Dance Concept label manager Benny V has been working on the Stevie Hyper D
project releasing the late great MCs material on his label with all profits
going to Stevie's family. We caught up with him and got some frank answers
on the project, the scene in general AND the World Cup!

How has the Hyper D releases worked out?

Exceptionally well. The Legend Vinyl LP is on its third pressing due to
demand. People ask if its a surprise how many units have been sold but to
me, it isn't at all. People are buying a piece of Jungle/Drum & Bass history
as well as giving something to the mans family.

Excellent. The man was definately one of a kind. How did you get involved in
releasing it?

I had been working on various projects with Jason Air (Dfrnt Lvls) and it
was a natural progression once we had been given permission by Aida
(Stevie's mum) and Nicky Blackmarket. The next part was a little harder. Not
many people know this but originally the album was going to be produced by
myself and Dfrnt Lvls only.

How did you get about getting other artists involved?

Well it was actually Phantasy's suggestion to get other people in to do
mixes as well as Jason Air and I. You know, we hadn't even thought of it. We
also didn't know if people would be willing to do the work when we had
already decided it was not going to a profit making project but the response
was fantastic. It was really hard to get the fine balance in the end as some
people wanted to do mixes but due to time, never got us tracks in time.
Which was a great shame as some really respected artists wanted to
contribute.

What artists never made it on the album?

Amongst others, Shy FX and Ray Keith wanted to contribute but I had to have
a cut off time as the album was already behind schedule. Of the people who
did contribute, Phantasy I have known for years and he had played for Dance
Concept events in the past. Aphrodite was someone else I had worked with a
few times. Nicky Blackmarket insisted we give lyrics to Child Support to do
a mix and that turned out to be a great decision. Pappa G had been good
friends with Stevie so it was important to have 'family' members involved.
Having Kenny Ken, Brockie & Ed Solo doing mixes was great as well as in the
end we were very pleased with all 8 tracks on the album.

Wicked, there was a nice mix of producers on there. Away from the physical
side, have there been any 'politics' with such a sensitive project?

You know, we were warned early on that there would be. Phantasy has helped
me out a lot with not only this but a few other things and he warned at how
people may perceive what we were doing unless we tread carefully. We tried
to come correct with everything from the start. Speaking to Aida and getting
the right blend of what tracks would appear. Some people came to me
afterwards and said that they had wanted to contribute somehow but there was
really only so much you could do. To be honest, as far as I can see, nobody
has given any stick to us. As all profits have gone to Aida, we have kept
her updated on the financial side of things and she has been kept fully in
the loop with copy's of all financial matters. Maybe because of this, people
have seen and respected what we have done.

I spoke to Nick who ran Heat and put on the Hyper D tribute night a few
years back at SE1 and he got some terrible stick over it. Its hard because
when finances are involved people sometimes think the worst about what the
people running it are up to. I mean, Aida thinks the world of Nick and he
made her a lot of money that night. So when people ask me what I think of
that project, I always say if Aida's happy, so am I. Its a shame for Nick
that he did have to take stick for it as he didn't have to put the night on,
but it was him who put in the effort. I think he's a strong enough bloke
anyway to I'm sure no harm was done.

Has there been anything about the album that didn't please you?

I don't think ANYTHING could ever be 100% perfect. There were a few things
that not everyone would notice. For example, the CD covers went to press
without me giving the go ahead. I wasn't happy because the mix CD had some
bonus tracks that weren't on the track listing on the back so it wasn't
clear what was exactly on the double CD. It wasn't any one persons fault,
just one of those things. As for the contents of the CD, I am very very
happy with. Also the design, from Jesse Holborn, was top class. It was a joy
working with Jesse. Whenever I wanted anything changed or tweaked, he was on
hand to get it done very quickly and the quality was superb.

As Dance Concept is a label with many vocals on, what are your thoughts of
the MC talent around?

There is LOADS of talent at the moment. Of course people like Skibadee, MC
MC, Fearless etc have been recognised for years. But there are people who
have worked as long and only in the last few years gained recognition.
Eksman was booked at every Dance Concept event, MC Fun was a resident for a
while and used to do out adverts. He has a superb flow and voice. Mirage and
Herbsy were also regulars. I remember Joker D had not played at too many
places before his main room stint at the DC in Romford.

Deemas J is someone I've known since my days playing at Labyrinth. He is one
of the most versatile MCs I know and doing really well in Germany at the
moment. He played in our Oldskool, Garage AND Drum & Bass rooms in the past.
The only MC to play in all our rooms I believe. I am hopefully going to be
working with him on some material as well as I really believe in his talent.

Great stuff. Can look forward to some more vocal tracks on Dance Concept
then. Who are the other artists associated to the label?

At the moment myself, Triptonite, Dfrnt Lvls, Krisis and Magic from Fresh
Kutts have been working on material. Nicky Blunt has moved a little more
into Hip Hop in recent years, Tumpin has been producing House and Billy the
Kid has been very busy playing abroad for summer seasons. Lock Stock has
become a father which we are all very chuffed about despite the fact that
young 'Bobby' has been seen with West Ham merchandise. I really despise
cruelty to children.

Ah Football! So how did you find the World Cup?

Don't get me started on this! I may not love England as much as Nicky
Blackmarket, going to Germany to watch the games, but I have always been
very passionate about my football. But I felt different about time. Never
before have I seen such a poorly selected squad and it took the wind out of
my sails. I just want to know how much Eriksson got bunged for taking
Walcott!!!

Check out your stores for:
DC002 - Oldskool Box & Chained Reaction by Benny V & Dfrnt Lvls
DC003 - Junglist Soldier & Flexin today by Stevie Hyper, Benny V & Dfrnt
Lvls
and The Legend LP. Available on double CD and Vinyl format, distributed by
Nu Urban.

More info www.danceconcept.com and big up all the forum members on there.