The lineage of hip-hop has been well documented from the Boogie Down to the Bridge and into Crooklyn. NYC is called the mecca for good reason, but lest we forget New York is part of the Tri-State region. New Jerus has been pretty well represented over the years by Redman, The Artifacts and others, but the third has remained unheard. The third of course is the state of Connecticut. I know of a few artists from the area, but just try and remember hearing an emcee shout out Connecticut on a song. So how many really knew of Connecticut’s seminal contributions during hip-hop’s infancy?
There have been a slew of gems recorded in the span of 1979 and 1983 that have been obscured over time or credited to NYC. Thanks to Peanut Butter Wolf and Stones Throw, that is no longer the case. This is truly must hear stuff, from all the disco references (truly indicating the age of the records). Mr. Magic urges those “Rappin’ With Mr. Magic” to “get on down to the disco beat.” Plus the Rappermatical 5 (who lend the vintage party jam “Party People”), have a member named Disco V, and The Outlaw Four have their own Disco Rick. But forget disco, cause the kazoo is in full effect here. It is a bit more subtle when Pookey Blow does a little kazoo solo at the end of “Get Up (And Go To School),” but Mr. Magic & Positive Choice Band show the kazoo in all its glory with “2001 Kazoo’s.” C’mon now, “Ventriloquist Rap” is actually supposed to be a dummy, Woodie, rhyming. And just check the break. Also from The L.O.D. Crew we get “Fill The Be-Bop,” a classic call-and-response party cut.
Blink and you’ll miss the Starchild & 2nd Showdown Crew employing a sample that was made famous some 10 years later by a certain premier DJ. This is a collection of great hip-hop when hip-hop didn’t even know it was hip-hop yet. It just was what it was. PB Wolf and Stones Throw deserve thanks for digging these treasures up.
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