Blood Brothers - Tell Me What Got U Sprung - 1995

12" - 199X - Lo Key Records 

Here is a wax released as a white label around 1996-1997. It features the tracks "Go For Dolo" by a rapper called T-Wrecks a.k.a T-Wrecks the Extint on the A-side, and "Tell Me What Got U Sprung" by a group called Blood Brothers on the B-side, which is definitely the most interesting track on this record.

If you' re looking for more information about the duo Blood Brothers, you can find some on the official website of Lo Key Records, a label headed by Woody Connor Jr and producer Davy D a.k.a Davy DMX from Queens, who was a member of a local group in Hollis called Solo Sounds which included DJ Hurricane and others, and was also a producer for Run DMC, The Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow... just to name a few. 

" Groups often have a difficult time figuring out what their professional names will be, not for these two siblings, Devin Lee a.k.a True Blue and Christopher Lee a.k.a Vast Mind, 22 and 26 years old respectively, featuring producer and D.J. Andre McCullough a.k.a. Mr. Dre make up the group known as the BLOOD BROTHERS. Hailing from Far Rockaway, Queens; True Blue and Vast Mind began putting their ideas together to start doing songs, as they started getting the niche for rocking the mic in the studio and at parties around the way, their next phase was to let the rest of the world hear them and that they did. The Blood Brothers began doing shows all around the country having opened up for Wu-Tang, Keith Murray, Group Home, Smif-N-Wessun and were finalists in the ever-popular nationwide All-star Talent show. While receiving love from the underground radio in New York, the Blood Brothers caught the attention of their label Lo-Key Records.

True considers their style to be a blend of hard-core underground with a spiritual vibe. Their first single is just that,"Tell Me What Got U Sprung," produced by Mr. Dre. The song is an ode to "Beverly Johnson" styled ladies he has a thing for, "When the time is right, then we’ll follow the guiding light/and take a walk up the aisle with wisdom, insight, spiritually connecting/ Truthfully respecting/ No arguments, beautiful."

Mr. Dre’s contribution as DJ, producer, organizer and motivator puts it all together. His career started in 1985 when he saved up his allowance purchase his first D.J. equipment, he taught himself the art of mixing as well as producing and has been perfecting it ever since

To sum it all up, the Blood Brothers are flowing smoothly through your veins invigorating your senses. " - courtesy of Lo-Key Records

"Tell Me What Got U Sprung" was also included on the Lo Key Records compilation album titled Lo-Key Allstar Soundtrack, which features all the artists from the label’s roster. It was their first and only track released officially and I'm wondering if any unreleased material exists... It would definitely be a nice surprise !

P.H.A (Power Hittin Artist)

 

Back to Philly once again with these two 12-Inches released in the mid 90s by P.H.A. a.k.a Power Hittin Artist, group originally consisted of Wise Kabar (RIP), Granz and Gat.

12" - 1996 - Apex Records 

Power Hittin Artist's debut 12" released in 1996 on APEX Records is composed of the tracks "Sunrize" (clean album version and instrumental), "Universal" (album version, radio edit version and instrumental) and "Chasin Clouds ('94 Basement Style)", fully produced by OMNE with all cuts done by DJ Meez a.k.a Kenny Meez (of the Federation Sound).

Granz : "Our debut 12" came out on APEX Records, a record label managed by a good friend of mine named Andrew Poppiwitz aka Pops... we call him Poppy Chules. To tell the truth I can’t remember when we formed the group exactly... Shit was on paper and we were making beats together prolly like 1991 or 92. Me and Gat knew each other from East Falls projects. Wise Kabar went to Roxborough high school with us, met Wise 10th grade biology class. One day he heard us rhyming separately and he was flabbergasted. At that point he suggested we start a group because we were already homies. Wise didn’t even rhyme at the time...OMNE is my man from middle school and fellow graff writer. I had to bring everything together. Everybody in the crew made beats...We still do ! OMNE did the beats for all the music we put on vinyl, 6 songs I think..."

OMNE & GRANZ circa 1995 - Photo courtesy of Granz

At that time Granz, OMNE and Meez were also graffiti artists affiliated with my man John Doe aka DENSKE. If you do remember they were on the cover of the Basementality project released in 1995. 

OMNE did also productions in the mid and late 90s for emcees like Maylay Sparks or Philly-based groups like Aphillyation.

12" - 1997 - PHA 

In 1997, the group was back with a new 12" still released independently, composed of the lead single "Don't Take Time" available in its Street, Radio and Instrumental versions on the A-side, and the tracks "Absorbtion" and "I Don't Know (I Can't Say) on the B-side". The productions were still managed by OMNE and the tracks feature Granz, Wise Kabar and a third emcee named Lord aka Prince Lord Naeem. 

Granz : "Gat is my brother from the projects, high school, and the NGE. He would always make beats and write songs with us but every time we went to the studio something came up... One day we decided to take Prince Lord Naeem who is Gat's little brother and he amazed us when he got in the booth." 

Granz, Prince Lord Naeem, OMNE & Wise KABAR - Photo courtesy of Granz

OMNE, Wise Kabar & Granz - Studio in Brooklyn, NY circa 1996 - Photo courtesy of Granz

Wise Kabar & Granz - Studio in Brooklyn, NY circa 1996 - Photo courtesy of Granz

A third 12" was supposed to come out after that, but it never saw the light of day... The single was called " Suckas".

Granz : "OMNE’s homie John Creamer did the production for "Suckas" . He's a writer that used to live in Brooklyn . It was supposed to come out in 98 or 99 . Back when we were making records we had to recoup the funds in order to move along to the next project . Money would come back slow. Dropping records off to stores on consignment and picking up the money months later after they sold them . Timely process that slowed things down."

 

Granz : "Nothing else was released by the crew after the second 12", but nothing in particular happened. I guess the crew sorta just started going different directions. We all remained cool through the years... East Falls got closed down as well. But we got plenty of unreleased material ! We did songs on compilation albums with other people plus in house tapes and cds that were made... Recently exploring best way to release music on multiple streaming sites ... more importantly, making sure the business is right. Can’t sustain without the funding..."

Mad Props to Granz, thanks for the interview. Big Up to Denske, thanks for the connection. This is dedicated to the memory of Bernard John Ray a.k.a Wise Kabar (March, 4 1975 - January 4, 2015) ...Rest In Peace .

Outlaw Posse ‎- Resurrection E.P. - 199X

EP - 199X - Krazy Fly 

Here is the second wax dropped in the early 90s by the UK-based label Krazy Fly Rekz after the very good "Real Skills" EP released by Upfront Rudies, Richie Rich & Bello B. No Info about the year, but I think this "Resurrection" EP was released by the legendary Outlaw Posse (Bello B & K-Gee) around 1993. 

It consists of the tracks "Listen" available in its Vocal, K.G Remix and Instrumental versions which are for me the best tracks of the project, "So Good" available in its Basement Mix and Instrumental versions , and "Dey Don't know" available in its Vocal and Instrumental versions, all songs written and produced by Bello B except the remix version of "Listen" which is produced by K-Gee a.k.a FRO Master. 

 

Demo Tape : Tribal Music Inc - Unreleased Demos - 199X

Da Cream Hunta has recently uploaded a new batch of demos recorded by Tribal Music Inc crew during the 90s. For those who don't know them yet, Tribal Music Inc is composed of artists from Seattle such as T.H.C., Sho Nuff, C-Note, Tizzy-T, Infinite, Vitamin D, E-Wreck, DJ Topspin, Capabilities, Culture Born, B-Self, H-Bomb ...  

Ghetto Children (B Self & Vitamin D), Topspin, Boney B & Sho Nuff - Metro Flows



Topspin - The Top

Poetry, E-Wreck, Work (D-Brown), Vitamin D - Steven

Vitamin D & H-Bomb - Niggaz In Space

Boney B (essence) & Vitamin D  - Check On In, Check On Out

Sub-Liminal Tactics ‎- Off Limits - 199X

Tape - 199X - Bone Face Productions 

Not a lot of info about this Philly-based Hip-Hop group named Sub-Liminal Tactics ... the tape "Off Limits" was released in the mid-90s on Bone Face Productions and is composed of 2 tracks "Subliminal Tactics" produced by Tantrum and "The Residue" produced by Supreme the Dispatcher, with everything written by a cat named Nocqui... if you've got more info about this group, please feel free to leave a comment. 

Mad Props to Mad Human for all the Stuff 

Reflexionz - This Could Be The Day / Tell Em What - 199X

12" - 199X - Three House Entertainment 

No info about this group called Reflexions or Reflexionz neither info about productions or producers. The wax seems to be released in 1996 on the unknown Record Label "Three House Entertainment", but not sure about the date ... If you've got more info about this 12" or the group members, please feel free to contact me. 

Vakill ‎- Demo - 199X

Demo - 199X - Molemen 

A Vakill's demo tape has recently been unearthed by my man Hakan Dougpark. The tape is composed of 2 tracks "From Womb To Tomb / The Chicago Way" produced by Panik of Molemen. No more info about the release date.

Soul Survivors - In God We Trust / We Rock The Mic - 199X

12" - 199X - Hit Mob Entertainment 

Boostin' Kev - Demo Tape - 199X

Boostin Kev aka Kevin Morrison was a member of Brooklyn's "Lo-Lifes" crew. A notorious posse of boosters who terrorized the east coast for "Polo" wears in the 80's and early 90's. Many are aware of the "Lo-Lifes" because of Thirstin Howl III and Rack-Lo, who have kept the name alive in the 21st century. But Boostin Kev was the first crew member that appeared on wax. He lived the lifestyle he rapped about. Got caught up, locked up and committed suicide by hanging himself in his jailcell. 
R.I.P 

Guru RIP, Boostin' Kev RIP & Frank Real - Photo courtesy of Frank Real (@inyourareanyc)

Props to hidingplaceplace 

Radio Show : 199X Radio - Episode # 001 / 002 / 003

1. 199X Intro 001

2. K-Otix- Spontaneity - Intro 

3. Millenium- Fantasia

4. Organized Konfusion- Somehow, Someway (Instrumental)

5. Posneg- No Doubt (Remix)

6. Soul Survivors- Strictly Hip Hop

7. Group Home- Livin' Proof

8. Camoflauge Large Clique- Hitmen Holdin' Steel

9. Shabam Sahdeeq- Arabian Nights

10. Empty Pockets- On E (Instrumental)

11. Gauge the Mental Murderah- Interview

12. Gauge the Mental Murderah- Cranium

13. Raw Division- Language of the Drums (Remix)

14. Double L- Candyman

15. Pudgee- Stayin' Alive

16. Da Whole 9- Weekend (Give It Up)

1. 199X Intro 002

2. Mardi Gra- Introducing

3. Cash A.K.A Vigilante- Drunken Style

4. Masta Ace- Sittin On Chrome (Pitkin Ave Remix)

5. N.o.n- E.quation- Transparent (Instrumental)

6. Natives From Da Unda'Ground- Pack Da House

7. Medina Green- Crosstown Beef

8. Clas & Delta- Rapsheet

9. Spontaneous- Waterproof

10. Paula Perry- Paula's Jam

11. Black Attack- Verbal Attack (Instrumental)

12. Tasc 4orce- Dane Diggy

13. Al Tariq- Peace Akki

14. The Boulevard Connection- Haagen Daz

15. Barbershop MCs- Music, Money & Women

16. Shyheim- On & On

17. Fly Guy Cool Kim- Skills Are Amazing

18. Fort Greene Assassins- Fort Greene's Cookin'(Instrumental)

19. Edo. G- What U Got

20. The Aboriginals- Keep It Hot

1. Bosko- Bombay

2. The Professionals- Sit Back Relax

3. Ill Biskits - Chill Factor (Instrumental)

4. Science of Sound- No Diggity

5. Adagio!- My Girl

6. Backlive- 1000 MCs

7. Brothers Of Mind- Rough and Tough (Nytetyme Version)

8. Mama Mystique- Tremendous (Instrumental)

9. Thrust- Interview

10. Thrust- Do You Understand (SCAM Remix)

11. Grand Puba- I Like It (Where I Wanna Be)

12. Concrete Click- Keep It Street


Subcity Radio  

The Kismet ‎- EP - 199X

12" -  199X - Brooklyn Ent. 

A1 - Think Twice

A2 - Da Cypher

B1 - Thinking Man

B2 - Tables Turn

I.G. Off & Hazadous‎ - Street Serenade - 199X

12" - 199X -  Beyond Real Recordings  

A1 - Street Serenade 

A2 - This Ain't Livin' 

A3 - Hip Hop Till I Die

B1 - Street Serenade (Instrumental)

B2 - This Ain't Livin' (Instrumental)

B3 - Hip Hop Till I Die (Instrumental)

Draztic - I / Damage (The Mic) - 199X

12" - 199X - Not On Label 

Radio Show : 199X - Episode 006 ft Mister Voodoo

Dark Skinned Assassin - Gotta Get The Cream (Raw Mix)

Orfinz - Since Ya Wanna Be Down (Raw Hump Mix)

Lord V.I. - Not Tonite

Nitty Gritty Southside - Tru-Grain

Originoo Gunn Clappaz - No Fear

Xperado - All Night

Fourfifths - Earth Wind and Fire (Remix Instrumental)

Call O' Da Wild - Ruffterrain

Mister Voodoo (of Natural Elements) - Interview

Mister Voodoo - Hemlock

Nonchalant - Lazy Afternoon

Diamond - J.D.'s Revenge (ft. Gina Thompson and John Dough)

L. - Check The Flow

A lot of info for your personal knowledge in this

nice Mr Voodoo Interview on Subcity Radio - 199X episode #6 ( June 23rd 2015).

Listen to the Episode Here  

Thanks to Pro CelebrityGolf for the link 

36ZERO - Maintain - 199X

12" - 199X - 862 records 

36ZERO - Maintain - 199X

Company Flow - Hit Me With That Shit - 199X

Company Flow - Hit Me With That Shit - 199X

Branded Black - To The Point (Demo) - 199X

Branded Black - To The Point (Demo) - 199X

Demo : Earthquake - Quake The Broadcaster

Earthquake - Quake The Broadcaster - 199X

L.O.N.S. feat. the Cracker Jacks & the Now And Laters - Levels Of Imagination - 199X

Jeru The Damaja - Demo Tape (Snippet) - 199X

Jeru The Damaja - Demo Tape (Snippet) - 199X