Initially headed by residents Phil Asher, Demus, IG Culture and Dego, the Bugzintheattic crew and Domu later rejoined the residency. To those in the know, word of those original parties rapidly spread making attendance to these understated Sun-day nights compulsory. The music played was progressive but with a foot still firmly planted in the roots of black sound system culture, dub sirens fired off in between inch ups and rewinds while the open mic was passed around amongst MC’s and singers keen to expand their lyrical gymnastics. With the ethics and ethos of the initial collective of producers, DJs, programmers and artists now firmly in place, being pro artist, the Co0peration Records label was then set up by Mike and Spencer and Orin at Goya, with Robbie Walters and Mitchy Bwoy on graphics duties.
Over the past 24 years of this club driven scene, the growing Community took the broken beat genre that they pioneered to international levels, attracting overseas collaborators that in turn have contributed to defining and expanding this initially niche genre of music, making it more relevant today to other musical genres from funky House & Dub-step to Hip Hop, Jazz soul and more accessible to the wider population who may not have even realised they ACTUALLY like "broken beat”!
Community is at the heart of this phenomenon and in 2007 a new chapter was born in the shape of COOPR8, an online network set up by Bopstar & Afronaut for futuristic DJs, producers, graphic designers that are continuing to push the boundaries within their own creative disciplines whilst attracting established overseas artists and yet nurturing tomorrow's talents inspired by this scene.
Our Music Our Culture Vol. 1 was the first digital only Broken Beat compilation, to showcase the new music.
Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2 compilation features exclusive heavy hitters from the likes of Domu's Sonar's Ghost, label boss Mark Force’s Blakai & Lady Alma Horton project and also with keyboard supremo Joe Armon-Jones, Ben Hauke & man of the moment Don Kamares, Wipe The Needle featuring Andre Espeut, Bruk Rogers, and Mainz very own Soulparlor.
Our Music Our Culture Vol. 1:
1. Ayro - Moving on
2. restless soul - Little Things
3. Mac Marc - Takes over me
4. Colonel Red - Victim
5. Bugz in the Attic - Reject
6. Domu - Nu vision
7. Altered Natives - Bone in your nose (Return of the Native)
8. Simbad - Digital Revolution
9. Karizma - I C U
Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2:
1. Andre Espeut - Here We Go
2. Mark Force - Solar Mode
3. Ben Hauke - Your Woke Moment
4. Soulparlor - Digital Soul (Naut’s L8 Nite Dub)
5. Blakai - Work it out (Blaktonez CoOp Rub)
6. Bruk Rogers - Get Stronger
7. Sonar's Ghost - Purest Dope (Domu’s exclusive mix)
8. Don Kamares - Loose Legs
