Here is the wax released in 1995 by the Unda Dawgz, a rap duo consisted of Big Pook a.k.a Pookie The Punisher from New Jersey and Dash-O a.k.a Steve-O from Harlem, NY.
Pookie : "We were all friends at Hampton. I'm from Newark, Steve-O is from Harlem. There was also an other kid from VA who made beats, his name was john...
One Friday night after classes, me and Steve started battling in the dorm. It started off as just us and then a couple of people watching us. By the time we looked up the whole dorm was there. It was a crazy scene, but it was cool...
One day a dude that ran the student union came to us and asked if we wanted to open for Ed O.G and Da Bulldogs on a boat at homecoming... I hate boats !! but Steve-O convinced me to do it... I remember throwing up on my white Reebok Classic before we went on... lol ... I took them off and threw them shits overboard, I performed with no shoes on ... Shit was wild !!
I remember we killed because everyone there was from Hampton, then came battle of the beats at 103 JAMZ, VA. We did a song and sent it to Big B and DJ Law. I think we won like 5 weeks in a row, that's when we actually met them, we click immediately. Law became our DJ and producer and Unda Dawgz went from there... God rest his soul...
It all went left when we graduated college, moved back home and we signed with a clown named Kyle Peace (Peace Entertainment)..."
Mad Props to Pookie, thanks for your time.
3xLP - 2020 - 90's Tapes / HHV
90's Tapes is back one again with the release of another underground gem from Grand Rapid, MI. The album "Time Killaz" and the EP "Gimme Love" originally dropped by The Realist between 1995 and 1997 on Pit Records are now available on limited 3LP vinyl (300 copies - Gatefold Colored 3xLP), CD (300 copies) and cassette (100 copies).
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
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
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."
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... "
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.
Mad Props to S.T.E.E.L & Yuset, thanks for the interview.
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 single "Prophecy" has been dropped recently by the legendary Outlaw Posse (Bello.B & Kgee). The original & remix versions of the single are now available on 7" with the help of the German Label Origu.
A - Prophecy (Remix)
B - Prophecy (Original)
A1 - S-KY THE COOKINJAX feat. Dan-e-o - Hot Popsicles
B1 - m-al - Pillow Talk
"Flowers In The Attic" is a track recorded in the early 90s by the Baltimore-based crew MADD Intalec (Microphone Assassin Doin' Damage). The group consisted of David Ross a.k.a Mr Homicide, Andre Venable (RIP) a.k.a Trigga and Eric Atwell a.k.a DJ Kool Breez. They formed the group around 1992 when they were at Chesapeake High School. It wasn't really their debut because Eric and David already formed the rap duo named Base Comittee in 1990.
 |
| News Paper Article - 1990 - Scan courtesy of Eric Atwell |
"Flowers In The Attic" is the only official track recorded by the group at that time and released on wax, so if you want to spin this song you need to buy the "Get That Ho! " EP released on Madd Capp Records by 2 Whyte Kidz, a production team consisted of DJ Big Red & DJ Kool Breez. This is an instrumental project in which "Flowers In The Attic" is the only track featuring MCs.
1 – Just Listen (Low Cut prod)
2 – Inflated (Dj Brans prod)
3 – Come On
4 – Still Got It
5 – The Anticipated
6 – The Gudout
7 – All Mylife
8 – Down 4,Any Test
9 – The C-Syndrome
10 – Dreamin' (Dj Brans prod)
11 – Bond (Low Cut prod)
12 – The Time is Now
13 – Real Thang
14 – Sabastian Shaw Remix
15 – How To Rock
16 – The Next Chapter
17 – High Voltage
18 – Optimal Performance
"This mixtape is mixed by NYC’s DJ Spinna and features “Nasty Habits”, an unreleased joint from the vault that features Ralph Tresvant & Bobby Brown. Imani & Bootie Brown also asked a group of producers to remix and add their own personal spin on a few of the Labcabincalifornia songs that you all know and love.
Dj Mike Relm re-works a mash up of “Drop”, SBBX remixes “Groupie Therapy”, Moka Only drops his version of “Y” and The Pharcyde’s own Bootie Brown remixes “Runnin’.”
DJ SPINNA is a heavily touted presence in the international soulful house music scene. He is known for his vast accomplishments as a producer, is celebrated for his “Soul Slam” events and Stevie Wonder inspired WONDER-Full Dj performances and subsequent collaborations.
The Pharcyde’s sophomore album “LabcabinCalifornia” was originally released on November 14th, 1995. The group enlisted a young and then unknown James Yancey aka J DILLA to produce beats, like the cult classic “Runnin.” They also collaborated with director Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich” “Adaptation”) on the video for “Drop.” Labcabincalifornia has consistently and continues to reinforce their steadfast refusal to tread familiar artistic grounds."
Here is the video of "Decline Of Self" the latest single drop by Verbz & Mr Slipz featuring Confucius MC & Coops, off their new album "Radio Waves" available on limited edition double vinyl, CD and limited edition hand numbered tape on High Focus Records.
