Hip-Hop Albums of the Year

18 June, 2024

J.J. Fad — Supersonic


Around 1985, a girl rap group was formed in Rialto, California. The group consisted of five members, Juana "MC J.B." Burns, Juanita "Crazy J" Lee, Fatima "O.G. Rocker" Shaheed, Anna "Lady Anna" Cash and Diana "Baby-D" Birks, whose initials make up the group's acronym, JJ FadAfter getting a contract with Dream Team Records, in late 1987, the girls released their only single together, "Anotha Ho". The song has "Supersonic" as a b-side, produced by Arabian Prince.

Due to financial disagreements and mismanagement, three members (Crazy J, Lady Anna and O.G. Rocker) left the group, which continued its artistic adventure as a duo, without changing its name. The remaining members were joined by Michelle "Sassy C." Franklin and Clarence "DJ Train" Lars. With this new lineup, the group re-recorded "Supersonic" in 1988 and released it as a single. The song sold like hotcakes, selling 400,000 copies as an independent, attracting the attention of Eazy-E and Jerry Heller, who signed them to Ruthless Records and struck a deal with major label ATCO, a division of Atlantic Records, for distribution.

Riding on the momentum of the single, the group released their first studio album that same year. There's the complete NWA behind this product. If in the production there are Dr. Dre and Yella, Arabian Prince is co-producer, JJ Fad are on the mic. The production chosen here is vibrant, lively and decent, unfortunately the lyrics aren't on the same level: the girls partially compensate with the success of the title track that remains for months on the Billboard charts and leads the group first to receive two gold certifications from the RIAA within four months (album and single), then to the appointment to the Grammys, the first female group to do it together with Salt-n-Pepa. But during the rest of the pop rap album they can't keep that level of attention on the listener. 5/10.

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