In 1996, this 12" came out on Aggravated Entertainement. It was released by FDC a.k.a Foundation Click, a group from an area in New Haven, CT called The Ville short for Newhallville. The group was composed of Binky B, Royal Madness and Zulu the Dirty Hood.
Both tracks "Star tyme" and "Things Aint Easy" were produced by Patrick 'A.C Smooth' McMillan.
A.C Smooth : "I knew Bink B from early on we went to the same elementary and jr high school but it wasn’t till I started Djing on college radio station 88.7 WNHU that we would hook up to do music, at that time he was putting out mixtapes"
A.C Smooth founded Aggravated Entertainement in 1994 and also signed other artists like Lonnie O. Two unreleased tracks of FDC also came out with the help of Chopped Herring Records in 2014, on The Aggravated Vaults '93 - '95 EP.
This double Digipack CD is the last project released by the french Label Larchiviste Records. This comp represents different groups from the actual indy Hip-Hop scene from France (CD1) and from Switzerland (CD2).
CD France :
01 Dj Pkur - Intro (Prod Jack-H)
02 Le Bon Nob - Exutoire 4 (Prod Nanar)
03 Pops'In - Seul Contre Tous (Prod Fonky B)
04 Moax - Dans Le Coup (Prod Dj Lumi)
05 Fizzi Pizzi - Poser (Prod Fonky B)
06 Hakim Norbert - Tellement Loin (Prod Vyda)
07 Senisa - Hors Des Tendances (Prod Dj Lambda)
08 Illustre - Partage (Prod Thatkidgoran)
09 Artcore State Of Mind - La Réalité En Face (Prod Niack)
10 Les Rodeurs - Vous Etes Avertis (Prod Fonky B)
11 Krom - Tu Racontes Que De La Merde (Prod Krom)
12 Dooz Kawa - Les Fleurs Poussent En Decembre (Prod Art Aknid)
13 7FA7 Posse - Bloqué (Prod Vyda)
14 Medouze - Nation Boom Bap (Prod Medouze)
15 Meraxx et Tonto Noiza (Meratont) - Prédateurs (Prod Inzu)
16 Bot Fess Clan - La Relève (Prod Shar Analog Bastard)
CD Suisse :
01 OTR DJ Crew - Intro (Prod Jack-H)
02 2P Feat Low Position & Zero Absolu - Dead Man (Prod Skeezo)
03 La Brèche - Reste Dans La Marche (Prod Jack-H)
04 Supra & Nisma - Mauvaise Herbe (Prod Tru Comers)
05 Hid'N - Borderline (Prod A2cro)
06 La Corde - Apparence Trompeuse (Prod Ardi Beatz)
07 Supreme War Click (SWC) - Dans Le Tas (Prod Dj Eagle)
08 Dok Bad Feat. Gingle Jo - Courant Est Australien (Prod Ardi Beatz)
Hailing from the Bay Area, Double Life was a rap duo formed by L*Roneous and Gennessee. They started recording their first material in 1996.
L*Roneous :" The group Double Life was actually Gennessee and the homie Shinobi One.. but when me and Gen connected something just clicked and we started writing/recording tracks on my old 4 track.. from there everything kinda fell into place as us 2 rhyming together.. Shinobi played the background hella supporting tho.. he is the guy who is directly responsible for most of the samples we used.. that was roughly 1996. I met Gennessee through a mutual friend, Dj Wisdom (back then he was Dj Winnie B) one day and we were pretty much inseparable for years to come.."
Gennessee : "I was introduced to L by DJ Wisdom. L taught me the ropes of starting our own labels and releasing our own music, performing, booking etc..."
L*Roneous & Gennessee - Photo courtesy of Gennessee
They released their first 12" on Raw Elements Records in 1997, a record label founded by Gennessee, L*Roneous and Aaron Gretzinger.
Gennessee : "We did everything ourselves. We handled all day to day operations, manufacturing, distribution... Super grass roots."
Three tracks are available on this rare and dope 12-inches, all as good as each other. "Revolutions" produced by Animation and cuts done by Raw B. This track was put in rotation many times by Stretch & Bobbito on WKCR that year. On the B-Side "No Limitations" and "Regiments", both produced by DJ Zeph. Zeph was originally from Santa Cruz and began to concentrate on his skills as a DJ after being under the wing of Kut Masta Kurt.
L*Roneous : "Actually, I’m the only one from the bay... from the east bay originally, born in Oakland, raised in Alameda, but i truly grew up in San Francisco (my musical home), Gennessee is from Brooklyn, and Raw B is from Nevada. For the sake of argument tho, Double Life was born in Marin, CA via late night blunt and freestyle sessions at Gen’s crib... and brought to life in San Francisco where we made our name.
Back in the day the bay was flooded with upstart everything: Djs, rappers, engineers, promoters, etc... being around other rappers irritated me, so i gravitated towards the Dj homies (via Dj Wisdom). Raw B did a radio show with Wisdom, Animation is the homie from Wisdom’s home town (Poughkeepsie, NY), and Zeph was the young cat that could do almost anything every other Dj could only hope to do... I figured the best Dj should mess with the best emcee (he and I worked together on my first solo album, Imaginarium)"
Gennessee : "Zeph and Raw B were my roommates. I met Zeph through L and Raw B through DJ Wisdom at Beatsause radio (KUSF). Paul Nice, who mentored me and taught me how to make beats, introduced me to Animation. Paul Nice and Animation followed DJ Wisdom to Cali."
DJ Zeph : "L Ron and I were already working together, and did an album. Gennessee was tight with L and they would kick it and rhyme a lot. Freestyle, write, etc... Gen was a monster at freestyling. Like real freestyling off the top. And L had a more cerebral kind of vibe so they were a good contrasting complement, East / West as well.
Animation ... I only met him a few times. Cool kid... we were kids then ! He was dope but we never collabed. Raw B was my man though. We did so much cool shit together, gigs on 4 turntables, digging, DJ tracks, mixtapes, beats. We lived together in more than one place. Great DJ, and really cool. He was smart and got out of the Bay Area a few years ago. He did the legendary college radio show 'Beatsauce' on KUSF before that got sold."
L*Roneous & Gennessee - Photo courtesy of DJ Wisdom
One question is till remaining ... why is there no Double Life's album after the 12" ?
Gennessee : "Good question. We have 2 full Double Life albums recorded in that era sitting on my hard drives. I started Street Reportas shortly after, and founded Noble House shortly after that. L was focusing on pushing his solo album, and I started making beats around that time too.
We spent all our time performing and never put the energy it takes to mix, master, market and promote a full length album. I was doing my solo stuff with Paul Nice too and 'Definition Of Nice' was taking off. "
L*Roneous: "Solo interests outshined a group project... we had always had intentions of releasing an album... even have lots of songs recorded, just never pushed the ‘GO’ button on the project... but who knows what the future will hold ? "
Dark Skinned Assassin - Gotta Get The Creme Mental Dimension - Soul Of Warmth Scott Lark Da Sensei - Natural Bliss Main Source - What You Need Omniscence - Lost in the Music Artifacts - Lower Da Boom Cipha - Rock Rock On Black Sheep - Everyway Always L.O.T.U.G - What I'm After (I Know You) Remix Sun Risers - Real Off The Block Dungeon Lordz - Told Ya Mental Dimension - Represent your Residence Sun Risers - Represent S.O.S (Science Of Sound) - Untitled Demo The Funk Family - Neva Mental Dimension - Put 2 Rest Tha Lowa - Never Give Up Remix Black Prince & Aziatic - Watch Blak Bake Em' Shyheim Feat. Down Low Recka , Pop The Brown Hornet & Rubbabandz - Pass It Off Tha Lowa - Don't Cross Over Black Sheep - Still In The Ghetto Main Source - Where We're Coming From Tragedy - Funk Mode Dungeon Lordz - Coming From The Dungeon Shyheim - The B Side (Bring The Drama) The Jaz - Doped Up The Funk Family - Manifest'n Thoughts Schoolly D - It's Like Dope
Juvenile Hell is the debut album by the hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was recorded when they were still in their late teens and released on April 13, 1993 by 4th B'way. The album was originally released on CD, Cassette and limited edition promo-only vinyl LP, produced by Havoc, Dale Hogan, Keith Spencer, Kerwin "Sleek" Young, Large Pro, Prodigy, Paul Shabazz and Dj Premier. Here is the official reissue on vinyl !
Intro Monica feat Grap Luva - Get Down Remix Pete Rock Freestyle Talk Break Bahamadia - Uknowhowwedu Erick Sermon - Maintain Cypress Hill - Illusions Remix Large Professor - The Mad Scientist Group Home - Suspended in Time Talk Break Jamal - Fades 'Em All (Pete Rock Remix) Talk Break Renegade - ? Jamal - Keep It Real Ghostface Killah feat Raekwon - Motherless Child Bahamadia - True Honey Buns (Dat Freak Sh*T) D'Angelo feat AZ - Lady (Just Tha Beat Mix) INI - Fakin' Jax Talk Break Lost Boyz - Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz Remix 25 To Life - LA LA Special Ed - Freaky Flow Remix Group Home - Tha Realness Jay-Z - Dead Presidents INI - Center Of Attention Grand Puba - Keep On ? AZ - Gimme yours Mic Geronimo - Life Check Talk Break Rakim - Rugged ID Shadez Of Brooklyn - Everyday Livin' Dark Sun Riders feat. Brother J - Dark Sun Riders (Ultra Jazz Mix) Group Home - So Called Friends Large Professor - Spacey Omniscence - Touch Y'All Positive K - It's All Gravy Remix Talk Break with Grap Luva
I don't have a lot of info about the Baltimore based emcee named Crooked and his 12-Inches released on Yay Son Entertainment in 1997. "Analize" is the lead single of the 12", available in its Street version, Radio version and Remix version. The track is dope and produced by Roots for 'Know Body Knows Productions', except the remix which was produced by Crooked himself. He also produced the bonus track "Zoning" available on the B-Side and featuring the female singer C. Hawkes.
