ARaBiaN PRiNCe`s "BRoTHeR ARaB"...

Goin` back to 1989 with this post for y`all. I was fortunate (or unfortunate depending on how ya look at things) to grab this CD for a mere $3 at a good ol` pawn shop a few weeks ago. The album that I am talkin` about comes from N.W.A.`s black sheep the Arabian Prince & is titled "Brother Arab", it`s his first solo album after leaving N.W.A. Some may not know but he is an original member of N.W.A. & is featured on the album cover (between DJ Yella & Ice Cube) of their "Straight Outta Compton" album. His only feature on that album is "Somethin` 2 Dance 2", which is also the only Electro-Funk styled track. Many fans consider the song to be the weakest track on the entire album, but to each his own. Anyways I don`t know much about him, but I shall share with ya what I do know about the Arabian Prince...

He was raised in Inglewood, California & was first introduced to music production when he visited his father at the local Funk & Soul radio station KACE. As a young buck while still in high school he would make mixtapes that he did while visiting his dad at the radio station. From there he started DJing high school events around Gardena & eventually he went from the schools to the clubs in L.A., gaining some notoriety in the local Electro & Hip Hop scene. He first started out on the Electro tip which was big in L.A. at the time & ended up joining Uncle Jamms Army, a mad famous crew known for their party appearances. Then around 1983-84 he met up with Russ Parr a.k.a. Bobby Jimmy & he later joined him as part of Bobby Jimmy & The Critters...

For those that aren`t up on Bobby Jimmy he was basically doing the same thing as Weird Al Yankovic with the parodies of more famous songs. After working with Bobby Jimmy on the production tip for a few years he was able to release a couple singles ("Strange Life" & "It Ain`t Tough") of his own thru Russ Parr`s Rapsur Records label. While workin` the Electro scene with Bobby J & The Critters Arabian Prince eventually started to become friends with Dr. Dre who was also workin` the scene with the World Class Wreckin` Cru. As time progressed both groups` lime light started to fade, but the two stayed in contact with each. That`s when Dr. Dre started talking to the Arabian Prince about a Rap group that he & former drug dealer Eazy-E were in the midst of starting. The group would later be known as the now famous N.W.A. & once Dr. Dre & DJ Yella left the World Class Wreckin` Cru things really started getting serious for the new group, Prince joined shortly after... 

 Then I believe that it was in 1987, Dre & Eazy-E gathered up a bunch of their homies for the compilation album titled "N.W.A. & The Posse". It featured such artists as the Fila Fresh Crew (Doc T a.k.a. D.O.C., Fresh K & Dr. Rock), Ron-De-Vu, Rappinstine, Eazy-E & of course N.W.A. The compilation itself was used to help create a buzz for N.W.A. & it did so with such singles as "Boyz-N-The-Hood", "8 Ball", "Dopeman" & "Panic Zone" (even though it`s credited as N.W.A. it`s more of a Arabian Prince solo cut). Something to note about "Panic Zone", it was apparently co~written by Krazy Dee (a Mexican rapper), he originally had the song titled "Hispanic Zone" but  Dr. Dre switched it up to "Panic Zone" because he felt that having 'Hispanic' in it`s title would have them lose out on sales...

Shortly after the release of the compilation in 1988 N.W.A. released the grand~daddy of all 'Gangsta Rap' albums, "Straight Outta Compton" & with the group`s growing popularity Eazy-E picked up Jerry Heller to help coordinate the group`s future plans. Arabian Prince however left the group just a few weeks before "Straight Outta Compton" was released due to management problems. Soon after going solo, Arabian started to work on the album titled "Brother Arab", released in 1989 through Orpheus Records. Compared to his former group`s album "Brother Arab" was much more on the party tip with it`s Electro~Rap & Funk samples...

With that lil` run~down that brings us to the album that I copped for a whole $3, "Brother Arab". I  believe that this version is actually the clean version of the album,  I say this because on "It`s Time To Bone" there`s a record scratch where Arabian Prince would`ve said 'shit'.....LoL, aside from that though I didn`t really notice much else. Still I would like to hear the unedited version of the album, so if anyone has it hook a homie up! Anyways go had & check it out, "She`s Got A Big Posse" & "Situation Critical" are my favorite tracks on here. While "Sound Check" features the same sample that Above The Law would later use for the track "Menace To Society", just a lil` somethin` interesting to note...

Arabian Prince - Brother Arab

Label: Orpheus Records

Released: 1989

1. Sound Check [Intro]

2. She`s Got A Big Posse

3. Get On Up

4. Let The Good Times Roll (Nickel Bag)

5. Never Caught Slippin`

6. I Got A Big [Bonus Beat]

7. Situation Critical

8. It`s A Dope Thang

9. It`s Time To Bone

10. Now You Have To Understand

11. Gettin` Down

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

FiLeSWaP LiNK...

N`JoY...

LiL` MaC`s "The LyRiCaL MiDGeT"...

Re~uPP`d, originally posted 11.16.2007...




This album right here is really for the die~hard Mac (of No Limit Records fame) fans, or for the folks that just like to collect the some~what rare albums. This joint is Mac`s very first album, dropped on Yo! Records way back in 1989 hilariously titled "The Lyrical Midget". That`s right y`all before Mac was known as 'Da Camouflage Assassin' Lil` Mac was 'The Lyrical Midget'. He was 11 years old (possibly 12) spittin` flows mainly written with the help of DJ Mannie Fresh (of Cash Money Records fame), Gregory "D" also helped write the first & last tracks on the album. The beats are credited to 2 Hype Producers, which I think is the duo of both DJ Mannie Fresh & Gregory "D". I could be wrong on that, so if that`s the case don`t hesitate to school me!!!


The album itself isn`t anything ground breaking, c`mon what do ya expect from an 11 or 12 year old anyway? Regardless, I wanted to share it with y`all anyway to shed some light on an artist that I find hasn`t received the props that he should have. It probably has something to do with the fact that he was down with Master P`s No Limit Records, no DiSReSPeCT but that stable really wasn`t known for their lyricists at the time. Or maybe it`s the fact that on September 21, 2001 Mac (born, McKinley J. Phipps Jr.) was convicted of manslaughter charges for the death of 22-year-old Barron C. Victor Jr. That would definitely snuff your lime~light out, actually it would blow the bulb right out on most folks... 


Even though he is serving a 30 year prison bid, maintaining his claim of innocence he has dropped an album titled "Mac Presents: The Lost Tapes" which used to be available at http://www.myspace.com/macphipps. From what I heard it consists of tracks that were unreleased from his days at No Limit Records, but that`s another story for another post. So go `head & check out Mac`s debut if you`re interested in hearing the beginnings of his career. He may only be a kid on this album, but it shows ya that Mac was a talented individual even at such a young age. It`s a DaMn shame that homie got caught up in that fucked up situation that landed him in prison...

 Lil` Mac - The Lyrical Midget

Label: Yo! Records
Released: 1989



1. I Need Wheels 
2. Young & Embarrassed 
3. You Gets Nothin` {ft. T. Wiz & Gregory "D"}
4. Cleo 
5. The Mind 
6. Groove Mellow 
7. Lyrical Midget 
8. Your Days Are Over 
9. You Can`t Receive Me 
10. Gangsta Groove 
11. Disco Jam 
12. Lil` Mac Be Clubbin`







BaCK~uP LiNK....








N`JoY...

DoNaLD-D`s "NoToRiouS"...

 

 

What`s happenin` y`all? Hope all is well on your side of the tracks! With today`s post I`m gon` be taking y`all back to 1989 with somethin` from Donald-D, the Microphone King. It`s actually his debut album titled "Notorious" which was released thru Epic with production handled by Afrika Islam as well as Donald-D himself. While his homie & fellow Rhyme Syndicate member Ice-T executively produced it. Now I`m gon` have to be honest & say that I`m just getting into Donald-D`s music now in 2013.....LoL, yup I have been sleepin` on this kat. Always heard Ice-T BiGG`n him up on his albums & what not, just never had the urge to actively search out the Microphone King`s music. It was actually some requests thru this very blog for this album that made me check for it & you know what? I am kind of glad that I gave the album a chance because it`s a decent listen for sure...



  Apparently Donald-D`s first taste of Hip Hop was as a B-Boy breakin` on the Bronx streets, but he really introduced himself the Hip Hop world as a member of the As Salaam Brothers crew along with Easy AD & DJ Rashid. They did a few local house parties & some out door jams. The group didn`t last all that long though, but Donald-D wasn`t about to let that stop his Hip Hop. Not that long after the As Salaam Brothers disbanded he became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation & he also linked up with some other kats to form another group called The Funk Machine. The Funk Machine was a 6 man crew which consisted of 3 emcees & 3 DJ`s. The members were; Donald-D, El Jay, Kid Vicious, DJ Superman, DJ Jazzy Jay & DJ Afrika Islam. While a member of the group Donald-D perfected his microphone skills, one of his strong points was his ability to spit great story~telling rhymes. Then in 1983 DJ Afrika Islam started a radio show on W.H.B.I. called "Zulu Beats" along with DJ Red Alert. Whenever they needed an emcee to rock the mic of course Islam invited his homie Donald-D to spit his story~telling raps. The radio show`s intro was even done by actors Cheech & Chong...

 

 

 

His appearances on the "Zulu Beats" shows got Donald-D enough recognition that eventually the CEO of Vinetertainment Records took notice of D`s talent. He decided to visit the radio station that the show was broadcasting from to meet up with Donald-D to voice his interest in working with him. Shortly after that D hooked up with DJ Chuck Chill Out & the two of them formed the group The B-Boys. As a duo they recorded 3 songs in total; "Two-Three Break", "Rock The House" & "Cuttin` Herbie". After those three records DJ Chuck Chill Out decided to go solo so Donald-D decided to add DJ Master-T & another emcee named Brother-B to the group... 

 

 

 

 

Now a trio they recorded the tracks "Stick Up Kid", "Girls" & "Girls Pt. 2". Eventually DJ Master-T decided to leave the group so he was replaced by an old high school friend named DJ Jazzy-G. Not long after that though their record label felt that they no longer needed The B-Boys on their roster. That`s when Donald-D decided that he was going to go solo & left the group. The first songs that he recorded as a soloist were done in 1987 & they were titled "Outlaw" & "Dope Jam" released on the label Rockin` Hard Records as a 12 inch single. In 1988 he decided to head out to the West Coast & linked up with Ice-T becoming a member of the Ryhme Syndicate. He made his West Coast debut on the Rhyme Syndicate compilation "Comin` Through" on the track titled "The Name Of The Game" which also featured his homie Bronx Style Bob...

 

Finally, in 1989 Donald-D signed with Sony Records to record his first solo album titled "Notorious". Like I mentioned before his old DJ, Afrika Islam handled most of the production. Donald-D helped out while Ice-T was the executive producer & also makes the only guest appearance on the album appearing on "Lost In A Freestyle". Overall Donald-D can rip the mic, but I find that he truly shines when he`s flexing the story~telling rhymes. Standout joints for me are; "F.B.I.", the album`s lead single is a track that warns listeners of the dangers of Crack use from every angle. Donald-D`s observations cover the women that become hoes, the children that end up neglected & when it comes to the dealer he even talks about those he sells to like the sports star & the famous & rich & how it affected them. "Who Got The Gun?" is a great storytelling joint that involves police brutality, corrupt cops, shoot-outs, false accusations & of course a missing firearm....LoL

 

 

 

"Armed & Dangerous" is a good track that promotes unity & freedom of speech. "Car Chase" is another storytelling joint, this one involves a bank robbery & the escape that ensues afterwards. "Lost In A Freestyle" is a decent collabo` with his homie Ice-T, it has a nice 'freestyle' type of vibe to it as they pass the mic amongst each other. Overall there`s really only 2 joints on the album that seem a lil` out of place. The first one is "A Letter I`ll Never Send", it seems like a joint that LL Cool J would`ve done. It`s a love song...not a bad one, but in comparison to what else is on the album it just doesn`t really fit. The other song is pretty much the complete opposite of "A Letter I`ll Never Send" & this one`s titled "Just Suck".....LoL, you can tell that Ice-T had a lil` influence on this joint. It`s in the same vein as Ice`s "Girls L.G.B.N.A.F." so you know it`s stacked full of X-rated rhymes. Aside from those 2 songs the rest of the album is pretty solid & fluid, the beats mesh well with the content of the tracks. Go `head & check this album out, I know I slept on this joint. Don`t make the same mistake I did, the album`s well worth the time that you`ll spend listening to it...

Donald-D - Notorious

Label: Epic

Released: 1989

1. Intro

2. Notorious

3. F.B.I.

4.Who Got The Gun?

5. Syndicate Posse

6. A Letter I`ll Never Send

7. Armed & Dangerous

8. Car Chase

9. Just Suck

10. Lost In A Freestyle {ft. Ice-T}

11. On Tour

12. Another Night In The Bronx

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

N`JoY...