If you were expecting another Wu installment, you’ll have to wait a little longer (no homo). I’m kinda Wu-ed out at the moment, plus I don’t know shit about what U-God has been up to post-Wu Tang Forever, so a quick change of pace is in order.
The Kings of Rock are regarded by many as The Greatest Rap Group Of All-Time (GRGOAT), and with good reason. Not only did they single-handedly bring about the end of the Old School, they also stopped rappers from wearing sequins and capes for a couple of years (at least until the World Class Wrecking Krew came out). With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that Run-DMC generated a sizable group of weed carriers over their long careers.
The mastermind of all of this was the late, great Jam Master Jay. Not only did he provide the musical backbone to the group, his crew from around the way also made sure that no one fucked with Darryl and Joe in the early days. Not only that, but he proved to be a master in the art of weed owning, which would proved to be essential as the crew’s popularity started to fade in the ’90’s.
One of their earliest cheeba-stashing squads was Hollis Crew, which consisted of guys (DJ Hurricane, Kool T and some other dudes) from Jam Master Jay’s neighbourhood crew of the same name. Jay produced their classic “It’s The Beat” record around 1985, and by 1990 the same guys got another deal by wearing wigs and calling themselves The Afros. You can spot them hanging around on stage at Run-DMC shows from that period, and Jay used to randomly yell “Afroooos!”. I can’t remember much about their album, but I guess those afro wigs were great for carrying weed.
Some guys called Serious-Lee-Fine carried for Darryl and Joe around 1987-1989 (I think they were from Texas) and made an album which no one remembers. Over the years Jam Master Jay also had a group called FU-2 hold for him for a minute, as well as The Famlee, but when he convinced some guys with green dreadlocks and Doc Martins – who danced at a local club – to shave their heads and call themselves Onyx, he was really onto a winner. Before he was murdered, Jay also had future weed owners like 50 Cent carrying for him. While 50 hasn’t done much to continue Jay’s musical legacy, at least he learnt from the best when it comes to owning weed.
Run started his career as “DJ Run – The Son (read: weed carrier) of Kurtis Blow” which speaks for itself. The group also had people like LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys carrying weed for them during their prime. The Beasties did such a good job – being token cracker weed holders and all, which proves to be handy in many parts of Manhattan – that Run and the guys gave them “Slow And Low” as a reward. LL assumed he could do the same thing, attempting to remake “Peter Piper” with his original version of “Rock The Bells”. I guess he was doing a pretty shitty job of carrying though (possibly leaving a bag of trees at the gym after a particurly vigorous stomach-crunching session), as Run screamed at him to change the beat to the song and promptly relieved him of all holding duties right then and there.
Did somebody ask for a look at weed carriers in grime? If so, you’re in luck.
The Fam-Lee is now known as the PearyerBoyz check out their music at myspace.com/thepearyerboyz
Yo, what about Runny Ray?! He’s the classic WC for Run Dmc, hell, he even plays a WC in “Tougher Than Leather”. He gets killed in the film, prophetic?