Breakthru Entertainment, Inc Presents Breakin' Thru 4 Delf - 1995

 

12" - 1995 - Eye Level Records 

"Breakin' Thru 4 Delf " is a dope project released in 1995 by BreakThru Entertainment, Inc on the Baltimore-based label Eye Level Records. Both were managed by Ma'ani "9 Double M" Martin. 

The 12" is composed of 4 tracks only, recorded by hip-hop artists named D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S (Shaquan a.k.a Shaquan Don, Infinite & Nic), Nappy Head Guerilla, and the female emcee Kayoz.

The A-side is composed of the tracks "MC's I Destroy" performed by Kayoz and "Phat Enlightenment" performed by Nappy Head Guerrilla. The B-side is composed of the tracks "D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S" performed by D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S and "Breakin' Thru 4 Delf" the posse cut performed by D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S, Nappy Head Guerilla and Kayoz. 

Ma'ani, when did you found BreakThru Entertainment, Inc. ?

Ma'ani Martin : " BreakThru Ent, Inc. was founded in 1994. I was an educator and met Nappy Head Guerilla as a student in my English class. He was a middle school student at the time and he expressed an interest in writing and making music. Since I was his teacher and mentor, I created an outlet for young people to explore and enhance their talents in the field of entertainment. After I had observed the passion NHG had garnered for the art of emceeing, I decided to manage him and create BTE Management. NHG was the first artist signed to my management imprint. "

Could you explain how the connection happened with Nappy Head Guerilla, Kayoz and Shaquan Don ? 

Ma'ani Martin : " I met Kayoz in my English class as well. She was the first female emcee signed to my management company as well. She was very shy and didn't audition until NHG encouraged her to share her rhymes with the class. When she kicked her first rhyme, it was outstanding and everyone was like "Whoa" she's DOPE. I eventually signed her to my imprint as well. I gave her the emcee name "Kayos da' Mic Wreckor" because every freestyle verse or battle she dropped was straight FIRE. This was the beginning of the two-headed monsta comprised of NHG and Kayoz. They were very talented and extraordinary with the penmanship, lyrical prowess, and performances. They both were celebrated locally within the East Coast (Baltimore, Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey) and the West Coast (Los Angeles) respectively. We were backpackers (including myself--A young English teacher) and were knocking on every door that would hear our sound (college radio, small venues across the nation, and commercial radio plugs to market our brand, etc.). We were relentless, however, we were considered underground and the opportunities today weren't available. The advent of the internet made the game easier when it came to marketing. We were hitting the pavement and trying to literally "Breakthrough"and make some noise coming from a small region in Baltimore. We were small and trying to scream (spit rhymes) with the giants (Big labels and the upstart indie labels). Great times and memories.

I met the DOMESWELLAS and Shaquan Don, a few years later. They were the third group signed to my management imprint. They were a three man group comprised of Shaquan's younger brother and childhood friend. Shaquan Don was a producer/emcee. He was very DOPE on the mic and boards. Additionally, he produced a few tracks for NHG and Kayoz as well. These tracks were singles and demo songs. "

D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S. is an acronym that stands for Deleting Obsolete Mind Effects So We Enable Long Lasting Active Swelling. Shaquan Don can be considered as the core member of D.O.M.E.S.W.E.L.L.A.S... Emcee but also producer, he handled the production of all the tracks from the EP. In an interview done by hanDJob in 2001, he declared that around 200 copies of the EP were pressed in '95, so no need to say that the 12" is very hard to find nowadays.

Shaquan Don - Photo courtesy of Shaquan Don

For all the demo tape collectors, you need to know that Kayoz Da' Mic Wreckor released a demo tape in the mid-90s produced by Sean Greene (RIP) but her project never came out officially. 

Kayoz - Photo courtesy of Kayoz

Photo courtesy of wdgfprodz

Ma'ani Martin : " Sean Greene was Nappy Head Guerilla's house producer. I met Sean through NHG. Sean produced NHG's first demo track. He was very dope as well. He eventually produced a few demo tracks for Kayoz as well. Sean rocked with BTE Music Group for a couple years until BTE teamed up with Shaquan Don who served as one of many producers for the company and crew."

Last question, could you give me more info about Eye Level Records ? 

Ma'ani Martin : " Eye Level Records was founded by me. I started the label to release our music independently. Eye Level records was eventually changed to BTE Music Group. I combined both entities (management and record label). I operated under one umbrella and that's BTE Music Group. The company is an independent label specializing in all genres, primarily Hip Hop Music. "

Mad Props to Ma'ani Martin, founder/CEO of BTE Music Group

For more information contact : btemediaworks@gmail.com