Llwybr Llaethog Explained

Llwybr Llaethog
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales
Genre:Hip hop, Dub
Years Active:1985–present
Label:Anhrefn Records, Ankst
Current Members:Kevs Ford
John Griffiths

Llwybr Llaethog (Welsh for Milky Way, although the Milky Way has several names in Welsh folklore) are an experimental Welsh language band that effectively mix such varied musical genres as rap, dub, reggae, hip hop, and punk in their music.

Background

Founded in London in 1985 by John Griffiths and Kevs Ford, the two teens had spent the 1970s growing up in Blaenau Ffestiniog's decaying industrial surroundings. The two were heavily influenced by reggae and the punk scenes that were sweeping the UK. After several years touring northern Europe with punk/ska band The Managing Directors, the turning point came in 1984 when John Griffiths was on vacation in New York City and was impressed by a group of youths he saw at the Roxy nightclub breakdancing, and the sounds of DJ Red Alert.[1] [2] [3]

After returning to Wales, Griffiths fixed on the idea of marrying hip hop and left wing politics with the Welsh language. Llwybr Llaethog's debut release was an EP for the Welsh record label Anhrefn Records in 1986, titled Dull Di Drais, which combined Llwybr Llaethog's leftist political messages with what would become the band's trademark sound of turntable scratching, audio sampling, hip-hop, and cut-and-paste production. The band were also heavily promoted by English radio DJ John Peel.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Notes and References

  1. News: Llwybr Llaethog biography. 18 November 2008. BBC Wales. 17 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Llwybr Llaethog: The Welsh Wubba Dubbers. 17 October 2013. welshnot. 17 March 2024.
  3. Web site: Llwybr Llaethog Biography. Craig. Harris. 2022. Allmusic. 17 March 2024.