Known internationally for the depth of their dubplate box, their innovative way to approach reggae soundclashes and dancehall shows, the Italian dubplate masters better known as Heavy Hammer Sound consists of a team of DJs and MCs who travels the globe playing reggae, dancehall, dubstep and hip hop music.
Established in 1999 in a small city near Lecce in Salento, an hot area of south Italy called by many “the Italian Jamaica”, the formula is born as four friends united by the love for reggae dancehall music and Jamaican culture, a sound system, and some crazy dancehall parties in front of the sea until sunlight.
Starting from first dances in Salento area the crew is soon booked in all main Italian cities and outside of Italy as well, touring the whole Europe and UK with also gigs in the USA, Jamaica and Japan, including performances in all main European festivals.
Heavy Hammer is also the resident sound in the biggest Italian summer yard, the world famous Mamanera Beach in S. Foca near Lecce, where the parties on the beach during the summer season are usually attended by 4000-5000 people. They share the turntables with the best names in the reggae business and play reggae music until the morning lights. They just released a documentary about it, available on YouTube at youtube.com/heavyhammersound
SOUNDCLASHES ||
In 2007 the crew wins his first official dubplate clash, killing in Rome the Rome-based Love Massive in front of 1200 people, becoming quickly one of the most dangerous Italian sound killers.
Few years later in 2010, the crew touches down in Stuttgart, Germany, to win the trophy of World War 3 Soundclash, a strictly dubplate war against Deebuzz from Germany, Captain C (ex Mighty Crown selector) from Japan, and Ruffpack from Switzerland.
Few months later they represent Italy in the Riddim Clash 2010, the European n.1 international soundclash that take place in Dusseldorf, Germany, alongside sounds like City Lock from Germany, Guiding Star from France, Rootsman from Canada, Poison Dart from Antigua and Blunt Posse from New York; after winning all rounds Heavy Hammer brings for the first time the Riddim Clash trophy to Italy killing Blunt Posse in the dub fi dub segment, earning the world fame.
During 2011 and 2012 the crew has travelled the world to represent Italy and Europe in sound wars. They started joining in the world temple known as Amazura in New York, the world clash called Sound Fi Dead 2011 alongside sounds like Bass Odissey, Black Cat, Synemax and Tek 9; after a strong performance the crew wins the second round and then end up at the dub fi dub with Bass Odissey placing at the 2nd place in their very first clash in New York. Just a week later they come back to Europe in a one-to-one clash in Wuppertal, Germany, against the Florida’s notorious Poison Dart
Few months Later, in April 2012, they join the Irish&chin World Clash R.E.S.E.T. to face sounds like Killamanjaro, Bass Odissey, Black Blunt, Black Cat, Code Red from Jamaica and Rootsman from Canada. Even if that’s the first time the Hammers touch down the Jamaican island they conquer the third place, giving up only after a well discussed 4th round with Bass Odissey and Killamanjaro.
It’s not over yet; during summertime Heavy Hammer flies to Japan for the Japan Soundclash Tour – the 1st one ever by a European sound – for 10 days of soundclashes and dubplate showcases winning every show, from Osaka to Fukuoka, Yokohama, Okayaman, Hyogo and many more places.
The 2012 ends with the performance at Global Clash 2012 in Brooklyn, New York, where the sound faces off King Addies, Soul Supreme, Risky Dice from Japan, King Klepto from Canada and Madd Squadd from Jamaica.
The 2014 sees Heavy Hammer back in the arena representing Europe in the UK Cup 2014 clash on 19th of April in London, alongside King Addies, Bass Odissey, Fire Links, the 2013 worldclash winner Metromedia from Jamdown, Jahman Nuclear and Little Sample out UK.
After a stunning performance of 5 rounds the Italians killers give up in the dub fi dub after a big discussed Bass Odissey performance, leaving a huge impact in the UK massive and “something to sekkle” between the two sounds in the final, that made the massive talking for weeks after the clash.
The Heavy Hammer crew is composed by seven members: Raffa, Gecky, Gigi, Quasta, Lep, Boris and Charly.
More than a decade in the business, collaborations with the most important reggae artists and worldwide selectors, hundreds of dancehalls and stages, as well as the unique dubplate box are the elements that give to the Heavy Hammer’s shows something exclusive that can’t be easily repeated.
The dubplate masters from Italy are ready anytime to mash up your party!