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English hip hop started in the mid-80s, with rappers such as Derek B, MC Mello, 3 Wize Men, Cookie Crew, and DJs such as Coldcut and Simon Harris. Derek B was the first English rapper to be signed by a major label (according to Dufresne). While rappers such as Derek B were stylistically very close to their American predecessors, others developed new styles, such as Hijack and Gunshot with their no-holds-barred hardcore rap, the ] and MC Mello with their own soulful brand of hip hop, and Asher D and Daddy Freddy with their raggamuffin hip hop, which was quite different from similar American rap/reggae styles. The influence of reggae proved to be very productive, from the London Posse to the more recent Blak Twang and Roots Manuva. During the 90s, more English rappers started using their own accents, such as ]. Earlier rappers often used American accents, e.g. Hijack, while Asher D (who later became a member of ]) and Daddy Freddy used their own Jamaican accents. |
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