well as DJ in Glasgow and Edinburgh as he regularly played at Red alert Overchore at the Art School in Edinburgh . It was here in March 2006 he launched his album Taking Off where he did an hour set of all his own stuff. The night was a success and he sold almost all his CDR copies of the album to happy raving punters.
Throughout his stay at Glasgow , he helped out in Radio shows for www.radiomagnetic.com and www.subcity.org including presenting and DJing . In February 2006, he won the Open Decks Finals at Glasgow University Union and became friends with Eastborn, Scotland s biggest selling Hip hop MC and owner of Dropzone Records. Eastborn decided to nominate Aeroplane Dope for the annual Fame Academy Bursary award due to his achievements.
Alongside Music, Wazs other passion has always been street art and Graffiti, and goes by the name Ego, previously sponsored by Heineken Beer and now allied with 'Magic Toast' Snowboarding & Surf shop. Currently Aeroplane Dope has been less busy with DJ gigs, but instead in the studio preparing for a sonic war on all Urban Dance music fronts. 2008 will be his year to do or die, production wise aswel as vocally. Watch this space.