90's Tapes Present Blaque Spurm / The Funk Family / B-Fyne - 2025

Today is a good day ! 90's Tapes are back this morning with a new triple drop for your record collection, dedicated to Robert "BeFyne" Humbert and his crews The Funk Family & Blaque Spurm. 

"Our next triple drop showcases some of the finest works of Robert "BeFyne" Humbert, the driving force behind crews like The Funk Family and Blaque Spurm. The Funk Family was simply a bunch of friends and family who grew up together in the burbs of Central New Jersey and recorded their debut "Everything'll BeFyne" between 1990 and 1993. Later on, the crew morphed into Blaque Spurm recording "Spurmacidal Tendencies" between 1993 and 1996. Between 1996 and 1999, BeFyne recorded his solo album "If Lookz Could Kill". All projects have been mainly produced by the late great Anthony "Tony D" Depula (RIP). Next to the original tracks, all of the releases contain bonus material gathered by BeFyne." - courtesy of 90's Tapes

3xLP - 2025 - 90's Tapes / HHV 

"Blaque Spurm was conceived when I was ending my relationship with Poetic Groove Records for my group The Funk Family in 1993 and wanted to give a new name to my crew. Unfortunately, PGR lost their distribution with Interscope Records so it was time to reinvent ourselves and put out some new music. One day we were in the studio with my brother Borne "Baby Chill" Humbert (RIP) recording his album "Wake Up Call". He wanted me on his song "Black Sperm" so I was like "that would be a crazy name for a group". At the time, Borne was playing with the idea of calling his crew "The Secret Squirrels", so when I said was going to use the title of his song as the name of my group he was a little salty but ultimately was like that's dope and Blaque Spurm was born. I changed the spelling so it wouldn't appear so blunt and start drawing my own logos, I think the first logo I drew was the spermatozoa with the head shaped like a "B" and the stale shaped like an "S". Now I had to get with my producer Anthony "Tony D" Depula (RIP) and make an entire album based on this new name and concept so I started writing and coming up with bangers like "Bend-A-Hoe" and "Awh Fuck It“.

On my many travels to Houston I met and added to the crew two of the dopest Emcees by the names of Papa Doc, who was from Philly, and J-Nap from Queens. I also incorporated the production of some of Houston illest underground producers at the time, my homies Prodigy, Grizz and homie Itche. They were a perfect match to Tony D's melodic sound for the album. We were signed to American Recordings aka Def American when a young A&R rep and still my homie till this day, Mr. Dan Charnas, played Rick Rubin some of our music from The Funk Family album and a couple of the new BS songs. He said Rick loved the music, but when he told him our name he was blown away and next thing you know we're signing contracts and I was on my way to L.A. to meet with Rick. We recorded the album "Spurmacidal Tendencies" and released the "Splendid" 12 inch which also featured "Jizm", "Nonoxynol Rhyme'n" & "Pack Ya Shit" in 1994. We released our second single "Dayz & Dayz" & "The Cycle" a year later, but we severed ties with American shortly after and didn't release the full album until over a decade later. Now you get to vibe out to this classic album and add it to your catalog of dope shit for years to come so enjoy!" - courtesy of Bobby "BeFyne" Humbert

2xLP - 2025 - 90's Tapes / HHV

"After parting ways as Blaque Spurm with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings in 1996, Bobby “BeFyne” Humbert moved from Houston back to the eastcoast to Philly and began working for Contract Recordings and Ruff Nation formerly known as Ruff House Records. During his time there he recorded this album in Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo’s infamous recording studio. Produced by his two mentors and close friends Anthony “YZ” Hill and Anthony “Tony D” Depula (RIP), this was the first time in over 10 years they had worked on a project together from their Two Tone Production days back in the late 80’s.

The album is a vivid reflection of what BeFyne was experiencing becoming an elder statesmen for underground hip-hop music as it was beginning to morph in the commercial powerhouse that it is today. It was also a testimony to his growth as an emcee and displays some of his best lyricism since his early The Funk Family and Blaque Spurm days. The production from both Tony’s was ahead of its time and can hold up to any sound on the radio right now. This is definitely a classic timeless masterpiece so sit back and enjoy." - courtesy of Bobby "BeFyne" Humbert

3xLP - 2025 - 90's Tapes / HHV

" Turning into Blaque Spurm later on, "The Funk Family was simply a bunch of friends and family who grew up together in the burbs of Central New Jersey and who loved Hip-Hop music. With the help of one of the best producers to ever touch a drumpad, our brother, the amazingly talented Anthony "Tony D" Depula (RIP), we made some monumental, thought provoking, classic material that to this day, even though it was released on such a small scales, has gained fans around the world." - courtesy of Bobby "BeFyne" Humbert

Available in a limited run each on 2LP/3LP (300 copies each), CD/2CD in jewel case (300 copies each), MC (100 copies each)

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New Joint : Big Dese & Confidence - Melt - 2025

 

"Melt" is the second single taken from the forthcoming Big Dese & Confidence's collaborative album "Kool Moe Dese", which will be released soon on Below System Records.

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne

If you're not familiar with that name, you need to know that Mack-A-Damien-Thorne was an emcee from Chicago's south side who can be considered as affiliated with the collective of beatmakers called the Molemen. 

His only official release was a cassette tape dropped in 1994 on Molemen Inc entitled "It Looks Like Reign". It's composed of 3 tracks "Sucka'duk", "It Looks Like Reign" & "That's How My Thoughts Go", which were all produced by the Molemen. The B-side contains the three intrumentals. First time I've listened to this tape was with the help of my man Hakan Dougpark who sent me the tracks from his own copy. Big Up !

 

1994 - Molemen Inc. - Photos courtesy of Hakan Dougpark 

 In 1995, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne was still in the game and appeared on a Mixtape called "Subway Connection vol.3" delivered by DJ 3rd Rail and dedicated to the Molemen. The track was produced by Panik. 

It was his last song featuring on a physical format. So one question remains... what happened to Mack-A-Damien-Thorne after that ? ... the best thing was to ask him directly !

Mack... first of all, I'd like to know how everything started for you as an Emcee ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " First off, Run DMC were the ones mostly responsible for that. After hearing their debut album during a car ride from my grandfather’s house back to my mom’s, I heard it in it’s entirety and the minimalism in it drew me in and made me feel like I wanted to pick up the pen and start writing.

Starting out as Ice Mike MD, to M.D. Word, to Mack Daddy Word, to Mack-A-Damien Thorne. "

How did the connection happen with the Molemen after that ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " I met them through a close friend (Vakill) and I was featured on one of his first demos, but it never saw the light of day. Fast forward my big bro Grim Nefarious was working with them and he brought me onboard to do some demo work in the beginning of 1993. "

The Molemen, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne (Middle), Grim Nefarious (Right) & Vakill (Below) - Photo courtesy of Mack Thorne

Why is there nothing else released officially after the tape "It Looks Like Reign" in 1994 ? 

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " I recorded some songs in the studio with DJ Mixx Massacre (of the Molemen) that never got properly mixed, and then the breakup of the original members happened. From there I bounced around from label to label and nobody could really do what I needed to be done... "

Were you affiliated with a Chicago-based group at that time ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " At that particular time, just The Citadel which was myself, Vakill and my brother Grim Nefarious. Prior to that we were all Empire of Destruction. That was the ultimate collective which included Twista, Connect Flow, Rebel XD, etc..."

Have you ever thought of mixing everything properly and releasing it on vinyl nowadays ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " The label that I’m working with currently is toying with the idea of bringing some of those old joints back to life. "

That's a good news. I hope something will happen !

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " The project that I did alongside DJ E and his former label Plugg’d Records, is floating around in cyberspace. I’ve bumped into a couple of songs. “New Word Order” is the project. "

I think I've seen a few tracks floating around on youtube, tracks recorded around 1996-1997. 

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Correct ! The project before that “Self Do, Self Have” that I did for Derelict Records is sitting on a DAT tape in my closet. I need to get my hands on a DAT player tho’. I started working on it immediately after The Molemen started falling apart. "

Who did the productions on it ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Myself ! I’ve always done production. It’s just that when I got with The Molemen I focused more on my pen game and I let them handle all production duties. Back then, Rick Thump handled the bulk of the beats. DJ Mixx Massacre would come through with the rest. Once Rick Thump was voted out, the sound changed. "

I didn't know Rick Thump was an original member of the Molemen. Do you remember why he left ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Well…he was battling some demons that the rest of the crew felt was affecting the business. I hated to so see that day. Rick’s the one that did the whole “It Looks Like Reign” project. I worked closely with him.

When he was voted out, we talked about teaming up as The Beat Parlor, but I think that whole ordeal kinda’ knocked the wind outta’ his sails. So we wound up doing different things. "

If you want to listen to some of his unreleased material, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne blessed us on his youtube channel with some unreleased tracks that were played during the 90s on WHPK (88.5 FM), the student-run college radio station owned by the University of Chicago in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Most of them were produced by the Molemen (Rick Thump, DJ Mixx Massacre) & DJ E.

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " This was an interesting time in The Molemen camp ('94). This was the last beat Rick did for me before his departure from the crew. I just wanted to lay my vocals and (in hindsight) did a horrible mix on this version. I did the final version of this over at Derelict Records in '96. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " From '94, this was one of many joints done with fellow Moleman DJ Mixx Massacre (he supplied the beat and scratches, I came through with the rhymes). He always kept a fresh batch of beats on hand, and when the floodgates opened I was definitely like a kid in a candy store. The homey Collapsar played this regularly on his Saturday show at WHPK. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " A joint from '97...recorded with DJ E with additional vocals from Nick Fury (of Madd Corr). This verse is actually a portion of what I spit to join my compadres in Empire of Destruction in front of the Blue Gargoyle at Kingdom Rock's party. Full details of this classic night has already been scripted in a chapter of my book I'm finishing titled "Hip Hop...I Met Her In Grade School". "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Another basement demo done in what we called the Molehole. Produced by The Molemen (DJ Mixx Massacre). Recorded in '94 and played a few times by Collapsar. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " This was done right after the "It Looks Like Reign" project. With the Molemen, at the Molehole (aka Big Juan's house) I used to rap over every instrumental on vinyl for mixtapes and take them up to WHPK. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : : " A late 90's demo played on WHPK quite a few times. "

Mad Props to Mack Thorne, thanks for your time fam. 

Video : Roc Marciano & DJ Premier - Armani Section - 2025

Here is the official video for DJ Premier & Roc Marciano's single "Armani Section". The sample used by preemo for this smooth production comes from the song "Trying to Watch The Wind" performed by Eugene Records. 

Jay Royale - Jacked For The City - 2025

 

Baltimore-based emcee Jay Royale is back with a very introspective conceptual project entitled "Jacked For The City" The G Money Wells Perspective. The project is a very complex look at the classic New Jack City narrative from the perspective of the crime organizations overlooked cohort ! The guests are Havoc of Mobb Deep, Tek of Smif-N-Wessun, Big Noyd & DJ Grazzhoppa. The Productions are mostly managed by Ray Sosa. It's available on CD format only !

Da Rymskeme / Eyedl Mode

Let's get back in the early/mid 90s with some Bay Area indy hip-hop, which I think would deserve a vinyl treatment.

Everything began with the demo tape dropped by San Francisco-based emcee Da Rymskeme in 1992. This is a 4-track cassette tape produced by Da Rymskeme and J Def the Monk of Funk, and it marks the debut of the duo called Eyedl Mode who will be formed a few years later.

Here is the review from Bomb Hip-Hop magazine written in 1992 :

Artist : Da Rymskeme

Title : Self-titled Demo

« With a name like Da Rymskeme, You already get a clue of how dope this brother might be, and dope he is. On the first song « Mista Guitar Man », Rymskeme kicks a tribute to all the brothers out there who have that magic touch to strum a guitar. Speaking of guitars, check out the guitar riff on this track because it is straight-up-n-funky! On « Instincts » Rymskeme has a more laid back rhyme delivery which makes me feel like kickin’ back on a rockin’ chair, just chillin’ and groovin’. He starts to pick up the pace once again on the third song « Da Word » which contains some great samples looped on from A Tribe Called Quest. Another song for y’all who are curious to pay close attention to is « Pavement Trials of a Jester » , where he rhymes to the same beat De La Soul sampled and looped for their song « A RollerSkating Jam Named Saturday ». Rymskeme has a very unique and complex rhyme delivery that you have to listen to very closely, yet he is definitely on the bean-eating-fart-smelling funky tip! To find out more about Da Rymskeme you can contact David Paul Management at (415) 826-9479. »

From Left to Right : Da Rymskeme - J Def the Monk of Funk - Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Photo courtesy of David Paul

Da Rymskeme and J Def the Monk of Funk appeared for the first time under the name Eyedl Mode in 1994 on the various compilation of unsigned Bay Area rap acts named Bomb Hip Hop Compilation .

 The duo released their first demo tape in 1995. It's entitled "Fogville" and it contains 22 tracks fully produced by the duo for Sleepwalking Music. This tape will be followed the same year by "Eyedlmode", which is a 5-track EP featuring G-Boogie of the group KNT (Kali Noize Terrorist / Knuckle Neck Tribe). Listen to those tracks and tell me what you think !

Photos courtesy of 12ManRambo 

Mix : Def Killah - Unda Chroniclez Vol.4

 

Avantgarde Vak a.k.a VANSERNU of blaqLotus Records is back with the fourth volume of his Def Killah - Unda Chroniclez series.

1. Ripe143 “Stress” (Inst.)
2. Zoodizoo “Physical Form”
3. Duane E “Fuckem All”
4. Combined Operation “Underground Rails”
5. True Headz “Ill Styles”
6. E. C. Illa “You Know The Sound”
7. Brainsick Enterprize “Stick to the Plan”
8. Triip “No Tricks in 96”
9. The B. L. U. N. T. E. D. Crew “Strumblin”

Video : Jus Daze - Queens - 2025

Visuals for Jus Daze's "Queens" produced by Brutal Caesar (cuts by Tone Spliff), which is the second single from their upcoming collaborative album.