1983 – One night my father, head shaking, handed me the Evening Standard. There I was on the centre pages, a double-page spread; one big picture with the words “RIP OFF” plastered across it. 

To be continued...

I'm sat quietly drinking my soya cappuccino, au fresco. 

This dude asks to share my table & of course I accommodate. I carry on minding my own business but feel his stare, I ask, "Are you looking at me for a reason"? He replies, "Are you Muslim"? 

I look at him & referring to his cap I give my standard answer, "Are you a baseball player"?

He ignored me but kept looking, I returned to my thoughts. He then lights a cigarette & blows smoke in my direction. I ask, "Is that necessary"? 

He then proceeds to blow smoke in my face. I in return proceed to poured my soya cappuccino over his head. 

I cycled home smiling all the way.

Rise Of The Funk Soldier (Master P. Original - 94FM)

It was roundabout the time when the soul boy era was squeezing its last drops from the bottle. We decided to push further west. A friend had mentioned that our boy from East Ham was making noises in Soho. When we got to the Wag Club we saw a hungry crowd pushing their way down the queue. We moved to the front, blagging our way in. Once in we could see our man on the decks controlling his flock and pushing out the raw funk sound that the soul scene had lost.  This was the beginning of the underground funk scene, which would change black music in this country for a generation. Forget the term ‘Rare Groove’ as this name only came about later. Barrie’s Friday night at the Wag influenced a host of other nights, including Shake ‘n’ Finger Pop, Family Function, and Jazzie B’s Soul II Soul, at the African Centre.

Inner London was now buzzing with the funk, after this we crossed paths with Barrie on several occasions. Barrie was not an easily contented man and always pushed things forward at a pace, any boundaries and obstacles in his path were knocked to one side. His latest venture was to put a style to this sound. He scooped up a few old buddies mainly a certain Eddie Prendergast from East Ham, Marco Cairns from Barking, and Cliff Bowen from Loughton, together they started pumping out the original selvedge denim stuff on the streets of Camden. The boys at American Classic’s and all the ‘trendy’ London stores would later take up their street style. This Camden pitch funded the opening of the first Duffer shop in Portobello Road, which brought a clothing style to match the sound.

The Wag got too big and Barrie needed to move on and host his own night, hence the start of The Cat in the Hat Club. Now there was a platform to move things a little bit further. This club still remains one of my main influences even to today. Soho day-life, especially retail, was still trying to shake of its seedy 70’s porn look that suppressed it. Barrie and the boys had moved into one of the side streets dropping one of the flagging team members from Manor Park on the way. The street was on its knees looking really tired. Three months later the shop was thriving and the Duffer label was upon us. Barrie being ever more adventurous saw what was coming and alongside the Staple Duffer Crisp ‘London-look’ developed a style to enhance this new breed that was coming through. Up popped the smiley-tee alongside bringing in labels from America like Schott, New Era, and Red Wing alongside the Duffer four-stripe tracksuit.

The Black Market record store opened two doors down a few months later, which became the voice for house music for London. Seeing this Barrie decided to re-launch The Cat in the Hat right in the heart of posh Mayfair. This club night had a different flavour from the original night a few years back, mixing up the new garage and house stuff from NYC alongside obscure disco. This was House for real people and earmarked the phrase ‘we don’t trance we dance’. The new club attracted a sharper looking dude who wanted to get down without dropping an E. Whilst this was happening I remember getting snippets of what Barrie was doing in the background. At the same time Jazzie B was developing his sound and was busy in his studio. Jazzie launches his first vinyl and then on his tail Barrie puts out the ‘Masterplan’. It had been many years since American club culture stood up and looked in the direction of London. Soul II Soul and Barrie Sharpe had arrived; mainstream people now knew who they were. The Duffers uprooted from Soho and moved the clothing label to the heart of Covent Garden. Never before had three boys with an East End background put their clothing label amongst the ‘big boys’. People took note and awards followed.

Down the line I could tell that Barrie was getting bored with the direction Duffer was going, and once the European investors were on the horizon he upped and jumped ship. From then on Duffer slipped into what I called the ‘CBBC presenter look’. Barrie went back to Soho and launched Sharpeye, his new clothing label.

Hitting his fifties Barrie wasn’t going to lay down easy, nah this ain’t his style. Instead he’s evolved his sound and has now launched The Nu Acid Funk, keeping to his pure roots and only released on vinyl. To compliment this he launches a new club night ‘Big Stuff ‘with long time buddy Femi Fem (Shake ‘n’ Finger Pop). When people talk about a certain Norma Jay inventing the so-called ‘Rare Groove scene’ back in the eighties, I’d say don’t believe the hype; if you were there you knew who the main player was; Barrie Sharpe.

First Memories

 My mother banging my sister’s head against the wall, me running after my father screaming, “Please don’t leave me” and the song “I Just Want To Stay Here” by Steve & Eydie.

31 01 60

My father was a Jekyll and Hyde character, on one side he was a hyper knowledgeable self-taught intellectual who had a thirst for information, but on the other side he was a man who was well respected in dubious circles. Although my relationship with my father was turbulent, I feared him yet admired him, often walking in his shadow, but never wished to be like him.

Soweto Uprising 76

My Ego loved this quote

The smartest man I had ever seen (Geoffrey Boucher, loyal Duffer customer) - I met Barrie Sharpe at the Duffer store Soho in the late 80s, he was wearing a green leather racing jacket, button down collar shirt, dealer boots, dark denim selvedge 501s and a prayer cap. That was it for me; I had met the smartest man I had ever seen.

We talk of revolution fight against the lie

We talk of revolution but who wants to die

We talk of revolution fight for what we need

We talk of revolution but who wants to bleed

We talk of revolution fight corruption and hate

We talk of revolution but i think we are too late

(Barukh Salaam; The Great Book of Kizzmazz Vol.2)

They Were The Creators (Rene Gelston - Black Market)

In 1984 I was employed by Vidal Sassoon, in London, as their artistic director. At that time I hosted a number of parties in London and I was invited by Chris Sullivan to take over the running of the Friday night slot at the Wag Club in Wardour Street. The first few weeks of any new club night can be the make or break and our Black Market night would be no different. Fortunately I was introduced to Barrie Sharpe, by my junior Diana Brown, her boyfriend at the time. Every day Diana would pester me for Barrie to DJ at Black Market. Although he was not actually a DJ I took a chance and after a few weeks the club was starting to draw a crowd. Barrie brought along another new young DJ, his neighbour Lascelle Gordon; this partnership laid the foundations for what was later to be termed as Rare Groove; they were the creators; FACT! To say that the club went on to be successful would be an understatement - Black Market was literally packed every Friday and there was always a queue sometimes stretching way down to Leicester Square. This was the place to be seen at and to dance with a mix of fashionistas and street kids; Black Market was the first club in the West End to openly welcome a multiracial crowd. The press were falling over themselves to write about the night; the club attracted huge press coverage both in the UK and the US, with   quotes such as 'ground breaking' and 'seminal'.  ID Magazine quoted, “When Black Market sneezes club land catches a cold”. The Independent, “The term Rare Groove was coined around the Friday nights Black Market”. This was all down to the Foundations that Barrie and Lascelle set down in the beginning; which helped me cement the future for Black Market, now a worldwide recognised brand. As for Barrie, he has always been strong headed; but I would call it more of a direction, a purpose. There are many people that will never get their dues for making London what it is today; these people were the creators, not the followers. After Barrie left Black Market our paths crossed again and Barrie recommended that I take the small shop next to the Duffers in Soho to open Black Market Records. The good thing was both businesses jointly benefited from the increase in human traffic. We still meet and do some business together; we have a mutual respect for each other. As I always say, “Many people have taken props for what other people laid the foundations for”. There are too many lazy journalists who are not willing to discover the real creators; Barrie Sharpe is one of them.

Blackmarket opened at the Wag Club 1st June 1984

The Cat In The Hat Club opened at the Comedy Store 6th September 1985

Duffers 1985

Duffer shoot ID magazine 1985

Mnsa backflip

My son Manassah has been backflipping off of walls and stairs etc since he was 5 years old. I always encouraged him to flip from the ground, he always said that he couldn't get the spring in his legs.

Today he decided he had the power, & he sure did!

One of the many Diana Brown & the Brothers lineups circa 1987 @ the car wash

The Levi Kid

This was the time of hot summers and the heat wave of 1976 was the best summer of my life. There was one embarrassing incident around this time. It was Tuesday, a big night at the Ilford Palais, it would attract the most stylish dancers from all over London. I was there, Levi 501 jeans and jacket, cowboy boots etc, I thought I was so cool considering most of the other kids were still in their Oxford Bags (baggy 1920s Gatsby style pants). I was leaning against the wall trying to impress three very attractive young ladies, I thought I was doing fine, cool, funny, stylish; when one of them said “Who are you, the fucking Levi kid”. They burst out laughing in unison and walked away sniggering, leaving me most embarrassed.

(My Perception)

"State-Sponsored Terrorism"

War on terror 2.0 hs now begun. 

Powerful interests benefit hugely.

Ordinary people lose out. 

More repressive laws. 

Military spending will increase. 

Homeland security will be boosted. 

Fundamental freedoms will die. 

Full-blown tyranny may follow. 

Imperial wars on humanity will continue. 

New targets will be chosen. 

Independent governments will be attacked. 

New world order rules demand unchallenged global dominance & "State-Sponsored Terror" facilitates it.

A happy Sharpeye street person in full regalia

Drawn in felt pen circa 1975 for a school project

In 1978 I wrote on the back:

Without bloodshed there will be no pain

Without pain there will be no struggle

Without struggle there will be no conflict

Without conflict there will be no revolution 

Without revolution there will be no change

Without change there will be no progression

(Sharpeye - Right Here - Right Now)

The 3 Kings 1973 – I turned on the TV and by mistake switched to the Old Grey Whistle Test, really not my kind of music show, but within two seconds I was mesmerised by a heavy, heavy reggae tune “Stir It Up” I was transfixed to the screen. There were these three extremely cool, stylish guys with a militant vibe almost standing still but exuding so much energy they were filling the room. Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Bob Marley, “The Wailers”. My second, religious, spiritual experience.

I was a product of the times - The product became the producer

This Was Not Part Of The Masterplan

This book is written in the pain, tears, joy and laughter of my youth. As my words come to fruition the darkness of my earliest memories fade.

The Beginning - I am telling this story as I care to remember it, so don’t take it all too seriously. My dates and facts are probably out of sequence, but you will get the basic story. As my tale is only taken from memory I cannot guarantee all to be true.

I was a product of the times. The product became the producer.

My story: I was always at the right place at the right time; I didn’t invent anything new, I ran with what I had and just re-sculptured things to my pleasing. My attitude defined a moment in time in central London (“Forget that shit. You can’t hold me back”). It was an exciting time for innovation, I was not the only one, I had plenty of support from my contemporaries & crossed paths with many like-minded people. I just kept falling up hill.

My philosophy as a designer - It was all about me and the clothes I wanted to wear, I didn’t like the way designers cut their cloth. I wanted my own style, my own fit, my game and my rules.

The Earth is Flat!

Why do people continue to try to convince me that the earth s round when I can clearly see that it is flat!

When they say the world round they mean as in a disk shape, but it is indeed flat...

"And god created the earth flat so that man could pear over the edge and see the heavens" (The great book of Kizzmazz verse 3 chapt 2)

Chemtrails

Whilst cycling from Shoreditch to Camden I saw 53 "chemtrails".

The entire sky was filled with a chemical haze....

Right Here - Right Now

Mankind is an abomination
It is not politics nor faith that kills
Killing is mans way
Man will never progress
A cancer upon this earth

1971 Harley XLH Ironhead Sportster.... One off custom build...

Harley 1966 XLCH Ironhead - Rebuild....

Trafalgar Square

The Tweed Run - 13-04-2013

Whilst many celebrated Lady Thatchers passing or protested against the "bedroom tax" outside a conservative leader's homes, the 5th annual Tweed Run took place, cycling through the streets of London.