PFM & Iron Ora - Pomegranate Sunset - 2023

 

Originally released digitally in 2012, the album "Pomegranate Sunset" delivered by PFM (MC) and Iron Ora (MC/Producer) from Miami, Florida, is now available on CD & Cassette with the help of the New York-based label Mad Good Records. 

"Real life can extinguish a rap career in the blink of an eye and that is exactly what happened in 2012 to PFM and Iron Ora’s criminally overlooked release. Originally released on Miami based label Hoverock Records, Pomegranate Sunset is a South Florida classic that lost steam shortly after its release as families began to grow and other “life” obstacles took over. This project harkens back to a time when the selling points weren’t the guest spots or outside production credits and focused more on the in-house talents of the crew. The entire project is produced by Iron Ora with the exception of one track (I Came To Kill The Babysitter by DJ Manipulator) and the whole album only features two other MC’s (Mr. Christopher and Lumin) each of which are part of the Hoverock family. 

The lazy journalist will classify this as some classic boom bap and while it is certainly rooted in that ethos, Pomegranate Sunset is the signature document from PFM & Iron Ora which takes those original principles and expands on them as only the finest from the 305 and 954 can. This is an extremely well-crafted mélange of to the point and abstract lyricism accompanied by Iron Ora’s jazzy sample palette and hard hitting drum patterns." - courtesy of Mad Good Records

Order  

Troopa Deal - Bazic Instincts - 1995

 

12" - 1995 - Solid Entertainment Records 

Troopa Deal (Bazic Instincts) 12"... here is another very hard to find wax which was released on Solid Entertainment Records in 1995. The 12" is composed of 7 tracks (3 songs, 2 remixes and 2 Intro/Interlude) entirely produced by Rob Strong and co-produced by Perry W. Mason a.k.a Troopa Deal and Keith Baldwin a.k.a Major Kool. 

The best track of the record is definitely "On Tha Lookout" featuring Troopa Deal, Scootlover and Major Kool. I don't know exactly where the Harp sample used for the instrumental comes from, but it reminds me of Dorothy Ashby's song "The Windmills Of Your Mind", released in 1969.

All the tracks of the 12" were recorded in a studio from Tampa Florida. At the beginning, I didn't understand how the connection between New York and Florida happened but after a talk with Scootlover, it was clearly due to the fact that the emcees were from New York living in Florida because of their studies. Scootlover and Major Kool were also part of the House of Hip-Hop radio show crew with the legendary DJ Sandman who worked at the University of South Florida's radio station, WBUL at that time. That's all I know... No info about Troopa Deal unfortunately... but I'm still on the lookout!

Scootlover & Major Kool - Photo courtesy of DJ Sandman

Hades - The Face Of A New Revolution - 1997

12" - 1997 - Millenium 2000 

"The Face Of A New Revolution" is a very rare record released in 1997 by the Florida-based MC named HADES (pronounced "HAYDS"). I don't have much info about him except that his real name is Vic Moreno. He was a dude from South Dade, Miami and wasn't affiliated with any groups as far as I know. He had a partner named Black Mexico, an aspiring producer who was tight with him and who also features on the 12".

The EP consists of 4 tracks entitled "Unstable Positions", "Krazy World", "Superstar" and "Dice Of Life". The productions were handled by DJ Slice, except "Superstar" which was produced by Black Mexico and which is, I have to say, the weakest track of the record... 

About DJ Slice, he was part of a group formed in the late 90s called The Mic-Row-Phonists, comprised of DJ Slice, J-Pure & Draz. He is also known for his productions for artists like Society and Mother Superia. The connection between Hades and him happened when he was a staff engineer at Ocean Drive Recording Studios on South Beach. Hades and his peeps came in to book studio time. After he found that DJ Slice was the producer for "Yes 'N Deed", he wanted beats from him and also to record there...

By the way... about Millenium 2000, it was a small indie record label managed by Hades's brother Mario. That's all I know ! Peace 

The Grand Extravagant Funkghost

12" - 2000 - Slopfunkdust 

This 12" was dropped by the MC/ Producer Funkghost a.k.a the grand extravagant Funkghost from Tampa, Florida. The wax was released in 2000 on Slopfunkdust. The A-side consists of the tracks "Instructions" featuring Phobi One a.k.a Phobia, "Tampa International" featuring Phobi One and I-Man and "Tampa International Remix" featuring Phobi One, I-Man and Celph Titled who also produced the track. The other tracks are produced by Funkghost and the B-side consists of all the instrumental versions.

This 12" single saw the light of day after the release on CD of the album "Ultra-Boogie Highlife" on Grand Extravagant Entertainment in 1999, and recently reissued for the first time on vinyl by my man Michel Mees via Hip-Hop Enterprise.

For the story, the grand extravagant Funkghost is well-known for being one of the forefathers of the local hip-hop scene. In the early 90's he formed the group Black Saturday, with his partners Tap a.k.a Spinal Tap and Phobia. The group was also known as Tap, Ghost & Phobia. 

Tap, Ghost & Phobia dropped a first project in 1992 titled "Black Saturday" and a second project around 1993 called "Rugged Aspects In The Diary Of Funk" which is a 5-Track EP released on tape only (same tracks on both side of the tape). They also have a lost album that was recorded in 1997 called "The Kaaba" which means "Building in Mecca".

"Rugged Aspects In The Diary Of Funk" Promo Sheet - Photo courtesy of DJ Sandman

Funkghost is also a member of Crazy Bayshore Stylin' (C.B.S). This crew consists of Idris Muhammad who is consider as the founder member of the group, Funkghost, Superstarr O, Phobi 1, Tap, Keshem Sadiq and DJ Sandman. 

Funkghost : " Idris Muhammad started Crazy Bayshore Stylin around 1989-1990. I was in a group called Black Saturday also known as Tap, Ghost & Phobia. Idris Muhammad was a big fan of ours and started performing with us as a hype man slash manager of sorts.

Superstarr O, was close with Idris and we all knew DJ Sandman who at the time was a college radio DJ for the university of South Florida in Tampa FL. Keshem Sadiq is a long time friend of mine since high school, we always made beats and chased some of the same girls. 

Tap, Ghost & Phobia and the Hip Hop Dickheads was me, Phobi 1, Tap, Idris Muhammad & Superstarr O... just another moniker we also go by "The Bayshore Heights Brothers."

Bayshore Heights Bros. circa 1998-1999 - photo courtesy of Funkghost

Funkghost : "The name for our production unit is Slopfunkdust productions or SFDP. That name was given by Tap to describe the type of beats I made. As a producer my music influences were Q-tip, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, Marley Marl, Hank Shocklee, Teddy Riley... but Edwin Birdsong who played with Roy Ayers mentored me in the studio during my early 20s... he was a major influence." 

In 1995, Crazy Bayshore Stylin' dropped the excellent 12" entitled "The Hip Hop Dickheads" produced by Funkghost and Keshem Sadiq. It came out on Bayshore Heights Brothers Music, a record label managed by Idris Muhammad and Omar Heshimur Holmes a.k.a Superstarr O. This wax is definitely hard to find so keep your eyes open !

12" - 1995 - Bayshore Heights Brothers Music 

Mad Props to Funkghost and DJ Sandman, thanks for your time. 

Video : Shinobi Stalin X Traj P - Deadshot feat. Wordchemist - 2021

 

Video of "Deadshot", off Shinobi Stalin & Traj P 's album "11 Hours to Leicester" released earlier this month. Video Filmed and edited by Ieshient and RexSposure.

Video : School Dayze - After Midnight - 2020

 The South Florida-based artists Sim-E (of Lastrawze) & B-Dope a.k.a School Dayze, recently dropped their brand new single "After Midnight" from their upcoming debut "Back To Class" LP.  

Remix Session : a r t d

This Remix Session is dedicated to the Keywest-based beatmaker named 'a r t d'. 
If you like Jazzy instrumentals ... this shit is for you ! Send him a message if you're interested in buying his beats :  djartdstudio@gmail.com