Colossus

It all started after Charlie Tate graduated from the London School of Furniture. Approached by the Paris based Big Cheese Records to form a funk band called Big Cheese All Stars was born! 2 singles, an album and several extensive stints of touring and supporting the likes of Don Blackman, Roy Ayers, Gil Scott-Heron, Fred Wesley and James Brown put an end to a career in bespoke cabinet making. While still with the All Stars, an opportunity to play bass in Neneh Cherry’s band arose and the best part of a year was spent on the road touring her "Woman" album.

Then the idea of forming a record company began to take shape. Second Skin Records, and what a productive lot they turned out to be! Roughly 30 singles and 12 albums, not a bad output from a hybrid label offering all manner of styles from drum and bass, beats, ambient bizniss, electronica and breaks. The varied style of the label appealed to San Francisco’s Om Records. Several licenses, then an album and a relationship with Om had been cemented.

Colossus – Tate’s Oakland based hip hop collective featuring Bay Area MC’s: Capitol A, Azeem, Regi B & Delphi along with London’s own Hilton Smythe (aka Roots Manuva) all joined in on the fun. The results, the album “West Oakland”on Om Records – an urban jazz masterpiece.


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