Written for The British Blacklist 23rd Septemeber 2013: http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/dj-279-talks-the-british-blacklist-unceremonious-axing-choice-fm/
On Saturday 21st September Hip-Hop fans world wide awoke to the news that Choice FM had cut DJ 279 from its roster, in favour of the recently BBC discarded, Tim Westwood. Pushing 21 years strong, ‘The Numbers Man’ as DJ 279 is affectionately known, has had one of the longest standing shows on a single station in radio history. During this time, he has cemented a reputation as a certified ‘Legend’ of the UK Hip-Hop scene, while maintaining the integrity often absent in mainstream portrayal of the art form.
“UK Hip-Hop in 1992 pretty much didn’t have a voice. My perspective back then was I used to look at what was going on, and I used to think how come the people from over here don’t get the same amount of adulation as our American counterparts? Of course there were DJ’s before me who did their bits and pieces, but I just felt like there was a real imbalance, and one of my key things inside my heart was to try and change that.” The Numbers Man told me when I spoke to him about the situation.
For many fans and artist alike, ‘Friday Night Flavas’ was an induction into the UK/Underground Hip-Hop scene world wide and a voice for those artists who sought one. By playing UK artists seamlessly alongside mainstream Hip-Hop acts, Number’s gave the UK scene a dignity previously unknown. As Veteran Hip-Hop artist TY recalls,
“279’s Significance is gonna be hard for me to sum up in one phone call. But I’ll say this. What 279 did with the ‘Flava Of The Month’ Show, was one of the most important club nights. It was the breeding ground for the bacteria that was to become sharp UK Hip-Hop. 279’s [Radio] show was definitely the place where MCs that were just great, who didn’t have deals, who didn’t even have a demo could have a place…”
In accordance with this history, the bemusement surrounding recent events is well founded; a bemusement equally matched by bewilderment as to how the news came to light.
Number’s was on his way back from the ‘UK Boom Bap Festival’ on Saturday 14th September, the dedicated DJ had left the show at “about 9:36”, conscious of getting back to London in order to present his radio show from 12-2am. Upon returning he took the chance to answer his phone, which had been blowing up throughout the journey…
“So when I got to town I took a couple phonecalls and people were like ‘Westwood’s gonna be joining Choice…” Contrary to what may be expected, his initial reaction was rather objective,
“I see myself as quite a pragmatic person…and I pretty much said to people I can understand why they would give him a show. You know he’s got his name out there, he’s been in the game for a minute, he’s got a national brand…I can understand that.”
Just before going on air however, Numbers received another phone call from a disgruntled compadre informing him that Westwood’s first show on Choice was scheduled for 9-11pm the following Saturday, evidently leaving the established 12-2 show in a precarious position. It was not until Monday that Numbers picked up an email sent at minutes to 9pm, that same Saturday 14th September. The email, sent by Choice FM manager Stuart Grant, negated the possibility that Numbers would be let go. A sentiment which was reinforced in subsequent conversation:
“He told me that he felt that there was room for both of us and he wanted my show to remain from 1-3 (am)…He told me that he had studied the playlist between us and obviously my playlist is radically different to his [Westwood]. For that reason he didn’t see why there wasn’t room for both of us because our offerings were completely different. He felt that Westwood’s offering was far more commercial and mine was far more cutting edge.”
After communicating his disappointment at how the situation had been handled thus far, the pragmatic presenter sought to solidify the agreement in writing with the renewal of his contract which expired on 17th October. But despite pronouncements in the affirmative, Stuart Grant returned on Friday 20th September to inform 279 that ‘the bosses above’ had decided not to renew his contract and to let him go,
“To me its quite straight forward. When you are the executive of a company you have to make decisions that are best for the company. You generally don’t make the decision best for the individuals within the company. So that does mean that there will be some level of displacement when you make decisions. I understand that – But I still think there’s a humane way of doing certain things… If you’re asking what I think on a personal level? I’ve shed blood sweat & tears for Choice FM. If you’re gonna let me go, do what you gotta do. At least show a brother a little bit of dignity.”
In truth there is much room for analysing the politics behind this particular move. Many will know that there is little love lost between DJ 279 and Tim Westwood. The grapevine carries news of long standing friction between the two. The varying levels of status and respect afforded them both may to some extent be explained by the fact that artists such as K’lashnekoff have been scathingly outspoken about Westwood’s treatment of UK artists. TY put things in perspective,
“I speak knowing that Westwood has played some of my records, so I haven’t suffered in the way others have. But I will say this. I have seen that the road for us to get exposure on Tim Westwood’s show was so much more difficult than with 279. It was all about who you knew, who you rolled with and if he was cool with you.”
Disciples of Numbers would argue that the level of respect afforded him by artists made him a persistent thorn in the side of the BBC Superstar who had been trying to maintain the title of Number one UK Hip-Hop DJ. 279 recalls the public attacks which this lead to,
“There was a particular situation where I was the DJ at South Port Weekender, and my good friend [Westwood] on the dial decided that he was gonna have a rant with Funk Master Flex, talking about me, obviously without using my name. Talking about Choice being a ‘local/Joke-al’ station and how he’s international and he’s the ‘Big Dog’. And we’re just a little local station in Brixton.”
The irony that Westwood now proudly holds a spot on the same ‘local’ radio station is too obvious not to be mentioned. Numbers retaliation questioned Westwood’s skills as a Hip-Hop DJ as well as the authenticity of his well known public persona as little more than a wannabe Black caricature. To add to the problems, 279′s Friday Night Flava show preceding Westwood’s show in the weekend line up appeared to be an issue for Radio 1.
“Like I remember before Biggie died. He was meant to come down to the station, some politics happened and I hear that I can’t have Biggie on the station. What he [Westwood] would do, is try to tell the labels that ‘if you don’t bring them to my show 1st, I am not going to interview them’.”
The most popular accusation levied against Numbers in relation to Westwood, is that he set up KRS ONE to publicly criticize Westwood on air during Westwood’s own show in 1997. He categorically denies this accusation stating: “I don’t have the power to do that, and I didn’t do that. Nor would I do that.”
Yet it is widely believed that Westwood had previously muscled Busta Rhyme’s management into making the energetic natty dread a last minute no show for a packed concert hosted and promoted by 279. TY who was at the event recalls,
“What I heard was basically, Westwood had got his little oar in and said that ‘if you perform at this event I am no longer playing any Elektra artists’”.
Whatever the case, Busta was a no show, and would subsequently feature at BBC concerts and Notting Hill Carnival stages hosted by Westwood the following year. All in all the events seem to speak to the oft commented upon reality of the dichotomy between the industry and integrity of the art and artists. TY however, finds little excuse for this particular eventuality,
“My problem is this. Treat our icons, treat our elder statesmen correctly. I see the levels that people will go to protect Jimmy Savile, and treat him with a certain amount of respect. So how are you gonna treat someone who put in 21 years work…how are you going to treat him like a boy? ”
Despite the apparent disrespect and lack of regard shown by Choice in this matter, what is clear is that the integrity of DJ 279 is very much intact. His reputation is a key that is capable of unlocking many doors. When pressed on where he goes from here, Numbers responds with honesty and tenacity,
“I couldn’t tell you that. I think in this point in interviews, people concoct stories to make it look like they’re foot-sured and assertive as where they’re going. I don’t do that. But the only thing you can do when you get knocked down is get back up. ‘Cause if you don’t get back up you can’t win. The moment you stop fighting , that is the only time you’ve actually lost. So on that note I will pick myself up and carry on fighting in whatever way I deem fit.”
interview for the british blacklist by Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka aka @ShakaRaBKS