The Jump Off - their Story

The Jump Off

Four years ago today brothers Ara and Harold Anthony, adapted the format of their fledgling live urban music night to incorporate ‘battles’ between rappers (think Eminem’s 8Mile) with the winner defending their title the following week. It transformed The Jump Off from just another grassroots urban music night into the UK’s No.1 platform for up and coming hip-hop talent.

‘We realised we had something unique in the battle element so we introduced B-boy, street dance, singer and DJ battles,’ explains Ara, at the Jump Off HQ in Old Street. ‘Finding the Mean Fiddler venue gave us a real sporting arena: I was watching football and thought, ‘This doesn’t happen on a stage - why don’t we put on our battles in a sporting environment with the audience all around?’ The energy that created really took us up.’

The roll call of rappers, producers and dancers that has graduated from The Jump Off include reigning MC champion Professor Green (20 weeks) who is now signed to Mike Skinner’s The Beats label, Mr Hudson (winner of a producer contest) passed a demo to Sway who gave it to DJ Semtex, resulting in a deal with Universal. Dancer Kymberlee Jay went on to star in Nike’s Tell Me I’m Not An Athlete ad campaign and has krumped in two of Madonna’s videos, and Mukhter from dance crew K.I. is currently in Las Vegas with Cirque Du Soliel.

The Jump Off’s a welcoming environment that encourages networking and constructive feedback from judges that have included Wu Tang’s Inspectah Deck, Guru (Gang Starr), Sway and Melle Mel. It can also generate a viral buzz that major label budgets couldn’t buy: Geordie rapper Stig embarrassing ex-So Solid rapper and actor Asher D at the Jump Off has been viewed over 100, 000 times on Youtube.

Ara and Harold’s early adoption of Internet video broadcasting (www.jumpoff.tv has been streaming battles since March 2004) is why The Jump Off is now a formidable hip-hop entertainment/sports brand that syndicates to Channel U and H20 (Russell Simmons’ urban TV channel in America). Jump Off content will also be available on Joost (the forthcoming Internet TV download service from the makers of Skype and Kazaa).

But it’s in the flesh that you truly appreciate the art, craft and bravery of a rap battle: it’s a modern day gladiatorial contest with a frenzied audience baying for sharp, witty put downs (or ‘punch lines’). Tonight’s fourth birthday party features MC Sam K, B-boy duo Mouse and Bugz, and street dance collective Funky Crew defending their respective crowns. Body popping, pillow fighting and booty shaking battles offer light relief, with Manny Norte (Kiss) DJing.

‘All we ever wanted to do was make hip-hop fun and give people something positive to look forward to and get involved in,’ concludes Ara.

Tonight, The Jump Off, Meanfiddler, Charing Cross Road WC2E, 8pm to late, £8 adv. Tel: 0870 060 3777. Tube: Tottenham Court Road


A version of this appeared in London Metro newspaper on August 6th

Update: After going to the Jump Off on Monday, I have to say it's one of the most LIVE hip hop events I've EVER been to. B-boy battles were heavy, crew dances were funny - a combination of theatre, dance and comedy, the pillow fighting was vicious, the popping battle was jokes but the MC battle was arguably the weakest element. come on MCs there's more to this than getting angry, screaming and mum/pussy/gay jokes. Ridiculous. I will be regularly attending the Jump Off from here on in.