Paulo Wyeth - Hip Hop Write-Ups (2024)

07/11/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Released on this day in 1995 - Goodie Mob's classic debut LP "Soul Food," as featured in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Albums Part 2 on Hip-Hop Golden Age (https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-underappreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-2/). Also check out my review below:

"Met with a chorus of boos and heckles, Outkast’s Andre 3000 confidently declared that “the South’s got something to say” when picking up Album Of The Year at the 1995 Source Awards. One listen to Goodie Mob’s debut LP proved he wasn’t playing. First appearing on Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Khujo, Big Gipp, T-Mo, and Cee-Lo Green helped define an era for Southern Hip Hop with Soul Food – strongly backing up Andre’s bold, heartfelt proclamation in the process.

With the help of Organized Noize’s hauntingly atmospheric, slow-rolling, bass-filled production, Goodie Mob cooked up a hearty, good old-fashioned pot of conscious, sociopolitical, gritty Dirty South Rap. Using intricate, multi-syllable rhyme patterns and rapping with emotion, wisdom, and foresight, the four Atlanta emcees deal with the trials and tribulations faced by young African Americans lost in a system “designed to keep our third eyes blind.”

A timeless record that grows on you and rewards repeated listens, Soul Food is a substantial, nutritious serving of lyrical and musical nourishment for the soul, spirit, and mind."

Pictured: the 2018 Vinyl Me Please 45 RPM deluxe reissue on coloured double vinyl and the OG US 12" of the title track including the dope Crazy C & Doc Doom remix featuring Eightball & M.J.G.

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31/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Released on this day in 1995: Tha Dogg Pound's debut LP "Dogg Food," as featured in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Albums Part 3 on Hip-Hop Golden Age (https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3/). Or check out the review right here:

The dawn of the G-Funk era in the early ’90s ushered in a contemporary, genre-redefining sound. This cultural phenomenon took the Hip-Hop world by storm, sending shockwaves through the rap industry. At its epicenter was the infamous Death Row Records, with gangster rap heavyweights Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, and 2Pac topping the label’s roster.

Sitting in the back seat of the G-Funk ride were Snoop’s cousin Daz Dillinger (a producer-emcee from Long Beach, CA) and Philadelphia-raised rapper Kurupt The Kingpin, AKA Tha Dogg Pound – a gifted duo whose contribution to Death Row’s catalog shouldn’t go unrecognized. They made guest appearances on Dre’s The Chronic, featured on the Murder Was The Case and Above The Rim soundtracks (with Daz lending his production hand to all three projects), and played supporting roles on Snoop’s Do******le – leaving heads hopeful that these Death Row inmates would be let off the leash so their debut album could get an early release.

But, scheduled to arrive in July ’95, Dogg Food wasn’t uncanned until the tail-end of that year due to being targeted in legal protests against gangster rap, specifically that coming out of Death Row. Despite this hitch, Dogg Food delivered the goods and represented G-Funk at its finest. Thanks to soaking up his mentor Dr Dre’s production techniques, Daz solidified his status as a skilled producer on Dogg Food – laying down classically constructed G-Funk compositions characterized by bouncy basslines, crisp percussion, smooth grooves, and sinister synths.

Executing tight raps with a laid-back gangster lean, Daz and Kurupt’s instant chemistry is at its best here – Dillinger’s nonchalant, deft delivery and Kurupt’s cold, calculated cadence sitting snugly in the pockets of the polished production. Included on the tracklist is the controversial DJ Pooh-produced single “New York, New York” – arguably the song Tha Dogg Pound is most famous for; its lyrics and video stoking tensions in the East vs West Coast rivalry. Death Row family members feature throughout the LP, with Snoop, Nate Dogg (R.I.P.), and The Lady Of Rage all showing out, and Mr Malik (formerly of Illegal) stops by to steal a verse on “Cyco-Lic-No.”

Despite critical and commercial success, Dogg Food doesn’t garner the same acclaim as other Death Row releases. Perhaps if it had dropped on schedule, its soulful low-rider anthems and banging G-Funk flavor would have been a big part of the soundtrack of summer ’95. Regardless, Dogg Food is produced, performed, mixed, and mastered to perfection – full of phat G-Funk for the trunk and unfadeable flows from two of Death Row’s unsung heroes.

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26/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Today marks 30 years since the release of Pudgee The Phat Bastard's "Give 'Em The Finger."

A proper double vinyl reissue of this '93 heater is long overdue, and Pudgee's debut LP deserves a lot more love - which is why I had to feature it in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Albums Part 2 on HHGA (https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-underappreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-2/).

You can also check the review below.

"'90s East Coast Rap albums don’t come off much harder or louder than Give ‘Em The Finger. First-time listeners may be surprised to find that the production was handled predominantly by The Trackmasterz. Possibly the heaviest, illest selection of neck-snapping head-nodders you’ll ever hear from Poke & Tone are right here on this record. And boy do they bring the noise – their banging beats just the ticket for Bronx-based, Puerto Rican MC Pudgee to spit his raucous, simile-filled, punchline-packed bars over.

Features include a vociferous guest verse from Kool G Rap, a rare, show-stopping performance from Snagglepuss on the rowdy “Doin’ MCs Sum’n Terrible,” and a cameo from MC Lyte on the intro of “Lady In My Life” – a song dedicated to Pudgee’s mother.

Regrettably, the LP suffered from poor promotion and flew over many people’s heads, ending up Pudgee’s only album release. For fans of that straight-up, booming ‘90s New York Hip Hop, this overlooked gem is an absolute must."

Pictured: OG US CD and promo LP, together with the 12" single "Checkin' Out The Ave."

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24/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW - On this day in 1995: Onyx - "All We Got Iz Us." For me this ranks as Onyx's greatest and grimiest bodies of work, so I had to feature it in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 2, available right here: https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-underappreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-2/. You can also peep the review below.

"After kicking in the door with 1993’s platinum-selling debut LP Bacdafucup, The Madface Invasion returned with the unforgettable All We Got Iz Us in ’95.

Just one look at the album’s cover and listen to the lead single “Last Dayz” (a go-for-self war cry and call to arms in the fight against the New World Order) tells you that you’re in for their darkest, most vicious LP.

Produced entirely by Onyx themselves, the trio from Queens show their prowess on the boards, creating rowdy, slow-tempo bangers with speaker-distorting basslines and sinister samples. Sticky Fingaz, Fredro Starr, and Sonee Seeza rhyme with feverish, visceral intensity as if their life depends on it. Depicting the violence, desperation, and hopelessness of life on the evil streets of the USG (United States Ghetto), their lung-busting vocals, razor-edged flows, and smash-mouth raps tear the roof off and strike from every angle.

An artistic triumph for Onyx, All We Got Iz Us is nihilistic to the extreme and full of gutter, grimy street anthems. It’s the absolute epitome of hardcore mid-’90s East Coast Hip Hop – a walk in New York not for the fainthearted."

Pictured: OG US LP, "Last Dayz" / "All We Got Iz Us (Evil Streets)" on US 12" and the non-album tracks "Evil Streets" remix featuring Method Man and "Purse Snatchers Pt 2" featuring Smoothe Da Hustler, Trigger Tha Gambler and D.V. Alias Christ on US promo 12".

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22/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Del Tha Funkee Homosapien's debut LP, "I Wish My Brother George Was Here," as featured in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 2. Peep the review here: https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-underappreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-2/ and below.

Pictured: OG US LP and cassette, and "Mistadobalina" / "Ahonetwo (Remix)" / "Burnt" (featuring the first appearance of Souls Of Mischief, not available on the album) and "Dr. Bombay" / "Hoodz Come In Dozens" / "Eye Examination" (non-LP bonus track).

"Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – that’s Ice Cube’s cousin, right? Well, yes – and the cosmic P-Funk samples and deliciously thick grooves of Del’s debut LP gave it a sound similar to Death Certificate and other West Coast releases from 1991. But Del took a decidedly different direction on his first go-round by taking a leaf out of Digital Underground’s book and the like rather than the Gangster Rap manual. The unconventional themes and witty narratives of I Wish My Brother George Was Here took listeners on a journey through the mind and into the world of The Funkee Homosapien. A perceived outsider and misfit, he’s “down with Da Lench Mob and straight from the ghetto” – but “under the sun in the meadow.” Del – who penned Ice Cube’s “Gangster’s Fairytale” – also shares his cousin’s penchant for colorful, illustrative storytelling. “The Wacky World Of Rapid Transit” is an amusing tale about the ordeals of traveling on the bus. “Sleepin’ On My Couch” finds Del griping about the antics of so-called friends who treat his house like a hotel and outstay their welcome. And on “Same Ol’ Thing,” he laments the state of Hip Hop, shining a light on the ‘fraudulent foes’ and copycat rappers invading the industry. Just a late teen when recording the LP, Del rapped with the skill and confidence of an MC working on his tenth album, never mind his debut. And I Wish My Brother George Was Here was the first of many outstanding releases to come from the Funkee Human Being."

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22/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW. M.O.P. - "Firing Squad." Featured in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 3 (https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3). Peep the review below. OG US LP pictured.

"Brownsville microphone manglers Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze – AKA M.O.P. (short for Mash Out Posse) – posed a simple question with their debut single: “How About Some Hardcore”?! And the track delivered just that. The single was a street smash, and the duo quickly caught the attention of Gang Starr’s DJ Premier, who became an instant fan. It wasn’t long before Billy and Fame hooked up with Preemo, drafting him in for the remix of M.O.P.’s second single, “Rugged Neva Smooth” – the studio sessions of which birthed “Downtown Swinga,” a track Premier cites as a firm favorite from his prolific production catalog. From that point, it was on, and heads were clamoring for another M.O.P. and Preemo collab. And their wish was granted when the duo’s second album, Firing Squad, dropped in 1996. Recorded at the legendary D&D Studios, DJ Premier produced six tracks, the intro, and mixed most of M.O.P.’s second effort – and Firing Squad was just what everyone was hoping for. Coming strapped with 15 fully-loaded hardcore tracks, Billy and Fame rhymed like they had nothing to lose, going all guns blazing with a verbal onslaught reminding listeners to make no mistake that – along with the ability to yell straight from the top of their lungs – they could rap. Loudly and skilfully staking their claim as prime exponents of guttural, hardcore NYC Hip-Hop, their high-powered, thunderous rhymes were as potent as ever. Big Jaz (AKA Jaz-O), Lil’ Fame, Ali Dee, and Mash Out Posse member Laze E Laze joined DJ Premier on production, packing heavy ammunition – the album armed to the teeth with heavy-duty, hardbody beats. And M.O.P. rhyming alongside Kool G Rap over a Preemo track? That alone was simply off the hook and well worth the admission fee. What often held M.O.P. back, though, was the lack of radio play. Frequently shunned from the airwaves, the duo’s raw, uncompromising street rap was likely considered by some to be too strong for the radio, impacting their promotion and exposure. But M.O.P. didn’t flinch – sticking to their guns and coming out blasting with one of the most visceral, authentic hardcore Hip-Hop albums of the ’90s. All salute the Firing Squad."

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20/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Released on this day in 1992: Grand Puba's debut solo long-player, "Reel To Reel," the first LP in my list of 50 Underappreciated Hip Hop Albums Part 3 on HHGA. com. Check out the review, along with 49 other underrated, overlooked and undervalued '90s gems right here: https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3/. And here's the Reel To Reel review below:

"What better way to start this list than with a super-underappreciated piece of early ’90s brilliance from one of the greatest to pick up a mic – the ever-underrated Grand Puba Maxwell.

A charismatic rhymer with an unmistakable voice and abundance of style, New Rochelle, NY rapper Puba first came on the scene as a member of the group Masters Of Ceremony, who disbanded the year after their first LP Dynamite hit the shelves in 1988. He then became the frontman for Brand Nubian – whose breakthrough, 5-Mic masterpiece, One For All, is rightly considered an all-time Hip-Hop classic. But creative tensions within the group meant that didn’t last long either – and the Now Rule rapper stepped into the solo spot shortly after One For All dropped in 1990, leaving remaining members Sadat X and Lord Jamar to fend for themselves.

Fast-forward to late ‘92, and MC Grand Pu – flanked by ex-Nubian spinners DJ Alamo and Stud Doogie (R.I.P) – was first up to bat with Reel To Reel. And while Puba didn’t quite hit a home run, his first full-length features more hits than misses. Sticking to the winning formula that made One For All sound so superb, Puba rocks fly freestyle rhymes, nimble flows, and original lingo sprinkled with conscious lyrics and boastful bars about baggin’ honeys over soulful, jazzy head-nodders.

Still swift with the gift, the quick-witted rhymes, undeniable charm and signature vocal strut so characteristic of Puba’s craft are in full effect on highlights like “Check The Resume,” “That’s How We Move It,” and “Big Kids Don’t Play.” Showing he still knows how to “civilize a 85-er,” he kicks some righteousness on “Soul Controller” and “Proper Education.” And other than the slight jab at his former bandmates on “360 (What Goes Around),” Puba shows little animosity towards his Nubian brothers, preferring to grab the mic and kick flavor rather than dwell on the breakup.

Full of lighthearted lyrics, feel-good vibes, and uplifting jams, with rhymes that roll off the tongue, Reel To Reel is an absolute joy to listen to – an unheralded gem from a true master of ceremony."

Pictured: OG US cassette and LP, and the 12" singles "360 (What Goes Around)," "Ya Know How It Goes" / "Lickshot" / "Mind Your Business" (unavailable on the LP) and "Check It Out" (featuring Mary J Blige) / "That's How We Move It."

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20/10/2023

Rest In Peace to DJ Mark The 45 King, a true Hip Hop icon and legendary DJ and producer who deserves so much recognition and credit for his countless classic beats and remixes.

17/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Mic Geronimo's debut LP, "The Natural," released on this day in 1995, featured in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip-Hop Albums Part 3 on Hip Hop Golden Age - https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3/

The NYC borough of Queens has long been a fertile breeding ground for Hip Hop talent, constantly churning out a wealth of artists hungry to make their mark in the rap game. None more so in the mid-’90s than the highly underrated Flushing emcee Mic Geronimo. A close friend of Large Professor, the young rapper straight from “The Planet Of Queens” cut his teeth DJing for Extra P before linking with DJ Irv (AKA Irv Gotti of Murder Inc.) and pressing up his demo “S**t’s Real” in 1993. Quickly turning into a street smash and doing a lot of damage on the airwaves, the demo put Geronimo in the spotlight – and demand for more product from Mic G was building. Inking a deal with Blunt Recordings, the underground gem “Masta I.C.” set the wheels in motion for Mic to come through with his eagerly awaited debut, The Natural, in 1995.

Geronimo’s calm, confident, but gritty delivery definitely befits the album’s title. A thorough lyricist and natural, masterful mic technician, his flows float effortlessly atop the grimy, blunted basement beats provided by Buckwild, Da Beatminerz, Mark Sparks, Chyskillz (R.I.P.), Nashiem Myrick, and DJ Irv. Fully equipped with an impressive roll-call of guest emcees, the album features three of the more overlooked posse cuts of the ’90s. “Men V. Many” sees Geronimo go toe-to-toe with O.C. and fellow Flushing rhymer Royal Flush over a spacey, bass-heavy Beatminerz backdrop. “Time To Build” features verses from Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and DMX before they became Hip Hop household names, making for a truly historic moment. And the remix version of “Masta I.C.” features the Lost Boyz and Royal Flush (in another of several appearances he makes on the LP).

With such a strong release under his belt, it felt like Mic G was poised to be the next big thing coming out of Queens. But his fallout with Irv Gotti and label politics curtailed his career, as he faded into obscurity following the release of his solid but slightly disappointing second LP, Vendetta. Regardless, Mic Geronimo perfectly personifies gully, street-certified NYC Hip-Hop to the fullest with The Natural – a mid-’90s East Coast classic worthy of being hailed as one of the foremost full-lengths of 1995.

Pictured: OG US 2LP, and "Masta I.C." / "Time To Build," "It's Real" / "Hemmin Heads," and "Wherever You Are" / "Men Vs Many" on US 12".

15/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Digital Underground - "Sons Of The P," released on this day on 15/10/1991. Peep the review in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip-Hop Albums Part 2 on Hip Hop Golden Age (https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-underappreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-2/) and below:

Led by the late Shock G, pioneering Oakland collective Digital Underground paved the way for other Rap acts in the ’90s to “Doowutchyalike“. After the triumph of their debut LP and the platinum-selling “The Humpty Dance” by Shock G’s alter-ego Humpty Hump, DU had it all to do on their next effort. And despite their second album not reaching the heights of S*x Packets, it certainly didn’t disappoint. Delving deeper into the intergalactic P-Funk inspired sounds of The Underground and its extended family, Sons Of the P invites the listener to “take the train to another place of positive elevated experience and existence.” DU considered themselves Hip Hop’s heirs to the P-Funk throne – hence the album’s title. And Sons Of The P fittingly features the king of Parliament-Funkadelic himself, George Clinton. “Heartbeat Props” is the LP’s most poignant moment, insisting black leaders and recording artists are given their flowers while they can still smell them. Its message is just as relevant today – particularly in light of Shock G’s sad and untimely passing this year. Regrettably, the DU visionary and frontman didn’t get the accolades he truly deserved while he was still here. But it’s not too late to give the surviving members of Digital Underground their heartbeat props for their contribution to Sons Of The P. Rest In Peace, Shock G.

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12/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW! Released 30 years ago on this day: Leaders Of The New School - T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye). Check out my review of this amazing but underrated LP in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 3 on HHGA.com and below.

Assembled by Public Enemy’s Chuck D and The Bomb Squad, Long Island’s Leaders Of The New School was one of the dopest live Hip Hop acts of their generation – a fine-tuned machine renowned for rocking animated stage shows with mad ad-libs and watertight call-and-response rhyme routines reminiscent of The Coldcrush Brothers, updated and rejuvenated for the ’90s. Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown, and Dinco D – three uniquely talented emcees with contrasting rhyme styles – were some of the freshest kids on campus. Swiftly taken under the wing of the Native Tongues – and with their rousing debut LP A Future Without A Past on their report card – LONS’s popularity and reputation quickly grew.

After catching mad wreck on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario” (featuring Busta’s legendary, show-stealing verse), the world was at their feet. With the stage set for the Leaders to go top of the class, could they graduate to the next level with their second album, T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind’s Eye)? While the album still receives mixed reviews, many heads (including this listener) think LONS passed the test with flying colours on their sophomore set – some would say surpassing their freshman effort. The group’s DJ (and Busta’s cousin), Cut Monitor Milo, stepped from behind the turntables to join Dinco, Busta, and Brown on the mic for T.I.M.E. – and the four minds combined to deliver an exceptionally slamming LP that sounded unlike anything else in ’93.

Immediate highlights are the singles “Classic Material” and “What’s Next?,” the bass-heavy, boom-bashin’ bangers “A Quarter To Cutthroat,” “Connections,” and “Bass Is Loaded,” and the packed posse cut “Spontaneous (13 MC’s Deep)” featuring Rumpletilskinz, Cracker Jax, and another one of Busta’s cousins, Rampage The Last Boyscout. “Syntax Era” addresses the style biters and “non-rhyme writers,” and on “Understanding The Inner Mind’s Eye” and “Daily Reminder,” LONS zone in on the album’s central theme: using the mind to master time, control your destiny and achieve life’s goals and aspirations. The contagious energy, frenetic flows, and script-flipping technical tongue twisters were still in their locker – but LONS dispensed with the playful party joints and schoolyard shenanigans of A Future Without A Past in favor of heavier raps recited with more ferocity on their second effort. The intensity and ultra-competitive spirit on T.I.M.E. is palpable – Busta and Brown especially seem to try and outdo one another, making for an exhilarating listen.

But the spotlight wasn’t big enough for both of them – and concealed behind the sound of two supremely skilled emcees going rhyme-for-rhyme on record was something more destructive at the heart of the group: dysfunction, clashing egos and infighting – Charlie and Busta often coming to blows. Tensions began to mount, and cracks started to show when an interview with Fab Five Freddy in 1994 on Yo! MTV Raps came to an abrupt halt due to the crew quarrelling on camera – the group unravelling right before the viewer’s eyes. The writing was on the wall, and superstar status beckoned for Busta, who parted ways with LONS before blossoming into a hugely successful solo artist. Sadly, the Leaders were no more – a group with infinite skill and potential left with just two albums to its name. And while their final project masterfully combines the classic with the contemporary and possesses a truly original style, will it ever be awarded the plaudits it deserves? I guess only time will tell.

Pictured: OG US cassette and 2LP, and "Classic Material" / "Spontaneous (13 MC's Deep!)" and "What's Next" / "Connections" on US 12".

https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3/

11/10/2023

ALBUM REVIEW: Grav's - "Down To Earth," released on this day in 1996 - reviewed in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 3 on HHGA.com, and check out the full review below. OG US LP pictured.

"Regrettably, several ’90s Hip-Hop artists are members of the “one and done” club – dropping a dope debut LP before disappearing from the scene without much of a trace. Harlem, NYC native turned Chicago resident Grav is one such rapper with this unfortunate distinction. Sure, albums released by the club’s members aren’t all stone-cold golden-age classics – but many deserve more recognition nonetheless. And Grav’s debut, Down To Earth, is a prime example – an LP that flew well under the radar when it surfaced that remains super-slept-on. Released on the short-lived LA-based imprint Correct Records, Down To Earth is unquestionably an underground Hip Hop highlight of 1996. The tough, bouncy beats and soulful boom-bap grooves from Chicago beatsmiths Kanye West, No I.D., Doug Infinite, and Andy C are top-class. Kanye weighs in with eight tracks, and naturally, Down To Earth has gained much notoriety for featuring Mr West’s officially accredited production premiere and first rapping appearance. But to say this is the album’s main draw would be selling it well short. Labelmate and ex-Beatnuts member Al Tariq drops a standout verse on “City To City,” and Jurassic 5’s DJ Numark – the project’s A&R director – supplies some killer cuts on the title track. And Grav himself holds it down on the mic – the Windy City emcee kicking relatable raps with a consummate flow while showing a flair for conceptual storytelling. He paints dark, dystopian pictures on “World Domination,” a metaphorical memoir in which he shares “visions of the world being mine through blood, sweat, tears, and my rhymes.” He takes the listener inside the darker reaches of his subconscious mind on the fictional “Sick Thoughts;” and warns aspiring artists to be wary of backstabbers in the “venomous” music industry on “Snakebite.” “I move rhymes like retail, make sure s**t sell,” goes the Raekwon The Chef-quoted chorus on the spirited “Keep Movin’.” But regrettably, despite being a critical success, this hidden gem from Chi-Town’s best-kept secret didn’t sell well and sadly remains overlooked."

https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3

08/10/2023

Freestyle Fellowship - To Whom It May Concern, released on this day in 1991, as reviewed in 50 Underappreciated 1990s Hip Hop Albums Part 3 on Hip Hop Golden Age . Check out my review below, or in the full article on HHGA.com.

"Throughout the ’90s, The Good Life Cafe played a significant role in helping LA’s thriving alternative Hip Hop movement flourish. The fabled open mic nights held at the now-infamous cafe and health food store provided a platform for Hip Hop hopefuls to display their talent, hone their skills and perform new material.

Instrumental to the Good Life scene was an amalgamation of wordsmith wizards from Crenshaw, South Central LA, known as Freestyle Fellowship, composed of J. Sumbi and M.D. Himself (as the duo All In All), P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter, and founding members Mikah 9 and Aceyalone.

Their debut album, To Whom It May Concern, is unquestionably one of the more seminal and boundary-breaking records of the ’90s. Using a 4-track tape recorder to produce the project, Freestyle Fellowship independently distributed the album hand-to-hand via 500 cassette tapes, the profit from which was later used to press up 100 vinyl copies. This established the Fellowship as one of the earliest Hip Hop groups to press an album on wax on their own label. And there are plenty of other reasons why To Whom It May Concern was such a pioneering release. As they expressly announce on the forthright anti-racism and police brutality manifesto “We Will Not Tolerate,” the Fellowship are definitely not your ordinary rappers. Their tongue-twisting lyrical excursions, elaborate vocabulary, polyrhythmic rhyme patterns, and erratic pitch-switches pushed the art of emceeing past the margin. Contorting their fluctuating vocal cords around the jazzy soundscapes and funky rhythms as if their voices were musical instruments, the Cali crew fused creativity with innovation.

Their astounding verbal acrobatics and lyrical complexity are something to behold – yet Freestyle Fellowship aren’t always given their props. Last year, however, Mikah 9 received some long-overdue recognition, crowned the king of rap wordcraft by being awarded the top spot in Matt Daniels’ Hip Hop Vocabulary Chart. And more recently, To Whom It May Concern was nominated in the Best Historical Album category at this year’s Grammy Awards. Here’s hoping the Fellowship’s debut LP continues to earn the accolades it so richly deserves, as their genre-bending showpiece inventively and defiantly deviated from the prevailing trends in Hip Hop – and paved a path for others to follow in the footsteps of the Freestyle Fellowship."

https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/50-under-appreciated-1990s-hip-hop-albums-part-3/

Paulo Wyeth - Hip Hop Write-Ups

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