Spikey Tee (UK – Hip Hop + D&B)

Event Details

Spikey Tee's event took place at Shaka Saigon, 27 and 29 Bùi Viện, Bến Thành, Ho Chi Minh City, from 9 PM on 10 November 2017 until 3 AM on 11 November 2017. The venue has since closed, but the original location has been kept for archive accuracy.

Shaka Saigon and Scientific Sound Saigon presented Spikey Tee, a UK artist whose career links Hip Hop, Reggae, Dub, Jungle and Drum and Bass. The night brought a major UK underground voice to Bùi Viện with support from DJ Psycho-UK and Swing Master J.

Spikey Tee is one of London’s original rude boys, with a career rooted in sound system culture and early UK Hip Hop. He first became involved with Reggae sound systems at the age of 13, working as a selector and operator in sound clashes around London before moving into recording and live performance.

He later became one of the founding members of The Sindecut, a pioneering UK Hip Hop group that signed to Virgin Records and released the album Changing The Scenery in 1990. That period placed him within the first wave of British Rap artists to bring UK voices, street culture and sound system influences into recorded Hip Hop.

After The Sindecut, Spikey Tee joined Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart and spent five years as lead vocalist. His work during that period connected Reggae, Dub, post-punk and global club sounds, including performances of material such as The Abyssinians’ Rasta anthem Satta Massa Gana.

Spikey Tee also worked across studio collaborations with artists and labels connected to UK underground music. His credits include work with Bomb The Bass, Manasseh, Grand Central Records, Mr Scruff, Morcheeba, Mark Rae, Dual Control and Blood and Fire Records.

His appearance at Shaka Saigon drew on decades of musical activity across Hip Hop, R&B, Ragga, Jungle and Drum and Bass. By this point, he was based in Australia while continuing to tour internationally as a DJ, MC and vocalist.

Support came from DJ Psycho-UK and Swing Master J. The combination connected UK underground music, Canadian turntablism, Hip Hop, Bass and Drum and Bass culture in a Bùi Viện club setting.

DJ Psycho-UK represented Scientific Sound Saigon, bringing an East London background shaped by Hip Hop, Acid House, Hardcore, Jungle, Drum and Bass and underground rave culture. His selections linked the night to London pirate radio, sound system pressure and the rawer side of UK club music.

Swing Master J, originally from Vancouver, Canada, brought a broad open-format and turntablist background to the event. His style moves across Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Reggae, R&B, House, Latin, Dancehall and club music, adding another international selector to the line-up.