De' 1 - 16 With A Bullet

De' 1 - 16 With A Bullet

Martin Crawford, better known as De' 1 or Kid Deleon, was a rapper from the vile streets of Houston, TX. Although he is a native of Texas, he does seem to have some strong ties with the East Coast. He first appeared on the song "Flow On (New Symphony)" by Lords Of The Underground. It was this track that made the legendary production team of Marley Marl & K-Def take notice and really see the raw potential of De' 1. With the artist and production team assembled, work would soon begin for a full length album entitled, Day One. 16 With A Bullet is a Maxi Single from the aforementioned album and it was released in 1993 on Reprise Records. Side A consists of the album and video versions of the song, 16 With A Bullet while Side B contains Da Underground Sound and an alternate mix of the title track. All tracks were produced by the magnificent, Marley Marl who certainly provides some noteworthy hits here. His signature style of heavy bass lines and jazzy horns is used effectively throughout the cassette. His exceptional choice of samples and the smooth use of snares simply cannot be denied. Lyrically, De' 1 can more than handle his own on the microphone. His flow, delivery, pace and technique are on an another level. He is not your typical Southerner in the lyrical department but instead he models his rhymes after his East Coast colleagues. This unique characteristic along with his flavorful demeanor is what tends to set him apart from others. Guest appearances are made by Marley Marl, Lords Of The Underground and Sha-B. Music videos were also recorded for both the single and the B-Side in an attempt to create a buzz around the new artist. True Homies, another single off the album which was also accompanied by a music video, was released the following year in 1994. Then for some odd and bizarre reason, Reprise Records pulled the plug on the entire album. Day One was never officially released and De' 1 was never heard from again. It is truly a shame to see such talent go to waste and a work of art be neglected in this manner. Especially when all the hard work was already done and the album was pretty much completed. The photo and video shoot were done. The singles had been carefully hand picked and leaked out to the public. The promotional material had been passed out to clubs and disc jockeys. Everything was in order, which is why it's confusing that suddenly the parent label would decide to shelve the album altogether. Fans of the underground are still yearning to this day to hear the album in all its entirety. In the end, not only did this young man represent the city of Houston to the fullest extent in the far regions of the East but he also managed to go blow for blow with some of the best that ever did it.

Album Notes
* For the vinyl version of this single, check out the post by Alexandre over at Circuit Power.

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16 With A Bullet

Da Underground Sound (Remix) ft. Marley Marl, Lords Of The Underground & Sha-B

Lock Down Inmates - Out On Parole

Lock Down Inmates - Out On Parole

Lock Down Inmates is a vicious collective from the notorious streets of Dallas, TX. The group's original lineup consisted of Oak Cliff Assassin (O.C.A.), Hollow Point, Grim Reeper, Mossburg, D-Divine, Tru-Black, Cold Black Poet (C.B.P.) and last but not least, 4 Your Eyes Only. Although membership would vary throughout the years the group was active, members like Oak Cliff Assassin, Hollow Point and Mossburg would always remain present. The group began in the early nineties when O.C.A. and Henry Peeples collected some of the best rappers in south Dallas and eventually created the Lock Down Inmates. Out On Parole is their hardcore debut album and it was released in 1993 on VIP Records. The production is done by DJ Dark Fader, Skull Minista, Jim Vincent, Patrick Nun and Oak Cliff Assassin. The beats are all electronically derived and the classic drum machine is put to good use. Hard hitting drums combined with some eccentric samples is pretty much the recipe used throughout the record. The tracks carry a very hard and street edge vibe that fits the group like a glove. Lyrically the album is also on par with the production. Members eagerly jump on the microphone and claim it with ease. Their dope tales and rough ballads make for an indestructible force that can withstand the harshest of blows. Each one of them attacking and coming with such passion that it becomes impossible for the listener to ignore their message. The album closes out with a total of eleven tracks plus one bonus cut. Now at the time of this release the genre known as "Gangster Rap" was truly on the rise. Not only did the folks at Lock Down Productions and VIP Records capitalize on such an occasion but they also managed to get some notoriety for their city and themselves. It wasn't easy though, they knew they would have to go up against their in-state rivals from the city of Houston and compete against acts like the Geto Boys or even Street Military. In the end their hard work paid off and this humble beginning marked for a long and successful career path for the group that to this day, has a large following throughout the southern United States.

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Sat N Smooth - The Awakening

Sat N Smooth - The Awakening

Sat N Smooth is a group that represents from the northside of Houston, TX. The group consists of Brad-D and D-Bone. The two were discovered by Doug King of NewStyle Records and were quickly signed to the label. After impressing the executive producer Mark Lerch, the group was given a green light for a full length record. The Awakening is their debut album and it was released in 1993 on NewStyle Records and Flashpoint International, while it was distributed through Priority Records. The production is done by the impeccable DJ Storm also known as "Tha Funky Aztec." One might remember DJ Storm for remixing the track "Eyez Open" by Bam of the legendary Killa Klan. The beats are a classic example of southern funk. They are laced with heavy drums, scintillating horns, deep bass lines and not to mention some very fine keyboarding. All of this is presented through the signature style of DJ Storm which mainly consists of a deadly hook that is looped and superbly sampled. The lyrics is where this record really excels. Both Brad-D and D-Bone are more than capable on the microphone. Their rhymes are filled with brilliant word play and are the cornerstone for this project. Their chemistry together is unmatched and they seem to feed off of each other very easily. Guest features are made by C-Major of the Gang Society, The Mad Man, Lonnie.B.Rankin and Alisha who basically provides the backup vocals. Even though the group had quite a few singles, the tracks pretty much failed to crack any kind of meaningful rotation. Some said it was their harsh subject matter that was directed towards society while others believed that the group was ahead of its time. Whatever the reason maybe, it is quite plain to see that this gem of an album deserves a spot in any collection.

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Same Thang ft. C-Major (Storm's Remix)

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Tha Darkside - Tales From Tha Darkside

Tha Darkside - Tales From Tha Darkside

Tha Darkside is a notorious group from Baton Rouge, LA. It consists of K.E., Color Wheel, DJ Cross Fader, The Night Prince and R-Mack. Tales From Tha Darkside is their debut album and it was released in 1993 on E.K.S. Records. The record is produced by the funky Sharntii Baheth with some assistance from Ernest "The Night Prince" Smith as well as DJ Cross Fader who provides the mixing and scratching. The beats are assembled with some pure yet simple melodies. They tend to be very harmonic and really compliment the group well. Although a couple of them are sample assisted, they still somehow manage to give off a fresh vibe. The group's persona can be best described as somewhat street savvy. Their rhymes are certainly prolific and contain feelings depicted straight from harsh realities. The lyrics veer off just a tad bit on a few tracks but are pretty much legit for the most part. All members are quite capable on the mic and the two standouts being Color Wheel & K.E. Overall the album keeps itself afloat by presenting the core content in an unorthodox manner all the while displaying a unique sense of style. Although this happens to be an obscure record from the grisly swamps of Baton Rouge, it still has the ability to compete with any mainstream release from that time period. Also, rest in peace to the one and only K.E. of Tha Darkside.

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Klondike Kat - The Lyrical Lion

Klondike Kat - The Lyrical Lion
Klondike Kat is a pioneer of underground rap from Houston, TX. He possesses a tremendous amount of lyrical talent and charisma. He is also an avid singer as well as a renowned producer. Over the years he has been lending his skills to the likes of the South Park Coalition and the legendary Killa Klan. The Lyrical Lion is his debut album and it was released in 1993 on Beatbox Records. Production is provided by Dope-E of The Terrorists, Keenan Lyles, J Reble and Klondike Kat. The beats are a synthetic blend of early 90's gangsta rap. They rely heavily on the 808 with minor keyboards. Although the rhythms might sound dated, the fact that they are magnificently composed and mixed cannot be denied. The lyrics are made up of the same caliber. Kat crushes the mic with an onslaught of vile rhymes. He brilliantly displays his lyrical flair, track after track. Not to mention his dope story telling ability and the deeply rooted choruses. Featuring on the album are members of the infamous S.P.C. That roster includes K-Rino, Point Blank, PSK-13, A.C. Chill, Dope-E, Aftamath, Kyu-Boi, Bullet, K.O., Triple X, Reload, Black Capone and Bubba Trouble. The album also contains the near ten minute clique anthem known as the "Murder Script." Overall the record is a bit shy with only seven tracks but all of them are equally superior. The South Park Coalition is responsible for being mentors to many present and up coming artists from Texas. Even though, one wont find them or Klondike Kat on the front page cover of a well established magazine, their devotion and love for the underground still remains persistent.

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Murder Script

C-Lo - 817 Most Wanted

C-Lo - 817 Most Wanted

C-Lo is a rapper from Fort Worth, TX. He is also affiliated with the legendary P.K.O. and the Youngsta Mafia Family. 817 Most Wanted was released in 1993 on Youngsta Records. Production is handled by Magic Mark of P.K.O., Mike E.D., DJ AK, K-Mac and A.J. The beats can simply be described as that old school southern funk. They contain nothing but hard drums fused with whinny synths that are tranquilly laced over some steady samples. The lyrics also carry the same vibe. C-Lo has that aggressive ability to catch a beat. He delivers the rough rhymes at a solid rate and definitely keeps them roguish. Features are made by P.K.O. and Candi. The album falls in at a mere eleven tracks but they are all sovereign. Although the record contains genuine content, it was generally neglected and dismissed due to its heavy nature.

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Straight Up

DMG - Rigormortiz

DMG - Rigormortiz

DMG stands for Detrimental Ganxta. He is originally a rapper from St. Paul, MN but later relocated to Houston, TX. He would then meet rapper Scarface and would eventually get him to listen to one of his demo tapes. Face was immediately impressed by DMG's unique style and harsh delivery. He then persuaded James Smith to quickly sign him to Rap-A-Lot Records. DMG was also in the group called Facemob. Rigormortiz is his debut album and was released in 1993 on Rap-A-Lot. Production on this classic was done by N.O. Joe, Mike Dean, Bido 1, Big Chief and Scarface. The beats got that hard and heavy bass mixed with woozy synths along with some funky samples. They really don't get any better than this. Lyrically, DMG sounds a little like Scarface but more high pitched. He cleverly executes rough street rhymes with a lot of word play. His rough delivery and aggressive tone go hand in hand. Featuring on the album is 2 Low, 3-2, 5th Ward Boyz, Coz, Big Mike, Scarface and Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys. This album is praised as one of the best gangster rap albums of its time and has been long out of print.

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Street Military - Don't Give A Damn

Street Military - Don't Give A Damn

Street Military is a group from Houston, TX. The members are Pharoah, Icey Hott, K.B. Da Kidnappa, Lil' Flea and Nutt (R.I.P.). This is their third album and it was released in 1993 on Wild Pitch Records. The most intriguing thing about this group is that each member represents from a different neighborhood in Houston. Icey Hott is from Hiram Clarke, Lil' Flea is from Ridgemont 4 in Missouri City, Pharoah is from South Park and K.B. is from Trinity Gardens. They came together from all the different sides of town and formed a group that would go down in underground history. Along with that, each member brings their own style and flavor to the table. Pharoah has the fast paced tongue twisting flow, K.B. is raw and aggressive, Lil' Flea is all about word play and Icey Hott is the in-house DJ/producer of all their songs and albums. The beats on this album are sick and so are the lyrics. Also there is a feature from Klondike Kat. If one is sleeping on this group, then one is sleeping on Houston. Most people have heard the "Swang & Bang" music that comes out of H-Town, its now time to notice the real side of Houston Rap.

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