The Ruthless Rap Assassins

Hailing from Manchester, England, the trio Ruthless Rap Assassins styled themselves as ‘North Hulme’ sound sculptors. Dangerous ‘C’ Carsonova handled vocals and turntables, MC Kermit Le Freak supplied vocals, and Paul Roberts played guitar. They came together in that neighborhood during the mid-80s and built a following through performances at nearby venues. EMI Records offered them a contract in 1987 upon hearing their debut single ‘We Don’t Care’. Assigned to the Syncopate imprint, the band delivered their first album, Killer Album, which featured ‘Go Wild’ and its prominent sample of Steppenwolf’s ‘Born To Be Wild’. An even stronger cut, ‘The Dream’, drew on the funk groove of Cynade’s ‘The Message’ to recount the arrival of West Indians in England during the 50s and the disappointment that followed. The militant stance of Killer Album startled listeners who still viewed such uncompromising sounds as the domain of inner-city Americans. Their next release dug further, with ‘Down And Dirty’ delivering a pointed parody of rap’s focus on sexual themes and ‘No Tale, No Twist’ incorporating deft jazz elements. The group sustained its inventive and militant approach on the single ‘Justice (Just Us)’, a pointed rebuke aimed at the majority white population. Record-label and audience apathy eventually prompted their breakup, yet Ruthless Rap Assassins endure as the first worthwhile UK hip-hop band.