- Natural Elements (rap)
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Natural Elements Also known as N.E. Origin 1993 Genres Hip-Hop, Rap Labels Kings Link Recordz, Fortress Entertainment Associated acts Charlemagne, Dante Pachino, Essence, Raidermen, Nightbreed, DJ Premier, Northeast Wildcats Members L Swift, A-Butta, Mr. Voodoo Past members Charlemagne, KA, Howie Smalls, The InTIMidator, G-Blass Hailing from New York City, Natural Elements are an underground hip-hop group with notable fame on the east coast and more recently worldwide through their viral spread on the internet. Brought together in 1993 under the direction of Charlemagne, Natural Elements began as a group consisting of solo artists Mr. Voodoo, L Swift, KA, Howie Smalls, G-Blass, and the InTIMidator.[1] In 1994, Natural Elements dropped its first 12" with "The EP" which was produced by Charlemagne under Fortress Entertainment.[2] L Swift and Mr. Voodoo received the most attention initially and by 1995, A Butta joined the group and officially Natural Elements condensed into its modern day trio.
Contents
Recording history
After reforming the group into what was now the official Natural Elements, Mr. Voodoo, L Swift, and A-Butta were now[when?] recording tracks together. With Charlemagne, their original goal before pursuing a major label was to build up Fortress Entertainment. As a side project, A-Butta and L Swift formed the duo "2Face", and released "NYC/Hey Hey Hey" under Blind Side Recordings in 1996.[3] Natural Elements became an NYC underground hip-hop sensation with their presence on DJ Premier's "Reality Check 101",[4] and appearances on radio shows. They became known for their incredible freestyles and their uncanny ability to flow one after another and finish each other's sentences.[citation needed] They became most famously recognized for their appearances on the Stretch and Bobbito Show, "The Underground Railroad", and The Halftime Show on New York University Radio.[5] The group put out its first 12-inch in 1997 under Dolo Records with "Bust Mine" and "Paper Chase" which were also produced by Charlemagne.[6] Eventually, they acquired a record deal with a major label, Tommy Boy Records. In 1998, N.E. released their first single "2 Tons/Live It Up" under Tommy Boy Black Label.[7] All three members put out various solo work, but no official albums were ever released as Tommy Boy dropped them soon after due to issues between the group and label. The Natural Elements debut album which was due to release was then shelved in spite of the hype it accumulated.[8] In an interview, Mr. Voodoo stated "The Tommy Boy situation was hectic. We was suppose [sic] to have an album put out in 1999. First, halfway through the album our A&R was fired. We still were still on and finished the album but they kept sitting on it. We were like let us go but give us our masters. So we got 'em. A whole fuckin album that no one may ever hear."[9] An unfinished and unofficial copy of the album with assorted songs eventually leaked onto the Internet, and thus received mixed reviews.[citation needed] The group eventually took a small hiatus and disbanded due to personal issues. A decade later, "1999: 10 Year Anniversary" was finally released in 2009 under Kings Link Recordz to mostly critical praise and containing many unreleased tracks that would have been on their original album.[citation needed] Besides their creativity and inventiveness in freestyles, Natural Elements were also known for their multi-syllable rhymes, vivid lyrical imagery, and their masterful battle rap style. Currently, numerous freestyles and other unreleased or rare material flood hip-hop communities and torrent websites.
Members
A-Butta
Anthony Cruz a.k.a. A-Butta was raised in West Harlem and is of Puerto-Rican descent. He was introduced to L Swift, Mr. Voodoo, and Charlemagne in the mid-90's by DJ Mayhem. Over the years, he has been featured in almost every post-1994 Natural Elements song. He is currently working on a hip-hop/punk fusion project with his new rock band featuring Japanese musicians Butch, Yoshi, and Dai entitled "Bullet Proof Junkies."
L Swift
L Swift (L. Lesmond) who now goes by the name Swigga Da Don, was born in the Caribbean in the late 70s and grew up in the Northeast Bronx. At just twenty years old, he along with the other group members were signed to Tommy Boy Records. He released several independent singles such as "Howz It Goin Down" and "Ride This". After the break-up with the record label and the shelving of their debut album along with other personal hardships, he was hospitalized in 2000 after trying to commit suicide by overdosing on a mixture of forty prescription pills. Over the past couple of years under the name Swigga, he has released numerous mixtapes as well as projects with his new group "Northeast Wildcats" which consists of Eddie Brock and Al Giddy. He has also developed the record label Agatha Music in dedication to his mother who died from cancer in 1991.[10][11]
Mr. Voodoo
Growing up in Brooklyn, Mr. Voodoo (Agu Obiakor) starting rapping in the mid-80s. Throughout his career, Mr. Voodoo released many singles such as "Come Off Hard" (1994) and the "Lyrical Tactics" 12" in 1996, which featured another popular track entitled "Hemlock". Mr. Voodoo now goes by his given name Agu, which was also the name he used when he was the co-host on the Underground Railroad in the early 90s.[12] Mr. Voodoo co-founded Hemlock Records in 2002.
Discography
1994: "The EP" (12") - (Fortress Entertainment)
1997: "Bust Mine/Paper Chase" (12") - (Dolo Records)
1998: "2 Tons/Live It Up" (Single) - (Tommy Boy Black Label)
1999: "Live It Up Part 2 The Remixes" (12", Promo) - (Tommy Boy Black Label)
2005: "EP" (12") - (Word Of Mouth)
2009: "1999: 10 Year Anniversary" (CD, Album) - (Kings Link Recordz)
Appearances
1997: "Lyrical Tactics" - (Haze Presents: New York Reality Check 101) - (Payday, FFRR)
1997: "Bust Mine" - (Lesson 1) - (Dolo Records)
1997: "Freestyle", "Bust Mine" - (My Definition Of Hip-Hop Vol.2) - (Flavor Records)
1997: "Strategy" - (Raidermen - Top Dollar/Strategy 12") - (Raidermen Entertainment)
1998: "Tri-Boro" - (Hip-Hop Independents Day Vol. 1) - (Wreck Records, Nervous Records)
1998: "Mayday" - (Lyricist Lounge Volume One) - (Rawkus)
1998: "Bust Mine" - (Tags Of The Times) - (Mary Joy Recordings)
1999: "The Promo" - (#62 - Ready For Impact?) - (Tape Kingz)
1999: "Live It Up" - (Black Mask - Music From The Original Motion Picture) - (Tommy Boy Music)
1999: "2 Tons" - (CMJ New Music Monthly Volume 73, September 1999) - (College Music Journal)
1999: "2-Tons" - (Dub Sessions Vol. 01) - (P-Jays Recordings)
1999: "2-Tons" - (Competition Is None) - (Staple)
2000: "The Promo" - (Alien Food) - (Not On Label)
2000: "Live It Up (Pt. 2)" - (Black Label: Hip Hop 101) - (Tommy Boy Black Label)
2000: "911 Intro" - (Brainwash) - (Not On Label)
2000: "Live It Up" - (Tommy Boy Presents: Architects Of Culture) - (HHC Magazine, Tommy Boy Music)
2003: "Paper Chase" - (Thé Dansant Des Anciens Elèves) - (Institubes)
2004: "Definitely" - (SpitKicker Presents DJ Crossphada: The Next Spit Volume 4) - (SpitKicker)
2006: "I Mean This" - (Crime Rhymes) - (Not On Label)
2006: "Magnetic" - (Straight From Underground (Best Of 1997)) - (Not On Label)
[13]References
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/naturalelements
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Natural-Elements-The-EP/release/415196
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/2-Face-NYC-Hey-Hey-Hey/release/473022
- ^ http://voice.paly.net/node/16222
- ^ http://www.unkut.com/2005/10/anthony-cruz-aka-a-butta-interview/
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Natural-Elements-Bust-Mine-Paper-Chase/release/415189
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Natural-Elements-2-Tons-Live-It-Up/master/77003
- ^ http://www.unkut.com/2005/10/anthony-cruz-aka-a-butta-interview/
- ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=12340974&blogId=268952304
- ^ http://www.unkut.com/2007/04/swigga-aka-l-swift-interview/
- ^ http://www.agathamusic.com/home.htm
- ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=12340974&blogId=268952304
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Natural+Elements
Categories:- American hip hop groups
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