She Rockers

Comprising schoolmates Donna McConnell and Antonia Jolly, who formerly worked with Alison Clarkson (later Betty Boo) before that artist broke solo. Originally intending to become a news journalist and tennis pro respectively, their discovery of rap, particularly the work of Run DMC, LL Cool J and other B-boys, turned them onto the hip-hop bug. They decided to form the band with Clarkson after seeing Salt-N-Pepa play live at London’s Astoria venue. They took their name from an extension of McConnell’s stage name (She-Rock), and saw their debut recording, ‘First Impressions’, housed on the compilation Known To Be Down. Unlikely though they viewed it to be at the time, the track came to the attention of Chuck D. The result was a collaboration with Professor Griff called ‘Give It A Rest’, which also featured DJ Streets Ahead. However, on returning to England from the USA, Clarkson went solo leaving her former partners as a duo. Two singles, ‘Jam It Jam’ and ‘Do Dat Dance’, marked out their new territory - cultured hip-house. The latter was produced by Technotronic. Their roots in pop, dance and rap were given equal billing on the attendant album, which brought a blend of mellow, often humorous raps, with an undertow of house music and the disco strains of Chic. There were conscious raps among allusions to their love life, ‘How Sweet It Is’ pointing out how violence at hip-hop shows was overexposed compared to much greater outbreaks elsewhere. The set was neutered, they claimed, by pressure from their record company. They had wanted it to be a hardcore hip-hop set. A public disclaimer about the album being only half good, and not having had any say on the track listing, did not help its sales profile.