Olas un Bekons

Digital Cratediggin' With OuB [Day 8]

Added 2020-11-17 23:26:38 +0000 UTC

Heyo everybody, I am back with another batch with 24 entries. Albums, singles, CDs releases, vinyl releases. As always, I will try to nominate 3 of these entries and tell what's up -

1) Wild Style Soundtrack CD reissue of 1998. Tell me, has there ever been more iconic and influential hip-hop movie? Wild Style movie is notable for featuring several prominent figures from early hip hop culture such as Busy Bee Starski, Fab Five Freddy, The Cold Crush Brothers and Grandmaster Flash. It might look like a low budget movie with not so much of a production value, but still it perfectly captures the atmosphere of early 80's hip-hop culture. It sheds light on all 4 elements of hip-hop (MCing, turntablism, graffiti and b-boying) and has a massive following. Movie has influenced so many rappers, breakdancers, graffiti artists and DJ's. Here's a dope vid I ripped from DVD and upped on yt.

2) Staying in the 80's, hip-hop was very close to electro back then, so many new sub-genres formed one of them being electro-funk. Genre that was so popular among breakdancers and old school DJ's, there are some artists that technically did not rap, that are well known among hip-hop fans since they appeared on the same compilations along with rap tracks, and breakdancers chose these tunes to spin to. I, myself have great collection of vinyl records that might leave younger generation of hip-hop heads wondering ''why the hell is this one along with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 album in your shelves?''. One of those artists whose records I would not hesitate to put along with the old school rapping likes, is TYRONE BRUNSON. He released 3 albums back in 80's. First one was the most successful, and featured electro hit ''The Smurf'' which reached #14 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1983. I am not sure, but I think it had something to do with then popular cartoon 'The Smurfs'. Later he released two more albums (i recommend track Fresh on the 2nd LP) which did not reach nearly the success achieved by its predecessor LP. In early 2000's 'The Smurf' was included in enormously popular video game GTA Vice City soundtrack and got a bit of resurrection among teenagers of the time. Unfortunately, Tyrone died on May 25, 2013 at the age of 57.

3) My 3rd nomination are 2 Mikey D recent albums + his single 'Real Talk' from 2013. I already covered Mikey's story a bit on this cratediggin' segment . He was one third of Mikey D & L.A. Posse, he was along with female rap trio in mid 80's when they dropped a solid diss track to Doug E. Fresh's 'The Show', he was one of the most respected Queens battle emcees (if not the most) of the 80's, he won Melle Mel in one of those battles, he was the person who suggested LL part in LL Cool J's nickname, he was a part of Main Source when they worked on their 2nd album. So he had those many highlights, but still he is not known to wider audiences... He made several wrong moves and battled addictions in late 80's, 90's, and 2000's. He also had this weird feud with LL Cool J, but fortunately he eventually made peace and went back strong in 2010's. How did he do? You decide when you listen to those 2 albums and one single. I think they're great.

So these were my nominations. At some point I started to think that I should be doing 5 nominations instead, because so many good entries were left unwritten. So who are they, in a brief? If you are an Old School fan, make sure to check Busy Bee dopeness (that comp is featuring live gig records with Bee's commentary), Freddy Fresh mixCD, Lightnin' Rod, Gary Davis, and of course Double O & Velore. As for the last I have never seen any of their records on HQ. I hope to be able to put up their LP some day, 'Your Ugly' is a dope rekkid. UK rap fans should check LDC (starring Daddy Freddy) and the Next Wavelength (remarkable underground rap record by Caveman's MCM). Also there's that late 80's B-Boy Records flava by Frozen Explosion (St. Louis native not NYC how many might think).

Other mentions are conscious rap full with Five Percenters themes from L.A. duo Movement Ex. Female rap album Sylk Tymes Leather, Miami native Stylz on his only solo record 'Bounce' (later he released few Miami bass themed records under duo 'Styles & J.I.Z'). And last but not least, 2000's work of the Jaz. Sorry to all Rockafellers, but I still prefer him to Jay-Z.

Preview tracks included as always, full ones might be found here -