Interviews

Sample Nation Interviews x Itch FM

Creative Audio

Mixes

UK Hip-Hop Then & Now

Interview with MC Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Step Brothers, Soul Assasins Crew, before the release of his album Unlearning Vol.1

MC Evidence x Sample Nation x Itch FM

An abstract poem about city life and the regular rush of cars that pass my window.

This was written for the In The Dark - Short Feature Course

Transcript
-----------
The wail of sirens, cry out In the distance. 

A consistent gust, the breath of speeding giants, their roars and trumpets melding into a symphony of regularity. 

The air, thick with the whooshing of their passage, a cocktail of low bass rumble and high-pitched exhales. 

Sharp, elongated, punctuated by sighs, a melody of pollution, the flavour of grime and lubricant. 

The atmosphere, parched, a square box of swirling zephyrs.

Comforting in its regularity, a counterpoint to the silence.

There it is,
That taste of dirt and oil,
That muscle memory of childhood,
That regular rush of metal and rubber,
City boy,
City boy,
City boy.

That memory of empty Yorkshire darkness
No rush of cars,
No tweeting birds,
No ambient chatter,
Just late-night TV and unending silence,
I need the sound,
Shall we run,
Such a city boy.

Asphalt Lullaby

This poem paints a vivid picture of late-night searches, the hypnotic rhythm of keystrokes, and the vast expanse of online knowledge. Join me in exploring the luminous void of our digital age.

I wrote this poem based on the prompt from Audio Playground
"Inspired by your last 5 Google searches, create a sonic poem."

The Poem
-----------

The sound of keyboard click, as zeros echoe
Tapping of glass mirror, in moments missed,
Electric thought, that gathers pace in midnight glow

My ADHD muse
My nocturnal partner
My Infinite theatre of inquiry in luminous void

Those fleeting whispers of wisdom, 

Life’s informal aberrations
Not in tales or ancient narration,
But in the endless sprawl of Google's temptation.

Electric Dreams of Googles Glow // Short Abstract Poem

🌿👻 'Inhale Exhale' - A Spine-Chilling Suburban Saga 🇬🇧💨

Just dropped a new audio tale that's not your usual smoke sesh story.

If you love a good scare with your smoke, this one's for you. 

Transcript

  📍  📍  

Back in the day when I was just a kid really, 

me and my mate couldn't bill up at his because he wasn't allowed to smoke at the gaff. 

So it became our little ritual, 

knock off work, 

jump in the motor and go find a spot to have a chat, smoke weed, an listen to mixtapes. 

This time it turned out a little different.

Sun's already done one,  I pick him up, we fancy something different so we find ourselves cruising down this dodgy dead end near his. There's this little bridge at the end, right? 

Just for the cyclists and the wanderers to cross the old river ford. 

All surrounded by these moody trees, one solitary flatbed truck filled with construction gear and massive wrought iron fencing.

Like, suttin', out of a horror film.  

Off to the side, there's this padlock on a huge iron gate. 

And behind that, uh, this old, creepy, massive gaff that's been left to rot. 

So, thinking I'm the bollocks, right? 

I park up right in front of that gate.

Got a lorry on my right, metal fencing on the left, and that eerie padlocked gate behind us.

So we get to smoking, chatting away, listening to bangers.

Roll it up, light it up,

Roll it up, light it up, light it, inhale, exhale. 

Roll it up, light it up, inhale, exhale. 

Few spliffs 

later, and we're out like a light. 

He was out first, and me not long after. To get extra comfy, I've slipped off me trainers. 

Pure bliss.  

Next thing I know, I'm being violently shaken awake, proper hard mind. 

My mate's got this wild look in his eyes, pure terror, pure fear. 

Trice mate, they're coming, go, go! 

I look the gate,  bathed in shadows, face obscured the darkness, two gypsy geezers that had been staying on the land, pulling at the gate, trying to get it open, to get to us. 

By this point my mates shouting go go they're coming.

I'm panicking 

can't get a whip in gear, the clutch won't go all the way down, gears grinding against metal.

I'm trying I'm trying I shout 

the geezer starts trying to climb the fence 

My mates pulling on my arm, 

then I clock it 

my fucking shoes! Jammed under the clutch. 

That's why I couldn't get the thing down. 

Them two geezers are looking more menacing by the second, 

climbing up the gate, 

shaking it 

Trying to break that padlock,

I lean down to the clutch. 

My mate's audibly panicking. 

I chuck my shoes in the back seat, get the clutch down, slam the gear, and we're off. 

Tyres  squealing. 

 We burst out of that creepy spot and back onto the main road, streetlights guiding us. 

From sheer terror to absolute stitches, pure adrenaline mixed with fear has us both cracking up, pure genuine belly laughs.  

The adventure is over. Safe to sleep and smoke another day.

Hopefully, more calm next time.

Inhale Exhale - A True Short Story

"Saltwater Soul" is an experimental audio documentary that’s really close to my heart. It dives into the world of sea swimming in Brighton, seen through the eyes of a passionate swimmer. The documentary mixes the peaceful sounds of the ocean with the lively atmosphere of protests against pollution by British water companies.

Creating this piece was a personal journey for me. I even started writing poetry for the first time, which you’ll hear throughout the documentary. It’s a mix of the calm and joy of sea swimming with the serious issue of environmental threats. My hope is that it not only shares the unique experience of sea swimming but also highlights the importance of protecting our waters.

Saltwater Soul // Short Documentary

Sample Nation 006: Broadcast on ITCH.FM 23/06/19

Celebrating 19 years since the release of “Quality Control” expect B-sides, Rare Features, Solo Tracks, Original Samples galore, production from Cut Chemist and Numark, intercut with a load of Jurassic 5 facts…

(Banned from Mixcloud)

SAMPLE NATION 006 // JURASSIC 5

Sample Nation 011: Broadcast Live 28/07/19

A selection of new and classic Home Grown UK Hip-Hop from the likes of Task Force, Cappo, Champions of Nature, Black Josh, Nah Eeto, Luca Brazi, Jam Baxter and Micall Parknsun

Unsung Hero: Jester Jacobs of Moose Funk, a retrospective of some of his best work; B-sides, features and album cuts

Sample Selection: Some incredible Originals Samples for Main Source and the US Hip-Hop to go along with it

SAMPLE NATION 011 // JESTER JACOBS // MAIN SOURCE

A selection of new songs from the UK, some lovely stuff straight out of Ireland. A retrospective of some Revorg Records best work, some absolute bangers in there and topped off with a selection of Pharoahe Monch classics and Original Samples

Broadcast on Itch.FM 20/10/19

SAMPLE NATION 021 // REVORG RECORDS // PHAROAHE MONCH

BBC Short Cuts - What does it mean to be a cockney? 

My documentary is an interview with my cockney father, delving into the gradual loss of the Cockney dialect and rhyming slang, exploring the profound changes in East London over the years and what it means to be a Cockney. 

The piece also includes poetry written by me, set around  the interview, giving more context and expressing my own feelings on Cockney culture.

I'm incredibly proud of the episode

You can give the full episode of shortcuts at the link below. The episode is called "Lost" 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001znn0

BBC Radio 4 // Short Cuts // Cockney Echos

A surreal guided hypnosis to ease your fear of flying. Intercut with the hypnosis, we hear from a survivor, someone who lives with a deep, sometimes paralysing fear of flying, that lets you know you're not alone.

Best heard with headphones. No passport required.

Guided Hypnosis: Cabin Pressure

A one take live mix of some incredible French Hip Hop by Maj Duckworth

www.majduckworth.com

Track List
-----------------
ATK - 7ème Sens
lunatic - le crime paie
Time Bomb All Star - Time Bomb Explose...
Shurik'n - Memoire (ft. Sat (Fonky Family))
La Brigade - C’est Quoi Le Dièse ? Feat Ritmo, Casey & Sat
ATK - Mefie-Toi
IAM - Bouger la Tête
Suprême NTM - Qui Paiera Les Degats ?
Koma, Morad - Avec S'qu'on Vit
Busta Flex - What Can I Do?
just-X-staz - 14. Jedi feat. ILL - Malka Skai du Comores - 1997
113 - Main Dans La Main (featuring 113 Clan)
IAM - La 25eme Image (feat. Daddy Nuttea)
Saïan Supa Crew - Abecedaire des cons
Les Sages poetes de la rue - Bouge tete seuf'
Karlito - Kiffe kiffe mec
MC Solaar - Degats Collateraux
La Brigade - 16 Rimes Feat Lunatic (Le Chargeur Est Surchargé)

Introduction To French HipHop - Rare/Classic French Hip-Hop

I feel like of lot of the classic UK HipHop from one of the golden ages is being forgotten, so I put this mix together. It's a collection of classic, rare and the more recent UK stuff.

Recorded live and in one take, features labels Broke Records, Revorg, Low Life, High Focus and some other random stuff

Hope you enjoy

Maj Duckworth
www.majduckworth.com

Side note: I do know Dark Circle aren't UK, but in my eyes they were a part of that new beginning and their sound was massively influential

Track List	
Doc Brown	-	In My Life
Ghost	-	Flip It
Universal Soldiers	-	Prohibition
MNSR FRITES	-	I DRINK COFFEE
Braintax	-	Escuchame
Evil Ed	-	Playin' The Game (Feat. Asaviour)
Jehst	-	1979
Cappo & Cyrus Malachi	-	Iron Curtain
Universal Soldiers	-	War Stories
Lewis Parker	-	Seasons of Espionage
Children of the Damned	-	Drug Co.
Ill Move Sporadic & Big Toast	-	Bumpy Town
Luca Brazi & Joe Represci	-	The Test Pressing Ft. Planet Asia
Dark Circle	-	Teletext
Wordsmiff Flipp	-	Millennial Mic
Champions of Nature	-	Cold Desert (In The City)
Jam Baxter	-	Larvae Feat. Fliptrix
Sonny Jim	-	The Balancing Act
Rodney P	-	World Wide Feat. Skinny Man & Mr 45
Task Force	-	One Step Ahead
Delegates of Culture	-	Memento
GRANVILLE SESSIONS	-	Calgon Sunrise

UK Hip-Hop Then & Now Vol. 1 - Rare/Classic UK Hip-Hop Mix

MY SECOND LIVE MIX OF OLD AND NEW CLASSIC UK HIP-HOP, HEAVILY BIAS TOWARD THE 2000 ERA AGO

Tracklist:
https://www.majduckworth.com/mixes-1/uk-hip-hop-then-amp-now-vol-2

UK Hip-Hop Then & Now Vol. 2 - Rare/Classic UK Hip-Hop Mix

My third live mix of old and new classic UK Hip-Hop. Featuring Jehst, Tommy Evans, Moose Funk Squad, Skinnyman, Gee Bag and a load of others

UK Hip Hop Then & Now Vol. 3 - Rare/Classic UK Hip-Hop Mix

Broadcast on Itch.FM 24/05/20 I sat down with R.A. The Rugged Man to discuss his brand new album "All My Heros Are Dead"

Enjoy

Maj Duckworth
www.MajDuckworth.com

R.A The Rugged Man Interview X Itch FM

A 2 minute podcast I entered into the MyRodeCast competition

"Jane, John, Love and Videotapes" is a short interview which reveals how my mother and father met, his still taboo occupation and how it changed their lives

Jane, John, Love + Videotapes

Vice Beats recently released a album dedicated to Dilla's music,  officially endorsed by the James Dewitt Yancey Foundation. 

I spoke to him just before it's release in February about how it all came together, his life in Hip-Hop and his love for Dilla

Dilla And Vice Beats (Vice Beats Interview) x Itch FM

Around the peak of lockdown, when Coronavirus seemed out of control in the UK, I submitted a short audio diary to Cathy FitzGerald for her BBC Radio 4 piece "Life on Lockdown".

The piece as a whole is just lovely, I still cry every time i listen to it. Cathy’s general good nature shines through in her story telling and in how she approached putting it all together.

This is my part which documents my experience of lockdown, the isolation, how it increased contact with my father and the death of my Nan. 

You can listen to “Life On Lockdown - June” on the BBC Sounds App or on the BBC website

Life On Lockdown - June - (My Snippet)

Interview with the incredible Sa-Roc, recorded just before the release of her Rhyme Sayers debut "Sharecroppers Daughter"

Sa-Roc Interview x Itch FM

East London born Hip-Hop enthusiast and scratch DJ, Maj Duckworth cut his teeth in the clubs and bars of Leeds, running nights and cutting and scratching. 

Eventually returning to London and securing a residency in Camden, he has gone on to DJ at multiple venues across the UK from 1000 + capacity venues like the Clapham Grand, to the RumShack at Glastonbury Festival.

His passion for music covers the range of genres Soul, Funk and Rock’n’Roll to R&B, Hip Hop, Disco and classic Original Samples. 

It’s this musical inspiration that lead to him producing and presenting his weekly radio show on Hip-Hop’s Original Samples and the stories that go with them, “Sample Nation” 

First launched on Whitechapel AM, later moving to Community Station, London Fields Radio and now landing safely in it’s spiritual home, the Internationally recognized, Itch FM

MajDuckworth

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