After Dark music single, which is a Hip Hop classic.
It was late in the day and all I wanted to do was to relax. Work today was stressful. But not so stressful that I was just going to just slump into a chair, and just watch the latest TV soap that has been put up in front of me.
I decided I wanted and needed to do something different. And this was to search through my record selection and play tunes that I haven’t done so, for more than two years or more.
Flicking through my vinyl selection, one of the tracks fell to the floor.
I thought, “Oh no. I hope I haven’t damaged it!”
It wasn’t damaged, and it didn’t appear to have any scratches on it; which I was relieved. By myself checking the record was ok I then decided to play it.
As soon as the opening bars and beats of the music came on, it immediately put a smile on my face. I remember where I was when I bought this.
I purchased this at a local record store within Ipswich Town all those years ago called Andys Records, Ipswich Town, England - (which unfortunately has long since gone out of business) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/2951538.stm
The single that I purchased that day was called – True Mathematics and the Invisible Empire – “After Dark”(1987)
It still sounds great. It was produced by The Bomb Squad. One of the legends of the Hip-hop music period. (Below is a picture of two members of the team known as THE BOMB SQUAD - Brothers Hank and Keith Shocklee (James Henry Boxlee III and Keith Boxley respectively
The Bomb Squad Team was actually comprised of - Carl Ryder (the production pseudonym of PE's Chuck D), Bill Stephney, and brothers Hank and Keith Shocklee (James Henry Boxlee III and Keith Boxley respectively).
Stephney left in the late years of the 1980s. In 1994 Gary G-Wiz (Gary Rinaldo) joined the team as a permanent member.
Along with other Hip Hop groups of the time that we're creating “Heat” at the time such as
- Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush the Show = 1987
- Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded = 1987
- Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full = 1987
- MC Shy D - Got to Be Tough = 1987
- Spoonie G - The Godfather of Rap = 1987
- Just-Ice - Kool & Deadly = 1987
The Bomb Squad for those that are not in the know, is an American hip-hop production team known mostly for its work with the hip-hop group Public Enemy.
Their production sound is noted for its dense, innovative production style incorporating and utilizing dozens of samples on just one track that they are working on.
They are also known for their ability to incorporate harsh sounds and samples into their productions as well. And then at the end of it sounds so funky and groovy.
The Bomb Squad is rated by the website known as About.com as the #12 ranked Hip-Hop Producers list within the music of Hip-Hop.
The artist called True Mathematics – is actually known as Kenny Houston. A relatively unknown emcee from Hempstead, New York, USA; and was one of the more mysterious rap acts to come out of this group having almost no recognition outside of New York.
True Mathematics released a number of twelve-inch singles between 1987 and 1988. But the one that made everybody sit up and take notice was - “After Dark”.
It was here that I decided that I need to hear from the man himself in regards to his background and the creation of the track in question.
This wasn't easy as I was not sure if Mr. Houston still resided in New York City, USA.
However, it was through a friend via the Internet called - Iris Doveran - https://www.facebook.com/iris.doveran - who helped me to locate - that I met TRUE MATHEMATICS (His real name is Kenny Houston).
So thanks to Iris on that score. I managed to put over a few questions too - Kenny Houston - known as True Mathematics to get a full story of how he got started within the Industry and beyond.
Did you grow up within a musical family - for instant was any of your family a musician, or within a group or part of a church choir...
"My mother (Mary Houston) was a lead singer in The Freewill Baptist church choir located in Roosevelt Long Island, New York, USA".
As you moved into your teenage years, did you have a musical hero? Was it a Rap artist? Group or both. Or an Rnb artist or group?....
"Earth wind and fire, Blue Magic, Black Ivory later on Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five".
When did you realize that you could rap, and rap really well?...
"I actually started writing poems for my girlfriend Rondrea.
Then when the music of Rap came out. I just turn the poems into rap. I and my best friend "Knowledge Born" started going to different towns rapping and break dancing.
Later on, I met Chuck D on the N41 bus, and I told him I could rap. He told me to come down to 510 south Franklin in Hempstead, New York.
He was in a group called Spectrum City with Hank and Keith Shocklee. I started doing shows with them and later on, we started making records".
Did you start your career as a Solo Rapper? Or were you in a Rap Group...
"I was solo with Dj educational"
How did you get to work with Public Enemyand the Bomb Squad?
"I was working with them when they were spectrum city writing for local groups.
Later on, they started a group called Public Enemy".
One of the singles that you covered and put out as a single was the single called - "After Dark". How did that come about?
"Hank and Chuck wanted to manage and start producing their own artists.
Public Enemy was the first. I was the Second Bomb Squad production.
I wrote after dark cause most hanging out took place after dark so I wrote about my experience".
Did you write all the lyrics for the single - "AFTER DARK" Or did you create the lyrics via doing a Freestyle rap session??? It is considered a Classic track in Hip Hop music?...
"I wrote the lyrics and did the demo at 510 South franklin with The Bomb Squad".
Did you help with the choice of music samples, and putting the music together for the song that is "After Dark"??? ...
"No, the music was all created by the Bomb Squad I just went in the studio and wrote to it".
Did you ever go onto Tour with Public Enemyduring their Prime - the late 1980s and early 1990s...
"When Public Enemy first started I was going to shows with them but when I signed with select records I was doing shows mostly overseas so I didn’t go to many of their tours".
Did you ever work with other Rap artists within that period known as the "Golden Period"...
"I wrote a song with Slick Rick and Dr. Dre from YO MTV Raps. I co-wrote get the F?%# out of dodge with Chuck. I was on Terminator X Valley of the Jeep beats with the interrogators - (Back to the scene of the bass)".
Are you still working and performing within the music business....?????
"No, but I still write as a hobby 'cause that’s what I always did and who knows I might put something out again".
What do you think about the current state of the Music Industry and the Hip Hop scene?
"I like some of the raps, music mostly but we rap about what we into artists are a little more outspoken now, back in the 80s it was wild but we stayed under the radar".
Well getting back to the track called "AFTER DARK". I have to say that it is a brilliant track.
Well, I think so!
Even, if you don’t even like the music of HIP-HOP. You will like this track.
In my opinion, it is a track that should still get more plaudits within the music of Hip hop than it has done over the years.
The song was made in the year of 1987. The Bomb Squad HIP-HOP Team is the producer of the song (Chuck D, Hank Shocklee). Who sourced and made use of the two main samples to make the song and to see it charting within the BILLBOARD CHARTS OF 1987.
These were: (SAMPLES USED TO MAKE - AFTER DARK WAS - SEE BELOW)
- Celebrate the Good Things by Pleasure (1978)
- Still Smokin' by Trouble Funk (1985)
What I like about this is that it is giving us a great storytelling type of Rap. Giving you that visual picture of what was happening within the city of New York during 1987. Plus all the lyrics are clear of swearing and cuss words
Here below are the Opening Lyrics of:
True Mathematics and the Invisible Empire – “After Dark”(1987)
It's like a Graveyard
When its day outside
But after dark, is when the day comes alive
The Old, the young,
The black or White
They all comes out in the shadow of the night
But in the daytime
Nobodies around
Yet the streets get packed
When the Sun goes down
People hanging on the block
Some hang on the Park
But most don’t hang until after dark
After dark
After dark (Peoples Burn)
After dark
After dark (Peoples Burn)
Please do have a listen to the single in question as well.
True Mathematics and the Invisible Empire – “After Dark”(1987)
As I mentioned earlier. It is a single that never seems to get any accolades within the hip-hop community. Maybe it's me. But I considered this track I bonafide classic.
What are your thoughts on this single? Give me your thoughts and views about it. Did you buy the single like me when it first came out? Where did you hear it first? Let us know.
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
Please
Dj Mistri and the Electric Soul Show © www.electricsoulshow.com
