Disorderlies DVD

Anybody remembers the legendary hip hop trio the Fat Boys which included Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock Ski, and the late Human Beatbox Buffy.  They were ruling hip hop during the mid-80's with their comic style of rap.  They always rapped about food in their songs.  Buff was one of the pioneers of the beatboxing sound along with another fellow pioneer Doug E Fresh. Around 1987, the group made their starring film debut in the movie Disorderlies. The trio already had some experience in the movie field when they appeared in 1985's hip hop classic film Krush Groove.  This movie was funny and entertaining at the same time.  Fat Boys portrayed the role as caretakers for an ailing elder rich man (played by Ralph Bellamy from Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd) named Albert.  They were hired by Albert's nephew and also set up by him in attempt to kill his uncle to pay back his gambling debts.  Movie critics dubbed the Fat Boys as the' hip hop Three Stooges' because of the constant handslaps and random funny outbursts.  The group had performance scene in the film when they performed the song 'Baby You're A Rich Man' which is from the soundtrack. Anyway the movie is a must have in your collection because you are to laugh like it's no tomorrow.  The Fat Boys did good in their starring roles.  I thought they should have more acting opportunities but the film expanded their legacy.

Levert For Real Tho

Both the late Gerald and Sean Levert (sons of O Jays lead singer Eddie Levert) along with their friend Marc Gordon exploded on the r&b scene as Levert. They had a string of hits in the beginning of their career such as Pop Pop Pop Goes My Mind, Casanova, Just Coolin, All Seasons, Baby Im Ready, and others.  They also produced songs for other acts like Troop, Miki Howard, Rude Boys, Men At Large, Chuckii Booker, and even their mentors The O Jays.  The trio kept their sound going strong in 1993 when they released the For Real Tho album on Atlantic Records.  At the time, r&b was moving toward the hardcore hip hop image and sound with the baggy jeans, Timberland boots, bandannas, dark sunglasses, and wearing baseball hats backwards.  Levert adapted to the hip hop sound but maintained their style of music with romantic and heartfelt songs. Anyway i was around the age 6 or 7 when the album came out.  I used to go family picnics in the summer and this album would be in rotation at the ceremonies. The lead off single from the record was Good Ol Days.  The song was about having fun and enjoying positive energy in the older years instead of the modern time when there is poverty at a high percentage and gun violence.  That video was getting good rotation on BET when they had the video show titled Video Soul (anybody remember that show with Donnie Simpson and the lovely and sexy Sherry Carter).  They released the slow jam ABC-123 which got some heavy radio play on the R&b stations. i remembered the radio stations playing the hell out of the song.  They also released the single and video for Do the Thangs which the song is like Zapp's Computer Love mixed the O Jays's For the Love of Money because of the lyrics and sharp production.  Other tracks i'm digging from the album are the title track, Say You Will (Marc and Gerald were going back n forth on the joint), Quiet Storm (Marc's falsetto was perfect on this song. Sean and Gerald also did well on the song.), She's All That Ive Been Looking For (another hot uptempo with Gerald and Sean trading back and forth about a woman met their expectations to fall in love with), and Me N You (Sean and Marc took the lead on this record. Marc also rapped on the track). The album had the aggressive production with the romantic and passionate lyrics of Marc, Sean, and Gerald. Though the record wasn't their best success because r&b adapted into a more aggressive sound during 1993. Levert proved that they could make the sound work during the changes in r&b music.

MC Hammer- Let's Get It Started CD

MC Hammer was truth back in the days with his style of dancing and rapping. He was criticized for his clean cut image but he wanted to show that hip hop can be positive and enjoyable for people of all ages and races.  I was a little boy when Hammer first came out on the scene.  I mainly loved his first album but it was really his major label debut album. Originally, the album was called Feel My Power and he sold it from the trunk of his car as in the term of getting 'his hustle on'. As he was making noise on the independent circuit, Capitol Records approached Hammer with a deal to their label. He refused at first but requested to be paid upfront with top dollars in advance and recuperate money from record sales as well.  He was a shrewd businessman from the start. He added a couple of songs and retitled the album Let's Get It Started. Anyway this was the raw and talented MC Hammer coming from streets of Oakland, CA.  He had his female dancers backing him known as the lovely Oaktown's 357 and 2 Bigg MC as his hypeman.  I used to sit in front of the television set whenever MC Hammer videos come on  TV.  This album had crazy joints like title track, Turn This Mutha Out, They Put Me In The Mix, Ring Em, Pump it Up, Cold Go MC Hammer, his remake of BB King's The Trill is Gone.  Hammer and his posse were reppin that Oaktown flavor on this cd and they had a movement at the time. He had his own label called Bust it Records.  Other good tracks on the record like Feel My Power, You're Being Served,  legendary soul singer Curtis Mayfield's sample of Freddie Dead titled That's What I Said, and the underground spiritual classic Son of a King.  This album made me appreciate Hammer for his talent and also the videos from the singles he released during the time of 1988 and 1989.  A lot of people thought Hammer was corny because of his less lyrical abilities. I just think Hammer brought energy and hardcore street dancing on the hip hop scene.  He was well recognized for dancing and bringing out Oaktown's 357 with him during that time. When the 90's came along, Hammer crossed over into the mainstream pop industry for songs like You Can't Touch This, Pray, Too Legit to Quit, Adams Groove, Have You Seen Her and many more.  Hammer first album reminded why he was great at being a showman and displaying raw talent like no other.

Heavy D Heavy Hitz

Heavy D was the shiznit back in the late 80's and 90's during the hip hop music scene.  Hev brought a lot of energy as far dancing and rapping along with being a big guy on a move.  He also had a backing team with him called The Boyz which dancers G-Wiz and the late Trouble T-Roy (whom rap duo Pete Rock and CL Smooth did a tribute to him called T.R.O.Y /When They Reminisce Over You) and the underrated producer DJ Eddie F (who went on to produce tracks for artists like Mary J Blige, Donnell Jones, Intro, 2pac, Biggie, Ludacris, Jay-Z and more). This cd gave you the best of Heavy D from his biggest hits to some rare cuts. The cd even includes the legendary collaboration with Cleveland r&b group Levert on the 1988 classic song Just Coolin.  You know the classics like Overweight Lovers in the House, We Got Our Own Thang, Now That We Found Love, Is It Good to You, Nuthin But Love, Somebody For Me featuring  r&b heartthrob of late 80's Al B Sure, and others.