Video : Natural Elements - InfiNitE ShiNE - 2026

 

Visuals for "Infinite Shine", the third single from Natural Elements ' album "Alignment", out April 17, 2026 on NE4LIFEnt / FatBeats (Vinyl, CD & Cassette).

Fortress Entertainment Compilation Vol. 1 (1994-1996) - 2026

 

LP - 2026 - HHE  

HHE makes a powerful return with a release that digs deep into the roots of underground hip-hop. In collaboration with Fortress Entertainment, this first installment marks the beginning of a series of projects that promise to unearth more hidden gems from the label’s archives.

This record stands as a true time capsule, showcasing rare and essential recordings from the mid-90s. It kicks off with the full Natural Elements EP from 1994, back when the group was still a six-man crew, featuring an early appearance from the legendary KA (RIP). The project also includes a previously unreleased track from Nightbreed, the mythical duo formed by KA and Kev.

Further enriching the collection are an early classic from L-Swift, a hard-hitting track from the Raidermen, and an outstanding unreleased demo by female emcee Essence, also recorded in 1994.

Available on vinyl (200 Splatter Vinyl - HHV Records Exclusive / 100 Color Vinyl⁠ / 200 Black Vinyl) and CD (300 copies with bonus DVD). 

Pre-Order : HHE / HHV  

2Face - NYC /Hey Hey Hey - 1996

12" - 1996 - Blindside Recordings

This record is born in 1996 from the meeting between Natural Elements members L-Swift and A-Butta and UK producers Si Spex and Juliano (better known as The Creators) during the two MCs' visit to the United Kingdom. DJ Mayhem of Natural Elements brought L-Swift and A-Butta to England to work with Blindside Recordings, who in turn introduced them to The Creators. The producers played some beats, the MCs picked two and they recorded them.

Both songs are "NYC" featuring DJ Mayhem from Natural Elements on the A-side and "Hey Hey Hey" on the B-side, each presented in its original, radio and instrumental versions.

About the production of the track "NYC", the Creators used a sample of the song "One I Could Have Loved " performed by Steve Kuhn & Gary McFarland and released in 1966 on Impulse! Records. For "Hey Hey Hey", the sample comes from the song ""Foxtrott-Medley1" from a German organist called Klaus Wunderlich.

 

The story behind the name 2Face came out of a dilemma : their partner in rhyme, Mr. Voodoo, wasn't on the tracks. Releasing the record under the full Natural Elements name felt off, even misleading. As L-Swift would explain years later, "we didn't want it to say ‘by Natural Elements’, as to not do false advertising, since our homie Mr. Voodoo wasn't on those records."

Searching for another way to present the project, L-Swift leaned into his own zodiac sign. A Gemini by birth, he was all too familiar with the reputation that came with it, "two-faced". Rather than take it as an insult, he flipped the meaning into something clever. If he was one face, then A-Butta was the other. Together they became 2Face, a new identity born of circumstance, humor, and the kind of quick thinking wordplay that defined the crew. The name stuck and 2Face came to represent not just a momentary moniker, but the creative chemistry between two MCs whose styles mirrored and complemented each other.

About the wax, It remains really easy to find and won't cost you much, so if you're a big Natural Elements fan like me, you should grab this record ASAP. Peace 

Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show - August 17th 1995 - WKCR

Here is a re-up of the Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show aired on August 17, 1995 on WKCR. Stretch wasn't here that night and the guests were Tony Bones, Breez Brewin of the Juggaknots, Mr Live, Cestyle of Total Pack and the See'ers.

Mischief - Anticipation

Poops & Pumpkinhead - Laughing Syndrome Promo

Smoothe Da Hustler feat Trigger Tha Gambler - Broken Language

36Zero - Maintain

Raw Produce - Cycles

Key Kool & Rhettmatic feat LMNO, Meen Green, Ras Kass, Vooodu - E=MC5

High Side Infantry - High Side

Tyrone Davis - In The Mood

Talk Break

Donald Byrd - Think Twice  

Natural Elements - ’95 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

Cella Dwellas - Recognize 'N Realize

O.C - WKCR Promo

Mr Eon (The High & Mighty) - ’95 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

Large Professor - Get Off The Bullshit

I.G Off & Hazadous - Demo

Talk Break

Tony Bones, Breez Brewin & Mr Live - ’95 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

Talk Break

Puppets Of Chaos - New & Improved

Juggaknots - Jivetalk

Cella Dwellas - Return Of Jane

EPMD - Let The Funk Flow

Redman - Hardcore

EPMD - Manslaughter

EPMD - Comin' At Cha

EPMD - Headbanger

EPMD - Rampage

Cestyle (Total Pack) - Backstreet

Talk Break

Total Pack - ’95 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

Adverts

Smoke Squad - Oohs & Ahhs

Natural Element - Triple Team Demo

J-Treds - Recognize Demo

Wisdom - Angel

Arsonists - The Session

The See'ers - Thin Line (Don't Fuck With I) 

Talk Break

The See'ers - ’95 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

Talk Break with King Emz, Mike Nardone & Benji Rock

28:00 ?

Juggaknots - Clear Blue Skies 

Steve-O Freestyle 

38:00 ?

Talk Break

Phone Calls

James Brown - Blues & Pants

Phone Calls

Ernie Hines - Our generation

Roy Ayers - Running Away

Phone Calls

Check the Stretch&Bobbito Archives for more shows !

CM Famalam Radio Show - January 21st 1999 - WKCR

 

Here is the C.M Famalam Radio Show aired on WKCR on January 21, 1999. The guests that night were Natural Elements, Cope2, Rich Medina & DOA. 

Last Emperor - Bums

Self Scientific Feat Don Crisis & Lao Fe - Sublevel Dominance 

DJ Eli & Shan Boogs Feat Cage - And So Kiddies

Redman - Da Da Dahhh

Rob Swift - Dope On Plastic

All Natural - No Nonsense

Black Star - Respiration (Flying High Main Mix)

Fat Joe - The Crack Attack

Busta Rhyme - Everybody Rise

Binary Star - Glen Close

Kombo - Don’t Stop 

Advert

The Roots - The Next Movement

Natural Elements - Live It Up 

Talk Break

Natural Elements Interview & Freestyle 

Talk Break 

Natural Elements - Supreme Domination

Slum Village - Hold Tight Remix

The Roots - Freestyle

Guesswhyld Feat El Da Sensei - Under Pressure

Pace Won - I Declare War

Slum Village - 2u 4u

Gang Starr Feat Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx - The Militia 

A Tribe Called Quest - Baby Phife’s Return

Talk Break

Cope 2 Interview 

Talk Break / Beatboxing

Ultramagnetic MC’s - Yo Black 

Funk Set with Rich Medina (03:02 - 14:29)

Talk Break

Manu Chao - King of Bongos

Defari Feat Xzibit & Tash - Thunder and Lightning

Godfather Don - Live & Let Die

Screwball - Seen It All

Talk Break

Metropole Acytrine (?) - Sneakers Demo 

Beru (?) - Demo 

Talk Break

Planet Asia - On The Corner

Dujeous - Cinematics

Truth Enola - May Day

Myndcrukz - Verbal Acrobatics

Skeme Team feat Arsonists & Non Phixion - 14 Years Of Rap

Wu-Tang Clan - Put Your Hammer Down 

RZA as Bobby Digital feat Method Man - NYC Everything

0:57:38 - Pitch Black - ?

Medina Green feat Mos Def - Fla-La-Lashe

Big Kwam - Verbalize Remix

Choclair - Flagrant

Instrumental

Talk Break / Phone Calls

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.  

Video : Natural Elements - We Could Exist - 2023

 

A-Butta, L-Swift and Mr Voodoo are back with a brand new single entitled "We Could Exist", produced by Charlemagne. Here is the video !

Nightbreed - 2 Roads Out The Ghetto - 1998

 

12" - 1998 - Fortress Ent.  

Here is the debut 12" released in 1998 by Nightbreed, a rap duo from Brownsville, Brooklyn. Former member of the legendary group Natural Elements, K.A. a.k.a KA the Verbal Swordsman founded this duo with his friend Kev (RIP) a.k.a Oddbrawl The Lyrical Juggernaut. Their 12" came out on Fortress Entertainment, a record label created in 1993 by Charlemagne, well-known for being affiliated with Natural Elements and who also produced all the tracks of the wax.

A full album was recorded by Nightbreed between 1996 and 1998, but according to my man Chris (Dust & Dope Recordings), due to too many different reasons it will never be released...

At least you can listen to a few Nightbreed demos recorded in the mid 90s which have been uploaded on Bandcamp.