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Known as somewhat of a Bristol institution from his early days selling hip hop from behind the counter of the seminal Purple Penguin record shop, his Dynamo Productions pseudonym with Andy Smith (Portishead) and his countless DJ residencies and appearances across the city. More recently he has branched out with the psyche rock/hip hop/pop stylings of the Domino Records-signed Malachai (Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record In The World") and the cinematic Dolman project alongside composer Ben Salisbury. It's safe to say Scott Hendy has worn a few caps in his time.
Returning to his Boca 45 alter-ego, for this - his third album under the name, finds him revisiting his b-boy roots and creating an album almost purely from found sounds, beats & samples. As an avid record collector and well traveled DJ, he has amassed a wealth of sources, be it old school block party rap, rare Latin percussion, progressive rock wigouts or obscure eastern European oddities, it all goes into the mix to create his unique style - steeped in heritage, but looking firmly forward.
Another link in the story is Boca's affinity with the Big Apple - from early digging trips and gigs there, he has forged a strong bond with the spiritual home of hip hop. So much so, that the only vocalists that appear on the album are NYC based. Having worked with Stephanie McKay on his debut album "Pitch Sounds" (Grand Central Records) she steps up once again to bless "Mr Big Sun", "Freedom Train" and "Parking Space" - her powerful soul voice perfecting each track and sounding like she's got a lot more left to prove.
Also featured are Brooklyn MCs The Good People aka Emskee and The Saint. From the block busting "We're Right Here" (as supported on BBC6 Music by Huey Morgan) to the party starting "People Are You Ready?" their old school flow sits perfectly on Boca's beats and cements the Bristol to Bronx partnership further.
Other tracks such as "45 Live" and "Kool Herc's Echo Chamber" show his diverse cut & paste party rockin' ability, whist "BK Speakeasy" and "Lafayette Afterglow" offer a deeper filmic side to his production.
With a hefty DJ schedule alongside a hefty box of 45s and the skills to match, be sure to catch Boca 45 in a club near you soon!