The Awesome 2 Premiere Nice & Smooth Skill Trade
I haven't posted much from The Awesome 2 since this site got going. Truthfully, I don't have much of their shows, but I'm going to delve into some great moments of theirs from early 1987 in the coming days. Let's start out with what is almost for sure the world premiere of Nice & Smooth's debut record (as Greg Nice and Smooth Bee), Skill Trade. This is the b-side of a tape whose a-side is marked February 2nd, 1987, so this is most likely from a week or two after. The Awesome 2 spin Skill Trade while they have Smooth B on the phone.
The Awesome Two Debut Nice & Smooth's "Skill Trade" and Speak With Smooth B on the Vibe Line -
Special K: Something brand new that you heard first with the 2 called "Skill Trade" by my man Smooth B who is still live on the vibe line with us from Tarzana, California, and this is a very special record. More than what the meaning holds for the skill trade, it's a skill trade by a very special man that we lost a couple months ago. Smooth B is gonna elaborate on that...
Smooth B: I came together with Greg Nice to perform the skill trade, and it was a tribute to my man June Love 'cause he passed away, may his soul rest in peace. Originally it was June Love and Greg Nice getting ready to come out, you know, so when that happened we said, "yeah we gotta do something in tribute to June," 'cause we had planned to do something together in the future...
... There's a few people that really know what they're doing ... we know what we're doing ... June Love knows what he's doing ... The Awesome 2 know what they doing ... Bobby Brown know what he doing... there's troops and troopettes, we know what we're DOING... that's the hook, together we're coolin'
Why the Bobby Brown mention? Apparently he was on the vibe line earlier, but of course that part ain't on the tape. Damn!
Enjoy this one, a very early moment from Nice & Smooth's partnership on wax!
I guess you could say I've been away.
I'm back now with some quality bits and pieces from rap's better days. Most of it is going to be material that hasn't been heard since the night it was broadcast live, and it's going to be coming in a massive wave, so check back daily. Here we go...
From my tape labeled January 23rd 1985 (although this is a show from a week or two later), we have Mr. Magic running down the weather forecast before introducing his in-studio guests, The Fat Boys. A couple years back, I posted an interview with The Fat Boys from April 20th, 1984 from when they were just starting to blow up as the Disco 3 with a large record called Fat Boys. 9 months later, they're still on the rise and a little bit more animated as their newest single Can You Feel It is playing in the background.
The Fat Boys Rap Attack Interview From Late January or February '85 (A) -
Kool Rock-ski: We won the Tin Pan Apple Rap and Breakdance contest at Radio City Music Hall on May 23, 1983, and we recorded our first record. Our second record we recorded with Kurtis Blow, which was real big, and that was "Fat Boys." Now Kurtis is our producer from now on. We just released the album three months ago and so far it went gold.
Mr. Magic: Okay, so now, you've been together for about two years... I've had the pleasure of knowing you for a few years and I can see that you have grown up a lot. They got Cazals on, y'all chillin' most. Did you ever think it was gonna be this big when you put the group together?
Fat Boys: Not really.
Check this one out. If you're anything like me, you'll agree this is a hip hop moment in history to be cherished. I'm very grateful and happy that this broadcast was preserved for all of these years. A lot of people taped the Rap Attack, but either they're keeping them in shoe boxes or they perished long ago. It's always painful to think of how many legendary moments will never ever be seen or heard again. I was in a conversation not long ago where a few individuals were discussing a John Lennon appearance on the Mike Douglas show. How many Lennon fans would cherish seeing that appearance in broadcast quality? It should exist, but it doesn't. The tapes were wiped. Let's preserve this shit. If you're out there with tapes tucked away, I'm not mad at you if you're trying to keep them to yourself, but I say you get them out there eventually before you kick the bucket, or they'll most likely vanish with you.
Here's the tail end of The Fat Boys in-studio appearance!
The Fat Boys Rap Attack Interview From Late January or February '85 (B) -
