Boot Camp Clik: Difference between revisions
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*[http://www.seanprice.com Sean Price] Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Ruck. |
*[http://www.seanprice.com Sean Price] Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Ruck. |
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*[http://rockness.net Rockness Monsta] Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Rock. |
*[http://rockness.net Rockness Monsta] Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Rock. |
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* [http://hiphop-radio.50webs.com/ Hip-Hop Radio Stations Online] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:07, 30 August 2007
Boot Camp Clik |
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Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York. The group consists of Buckshot (of Black Moon), Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz (Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah (Rock and Ruck, aka Sean Price) and O.G.C. (Originoo Gunn Clappaz) (Starang Wondah, Top Dog, and Louieville Sluggah).
Though commercial success has largely eluded them, the Camp has gained a large following in the underground rap community. Principally known for their hardcore content, in their later years the group also began adding personal and socially conscious aspects to their lyrics, and were among the first rap acts to infuse elements of Reggae into their music. Buckshot, along with Black Moon, also helped establish the backpacker scene in underground hip hop.
The Camp reached the height of their popularity in the mid-90s, with the release of four acclaimed albums, Black Moon's Enta Da Stage, Smif-N-Wessun's Dah Shinin', Heltah Skeltah's Nocturnal, and O.G.C.'s Da Storm. These albums spawned a number of underground rap hits, most notably Black Moon's "Who Got Da Props?" and "I Got Cha Opin (Remix)", Smif-N-Wessun's "Bucktown", "Sound Bwoy Bureill", and "Wrekonize", Heltah Skeltah's "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka", "Letha Brainz Blo" and "Operation Lock Down", and O.G.C.'s "No Fear", "Hurricane Starang", and "Danjer". Despite the acclaim of the albums and the minor success of the singles, no Boot Camp affiliated release was able to reach Gold sales status. Following the lukewarm reception for the Camp's first group album For the People, the crew's popularity began declining, eventually leading to a lengthy hiatus from the rap game. Since returning independently in 2002, the Camp has been able to regain their past popularity in underground hip hop with a number of acclaimed underground releases.
Since their inception, the Boot Camp has spawned a number of affiliates. The group's earliest affiliate is the production-crew Da Beatminerz, lead by Black Moon's DJ Evil Dee and his older brother Mr. Walt. Da Beatminerz originally produced the majority of the Camp's work, but since 1997, they have taken a backseat to a number of outside producers. Other affiliates include rappers the Representativz (consisting of Supreme and Lidu Rock, the younger brother of Heltah Skeltah's Rock), Illa Noyz (the younger brother of Heltah Skeltah's Sean Price), M.S., LS, BJ Swan, The BTJ's (Bucktown Juveniles), Rustee Juxx, Doc Holiday, Thunderfoot and Lil' Hardcore, Reggae-vocalists Jahdan and Twanie Ranks and R&B-vocalist group F.L.O.W. Though Black Moon is closely connected to the group, members DJ Evil Dee and 5ft are not official members of the Boot Camp Clik.
Recording history
1992 to 1996
Black Moon debuted in 1992 with the release of the single "Who Got Da Props?". The song became something of an underground phenomenon, and was also able to receive minor crossover success, charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at #86. The popularity of the single lead to a record deal with Nervous Wreck Records, which released the group's debut album Enta Da Stage in late 1993. The album was produced entirely by Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz, and featured the debut of Camp members Smif-N-Wessun, as well as an early appearance from Mobb Deep's Havoc. Enta Da Stage was highly acclaimed and influential over the burgeoning hardcore hip hop scene of its time. Preceding later classics like Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan, Illmatic by Nas and Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G., Enta Da Stage served as a precursor to the resurgence of the New York hip hop scene in the mid-90s. Along with "Who Got Da Props?", the album included other classic rap singles "How Many MC's...", "Buck Em Down" and "I Got Cha Opin (Remix)", the latter becoming the group's second Hot 100 hit.
Buckshot and Nervous Wreck Records employee Dru Ha were both elemental in getting Smif-N-Wessun signed to the label, and in early 1994, the duo released their debut single, "Bucktown", which, like Black Moon's "Who Got Da Props?", became an underground phenomenon, and also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #93. Following the single's release, "Bucktown" became a popular nickname for Brooklyn. "Bucktown" earned Smif-N-Wessun considerable underground hype for their debut album, Dah Shinin', released in early 1995. The album debuted at #5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and, along with "Bucktown", spawned a number of underground hits and music videos, with "Let's Git It On", "Wrekonize", "Sound Bwoy Bureill", "Wontime" and "Stand Strong". Da Beatminerz, which now also included Rich Blak and Baby Paul, produced the entirety of the album. Camp members Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. made their debuts on the album, appearing on the tracks "Wontime" and "Sound Bwoy Bureill". Dah Shinin also marked the official formation of the Boot Camp Clik, with all eight members appearing on the posse-cut "Cession at da Doghillee".
Following the release of Dah Shinin, Camp leader Buckshot and business partner Dru Ha founded Duck Down Records after leaving Nervous Records due to unpaid royalties, and signed both Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. to the label. In mid 1995, the entire Clik (labeled as "Black Moon & Smif-N-Wessun") appeared on the Gold-certified soundtrack to the film New Jersey Drive, with the song "Headz Ain't Redee". In late 1995, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. teamed up to form The Fab 5, and released their debut single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". The B-Side, "Leflah", became a surprise hit, peaking at #75 on the Hot 100, making it the most successful single released by any Boot Camp member or affiliate. The two groups split up for separate releases in 1996. Heltah Skeltah was the first to release an album, with Nocturnal dropping in June 1996. This was the first Camp-related album not to be produced entirely by Da Beatminerz. Evil Dee and Mr. Walt produced three tracks, while Beatminer-affiliate Baby Paul produced five tracks. Other producers involved in the project include Lord Jamar (of Brand Nubian), Shaleek, Shawn J. Period, Supreme (of the Representativz), and E-Swift (of Tha Alkaholiks). Like Enta Da Stage and Dah Shinin, Nocturnal was widely acclaimed, and has become a classic of underground hip hop. Along with "Leflah", the album featured a pair of minorly successful singles, the dark, harp-led "Operation Lock Down", and the introspective concept track "Therapy". Nocturnal also featured the debut from Camp affiliates Representativz and Illa Noyz, as well as appearances from O.G.C., Buckshot and Vinia Mojica.
In the summer of 1996, hip hop superstar 2Pac personally invited Buckshot, Dru-Ha, Tek and Steele to his house in California to record for an album titled One Nation, which was intended to squash the supposed East Coast/West Coast rap conflict. Due to 2Pac's murder in September 1996, the album has never been released, though a number of tracks have leaked, most notably the title-track "One Nation" and "Military Mindz". The latter was later remixed and included on the posthumous 2Pac album Better Dayz.
In late-1996, O.G.C. released their debut album Da Storm. Lead by leader Starang Wondah's charismatic delivery and the tandem rhyming of Louieville Sluggah and Top Dog, the album was popular with underground fans. Though not as successful or as acclaimed as the Camp's past work, the album has still garnered claims of classic status by some. Like Nocturnal, Da Storm featured a wider number of producers, which include E-Swift, Madlib, DJ Ogee, Lord Jamar, Supreme and Shaleek, as well as the usual lineup of Beatminerz members Evil Dee, Mr. Walt and Baby Paul. Album guests included Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Sean Black and the Representativz. The album's lead single, "No Fear", was a minor rap hit, but failed to reach the Hot 100, making O.G.C. the first and only Boot Camp group without a Hot 100 hit single. The album also featured the single "Hurricane Starang" b/w "Gunn Clapp" b/w "Danjer", which failed to make any Billboard chart.
1997 to 1999
In 1997, the entire Boot Camp came together for the release of their first group album, For the People. Unlike Nocturnal and Da Storm, which used Da Beatminerz sparingly, on For the People the group completely abandoned them, and strayed away from their grimy, sample-heavy basement sound. Instead, Boogie Brown and Buckshot laced the album with live instrumentation production. The new sound did not go over well with fans or critics, causing the album to receive lukewarm reviews and disappointing sales. Instead of only focusing on the core Camp members, the album showcased a wide number of the group's affiliates like Illa Noyz and the Representativz, and also featured debut appearances from BJ Swan, LS, The BTJ's and F.L.O.W. The album's lead single, "Headz Are Reddee Pt. 2" b/w "Down by Law" failed to reach any Billboard singles chart.
Following the release of For the People, the Clik's groups split up once again for separate releases. Tek and Steele were the first to return, now recording under the name Cocoa Brovaz, due to a lawsuit over their previous name with the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The Rude Awakening was released in early 1998, and like the Boot Camp album, was met with mixed reviews, and failed to sell a significant amount of units, despite an opening bid at #3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The singles "Won on Won" and "Bucktown USA" received very little success, and the album's lead single, the Raekwon-assisted "Black Trump", failed to reach any chart.
Heltah Skeltah followed in late 1998 with the release of their second album Magnum Force. This album was met with the Clik's harshest reviews yet, with both critics and fans accusing the duo of toning down their hardcore content for more commercial success. The album featured a large amount of guest appearances, including the entire Boot Camp Clik, the Representativz, Doc Holiday, Method Man, Tha Dogg Pound, Tha Outlawz, Anthony Hamilton and the MFC, leaving only five tracks without outside appearances. The album's lead single, "I Ain't Havin' That", utilized a sample from the A Tribe Called Quest track "Hot Sex", and became the group's second Hot 100 hit, peaking at #80 on the chart. Despite the success of the single, sales were limited.
After they split from Nervous Records, Black Moon became entangled in a legal battle with the label over the licensing of their group name, which lasted for a number of years. The case was finally settled in 1998, with Duck Down receiving permission to license the name through Nervous. After a five-year hiatus, Black Moon returned in 1999 with their second album, War Zone. The album received moderate sales and good reviews, especially when compared to the Camp's three previous efforts. One factor in its positive reception was the return of Da Beatminerz, who produced the entirety of the album. The group recruited a number of fellow New York emcees for appearances, including Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip and M.O.P. The album's singles "Two Turntables and a Mic" and "This is What it Sounds Like (Worldwind)" received minor commercial success.
O.G.C. were the last to return, releasing their second album, The M-Pire Shrikez Back, in mid-1999. Like War Zone, the album received good reviews, but little sales, and almost completely missed the radar commercially, barely cracking the Billboard 200 album chart. The album was produced by the Black Market production crew, and featured appearances from a number of Boot Camp and MFC members. The lead single, "Bounce to the Ounce" b/w "Suspect Niggaz", made little impact, peaking at #94 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
Late 1999 saw the release of three more Boot Camp related albums. First, in September, a Duck Down Records compilation album, titled Duck Down Presents: The Album. The compilation received very mediocre reviews and failed to reach any Billboard album chart. The lead single, Black Moon's "Jump Up", was well accepted. In October, Buckshot released his solo debut, titled The BDI Thug, a moniker given to him by 2Pac during the summer of 1996. Like many Camp releases of its era, The BDI Thug received harsh reviews, and sold few copies, partly due to Buck's label being dropped from their distribution deal with Priority Records. Also in October, Camp affiliates the Representativz released their debut, Angels of Death, through Duck Down/Warlock Records.
2000 to 2005
After being dropped from their Priority distribution deal, the Clik took a lengthy hiatus from the rap game. Heltah Skeltah split-up in 2000, when Rock left Duck Down Records to pursue a solo career. O.G.C. retired (temporarily) as a trio, and has yet to release a third album. The Cocoa Brovaz signed a deal with then-leading independent rap label Rawkus Records, and released a successful single, "Get Up", from the Lyricist Lounge 2 compilation, but never released an album on the label. After dropping the group, Priority released the first Greatest Hits compilation of Boot Camp material, titled Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits, featuring 13 singles released between 1992 and 1999. Other than this, the only Clik related releases between 2000 and 2001 were a number of independent vinyl singles from various Boot Camp members.
In 2002, Duck Down Records signed a new distribution deal with Koch Entertainment, paving the way for a new Boot Camp Clik group album. The Chosen Few was released in late 2002, featuring seven of the original "Great 8", with Rock being the only absent member. The album was possibly the most acclaimed Boot Camp related release since 1996, receiving strong reviews from a number of sources, including a 4 1/2 Star rating from All Music Guide. Sales were moderately strong for an independent album, pushing over 60,000 units. The Chosen Few featured production from Da Beatminerz, as well as other star producers like Hi-Tek, The Alchemist and Bink. Videos for the album's singles "And So" and "Think Back" received rotation on BET's Rap City, and the group also hosted an episode of the program to help promote the release.
In early 2003, Duck Down Records released a compilation titled Collect Dis Edition, which was a large collection of the Camp-related singles released during their 2000-2001 album hiatus. In late 2003, Black Moon returned with their third group album, Total Eclipse. Generally well received, the majority of the album was produced by Da Beatminerz, and also featured beats from Moss, Tone Capone, DJ Static, Nottz, Kleph Dollaz and Coptic. The album featured two singles and music videos, "Stay Real" and "This Goes Out to You", the former becoming an underground hit in '03. In early 2004, Black Moon member 5ft was sentenced to four-to-nine years in prison for sale of an illegal substance, delaying any chance of an official Black Moon album for a number of years.
After switching distributors from Koch to Navarre, Duck Down unveiled their 2005 "Triple Threat" campaign, featuring three new Boot Camp releases. The first was the long delayed solo debut from Heltah Skeltah's Ruck, now going by his birth name Sean Price, Monkey Barz. Largely due to Price's rough, humorous lyrics, the album was the most acclaimed of the three Triple Threat albums, and was named Independent Album of the Year by AllHipHop.com. Monkey Barz saw the reunion of Heltah Skeltah, with Rock appearing on the tracks "Jail Shit" and "Slap Boxing". The second of the Triple Threat albums was a collaboration between Buckshot and Little Brother's 9th Wonder, titled Chemistry. 9th produced all of the album's tracks while Buckshot provided the lyrics, with help from fellow Boot Camp Clik and Justus League members. The album was well-received, but did catch some mixed-reviews from underground audiences. The third and final release in the Triple Threat campaign was the long-awaited third album by Tek and Steele, who had now returned under their original moniker, Smif-N-Wessun. Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded was released in September 2005, and received good reviews, it featured the singles "My Timbz Do Work" and "Gunn Rap", as well as the Dead Prez collaboration "Warriorz Heart", and the Boot Camp posse-cut "Get Back". The three Triple Threat releases were met with similar sales, all reaching around 35,000-40,000 units sold.
2006 to present
In early 2006, Duck Down released a DVD titled Video Surveillance, which included nearly every Boot Camp related music video between 1992 and 2005. The single-disc release featured videos for the tracks "Who Got Da Props?", "How Many MC's...", "I Got Cha Opin (Remix)", "Buck Em Down (Remix)", "Bucktown", "Let's Git It On", "Wontime", "Wrekonize (Remix)", "Sound Bwoy Bureill", "Blah", "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka", both the official and an unreleased version of "Operation Lock Down", "Therapy", "No Fear", "Hurricane Danjer", "Headz Are Reddee Pt. 2", "Night Riders", "Won on Won", "Black Trump", "Spanish Harlem", "I Ain't Havin' That", "Two Turntables and a Mic", "This is What it Sounds Like (Worldwind)", "Bounce to the Ounce", "Get Up", "And So", "Think Back", "Stay Real", "This Goes Out to You", "Boom Bye Yeah", "Heartburn/Onion Head", "My Timbz Do Work" and "Gunn Rap".
In July 2006, the Boot Camp returned for their third group album, The Last Stand, featuring all eight of the original Camp members. The album was well-received by fans and critics, and was also an independent success, reaching the top 50 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and the top 20 on the Top Independent Albums chart. The Last Stand featured an all-star production lineup, which included Da Beatminerz, Pete Rock, Large Professor, 9th Wonder, Illmind and Coptic. The first track released from the project, "Trading Places", featuring Smif-N-Wessun and Heltah Skeltah, was also the first music video from the album. "Trading Places" and "Let's Go" were the B-Side to the album's official lead single "Yeah".
A number of Duck Down albums are scheduled for release in 2007. The first being Sean Price's second solo album, Jesus Price Supastar. The album was originally scheduled for released in 2006, but due to a need for increased promotion, was pushed back to an early 2007 date, and released on January 30. Sean Price and Rock are currently recording for a Heltah Skeltah reunion album, tentatively titled D.I.R.T., an acronym for "Da Incredible Rap Team". This will be the first Heltah Skeltah album released in nearly a decade. Heltah Skeltah's Rock is also planning the release of his first solo album, tentatively titled Monstah Musik. Buckshot and 9th Wonder re-entered the studio together in 2006 for the recording of their second collaborative effort, tentatively titled The Formula, rumored for released in 2007. In a 2006 interview, Duck Down CEO Dru Ha announced that O.G.C. were not retired, and mentioned the possibility of a group reunion, with an album rumored for release in 2007 or 2008. On August 14, 2007, the Clik released their fourth group release, Casualties of War. Billed as the Clik's fourth studio effort, the album is compiled of leftover's from The Last Stand.
Discography
Albums
Album information |
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Enta Da Stage by Black Moon
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Dah Shinin' by Smif-N-Wessun
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Nocturnal by Heltah Skeltah |
Da Storm by O.G.C.
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Diggin' in Dah Vaults by Black Moon
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For the People by Boot Camp Clik |
The Rude Awakening by Cocoa Brovaz |
Magnum Force by Heltah Skeltah
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War Zone by Black Moon
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The M-Pire Shrikez Back by O.G.C. |
Duck Down Presents: The Album by Duck Down Records
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The BDI Thug by Buckshot
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Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits by Boot Camp Clik |
The Chosen Few by Boot Camp Clik |
Collect Dis Edition by Duck Down Records
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Total Eclipse by Black Moon |
Monkey Barz by Sean Price |
Chemistry by Buckshot & 9th Wonder |
Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded by Smif-N-Wessun
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The Last Stand by Boot Camp Clik |
Jesus Price Supastar by Sean Price
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Casualties of War by Boot Camp Clik |
Mixtape Albums
- Search And Recover Pt. 1 (2002)
- Puss N Boots Soundtrack (2004)
- NC To Bucktown (2006)
Singles chart history
Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | "Who Got Da Props?" (Black Moon) | #86 | #60 | Enta Da Stage | |
1993 | "How Many MC's..." (Black Moon) | #97 | #48 | Enta Da Stage | |
1994 | "I Got Cha Opin (Remix)" (Black Moon) | #93 | #55 | #15 | Enta Da Stage |
1994 | "Buck Em Down (Remix)" (Black Moon) | #81 | #17 | Enta Da Stage | |
1994 | "Bucktown" (Smif-N-Wessun) | #93 | #61 | #14 | Dah Shinin |
1994 | "Let's Git It On" (Smif-N-Wessun) | #14 | Dah Shinin | ||
1995 | "Wrekonize" (Smif-N-Wessun) | #95 | #29 | Dah Shinin | |
1995 | "Sound Bwoy Bureill" (Smif-N-Wessun) | #29 | Dah Shinin | ||
1995 | "Wontime" (Smif-N-Wessun) | #48 | Dah Shinin | ||
1995 | "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" (The Fab 5) | #75 | #51 | #8 | Nocturnal |
1996 | "Operation Lock Down" (Heltah Skeltah) | #64 | #15 | Nocturnal | |
1996 | "Da Wiggy" (Heltah Skeltah) | #15 | Nocturnal | ||
1996 | "Therapy" (Heltah Skeltah) | #77 | #16 | Nocturnal | |
1996 | "No Fear" (O.G.C.) | #63 | #13 | Da Storm | |
1996 | "How Many Emcees (Must Get Dissed) (DJ Evil Dee Remix)" (Black Moon) | #32 | Diggin' in Dah Vaults | ||
1997 | "Won on Won" (Cocoa Brovaz) | #94 | The Rude Awakening | ||
1998 | "Bucktown USA" (Cocoa Brovaz) | #47 | The Rude Awakening | ||
1998 | "I Ain't Havin' That" (Heltah Skeltah) | #80 | #58 | #13 | Magnum Force |
1999 | "Two Turntables and a Mic" (Black Moon) | #82 | War Zone | ||
1999 | "This is What it Sounds Like (Worldwind)" (Black Moon) | #13 | War Zone | ||
1999 | "Bounce to the Ounce" (O.G.C.) | #94 | The M-Pire Shrikez Back | ||
1999 | "Jump Up" (Black Moon) | #24 | Duck Down Presents: The Album | ||
2001 | "All Massive" (Tek) | #20 | Collect Dis Edition |
External links
- Duckdown Records Record Label
- Boot Camp Clik Official Fan Network
- Sean Price Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Ruck.
- Rockness Monsta Official site of Heltah Skeltah's Rock.
- Hip-Hop Radio Stations Online