GT & Steve Nice - Our House

GT & Steve Nice - Our House
GT and Steve Nice are not only rappers but also producers and DJ's from Houston, TX. GT is originally from the neighborhood of Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY but part of his family would later relocate to Houston in the early eighties and has resided there ever since. GT, which is abbreviation for "Gifted/Talented," first started off with K-Rino and Preppy J when they formed one of Houston's first hip-hop acts known as Real Chill. The group only managed to release one single and soon disbanded, while member K-Rino pursued a solo career. DJ Steve Nice on the other hand is a native of Dallas, TX but has also held residence in Houston as well. The two met as students at Texas Southern University and eventually started Key Players Entertainment in the mid nineties. Our House is their debut album and it was released in 1998 on Key Players Entertainment. Production is mostly done by the legendary Mike B but he is assisted by the likes of Crazy C, Doc Doom, Def Jam Blaster, Skool Of Thought and of course GT & Steve Nice themselves. The beats are undeniably smooth and they carry a very laid back vibe. The use of samples as well as other DJ techniques are quite prominent and are also used very effectively. Although some tracks are a bit simple and plain, most of the record is very well rounded and can be a real treat for the ear drums. Lyrically is where the album truly excels. Eclectic styles are displayed with the mix of strong word play and complex rhyme patterns. GT is definitely the more dominant member while Steve Nice tends to be a bit passive on the microphone. Both of them feed off each other with ease and lay down an impressive lyrical foundation. Features are courtesy of Kaylee of Ace Deuce, Skool Of Thought, D of Trinity Garden Cartel, Mista Madd, Petu, T. Gray and Marcus of S.O.U.L. A plentiful total of twenty tracks which includes the four hilarious skits are presented with precision for the listener. The core content is very unique and is projected with a broad variety of subject matter. All in all its an extraordinary work of art that genuinely oozes style and charm. One that exceeds further than its reputation and appearance while also maintaining a flawless composure.

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Royal Flush - 976-DOPE

Royal Flush - 976-DOPE

Royal Flush is a rap group from Houston, TX. It was founded in the late eighties by Ricardo Royal, who is originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey. After many attempts by his mother to fix a broken marriage as well as a broken home, she decided in 1981 that it was best for the family to move to Houston. Ricardo was enrolled into Aldine Senior High School and that is where the group Royal Flush was first assembled. The original lineup consisted of Ricardo Royal under the alias Gangsta Ric, Tricky T, Klass C, Cowboy and Sergio Magnifico. As a group they began showcasing their talents and battling rappers across local clubs, eventually catching the eyes and ears of the honorary James Smith of Rap-A-Lot Records. He quickly convinced the group to sign with him and together they recorded material for their debut album "Uh Oh!" Now, "Uh Oh!" was suppose to be a controversially ground breaking record which would be aimed at society, politics and even the justice system. Royal Flush were promised by J. Prince to freely express themselves on the microphone all the while keeping the contents very hardcore; which is exactly why the album was aptly titled "Uh Oh!" In the end, none of this happened and "Uh Oh!" was released in 1988 as a watered down, curse free rendition to anything but what the group had envisioned it to be. Apparently management decided that it would be best to release the album this way so that it can garner more air play. They even went as far as thinking that the audience would not accept such an album because they were not ready for something that hardcore and gangster. A disgruntled Ric Royal asked if him and his group could be released from their contract with Rap-A-Lot records and surprisingly, J. Prince agreed to let them go. Royal Flush would then sign with the rival label out of Dallas, TX known as Yo! Records. Now with Tricky T and Cowboy dropped from the lineup and replaced with King Albert, the group released their sophomore effort 976-DOPE in 1991 on Yo! Records. The bulk of the production is provided by the infamous DJ Snake who is no slouch on the drum machine. While Ricardo Royal, Kirk Yano and Rick Rooney also help out on some tracks. The beats can simply be identified by Snake's signature drum pattern along with his excellent choice of samples that go hand in hand. They tend to hit heavy and are also very catchy with their rhythms. Also the scratching and mixing is provided by Def Jam Blaster. The lyrics are also on point. Gangsta Ric is a very good song writer and rapper. He pretty much wrote both their albums single-handedly. His lyrics are dope street tales that tend to suck the listener into his figurative world. The rhymes are combined with sharp word play and are delivered with utter precision. The other members are not too far behind but its quite plain to see that Gangsta Ric is far more superior on the microphone. Guest appearances are made by Born 2wice and MiMi. All in all, 976-DOPE is everything Ricardo Royal hoped his debut would have been. His vision and style is presented over fourteen quality tracks and gives the listener a general idea of what him and his group were trying to accomplish the first time around. Some say he should have waited for his time to shine at Rap-A-Lot, while others say that he did the right thing by not only just leaving them but also serving them with a hefty helping of some good old fashioned, poetic justice.

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ANM - Let The Message Rize

ANM - Let The Message Rize

ANM which stands for Anti Nigga Machine is a group from the infamous streets of South Park in Houston, TX. The group's moniker pays homage to the Public Enemy song by the same title. ANM consists of Roderick "Alquarr" Banks and Micheal "Jameen" Dixon. The duo was discovered in the late eighties by Troy "Lil' Troy" Birklett, who is also the founder of Short Stop Records. Let The Message Rize is their debut album and it was released in 1991 on JR Records. The production crew is led by Lil' Troy along with the help of Bruce "Grim Reaper" Rhodes, and Def Jam Blaster of NoDoz. Together they provide a decent dose of rhythmic melodies. Some are derived naturally while others are driven with help of samples. The two most notable being Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks." Also the scratching and mixing by Def Jam Blaster is done with utter precision and perfection. Lyrically the album is very well rounded. Both Alquarr and Jameen are quite capable on the microphone although Alquarr seems to be two steps ahead of his counterpart. Their rhymes are presented as dope stories depicted from their everyday street life. This artistry is displayed over eleven quality tracks and it is equally entertaining. This is one of those releases where although the group accomplished what they set out to do, they did not gain any recognition for it. They eventually lost their sense of direction and did not provide a follow up release. All in all the record is still kept in high regards and cherished by many due to its originality and obscurity. Member Micheal "Jameen" Dixon would later change his alias to Mike D and would also join the legendary Screwed Up Click.

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