Steffan Cravos (born 1975, in
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
)
is a Welsh
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
and
hip hop musician and artist.
As "DJ Lambchop", Cravos is known for his "rub and scratch"
turntablist
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into a PA system ...
style. He is also the founding member of
Tystion
Tystion (English: Witnesses) was a Welsh language hip hop band from Wales.
Background
In 1996, MC Sleifar ( Steffan Cravos) and G Man (Gruff Meredith) got together and released a few cassettes themselves. A year later they released the album ...
,
a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
hip hop band.
He was briefly involved with an early line-up of
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a psychedelic folk and alternative rock band which formed in Carmarthen, Wales, in 1991. The group performed music in both Welsh and English, and they had eight Top 75 singles on the UK Singles Chart during their ca ...
playing violin and sound effects, and is credited on several songs on their early-years compilation ''
Patio
A patio (, from es, patio ; "courtyard", "forecourt", "yard", "little garden") is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved. In Australia the term is expanded to include roofed str ...
''.
Projects
Fitamin Un
In 1996, Cravos set up his own record label, Recordiau Fitamin Un. Fed up with the scene in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
, he created it to be an outlet for some of his projects (like
Tystion
Tystion (English: Witnesses) was a Welsh language hip hop band from Wales.
Background
In 1996, MC Sleifar ( Steffan Cravos) and G Man (Gruff Meredith) got together and released a few cassettes themselves. A year later they released the album ...
) and other underground material. Other bands released on the label include
Llwybr Llaethog, "Pep Le Pew", "Trawsfynydd Lo-Fi Liberation Front", and "Continuous Sound Labordy Swn Cont". All of Fitamin Un's releases have been archived by The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales at
The National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales ( cy, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru), Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million boo ...
.
'Fitami Un' at The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales
/ref>
Radio Amgen
Radio Amgen provides numerous rare mp3's to listen to on the computer. The tracks are from an eclectic mix of artists in both Welsh and English languages, as well as links to artists, labels, other mp3s, and institutions. Radio Amgen translated as Alternative Radio, also gave many amateur djs and music producers the opportunity to showcase their creations. Such successful introducing radio shows include Dander Radio, produced by Aron Jones.
Tystion (1991–2002)
Tystion
Tystion (English: Witnesses) was a Welsh language hip hop band from Wales.
Background
In 1996, MC Sleifar ( Steffan Cravos) and G Man (Gruff Meredith) got together and released a few cassettes themselves. A year later they released the album ...
began in 1991. Cravos, aged 16, and influenced by the sounds of Public Enemy and Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk bands during its initial eight-year run.
Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing p ...
, worked from his bedroom in Carmarthen
Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
using two tape decks and a mixer. He wanted to create an answer to the current state of the Welsh musical mainstream. By 1995, he was joined by Gruff Meredith.
Lo-Cut and Sleifar
Cravos worked on this project with Murry the Hump member/producer Lo-Cut (Curig Huws) and put out an album in 2004 on Boobytrap Records. They were based in Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
and established their partnership in Paris.
"Music for the feet and music for the mind" — their definition of hip-hop - is the English translation of the title.
Discography
Albums
Welsh language
In April 2005 Cravos became president and chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society
The Welsh Language Society ( cy, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, often abbreviated to Cymdeithas yr Iaith or just Cymdeithas) is a direct action pressure group in Wales campaigning for the right of Welsh people to use the Welsh language in every as ...
), having been involved with the society and its activities since the 1990s.
See also
*Music of Wales
The Music of Wales (Welsh: ''Cerddoriaeth Cymru''), particularly singing, is a significant part of Welsh national identity, and the country is traditionally referred to as "the land of song".Davies (2008), pg 579.
This is a modern stereotype ba ...
References
Projects
Brechdan Tywod
(in Welsh)
Lo-cut and SleiferRadio Amgen
(in Welsh)
Tystion
MP3s
Sleifar a'r Teulu, Sesiwn Radio 1
(in Welsh)
Welsh-language rap
On Rapping in WelshRappers take on the Bards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cravos, Steffan
1977 births
Living people
Musicians from Cardiff
Welsh language activists
Welsh-speaking musicians
Welsh male rappers