WOMAD

Steinski

From United States

For a chap who, rather implausibly, used to write advertising copy for some of the world’s bluest blue-chip companies, Steve Stein has a rather unimpeachable place in hip-hop history. As Steinski (and with partner Double Dee), he was responsible for some of the most influential cut-and-paste records ever. The sheer audacity and technical brilliance of records like The Motorcade Sped On and the Lessons trilogy were astounding, master classes in the use of samples that would encourage and influence the likes of Fatboy Slim, Coldcut, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist. Having occasionally DJed at parties around New York in the late ’70s and early ’80s, he’s now returning to the role of DJ, albeit not simply as someone idly stewarding a couple of decks. Expect a head-spinning assault of breaks, funk, samba, rap and favela flavours, all glued together by the latest technology. “Fuck playing the classic hip-hop records back to back every week,” he argues. “With laptop software, I can DJ the way I’ve always wanted to.”