Although Dj P-Lee Fresh was a pioneer of 80s Chicago hip-hop, it was only during the following decade that the scene was beginning to emerge seriously. Nevertheless, Chicago is the birthplace of the first hip-hop subgenre. Hip house, mixing rap and house music beats, appeared in the mid to late 1980s… Tyree Cooper, best known for the classic “Turn Up The Bass” on the legendary D.J. International Records, began his career in 1986 and released hits one after the other. Still involved in the spread of this movement, Tyree shares his memories.

Did you begin with house music or hip hop? Any memories about the block party?

I started with house music. hip hop was always cool but I just liked house music. I was young in the 80’s but also the hip hop. House music was the larger music scene in Chicago.

Do you have any memories from your travels to New York?

I didn’t go to NYC until 1988 for the first time. It was so dope to me because I’ve seen those earlier Hip Hop Movies as Beat Street (1984), Wild Style (1982), Across 110th Street (1972), Black Caesar (1973) … just to name a few and the love of Disco made it that much more exciting. The fact that I’ve seen and met so many legendary DJ’s and producers was just mind blowing. When I was in NYC for the first time, I met a lot of producers as Teddy Riley, Afrika Islam, King Sun, Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, Bobby Konders, Ed Lover & Dr. Dre from MTV Raps, Prime Minister from B.E.T Rap City (Rap City is a music video television program block that aired on the Black Entertainment Television from 1989 to 2008, Ed)… just to name a few off the top of my head

In the 80s, hip hop was a form of expression for urban youth. The message has totally evolved with the gangsta rap in the 90s. Do you think that gangsta rap is taken out of the original hip hop movement?

I’ll say this. All hip Hop has a socially conscious message. Some may express it harshly because that’s the reality that they’re living in at the moment. And some have expressed themselves in a different poetic format like those poets in the 60’s and early 70’s.

Apparently, hip house was badly perceived by people of gangsta rap? Is it true?

That didn’t bother me as much because as I mentioned before I started to getting involved in culture and began speaking with Afrika Islam and Afrika Bambaataa and the things that they told me back then helped me understand what was truly going on in our culture.

Hip house is a phenomenon which quickly became popular in the late 80s. How was the hip house born?

Well, as far as the origin of the genre you have to ask The Dj Fast Eddie (an American house producer and hip hop musician from Chicago, Ed) who came up with the concept. As far as my involvement in the genre, was the fact that it was something new and the fact that I was getting into hip hop culture as a whole. So, I took it on like a hand to glove. At the moment that hip hop was on the rise, so was house music, as a matter of fact the whole culture of Black Music was on the rise in the late 80's via “The Golden Age Of Hip Hop, House, Techno, and R&B”.

What made the hip house not last until today?

Who says that hip house didn’t last until today? I mean there have been numerous tracks that were released that had all the elements of hip house, it’s just most companies and record labels didn’t mention what the music was that they were releasing to that public. If you steal bread, you’re not gonna advertise that you’re stealing bread. Are you?

Why did you move to Berlin in 2001?

The reason I moved to Berlin was merely a logistical decision. I wanted to be closer to my gigs which were mostly in Europe. I love Berlin and love living there!!! There are no real similarities but the vibe and energy of Berlin reminded me of Chicago. All my friends that I’ve met while living there are just priceless.

It’s said that before genres were compartmentalised and today styles of music all blend together. Do you agree?

I’ll agree to some degree, but people are more concerned with other shit than the quality of music.

Your Warehouse Wednesday mixes are always rich in vocals. What about instrumental house?

I do play a lot instrumental House Music. But when you want to know the name of a song, then one needs to play a vocal song to find out the songs title. It’s just hard to go to the record store and try and hum an instrumental when you can’t hum well? So, there is my reason for seemingly playing more vocals in my mixes. I do play a lot of instrumentals.

For you, has house music lost its ethical dimensions and does not really longer transmit messages as it did before? Has it lost "in maturity" as the hip hop?

I don’t hold that to be true. As far as House Music Culture goes the level of “Maturity” still lies. The fact that House and Club culture are intertwined you could find yourself in a multi-gender party and you’ll need to be “mature” enough to handle what you’re witnessing.

In France and Europe, the clubbing house scene is more successful than the clubbing hip-hop one. Do you agree?

I think that’s just your musical taste. I would like to say that the house scene is more successful than our cousins hip hop, but that’s just a personal taste.

For you, how did producers go from electronic hip hop to techno and/or house music? Let’s take the example of James Stinson, the half of Drexciya. His first album "Hyperspace Sound Lab" (1991) was electronic hip hop. That is no longer the case today.

I have no idea! But I wouldn’t rule out that concept.

Do you still buy vinyl?

I normally buy vinyl wherever they sell it. So, it could be a Music Market or a Flea Market or a normal record store or even online and not limited to second-hand stores.

Which track of house does represent Chicago?

Far too many to mention. But, “Can You Feel It” - Mr. Fingers, “Move Your Body” - Marshall Jefferson, “Jack Your Body” - Steve “Silk” Hurley, “Turn Up The Bass” - Tyree feat. Kool Rock Steady. If you just take the titles of these songs you could see that we were speaking when nobody was actually listening. All songs are powerful. And there is so many more

Which track of hip hop does represent you?

“I’m a hustler” - Cassidy, “Everyday Hustling” - Rick Ross.

« House music awards » in a few words.

Fuck yea!!! Also, lifetime achievement awards as well.

What about basketball? Are you still fond of it?

Yes, I will always love Basketball! And I still shoot every chance I get too.

If you had to teleport yourself, which period would you choose?

That’s a great question. I’m not sure if I would actually teleport myself to a specific time period. Because I could change the course of my history, and I love what I’ve done in my lifetime. I still have more to do…

Anything else?

Love conquers all. Reparations to all FBA.

TYREE COOPER PODCAST 75 TRACKLIST

01 Rocco Rodamaal - Tbt3 (Osunlade Remix)

02 Heatwave - Boogie Night -Word Dub

03 Ten City - My Piece Of Heaven

04 Louie Vega & Josh Milan- I Put A Spell On You (DJ Erv are-Touch)

05 Floetry - I Want You (Osunlade Remix)

06 Emmaculate- Voodoo

07 Corky Strong- Party Lights (da turned up to hot rework)

08 Oscar P - Let’s Get It

09 Glenn Underground - Happy Hour (Terry Hunter B*TCH Please Instr.)

10 Mortimer Sneed - Settle For My Love (Mstill Vocal Retouch)

11 Sean McCabe feat. Cinnamon Brown - It’s My Life

Interview by Sabrina Bouzidi / Photo by Marie Stagga