KING TEE
BASS (RMV GRAMMOFON)
Limited orange vinyl. We've all heard the axiom, "if you ignore it, maybe it'll go away." That goes double for a lot of people who wish to apply that saying to rap music.
But when it comes to the West Coast "gangsta rapper" genre made popular by the likes of NWA, Eazy E, Ice-T and his Rhyme Syndicate cohort, King Tee, the truth is hard to ignore.
King Tee aligns producer DJ Pooh on this Bass EP consisting of tracks recorded in 1987.
They're joined by The Compton Posse that includes the late Mixmaster Spade and J-Ro from Tha Alkaholiks.
This EP sharpens the skillful word play King Tee made famous on his debut album Act A Fool.
From song to song, this EP has a superior sheen, a tightness and cohesiveness between rhyme and music.
Born in Los Angeles and now a resident of the infamous West Coast rap capital, Compton, California, King Tee truly is a product of the streets.
He openly admits to running with gangs in his youth, causing his mother endless embarrassment and frustration.
So much so that, in a desperate attempt to turn his life around, she turned King Tee into the authorities when she discovered him stealing from her.
Once out of jail, King Tee ran of to Houston, Texas. Trouble is that he was underage atthe time, so his mother again had King Tee locked up in a juvenile camp.
When King Tee finally realized why his mother did what she did, he decided to turn his life around by dedicating himself to music.
He listened obsessively to the radio and chose to become a DJ. When King Tee was released from juvenile camp he secured a mixing gig at KSU and then KYOK in Houston.
Between station gigs he handled the mix at various venues and clubs. After gaining the necessary experience behind the tables, King Tee moved back to Los Angeles and hooked up with Ice-T.
In rapid succession, King Tee met Du Pooh who enlisted him into his rap group (after King Tee bugged Pooh for months), then Pooh introduced Tee to DJ Unknown with whom he made several 12" records for the Techno Hop labelwhich is now released on this EP for the first time since then.
Ice-T's influence brought Rhyme Syndicate Management's Jorge Hinojosa into the picture.
King Tee eventually signed with Hinojosa who then secured a contract with Capitol Records for King Tee.
The result was 1988's Act A Fool.