Robbie D started MC'ing at the tender age of 16, before the rave scene as we know it was even established.  Robbie was bang into hip hop at the time and was spinning the tunes as well as chatting over them.   "I was also DJing, but it was my lyrics I concentrated on.  I formulated lyrics that meant  something."

When the hardcore scene was in its infancy , Robbie kept a fairly low profile until he hooked up with "Upfront", a DJ agency in Kidderminister.  "They promoted all types of DJs.  They did roadshows - I used to pick someone out of the crowd and MC about them.  It was quite embarrassing for them, but it was good experience for me."

Robbie got his first real break in Birmingham in 1990 at an event called "Time" at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre.  He blagged his way onto the mic, a technique which pisses a lot of promoters of nowadays, but was the only way to get a break them.  "In those days, you had to do it like that.  If you didn't know anybody, things wouldn't happen for you, so you had to make them happen."

Further down the line, as "First Base" in Gloucestershire, he met promoters Gideon Dawson and James, who went on to become the Fantazia crew.  Robbie was offered a spot at the club, where he met Chris Perception, who asked him to play at Perception, one the largest organisation at the time.  He didn't get paid all that much, as he was still a fairly small fish in as fast expanding pond.  "I couldn't believe what I was seeing 'cause I'd only been to one outdoor rave before then, where Easygroove got me on the microphone, gave me a go and it started from there.  I couldn't believe the amount of people at Perception."

Playing in front of around 7,000 people must have been more than a little nerve wracking.  "I was quite nervous, yeah,  but I'd MC'd in front of a number of people before, so I'd started to overcome that fear anyway.  The one embarrassing moment was that I called Easygroove, Grooverider, which was funny!"

As an old hand in the raving game, Robbie doesn't make such mistakes nowadays.  He has nurtured his own particular style and likes to think that he is unique amongst a growing army of hardcore MCs.  "I believe and MC should have a story to tell - not necessarily about himself.  I don't mean stuff like what he had for lunch, what he's doing next week or what he did at his Granny's birthday party - people aren't interested in that sort of stuff.  You've got to see what the crowd wants, what they're doing and focus on that."

It is playing for the crowd that has gained Robbie respect and the increased wage that come when you break into the MC premiership.  "Promoters book me, not just as an MC. they're booking the legacy with it.   I'm more expensive than a lot of MCs, but I deserve it.   The rave scene owes me a living 'cause I've put so much into it.  I don't do it just for the money though.  I do it 'cause I love it.  I wouldn't get up onstage in front of all those people just 'cause I'm getting paid for it.  I get paid to do a job people respect."

Robbie says that he can pick and choose promoters, but doesn't think that there are many good ones left.  He hold great respect for Murray Beeston and was really saddened by his death.  "He was leading the way.  He was Dreamscape.  Nobody else could take Dreamscape to where it should belong in my opinion, but I wish them all the best." He believes Helter Skelter is the next leap to where Dreamscape was, but he's yet to be booked there, for reasons unknown.

Other people he respects in the scene include Mad P - "he's unique; he's got his own style and story to tell" - Joe Peng, Jack Horner, MC Pain and Ribbz.  Ribbz has Robbie to thank for his initial break.   I handed him the mic.  He's a great MC." As for bad MCs. Robbie D has strong feelings on the subject.  "The thing I'm most pissed off about is the number of wank MCs around at the moment.   I don't want to mention any names, but people know."   Robbie blames the promoters, who are trying to cut costs by booking smaller name MCs.  "They're taking work from old MCs who are good and still have something to prove."

He also gets narked about DJ/MC partnerships as some place are no longer booking MCs in their own right, but relying on DJs bringing an MC with them.  (This is pretty ironic as Robbie D and Easygroove are well known travelling companions.)

This is one example of things not being like "the old school days".  The main change is obviously the music.  "Music has got to slow down.  It's got too fast.  I preferred the days of Perception and Obsession when I could MC onstage and dance at the same time - I used to be known as the dancing MC.   Old school's gonna make a big come back this year.  I think happy hardcore's gone as far as it's going to go Jungle's getting bigger by the day, but it won't last much longer.  The music needs to take a step back before it goes forward.   The rave scene is changing so much.   The next generation crew need to experience the old vibe.  A lot of house DJs are playing old school records now, which is taking the piss.  Where were they in the old days?  They were slagging the music off - 'we don't like hardcore, it's rubbish'."

Other predictions for 1997 include the explosion of Chris Peception and "Devotion" back onto the hardcore map.  "Devotion's going to do it in a big way.  Chris is an old school promoter with old school ideas and he's back now.  Gideon.  Fantazia.......they've changed.   Chris Perception is back and he's relit my faith in the rave scene.".....which is a prefect high note to end on.   Old school MC with an old school promoter,  a perfect partnership to re-kindle some explosive times.  It is my prediction that Robbie D is going to explode back onto the scene in 1997, so get ready for D explosion, the Robbie D.          by Alex Cormack

Links to Fantazia

Fantazia sets featuring Robbie Dee can be bought here