The co-writer of Technotronic’s multi-platinum selling album Pump Up the Jam is to be honoured at this year’s Welsh Music Prize.

Eric Martin, who performed under the names MC Eric and Me One, will receive the Welsh Music Inspiration award at next month’s ceremony.

He will share the award with Jason Farrell, who worked as a producer and DJ under the name DJ Jaffa.

Both men are widely credited with pioneering the hip-hop scene in Wales.

Martin worked with Belgian electronic music project Technotronic on both the single and album called Pump Up the Jam.

The song went to number two on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Hot 100, while album also reached number two in the UK.

Martin said: “I feel blessed to have been part of a young, vibrant, hip-hop scene in Wales.

“To be seen as a point from which these current, musical breadcrumbs emanate is an honour.”

Farrell said: “This is such an honour, I would never have thought back in the ’80s that I’d still be as passionate as I am about DJing, hip-hop and black music in general, especially music coming out of Wales.”

Previous winners of the Welsh Music Inspiration Award have included Dafydd Iwan.

The awards will take place on 8 October at the Wales Millennium Centre and will be hosted by Radio 1 DJ Sian Eleri.