Phi-Life Cypher, Taskforce and MC Dynamite and the DJs Tony Vegas and Primecuts from the Scratch Perverts. The Independent said the album provided "evidence of the rude health of the UK's hip-hop scene". A BBC review said that Skitz "delivered a consolidation of talent and attitudes of a musical movement that has been both struggling and hugely underrated for too long" and that it was "perhaps the best illustration of the state of home grown hip-hop today". The beats on the album were described as "a distinctive blend of breakbeat funk, jungle and reggae". Dotmusic.com said that Taskforce's track "The Junkyard" did for Highbury Estate, what Mobb Deep and Nas did for Queensbridge. Roots Manuva's "Inner City Folk" was based around a chorus sung by Valerie Ettiene from the acid jazz group Galliano. In 2004, Stylus Magazine said that Phi-Life Cypher were "the stand out guest act" on the album. In June 2001, The Face ran a feature, including Skitz, which stated that there was a renaissance in British Hip Hop. In July 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on how after 15 years of British rappers mimicking their American counterparts, they had recently created their own style. Skitz was introduced in the article as a "prominent British hip-hop DJ" and in it he discussed why British Hip Hop had not been successful before and how it was different from American Hip Hop. Later that year, Countryman was named the best UK Hip Hop album at the UK Hip Hop awards and Estelle was awarded best female Hip Hop artist for her performance on the album. This was at a time that there was an "astonishing increase in the numbers of great UK rap records being released". Interviewed by The Guardian, Rodney Smith, also known as Roots Manuva, said he considers Countryman to be "one of the greatest hip-hop records of all time". Album discographyCountryman (2001)Badmeaningood Vol.1 (2002)Homegrown Volume 1 (2004)Homegrown Volume 2 (2005).Sticksman'' (2010) References External links DJ Skitz interview at The Situation DJ Skitz interview at UKHH DJ Skitz biography at The Big Chill DJ Skitz interview at Knowledge Living people BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters British hip hop DJs English record producers Year of birth missing (living people)