HOW CAN I BE DOWN? '95

 

1995 - Black Power Entertainment 

HOW CAN I BE DOWN? '95 is a various compilation album released on CD and cassette by the Florida-based label Black Power Entertainment. It came out for the 3rd "How Can I Be Down?" music convention, which took place in South Beach, Miami, in October 5-9 1995. This famous music convention was created around 1992 by Peter Thomas, with the help of Henry Butler and James "Henchmen" Rosemond.

The compilation showcases MCs and groups signed to the label : Infamous, Odyssey, Ruff-n-Rugged, the female emcee Attitude and Clayvoisié, an artist who was more or less affiliated with Luke of the 2 Live Crew.

The productions were handled by Drunk Drew (Science Room), Steve Gaskins and Charles Trahan (of Young & Restless) from Miami, FL, and Mike Fresh who was originally from Atlanta but was based in Miami at the time. I've contacted some of those producers to get some info about those unknown MCs, but no answer unfortunately.

Black Power Entertainment was founded by Vernon "Black" Howard from Broward County. He made the compilation for the How Can I Be Down Convention to promote his artists, but nothing really came of the label and it eventually discontinued. I wish I could ask him a few questions but "Black" is now serving a life sentence in Prison... 

Low Life - Burnin' - 1995

 

I'm on the hunt of this Miami, Florida-based emcee called Low Life who released a tape in 1995 entitled "Burnin'". I don't know if the 11 tracks of the album are all dope but both tracks titled "Touchin" and "Schemes and Scams" uploaded by Orion on his youtube channel really drew my attention. 

All the productions are handled by Ryland (Rawd) Holmes and Richard (Traffic) Herard who also managed the artist. "Burnin" is the only official release dropped by Low Life. From what I know, he was also a part of a group called 45 to Life which was him and an other emcee from Miami named q45. 

Low Life also appears on two other tracks. The first one is from a 12" released by K.U.L.T in 1996. The second track entitled "Inner City Life" comes from a 12" released by famous DJ/Producer Goldie from the UK Drum & Bass scene and remixed by Drunk Drew from Miami. The song features Miami-based emcees First Poet, Money Dee, Lord Mecca & Mellow Vocalist.

12" - 1996 - FFRR 

The 12" came out on Full Frequency Range Recordings in 1996 and for those who don't know the producer Drunk Drew, you need to know that he also worked with Miami-based artists such as Mic Rippa (RIP) or Megahertz clique. He was also affiliated with a collective of Emcees from Miami called Science Room, with Massacre, Lord Mecca, Money Dee, Stage & Mello Vocalist. Science Room was also the name of his lab.

About Low Life, that's all I know. His tape is the only official release that On Point Entertainment was able to get out. I don't think he is still in the music industry, I heard that he runs a food truck business now.