I always wondered why Detroit’s Awesome Dre had a song going at Kool Moe Dee on his highly enjoyable 1989 album, You Can’t Hold Me Back. Now that I’ve heard his second single, it makes a little more sense. It appears that Dre took it upon himself to fire shots at both LL Cool J…
Category: Steady Bootleggin’
Holding it down for angry loners & the unemployable
Download: A Salute To The Original Flavor Unit
To compliment the Flavor Unit Oral History I did for RBMA, here are my sixteen favorite tracks from the first generation of Flavor Unit MC’s through to passing the torch to Naughty By Nature for the second installment. Before anyone asks, no that 900 Number album never actually got released but apparently featured new verses…
The Original Flavor Unit: An Oral History
This is the most complete Original Flavor Unit oral history I could put together without access to Queen Latifah or Latee. The Original Flavor Unit: An Oral History
Introducing The 90’s Rapper Where Are They Now Detective Agency
Do you ever sit around and wonder ‘What the hell happened to that marginally talented rap crew who released an album in the early nineties?’ If so, I’m here to help. It turns out that some of your old favorites didn’t all go back to working ‘civilian’ jobs after the roller coaster ride that is…
Download: A Salute To Howie Tee
Hitman Howie Tee got his start as part of CD III, before laying down the demo version of ‘Roxanne Roxanne’ for UTFO and helping out Full Force with some material, before lending his talents to Whistle, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, the Real Roxanne and Little Shawn. Later in his career he branched out into reggae…
The New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy: An Oral History
The NMS Battle for World Supremacy was the place to be if you wanted make a name for yourself in the late 80s. Here are some of those involved reporting directly from the front line… The New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy: An Oral History
Whistle – From Rap Group To New Jack Swingers
Forgive me if this is common knowledge, but I only just realized that the group Whistle, best known for their 1985 hit ‘(Nothing Serious) Just Buggin,’ released four albums on the Select label. Jazzy Jazz, Kool Doobie and DJ Silver Spinner were the original line-up, with Kraze and Terk joining in ’90 after Jazzy Jazz…
Download: A Salute To Hurby Luv Bug
Hurby ‘Lug Bug’ Azor played a big part in exposing a different style of Queens rap to the world as his Idol Makers crew concentrated on dressing fly, club hopping and bagging the opposite sex, largely favoring story-telling over the classic brag and boast technique. Hurby’s appreciation of go-go beats, DMX shakers and classic breakbeats…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Sugar Hill Records – The Hit Factory That Robbed Everybody Blind
Following the death of Joey Robinson Jnr. this week, I take a look at how his family’s legacy of great music and bad business. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Sugar Hill Records – The Hit Factory That Robbed Everybody Blind
Ced-Gee Details His Work On Criminal Minded
Stumbled onto this piece of gold the other night thanks to TR Love – Angus Batey’s interview with Kool Keith and Ced-Gee for the liner notes of the Roadrunner edition of Critical Beatdown! Of particular interest was Ced’s breaking down his involvement with Criminal Minded: Ced-Gee: Me and Scott [La Rock] grew up together. I…
Download: A Salute To One Shot Wonders
Some of my favorite moments in rap have been provided by crews who only ever managed to release one single (or spot on a compilation) before vanishing from the limelight. This collection of sixteen one shot winners are tracks that have stood the test of time, despite their creators never rising to the ranks of…
Download: A Salute To Nice & Smooth
If you don’t enjoy the bombastic nonsense that is Greg Nice combined with the ultra relaxed musings of Smooth B then there isn’t much hope for you in life. I recommend drinking bleach, playing chicken with freight trains or challenging Just-Ice to a fist fight in order to hasten your ascent to the pearly gates/pits…