Toll Call

Call O' Da Wild

-Sometimes The Neighborhood
-Clouds Of Smoke

1995 East Side Records




-Ruffturrain
-Intellectual Dons

1996 Ruffhouse/Columbia/Sony

Among the general hip-hop fandom, surprisingly little is known about this crew despite their major-label moment, their inclusion on the '96 Smokin' Grooves Tour bill along with heavyweights A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Busta Rhymes, Ziggy Marley, and Spearhead, and, of course, their weed-holder status alongside Smokin' Grooves headliner, Cypress Hill. My guess is that at some point in 1995, after two successful albums, somebody at Ruffhouse (probably an intern) finally noticed that Muggs and the crew were shamefully lacking a legitimate carrier. Maybe they just didn't know they were entitled, or were just too used to carrying for themselves. In any case, the demo song that ended up on the Bad Boys soundtrack must have generated at least a smattering of positive feedback, because the Wild guys got a whole 12" out of it. Alas, their toting time was short-lived, and so we have been forced to endure the Psycho Realm era.

Immediately, upon first listen of the first song, the Cypress Hill affiliation becomes apparent. It sounds kinda like B-Real's whole family on wax. And, indeed, Mr Real himself makes an appearance on Intellectual Dons (which you may remember from the Unreleased and Revamped package). The music is all nice, mostly contributed by Muggs (props for the Doors loop), and Sometimes The Neighborhood might have one of, if not THE most memorable beats I've ever heard. There have been conflicting reports, from Sun Ra to Rodgers & Hammerstein, about the origin of the loco piano parts, but thus far, no consensus. Any insight earns infinite shine in this space for life.

And on a more personal note, whenever I meet an artist or a group that are just plain good people, without unnecessary ego or fleego, I immediately become a bigger fan. When these guys were at the next table in Denny's after the Smokin' Grooves' Shoreline Amphitheatre stop, they earned themselves this post for that very reason. Probably worth the price of a couple Grand Slams, at least, eh?