Did you know that Jungle music’s greatest ever MC is buried in Mortlake? 

A month or so ago, I attended a screening of music documentary Hyper: The Stevie Hyper D Story at the Odeon in Kingston.

Most of this blog’s readership will probably be scratching their heads and asking who or what Stevie Hyper D is; the creator of EastSheenMatters certainly was when I mentioned him. Unless you went raving in the 90s or, like me, got into jungle and drum and bass music around the millenium, you’ll likely never have heard of Stevie Hyper D, aka Stephen Austin. 

Born to a Gibraltarian mother and Barbadian father, Stevie broke into the underground dance music scene as an MC (master of ceremonies or mic controller) in the late 80s. 

With lyrics drawing on inspiration from an eclectic range of sources, trailblazing double-time delivery and infectious enthusiasm for the craft, he went on to revolutionise the UK rap game in the 1990s. As a champion of peace, love and unity with an unmatched lyrical flow, he inspired those around him and countless budding lyricists such as myself. 

Some idolise Lennon or McCartney, others Springsteen, Jagger, Hendrix or Marley, but for me, it’s always been Stevie. As a 16-year-old, cassettes with him on were like gold dust. Twenty five years on, I regularly listen to recordings of the raves he performed at via the magic of YouTube and SoundCloud.

But sadly, I never got to see him perform in the flesh. Stevie died following a heart attack shortly after an event in 1998. He was just 31. 

Hyper: The Stevie Hyper D Story – written and directed by his nephew Darrell Austin – charts his rise from bedroom MC at his family home in Fulham to the preeminent figure in a burgeoning industry. It’s a fascinating insight into an immensely talented and complex man and a moving account of premature loss. The Guardian awarded it a four-star review, electronic and dance music magazine Mixmag covered it very favourably, and I consider it a must-watch for those interested in a seminal chapter of UK underground music history. 

As one of his biggest fans, I knew a lot about Stevie’s life before watching the film, including the fact that he was a die-hard south west Londoner. But one nugget of information that had somehow eluded me was that he’s buried in Mortlake Cemetery.  It’s a place I’m only too familiar with having been there to say goodbye to loved ones over the years. Knowing that he’s there has got me reconsidering having my ashes scattered in Richmond Park when my time is up.

Hopefully that’s some way off yet, and hopefully many more people get to watch Hyper: The Stevie Hyper D Story in the meantime. Its limited cinematic release means there are no more showings in London this year and the only future listing I’ve found is at Komedia in Brighton on Thursday, 15 January. 

Fingers crossed it gets picked up by a streaming platform at some point in 2025; more people should have the opportunity to learn about one of south west London’s most legendary – and unrecognised – musical exports.

If you’re interested, you can watch the official trailer to Hyper: The Stevie Hyper D Story here. 

Guest Post by Andy White