RP Boo

10/10/24 • 29 min

Is this the happiest man in dance music? Kevain Space, better known as RP Boo, is widely regarded as one of the originators of footwork, a high-energy, syncopated form of electronic dance music from Chicago. Starting his career in the 1990s, RP Boo started out as a dancer and a DJ before developing his signature sound, which blends rapid beats, chopped-up samples, and frenetic rhythms designed to accompany fast-paced footwork moves.

In this Don’t Assume interview Zakia and Boo get into the origins of Footwork in West Chicago, how the music evolved in lock step with the dancefloor and the influence of one dancer in particular who they were always trying to outpace. Boo talks about getting inspiration from the everyday, making songs out of the drinks machine at the garage where he worked or from overhead snatches of conversation.

Boo’s energy is infectious, busting moves from the moment he got in, despite just having landed from Chicago and getting Zakia up to teach her some footwork basics. His take on life is that you can be spiritual while having fun, words to live by.

Presenter - Zakia Sewell

Producer - Alannah Chance

Music composition - Jennifer Walton

Mix-Mastering - Sol King

Exec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presenter - Zakia Sewell

Producer - Alannah Chance

Music composition - Jennifer Walton

Mix-Mastering - Sol King

Exec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Susan Cadogan

A short-sighted librarian who prides herself on being responsible, reliable and getting home early, Anne ‘Susan’ Cadogan might have been a surprising match for the legendary producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. But it was her version of Hurt So Good, produced by Scratch in 1975, that saw Susan catapult to fame. As the song rose up the UK charts, Susan found herself on a flight out of Jamaica and booked to appear on Top of the Pops.

It was her first brush with pop stardom but Susan was determined to do it her way. She refused to wear the revealing clothes pushed by the costume department, refused their choreographed dance moves, and barely wore any make up. Her performance remains one of the most arresting of the time, foreshadowing the arrival of the Lovers Rock scene.

Susan is a brilliant storyteller. In this interview with Zakia she discusses her split personality between Anne, the dedicated librarian, and Susan, the performer, the early days of the Black Ark studio, passing the chalice with John Holt, and whether there might be love on the cards with the original writer of Hurt So Good.

Like many Jamaican performers, Susan never received any royalties for Hurt So Good. She discusses her frustrations around the music industry but how she still holds our hope for a cheque in the post. Despite that and the physical challenges of older age, Susan is still performing. In this sparkling interview Susan proves herself to be equal parts steely and sweet. Watch out toyboys.

Presenter - Zakia Sewell

Producer - Alannah Chance

Music composition - Jennifer Walton

Mix-Mastering - Sol King

Exec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Obongjayar

If you don’t yet know the name Obongjayar, you will. Since emerging in 2016 he’s made a series of gradual but intentional moves, launching his debut album in 2022 and collaborating with some big hitters like Little Simz, Pa Salieu, Danny Brown and Fred Again.

Growing up in Nigeria where power cuts were a regular occurrence, he would often only catch half a song on the radio before the electricity went out but finish it in his head. Here he explains how this knack for filling in the gaps continued after he moved to England aged 17, picking up new influences at uni in Norwich before dropping his rapper persona to discover his true voice: Obongjayar, meaning king and junior.

His songs swing from the political to the poetic and are often deeply personal. He tells Zakia the backstory to one song in particular, ‘I Wish It Was Me', a beautiful track about the love and jealousy he harbours for his little brother, which he played for his family for the first time on film.

Family, music and faith are woven throughout this conversation with plenty of Don't Assume moments including the fact that OB was, and still is, a massive Westlife fan, and that his first band was a Christian rap outfit at school. You heard it here first.

Check out Obongjayar on NTS: https://www.nts.live/artists/39127-obongjayar

Presenter - Zakia Sewell

Producer - Alannah Chance

Music composition - Jennifer Walton

Mix-Mastering - Sol King

Exec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.