X Chromozome - A Kindly Killer - 1995

 

Back in 1995, a dope cassette tape surfaced in the streets of Chicago, Illinois. Pressed in extremely limited quantities, "A Kindly Killer" by female emcee X Chromozome has since become one of those obscure underground releases that deserves to be dug up and talked about.

The tape features just 3 tracks : "My Debut","In My Own World" & "Undertaka" on the A-side, with all the instrumentals on the B-side. X Chromozome comes through with hardcore lyrics, touching on themes such as Black identity, fake MCs, street life, spirituality and Religion. Her writing carries the rawness and directness you would expect from mid-90s underground rap, while still revealing a strong sense of identity and purpose behind the mic.

On the production side, the cassette is equally interesting. The production is credited to the legendary Chicago production crew, the Molemen, but it was actually handled solely by Rick. This was still an early period for the Molemen, Panik was just getting started and wasn't programming beats yet, while Mixx Massacre was already doing some production, but very little. He was more focused on the mixtape side of things. At that time, Rick handled all of the production of Mack-A-Damien-Thorne's, Vakil's, Rebel X D's. Here, Rick's production provides the perfect backdrop for X Chromozome's rugged delivery.

That's all I know about that tape. It was X Chromozome's first and only release. She later became a Muslim at the age of 18 and disappeared from the Chicago hip-hop scene.

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne

If you're not familiar with that name, you need to know that Mack-A-Damien-Thorne was an emcee from Chicago's south side who can be considered as affiliated with the collective of beatmakers called the Molemen. 

His only official release was a cassette tape dropped in 1994 on Molemen Inc entitled "It Looks Like Reign". It's composed of 3 tracks "Sucka'duk", "It Looks Like Reign" & "That's How My Thoughts Go", which were all produced by the Molemen. The B-side contains the three intrumentals. First time I've listened to this tape was with the help of my man Hakan Dougpark who sent me the tracks from his own copy. Big Up !

 

1994 - Molemen Inc. - Photos courtesy of Hakan Dougpark 

 In 1995, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne was still in the game and appeared on a Mixtape called "Subway Connection vol.3" delivered by DJ 3rd Rail and dedicated to the Molemen. The track was produced by Panik. 

It was his last song featuring on a physical format. So one question remains... what happened to Mack-A-Damien-Thorne after that ? ... the best thing was to ask him directly !

Mack... first of all, I'd like to know how everything started for you as an Emcee ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " First off, Run DMC were the ones mostly responsible for that. After hearing their debut album during a car ride from my grandfather’s house back to my mom’s, I heard it in it’s entirety and the minimalism in it drew me in and made me feel like I wanted to pick up the pen and start writing.

Starting out as Ice Mike MD, to M.D. Word, to Mack Daddy Word, to Mack-A-Damien Thorne. "

How did the connection happen with the Molemen after that ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " I met them through a close friend (Vakill) and I was featured on one of his first demos, but it never saw the light of day. Fast forward my big bro Grim Nefarious was working with them and he brought me onboard to do some demo work in the beginning of 1993. "

The Molemen, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne (Middle), Grim Nefarious (Right) & Vakill (Below) - Photo courtesy of Mack Thorne

Why is there nothing else released officially after the tape "It Looks Like Reign" in 1994 ? 

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " I recorded some songs in the studio with DJ Mixx Massacre (of the Molemen) that never got properly mixed, and then the breakup of the original members happened. From there I bounced around from label to label and nobody could really do what I needed to be done... "

Were you affiliated with a Chicago-based group at that time ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " At that particular time, just The Citadel which was myself, Vakill and my brother Grim Nefarious. Prior to that we were all Empire of Destruction. That was the ultimate collective which included Twista, Connect Flow, Rebel XD, etc..."

Have you ever thought of mixing everything properly and releasing it on vinyl nowadays ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " The label that I’m working with currently is toying with the idea of bringing some of those old joints back to life. "

That's a good news. I hope something will happen !

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " The project that I did alongside DJ E and his former label Plugg’d Records, is floating around in cyberspace. I’ve bumped into a couple of songs. “New Word Order” is the project. "

I think I've seen a few tracks floating around on youtube, tracks recorded around 1996-1997. 

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Correct ! The project before that “Self Do, Self Have” that I did for Derelict Records is sitting on a DAT tape in my closet. I need to get my hands on a DAT player tho’. I started working on it immediately after The Molemen started falling apart. "

Who did the productions on it ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Myself ! I’ve always done production. It’s just that when I got with The Molemen I focused more on my pen game and I let them handle all production duties. Back then, Rick Thump handled the bulk of the beats. DJ Mixx Massacre would come through with the rest. Once Rick Thump was voted out, the sound changed. "

I didn't know Rick Thump was an original member of the Molemen. Do you remember why he left ?

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Well…he was battling some demons that the rest of the crew felt was affecting the business. I hated to so see that day. Rick’s the one that did the whole “It Looks Like Reign” project. I worked closely with him.

When he was voted out, we talked about teaming up as The Beat Parlor, but I think that whole ordeal kinda’ knocked the wind outta’ his sails. So we wound up doing different things. "

If you want to listen to some of his unreleased material, Mack-A-Damien-Thorne blessed us on his youtube channel with some unreleased tracks that were played during the 90s on WHPK (88.5 FM), the student-run college radio station owned by the University of Chicago in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Most of them were produced by the Molemen (Rick Thump, DJ Mixx Massacre) & DJ E.

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " This was an interesting time in The Molemen camp ('94). This was the last beat Rick did for me before his departure from the crew. I just wanted to lay my vocals and (in hindsight) did a horrible mix on this version. I did the final version of this over at Derelict Records in '96. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " From '94, this was one of many joints done with fellow Moleman DJ Mixx Massacre (he supplied the beat and scratches, I came through with the rhymes). He always kept a fresh batch of beats on hand, and when the floodgates opened I was definitely like a kid in a candy store. The homey Collapsar played this regularly on his Saturday show at WHPK. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " A joint from '97...recorded with DJ E with additional vocals from Nick Fury (of Madd Corr). This verse is actually a portion of what I spit to join my compadres in Empire of Destruction in front of the Blue Gargoyle at Kingdom Rock's party. Full details of this classic night has already been scripted in a chapter of my book I'm finishing titled "Hip Hop...I Met Her In Grade School". "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " Another basement demo done in what we called the Molehole. Produced by The Molemen (DJ Mixx Massacre). Recorded in '94 and played a few times by Collapsar. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : " This was done right after the "It Looks Like Reign" project. With the Molemen, at the Molehole (aka Big Juan's house) I used to rap over every instrumental on vinyl for mixtapes and take them up to WHPK. "

Mack-A-Damien-Thorne : : " A late 90's demo played on WHPK quite a few times. "

Mad Props to Mack Thorne, thanks for your time fam. 

VAKILL - KILL 'EM ALL EP - 2022

EP - 2022 - Dope Folks Records 

Better late than never, Dope Folks Records are back with their 104th release which is from Chicago-based MC VAKILL. Vakill was a part of the legendary Chicago rap group MOLEMEN. If you're looking for more info about Vakill, you can check this article from The Real Deal :

The Real Deal - Scan courtesy of Darrell M. Roberts

This 8-track EP contains rare tracks encompassing Vakill's career from 1991-2001. All songs produced by the legendary Panik of Molemen.

 

300 copies only (50 colored copies, and 250 standard black vinyl)

Pre-Order 

Molemen ‎- Below The Ground - 1997

EP - 1997 - Molemen Inc.  

From Chicago Rocks Magazine - April / May vol 2 issue 9 - 1998 (Collectors Edition)

Vakill ‎- Demo - 199X

Demo - 199X - Molemen 

A Vakill's demo tape has recently been unearthed by my man Hakan Dougpark. The tape is composed of 2 tracks "From Womb To Tomb / The Chicago Way" produced by Panik of Molemen. No more info about the release date.

Insomniac Magazine : Why Hasn't Chicago Hip-Hop Blown Up Yet ?

From Insomniac Magazine - #20 - 2002 - Scans by Max The Keeper