12" - 1997 - P-Jays
Here is the debut 12" released by the San Diego-based group 12 Jewels in 1997. The crew was comprised of D-Black a.k.a Divine Black, Shatim a.k.a Shadula, Hesu Allah, NMZ a.k.a Big NMZ, Ray (Pac) and DJ Rson.
D-Black, Hesu Allah, Shadula & NMZ - Photo courtesy of Sha Dula
This wax came out on P-Jays, a record label managed by DJ Greyboy a.k.a Greymadduh and Rob Dyrdek. Between 1000 and 1500 copies were pressed. DJ Greyboy produced both tracks of the record entitled "Foolish Mentality" and "Outside World" which are available in their street, radio and instrumental versions.
If you're looking for some info about this crew, first of all you need to know that the group's name comes from the 5% Book of Life! …part of the lessons/degrees…12 Jewels or 12 pillars of Islam. ( (1) Knowledge (2) Wisdom (3) Understanding (4) Freedom (5) Justice (6) Equality (7) Food (8) Clothes (9) Shelter (10) Love (11) Peace (12) Happiness).
The connection between all the members first happened around 1993-1996 at city college where they all had a music class together, and learned that they all had the same passion / love for the music…as well as a love and belief in Islam one thing led to another.. then boom!! 12 Jewels was formed.
At the same time, they were also part of a crew called The Insomniacs which consisted of 3 producers, 2 Djs and a slew of emcees. The original members were TOS the teacher, Evan the Director, Big Nmz, DJ Rson, Shadula, Hesu Allah, Erect the Builder, Killah K, Philly Blunt, RIP Asia, and Chauncey the Phenom. The name of the crew is due to the fact that they all were nocturnal at the time, just staying up to see who could outlast each other as far as coming up with concepts, beats and rhymes. They were a large group and eventually they formed other groups from the main one.
The Insomniacs Crew - 1996 - Photo courtesy of Big NMZ
The connection with Producer/DJ Greyboy happened while doing a lot of shows and venues at that time. One night they did a show at a spot DJ Greyboy was spinning at. He liked their sound and what they were bringing as a group and invited them over to his studio... the rest is history... he introduced them to Rob Dyrdek and they became investors/executive producers for label PJays Record.
If you want to grab more material released by 12 Jewels, 3 others records are available : the first one is the 12" Shadow Of Death / Crystalize, the second one is the 12" Gunlow / Crystalize, and the last one is the famous compilation album DJ Greyboy Presents P-Jays Unda-Pendent Hip Hop volume 1 . All those records were released in 1998 on P-Jays Records.
About the compilation album "P-Jays Unda-Pendent Hip Hop volume 1" which features Wu-Tang affiliated artists such as Hell Razah, Dreddy Kruger, Timbo King, Armel, Prodigal Sunn, but also the legendary Bronx-based emcee A.G. (of Showbiz & A.G) a.k.a The Giant, you need to know that the connection between DJ Greyboy and those artists took place through Sha Dula who was in touch with those MCs, being knowing them since the 5% Parliament Day... According to Sha Dula, at the time they had a movement that was evolving so it was a natural progression to get them to do music with them.
If you don't own those records in your collection, you can find them easily for sale and usually for a very good price, excepted for the 12" (Foolish Mentality / Outside World) which is more expensive.
Mad Props to Sha Dula, thanks for you time.
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