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It's the first full week of 2009 and we kick off with a HUGE record as this week's Jam Hot record of the week. Potentially my favourite dubstep record EVER - Rusko's 'Cockney Thug'.

23 year old Christopher Mercer aka Rusko is from Leeds. After graduating from Leeds university with a degree in musical performance, he was introduced to dubstep through the legendary Leeds dubstep night SUB DUB and a debut appearance from the "Digital Mystikz" - Mala & Coki. Having spent the previous 10 years making future dub alongside Leeds very own Iration Steppas, Rusko connected with the dubstep sound and moved down to London to further advance his musical opportunities with Sub Soldiers label mate Caspa. His remixes for Adele's 'Cold Shoulder' and Leon Jean Marie's 'Bring It On' were on heavy rotation on my show last year as was 'Cockney Thug'.

The record was originally released on the Babylon EP in 2007 and became a dubstep anthem so big, it's being re-released as a single in Feb/March. It samples a line from the Armando Ianucci show spoken by the actor Alan Ford (famous for the character Brick Top in Guy Richie's film Snatch). Rusko will be passing by the 1Xtra Towers tomorrow just after 8.30pm and will be dropping a very sick guest mix and we'll find out what makes him tick! In the meanwhile, click on Rusko's picture to check out his myspace.