Urban Thought Collective

No matter how noble and genuine their intentions, every cat that gets into the hip hop game wants shine from the masses. It’s only understandable to want that mainstream approval. Underground acceptance is great, but it’s like the difference between being rich and being wealthy. We’d all be cool with being rich, but damn it’d be great to be wealthy.

This week’s post is all about those cats that didn’t get that mainstream shine, for whatever reason.

And oh yeah, this is for UTC commenter DollsDaughter. I can’t believe none of these cats hit the stratosphere! LOL!

SOULS OF MISCHIEF: “93 ‘TIL INFINITY”
This one is going out to my boy G-Nice, who’s the biggest Heiro fan IN THE WORLD. His bathroom towels had the Heiro insignia on them. He needs serious help, but that’s for another day. Anyway, this song is beyond incredible. Listening to this track puts me right back in 12th grade, riding with my boys in a Geo Metro, without a care in the world. Right now I’m a little misty, I’m not ashamed to tell you.

CAMP LO: “LUCHINI”
“We magnets to moolah.” I was not a big “Camp Lo” fan when “Coolie High” was released. I didn’t understand what the hell they were saying. When “Luchini” came out, I still didn’t understand what they were saying, but it was for damn sure funky. The sure-fire way for getting people on the dance floor was to play this track. It never failed. Matter fact. You’re dancing in your chair right now, ain’t ya? Ain’t ya?

KAM: “I STILL GOT LOVE 4 UM”
“Thought they were smart and got crushed like relish.” This song was tailor made for “Old School Spotlight.” The groove practically forces you to reminisce, doesn’t it? The video is funny, though, for one reason. Why is Kam wearing so many clothes? He’s got a t-shirt on under a long sleeve shirt and later throws on a jean jacket. It’s LA. You don’t need layers in LA. Like Tommy Chun said, “there’s so much gang violence in LA cause dudes is mad hot.”

DIAMOND D: “SALLY GOT A ONE TRACK MIND”
“You better wake up and smell the blunt.” True heads know about Diamond D and his production work with DITC, Tribe, Mos Def, etc. But mention Diamond D to the mainstream, and they’ll think you’re talking about Diamond Dallas Page the wrestler. Thank God for the internet and Sally’s one track mind. I wonder if she still has that one track mind sixteen years later. Hmm….

And now…for something a little more old school…

ARETHA FRANKLIN: “ONE STEP AHEAD”
New feature this week. Can you guess which artist used a sample from this song? It should be evident after about 25 seconds. This is an easy one…most definitely.

Diallo Tyson is a filmmaker, comedian and old school music junkie. When he’s not busy, he is a rapper with the group “Two Pimps and a Dream.” Step into a groovin’ time machine every week on UTC.