Shortly after the release of the extended play "Soul Clap" (1991) and several hit singles, Showbiz founded the group Diggin' in the Crates aka DITC and as the duo with Andre the Giant signs with Payday / London Records, and re-released the EP with the title "Party Groove / Soul Clap" in 1992. In the same year, Showbiz & AG publishes their first studio album.
The disk is opened by a cheerful boom bap provided by Diamond D: "Still Diggin'" sees Showbiz joined by the Diamond himself at the mic over this rhythm, tight dusty drum, rough bassline, sample from "More Peas" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s, shrill horns sampled from Jack Bruce's "Statues". Andre the Giant drop his first stanza in the next track "Fat Pockets", chosen as second single of the disk: Showbiz opens and closes the cut over a minimal boom bap, roaring bass in background, dusty hi-hats, uptempo rhythm, with sample from Buddy Rich's "Soul Kitchen".
Show stays behind the keys in "Bounce Ta This", the third single of the LP and a minor hit of the duo: alternative boom bap, rough bass, obsessive loops from Buster Williams' "The Hump", Dres of Black Sheep joins AG over this funky groove. The fourth pick sounds spectral, due to a good samples from "Via the Spectrum Road" by The Tony Williams Lifetime and The Jazz Crusaders' "Turkish Black", that adds a sax hints into the rhythm for the Andre the Giant autobiographical anti-drug "More Than One Way Out of the Ghetto".
The fifth pick is a remix of "Silence of the Lambs", in the original there's a intro by Freddie Foxxx, here there's Kid Capri. AG drops a couple of stanzas before Showbiz over a cheerful boom bap, with solid bass line, light drum, samples from "Something" by Charles Kynard, "Sam Enchanted Dick (Medley)" by Jack Bruce and "Channel One Suite" by Buddy Rich. Showbiz takes a sample from "Number Eight (Lotsa Potsa)" by Eric Dolphy and Booker Little to build the rhythm of "40 Acres and My Props", honest drum, solid bass line, splendid sample, Show and Andre the Giant exchange a couple of verses each against the wack rappers.
For the title track there's a sample from The Yardbirds' "Glimpses", and another from "Tales of a Rhoda Rat" by Buddy Rich: light drum, solid bass line, the duo focuses on ghetto problems creating a socio-conscious cut. The guy brings Fat Joe to make some noise in the intro of "Hard to Kill". The piece is produced by Show and Diamond D. Samples from "Ain't Got Time" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity and David Shire's "Mini-Manhunt. Thunderous bass from "Alone Together" by Eric Dolphy, fresh drum from another sample, Show and AG run well for this braggadocio track. Jack Bruce's "Born to Be Blue" is used for "Hold Ya Head", another bravado joint of the duo over a jazz lounge production invented by Show. The choice number ten boasts a sample from "Alone Together" by Eric Dolphy, rough bass, nice drum, AG goes solo with three stanzas.
Jack Bruce's "Sam Enchanted Dick (Medley)" is the main sample also of "Represent": intro, brief hook, then Big L kills the beat with the opening verse. Livable drum, robust bass, good boom bap. Deshawn aka D'Shawn aka SunKiss (later honorary member of Fat Joe's group Terror Squad) his the rapper for the next verse, then Lord Finesse drops bars with his calmly, velvety style, Andre the Giant closes the Diggin in the Crates Crew posse. "Silence of the Lambs" is the next joint, Freddie Foxxx is confined at the intro, over a beat composed by a sample of "Chicken Pox" by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, boom bap with positive vibes, cheerful loop of flute, hard drum, solid bass line, good track by the duo.
The last four joints are taken from "Soul Clap EP". Showbiz takes a sample from the electro song "Emotions Can Be Serious" by Hassan & 7-11 for "Party Groove - Bass Mix", it emerge a fresh rap track with disco dance vibes, Show goes solo here, AG recites the functional chorus. "Soul Clap" is the same song of the previously released EP, a solo by Andre the Giant over a tight rhythm by Showbiz. In "Catchin' Wreck" Showbiz obtains a solo over a robust boom bap, with deep bass line, hard drum, fresh samples. The tape is closed by the instrumental version of "Party Groove".
"Runaway Slave" finds itself running the race, as a favorite, among the most undervalued albums ever, without knowing it in addition. Showbiz here proves to be one of the best producer ever in his field, dropping several flawless beat divided and mixed between jazzy and hardcore boom bap on an high-quality level. A.G., even if he's not the best rapper, works here with consistency, he's smoothness, fit. This duo create a raw, solid record the sounds fresh and has the «classic» mark. The fact that there are no clear banger perhaps ends up helping the LP, although it also has its "negative" side: the arrival of one of the first performance of Big L in "Represent" — unmissable — obscures everything that comes later and a good part of what was there before. Check out also the minor hit "Fat Pockets", that enters the top ten of rap singles: great dirty sound, perfect delivery on a smooth jazzy beat.
Rating: 9/10.
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