MC Duke

Kashif Adham (born Anthony Hilaire, 1966 - 21 April 2024), better known by the stage name of MC Duke was a British rapper from the East End of London, who recorded with DJ Leader 1. He was one of the pioneers of the early British hardcore sound and later went on to record as IC3.
Duke began his career at a DMC World Championships after show party, where the winner of the MC battle competition got on stage and boasted that he would beat any rapper who challenged him. Duke climbed on stage to take the challenge, and emerged victorious. The battle was witnessed by Derek Bowland, who was acting as an A&R man for Music of Life records. He quickly arranged a meeting between Duke and Simon Harris, the head of the record label, where instead of bringing a demo tape, Duke rapped live in Harris' office. Harris agreed to sign him.
He debuted with the track "Jus-Dis" on the compilation album Hard as Hell (Music of Life, 1987) - an album which also included Overlord X's first track before he was later signed by Mango Records: in later years, Duke and X would develop a grudge that led to both recording records to belittle the other. In 1988, Duke was support to Salt-N-Pepa on their UK tour.
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==Links to Peel==
Peel had MC Duke do a session for his show in September 1987, which was around the time, the rapper released the track, 'Jus-Dis', on the compilation album, 'Hard As Hell! Rap's Next Generation'. 
On his 03 November 1987 show, Peel mentioned that when he first broadcast MC Duke's session, he forgot to mention that the artist was in prison and revealed he will be released tomorrow. 
After Peel's death in 2004, it was later found out that he had a copy of the rapper's album, 'Organised Rhyme', in his Record Collection: M. 
==Sessions==
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1. Recorded: 1987-09-20. First Broadcast: 28 September 1987. Repeated: 13 October 1987, 03 November 1987, 23 December 1987
*The Raw / Funky For You / Free
==Other Shows Played==
;1988
*12 April 1988: Free (12" - I Don't Care Anymore) Music Of Life
*27 April 1988: Free (12" - I Don't Care Anymore / Free) Music Of Life
;1989
*22 February 1989: I'm Riffin' (English Rasta) (12") Music Of Life
*28 February 1989 (Radio Bremen): I'm Riffin' (English Rasta) (12") Music Of Life (Peel mistakenly thinks this is from Overlord X)
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists