Respect The Architects...

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:39 am

The Godfather Kool Herc...

Kool Herc...birth name Clive Campbell moved to the Bronx , NY from Jamaica in 1967 at the age of 12 . 6 years later in 1973 he was asked by his sister to Dj a birthday party at a spot called the Twilight Zone . This was his first jam . Herc is the man who took the Jamaican art of toasting......talking in rhyme over the instrumental parts of a record , and made it a main stay in the Bronx . He was known for having the biggest mobile sound system in New York . He would take a hot jam like James Browns " Give it up or turn it loose " and summon the crowd to " Hip Hop and don't stop " ...things of that nature. Herc was amongst the first (after Pete Dj Jones) to take two copies of a record and manipulate them , so that the drum breakdown played continuously .Along with Klark Kent ,Coke La Rock and Timmy Tim (the Herculords) Herc rocked spots like the PAL ,Celeb Club, Stardust Ballroom , Hoe Ave Boys Club , Harlem World and Black Door. He is part of the Hip Hop holy trinity - which includes Bambaataa and Flash . His voice has been on record only once , on Terminator Xs "Godfathers Of Threatt " Lp . Herc had a small part playing himself in the movie Beat Street . He can be seen on the cover of the Executioners new Lp "Built From Scratch" with D.ST & Theodore .

http://www.jayquan.com/koolherc.htm

Afrika Bam and The Soul Sonice Force...

Afrika Bambaataa is to Hip Hop what George Clinton is to Funk. He formed many different crews.Perhaps the best known of these crews is the Soul Sonic Force....because of Planet Rock . But Bam formed Cosmic Force , Shango , Time Zone , Jazzy 5 , Hydraulic Funk , Funk Queens and many many more . Originally Bam was a member of the Black Spades....a Ny gang , in the 70s. ...After reading about Afrikan culture , Bam (also a Dj with a taste for strange records to set off parties) , started the Universal Zulu Nation . This organization took ancient Afrikan principles and merged them with Hip Hop culture . Bam suggested that instead of killing each other with guns and knives , that members use their skills as Djs , Break Dancers , Emcees and Graf artists to battle each other . The idea caught on and most crews in the 70s and 80s were affiliated with the " Zulu Gestapo " .

As a Dj Bam use to mix some pretty wild things together . He would take themes from tv shows like the munsters and mix them with funk , soul , reggae and soca records . He certainly brought a universal mixture of music to the party scene . In 1982 , after putting out the Jazzy 5s " Jazzy Sensation " - Bam dropped the ultimate bomb..still heavily felt today . Bam mixed sounds simular to Kraftwerks " Transeurope Express " with a futuristic beat and rhymes from Mr Biggs , Pow Wow and Emcee G.L.O.B.E . The result was " Planet Rock " - the song that RULED the summer of 82 and made everyone want to be a popper/breaker . This song still a party starter today gave birth to Miami bass music , Electronica , Breakbeat , jungle and many other forms of music

The follow up to Planet Rock was " Looking for the perfect beat " . This too was a classic , followed by " Renegades Of Funk " which solidified their position as masters of the beats . A collab with Shango " Frantic Situation " from the Beat Street soundtrack was not as well recieved but did well . Bam is one 3rd of what many call Hip hops holy trinity...Bam , Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash . ...no doubt one of , if not thee most important figures in Hip Hop.

http://www.jayquan.com/soulsonic.htm

Jazzy Jay...

This pioneer started his illustrious career playing in the streets of the Bronx, under the guidance of Afrika Bambaataa. During the 80's club revolution, Jazzy went from performing on the streets and in small clubs to spinning records in NYC's hottest clubs: Negril, the Roxy, the Ritz, and Danceteria.

He was one of the first to bring Hip Hop music to the airwaves, on KISS FM. Jazzy's three hour show became so popular that it was syndicated on Europe's Radio One broadcast.

With the Jazzy 5, he recorded the hit single: "Jazzy Sensation". He was propelled to stardom when he co-produced the seminal hit "Planet Rock" with Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force.

Not only having appeared on the movie's soundtrack, Jazzy Jay also played the role of club DJ in the Hip Hop classic: "Beat Street".

Afrika Islam and Jazzy Jay pioneered the first DJ team routines as they used to team up to battle GrandMaster Flash (solo) and GrandWizzard Theodore (solo).

Jazzy Jay was also one of the Zulu King dancers in the early 70's.

Jazzy Jay was essentially a founder of Def Jam records along with Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. He appeared on T La Rock's "It's Yours". While with Def Jam, Jazzy worked with such artists as LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy. Jazzy Jay also put out the 3rd Def Jam 12" in 1985 called "Def Jam" b/w "Cold Chillin' In The Spot" with Russell Simmons on vocals.

Jazzy Jay was Busy Bee's DJ on his his 1st LP having produced the monumental "Suicide" in 1987.

He was also signed to Cutting Records and recorded two 12"s with an emcee named Seville called "Take a Walk" in 1987 and "Make it Funky" in 1988. (Seville also had one or two other hits with King Shameek.)

Jazzy furthered his producing and engineering skills when he founded Jazzy Jay's Studio, providing a place where Fat Joe, Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, among others could begin their careers. Jazzy began a new label with Rocky Bucano- Strong City records was born. Strong City produced a multitude of hits with Ice Cream Tee, the Masters of Ceremony, Busy Bee, and Don Baron.

Jazzy was inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 2000. Jazzy Jay is also featured in the DJ documentary "Scratch" which recently premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. Jazzy enjoys rocking parties internationally as well as explaining Hip Hop history, industry, and politics. Jazzy and GrandWizard Theodore have recently teamed up to appear and DJ at shows together.

DITC producer and MC Diamond D was under Jay's tutelage through his formative years as an up and coming producer.

http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists/ ... zzyjay.htm

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jazzy+Jay

Defining Albums:

http://www.rane.com/dj/jazzyjay.html

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash (born Joseph Saddler on January 1, 1958 in Barbados) is a hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing.

Saddler's family migrated to the United States, and he grew up in the Bronx. He became involved in the earliest New York DJ scene, attending parties set up by early luminaries. Learning from Pete Jones and Kool Herc, he used duplicate copies of a single record and two turntables but added a dextrous manual edit with a mixer to promote the [[break (musiche got the nickname in school due to the fact that he hung around with another guy named Gordon (from Flash Gordon). He also invented the technique initially called cutting, which was developed by Grand Wizard Theodore into scratching (AMG).

Flash played illegal parties and also worked with rappers such as Kurtis Blow and Lovebug Starski. He formed his own group in the late 1970s, after promptings from Ray Chandler. The initial members were Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Mele Mel (Melvin Glover) and Kid(d) Creole (Nathaniel Glover) making Grandmaster Flash & the 3 MCs. Two other rappers briefly joined, but they were replaced more permanently by Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams, previously in the Funky Four) and Scorpio (Eddie Morris, also used the name Mr. Ness) to create Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Soon gaining recognition for their skillful raps, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five pioneered MCing, freestyle battles, and invented some of the staple phrases in MCing. They performed at Disco Fever in the Bronx beginning in 1978.

Signed to Sugar Hill Records in 1980 by Joe Robinson, they released numerous singles, gaining a gold disc for "Freedom," and also toured. The classic "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel," released in 1981 was the best display of their skills (combing elements of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust", CHIC's "Good Times" and samples from Blondie's Rapture), but it was their least successful single at the time. The group's most significant hit was "The Message" (1982), which was produced by in-house Sugar Hill producer Clifton "Jiggs" Chase and went platinum in less than a month. In 1983, Flash and Mel released a 12" single, "White Lines," which went on to become one of their signature songs. Flash sued Sugar Hill in 1983 over the non-payment of royalties, and in 1984 the group split between Flash and Mel before disintegrating entirely. Flash, Kid Creole and Rahiem signed to Elektra Records while the others continued as "Grandmaster Mele Mel & the Furious Five." (Mel notably appeared on Chaka Khan's I Feel for You). They reformed in 1987 for a charity concert, to release one album and then fall apart again. There was another reunion, of a kind, in 1994, although Cowboy died in 1989 from a drug overdose due to the effects of his crack cocaine addiction.

Grandmaster Flash continues to DJ clubs and has a Sirius Satellite Radio show on channel 34 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST called "The Flash Mash Show". He also has a line of clothing line "G.Phyre", and he has signed a deal with Doubleday to publish his memoirs.

Defining Albums:

Larry Smith (Kurtis Blow, Run Dmc...)

Interview from http://scratchmagazine.com

story brian coleman

The producer today is more of an artist, states legendary producer Larry Smith, with some disdain. But the real meaning of a producer is someone who brings the best out of an artist. He doesn't make himself the artist. In this day and age I'm just never sure how much the artist actually brings to the table.

Is that a curmudgeonly thing to say? Yes, it is. But hes right, and you know it. He continues, I come from a band era. I'm a bass player by trade, so I get inspired by working with people and listening to them. Then we go to work and make something together.

No one in the hip-hop world has more of a right to talk about the rise of the Super Producer than St. Albans, Queens Lawrence Smith, because he was one of the first. Back when Kurtis Blow laid down Christmas Rappin in 1979, Smith ג a journeyman R&B and jazz bassist at the time was there. And when Run-DMC needed someone to produce their world-shaking 1983 debut single, Its Like That / Sucker MCs, Smith was most definitely there. He and Russell Simmons, who co-produced, were Rush-Groove Productions.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:41 am

The focus is on the original Hit Squad line up circa 1990-1993 and later onto PMD's Hit Squad...

Erick Sermon

made his debut recording on EPMD-Knick Knack Paddy Wack (1989)

Redman made his debut recording on EPMD-Hardcore (1991)

Das EFX Were signed by Erick & Parrish after they saw them at a Talent Quest.

Tom J and Steve Austin aka The Knucklehedz went to high school with Erick Sermon and were the only white kids in the Hit Squad, they were like the white EPMD and had good flows and amusing rhymes...there debut LP Strickly Savage never saw a proper release as they were dropped from the East West record label after the EPMD fall out.

Between 1990 and 1994 well really 88 and 89 if we count EPMD's first 2 classic albums) these artists bought some of the illest, rugged and unique hip hop albums to the kids.

There is still a Hit Squad to this day but they sadly don't have the same impact that all of these artists did during that era.

*Kieth Murray made his debut recording on Erick Sermon-Hostile (1993) (but was not actually in the Hit Squad only the Def Squad)

After the EPMD split...E took Redman, Kieth Murray and Redman and formed the Def Squad (which also included Jamal from Illegal)...PMD stuck with the Hit Squad banner and took Das EFX with him and introduced...

Zone 7

and later

Defining Albums:

*Redman and Kieth Murray LP's not included as they were Def Squad then, not Hit Squad.

But here is where it gets confusing...when EPMD released Back IN Business, there was The Squadron which (not offically) consisted of Das EFX, Red, Keith M and Nocturnal...perhaps the oddest thing is K-Solo was the first MC EPMD debuted and got left out a lot of the time.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:43 am

Everything you need to know about this legend is in this interview from Elemental magazine.

"Perc is nice, worth the price, every verse entice / one of the most praised men to surface twice on the earth since Christ / ideas I lay are light years away from what's here today / all my peers I slay, stand back, two grand, rip you and your whole crew, man / the true fans know who can bring heat like in the Sudan, black"

BIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, New York

AGE: 35

AREA YOU REPRESENT: Patterson Projects, South Bronx, New York

GOVERNMENT NAME: John Percy Simon

ORIGIN OF YOUR NAME: Percy is my middle name. My family always called me by my middle name, so I put two 'e's on the end like the old school MCs, like Kool Moe Dee, or Spoonie Gee. I used the Rhyme Inspector as a name because a lot of old-school MCs and DJs use to put titles in front of their names, like Grandmaster Flash or Grand Wizzard Theodore, etc.

YEARS ON THE MIC: I've been emceeing since 1979. I started by watching my uncle and my oldest brother, and all the crews that used to rock at 18 Park in front of my building and the surrounding areas.

WHY YOU MADE HIP-HOP YOUR CAREER: I have a musical family. My mom moved to Pat- terson Projects when I was three years old. I've seen hip-hop from the beginning. Hip-hop was all I knew growing up. I got into it to strongly at the age of 10. 1 like the feeling that the MCs gave the people when they was rockin' in the parks when I was coming up.

YOUR STYLE: Rhythmical - I make flows with words. Graphic - you can visualize what I'm saying. Unorthodox. Wordplay - how I manipulate my words to the beat. I control my words well.

COLLABORATORS: Lord Finesse, J-Dilla, Madlib, Showbiz, Cut Chemist, Godfather Don, Paul Nice, Big Daddy Kane, Aesop Rock, Kool Keith, C-Rayz Walz, Poison Pen, Jurassic 5, WildChild, Medaphoar, Planet Asia, AG, and many more.

DISCOGRAPHY: "Let the Homicides Begin " 12 " (Gotham City Records, 1988) "Respect Costs More Than Money " 12 " (VMax Records, 1996) "Scary Thoughts " 12 " b/w "It's Over " (Makin' Millz Records, 1996) "Everybody " 12 " b/w "Makin Millz " (Makin' Millz Records, 1998) The One And Only. The Best OF Percee P (85 Records) Legendary Status, mix CD (2005)

RECORD LABEL: Stones Throw Records. I signed with them because they are very respected, and they are good people. It's good to have a good relationship with who you're signed with. I feel that they acknowledge and respect me as an artist.

NEW RELEASE: The new album is called Percerverance. I got something for everybody, without me changing who I am. I hope to inspire cats to want to write rhymes and get on their grind. Madlib and J-Dilla are producing, and Cut Chemist will be on the remix. Jurassic 5, Wildchild, Medaphoar, Diamond D, Lord Quas and Prince Poetry will appear. The name of the first single is called "Untitled ". Madlib produced it. It has the boom-bap sound. I'm spittin', coming at you hard, and it has a dope remix.

HOW'S YOUR FREESTYLE: I respect freestyle. In the past freestyle was just bussin' a rhyme. Today it's spittin' spontaneous unwritten verses. I'm more of a writer, old-school.

YOUR TAKE ON HIP-HOP: The best cats I know are not the ones you see on videos. There are some good artists out there that are not being heard. Hip-hop has changed a lot. I think a lot of people in hip-hop today do not know the roots of hip-hop. Hip-hop artists today will steal pioneers hooks and beats, but will not try to collaborate with them or give them acknowledgement.

SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT YOURSELF: I listen to a lot of old school slow jams. Groups from the '6Os and the '70s. The Temprees, the Escorts, the Soul Generation, the Lost Gen- eration, the Brighter Shade of Darkness, Linda Jones.

YOUR STRONGEST POINT: I have perseverance. I do not quit.

YOUR WEAKEST POINT: My name is out everywhere, but I need to do shows where my name is. I have fans out there, and I'm not in their city giving them the best of Percee P live.

LAST WORDS: Life is nothing but a classroom. The more experience you get from applying yourself, the better you get as time goes by. For instance, if someone placed you in a karate class at age ten, by the time you're 30 you should have mastered your craft, if you practiced faithfully. That applies to emceeing, DJing, b-boying, graf writing, everything. God blesses those who help themselves.

Defining Albums:

Percee P is working on an album tentatively titled "Perseverance" to be released on Stones Throw. Guest MCs will include Chali 2na, Prince Po, and Aesop Rock. The album will be produced by Madlib.

http://www.stonesthrow.com/perceep
http://www.myspace.com/perceep

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:44 am

His real name is Ronnie Green.

Captain Rock was an underground fixture in the early 80's.

Captain Rock was produced by Aleem (Taharqa & Tunde-ra Aleem) on NIA.

He appeared at the UK Fresh Fest 86 where he allegedly striped down to his thong on stage.

Several of his tracks include "Captain Rock to the Future Shock", "House of Rock", and "Cosmic Glide".

Before being Captian Rock he was Dr Jecyll and Mr Hyde's live dj from their period in the Harlem World Crew. He was known as DJ Ronnie Green.

The only record he wrote the lyrics for was "Cosmic Blast"..

The Cosmic Crew didn't exist longer than the time it took to make the record "Cosmic Blast". They were The Aleems, Dr Jeckyll + Mr Hyde, Scratch Al-D and Marley Marl.

He was a referee for NCAA Division 3 basketball in the late 80's and early 90's.

He's also run a youth program in New York City, for underprivileged kids. He still keeps in touch with several artists including Mr Hyde, Aleem Brothers and Marley Marl.

Additional info by Zero one and Rob Evans and mr ed

interview with Jayquan

http://www.jayquan.com/captint.htm

Defining 12"s
Cosmic Glide-1982
Captain Rock To The Future Shock-1984
Cosmic Blast-1984
Return Of Captain Rock-1984
Bongo Beat-1986
House Of Rock / You Stink-1986

Defining Albums:

(Only one which was a collection of his 12"s released in the Ol Skool Flava collections released by Tuff City records...see Tuff City thread)

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:49 am

Egyptian Lover records didn't start appearing until several years after the New York and Miami electro scenes were already in full swing, by the mid-'80s Egyptian Lover cuts like "Egypt, Egypt" were standards among club DJs, particularly in the breakdance scene. Early cuts such as "Computer Love" and "Dance" were among Egyptian Lover's most experimental, with the material appearing through the latter half of the '80s increasingly flirting with full-blown rap by adding more vocals and melodic hooks. While more of his material dates from the latter phase, it's his earlier releases that remain his most accomplished, and they're routinely namechecked by a new generation of producers such as Autechre and I-F inspired by electro's first wave. Also a member of Uncle Jamm's Army and the force behind a half dozen labels including Freak Beat and Egyptian Empire, Broussard also released the old-shcool classic "Computer Power" under the name Jamie Jupitor. After nearly a decade, Egyptian Lover released the digitally edited compilation "Pyramix", then hit the studio again and produced new tracks in the same funky electro style for the album "Back From the Tomb".

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Egyptian+Lover

Defining Albums
On The Nile-1984

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:50 am

Brooklyn-born Just-Ice was among the first gangsta rappers. Inspired by a Mele Mel show, Just began rapping in his early teens, buying his first rhyme from a friend for $3. His first album 'Back to the Old School' was released in 1986 on Sleeping Bag Records and pointed to a new direction in rap. However, as more and more rappers followed down the gangsta path, Just-Ice went with a more hard-core, straight hip-hop, and often even ragamuffin style. Even with production by artists like Mantronix, KRS-One and Grandmaster Flash and seven albums under his belt, Just still never achieved the commercial success of many of his peers.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Just+Ice

A former bouncer at punk clubs, Joseph Williams, Jr. was the first of the New York rappers to embrace gangsta rap, and when he burst out of Ft. Greene, Brooklyn as Just-Ice, he gained instant notoriety. Muscle-bound, tattooed, aggressive -- he resembled Mike Tyson in more than just looks -- and with a mouthful of gold teeth, he certainly stood out. His debut album Back to the Old School proved he was more than just a pretty face. It came out on the independent New York label Sleeping Bag, and certainly sounded like no other hip-hop album, thanks to his fast, forceful rhymes, DMX's human beatbox as well as the distinctive production of Mantronix's Kurtis Mantronik.

When he was held by Washington, D.C., police regarding the murder of a drug dealer in 1987 ("Murder, Drugs, and the Rap Star" read a Washington Post headline), it gave him an even greater notoriety (he was never charged with the murder). Declaring war on D.C.'s go-go scene and loudly criticizing Run D.M.C. (then the ruling New York rap outfit), Just-Ice set a pattern for many a future hip-hop feud. Little could halt Just-Ice's ascension to hip-hop stardom, though the departure of Mantronik from Sleeping Bag was a bad omen. KRS-One stepped in to produce 1987's Kool & Deadly, an album that swapped Mantronik's hi-tech skills for raw, elemental beats and rhymes. The British and New York public that had so enthusiastically embraced Back to the Old School were diffident about this one, and 1989's The Desolate One (with KRS-One back in the producer's seat) was no great improvement. By 1990, both Just-Ice and Sleeping Bag appeared to be quickly fading as a new generation of rappers and labels overtook them. He continued to release albums at intervals across the 1990s, but they were on tiny independent labels and were rarely noticed. Just-Ice was a member of hip-hop super session, the Stop the Violence All Stars, who released one single ("Self Destruction") in 1990. The revival of interest in old-school rap in the late '90s created fresh demand for Back to the Old School, but Just-Ice appeared unwilling or unable to capitalize on the renewed interest.

Defining Albums:

Just Ice was the type of MC that could rhyme for hours non stop and sometimes listening to his records you wonder if it was actually off the top off his head rather than written.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:52 am

As the first commercially successful rap artist, Kurtis Blow is a towering figure in hip-hop history. His popularity and charisma helped prove that rap music was something more than a flash-in-the-pan novelty, paving the way for the even greater advances of Grandmaster Flash and Run-D.M.C. Blow was the first rapper to sign with (and release an album for) a major label; the first to have a single certified gold (1980's landmark "The Breaks"); the first to embark on a national (and international) concert tour; and the first to cement rap's mainstream marketability by signing an endorsement deal. For that matter, he was really the first significant solo rapper on record, and as such he was a natural focal point for many aspiring young MCs in the early days of hip-hop. For all his immense importance and influence, many of Blow's records haven't dated all that well; his rapping technique, limber for its time, simply wasn't as evolved as the more advanced MCs who built upon his style and followed him up the charts. But at his very best, Blow epitomizes the virtues of the old school: ingratiating, strutting party music that captures the exuberance of an art form still in its youth.

Kurtis Blow was born Kurtis Walker in Harlem in 1959. He was in on the earliest stages of hip-hop culture in the '70s -- first as a breakdancer, then as a block-party and club DJ performing under the name Kool DJ Kurt; after enrolling at CCNY in 1976, he also served as program director for the college radio station. He became an MC in his own right around 1977, and changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future Def Jam founder and rap mogul Russell Simmons. Blow performed with legendary DJs like Grandmaster Flash, and for a time his regular DJ was Simmons' teenage brother Joseph -- who, after changing his stage name from "Son of Kurtis Blow," would go on to become the first half of Run-D.M.C. Over 1977-1978, Blow's club gigs around Harlem and the Bronx made him an underground sensation, and Billboard magazine writer Robert Ford approached Simmons about making a record. Blow cut a song co-written by Ford and financier J.B. Moore called "Christmas Rappin'," and it helped him get a deal with Mercury once the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" had climbed into the R&B Top Five.

Blow's second single, "The Breaks," was an out-of-the-box smash, following "Rapper's Delight" into the Top Five of the R&B charts in 1980 and eventually going gold; it still ranks as one of old school rap's greatest and most enduring moments. The full-length album Kurtis Blow was also released in 1980, and made the R&B Top Ten in spite of many assumptions that the Sugarhill Gang's success was a one-time fluke. Although the album's attempts at soul crooning and rock covers haven't dated well, the poverty-themed "Hard Times" marked perhaps the first instance of hip-hop's social consciousness, and was later covered by Run-D.M.C. Blow initially found it hard to follow up "The Breaks," despite releasing nearly an album a year for most of the '80s. 1981's Deuce and 1982's Tough weren't huge sellers, and 1983's Party Time EP brought D.C. go-go funksters E.U. on board for a stylistic update. Around this time, Blow was also making his mark as a producer, working with a variety of hip-hop and R&B artists; most notably, he helmed most of the Fat Boys' records after helping them get a record deal. 1984's Ego Trip sold respectably well on the strength of cuts like the DJ tribute "AJ Scratch," the agreeably lightweight "Basketball," and the Run-D.M.C. duet "8 Million Stories." Blow followed it with an appearance in the cult hip-hop film Krush Groove, in which he performed "If I Ruled the World," his biggest hit since "The Breaks."

"If I Ruled the World" proved to be the last gasp of Blow's popularity, as hip-hop's rapid growth made his style seem increasingly outdated. 1985's America was largely ignored, and 1986's Kingdom Blow was afforded an icy reception despite producing a final chart hit, "I'm Chillin'." Critics savaged his final comeback attempt, 1988's Back by Popular Demand, almost invariably pointing out that the title, at that point, was not true. In its wake, Blow gave up the ghost of his recording career, but found other ways to keep the spirit of the old school alive. In the early '90s, he contributed rap material to the TV soap opera One Life to Live, and later spent several years hosting an old-school hip-hop show on Los Angeles radio station Power 106. In 1997, Rhino Records took advantage of his status as a hip-hop elder statesmen by hiring him to produce, compile, and write liner notes for the three-volume series Kurtis Blow Presents the History of Rap. The same year, he was a significant presence in the rap documentary Rhyme and Reason. Blow's music has also been revived by younger artists seeking to pay tribute; Nas covered "If I Rule the World" on 1996's It Was Written, and R&B group Next sampled "Christmas Rappin'" for their 1998 smash "Too Close."

Defining Albums:

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:53 am

Kurtis Blow is now 'Shaking it out for Jesus'

check out an article that ran in the Christian Science Monitor

'Shake it out for Jesus': Churches co-opt hip-hop

By Nate Herpich | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor

NEW YORK

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:53 am

The Flavor Unit was a posse of rappers and DJs from New York City and Northern New Jersey, who had albums and tracks produced by the legendary DJ Mark "The 45 King"/

They are now known as The Unit. Flavor Unit Management is run by Queen Latifah, one of the original members of the Flavor Unit, and Shakim Compere

DJ Mark the 45 King (born Mark James), also known as the 45 King, started DJing in New Jersey in the mid-80s. The nickname "the 45 King" comes from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 rpm records.

The 45 King first gained fame with his breakbeat track "The 900 Number" in 1987. The song featured a looping tenor sax solo from Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself". The 45 King was signed to Tuff City Records that year and given a production deal. The "900 Number' remains his signature work having been resampled by many artists.

In the early 90's a drug addiction took its toll on the 45 King's career causing him to loose a production contract with Time Warner. Around this time the 45 King released multiple series of breakbeat records (The Lost Breakbeat series, the Breakapalooza series, etc.) and a few tracks for other rappers, but stayed mainly with his breakbeat record franchises.

Using his popularity from the previous release, the 45 King was able to help the other members of his crew, dubbed "The Flavor Unit." The 45 King's second break came when Flavor Unit member Queen Latifah was signed to the Tommy Boy label (at the time home of De La Soul and Stetsasonic) and released the album "All Hail the Queen" (featuring KRS-One, Daddy-O, and Prince Paul). This album is considered by critics to be the 45 Kings best production work.

In 1996 Washington, D.C. based Go-go DJ, DJ Kool scored a big hit with the song "Let Me Clear My Throat" it was simply call-and-response vocals over the "900 Number" beat, but was popular nationwide. DJ Kool didn't just sample the track, he acknowledged the 45 King's as the song's originator, and the 45 King even remixed the track for Kool.

In 1998 the 45 King produced "It's a Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for Jay-Z. The song was a hit that featured a looped chorus from the Broadway Musical Annie. In 2000, he produced the platinum track "Stan" for Eminem, solidifying his reputation as a top-notch beatmaker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Mark_the_45_King

Original Members:
DJ Mark The 45 King

Queen Latifah

Lakim Shabazz

Louis Vega (Producer)
Chill Rob G
Lord Alibaski
Markey Fresh
Double J
Apache
Nikki D
Naughty By Nature

Freddie Foxxx

Latee

Defining Albums:

Please check http://www.unkut.com/2006/01/the-origin ... /#more-128
for any further info.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:55 am

Dope rundown about Latee from www.unkut.com

Despite the fact that his classic debut single served as the inspiration for the name of his crew, Latee remains as one of the more enigmatic members of the New Jersey collective. Anyone who used to catch Kool DJ Red Alert

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:56 am

Audio Two were a late 1980s rap due consisting of brothers Milk D. and DJ Gizmo. Breaking out with their first hit, "Top Billin'", they would follow that up with a full length release titled "What More Can I Say?". Following in their footsteps were Milk and Giz's sister, better known to the rap world as MC Lyte who also garnered some success with the release of several albums. Despite a promising start the Audio Two stalled with their sophomore effort, I Don't Care: The Album. By this time, neither did their fans and it sold poorly. Milk D. would release an LP a few years later but to dismal sales and success.

Defining Albums:

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:57 am

Please Note this focuses on the original Native Tongue's collective...there is some info on Native Tongues when they re-formed in the late 90's.

The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s Afro-American Hip-Hop artists known for their positive Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. They were inspired by earlier, similar rappers, especially Afrika Bambaataa, and came together in order to cooperate on each other's projects and help bring socially-conscious hip hop to the mainstream.

Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released Straight Out the Jungle in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and soon joined the influential Native Tongues Posse. The trio is comprised of Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam, and DJ Sammy B.

Their first album, "Straight Out the Jungle," was released on an independent label and featured the Todd Terry hip hop/house collaboration "I'll House You." In spite of the commercial failure of Straight Out the Jungle, Warner Brothers Records soon signed the group and released Done By the Forces of Nature in 1989 (see 1989 in music). The album was a critical smash at the time, though it has since been largely ignored by hip hop critics at the expense of the similarly acclaimed fusion of jazz and rap 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, released the same year. Following a four year break, the Jungle Brothers returned in 1993 with J Beez Wit the Remedy (1993 in music), another commercial disappointment. Their next album, V.I.P. was produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads and, during production, they found time to add their vocal stylings to Take California (And Party), and You Want It Back. Their latest album to contain any new releases is 2002's All That We Do.

In 2001, their song "What's the Five 0" was featured in the music video game Frequency.

In 2004, the Jungle Brothers joined with English producer Mr On to produce "Breathe (Don't Stop)", a version of "Breathe and Stop" by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, combined with a sample of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

In 2005, the Jungle Brothers released a "greatest ever hiphop hits" and "classic remixes & rarities" double-CD entitled This Is..., which included remixes by The Wiseguys, Urban Takeover, Natural Born Chillers and Stereo MCs.

Defining Albums:

Queen Latifah(also refer to the Original Flavor Unit thread)

Latifah started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. In 1988, local DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single, "Princess of the Posse", and gave the demo to Fab Five Freddy (who at the time hosted Yo! MTV Raps). Freddy helped Latifah sign with Tommy Boy Records. They released Latifah's first album, All Hail the Queen, in (1989); at the time, she was 18. This debut managed to be both a critical and commercial success and was followed by the albums Nature of a Sista and Black Reign, which contained the hit single, U.N.I.T.Y.. After releasing four rap albums (the fourth being Order in the Court, released in 1998), she released a soul/jazz standards album in 2004 called The Dana Owens Album.

Defining Albums:

De La Soul

De La Soul is a massively influential hip hop group, hailing from Amityville, Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap subgenre. The members are Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolic

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:57 am

Please Note this focuses on the original Native Tongue's collective...there is some info on Native Tongues when they re-formed in the late 90's.

The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s Afro-American Hip-Hop artists known for their positive Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. They were inspired by earlier, similar rappers, especially Afrika Bambaataa, and came together in order to cooperate on each other's projects and help bring socially-conscious hip hop to the mainstream.

Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released Straight Out the Jungle in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and soon joined the influential Native Tongues Posse. The trio is comprised of Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam, and DJ Sammy B.

Their first album, "Straight Out the Jungle," was released on an independent label and featured the Todd Terry hip hop/house collaboration "I'll House You." In spite of the commercial failure of Straight Out the Jungle, Warner Brothers Records soon signed the group and released Done By the Forces of Nature in 1989 (see 1989 in music). The album was a critical smash at the time, though it has since been largely ignored by hip hop critics at the expense of the similarly acclaimed fusion of jazz and rap 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, released the same year. Following a four year break, the Jungle Brothers returned in 1993 with J Beez Wit the Remedy (1993 in music), another commercial disappointment. Their next album, V.I.P. was produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads and, during production, they found time to add their vocal stylings to Take California (And Party), and You Want It Back. Their latest album to contain any new releases is 2002's All That We Do.

In 2001, their song "What's the Five 0" was featured in the music video game Frequency.

In 2004, the Jungle Brothers joined with English producer Mr On to produce "Breathe (Don't Stop)", a version of "Breathe and Stop" by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, combined with a sample of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

In 2005, the Jungle Brothers released a "greatest ever hiphop hits" and "classic remixes & rarities" double-CD entitled This Is..., which included remixes by The Wiseguys, Urban Takeover, Natural Born Chillers and Stereo MCs.

Defining Albums:

Queen Latifah(also refer to the Original Flavor Unit thread)

Latifah started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. In 1988, local DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single, "Princess of the Posse", and gave the demo to Fab Five Freddy (who at the time hosted Yo! MTV Raps). Freddy helped Latifah sign with Tommy Boy Records. They released Latifah's first album, All Hail the Queen, in (1989); at the time, she was 18. This debut managed to be both a critical and commercial success and was followed by the albums Nature of a Sista and Black Reign, which contained the hit single, U.N.I.T.Y.. After releasing four rap albums (the fourth being Order in the Court, released in 1998), she released a soul/jazz standards album in 2004 called The Dana Owens Album.

Defining Albums:

De La Soul

De La Soul is a massively influential hip hop group, hailing from Amityville, Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap subgenre. The members are Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolic

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:58 am

Please Note this focuses on the original Native Tongue's collective...there is some info on Native Tongues when they re-formed in the late 90's.

The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s Afro-American Hip-Hop artists known for their positive Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. They were inspired by earlier, similar rappers, especially Afrika Bambaataa, and came together in order to cooperate on each other's projects and help bring socially-conscious hip hop to the mainstream.

Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released Straight Out the Jungle in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and soon joined the influential Native Tongues Posse. The trio is comprised of Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam, and DJ Sammy B.

Their first album, "Straight Out the Jungle," was released on an independent label and featured the Todd Terry hip hop/house collaboration "I'll House You." In spite of the commercial failure of Straight Out the Jungle, Warner Brothers Records soon signed the group and released Done By the Forces of Nature in 1989 (see 1989 in music). The album was a critical smash at the time, though it has since been largely ignored by hip hop critics at the expense of the similarly acclaimed fusion of jazz and rap 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, released the same year. Following a four year break, the Jungle Brothers returned in 1993 with J Beez Wit the Remedy (1993 in music), another commercial disappointment. Their next album, V.I.P. was produced by Alex Gifford of Propellerheads and, during production, they found time to add their vocal stylings to Take California (And Party), and You Want It Back. Their latest album to contain any new releases is 2002's All That We Do.

In 2001, their song "What's the Five 0" was featured in the music video game Frequency.

In 2004, the Jungle Brothers joined with English producer Mr On to produce "Breathe (Don't Stop)", a version of "Breathe and Stop" by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, combined with a sample of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

In 2005, the Jungle Brothers released a "greatest ever hiphop hits" and "classic remixes & rarities" double-CD entitled This Is..., which included remixes by The Wiseguys, Urban Takeover, Natural Born Chillers and Stereo MCs.

Defining Albums:

Queen Latifah(also refer to the Original Flavor Unit thread)

Latifah started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. In 1988, local DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single, "Princess of the Posse", and gave the demo to Fab Five Freddy (who at the time hosted Yo! MTV Raps). Freddy helped Latifah sign with Tommy Boy Records. They released Latifah's first album, All Hail the Queen, in (1989); at the time, she was 18. This debut managed to be both a critical and commercial success and was followed by the albums Nature of a Sista and Black Reign, which contained the hit single, U.N.I.T.Y.. After releasing four rap albums (the fourth being Order in the Court, released in 1998), she released a soul/jazz standards album in 2004 called The Dana Owens Album.

Defining Albums:

De La Soul

De La Soul is a massively influential hip hop group, hailing from Amityville, Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap subgenre. The members are Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolic

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:00 am

[quote]GETTING REAL LIVE WITH K-DEF

Ask any 90

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:00 am

[quote]GETTING REAL LIVE WITH K-DEF

Ask any 90

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:01 am

[quote]GETTING REAL LIVE WITH K-DEF

Ask any 90

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:02 am

This was first published in Big Daddy Magazine...an incredible read about the late great influential producer.

Traveling at the Speed of Thought

There's been some thought 'round these parts about some of the great stories in hip-hop that rarely find their way to the surface. Then some cats on the Okayplayer boards were asking about Paul C- who he was, his legacy, his death. Thought it'd be good to dig in the archives and pull this story out, by Dave Tompkins, the most comprehensive piece on Paul C ever written.

This story's origins began somewhere in the office of 360hiphop around 2001, those halcyon days of internet-media revolution. The story was published after about three months of work, but the hubris of the site's upper-management had created a space that few people could actually access, tricked-out computers or not. Luckily DT found a print home for it eventually, with Big Daddy. Still, just wanted to put out the word of where it came from first.

That 360 crew we had was no joke: jeff chang, caramanica, dave tompkins, kris ex, hua hsu, sly stallone (where is you man?), egon, etc. Maybe some more from those archives should go up in the next few weeks.

Anyway, here's the piece for folks to read. It was absolutely unbelievable to edit; Tompkins was just on some other shit. Enjoy.

He produced the Ultramagnetic MCs and Eric B & Rakim. He perfected techniques like the "chop" and "pan." He taught Large Professor everything he knows. And he died in 1989 at the age of 24. Paul C is the most influential producer you've never read about

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:02 am

This was first published in Big Daddy Magazine...an incredible read about the late great influential producer.

Traveling at the Speed of Thought

There's been some thought 'round these parts about some of the great stories in hip-hop that rarely find their way to the surface. Then some cats on the Okayplayer boards were asking about Paul C- who he was, his legacy, his death. Thought it'd be good to dig in the archives and pull this story out, by Dave Tompkins, the most comprehensive piece on Paul C ever written.

This story's origins began somewhere in the office of 360hiphop around 2001, those halcyon days of internet-media revolution. The story was published after about three months of work, but the hubris of the site's upper-management had created a space that few people could actually access, tricked-out computers or not. Luckily DT found a print home for it eventually, with Big Daddy. Still, just wanted to put out the word of where it came from first.

That 360 crew we had was no joke: jeff chang, caramanica, dave tompkins, kris ex, hua hsu, sly stallone (where is you man?), egon, etc. Maybe some more from those archives should go up in the next few weeks.

Anyway, here's the piece for folks to read. It was absolutely unbelievable to edit; Tompkins was just on some other shit. Enjoy.

He produced the Ultramagnetic MCs and Eric B & Rakim. He perfected techniques like the "chop" and "pan." He taught Large Professor everything he knows. And he died in 1989 at the age of 24. Paul C is the most influential producer you've never read about

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:05 am

The Cold Crush Brothers are a legendary hip hop group that formed in 1978 in the Bronx, New York, the home of hip hop, during its beginning, alongside other hip hop icons such as Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force, Grand Wizard Theodore & The Fantastic Five, and DJs Baron and Breakout and The Funky Four Plus One. The group's original lineup consisted of the founder, Original DJ Tony Tone, Easy A.D., DJ Charlie Chase, Whipper Whip, Mr. Tee, and Dot-A-Rock. Eventually, Whipper Whip and Dot-A-Rock left and joined the Fantastic Five, which they considered to be a more established group at the time. The Fantastic Five was originally the "L" Brothers, which consisted of DJ Mean Gene, DJ Cordio, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, MC Smiley, Master Rob, the Original Kevie Kev and Busy Bee Starski. Tony Tone, Easy A.D. and Charlie Chase brought in Grandmaster Caz (formerly DJ Casanova Fly), Almighty Kay Gee and J.D.L. Money Ray (Eric Hoskins) would be added to the group in the late '80s.

The Cold Crush Brothers were especially known for their memorable routines which included harmonies, melodies and stage-stomping performances. The Cold Crush Brothers set the standard for emceeing. They became known as the Rolling Stones of hip hop. Because of the attention they began to attract, many groups would try to battle them to gain street credibility and for hip hop supremacy. This would lead to a fierce and well known rivalry with The Fantastic Five, culminating with the first battle in hip hop history on July 3, 1981 between the two groups. The grand prize was winner takes all, $1000 cash. The Fantastic Five won the battle.

The Cold Crush Brothers began to release records commercially. The first single was "Weekend" on Elite Records. It was a party and dance record that desribed ways to have fun on the weekends. The second single was "Punk Rock Rap" on Tuff City Records and distributed by CBS. This was the first time an independent hip hop label and a major record company worked together. "Punk Rock Rap" was the first recording to fuse hip hop and rock together. The phrase, "Oh My God!" sampled on Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew's single, "The Show", came from "Punk Rock Rap". The most successful Cold Crush single to date is "Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold", released in 1984, which sold 16,000 units in its first week of release. A distribution dispute between Tuff City Records and Profile Records hindered the sales of the single with the most potential of reaching gold status.

The Cold Crush Brothers toured all five boroughs of New York and as far as Boston before commercially-released records. Their popularity was strengthened by the sale of their live performances that were recorded on cassette by Tape Master (Elvis Moreno). These shows were taped and distributed worldwide via word-of-mouth promotion. The movie, "Wild Style" is now considered to be the seminal work that correctly depicts hip hop culture. The Cold Crush Brothers were featured in the 1982 movie Wild Style, the seminal work depicting hip hop culture. In the movie, the Cold Crush was featured in a number of scenes, most notable was that featuring the Brothers' face off against their arch-nemesis, the Fantastic Five. A year after the movie was released, the Cold Crush Brothers took hip hop abroad with tour dates in Japan and Europe.

The Cold Crush Brothers became involved in one of hip hop's most historic moments when Joey Robinson (son of Sugar Hill Records founder, Sylvia Robinson) happened to hear (part-time club bouncer and former manager of Cold Crush member Grandmaster Caz) Big Bank Hank rapping to a tape of Caz while working at a pizzeria in New Jersey. Robinson informed Hank that he was forming a group called the Sugar Hill Gang and asked if Hank would like to join. Hank accepted, although he wasn't an MC. Hank went to Grandmaster Caz and asked him for some rhymes. Caz laid his rhyme books on the bed and said, "Take whatever you want," with the understanding that Hank would compensate Caz at a later time. Caz's lyrics landed in a song by the Sugar Hill Gang called "Rapper's Delight". The song became a huge hit in 1979 and was the first hip hop single to land on the top 40 charts. Caz never received any credit or compensation for the rhymes that he contributed.

In October 2002, member Money Ray passed away. The group still performs across the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Crush_Brothers

1992-2002-COLDCRUSH - UNRELEASED

Fresh, Wild, Fly and Bold

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:06 am

[quote]Blaq Poet

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:07 am

Rakim is still my favourite ever MC...and Follow The Leader is favourite my Hip Hop album of all time (Only a handful of artists made rap like this kind in 1988 and it's timeless and a blueprint sound and style for so many artists, it's influence is still felt today-Jaz

They never had a mainstream hit of their own, but during rap's so-called golden age in the late '80s, Eric B. & Rakim were almost universally recognized as the premier DJ/MC team in all of hip-hop. Not only was their chemistry superb, but individually, each represented the absolute state of the art in their respective skills. Eric B. was a hugely influential DJ and beatmaker whose taste for hard-hitting James Brown samples touched off a stampede through the Godfather of Soul's back catalog that continues up to the present day. Rakim, meanwhile, still tops fan polls as the greatest MC of all time. He crafted his rhymes like poetry, filling his lines with elaborate metaphors and complex internal rhymes, and he played with the beat like a jazzman, earning a reputation as the smoothest-flowing MC ever to pick up a mic. His articulation was clear, his delivery seemingly effortless, and his influence on subsequent MCs incalculable. Together, their peerless technique on the microphone and turntables upped the ante for all who followed them, and their advancement of hip-hop as an art form has been acknowledged by everyone from Gang Starr to the Wu-Tang Clan to Eminem. While certain elements of their sound might come off as slightly dated today, it's also immediately clear how much of a hand Eric B. & Rakim had in leading hip-hop into the modern age.

Eric B. was born Eric Barrier in 1965 in Elmhurst, Queens; his future partner, William Griffin, Jr., was born in 1968 and also hailed from the suburbs of New York, specifically Wyandanch, Long Island. At age 16, Griffin converted to Islam and adopted the name Rakim Allah. Barrier played trumpet and guitar early on, but switched to the turntables in high school, and eventually landed a job as the mobile DJ for radio station WBLS. It was there that he met Rakim, and the two officially formed a partnership in 1985. Their first single -- "Eric B. Is President" (an ode to Barrier's DJ skills) b/w "My Melody" -- was released on the tiny Harlem-based indie label Zakia. It was a street-level sensation during the summer of 1986, and the duo was picked up by the larger 4th & Broadway imprint. The equally monumental singles "I Ain't No Joke" and "I Know You Got Soul" sampled James Brown and his cohort Bobby Byrd, respectively, and their utter funkiness began to revolutionize the sound of hip-hop. Moreover, Rakim's line "pump up the volume" on the latter track was in turn sampled itself, becoming the basis for M/A/R/R/S' hit of the same name.

In 1987, 4th & Broadway issued the duo's full-length debut, Paid in Full; accompanied by a mighty underground buzz, the record climbed into the Top Ten on the R&B LP charts (as would all of their subsequent albums). Additionally, the British DJ duo Coldcut remixed the title cut into a bona fide U.K. smash. The exposure helped make "Paid in Full"'s drum track one of the most sampled beats this side of James Brown's "Funky Drummer"; it provided the foundation for Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True," among many other, more credible hits. On the heels of Paid in Full, Eric B. & Rakim signed with MCA subsidiary Uni and consolidated their reputation with another landmark hip-hop album, 1988's Follow the Leader. The title cut took its place among the classic singles already in their canon, and Jody Watley soon tapped the duo for a guest spot on her 1989 single "Friends," which brought them into the pop Top Ten for the first and only time.

The 1990 follow-up Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em proved relatively disappointing from a creative standpoint, although 1992's slightly jazzier Don't Sweat the Technique was a more consistent affair that bolstered their legacy. As it turned out, the record also completed that legacy. The duo's contract with MCA was almost up, and they had discussed the possibility of each recording a solo album. Unfortunately, the resulting tension over the future of their partnership ultimately destroyed it. In the aftermath of the breakup, various legal issues prevented both parties from starting their solo careers for quite some time. The only recording to appear was Rakim's first solo cut, "Heat It Up," which was featured on the soundtrack of the 1993 film Gunmen. Finally, in 1995, Eric B. issued his self-titled solo debut on his own 95th Street label. Rakim, meanwhile, signed with Universal and delivered a pair of acclaimed comeback albums, 1997's The 18th Letter and 1999's The Master.

Rakim also recorded an album with Dr Dre but he didn't like the finished product so it is unlikely it will ever see a release.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... fde5cqe~T1

Defining Albums:

1987-Paid In Full

1988-Follow The Leader

1990-Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em

1992-Don't Sweat The Technique

1997-Rakim-The 18th Letter

Compilations:
2001- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric B. & Rakim

2003-Classic

2005-Gold

zygmontone · Post by **zygmontone** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:37 am

Raphael De La Ghetto · Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:08 am

That was a great Paul C read, I never new much about him other than people referring to him as an innovator and giving a shortlist of some of his work. Thanks a lot for posting.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:17 pm

It has been said; that it is important to remember where you come from, in order to get the proper perspective on where you are going.

Just ask Red Alert, and I'm sure he will agree that it was his personal experience while growing up in Harlem that has laid the foundation for his musical street smarts/savvy as well as motivation, determination and consistency. DJ Red Alert's World Famous Radio Mix Show can be heard daily Monday through Friday on New York City's Power 105.1 FM. In addition DJ Red Alert has a radio show heard nationwide on the all new Sirius Satellite Network.

DJ Red Alert is recognized and respected worldwide as one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop music and culture! He has received numerous awards and accolades including a special award at the first annual Rap Hall of Fame Awards show. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from IMPACT music trade publication for 1998 and the 1997 Mix Show DJ of the year award from GAVIN. In addition DJ Red Alert was named one of the 50 most influential people in music by ROLLING STONE magazine. Red Alert was recently inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL of FAME in Cleveland, Ohio with his own exhibit. The only DJ of this era so honored! Kool DJ Red Alert was named an honorary ambassador to the United Nations in recognition of his contributions in the field of music. In June 2003 Red Alert was inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame where past honoree's have included such luminaries as General Colin Powell. DJ Red Alert has appeared in over 50 music videos.

Red was reared by his maternal grandparents, who were from Antiqua. Red's love for those around-the-way basketball games led him to his high school team at DeWitt Clinton. No doubt this is where he was dubbed the nickname, "RED"; for his red hair and alert response on the court. Red later received a college basketball scholarship. During the last of his high school years, Red hung out at the Saturday night parties thrown by DJ Kool Herc (the first hip-hop deejay) and his emcee Coke La Rock (who Red credits as "the very first rapper") at clubs throughout the west Bronx.

Red studied the style of music Kool Herc played -- James Brown, Dennis Coffey, Baby Huey, the Isley Brothers -- and the way he blended the vinyl. On Fridays, Red found himself venturing downtown to check out star disco deejays, such as: Grandmaster Flash, Together Brothers, and Pete DJ Jones.

It wasn't long before he was jammin' at parties on his own equipment. It was important to be up on what was happening on the New York scene, so Red was now attending legendary parties throughout the Bronx. Red caught Grandmaster Flash at the Black Door and the Dixie Club, Kool DJ A.J. at the Morehouse Center and Afrika Bambaata at JHS 123.

By this time, Red had gathered enough record selection and record spinning insight to teach his cousin DJ Jazzy Jay the basics of the art. Jazzy Jay in turn introduced Red to Bambaata. Bambaata taught Red about rock, reggae and new wave music.

Learning about the various styles of dance oriented music, Red soon became the deejay for Bambaata and his Zulu Nation, joining the likes of Afrika Islam, the Soul Sonic Force, Grandmaster DST and the Rock Steady Crew. Through this association, Red began to spin records downtown at such clubs as Negril and Danceteria.

While deejaying at the Roxy, he met Barry Mayo, then program director of NY's WRKS 98.7 KISS FM. A man of considerable taste, Mayo hired Red to inaugurate the "Dance Mix Party." Red remained at 98.7 KISS FM for 11 years, becoming the top DJ at the station. During his tenure at KISS, Red became the first individual to popularize dancehall music at a major radio station! In 1994 DJ Red Alert moved to New York's Hot 97 radio station where he did two daily shows. They were the "The Twelve O'clock Old School at Noon Mix" and the "Five O'clock Free Ride." In the year 2001 Red returned home to 98.7 Kiss FM in New York City. The World Famous Kool DJ Red Alert Old School at Noon Mixshow can be heard daily Monday thru Friday on New York City's Power 105.1 FM.

Before you knew it, Red met up with producer Vincent Davis, of the Vintertainment Record label, through DJ Chuck Chillout, to produce Red's First record, "Hip Hop On Wax, Volume 2." Red was well on the way to becoming one of the most noted names in the business. Red deejayed for artist Sparky D during the Roxanne, Roxanne era. He also became a member of the Boogie Down Productions, touring the country with KRS One. Since then, Red has done super mixes for compilation albums on Next Plateau Records and Epic Records.

Now a seasoned veteran as radio jock, club jock and studio man, Kool DJ Red Alert has established his place as one of the world's premier DJ's. To top it off Red Alert owns a production and management company, Red Alert Productions (RAP). The company garnered a reputation for developing and promoting new talent. RED is responsible for launching the career of such widely acclaimed acts as the Jungle Brothers, Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep and Queen Latifah to name four.

In addition DJ Red Alert was the first to introduce numerous hit records including "Soul II Soul" by Jazzy B and "Hold On" by the group En Vogue! If an artist ever hears his or her stuff on Red Alert's shows, you can bet they can assume their work is indeed truly slammin'.

RED continues to be a catalyst for a lot of up and coming artist's. He represents the history and future of hip-hop music and culture. He is constantly surging forward to break new ground in this business called entertainment.

Red says, "You have to learn how to break a new artist on record by working it in and out with familiar records. People are scared to fall. It's OK to fall. You must learn how to fall and be strong so you can come back. A DJ is like the pied piper."

With his attitude toward life and professionalism regarding his craft, surely we are in good hands!

http://www.kooldjredalert.com
http://www.daveyd.com/interviewgredalertchronicle.html
^1996 interview with Davey D

Defining Albums:

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:18 pm

It has been said; that it is important to remember where you come from, in order to get the proper perspective on where you are going.

Just ask Red Alert, and I'm sure he will agree that it was his personal experience while growing up in Harlem that has laid the foundation for his musical street smarts/savvy as well as motivation, determination and consistency. DJ Red Alert's World Famous Radio Mix Show can be heard daily Monday through Friday on New York City's Power 105.1 FM. In addition DJ Red Alert has a radio show heard nationwide on the all new Sirius Satellite Network.

DJ Red Alert is recognized and respected worldwide as one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop music and culture! He has received numerous awards and accolades including a special award at the first annual Rap Hall of Fame Awards show. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from IMPACT music trade publication for 1998 and the 1997 Mix Show DJ of the year award from GAVIN. In addition DJ Red Alert was named one of the 50 most influential people in music by ROLLING STONE magazine. Red Alert was recently inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL of FAME in Cleveland, Ohio with his own exhibit. The only DJ of this era so honored! Kool DJ Red Alert was named an honorary ambassador to the United Nations in recognition of his contributions in the field of music. In June 2003 Red Alert was inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame where past honoree's have included such luminaries as General Colin Powell. DJ Red Alert has appeared in over 50 music videos.

Red was reared by his maternal grandparents, who were from Antiqua. Red's love for those around-the-way basketball games led him to his high school team at DeWitt Clinton. No doubt this is where he was dubbed the nickname, "RED"; for his red hair and alert response on the court. Red later received a college basketball scholarship. During the last of his high school years, Red hung out at the Saturday night parties thrown by DJ Kool Herc (the first hip-hop deejay) and his emcee Coke La Rock (who Red credits as "the very first rapper") at clubs throughout the west Bronx.

Red studied the style of music Kool Herc played -- James Brown, Dennis Coffey, Baby Huey, the Isley Brothers -- and the way he blended the vinyl. On Fridays, Red found himself venturing downtown to check out star disco deejays, such as: Grandmaster Flash, Together Brothers, and Pete DJ Jones.

It wasn't long before he was jammin' at parties on his own equipment. It was important to be up on what was happening on the New York scene, so Red was now attending legendary parties throughout the Bronx. Red caught Grandmaster Flash at the Black Door and the Dixie Club, Kool DJ A.J. at the Morehouse Center and Afrika Bambaata at JHS 123.

By this time, Red had gathered enough record selection and record spinning insight to teach his cousin DJ Jazzy Jay the basics of the art. Jazzy Jay in turn introduced Red to Bambaata. Bambaata taught Red about rock, reggae and new wave music.

Learning about the various styles of dance oriented music, Red soon became the deejay for Bambaata and his Zulu Nation, joining the likes of Afrika Islam, the Soul Sonic Force, Grandmaster DST and the Rock Steady Crew. Through this association, Red began to spin records downtown at such clubs as Negril and Danceteria.

While deejaying at the Roxy, he met Barry Mayo, then program director of NY's WRKS 98.7 KISS FM. A man of considerable taste, Mayo hired Red to inaugurate the "Dance Mix Party." Red remained at 98.7 KISS FM for 11 years, becoming the top DJ at the station. During his tenure at KISS, Red became the first individual to popularize dancehall music at a major radio station! In 1994 DJ Red Alert moved to New York's Hot 97 radio station where he did two daily shows. They were the "The Twelve O'clock Old School at Noon Mix" and the "Five O'clock Free Ride." In the year 2001 Red returned home to 98.7 Kiss FM in New York City. The World Famous Kool DJ Red Alert Old School at Noon Mixshow can be heard daily Monday thru Friday on New York City's Power 105.1 FM.

Before you knew it, Red met up with producer Vincent Davis, of the Vintertainment Record label, through DJ Chuck Chillout, to produce Red's First record, "Hip Hop On Wax, Volume 2." Red was well on the way to becoming one of the most noted names in the business. Red deejayed for artist Sparky D during the Roxanne, Roxanne era. He also became a member of the Boogie Down Productions, touring the country with KRS One. Since then, Red has done super mixes for compilation albums on Next Plateau Records and Epic Records.

Now a seasoned veteran as radio jock, club jock and studio man, Kool DJ Red Alert has established his place as one of the world's premier DJ's. To top it off Red Alert owns a production and management company, Red Alert Productions (RAP). The company garnered a reputation for developing and promoting new talent. RED is responsible for launching the career of such widely acclaimed acts as the Jungle Brothers, Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep and Queen Latifah to name four.

In addition DJ Red Alert was the first to introduce numerous hit records including "Soul II Soul" by Jazzy B and "Hold On" by the group En Vogue! If an artist ever hears his or her stuff on Red Alert's shows, you can bet they can assume their work is indeed truly slammin'.

RED continues to be a catalyst for a lot of up and coming artist's. He represents the history and future of hip-hop music and culture. He is constantly surging forward to break new ground in this business called entertainment.

Red says, "You have to learn how to break a new artist on record by working it in and out with familiar records. People are scared to fall. It's OK to fall. You must learn how to fall and be strong so you can come back. A DJ is like the pied piper."

With his attitude toward life and professionalism regarding his craft, surely we are in good hands!

http://www.kooldjredalert.com
http://www.daveyd.com/interviewgredalertchronicle.html
^1996 interview with Davey D

Defining Albums:

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:26 pm

Ultramagnetic MC's
Ced Gee
Kool Kieth
DJ Moe Love
T.R. Love

The group formed in 1984. Many believe that without the group's primary producer, Ced-Gee, the sound and samples, mostly James Brown, wouldn't have been as prominent. Their worldwide buzz started with the 12" single on Next Plateau Records for "Ego Trippin'" in 1986 with the infamous "Substitution" drum break sample,but their actual break-out single was "Funky/Mentally Mad" one of the most sought 12" singles of their career. It was released in 1987 and put the foursome on the map. This led to the release of the album, Critical Beatdown.

Although the Ultramagnetic MCs released a new school classic in 1988, Critical Beatdown, with typical James Brown samples -- they disappeared after that for several years, to return on Mercury Records in 1992, with the album Funk Your Head Up. 1993's The Four Horsemen was considered extremely strange though still brilliant. That was the last album the Ultramagnetic MCs released.

There were several semi-legitimate and compilation albums to follow, many with outtakes or older material not released (such as The B-Sides Companion). In 2001, they released a single, "Make It Rain/Mix It Down" which whetted fans appetite for a reunion album.

In a December 9, 2005 interview on Houston's Late Nite Snax radio show, Kool Keith confirmed rumours that the Ultramagnetic MC's had reformed and recorded a new album to be called "Another Beatdown."

The Ultramagnetic MC's launched the career of self-proclaimed "Bronx Nigga" Tim Dog who brought out the very successful single "Fuck Compton". Kool Keith and Tim Dog reunited on the Ultramagnetic MCs semi-reunion album Big Time. Kool Keith went on to record many solo CDs, including one under the "Dr. Octagon" monicker. His abstract rhymes influenced many rappers, including Pharoahe Monch from Organized Konfusion.

Kool Kieth has had over 20 albums under various aliases and they haven't been the best to be honest, however the very dope and raw and first release on Bobbito Garcia's Fondle 'Em label was a project with Godfather Don as The Cenobites.

A lot of Ultramagnetic MC material was produced or assisted by the late great Paul C.

Ced Gee is the uncredited main producer for Boogie Down Production's-Criminal Minded LP and is a very dope producer in his own right having produced and or remixed for...

-Grandmaster Caz
-Larry Larr
-Finessee & Synquis
-MF 911
-King Tee
-Mark The 45 King
-Kool D & Technolo G
-A Dee & C Nice
-Freddy B & The Mic Masters
and many others.... *

The East Coast remix of 1992's-Poppa Large single was remixed by the first formation of New York's Da Beatminerz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramagnetic_MC%27s
*Jaz

Defining Albums:

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:33 pm

80's rap group from Bridgeport, Connecticut consisting of rapper brothers "Superman" Jay and "Shockin'" Shaun Harrison, plus beat-boxing cousin Jacques "Jock" Harrison.

They released there debut album 'Wieghtless' back in 1986 and had a moderately successful career.

Defining Albums:

Rip..Rip The Cutttttttttttttttttttt!!!

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:38 pm

The B-boys hailed from the Bronx, New York.

Their best known record is "Rock The House" which has been sampled on just about every early cut and paste jam.

"2 3 break" and "Cuttin Herbie" were two equally good scratch instrumentals displaying the turntable finesse of Chuck Chillout. "2 3 break" was one of the first records to cut up the well known "Rocket in the pocket" break by Cerrone. All of these tracks were released on Vintertainment records in 1983.

1985 saw their return with "Stick Up Kid" and "Girls" and "Girls Part 2".

Chuck Chillout worked with Run DMC on the "King of Rock" LP primarily on the cut "Daryll & Joe".

Chuck Chillout went on to host a NY rap show on WBLS. In the mid 80's he putt out a solo record on Vintertainment called "Hip Hop On Wax Part 1". This release was part of a three part series. Part 2 was by Kool DJ Red Alert and Part 3 was by DJ Born Supreme Allah (who also made "2,3 Break Pt 2" in 1985). Chuck also put out an album in 1989 called "The Masters of Rhythm" with Kool Chip on Mercury Records which featured "Rhythm is the Master", "No DJ Like Chuck" and "I'm Large". he is also credited with mixing Public Enemy's "Night of the Living Baseheads". He was also known as DJ Steel of Steel Productions.

Donald D was a solo artist for a few years affiliated with Ice T's west coast Rhyme Syndicate putting out two albums. The first one of which was called "Notorious" in 1990. He also did a cameo on Ice T's album "Power". He currently resides in LA where he is working on "Girls Part 3" with Brother B.

In 1995 Chuck Chillout released a single called "2-3 Break '95" on Phat Wax with a vocal group he produced on the b side.

He also discovered the hip hop group Black Moon.

Chuck has a record pool in Newark (which was started in 1999) called FULL BLAST RECORD POOL and is working with a new upcoming artist named FT. NOX.

In addition, he has a show on XM radio Channel 66 Raw.

http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists/emcees/bboys.htm

Defining Albums:

Chuck Chillout and Kool Chip

1989-Rhythm is the Master

Donald D

1989-Notorious

1992-Let The Horns Blow

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:48 pm

Rick "Slick Rick" Walters was born in London in 1965 and moved with his family to the Bronx in 1975.

Charlie Rock of Harlem World crew was very instrumental in bringing "Ricky D" AKA "Slick Rick" and Doug E. Fresh together when he was request by Doug to introduce him to Rick after he has seen him win a number of local MC battle contest. It was at a MC Contest at the 369 Armory on 142nd street in Harlem, given by promotion partners Ray chandler & Charlie Rock, The Rick & Doug were formally introduced by Rock.

As a 19-year-old in the summer of 1985 he scored his first big hits, "La Di Da Di" and "The Show."

Three years later Def Jam Recordings released Rick's first full-length album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. Hailed as a showcase for Rick's extraordinary writing and rapping skills, it quickly achieved "platinum" status for sales in excess of one million copies and has since established itself as a rap classic.

At the height of his fame in July of 1990, Rick shot and wounded two people in an ill-advised attempt to protect himself against a violent predator. Convicted of attempted murder in the second degree, he began serving his sentence of three-to-ten years in 1991. While he was in jail, he released "The Ruler's Back" (1991) and "Behind Bars" (1994).

After his release in 1999 he released "The Art of Storytelling."

All three albums were certified gold.

www.oldschoolhiphop.com

Additional info by Charlie Rock

Defining Albums: