Roots in the Midwest
After much trawling, the third 94-96 hippity hop compilations crunches home, this time featuring the midwest. This was much trickier than the previous two – there simply weren’t that many major releases from the region.
Still, there was plenty happening on the underground, and I’ve tried to pick and mix where’s best. There were a few close calls with Do or Die, Convicted Felons and Natas missing out, among others. I also excluded Slum Village’s fan-tas-tic vol. 1, on the grounds it wasn’t really released in the right period, though I believe it was well bootlegged then.
AWOL – Detroit 4 Life
The first of the non-wikipedia entry having groups, this is a funky cut bigging up their home town by Detroit stalwarts Awol.
Rhymefest – How We Chill
Everyon knows Rhymefest, and he’s been putting out stuff since the mid-ninties, including this classic jam – though How We Chill pt 2 is probably more famous, thanks to it’s collab with Juice.
Bone Thugz-N-Harmony – No Surrender
And we begin the pop-ish section of our performance, with the multi-million selling Bone Thugz-N-Harmony, coming straight outta Cleveland. Their first record, Creepin’ on ah come up, is a bit less pop than their later stuff, and the bubbling delivery on here does offset the dodgy vocoding of the chorus.
Da Brat – Da Shit Ya Can’t Fuc Wit
Da pop continues with a track off Da Brat’s Funkafied. To be fair I do like this one, even if it does embrace the irritating unusual spelling theme (Big L almost certainly got shot by an enraged lexicographer, beware rap artists).
Tab and Da Villon – Same O’ Shit
I’m pretty sure this duo are from St. Louis, though this was released on Eazy E’s Ruthless Records. The album isn’t mindblowing, but there are some nice tracks – this one’s a little different with it’s melodic hook, but the gangsterism abounds.
K-Stone – I’m That Nigga
Another gangsta story, this time from K-Stone on his Detroit coded album 313. This was actually one of the best finds from this midwest diggery, as the whole album is full of solid, old school tinged gangster rap.
Micranots – Mathematics
The Micranots should be a familiar name to any Rhymesayers fans, as the Twin Cities natives are still going strong and putting out very nice records. It’s kind of hard to pick a track off their first album, as it’s all so heavy, but Mathematics hook is such a contrast to it’s verses I couldn’t not.
E.C. – Roots In The Chi
Another Chicago cut, this time from one of the first white rappers in the area to put out an album their. It’s a pretty good record as well, harsh minimalist beats and a rhythmic flow that combine nicely.
Twista – Suicide
Twista’s Da Resurrection did not have a widespread release, but there are some great dark tracks that make it worth a listen. This is a pure diss record, mostly directed at Teach of Naughty by Nature (“Naughty kids always get a spanking”).
Common – Resurrection
This is from Common’s album of the same name, probably the only stone cold classic on the list. If you haven’t checked it, do give it a try for tracks like this and the equally brilliant I Used To Love H.E.R.
Next up, the inevitable Dirty South finale – a.ka. several hours of Poison Clan.