| Band Members |
The New Album –
“The Great British Public”
Released October 2007
SHUT UP & DANCE – THE BIOGRAPHY
Smiley, Pj, Dj Daddy & Dj Hype had built a sound system called Heatwave. They broke into many buildings to start their own illegal raves back in 1986. Smiley & Pj were rappers on the sound system but were also trying to get a record deal. No one would sign them up, and so they started their own label, Shut Up And Dance Music. The name coming from the title of one of the songs on their demo tape.
Their first release was a track titled 5,6,7,8, which was sold straight out of the boot of Pj’s ford escort, with follow ups such as £10.00 To Get In, £20.00 To Get In, Lamborghini, & Derek Went Mad (Dance Before The Police Come-Album) which were all massive underground anthems. The follow up album Death Is Not The End contained such monsters as, Raving Im Raving & The Green Man. Success brought expansion, and expansion brought artist’s such as The Ragga Twins (Reggae Owes Me Money-Album), Nicolette (Now Is Early-Album), Rum & Black (Without Ice-Album), Peter Bouncer, And Ad’e to name a few. All the above artist were produced by Shut Up & Dance (aka Smiley & Pj) and soon other artist were signed to the label who produced their own music. Codine , Mc Duke, Cedrick Winkelburger etc.
Smiley & Pj also started other labels, such as the Redlight label (Drum & Bass), Ruff Quality (Experimental Breaks), & the more recent New Deal Recordings which is a
2 Step/Garage breakbeat outlet responsible for such classics as True Vip & Holdtight.
The SUAD label being the foundation which holds it all together.
Having been Dj’ing for most of their lives, travelling the world on a regular basis, spreading their Shut up and dance sound and causing havoc on many dance floors across the globe, they found the label progressing and with it the music, Breakbeat is the music they both produce and play. With Smiley on the decks, & PJ on the mic. The mic being just as important as the tunes with both bringing the vibes and the atmosphere.
Currently Shut Up & Dance have slimmed down their operation and gone back to basics. The “Reclaim The Streets”- album ( Oct 2004) has a strong lyrical content and pulls no punches on tracks like, Riot, Heaven On Earth, And There’s Evil Amongst Us. For the more tearing of breakbeats finest turn to tracks like Anger Management & Release The Gimp. Arrest The President & We Know Where You Live venture into darker waters and are definitely weapons of mass destruction, Meanwhile Babymother Blues is the weekend fathers anthem with it’s hypnotic and twisting bassline. Bringing the album to a close is The Bailiff Letter; a track which employs the services of a twenty-piece orchestra over chopped up breaks which fuse with a classic shut up and dance bassline. Pj & Smiley feel this is their best album to date, & who am I to argue.
The “Breakbeat Elite” album – is a project brought about to raise both awareness & funds for the continuing crisis in Sudan. With all profits going to OXFAM.
This album was released January 2005
This project is to provide some aid to the people affected by the current crisis in Sudan. When artist & record labels from within the break beat scene were approached, their support was both immediate & enthusiastic.
This album aims to bring this genre of music to the masses. Featuring some of the scenes most Established & Upcoming stars, it’s a unique opportunity to get a real flava for the breaks scene, With tracks contributed from the likes of Shut Up And Dance, Rennie Pilgrem, Plump DJ’s, Boabinga, Stanton Warriors, Krafty Kuts, Skool Of Thought & Aquasky where else could you find such a collective under one banner and in the name of such a good cause.
A new shut up and dance artist album is currently being written, so watch this space…
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