When Philly’s Tuff Crew combined forces with New Jersey’s Krown Rulers for the P.H.A.N.J.A.M. (PHilly And New Jersey All-Star M.c.’s) album which included electro-jams such as “Techno Tuff” and the bizarre “Art of Love”, they wisely connected with Ced-Gee and Kool Keith for some much-needed production help. Apparently, Ced schooled them on how to use the SP-1200, which is apparent when you listen to Danger Zone‘s much-improved beats.
The two Ultra crafted tracks, “B-Boy Document” and “Kick The Ball” still hold up as hardrock anthems to this day. “…Document” mixes sparse “Bridge”-like whines with a menacing piano riff and a booming drum track, while MC Grand Poobah delivers a take-no-shorts vocal perfomance that has cemented this as Philly rap standard. High & Mighty loved this song so much that they recorded no less than two vastly inferior remakes showcasing the Rawkus roster of the time.
When the Rulers delivered their own album, they included the same version of “…Document” and two remixes of “Kick The Ball”, however production for Paper Chase was credited to “Dave from the Tuff Crew” with no mention of Ced? Regardless, the P.H.A.N.J.A.M. album has finally been bootlegged recently after having maintained it’s status as an extremely rare LP amongst rap junkies for years.
Krown Rulers – B-Boy Document (P.H.A.N.J.A.M., Soo Def, 1987)
Also, thanks to Mr. Kimoji for mentioning me as his “Blogger of the Week”.
“Kick the Ball” maaaaaaaaan! That’s where it’s at.
First timeI heard this. A little street knowledge outta Illadelph. This is classical!! Ced Gee one of the greatest of all time. I love that low end piano in there!
“Paperchase” is my Favorite Krown Rulers.
“Paperchase is my Favorite Krown Rulers”
No doubt about that. I need the 12″ of that song.
props for this
i got the phanjam tape laying around here somewhere
krown rulers = camden’s finest
Just got Phanjam downtown in philly for like $12 on wax
they mustve repressed it recently cause the shop had alot of copies- got “funky dividends” by 3x dope 12” too – sweet find which i think was also repressed recently.
nevermind its the bootleg im assuming doh! o well its still dope
i was the lawyer back then and I have several originals shrink rapped as well as tons of old special stuff. Good article in the times.
great!
never heard about the track before, but since high and mighty’s version being a favourite for years glad for the schooling!
thanks
This is now my 5 yr old son’s favorite song! He loves the guitar bit.
Krown rulers, Ultra en tuff crew are just the best!!!!
Another great re-issue by Traffic Entertainment Group (TEG-76509):
http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/196013-01.htm
The “Bridge”-like whines that you described sound like a sample from “Scratchin'” by Magic Disco Machine. As in, the same ones from Run DMC’s “Jam Master Jay”.
Krown Rulers is nothing special. Paper Chase is a very good track but the rest is not worth listening to.