Jive (1990)
As we go through Wednesday Ed Lover Dance Day each week, there will be some things that start create a pattern and explain where my brain was at in the late 80s and super early 90s. Boogie Down Productions was probably the first hip hop group that I would have considered my favorite when I started to fall into that world in grammar school. When D-Nice's debut album came out, I remember him being featured pretty regularly on Yo MTV Raps and it being mentioned that he was part of the BDP crew.
In addition to playing the video a decent amount, I also remember him appearing on the show live to preform. I won't say that it is for sure the first live act I saw on the show, but it's the earliest one I can remember. I definitely got the CD as part of one of my BMG music club scams, but have just recently added the vinyl to my collection.
I think this album holds up really well considering that it's creeping up on thirty years old. The one-two punch of opener "Crumbs On The Table" and lead single "Call Me D-Nice" still hit pretty hard all of these years later. While the record doesn't really maintain those sorts of highs throughout, I think it's a much better album as a whole than it's probably given credit for. "A Few Dollars More" combines a slick bass line with forceful lyrics. "It's All About Me" is built off of a repeating 60s sounding sample, that mixes with bouncing bass and solid scratching in the breaks. Closing track "And You Don't Stop" loops some 70s funk sounds that provide a base for D-Nice to throw out some 90s shout outs and lay down some quick rhymes on his way out the door.
The whole record is strong. There was a period of decades where this wasn't an album I really listened to at all, but relistening to it with fresh ears for the last year or so made me realize that not having it on vinyl was a pretty glaring hole in my collection.
D-Nice - "Call me D-Nice":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbWnRyPzce4
D-Nice - "Crumbs On the Table":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP0-e0seNII
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