Hatcha
DJ Hatcha, born Terry Leonard in Croydon, South London, became the head buyer at the Big Apple record shop, a role that placed him at the center of the dark garage scene forming within 2-step at the turn of the millennium. His sets at the FWD>> club night, where he held a residency, and on pirate station Rinse FM were instrumental in shaping dubstep's early sound, later described by Wikipedia as seminal to the genre's formation. He mentored Big Apple regulars Oliver Jones and Adegbenga Adejumo, known as Skream and Benga, introducing Skream to dark garage and bringing their dubplates into his club sets before either had a formal release out.
Hatcha also received exclusive dubs from shop regulars Mala and Coki, the duo behind Digital Mystikz, and from producer Loefah, cementing the shop's role as a hub for the emerging scene. He later brought dubstep to a broader audience through a regular show on mainstream station Kiss FM. His discography includes "Dub Express" and the Special EP with Benny Ill on Tempa, "10 Tons Heavy" with Benga on Planet Mu, and mix compilations Dubstep Allstars Vol.
1 and, with Youngsta, Vol. 4. Working alongside Arthur Smith, later of Magnetic Man, and John Kennedy at the shop, Hatcha's residencies and radio work remain foundational reference points in dubstep history.