Raidermen (G-Blass & Stex)

 

I've been a huge Natural Elements fan and everything affiliated with this crew since day one. The first three 12-inches dropped by the group Raidermen are something that I instantly bought when they were released in 1996/1997.

Raidermen was a duo comprised of G-Blass from Queens and Stex from Brooklyn (The Olde Brooklyn). In the early 90s, G-Blass was part of the group of solo artists who later formed the official Natural Elements crew. In 1994, he featured on what is considered as the first Natural Elements EP released on Fortress Records.

I don't have a lot of info about G-Blass, but I've got more about Stex... He was raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn and he fell into hip-hop during the 80s, as a basement DJ first, but also as a graffiti writer who tagged and pieced trains from Brooklyn to the Bronx, with Hash, Cope 2, Surf, Saz and Dezzy Dez (also known as Kay Slay of the Drama Hour... RIP). As he said to me... "Hip hop and Graffiti went together like a foot and a shoe."

G-Blass & Stex formed Raidermen in 1996. After meeting Charlemagne through a friend of his, Stex met G-Blass at the Bronx studio in Vidal Goring's attic. G-Blass said that Stex had lyrics, so he asked him to work together on a record. After that, every Saturday they made joints. 

First 12" released by the duo on Raidermen Entertainment in 1996 was "Gettin' Over". This single is on the A-side of the wax and features Mr Voodoo of Natural Elements... It isn't really the best song of the wax in my opinion. The B-side contains two other tracks entitled "Something That I Heard About" and "Devils Play Ground", with all the productions managed by Charlemagne.

12" - 1996 - Raidermen Entertainment  

In 1997, G-Blass and Stex put out the single "Magnetic" produced by Charlemagne, featuring A-Butta, Mr Voodoo, and The Beamer Man.

12" - 1997 - Raidermen Entertainment 

STEX : "We recorded Magnetic at Unique Studios in Time Square. I remember Sticky Fingers from Onyx was in studio A, we were in studio B. Sticky said it was a hit ! When I got the test pressings I gave them to Funkmaster Flex at Hot 97, he gave us plenty of burn ! Raidermen did a few shows most memorably opening up for Sporty Thieves, Fat Joe & Veronica, and Jay-Z at Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1997."

"Magnetic" was followed the same year by the singles "Top Dollar" & "Strategy". "Top Dollar" on the A-side was produced by Charlemagne, G-Blass and Stex with cuts by DJ Finesse. On the B-side, "Strategy" featuring Natural Elements, Sean Price, Lace Da Booms and Mike Zoot, was produced by Shaself. 

12" - 1997 - Raidermen Entertainment 

Two other 12-inches were released in 1998 after that one, but I've never bought them. There are no more Raidermen records after the last 12" and the Raidermen album never saw the light of day unfortunately... Stex became Stocky Stex and then started a group called the Fugitives, with Born Sinn & Sinister Zoe. He also produced most of the Fugitives recordings.