Gunshot (band)


Gunshot is a British hip hop group, formed by MC Mercury, MC Alkaline, Q-Roc, DJ White Child Rix and DJ/MC Barry Blue in the area of Leyton in east London, around 1988/1989. They were originally called Sudden Impact.
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Career

They released their debut single "Battle Creek Brawl" to some acclaim, which was followed swiftly by the single "No Sell Out/Crime Story". Both singles were well received within the hip hop scene, but following this release Q-Roc left the group to join Son of Noise under the name Curoc. Mercury, Alkaline and White Child Rix continued with the group, releasing a succession of singles in 1991/1992, that soon cemented them a place as one of the leaders of the UK hip hop scene. Their style was hardcore and fast, quickly coming to be considered—along with groups such as Hijack—the defining style of the genre.
One of their releases in this period was "Killing Season/Nobody Move", which was the first of their tunes to feature guest vocals from the rapper Barry Blue. Blue continued to provide guest vocals on some tracks for the group right up until their final album, as well as releasing the White Child Rix produced "The Story Begins... EP" as a solo artist.
The reception to Gunshot's first singles by British hip hop fans and DJs was good and demand grew for an album. The group released Patriot Games, notable for the track "Mind of a Razor," which was subsequently released as a remixed single featuring guitar by Shane Embury of the British extreme metal band, Napalm Death. A 10" vinyl single was also released featuring the bonus track 'Lockdown ' which was unavailable anywhere else. Patriot Games reached number 60 in the UK Albums Chart in June 1993.
More singles followed, including "Colour Code" which featured a second 12" & CD single with remixes by Depth Charge - repaying the favour of Alkaline rapping for them on the "Depth Charge vs Silver Fox" single.
In 1994, instead of a second studio album, their label Vinyl Solution released a compilation of the group's singles. This marked the end of Gunshot's association with Vinyl Solution, and the group went underground. They communicated with their fans via their now defunct website, whilst they worked on getting a new recording contract.
A new single "Ghetto Heartbeat" and album – Twilight's Last Gleaming appeared in 1997 on the 'Words Of Warning' label, and was followed in 2000 by their next album, International Rescue. The track "The English Patient" included guest spots from The Icepick, Blade, MC Mell'O' and Chester P. The album was billed as Gunshot's final before it was released. In 2017, Naked Ape Records and Underground United reissued the album on double vinyl.
From 2001 to 2003 Alkaline guested on tracks by Junior Disprol and Aspects, while Mercury featured on a track from Snuff The Ablist.
In 2018, after an 18 year hiatus, Gunshot returned with their new single "Sulphur".
Two years later, in February 2020, another single "Burn Cycle" was released.
In early 2023, rapper Alkaline passed away. Gunshot released a tribute song "Alkaline" in May 2024.
In October 2024 Gunshot released their 4th album in 24-years entitled "Black Lebanon Volume 1" - on Ventilate Records & Underground United. The 10-track album is made up of several new songs and includes remixes and demos of previously released tracks. The download version includes 4 bonus tracks.

Discography

Singles

  • "Battle Creek Brawl"
  • "Crime Story" / "No Sell Out"
  • "Clear From Present Danger" / "Interception Squad"
  • "Killing Season" / "Nobody Move!"
  • "Children of a Dying Breed"
  • "Mind of a Razor"
  • "Colour Code" / "Gunshots History"
  • "Colour Code Remixes"
  • "Ghetto Heartbeat"
  • "Sulphur" -
  • "Sulphur Remix" -
  • "Burn Cycle" -
  • "Alkaline" -

Albums

Compilation Patriot Games The Singles Phantasmagoria Twilights Last Gleaming International Rescue International Rescue
  • ''Black Lebanon Volume 1''

Compilations

Construct Destruct on Underground United Vol. 1 Bullet Entering Chest on Underground United Vol. 2 Average New Yorker on Underground United Vol. 3

Remixes

Guest appearances

  • Depth Charge – "Depth Charge vs Silver Fox"
  • B.R.O.T.H.E.R. Congress – "Ghettogedden"
  • Killa Instinct – "No More Need For Whispering " ft. Gunshot and Tones Of Twice
  • DJ White Child Rix – scratching on Chumbawamba's album WYSIWYG
  • Aspects – "Chase The Devil" ft MC Alkaline Mystery Theatre? LP
  • DJ Snuff - "Hip Hop Blues" ft MC Mercury

Music videos