March 1993…a weekend trip to Detroit turned into the day I discovered Bangin’ On Wax, the debut album from a group called Bloods & Crips – who were actual Bloods and Crips hailing from multiple gang sets organized by O.Y.G RedRum781 and Tweedy Bird Loc.
The album begins with the intro “Gangsta Talk”. There’s a heated discussion over making an album together to prove they were able to come together and do something positive at a time it was unheard of.
After the intro they get right into things with the title track. They go back and forth killing each other to a head-nodding sample of Zapp & Roger’s “More Bounce To The Ounce” that was Co-Produced by west coast legend DJ Battlecat.
“Piru Love”, one of the singles from the album that samples Zapp & Roger’s “Computer Love”, features Bloody Mary aka Nini X (who tragically passed away in 2006), and gives us two of the most memorable verses from a female emcee in Hip Hop history!
During the first verse she turns names of various Blood sets into a rhyme you will never forget. O.Y.G RedRum781 joins her with a real-life vision of how much he despises Crips; Fo’ Clips (who also passed away) was actually a Crip, and sings the hook on “Piru Love”! This proved they could keep the beef on wax.
“Steady Dippin’”, another single, features the Crips’ artist C-Note – another female emcee, Do or Die, and Genuine Draft – who later became Domino – riding over a smooth g-funk beat while painting a visual of daily Crip life.
Other standout songs on this classic are “C-Sick”, “C-K Ride”, “Mackin’ to Slob B******”, and “Crip, Crip, Crip”.
‘Bangin’ On Wax’ was, and still is, one of the most influential and overlooked albums when it comes to Hip Hop history. A portion of its profits were donated to their community.
RIP Bloody Mary aka Nini X and Fo’ Clips | THIS ENT
[By Rube Ramon]
On August 11, 2023, we will join Sixman in Grand Rapids, MI for HIP HOP 50Th Anniversary Music Fest live at top-rated venue The Pyramid Scheme!
Celebrating this cultural milestone, Sixman will close out a stacked lineup of Nappy Head Assassins, J.Rob, Manchild, Loudchief, Zero, Gwopped Up Speedy, Alfie Da Great, Huff the Goat, WUZEE, Sonny Ski, D.E.S., Sha Dow, Adrian Wright, Dj Ill One, DJ Kapp, Dj Seven Eightz, and DJ Kokn, with industry favorite MR. 1204 serving as host.
Sponsored by WYCE, NOXX and COOKIES GR, Wasted Brand Clothing, Debo Scotty (Power Moves Only), Vitale’s On Leonard, THIS ENT, and Feeding America (West Michigan), Sixman is encouraging attendees to bring a non-perishable food item to help feed the less fortunate in the community.
With this once-in-a-lifetime event Sixman and everyone involved are upholding the charitable nature of Hip Hop’s origin at 1520 Sedwick Ave in Bronx, NY fifty years ago.
