The kidz got style: Another Bad Creation
In 1991, when Michael Bivins wasn’t killing us with New Edition, or unleashing the perennial dancefloor jam ‘Poison’ with Bell Biv Devoe, he was masterminding a stream of other hit New Jack Swingers. For the early 90s tweeners, Another Bad Creation, or ABC for those in the know, was the business. They had the coolest hair styles, graffed-up dungarees, fly dance moves, girls(!), and they succeeded where six years later Aaron Carter would fail miserably: being prepubescently badass.
This is all explained simply by checking out their video for their biggest tune ‘Iesha’:
If you were in any doubt about the BBD/ABC connection…
…the matching hats are full proof evidence.
Check out the high top/orange shirt/dungarees combo in the back – one side unclipped of course.
Followed by customized jeans
…and waistcoasts for the girls – whose hairclip, by the way, I covet.
Damn it feels good…
…to be a Gangsta.
R.I.P. GURU
Hottest rapper in Sudan!
Big video, big lyrics…what more can I say.
“Let me take you to the movies, shorty
I’m sure later on you will be my baby.
Let’s just sit down be by my side.
I got the popcorn I know what else you like.”
WORK IT SATURDAY 20th MARCH
THE ILL NA NA….
You’ve got to love a bit of Foxy…image taken from i-D September 97 ‘The Next Issue’, showcasing the classic but deadly through the shades stare. WHAT!
No Time…
I’M EVERY WOMAN…..
I DO IT NATURALLY.
The Underrated Lady
Im quite aware that debauchery and ripped tights is the current look of choice for many girls, but I personally like coming home wearing everything I left the house in , panties fully in tact. Maybe I’m alone in thinking it’s ok, infact highly preferable to act like a lady in your 20’s.
To mark this occasion I would like to bring to your attention some big tunes celebrating the the underrated Lady…
Look out for a young miss Lauryn HIll at approx 2.43 in this one so GOOOOOOOOOOD it hurts.
Album cut from Aaliyah’s One in a million.
There is no youtube video for this one but I really want to share because he is my favourite reppin UK….
Lynden David Hall: LADY DAY – FREE DOWNLOAD HERE
Introducing Jodeci
Two pairs of brothers the DeGrates – Donald “DeVante Swing” DeGrate, group founder, and Dalvin DeGrate and the Haileys – lead singer Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “Jo-Jo” Hailey. The group’s name is a combination of the names of all of its members: Jo-Jo, DeGrate (including both Dalvin and DeVante) and K-Ci….
JO-DE-CI dya get it?!
Jodeci’s sound put the slow in jam. R&B and new jack swing flavours to satisfy your every need, some serious amount of human conceptions in the 90s occured to these very tracks. They mastered the ever so sexy seductive spoken intro and of course the hand clenching arm waving you see featured in the videos.
Coming with their debut album in 1991 entitled Forever My Lady including their first Us number 1 in the R&B chart “Stay”…
Following up with title track “Forever My Lady” looking fresh in crisp white sportswear leather boots combo…
Fast track a couple of years to 1993 when the group came with epic album “Diary of a Mad Band” storming to number 4 in the US charts and number 1 in the R&B charts with a Jodeci sexy slow slow jam cover of Stevie Wonders “Lately”… This shrewd song choice got them noticed by the masses.
Then came the classic dessert video with “Cry For You”…
My personal favourite mainly because of the title – possibly the best R&B word ever. “Feenin”… video complete with padded cell and straight jacket.
The groups third and final album was entitled “The Show, The After Party, The Hotel. YESSSS. Featuring the track many know and love them for – “Freak n’ You”
The group then went on hiatus but K-Ci and JoJo continued to churn out the slowies by which point they got a bit old and if I’m honest I slightly lost interest.
Two Time Two Tone Velour Fiasco
While flicking through the sleeves of my fave 96 releases I realised to my shock, horror and disbelief Lil’ Kim and Foxy were caught in the same outfit – a two tone velour jumpsuit. OH NO YOU DID’NT!!! Surely this wasn’t the only velour one-piece wonder circulating mid 1996??
It’s hard to tell which came first but after some wikepedia research I learned….
Hardcore was released on November 12, 1996…
and Il Na Na was released a week later on November 19, 1996.
So I will have to give this one to Lil Kim, sorry Foxy love.
Method Man & Mary J Blige, You’re all i need
Please note Method Man circa 1995 rocking the Helly Hanson to full effect. YESSSSSSS.
Johnny Dett // Natural Elements Mixtape
‘Y’all look the same like Aaron Hall and R. Kelly’
“Before materializing as an official group, the Natural Elements were originally conceived as a group of solo artists brought together in 1993 under the tutelage of producer Charlemagne. This initial grouping, whose members were initially signed to Fortress Records, included members Mr. Voodoo, L-Swift, KA, G-Blass, Howie Smalls and the InTimidator. By 1995, however, membership slimmed to include only Mr. Voodoo, L-Swift and the newly-added A-Butta.
The trio’s countless appearances on the NYC freestyle and mixtape circuits culminated with a record deal on the Tommy Boy Black sublabel and the release of the single “2 Tons” in 1999. Although the highly-anticipated NE album was completed, problems with Tommy Boy shelved the project and the album never saw the light of day.” from discog.net
Here’s Pt.1 of a mixtape by yours truly, which is collection of Natural Elements group tracks and solo 12″ from 94 onwards. 40 minutes of Hard NYC shit…
Tracklist:
1. Bust Mine — NE
2. How itz going down — L-Swift
3. survival — NE
4. hemlock — Mister Voodoo
5. 2 tons — NE
6. day dreamin’ — L-Swift
7. shine — Mister Voodoo ft. A-Butta, L-Swift, Essence
8. come off hard — Mister Voodoo
9. lyrical tactics (come off hard pt.2) — Mister Voodoo
10. ride this — L-Swift ft. A.Butta
11. live it up — NE
12. life ain’t fair — NE
13. return of the 45 — NE
14. paper chase — NE
15. definitely — NE
16. second hand smoke — NE