In 2025 Breaktothebeat began working with MK Living archive on a project to raise the awareness of, and further document Milton Keynes Hip Hop Culture. The project was supported and funded by Arts Council England and Milton Keynes City Council. As part of the project MK Living Archive commissioned several recordings by local artists which were collated with other existing unreleased recordings to produce a 10 track vinyl album entitled “Under The Grid – A Journey Through MK Hip Hop“.
“Under The Grid – A Journey Through MK Hip Hop“
The idea was to start the compilation with a selection of recordings by current MK based artists and gradually go back through time concluding in the 1980s which represent the founding years of Milton Keynes Hip Hop culture. The below video entitled “Calling my name” by Saje Mode features on side A of the record and is an example of one of the recordings created by the current generation of Milton Keynes Hip Hop artists. Also featured on “Under The Grid” are recordings by Seek Wiz-Dum, Isle of CC, Seven Sentinels, and Captin Krunch.
Saje Mode “Calling my name” Official Video 2025.
After listening to through the selection of recordings created in the 2020s “Under The Grid” progresses back through the decades, highlighting a selection of Hip Hop music created by Milton Keynes artists from each generation. In 2012 producer Zaheer master minded a recording entitled “Assemble” that features vocal contributions from Abiade, Rukus, Swami Baracus, Genesis Elijah, and ShaoDow all of which were active during the 2010s. The official video of “Assemble” by Zaheer can be viewed in the below insert.
Zaheer “Assemble” Official Video 2012.
Side B of “Under The Grid” continues with two recording created during the 2000s. The first entitled “Milton Keynes” by J Hurley was taken from his 2007 recording project entitled “Levels“. The second recording from this period is a previously unreleased recording from 2005 entitled “Head Nod” by rapper Marvellous Flows and producer Moschops. During the 2000s Marvellous Flows was actively creating Hip Hop music as a solo artist and as a member of Milton Keynes based Hip Hop crews USN (Unstoppable Nature) and True 2 Life.
“Head nod” by Marvellous Flows and Moschops.
The penultimate track to feature on “Under The Grid” is entitled “Positive Freestylin‘” and was recorded during 1994 and 1995 by Phase 4. “Positive Freestylin‘” was created by Mr Lusta, Kraze One, Lady Of Funk and Mr Delta while undertaking a sound recording course run by producer, mentor and keyboardist Nigel Neil who also features on the recording. Phase 4 formed as a result of their recording being included on a cassette tape entitled “Widow maker” that was compiled and released by DJ Halo of The Criminal Minds in 1995.
“Positive Freestylin'” by Phase 4.
The final composition to feature on “Under The Grid” was recorded in 1988 by pioneering Milton Keynes Hip Hop Crew DDC (Double Deff Chillers). The recording entitled “Servin’ Suckers” was created in early 1988 while collaborating with producer Steve Martin who resurrected the audio from its original reel to reel master tape for inclusion on this project. “Servin’ Suckers” like all recordings from the “Under The Grid” compilation have never previously been available on vinyl.
“Servin’ Suckers” by DDC.
The “Under The Grid” and “MK Hip Hop” logos that feature on the vinyl sleeve and center labels of the release were created by Arkade Graphics. The Sleeve and center labels were designed by Dylan Jeavons and MK Living Archive. While stocks last vinyl copies of the album can be purchased direct from the MK Living Archive’s online shop. Please visit https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/dvds for further information on this and other MK Living Archive releases.
For further information on the artists featured on “Under The Grid” please see:
To keep up to date with Break to the beat news, projects and events please follow our social media pages.