After their second album, the group disbanded and was integrated by Roc-A-Fella Records, a fledgling label created by Kareem Burke, Damon Dash and Shawn Carter. Original Flavor will not make other albums, on the other hand Carter's artistic career will be immediately launched high thanks to the rhythms provided by the group's producer, David Willis.
In the late 1980s, Willis was part of The Bizzie Boyz group from Greensboro, North Carolina, consisting of Mixmasta "D", Move, Groove, CJ Smooth and Willis himself, under the name Will-Ski. In 1990, they released their only studio album, practically unobtainable, then in the following years, Will-Ski moved to New York and removed "Will" from his moniker. He enters a group from the Bronx formed by T-Strong, Suave Lover and DJ Chubby Chub and managed behind the scenes by DJ Clark Kent, Damon and Darien Dash, who manage to find a deal with the major Atlantic. Ski is handling production on Original Flavor's debut, except for the cuts "Kick the Butta" (produced by Clark Kent & Larry Larr) and "I Like It (Freestyle)" (produced by Clark Kent & Sean Wan).
The introductory tune is made up of a simple, lean and annoying Middle Eastern rhythm; the next beat is lean and simplistic, enlivened by a good guitar riff, frantic, syncopated, skinny drum machine, and slow syncopated delivery by T-Strong and Suave Lover. The lyricism and delivery of these two dudes are not the strong points of the tape, their style is decent, but you basically stand in front of your typical generic rappers. Ski has the onerous task of lifting the entire album with the production alone, which is good, there are some good samples, but isn't excellent.
"Best Friend's Girl" has a good jazzy-funky rhythm, while the next track has decent funky production, with barely noticeable light skinny drum machine and decent slow syncopated delivery; functional chorus with sax sample and tightly looped piano. "Kick the Butta" is among the best cuts on the tape, reinforced by a confused and upbeat funky beat and an effortlessly syncopated slow playful delivery by the duo, festive joint. "Give 'em Some Wrek" sets itself apart from the bland choices that surround it with another festive and jazzy, albeit simplistic, rhythm. This forty-five minute tape is closed by "Brain Storm" and "Swingin'": two great cuts, the first one has a livable jazzy beat, with slow smoothness syncopated delivery and a functional chorus with jazzy bridge and tight samples, while the second track has a simple, meager boom bap with a guessed jazzy samples, the usual delivery from the duo and a hook with a good light female sample.
Overall it's a decent album, kept afloat by the rhythms of Ski. In 1993, before recording his second album, Damon Dash added a friend of his from Brooklyn, the rapper Shawn Carter, to the group. Using a moniker similar to that of his mentor, this guy will make his way into the rap game, later founding his own label with Damon Dash and Burke and also bringing Ski, a fundamental figure for his first two solo albums.
Rating: 6/10.
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