Stetsasonic
Encyclopedia
Stetsasonic was an American
hip hop
group formed in 1979 in Brooklyn
, New York City
, New York
. It is remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and the group's positive, uplifting lyrics made it forerunners of alternative hip hop
and jazz hip hop
.
. There were 3 MCs, the Human Mix Machine, and Prince Paul. The Stetson Brothers changed its name and style to Stetsasonic the Hip-Hop Band and clinched a deal with Tommy Boy Records when DBC came up with and played the funky bass line for its debut single "If You Can't Say It All Just Say STET", live for Tom Silverman owner of Tommy Boy Records. After a few months of the single being in regular rotation on radio stations everywhere they released their first album On Fire (1986). The album received mixed reviews, though the follow-ups, In Full Gear
and Blood, Sweat & No Tears
were critically acclaimed. A 1988 New York Times article said that the group mirrored the rise of artistic, profound rap music: "While pop's political commentary often seems secondary to catchy melodies and commercial acceptability, rap's tough sound sharpens its commentary". As a "hip hop band", dependent on instruments as well as turntables, the group was also known for live shows, though sometimes the "rap-show format prevented Stetsasonic from employing the band instrumentation and studio layering that make their records so distinctive."
.
Frukwan
and Prince Paul were founding members of the Gravediggaz
, while the latter also became a record producer
, as did Daddy-O
, who worked with Freestyle Fellowship
, Mary J. Blige
, Positive K
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
, among others.
Former member Bobby Simmons pursued work in public access
, forming the show Flava Videos in the mid 1990s on Channel 26 (New York).
MC Delite is presently a business owner, a public speaker and sits on the Board of Advisors of Integrity Banc Solutions, specifically the committee that oversees a community project, the CBI (Children's Business Incentive) Program which encourages children to pursue entrepreneurship and higher education.
Wise is known as one of the pioneers of beatboxing along with Doug E. Fresh
.
DBC went on to produce tracks for Third World
and the Cookie Crew
among others. In 1995, he became the owner and operator of
Raw Beat Productions Music & Video Recording Studio located in Philadelphia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 formed in 1979 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and the group's positive, uplifting lyrics made it forerunners of alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
and jazz hip hop
Jazz rap
Jazz rap is a sub-genre of hip hop which incorporates jazz influences, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics are often based on political consciousness, Afrocentricity, and general positivism...
.
Membership
- Wise
- Daddy-ODaddy-O (musician)Glenn Bolton, better known by his stage name Daddy-O, is an American hip hop record producer and rapper. He began his career as a member of the pioneer hip-hop group Stetsasonic with Prince Paul. Since then, Daddy-O has become a record producer and remixer, working with acts such as Freestyle...
- FrukwanFrukwanFrukwan Sun-Star Allah-Bey is a Moorish American hip hop musician. He is best known as The Gatekeeper from the hip hop group Gravediggaz and was a member of the pioneering hip hop band Stetsasonic.- Early life :...
- Prince Paul
- DBC (Devastating Beat Creator)
- MC Delite
- Bobby Simmons
History
Originally, the group was known as The Stetson Brothers, after Stetson hatsStetson
Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...
. There were 3 MCs, the Human Mix Machine, and Prince Paul. The Stetson Brothers changed its name and style to Stetsasonic the Hip-Hop Band and clinched a deal with Tommy Boy Records when DBC came up with and played the funky bass line for its debut single "If You Can't Say It All Just Say STET", live for Tom Silverman owner of Tommy Boy Records. After a few months of the single being in regular rotation on radio stations everywhere they released their first album On Fire (1986). The album received mixed reviews, though the follow-ups, In Full Gear
In Full Gear
In Full Gear is the second studio album by American hip hop band Stetsasonic. The album is considered revolutionary in style and production for its time period. Originally released in 1988, Tommy Boy Records re-released the album in 2001 with three bonus alternate versions of the single "Talkin'...
and Blood, Sweat & No Tears
Blood, Sweat & No Tears
Blood, Sweat & No Tears is the third and final album from hip hop group Stetsasonic. Producer Prince Paul, acclaimed for his work with De La Soul, continued a successful production career. Paul and Frukwan became members of the popular horrorcore group Gravediggaz, along with Poetic and The RZA....
were critically acclaimed. A 1988 New York Times article said that the group mirrored the rise of artistic, profound rap music: "While pop's political commentary often seems secondary to catchy melodies and commercial acceptability, rap's tough sound sharpens its commentary". As a "hip hop band", dependent on instruments as well as turntables, the group was also known for live shows, though sometimes the "rap-show format prevented Stetsasonic from employing the band instrumentation and studio layering that make their records so distinctive."
Breakup
The group disbanded soon after the release of Blood, Sweat & No TearsBlood, Sweat & No Tears
Blood, Sweat & No Tears is the third and final album from hip hop group Stetsasonic. Producer Prince Paul, acclaimed for his work with De La Soul, continued a successful production career. Paul and Frukwan became members of the popular horrorcore group Gravediggaz, along with Poetic and The RZA....
.
Frukwan
Frukwan
Frukwan Sun-Star Allah-Bey is a Moorish American hip hop musician. He is best known as The Gatekeeper from the hip hop group Gravediggaz and was a member of the pioneering hip hop band Stetsasonic.- Early life :...
and Prince Paul were founding members of the Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz is an American hip hop group from New York City, well known for its dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes. The group was formed in 1994 and was effectively a supergroup, bringing together Prince Paul , Frukwan , Too Poetic and RZA...
, while the latter also became a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, as did Daddy-O
Daddy-O (musician)
Glenn Bolton, better known by his stage name Daddy-O, is an American hip hop record producer and rapper. He began his career as a member of the pioneer hip-hop group Stetsasonic with Prince Paul. Since then, Daddy-O has become a record producer and remixer, working with acts such as Freestyle...
, who worked with Freestyle Fellowship
Freestyle Fellowship
Freestyle Fellowship are a rap group from Los Angeles consisting of rappers Aceyalone, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter and producer J Sumbi...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Positive K
Positive K
Darryl Gibson, better known by his stage name Positive K , is an American emcee from the Bronx, New York City, New York, and is one of the original artists of the First Priority Music camp...
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, among others.
Former member Bobby Simmons pursued work in public access
Public Access
Public Access is a 1993 American drama film directed by Bryan Singer in his feature film debut. Singer also wrote the screenplay with Christopher McQuarrie and Michael Feit Dougan. The film was shot in 18 days for US$250,000. It was screened at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, where it was...
, forming the show Flava Videos in the mid 1990s on Channel 26 (New York).
MC Delite is presently a business owner, a public speaker and sits on the Board of Advisors of Integrity Banc Solutions, specifically the committee that oversees a community project, the CBI (Children's Business Incentive) Program which encourages children to pursue entrepreneurship and higher education.
Wise is known as one of the pioneers of beatboxing along with Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
.
DBC went on to produce tracks for Third World
Third World (band)
Third World is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco.-History:Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist Stephen "Cat" Coore, who had originally played in The Alley Cats then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form...
and the Cookie Crew
Cookie Crew
Cookie Crew were a rap music duo formed in Clapham, South London in 1983.-Career:Their career took off after winning a national rap championship and recording two sessions for the John Peel BBC Radio 1 show...
among others. In 1995, he became the owner and operator of
Raw Beat Productions Music & Video Recording Studio located in Philadelphia.
Discography
- On Fire
- Released: 1986
- Billboard 200 chart position: -
- R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #32
- Singles: "Just Say Stet," "Faye" and "A.F.R.I.C.A."
- In Full GearIn Full GearIn Full Gear is the second studio album by American hip hop band Stetsasonic. The album is considered revolutionary in style and production for its time period. Originally released in 1988, Tommy Boy Records re-released the album in 2001 with three bonus alternate versions of the single "Talkin'...
- Released: 1988
- Billboard 200 chart position: -
- R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #20
- Singles: "Sally," "Talkin' All that Jazz", "Float On"
- Blood, Sweat & No TearsBlood, Sweat & No TearsBlood, Sweat & No Tears is the third and final album from hip hop group Stetsasonic. Producer Prince Paul, acclaimed for his work with De La Soul, continued a successful production career. Paul and Frukwan became members of the popular horrorcore group Gravediggaz, along with Poetic and The RZA....
- Released: July 1, 1991
- Billboard 200 chart position: -
- R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #75
- Singles: "No B.S. Allowed," "So Let the Fun Begin"