Afro-Rican
Encyclopedia
Afro-Rican is a popular Miami Bass
and Hip-Hop
group, most famous for their genre shaping 1987 hit Give it All You Got (Doggy Style), as well as their 1995 hit All of Puerto Rico. The group is the brainchild of Derrick Rahming, and the remainder of the lineup has changed over the years. Most fans consider the classic lineup to be Rahming (Rahming), Juan Arroyo (DJ Slice), and Marcus Rice (MD Rock).
in 1986, which failed to make much of a mark (Pandisc PD-017). Later that year, they rechristened themselves The Afro-Rican Connection to highlight their bi-racial makeup, possibly as a way to maximize marketability. As The Afro-Rican Connection, they released the single It's Live b/w Ragina single for Pandisc (Pandisc PD-020) also in 1986, which made a bit more of an impact, but still failed to gain them lasting fame.
scene had begun to realize the potential of up-tempo Club-Bass records, so Derrick Rahming began production on his perception of this sound with his brand new E-mu SP1200 drum sampler. Although this sound was not something he preferred, he knew that labels wouldn't continue to fund records that sold in meager quantities, and with 2 Live Crew
and Kooley C's up-tempo bass tracks dominating the local clubs, producing a song in this vein was a means to an end. The group shortened their name to Afro-Rican, and the resulting song was their landmark Give it All You Got (Doggy Style), which samples Kraftwerk
's "It's more fun to compute" from the Computer World
album . Edward Meriwether snatched up the song for his Suntown Records, putting most other deals on hold during the signing and promotion of this track. The song essentially tied all the elements of the Miami Bass sound together, defining the genre for years to come.
sound. The trail blazed by their hit single opened more doors than expected, scoring a 'manufacturing and distribution' deal with Luke Skyywalker Records in 1989. However, their fanbase was not ready to hear the group's take on straight-ahead Hip-Hop
, and the entire buildup was foiled in one shot. The group failed to move units, and the deal with Skyywalker was squandered.
In 1991, Afro-Rican made a comeback attempt by releasing the album Sex and Fun, tying together their stab at club related Bass music and more takes on traditional Hip-Hop
, but the album again failed to find its audience.
's and Bass 305
's success in the new sub-genre of Car Audio Bass created a niche that was still in its infancy circa 1991, and Derrick saw an opportunity. Creating an entire album of Car Audio Bass in his bedroom led to the creation of his Car Audio alias, Power Supply. Figuring out the formula to market this music directly at car shows under his Hip-Rock label proved to be highly successful, and this put Afro-Rican/Hip-Rock Records back on top overnight.
Bass music fans began to place the group on a historical pedestal due to the genre-shaping success of "Give it All You Got (Doggy Style)", and the new-school Electro Bass group Jackal & Hyde
remade the song with Rahiming performing a new lead vocal. Afro-Rican also collaborated with Neil Case's Bass Mekanik
imprint under the Pandisc Records
' umbrella, producing hybrids of Car Audio Bass, Florida breaks
, and traditional hip hop
textures.
Derrick Rahming continues to live and record in South Florida under the alias of "Chameleon".
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
and Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group, most famous for their genre shaping 1987 hit Give it All You Got (Doggy Style), as well as their 1995 hit All of Puerto Rico. The group is the brainchild of Derrick Rahming, and the remainder of the lineup has changed over the years. Most fans consider the classic lineup to be Rahming (Rahming), Juan Arroyo (DJ Slice), and Marcus Rice (MD Rock).
From We Down Express to The Afro-Rican Connection
Afro-Rican grew out of the open air mobile DJ crew We Down Express. Like other DJ crews of South Florida during the mid-1980s, their local fame eclipsed that of regional recording artists, and labels made an attempt to cash in. As 'We Down Express', they recorded the song Bass Attack for Pandisc RecordsPandisc Records
Pandisc Records is a record label founded in Miami, FL. Pandisc specializes in releasing Miami Bass, Electronic, and other Bass and urban artists...
in 1986, which failed to make much of a mark (Pandisc PD-017). Later that year, they rechristened themselves The Afro-Rican Connection to highlight their bi-racial makeup, possibly as a way to maximize marketability. As The Afro-Rican Connection, they released the single It's Live b/w Ragina single for Pandisc (Pandisc PD-020) also in 1986, which made a bit more of an impact, but still failed to gain them lasting fame.
Shaping the Genre: Give it All You Got
By 1987, the Miami BassMiami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
scene had begun to realize the potential of up-tempo Club-Bass records, so Derrick Rahming began production on his perception of this sound with his brand new E-mu SP1200 drum sampler. Although this sound was not something he preferred, he knew that labels wouldn't continue to fund records that sold in meager quantities, and with 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
and Kooley C's up-tempo bass tracks dominating the local clubs, producing a song in this vein was a means to an end. The group shortened their name to Afro-Rican, and the resulting song was their landmark Give it All You Got (Doggy Style), which samples Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
's "It's more fun to compute" from the Computer World
Computer World
Computer World is the eighth studio album by the German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in May 1981. The album deals with the themes of the rise of computers within society. Critics see this album as a peak in the career of Kraftwerk, along with Autobahn and Trans-Europe Express...
album . Edward Meriwether snatched up the song for his Suntown Records, putting most other deals on hold during the signing and promotion of this track. The song essentially tied all the elements of the Miami Bass sound together, defining the genre for years to come.
Going Hip-Hop Leads to Lean Years
Now with their foot shoved firmly in the door of Miami's music scene, Afro-Rican began Hip-Rock Records, and commenced production on their album dominated by a more traditional Hip-HopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
sound. The trail blazed by their hit single opened more doors than expected, scoring a 'manufacturing and distribution' deal with Luke Skyywalker Records in 1989. However, their fanbase was not ready to hear the group's take on straight-ahead Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, and the entire buildup was foiled in one shot. The group failed to move units, and the deal with Skyywalker was squandered.
In 1991, Afro-Rican made a comeback attempt by releasing the album Sex and Fun, tying together their stab at club related Bass music and more takes on traditional Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, but the album again failed to find its audience.
Car Audio Bass alias: Power Supply
These became lean years for Derrick Rahiming, recording from his bedroom in an era where bedroom producers were a rarity. However, Techmaster P.E.B.Techmaster P.E.B.
Techmaster P.E.B. is a Miami bass DJ first released in 1989 on Newtown Music. Techmaster P.E.B. has been active for over two decades, producing 6 studio albums , and 1 single.-Studio albums:...
's and Bass 305
Bass 305
Bass 305 was an Miami bass group first released in 1992 on DM Records. 305 has been active for over a decade, producing 9 studio albums.-Studio albums:-Singles:...
's success in the new sub-genre of Car Audio Bass created a niche that was still in its infancy circa 1991, and Derrick saw an opportunity. Creating an entire album of Car Audio Bass in his bedroom led to the creation of his Car Audio alias, Power Supply. Figuring out the formula to market this music directly at car shows under his Hip-Rock label proved to be highly successful, and this put Afro-Rican/Hip-Rock Records back on top overnight.
Back on Top
In 1995, a new incarnation of Afro-Rican with Derrick Rahming still at the helm, and Marcus Rice (MD Rock) doing more rhyming, produced their second biggest hit, All of Puerto Rico. Throughout the 1990s, they discovered and employed artists such as 6-1 Dog, "Get Some Crew", and DJ KOS.The elder statesman remains productive
In 2000, a new generation of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Bass music fans began to place the group on a historical pedestal due to the genre-shaping success of "Give it All You Got (Doggy Style)", and the new-school Electro Bass group Jackal & Hyde
Jackal & Hyde
Jackal & Hyde have been called "the purveyors of the hardcore-electro sound", a combination of electro beats, and psychotic keys.Jackal & Hyde was formed in 1998 by partners Scott Weiser , and Todd Walker in an effort to combine a harder edge sound with the dance floor sensibility of Electro,...
remade the song with Rahiming performing a new lead vocal. Afro-Rican also collaborated with Neil Case's Bass Mekanik
Bass Mekanik
Bass Mekanik is a Miami bass DJ first released in 1994 on Pandisc Records. Bass Mekanik has been active for over a decade, producing 10 studio albums, 3 singles, and a DVD...
imprint under the Pandisc Records
Pandisc Records
Pandisc Records is a record label founded in Miami, FL. Pandisc specializes in releasing Miami Bass, Electronic, and other Bass and urban artists...
' umbrella, producing hybrids of Car Audio Bass, Florida breaks
Florida breaks
Florida breaks, also referred to as Florida breakbeat, is a genre of breakbeat music which, as the name suggests, is most popular in the areas around the US state of Florida but is recognized as a unique sound around the world. Florida breaks became popular in the club culture of the southeast...
, and traditional hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
textures.
Derrick Rahming continues to live and record in South Florida under the alias of "Chameleon".