Establishment Presents: The Natural Order Of Things - 1998

The Establishment - circa 1997 - Photo courtesy of Bear One

The Establishment was a crew from Richmond,VA comprised of Bear One, Kleph Dollaz (RIP) of Ill Biskits and a couple of friends. They founded the small indie label called Establishment Records, which released this compilation album entitled "The Natural Order Of Things" exclusively on tape in 1998. I believe the tape was only distributed in Richmond, DC and Fatbeats NYC.

Tape - 1998 - Establishment Records 

This comp features hip-hop groups or solo emcees from Virginia named Rahstar Karizma, Rockski, A Chosen Few, Gee (female MC), K-Sha (female MC), Syntax, Lazarus, Caliko and Triflin' Spot (Duo), with productions handled by Bear One, Kleph Dollaz and Tony L.

 Exclusively for the Blog, here are the snippets ripped from the original cassette by my man SamazOnprime.

No info online about those emcees. All I know is that A Chosen Few was a group formed by Bear One (DJ) and Kleph Dollaz (MC) around 1996 shortly after Ill Biskits (Kleph Dollaz & Deeda) left Atlantic Records. Then Kleph Dollaz started focusing more on beats and they decided to form a production team called The Control Freaks. They produced the track "Legacy" featuring Rahstar Karizma and Kleph Dollaz which features in this compilation album. 

About Rahstar Karizma a.k.a Raheim who passed away in 2014 (Rest In Peace), he had already dropped a debut 12" entitled "Life After Hip-Hop" in 1997 on Khari Entertainement, which included the tracks "Surface" and "Time Flies". This record label was owned and managed by Cam Walker, which also released the first Ill Biskits vinyl record "God Bless Your Life" in 1994. 

If you're looking for more info about Raheim, here is his official Biography : 

"Rahstar Kariz or Rahstar Karizma and formally known as the artist Raheim was born a native of Monticello, NY Rahstar spent much of his youth back and forth between Petersburg, VA and Jersey City, NJ. 

Before graduating from Petersburg High in 1992 young Rah was a local street dancer which later turned into a short term career as a backup dancer for many groups such as Beyond The Ghetto, and IDU (Intelligent Deadly Unique). During these 5 years Rahstar would have performed at many talent shows and venues; The Apollo being one of those venues in which the group won over the heckling crowd and won twice in a row and runner up the 3rd. 

Once returning to Petersburg in 1990 Rahstar began to tap into his true passion of MCing. Shortly after writing his own material the young rapper discovered his talent for producing his own tracks. From there a star was born! 

In 1993 Rahstar had dealings with a local radio host Cameron Walker who aspired to own his own record label, Khari Entertainment, which would later sign and produce artists such as Triflin Spot, Ill Biskits, Original Gods, and “Raheim.” In the years prior who was known as Rahstar Karizma was changed to Raheim based on an executive decision by Walker. With this name a P&D contract was made with Atlantic Records who would soon distribute Raheim’s first vinyl record entitled Life After Hip Hop which featured songs such as Life After Hip Hop, Surface, and Time Flies ft. Triflin Spot. However, due to failed negotiations and creative differences between Rahstar and Khari Entertainment the artist was dropped and a completed album was never finished."  

All the "Natural Order Of Things" album is mad dope and definitely needs a proper reissue !! I hope Bear One will work on it one day, fingers crossed ...

RIP Raheim, Kleph Dollaz & Syntax

Mad Props to SamazOnprime.