Call O' Da Wild

Everyone is wondering what happened to Call O' Da Wild's unreleased album... After two dope 12-inches released in 1995 and 1996, the duo comprised of C. Camps and Bee Smoove (a.k.a Barron Ricks) should have dropped their debut album around 1997-1998 on the Philly-based label RuffHouse Records, but unfortunately it never saw the light of day...

Bee Smoove (Left) & C.Camps (Right) at the Univeral Amphitheater in LA, Ca on August 13, 1998 - Photo by Jim Steinfeldt / Michael Ochs Archives

Their debut 12" (Sometimes The Neighborhood / Clouds Of Smoke) came out in 1995 on East Side Records. Both tracks were produced by Sean C and Knobody. At the time, they also did productions for Ebony brothers a.k.a E.Bros, a duo from Harlem comprised of JayBee (DJ) & Wayne-O (MC) who also features on the track "Clouds Of Smoke" but he isn't credited on the wax unfortunately.

12" - 1995 - East Side Records

Bee Smoove, how did everything start for the group ?

Bee Smoove : " It was my man Chic Moe a.k.a C. Camps and myself.  We were both from Polo Ground PJs in Harlem...155th st across from the world famous Rucker Park and what was The Rooftop Roller rink. We knew each other, but were doing our own things separately. So a long time friend, Rad "Roc" Issaccs (producer, arranger, musician wizard) put us together. We became Chico N Da Man, then eventually we evolved into Da Call O' Da Wild. This was like 89-92. 

I was a popular DJ uptown at the time, at a spot called Mecca Audio... and C Camps was getting money outside at a spot called Shaka Zulu most popular spot for that Chunky Choclit Tye Uptown. We were writing, performing, recording, and honing our skills for a while, way before I met DJ Muggs. "

Could you give me more info about the producers Sean C and Knobody ?

Bee Smoove : " I knew Sean C from High School, we went to Cardinal Hayes in da BX, with Fatman Scoop, Diamond D and a few more cats. Now Sean C/Cane played a major part for me in my life. Why? For 1 we were classmates and friends always aspiring to be just dope DJs and music lovers, however Sean C was deep in the trenches in the rap scene in Harlem, introducing me to cats I looked up to at the time : DJ Barry Bee (Get Fresh Crew), DJ Scratch and others. He also gave me the name Bee Smoove. Well he began producing I believe right after high school perfecting his chopping on the MPC. Knobody was I believe his cousin and early production partner. "

What happened with East Side Records ?

Bee Smoove : " Eastside Records was an imprint Indie label that DJ Muggs (who was the Executive Producer) had a situation with. Trust me, I was learning at the time how this game worked and how people weren't getting their fair share of earnings...early. I'm still ashamed of not knowing, but we were young, talented and green. "

In 1996, Call O' Da Wild was signed by Ruffhouse Records and dropped a second 12", with both tracks produced by DJ Muggs. The 12" consists of the tracks "Ruffturrain" on the A-side and "Intellectual Dons" on the B-side. 

12" - 1996 - RuffHouse Records 

In 1997, the group released 2 additional tracks : "Dysfunctional Clique" on the Ruffhouse Records - 1997 Hit List compilation and "New York Undercover" on the Soul Assassins (Chapter 1) compilation album.

Prior to starting RuffHouse, Chris Schwartz (C.E.O.) was managing the original gangster rapper Schooly D, while Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo (President) was producing and engineering rap records at his studio, Studio 4 Recording. Together they envisioned a full service in-house label with A&R, production/recording, mixing, mastering, promotion and marketing under one roof. In 1990, RuffHouse signed a Production and Distribution deal with Columbia Records.

A full-length Call O' Da Wild's album produced by DJ Muggs was slated for release on Sony/Ruffhouse/Columbia, but it was shelved after the label deemed it commercially unviable. The group disbanded shortly thereafter and B-Smoove started touring with Cypress Hill, and the album was never dropped unfortunately.