Rhode Island emcee Freddie Black teams up with LA-based DJ/Producer Tone Spliff and drop the 5-Track EP "Written Dialect", featuring King Magnetic, Skanks the Rap Martyr and Bliz Balboa.
A limited CD version (Jewel Case w/ Bonus Instrumentals) is available for order on Tone Spliff's Bandcamp, 100 copies only...
The formerly member of The GhosTown Clik Freddie Black and the Los Angeles based DJ and Producer Tone Spliff drop a new single titled "Luxury Poems". Here is the video of the single directed by Base Matic of 20/20 Sound.
Noboby knows and understands why the group Ground Floor never gave a following to their famous first single "Dig On That / One, Two" released on Bandoola Records in 1994. Both tracks received recognition from the indy hip-hop scene at that time, "Dig On That" featuring and produced by Lord Finesse and "One, Two" produced by the group itself for Rockbottom Productions.
"This indie rap debut comes out rumbling, tumbling, and ready to roar. A creeping, high-pitched piano line advances over an insistent rap and abrasive backbeat. The bonus cut, "Dig On That", reworks the track, adding the rap prowess of Lord Finesse." - Billboard - October 29th 1994
Photo courtesy of Paul Boyd
Ground Floor originally consisted of 3 members. Manhunt, T.O the Funk Flow and J.D were Ground Floor front men... MCs and producers.They were all from Newport, RIand they can be considered as the first Rhode Island group to have a record deal.
To sum up quickly, everything began in the early 90s with a group founded by T.O called O.N.T a.k.a One Nasty Team a.k.a Oliveira N Thompson. First with another guy named Thompson then T.O added Manhunt. Thompson dropped out and T.O added his cousin JD... that became Ground Floor.
Thomas McClorin was the guy in the back of Ground Floor, he handled all the street promo as well as booking shows throughout New England.
Thomas McClorin :"We all met by a mutual friend and since I was the go to guy in the city's of Boston and Providence it all worked out. But yeah we were all just youngsters when it all began. The connection happened with Lord Finesse by one of our mutual friend who use to go to all the fuctions in New York where he befriended Lord Finesse who was already with Bandoola at that time along with Showbiz & A.G. "
Photo courtesy of Manhunt
T.O and Manhunt were also affiliated with a Rhode Island crew named DFP (Dark Flow Productions), who consisted of T.O, Manhunt, D Woodland, Ron Hubb and Manhunt's cousins Wes & Maine.
In 1994, Ground Floor was signed on the New York-based Label Bandoola Records founded by James E McMillan in 1992, who also started a management company called Ambitious Management at the same period.
Bandoola Records and Ambitious Management were associated with 'Marquise of New York', which was the part for Promotions, Parties and Concerts. Bandoola Records, Ambitious Management and Marquise Of New York formed BAM.
After recording a last demo tape (For The Hustler In You / The Real M.C) in 1995, the group suddenly disappeared leaving a slight taste of bitterness... and for the so-called EP, It never came out ...
T.O : "It was a perfect storm of events… The owner of our label was best friends with Puff Daddy when the whole Bad Boy / Death Row beef started, we were in the middle of it all. He went through some things behind that and then ended up going to jail which are the main reasons there are a few others though. We actually didn’t get shelved, we were recording an album when all of this happened. On another note if the songs we were recording would have got out we would have blown up… We had songs with Leaders Of The New School, and was about to do a couple with Biggie..."
After that, T.O and Manhunt continued their paths via DFP and Manhunt also focused on his solo career ... he released one 12" titled 'Tiamat War / Krypton' on Tiamat World Entertainment in 1998. He also featured with Wicked and Cannibus on the B-Side of "Gone Till November". The song was called "No AirPlay" featuring Manhunt, Wyclef and Cannibus. He was supposed to sign to Wyclef Refugee Camp All Stars but he just wanted him and Manhunt was loyal to his crew.
Mad Props to T.O, Manhunt and Thomas McClorin... thanks for your time.
Danny "D-Smooth" Sykes grew up as a basketball player and Emcee on the South Side of Providence. He founded the group The Ferocious Two and pressed the first record by a single Emcee in Rhode Island, "Dropping' Smooth Lyrics," produced by DJ Buck in 1990. The wax contains the Droppin' Smooth Lyrics EP and 4 previously unreleased tracks. It also features legendary MC's ED O.G, and STEZO.
300 copies available (50 on Colored Vinyl & 250 on Black Vinyl) Pre-Orders : Colored Vinyl / Black Vinyl
With the reissue of D-Smooth 's "Droppin Smooth Lyrics" EP soon on Dope Folks Records, it could be a good idea to learn more about the Rhode Island Hip-Hop History.
Here is a documentary directed by Ana Gonzales and Jeff Matteis.
Ana Gonzalez had musical roots as a student at Brown University, and while playing jazz bass in local music circles, she intersected paths with Hip-Hop artists in the area.
When she met film student Jeff Matteis, they became partners and they would eventually go on to produce the first documentary about RI Hip-Hop Culture. It features interviews of artists like Adee Rock, D-Smooth, Dj Buck, Gary, King Xavier, Paris ... and more.
"In this film, we feature eight stories about hip hop in Rhode Island. Eight stories about kids discovering hip hop and making it their own. Eight stories about what it means to be a person of color growing up in Rhode Island. Eight stories about getting so close to cracking into the mainstream they could taste it, but then… nothing. While we don’t tell each and every story that is out there about hip hop culture and history in Rhode Island, these eight stories will stick with you and push the conversation forward. This is Almost Dope." RI Hip-Hop Project
D-Smooth from Providence, Rhode Island had two 12” singles in 1988 and 1990. The EP will feature those tracks plus a few more previously unreleased cuts direct from D-Smooth’s vaults.
