The Church Of Underground Hip Hop In The 90s

When I started high school in 1993 there were a few albums that came out and completely rocked my world. "Enta Da Stage" by Black Moon, "Enter the 36 Chambers" by Wu-Tang and "Doggystyle" by Snoop were amongst this great new hip hop. Around this time I discovered the college radio shows like Mr. Magic and Mr. Cee's show on 91.5 FM. I used to listen to this show every Thursday at around 10pm. Nothing would keep me from the radio when they started. It was on this show that I would learn about the latest dope hip hop that the major stations like Hot 97 didn't play yet. I discovered cats like Mic Geronimo, Camp Lo and The Alkaholiks. This is the hip hop that I just wasn't used to yet but came to love.

Mr. Cee and Magic would have contests for listeners to call in and receive things like promo single CDs and albums. I once got through on the call in, and won the Cella Dwellas debut album "Realms and Reality". I unfortunately never received that album and called Mr. Cee to tell him. He was very cordial even though I never got the album. Maybe it was lost in the mail. One prize however was received, and it was won by my MOTHER not me. She was listening to the show with me one night and was the winner of a Mary J Blige single. It was the first CD in my household ever.

I was limited on cassette tapes to record from the radio so I would be very careful with what I taped and what I didn't. Space was precious and wack songs along with idle talk had no place on my tapes. I now wish I had those discussions on tape as it was a precious time in my life. Mr. Magic is now deceased and many of the songs I heard back then are either rare or forgotten all together. Look out for part 2 as I discuss another show from that era.

Remember the 90s? Pt.1

Lately I've been rocking 90's hip hop albums to get me through the day. This morning I threw on the second Onyx album "All We Got Iz Us". This was the album to show some growth from the members Fredro Starr, Sonsee and Sticky Fingers (RIP Big DS). I still remember the feeling I had when this album originally dropped. I was in high school and dark production would get me geeked for the most part. This album is full of dark production but listening to the lyrics now you have to laugh. The content is SOO over the top though that it's ridiculous. There's a small skit where Fredro just chants "I'll murder you" over and over again. I guess this was the time but I can't stand all of their yelling for no good reason thought the album. It's just unnecessary. This was also a time when Onyx was a priority at their label Def Jam.

The singles on this album Last Dayz, Live, and All We Got Iz Us all still rock. The production was really REALLY good on this record as a whole and the features add to the albums polish. It's just weird after listening to the Tanya Morgan Brooklynati album cut "Hardcore Gentlemen" I can't take these dudes seriously. I'm kinda embarrassed that I didn't see the faux thug position of their music at the time. *smh* However I will say this, I did play the whole album through with no skipping. Well up to the next to last song at least. I didn't want to yell at my co-workers like Sticky Fingers so I threw on Casa Bey by Mos Def.

All in all I would say give it a listen, Purse Snatchers is still as good as you remember it...if you remember it at all.

Onyx - Last Dayz

90's Hip Hop Party

Come through, enjoy and show some love y'all!!