::::: Channel Live :::::

The rap duo Channel Live (Hakim and Tuffy ) debuted in 1994 with the platinum single "Mad Izm," which they followed with the gold-status album Station Identification in 1995. That year also saw the release of singles such as "Sex for Sport" and "Reprogram," wich were definitely the highlights here, but the duo get in plenty of great raps on the album tracks as well. On their album debut Station Identification, cover social problems such as sex and violence over KRS-One's lean production grooves. As I said, the highlight of the album was the debut single "Mad Izm" sparked with a neck-snapping beat to fit the over 4 minute verbal assault discussing the ghetto's favorite pasttime. There are several other notables on this album including "Reprogram" featuring KRS-One(he shows up on several other tracks also), "Sex For The Sport" and "Down Goes The Devil". Production handled mostly by Salaam Remi among others. Channel Live's debut definitely shouldnt be overlooked and "Mad Izm" was a spring classic in 1994

Channel Live - Station Identification [1995]

::::: Some Shit From 93' :::::

Akinyele - Vagina Diner [1993]

First of all this is the ONLY album entirely produced by The Large Professor. So you know the beats are tighter than...(insert your favorite played-out meteaphor here). This is Ak's first album. His first apperance came on Main Source's "Live at the BBQ" along w/ Nas' debut. What a dope track. Anyway, before I heard this album I though Ak was the equivalent of a NY version of Luke...all about the b*tches. So I was more than surprised when I finally got my hands on this LP, and was attacked w/ crazy metaphors, an innovative rhyme style (those who know feel me) and no dirty tracks about gettin' some. There are tracks about women, "Bags Packed" and "I Luh Hur" are a few that deal w/ the deeper side of relationships. Mostly this album is full of Ak straight ripping sh*t over dope, dope Extra P beats.

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Society - Yes 'N Deed .EP [1993]

Most kids would know Luke Records to be home for the dirty mouthed crew, 2 Live Crew and the once anti semitic Professor Griff (Public Enemy) briefly, but Luke actually branched out into some concious(gulp) and decent underground Hip Hop fare, DJ Slice (The Miami one) laced this EP with pure flavour, as Yes N Deed smashes speakers with the booming 'Ode To Billy Joe" drums, Parkay samples a classic loop from the Wild Style soundtrack) and Rap Is An Art (uses a dope Gangstarr sample from Take It Personal and interesting enough a sample DJ Premier later used for You Know My Steez and What Is A Man uses a familiar loop and the classic Headhunters-God Made Me Funky drums.Society vanished after this dope EP but I guess you could say he came out at just the right time and left us with this great piece of music.

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Trendz Of Culture - Trendz [1993]

Trends is a trio consisting of MC's Nastee, M.O.L. and Grapevine. Each brings a different style and flavor to the album, which helps to keep their tracks from going stale. Each can definetly handle his b.i on the mic, and although they're no supreme lyricists, their rhymes are perfectly suited to the beats - and I'm a sucker for MC's who have fun with Hip-Hop. The album is self-produced and the result is ear-shattering. That's the best aspect of "Trendz," the hard '93 NY beats. As a (VERY) special bonus The Funkyman himself, Lord Finesse remixes tracks #6 "Off & On" and #11 "Valley of the Skinz (Bonus Mix)" with his trademark deep bass and dirty horns.FAR TOO MANY artists and crews have an AMAZING debut, then it's all downhill from there...only a select few can pull off 2 albums worthy of being pressed. So the more knowledgeable part of me is happy with this one GREAT album.

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Apache - Gangsta Bitch [1993]

The Newark new jersy style is evident in apache's album. As a memeber of the flavor unit and NAUGHTY BY NATURE family he represents the hardcore and the real life.His album was mad, he had some nice rhymes and his flow was tight. The album makes you laugh when you hear some of the sh#t he says. The tracks are nicely produced and have a naughty by nature sound to them. He also got it some sh#t with queen latifah which was funny as hell, and she made a reply track because she couldn't handle what he said. But anyway, if you are after some real hip hop, get this. Later!

::::: YO-YO ( Yolanda Whittaker ) :::::

Yolanda Whittaker (Born August 4, 1971) is a Grammy nominated American hardcore rapper known primarily among hip hop fans and music critics during the 1990s. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in rap music. Yo-Yo dubbed her rap crew the IBWC, which stood for the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.

Yo-Yo first appeared as a guest on Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted album in 1990. Her critically acclaimed debut was 1991's Make Way for the Motherlode. The album's biggest single was You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo, which also featured Ice Cube.Her follow-up, 1992's Black Pearl was well-received by critics, due in part to its focus on positive messages and uplifting themes that contrasted the popular gangsta rap style. However, this did not translate into a hit with mainstream rap audiences, and the album's sales were considered a disappointment.

Yo-Yo - Make Way For The Motherlode [1991]

Less than a year later, Yo-Yo recorded and released a more commercial follow-up, 1993's You Better Ask Somebody. The album featured musical and lyrical styles more in line with the hip-hop climate of the era, including many references to guns and smoking marijuana. In an effort to distance herself from what some in the rap community saw as preaching positivity on her previous CD, Yo-Yo even dissed herself on the track They Shit Don't Stink by rapping, "I fell off, but now I'm back, cuz that Black Pearl shit was wack"The final track on the album was her third recorded hip-hop duet with Ice Cube, The Bonnie And Clyde Theme. The track was actually a B-side on the album's first single, IBWin' Wit My Crewin, but ultimately it was the only song from the album to achieve substantial radio airplay.

Yo-Yo - You Better Ask Somebody [1993]