Sy ShacklefordFor most modern hip-hop fans (and by “modern”, I mean “25 and under”), the hip-hop collective known as the Juice Crew are lost somewhere in the annals of antiquity. But for the few modern fans who actually do their research, they’re the ones who know the impact the Juice Crew had on hip-hop. Marley Marl, Roxanne Shanté, MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, Masta Ace, Craig G., Tragedy Khadafi, along with the deceased Biz Markie, DJ Polo, Mister Cee, Mr. Magic, and Grand Daddy I.U. all made marks on the culture that can’t be denied. Though they’re most known for the infamous battle between them and Boogie Down Productions, most of the members continued individually and in stride. The ones who remain the most prolific, I’d say, are Kool G. Rap and Masta Ace, the latter is known for releasing deep and cinematic concept albums. Enter the RZA. The Wu-Tang beatsmith teamed up with the surviving members to release a self-titled EP.
With dialogue skits at the end of each track to tie the story together, RZA and Wu-Tang affiliate Mathematics provide polished, but not modern production. Mathematics helmed the EP’s intro with record scratching, hard drums., and vocal samples of each Juice Crew members’ name added in. The dialogue coda for the intro involves some Brooklyn men planning to rob a show where the Juice Crew is performing. Speaking of Brooklyn, Big Daddy Kane comes in on “Open Ya Eyes”. A looped piano sample and steady snares comprise the production. BDK is one of the pioneers of punchline rap and, though he hasn’t released an album in over twenty years, he hasn’t lost his touch on the mic. The posse cut, “Makin’ It Home”, features Grand Daddy I.U., Kool G. Rap, Craig G., & Mathematics. G. Rap goes first and drops the heavy load with back-to-back multis, Craig G. furiously raps the outro before the skit kicks in. This leads into a solo track for him, “Lolita”, an autobiographic track about Roxanne Shanté’s journey through in her early career. The production on this one sounds like classic RZA: Obscure samples, deep bass, and dope drums.
On the aptly-titled “Roxanne the Truth”, Ms. Shanté re-takes the reign of her story and sets the record straight. The beat is a head-nodder for sure, with sampled guitar licks, keyboards, and hard snares. This listener really dug the next track, “Single Mothers”. Masta Ace has a real eye for detail as he himself was raised by a single mother and recounts vivid descriptions of his own upbringing. Pearl Gates and Mathematics are also featured and lend their vocals to this ode for single parents as it definitely isn’t an easy job. What’s funny is the skit at the end of the track, how those Brooklyn guys decide not to start anything at the show. They attribute their standing down to the “power of music”. The closing track, “Game Ova” is a solo MC Shan track, delivering his raps with a noticeable mush-mouth sound. Given the bleak urban narrative of his lyrics, his gravelly voice goes well with it. RZA curated this album under his “Bobby Digital” alias and, in a way, I suppose this EP was to bridge a gap between the golden era and his generation. Though everyone on this album is over 50 and therefore and elder statesman (or stateswoman in Roxanne’s case), the message by the album’s end is clear: The Juice Crew never left.