Who was Malcolm McLaren and the Supreme Team?

**Super D** · October 23rd, 2005, 08:25 PM

Just wondering the significant's of Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team___ I was listening to "Hobo Scratch" by Malcolm McLaren and realized I never really knew what contributions he/they had in relationship with Hip-Hop or the music/entertainment industry? (excuse my ignorance) :roll:

Also, are they still around?

I could google it, but I would rather have a personal un-bias Disco Forum answer.

super d(motordetroit)

**QUINNY** · October 24th, 2005, 04:22 AM

Malcolm McLaren was the manager of the Sex Pistols and a music biz chancer. He happened upon break dancing whilst in New York and saw his next chance of making a few bucks. That's my rather cynical view.

Greg Wilson (who mostly visits these forums when he has something of his own to plug :lol: ) has (if I'm not mistaken) credited McLaren + the record Buffalo Girls as being one of the records that finally broke (gulp) electro and breakdance to the great unsuspecting British public. I can see where he's coming from, but wouldn't quite go so far.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/597_0_2_0_C/

**soulsta** · October 24th, 2005, 11:32 AM

wow I just learned something too--I agree he had a solid thing happening back in the days when he started adding rappers like the world famous supreme team show to his thing

hey dj, buffalo gals hobo scratch were a few of the songs that not only impacted rap music but music that you could breakdance to and even poplock or get down with a dance partner. but I think he decided to do a rap lp which is probably why he used the boombox on his lp cover

**SandraDee** · October 26th, 2005, 06:01 AM

Malcolm Mclaren jumped on any bandwagon that would earn him a few bucks, & he'd probably be the first to acknowledge that fact! (remember he came up with the title of the 'Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle for the Sex Pistols) In the late 80s he tried his hand at house music & the result was great; listen to 'Deep In Vogue' & hear the first track to mention vogueing, long before Madonna's contribution to the dance craze. He even attempted jazz with his 'Paris' LP!

**soulsta** · October 26th, 2005, 09:15 AM

wow I just learned something.

I remember this song called jazz it up by kool chip that I thought had his input too. shoot you are right a lot of groups did that sort of thing. those that weren't r&b musicians

**buckaroo** · October 26th, 2005, 01:04 PM

The World Famous Supreme Team, like a lot of people who became involved with McClaren, certainly don't like him. They had quite a successful Radio show in the US before Mr. M 'discovered' :roll: them, inwhich they used innovative edits on tape and live scratching whilst on air. Their jingles were darn good too, and people here with relatives in the US were lucky enough to have them send tapes over. So it's fairly safe to assume that the electro thing was already bubbling under before McClaren's Arfur Daley-style input. I have their '83 LP which is still good to listen to, and includes the sublime and much sampled "Hey DJ". Back then, people tried to come up with their own beats, and didn't just make an album full of samples.

**Davicillo** · October 26th, 2005, 04:15 PM

'Buffalo Gals' broke the art of scratching to an unsuspecting majority of the UK record buying public. All the people who were into dance/soul knew from 'Adventures' Grandmaster Flash etc.
'Madame Butterfly' was a fantastic single and his 1989 album
'Waltz Darling' was excellent, again pouncing on another club
phenomenon (voguing 'deep in vogue') a year before Maddi went there!

**Davicillo** · October 26th, 2005, 04:17 PM

The trill at the beginning of 'Buffalo Gals' has been sampled by so many people including Sir Todd Terry!!!

**marmite7** · October 27th, 2005, 04:18 AM

Don't forget his contribution to the World Skipping Championships!! ;)

Double Dutch - great tune, was hailed (by Malc) as the new craze sweeping The States, as it featured lithe young lass's twirling ropes whilst performing impressive footwork!

Never quite caught on or became the Olympic sport Malc had hoped!!! :lol:

**buckaroo** · October 27th, 2005, 12:08 PM

Originally Written by Davicillo

'Buffalo Gals' broke the art of scratching to an unsuspecting majority of the UK record buying public. All the people who were into dance/soul knew from 'Adventures' Grandmaster Flash etc...

He may well have broken it to the masses, but if you were into Rap allready back in '83/'84, you would've been listening to it on Pirate stations like LWR's Tim Westwood show, or going to Covent Garden and spinning on your head with the other B-Boys :lol: :lol: :lol: and Gals.

Here's my Nike Windrunner hoodie, circa 1985...Fresh! :lol: :lol: No, it don't fit me anymore. :roll:

**soulsta** · October 27th, 2005, 01:49 PM

either buffalo gals or she's looking like a hobo from mr malcolm
was the first time I had ever heard a song on the lp or twelve inch where they dubbed the song but you could barely hear the lyrics peep through. that is the version that got much airplay here in houston texas and it was because of that style.

**SandraDee** · October 28th, 2005, 06:23 AM

He may be unpopular but you've got to credit the guy with bringing underground stuff to the masses. (or is that a good thing? Not too sure actually! :lol: :-? )

**kaliffen** · November 6th, 2005, 02:54 PM

Buffalo gals was a very important track. Music wise it was and still is "ok" - but the video for Buffalo gals was amazing and inspired alot of people to get into the breakdance movement.

The breakers was into the Rock steady moves and the body poppers/electric boogie people were into Frosty freezes moonwalk and wall.

I loved the album because of the small bits and pieces from the world famous radio show - that gave some much needed real hip hop atmosphere in copenhagen....(this was before the wildstyle movie and soundtrack came out)

**Disco Funk** · November 7th, 2005, 12:19 AM

I've never seen the video for Buffalo Gals. Has it been release on any DVD compilation?

Disco Funk

**Greg Wilson** · November 15th, 2005, 04:23 PM

Originally Written by QUINNY

Greg Wilson (who mostly visits these forums when he has something of his own to plug :lol: ) has (if I'm not mistaken) credited McLaren + the record Buffalo Girls as being one of the records that finally broke (gulp) electro and breakdance to the great unsuspecting British public. I can see where he's coming from, but wouldn't quite go so far. http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/597_0_2_0_C/

Seeing you have all the answers Quinny, it's very rare that I feel the need to get involved

Anyhow, the piece you mention is called 'Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Bronx'. You can read it here:

http://www.electrofunkroots.co.uk/buffalo_gals.htm

I met the World's Famous Supreme Team in 1983, when the came to the UK on the back of the success of 'Buffalo Gals'. They came to one of my club nights at a venue called The Exit in Manchester and got behind the decks for half an hour.

I remember gaining a valuable insight into NYC Hip Hop culture from talking to them. At the time we had very little information about the emerging Hip Hop culture here in the UK - this is why 'Buffalo Gals' (and particularly the video) was such a major event (especially with the black kids - who were at the cutting-edge of things).

Here's the World's Famous Discog page:

http://www.discogs.com/artist/World's+Famous+Supreme+Team

They also feature in McLaren's 'Duck Rock' video - which is well worth checking out.