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THE OTHERS REVIEW DUB POLICE @ THE NEST

Alex Crawford aka The Others turns reviewer for Dub Police's 10 year event!

This October marked 10 years since Caspa set up Dub Police, and it’s been a pretty crazy 10 years for all involved! Luckily I’ve been around since the early stages of Dub Police’s inception. I’ve seen the way in which it has grown to become one of the genre’s defining labels, as well as how it has exploded across the globe. So what better way to celebrate this crazy journey than to throw a party to commemorate the past, present and future of Dub Police in our hometown of London?

The night kicked off with newcomer Ethic laying down some upbeat rollers to set a nice pace for the evening and get the party started. He was followed by grime champion Maximum of Boy Better Know, who went in with some classic grime cuts alongside current smashers from Skepta and Wiley. Next up was one of Dub Police’s latest recruits Variations, who dived in head first with an onslaught of big beats and basslines that really got the ravers going and raised the temperature. By the time Rinse FM’s Jungle legend Uncle Dugs stepped up, the energy in the building was immense. Dugs of course only added fuel to the fire with an incredible set of historic Jungle and D&B classics, ranging from Alex Reece to Shy FX, all the way to Chase & Status. Educational brilliance from Uncle Dugs as always.

By this point the crowd were well and truly plucked, and ready for myself and old friend Subscape to step up and bring a nice mixture of brand new material from ourselves and the Dub Police camp, as well as a heap of classics from the label’s back catalogue and beyond. Even I have to admit it was a great set, and most DJs might struggle to keep the vibe bubbling after us, but then most DJs aren’t the Dub Police head honcho... when Caspa stepped up he immediately went right back to the early days of Dub Police with vintage cuts from Rusko, L-Wiz and of course himself. He had the crowd in hysterics and calling for reloads left, right and centre. If that wasn’t enough, MC Crazy D had showed up and the vibe was feeling very nice indeed.

To bring the night to a close, N-Type played back-to-back with special guest Hatcha, which was well and truly the icing on the cake, literally! Some grateful ravers actually made a birthday cake with sparklers and put it on the speaker, adding to the celebrations. The set itself was exactly what you’d expect from two of dubstep’s founding fathers and most decorated DJs, and it was the perfect end to a monumental evening. 

Throughout the night I had the pleasure of chatting to faces old and new. From the hardcore Dub Police veterans who attend every show, right through to the newcomers of the music and the label. It was so nice hearing what they had to say about the years gone by and the future of this sound, as well as how much they had enjoyed the sets throughout the night. And I have to agree - the vibe and energy inside The Nest on a cold Tuesday night in October (yes you read correctly, Tuesday Night!) were unbelievable.

From our very first shows at Herbal in Shoreditch, to a residency at super club Fabric, House of Blues in Los Angeles, ADE at Paradiso in Amsterdam, plus the very first dubstep event in Ibiza at Eden and the many other amazing shows over the past 10 years; the infectious energy of Dub Police label nights remain the same - and we plan it keep it that way for a long time to come. Here’s to the next 10 years!

WORDS: Alex Crawford
PHOTO: Katie Burrett