Oct. 19, 2013 will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Black Moon’s debut, Enta Da Stage, a defining album of the Golden Era of Hip-Hop which took jazz samples and were flipped into dark, deep-in-the-basement instrumentals provided by the legendary Beatminerz, accompanied by Buckshot Shorty & 5FT’s effortless rhymes. In the above teaser clip, Dru Ha and Buckshot reminisce on the environment they grew up in as well as the in-depth studio sessions they had to create the album. The full clip / doc drops later this year. Those of you attending SXSW, make sure to catch them TODAY at the anniversary show at Haven (409 Colorado St.) with appearances by Talib Kweli, Roc Marciano, Statik Selektah and more!
Duck Down pulled this one from deep within the archival vaults. Aired on an underground Hip-Hop show on Jan. 10th, 1994, Black Moon introduces New York City to Tek & Steele of Smif-N-Wessun. LMAO @ those public access style TV graphics. As bad as these type of shows seem to us now, they’re classics in my eyes. Sidebar: Anyone remember The Box? I once ran up a crazy bill ordering music videos. Anywho, Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun’s Monumental available in-stores now.
DJ Evil Dee gives fans an inside perspective on the unusual recording practices he took while mixing Black Moon’s debut album Enta Da Stage. Hear more stories like this from the group tonight at Brooklyn’s SouthPaw as they’re taking part in a Red Bull Music Academy Q&A at 5PM.
I really want to see them perform “Buck ‘Em Down” one day.
Black Moon will be performing their debut album, Enta Da Stage, with a 6-piece band at Rock the Bells in New York tomorrow (September 3rd) on the 36 Chambers Stage from 4:50PM-6:05 PM. Fuck; I’ll miss them perform my favorite song of theirs, “Buck ‘Em Down.” Someone do me a favor get footage of that particular performance, cool?
Also, Random Axe will be rocking from 1:35PM-2:05 PM on the Main Stage. Be sure to catch both acts.
Black Moon is set to recreate the magic of their debut album Enta Da Stage tonight (August 17th) with a live band, and here they are practicing for what’s sure to be a dope event. Tickets can be copped here or at the door. More information down bottom.
Fellow NYCers / hardcore Hip-Hop fans, Black Moon is creeping up in ya room in Southpaw, Brooklyn tomorrow night to perform the entire Enta Da Stage LP along with PNCs Sean Price, Smif-N-Wessun, Iron Solomon and more. You lucky sons of bitches. Tickets can be copped here or at the door. Act like u want it!
Only the most die-hard Black Moon fans would know that the original group’s line-up included DJ Evil Dee, 5 Ft. Accelerator & Finsta, sans Buckshot Shorty. During this early incarnation of the group, they actually went by the name High Tech (which Finsta states was also the name of a clothing store in Bushwick). Finsta shortly left the group for personal reasons. In 1992, Finsta, although no longer a part of Black Moon, released his first single, Finsta Baby b/w Payday Is Bliss produced by an early version of Da Beatminerz. After Finsta brought forth his first seed into the physical world, he linked up with a neighborhood friend and DJ named Bundy, and together, they became Finsta & Bundy, later dropping the “&”. Eventually, Finsta picked up production himself, and together, they released a few (I stress the word “few”) singles throughout the mid and late 90s, however, each single was intensely great. Da Beatminerz’s Evil Dee, Mr. Walt and Rich Blak each had a hand in some of these singles, but in my opinion, it was Finsta’s production that had me bugging out the most.
Hands down, my favorite release from Finsta Bundy is the ’94 joint, Spirit of The Boogie. It emanated perfection: a monotonous, yet droning, brooding bassline almost reminiscent of Artifact’s Lower Da Boom, a pitched down Special Ed sample, dope verses and delivery. You could almost catch a contact high from the dope radiating through the speakers. For more info on Finsta, visit their site or hit ‘em up on Twitter.
Back in 1990, Blackmoon used to be four MC’s: KB 1 (5FT), KB 2 (Buckshot Shorty), Finsta and… Evil D. This week “thisismyNYMinute” features Duck Down’s CEO, Crown Heights’ favorite son Buckshot, who pulled a tape from his vault to show us a 16-year-old MC named Evil D, years away from becoming half of the legendary Beatminerz. You are now about to witness the freestyle that KILLED his rap career.
The BDI Thug performs one of his classic Black Moon songs w/ the help of KRS before jumping into an off the top freestyle. Remember… their collaborative album, Survival Skills, drops September 15th.
Black Moon is one of the pioneers of the backpack rap movement. After nearly two decades in the rap game Black Moon remains an independent group of musicians who continue to do their art for the people.
At a concert in the heart of Crown Heights Black Moon performed their classic music. It was in some ways a homecoming in front of the community that gave birth to these artists. The cipher is complete.
I really wish I was in NYC last night… as the whole Duck Down family was in effect for the Tribute to the Classics show at South Paw. Marco Polo & Torae opened up performing tracks off Double Barrel; Black Moon performed Enda Da Stage; and Smif-N-Wessun performed Da Shinin. Sean Price, Craig G, Sadat X and more made appearances. Here’s the first (of what I’m sure will be many) video clips. Part 2 after the jump…
