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.
Category: Speaker Smashers
When Rap Could Split Eardrums
Download: A Salute To Duke Bootee
Perhaps best known for providing Melle Mel with the beat to “The Message” while working as a Sugarhill Records session player, Duke Bootee went on to unleash a series of DMX/Linn Drum driven speaker smashers for Profile and his own Beauty and the Beat imprint, as well as his own solo album. When combined with…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: How Droog, Rast and Two DJ’s From Nottingham Brought NY Back
Cue my annual token “positive” article aka shameless jocking aka got a little gassed. No Country For (Old) Rap Men: How Droog, Rast and Two DJ’s From Nottingham Brought NY Back
Beat Box – A Drum Machine Obsession Book Review
During my road trip to Boston in June to visit the Get On Down HQ, I happened apon an incredible collection of drum machines, which I filmed for my nausea-inducing video set to MCA & Burtoozie’s “Drum Machine”. The reason that this world-beating collection of rhythm machines were on display was for a book titled…
Video: Funkmaster Wizard Wiz – I Ain’t Wid Dat
Clearly the greatest rap video shot for $2, I present to you Funkmaster Wizard Wiz performing the Ced Gee production, “I Ain’t Wid Dat” in the Delaney Homes Projects in Perth Amboy, NJ. Pass the lab coat! Thanks to Palmer Stallings for the tip.
Unkut TV: Episode 11 – MCA, Burzootie and an army of Drum Machines
During a visit to Get On Down records in Boston, I was shown what may be the greatest collection of drum machines in the world. It seemed appropriate to set the footage to the sounds of MCA and Burzootie‘s “Drum Machine” from 1985…
Video: Skinny Boys Perform on Miggs B TV [1987]
Here’s some priceless footage of Shockin’ Shaun, Jockbox and Superman Jay performing ‘Jockbox’ and miming ‘Rip The Cut’ on public access TV in 1987, on the Miggs B on TV show, which apparently had a run of 400 episodes ‘featuring guests such as Martha Stewart, Rush Limbaugh, Penthouse Pets, Patty Hearst…musicians, artists, psychics, healers, actors,…
Jorun Bombay feat. Mantronix, Tricky Tee and Greg Nice – Get Stupid Pt. 2 (Beat Box Rap Version)
This is one of those examples when it’s a good thing that someone had too much time on their hands: This is a pieced together session from various multitracks. I took the original beatbox demo used and sampled for “Get Stupid pt 2” – grabbed the best parts, chopped each element and repieced them together…
Download: ESG Unkut Compilation
Over 200 tracks have plundered the bounty of the tripped-out musical voyage that the Scroggins sisters took way back in 1981, so I’ve chosen the 24 finest uses of the ‘UFO’ break for this compilation. Download: ESG Unkut Compilation ESG – ‘UFO’ Best ‘art-funk ensemble from the South Bronx’ ever? DOOM feat. Raekwon – ‘Yessir!’…
J-1 From Hardknocks – The Unkut Interview
Hardknocks delivered something unique when they dropped the School of Hard Knocks album in 1992. It stood-out both musically and lyrically as a sophisticated blend of hardcore rhymes and groove-heavy beats that sounded nothing like any other record of the era. Then they promptly vanished…leaving a lot of unanswered questions for rap fanatics who knew…
Tragedy Khadafi – The Unkut Interview, Part 2
Continuing from Part 1, Trag discusses dealing with depression, mentoring MC’s and the origin of his military state of mind. Robbie: Can you tell me more about the fall-out from your second album? Tragedy Khadafi: I’ve been rhyming since I was nine and I started writing songs when I was eleven, so I’ve been rhyming…
Tragedy Khadafi – The Unkut Interview, Part 1
Photo: ARMEN Tragedy Khadafi is considered to be the blueprint of the Queensbridge style of rhyming, which has become world-renowned thanks to artists like Nas, Mobb Deep and Cormega. Even though he never achieved the commercial acclaim of some of those who followed in his footsteps – due to a variety of personal and professional…