Debut album for Donald "Donald D" Lamont, who starts to rap in the Bronx. In 1978, he becomes a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, entering in the group Funk Machine along with Afrika Islam, Kid Vicious and DJ Jazzy Jay, among others. In few years, he participates in Afrika Islam's radio show. In 1983, Donald D, Fred "Brother B" Bailey and DJ Charles "Chuck Chillout" Turner formed the hip-hop trio The B-Boys.
After signing with Vincent Davis' Vintertainment, their debut single "Two, Three, Break" is published in 1983, then the group release the 12" EP "Cuttin' Herbie" with Streetwave for the UK market charting #90 among pop albums. The success of the record lead to a new single in the same season, "Rock the House", distributed in US (Vintertainment), France (Vogue) and Netherlands (Break), the next year is reissue in France by UK label Streetwave. In 1985 The B-Boys drop "Stick Up Kid / Girls" with Vintertainment in US and Streetwave in UK, then a sequel of "Girls", but both don't get a response by crowd. The group disbanded.
In 1987, Donald D aka The Microphone King Donald D works with DJ Chilly-D for his debut soloist single "Dope Jam / Outlaw", produced by Gary Clugston (then engineer for Audio Two, MC Lyte, The Jaz, Ultramagnetic MC's, Onyx, Main Source, Young MC and Fu-Schnickens, among others) and the techno producer Jeff Mills bka as the Wizard, both in one of their first career productions. The single is released with Trenton, New Jersey label Rockin' Hard Records.
After the end of B-Boys group, Chuck Chillout becomes a successful radio DJ, while Donald D aka Dondee moves to Los Angeles and joins Ice-T Rhyme Syndicate's crew, having met the rapper originally from New York years before. Lamont is featured with Hen Gee in "The Syndicate", track from Ice-T's album "Power", then his track "Name of the Game" is inserted in Rhyme Syndicate compilation album "Comin' Through". In 1989 Donald D is in the new Ice-T album featuring in the posse track "What Ya Wanna Do", then he releases his debut solo album in the same year.
Produced by Ice-T producer Afrika Islam and by the rapper himself, it's a coherent and quite decent record, composed of simple and minimal funky rhythms, all accessible, and a regular delivery, decent lyrics, nothing exceptional. It has a sort of ballad ("A Letter I'll Never Send"), in any case it's a banal tune, while "Armed and Dangerous" varies on a rhythmic and frenetic funky pop-dance beat, lively and crackling on which Donald D delivery well.
"Car Chase" and "Lost in a Freestyle" with an uncredited Ice-T, have the best productions of the album, the first is a fantastic funky simple rhythm, dope, on which the rapper rides well the fresh and vibrant beat, with police sirens towards the end of the track (already heard in the intro). The second, has a phenomenal, funky simple and light rhythm, which sees the relaxed and flowing delivery by Ice-T.
There aren't too many highlights and Donald D also puts on a sexual cut in "Just Suck", with a particularly vicious female hook on a minimal and simple funky rhythm. Overall, it's an album done fairly well, with a quite pleasant production thanks to good varied samples (JBs, Kool & the Gang, Public Enemy, Led Zeppelin, Afrika Bambaataa, Melle Mel, James Brown), while not presenting particular strengths that make it stand out in the crowded and qualitative hip hop scene of 1989.
Supported by the singles "F.B.I." and the title track, the record is released by Rhyme $yndicate and Epic Records, distributed by CBS: remained glued to the charts for four months, peaking #78 among rnb efforts, it allows the emcee to pursue his career as a prominent rapper on the West Coast.
Rating: 6/10.
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