Soul Kid Klik - Desperate Times / Spark Da Mic - 1997

12" - 1997 - Soul Kid Records 

Here is the second single released by the Soul Kid Klik, a crew consisting of Infamous, Storm, Blak Spik, Skinslaya, Goodfella a.k.a Mike G and Ghetto Philharmonic (G-Clef, Sledge & DJ Spinbad). "Desperate Times/ Spark Da Mic" came out in 1997 on the Valley Stream, NY-based label Soul Kid Records. Definitely something to own in his record collection !

The 12" is composed of 3 songs entitled "Desperate Times" (Raw Mix, Radio Edit, Instrumental & Acapella), "Spark Da Mic" (Fatality Mix, Friendship Mix, Instrumental, Acapella), and "10 Mack Commandments" which is a Bonus Track featuring Doc Dave Banna. 

According to an official promo sheet dropped with their first single "Mortal Combat" in 1996, Soul Kid Klik was described as a group of contemporary artists dedicated to bringing back the feeling to hip-hop music. Collectively and individually the klik's eight artists represent a sound that is innovative, yet deeply rooted in Hip-Hop, Jazz and Soul music. Producer G-Clef creates soundscapes that range from Hardcore to smooth, depending of the mood of the moment. 

The KLIK ...

Infamous : Straight out da woods comes NYC's premiere "Battle Rapper" capable of both pulling out his opponents hearts as well as pulling out his own.

Storm : (Da Ghetto Mutant) the "Black Sonya" skilled in nine degrees of Combat will emerge as the first rugged female MC since Roxanne Shante. She sets forth to become the U.S.S Enterprise of female MCs.

Blak Spik : Taking time out from his job as "King of New York", he is bringing back true Bronx Hip-Hop to the forefront of American music. He can currently be found in the streets of the Bronx throwing grenades inside bodegas. 

Skinslaya : the only R&B singer/songwriter in the Klik, Skinslaya, the Nat "King" Cole of Hip-Hop Soul is poised to take his place as the "King of Ghetto Love" : "Strictly slayin' skins wit da smoothness ..." 

Goodfella : The only MC in hip-hop history who is actually a made man according to the five famillies. With a voice like an italian Barry White he seeks to bring about a return to family values in hip-hop. 

Ghetto Philharmonic : G-Clef, Sledge and DJ Spinbad have earned underground legendary status as the true innovators of Hip-Hop/Be Bop. As G-Clef and Sledge are not only MCs, but accomplished Jazz horn players. DJ Spinbad is the current champion of NYC's "Fatbeats" DJ Battle. 

And if you don't own it yet, I highly recommend you their full album entitled "Invisible Army" from 2001 which was reissued in 2018 by Hip-Hop Enterprise. 

Reckanize / Mr Sta Puff - Massive Weight / Hip-Hop Don't Stop - 1996

12" - 1996 - Bedroom Beats 

A lot of people think Reckanize / Mr Sta Puff were two persons, but in fact he's a solo artist. Reckanize / Mr. Sta Puff a.k.a Josi Wellz was from Crown Heights (Nostrand Ave NA Rock), Brooklyn and released his first solo and only 12" single "Hip-Hop Don't Stop" b/w "Massive Weight" on Bedroom Beats in 1996. 
For those who don't know him, he was also one of the member of the group Soul Survivors . They were on the various artists compilation with the excellent song "Stricly Hip Hop", released by Easy Mo Bee (Bee Mo Easy Entertainment) in 1997. 

First track "Hip-Hop Don't Stop" was produced by 7th Sunn a.k.a Jay Garfield and G-Clef da Mad Komposa a.k.a Joseph Cavaseno who he's also a member of the well-known Soul Kid Klik crew.

According to G-Clef in a recent talk : "I produced that track. At the time I was managed by Jeffrey and Jay Garfield. The record label was Steve Lowery a.k.a LSD (RIP), Jeffrey Garfield and Al Williams (Method Man cousin) both of Gza Entertainment. They had a distribution deal with Solar records (Sound Of Los Angeles Records). Jay Garfield took the tracks to Los Angeles and I think mixed it in Solar Records studios."

The second track "Massive Weight" which is certainly the best track of the 12" was produced by Pedro Sime. It featured 3 other MCs : BAC, Strip Poker and Tequila. 

"Strip Pokah was grindin for me here & there in Corona, he was like my lil brother. Tequila was smooth as homie with a ill flo in da hood and I met BAC in the studio, we hit it off instantly. All 3 had something unique about them and I wanted to share my opportunity" - Reckanize


This is a rare wax composed of 2 tracks with solid productions. If you haven't got it in your collection yet, you should work on it fellas !  

Massive Props to Reckanize & G-Clef