May 03, 2015

HDM ‘Da Professional’ (12", 1997)


HDM aka Hype Da Madman released ‘Da Professional’ 12" on Jungle Nills Records in 1997. I've read posts online that say he was from Brooklyn, another said New Jersey, but I'd always known him to be from Staten Island? Either way, the 12" was released on vinyl and cassette with ‘Real MC’s’ on the B-Side. Going back to the 'Shadowz In The Dark' 12”, ‘Da Professional’ is produced by Monochrome and ‘Real MCs’ was produced by Nick Wiz. HDM also released a 12” as Sho-Nuf on his own label, HDM Entertainment, called ‘No Nice Timez.’ The 12” came with two other tracks and was also released in 1997. His original logo pictured above was pretty dope, it was included on the B-Side label and as the cassette artwork for ‘Da Professional.’ As for 'Real MCs,' Pharoahe Monch wanted the beat for Organized Konfusion's 'Equinox' project in 1997, but HDM had already pressed the vinyl, so Nick Wiz missed out on that placement. HDM was also on the demo version of Mobb Deep's 'Right Back At You,' but allegedly Prodigy wanted him to change his verse, which didn't happen and, in the end, they went with Ghost & Rae instead! He was featured in Unsigned Hype (3/93) as part of Staten Island's Red Eye Krew with Oob and Jun Jak, just to give more back-story.