Those that know me, know I have been a Special Ed (Edward Archer) fan for the longest, Ed just had a certain quality and dope vibe and to me he was all charisma, style, talent and he had ill wordplay skills and a unique voice, which was a good thing to have when you debut at only 16 years of age, I can only imagine what Ed's high school bang on the desk beats and freestyle sessions were like, (anyone got the tapes?...lol)
I honestly think that Ed was one of the smoothest to ever touch a mic device in my ears (eyes), from his superb and let's be honest, classic debut single "I Got It Made" to the great Youngest In Charge (1989) album to his part of the Crooklyn Dodgers (alongside Masta Ace and Buckshot (Black Moon, BCC) who only released the one single "Crooklyn" in 1994 for the Spike Lee Crooklyn film (great film by the way) up to his second full length Legal (1990) to his last decent album 1995's Revelations and the independent 12" in 1997 "Think Twice" (produced by Howie Tee) b/w "On Some Next Shit" ( A.R.A.B.S.)
All the Flatbush, Brooklyn raised MC needed was a mic and a track and he proved that on his first three albums, if I am being honest, his last album Still Got It Made, just didn't have the quality of his first three albums, it wasn't a wack album, but it wasn't that great either, I think Ed was just keeping in touch with today's styles and it didn't work out, I don't think it's too much to ask (or hold hopes for) another album in the future with production from the legendary Hitman Howie Tee, DJ Premier, Pete Rock or even Marco Polo, Count Bass D, Madlib, Oh No, Blueprint or maybe some Marley Marl beats, that might seem like some yearn for the golden age type of thinking and it is (lol) but if I had the cash, I would set that album up in a heartbeat.
Here are some Special Ed remixes for you to enjoy...
I'm The Magnificent (The Magnificent Remix) (1989)
http://sharebee.com/8dbb4c53
I Got It Made (Business Like Version) (1989)
http://sharebee.com/521fb364
The Mission (Remix)(1990)
http://sharebee.com/03273a67
Come On Let's Move It (Remix) (1990)
http://sharebee.com/ec1fb0c1
Freaky Flow (DJ Premier Remix) (1995)
http://sharebee.com/b46bc603
Think About It (Howie's Slow-Mo Mix) (1989)
http://sharebee.com/2438dee6
2 comments:
Much thanks for this Big Jaz! Special Ed was fire back in the day.....dude had a great flow as well as that "it" factor. Damn shame that Profile tried to go for that "pretty boy" bullshit with him rather than letting him do his own thing. Needless to say, duke was nice with his.
GoMack
Jaz, thanks for the links and it would be nice to see that Special Ed album that you made mention of. Hope you are doing well. Peace
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