Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" (30th Anniversary Mix by Filthy Rich)

30 years of Black Moon's Enta Da Stage! I [still] remember being in the basement of my boy Chris' spot in Queens, and his older brother pulling out this cassette tape! While it was many of the remixes that from vinyl and maxi-singles that added life to this project, the full LP version is still incredibly dope on its own merit. Wreck and Nervous had shit on lock and can't front on Weeded Records neither. Props to Toronto's DJ Filthy Rich for unveiling this 30th anniversary mix and sharing the following message, "The LP was one of the bricks in the foundation for the Golden Era of east coast hip-hop. Da Beatminerz raw, dusty beats created a unique sound that became the signature of the Boot Camp Clik. This album was very influential to me, so I've decided to put together this mixtape tribute to the NYC legends. Remixes, blends, party breaks, OG samples & B-Sides." Torre Pentel on the comic art above. Dig into another really dope tribute mix from DJ Filthy Rich below...

Additional images because why the hell not...

Duck Down Newsletter (Summer, 1997)

Back in the day (mid/late-90s), Duck Down had its own printed Newsletter. This particular issue was announcing the release of Boot Camp Clik's For The People album on May 20, 1997. It shared the story of their album release party in Philadelphia at Club Gotham that featured Black Thought & Kurupt of the Dogg Pound, as well as news of their World Wide Tour, their single from the New Jersey Drive soundtrack (and Soul In The Hole); an interview highlight Louieville Sluggah, fan merchandise and Starang's verse from "Headz Ain't Ready." Duck Down has always had a great street team, a platform to go direct-to-fans, and incredible music. It's funny to see them plugging accounts for Hotmail, too lol. I've always been a fan of the independent zines and it's dope to have this newsletter to remind me of me that same vibe. I scanned the full newsletter, so you can read it/save copies. Too late for that merch though, lol. Here's a nice Boot Camp Clik playlist via Spotify.

Black Moon "Rise Of Da Moon" (Album Stream)

Black Moon returns with Rise of Da Moon. The 15-track album features Method Man, Smif N Wessun, and Rock of Heltah Skeltah. The project is entirely produced by Da Beatminerz. The CD is a custom digipak with a die-cut silhouette of Buckshot, 5FT & Evil Dee, with a 9.5" x 28" poster and 8-page booklet with exclusive photos from the recording sessions. The Dewgarde brothers, Evil Dee and Mr. Walt, deliver on the thick production, and as a whole, Black Moon remains true to their original Bucktown roots and backpack aesthetic. Method Man's guest verse on "Ease Back" is a definite show-stopper, make sure you check that out! You can stream Rise Of Da Moon below.

Book Of Rhymes Podcast: Black Moon (Episode 1)

Book of Rhymes is a brand new podcast, hosted by Donwill of Tanya Morgan and executive produced by Classic Material and Mika. For their debut episode, the Book of Rhymes podcast sits down with the legendary hip-hop crew, Black Moon. Helping to define the sound of Hip-Hop - especially in New York City - during the Golden Era, they discuss their early singles; their debut album "Enta Da Stage" with Nervous Records, as well as Duck Down Records and their overall impact on music culture. Peace to Evil Dee, Buckshot, 5ft MC, and of course the OG, Mr. Walt, and Dru-Ha. 

Boot Camp Clik "The Basement Cypher" (Rap City, 2003)

Here's some throwback footage of the Boot Camp Clik at BET in the Basement for the Rap City cypher. With DeeJay Logic on the 1s and 2s, Big Tigger sets it off (as per usual), then we got the Boot Camp Clik's O.G.C., Sean Price, Bucskhot, and General Steele droppin' bars. Sean Price uses this verse on "60 Bar Dash" off Donkey Sean Jr, where he says "Pootie Tang n!@@as always got a lot to say / Ain't talking 'bout shit though, sa-da-tay / Classical soul, I got the nastiest flow / Sean Price, big gun by the grassiest knoll / Can't see me coming, like I was fucking a blind b!tch / Grabbing the radio and then commence to rewind this / Leave it alone, or you can bleed from the dome..." This clip was recently reposted to the official Duck Down YouTube page, I think it was originally from around '03. Rest In Peace, Sean Price and salute the whole Duck Down Records family. Watch below...

Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" 25th Anniversary Mix

Released October 19th 1993, Black Moon’s classic debut LP ‘Enta Da Stage’ celebrates its 25th Anniversary this week. Produced entirely by Da Beatminerz, the album’s production style epitomizes early 90s East Coast boom bap sonics with laid back, filtered jazz-funk samples meeting crunchy drums, cut choruses and gritty wordplay. In celebration of the anniversary Who Sampled? teamed up once again with Wax Poetics and Chris Read to present this exclusive mixtape pairing album tracks and remixes with their sample sources, interview snippets and more. Listen to it below...

Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" (Complete Edition)

Brothers Lyrically Acting Combining Kicking Music Out On Nations. 'Enta Da Stage' is a pioneering album in NY hip-hop history. When asked in The Source back in '93, Buckshot had this to say: 'This album was created on vibes, how we feel, how we see life from our point of view. It's a state of mind, it's about bein' real relaxed, real calm, real subtle, showing things for what they is, analyzing it and then mastering it on wax ... We ain't coming half-assed.' Now in it's 23rd year, Fat Beats has released the Complete Edition, which features 6xLPs, 3xCDs or 3xCassettes - each edition includes the album, remixes, and instrumentals. I'm coppin' the cassettes, but I do want the vinyl, too! Does Fat Beats have an alumni discount code I can use? lol Much respect to DJ Jab, Pres. at Fat Beats!

Black Moon "Behind The Moon" (DVD, 2004)

One of Brooklyn's finest underground rap crews, Black Moon, offer a look inside its music and the lives of its group members, both at home and on the road, in this home video. Black Moon: Behind the Moon (originally released in June, 2004) features group members Buckshot, 5FT, and Evil Dee giving a tour of their neighborhood, working in their home studio, visiting radio stations during a promotional tour for the album Total Eclipse, and sharing the stage with the likes of Sean Price, Starang Wondah, and Cocoa Brovaz during their furious live show. Salute to Duck Down Records.

Big L, McGruff, CL Smooth "NY Freestyle" (12", 1999)

"NY Freestyle" features Harlem's Big L and Herb McGruff - early members of Children Of The Corn - as well as CL Smooth and I-Born. The B-Side track is "Throw It Up" from Buckshot of Black Moon & Kasino, who was down with your favorite rappers out of Yonkers. Both tracks were featured on The Union's "Organized Rhymes" compilation the same year (1999). The 22-track compilation also had joints with Rass Kass, AZ, O.C., Masta Ace, Channel Live and a lot more. As a bonus, the 12" also comes with the instrumentals to both tracks. Rest In Peace, Big L. Listen to the full 12" below...

Black Moon "How Many eMCees?" (Video, 1993)

Black Moon's "Enta Da Stage" was an important record for me and for New York. For me, the promotion of the album and its eventual release took me from middle school, over that summer, and into my freshman year in High School. My boy's older brother had an advance copy, back when "Who Got Da Props?" was already burning up New York radio from the year prior ('92). When "How Many eMCee's? dropped, it was the summer of '93 and the album dropped in the fall, taking me into a new school and a whole new stage in my life. Due to all the remixes, it forced me to dig more into vinyl; I started making tapes and really was consumed by the culture. Da Beatminerz's production brought a new flavor to the city & as a kid from Queens, that just became what Hip-Hop from Brooklyn sounded like to me. Later, the Wu had 36 Chambers reppin' Staten Island; Nas hit with Illmatic & Mobb Deep with The Infamous for Queens & maybe with all that (and more), Black Moon got somewhat left out the conversation of who originally brought NY back ... but like all things, the first one over the hill takes the hit. I think in retrospect, history remembers Black Moon in its rightful place & the whole Boot Camp Clik has been solidified as legends in the game. Listen below.

Black Moon "Buck 'Em Down" Remix (Review, 1994)

"Buck 'em Down" was the fourth and final single released from Black Moon's debut album "Enta Da Stage." It was released a full 2 years after the debut single, "Who Got Da Props" hit back in '92. Black Moon shifted the sound in New York with this album and controlled underground radio during its run. The Source reviewed the single in November '94, saying: "Black Moon picks up right where it left off last time - full of potent power and mind-expanding thrills. The superb last single - "I Got Cha Opin" b/w "Killin' Every N!gga" - was really Black Moon's best work to that point, perfecting the sometimes uneven production on the debut LP and clearing the way for pure brilliance on the beats and lyrics. This new single elevates Buckshot into the realm of the very few MCs who consistently set trends on the mic. Cold as ice, yet contemplative and keen, Buckshot has complete command of the track guiding his vocal chords through a melodic delivery thick with verbal gymnastics. The track is a true remix, a clear improvement on the original. Evil Dee and Mr. Walt have positioned the thumping beat out front, while a subtle bass and guitar linger in the back. At the end of the cut, the kick and snare drop out and the underlying sample runs on with the hi-hats - a tasteful and soulful touch." The 12" came with the dope "Murder MCs" on the B-side. Watch the video below.

Save a copy of the original review in The Source below...

Buckshot & P-Money "Backpack Travels" (Album Stream)

The new album from Buckshot, "Backpack Travels," is produced entirely by New Zealand boombap beatsmith, P-Money. I first heard P-Money last year with his "Gratitude" LP. That project featured M.O.P, Skyzoo & Havoc, Roc Marciano, Freddie Gibbs & Fashawn, and lots more, including a track with Buckshot, which likely sparked their interest in working together on this new album. The 10-track release boasts features from Joey Bada$$, Steele of Smif-N-Wessun, Chelsea Reject & more. It's got a nice sound to it that caters to our niche audience and should fit well in Buck's extensive catalog with Duck Down. I'm about to dig into it, then go back and peep "Gratitude" from last year.

Black Moon "I Got Cha Opin" (The Source, 4/94)

The advert boasts "the new single from the album "Enta Da Stage," remixed by Da Beatminerz. Also featuring "U Da Man" remix and a brand new cut, not on the album, "Killin Every N!gga." This 12" was released at end of March in 1994 and was the third 12" used to promote their debut album on Wreck Records. Once again, the group had the support of The Source, coming through with a review of the release, saying "Five-FT, Evil Dee and Buckshot prove that the album was just the beginning of their madness as they return to burn with an action-packed new single. Now, some of you might be wondering why Black Moon felt compelled to do a remix, because just about every track on their album was slammin. Well, let's just say that Black Moon are one of the few groups who understand the notion of giving the fans a lil' extra and leave it at that." Not only is the remix of "I Got Cha Opin" a total musical reconstruction that features a new string heavy beat and flowing Barry White-inspired arrangement, but there are all new lyrics to boot. Needless to say it's more than worth your attention." - The Source, 4/94. This is probably my favorite remix from the entire "Enta Da Stage" project. I always loved the line "I’m coming to you from the underground with Thunder sound / Number one question: “Yo, how can I be down?” There was pride in the sound they were creating out of NY at the time. Check out the music video for the single version below...

You can save a copy of the original review in The Source below...

Black Moon "Who Got Da Props?" (The Source, 2/93)

"Brooklyn's comin' strong with this underground trio. Already bumpin' hard throughout the five boroughs of New York, "Who Got The Props" is what you could call "mellow ruffness" - mellow grooves backed with ruff lyrics. Crew members Evil Dee, 5 F-T, and Buckshot know what it takes to make a hit record. Starting with one of the best basslines of the year, the soothing groove gives way to crisp keyboards and some confident rhymes. Not too hard and not too soft, the jazzy track is perfect for coolin' out. Hoods will love the lyrics ("Ima set it off with one shot / One trigger, one n!gga / Nuff heads drop"), while non-violent types will enjoy the laid-back flow. Either way, it's a hit. You would be advised to scoop this up as you will no doubt be hearing from this talented group in the very near future. Power to the Brooklynites." - The Source, 2/93. Watch the video below...

The original review in The Source (2/93) is below...

Crooklyn Dodgers "Crooklyn" (Review, 1994)

When you hear: "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn / Never takin' shorts, 'cause Brooklyn's the borough," you know it's gonna be epic! Ya know how else you know? "Masta Ace and Buckshot on a Q-Tip track? That's reason enough to get up on this single. Add that to the long-awaited return of "the magnificent" Special Ed, and you know the shit must be monumental. And "Crooklyn" won't let you down. The Abstract's beat is all bassline hypnosis and layers of loops. As the groove creates the aura, all 3 lyricists take their task to heart as they reflect on that "70s thing from the days when kids didn't act so craze / in Crooklyn." As the first single off the soundtrack of Spike Lee's new movie, the song has nothing to do with the film and the film has nothing to do with crooks (it's about family life in Brooklyn), but whatever's clever." - The Source, cont'd below...

"Panic / As another manic depressant / Adolescent / Stares at death 

Now what's left / When there ain't no God and a whole lotta pride?
It might be a homicide / So let the drama / Slide 

We don't want no problems, B / Get your name in the obituary columns, see 

Cuz life is too short / And it gets shorter / I wish I had a quarter 

for all my people they slaughter / Last year alone / In the dead zone 

Walk straight, but don't walk late 

Cuz I'm comin' with a hate only made / From what it made me 

Cuz nobody ever played me / Now it's only gettin' worse 

Buckshot and Ace in the land of the waste
Kickin' you in your face!"