![]() 2 running the gamut from retail smashes like DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper and Naughty By Nature to underground cornerstones such as Dr. To elaborate, he’s thoughtfully inclusionary, Check the Technique Vol. Coleman’s series offers crucial contextualizing on his topics, and most importantly lets the principals relate the tale in their own words part oral history, part diligent journalism, and part judicious selection. Producer credits, thank you lists, and cleared samples were a start, and interviews and articles in Spin, Vibe and The Source brought a modicum of enlightenment, but the deep investigation, which often simply entails sincere interest and respect for the subject, becoming comfortable with the artists and then asking the right questions, was lacking for years.īoston-based writer and music lover Brian Coleman has played a huge role in overturning this neglect, first with Rakim Told Me and its eventual expansion into Check the Technique, and now via its follow-up, a volume elevated by quality and quantity to the best of the bunch. But those spending it were reliably left at mysterious loose ends. This was an easy assumption to arrive at if one’s only concern was making money. And folks devoting time, energy and dollars to keeping up with deluxe reissues and box sets in multiple genres understand that extensive annotation of and commentary upon background specifics was/is an expected component in the retail price.Īs a relatively young art form, hip-hop has suffered from experiencing its burgeoning stylistic era(s) in a business setting that wrongly assumed buyers of contemporary music (as opposed to those dropping cash on older material) cared about little more than the sounds, the labels mostly throwing context and packaging to the wayside. 2 is freshly available from Wax Facts Press.Īnybody having spent hours inspecting the treasures in a jazz-centric record shop knows LPs in the multifaceted style regularly came adorned with notes (Hentoff! Williams! Jones!) on the back of the sleeve. Aptly subtitled “more liner notes for hip-hop junkies,” Check the Technique Vol. To get the complete scoop on this and assorted other hip-hop achievements one needs seek out the books of Brian Coleman. Due to this stature one might assume the full story behind its creation has long resided in the historical record, but that’s not the case. ^ The 10 Best Albums By White Rappers Archived July 16, 2012, at archive.Released a quarter century ago by the Def Jam label, Brooklyn trio 3rd Bass’ The Cactus Album stands as a hip-hop classic.Recording Industry Association of America. ^ Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1989)."3rd Bass: The Cactus Album / Slick Rick: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). In Brackett, Nathan Hoard, Christian (eds.). ^ Fitzgerald, Muff (January 20, 1990)."3rd Bass: The Cactus Album (Def Jam/Columbia)". "3rd Bass 'The Cactus Album' Def Jam / Columbia". The song "Sons of 3rd Bass" can be viewed as a diss to the Beastie Boys – who had recently severed ties with 3rd Bass' record label, Def Jam – in that it references them in many lines, such as one line uttered by MC Serch in the first verse. The album generally features songs that are either lyrical showcases or are about women, such as the hidden sexual meaning of "Oval Office". Most of the music was produced by Sam Sever, alongside members MC Serch and Pete Nice, except for the Prince Paul-produced tracks "The Gas Face" and "Brooklyn-Queens," and "Steppin' to the A.M." and "Oval Office" by The Bomb Squad. A decade later, Rhapsody included The Cactus Album in its list of "The 10 Best Albums By White Rappers". ![]() In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. The Cactus Album peaked at #5 on Billboard 's Top Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart and at #55 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was certified gold by the RIAA on April 24, 1990. The album received positive reviews from the hip hop press and is also notable for featuring the recording debut of rapper Zev Love X of KMD, later known as MF Doom, on "The Gas Face". ![]() The Cactus Al/Bum (also known as The Cactus Cee/D and The Cactus Cas/Ette depending on release format) is the debut album by hip hop trio 3rd Bass, released on Def Jam Recordings on November 10, 1989. ![]() Pete Nice, MC Serch, Sam Sever, Prince Paul, The Bomb Squad (Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler)
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