In 1995, the hip-hop crew Sun Risers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, releases a debut EP composed of four tracks plus two remixes, for a total of two CDs. This version is the four-track cassette. The group is formed by three guys, I guess, and the production is credited to Sunrisers (except for "Represent", realized by Sulaiman), Rick Young, and Vincent Moore.
The title track opens with a horn loop present from the first seconds, excellent tight regular drum and regular slow delivery of the performers, with a short trumpet extract. The remix of the first song follows, with a rhythm realized by Rick Young that's similar to the original. The third pick is "Street Song", the best of the two CDs: midtempo, skeletal, metallic drum machine, sensational and beautiful sample. On this amazing smoothness soundscape comes the slow, smooth, velvety delivery of rappers, performing a simple, functional hook. Dope cut. "Life in the City" boasts a haunting sample, boom bap rhythm with perfect sleek drum and smoothness dynamic delivery of the MCs, delivering a good solid track.
The second remix provided by Rick Young features a dry and hard midtempo drum and a few hurried piano keys in loop, good boom bap jazzy, it's possibly a better track than the original, the guys sound focused and confident on this rhythm. The bridge on the hook is something else, it takes you somewhere else, great job, the guy behind the keyboards really had fun realizing this mix, great. The last track is "Represent", one of the most used words among the East Coast records of the mid-90s: lively drum, cheerful piano samples, good rhythm from the producers, velvet, good delivery of the crew, which provide a simple chorus.
The CD is released by Sound Records / Sunrisers Productions / Justice League Music and has all the elements to be the new brand classic stuff, nevertheless, it doesn't make a sensation in an ultra-saturated market and remains hidden, ignored, unnoticed. The production is excellent, jazzy, accessible, the cassette has a crisp and clean sound, thanks to the mixing of Larry Spivack and the Sunrisers (Lawrence Goodman aka "L-G" is the audio engineer of the remixes), and the rappers boast excellent vocals and a smooth, slow, flowing flow, reminiscent of the best performers of the same period on the East Coast. It's a fresh, pleasant, beautiful, extraordinary hidden gem tape that deserves to be rediscovered by East Coast lovers.
Rating: 8/10.
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