Cut La Roc remembers the look on his mum's face when he bought his first Technics. She was horrified! 'You paid two hundred pounds for a record player?!' And that was before she found I needed two! Well, Mrs La Roc, rest easy. Your son did the right thing. As if there was a choice. La Roc - real name Lee Potter - was already hooked by then. He was 15. He'd already got into bunking off school in Brighton to doss around with the local b-boys, already began to memorise their breakdancing moves and intricate scratch tricks. Needless to say, the second Technics followed soon after. Lee immersed himself in the world of hip hop, scratching and editing his productions on cheap samplers and battling it out at local jams. Then something happened.
Or rather, nothing very much happened at all. "All of a sudden, it must have been about 1989, and acid house came along..." And Lee was seduced all over again. Which all casts a little light on the mixed up musical mind of Cut La Roc. And why his debut album 'La Roc Rocs' for Skint hoovers up everything from deft rap cut-ups to camped up jump-up jungle. Or Mills-esque techno pressure. And... Well, you get the picture.
If anything, it's a testament to the years Lee has spent almost consistently DJing in Australia, America, across Europe and the Far East. Still, it's in the UK where he's caused the most damage, the two early EPs in his 'Mad Skills' series stand alongside Fatboy Slim, Midfield General and Bentley Rhythm Ace's finest as the foundations the Skint empire was built on.
In 2000 he released a mix album for the Ministry Of Sound's FSUK imprint and set a his first world record for DJ'ing with 8 decks! His sets continued to be revelatory affairs too, Lee either turning on the showmanship by scratching with all manner of limbs or slapping down a wall-to-wall selection of party-stoking anthems.
Crowd-thrilling scratch tricks and a unique DJ'ing technique remain Cut La Roc's speciality when he's playing out and his DJ sets combine the best of party hip hop/breaks/house..whatever!!. No stranger to the big time, Cut had already appeared on Top Of The Pops as the late Wildchild's DJ on the top ten hit 'Renegade Master'. His critically claimed first album for Skint 'La Roc Rocs' was released in July 2000 featuring the hits 'Freeze', 'Fallen' and 'Makin' It Hot'.
Cut La Roc held a 4 year residency at the famous 'Big Beat Boutique' and performed alongside the infamous Fat Boy/Armand Van Helden (Brixton academy Boxing Ring gig...Nuts!!)
As well as touring the world over numerous times rocking shows all over the globe.
Among the legions of seamless fader-flippers who inhabit clubland, he sticks out as entertainer and vinyl conoisseur alike - a reputation that he is upholding even today.
For more info check out www.rocstar.co.uk or www.myspace.com/rocstarrecordings
A Date With Destiny - Fatboy Slim vs. Armand van Helden
Big Beat Boutique
Brixton Acadamy - Friday 11th June 1999. Cut La Roc Support
The camera crews at the door indicate that something very special is happening tonight, as you walk upto Brixton Acadamy past hundreds of fans desperate to get their hands on the last few tickets for a once in a lifetime opportunity to see two of the worlds biggest DJs in action - at the same time. Cut La Roc is already entertaining the quickly expanding crowd on the dance floor (there is no stage or anything like that - just a full scale rotating boxing ring, with a huge rig of video screens hovering above it. Throughout the night these screens are filled with live streams of the DJs in action, and the resultant ker-azy dancing from the people lucky enough to be ring-side. Like me. Full shots of my face were subjected to the thousands of die-hard fatboy-fans, at least twenty or thirty times we looked up to see our faces the size of a two story building - it pays to get there early for a gig like this. Cut La Roc seemed to have a great time warming the crowd up - he’s one of the friendliest DJs I have met in recent times - it was strange that I was one of only a handful of people interested in talking to him as he was packing his gear up, as he has the world record breaking talent to be one of the big stars of the future - from Skint’s beginnings he’s always been second only to Fatboy Slim as far as I’m concerned, and his new mix album FSUK4* reiterates this.
To much applause and cheering, Armand Van Helden enters the ring from one side, accompanied by an understandably large group of security men, and a geezer wielding the star-spangled banner. The unexpectedly short Van Helden drops his silk gown and removes his boxing gloves to reveal he’s dressed up for the part - customised basketball top, loads of jewellery - everything about him says ‘I’m trendy, me’. On the giant video screens we now see Norman Cook entering the ring from the other side of the arena. The crowd goes radio rental. Norman disrobes to reveal.. a Hawaiian shirt and jeans… and no-one bats an eye-lid. Norm and Armand start the theatrics at the front of the ring - forehead against forehead they stare each other out during the coin-toss to decide who will attempt to win over the crowd for an hour with their Dj-ing skills first. Armand wins the toss and elects to go first, and immediately sets about playing an impressive hour-long set of new york house an garage, starting with his forthcoming single The Boogie Monster. However impressed the crowd is with Armand’s DJ antics, they don’t really get going until he plays his number one hit single You Don’t Know Me, then die down again until Brixton boys Basement Jaxx’ Rendez-vu is dropped as a set closer.
To yet more applause Norman Cook arrives, and thrusts a litre bottle of vodka in the air - the crowd respond to every action he makes - Fatboy Slim is the Robbie Williams of the DJ world - a natural performer, with heaps of talent. On the dance-floor a whole different mood has been created just by Norman’s appearance - everyone spent the whole hour jumping up and down like an extremely happy yo-yo. Tracks incorporated in probably the best hour of live mixing I’ve heard all year, included that Des Lynam cover of Rockafeller Skank, Fucking In Heaven, Chemical Brother’s Hey Boy Hey Girl, Leftfield’s Phat Planet, Everybody Needs A 303, Right Here Right Now, Fatboy Eminem (Hi My Name Is The Funk Soul Brother), Satisfaction Skank (I Can’t Get No Funk Soul Brother), Kung Fu Fighting, and even the Kinks made a much welcomed appearance towards the end of the set.
After 4 hours, what we’d all been waiting for began - Ambidextrous - Armand Van Helden on the right deck, Fatboy Slim on the left deck for two hours, non-stop tunes from the likes of Bob Marley, plus many other peculiar choices including TLC - No Scrubs, Jungle Brothers - I’ll House You ‘98, Tori Amos - Professional Widow, Wildchild - Renegade Master (Original), You Don’t Know Me (Again), and Praise You as a very fitting finish to the event of the year. Although most people considered it to be Norman’s night, it wouldn’t have been half as fun without Armand (With his endless supply of tricks, including slowing down one record to about 10BPM, then speeding it back up to 300BPM or so, whilst mixing it with another top track) or Cut La Roc for that matter - as there was effectively two hours of Fatboy Slim, we didn’t get bored for one minute.
..
THIS WAS A NUTS GIG!!
DISCOGRAPHY & PRODUCTION
SINGLES
Mad Skills EP, 12" (Skint Records)
Mad Skills 2 EP, 12" (Skint Records)
Big Beat Boutique, CD (Small)
Makin' It Hot, 12" (Skint Records)
Freeze, 12" (Skint Records)
La Roc Rocs, 2x12" (Skint Records)
Freeze, CD5" (Skint Records)
La Roc Rocs, CD (Skint Records)
Fallen, 12" (Skint Records)
Fallen, CD5" (Skint Records)
Many Styles Vol 1 (Rocstar Recordings)
Many Styles Vol 2 (Rocstar Recordings)
Nemesis Album Sampler 1 (Rocstar Recordings)
Nemesis album sampler 2 (Rocstar Recordings)
ALBUMS
Nemesis (Rocstar) Released 7th May 2007
La Roc Rocs (Skint)
REMIXES
Flava (Cut La Roc Remix) (Harthouse)
Mahogany Roots (Cut La Roc Remix) (Eye Q (UK)
Sundance (Cut La Roc Mix) (React)
The Lick (Cut La Roc Remix) (Finger Lickin)
Dreams of Mine (Cut Le Roc Remix) (Cup Of Tea)
Go Off (Cut La Roc Remix) (Skint Records)
Sundance (Cut La Roc's Voodoo '89 Mix) (React)
Breakers Revenge (Cut La Roc Mix) (Freskanova)
Smash It (Cut La Roc Vocal Mix) (Kickin Records)
The Living Dream (Cut La Roc Vocal) (React)
The Living Dream (Cut La Roc Dub) on The Living Dream, 12" (React)
Can You Dig It? (Cut La Roc Remix) o(Tommy Boy Silver Label)
Breaker's Revenge (Cut La Roc Mix) (Freskanova)
Frantic (Cut La Roc Remix) (Infectious Records)
Four Big Speakers (Cut La Roc Remix) (Virgin Records)
Mahagany Roots (Cut La Roc Remix) (Eye Q (UK)
Can You Dig It? (Cut La Roc Mix) (Neo Records Ltd)
The Living Dream (Cut La Roc Vocal) (Orange Records)
Sundance (Cut La Roc's Voodoo '89) ..(OK Records)
The Living Dream (Cut La Roc Dub) (React)
The Picture (Cut La Roc Mix) (Astralwerks)
And I found this online recently too with dates featured tracks etc... :)
Mad Skills EP (12", EP) Skint Records 1996
Mad Skills 2 EP (12") Skint Records 1997
Freeze (12") Skint Records 1999
FSUK4 (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Ministry Of Sound 1999
Makin' It Hot (12") Skint Records 1999
Makin' It Hot (CD, Maxi) Skint Records 1999
Freeze (CD, Maxi) Skint Records 2000
Freeze (CD, Maxi) Skint Records 2000
La Roc Rocs (CD) Skint Records 2000
La Roc Rocs (2xLP) Skint Records 2000
La Roc Rocs (CD) Skint Records 2000
La Roc Rocs (CD, Promo) Skint Records 2000
Fallen (12") Skint Records 2001
Fallen (CD, Maxi) Skint Records 2001
Many Styles Vol 1 - EP (12") Rocstar Recordings 2003
Many Styles Vol 2 - EP (12", EP) Rocstar Recordings 2005
Nemesis Album Sampler 1 (12", Smplr) Rocstar Recordings 2006
Nemesis (CD, Album) Rocstar Recordings 2007
Remixes:
Colombia (12") Colombia (Cut La Roc R... Murena Records
Sundance (12") Sundance (Cut La Roc's... OK Records
Stigs In Love (12") Go Off (Cut La Roc Remix) Skint Records 1996
Flava (CD, Maxi) Flava (Cut La Roc Remix) Harthouse 1997
Flava (12") Flava (Cut La Roc Remix) Harthouse 1997
Flava (12", W/Lbl, Promo, Sta) Flava (Cut La Roc Remix) Harthouse 1997
Frantic (12") Frantic (Cut La Roc Re... Infectious Records 1997
Frantic (CD, Maxi) Frantic (Cut La Roc Re... Infectious Records 1997
Mahogany Roots (12") Mahagany Roots (Cut La... Eye Q (UK) 1997
Remix Selection (CD) Dreams of Mine (Cut Le... Cup Of Tea Records 1997
Remix Selection (2xLP) Dreams Of Mine (Cut La... Cup Of Tea Records 1997
Sonic Empire (12") Sonic Empire (Cut La R... Low Spirit Recordings 1997
Sonic Empire (CD, Maxi) Sonic Empire (Cut La R... Low Spirit Recordings 1997
Sonic Empire (12", Single) Sonic Empire (Cut La R... Low Spirit UK Ltd 1997
Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness (CD 2) (CD, Maxi) Speed Of The Sound Of ... Elemental Records 1997
Sundance (CD, Single) Sundance (Cut La Roc's... React 1997
Sundance (CD, Maxi) Sundance (Cut La Roc's... ZYX Music 1997
Sundance (12", Promo) Sundance (Cut La Roc's... React 1997
The Essential Times EP (CD, EP) Dreams Of Mine (Big Be... Cup Of Tea Records 1997
Big Beat Royale (CD) Smash It (Cut La Roc V... Kickin Records 1998
Erase / Rewind (12") Erase/Rewind (Cut La R... Stockholm Records 1998
Erase / Rewind (CD, Maxi) Erase / Rewind (Cut La... Stockholm Records 1998
Four Big Speakers (12") Four Big Speakers (Cut... Virgin Records America, Inc. 1998
Four Big Speakers (12") Four Big Speakers (Cut... Hut Recordings 1998
Four Big Speakers (CD, Maxi) Four Big Speakers (Cut... Hut Recordings 1998
React Test Eight (CD, Smplr) Sundance (Cut La Roc Mix) React 1998
Smash It (12") Smash It (Cut La Roc V... Echo 1998
Smash It (12", Promo) Smash It (Cut La Roc L... Echo 1998
Smash It (12", Promo) Smash It (Cut La Roc V... Echo 1998
Sundance Original Mixes (CD, Maxi) Sundance (Cut La Roc's... React 1998
Team Cannabis (CD) Dreams Of Mine (Cut Le... Iron Music 1998
The Living Dream (2x12", Promo) The Living Dream (Cut ... React 1998
The Picture (12", Promo) The Picture (Cut La Ro... Astralwerks 1998
The Picture (12") The Picture (Cut La Ro... Astralwerks 1998
Breaker's Revenge (12") Breaker's Revenge (Cut... Freskanova 1999
Far In (2xCD) Smash It (Cut La Roc V... Fruition Records (UK) 1999
It's A Finger Lickin Thang (CD + CD) The Lick (Cut La Roc R... Finger Lickin' Records 1999
It's A Finger Lickin' Sampler 2 (12", Smplr) The Lick (Cut La Roc R... Finger Lickin' Records 1999
It's A Finger Lickin' Sampler 2 (12", Promo, Smplr, W/Lbl) The Lick (Cut La Roc R... Finger Lickin' Records 1999
Rough Technique Vol. 2 Sampler (12") Breakers Revenge (Cut ... Freskanova 1999
Starfighter Pilot (12", Promo) Starfighter Pilot (Cut... Jeepster Recordings 1999
Starfighter Pilot (Remixes) (CD, Maxi) Starfighter Pilot (Cut... Jeepster Recordings 1999
The Living Dream (12") The Living Dream (Cut ... React 1999
The Living Dream (CD, Maxi) The Living Dream (Cut ... Orange Records 1999
The Living Dream (CD, Maxi) The Living Dream (Cut ... React 1999
The Living Dream (12") The Living Dream (Cut ... OK Records 1999
The Picture (CD, Maxi, Promo) The Picture (Cut La Ro... Astralwerks 1999
The Picture (12", Single) The Picture (Cut La Ro... Astralwerks, Virgin Records America, Inc. 1999
Tilos Rádió - Night Vibes (CD) Breakers Revenge (Cut ... HMK Music 1999
Call Me Anytime (2x12", Promo) Call Me Anytime (Cut L... Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) 2000
Call Me Anytime (CD, Maxi) Call Me Anytime (Cut L... True Kiss Disc 2000
Rough Technique Vol. 2 (CD) Breakers Revenge (Cut ... Freskanova 2000
Can You Dig It? (12") Can You Dig It? (Cut L... Tommy Boy Silver Label 2001
Can You Dig It? (12") Can You Dig It? (Cut L... Neo Records Ltd. 2001
Can You Dig It? (12", Promo) Can You Dig It? (Cut L... Neo Records Ltd. 2001
Tripswitch (12") Tripswitch (Cut La Roc... Sound Of Spectrum 2007
Scratches:
Hardknox (CD, Album) Who's Money Jive Electro, Jive Electro 1999
Hardknox (CD, Album) Who's Money Avex Trax 1999
Hardknox (CD, Album) Who's Money Zomba Records 1999
Mix:
Sundance (12") Sundance (Cut La Roc's... Italian Style Production 1997
Jazz Player (12") Jazz Player (Jazzapella) Loaded Records 2000
DJ Mixes:
Mockers (Cass) Jockey Slut 1997
Big Beat Boutique (Mixed By Cut La Roc) (CD, Promo) Small 1998
Silver Ultimate - Scratchin' Drum'n'Bass (CD, Mixed, Uno) Barracuda Records (2) 2000
Appears On:
Mahogany Roots (CD, Maxi) Mahogany Roots (Cut La... Eye Q (UK) 1997
No Stoppin (2x12", Promo) No Stoppin (Cut La Roc... Pukka Records 1997
Space Mood & Electric Soul (CD) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Plastic Records 1997
Boutique Birthday Mix (CD) Fallen (Hot Box Remix) Muzik Magazine 2001
Tracks Appear On:
Dope On Plastic! 3 (CD) Go Off (Cut Le Roc Goe... React 1995
Brassic Beats - Trip Hop All Funked Up (CD) We Rule Moonshine Music 1996
Brassic Beats Volume One (2xLP) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bo... Skint Records 1996
Brassic Beats Volume One (CD) Hip Hop Biddey Bop Bop... Skint Records 1996
Dope On Plastic! 3 (2xLP) Go Off (Cut Le Roc Goe... React 1996
Dope On Plastic! 3 (CD) Go Off (Cut Le Roc Goe... React 1996
Dope On Plastic! 3 (CD) Go Off (Cut Le Roc Goe... React America 1996
A Tribute To Lara Croft (CD, Enh + CD) Fans & Freaks BMG 1997
Beat Up The NME - 60 Knockout Minutes Mixed By Fatboy Slim (Cass) Post Punk Progression New Musical Express 1997
Big Beat Elite (3xLP) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Lacerba 1997
Big Beat Elite (2xCD + CD) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bo... Lacerba 1997
Brassic Beats Volume Two (2xLP) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1997
Brassic Beats Volume Two (CD) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1997
King Of The Beats (4xLP) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Team Records (2) 1997
King Of The Beats (CD + CD, Enh) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Team Records (2) 1997
Space Mood & Electric Soul (CD) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Plastic Records 1997
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 5 (2xCD) Lyrical Lunatic (Edit) E:Motion 1997
Big Beat Boutique (Mixed By Cut La Roc) (CD, Promo) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bo... Small 1998
Big Beats Dope Sounds Volume One (CD) Hip Hop Bibbedy Bop Bop Urban Essentials 1998
Brassic Beats Volume 3 (CD) La Roc Rocs Skint Records 1998
Brassic Beats Volume 3 (2xLP) La Roc Rocs Skint Records 1998
Brassic Beats Volume 3 (CD) La Roc Rocs Skint Records 1998
Brassic Beats Volume 3 (CD) La Roc Rocs Epic Records (Japan) 1998
Essential Skint (CD) Hip Hop Bibibbedy Bop Bop Select Magazine 1998
FSUK3 (2xCD) New York Pimp Ministry Of Sound 1998
Jump Up Show Down (3xCD, Mixed) Scratch The Break Lacerba 1998
Ministry Magazine Presents FSUK3* - Six Track Sampler (CD, Smplr, Promo) New York Pimp Ministry (Magazine) 1998
Monster Breaks (CD) Hip Hop Bippedy Bop FFRR (US) 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (CD, Enh) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (CD) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (CD) Post Punk Progression Epic 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (Cass) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (CD, Enh) Post Punk Progression Astralwerks, Astralwerks 1998
On The Floor At The Boutique (CD) Post Punk Progression Skint Records 1998
Avenue A Presents Something Else Volume One (CD) La Roc Rocs R & S Records 1999
Avenue A Presents Something Else Volume One (3xLP) La Roc Rocs R & S Records 1999
Jump Up Show Down (3xLP) Scratch The Break Lacerba 1999
Krafty Kuts Presents Slam The Breaks On (3xLP) Freak Some More Lacerba 1999
Skint Sluts (CD, Enh) Ruff And Tough Skint Records 1999
Slam The Breaks On (2xCD) Freak Some More Lacerba 1999
The Chillout Album 2 (2xCD) New York Pimp Telstar TV 1999
Atmoz 10 - The Sound Of The Clubs (CD) Freeze Atmoz, EMI Music (Belgium) 2000
Big Brother (2xCD) Freeze (Original Mix) Channel Four Music 2000
Brassic Beats USA (CD) Fallen Skint Records 2000
Brassic Beats USA Promo (CD) Fallen Not On Label 2000
Cream Ibiza - Arrivals (2xCD) Freeze (Original) Virgin 2000
De Afrekening 22 (CD) Freeze Sony Music Entertainment (Belgium) 2000
DJ Jan Trance N Dance 3 (CD, Mixed, Comp) Freeze Dancity 2000
Illusion - 2000 Venus Edition (2xCD) Freeze Sony Music Entertainment (Belgium) 2000
La Bush : Temple Of House: Vol. 10 (CD) Freeze La Bush Records 2000
Boutique Birthday Mix (CD) Fallen (Hot Box Remix) Muzik Magazine 2001
Chillout Forever (3xCD, Comp) Fallen (Aim Mix) Decadance Recordings 2001
De Maxx Long Player (2xCD) Freeze Sony Music Entertainment (Belgium) 2001
De Maxx Long Player 2 (2xCD) Fallen Sony Music Entertainment (Belgium) 2001
Ibiza Chillout Session (2xCD) New York Pimp Ministry Of Sound 2001
MTV: Extreme (2xCD) Freeze White Island Music 2001
MTV: Extreme (2xCD) Freeze White Island Music 2001
We Are Skint (2xCD) Freeze Skint Records 2002
We Are Skint (DVD) Freeze, Fallen Skint Records 2002
We Are Skint (2xCD) Freeze Skint Records 2002
We Are Skint (DVD, PAL) Freeze, Fallen Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 2002
We Are Skint (2xCD, Promo + DVD, Promo) Freeze Skint Records 2002
Dance Train - Final Edition (3xCD) Freeze Universal Music (Belgium) 2004
Dance Train Classics Vinyl 26 (12") Freeze 541 2004
Rush Hour (2xCD) Freeze Universal Music TV
Look out for the following releases!!
Nemesis Album Sampler 1 (Rocstar Recordings)
Nemesis album sampler 2 (Rocstar Recordings)
ALBUM
Nemesis (Rocstar)
New track 'The Firing Squad' up. Could still be a little too orangey for crows but I've tried to make it as palatable as poss ;) Love the new bumps dude - looking forward to hearing the album in the new year Would still love to have a go at a remix for you! Take it easy man
Online Now!
