We’ve been working on a research project with funding from Newham Heritage Month about the history and heritage of De Underground Records in Sebert Road, Forest Gate, Newham. As part of this, we have launched a podcast that mixes interviews and music and tells the story of the shop and studio.

Owned by Mike De Underground, Cool Hand Flex, Uncle 22 and DJ Randall, the hugely influential store only ran for five years between 1991 and 1996. It was instrumental in the development of UK hardcore, jungle and drum & bass music, however, little documentation about them could be found online.

As well as being a well-respected record store, De Underground also operated as a recording studio, responsible for a number of seminal releases including Lennie De Ice’s, We Are IE, Cool Hand Flex’s, Melody Madness, and Uncle 22’s, Six Million Ways To Die.

The hour-long podcast is available through iTunes, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Interviews include A-Sides, Anita Bhogal, Cool Hand Flex, DJ Chef, DJ Hype, DJ Randall, DJ Skie, DJ Van Waxen / Wacko, DJ Warlock, MC Navigator, MC Fats, MC Rage, Marly Marl, Sherry Morrison, Eddie Otchere, Paul Romane, Uncle 22 and Laura Young, some of whom have not given an interview in over 25 years.