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Group Home05 June 2008
I reread my London Posse post today. Do I really believe that it was better for them to have only released one classic album then make a second and chance it being awful and ruining their immaculate record? I don’t really know to be honest, but it did make me cast my mind back to a few of hip hop’s classic debut albums that were never replicated by their makers. I’m not talking about making a brilliant debut and then making an alright second album, I’m talking about making a brilliant debut and making such a bad follow up album, that you just had to quit, (or at least go away for a long time.)
First up: Group Home’s – Livin’ Proof
Group Home (Lil Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker) came to prominence, in the mid 90’s, as students in DJ Premier’s school of Hip Hop, (Gang Starr Foundation.) First making appearances on Gang Starr’s ‘Daily Operation’ and ‘Hard To Earn’ albums the duo released their own debut album, Livin’ Proof at the end of 1995, (a pretty good year for hip hop, considering this, this, this, this and this all came out.)
Group Home – Supa Star
The foundations to Livin’ Proof’s excellence are firmly rooted in DJ Premier’s classic formula: a short looped beat based on a mixture of funk and soul records, that still carry the crackle and, with it, the rustic feel of the original vinyl they’re recorded from. Colouring this are a selection of mellow and often wispy and hypnotic melodies made out of a selection of piano, guitar, horn and string samples. Unusually enough for Premier, a few home recordings, including the use of a bicycle bell on ‘Supa Star’ (the above video,) can also be found dotted through the album.
Group Home – Livin’ Proof
You’d think the problem with having an album produced by DJ Premier is that you’re more than likely to be left in the shade as an MC, but as is the case with Jeru, Guru, Nas etc, Primo has chosen pretty well with Lil Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker. Lil Dap’s distinct lispy drawl, and the way it slips behind the beat, is a well fitting foil to Melachi’s (who can be seen rapping his first verse whilst impressively bench pressing a hefty amount in the above video for Livin’ Proof, around 1.26,) more straight down the line approach. Dealing drugs and making money play pretty prevalent parts in the their lyrics, but most of the story telling is built up around the hardships and aspirations of life in the mid 90’s New York ghettos, than empty boasts of fame and fortune.
It’s the tracks on the album like ‘Suspended in Time,’ where Group Home’s most introspective lyrics are best complemented by DJ Premier’s most atmospheric beats, (is that bird song???)
Group Home – Suspended in Time
Regrettably, Group Home decided to get rid of Premier on their next, and final, album, A Tear for the Ghetto (1999) ( he only appears on one track.) Although clearly adept at MCing, Lil Dap and Melachi couldn’t quite keep the magic alive and the album is pretty unmemorable.
Rather than finishing a post, about what is probably one of my all time favourite albums, with a sour taste
I think I’ll leave you with another gem:
Group Home – Up Against the Wall (Low Budget Mix)
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