DJ Hype
DJ Hype
Born Kevin Ford in East London, DJ Hype grew up with music in his blood. A product of the city’s early-’80s sound system culture, he began his journey wiring up speakers and spinning records for neighbourhood parties long before Drum & Bass. By the mid-’80s, he was cutting dubplates and learning his craft as part of the legendary Heatwave Sound System, where he developed his technical precision and fast-cut mixing style.
As the rave era exploded, Hype became one of the defining figures linking reggae sound system heritage to the new breakbeat generation. He joined Shut Up and Dance’s label network in the late ’80s, engineering and producing tracks that pushed London’s warehouse scene forward. His early productions and collaborations with Kickin’ Records showcased his talent for tough beats and fierce basslines.
In 1993, Hype co-founded the Ganja Records and later True Playaz, two hugely influential labels in Jungle and Drum & Bass history. From these bases, he and his crew (including Pascal and Zinc) released anthems that defined the genre’s golden era: Peace, Love & Unity, Ready or Not, and Cops. With razor-sharp mixing skills and a selector’s instinct honed in reggae dances, Hype’s DJ sets were pure fire, double drops, rewinds, and Hip Hop scratching that left dancefloors breathless.
By the mid-’90s when Hype signed to Suburban Base and released the now-classic Shot in the Dark and You Must Think First. His track Peace, Love & Unity became a jungle anthem, capturing the sound and atmosphere of the era. He went on to win Best DJ at the Drum & Bass Awards multiple times, while his weekly Kiss FM show introduced countless listeners to the cutting edge of UK bass culture.
Through the 2000s, Hype stayed at the forefront of the scene, his label Playaz Recordings launching the careers of a new generation of artists like Sub Zero and Hazard. His DJ sets continued to astonish, whether at Fabric, Innovation, or festival main stages, he never disappoints and he always brings the Fire.
More than three decades in, DJ Hype remains one of the scene’s most respected figures. A pioneer, educator, and inspiration, he’s carried the underground spirit of London’s sound systems into every era of rave music.
Essential Tracks:
🎧 DJ Hype – Shot in the Dark
🎧 DJ Hype – Peace, Love & Unity
🎧 Ganja Kru – Super Sharp Shooter
🎧 DJ Hype – You Must Think First
Still blazing. Still true playaz. Still the sound of the underground.
