It’s come to my attention that Wyld Pytch Records in Soho, LDN, has closed down. This has been replaced by some wack organic vegetable shack also with bright lacquered paint…but clearly no beefy bass to penetrate the streets as before.

This also follows (and I really could not believe my eyes when I saw this) Fat Beats NY and Fat Beats LA closing their doors after 17 years serving hip hop heads. Interestingly, their slogan was ‘The Last Stop For Hip Hop’. Could this fortell the death of Rap? Probably not. 

In both cases, their online distribution will continue.

I remember getting hassled by an MC trying to push his mix CD in the summer heat outside the NY store a couple of years back. Having previewed his riddims on a portable CD player, discovered how awful they were but been politely dismissive, combined with the fact that I genuinely did not have any loose change, he got funny and responded by taking the piss out my tshirt; 

“Dubwise? Dubwise! This dude’s dubwise!” (said in a mocking high pitched voice)

Cha. Inside, I found so many Busta instrumentals I thought my head was gona pop: 

[Check the Psycho original here. Strings by badboi Bernard Hermann]

It really has got to the point where, when you mention these occurrences to people, they just aren’t shocked anymore. Example: I told Papa Face in Dubvendor the other day, he barely twitched! (however, the usual dialogue shared amongst most old skool dj’s did ensue; words to the effect that mp3’s are inferior, and when you play them out, they sound shit in comparison to vinyl - there is truth in the matter).

Dubvendor should be fine, since someone had the clever idea of removing half the shop and turning it into a Carribean diner named ‘Dub Plates Café’. People do like to kick back, even by Clapham Junction. Ital visions..

I digress. About Wyld Pytch: it is a great shame it had to go. The stock was limited due to the size of the shop (that heavy duty front door really was a pain to get round), but they always managed to order in some fine releases. The best thing I ever got there, and one of my prize possessions, was ‘Beats That Collected Dust Vol. 1’.

So, in mourning, ‘pure Primo’ as brother Elias lovingly described it:

God damn! I never did pick up my copy of Fiddy Cent ‘Wanksta’*

Ghostpoet Flobare just reminded me of this single I bought; the great thing about Wyld Pytch’s owner was, when he let you preview you a tune - HE PLAYED THAT SHIT LOUD!!! As soon as the Wild West stylee muted strings kicked in, I had to have it. Jake One, Doom. Bass rumble:

So, this goes out to all the quality stores that had to relinquish their license to rock. Tunes left lying about, somewhere, unclaimed, collecting dust. You are lost, but never forgotten.

Celebrate it in the memory banks:

*Pls note, I didnt really. If I had placed an order for that, you’d have every right to revoke my DJ license