New Joint : Ace SL - Lessons - 2023

Brooklyn-based emcee Ace SL teams up with Tru Comers to drop a brand new joint entitled "Lessons", taken from Ace SL's upcoming album. 

Pretty Bulli - Duffel Bag Bulli - 2022

 

Here is an interesting 6-track EP originally released this summer by the female emcee Kins Franklin a.k.a Pretty Bulli from Buffalo, NY. 

"Born and raised in Buffalo New York Ms. Franklin is the youngest of six children. Her love for music began at a very young age. Fueled by freestyle battles with the neighborhood boys, her passion for music was undeniable by the age of 13. By sharing her life lessons and experiences, listeners are able to both connect and relate to Pretty Bulli "

"Duffel Bag Bulli" is fully produced by Castle Money Beats from San Diego, Ca except the bonus track produced by Kidd Called Quest. The project features emcees such like Ruste Juxx, Alma Ave Writtens, L-Biz, and Illa Ghee. 

Check the full EP Here !

Genovesee - Genovesee's Thesis - 1997

12" - 1997 - Diehard Records

I don't really remember but I believe that the first time I've listened to this classic indie joint "Genovesee's Thesis" was with the help of Jr Ewing and his famous first official mixtape titled "Pour Tes Oreilles" dropped in 1997. The mixtape tape was dedicated to underground and indie 12" and the tracklisting was dope.

Born and raised in Yonkers, NY... Joseph Genovese a.k.a Genovese released "Genovesee's Thesis" in 1997 when he was 18 years old. It came out on Diehard Records and features his Friend Styles P on the hook. This is the only joint pressed on this 12". It was produced by I a.k.a I-Witness and the track is available in its Radio Edit, Main and Instrumental versions.

Genovese - Photo courtesy of Joseph Genovese

Genovese : "I met Diehard Records through Richie Thumbs who was dealing with them first. I was running with the LoX at that time, living with Styles P in Yonkers. We were with him (me and Kasino) everyday going to Daddy's house to hang while they recorded. Then chilling in Ruff Ryders studio trying to work. At that time I was hangin with Swizz Beats a lot. But never got any Rec to record or work. So Diehard really gave me the opportunity to work in studio consistently and threw us bread and mad gear.

I-Witness was with Diehard. He made that beat for me. Funny thing about "Thesis" beat, is I didn’t write the song to that beat. I wrote it to a Lox beat and Styles P had that hook in the stash so I really dope song that the lyrics and hook weren’t even written to the beat. Couldn’t ever tell tho lol"

Everyone knows that Genovese was a member of The Lox but nobody knows that Genovese started in the early 90s as a member of the Yonkers-based duo named Unknown Soldiers. Genovese's first official appearance was on the various compilation entitled "10 Deep" released on Ready Or Not Records in 1994.

Unknown Soldiers - Photo courtesy of Joseph Genovese

Genovese : "We formed the group around 1993-1994. It consisted of me (I went by the name Trife at that time) and my partner Stiffy. He was Jamaican, still in Hs. I was a talented kid. We recorded about 6-7 songs together at Bill Blass studio in Yonkers. Bill was a local legend in Yonkers, him and DMX would battle all over the town. So go record with him was pretty dope for some young cats trying to come up.

We recorded the song for the album called "10 Deep" that featured different artists that were pressed up on vinyl by Ready Or Not Records. They had an ill studio in Harlem. "Out Da Gutta" was really my first song that was released to the masses. It was mad grimy with that Onyx early 90s sound.

Unkown Soldiers stopped after that because Stiffy got in trouble with the law. I went on to work with my beat partner / friend J-Blend (RIP) and I recorded a demo with him and then "Thesis" came years later and that was that."

J-Blend (RIP) & Genovese - Photo courtesy of Joseph Genovese

Genovese : "We sent demos to labels back then, to certain people but once Stiffy got into trouble the demos became not important any more... Needed to focus on me.

Yonkers was a twisted place growing up. Amazed me I made it out. I put so much blood sweat and tears into the music biz. This generation has no idea what it was like. You couldn't say you were an MC. You had to get accepted into the culture. You had to be nice. They wouldn't take your money to pay them off to play your music. They would slap you and take your money and tell you to beat it. You earned stripes you didn't paint them on yourself. You worked your way up. It was called artist development. It was the 90s..."

To finish, if you're looking for an explanation about the extra E (Genovesee) written on the label, according to Genovese "People started to write that on mixtapes for song listings at the time. Diehard actually spelled it that way on some releases and also on our wrapped promo van. Why? I don't know lol. But that's the only reason..."

 

"Genovesee's Thesis" is a classic 12" still really easy to find nowadays. Besides some copies are available online for a very good price (less than 10$). 2022 will be the year of the 25th anniversary of "Thesis", so Genovese is working on a documentary and a release of his early solo Demos... stay tuned...

Mad Props to Joseph Genovese, Thanks for your time Bro. 

Thunder Jam Alliance

First time I've heard about Thunder Jam was when the snippets of the Demo tape were uploaded by Sneak Tipp on his youtube channel in 2015. All the artists featuring on that compilation album were totally unknown to me... but all the tracks were dope so I was curious to get more info about the various MCs featuring on that tape.

After a long investigation and no need to say that it was a little bit difficult, I can tell you that Thunder Jam a.k.a Thunder Jam Alliance was a collective of DJs, Rappers, Singers, Dancers, Musicians, Engineers, Producers and Promoters from all over the U.S.

T.J.A. was separated in 2 different sections, a R'n'B section and a Hip-Hop section. The Hip-Hop section was managed by Producer/DJ Shaggy C who was originally from New Jersey. He was the core member of the collective. He put together a coalition of artists from all over the US due to a lot of them met while they were stationed at the Air Force and Army base in Tacoma Washington near Seattle.

"The Thunder Jam Alliance is an appropriate name for this coalition of talent from various cities ranging from Los Angeles to New York currently making the Earth shudder with it’s thunderous beats and lightning rhymes.

Thunderjam prevail. The best of the best young and new talent uncreasingly rise up to join forces with them, eager to be affiliated with this faction that is currently storming the country. Thunderjam Alliance is unquestionably one of the best new acts to emerge on the scene, and will undoubtedly continue to prevail and dominate their ever increasing hip-hop arena.

Thunderjam, founded, fronted, and led by producer/DJ Shaggy C, for when it comes to making people move to slammin groove he is no new jack. With 15 years of experience as a hip-hop and club DJ, he has come to represent a new precedent of rap music in the Pacific Northwest. TJA (The Thunderjam Alliance) is curently heading the most elite clubs in Seattle, and together with the momentum gained by the rising allegiance of their new found following, it won’t be long before their tempestuous energies come to bear-dominating the rap scene. Shaggy is an accomplished writer, producer, performer, and publisher (BMI) having established his own publishing company -Thunderjam Publishing which is also prospering, Shag has written songs for television as well as for many artists, performers, television and commercials.

The Thunderjam Alliance is currently back in the studios working on new tracks for the six Rap groups and three R'n'B groups of which it consists. With slammin’ tracks from DJ Shaggy C, and his hand picked production staff including Terrance Crutch spearheading the R'n'B side of the house, the Thuderjam Alliance is currently soliciting interests from selected agencies for world wide conquest. The most intriguing thing about Shaggy C, and his formidable army of talent is the infectious nature of his funky grooves which seem to drive all who hear them into a feverish pitch. Have no doubts, Shaggy C, and the Thunderjam Alliance will achieve the success and longevity of heavyweight R'n'B and Rap acts of this decade." - T.J.A. Press Kit 

Many Rap groups and solo artists were incorporated in Thunder Jam Alliance, around 30 members according to Shaggy C. The names of the artists or groups featuring on this demo tape are Brothas Of The Lost Tribe, Dem Kidz, S.K.I (The Street Kid Intellect), Red Dawn, Bionic, & Magnum Black. 

Brothas of the Lost Tribe consisted of The Lyrical Wajid, Qaadir & Majid. All I know from this group is Wajid's interest in rap began at the age of thirteen, when a friend and himself began writing poetry and songs to impress young women in school. The duo later went on to form a group known as MEGAFORCE, which disbanded after his parents decided to relocate.

Finding that there were young men who shared his same interests in his new school, Wajid joined other groups, who appeared in and won high school as well as local talent shows.

His rap career was momentarily placed on hold when he enlisted in the Army. During his tour in the Army he met Qaadir and Majid forming The Brothas of the Lost Tribe. 

S.K.I. a.k.a the Street Kid Intellect isn't an unsung artist, first time I've listened to one of his song was on the excellent Pacific Northwest compilation named Classic Elements. The name of the song  is "From Bullets To Poetics" and is produced by Shaggy C. DJ Shaggy C was also known at that time for his work with the Tacoma-based group Black Anger.  

That's all the info I can give you about the Thunder Jam Alliance... I wish I could give you more but it seems all the artists involved in this collective have got another life now and everything is behind them... but at least I can give you some Thunder Jam Alliance's unreleased material, courtesy of DJ Shaggy C especially for the blog ... Enjoy ! 

Mad Props to DJ Shaggy C and Big Up to my man Madhuman.

Demo Tape : Big Nique ‎- Untitled Demos

Here is an emcee I'd like to find... Big Nique !

First time I've listened to these 3 dope demos recorded circa '93-'94, it was when Sneak Tipp uploaded the snippets on his youtube channel in 2015. No info about this artist except that he might be from Westchester County, NY (Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon...) due to the Area code of the phone number. 

If you've got more info about this emcee or RoamAloneMusic, please feel free to contact me... while waiting check the snippets !!

Three Over The Kuku's Nest - Lord I Can't Take It No More - 1994

12" - 1994 - Bug Jar Records 

Back in 1994 with an other good indie 12" released by Three Over The Kuku's Nest, a group from Rochester, NY consisted of Trigger Shang, Sub-Zero (who is the older Brother of the well-known 38 Spesh) and DJ B Swift.  

They formed the group in 1987 and were about to drop their debut album in 1993 but unfortunately It never came out ... 
Their 12-inch "Lord I Can't Take It No More / Helter Skelter" came out on Bug Jar Records and was produced by DJ Green Lantern. "Lord I Can't Take It No More" is the lead single of the wax and it contains a sample of "Hot Music (Jazz Mix)" originally released in 1989 and performed by Soho. 

Where does the name of the group come from ?

Sub-Zero : "I just thought of it after seeing the movie... I thought it was dope name. In hindsight it was too long I would have changed it..."

How did the connection happen between all the members of the group ?

Sub-Zero : "Myself and Trigger Shang grew up together, we literally don't even remember when we met we were so young... B Swift used to be my barber, he was also a DJ, best DJ in the city so we added him to the crew. "

Is "Lord I Can't Take It No More" / Helter Skelter" your first official 12" ?

Sub-Zero : "Yes ... "Helter Skelter" featured our good friend the Roach. I co-produced "Lord I Can't Take It No More" with DJ Green Lantern who was our DJ before he went on to be Eminem, Jay Z and now Nas's DJ. He was down with us first."

How did you meet Dj Green Lantern ? 

Sub-Zero : "We met at Brockport State College. A guy from Buffalo named Steve introduced us. We did demos and shows in NYC and college campuses after that. We had an offer from Profile and Warner Bros. Records. Warner Brothers didn't offer us enough (this was before we released our singles) and the A&R was interested in office and wanted to sign them but by the time we finished the album, the A&R person got fired and the president of the company who also wanted to sign us sold his half of the company to his partner and we were all just like that..."

What happened with the album ? 

Sub-Zero : "It was finished but unreleased... I'm trying to find it, it got lost when the studio that we recorded it in burnt down and got sold..."

How did you get signed to Bug Jar Records ‎?

Sub-Zero : "We did a song called "Batten Down the Hatches" that was pretty good and they got the attention of Steve Brown the owner of Bug Jar Records put out a compilation CD and we stood out on the compilation CD so much that we were on the cover of CMJ, the College Music Journal which is like the Bible of independent music from there we got all kinds of letters from all kinds of record labels that following years when we put out "Lord I Can't Take It No More" and "Helter Skelter". "

What about the album after the 12" ? 

Sub-Zero : "We did not have the resources at the time this was 93-94 before the internet ... we did not have the resources to push the album of those the singles were successful we were banking on labels to come in and want to sign us based off of that but it didn't happen.

We were top 10 and a lot of College radio stations format but again we did not have the infrastructure to continue to push it, it was just us no money and again no internet... We came on too early we needed about five more years and we would have been on ..."

Mad Props to Corey Tanksley aka Sub-Zero. 
Vinyl rip courtesy of 90's Hip-Hop Blog. 

Da Nabahood Threat ... Coming to a Neighborhood Near You...

Scan courtesy of Thorsten Haag

Da Nabahood Threat were a local group from the Mid-Hudson Valley, consisted of Jamal Jackson a.k.a Jackpot, R. Hargrove a.k.a Blackout and DJ Ernesto "Fidel Castro" Diaz. 
Jackpot was from Poughkeepsie (NY), Blackout and their DJ and sometimes producer, Fidel Castro were from nearby Beacon (NY).

No Album, no Demo Tape... Three singles in a 4 year period, that's all you can find from Da Nabahood Threat Trio. 

Their debut single "Off Witcha Head / Comin from Da Dirt" came out in 1994 on Night Breed Records and was produced by Exotic E. (Bumpheadz Productions).

12" - 1994 - Night Breed Records

If you're looking for some smooth Hip-Hop songs, this wax isn't for you because both instrumentals were certainly influenced by the Jamaica Queens based group Onyx, and the style is rugged and raw. Moreover the track "Off Witcha Head" contains a Sticky Fingaz vocal sample "I hate your fuckin guts and I hope that you die !" from the single "Throw Ya Gunz ".

In 1996 they were back with a new record released on Empire Recordings. Composed of 3 dope tracks "Where I'm From / Mind Tricks" produced by Jeff Beckett a.k.a Big J, and the well-known  "Represent Groundz" produced by DJ Fidel Castro and Paul Nice, containing a sample of "Scheherajazz : Second Movement" performed by Skip Martin (Little gift for you because It's not listed on WhoSampled yet !!!)  

12" - 1996 - Empire Recordings

"Actually, around 1985, when I was still in high school, I was the DJ for a rap duo called the “D & M Crew”, short for “Davis and Jamal”. Jamal (the M in the crew) later became Jackpot in Da Naba Hood Threat, so I had already known him for over 10 years by the time we worked on that record.

All I did on that song btw, was helping program drums on the MPC. When we did that one record it was through my friend and DJ mentor Joey T’s label Empire Records and we had recently put out an instrumental beat record (Beats Anonymous). The Nabahood Threat came out after that." - Courtesy of Paul Nice 

In February 1997, they had a release party at The Chance Theater for that single. Here is an article from the Poughkeepsie Journal about that party. By the way, Paul Nice told me that he has got pictures from that evening in his crate, so He's about to send them to me.

From Poughkeepsie Journal (Archives) - February 21st 1997


1998 will be the year of their last record. "Flip Da Script / The End / The Unknown / Live N Die", four tracks still produced by D.J. Fidel Castro released on Jackpot Records. 

12" - 1998 - Jackpot Records 

On this wax, to be honest, half of the tracks aren't my cup of Tea... "Flip Da Script" and "Live N Die" were made with smooth instrumental and R'n'B stuff ... But "The End" and "The Unknown" raised the level with dark and nostalgic instrumentals, in a pure Nabahood Threat style !

After that ... the group disappeared in the Mid-Hudson valley without a trace ... What a pity!

Props to Paul Nice