Welcome to the 4th interview in our brand new series, ‘Stories About Records’ where we ask our members and some of our favourite Djs about their most cherished 45.
This is not about perceived or discogs monetary value but personal value that is tied up in memories, stories, love, loss, life, family and a passion for this particular 7″ vinyl record.
We want to know what the record is, what it sounds like and why it is so important to you.
If you’re interested in being apart of this series drop us an email or sign up for our Newsletter to be informed when these wonderful stories drop.
Now to T2Funk from the UK.
Firstly, tell us about yourself as a Dj and Collector of 45s, how long have you been playing and collecting, why 45s, what was the first 45 you were given and also the first 45 you bought? Do you still have them?
My name is Tony and Ive been DJing as Atompfunk and T2Funk for 20 years or so and been collecting 45s for about 10 of those of those years.
DJing is a hobby and until the pandemic I was playing bars in and around Manchester.
I’ve always been lucky to be able to have so many digging spots on my doorstep.
The first 45 I bout was Adam and the Ants – King of the Wild Frontier aged about 7.
What is your most cherished 45? Why is it so important to you? What is it’s story (label, year, artist, musicians), where did it come from? Is the B-Side any good?
The 45 I have picked is ‘And It Wasn’t a Dream/Posse Strong’ by The Ruthless Rap Assassins.
As a young teenager I was into hip hop and soon I was obsessed with the RRA ‘Killer Album’ LP, 3 guys from North Hulme and Greg Wilson on production.
I used to play it all the time and still to this day it gets aired once a week in the T2Funk household.
It was always in ‘Hip Hop Connection’ as one of the best UK rap LPs which I buzzed off mainly due to London acts getting more coverage in the magazine.
The single ‘And it Wasn’t A Dream’ which samples Cymande’s, ‘The Message’ is on a different tip than the UK Britcore tracks of the time and still is meaningful to this day.
I remember in 1990, aged I4/15 I was working in a Green Grocer’s shop and the lead rapper on the track, Anderson walks in and `I was too nervous to let on I knew who he was and tell him how class the album was.
The flip side has ‘Kermit’ (of Black grape fame) on lead vocals and a few years ago I met him through a mutual friend and gave him a lift to the Moovin’ Festival and was buzzing cos I got to ask him nerdy questions about the RRA etc.
Anyway, it may not be on most people’s top play lists but to me it’s a belter of a 45 from an under acclaimed UK hip hop act.
T2Funk
Check out T2Funk’s mix for The Forty Five Kings under his ‘Atomphunk’ moniker
Check out T2Funk’s guest set for Coffee & Donuts from 19 December 2020