Author Archives: DJ Kraze One

OUnity Event March 2020 (The Open University)

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Break to the beat’s second event entitled “OUnity” evolved from the response received by the staff at The Open University‘s Walton Hall campus to the MK Hip Hop Culture exhibition held in October 2019. Organised by DJ Kraze One and Sam Hazell with support from the Open University’s BME Network, the event featured a selection of local vinyl DJs and performances from several rappers and singers.

OUnity video – The Open University, 2020.

The team at Break to the beat were able to construct the above video that features footage including several of the live performances captured during the event which was held in an underground location known as the cellar bar. The below flyer was also designed and circulated before the event took place.

“Ounity” flyer by Marcus Young.

For information on future Break to the beat events please visit our social media pages.

MK Hip Hop Exhibition 2019 – The Open University

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Break to the beat’s first local Hip Hop Culture exhibition took place over a 10 day period during October 2019 at The Open University‘s Walton Hall Campus in Milton Keynes. The exhibition, aimed at documenting Hip Hop culture that evolved in and around the Milton Keynes area was organised by Barry Watson & Sam Hazell, with support from The Open University’s BME Network. The exhibition consisted of a lunchtime launch event hosted by Justice and DJ Kraze One that featured live scratch demonstrations from DJ Moschps and DJ Boothy. 

MK Hip Hop Culture Exhibition – The Open University, 2019.

The team at Break to the beat were able to document the exhibition in the above video that was created using footage taken during the launch event. After the launch several pieces of artwork created by local graffiti artists along with a selection of vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, flyers and other memorabilia were publicly displayed in the Betty Boothroyd library for 10 days. Members of the public as well as Open University students and staff were then able to view the display. 

“Milton Keynes Hip Hop Culture Exhibition” Poster by Claudia Torres.

For information on future Break to the beat events please visit our social media pages. 

True Element (Chapter 4)

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Welcome to the final chapter of the True Element story. In this section we will document a handful of reunion shows and the creation of several spin off recording projects that allowed True Element to evolve after circumstances beyond the bands control forced them to retreat from the live scene. collective will was still the driving force behind these final projects but this time the  inspiration was also based around reuniting and jamming just for fun. During this period True Element reconnected with some of their older affiliates, incorporated several new members and compiled a final recording project as the True Element MCs.

To read chapters 1, 2 & 3 (parts A & B) please visit the below links: 

True Element – Campbell park 2012.

As documented in the previous section True Element stopped performing live in March 2006 which is when all professional activity with the band ceased. The first reunion show came about as a result of a charity event organised by Killa Joul that took place in Buckingham during the summer of 2008. Killa Joul had organised a venue and compiled a CD of music by local artists. True Element‘s recording of “Natural selection” was included on the CD and several members reunited to perform at the event. All the reunion shows documented in this section included the core members of the original line up that were able to participate with support by musicians and vocalists from the wider community. For the Buckingham performance core members Aniis Le Neve, Kraze One, Big Jules and Flute Loop were accompanied by guitarist Ade Street, Drummer Real Deal and guest rapper Paranoia MC who had been working with DJ Kraze One on a separate recording project during this period. Continue reading →