A lot of good rap was released in 1994. But for my money, the finest example of the artform was demonstrated by the Intoxicated Demons from Corona, Queens. While Illmatic took rhymes to new heights, as a complete package there was nothing that approached the first long player from this trio of rap maniacs, with that extra assist from V.I.C.
With Kool Ass Fash aka Fashion returning to duty as the lead MC, the late great DJ Roc Raida on the decks and nothing but dusty, unheard breaks providing the soundtrack, Street Level unleashed a unique sound that combined a classic party attitude with incredible beats and witty, gimmick-free lyrics. This is the kind of record that sound just as fresh in 2020 as it did in 1994, which is a rare feat in itself.
‘Ya Don’t Stop’
Setting the tone for the album, this track builds on the sound of the first EP, but ups the ante with better raps and a new sound that was far removed from the cliche horn echo style of the era – with the added bonus of Fashion of bringing his style to offset the raps of Les and Ju.
‘Props Over Here’
It’s been well documented that the crew were pressured to do this song by the label, but outside of the slightly generic hook it still works.
‘Hellraiser’
This is where shit really gets started, as the crew takes no shorts in calling out industry bullshit over an addictive loop. Psycho Les’ ill vocal cadence really shines here.
‘Are You Ready’
Everyone goes for break over a raw loop and incredible scratches, setting the stage for Grand Puba to demolish the show with his state-of-the-art flow.
‘Superbad’
A well-timed change of pace, the Nuts slow it down for a statement of intent to let you know that they don’t have anytime for your bullshit.
‘Straight Jacket’
One of my favourite songs of all time (not to mention a top five Rap With Running Water Sounds), the perfectly placed ODB hook makes nice with a killer bassline and floating horn riff for absolute Rap Perfection. Bonus points for the Flash Gordan reference.
‘Let Off A Couple’
A delightful interlude beat serves a suitable backdrop for a effective verses from the whole crew.
‘Rik’s Joint’
<strike>In case you forgot, Beatnuts were down with the Native Tongues so it was obligatory that Vinia Mojica would get involved. </strike>This is that Smoove shit, minus the Punk.
‘Fried Chicken’
Nothing short of incredible – even the Mighty V.I.C raps over this crunchy break before they drop a Bobbito sample on the hook.
‘Yeah You Get Props’
Minus one point for another song with ‘props’ in the title, but the beat is pretty great.
‘Get Funky’
A great song with an even better remix on the single, this is a great example of everything that is great about this crew. Nothing but a catchy beat and taking no shorts raps.
‘Hit Me With That’
A valuable entry into the Sampling Little Kids Talking Rap genre, this laid-back cut still manages to flaunt loud snares. Ain’t that something?
‘2-3 Break’
Beat Change Rap is a sadly neglected area these days, but at one point everyone was doing it since they had more loops than they knew what to do with. Shout out to Gab Gotcha.
‘Lick The Pussy’
These dumb Porno Rapps seem to have died out, but were still a million times better than the Rap Ballad era.
‘Sandwiches’
Nothing short of amazing. The alternative version of this is even better, with an extra two verses.
‘Psycho Dwarves’
A bonus cut from the EP, but based on how great the chorus is I have no complaints. Not to mention that Les says he’s ‘flipping through loops like a lunatic dolphin’ which is one of the more unusual references this side of NORE.
I agree. I recently reached out to Juju on IG and told him it was my most played album from ’94, and the dood took the time to thank me and elaborate how much effort they put into it for peeps like me. It was cohesive and complex street soul IMO, and 5 mic material. Props over here…
More posts like this and the previous ak piece please
Coincidentally just listened to this album. It’s just so damn good.
I forgot the Nuts were down with Native Tongues. I never understood why. It seems their only credentials were producing that Chi Ali album. And he was only a second-tier member of Native Tongues anyway.
That album sounds very fresh now
They produced alot in the early days at Red Alerts studio with Tip and Co. I really dug Da Lenchmob remixes they did back then…
agreed in full!
funny is, its not called “Street Level”, intended as a same-titled release, misleading photo with sign and the people re-named it.
Monie Love “Pups…” production, Jungle Brothers “Forces” appearance and occasional sample providers, Baby Chris Violator connect, etc.
JuJu was part of the early diggin trip circles with Q-Tip (and other NY greats). (Q-Tip interview with ?uestlove)
Once upon a time there was gonna be The Fabulous Fleas project with JuJu, Afrika, Q-Tip and Posdnous.
@BoBo: Les and Fashion both told me in separate interviews that it was meant to be titled Street Level, but JuJu may have different view:
http://www.unkut.com/2015/05/psycho-les-the-beatnuts-the-unkut-interview/
it’s all good either way, but check Les here:
https://youtu.be/kk5ZjMi1tcs?t=2532
notable japanese bonus cuts and white labels internationally
https://youtu.be/OYUob7sF_Po
https://youtu.be/l_KN0Fn2gyo
On the side title of my OG cassette bought from Madkap at Central Station in Rundle Mall in 1994, lol, it just said ‘The Beatnuts’. Self-titled ultimately in my book… Fried Chicken was my shit!
@BoBo. Per a Grand Royale article I read that “the Fabulous Fleas” was supposed to be Q-Tip, Adrock, and P.A. Mase. (Maybe the name was batted around to whoever wanted to come out first with it).
JuJu’s one of my favourite emcees ever, he just embodies the B Boy attitude
Co-sign, well said.
Desert Island Status
Peace Robbie, but how do figure Fashion was the lead emcee? Of course he was the only emcee that didn’t produce, but they shared the mic equally.
Kool Ass Fash shined the brightest of all three with the flow. The LOX all share the mic equally, but most people would agree that Jada is the lead MC.
I think Fashion was the solo MC on those early demos, but then JuJu and Les jumped on the mic later. And the Nuts took a real dip in quality when Fashion went solo as Al Tariq.
Stone Crazy has a lot of great beats, but it doesn’t hold up nearly as well as their debut. I’d rather listen to God Connections.
When I think of a lead emcee, I think of a rapper who handles the vast majority of the duties: B-Real, Treach, Everlast, Buckshot,…
With ATCQ & Run-DMC, to me the split was like 60-40 & 55-45. Personally I don’t consider Q-Tip (with the exception of the 1st album) & DJ Run to be lead emcees because it wasn’t the vast majority of the records.
In 3-man emcee crews, almost always the rapping is equally balanced: UTFO, Beasties, Onyx, Digable, Natural Elements,…
The 1st Brand Nubian album is a little tricky because Puba handled the majority of the rapping. Was it the vast majority? I could go either way with that. With the Fugees’ two albums, Clef rapped a tad more than Lauryn, but to me not vastly more.
And yes, I agree that most consider Jadakiss to be the lead emcee of his crew, but not to me. To me, he is the leader of the crew, but he never rapped significantly more than Louch or Styles P. Kind of like how Kool Moe Dee was the leader of his group, but he, LA Sunshine, and Special K shared the mic pretty much equally (at least from the small handful of records I’ve heard of the Treacherous 3).
To me, calling someone the lead emcee takes away from the rapping contributions of the others. It’s hard for me to take props away from DMC, Phife, L-Boogie, Derek X, Jamar, Sheek Louch, Styles P, LA Sunshine, Special K, and JuJu & Les.
I have absolutely no problem diminishing the rap contributions of Sen, Vin-Rock, Danny Boy, 5 FT, and Praswell.
@ab: I take your point. In this case it’s more that Fashion was intended to be the main rapper and the other two stepped in to cover for him while he ‘wasn’t available’. JuJu and Les are great at rapping, obviously.
Fair enough.
Album was fucking amazing with all three of them I remember bumping that album in college and still do to this day! The rhymes get a bit redundant at times with all that street shit but what can you expect that was part of the tittle. Their best album to me! Fashion should have stayed with them cause they were never the same without him in my Opinion.
“hit me with that” is easily the best flip of that love and happiness sample on earth
Props to Mista Sinista for the cuts..he was bodying Relativity classic lps of that era with his cuts (street level, Jealous ones envy, Resurrection). Btw i think Missjones did the hook on Riks Joint
@Dolo: You’re right, good pick-up.
You know that flippin loops like dolphin line is from Ecco the dolphin, Sega Genesis, right?
@Robbie – can we have a thread on albums that would have been better had they been instrumental please?
@East East Oakland: I never made the connection, nice one.
@seangee: Great idea, I’m on it.
Definite desert island album.
Bumped it a couple weeks ago. It’s something I always come back to..
I’m sure that’s Miss Jones on Rik’s Joint.
…if my memory serves me correctly.
Oh yeah, i always forget to ask you…this very esoteric request…can we get a “great instances of…” for rappers clowning interviewers/publications/labels (without their input and often without their awareness)? Im going to suggest the beastie boys as a start point, maybe grand royal magazine or something…
Badoink. Brain un-worky. A much simpler way of expressing it – “great instances of…” rappers clowning some1 who never gets hip 2 it.
A funny thought came to mind – would Eric Barrier vs Robbie count?
Specifically, could he possibly b clever enough to have been clowning you?
Or, were you possibly clowning him? (by giving him the platform
he used 2 clown himself).
@South Oakland: It’s fair to say that everyone involved in that interview got played like a piano.
Always good to mention this little known fact…It’s a self titled album and the term “street level” was more like a random sticker on the cover rather than it’s actual title. It would be the equivalent of calling Raekwon’s first album the “Purple Tape”. Love the post, will enjoy another run in my Lexus tape player of this album.
BEATNUTS debut is an all-time classic. I’ve argued with brother & friend when we were roommates in 1994 upon its release that it was better than Mobb Deep’s THE INFAMOUS (also classic) and the ‘Nuts had a superior flow and beats. Nobody was touching this in a high standard era of Black Moon, Gangstarr, Outkast, Pharcyde, etc. Still rocking this.
…to add: ‘STREET LEVEL’ can be an assumed but unoffical title of the Beatnuts debut album the same way The Beatles ‘white album’ is not titled ‘The White Album’ but is the unoffical title.
Also ‘Beatnuts’ and ‘Beatles’ have close letter parallels; yo Juju hit us with the gear right now! Giving this away for free, just send me a shirt Sun! Joking but for real fam…
I listened to intoxicated demons, street level and stone crazy last night. All sound great in 2020, but stone crazy isn’t the same without Fashion. The first side of Constipated Monkey has some of their best work for other MCs.
“Are you ready” has the best ever use of castenets.
Wait, that’s Miss Jones on Riks Joint right?
Love the album as much as anyone in here. And I particularly love the fact that Juju stands lile five feet and still packs at least one threat of violence per two bars.