Kode 9 aka label head Steve Goodman. This article was originally published in THUMP UK.
My relationship with Hyperdub began in 2002 after a chance meeting with Steve Goodman (aka Kode9), the label's founder and at times reluctant visionary. One of my university tutors Jessica Edwards (Ms. Haptic, who features on the' Curious' 12" and worked with Kode9 on their reimagining ofLa Jetée) introduced us in the spring of 2002, as I was finishing my studies at the University of East London. I was writing my final thesis on music, and Jess suggested I speak to Steve. Over the years we struck up a friendship, and Steve became an accidental mentor of sorts. He showed me how to use software to make beats, introduced me to dubstep before it had a name - "death garage" remains my favourite of those bandied around at the time - invited me to FWD>> when it was in its infancy, and even gave me one my first writing gigs for Hyperdub when it was still just an online magazine.A year or so after we first met the magazine became a label, and so I naturally developed a personal relationship with it: with the music it has released and championed, but also the people behind it. Over more than a decade my relationship with Hyperdub has evolved and matured. Like all good relationships there have been ups and downs, and sometimes we don't speak much, but of all the labels I've been involved with in my adult life, as a fan and a professional, Hyperdub remains one I feel closest to.As the label turns 10 this year, I wanted to pay my respects and show my appreciation. What follows is a selection of releases that have soundtracked my relationship with the label, including relevant stories and other musings. This selection also omits a four year chunk of Hyperdub's catalogue not out of intent, but solely out of space and time constraints.Kode9 + Daddi Gee - 'Sine Of The Dub' (HYP001, 2003)
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