Mellow T - Keep It Real - 1993

12" - 1993 - Columbia  

When you look at the cover of this 12" for the first time, with this cat with curly hair and his leather jacket, you could think it could be some smooth RnB shit... but in fact, not at all !

"Keep It Real" is the first single released by Anthony Brownlee a.k.a Mellow T originally from Hartford Connecticut, then moved to New Jersey after being signed by Columbia in 1993. Mellow-T was discovered by Raymond Pouncey, the executive producer, in a talent show that he held. Mellow T was in an original group that he put together named The Little Rapscals. 

"Keep It Real" is available on the wax in its LP & Remix versions, both produced by Greg Nice from Nice & Smooth. In terms of productions, the LP version contains samples from "Jamilah" performed Houston Person and from "I know You Got Soul" performed by Bobby Byrd. 

"Keep It Real" was supposed to be part of Mellow-T's album entitled "The Best Kept Secret" produced by Greg Nice, Phat Kat and Tony Dofat, but it never came out unfortunately. Phat Kat in a recent chat, declared that the connection happened thru Greg Nice when he was working on "Paranoia" for Nice & Smooth, Ray Pouncey was looking for tracks for Mellow T's album. Phat Kat was surprised the album was shelved... Another interesting unreleased album I'd like to see coming out one day... fingers crossed !

After that, Mellow-T released the single entitled "Pressure" on Rugged Route Records in 1995... It was his last single before disappearing from the music scene ...

Bās Blasta... A Real Tight Flow !

A lot of unreleased albums saw the light of day last year but there is one I'd like to see coming out ... the full length project "The Mouth That Roared" recorded by Bās Blasta and produced by The Groove Merchantz, The Beatnuts, Victor "Slick Vic" Little and Gerald "Soul Gee" Stevens (of the Riddem and Soul Posse), which was supposed to be released on RCA Records in 1995. 

At the time of the deal with RCA, Bas Blasta was managed by Christopher "Kid" Reid of the famed rap duo Kid 'n Play along with record executive Steve Stoute. DJ and Producer Slick Vic was the main person affiliated with Bas Blasta, he was the official Bas Blasta's DJ. 

For those who aren't familliar with this white rapper (Irish and Indian Decent) with a rugged voice, you need to know that Chet Crofut aka Bās Blasta grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut living in a one-family house on a middle-class block. He spent his teen years hanging on grittier streets, among blacks and hispanics. 

According to a Billboard magazine article written in 1995, hanging in the Hood he was introduced to break dancing and started listening to bootleg rap compilation tapes. He had memorized all the words to all the rap hits and when he recognized he sounded good reciting them, he started writing his own stuff. 

Bas Blasta's previous manager Ray Pouncey was responsible for his first appearance on the Nice & Smooth posse cut "Down The Line" from their 1991 album "Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed". The song also featured the late Guru from Gang Starr. He will obtain a solo deal on RCA after that. 

Bas Blasta's first solo 12″ single "Ain’t Whatcha Do" produced by The Beatnuts came out in 1994, followed right after by "Dangerous" and "The Rhythm" featuring Fat Joe, Godfather Don, Juju and Lord Finesse, and produced by The Groove Merchantz, a production team consisted of Godfather Don and Vic Padilla. All the connections with the different artists and producers were arranged by the Management and the Record Label. 

12" - 1994 - RCA  

The samples used by the Beatnuts for the production of "Ain't Watcha Do" come from "Winter's Child" released in 1971 and performed by Charles Kynard, "Holy Thursday" released in 1968 and performed by David Axelrod and "Zimba Ku" released in 1975 and performed by Black Heat.

12" - 1994 - RCA  

The samples used by the Groove Merchantz for the production of "Dangerous" come from "Mysterious Traveller" released in 1974 and performed by The Weather Report and "Hydra" released in 1975 and performed by Grover Washington Jr. 

On August 25th 1994, Bas Blasta and Godfather Don were invited by Stretch & Bobbito for the promo of the 12" single "Dangerous / the Rhythm". Here is the Interview and the Freestyle aired that night on WKCR. 



In January 1995, Havelock Nelson wrote a review in the Rap Column of the Billboard Magazine about Bās Blasta and his forthcoming album which was supposed to be released in April. 

Tape - 1994 - RCA  

But the album never came out due to Steve Stoute being fired from RCA Records and the record label maintaining the masters... After that... Bas Blasta disappeared from the indie Hip-Hop scene, but he is still around... dropping Christian Rap for God's Glory now...

Mad Props to Dominic Ciarlo