Apollo Brown and Black Milk are two of my fave producers these days, I have been a fan of both for a number of years, I first heard Black Milk beats in the early 00's and Apollo Brown's beats around about 2008.
Both producers hail from Detroit (stand up) and picked up the torch from the late, great J-Dilla after he sadly passed away in 2006.
both are really dope, craft some great head nodding beats and both are quite prolific in their output, but my question is...who is the doper producer to you and why?
Apollo Brown who is signed to the great Mello Music Group label first emerged on the scene with his dope instrumental LP Skilled Trade in 2007 and then went on to work with and produce and/or remix for the likes of...
Finale Magestik Legend Supastition Elzhi Past Due Ro Spit Rozewood Paradime Verbal Kent Buff 1 Danny Brown Kenn Starr Boog Brown 5 Ela (aka 5 Elementz) Flow 'Etic Grap Luva Rapper Pooh (Little Brother) Oddisee Diamond District Stik Figa Declaime John Robinson Tranquill Prince Po The Regiment
Apollo has since released a slew of dope albums with his trademark soul and blues drenched chops and drums and warm basslines in the past few years...
Make Do (2009)
The Reset (2010)
Boog Brown & Apollo Brown (UPS)-Brown Study (2010)
Clouds (2011)
and his group The Left with Journalist 103 and DJ Soko who released the ill Gas Mask LP in 2010.
and the awesome new LP with Hasaan Mackey titled Daily Bread
Black Milk also gets busy on the mic and produces and first made his impact in 2002 with Ten Speed and Brown Shoe (Milk, Name Tag and Ahk) they appered on Slum Village's Dirty District mixtape LP, Black Milk was also a part of BR Gunna (Black Milk, Young RJ and Fat Ray) and is also part of super group Random Axe with Sean Price and Guilty Simpson.
Black Milk has gone to produce and/or remix for the likes of...
Buckshot and KRS One
Starang Wondah
Phat Kat
Elzhi
Pharoahoe Monch
Wildchild
Baatin
Strange Fruit Project
GZA
Skyzoo
Guilty Simspon
Torae
Buff 1
Invincible
Finale
Royce Da 5 9
Pumpkinhead
Brookyln Academy
5 Ela
Rustee Jux
Marv Won
aDaD
14KT
Blame One
Slaughterhouse
Now On MC Breed (R.I.P.) Jack White
from 2005 onwards Black Milk has released the following...
Oyoshe is a dope producer/MC that has a real love and affinity for that true and authentic Hip Hop and hails from Naples, Italy (he is also a regular reader of this blog so big ups for that too fam)...Oy did up a remix album of classics in 2010 titled The RE: Mix...
and recently released his ill new album Bring Da Noise 2 that featured esteemed artists such as Tame One, Craig G, Blaq Poet, Vast Aire, Maylay Sparks, Donald-D, C-Rayz Walz and more than a few others...peep the official video with Blaq Poet here...
Peep this great interview at I Live Hip Hop with him here...
Peace...I was going through some old posts on C.R.D.S. and thought it really has been a while since I did a Back To..so I thought I would cover 1996...which also shows exactly how good music was how and privileged Hip Hop heads and music listeners were in the 90's...
I'm sick of bitches shakin' asses
I'm sick of talkin' about blunts
Sick of Versace glasses
Sick of slang
Sick of half-ass awards shows
Sick of name brand clothes
Sick of R&B bitches over bullshit tracks
Cocaine and crack
Which brings sickness to blacks
Sick of swoll' head rappers
With their sicker-than raps
Clappers and gats
Makin' the whole sick world collapse
The facts are gettin' sick
Even sicker perhaps
Stickabush to make a bundle to escape this synapse...
1996 was actually a really, really dope year and there was definitely a resurgence of positive and uplifting and conscious Hip Hop...some of the key albums and highlights were...
The Wu...
-Wu Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks released his first ill solo album, Ironman to critical acclaim, the album featured Raekwon, The RZA, Inspecta Deck, Masta Killa, U-God, Method Man, Mary J Blige and The Force MD's and Cappadonna rhymed the verse of his career on "Winter Warz", the LP was solely produced by The RZA with 1 track produced by True Master and was another must have album from the Wu Tang Clan.
-Wu affiliate Shyheim also released his second LP, The Lost Generation as well...which had production from The RZA, RNS, L.E.S., DR Period, King of Chill and others and featured Pop Da Brown Hornet, June Luva, Downlow Recka and others, LA The Darkman released his dope 12" "I Want It All" backed with "As The World Turns" which featured Raekwon and was produced by 4th Disciple.
-Killarmy released the "Camouflage Ninjas" 12" that was produced by 4th Disciple and the B-Side "Wake Up" was produced by The RZA.
-RZA, Method Man & Cappadonna had "Wu Wear" appear on the High School High soundtrack and as a 12" and RZA produces and remixes tracks for Reggae artist Bounty Killa and AZ.
-Raekwon-"Rainy Dayz" 12" released with remix by Diamond D & Mr Dalvin.
-Cappadonna released the "Takin Drastic Measures" 12"
-Wu Tang Clan appear on the America Is Dying Slowly compilation with "America" which was also released as a promo 12"
-The Fugees broke Worldwide and had humungous success with their second LP The Score which had production from Diamond-D and Salaam Remi and won awards at The Grammy awards...the Enya sampling "Ready or Not" also went to number one also in New Zealand for many weeks.
-Ex Leaders of The New School member Busta Rhymes finally released his first solo album, the explosive The Coming which had the mega hit "Woo Hah!!" (rocked by every DJ including yours truly to a fill dance floor) ...Busta was sure the World was going to end in 2000 ("There's only 4 years left") but he was wrong...the LP featured Redman, Q-Tip, Rampage, Jamal, Keith Murray, Lord Have Mercy, Charlie Brown, Milo, Dinco-D, Zhane with dope beats from DJ Scratch, Easy Mo Bee, Backspin and the late, great Jay Dee.
Native Tongues Reinstated...
-De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest released stellar fourth albums...Stakes Is High(my personal fave LP of 96)which featured Mos Def, Truth Enola, Common and Zhane, with great beats from the late, great J-Dilla, DJ Ogee, Skeff Anslem (gets props too),Spearhead-X and De La Soul themselves.
and Beats, Rhymes and Life featured Consequence, Tammy Lucas and Faith Evans and was produced by The Ummah and Rashad Smith...the Native Tongues crew was officially reinstated...the Jungle Brothers dropped the raw "How Ya Want It" 12".
*on a personal note myself and some old DJ crew and Friends (peace Jammo, Andee, and Ben from the old Flipside crew and Vee, Rainman, Don Lachito, DJ Pop Up, Glynn and crew from E.S.C. and many others) put on successful release parties for both albums and we even had special Native Tongue shakers and handed out bits of paper with Discography's etc...
BCC...
-The BCC saga continued Heltah Skeltah (Rock aka Sean Price and Ruck) released their debut album Nocturnal which had great beats from Da Beatminerz and E-Swift and Ruck and Rock tore the mic to pieces and OGC released their debut LP, Da Storm which had beats from Da Beatminerz, Evil Dee, E-Swift, DJ Ogee, Steele, Lord Jamar and Buckshot and featured Sadat-X,Sean Black, Smif N Wesson and others and Black Moon had Diggin In Dah Vaults...which wasn't an official release from the crew, it contained dope remixes and the unreleased (and unmixed) "6 Feet Deep".
-The Lost Boyz (R.I.P. Freaky Tah) released their first album of infectious party Hip HopwithLegal Drug Moneythat had production from Pete Rock, Easy Moe Bee, Big Dex and Mr Sex (R.I.P.) the album featured the hits and singles, "Renee", "Get Up" "The Yearn", "Music Makes Me High" and the title track.
-Blahzay Blahazy (PF Cuttin and Outloud) released their classic underground debut LP, Blah, Blah, Blah which had the hits "Pain I Feel", "Good Cop, Bad Cop"and of course "Danger" the album featured Verbal Hoods, Darkman, Smoothe and Trigga and Verbal Fist.
Fondle 'Em...
-The Juggaknots (Breezly Brewin & Buddy Slim) released their great debut self titled album on Fondle 'Em records which was eventually re-released in 2006 as Re-Release-Clear Blue Skies with 11 unreleased tracks.
Other dope releases on Fondle 'Em in 96 were... the awesome debut EP The Visualz from Siah and Yeshua Dapo Ed, which featured Ken Boogalo. DJ Bless and was produced by Jon Adler, the Siah and Yeshua recordingsand was later re-issued on Traffic Entertainment in 2008as a compilation album with 20 tracks(some were freestyles from radio shows).
-and Mr Live-"Relax Y'Self" and the debut 12" from Scienz of Life "Powers of Nine Ether".
Fat Beats...
The late, great legendary New York record store Fat Beats (sadly closed in 2010) issued it's record label and distribution branch in 1996 with the first release being the Rob Swift ft The Cracker Jax-"Sly Rhymes" 12" followed up by Non Phixion "No Tomorrow" and "Legacy"...
Rawkus...
NYC label Rawkus branched out into independent and underground Hip Hop and the first releases from the once esteemed label were from Rose Family,Poppa Bear Kool Breez, Stretch Armstrong and Universal 7...the label really set things off from 1997 onwards though.
Hit Squad/Def Squad
-Even though Erick Sermon and ParrishSmith had long since parted ways, both delivered dope albums in 1996 with E's Insomnia compilation (Redman, Kieth Murray, L.O.D, Xross Breed, Jamal, Tommy Gunn, Passion etc) and PMD with Business Is Business which featuredDas EFX, MOP, Nocturnal and had beats from Charlie Marotaa, Soilid Scheme, DJ Scratch and 8-Off.
-Redman delivered the crazy but stupidly dope Muddy Waters LP...his 3rd LP which featured Method Man, Keith Murray, K-Solo, Jamal, Erick Sermon and the late, great Rockwilder...Redman and Erick Sermon produced most of the album.
DJ-Premier-P-P-Premier
-Jeru The Damaja had his second (and last) classic album produced by DJ Premier, Wrath Of The Math, the album featuredAfu-Ra and Jeru took shots at The Fugees, Puff Daddy and commercial and gangster Rap.
-DJ Premier alsolaced Brooklyn hard rocks MOP with many bangers on their 2nd album Firing Squad which featured Teflon and the legendary Kool G Rap and Big Jaz and Ali Dee also contributed beats.
-Bahamadia dropped her debut album Kollage, which had classic beats from DJ Premier, the late, great Guru (R.I.P.), The Roots, Ski and N.O. Joe.
It featured the classic singles "Total Wreck", "The Jawn" and the DJ Premier produced "Three The Hard Way" which to this day remains a fave Female MC outing.
-Premo also released the legendary and infamous Crookyln Cuts mix-tapes.
Others:
Special Ed-Freaky Flow (Remix)
Big Shug-Crush Group Home-Suspended In Time (Groovy Remix) Nas-I Gave You Power Jay-Z-D'Evils, Friend or Foe. Bring It On
-Mobb Deep followed up the classic critically lauded Infamous album with the more darker and cinematic Hell On Earth LP, guests featured were Raekwon, Nas, Method Man, Big Noyd, Twin Gambino and Ty Nitty the first single only released as a promo single on 12" "Drop A Gem On 'Em" was aimed at 2-Pac.
-Nas released the follow up to Illmatic (1994)...It Was Written that was fairly good and had some great beats (not enough DJ Premier though) but was not as great as his debut LP and it had a really stupid and confusing verse from Foxy Brown...which ruined the otherwise dope, "Affirmative Action" track, IWW...clearly aimed for a more commercial audience.
-Kwest The Madd Ladd's hilarious and head nodding album My First Album finally dropped after years of record label problems (read shafting), it had dope production from the late, great Tony-D, Baka Boyz, Dan Charnas, LA Jay, and cuts from DJ Homicide and Kutmasta Kurt.
-Super producer K-Def dropped a dope album of classic beats and samples and Larry-O weaved tales of street life and life stories to a hungry audience that appreciated The Turnaround: A Long Awaited Drama a lot, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna, Killa Sin & Lord Tariq appeared on the remix of "Real Live Shit" and Real Live had a non album track titled "Get Down For Mine" on the B-Side of the Wu Tang Clan-"Wu Wear" 12' and High School High soundtrack.
-High School High was an amusing Hip Hop (of sorts) movie made by the Zucker brothers and the soundtrack featured dope Hip Hop tracks from KRS One, The RZA, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Large Professor and Pete Rock, Artifacts, Sadat-X & Grand Puba, The Roots, Inspectah Deck, Scarface and others.
-OutKast released (my personal fave album from them) ATLiens, it contained the hits "ATLiens", "Wheelz of Steel", "Elevators (Me and You)" and "Jazzy Belle" guests included Goodie Mob, Jazzyfatnastees and Witchdoctor and production was handled by Organized Noize and OutKast.
-Ill Biskits released their debut album, the underground classic Chronicles of Two Losers...that went out of print pretty much as soon it was released, true story...one of the members actually contacted me about getting a link to download his own album some years back, it was eventually re-issued in 2007... the album had production from Lord Finesse, Buckwild and Myke Loe.
-Xzibit released his debut album At The Speed Of Life that had production from E-Swift, DJ Muggs (the awesome ode to his Son and Billy Joel sampling "The Foundation", Diamond-D and Thayod Ausar, the album contained the hit single "Paparazzi" and featured King Tee, J-Ro and Tash, Ras Kass and Saafir and Hurricane G.
-Nine followed up his gruff classic Nine Livez (1995) with the darker sounding Cloud 9, the first single was the Three Dog Night sampling "Lyin King" and the album was produced by Jesse West, Rob Lewis and featured 3rd Eye, Smoothe Da Hustler, King Just and Bounty Killer.
-Ras Kass released his debut Soul On Ice which contained some incredible rhymes (see "Nature Of The Threat", "On Earth As It Is"...etc and Diamond-D did up one of the greatest remixes of his career with a remix of "Soul On Ice, the album had production from Bird, Vooodu and Ras Kass himself.
-Public Enemy's Chuck D released his first solo album,Autobiography of Mister Chuck...that featured the dope single "No" which was an attack on what Chuck thought was ruining Hip Hop, the album featured the late, great Issac Hayes, Melquan and was produced by Sleek and executive produced by Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Chuck-D and G-Wiz.
Soul Brother No.1 aka Pete Rock
-The INI album that had the underground classic (and one of my all time fave Pete Rock produced beats) "Fakin Jax" never came to light after the group were dropped along with many other artists.
-Common dissed Ice Cube and Westside Connection over a Pete Rock produced classic with the "Bitch In Yoo"
-Pete Rock produced and appeared on The Lost Boyz-"The Yearn"
others:
Large Professor and Pete Rock-The Rap World
Mic Geromino-Unstoppable Sadat-X-Escape From New York Akhenaton-La Face B (Remix) Monica-Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Remix) Icongnito-Roots (Pete Rock Remix)
NYC's Arsonists released their debut 12" "The Session" on Fondle 'Em as did Adagio with the classic "The Obvious Joint" and The East Flatbush Project with "Tried By 12" which got major run on the Wednesday Nite Jam was used in every MC and DJ battle I attended in 1996 and Constant Deviants with the true underground classic "Competition Catch Speed Knots" and Darc Mind (X-Ray and Kev-Roc)with the dope promo 12" "Outside Looking In" 12"
-Jay-Z released his debut Beyond Reasonable Doubt album, the LP had great beats from DJ Premier and Ski amongst others and the late, great Biggie showed up Jay-Z on his own album on "Brooklyn's Finest".
-A-+ (not to be confused with the Souls of Mischief MC/Producer) released his debut LP, The Latch Key Child, the Hip Hop World was taken by his youthful vigor and an Adult outlook on life (he was 13 when the LP was released) and dope beats (some from Buckwild) and guests like Q-Tip, AZ and Prodigy from Mobb Deep.
-Poor Righteous Teachers released their dope 4th LP, The New World Order which featured KRS One, Nine, Brother J, Junior Reid, The Fugees and Sluggy Ranks and was their last album for the Profile records label.
-Japanese producer DJ Honda released his first collaboration LP, DJ Honda in the US (after a 1995 Japan release) which led to production and many other albums with US Hip Hop artists, DJ Honda I featured Gang Starr, Biz Markie, Erick Sermon, Def Jef, The Beatnuts, Fat Joe, Common, Melle Mel, Prince Whipper Whip, Kurtis Blow and Donald-D and the legendary Afrika Bambaata and DJ Jazzy Jay amongst others.
-Kool Keithgot even crazier (if that was even possible...lol) on theamusing and fun Dr Octagon-Dr. Octagonecologyst LP where he joined Dan The Automater and the phemenomal DJ Q-Bert.
UK Hip Hop...
-The Brotherhood released the Elementalz LP which to this day remains one of my all time fave UK Hip Hop albums.
-The Big Dada label formed started up by UK Hip Hop writer and music legend Will Ashon.
-The Scratch Perverts (DJ's Plus One, Prime Kuts and Tony Vegas) (UK) formed.
-Blak Twang was voted the best UK Rap artist at the Brits and he released his first album Dettwork Southeast.
-Cutmaster Swift won the UK DJ championships.
-Lewis Parker released the B-Boy Antiks EP
-Lee Ramsay (Out Da Ville) released the "R.D. Style" 12"
-Skitz and Roots Manuva released the "Where My Mind At" 12"
-releases from the likes of The Creators, Fun-Da-Mental, Unsung Heroes, Numskullz, Deckwrecka, Kaliphz,Earthling,Herbaliser, London Posse, New Flesh For Old,Intelligent Madness, Pure Genius, Funky Fresh Few, Cash Crew and many others.
-DJ Noize (Denmark) won the 1996 DMC World championships.
-DJ Babu went up against Total Eclipse with Total Eclipse winning in the first ITF battle
the same year Babu produced a well used and very well known breaks record...Super Duck Breaks.
Madlib's Father helped fund The LootPacks first EP, "Psyche Move"
Peanut Butter Wolf and Stones Throw...
-Peanut Butter Wolf released his first EP with Hip Hop artists...Step On Our Egos? that featured the late, great Charizma, Clept The Contortionist, Encore (his debut), Zest Da Smoker and Subcontents and in the same year PBW gave birth to the legendary Stones Throw label...with Charimza's "My World Premiere" kicking off the label.
other albums of note:
-Bush Babees dropped the Da and released the more refined and polished Gravity LP, it featured Mos Def, Q-Tip, Razhel, and had great beats from The Ummah, Rahzel, Mr Man, Shawn J Period and Pos from De La Soul.
-Sadat-X released his first solo LP...Wild Cowboys, the LP boasted production from Diamond-D, Pete Rock, Showbiz, DJ Ogee and Buckwild and featured Shawn Black, Grand Puba, DV Alias Khrist, Money Boss Players, Deda andthe late, great Roc Raida and othersand even though some critics dismissed it, it was a dope debut album from the Brand Nubian member.
-America Is Dying Slowly...was a compilation album focusing on AIDS and featured O.C. Da Beatminerz, De La Soul, Chubb Rock and Biz Markie, Prince Paul, Mobb Deep, Organized Konfusion, Goodie Mob, Spice 1, Sadat X, Money Boss Players, Common, Wu Tang Clan and others.
-2-Pac's All Eyez On Me LP achieved platinum sales in just 4 hours and went to the top spot on Billboard and was the first double Rap album, he was also shot and killed after attending a boxing match in September and although some people have come forward with bits and pieces of information, Pac's murder has never been solved.
-Cella Dwellas (UG and Phantasm) released their debut LP, Realms and Reality, produced mainly by the great Nick Wiz but also had beats from Lord Digga and Megahertz and featured the singles"Good Dwellas", "Land Of The Lost" and "Advance To Boardwalk".
-Mad Skills released his debut LP, From Where??? which had top notch rhymes from Mad Skillz and his crew over great beats from The Beatnuts,Large Professor, the late, great J-Dilla, Buckwild, Nick Wiz, Shawn J Period, Clark Kent and EZ Elpee.
The Roots released the superbIlladelph Halflife LP which featured Dice Raw, Q-Tip, Common, D'Angleo, Ursula Rucker, Bahamadia and others with production from The Ummah, ?uest Love, Rhazel, LA Jay, Kelo and Grand Negaz, Chaos and Scratch.
Smoothe Da Hustler released his debut LP, Once Upon A Time In America after blazing up turntables, tape decks and stereos and radio shows with the raw as hell "Broken Language" single the previous year...the album featured his partner in rhymeTrigga Da Gambler, DV Alias Khrist with the majority of the LP produced by DR Period.
-Fashion from The Beatnuts changed his name to Al' Tariq and dropped theunderground classicGod ConnectionsLP on the short lived Correct records label, the album featured Rawcotiks, The Beatnuts, Black Attack, Problemz, Mista Sinista and beats were provided by The Beatnuts, NO I.D, Lucien and V.I.C.
-Large Professor released his first solo 12"s "The Mad Scientist" and "I Juswannachill" was signed to Geffen and was subsequently dropped leaving The LP in the vaults until it circulated as a bootleg and was later given a proper release.
-DJ Shadow released the classic and very interesting Entroducing LP...an album that was an perfect example of what digging in the crates and beat making was all about, a great lisiten from start to finish and even more of a thrill when you dig to see what samples Shadow had actually used... it was re-released in 2005 as a deluxe edition.
other notable artists that released dope music in 96...
100X 108 dragons
2Face 2 Demented 4th Quarter 5 Elementz 7 Universal Aboriginals Absent Minded ABU Nation Akinyele AK Skills Alamo Alley High Alps Cru Annexx Clique Apphillyation Artifacts Babigezus and Da Allstars Beat Factory Esssentials Big Kwam Big-O Big Twabb Biz Markie
BBO Black Anger Blackface Blackmajik Blackstract Blind Mice Brainsick Enterprize Brainwash 2000 Branded Black Brass Tacks Broadway Brothers Grimm Bruthaman C4 Call O Da Wild Camouflage Large Camp Lo Champain Centa Of Da Web Chino XL Chris Styles CNN Company Flow Complete Unit Concrete Mob Cool Manu Badns Corrupt Empire Couzin Steve Cover Craz Crimedanch Cartel Crime Lords Crime Scene Crime Unit Cypress Hill (single and Unreleased and Revamped EP)
Dead Poets Society Da Fat Cat Clique Da Funk Da Noe Doe Network Da Naba Hood Threat Da Phathedz Da Shaup Productions Dark Sun Riders Delinquent Habits Derelect Camp DES Diemen X Digital Underground Discreet Records-Nodyaheadtodis DJ Krush DJ Spinna Doo Dirty Doublespeek Down To Erf Drama Klub Dungeon Dungeon Squad Dutchmin Dysfunkshunal Familee Eastflatbush House of Reps EDO.G Energetic F.O.N. FDC Flipside Magicians Foundtation & Rezidue Fort Greene Assassins Fortress Frankenstein Gauge Geto Boys Ghetto Concept Giftstylez Grand The Vistor Grav Heather B Hillfiguz Hobo Junction Homeliss Derelix House of Reps Hyenas In The Desert Ill Advised Ill Distracxion Innersoul Jam D.O.T. Jedi Mind Tricks J-Crush J-Dub J-Force J-Live Jigmastas Joey Chavez J-Treds Just-Ro Kaotic Style Killa Instinct Killa Kidz Kirk Kool G Rap L Large Professor Legendary Villain Lewis Parker Lord Digga Lord Finesse Lord V.I. Lux M-Slash M.A.D. Mad Shorties Madflowas Madheadz Maestro (Fresh Wes) Main One Mama Mystique Mannish Manuel Mass Vinyl MC Eiht Mcgruff Meaner Mexakinz Mic Rippa Microphone Terrorists Mind Space Mixed Elements Mountain Brothers
Mr Voodoo Natives From Da Underground Natural Mystics Natural Resource N.C.S. Nipskcab Fam Non Phixion
No I.D. Numskullz O Da Addict Omniscience One and One Paralax Paula Perry People Without Shoes Percee P PHD Preacher Earl Pressure Phil Blunts Polecat (Street Poets) Positive-K Pos Neg Prince A.D and Psycho Child Psyclone Punk Barbarians RaidermenRanjahz Ras-T RA The Rugged Man Raw Breed Rawcotiks Raw Producer Reckanize & Mr Sta Puff Red Eye Red Foo & Dre Koon Redd Bull Rhymefest Rick Da Bro Ring Roddy Rod (mcenroe) Rose Family Rugged Scientist Rufnexz Ruph Headz S.C.U. Scientifik (R.I.P.) Scott Lark Sesh Shabaam Sahdeeq Shabazz The Disciple Shadez of Brooklyn ShamusShazam X Shorty Long Shrlock Da Madman Slasher Sleestackz Slomo Slum Brothers Soul Kid Klik Soul Survivors Special Ed Splattahouse Stezo Stikken Moov Street Smartz Survival Series 11355 The Beatnuts The Dangerous Crew The Principle Thrust T-Max T.D.K. Tainted Mindz The Candy Store The Crash Crew The Exmen The High and The Mighty The Lost Trybe of Hip Hop Too Short Tribal Music Trife & D-Mob
Triflicts Tru Form UGK Various Blends Ve Borne X-tra Pleza War Click Wisdom Young Gifted Young Zee
and more than a few others
*Big props to Sean BD for reminding me of some I missed.
-Brick records (Boston) formed, their roster included a number of underground Hip Hop faves, Insight, Mr Lif, Reks, Scum, MF Doom and MF Grimm, Lucky Dice and many others.
On The Local Tip (New Zealand)...
-DLT and Che Fu released "Chains" which ripped up dancefloors, blasted radios and stayed at the top of the charts for a number of weeks.
-Wellington's own DJ Goosh won the first official, 2nd place was Sean T and 3rd place was DJ Pop Up at the Wellington DJ battle at Globe Bar, the Wellington DJ battles were started by DJ Rhys B.
-OMC (R.I.P.) released "How Bizarre" and it became a massive local and Worldwide success. -South Auckland's The Deceptikonz formed.
-Dam Native released the classic "Behold My Kool Style" single and video.
-Chris Graham directed Frankie Cutlass "You and You" with Redman and Sadat X and F.Cutlass in New York.
-DJ Raw was putting out independent mix-tapes that customers were scooping up. -Mikki D recorded "The Mikki" with DJ Raw.
check this ill 96 dopeness...
Adagio-The Obvious Joint
Constant Deviants-Competition Catch Speed Knots
D.S.A.-Unholy
Ill Advised-Through The Eye Of A Needle
Lace Da Booms-Cut That Weak Shit
Various Blends-The Dopess
Brainwash 2000-Break It Down
Ill Biskits-Bare Essentials
Screwball-Screwed Up
De La Soul-Stakes Is High
East Flatbush Project-Tried By 12
Large Professor and Pete Rock-The Rap World
The Roots-Concertro of The Desperado
Sick Lyrical Damager-It's Over
MOP Top-I'm Alright
Mr Voodoo-Hemlock
NO I.D.-The Real Weight
A Tribe Called Quest-Phony Rappers
Jungle Brothers-How Ya Want It
Redman-Rock Da Spot
LOD-I Feel It
Tommy Gunn-Fear
Kwest The Madd Ladd-101 Things To Do...
Real Live-Pop The Trunk
Royal Flush-Rotten Apple
INI-Fakin Jax
The Brotherhood-Mad Headz
Brainsick Entaprize-Mixmaster USA
De La Soul & Da Beatminerz-The Hustle
Big Shug-Crush
Blahzay Blahzay-Don't Let This Rap Shit Fool You
Wu-Tang Clan-America
Clept The Contortionist-Rappers Delight II
Da Naba Hood Threat-Represent Groundz
Heltah Skeltah-Operation Lockdown
Hi-Tech-Book of Life
Natural Resource-Baseball (Jean Grae's first group)
Jeru-One Day
MOP ft Kool G Rap-Stick 2 Ya Gunz
PMD-Rugged and Raw
Shadez of Brooklyn-When It Rains It Pours
Black Twang-Real Estate
Camp Lo-Lucini
The Arsonists-The Session
J-Live-Braggin Writes (DJ Spinna Remix)
Biz Markie -Studda Step
Artifacts-The Ultimate
Mobb Deep-More Trife Life
The Roots-Clones
Keith Murray-The Rhyme (The Ummah Remix)
Big Noyd-Usual Suspects (Stretch Armstrong Remix)
Nine-Lyin’ King
Kool G Rap ft Nas-Fast Life (Norfside Remix)
Al' Tariq-Think Not
Grav-What
Jigmastas-Beyond Real
OutKast-ATLiens
Hyenas In The Desert-Why Me?
Innersoul-How Ya Gonna Do It?
Street Smartz ft OC & Pharaohe Monch-Metal Thangz
Ghostface Killah ft Raekwon-Motherless Child
AK Skills-Nights of Fear
Company Flow-Info Kill
Percee-P-Nowhere Near Simple
MF Grimm-Emotions
SESH-Definition Sesh
Triflicts-Genuine
Cypress Hill ft Erick Sermon, Redman & MC Eiht-Throw Ya Hands In The Air (Remix)
Please leave your thoughts and memories from 1996 in the comments section...who have I missed?
I hope you enjoyed this post, it was a great trip down memory lane and a lot of fun to complete.
