Here is the first and only Blaakarme single released in 1996 by Da Dropsect, which was a production team comprised of Carlos Bess (C-12), Jose "Choco" Reynoso a.k.a DJ Choco, Pedro and Packman. During the mid/late 90s, Dropsect also produced material for people like Shabazz the Disciple or Sunz Of Man. No Info about who were the Blaakarme members exactly ... the only info written on the label is about the group management which was handled by Generule Assassin and Captain Punisher. Anyway, their excellent single "Low Budget Silencer" is on the B-side of this wax and is produced by Pedro. It's the only reason to try to grab this rare wax... the flip side is a Ragga joint recorded by an artist named Captain Kirk.
Live Wirez was a Hip-Hop duo consisted of Hops and Dame, hailing from NYC. I don't have any info about Hops and all I know about Dame also known as Damion Clarke comes from a Press Sheet :
"He has been in the entertainment industry for 17 years. Prior to joining the army at 17, Damion attented the High School of Art & Design and began to hone his skills as a rapper. After leaving the army, he spent a short time in Florida, and under the stage name 'Big Redd', he worked with Wu-Tang member O.D.B, George Lamond and others. His first foray into film was Beat Street, where he was a featured Break Dancer. Upon his return to New York, Dame hooked up with Wendell Lowe a.k.a Hops and formed the partnership known as 'Live Wirez' which was affiliated with and sponsored by Spike Lee and Spike's joint. Opening up comedy rooms like the Uptown Comedy C, HBO Snaps and the Boston Comedy Room, the two sported Spike's wears and collaborated on such songs as "Approach the Mic" and "Girls, Girls, Girls"" After that Damion has appeared in several TV series like New York Undercover, Law & Order, Third Watch or Crime Partners ...
Dame & Hops - Photo courtesy of Damion Clarke
Between 1993 and 1994, they released two 12-inches. The first one "Approach The Mic / Straight From The Dome" came out on JBR Records with productions by Carlos Bess, King Tarmel and Live Wirez.
The A-side contains the track "Approach The Mic" available in its Jeep Mix, Radio and Accapella versions. "Straight From The Dome" is on the B-side. They used for this track a sample of "Don't Change your Love" performed by Five Stairsteps in 1968.
Photo courtesy of Damion Clarke
Their second 12" came out on Thems Records one year later, composed of two tracks "Real Nig***Z" and "Get What You Got" available in their LP and Instrumental versions, and both produced by Black Figure Productions (C.Taylor & P. Vega). I don't know the sample used for "Get What You Got" but the sample used for "Real Nig***Z" comes from "Wind Parade" performed by Donald Byrd and released in 1975.
