Releases by Mixer / D.J.
STREETS AHEAD
| Year | Release Title | Label | Mix Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Jungle Fever | Champion | JUNGLE FEVER Scratch Fever | 00:06:14 |
| 1987 | Mr. Manic & Sister Cool | Polydor | MR. MANIC & SISTER COOL Manic Cuts | 00:05:55 |
| 1987 | Ultimate Trax Volume 3 | Champion | BATTLE OF THE D.J.'S | 00:10:56 |
| 1988 | James Brown - Payback | Urban | PAYBACK The Final Mixdown | 00:05:53 |
| 1990 | Betty Boo - Boo Megamix | Rhythm King | BOO MEGAMIX | 00:07:16 |
| 1990 | Can U Feel It: The Champion Legend | K-Tel | SEDUCTIVE GROOVES | 00:26:31 |
| 1990 | Can U Feel It: The Champion Legend | K-Tel | WAREHOUSE MIXES | 00:24:33 |
| 1999 | Scratch Masters 3 | Strictly Bizness | PAYBACK The Final Mixdown | 00:05:45 |
| 2002 | The Ultimate Lessons 2 | Starchild | PAYBACK The Final Mixdown | 00:05:53 |
Information:
Info from James Hamilton's column in Record Mirror:
DJ Streets Ahead (Shem McCauley), whose hard remix of Was (Not Was) has filled more floors than Jeff Young's James Bond mix, is in fact the nicely-spoken Shem McCauley from downtown Shepherd's Bush in West London, currently reading English at the University of Sussex! If you think that's blown his street cred, check this. Helped at the start by Tim Westwood, he D.J.'d behind Hardrock and Faze One before right now backing The She Rockers (just produced by Griff from the Public Enemy crew), his remixes prior to 'Spy In The House Of Love' including Throwdown 'Bust The Champ', Kinkina 'Jungle Fever' and Shakatak 'Manic Cuts'. Def enuf?
Below is a summarised biography created using Google Gemini in April 2026...
Streets Ahead (real name Shem McCauley) represents the crucial bridge between the "cut and paste" hip-hop scratch culture of the 1980s and the sophisticated electronic production of the 1990s. He was one of the first DJs in the United Kingdom to master the American "scratch and cut" techniques that defined early hip-hop. In the mid-1980s, when mixing and scratching were still largely mysterious to British audiences, he became a standard-bearer for the art form.
Career Highlights
The Pirate Radio Era: He gained massive respect as the DJ for Tim Westwood on the influential London pirate station LWR (London Weekend Radio). His technical skill on the decks during these broadcasts helped educate a generation of UK listeners on what a DJ could actually do with a record.
The She Rockers: He served as the DJ for the pioneering all-female UK hip-hop group The She Rockers (which included a young Betty Boo). His "Streets Ahead" scratches were a signature element of their early sound.
Remix Culture: He was an early innovator in the transition from DJ to producer/remixer. One of his most notable early works was his "Streetsahead Mix" of Was (Not Was)’s “Spy in the House of Love” (1987), which showcased how DJ sensibilities could be applied to pop and dance records.
Evolution into "Slacker": In the 1990s, McCauley successfully reinvented himself under the moniker Slacker. He became a titan of the progressive house scene, releasing acclaimed tracks like “Scared” and “Your Face,” and remixing world-class acts like The Prodigy (“Smack My Bitch Up”) and Blur.