These aren’t one hit wonders, since none of these records were technically “hits” in the traditional sense. This is more of a collection of rappers who only got one chance to shine before they got a steady city job with a pension or dangled in record company hell for all eternity.
Raw Dope Posse – “Listen To My Turbo”
LL Cool J was heavily inspired by T La Rock, whereas these guys basically replicated his stuff right down to the Mantronik style beat. Not that it’s a bad thing, it sure beats trying to be another Run-DMC knock off.
Jaybok The City Ace – “Hip Hop Phenomenal”
The ever-reliable YouTube comment section tells us: “He goes by the name J-BOOM these dayz as a producer. He also did production for PRINCE MARKIE DEE (of the ‘FAT BOYS’).” I just remember how great DJ Doc’s horror-film inspired beat is on this. First DJ to cut up the sound of a burning forest? Might be.
Royal Ron – “Opsta Now (Stop Now)”
Pimp Pretty Royal Ron had a record the year before this, but “Rock The B-Boy Stance” was nowhere near as effective as this display of Pig Latin over a variation of producer Schoolly-D‘s “Housin’ The Joint” cowbells.
The Almighty El Cee – “We Have Risen”
El Cee raps his ass/arse off for five minutes over appropriately dramatic music.
Uptown – “Dope On Plastic”
Although Uptown would later re-emerge with Buckshot LeFonque, this has long been a favorite of those in the know.
Levi 167 – “Something Fresh To Swing To”
An early member of BDP who may or may not have been kicked out because he beamed up to Scotty a little too much, this record had it’s own dusted sound that still rocks just as hard to this day.
Seeborn and Puma – “They Call Me Puma”
Were these guys weed carriers for Howie Tee and Chubb Rock? Regardless, anyone who introduces a song with “I’m the ignorant rapper!” is OK in my book.
Jamose – The Rhymthologist
Lucky this dude didn’t drop after 1994, otherwise he might have been accused of sounding like Nas. It’s all about that horn break though…
Lazy Laz – “Mystery”
That Audio 2 goodness strikes again with this slice of “Nautilus” gold from the Bumrush label.
Lord Alibaski – “Top Gun”
Even though he had four tracks on the Flavor Unit album, this was his sole solo sojourn.
nice selection.
First track I thought of when I saw the title was ‘Listen To My Turbo’ and sure enough…
I nominate Bushwackas – Caught Up in the Game
Don’t Scandalize Mine- Sugar Bear
Trenton Where We Live- Almighty and KD Ranks
Frescho and Miz- the EP
Do It to the Crowd- Twin Hype
Hook and Sling- Phase N Rhythm
You forgot
Partners in Crime – Sweet Daddy Ceville
Five Times The Rhymer – Dueces Wild
I’m Hot – The Rangers
Holy War – Divine Force
My Mic is On Fire – Lord Shafiq
Return of the Body Snatcha-Preacher Earl, is another great one shot wonder
Must Stay Paid- Broadway
The Assassinator- Style
dope list, that “We Have Risen” was pretty crazy
I’d nominate Sub-Con’s Pushin Orbitz since I never found the album this single was for and never heard his name again; youtube.com/watch?v=FM4dU4vRB6M
DOPE ON PLASTIC! 1 of my all time favs! What about MAJESTIC PRODUCTIONS – FRONTLINES (VOCAL MAJESTIC VERSION)! They used that FLY ROBIN FLY shit way before Meth & Red! FUNKY DRUMMER on the hook… Check! Ponderosa reference… Check! lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6P06tqHEo
That whole list is bad ass and you it Robbie.
Bait us! I could probably add a few more to that but i cant be chuffed! Like Unique (Pure Dynamite) and Poetry (Everything I Do) I always thought Jamose sounded a bit like Kool G Rap and that’s not a diss.
Sadly like Lazy Laz most of those names are shrouded in mystery.
The following don’t qualify:
Twin Hype – Had an album and an EP.
Deuces Wild – Dropped two singles before “5 Times The Rhymer”.
Unique – Dropped a second single and an EP later on DWG.
Style – Released an album.
Divine Force – Released three singles.
Lord Shafiq – Made an album as The Chosen Few with DJ Doc.
King Doe V – one single
MC EZ & Troop (under the name) 1 single
Tray Bag MC (as Tray Bag)
Dr Luv & Kev Ski – one single
Molecular Beat Squadron – one single
A.O.K on Profile – one single
Raw Corp ft. Dj Len – one single
Kool D & Technolo G – 1 single on Wild Pitch
Profile Records were good at one shot deals.
Between Robbie’s list and the comment section suggestions, I’m going to have yet another huge comp to dip into at the next party. Great recommendations from everyone. Thanks!
How about The Royalty Ladies, Its our Turn. Also Grand Poobah Tony D & Cool Gino G – I’m Terrifyin’
Crunch time – Lord Alibaski
That track was and still is fire til this day.
yea That Sugarbear-Dont Scandalize mine,,,Frontlines- majestic productions…We have risen by Almighty el-cee… Pure dynamite By Uniique… mic is on fire by Lord shafiyq…
all the artist yall dudes mentioned on here was definitely in that get ya tapes ready era…NYC Hip hop Radio shows – In control – Marley marl…Hank love DNA show…Operating room – Doctor Dre of Doc dre & ed lover (that show was on Adelphi university WBAU 90.3 ny…The Awesome Two,Special K Teddy Ted…Red alert Chuck Chillout… on nyu radio station there was a dude who went by the name of P-Fine and his Deejay was Olivio Gee who hosted a show called Rap This on Wnyu 89.1.. This was that era Radio hip hop shows was Get your 90 or 60 min. cassette tape ready get ready to press record or just let the tape run and dubbed it the next day cause you never knew what new and exclusive tracks you were gonna miss.
Lord Alibaski was incredible
Robbie you are a mfin’ lifesaver! Ive had that Lazy Laz song in my head for at least 25 years! I used to talk about that song to my boys and they always thought I was lying or some bs….that used to get burn on this college station in the Chi in 89-90…..now if I can get a copy of this….
“I nominate Bushwackas – Caught Up in the Game”
No.
They had Rough, Rugg’d & Raw/Who’s Whylin single and a full album a year before that record came out.
E-Rule Listen Up
@X Saun
Almighty El Cee had another 12″ a bit later was wack from what i remember was a house track.
Majestic Productions had some 12″ singles out earlier before Cold Sweat / Frontline 12 on DNA
Unique had two singles at the time(I dont inc DWG ep some 20 years later)
Lord Shafiyq 2 singles and recorded LP with Dj Doc as Chosen Ones in 89 couple singles off that one.
@357 E-Rule made more records
BZ-2 “We’re Troopers”
Too Swift “this is talent”
B-Fyne “Peppermint”
Blvd Mosse “Outstanding”
Kings of Pressure “you know how to reach us”
^^BZ-2 MC’s on Strong City ONE 12″(?) real shame we never got anything else from them.
KOP dropped ‘slang teacher’ LP with couple singles off it.
Blvd. Mosse had a couple of 12s, shame no LP.
Chosen Two – this is talent is a good call Edubz. If your interested in the topic go check how many one shots on B. Boy Records, shocking.
@P_Chill.. Respect, yeah, I heard a lot of joints on bls and kiss back in the day, didn’t catch the names of a lot a artists. What caught my attention in this thread was a song that I haven’t heard in over 20 years and that’s the Partners in Crime track. I heard it on bls, it was blended with “man in the mirror” but never knew who the group was.. Peace Robbie for this site. The energy that real New York hip hop generated could never be duplicated but sites like this, keeps the blood pumpin’… audi 5
Lazy Laz is Lazy Laze, the longtime Manager of M.O.P.
I cant check if this link is working, but there was a interview with him about the 12″ here:
http://mixeryrawdeluxe.tv/index.php/News/Index/style/pastshows/id/6212
Lazy Laz was crazy DOPE! He has been a producer for a long time and also in M.O.P. circle. I can’t remember the name he goes by now to save my life though but you all have heard it.
PUMA joint I still got on wax, Loved the horns on that. RED ALERT played that to death!!!!!!
Basically any RED ALERT show from 1987-1990 were DOPE singles by Cats who weren’t able to make full albums because of Politics.
“WHO STOLE MY KANGOL” one of the dopest singles of the late 80s I taped off RED ALERT and to this day..dont know who did that song!!!!! Dope Dope Dope Joint!!!!!!!
DC SCORPIO “Stone Cold Huslter” the 1987 part one version was a real jewel few knew about.
KNOCK EM OUT-SUGAR RAY (before the Double X Posse) That record was a banger!!!!!
MC BREEZE & DJ HAND MASTER FLASH- DISCUMBOBULATORBOOBALOR” B-Side -It Aint New York (Even though they dissed NY and that had me tight, the song was so dope, I couldn’t hate it). MC BREEZE had another single after that I couldn’t find but heard once on a Philly Radio show in 1987.
Then when he went by his government name JOEY ELLIS and did the horrible song for ROCKY part 30 and Hammer signed him, it was all down hill!!!!
Last One TWO KINGS IN A CIPHER-MOVING ON EM (Two dudes from NYC who went to Howard U released that and a pretty nice album) Later Son went on to ghost produce and write for Puffy by a name everybody knows now. I forget the name too lol.
Solid list!
Triflicts? I don’t think they dropped an album.
Daddy- A.D.I
Little known fact: LL bit T-La Rock’s style on his first releases to the point that he actually paid him $25g’s to settle out of court.
Co-sign, the first song that came to mind. I was fiending for an album mid-90’s!