Independents Day

 

From Hip-Hop Connection - April 1999 

90‘s Tapes Radio Show #006 - with Science Of Sound & The Realist - 2020

 

"The sixth episode features the legendary Brooklyn based crew Science Of Sound from the Tribe Called Quest-sphere. Peter Chan, Tike-O & Beetle will talk about their album production progress and cameos with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Godfather Don, Grandmaster Melle Mel and more.

Next stop on our journey is Grand Rapids, MI. We present you the indie group The Realist alias Vito, Freeze, Mean Mark, Trent & DJ Shonski and we will look back to their formation, tragedies, and self-discovery in the early 90’s.

The last 20 minutes belong to DJ Skeli. We want to feature more and more DJs from our community to show support and Skeli will start this only vinyl guest mix series! 

100 minutes of 100% powerful underground vibes! PEACE & stay healthy!" - courtesy of 90's Tapes 

Built To Last Mix : Conception Records - 2020

 

01 - Kutfather - Thoughts I Generate 

02 - Eclipse - My Position 

03 - 3rd Degree - Better Days 

04 - Sharpshooters - Massacre (Hallucinating murder remix) 

05 - Samson & Swift - Watch Your Words

06 - Jake One - No introduction feat Kutfather 

07 - Da Grassroots - Last Days feat G-Knight & Marvel

08 - Diamond Mercenaries - Diamonds are forever 

09 - Fourfifths - Earth, Wind & Fire (original)

Mad Props to Corrado & I-Joe 

RedefineHipHop - StoriesAboutSongs EP. 6 : Rhyme "Warrior's Ink" Demo - 1995

 

The legendary Kevin Beacham is back with the 6th episode of his StoriesAboutSongs series. This episode is about the Chicago-based artist Rhyme and his "Warrior's Ink" Demo recorded in 1995.

"Up to this point, I would guess that most anyone interested in listening to this podcast has thus far been aware of all the artists I’ve covered, but Rhyme might be the first exception. For the entire of my career in the music business, from my days running a home studio (Rage Cage Studios) in the late 80s to the early 90s, to my various other adventures, I’ve always sought to be an artist advocate, especially for those who I feel are the unheard. In 1995, Rhyme, from Chicago, was one of those artists to make an instant and long lasting impression on me. This is the story of his “Warrior’s Ink” Demo, as well as how his career developed from that moment, as well as how Daddy-O, from Stetsasonic was involved." - courtesy of Kevin Beacham 

Mr Eon (The High & Mighty) - Random WKCR Promos & Freestyles (1994 -1998)

 

Here is a batch of Mr Eon's Promos & Freestyles aired in the Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show on WKCR between 1994 and 1998. 

S.T.E.E.L - Realism - 1996

This is the kind of stuff we'd like to see coming out on physical format like the rest of S.T.E.E.L unreleased material recorded at that time. Unfortunately the excellent "Realism" is the only track available nowadays from that batch recorded by S.T.E.E.L in the mid-90s, because all the tracks and their original masters are lost... 

S.T.E.E.L a.k.a Black S.T.E.E.L is an emcee from 7th Ward, New Orleans. His track "Realism" was produced in 1996 by his friend Yuset Pozo from Kenner, New Orleans. In 2001 it was remixed by Yuset who did what he could with what they had and in 2005 the track appeared on the Goldmic Compilation titled "Insurgency" which was released on CD only.

Could you tell us how everything started for you exactly ?

S.T.E.E.L : "I was just an avid writer in elementary and high school. Kinda made the switch to actually rapping after being urged to consider it by a friend of mine, who ended up giving me the name "Black Steel", after the Public Enemy song of the same title. Got shortened to S.T.E.E.L., and it's been that ever since."

S.T.E.E.L - Photo courtesy of S.T.E.E.L

Yuset Pozo : "I didn't start as a producer... I was a rapper in a group called Nubian Tribe... then later called it 3 Flavors... got lucky to find someone to put some money behind us and went to studios by 15. From there I met a producer named DJ Edward Precise...I sat next to him while he make tracks on EPS 16 choppin shit up...I knew I wanted to mess with beats right then...I was about 16 and got a settlement check from an accident and I bought my own keyboard and went to town...I was already practicing on a ASR-10 that a friend had...I had made a few beats that I rapped on and S.T.E.E.L laid that master piece and the rest is history... "

Yuset Pozo - Photo courtesy of Yuset Pozo 

How did the connection happen between both of you ? 

S.T.E.E.L : "Oh, we've been friends since around 91, 92. Just being in the same circle of people who shared the same love for the culture. Yuset and our friend Tito are the tie that binds, honestly. The 3 of us are still very close to this day."

Yuset Pozo :"Through WTUL (Tulane University-New Orleans) was a local radio station and through that we got to know rappers from the city like Psyco Ward and his crew was called Transparent.. and we were called Scratch Pro.. we did it all from scratch...

S.T.E.E.L was also working with DJ Khaled when he was living out here and I was cool with Khaled too before he moved to Orlando."

S.T.E.E.L, were you affiliated with a crew at that time ?

S.T.E.E.L : "Not particularly. When we recorded that song, I was still just kinda doing my own thing, trying to figure out how and where I fit in on the scene. I mean, I had friends who were active, but I was always the standout, so to speak."

Yuset, what were your music influences ?

Yuset Pozo : "Pete Rock and Dr Dre.. later was DJ Premier and Tony Dofat, No I.D. from Chicago who did Common album and Tribe Called Quest productions."

Why is there nothing else recorded after that ? Why is there no 12" or album released ?

S.T.E.E.L : "Never signed a deal, lots of music lost or destroyed, etc...

Actually... I take that back, I did sign a deal, back in 99, nothing ever came of it though. We recorded some music... The company -- local startup -- refused to release it. The files for that are also long gone...Katrina wiped away a lot of what we had..."

For all the wax diggers, the track contains a sample of the song "And Here You Are" performed by the Jazz-fusion group Stuff, and released in 1977.

LP - 1977 - Jet Sunshine Records 

Mad Props to S.T.E.E.L & Yuset, thanks for the interview. 

Hi-Lo - Rock On! - 1995

 

12" - 1995 - Noizemaker Records 

Hi-Lo ... Rock On 12"... this wax is a little gem !!!  It was released in 1995 by this hip-hop trio from Richmond,VA. Hi-Lo consisted of the lead vocalist Brutha Funk Marqwa, P.D Funk and DJ Tiny Tim.

From Left To Right : Dj Tiny Tim / P.D Funk & Marqwa - Photo courtesy of P.D Funk 

Dj Tiny Tim : "At that time, myself and the lead rapper Marcus a.k.a Marqwa (Messenger Asiatic Resolving Questions With Answers) who is my older brother were from South Richmond. The 3rd member of the group P.D Funk was from North Richmond. The group was together for about a year or two starting around 1992 to 1994, if I remember correctly. We all worked part time at an Italian restaurant in the city's westend, that's how we met !"

The 12" is composed of the lead single "Rock On" available in its LP, Instrumental and Remix versions, and the track "Walk In The Night", all the tracks produced by Marqwa.

The wax is really dope but unfortunately it's practically impossible to find a copy for sale nowadays... around 200 vinyl and 200 tapes were pressed in '95 and there is nothing else released by the group after that 12".

Dj Tiny Tim : "We were self managed, we did a few local shows and radio interviews back then but nothing major. After that we all pursued other things in life and ended the group, but we are still good friends."

Photo courtesy of P.D Funk

The good news is that someone somewhere is cooking something for you Fellas...so stay tuned! More info coming soon ...

F.O.N. - Gotta Get Mine - 1996

 

12" - 1996 - Fun Records Inc 

This wax came out in 1996 on Fun Records, Inc, a record label from Staten Island managed by Richard Woods who is now deceased. It was released by a group named F.O.N. which stands for Forces Of Nature.

The crew originally consisted of 3 members named Rasheed Gutter a.k.a Spiff from East NY Brooklyn, Haze from Staten Island NY, God Lamont a.k.a Mr. Luz a.k.a L Luz "Da Ear" from Lower East Side Manhattan. There is also a 4th member named Stoney who came after.

From Left to Right : Stoney, Spiff & Haze 

Haze : "Stoney was a solo artist who filled in for L Luz cause he made a choice to go military. And Stoney was a friend of ours through a music connect and then we went with him on the album cover to fill Mr Luz spot but he was really solo. All the members of the group are family except Stoney..."

Spiff : " We are cousins and connected when I moved to Staten Island with my father..." 

Haze : "...we all loved Hip-Hop music so we came together through G-man who is Rasheed's father, our uncle. He played music and we wrote rhymes in his house in the studio he had called Pre Production...that's how we connected as Forces Of Nature."

Their 12" is composed of two songs "Gotta Get Mine" on the A-side and "Bring Wreck" on the B-side, both songs available in their original versions produced by Howard Gutter a.k.a G-man and in their remix versions produced by Brent 'Faroh' Toussaint for who the connection was arranged by Richard Woods (RIP). If you don't remember who is Brent Toussaint, he's the guy who also produced the excellent compilation Nodyaheadtodis Vol 1 in 1996.

 

 For your information, a full album with 15 songs and skits was recorded by the group, it was called "You Never Saw Us Coming!" but unfortunately it never saw the light of day...