Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: Grand Wizard Theodore

Photo Credit: Noococ

Blasting records in his bedroom, a young Theodore was asked by his mother to turn down his music. Granting his mom’s wish, Grand Wizard Theodore used his bare hands to stop the record, discovering the sound of the scratch. Using a copy of The Incredible Bong’s “Bongo Rock”, he took it to the park jams of the Bronx to share his discovery and make his mark. Founder of The Fantastic Five and protege of Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore set a trend that will live in hip-hop culture forever.

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: MC Pebblee Poo

Starting off as a b-girl in the 70s, MC Pebblee Poo was taught how to rap by music producer Dr.Bomb-Bay who frequently took her to DJ Kool Herc park jams. Poo joined DJ Kool Herc’s collective, the Herculords — becoming the hip-hop godfather’s first female MC. She is also recognized as one of the first female MC soloists of hip-hop culture. Best known for her role in The Masterdon Committee as their Funkbox hits took off by storm, this femcee’s 1985 hit “Fly Guy” became a hip-hop classic. MC Pebblee Poo’s contribution to hip-hop holds honor and recognition worldwide. 

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: Grandmaster Caz

Image Credit: Joe Conzo

Once the declaration of hip-hop was born, known as Casanova Fly to Grandmaster Caz he was the first to conjointly rap and DJ. In the early 1980s, as the leading MC of the Cold Crush Brothers, Grandmaster Caz’s lethal rhymes healthily vexed fellow emcees. Their battle against The Fantastic Five in the paramount film Wild Style became a prominent moment for hip-hop culture. Grandmaster Caz became the elite of hip-hop supremacy as his fluid rhymes ended up on Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” without proper accrediting.

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: DJ Eddie Cheeba

The disco side of hip-hop is key to its evolution. Before this eccentric urban sound traveled past NYC, in the mid to late 70s, Eddie Cheeba was the first master of the call-and-response tactic, House Rockin’. His aural raspy voice rocked the crowds of NYC clubs like Club 371 and Small’s Paradise. His verbal rides opened doors to the younger generation. Cheeba’s infamous phrase “It’s on and on on and on like the hot butter on that what? Popcorn!” was a real crowd spur, making him an NYC legend.

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: DJ Hollywood

Before there were rap records, noted as the original King of Rap, DJ Hollywood was the first rap superstar, and first to rock both the mic and turntables at once. His rhythmic skits caused crowds to lose their minds within melodies. In the 70s he was the most favored entertainer of uptown New York City. His all-time classic phrases, “Throw Ya Hands In The Air” and “Somebody Say Ho” are testimonies to his savvy crowd response-ability and vibrant vocals. DJ Hollywood was the spark of the emcee.

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Know Your Hip-Hop Pioneers: Grandmaster Flowers

A true pioneer whose skills swayed the dawn of young hip-hop DJs, is Grandmaster Flowers. Reigning from Brooklyn, New York, Flowers was notorious for mixing disco and funk records in superb sequence. During the late 70s, his infamous sets at New York City’s Labor Day Parade generated a rhythm for NY DJs. After opening for James Brown in 1969 at Yankee Stadium, Flowers proved the prominence of the DJ. By bursting the hail of hip-hop DJs, Grandmaster Flowers’ rich influence will always be honored.

By Ime Ekpo

*Originally published in 2016

Rest In Peace

Tame One of the iconic Artifacts!

The Legendary Hurricane G has reportedly passed away.

Best known for her solo sensation All Woman, verse on Redman’s “Tonight’s Da Night” and “We Run N.Y,” presence on Delinquent Habits, and several iconic underground ventures of the 90s, Hurricane G is a hip-hop notable who was always ahead of her time. An avid representer of what we at Old School Hip-Hop Lust label “Original Woman Rap,” born Gloria Rodríguez, G was an unapologetic spitter of cultural rigor—instilling a prominent spotlight on Afro-Latina hip-hop practitioners.

Erick Sermon, who shares a daughter with Hurricane G took to Instagram to break the devastating news and highlight her influence on Puerto Rican female emcees:

“My heart is hardened today. One of my good friends…. my oldest daughters mother passed away today #HURRICANEGLORIA was also a legend in her own right in the Hiphop community. One of the first puertorican female rappers She rapped with me. @redmangilla she paved the way

@keithmurray @diddy she was in all the Hiphop magazines with all the top females at the time.. #stretchandbobito loved a song that she did called “MILKY” She will be missed all around the world. I can’t believe this. Pray for us. Beautiful blessings. She was a beautiful person a wonderful mother as real as they come. We love u.”

Details on Hurricane G’s passing have not been publicized as of yet. The news of her passing was confirmed through the posts of several of her hip-hop colleagues, including Rah Digga who tweeted, “I feel crazy posting back to back death like this but #HurricaneG is family as well as a legend and my good sis deserves her flowers. Rest easy my G <3”

The news of Hurricane G’s death was announced seconds to minutes after the death of Tame One of The Artifacts!

We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the beautiful Hurricane G.

By Ime Ekpo

WATCH

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Wu-Tang Clan Perform “Triumph” At The Roots Picnic in NYC (2016)

On October 2 of 2016, the Wu-Tang Clan (all members but Ghostface Killah) took the stage at Bryant Park in New York City for The Roots Picnic and performed an array of their classics, including, “Triumph.”

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