Boostin' Kev
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:22 pm
This is true TROY shit right here..
Boostin' Kev was a Lo Life (for anyone not familiar, the Lo' Lifes were a crew from Brooklyn NY- a merging of the Polo USA crew (United Shoplifters Association) from Marcus Garvey Village in Brownsville and Ralphie's Kids from St. Johns Place and Utica Ave in Crown Heights. I'm sure most know the history, but there is extensive information on the LL's on the net for those who wish to go deeper. The Source did a 2 or 3 part series in their later years on the crew. Big Vic-Lo, BKA Thirstin Howell III is one of the founding members of the crew, which came about officially around 1988 in Brooklyn, although it really was never about Lo as much as it was about poor, grimey dudes in BK who were just trying to be fly by any means. Throughout the early to mid 90's, the lore of Polo Ralph Lauren, and the claims of being a "Lo' Life" grew and the number of people throughout NYC, then the states, and eventually the world (especially Japan) would grow at a rapid pace.
From what is known, Boostin' Kev hung himself in his jail cell at some point in perhaps the late 90's or early 2000's. I am not privy to all the info, so anyone who can shed light would be well appreciated. DJ Premier gives him a RIP shout out in the Gang Starr track "Eulogy" from the 2003 album "The Ownerz", therefore we can all infer it was prior to that.
Kev first started making recorded music in 1991. He was akin to a Biz Markie type. Not the greatest MC per se, but someone who seemed to embody Hip Hop in terms of the time period and nostalgia in retrospect, but never one who you thought was pushing the envelope and being a trendsetter from a lyrical standpoint. Just dope music for what we here call the TROY era.
I never want to talk anything about the dead, but there is an article about some Lo Life's that I will try to dig up that tried to discredit Kev as a real Lo Life, but I am not an expert on the specifics about early 90's BK drama, although I do consider myself someone who knows a good deal about the LL's and throughout my time have known some and have rocked much LO personally- not anywhere as much as some of my friends, but more than a few for sure. Over the last 10-15 years I consider myself an RRL head and can display a closet that will show and prove.
But I digress. My reason for the post is I wanted to hear Kev's " That Be Boostin Remix" for some strange reason today at work and went on youtube. To my shock, the video for the original was uploaded. This is indeed a rare find. My boy had it on VHS back in the day, and I never thought I'd ever see it again. So peep below for the video and some joints to start the thread, and in fashion, add on with anything you can if you're into it..
The remix beat is better, from the dope 12" from 95..
Smoke You On The Mic
Dunt Da Dunt Dunt
Boostin' Kev was a Lo Life (for anyone not familiar, the Lo' Lifes were a crew from Brooklyn NY- a merging of the Polo USA crew (United Shoplifters Association) from Marcus Garvey Village in Brownsville and Ralphie's Kids from St. Johns Place and Utica Ave in Crown Heights. I'm sure most know the history, but there is extensive information on the LL's on the net for those who wish to go deeper. The Source did a 2 or 3 part series in their later years on the crew. Big Vic-Lo, BKA Thirstin Howell III is one of the founding members of the crew, which came about officially around 1988 in Brooklyn, although it really was never about Lo as much as it was about poor, grimey dudes in BK who were just trying to be fly by any means. Throughout the early to mid 90's, the lore of Polo Ralph Lauren, and the claims of being a "Lo' Life" grew and the number of people throughout NYC, then the states, and eventually the world (especially Japan) would grow at a rapid pace.
From what is known, Boostin' Kev hung himself in his jail cell at some point in perhaps the late 90's or early 2000's. I am not privy to all the info, so anyone who can shed light would be well appreciated. DJ Premier gives him a RIP shout out in the Gang Starr track "Eulogy" from the 2003 album "The Ownerz", therefore we can all infer it was prior to that.
Kev first started making recorded music in 1991. He was akin to a Biz Markie type. Not the greatest MC per se, but someone who seemed to embody Hip Hop in terms of the time period and nostalgia in retrospect, but never one who you thought was pushing the envelope and being a trendsetter from a lyrical standpoint. Just dope music for what we here call the TROY era.
I never want to talk anything about the dead, but there is an article about some Lo Life's that I will try to dig up that tried to discredit Kev as a real Lo Life, but I am not an expert on the specifics about early 90's BK drama, although I do consider myself someone who knows a good deal about the LL's and throughout my time have known some and have rocked much LO personally- not anywhere as much as some of my friends, but more than a few for sure. Over the last 10-15 years I consider myself an RRL head and can display a closet that will show and prove.
But I digress. My reason for the post is I wanted to hear Kev's " That Be Boostin Remix" for some strange reason today at work and went on youtube. To my shock, the video for the original was uploaded. This is indeed a rare find. My boy had it on VHS back in the day, and I never thought I'd ever see it again. So peep below for the video and some joints to start the thread, and in fashion, add on with anything you can if you're into it..
The remix beat is better, from the dope 12" from 95..
Smoke You On The Mic
Dunt Da Dunt Dunt