4 Iza Cru - I Know Ya Style / Boriqua Skinz

'95 FLAVOR IN YA EAR! 4 Iza Cru out of the 718 released on Rukus Records. They sound like young dudes; Kid Dynamite, Steve Lover, DJ Furious, and another mc.

Dope production on both sides. The first track, "I Know Ya Style" is produced by M-Tri out of Brooklyn. He's still producing and has a myspace page. The track is built around this verse, "I know your style, I've seen it before, You wear an army suit, now you think you're hardcore" from "The Shit is Real" by Fat Joe. They're calling out fake crews. Nice.

On the flip, "Boriqua Skinz" is about the type of honeys they like. No argument here. This joint is produced by Hotdog and is built around what sounds to be a a Greg Nice sample that I can't quite distinguish. Another banger that may have been given more play and shown up on a few more mixes.

At the end of "I Know Ya Style" they shout out Big Dave on the board, RNS (not sure if it's the producer), and Snagglepuss, the cat (no pun intended) that rapped on Brand Nubian's "Step Into Da Cipher" and the "All Men Are Dogs" track that had too many mc's on it

Has this crew released any other records or have you seen anything else put out by Rukus Records? I believe they're from Brooklyn. It's a nice record, yet I've found very little info. Enjoy.

4 Iza Cru - I Know Ya Style

4 Iza Cru - Boriqua Skinz

Mop Top - Forever (Verbal Assault) / I'm Alright / Move Ya Body

"It's the crew with the dreadlocks called the Mop Top!" I copped this record many years ago in Savannah, GA. I remembered the name from appearances on the Stretch & Bobbito Show. This record doesn't disappoint. DOPE BEATS! Mid 90's steez. Brooklyn in the house! Released in 1996 on Break A Dawn Records. The posse joint, Forever (Verbal Assault) features Big Grei, Nine, Diablo, Freestyle & Inner Soul. KRS ONE is sampled at the end while Spin One scratches the Show & AG "Next Level" verse "showing all these corny motherfuckers what hip hop’s supposed to sound like". I couldn't agree more, Andre. Check for the nasal white guy impersonation when dude says "got white people saying 'damn right that's good flavor'."

The B-side gives ya two NOGGIN NODDERS. "I'm Alright" hits you first. The dude kickin' the second verse drops it heavy on "female savages." Spin One blesses you with another scratched hook coupled with a Slick Rick vocal sample. "Move Ya Body" is another HEATER. Again, with a scratched vocal this time sampling Biggie Smalls. When the AL Skratch sample comes in, "nobody move nobody get shot" during a verse, that's when I tend to move my body, well, raise my drink up and wave it side to side while nodding in accordance. Good stuff.

Buddha Stretch is credited with production while co-production credits on "I'm Alright" go to Caleaf Sellers and Will-Do. Many people are familiar with Break A Dawn's other releases from Ten Thieves. I personally like this record better than either of those. Anyways, enjoy the clips and judge for yourself.

Mop Top - Forever (Verbal Assault) feat. Big Grei, Nine, Diablo, Freestyle & Inner Soul.

Mop Top - I'm Alright

Mop Top - Move Ya Body

Harlem High Records - Downlow "Hands On Ya Pumpz" / "Buddah Nation" feat. Downlow, Zhigge, Figures Of Speech, Ghetto Dwellers & Nadine

Another mid-90's sleeper, off of Harlem High Records. Downlow repping Brooklyn are taking no shorts on this 12". They run all over this hot beat produced by Milo Johnson with the familiar Cypress Hill sample in the hook. UK connection as Milo Johnson/DJ Milo is an OG member of Massive Attack and The Wild Bunch. I've got a "Friends & Countrymen" 12" lying around here somewhere from The Wild Bunch and it's a dope joint, so it's not surprising he laced these cats from NYC. On the double A-side were hit with a ridiculous posse cut, "Buddah Nation." They expound about joys of puffing trees. Reminds me of college. They smoke this track (lame pun intended) for nearly 6 minutes. Another head nodder. Engineered by old school hip hop pioneer, Brooklyn's own Cutmaster DC and a dude named Greg. Mixed at D & D Studios. BLAZIN'! (another lame pun :)

Downlow - Hands On Ya Pumpz

Buddah Nation feat. Downlow, Zhigge, Figures Of Speech, Ghetto Dwellers & Nadine

Earplay Entertainment EP

Pressed up in 1996 by Earplay Entertainment out of Brooklyn, this may be their first and only release. The intro by Oliver Twist repping BX is way too short, but utilizes a familiar sample and instantly validates the officialness of this record. After that, Khenya steps up with some r&b crap. NEXT! The final joint on side A is a track that some of you may have heard, HitMan's "Die 4 My Iggaz." Coming from Brooklyn, he's letting cats know that he's down for his team and not droppin' dime on his fam. On the B side we get a female mc, Dezert Storm, boasting a familiar steez; a woman that's about lyrics rather than material items. I skip over most female mc's, but "Operation Dezert Storm" is brief and she runs over the track nicely. Strictly Homicidal ends it on a high note letting dudes know they're out for the cream on "Just Imagin'." Check the flute and the whistle that comes in every so often. Smokin'!

One of the biggest surprises about this 12" is the production. DOPE BEATS! All songs are produced and mixed by CINQUE Coleman with co-production credits going to Akin "Ock" Jackson on the Khenya joint.

Oliver Twist - Earplay Intro

HitMan - Die 4 My Iggaz

Operation Dezert Storm - Dezert Storm feat. CINQUE

Strictly Homicidal - Just Imagin'

Holler at me with any info or drop a line and let me know if you're diggin' it. Peace.