The “Britcore” hip hop movement of the late 80s and early 90s was without doubt beholden to Public Enemy in the energy and density of its sampled beats, but there were plenty of distinctive sounds and voices within that. Prime among them was East London’s Gunshot — originally a sprawling crew but by the time they reached their debut album proper in ’93 honed down to a trio of Mercury, Alkaline and White Child Rix. Their vocal delivery easily matched the kinetic power of the rhythms, taking heavy influence from the rapid fire “fast chat” style of British reggae soundsystem deejays in the 80s but enunciating pure London English — and their storytelling and political belligerence was brilliantly woven into a proper album structure. The music was innovative too: the roaring guitars of “Mind of a Razor” here led to a remix by grindcore / thrash legends Napalm Death — and the musical power here would echo down not just through British rap, but through the likes of The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers.