Sixteen-year-old “Reero” (Rene Porche) and 18-year-old “Dee” (Danielle Eugene) first met at the Riverwalk in 1991. One year later, the female rappers, known collectively as Da’Sha’Ra, released their first 12″ on Take Fo’ Records, with cuts “Stuntman” and “Eastbank Boy with a Westbank Booty.”
Their raps are clean. “We don’t use profanity in our music because it’s not necessary,” says Eugene. On “Stuntman,” the girls have some advice for guys who like to show off. “You don’t have to try to wear jewelry or high-priced clothes to impress people,” says Porche. “Eastbank Boy with a Westbank Booty” is a humorous rap based on the group’s personal opinions. “Eastbank boys are cute, but Westbank boys have big booties,” say Porche and Eugene.
Their current release, “Bootin’ Up,” has a serious message. “We’re trying to tell people that they don’t have to use violence to get their point across,” says Porche. Da’Sha’Ra is working on an LP, Soul Sisters from the South, to be released this fall.
“Straight-up funk” is the way 39 Posse member “Shack” (Derrick Mushatt) describes his group’s sound. In April, Mushatt and group members DJ K.L.C. (Craig Lawson) and MC Dart (Dartanian Stovall) released a funky rap EP on Parkway Pumpin Records. All three members collaborated to create the lyrics and beats for cuts “39 Automatic,” “Hot Spot,” “Stuntin’ Stars” and the remix of “Got What It Takes to Make It.”
Eight years ago, members of 39 Posse began competing in breakdancing contests. Motivated by a love for hip-hop music, they recorded and released their debut EP in 1989. The group ran into legal problems with some of the lyrics, so they were forced to pull the EP off the shelves. They went back into the studio with the intention of remixing the EP but instead decided to record all new cuts. In 1992, they released their second EP, which included cuts “Got What It Takes to Make It,” “Ask Them Hoes” and “Pass the Snake.” The group is producing local artists Lil’ Elt, Corey C., EXD, Silky Slim and Mystical. New EPs on EXD and Lil’ Elt are due out this month.
A&M Records has released the original motion picture soundtrack for Posse, a Western about black cowboys that stars Mario Van Peebles, Big Daddy Kane and Tone Loc, with appearances by Aaron Neville and Isaac Hayes. The first single releases from the soundtrack are “The Posse (Shoot ’em Up)” by Intelligent Hoodlum and “One Night of Freedom” by B.B.O.T.I. (Badd Boyz of the Industry). Posse is a story about black soldiers in the U.S. Army during the 1898 Spanish-American War. Gramercy Pictures will release the movie this month.
Local singer/songwriter/actress Tara Darnell recently returned from a European tour, and is in the studio recording her debut LP. Darnell has been singing since she was 13. She traveled around the country with the Gospel Soul Children and later met Marva Wright, who introduced her to secular music. She sang background for Wright and did other gigs at hotels, conventions and in the French Quarter. Darnell considers herself an R&B and Top-40 artist, but admits she enjoys performing jazz, blues and gospel as well. Her favorite style of music is adult contemporary R&B along the lines of Anita Baker, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle.
“Dopa Than Dope Is in the House” is the first 12″ release for rappers Lyrical Professor (Paul Smith), S.J.M. (Marshall Jones) and DJ Snake (Leon Ward), better known as Dopa Than Dope. The 12″, on Money Making Records, was released in January along with a maxi-cassette that includes cuts “Real Realistic,” “Hooked on Dope” and “Dopa than Dope is in the House.”
Along with their executive producer, Eric Jackson, the group members own their record company, publishing company and the production studio where they produced their debut 12″. Their lyrics are inspired by their experiences growing up in the Florida Avenue housing development. They try to educate people of all ages through their music. “We want to educate young black males and females about their history,” says Jones.
