RIP Derek B (1965-2009)

step one · Post by **step one** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:12 am

http://madnews.wordpress.com/2009/11/16 ... ek-b-dies/
http://djstepone.blogspot.com/2009/11/d ... -2009.html

Just been confirmed that late 80s UK rapper Derek B has died from a heart attack.
He was the first English rapper to achieve commerical/crossover success and was signed to Russell Simmons' Rush Management as well as having his tracks licensed to Mr Magic's 'Rap Attack' compilations.
He debuted on the pioneering London label Music Of Life (home to Hijack and Demon Boyz amongst others) and also worked as A&R man, discovering several legendary UK acts during his time there.

RIP

gaccu01 · Post by **gaccu01** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:41 pm

R.I.P. Derek B.
His stuff was not bad as well.

step one · Post by **step one** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:50 pm

gaccu01 wrote:R.I.P. Derek B.
His stuff was not bad as well.

like a lot of UK rappers at the time he had a bit of a yank tinge on his accent but the production on his stuff was better than most.
Met him a couple of years ago when he was selling off some vinyl. Seemed like he was doing well for himself. He had stories of doing shows with Public Enemy and LL. I was trying not to 'interview' him while I was going through the records.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:13 pm

R.I.P. - any samples of his noteworthy tracks to be had?

step one · Post by **step one** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:07 pm

Thun wrote:R.I.P. - any samples of his noteworthy tracks to be had?

sounds a bit dated now but for a lot of UK kids in the 80s he was the first one to get on prime time TV and was doing 'proper' rap rather than Hip House or whatever.

MK just dropped a few on his blog
http://djmksworld.blogspot.com/2009/11/derek-b-rip.html

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DEREK B RIP

Couldn't believe this one when i heard. Derek B was only 45 when he sadly passed of a heart attack. Derek B really did pave the way, for all UK MC'S especially those now getting chart sucess like Chipmunk, Dizzee, etc. Starting out in the early 80's as a rare groove dj, he soon hooked up with the leading Pirate radio station LWR, and his "Good Grove show" used to come on after Westwood. By 1987 he was killing it in the clubs such as "The Wag" in Wardor street, and then signed to Simon Harris and Chris France's "Music of Life " record label which saw the release of his hits Good Groove, and Bad young brother. Derek B paved the way also for the following reasons...

* THE FIRST UK MC TO REGULARLY APPEAR ON TOP OF THE POPS

* THE FIRST UK MC TO BE PUSHED IN AMERICA

* THE FIRST UK MC TO HAVE DECENT US MC'S ON HIS ALBUM (PUBLIC ENEMY FEATURED ON HIS ALBUM BULLET FROM A GUN)

* THE FIRST PERSON I EVER SAW IN UK HIP HOP TO HAVE A MOBILE PHONE AND A PORSCHE IN 1987.

* THE FIRST UK MC TO APPEAR IN SMASH HITS MAGAZINE

* THE FIRST UK MC TO HAVE A US MANAGEMENT DEAL (WITH RUSSELL SIMMONS RUSH TOWN MANAGEMENT)

And the list goes on, and on....
By the time we hit 1989, that was the last i ever heard of Derek B, only to see him on myspace, about 4 years ago. I remember i sent him a message, just to say big up for all the work he did. He hit me back, and seemed genuinely touched. He said he checked out my radio show on Kiss and told me to keep up the good work... DEREK B AKA DEREK BOLAND...AKA DJ EASY Q...RIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark 563 · Post by **Mark 563** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:18 pm

Just woke up, and the first thing I read was the news Derek B had died - very sad indeed.

UK Rap Legend.

RIP.

K-Funk · Post by **K-Funk** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:02 pm

Rest In Peace Derek B!

kevin beacham · Post by **kevin beacham** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:31 pm

R.I.P., he is definitely a key figure from the UK scene to a person like myself in the US. I've heard that he is also responsible for Hijack getting signed to Music Of Life and I could never thank him enough just for that!

I used to bump his first album for sure. I had the wax then had to go buy the tapes for the bonus cuts! I particularly like the "Bullet From The Gun" James Bond styled cut.

I don't know how long it was after that I figured out that Derek B and Easy Q were the same person. What was the story behind him doing it like that?

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:56 pm

^haha yeah I laughed when I found out that Derek B and EZQ (Easy Q?) were the same person, I enjoyed the Bullet From A Gun album and still have the tape.

R.I.P. Derek B

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Derek+B

step one · Post by **step one** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:41 pm

that whole EZQ/Derek B thing messed my head up back in the day. i was only about 10 years old and didnt really get what was going on!

I think maybe he used EZQ as a DJ name back in the day before he was rapping.

He definitely had a hand in getting Hijack signed. I managed to get 2 copies of the 'Style Wars' 12" off him - he had a stack of mint condition Music Of Life promos and allsorts of other shit in a loft and I spent about 3 hours going through it all. Dropped about

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:21 pm

[quote="step one"]that whole EZQ/Derek B thing messed my head up back in the day. i was only about 10 years old and didnt really get what was going on!

I think maybe he used EZQ as a DJ name back in the day before he was rapping.

He definitely had a hand in getting Hijack signed. I managed to get 2 copies of the 'Style Wars' 12" off him - he had a stack of mint condition Music Of Life promos and allsorts of other shit in a loft and I spent about 3 hours going through it all. Dropped about

step one · Post by **step one** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:32 pm

Jaz wrote:
Nice, he will definitely be missed and his contribution to Hip Hop won't ever be forgotten...when you met him Step One was he rocking fresh fly Adidas?

I forget but I'm sure we made a point of checking at the time!

siderealist · Post by **siderealist** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:39 pm

R.I.P. I have his album somewhere- never really listened to it.
Being from US I am picky. I kept it because he was influential.

RAZAH CUTZ · Post by **RAZAH CUTZ** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:13 am

R.I.P. man was a trailblazer for UK Hip-Hop...

DJ MoFunk · Post by **DJ MoFunk** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:18 am

R.I.P. Derek B. Thanks or the inspiration. First head I remember to sample Sly Stone.

Back in 87 Red Alert use to play his song all the time. That's how I became a fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zagL_vdtV4Q

Heads were dope on the beats. However, back then I thought Easy Q was the mc and Derek B was the DJ.

God Bless

1ne