Charity Shoppin' #1: Turn It Up

(Photo by G Kcin)

Said turn it up. This is misleadingly credited to the Treacherous Three on the album sleeve, but in reality Turn It Up was the first solo release (on Sugar Hill, natch) for a certain Mohandas Dewese, aka Kool Moe Dee. Although potentially named after Gandhi, Mr Dee was recognised, in his early days at least, as much for anything as his confrontation and feuding.

Kool Moe Dee came to prominence on the back of a now legendary live recording of a battle rap/roasting of Busy Bee Starski which kickstarted his career and, he'd like you to believe, a whole new era of hip hop. He's also infamous for his ongoing feud with the equally-if-not-even-more-hilariously-named LL Cool J, who KMD accuses of having stolen his rap style. The cover of his 1987 album, How Ya Like Me Now features a red Kangol hat being squished under the wheels of a jeep or something, the hat being LLCJ's trademark. Which all goes to show, I suppose, that some people just don't ever grow up. It's almost fitting that Bart Simpson wanted to name a kid brother after him.

The Treacherous Three (also comprising Special K, LA Sunshine and DJ Easy Lee) were definitely among hip hop's pioneers, qualifying them for a place on the album: quite aside from Kool Moe Dee's exploits, their first single, The New Rap Language, was a landmark in itself.

Kool Moe Dee and the Treacherous Three - Turn It Up

Buy Treacherous Three/Kool Moe Dee

Tags: hip hop; rap; Treacherous Three; Kool Moe Dee; LL Cool J; Sugar Hill; roast; battle