1982 hip-hop doesn’t get a whole lot better than ‘Grandmixer Cuts It Up’ by Grandmixer D.St and the Infinity Rappers (one of whom glories in the name The Flyest Boo-Ski – if that was a rapper now, it’d be Lil’ Ski. We’re not ones to bemoan modern hip-hop, but at least those ‘82 cats were trying hard on the name tip). This brings back memories of Rock City tapes being traded at school, the first place we heard it before we discovered buying vinyl. Will C has dug up some vintage video of this banger, which still sounds like nothing on earth. Celluloid released some gunk along with the gold, but everything D.St touched – ‘Home of Hip-Hop’ might just be the best record ever, and ‘Megamix II (Why is it Fresh?)’ isn’t too shabby either – turned to gold.
As a bonus, here’s D.St performing ‘Rockit’ live with Herbie Hancock. Takes a while to get going, but once it does, music changes forever.
5 responses so far ↓
1 brian beck from wisconsin // May 21, 2009 at 10:32 am
Guess we should turn this into our top 3 cuts on Celluloid Records..
Time Zone – The Wild Style
Lightnin’ Rod & Hendrix – Doriella Du Fontaine
Infinity & Grandmixer D.ST – Grandmixer Cuts It Up
2 Will C. // May 21, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I’m glad you guys love that track as well! I don’t hear it talked about much, so I wasn’t sure if I was relatively alone on my strong feelings for it… I still think the part in the video at 2:47 where the record seems to skip right as one of the emcees is busting a b-boy stance is classic! I’m with you on “Home of Hip Hop” too
3 Franklin Mint, Last Of The Big Spenders // May 21, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Backdrop graf courtesy of Futura 2000
4 102 names // May 22, 2009 at 4:37 am
So classic. Home of Hip Hop IS the best record ever. great sleeve too. Of course the fab 5 freddy ‘change the beat’ for ‘aaaah this stuff is reaeeeeeeally fressshhhhh’ if not the actual tune itself.
5 Dr. K // Aug 14, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Thanks a lot for the post. Great stuff. But I still don’t get how “ah” and fresh” became so popular. Yes, “Rockit” was a hit, and people must have figured out that D.ST was using the B-side of “Change the Beat.” But that doesn’t explain why every scratch DJ and his grandmother now knows “ah” and “fresh.” Anyone know what the story is?
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