Katch 22 was an underground Hip Hop crew from London. As well as being a self contained unit, they worked as a collective with several new bands in the South London neighbouhoods of Stockwell (Finn’s area), Brixton (DJ Marga’s area), Leytonstone (DJ Brainiac’s area) and were part of the collective of MC’s and DJ’s called the HQ Squad (affiliated with hip hop group: Hijack). The HQ Squad released a posse track entitled: Burial Proceedings In The Course of Three Knights (featuring Huntkillbury Finn, Shaka Shazam and Icepick). This was released through Hijacks former label: Music Of life and was an underground success. The 3 Knights supported Hijack in many UK shows, including being a opening Act for US artist Ice-T. Despite offers from many major labels, Katch 22 were determined to remain true to their hardcore roots and felt they could not remain coherent with a big label until their own sound was established.
Huntkillbury Finn’s friendship with a Battersea band Rude Boy Business led to Marga producing an EP for the band on London Label Kold Sweat. The label became interested in the Katch 22 production team and later released Katch 22‘s debut EP entitled “Hip Hop Popricy” in 1990.
In the same year, Katch 22 was joined by Nicholas Swaby of Brixton aka DJ Kill-A-Man-Twice to replace DJ Brainiac who had began making a name for himself as Housemusic DJ. The group were offered a 3 album deal by Kold Sweat Records and spent most of 1990 in Marga’s home studio in Kings Avenue, Clapham, developing something fresh and reflective of the groups varied membership. The resulting 1991 debut album Diary Of A Blackman Living In The Land Of The Lost was an instant underground success. The band began touring the UK performing in Workmen’s clubs, Bars, Concert Halls and Hip Hop Jams. In 1992. Ian Young (Cavey the dancer), Ann Gay (vocalist), Ashley Soan (Drummer) and Malika B (the Poet) joined the Katch 22 collective. During the recording of their second album, the band attended a party in Clapham Common, London where an argument between Shaka Shazam of the HQ Squad and another group erupted into a brawl and DJ Marga was stabbed. The next Katch 22 album was delayed for several weeks with the band refusing to work without Marga, who later discharged himself from Hospital to finish their double vinyl recording entitled: Dark Tales From Two Cities (1993). This album was also an underground success but was starting to get the band noticed in the mainstream media. Many concerts including a long European tour ensued. After many concerts, Huntkillbury Finn wanted to expand his creativity to new area’s and was very interested in film. He took a break from professional music, to attend university. He enrolled at The University of East London while the band recorded their final album for Kold Sweat. The following year, their album: NonConformist Rituals (1994) was released featured a musically mature Katch 22 with live instrumentation. However, the band was no longer in tune with their hardcore fanbase and the album received luke warm attention. This, plus Finn’s refusal to tour during term time, led to the group disbanding. Malika B, continued her poetry career, Cavey formed a production company, Kill-A-Man-Twice joined several underground Hip Hop groups and DJ Marga started DJing commercially.
Andrew Ward aka Huntkillbury Finn, graduated from the University of East London in 1996 and spent a great deal of time working between New York and London as a filmmaker, before re-settling in Peckham, London in 1997. He had also worked with several groups during the mid 1990‘s. Working as an MC for JB Rose (Drum N Bass & Soul), later joining a rock collective experimenting with Hip Hop beats and Heavy metal guitars called: Band Substance. The group toured briefly and recorded a mini album entitled: The Basement Tapes. However, they disbanded after an argument over a proposed contract with EMI Records which has never been reconciled. Finn later joined another Nu Metal group, Toy, and after recording a demo album (untitled) he soon began contemplating a solo career.
In 1998, Huntkillbury Finn commissioned producers: Ben Hickmott (son of Tony Hickmott of Kold Sweat), Shur-I-Kan and Insane Macbeth to produce his debut EP entitled: Mummy’s Little Soldier which was released on Son Records in 1999. The EP was well received and gained much underground radio support in the UK.
Whilst working with bands part time, Finn was now a fulltime as a filmmaker for the University Of East London’s New media department making documentaries. Whilst working on a film project for the University of East London in 1999, Finn met composer Tunde Jegede and the two became interested in working together on future projects. Tunde was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to write a new piece and asked Huntkillbury Finn to join the project. Tunde was more interested in Finn’s poetry background and was keen to develop the Huntkillbury Finn as a poet. Spoken Word became Finn’s new challenge and with a new century looming, Huntkillbury Finn changed his name to HKB:FiNN in 1999.
Katch 22 - Diary Of A Blackman Living In The Land Of The Lost (1991)
Katch 22 - Dark Tales From Two Cities (1993)
Katch 22 - Nonconformist Rituals (1994)
Katch 22 - Hip Hop Pocrisy (1990)
Katch 22 - Dark Epoch EP (1992)
Katch 22 - Return To The Fundamentals EP (1992)
Mummy's Little Soldier (EP) (1999) (By Huntkillbury Finn)