Michigan Mind Over Matter
Noddin', Hip-Hoppin' Singles for all the Belectie at this '80s yae-yo lounge called Spaceland recently where I
Underground Ghetto Connoisseurs 1 The saw them, and these Evils have sounds of hot rods dragging
Indelibles-The Fire in Which You Burn/Collude Intrude skeletons by chains and buzz saws ripping through flesh and
This f four-man deep MC e
Ccrew pack high-powered lyrics bone with panic screams of an overly bloody death. There
beats (
(Rawkus Records) 2. Sir were other bands that night like the Red Aunts, but it was The
Menelik-Physical Jewels/So Intelligent (featuring Dr Evils who eclipsed the evening. What I saw was James
Octagon). When was the
some Dr Oc shit being waste you heard of Arthur from Fireworks on guitar, Kyle Hall aka the
it being wack? Never (Rawkus Hillside Strangler on drums, and Steve Pallow from
Records) 3. Rasco-The Unassisted/Hip-Hop Beguiled on vocals and guitar-that's right, no bass. There was
hard, Redd Foxx would be impressed (Stone Throw eating it from some guy's head that exploded. These three pale
Essentials. My man disses wack MCs and big Willies so even a guy there with a loaf of bread, soaking up the blood and
Records) 4 Encore-The Essence/Defined by the Dollar
Piano loopy beats made for the streets or getting wet
between the sheets (Stone Records) 5. Shabaam
mitzvah, these jams are fit for any occasion (Rawkus
Records) 6. Godfather Don-Pier of the Action/Seeds of
Sahdeeq-Side 2 Side/Arabian Nights Block pa
kparty or bar-
Hote
A Motor City (Detroit, that is) AIDS/HIV Benefit. At first
I thought this benefit was going to be an unorganized mess
chock full of tree-hugger, environmentalist/activist protestors.
but I was dead wrong! Not only was it the most killer indie
band fest I've ever attended, it also contained workshops on:
how to get free Internet access: how to start your own bus
/punk rock economics the African liberation struggle-the
Uhuru movement and al
and a four-square tournament. After attend
ing each seminar, I felt like I could actually make a difference. The sample is just thing on top of a multi-
The kids left feeling informed, recharged, and shot or Square Garden, Manhattan Island, 24th of
layer butter biscuit (Hydra Records) Madison
adrenaline, driven to make positive changes happen in their February Hot 97, New York's hip-hop radio station
world. There was even a spoken word between band sets that threw down the illest concert ever. The History of
Hip-Hop Show A #2 pencil and paper was essential
I was in for one helluva history lesson. The scheduled
artists were none other than local legends Run DMC.
Public Enemy, and KRS-One Class began at 7pm
sharp, with a demonstration of the art of the head-spit
by world famous breakers. The Rock Steady Crew.
felt like Tommy
provided more information on AIDS/HIV, the
government, and how to buy an "I Am
Vegan T-shirt The a
age group was between
11-35, with the main concen
tration on 16-19 yr olds. The
moral of this event was summed
up by a 16-yr-old punker from
Kentucky: "We all have to
drink from the well of life.
so don't plas in the well."
Victory recording artists By
The Grace of God tore up the
But Not
89
stage with their old-school-meets-
new-school, high-octane, straight-edge
Indie rock. The over-driven convictions of
this Louisville "Who's who i
super-group
which is a definitive p
that before boho b
mic
9mm.
like
Run-DMC
riders put on a
show no matter what i
u're into, but if
need sights and sounds
to plan a murder, they
are not to be missed
Keep an eye out for
singles on in The Red
and Crypt Records,
plus the full-length LP.
Spider Fingers-JJ
There is no denying
that Grandmaster
Flash and The
Furious Five's classic
joint "The Message"
succeeded in helping
to define what 1
hip-hop
was, is, and will remain
but
in another dimension Straight Out Of The Jungle-containing
were another group whose own personal style sent hip-hop off
the has " House You" and "Jimbrowski," which still remain
so sick to this day-and Done By The Forces Of Nature proved
bass, and skater Par Guidearer Ed McKirdy school-CN As if the titled didn't completely give it away, rough-edged beats, as well as the Bs regrouping with fellow
what it used
bands
deliv
your board resting on your shins, it's another dude, and to be. With a groove that was digestible enough for main
instead of your hands, you're balanced on your head stream audiences to sit up and take notice. "The Message"
spinning at breakneck speed These guys were enabled the crew to hit people over the head with their
pulling it with ease. S
y all about. And now, six
Sick! Mr Parker from the Bronx depiction of what ghetto life was really all a
took the stage and hurt kids feelings with his philoso years later, Grandmaster Mele Mel and Scorpio have risen
phy, and his mm. He busted classic joints from again, better than ever, with a new release, Right Now on Str
Criminali
Minded to Sound Of The Police a
set fire to a charged performance of 13 By The Grace of God between Kids were out as by the hundreds us briefly THING OF
d Of The Police and all points Game Records. The message of street knowledge remains
out of control, dancing in the now the beats are a bit more hard-hitting "Q&A Intros" take
aisles and throwing
rowing paper airplanes by
into the minds of these rap pioneers, while "China
Love Of Indie Rock So, go organize an event like this in your of their set was when Flavor Flav ran up on stage, straight off it's the '90s they're addressing this time, right here, right now
Enemy rocked the house like it was B
A bring back that old
told feeling-only
town and let the people know that you are concerned about parole, with three of his six lods, and started flippin "911 is a Speaking of hip-hop innovators, the Jungle Brothers
the air, water, food, and creatures that inhabit this earth JS Joke. He thanked the c
The Jersey revolution continues with the debut release of on lock-down and informed us that he was off the pipe. Yeah,
for showing love while he was
Hands Tied's self-titled 6-song EP on Equal Vision Records yeah. Flav keeping it honest in the nine-siete. Last but not
Yes, NJ has become a hive of hardcore activity, and Hands least, three freshly polished pairs of Adidas stepped up to the
Tied are buzzing F Fronted by former Mouthpiece leader Tim
McMahon, the band sounds, well, a little like the almighty to get loose. Run DMC in full black leather coats and that these soul brothers had more to offer beyond the confine
Mouthpiece ve positive. The songs are tight angols came to raise hell. Every track kicked was just as awe ments of talent show performances. Then, as their sound
and the sound is metal-free, anthematic hardcore In addition spring as the first time. There really isn't anything like began to change with the release of JBees Wit Da Remedy, their
to McMahon, Mouthpiece's last bassist Sean McGrath plays other hip-hoppers. I guess I just never graduated from the old shows that they're intent on remaining on this path. With
screaming Peter Piper at the top of your lungs with 5.000 newest, appropriately titled Raw Deluxe (Gee Street Records).
guitar, former Mouthpiece tour
is on drums. Look for a full. The Revelators We Told You Not To Cross Us (Crypt Native Tongues. Q-Tip and De La Soul on the cut "How
to be Nowadays, it's all made-for-radio, R&B crossover bulb Records) is righteous revenge rock. In the vein of other Crypt Ya Want It-We Got It." Row Deluxe clearly displays that
camouflage-large crew conceived in a Raves such as The Devil Dogs and The Oblivians. The change isn't necessarily such a bad thing
or just another
Simplicity o
high-rise executive's office somewhere-anywhere but the enough of a Missouri twist to give it a mi rock, with ered in a complex manner is the art of "Visualize Raw Shack
y swampy, speedy, angry p
streets. It's no longer passionate and rarely fun two basic ele school or the workplace? Then this slab might just be the thing take on a cruel subject (guy relentlessly-pursues-girl-just-to-
e twang Unhappy a Prod
at Productions) from Mr Complex Simple in its humorous
ments that drew millions to the underground culture it's these to put you over the edge on a stressful day, where you could tum-around-and-dis her), yet complex in the thyme delivery
two principals that South Bronx's own three-man CRU build
their lyrical masterpiece around. Dirty 30 (Def Jam), titled after find yourself returning to work or school with the family the bass-heavy groove of Visualine" no doubt gets your head
the infamous NYC corrupt-cop scandal at the 30th precinct. weren't even born when the Ramones first started, South Complex's skills as he calls y
hunting rifle to enact payback Although they probably nodding. A And don't be foolish enough to try and battle
has emotion and charisma, and yest even flow. You remember Cry's The Donnas owe it all to the NYC foursome. Following Don't Cha As females begin to receive even more recogni
she calls you out with the B-side's
what flow was, right? What kids used to do before this "my three worthy singles, the four juvenile delinquent chicks have tion as hip-hop artists, stories are n
turn yer-turn shit? CRU is the embodiment of hip-hop
are rarely heard of them as the
Sometimes serious, sometimes comical, always original, and Recorder fint LP, Super Teen/Presents (Super Teem intelligence behind the scene. But the Bay Area has benefited
never counterfeit, this is what you want without the marketing going out on dates to the drive-in are what they're all about. If Tally Knott, who just released her R&B/hip-hop project
Records). Songs about getting in the guys pants, smokin' and itself with the introduction of female executive prod
tactics Lateef and Lyrics Born's Larynx (Solides) is
somewhat of an enigma, with all its multi-faceted tracks. hang with... Providing that Canada has s
I was still in high school, these would be the chicks I'd want to Black Noyzz Represent out on EMG. Check for her as she
underlying t themes, and strange lack of continuity, no two clam chowder, comedians, and the word "eh." the Other gospel genres-Finally, a Black Sabbath tribute worthy
the more to offer than
offer than combs the Bay Area for local talent included in the jazz and
are remotely alike, but t yet they s
fectly in this melting pot of musical styles. With occasional People's Music label has taken it upon themselves to reissue of heavy metal's most revered progenitors. The brainchild of
jungle tracks, trip-hoppy break beat bonanzas, a dab of R&B some classic punk hits from the yesteryears. On top of the Aaron Turner of Boston's Hydra Head Records. In These
flavor, and noteworthy rhymes throughout, this album is going burst of toe-tappin' boss rock that is punk enough to please nating with a full-length CD out in the fall.
of R&B crop is the self-titled Teenage Head release, which is a solid Black Days will start out as a series of split 7" releases, culmi
to be the sleeper hit in the 9-7. As listened to Latyr. I any purist, while still "seventies" enough to make you chuckle as of press time include Deadguy. Coalesce. Anal Cunt
Groups confirmed
couldn't help but be reminded of DJ Shadow, so it really
came as no surprise when S
when Shadow's name appeared at the photos of them in their funny-looking get-ups. In the Eyehategod. Today Is The Day, and Tribes Of Neurot
than a couple times for p production credits. These cats aren't for series, check out The Viletones release, also self-titled NY's Brutal Truth are now eligible to join the Screen Actor's
for the weak-hearted wallflowers or the close-minded, but they broken Canadian punk. Although they've been Guild, after their film debut in the soft-core porno, Studio X
just might be for you. Don't look under your bed, the Mummies keep releasing much sought-after gems. The involved with the production, which is being aired this
up for a few years now. San Francisco's The They were recommended by a former roadie who was
Boogiemonsters are back-but they're a completely differ latest examples are Running On Empty Vols I and II spring on the Spice Channel and will be released nationwide
ent crew. Minus two members, Vex and Mondo are all that (Estrus Records). If trashy, booze-filled garage punk in hard and soft versions. The band members aren't in any
remain of the group you remember from 14. Are they any less played by freaks in mummy costumes turns your crank of the sex scenes (sorry, girls), but they perform two songs
dynamic or witty? Not one bit. God Sound (EMI Records) as much as it does mine, buy or die!
largely self-produced, takes a good, hard look at the hip-hop
live at LA's Whiskey A Go Go and have speaking parts in a
industry and its lack of spirituality and love. Ranked among
intellectual heavyweights such as Tribe Called Quest De La
Soul. The Roots, and Jeru The Damaga, the
La
Boogiemonsters prove they've got more on their minds than
cream and being obscene. Aside from the production and the
I more
a
Bahamadia cameo, the highlight was when they posed
question directed at other rappers if you've got 5 minutes or you
got an hour to speak your mind/Why don't you say some
thing?/Something that moves me/Damelt it's my $12 99 and I'm
not about to give it up/So you better move me. God Sound was
worth every penny 12's of Love-Essential Head-
112 THRASHE
The Crumbs take a cue from Rancid, who so
It may sound funny, but it seems to me that
along punk in that guitar-oriented vein of the 70s
obviously took a cue from The- Clash fun sing
with a little moaning and groaning. Check out
their new self-titled LP on Lookout Records-W
I was driving down Route 666 thinking, "What
evil was something practiced, not bought. I mean
the fuck?"
? This place has gone to shit. I thought
one." Actually, I found out you can pay money to
stealing a baby is a lot more fun than buying
see evil, hear evil, that is. Necessary Evils. I was
o
Necessary Evils
CN: Chris Nieratko JE: Joseph Epstein JJ: James Jackson JRCH: Jasmine K Huynh JS: Jon Stain MW: Morgan Wisker WL WEZ Lundry
scenes. 3 other
couple of other
Brutal Truth
songs are also
included on the
soundtrack. BT is
back to work in
the recording stu
dio to record their
next LP for
Relapse
Records-MW
RIDE 'EM TO THE GRAVE
CARL SHIPMAN
HUNDER
THUNDER TRUCKS P.O. BOX 884413, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94188