View source for MC Duke

{{Short description|British rapper (died 2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Kashif Adham''' (born '''Anthony Hilaire''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minuteoflistening.org/contributor/mc-duke/|title=MC Duke - Minutes of Listening|work=Minutes of Listening}}</ref> 1966 – 21 April 2024), better known by the stage name of '''MC Duke''', was a British rapper from the [[East End]] of [[London]]. He was one of the pioneers of the early [[British Hip Hop|British hardcore rap]] sound and later went on to produce [[breakbeat hardcore]]. Throughout his career he worked with his DJ partner Leader One and was part of IC3.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmgZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22MC+duke%22+%22rap%22 |title=The Guinness Who's Who of Rap, Dance ... |date=2009-09-04 |isbn=9780851127880 |access-date=2011-10-23|last1=Larkin |first1=Colin }}</ref>
==Biography==
Originally a model and dancer, Duke began his music career at a [[Disco Mix Club|DMC]] World Championships after show party, where the winner of the MC [[battle rap|battle]] competition got on stage and boasted that he would beat any rapper who challenged him. Duke climbed on stage to take the challenge, and emerged victorious. The battle was witnessed by [[Derek B|Derek Boland]], who was acting as an [[A&R]] man for [[Music of Life]] records. He quickly arranged a meeting between Duke and [[Simon Harris (musician)|Simon Harris]], the head of the [[record label]], where instead of bringing a [[demo (music)|demo]] tape, Duke rapped live in Harris' office. Harris agreed to sign him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/619/mc_duke_the_originator/|title=MC Duke: The Originator|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617034558/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/619/mc_duke_the_originator/|archivedate=17 June 2012|work=[[Blues & Soul]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523105809/http://heroesofukhiphop.com/MCDuke.htm|title=Heroes of UK Hip Hop - MC Duke|work=Heroesofukhiphop.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoflife.com/dukepage.htm|title=MC Duke-The Original Royal Rapper|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219124534/http://www.musicoflife.com/dukepage.htm|archivedate=19 February 2005}}</ref>
Duke debuted with the track "Jus-Dis" on the [[compilation album]] ''Hard as Hell'' ([[Music of Life]], 1987)<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|pages=215/6}}</ref> - an album which also included [[Overlord X]]'s first track before he was later signed by [[Mango Records]]: in later years, Duke and X would develop a grudge that led to both producing music belittling each other. In 1988, Duke was support to [[Salt-N-Pepa]] on their UK tour.
A series of [[single (music)|singles]] followed, with Duke finally pairing with longtime partner DJ Leader One on the single "Throw Your Hands in the Air" (Music of Life, 1989) and adding his name to the sleeve with Duke right up to their reincarnation as IC3 for the [[Extended play|EPs]] ''Excalibur'' ([[Shut Up and Dance Music|Shut Up and Dance]], 1992).
Duke and Leader One's first album, ''Organised Rhyme'' (Music of Life, 1989),<ref name="LarkinDM"/> was heavily featured on Music of Life's 1989 ''Hustlers Convention'' album. It contained their most famous single, "I'm Riffin' (English Rasta)" (Music of Life, 1989).<ref name="LarkinDM"/> The single was popular amongst hip hop fans, and received [[airplay (radio)|airplay]] and often crops up on compilation albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2013/10/mc-duke-organised-rhyme/|title=MC Duke :: Organised Rhyme - RapReviews|work=Rapreviews.com}}</ref>
More singles followed, as well as the follow-up album ''Return of the Dread-I'' (Music of Life, 1991),<ref name="LarkinDM"/> but Duke parted company with Music of Life. Following this, he guested on other artists' tracks, such as Phat Skillz' "Dress Like Your Enemy"/"Phat Skillz" (Effect, 1992), before moving to the Shut Up and Dance record label for the IC3 project.
In the 1990s, he linked up with the [[Suburban Base]] record label to put out breakbeat and [[jungle music|jungle]] tracks on his own record label Hard Disk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/uk-hardcore-pioneer-mc-duke-passed-away-hard-disk-news|title=UK hardcore pioneer MC Duke has passed away|work=[[MixMag]]|date=23 April 2024}}</ref>
An album for Shut Up and Dance never materialised, but Duke continued to guest on other artist's tunes, such as Lisa Pin-Up, DJ Elvira & DJ Modelle's "Another Jam" (Rock Hard Recordings, 2000). Following this, Duke disappeared from the limelight, although his track "I'm Riffin' (English Rasta)" was sampled for C90's dance hit "Miracle Maker (I'm Riffin)" (Twenty-Three Seven Recordings, 2001).
In 2007, he also appeared in UK hip hop artist [[Charlie Sloth]]'s song, "Can't Forget About UK". The song was a tribute to pioneering rappers from the UK.
Duke usually appeared at live events and in videos with his backing dancers Billy Boy and Seeker. Both featured on the front cover of the ''Organised Rhyme'' album.
Duke died on 21 April 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Michael |title=MC Duke, UK rapper and hardcore pioneer, dies |url=https://ra.co/news/80592 |access-date=22 April 2024 |publisher=Resident Advisor |date=22 April 2024}}</ref> He was 58 years old.<ref>Quan, Jay, "[https://rockthebells.com/articles/uk-rapper-mc-duke-dead-at-48/ Pioneering British rapper MC Duke has died at 58]," ''Rock the Bells'', 22 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.</ref>
==Discography==
* ''Organised Rhyme'' (Music of Life, 1989)
* ''Return of the Dread-I'' (Music of Life, 1991)
* ''Excalibur EP'' (with IC3 and Leader One) (Shut Up And Dance, 1992)
* ''Dubplate Business'' (as EKUDCM) (Hard Disk, 1993)
===Live album===
*''[[Hustlers Convention (Music of Life)|Hustlers Convention]]'' (with other hip-hop artists) (1989)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{discogs artist|MC+Duke}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Black British male rappers]]
[[Category:English male rappers]]
[[Category:Rappers from London]]