Emerging from the streets of New York's Lower East Side in the early to mid '90s, Nomaads were a group comprised of MCs Q-Unique & Barretta (RIP), DJ Mel Ice (RIP) and producer Groovy Lou. They dropped their first and only 12", titled The Ultimate, in 1994 on V.I.P. Hip Hop Records.
Though their story was cut short before they could fully realize their potential, the group left behind a small but significant body of work.
The group began taking shape when Mel Ice reached out to Q-Unique, impressed by his work and eager to build something together. Q-Unique subsequently connected with Barretta, and the trio began recording demos with producer Thomas Owens. Their path soon crossed with legendary producer Skeff Anselm, whose credits included A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian and MC Serch. Skeff took an interest in the group and began developing music with them, opening doors to a world that had previously seemed almost out of reach.
Through Skeff, Q-Unique was introduced to Q-Tip and the members of A Tribe Called Quest, even spending time in the studio while the group was working on "Lyrics To Go". For a young underground crew, these encounters offered a glimpse of what might have been possible, placing The Nomaads at the edge of one of hip-hop's most fertile creative scenes.
The trio also shared the stage with some of the era's most respected names, including Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Tony Touch and D-Stroy. In another memorable moment, Q-Tip invited The Nomaads to join A Tribe Called Quest during their set for a live cypher at a Zulu Nation jam in the Bronx River Projects.
Their only official single, "The Ultimate", was eventually recorded at D&D Studios and released on the small Bronx-based label V.I.P. Hip Hop, with production by Groovy Lou. But by then, circumstances had already begun to unravel. Mel Ice tragically passed away during the group's formative years, while Baretta eventually disappeared from the scene. Q-Unique continued recording with Groovy Lou, but the producer himself later disappeared, leaving The Nomaads' story unfinished.
Q-Unique would go on to become a founding member of the Arsonists, but The Nomaads remained an important, if painful, chapter in his career. Following Baretta's passing in July 2017, the story of the group took on an even deeper resonance : a testament not only to an overlooked chapter of 90s NY hip-hop, but also to friendships, lost opportunities and the people who shaped Q-Unique's artistic journey.
With "The Ultimate", The Nomaads left behind a rare document of that era. More than three decades later, their music offers a glimpse into a group that came remarkably close to something bigger, surrounded by some of the most influential figures in hip-hop, yet ultimately remained an underground secret.
Fortunately their previously unreleased material finally saw the light of day in 2017 with the help of Chopped Herring Records, resulting in a 7-track EP featuring demos recorded between 1992 and 1995, produced by Groovy Lou, Thomas Owens and Zulu Gremlin.
As for the 12", it's mos def a must-have for any serious '90s hip-hop collector. The record is cheap and easy to find, so don't hesitate !
