Local rappers-made-good Gregory D (aka Gregory Duvernay) and DJ Manny Fresh (Byron Thomas) have just returned home from a tour with Too Short and Spice 1. They played Houston, Atlanta and Chicago, as well as Prince’s Minneapolis club, Glam Slam. The tour was part of the promotional campaign RCA Records kicked off in September to promote the single “Crack Slangas” and the LP The Real Deal.
RCA hosted an autograph signing party at Odyssey Records and later threw a party at the downtown Sheraton Hotel. The suites were packed with Gregory D’s friends, radio and retail, and record company executives.
During the autograph party, fans got a chance to sample the LP, which includes cuts “Down with HIV,” “Coochie Pleasers,” and “Make the Beat Funky.” “Down with HIV” features eight-year-old rapper Lil’ J. “Make the Beat Funky” is a reggae track that Duvernay put together with the help of members of Irie Vibrations.
The video for “Crack Slangas” hit Video Juke Box in mid-October. It was produced in South Central Los Angeles by Ian Fletcher, who has also done work for DJ Quick and Heavy D. Duvernay and Thomas are getting set for the second leg of the Too Short tour, scheduled for mid-November.
The Sandman (Tony Spann) signed a record deal with Warner Brothers Records. The deal came about after a solid year of negotiating. He had sent Cold Chillin’, a Warners subsidiary, a four-song demo tape that included the single “All Get Down.” The 21-year-old rapper/singer/songwriter started deejaying at clubs and parties when he was 13. He moved to New Orleans in 1989 and started rapping. He went on to Los Angeles and worked at MCA Records in the A&R department. Serious about pursuing a rap career, Spann says he returned to New Orleans because studio time is cheaper here, and he has more artistic freedom.
Sandman describes his style as “straight-up hardcore grassroots hip-hop.” One of his goals is to “uplift the art of rap” through strong lyrics and creative rhyme patterns. Spann showcases his talent deejaying and performing at local clubs. He refers to his club gigs as “The Sandbox” and invites other local groups to perform with him. He’s ironing out details with Warner Brothers about his promotional tour and says he can’t wait to start traveling.
Jah Ras X (Edwin Buggage) will release a new EP this month called Back to the East on Culture Entertainment. The EP has eight cuts, including the first single release, “Rapid Fire.” “It’s An Underground Thing” features Buggage along with the Fugitives, Ganja Children, Sandman and Funkmaster. Prior to this project, Buggage worked with Gangsta Wayne on a 12″ that they released in September. Buggage wrote and produced material for the 12″ and rapped on the cut “Toaston.” “Toaston,” a reggae/hip hop/rap track, received radio airplay and helped sell 12-inches and cassettes at retail.
When he was young, Buggage would imitate his grandmother’s Jamaican accent. His brother was a big reggae fan, so Buggage grew up listening to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. He started rapping when he was 14 and hanging around the neighborhood basketball court. Buggage doesn’t want to be categorized solely as a rap artist. His music is strongly influenced by his Jamaican background and New Orleans upbringing. “It’s a fusion between New Orleans’ culture and New Orleans music and Jamaican dancehall and rap,” says Buggage.
Local label Cash Money recently signed local acts PMW, Red Dog, Mo’ Black and J.T plus R&B artist Gentle Touch.
Silky Slim, whose single “Sister Sister” was initially released on local Mugz Records, has signed with major label Profile Records. Twelve-inch versions of the song are now being distributed nationally.
Karen Cortello is the music director/assistant program director at WQUE (93.3 FM).
