Come Back Swinging

Motion Man
-Mo' Like Flows On
-'93 Swing

1993 Stepsun Records

While probably best known for his collabos with the legendary Kool Keith, some of Motion Man's strongest material has arrived via his solo efforts. Way back in 1993, this single made noise in the Bay Area and beyond due to solid, catchy production from The Wake Up Show's King Tech and Joe Quixx, playful lyrics, creative wordplay, and enviable mic presence. There's also a high-power remix of Mo' Like Flows On on another, even more rare 12", but I'll save that trinket for some other time.

These days, Motion Man can still be found roaming the byways of the Bay, most often alongside super-producer Kutmasta Kurt, who was responsible for Motion's last two major projects, Masters Of Illusion , and Motion's solo debut Clearing the Field. Word is that a new album is in store for this year, with appearances by Too Short, Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious), and Kool Keith, among others.

"Your Favorite Crews That's Lost..."

The Nonce
-Who Falls Apart

1995 Wild West/American Recordings

True, the homies at Broke B-Boys came with a spot-on post about The Nonce recently, but if I could change one thing about it, I'd add this song.

Originally availabe only as a b-side of the Bus Stops single on Rick Rubin's American Records label, the track was reworked and included on a subsequent Nonce release, but sans the magic that it originally brought (if you ask me).

Chef Frankenstein

Frankenstein
-The Rain Is Gone

1996 Knowledge of Self Entertainment

In 1996, traveling back up to Toronto, visiting Mr. Frankenstein, we find a man who wears many hip-hop hats. When we arrive, he's busy making funky funky beats. Earlier, it seems, he was writing and spitting high-caliber rhymes. And in no time, he'll be manning the audio butter-churn, recording and mixing his own sweet, smooth, strangely saucy product.

For this batch, he folds in a mellow piano loop, simple but effective percussion, and what seems to be a cricket sound, then adds a shake of vocals by Naomi Gaskin for flavor. He stirs briskly, cuts lacquer "cookie-cutters," and bakes up platter after platter filled with an uncommonly tasty track. The kind that's nutritious enough for breakfast, hearty enough for dinner, and sweet enough for dessert all at the same time.

The Big Sleep

Big Red and Diamond D
-Created A Monster
-How They Want It

One of my absolute favorites from the time that I never got a copy of. I always wondered why it was so slept-on. Why it made so little noise. Turns out, it was a super-limited pressing in 1994, so imagine my surprise and delight when, around 2000-2001, someone decided to repress it! Not only would I finally get my hands on a copy (copies), but all kinds of people who missed it the first time around would surely not fall victim to the same fate twice. This record was too good.

So what happened, you ask? Well, by most accounts (including my own), it was unceremoniously slept-on once again. Just a shame. Not only is this Diamond D in his production prime, with thick, bass-heavy stuff set off by slow, jazzy Quincy Jones horns and moody vocal samples, but it does as good a job as any record of exemplifying street-level independent hip-hop of the era.

I know all the record-collector purists out there crossed this one off of their lists once it got repressed, which, to the rest of us, means that there are still available (and affordable) copies floating around out there to be found. Don't sleep this time around.