| Foreign Beggars | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Hip hop, grime, dubstep |
| Occupations | musicians, singers, songwriters, producers |
| Years active | 1996 -present |
| Labels | Dented/ Data Records |
Foreign Beggars are a critically acclaimed British Hip Hop, Grime and Dubstep group based in London. The group consists of MCs Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis, producer Dag Nabbit and DJ Nonames and are renowned for their eclectic and energetic live shows. Currently performing well over a hundred shows a year the group has performed with a number of high profile artists spanning a range of musical genres. Foreign Beggars release their records through Dented Records a label which was created and owned by the group to support their own material and a host of UK underground artists.
Orifice Vulgatron and Dag Nabbit met in Dubai playing in metal, grunge and indie bands as early as 93. They later formed a group making hip hop in 96/97 and soon after started throwing DnB house parties and raves in sports halls and ballrooms. Dag Nabbit moved to Norway in 98, OV to London in 99, both continued to produce, promote and perform. The duo regrouped in London, set up a studio and continued promoting, hitting pirate & internet stations, performing at raves such as Dekefex, Kung Fu, Rollercoaster, and the legendary Telepathy, whilst supporting and booking the likes of Andy C, Mampi Swift, Dj Craze, Skinnyman, Skibba, Shabba, Det, Ed Rush and Optical etc.
Dj Nonames also met Metropolis at University in 2000. They soon joined hip hop and funk band Focused Few and began throwing warehouse parties and touring. OV was introduced to Nonames through Dj Gizroc, then part of the Mixologists Crew, whilst working on sound and lighting for "The Wizard of Oz", where Nonames was doing the entire sound with a Technics 1210, a vestax 05 and a "Wizard of Oz" vinyl. By late 2002 OV and DN decided to release Foreign Beggars on their own imprint Dented Records and started performing and recording alongside Dj Nonames, Metropolis and beatboxer Shlomo.
The initial two offering from the Foreign Beggars were a two track and three track singles released on Dented Records. ‘Where Did The Sun Go’ featured Mud Family (pmmuzik),Out da Ville, Tommy Evans (YnR), DarkCircle (defcon/JazzFudge), Carnage (Big Dada), Task Force (Lowlife) and ‘Season’s Beatings’ features Mud Family (PM Muzik), Tommy Evans (YnR), D.V.S. (First Man), Carnage aka Earl J (Big Dada), Dark Circle (JazzFudge/Defcon), Dr. Syntax (Imagineers), Task Force (Lowlife/MFTC) Tau Rai, (Focus Few).
On 27th Nov 2003 the group released their first album ‘ Asylum Speakers’. The record featured the following guest artists: Kashmere, Graziella, Dr. Syntax, Anik, Tommy Evans, MRX, Carnage, Grim, Finsta, DVS, Skinnyman, Wayne Wonda, Tau Rai, Lena, Farma G, Chester P, Task Force, Shlomo, Ed Skrein, Pye, Nassa, Super Novar and Highbreed. Two videos were released from this album, Hold On feat Skinnyman and Frosted Perspeks which were also released as double single. The track ‘Hold On’ was remixed by Mickey Finn and ERB N Dub and released on Urbanism. ‘Mind Out’ which featured Skrein was released as single by Skrein, on Dented Records.
The controversially named Bukkake Ski Trip was released 3 April 2006. The mixtape is a compilation of previously unheard tracks, vinyl-only releases, bootlegs, collaborations and remixes, mixed together by DJ Nonames. The albums features of range of mc’s, dj’s and producers including: Wildchild (Lootpack), Dr Syntax, Skrein, Dark Circle, Kashmere the Iguna Man, dj Square One, Dubbledege, Supar Novar (Kemet), Big Ben, DJ Sparo (Scenario), Vex’d (Planet-mu), Soundkillaz, and Ravi Shakti (Solenca). The artwork for this album was produced by legendary Spanish graffiti artist SLK and entitled ‘Kaps from the world famous pornostars’.
Foreign Beggars second studio album entitled ‘Stray Point Agenda’ was released 3 May 2006. The record described as darker than their original release featured guest production from Oh No (Stones Throw) and Ninja Tune’s recording artist DJ Vadim as well as guest spots from Dr. Syntax, Skrein, Dubbledge, Graziella, Wildchild and Dudley Perkins. Prior to the release of the album the singles ‘Let go’ which featured the B sides ‘Million Skill March’ and ‘Crying Shame’ and the single ‘Slow Broiled Ilk’ which featured the B sides ‘Backdraft’ and ‘Hot Plate’ were released to promote the album. A video for ‘Slow Broiled Ilk’ was also released.
Following the release of Stray Point Agenda the single ‘Black Hole Prophecies’ was released on 16 April 2007 featuring the title track, a remix of the same track entitled ‘Wild Wild East’ which was produced by UK rap artist Jehst , and the track ‘In it for a Minute’.
This mixtape was released on a limited edition CD digi pack.
The explicit and tongue-in-cheek themed Hit that Gash was a collaboration with French rappers Rouge A Levres and was released as a single with an accompanying video produced by Tony Truand which has received over 200,000 YouTube hits. The single contains a number of remixes from the following artists: Scratch Perverts’ Prime Cuts, D - Code from shivasound system, Kid Dub (Definitive), Kyza, Dubbledge, Inja, Chester P (Taskforce) LDZaka London Zoo, Ranking Records’ Seemoreproductions and Ruckspin, Dag Nabbit, and Sydney’s Killa Queenz. A dubstep version of the record was released with remixes from DJ Primecuts and DJ Ruckspin entitled ‘Gash! Dubstep Power Mixes’ 12”.
In 2009 Foreign Beggars, Dr Syntax and Stig of the Dump were asked to collaborate with The Scratch Perverts for the video Neurosonics Audiomedical Lab. The video features Metropolis, Orifice Vulgatron, Dr Syntax, Stig of the Dumps and Beatboxer Shlomo. The video was directed by renowned Music Director Chris Carins and has been watched by over 600,000 people following an article in the London Publication ‘The Metro’.
In October 2009 the group released their third studio album ‘United Colours of Beggattron’, featuring notable production from Noisia, Ghosttown as well Dag Nabbit, guest appearances from Guilty Simpson (StonesThrow), Devlin, Phat Kat, Ben Sharpa, DJ 2Tall, Badness, Dubbledge, Jehst, Dr Syntax, Kyza and Kasmere. The track ‘Contact’ which was a collaboration with Drum N Bass outfit Noisia was made into a video direct by Tony Truand and has since been watched by over 2 million people on YouTube, Foreign Beggars most watched video to date. The track which featured on the E4 series ‘Skins’ was released as a single with the song ‘Shake It’, also a collaboration with Noisia as a promo prior to the release of the album.
‘Foreign Beggars – No Holds Barred / Get a Bit More – Excision and Skism remixes’ was released through Never Say Die Records in February 2010. The two tracks are remixes of songs taken from United Colours of Beggattron, both track have supporting videos.
The first instalment of the remixed album contains the following remixes: Foreign Beggars & Chasing Shadows. Typhoon original track
DJ Troubl (world champion scratch dj), Diplo switch esque Remix ft Graziella Keepin Da Line Fat
Gothtrad(deep medi) Japan remix of FBs Noisia and Devlin. No Holds Bared
New Sex Friend... brand new producer hot off the block from Dubai/ Edinburgh, Get a Bit More
Foreign Beggars & Plastician ft Wretch 32, Dot Rotten Seven Figure Swagger Grime remix
Foreign Beggars & Platician ft Taskforce ( Farma, Remus), Stig Of The Dump, Dr. Syntax, Kyza, Skandal, FBs Seven Figure Swagger Due to be released later in the year is the remixed EP part 2 and the full remixed album.
After covering for Bobby Friction on BBC Asian Network, the group were asked to host their own show on Saturday nights between 22:00 - 00:00. The show entitled Mic Check was the stations flagship Hip Hop and grime show and was hosted by Foreign Beggars between July 2006 – and March 2008.
The group won ‘Best New Act’ at the 2004 UK Hip Hop awards and were voted best group at the Lyric Pad Hip Hop awards in 2005. They were nominated for best European Hip Hop Act at the 2010 Urban Music Awards, alongside nominees Roots Manuva, Ken Ring, Professor Green, La Fouine and Tinie Tempah.
Foreign Beggars have toured extensively worldwide for the past seven years, including most of mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Dubai and even on Karlsoye Island in the Arctic Circle. They have supported artists such as The Prodigy, Snoop Dogg, Amy Winehouse, Public Enemy, Ian Brown and De La Soul.
Following the release of United Colours of Beggatron the band were invited on the 2010 UK Prodigy Tour. This has led to a host of European Festival appearances this summer including a Main stage performance at Exit festival, Glastonbury, Splash Festival, Dour Festival and Giles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival in Sete, France.
Foreign Beggars will be performing at acclaimed New Zealand New Year festival Rhythm and Vines on the 30th December 2011[2], as well as Field Day music festival in Sydney, Australia on New Years Day 2012[3].
Extended Beggar Fam