Detroit's Most Wanted

Detroit's Most Wanted is a pioneering rap group from Detroit, Michigan that originally formed in 1986.^[1] The group was one of the first Detroit rap groups to secure a national record label deal ^[2] and has sold 500,000 copies according to leading member and founder Motsi Ski.^[3] Although the group isn't remembered nationally and didn't achieve the same level of success as other Detroit rap groups like Insane Clown Posse and D12, They are considered local legends in their hometown of Detroit.^[4]

Formation

Motsi Ski met MC Lee at Cooley High School and DJ Duncan Hines through a mutual friend.^[5] The guys originally hated each other for a little while until they were able to put their differences aside and stop competing with each other for the attention of girls.^[6] The trio would form Detroit's Most Wanted in 1986 and would be financed by a local drug dealer through the making of their debut album.^[7]

Tricks Of The Trades and Tricks Of The Trade, Vol. II: The Money is Made (1990-1992)

In 1990, DMW would release their debut album Tricks Of The Trades. The album was independently released on Motsi Ski's label Bryant Records and the album would become a local bestseller, even reaching #83 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.^[8] The song City Of Boom would go on to become a local classic in the group's hometown of Detroit. DMW would sign to Ichiban Records and would secure national distribution through them some time after and would release their most successful album to date, Tricks Of The Trade, Vol. II: The Money is Made on April 6, 1992.^[9] Like their debut, The album was well received in their hometown of Detroit and would reach the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, peaking at #58.^[10] A music video for The Money Is Made was made and was able to gain some airplay locally in Detroit and nationwide. The video was shot on location in Atlantic City, New Jersey and would be the first rap video to ever be shot in a casino.^[11] At this point, The group began gaining a cult following that went beyond their hometown of Detroit and would eventually earn the attention of then-mega selling rapper MC Hammer.^[12]

Break-up, DMW continuing on as a Motsi Ski solo project (1993-1997)

DJ Duncan Hines wanted to rap more on the group's songs but Motsi objected to this idea, Thinking that Hines should focus more on being a DJ instead of a rapper which would cause a rift in the group.^[13] Then, MC Hammer began showing interest in the group and wanted to sign them to his record label Bust It Records.^[14] However, group leader Motsi Ski turned down the offer citing a disapproval of Hammer's plans for the group which would have involved a name change and a toning down of the group's lyrical content ^[15] however, this didn't stop DJ Hines and MC Lee from accepting the offer and the two would leave Detroit's Most Wanted to form Ditch Diggers on Hammer's label, Leaving Motsi as the only remaining member left in the group.^[16] On March 29, 1993, DMW would release its third album and its final one as a group, Many Faces Of Death, Vol. III.^[17] The album was not as successful as the previous two albums as it did not chart on any of the Billboard charts but the album still sold pretty well locally in the city of Detroit. It would also be the final DMW album to be released through Ichiban Records. Now a solo project, Motsi would use the DMW name for the fourth album which was called Bow The F--- Down.^[18] It would be released on May 16, 1994.^[19] In the album, Motsi would diss his former partners DJ Duncan Hines and MC Lee in a remix to Legalize It as retaliation for them leaving taunting messages on his answering machine ^[20] and would also make fun of them in the album's liner notes by saying: Special shout out to them hoe niggas for going bootie i got tired of carrying yall hoes anyway bitch ass niggas. Despite this, the three always respected each other and still managed to keep in contact with each other after the break-up of the group.^[21] On November 15, 1994 a compilation entitled Early Days was released and it featured songs from DMW's first two albums.^[22] The final DMW album, Entitled Ghetto Drama, was released on January 9, 1996.^[23] Throughout the mid-90's, Motsi would begin experiencing legal troubles as he would find himself being incarcerated on separate occasions for Marijuana possession, Violating Probation, and carrying a firearm as a convicted felon.^[24] The DMW name was officially retired after Ghetto Drama and Motsi would re-surface with his own name as a solo artist in the 2000s.

Reunion, Tricks Of The Trade, Vol. II Anniversary Edition, and Recent Events (2004-Present)

In 2004, Motsi would reunite with DJ Duncan Hines and MC Lee and reform Detroit's Most Wanted.^[25] Shortly after the reunion, the group would re-release their most successful album Tricks Of The Trade Vol. II: The Money Is Made on December 28, 2004.^[26] This re-release, known as the Special Anniversary Edition, would feature an updated version of the original album's cover as well as a bonus disc of 9 new songs. The group planned to release a new album entitled Timeless ^[27] but as of 2014, that album has never been released. On June 16, 2011, A new song by DMW entitled Pay Homage was uploaded onto YouTube.^[28] Today, DMW occasionally performs in their hometown of Detroit. On May 25, 2012 DMW released a Greatest Hits album entitled Greatest Hits which contained 15 of their best-known songs.^[29] On November 14, 2012 DMW performed at the Detroit Old School Legends Of Hip Hop reunion party alongside other Detroit rap legends as Awesome Dre, A.W.O.L., Dice, and many others.^[30] On March 4, 2014, The group released a second Greatest Hits album entitled Anthology which celebrated the group's 25th anniversary and featured 26 of the group's most well-known songs.^[31]

Discography

Studio albums:

• 1990: Tricks Of The Trades
• 1992: Tricks Of The Trade, Vol. II: The Money is Made
• 1993: Many Faces Of Death, Vol. III
• 1994: Bow The F--- Down
• 1996: Ghetto Drama

Compilation albums:

• 1994: Early Years
• 2012: Greatest Hits
• 2014: Anthology

References

External links

• Allmusic entry
• Discogs entry