Stephen Charles Austin (20.09.1966 - 05.07.1998) - also known as Stevie Hyper D
Who was Stevie Hyper D?
Stephen Charles Austin was born in St Stephens Hospital on the 20th September 1966. For most of his life, he lived at 134 Stephendale Road, in Fulham, South West London, SW6 with his mother Aida. He was the third of 3 children, sisters - Anita and Zeila and elder brother Stan and was described as a happy and boisterous child. His niece Kizzy, lives in New York and is my close friend. His nephew, Darrell Austin is an Ambassador of Nutritious Minds Trust Charity and founder of the Stevie Hyper D website and foundation.
Stephen first showed interest in writing lyrics and rapping around the age of 12 years. He was a huge fan of US Hip Hop and created his own sound system with his friends in West London. It was commonplace to hear Stephen chatting when approaching the family home. Stephen eventually entered the London (underground) music scene in the late 1980's. He almost instantly stood out from his contemporaries adopting a unique and versatile lyrical flow. However, entering the homegrown Jungle music scene was not an easy-feat, it took persistence, commitment and hard work. It was not well-known, but Steve had struggled educationally, he had a stutter and a condition which impacted his learning which we now recognise as dyslexia. Steve progressed to become one of the U.K.’s biggest drum and bass artists in spite of being in a remedial school for “delinquent” children. In fact, his stutter couldn’t be recognized at all when he was on the mic. There was no doubt that he possessed this unique talent for rhyme and musical versatility which led him to 2 nominations for best MC and then being signed by the industry giant – Island Records.
His mother, Aida was incredibly proud of Stephen and they were especially close. She would say "Stephen was like the tornado, El Nino crossing South America, he came, he saw, and he conquered".
I first met Stevie at the Wax Club and a night called Telepathy in 1994. There was no doubt looking back on my own life that music had become both an escape and sanctuary from arguably turbulent teenage years. I, like thousands of others, felt part of a collective. A movement of ravers in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s – made up of young people from diverse backgrounds (arguably, many of whom were considered to be "the rejects, the abandoned kids, the dysfunctional ones, the rebels, the creatives") – and found a way of re-energising some of that perceived dysfunction through a genre of underground music which became almost tribal. Hence the world, Jungle - it represented an eclectic fusion of reggae dub-beats, which were hip hop influenced with a penetrative bass originating from dancehall and Jamaican sound systems which had arguably infiltrated UK music and dance scenes via the likes of David Rodigan and others. Unbeknown back then, music has the ability to activate the pleasure/reward circuitry of the brain, flooding our bodies with powerful, feel-good hormones. These neurotransmitters included our bodies natural antidepressants – endorphins, the bonding hormone oxytocin, the pleasure hormone - dopamine and, of course that stable serotonin needed for wellbeing and contentment. Music and movement of course are intwined, and both enable the healing process (emotion is "energy in motion"). Now, of course, we have the peer-reviewed, published science confirming the calming and healing properties of music but back then, we just knew intuitively, that raving (music and movement) felt great!
Stevie's musical talent was arguably exceptional. There was no doubt that he stood out with an intensity and creative flow which seemed magical, captivating audiences worldwide. Stevie was a sensitive, modest and humble person. He passed away prematurely (and unexpectedly) at just 32 years of age. He was a loyal friend and support and his presence and friendship is missed to this day.
Go back in time here and listen to Stevie Hyper D and Andy C, Telepathy, circa 1994
Who was Stevie Hyper D?
Stephen Charles Austin was born in St Stephens Hospital on the 20th September 1966. For most of his life, he lived at 134 Stephendale Road, in Fulham, South West London, SW6 with his mother Aida. He was the third of 3 children, sisters - Anita and Zeila and elder brother Stan and was described as a happy and boisterous child. His niece Kizzy, lives in New York and is my close friend. His nephew, Darrell Austin is an Ambassador of Nutritious Minds Trust Charity and founder of the Stevie Hyper D website and foundation.
Stephen first showed interest in writing lyrics and rapping around the age of 12 years. He was a huge fan of US Hip Hop and created his own sound system with his friends in West London. It was commonplace to hear Stephen chatting when approaching the family home. Stephen eventually entered the London (underground) music scene in the late 1980's. He almost instantly stood out from his contemporaries adopting a unique and versatile lyrical flow. However, entering the homegrown Jungle music scene was not an easy-feat, it took persistence, commitment and hard work. It was not well-known, but Steve had struggled educationally, he had a stutter and a condition which impacted his learning which we now recognise as dyslexia. Steve progressed to become one of the U.K.’s biggest drum and bass artists in spite of being in a remedial school for “delinquent” children. In fact, his stutter couldn’t be recognized at all when he was on the mic. There was no doubt that he possessed this unique talent for rhyme and musical versatility which led him to 2 nominations for best MC and then being signed by the industry giant – Island Records.
His mother, Aida was incredibly proud of Stephen and they were especially close. She would say "Stephen was like the tornado, El Nino crossing South America, he came, he saw, and he conquered".
I first met Stevie at the Wax Club and a night called Telepathy in 1994. There was no doubt looking back on my own life that music had become both an escape and sanctuary from arguably turbulent teenage years. I, like thousands of others, felt part of a collective. A movement of ravers in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s – made up of young people from diverse backgrounds (arguably, many of whom were considered to be "the rejects, the abandoned kids, the dysfunctional ones, the rebels, the creatives") – and found a way of re-energising some of that perceived dysfunction through a genre of underground music which became almost tribal. Hence the world, Jungle - it represented an eclectic fusion of reggae dub-beats, which were hip hop influenced with a penetrative bass originating from dancehall and Jamaican sound systems which had arguably infiltrated UK music and dance scenes via the likes of David Rodigan and others. Unbeknown back then, music has the ability to activate the pleasure/reward circuitry of the brain, flooding our bodies with powerful, feel-good hormones. These neurotransmitters included our bodies natural antidepressants – endorphins, the bonding hormone oxytocin, the pleasure hormone - dopamine and, of course that stable serotonin needed for wellbeing and contentment. Music and movement of course are intwined, and both enable the healing process (emotion is "energy in motion"). Now, of course, we have the peer-reviewed, published science confirming the calming and healing properties of music but back then, we just knew intuitively, that raving (music and movement) felt great!
Stevie's musical talent was arguably exceptional. There was no doubt that he stood out with an intensity and creative flow which seemed magical, captivating audiences worldwide. Stevie was a sensitive, modest and humble person. He passed away prematurely (and unexpectedly) at just 32 years of age. He was a loyal friend and support and his presence and friendship is missed to this day.
Go back in time here and listen to Stevie Hyper D and Andy C, Telepathy, circa 1994
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