Three Over The Kuku's Nest - Lord I Can't Take It No More - 1994

12" - 1994 - Bug Jar Records 

Back in 1994 with an other good indie 12" released by Three Over The Kuku's Nest, a group from Rochester, NY consisted of Trigger Shang, Sub-Zero (who is the older Brother of the well-known 38 Spesh) and DJ B Swift.  

They formed the group in 1987 and were about to drop their debut album in 1993 but unfortunately It never came out ... 
Their 12-inch "Lord I Can't Take It No More / Helter Skelter" came out on Bug Jar Records and was produced by DJ Green Lantern. "Lord I Can't Take It No More" is the lead single of the wax and it contains a sample of "Hot Music (Jazz Mix)" originally released in 1989 and performed by Soho. 

Where does the name of the group come from ?

Sub-Zero : "I just thought of it after seeing the movie... I thought it was dope name. In hindsight it was too long I would have changed it..."

How did the connection happen between all the members of the group ?

Sub-Zero : "Myself and Trigger Shang grew up together, we literally don't even remember when we met we were so young... B Swift used to be my barber, he was also a DJ, best DJ in the city so we added him to the crew. "

Is "Lord I Can't Take It No More" / Helter Skelter" your first official 12" ?

Sub-Zero : "Yes ... "Helter Skelter" featured our good friend the Roach. I co-produced "Lord I Can't Take It No More" with DJ Green Lantern who was our DJ before he went on to be Eminem, Jay Z and now Nas's DJ. He was down with us first."

How did you meet Dj Green Lantern ? 

Sub-Zero : "We met at Brockport State College. A guy from Buffalo named Steve introduced us. We did demos and shows in NYC and college campuses after that. We had an offer from Profile and Warner Bros. Records. Warner Brothers didn't offer us enough (this was before we released our singles) and the A&R was interested in office and wanted to sign them but by the time we finished the album, the A&R person got fired and the president of the company who also wanted to sign us sold his half of the company to his partner and we were all just like that..."

What happened with the album ? 

Sub-Zero : "It was finished but unreleased... I'm trying to find it, it got lost when the studio that we recorded it in burnt down and got sold..."

How did you get signed to Bug Jar Records ‎?

Sub-Zero : "We did a song called "Batten Down the Hatches" that was pretty good and they got the attention of Steve Brown the owner of Bug Jar Records put out a compilation CD and we stood out on the compilation CD so much that we were on the cover of CMJ, the College Music Journal which is like the Bible of independent music from there we got all kinds of letters from all kinds of record labels that following years when we put out "Lord I Can't Take It No More" and "Helter Skelter". "

What about the album after the 12" ? 

Sub-Zero : "We did not have the resources at the time this was 93-94 before the internet ... we did not have the resources to push the album of those the singles were successful we were banking on labels to come in and want to sign us based off of that but it didn't happen.

We were top 10 and a lot of College radio stations format but again we did not have the infrastructure to continue to push it, it was just us no money and again no internet... We came on too early we needed about five more years and we would have been on ..."

Mad Props to Corey Tanksley aka Sub-Zero. 
Vinyl rip courtesy of 90's Hip-Hop Blog. 

Record Report - The Source February 1993

From The Source - February 1993 - Scans courtesy of Fred Thecle 

Demo : Monastic Cipher - Disaster Plight - 1995

The legendary Kevin Beacham is posting a new demo from his archives every day for the next 30 days via his youtube channel RedefineHipHop !! ... Here is the Demo #1 "Disaster Plight" recorded in 1995 by Monastic Cipher from Chicago.

"In May 1995, I went to an event called Mayfest at the University of Illinois in Champaign. All throughout the '90s, it was common for me and my crew to roll up to Champaign to freestyle at parties, make appearances on Rap Radio shows on WEFT, chill with local MCs, and get pretty wild in the streets sometimes. At this time, I was living in Waukegan, IL (about an hour north of Chicago), and I think we mostly went to Champaign when there wasn't an event in Chicago we wanted to check out. But, also I think it's true that sometimes we all couldn't afford the events in Chicago and we didn't always have access to get on the mic at the parties/events there, and I don't think most of us realized you could just show up at the radio station and ask to rap, we thought you had to be invited. But, in Champaign, all of those things were welcomed to us, and we were always invited back.

However, in '95, I was the co-owner of a magazine called Caught In The Middle magazine, and our third issue was possibly going to have Rubberoom on the cover, and they were performing at Mayfest (with Tone B Nimble of All Natural as their DJ for the day), so I specifically went to Champaign this time to take pictures of their set. They were a group that I was always somehow involved with their whole career, circa '92-'99.

Other groups on Mayfest '95 were Primeridian and Monastic Cipher. This was my first time seeing Primeridian, who soon after became friends. I was also responsible for getting them and Rubberoom a show together, for both of their first appearance in Minneapolis, at a Rhymesayers event at 7th Street Entry in 1997. And, Mayfest '95 was my only time seeing Monastic Cipher, which would be true for most anyone , if not everyone, there, because I learned much later that they broke up really soon after this, so this was likely one of their only shows!

Their set really impressed me! It was just so raw. The beats were stripped-down and kinda quirky, but absolutely hardcore also. And, they all naturally had great flows, lyrics, and personalities on the mic. I approached them after the set and told them I dug their performance, and asked for a tape because of Caught In The Middle magazine and my radio show, Time Travel on WNUR in Chicago. I played this tape pretty heavy on the show. 

I wish they made more music, but I did learn that they split into three different crews after this show. I'm hoping to still track down the music from those separately formed groups!!" 
- courtesy of Kevin Beacham 

Emskee - The Complex Engineer / Nick Wiz - Cellar Extras Part 2

CD - 2020 - GRR 

"The Complex Engineer compiles 18 tracks from Emskee's lengthy catalogue of 90s material. 16 of the tracks were produced by Nick Wiz and 6 tracks are previously unreleased! Released in association with Diggers With Gratitude." - GRR

CD - 2020 - GRR 

"By popular demand, 21 more Nick Wiz 90s bangers that were mostly only available on vinyl until now. Featuring Rakim, Cella Dwellas, Ran Reed, Emskee and many more!" - GRR

Both CDs are pressed and in stock but aren't for sale or shipping yet due to the current global situation. If you would like to be added to GRR's mailing list, just send them a message via the Contact form and they will let you know when the CDs goes on sale.

More info coming soon ... stay tuned !

Grown Man Rap Show - Episode 255 - Tribute to Sly and the Family Stone

Hosted by veteran DJ Toast and broadcast live every Sunday night 10pm-12 midnight (ET) from 91.5 WRPI (Troy/Albany NY), Toast brings you 2 hours of the best in vintage & contemporary true school Hip Hop.  

This is Episode 255 - Tribute to Sly and the Family Stone - DJ Toast - originally aired on April 20, 2020:

Sly and the Family Stone “Sing a Simple Song” (1969)
Domino “Ghetto Jam” (1994)

Heltah Skeltah “Soldiers Gone Psycho” (1996)
Finsta Bundy “Feel the High” (1995)
2Pac “Temptations” (1995)
A Tribe Called Quest “Jazz (We’ve Got)” (1991)
Pete Nice & Daddy Rich “Kick the Bobo (Beatnuts Remix)” (1993)
Das EFX “Hard Like a Criminal” (1992)
King Tee “3 Strikes Ya Out” (1994)
Black Rock & Ron “That’s How I’m Livin” (1987)
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg “Deep Cover” (1992)
KRS-One “Sound of Da Police” (1993)
Crooklyn Dodgers “Crooklyn” (1994)
Dred Scott “They Don’t Know” (1994)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth “Anger in the Nation” (1992)
Stezo “Get’s Into His Move” (1989)
Boogie Down Productions “We in There” (1992)
JVC Force “Keep a Handle” (1990)
Tha Alkaholiks “Make Room” (1993)
Public Enemy “Get the Fuck Outta Dodge” (1991)
M.O.P. “Blue Steel” (1994)
JVC Force “Big Trax” (1992)
Double X “Make Some Noise” (1994)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth “For Pete’s Sake” (1992)
Akinyele “Bag’s Packed” (1993)
Cypress Hill “Latin Lingo (Prince Paul Mix)” (1991)
Ice Cube “Really Doe” (1993)
Erick Sermon “Stay Real” (1993)
Super Cat “Ghetto Red Hot” (1992)
Ice-T “Ricochet” (1991)
Funkmaster Flex “Dope on Plastic” (1993)
Main Source “Watch Roger Do His Thang” (1990)
Naughty By Nature “Ready For Dem” (1993)
Jungle Brothers “JBeez Comin Thru” (1989)
LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out” (1990)
Sly and the Family Stone “Trip to Your Heart” (1967)
Sly and the Family Stone “You Can Make It If You Try” (1969)
Jungle Brothers “Because I Got It Like That” (1988)
King Sun “Be Black” (1990)
Powerule f. Large Professor “Gots Ta Get This” (1991)
Beanie Sigel “The Reunion” (2012)
Diamond D “What You Seek” (1992)
Sly and the Family Stone “Stand!” (1969)
7A3 “Coolin’ In Cali” (1988)
Professor Griff “Last Asiatic Disciples” (1990)
Sly and the Family Stone “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey” (1969)
M.O.P. “G Building” (2000)
A Tribe Called Quest “Skypager” (1991)
Tootskee and the Czar MC “Does a Skeezer Deserve a Chance?” (1989)
Godfather Don “On and On” (1991)
Sly and the Family Stone “Advice” (1967)

Grown Man Rap Show  

Demo Tape : Hardcore Reps - 1994

The members of the group Hardcore Reps were Daman and Majestic, two brothers from Far Rockaway Queens NY. In 1994 they dropped a very good 6-Track Demo Tape (Ramifications) fully produced by Angelo "ANG" Foukas. 

Daman & Majestic - Photo courtesy of Daman 

Daman : "The connection of the group was just the idea of we both knew we were talented so lets make this group, at the time we came from an era of real lyricism so we battled a lot of other people from our neighborhood and sharpened our skills. Basically the connection between ANG and us came about one night we were performing at a show and then soon after we were done ANG approached us, said he liked our music and inquired if we had our own production and if not were we interested in collaborating with him, we could give him a call and needless to say the rest was history, ANG processed a unique melodic sound to his beats, and the sound fit perfectly with what we were trying to do. ANG Foukas is originally from Greece, but resided in Jamaica Queens. After the Ramifications project we put out another single on a Treat Records collaboration album and we soon branched off into our own production studio which is called REP Studios, here we work with up and coming artist on their overall production, lyrical content and video production and editing. The name HardCoreReps was a representation of personalities, our music mentality and our environment, hard core rap music but with a heavy dose of lyrical word play between the two of us."

Only the tracks "The Music" and "Dead Um" were pressed on vinyl two years later on ANG's "Them Crazy Beats To Flip To!" instrumental project.



Mad Props to Daman for the info.

Documentary : WHO'S NEXT?

A look at the apparent endless stream of new talent which keeps Hip Hop music alive - here examplified by some of New York's best up-and-coming MC's and producers of the 2000-era.   Featuring : Juggaknots, Rise, J-Live, Ge-ology, Truth E.NO.La., Sub-Con, J-Biz, J-Zone, DJ Eli, Dragunfly, Rapper Ness (from Dynasty), J-Treds and Poison Pen.   

Directed by Jesper Jensen. 
Produced for Busybody Films, 2003.

Contact : jesperjensen360@gmail.com

Funkin' Lessons - Ep #39 - January 4, 1995

Funkin' Lessons was a hip-hop Radio Show hosted by DJ Blaze and Dr. Phibes, aired on 2MBS (102.5 FM) from 1993 to 1996 and based in Sydney, Australia. 

Here is the Show #39 from January 4, 1995

Dig This Vibe by DJ Krush
Hip Hop Ride (Remix) by Da Youngsta's
Shook Ones by Mobb Deep
Check It by Dana Barros
Close To The Edge by Urban Godz
Rock On (J & B Remix) by Funkdoobiest
B.B.S. by Black Sheep
Respect by Dred Knotz
It's Alright Now by Mr. Majestic
Put It Down / Soundclash by Da Bush Babees
Haggen-Daj by The Inviseez
Get The Girl, Grab The Money & Run by Souls Of Mischief
Proceed III by The Roots ‎Featuring Bahamadiah
Daaam! (Radio Edit) by Tha Alkaholiks
Feel The Melody (Gone Into Action-Hip Hop Mix) by O.D.L. Science
Uneke by De' 1
Rockafella (R.I.P.) by Redman
The Headcracker by Double XX Posse
We're Compatible by Mr. Freeze And The Homewreckers
Rip The Mic (Dirty Down Mix) by Nonchalant
Heat It Up (Radio One Version) by Cherch
Get What You Got by Live Wirez
Listen To The Man by Kev-E-Kev & AK-B
Drag Rap by The Showboys
Are You Ready by Maximus 3
The Rubbers Song by The Pharcyde
Show Me The Way by Essence Donn
Ill Tippy Toe by Screem!
Salt Water Taffy (Slo Jam) by Boogiemonsters
Take It To The Streetz by Keith Murray
Orange Pineapple Juice by Common Sense
One For The Trouble by A.D.O.R.
Big Daddy's Theme by Big Daddy Kane
Another Nail In The Coffin by Blood Of Abraham
No Batter Swing by Hard 2 Obtain
Unknown by Unknown

Tracklist courtesy of Robert Sacchinelli