Enta da Stage
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| Enta da Stage | |||||||||||
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| Studio album by Black Moon | |||||||||||
| Released | October 19, 1993 | ||||||||||
| Recorded | 1992–1993 | ||||||||||
| Genre | East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop | ||||||||||
| Length | 56:54 | ||||||||||
| Label | Nervous | ||||||||||
| Producer | DJ Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, Buckshot | ||||||||||
| Professional reviews | |||||||||||
| Black Moon chronology | |||||||||||
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Enta da Stage is the debut album of American East Coast hip hop group Black Moon, released on October 19, 1993 through Nervous Records. The album was produced by DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz. Enta da Stage features the debut of underground hip hop duo Smif-n-Wessun, as well as appearances from Havoc of Mobb Deep and Dru Ha, the co-founder of Duck Down Records. Despite being critically acclaimed and having two Billboard Hot 100 hits ("Who Got da Props?" and "I Got Cha Opin"), the album sold poorly, and is often overlooked in favor of subsequent East Coast albums such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Illmatic, Ready to Die, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., and The Infamous. Nonetheless, Enta da Stage preceded those releases and served as a precursor to the resurgence of the New York hip hop scene in the mid-1990s.
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[edit] Conception
The roots of Black Moon go back to Brooklyn's Bushwick High School, where 5ft and DJ Evil Dee met and formed a group called Unique Image. The two later met Buckshot in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, and formed a friendship based on similar musical aspirations.[1] The newly formed group recruited Evil Dee's older brother Mr. Walt, and began recording the pre-production of their debut album at the Dewgarde Crib of Hits at Mr. Walt's house. Their first group release was their 1992 single "Who Got da Props?", which is now hailed as a classic hip hop single.[2] Black Moon signed to Nervous Records in 1992, based on the strength of the debut single, which peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1993. Buckshot soon formed a close relationship with Nervous employee Drew Friedman, later known as Dru Ha. The two formed a management company named "Duck Down Management",[3] and oversaw the release of Enta da Stage as co-executive producers. The group finished recording Enta da Stage at New York City's D&D Studios between late 1992 and early 1993, and prepared it for a late 1993 release date.
[edit] Music
Much of the acclaim the album received was due to the performance of lead MC Buckshot, who originally went by the name Buckshot Shorty. Ten of the fourteen tracks on the album are Buckshot solo tracks, and he appears on every song but "Son Get Wrec". Buck, who was eighteen at the time of the recording, was a young man trying to establish himself and his crew in the hip hop world. In a 2005 interview with MVRemix.com, Buckshot described a day in his life while recording his debut:
Enta da Stage was really rough for me. It was a really rough era. A lot of people don't know what I went through personally. I think I had just turned eighteen and I had the pressure of running a management company as an eighteen year old shorter than 5'6. I had that problem of people taking my company and my representation seriously. So a day in the life around the Enta da Stage era was based on constant struggle and lettin' people know you respect Duck Down management as a real management company and not just as some little cute thing that Buckshot is doing. Nah, for real, we're management type deal. I was battling keeping Smif-n-Wessun in a good deal, I was battling trying to get Heltah Skeltah a good deal. I was battling trying to bring my record company into existence, so it was a really hard time.[3]
[edit] Lyrics
The mindstate described in the above interview rules the content on the album, as the lyrics are loaded with violent narratives and braggadocio and little else, as Buckshot and 5ft try to solidify their status in rap. Allmusic's Chris Witt stated that "Emcees Buckshot and 5ft Accelerator (though Buckshot dominates) attack their verses with an aggressive nihilism not heard since Kool G Rap's peak."[4] 5ft, originally known as 5FT Accelerator, only appears on three tracks here, and his lyrical content does not differ from that of Buckshot's. Unlike later work by New York City peers like Nas, the lyrical content found here does not peer deeply into social issues or provide much substance. Allmusic's album review stated that "Theirs is a grim reality, filled with guns, weed and violence. Buckshot displays none of the usual gangster remorse, he is a willful public menace."[4]
Buckshot was praised not only for his lyricism, but also for his lyrical delivery and breath control, with his flow and dramatic, conversational vocal tones being seen as original and entertaining.[5] In a 2005 interview with AllHipHop.com, hip hop producer 9th Wonder stated that Buckshot's style strongly influenced his current sound, and that the singles "Who Got da Props?" and "How Many MC's..." changed his life.[6]
The album features an original style of choruses, which are now known as "Black Moon hooks", in which they gather a large number of people in the booth to simultaneously scream the lyrics. These vocals were provided by a number of artists, including Smif-n-Wessun, Dru-Ha, Mr. Walt, Mobb Deep's Havoc and the trio themselves. "Niguz Talk Shit", "Who Got da Props?", "Ack Like U Want It", "Buck Em Down", "Black Smif-n-Wessun", "Son Get Wrec", "Make Munne" and "U da Man" all feature "Black Moon hooks".
[edit] Production
DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz, who produced the album, put their samplers to use here, lacing the album with their signature basement sound, filled with hard drums, grimy horn arrangements and dark basslines. In the album's liner notes, DJ Evil Dee stated: "This album was done on blunted terms. Anyone who is offended by the contents of the album, FUCK YOU. Nuff said." Allmusic describes the dark production: "The Beatminerz production crew craft subterranean beats to match Buckshot's mayhem. The tracks are dark, layered with muted jazz samples, and seemingly bottomless."[4] A few of the samples used here were later recreated by a number of hip hop artists in the '90s. The single "Buck Em Down" features a sample from Donald Byrd's "Wind Parade", a sample which was later re-used for Organized Konfusion's 1994 concept track "Stray Bullet". "How Many MC's..." features a sample from Grover Washington, Jr.'s "Hydra", which was used for earlier hip hop tracks like EPMD's "Underground". Evil Dee and Walt take a portion of the sample and craft it into a different loop.
An Enta da Stage review on OhWord.com praises the production work:
Though the album's success is largely attributable to Buckshot's performance, one cannot ignore the phenomenal production from the Beatminerz. They took the already dark sound of The Low End Theory and one-upped it, filtering out almost all treble and using spare, hardcore drum samples. The compositions of Mr. Walt and Evil Dee are also cleverly structured, propelling Buckshot's raps directly into the listener's psyche."..."The crackle of scratched vinyl pervades the album, contributing to the feel of warmth and timelessness. Thanks to the Beatminerz, there is something inviting about Enta da Stage, despite its confrontational lyrics.[5]
[edit] Singles
Enta da Stage featured four singles and music videos, including their debut "Who Got da Props?". In mid-1993, the "How Many MC's..." single was released;[7] it became popular in the underground rap circuit, but was not able to find success with mainstream audiences, barely breaking into the Top 50 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.[8] The third single from the album was a remix of "I Got Cha Opin", which utilized a smooth jazz sample, courtesy of Barry White's "Playing Your Game Baby".[9] The remix featured a new chorus and all-new verses to go along with the new production. The single became the group's second Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1994, peaking at number 93.[8] The last single, "Buck Em Down", was released in mid-1994, with the music video featuring the remixed version. Both original and remixed versions featured sampled portions from Donald Byrd's "Wind Parade"[9] and similar lyrics, with the remix featuring a different vocal delivery and edited lyrics.
The album spawned additional remixes. Along with "Buck Em Down" and "I Got Cha Opin", the tracks "Ack like U Want It", "Son Get Wrec", "Shit Iz Real", "How Many MC's..." and "U da Man" all featured remixes, which were later included on Black Moon's Diggin' in dah Vaults compilation.[10]
[edit] Reception
[edit] Significance
Though not as widely heralded as similar groundbreaking East Coast albums such as Nas' Illmatic, The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Onyx's Bacdafucup and Mobb Deep's The Infamous, Enta da Stage was critically acclaimed on a similar level.[11] Though all of the albums mentioned above were able to reach at least Gold status, Enta da Stage, released before all of these albums, has not sold nearly as well, selling just over 350,000 copies in the U.S. as of June 2006.[12] Allmusic described the importance of the album: "It set the tone for much of the hip hop to follow. Biggie Smalls suicidal thoughts and Noreaga's boisterous thuggery both have their roots here. The album marked a turning point in hip hop."[4] Enta da Stage has also been described as "Era defining",[13] and was one of the pioneering releases during the return of New York City's street hip hop resurgence of the mid '90s, after the West Coast's reign of the early '90s.[14] Enta da Stage is still prominent among hip hop artists today, such as lyrics from "How Many MC's..." being used as a hook for Jedi Mind Trick's song "Speech Cobras".
The album also served as the introduction of the Boot Camp Clik, Buckshot's hip hop supergroup. The collective was a prominent underground rap group in the 1990s - also producing the acclaimed Smif-n-Wessun's Dah Shinin', Heltah Skeltah's Nocturnal, and O.G.C.'s Da Storm.
Enta da Stage heralded the debut of Da Beatminerz. After producing here, and on other Boot Camp albums Dah Shinin', Nocturnal and Da Storm, Mr. Walt and Evil Dee went on to expand their sounds, and produce for popular artists like Afu-Ra, Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, De La Soul, Dilated Peoples, Eminem, Flipmode Squad, Jean Grae, KRS-One, M.O.P., Naughty by Nature, O.C. and Black Star.
[edit] Critical
Enta da Stage has received strong reviews from sources. Allmusic gave the album 4 1/2 stars (out of 5), while The Source gave it a coveted 4 Mics. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's "100 Best Rap Albums",[15] and former Source magazine writer Cheo H. Coker stated in their November 1993 issue:
Enta da Stage is a stunning debut that does not disappoint by any stretch of the imagination. The only term that adequately describes Black Moon's smooth combination of funky jazz rhythms and ferocious vocals is 'elegant madness.' It's nice to see that there are still shining spots of originality to be found in a genre that's becoming increasingly overrun by bogus bandwagon jumpers just out to make a quick buck. Make this jammie a priority.[16]
Though praised for its originality and production, Enta da Stage has also seen criticism for its monotony and lack of lyrical substance. Rolling Stone magazine gave the album a 3-star rating, criticized the release for "ignorance", and claimed that the release failed to capitalize on its promise, stating that "They leave blank the ultimate canvas - the self."[11]
[edit] Track listing
Tracklisting and producer information is taken from the CD.[17]
| # | Title | Songwriters | Producer(s) | Performer(s) | Samples[9] |
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| 1 | "Powaful Impak!" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz, Buckshot | Buckshot |
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| 2 | "Niguz Talk Shit" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 3 | "Who Got da Props?" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 4 | "Ack like U Want It" | Ewart Dewgarde, Walt Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake, K. Reid | DJ Evil Dee & Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot, 5ft |
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| 5 | "Buck Em Down" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake, Larry Mizell | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 6 | "Black Smif-n-Wessun" | Ewart Dewgarde, T. Williams, Kenyatta Blake, D. Yates | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Tek, Buckshot, Steele |
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| 7 | "Son Get Wrec" | Ewart Dewgarde, K. Reid | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | 5ft |
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| 8 | "Make Munne" | Walt Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot | |
| 9 | "Slave" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 10 | "I Got Cha Opin" | Walt Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 11 | "Shit Iz Real" | Ewart Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 12 | "Enta da Stage" | Walt Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake, Ernie Watts, F. Scruggs, Kirk Jones, T. Taylor, C. Parker | Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 13 | "How Many MC's..." | Ewart Dewgarde, Walt Dewgarde, Kenyatta Blake, Grover Washington Jr. | DJ Evil Dee & Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Buckshot |
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| 14 | "U da Man" | Ewart Dewgarde, K. Reid, Dru Ha, Kejuan Muchita, T. Williams, D. Yates, Kenyatta Blake | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | 5ft, Dru-Ha, Havoc, Tek, Steele, Buckshot |
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[edit] Credits
All information is taken from the CD.[17]
- Buckshot - vocals, background vocals, producer, executive producer
- 5ft - vocals, background vocals
- DJ Evil Dee - producer, background vocals
- Mr. Walt - producer, background vocals
- Tek - vocals, background vocals
- Steele - vocals, background vocals
- Havoc - vocals, background vocals
- Dru Ha - vocals, background vocals, executive producer
- Everette Lawson - background vocals
- Lynn Blackwell - background vocals
- Leo "Swift" Morris - main engineer
- Eddie Sancho - assistant engineer
- Luke Allen - assistant engineer
- Luis Tineo - assistant engineer
- Dave Carpenter - assistant engineer
- Joe Quinde - assistant engineer
- Merge One - art direction
- C² - art direction, photography
- Chi Modu - photography
[edit] Album chart positions
| Chart (1993)[18] | Peak position |
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| U.S. Top Heatseekers | 7 |
| U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 33 |
[edit] Singles chart positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions[8] | |||
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| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1993 | "Who Got da Props?" | 86 | 60 | — | 28 |
| "How Many MC's..." | — | 97 | 48 | 17 | |
| 1994 | "I Got Cha Opin" (remix) | 93 | 55 | 15 | 4 |
| "Buck Em Down" | — | 81 | 17 | 2 | |
[edit] Singles information
| Single information |
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"Who Got da Props?"
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"How Many MC's..."
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"I Got Cha Opin" (remix)
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"Buck Em Down" (remix)
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[edit] References
- ^ 5ft interview with MVRemix.com. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ Black Moon interview with Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on June 21, 2006.
- ^ a b Buckshot interview with MVRemix.com. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Allmusic's review on Enta Da Stage. Retrieved on June 21, 2006.
- ^ a b Enta Da Stage review. Retrieved on June 21, 2006.
- ^ AllHipHop.com interview with Buckshot & 9th Wonder. Retrieved on May 26, 2008.
- ^ "How Many MC's..." single. Retrieved on June 26, 2006.
- ^ a b c Allmusic Singles Chart Positions. Retrieved on June 26, 2006.
- ^ a b c TheBreaks.com album samples. Retrieved on June 26, 2006.
- ^ Allmusic "Diggin' In Dah Vaults" tracklisting. Retrieved on June 26, 2006.
- ^ a b Rolling Stone album review. Retrieved on June 21, 2006.
- ^ Duck Down Records History. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ Soldiering on through Bucktown. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ Sputnik Music's review of Enta Da Stage. Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
- ^ The top 100 Best Rap Albums list on Rocklist.net The Source Albums. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
- ^ Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" (Album Review by Cheo H. Coker). Retrieved on April 20, 2006.
- ^ a b Enta Da Stage by Black Moon CD. CD Universe (1996–2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
- ^ Allmusic Album Chart Positions. Retrieved on June 26, 2006.
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