10Bass T — Do You Know the Way?

Around 1994, this trio is preparing to release its debut album, "Of Human Balance and Steamed Rice", however, after the release of an EP in the same year, the album is not released. A few years later, the guys release another EP and their debut album, which becomes the main work of the group 10Bass T formed by rapper Slim Daddy Milo, Brooklyn DJ, producer and rapper Carlos Mena and Bay Area DJ and producer Selector G.

Al Kapone — Street Knowledge: Chapters 1-12

Alphonso Bailey wasn't eighteen years old when he made his debut in the rap game with the demo "Lyrical Driveby" under the name of Ska-Face Al Kapone, or two references to the criminal of the twenties-forties, Scarface was the nickname of the Chicago boss and the film is a remake of a 1930s movie about Al Capone. Bailey, from Memphis, Tennessee, decides to eliminate the reference to the De Palma film (and to the Ghetto Boys rapper) and keeps Al Kapone as his moniker, releasing his first solo album in the same year.

Sister Souljah — 360 Degrees of Power

Hip-hop debut for Lisa Williamson, straight from the Bronx, New York. The entire project, made up of thirteen tracks, borders on the hip-hop genre and is approached with a more spoken delivery than rapping, every single word is weighted and heavy, echoing on a fairly simple, minimal, funky tight soundscape, skinny, sometimes light, sometimes hardcore, made almost entirely by the Street Element production team (formed by Chris Champions, The Epitome of Scratch and Eric Sadler, of The Bomb Squad).

Kid Sensation — The Power of Rhyme

Steven "Kid Sensation" Spence from Tacoma, Washington State, releases his second effort two years after his bad debut rightly ignored by critics and audiences. This record isn't necessarily worse than the first one, but I can't tell you it's better. Like the previous one, it's a mediocre tape, made by an amateur who wants to have fun, I think, copying style and music from the other West Coast artists he usually listens to.

Gangsta Pat — All About Comin' Up

Second effort for Gangsta Pat, one of the first rappers to emerge nationally from the hip-hop scene of Memphis, Tennessee. Atlantic unloads him after the disappointing debut and the rapper produces his second job under Wrap Records. The production of the disc is entirely entrusted to Leroy McMath, founder of Power Records, another label that helps in distributing the disc. Gangsta rap album quite simple, his rapping is decent, the production is decent and there are no lyrics of particular significance or relevance, the boy agrees, unfortunately, he fills the entire album with commercial fillers that would be acceptable in 1984, but not in 1992.

Marvaless — Just Marvaless EP

After releasing a studio album in 1994, Marvaless released an EP the following year. DJ Daryl wrote three beats, Mike Mosley provided the other two, including one with Sam Bostic, who they formed the production duo Mobboss. Pizzo and C-Bo filled the guest slots. The boys behind the keys created a laid-back, melodic mobb tapestry that was ideal for Marvaless’s fluid rapping, which ignited the title track and “Ride with Me”, proving that she crafted better tracks solo than when guests arrived. The Sacramento native delivered a brief 20-minute offering that shined and was over before you knew it. Released by AWOL and SMG, the EP enters the hip-hop chart. Recommended for fans of mobb music from the Bay Area.

K-Solo — Tell the World My Name

Kevin "K-Solo" Madison is a rapper born in Brentwood, Long Island, New York. He starts as member of Rock Squad, group of PMD's elder brother Smitty D, then was kicked out of the group, and served a prison stint, then PMD decides to introducing K-Solo as a member EPMD's Hit Squad on "Knick Knack Patty Wack", from the album "Unfinished Business" (1989).

Nine — Cloud 9

Nine's second studio album is produced by Jesse West, Rob Lewis and Rockwrecka, and has guests such as King Just, U-Neek, Father Shaheed, 3rd Eye, Smoothe da Hustler and Bounty Killer.

Heaven Razah — Spiritual Scarface

Throughout the history of hip-hop, there have been countless artists from all over the world, who have decided to pay homage to the famous movie by Brian De Palma by proposing their own version of the poster. For his first LP under the moniker Heaven Razah, the Sunz of Man rapper is no exception, he increases the firepower of the poster, keeps the black-white duality and the title in red, and places the Wu-Tang Clan logo on it, stylized for the initial of his name. Production is handled exclusively by Melvin Junko, D-Strong is the main guest with 10 appearances across 15 tracks, followed by DJ Flipcyde, DJ Trickalome and Shyste.

X-Raided — Xorcist

Second album released by X-Raided, «an inmate in Sacramento County Jail». Production and mixing are handled by Ill, the rap is recorded by telephone directly from the prison and, to the aid of the lead author in order to complete the product, arrive Babe Regg, Lunasicc, Da Misses, Chopah, Killa Hoe, Brotha Lynch Hung and Sicx.

Chunk — Break 'em Off a Chunk

Fourth album in three years for Chunk, rapper from East Palo Alto, California. Production is handled almost entirely by Sean T, while G-Man Stan provides a rhythm. The guests are Caus, Sean T, Mobboss, Papoose (not that Papoose), D Villain, Double-O, Gangsta G, and Scrib.

Nine — Nine Livez

After ten years on the circuit, Derrick "Nine" Keyes, rapper from The Bronx, released his debut album, recorded in 1994. The whole product is driven by the hit "Wutcha Want?", third among the rap singles, the most commercially successful of the artist whose moniker is inspired by the famous invention of Mr. Georg Luger.

X-Raided — Psycho Active

Aneraé Brown in 1992 released his only album recorded while he was still free: at 17 years old, he released the album the day after being arrested for the alleged murder of Patricia Harris, grandmother of two Bloods, a rival gang to Brown's Crips. During the trial for his incarceration, the violent lyrics of this same LP will be used as evidence against him in court, Brown later claims he witnessed the shooting but did not participate in it. It matters little, because, while insisting on being innocent, he decides not to reveal the perpetrators of the crime and is sentenced to over 30 years in prison.

Heaven Razah — Live and Let Die

Third James Bond themed tape by Heaven Razah after the EP "Zayin (You Only Live Twice)" in 2017 and "The World Is Not Enough" last year.

X-Raided — Niggas in Blacc EP

Entirely produced by Brotha Lynch Hung, it's the debut effort of X-Raided, an extravagant, underground and obscene gangsta in the wake of the tumultuous wave of death / trash metal that had swept the Bay Area and Sacramento a few years earlier.

D-Nice — To tha Rescue

Second and final album in the career of Boogie Down Productions member D-Nice. Completely self-produced, it sees the presence of some noteworthy rappers (KRS-One, Treach, Too Short), but his themes are choppy and his lyrics too simple, poor.

MOG — Exposed to the Game

MOG is the acronym for Murder One Gangster(s), a gangsta rap group that comes straight out of East Palo Alto, California. MOG are led by Sean T and made up of Top Dog, Kaos, Re-Akt, and Papoose (not that Papoose).

Chunk — Marked for Death

Third studio album in two years for Chunk, which follows a few months later "Chunk II". Production is again handled by C-Funk, which provides funky West Coast rhythms that are simple and with good samples. The East Palo Alto rapper maintains a predominantly braggadocio and gangsta lyricism, although he's less inspired than the previous effort.

Heaven Razah — Iconoclasm

Third tape of Heaven Razah, the new moniker of the Sunz of Man rapper Hell Razah. The production is credited entirely to DJ WoooL, Big Twins is the unique guest. The cover is similar to that of Nas' "Street's Disciple".

Insane Clown Posse — Carnival of Carnage

First studio album for Insane Clown Posse, formerly Inner City Posse, Detroit duo formed by rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. The duo, buried by the gangsta scene, decide to change course and focus everything on Esham's horrorcore, copying skinny production style and themes by the Detroit rapper, who is also present as a guest here, in the posse of the last song on a drum machine skinny, tight, syncopated and pounding.

Antoinette — Who's the Boss?

Antoinette Patterson was born and raised in the Bronx and at the age of 18 she was the protagonist of the single "I Got an Attitude", released in 1987 and produced by Hurby's Machine aka Hurby Luv Bug, who had already launched Salt-n-Pepa and Kid n Play. Released by Luv Bug's label Sound Check Records, the song was successful and years later was included in the list of the fifty best rap tracks made by women drawn up by Complex magazine.

Sean T — Straight from the Streets

Debut album for Sean Miguel Thompson, born in Palo Alto, California. Raised in a family of musicians in G-Town, East Palo Alto, he made a name for himself as a DJ in the late 1980s, joining, with Top Dog, first the Parts Unknown group, then the Murder One Gangster aka M.O.G., whose 1992 debut album is, in my personal opinion, one of the best hip-hop records of the season.

C-Funk — I'm Out 2 Stoages

Marcus McKinley, producer from East Palo Alto, Bay Area, has done so much for the West Coast scene, under the C-Funk moniker. The local Tandem Records releases his solo debut album on which he emerges also performing as a rapper. C-Funk chooses girls and weed as his main topics and spits bars with a syncopated style on an interesting g-funk production, despite the album being very irregular due to several commercial choices.

Heaven Razah — Equilibrium [mixtape]

Released under the name Heaven Razah, "Equilibrium" is a mixtape that collects material already released by the Brooklyn rapper as Hell Razah in previous years and forgotten between albums and mixtapes, and other pieces that I don't know how to define, perhaps sessions discarded from his and Sunz of Man albums. DJ Flipcyide is an integral part of the tape, the accredited guests are Anabolic, Superb, 89, Flames, Chance, Killah Priest and Prodigal Sunn.

Chunk — Chunk II: Still the Menace

Sophomore effort for Leon "Chunk" Ayiers, rapper from East Palo Alto, Bay Area. He arrives with a sequel to his debut, keeps gangsta themes and comes with a production entirely supplied by C-Funk, the disc's only guest in the misogynistic "Janky Hoes" track.

The Conscious Daughters — Ear to the Street

The Conscious Daughters put a finger-gun in your face on the cover of their debut album: it's a female hip-hop duo from Oakland, formed by Karryl "Special One" Smith and Carla "CMG" Green.

Leaders of the New School — T.I.M.E.: The Inner Mind's Eye - The Endless Dispute With Reality

Two years after their debut, Leaders of the New School return to release their full-blown sophomore jinx: "T.I.M.E.: The Inner Mind's Eye - The Endless Dispute With Reality", the title is as long as the record itself. Sheldon "Cut Monitor Milo" Scott (1970), Bryan "Charlie Brown" Higgins (1970), James "Dinco D" Jackson (1971) and Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith (1972), meet again to record another studio album after the success of the debut.

Doc Gynéco — Première consultation

Sometimes it's complex to research the background of a hip-hop artist, especially when a rapper is born in a country other than the United States, nevertheless, in this case there's an exhaustive biography regarding Bruno Beausir, boy who chose as his stage name one of the monikers that fans consider among the worst in the history of French hip-hop, Doc Gynéco.

Mac & AK — Westbound (For Riders Only) The EP

In the mid-1990s, twin brothers Eric "Mac Dad-E" & Keith "AK" Gordon signed with Tommy Boy Records and are preparing to release their debut album, "Drastic Measures", seasoned with some important feats such as E-40, Above the Law and Mac Mall.

Chunk — Menace to the Game

Chunk is the first rapper to emerge from East Palo Alto, Bay Area. He brings out a decent debut album, without too many ups and downs, regular and violent: thematically, it approaching the West Coast gangsta, while the production is simplistic, skinny and slow, the drum machine relaxes here in the midst of the funky sound chosen by Marcus McKinley aka C-Funk in production. The (uncredited) guests are C-Funk, Sean T, Gangsta G and MC Kong. Despite some guessed samples and funny lyrics, the album distributed by San Franscisco Bay Area label Tandem Records never makes the leap in half an hour and sells few copies.

Rating: 6/10.

The Flavor Unit — Roll Wit tha Flava

Three years have passed, when the Flavor Unit releases a new compilation and a lot has changed within the collective.

 

N.O.R.E. — 5E

Five years after the last record, Queens rapper NORE releases his seventh studio album, which is also expected to be the last one in his career. Originally announced as the sequel to his debut, or alternatively, the sequel to his much-criticized sophomore, the album takes a whole new path: consisting of 11 cuts for a total of 41 minutes, the production is made by Hazardis Soundz, SPK, Reazy Renegade, The-Dream, Phokus, Swizz Beatz and Pharrell Williams, while in the rapping, NORE collaborates with Fabolous, Fat Joe, Tory Lanez, The-Dream, Jadakiss, Wyclef Jean and Pharrell Williams, among others.

MC ADE — How Much Can You Take

Quite mediocre album from the miami bass scene and from one of its founders, Adrian "MC ADE" Hines: his debut single "Bass Rock Express", released in 1985, is considered to be the start of Miami bass. The rapper publishes more singles ("Bass Mechanic", "Nightmare on A.D.E. St.", "Transformer", "Just Dance (Dover Dan)", "Da' Train") with the label 4 Sight Records, owned by his father Billy Hines, believed to be the first independent hip hop label of the whole South, then releases his first LP.

Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince — Code Red

Fifth, last, album for the Philadelphia duo Jeffrey Townes & Will Smith. Running out of ideas and not wanting to completely surrender to the gangsta rap that has been dominating the scene for some years, the duo decides to go more hardcore thematically and approach dance musically. The result may appeal to fans of hip-hop, dance and hardcore, but it cannot satisfy anyone.

Kris Kross — Da Bomb

Sophomore jinx for Kris Kross, the duo who dominated the pop rap market in the early nineties. Their second effort flies to platinum, in the wake of the successful debut.

Arabian Prince — Brother Arab

Kim "Arabian Prince" Nazel was born in Compton, Los Angeles. Nazel took the name DJ Prince, sold mixtapes at school, and made a name for himself by DJing at parties, growing up with The Egyptian Lover and changing his moniker to Arabian Prince. The owner of the pet store where he worked financed his first single, "Strange Life", released on Rapsur Records, a subsidiary of Macola.

Kris Kross — Totally Krossed Out

In 1992, "Jump" dominated anything that could be dominated, it was a worldwide hit, goes multi-platinum and was the Country's third single at the end of the year. The Kris Kross, what a group, what idols.

Potna Deuce — Welcome to da Tilt

First studio album by Potna Deuce, hip-hop group from Vallejo, California. The group consists of Chezski, D.H., Rube the Rascal and Ronald "R-Beesh" Bryant aka Baby Beesh, who in the mid-2000s found unexpected and sudden solo success with the hit "Suga Suga" (certified four times platinum) under the name Baby Bash. The production is completely managed by Johnny Z, who serves as executive producer, while R-Beesh co-produces almost the entire project and one beat is co-produced by Filthy Rich. Guests are Mac Lee, Young "D" Boyz, Mr. Rob G. and Precise.

Spearhead — Home

After The Beatnigs and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Michael Franti tries again with this rap thing that doesn't seem to be right for him. He attempts to make another hip-hop album, however, his delivery style is close to spoken-word with eccentric overtones, while the beats chosen by Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo are cheap and shoddy. Franti tackles political lyrics again, without surprising, building thirteen songs that last for a total of one hour (the title track stands out as the best choice). There's a cast of instrumentalists to envy a low-budget film, but you don't notice it for most of the time, because bad mixing doesn't reward them. EMI, via Capitol, guarantees to the performer a worldwide distribution, but the album, although supported by critics, doesn't go beyond box number 24 in New Zealand.

Rating: 4/10.

Blackalicious — Melodica

Debut for the Blackalicious duo of Davis, California, formed by Xavier "Chief Xcel" Mosley, of Oakland, and Timothy "Gift of Gab" Parker, of Los Angeles. Their project is the second released for Solesides, a label founded by several artists including Mosley himself and DJ Shadow, both engaged in the production of the EP.

Buckwild — Still Diggin' Composition EP

In 1998, DITC producer Buckwild releases this extended play composed by four cuts and four instrumentals. The rappers are O.C., Reservior Dogs aka Reservoir Dogs, Kurrupt Money, Inc. and Punisher. The tape is released by Kurrup Money and distributed by Fat Beats, under the supervision of Jaz.

The Treacherous Three — Old School Flava

Ten years after releasing a couple of compilations in the first half of the 1980s, the Treacherous Three release their debut studio album. Kool Moe Dee, Special K and LA Sunshine in rapping, behind the keyboards, in addition to the same group, also Joseph Carne, Rahiem, Ced Gee, Jasz, Clark Kent and Ken Fambro, author of the major number of rhythms. Guests are Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Heavy D and Tito of The Fearless Four, often uncredited in the "We Wit It" posse.

J. Dubb — Game Related EP

Leo Ramsey, under the moniker Kool Rock Jay, joined the local electro group Matrix in the late 1980s together with DJ Matrix and DJ Slice. In 1990, Kool Rock Jay and DJ Slice released an album with Jive distributed by RCA, "Tales from the Dope Side", which was received lukewarmly by the public. A couple of years later, Kool Rock Jay also releases a solo effort on local label Triad Records, "Street Life" (1992). In 1995, the Oakland-raised boy returned under the new name J. Dubb and released a new EP. The music is composed by J-Dubb together with Troy White, Darnell Thomas and Terry T, while the mixing is handled by Ant Banks. The guests are Too $hort, Spice-1, Gansta P, Stacy Hogg, Father Dom and saxophonist J. Spencer.