Street Smartz 'Problemz' b/w 'Metal Thangz' (12", 1996)

Tru Criminal Records had a hold on the underground with a handful of great 12" releases between '96-02. The label put out joints from Ak Skills, God Sunz, F.T., Tonedeff, and Street Smartz, who have a record we'll be discussing today. In 1996, Street Smartz (DJ Buda, F.T., DJ KO & Syx) put out the ‘Problemz’ 12” with an ill B-Side, ‘Metal Thangz,’ featuring O.C. and Pharoahe Monch. They had 3-4 12” releases in the 90s and their own careers outside the group. There was also a Tru Criminal Records EP that had a couple extra joints from Street Smartz, Ak Skills and God Sunz. 'Problemz' was produced by Buckwild and 'Metal Thangz' was done by OGee of D.I.T.C. The record was featured in The Source's Sure Shot Singles, which gave it some extra buzz, but it's still mostly known and celebrated in the underground as a must-have! Listen to the Problemz & Metal Thangz 12" below.

Ak Skills "Check Da Flava" (12", 1996)

In 1996, Ak Skills (Queens, NY) was generating a solid buzz in the underground with his Lord Finesse-produced single "Check Da Flava." It was the first of his two 12" releases on Tru Criminal Records in 1996, and had "Nights of Fear" on the B-Side, which was produced by Buckwild. The 12" was featured in The Source's "Sure Shot Singles," saying "Ak Skills drops hazard with "Check The Flava," a straight out the underground joint worthy of attention. Its jazzy baseline embraces an organ-n-drum sequence while some on-point scratching gives it that extra touch." The single received some love in Beat Down Magazine too, echoing the sentiments of The Source. Also on Tru Criminal Records were Street Smartz, God Sunz, F.T., and the slept-on mixtape/compilation DJ Premier did called New York Reality Check 101. Listen to the full 12" below - what do you think?