Kevin Madison aka K-Solo was the harder edge of the EPMD collective The Hit Squad who recorded 2 albums in the early 90’s. His 1990 debut Tell the World My Name was entirely produced by EPMD with Parrish Smith handling the majority of the work but Erick Sermon adding the classic opening track ‘Spellbound’. Vocally Solo was reminiscent of Big Daddy Kane with a high-speed hard delivery that, coupled with his storytelling style, vividly illuminated his adventures in prison, flirtation with crack, racism and of course sexual exploits.

Solo briefly became famous for his ‘Spellbound/Letterman’ style which entailed crafting his rhymes around the spelling out of words to create a delayed reaction punchline as the listener would take an extra second or so to decode the spelled out word.

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Popularity: 71% [?]

Retro Kidz - New Era video

The Retro Kidz live up to their name with this track ‘New Era’ thats getting much play in America right now.

Check out their debut appearance in Armand Van Helden’s promo for his ‘I want Your Soul’ video.

MIA Okley Run

Annoying darling of the fashion world and not much else MIA has released her own clothing line surprise surprise. Take a peek at her ‘Okley Run’ line but be warned I’ll personally merk you if I see you wearing this crackheads clothes.

MIA Okley Run

The Wackness Mixtapes

A film about mid-90’s New York, hip hop and weed sounds like a dream come true. Add to that it stars Sir Ben Kingsley (no, no, no no, rowntree yes! grosvenor yes!), Method Man and an Olsen twin and this should be interesting. Even if its dripping in wack juice the soundtrack is gonna be tight and we’ve got the official movie mixtape mixed by D-Nice and a bootleg to boot.

Official tape on the DL

Bootleg

on the DL

Popularity: 68% [?]

In a time when rappers were either hardcore and gangster or political and militant the Native Tongues collective were neither. Abstract, witty and intelligent is the best way to describe A Tribe Called Quest’s approach to lyricism, with an evidently coherent jazz backdrop that was much less radio friendly than De La and the JB’s, but would leave more of a lasting imprint on hip hop production values of the 90’s. Made up of Phife Dawg, Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and sometime member Jarobi White, A Tribe Called Quest entered the stage with their 1990 debut Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.

Their debut album was full of random rhymes that touched on topics as diverse as safe sex, vegetarianism, wallet loss, as well as odes to the ladies, French hip hop artists and fools. This lyrical lightheartedness gave Tribe a vast appeal which reached out to younger children, the white mainstream and the larger dance community, areas that more militant or hardcore artists could not breach. The fact that a lot of their early audiences didn’t get the lyrical content of a rap album but still chose to enjoy it is a testament to the ear friendly production. This album wasn’t the ear melting stuff of say NWA or Public Enemy but was a mellow full sound that hadn’t been heard from a New York scene which had so far favoured sparse cold production. The warmth of the beats and the varied vocal styles of Phife and Q-Tip make this a classic debut but fortunately for hip hop the best of A Tribe Called Quest was still to come.

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Popularity: 64% [?]

For a certain type of 90s girl, there was only one look worth rocking. While riot grrls were covering themselves in lipstick and wearing ripped baby doll dresses, hip hop honeys were taking inspiration from the body-con trend of the 80s catwalk and showing of those curves in slick, skin-tight bandage dresses and high-waisted trousers.

Alaia dress and Versace bondage body pics from Decade

The street look borrows from high fashion, but dresses are replaced with cycling shorts and bra tops. From House Party’s Sidney and Sharane to the backing dancers of Hammer and Sir Mix-a-lot, hey even Cindy Crawford, they were all on it. Although sometimes they did look like they were coming from the gym.

Some of our favourite body-con looks from the 90s

It’s definitely a fashion trend that is being revisited at the moment. Herve Leger is the currently celebrity favourite (here) and pop stars from the UK’s Craig David to Flo Rida have bought it back for the noughties:

Trivia

Body-con, which stands for body-conscious – or should that be body confidence? – was first championed by designers such as Azzedine Alaia, Herve Leger and Gianni Versace in the 80s and provided the inspiration for a hot look!

Popularity: 60% [?]

Take a Look Around is a genuine rap classic from the most slept on Juice Crew member Masta Ace. Almost entirely produced by Marley Marl, the man who defined the hip hop sound in first years of the 90’s, with 4 tracks handled by Mister Cee, this was one of the tightest albums of 1990. Ace had made his debut on the iconic Juice Crew track ‘The Symphony’ back in ‘88, holding his own alongside heavyweights of the mic Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Craig G. Ace was signed to the Marley Marl-fronted Cold Chillin Records and released his first single the following year before following up with his debut album Take a Look Around.

The album is a solid 15 tracks from start to finish featuring no fillers, intros, outros or skits and all being above standard for a 1990 release. The album showcases Masta Ace’s lyrical diversity - being comfortable spittin’ on any topic and vibe seems to come effortlessly to Ace. He steers between battle raps on ‘Aces Wild’ to comedy on ‘Me and the Biz’ through to conscious raps on ‘I Got Ta’ and opens a window into ghetto life on ‘Brooklyn Battles’ and the title track ‘Take a Look Around. The album spawned 4 singles, the most popular being ‘Me and the Biz’- the video for which features Ace controlling a Biz Markie marionette puppet.

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Popularity: 69% [?]

1990 saw Compton rise to international fame primarily due to the success of N.W.A and the controversy that constantly surrounded them. Off the back of N.W.A’s notoriety a number of Compton rappers and groups were catapulted into the limelight, many of them associated with the Eazy-E’s Ruthless records, or produced by Dr Dre.

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Popularity: 61% [?]

By 1990 Mike Tyson was a household name around the world for all the right reasons. Trading the tough streets of Bed Stuy and Brownsville in Brooklyn for the discipline of the boxing gym, Tyson personified the rags to riches story. After being arrested 38 times by the age of 13 Iron Mike inevitably found his way to a juvenile detention centre. Due of his history of violence and anger he was urged to take up boxing while inside to channel his aggression and immediately showed promise. His natural athleticism and boxing ability were shown to legendary trainer Cus D’Amato who pulled him out of juvie and brought him to his Catskills gym.

D’Amato was not only versed in a plethora of little known boxing techniques but was also extremely experienced in dealing with troubled kids, having turned round the lives of many hoodlums including Rocky Graziano and Floyd Patterson who both became world champions. The transformation from street brawler to accomplished amateur highlighted the skills of both fighter and trainer. D’Amato showed the young Tyson how best to use his short stocky frame and negate the reach disadvantage he would invariably suffer throughout his career as a 5″9 heavyweight. During this time Tyson’s mother passed away and he was legally adopted by Cus D’Amato, the only father figure he had known in his life.

Tyson missed out on the chance to represent the US at the Olympics in 1984 but that would soon be forgotten as he turned pro in March 1985 and blazed through 15 fights in that year winning all by knockout, 11 of those coming in the opening round. Unfortunately in November of that year, just days after his 11th win, Cus D’Amato passed away leaving 19 year old Tyson to all intents and purposes orphaned. Determined to fulfill D’Amato’s dream of training another world heavyweight champion, Tyson was straight back in the ring racking up 12 more wins in 1986 before preparing for a November World Title shot against Jamaican Olympian Trevor Berbick.

Berbick had only been champion for 8 months but was a seasoned heavyweight who had previously fought Larry Holmes and had ended the career of Muhammad Ali with his unanimous decision victory over the legend. Tyson’s speed and power were no respecters of records though and he subsequently demolished Berbick, stunning him at the end of the first round before flooring him twice in the second. Tyson was crowned the youngest ever heavyweight champion at just 20 years and 4 months old and stood by his declaration that he wished to fight the worlds best by taking on 2 more champions the following year.

Iron Mike added the WBA belt to his WBC title after beating ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith in his next fight before knocking out former champion Pinklon Thomas. In only his third defence he became the first heavyweight champion in history to hold all 3 titles at once, after a decision victory over IBF champ Tony Tucker. Tyson continued to clear out the division despite his tender age, successfully defending against legend Larry Holmes and top contenders Tubbs, Spinks and Britain’s own favourite Frank Bruno. By the end of the decade however, his troubles outside of the ring were mounting. A failed marriage to Robin Givens, a punch-up with Mitch Green and dismissal of trainers Kevin Rooney and Teddy Atlas left him alienated, alone and under the control of the less than savoury Don King.

The 90’s would continue as the eighties had ended with the controversy and disruption that had begun to shroud his personal life following him into the ring. It seemed his life had come full circle as the taunts and mocking of his high pitched voice and lisp which had drawn him into many streetfights as a child returned, this time coming from a media desperate to find a chink in his armour. Iron Mike would spend the decade between jail cells, comeback fights and ridiculous money making promotions like WWF wrestling. For half a decade he was ‘the baddest man on the planet’, an undisputed champion and icon of invincibility, immortalised in countless video games, TV shows and films. A product of the tough streets and a victim of a cold society he was arguably the last great heavyweight champion.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Back in 1990 hip hop was part Afrocentric education and part fun and vibrancy. House Party definitely falls into the second category. Taking much inspiration from the Spike Lee movies of the era, but without of the preachy tone, this film showed normal black teenagers just out to have some fun - in spite of their over protective parents, schoolyard bullies and police harassment. In other words, this is a rare ‘feel good in the hood’ movie that shows ghetto life doesn’t have to involve guns, drugs and alcohol but shows good people having a good time together.

The action revolves around rap duo Kid ‘n Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin) and their attempts to organise a party at Play’s house whilst his old folks are on holiday. Sounds easy if you don’t take into acccount some comedic bad boys in the form of RnB production powerhouse ‘Full Force’ who will stop at nothing to cut Kid and his oversized high top fro down to size. If that wasn’t enough, Kid also has to contend with his old school ‘Pop’, played to full comedy value by the late Robin Harris. Harris’ portrayal of this role has set somewhat of a blueprint and been imitated by the likes of Bernie Mac and John Witherspoon (who makes a brief appearance as a nosy neighbour).

When the party finally gets started, Martin Lawrence handles the DJing duties whilst Kid n Play engage in a freestyle battle to impress the two female leads Sidney (Tisha Campbell) and Sharane. The defining moment of the film is the 90’s new jack swing dance-off that ensues between Kid n Play and the girls, parodied and mimicked countless times, and easily one of the most enjoyable moments of 90’s cinema. There is a warning about the dangers of drinking and a safe sex message to boot, but in the midst of all the teenage fun its a fleeting moment of parental nagging in a film that is rarely condescending to the viewer.

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Popularity: 86% [?]

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was without doubt a driving force in bringing hip hop from the underground to the mainstream in the 90’s. Taking elements from The Jeffersons, Cosby Show and Different Strokes and coupling them with the infectious personality of young rap star Will Smith, the show was a welcome breath of fresh air when it amazingly premiered on BBC 2 of all channels in the UK in late 1990.  The show is centred on the struggles of streetwise teenager Will, who is uprooted from the ghettos of south Philly to the mansions of Bel Air to live with his rich Uncle Phil and his 3 cousins.

This show embodied the essence of early 90’s hip hop with Will sporting a wardrobe colour matched to the front cover of De La Souls 3 Feet High and Rising, whilst spouting the popular slang of the time. Between Will and best friend and occasional guest star Jazz the unsuspecting audience is slowly introduced to the elements of hip hop; turntablism, beatboxing and break dancing, though Will’s dancing is more Heavy D and the Boyz than Crazy Legs.

Though primarily a family show, the Fresh Prince occasionally touched on more serious topics such as crime, racism and absentee fathers, although a gag was never far away to lighten the tone. By the later series a number of running jokes had been firmly established, Aunt Viv had been replaced, Ashley had grown up and a new family member Nicky had been added but the show was just as popular as ever, avoiding the axe on couple of occasions.

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Popularity: 82% [?]

Yo peeps, this is our first round up of items that prove the 90’s are coming back strong….

Puma West Philly collection

Bringing a new meaning to the phrase ‘fresh kicks’ here are the samples from the new Puma West Philly collection which are based on the cult 90’s TV show the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

The tongues sport the familiar green and pink logo from the shows opening credits and on the heels there is a feint graf dub of the words ‘West Philly’ which is where the playground that the Fresh Prince was born and raised and spent most of his days was situated.

There’s also a backpack and bright green watch to go with these sneaks that have yet to surface in the shops yet but if you do see them holla at ya boy cos I wanna cop these!!!

Peep em here

and the rest of the range here

Wiley - Summertime Video

This video has everything a 90s guy like me could wish for. Backdrops that come straight of a pair of Zubaz pants, a stack of girls in cycling shorts and a homage to the ‘House Party’ dance off, really what more could you ask for?

Just Blaze - 90’s Flava Vol.1

Roc-a-fella’s premier producer is back with a new mixtape which is all 90’s. Its got a smattering of everything, new jack swing, new school and east coast hardcore. Be warned though, it also has a smattering of his voice every couple of minutes too, but well worth a listen.

On the DL

part 2

Popularity: 66% [?]