Nu-Sounds — Mackin'

In 1988, the Bronx group Nu-Sounds sign with UNI Records, sub-label of MCA, publishing the first single "Condition Red". The group is formed by Craig "Chaz Rich" Burrus, Rashid "RMR" Hewitt and Rohan "DJ Fashion" Robotham. The next year the trio release is unique LP.

The production is handled by DJ Fashion and Skeff Anselm, originally an engineer for Jazzy Jay (The Soulsonic Force), that after launched the careers of Mos Def and Brand Nubian, among others. Jazzy Jay is the executive producer of the effort along with Rocky Bucano, both founders of the Bronx label Strong City Records that produces this effort. Sticking around Soulsonic Force, Afrika Bambaataa is the guest of the disk in "Body Slam", while the band Ohio Players is guest in "Skin Tight".

The album loses its magic after a handful of cuts. The first two-three are quite solid, thanks to a simple and fresh, funky production with jazzy vibes, good flow and functional hooks with bridge and spot on samples. Then, from the cut with Afrika Bambaataa, the disc starts to be extremely irregular: the funky rhythms lose their initial intensity and end up being simply decent, sometimes seasoned by jazzy elements and some functional hook.

The light-handed delivery of the performers helps to create a certain sense of general mediocrity that hovers above the disc with a peak down with the bad instrumental of "There's No Sounds Like Nu-Sounds": funky jazzy rhythm bad to listen, ridiculous, with single looped rap line. Other quite decent songs follow, but no one comes close to the initial ones, except for the title track and, for a few moments, the ballad "Miss Jones", with its attractive multi-genre vibes.

Released by Strong City and UNI with the blessing of MCA, the album is a flop, ignored by critics, and the trio disbanded. In 1992, RMR and DJ Fashion try again with Dion "Dion Broad" Barnes (aka Luva Don aka Broadway), with the Bronx hip-hop trio of Jamaican/Caribbean origin Strickly Roots. Produced by the Bronx label Friends Connections Productions supported by the managers of the group, even this disk goes poor in sales. Later, RMR and Chaz Rich form the rap duo Mercenaries, dropping a single published by their label Mercenary Records, that doesn't get any feedback from the public. In 1995, RMR tries an umpteenth time with Phade 2 Black, a crew composed by him, Dion Broad, Moch Luva, Lex and The Mighty GL. The group release first "Torture" with Mercenaries Records Inc., then "Catch Wreck" with Dangeruz Wreckerdz before disbanding.