The Lyrical Underworld - Bring It On / We Like It Smooth - 1992

12" - 1992 - Phatt Wreckords Inc. 

 

Here is the debut 12" released in 1992 on Phatt Wreckords Inc. by the philly-based trio The Lyrical Underworld. The members of the group were Da Terminologist, Squeak Geez (RIP) and DJ Mello-Cee (RIP).

The 12" contains 2 tracks entitled "Bring It On" and "We Like It Smooth" produced by Genuine and co-produced by Maestro. Both tracks are available in their original and instrumental versions.

Squeak & Da Terminologist - Photo courtesy of C. Rowland

I was lucky to ask a few questions to C. Rowland a.k.a Da Terminologist. He gave me more info about how everything started for the group and more info about the producers Maestro & Genuine.   

Da Terminologist : "I moved to Philly from Bronx, NY in 1991 not knowing anyone except my kids’ mother and her family. I happened to meet Mello-Cee one day in the neighborhood hustlin’. I used to walk the hood with a notebook and pen because I was writing raps all the time. He saw me and asked where I was from cause I dressed differently from everyone, then he asked me if I rapped. When he was finished hustling, we went to his crib to what was famously called “The WreckShop” which was really the basement. Mello-Cee had turntables, mixer, records galore and we sat and drank some 40oz of beer and smoked some weed then he put on some beats and said “Lemme hear something” in a basement full of his homies. I rapped my heart out and from there I was his emcee from there on. I met Squeak at one of Mello’s house parties. He put me on the mic and Squeak got on after. We went back and forth. Squeak was a freestyle king. I was the only one that could come close to a run. From there we became writing partners.

The producers we did our singles with were from Long Island, NY if I remember. They were artist as well as in house producers for an independent label based in Philly. They heard the chemistry with me and Squeak and immediately started working with us. It was always a good working experience and bug out session when we were all together. Those guys would vibe off of what me and Squeak wrote and put a feel to the song and vice versa. They were the first to start the recording career. Maestro was the unorthodox producer. He had the real boom bap street sound that we liked. Genuine was the sample digger and soulful melodic producer that could give us radio play. "

A full album entitled "Da Land Down Under" was supposed to come out after the release of their second 12" (Flatline / It's On, It's On) in 1993, but unfortunately it never saw the light of day. 

"Bring It On / We Like It Smooth" is definitely their best 12"... you should try to grab this wax if you 're looking for a little piece of Philly hip-hop history.