Break to the beat recently caught up with Paranoia MC to discuss Hip Hop’s founding years and his involvement with the culture in his home City of Milton Keynes, England. During the early 1990’s Paranoia MC (Then known at Jack The Ripper) formed Death Before Dishonour with DJ Roughcut and several others local pioneering rappers. Paranoia has been a participant in Hip Hop culture since the early 1990s and has collaborated with many of the cities pioneering local artists including JAYEL, Unstopable Nature, True Element, The Criminal Minds and Rezon.
Rezon & Paranoia – Xscape, Milton Keynes, 2007.
How and when did you discover hip hop?
Well straight to the point, I discovered Hip Hop when I was little! My friends and all around me used to listen to chart pop! And I was in to rap!!! I think it started around or a little before the film Breakdance, I couldn’t get enough of it, and had a copy on VHS!! (old school). I remember a bit in it that involved Ice T, he was bussin flows whilst b-boys did there thing!!, I loved it!!! I was hooked!! People and my peers all had something to say about my music choice!!! But I didn’t listen………. I was feeling it too much man.