DJ Scott La Rock and KRS-One, a former social worker and homeless client, respectively, teamed up to form one of the seminal rap groups in hip-hop history. Sadly, La Rock was killed in 1987 as their debut album reached its peak of popularity. This compilation, "Blast Master Tapes" by Traffic Recordings should be looked at as a companion piece to the "Criminal Minded" LP by Boogie Down Productions. Here, for the first time is a comprehensive two-disc anthology of the recordings created by the Boogie Down Productions' members during their short-lived tenure at the indie label B-Boy Records. Songs on the album include several selections from "Criminal Minded", including the title cut, "Poetry", "South Bronx" and more. The first rap recordings by junior B.D.P. member D-Nice are included, like "D-Nice Rocks the House" (which would be reworked for his 1990 Jive single "Just Call Me D-Nice") and "Scott Made Me Funky". An early example of KRS-One's social commentary can be heard on "Say No Brother (crack attack)". The beat-box driven (and vaguely misogynist) "P is Free (original version)" is also heard here (a slightly cleaned-up remix ended up on the Criminal Minded LP). Also of special note is the single "$ucce$$ is the Word", by the one-and-done obscure rap group 12:41, which featured KRS-One on vocals, and is considered to be his first recording on vinyl. The liner notes are mildly illuminating, and they apparently include Scott La Rock's funeral obituary.
See all 11 tracks on this disc
