Tag: hip hop

The Story of UTFO: Dedication To The Educated Rapper

It was a normal day. As usual, I was scrolling down my Facebook news feed until I got a notification from a post in the Tools of War group. It was a shared picture that belonged to Mix MasterIce. He was holding a hand that belonged to The Educated Rapper being hospitalized. I saw all of the comments that were positive and hopeful so I too also was hoping that he will be okay. This morning I woke up to the same thing as usual, go to my Facebook and find out the Educated Rapper has passed away from cancer from a friend who posted it. Absolutely shocked and devastated about the news. Another great loss in hip hop. For those who need a quick educating, UTFO is a hip hop group from the 80’s who was known for their classic hit “Roxanne, Roxanne.” The song was a B-side of their other hit “Hangin’ Out.” UTFO stands for Untouchable Force Organization and consisted of four members. There’s Kangol Kid, the guy who was known for rocking the freshest Kangol hats, even still to this day he does, Doctor Ice, Mix MasterIce and of course, the late great Educated Rapper. Before the group, Kangol Kid and Doctor Ice were both originally known as The Keystone Dancers in Brooklyn and were dancers for another hip hop group, Whodini. UTFO signed with Fred Munao in 1984 for Select Records and the group’s hit “Roxanne, Roxanne” was produced by the R&B group, Full Force who appeared as the bullies in the hip hop classic film “House Party.” Their classic “Roxanne, Roxanne” was the beginning of a mid-1980’s war that had two different Roxanne’s in question. There was The Real Roxanne and then it brought the attention of then 14 year old, Roxanne Shanté from Queensbridge, who was Marley Marl’s protégée at the time and it started what they call the “Roxanne Wars.” UTFO’s song has the most answer records in hip hop history. Roxanne’s answer to the record “Roxanne’s Revenge” made her an instant legend in the game. The song was released in late 1984 and became an instant hit with 250,000 copies sold. After the “Roxanne Wars”, the Educated Rapper didn’t appear on the group’s second album, 1986’s “Skeezer Pleezer” for his own personal reasons, except the song “Pick Up The Pace”, which was featured in the movie Krush Groove. After everything, the guys went their own separate ways to pursue their own thing. They are still very active today with producing, writing, DJ’ing and dancing and The Educated Rapper graduated from college, actually living up to his name. Also, Kangol Kid, along with Shaunda Lumpkin, founded The Mama Luke foundation, which is hip hop’s way of fighting against breast cancer. With just one popular song, UTFO’s legacy in hip hop will still live on and remain forever, as well as The Educated Rapper. Rest In Peace. Much Love!

Bigger And Deffer: The 30th Anniversary

Another hip hop classic that has reached 30 years. Coming from Queens, LL was still a young, ambitious, and fresh faced guy on the scene. On June 2nd, 1987, LL released his second album “Bigger and Deffer.” Compared to his debut “Radio”, BAD was definitely what the title says, bigger and deffer and so was LL himself. Still not quite there yet as far as growth as an artist, LL still had the cool and laid back personality, he still had the style but this album was still a step further than his previous. Besides the singles, the album was full of braggadocio, lots of DJ scratches, and a “rap ballad” that was the first to be commercially successful. The album also reminds me of Jazzy Jeff and Will aka The Fresh Prince with its early hip hop days sound, when hip hop was just beginning to become something much more bigger. The beginning of a golden era. It’s not a top 5 LL album, but it’s definitely an album I’ll recommend when it comes to 80’s hip hop.

Wu-Tang Forever: The 20th Anniversary

As a hip hop fan and lover, sometimes I feel like it’s impossible to keep up with so many different albums that are out there, whether new or old. Today, June 3rd, 2017, I find out that it’s the 20th anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan’s second album “Wu-Tang Forever.” First thought that came to my head was “Yo! I never really sat down and heard this joint from start to finish. Immediately went to my YouTube app, typed in the name of the album in my search engine and finally gave it a listen. I saw the playlist has 27 songs in total, so I knew this album is a double disc joint. As I’m listening to it, I honestly wasn’t impressed right away. I guess I have to give it a few more listens because to me the production alone, I wasn’t a fan on. The second half of the album is amazing though. How crazy is that? It definitely balances the album out for me. For me, this album gave all 9 members an equal amount of time to have their own personal shine. A few guest appearances, lyrics about consciousness, influence of the teachings of the Five Percenters, and of course in true hip hop fashion, gotta give us stories about the harsh realities of the ghetto. What I love most about the album is that you can feel how closer and stronger the Wu is as a unit, as a group, as brothers, as a family. The title is definitely fitting for this album.

Everything Is Everything: The Legacy of Lauryn Hill

She was only 18 years old when the world got the chance to see and know this young girl. She appeared on the 1993 movie Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. Then, when she was in high school, she was approached by Pras Michel, the cousin of Wyclef Jean to join a hip hop group who named themselves The Fugees and released only 2 albums. Then in 1998, she released her debut album, which is considered to be one of hip hop’s most highly respected and classic albums of all time. With her smooth and beautiful singing voice and a hard to ignore, hard hitting, in your face, rap style that caught the people’s attention, Lauryn Hill is definitely someone in the industry who is well respected and loved. With hits like “Killing Me Softly”, “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, “Everything Is Everything”, “The Sweetest Thing”, “To Zion”, or even “Ex-Factor”, Lauryn was not only a hip hop superstar but she also gave us that 1970’s soul and lyrics about love, compassion, life and gave us knowledge, she was also considered to be Neo Soul as well. She had a sound and style that was sort of similar to Erykah Badu’s or D’Angelo. I think I speak for a lot of hip hop fans when I say that it would be dope for Lauryn to drop another album. People Have been speaking about it for years after she left the spotlight after her 2002 MTV Unplugged performance. It was one of MTV’s most memorable moments. Lauryn opened up her heart and said a lot of things that she was feeling while dealing with the industry and what it did to her spiritually and mentally, freeing herself from burden and pain while she spoke her stories and sang her songs. Of course, there’s also another side of Lauryn that was often spoken about. Stories of her showing hours late to her own shows and disappointing fans but still being able to put on a great show, Lauryn still remains one of the greatest to ever do it.

Bronx Festival 2017

For the first time ever, I had the opportunity to witness my very first experience at the Bronx Festival this year at Mosholu Parkway. I walked around and saw lots of people of course, bought me a really dope hip hop t-shirt in honor of one of my favorites hip hop artists, who I ended up actually seeing live and met later in the day, saw the parade and enjoyed some really dope performances too. Celebrating hip hop culture mostly with performances from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick and a bunch of other performances by really dope talented people. The best part about it all was meeting and interviewing the very cool and humble Bronx borough president himself Ruben Diaz, Jr. This man is actually someone who I admire for not only his great personality but the way people loved and respected him and how connected he is with the people of all backgrounds. He actually interacted with the people, took some pictures, shook hands, shared hugs, and danced and had a good time with us too. Not a stuck up person at all. His vibe is extremely positive; you can’t help but to respect him. The parade is where I first saw all those different types of backgrounds and cultures. So many different looks, languages, music, the food, everything. Even with all the different schools and programs, seeing all the little kids with their families and loved ones and all kinds of other stuff, it was all positive stuff. Such an amazing day with lots of fun, culture and love. No fights, no arguments, no altercations, no drama, even the security and cops were laughing and enjoying their time too. This Bronx Festival only proved how positive the borough is as a unit. Everybody there were mostly born and/or raised here in The Bronx and we all came together from different areas in the borough. It shuts down all of the negative stereotypes and false pretenses that people make up about the borough that I hear about a lot, it can be annoying but this festival proved otherwise and I’m just very happy and glad I got the opportunity to be a part of it. As the saying goes, like KRS-One once said, “The Bronx keeps creating it.” This one’s for The Bronx. This one’s for hip hop, the people, the incredible Bronx borough president Mr. Ruben Diaz, Jr. Thank you sir! Peace and Love!

The Life and Celebration of DJ Scott La Rock

Yesterday on May 19th, 2017, the legendary DJ Scott La Rock finally gets his dedication and respects right here in The Bronx. Right on Kingsbridge Road, which is way Uptown on the 4 train, there was a street name celebration for the legend himself. DJ Scott La Rock was part of one of hip hop’s dopest crews who goes by the name Boogie Down Productions. Boogie Down Productions had its members The Teacha himself, the Blastmaster KRS-One and another DJ, who is also doing photography as well today, named D-Nice. 30 years ago, back in March, the group’s debut album “Criminal Minded” was released and five months after its release, Scott La Rock was tragically killed which changed everything within the group. KRS-One eventually went solo and even started going by “The Teacha.” BDP’s debut album not only had the combination sounds of both hip hop and reggae music but the album touched on subjects about the conflict of Where hip hop first derived from in the 80’s, which is where the classics “South Bronx” and “The Bridge Is Over” talks about. Being at that celebration was just something that was definitely an iconic moment for me just like so many other moments in my life. It was also something that made me proud of being from The Bronx. Made me proud as a hip hoppa. Even though I’m not from that particular area in The Bronx, it’s still something that was well overdue for the fallen legend. So nice to see fans, his family and other hip hop legends like Kool DJ Red Alert again, hip hop’s very own first MC Coke La Rock, Jazzy Jay, who is incredible on the turntables, and later on Popmaster Fabel, who is a dope pop locker and dancer. Hip hop is definitely deserving of so many things and more. I’m just happy I’m alive to have these experiences instead of the ones when it All first happened long ago.

Redman Meets Reggie Noble

One of Jersey’s very own. To me, he’s one of hip hop’s most underrated rappers of all time. Very little appreciation for someone with so much energy, flow and bars on the mic, also can be alongside Wu-Tang Clan’s very own Method Man. They call him Redman, Reggie Noble is the birth name. My very first time actually getting familiar with him was the “How High” movie. Very funny and still hip hop with a bangin’ soundtrack that fit the times and the movie. I also got to experience his music because of his 1992 album “Whut? Thee Album.” My first time hearing the album, I instantly fell in love with it’s hardcore sound and heavy bass beats and samples. Kinda reminds me of a Gang Starr album. To come from a place where there are other hip hop heavyweights like Queen Latifah and Naughty By Nature, it’s safe to say that Redman should be getting the same recognition. I personally never hear about a Redman discussion or been in One with other hip hop fans. I personally don’t know too much of his discography but I can definitely discuss how much of a monster he is on the mic. I especially can never get over joints like “Da Rockwilder” with Method Man and “Tonight’s Da Night” and “I’ll Bee Dat.” Those are Redman’s most standout joints to me but the man is can spit and bring that fire like no other. His wild personality and comical ways is what keeps the people’s attention on him. Watching or listening to Redman is literally like Redman meets Reggie Noble.

The Abstract Poetic: The Legacy of Q-Tip

This man’s contribution in hip hop is what makes him the legend that he is today. Started off in a group, went solo, also DJ’s, produces, act and has a pen game and voice that’s easily recognizable when you hear it. Definitely someone whose one of a kind and shares the same zodiac as me. Someone whose a huge influence to me both personally and creatively, he also told me to my face that he liked my style, and I could never forget that. He goes by name Q-Tip aka The Abstract Poetic. The story of Q-Tip begins back in the 70’s when he was a child living in St. Albans, Queens and met his would be close friend, almost brothers and group mate named Malik Taylor aka Phife Dawg. Together these two were peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard, they’re one of hip hop’s greatest duos together on the mic. Fast forward to 1985, Q-Tip gets his name and it represents “on the Queens tip.” At this time, he also had another name as a solo artist named MC Love Child and would occasionally team up with high school friend and DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and together they were a rapper and DJ duo. They made demo tapes along with Phife, he was known as Crush Connection but the group, later on known as the group we all know and love today as A Tribe Called Quest, was fully complete when Jarobi joined and Phife only joined because of Jarobi. They got their name in 1988 when the Jungle Brothers gave them their name. The Jungle Brothers is another legendary hip hop group who also attended the same high school. The guys signed a demo deal with Geffen Records and created a 5 song demo that was later included on their debut album the year. Before their debut album released, Q-Tip appears on 2 songs on the Jungle Brothers debut album called “Black Is Black” and “The Promo.” The group signs with Jive Records and on April 10th, 1990, also Q-Tip’s 20th birthday, “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was released. The album was a very youthful, friendly and uplifting but dope. Frontman Q-Tip being heard on most of the songs. We didn’t start to see the real lyrical side of the group until 1991’s “The Low End Theory.” This is album is my favorite Tribe album because majority of my favorite songs from the group are on this album, “Midnight Marauders” was the perfect album though. No skips, it was a banger from start to finish. “Beats, Rhymes and Life” had a more laid back vibe and it introduced the sounds of the late great J Dilla. It also introduced is to Q-Tip’s cousin Consequence. Definitely gotta get used to him when listening to that album. “The Love Movement” isn’t an album I’m crazy about but it’s ironic that the word “love” is in it’s title but it was the beginning of the end for the group but they reunited in 2006 and recently released their latest album “We Got It From Here, Thank You 4 Your Service” 5 months ago. It’s an incredible album I heard only twice. I like to wait until the hype slows down a bit to enjoy things. Gotta find the right time to without everybody throwing out their opinions while you’re still getting used to it. Outside of the group, Q-Tip had a dope solo career on his own. He’s appeared on other’s people’s projects to write, produce and collaborate on songs. He created The Ummah, a production team with Ali Shaheed and J Dilla, he acted in Poetic Justice only in the beginning of the movie, and on “Prison Song” along with Fat Joe and Mary J. Blige, he was featured of Janet Jackson’s “Got Til It’s Gone” on her 1997 “The Velvet Rope” album, he produced “One Love” for Nas on his “Illmatic” album, Mobb Deep’s “Give Up the Goods” and the list goes on. Can’t forget to mention his solo music. With singles like “Vivrant Thing”, “Breathe and Stop”, “Gettin’ Up”, “Move”, “Life Is Better”, just to name a few. His solo stuff is nothing like Tribe’s and that to me is make Q-Tip great at what he does. Finding your own identity when it comes to your solo stuff and not it reminding the fans of the group you were in. Same energy and voice but a different vibe completely. Recently, he hosts his own radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 station, which is called “Abstract Radio.” His goal with the show is not to keep up with what’s trending but instead find ways to bridge the gaps into one and celebrate good music altogether. With so much that he has accomplished, Q-Tip is easily one of hip hop’s greatest of all time for being part of a group that introduced Jazz sounds samples in hip hop. His incredible creativity and style is timeless and it’ll always be celebrated. They don’t call him The Abstract for nothing.

Totally Krossed Out: The 25th Anniversary!

The story begins in Atlanta. Two little boys who met and became friends in the first grade. Now fast forward and the year is 1991. It was then where the story of these two boys’ legacy begins and their lives change forever. Just a normal day, hanging out in the mall, it was their style and attitude that caught the attention of a then and also young guy himself, who goes by the name of Jermaine Dupri. This was exactly two years before So So Def happened but in the meantime, Jermaine Dupri discovers these two boys who both go by the names of Christopher Smith and Christopher Kelly, also known as the hip hoppin’, baggy clothes backwards wearing, tiny braids on the head and their small but rough voices, Kris Kross. The perfect name for them since it was a play on both of their names being Christopher and the fact that they actually were their clothes on backwards. Kris Kross signs a deal with Ruffhouse Records and on March 31st, 1992, their debut album “Totally Krossed Out” is released. The entire album was produced by Jermaine. It sold 4 million copies with 4 singles, “Warm It Up”, “I Missed the Bus”, “It’s a Shame” and their all time infamous hit “Jump.” Til this day, “Jump” is definitely a timeless classic because of it’s party vibes and energy and the famous line that goes “…..Cause inside out is wiggidy, wiggidy, wiggidy, whack!” Play that joint today at a party and the dance floor goes bananas, especially at a 90’s hip hop party or event. Overall, the album is a strong hip hop party vibe. In the start of the album, their being interviewed by a radio DJ who compares them to another hip hop/new jack swing group Another Bad Creation but they shut it down by saying that it was “another bad idea.” I didn’t really take that as a diss to ABC personally but they got their point across. The albums main message is just about the two boys hanging out together, living life in the ghetto and just having fun. It’s a insight of what life is like for them regularly with a rapping style that’s hard with a production to match. The song “Lil’ Boys In Da Hood” is the perfect song that best describes that with Ice Cube on a loop. To me the album is definitely underrated. Usually kids are pushed to the side because they’re so young and dismissed for not having so much “experience” in life but this album proves that the young ones definitely have something to say too. In the words of Andre 3000, “the South got something to say.” Their overall success has made them the youngest rap duo to gain so much success with gold and platinum albums at only 11 and 12 years old. Almost 4 years ago, Chris Kelly passed away from drug abuse. Definitely another loss in hip hop history that shook the industry, especially for those who were growing up in the 90’s and lived through life rocking to Kris Kross. 25 years later, the album is still as dope as it was then. Rest In Peace Chris Kelly.

Life After Death: The 20th Anniversary

20 years ago, Brooklyn’s very own The Notorious B.I.G. passed away in Los Angeles from a drive by shooting. His passing was definitely a huge loss in hip hop history and then 16 days later, his second album “Life After Death” was released. The album was released on March 25th, 1997. A double disc album that came at the right time after his death. The album touches on topics of enjoying life, success, street crime, and paranoia, with a little bit of Biggie’s comedic touch and funny storytelling while trying to stay positive with hopes of escaping the life he once had while growing up in Brooklyn, trying to survive. It was almost like the Brooklyn MC knew his time was coming. Compared to “Ready to Die”, this album was more of Biggie trying to escape the street life and becoming more of a man whose trying to focus more on the positive things in life while still keeping an eye out for anything lurking, coming his way that made him feel paranoid. To me personally, this album only had a few cuts that I was able to skip past while “Ready to Die” was a masterpiece that was able to be played all the way through without any skips. The album starts off with a skit where Diddy is talking to Biggie and trying to make sure he stays alive. It’s a perfect way to get the album started. Biggie flatlines at the end and then as the album goes on, it seems as though he’s talking to us, telling us stories from another place in life, a life after death. Besides the classic singles released from the album, “Kick In the Door”, “Last Day”, “What’s Beef?”, “I Got a Story to Tell”, “The World Is Filled…” and “My Downfall” are all standout tracks to me. Everything about those tracks from the production, the storytelling and of course the way Biggie delivers with his voice. This isn’t just plain rapping, this is a storyteller’s life and the things that were going on in his head. After all, a tragedy that took the MC’s life and cut it short turns into a celebration because the love of his fans and family keeps his legacy alive. In the words of The LOX, we’ll always love Big Poppa.