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Pick Up on This: 1987-1992
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Pick Up on This: 1987-1992
Current price: $39.99
Barnes and Noble
Pick Up on This: 1987-1992
Current price: $39.99
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Cookie Crew
was founded in South London by
Debbie Pryce
(
MC Remedee
) and
Susan Banfield
Susie Q
), two daughters of Caribbean immigrants who fell in love with rap when
the Sugarhill Gang
appeared on Top of the Pops in 1979. They eventually formed a 13-strong posse called
the Warm Milk & Cookie Crew
, and they won a rap competition in 1985, which led to further live gigs and sessions for
John Peel
and
Janice Long
on BBC Radio 1. Their first single, a collaboration with
the Beatmasters
called "Rok da House," became the first hip-house hit, and arguably beat Chicago to the creation of the style. Because of the song's success,
have often been pigeonholed as a dance act. Listening to their entire discography, collected on the box set
Pick Up on This: 1987-1992
, it's obvious that their heart was always with hip-hop, but they were open to exploring both their pop and hardcore sides. Their 1989 debut full-length,
Born This Way
, featured production by
Stetsasonic
's
Daddy-O
D.B.C.
, as well as fellow New York rap veteran
Davy DMX
's own
DJ Dazzle
. Characteristic of golden age hip-hop production, there are heavy breakbeats and recognizable samples, along with the duo's strong, tightly wound rhyme cadences and empowering lyrics. The two songs that ended up being the album's biggest hits both leaned towards
the Crew
's dance side, with "Got to Keep On" marrying a
Kraftwerk
electro pulse to
Edwin Starr
horns, and "Born This Way" having a house bassline along with its galloping breakbeats. "Places and Spaces for Your Mind" glimpses into the duo's reflective side, while "Rhymes and Careers" is full of vicious putdowns. Two mixes of "Rok da House" and
's first single by themselves, "Females (Get on Up)," appear as bonus tracks.
Fade to Black
, the pair's 1991 follow-up, featured production by
Gang Starr
Black Sheep
, as well as
Dancin' Danny D
of
D-Mob
C.J. Mackintosh
M|A|R|R|S
, and a guest appearance by vibraphonist
Roy Ayers
on a remake of his own "Love Will Bring Us Back Together." Less clubby and pop-oriented than previous
releases, it has much more of a focus on socially conscious lyrics. The title track tells a gripping story of how a Black British man was perceived when he traveled to Harlem, while "The Powers of Positive Thinking" asks how racial harmony can be achieved. The album still has its fun, joyous moments, particularly the
-produced "Going Freestyle" and the rapid-paced
Ultramagnetic MC's
tribute "Mental Maniac." Loads of remixes and rarities fill out the rest of the box, including a hilarious
Prince Paul
remix (naturally, he extensively samples
the Cookie Monster
), a few top-notch straightforward house mixes, and
's final single, the obscenity-laced hardcore track "Crew's Gone Mad." There was much more to
than meets the eye, and this box set excellently displays how much they accomplished over the course of their underappreciated career. ~ Paul Simpson
was founded in South London by
Debbie Pryce
(
MC Remedee
) and
Susan Banfield
Susie Q
), two daughters of Caribbean immigrants who fell in love with rap when
the Sugarhill Gang
appeared on Top of the Pops in 1979. They eventually formed a 13-strong posse called
the Warm Milk & Cookie Crew
, and they won a rap competition in 1985, which led to further live gigs and sessions for
John Peel
and
Janice Long
on BBC Radio 1. Their first single, a collaboration with
the Beatmasters
called "Rok da House," became the first hip-house hit, and arguably beat Chicago to the creation of the style. Because of the song's success,
have often been pigeonholed as a dance act. Listening to their entire discography, collected on the box set
Pick Up on This: 1987-1992
, it's obvious that their heart was always with hip-hop, but they were open to exploring both their pop and hardcore sides. Their 1989 debut full-length,
Born This Way
, featured production by
Stetsasonic
's
Daddy-O
D.B.C.
, as well as fellow New York rap veteran
Davy DMX
's own
DJ Dazzle
. Characteristic of golden age hip-hop production, there are heavy breakbeats and recognizable samples, along with the duo's strong, tightly wound rhyme cadences and empowering lyrics. The two songs that ended up being the album's biggest hits both leaned towards
the Crew
's dance side, with "Got to Keep On" marrying a
Kraftwerk
electro pulse to
Edwin Starr
horns, and "Born This Way" having a house bassline along with its galloping breakbeats. "Places and Spaces for Your Mind" glimpses into the duo's reflective side, while "Rhymes and Careers" is full of vicious putdowns. Two mixes of "Rok da House" and
's first single by themselves, "Females (Get on Up)," appear as bonus tracks.
Fade to Black
, the pair's 1991 follow-up, featured production by
Gang Starr
Black Sheep
, as well as
Dancin' Danny D
of
D-Mob
C.J. Mackintosh
M|A|R|R|S
, and a guest appearance by vibraphonist
Roy Ayers
on a remake of his own "Love Will Bring Us Back Together." Less clubby and pop-oriented than previous
releases, it has much more of a focus on socially conscious lyrics. The title track tells a gripping story of how a Black British man was perceived when he traveled to Harlem, while "The Powers of Positive Thinking" asks how racial harmony can be achieved. The album still has its fun, joyous moments, particularly the
-produced "Going Freestyle" and the rapid-paced
Ultramagnetic MC's
tribute "Mental Maniac." Loads of remixes and rarities fill out the rest of the box, including a hilarious
Prince Paul
remix (naturally, he extensively samples
the Cookie Monster
), a few top-notch straightforward house mixes, and
's final single, the obscenity-laced hardcore track "Crew's Gone Mad." There was much more to
than meets the eye, and this box set excellently displays how much they accomplished over the course of their underappreciated career. ~ Paul Simpson
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