Sometime in late 1990, Jive Records released this self-titled debut album of this vocal quintet, which consisted of members Tony Thompson (RIP), Roderick Clark, Marcus Sanders, Toriano Easley, and Russell Neal, who […]
HI-FIVE
Loc-ed After Dark – Tone Loc
As a Los Angeles native, I remember when Tone Loc first debuted as one of the earliest and most successful West Coast rappers. This is when rap was still primarily an East […]
Ooooooohhh…On the TLC Tip
Recently a friend on Facebook posted this image: And while I loved Destiny’s Child, my choice had to be TLC. They really were an incredible group. First, let’s face it, Destiny’s Child […]
Ready For The World
In 1985 the R&B band Ready For The World released their self-titled debut album on MCA records. Lead by vocalist Melvin Riley Jr., with band members Gordon Strozier (guitar), Gregory Potts (keyboards), […]
PAID IN FULL by Eric B. & Rakim
Rakim Allah, considered by many hip-hop aficionados (including myself) to be The Greatest Rapper of All-Time, appeared on the scene in 1987 with this album, originally released on Island Records. While most […]
Paris: The Devil Made Me Do It
Originally released in 1990 on Tommy Boy Records this is the debut album from rapper PARIS, who was just 23 years old at the time. A Muslim who identified with the Black […]
RUN-DMC: KING OF ROCK
While 1986’s RAISING HELL firmly established Run-DMC in the mainstream, it was this previous album that began their crossover appeal. Released in 1985 on Profile Records, KING OF ROCK was mostly produced […]
“STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON” by NWA
This seminal rap album was released in 1988 on Ruthless Record, simultaneously ushering in an era of “gangsta rap” and the West Coast domination of hip-hop. Mostly produced by group members Dr. […]
KOOL MOE DEE “HOW YA LIKE ME NOW?”
In 1987, legendary rap pioneer Kool Moe Dee released his second solo album on Jive Records. Utilizing a variety of producers, including a young Teddy Riley, the music on this album showcases […]
U.T.F.O. “SKEEZER PLEEZER”
In 1996 U.T.F.O. released the follow up to their self-titled debut album on Select Records. Once again mostly produced by the R&B band Full Force (The Real Roxanne’s DJ Howie Tee co-writes […]
THE REAL ROXANNE
After UTFO’s Roxanne Roxanne spawned dozens of answer records back in 1984-85, the group and their producers, Full Force, created their own authorized answer record, hiring a woman named Elease Jack to […]
UTFO
UTFO (Untouchable Force Organization) was a legendary and iconic four-man rap group, consisting of rappers The Kangol Kid, Doctor Ice, and Educated Rapper, along with DJ Mix Master Ice, that burst onto […]
chacebook 