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Rap's New Faces - The Gavin Report 1995

 

From The Gavin Report - June 25, 1995

The Beatnuts - Reign Of The Tec - 1993

No need to check their résumé to know that Queens-based group The Beatnuts put in serious work during the early '90s. Before stepping into the spotlight themselves, Psycho Les and JuJu had already built a reputation behind the boards, crafting beats for names like Pete Nice and Daddy Rich (formerly of 3rd Bass), Chi-Ali, Kurious, Common Sense and more...

In 1993, they dropped their debut single "Reign of the Tec" on Relativity Records, a 12-inch that stands as one of their rawest and most memorable releases. Unfortunately Fashion (a.k.a Al' Tariq), the group's third member, wasn't able to appear on the single due to legal troubles at the time. Still, that didn't stop the record from making serious noise. The moment it hit the streets, it felt like a punch to the face, in the best possible way.

12" - 1993 - Relativity 

  

Upon release, "Reign of the Tec" quickly earned attention from the hip-hop press. It was featured in The Source's Fat Tape section (June 1993), reviewed in Billboard (May 1993) and Spin (August 1993). According to Billboard, the track debuted in the Top 15 on pay-to-see video channel The Box, and received steady radio rotation from coast to coast, on WRKS (Kiss 98.7), WKCR and WBLS in New York, WPGC in Washington D.C., WIOQ (Q102) in Philadelphia, KPWR (Power 106) in Los Angeles, and KMEL in San Francisco.

"When I pop the trunk, hit the deck 
John Wayne couldn't even stand the reign of the Tec
Head for the hills before you get wrecked 
John Wayne couldn't even stand the reign of the Tec"

The chorus features guest appearances from Sadat X of Brand Nubian and Kurious Jorge who has been down with the Beatnuts since the beginning and who can be considered as affiliated with the group. 

On the production side, Psycho Les and JuJu flexed their crate-digging genius. The track revolves around a menacing guitar loop sampled from "Wicked World" by Black Sabbath (1971), giving it that dark, heavy energy that matched the era's raw East Coast sound. Layered over that are multiple samples from Gene Chandler's "In My Body's House"(1969), woven together into a head nodding masterpiece.

7" - 1971 - Vertigo  

7" - 1969 - Checker  

"Reign of the Tec" might not be the rarest 12" around, but it's a must-have for any hip-hop record collector. It captures the essence of early '90s New York... dusty loops, hard drums, and pure attitude. Well according to their promo sheet, their objective was to get paid ... no doubt this single was definitely the beginning of a stunning music career, mission accomplished !!!

Tha Beatnuts in Stress Magazine - 1997

 

From Stress Magazine - Jul/Aug 1997, Issue #08 - Scans courtesy of Christian Luda 

The Beatnuts – The Beatnuts: Street Level - 2025

 

2xLP - 2025 - Producer Plug / Urban Series

Here is a reissue of the iconic Beatnuts album "The Beatnuts: Street Level" which is the best Beatnuts album in my opinion and most definitely a classic. This double vinyl edition dropped by Producer Plug / Urban Series contains 2 bonus tracks "Hellraiser" (Original Version) and "Dawn Of The Dead". It's also available on CD & Cassette.

 

Pre-Order : Black Vinyl Edition / HHV Exclusive Limited Deluxe Grey & Red Splatter Vinyl Edition / Limited Deluxe Red & Yellow Splattter Vinyl Edition / CD / Cassette

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Scans courtesy of Frederic Thecle 

Al' Tariq - God Connections (2xLP + 7") - 2023

 

2xLP + 7" - 2023 - 90's Tapes / HHV  

"Here's the solo debut of former Beatnuts member Al' Tariq, "God Connections". Originally released in 1996, the album includes a heavy cast of producers and collaborators like The Beatnuts, No I.D., Mighty V.I.C., The Rawcotiks, Problemz, Black Attack and more. To quote "The Source", the majority of the tracks on "God Connections" are hardcore bangers for the authentic b-boy/underground head, providing the fan with straight to the core Hip-Hop." - courtesy of 90's Tapes  

Available on black vinyl 2LP+7" ("Crime Pays" b/w "Do Yo' Thang" - 500 copies), CD (jewel case - 300 copies) & cassette (100 copies)

Order  

Triflicts - Genuine / Don't Make Me Try - 1996

12" - 1996 - Hydra Entertainment

Here is the debut single "Genuine / Don't Make Me Try" released by Triflicts on Hydra Ent. in 1996. This wax is really affordable and is definitely a must have.

Triflicts was a group consisting of Gab Gotcha, Creech a.k.a Creature and Buc Live hailing from Queens, NY.  More precisely Creature and Gab are from Corona, Queens and Buck is from Flushing/ Fresh Meadows. 

Creature : " We formed the crew in 1991. Me and Buck Live went to High School together. After I dropped out I went to GED School and met Gab Gotcha. I introduced them to each other and we became a group. "

Between 1993 and 1994, Triflicts recorded a few demos produced by JuJu of the Beatnuts who was from the same area and by James Data a.k.a Jam DOT from Flushing, Queens. Those demos were sent to Island Records and got them a deal. They signed to 4th & Broadway - Island Records and "I'm Terror" produced by Jam DOT was supposed to be the official single but it didn't come out unfortunately...

Creature : " They didn't want to clear the samples or something ... This is 1994, almost 30 years ago... I mean it wasn't a million-dollar deal... lol ... only a single with an option for an album. We were young and we made mistakes. Things like that happen but I am very happy to be able to experience it though."

But their manager had a relationship with Hydra Entertainment so they decided to drop a single with them. That's how their debut single "Genuine / Don't Make Me Try" produced by JuJu of the Beatnuts was born.

On January 11th 1996, they were invited by Stretch & Bobbito on WKCR. Here is the interview & Freestyle aired that night.

Unfortunately it was their first and only official single ... After that Gab Gotcha was incarcerated ... and Buck Live quit music so that kind of brought the group to an end. The demos that got them signed to Island got put out a few years ago on the French label Sergent Records.

For the info, Creature is still in the game under the name of Creaturenomics. He dropped a bunch of solo stuff through the years and he has recently released his latest EP entitled "Hunt for the Future" on Vinyl & CD, with the help of Chopped Herring Records.

Mad Props to Creature. thanks for your time.

Original Recipe Present The Classic Hype Sticker Edition Tees

 

Original Recipe have taken indelible hype stickers from some of their favourite hip-hop 12"s and albums and turned then into high-quality tees with custom labels and some added extras. Scanned from their original promo record stickers, they come accompanied by repro press shots from the artists involved - again, direct from their archives.

The Classic Hype Sticker Edition Tee #1: Reign of the Tec (limited to 50 Black, 50 White) & The Classic Hype Sticker Edition Tee #2: DWYCK (limited to 50 Black / 50 White)

Order   

Kurious - A Constipated Monkey - 2021

2xLP - 2021 - 90's Tapes / HHV 

"Limited edition of 500 copies on black vinyl in gatefold sleeve of Kurious' debut album "A Constipated Monkey". The 2LP includes a bonus 7" with the tracks "I'm Kurious" and "Uptown Shit"."A Constipated Monkey" is one of our favorite albums from 1994 and we are very excited to finally share the release with you. Most of the production has been handled by The Beatnuts as well as the SD50's and the guest list includes iconic MC's such as Casual of the Hieroglyphics, MF Grimm, Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Psycho Les of The Beatnuts and others." - courtesy of 90's Tapes

Orders :  2LP+7" (500 copies) / CD (300copies) / Cassette (100 copies)

Microphone Check - The Source, July 1997

 

From The Source - July 1997 - Scans courtesy of Fred Thecle 

The Beatnuts - Props Over Platinum

From Elemental Magazine - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton

Microphone Check - The Source , June 1993

 

From The Source - June 1993 - Scans courtesy of Frederic Thecle