Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- Solid Goals (1985-1989)

Sir Fresh and DJ Critical were a rap duo from Brooklyn during the mid to late eighties, under the independent label Solid Goals. DJ Dee-Ville from Bust the Facts has assembled a wicked compilation that highlights the group's body of work over their short career. Much too short. Like DJ Dee-Ville, I had trouble finding almost any information about this crew online, which makes this collection all the more worthwhile.

The production on these songs is great, combining the best of both worlds from newer James Brown samples to older LinnDrum beats, with the loosely coiled snares, hollow "thump-thump" bass drums and sharp high-hats. DJ Critical handles the turntables with the best of them in the 80's, and Sir Fresh proves to be the best rapper you've never heard of. He switches up his flow multiple times, and his style, though distinctly his, is reminiscent of some of the more well-known artists of the era. Think of him as Schoolly D's voice matched with Rakim's and The D.O.C.'s flows. Ehh, maybe not the strongest comparison, but that's who he reminds me of.

My favorite cuts have to be "Sally & Dee," where Fresh describes a series of rap battles with the drama and suspense of a Western (not actually a Western); "Sir-Vere," the most well-known single by the group; and "Sit'em Down," the most impressive lyrical display on the album, with Fresh spitting out of his mind over a tight beat sampling Bobby Byrd's "I Know You Got Soul" (made famous by Eric B. & Rakim). "We Can't Have It" is a short little track that plays out like a poem, raising an interesting question on the cesspool of drugs in neglected inner-city neighborhoods: "The minority / is a majority of users of narcotics / But what authority / allows this to happen?" Sir Fresh is a natural lyricist.

Sir Fresh and DJ Critical are yet another indie rap group from the eighties that torments us with great singles and unreleased tracks, leaving us only to imagine what a full-length LP would have sounded like.

But for now, the comp will do them justice.

Major, major props to DJ Dee-Ville. For additional information be sure to visit Bust the Facts. There is also a great link on the site to Brooklyn photography--a nice complement to the music.

Previews:

Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- "I'm Smooth"


Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- "Sally & Dee"


Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- "Sir-Vere"


Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- "Sit'em Down"


Sir Fresh & DJ Critical- "We Can't Have It"

DOWNLOAD

Enjoy!

Peace,
— Teddy C.D.

Roxanne Shante - R.O.X.A.N.N.E. (1984-1989)

She's got one of the most memorable voices in the whole genre, hails from Queensbridge, and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology. If you need a refresher on Ms. Shante, OldSchoolHipHop.com has this to say:

Born Lolita Shante Gooden, Roxanne Shante was part of a phenomenon that took place in 1984. UTFO's song "Roxanne Roxanne" was a huge hit that year about their attempts to seduce a woman named Roxanne. One night Shante overheard WHBI's Tyrone Williams, Mister Magic, and Marley Marl discussing the fact that UTFO has skipped out on promised appearance. Shante offered to record a dis record. Her skills seemed up to par despite only being around 14-15 years old. Marley produced and she rapped the song, "Roxanne's Revenge" and it made them both famous. In fact, Shante couldn't go to school because so many people would stand outside of her classroom. Following her success there were over one hundred more "Roxanne" answer records. She began to tour constantly, freestyling her way through all takers. He war with UTFO continued as she would do anything to sabotage their shows and make them look bad. She had a few other hits (written by Big Daddy Kane) like "Have a Nice Day" and also "Go on Girl" from the movie Colors. She also did a duet with Biz Markie in 1986 called "Def Fresh Crew". She also worked with Rick James on a "Loosey's Rap." Other tracks of note were "Payback" and "Freestyle" in 1987. 1990 saw the release of "Big Mama" which took on every other female rapper in the game.

DJ Dee-Ville is not a new name to readers of this blog. He runs his own blog called Ain't It Good To You and has made a name for himself making compilations of obscure or underappreciated songs from artists such as Positive K and The Audio Two. His latest compilation centers on the subject of this post and comes highly recommended. Hearing Roxanne rip Frukwan (of Gravediggaz fame) at the New Music Seminar is priceless. Download this fan-made compilation and be sure to support whatever DJ Dee-Ville's doing over at his spot.

R.O.X.A.N.N.E. [Click To Download]

The Best Of Audio Two 1986-1990

Click On Cover To Download

DJ Dee-Ville of Ain't It Good To You done went and did it again. After blessing us now-schoolers with his homemade compilation of Positive K songs recorded during his First Priority Records days, he now presents The Best Of Audio Two 1986-1990. Click on the cover to download, and peep the back cover/tracklisting below. -- Thun

Positively K (with refreshed link)

Props to DJ Dee-Ville from Ain't It Good To You for this gem.

Born in the Bronx; Positive-K's first national release came in 1986 with 'Gettin' Paid'; a compilation only track for New Jersery label Star Maker. The following year Pos signed to the excellent New York label First Priority. As First Priority was owned by MC Lyte and Audio Two's father Nat Robinson, Pos's career was under-developed and slightly overshadowed by his sibling label mates. He still managed to drop one of my all time favorite songs 'Step Up Front'. Even now, I remember buying the 12" from a tiny local indie store. Everything about that record is ill, the Grand Puba beat, the sirens, the flows, the Alliance Remix with different lyrics! I also loved the First Priority logo; the red and yellow always seemed so fresh to me...

Life after First Priority led Pos first to a Big Daddy Kane produced venture for his own Creative Control label, then to Island Records in 1992 for an album and a gold single in the form of 'I Gotta Man'. It bugs me that in some mainstream quarters Pos is remembered as a one hit pop wonder, when to me that was the second chapter of his career.
The third chapter continued down the independent route until 2002 when the world of the Gentleman, the Rapper became very quiet. In 2006 Nas allowed him a few bars on the nostalgic 'Where Are They Now' track; and for 2008 the album 'Positive-K - Back To The Old School' got it's release a couple of months ago. I shit my pants at the news of unheard Pos material. I even thought maybe some genius has compiled all my favorite cuts together. Sadly the album didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's worthy of a listen but it isn't the 'Step Up Front' album.

So I felt compelled to do this. It was time that song was part of a solid album. I looked at everything Pos related from the First Priority years and saw a classic Golden Era album staring at me. I collected the tracks, added some bonus' and for fun put the First Priority logo on the cover. Shit turned out dope. I have been jammin' this non stop since I mixed and mastered it. Could you imagine the classic status an album like this would have acheived if it had actually dropped in 1988? - DJ Dee-Ville

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?1lh0yumyydm