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Month: September 2026

#rewindreview: Darkside Preme ‘Stuck In 1995’ 2026

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  This release by Darkside Preme is seemingly a love letter to the year of 1995, on face value. One would think it is about the sounds and moments that the year had for HOP music. The importance of a time that birthed a benchmark in where the culture turned. This release however is just as the title states which is a perspective that simply will not leave that specific year. Darkside Preme uses ‘Stuck In 1995’ as a way to either live out a reality that has passed, or act out a movie he wished to star in from that time. The album might start off a bit curmudgeonly with the very catchy ‘This Can’t Be New York.’ A track that poses the obvious question of what happened to the sound and appearance of what outsiders thought of the city that birthed Hip-Hop culture. While ‘One Time For The 90’s’ presents the perfect opportunity for those to claim “old heads” don’t want to acknowledge later era’s in HOP music. This project isn’t just about chastising what things evolved to. Darkside Preme focuses on telling stories that range from trust in the streets, betrayal, and the influence those things can have on even the kid who didn’t grow up in the worst conditions. Fullblast Muzik provides the beats for the entire project and gives Darkside Preme the “New York” sound one might recognize from the 2000’s. Often Fullblast Muzik will insert samples that bring the listener back to Jay-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt.’ An album that this release seems heavily influenced by. Although there are twenty tracks, this album is only about forty minutes long. The reason for this is due to the skits on this record; which tries to tell a story of a character, recently released from prison that is catching up on what has been happening in the neighborhood. Depending on how one likes to take in music, these skits can enhance the story of ‘Stuck In 1995’ like Organized Konfusion’s ‘Equinox’ album, or keep the pace of the record sedated. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘This Can’t Be New York’ & ‘One Time For The 90’s’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: String Theory (Hex One & BBZ Darney) ‘String Theory’ 2014

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  The deep underground of HOP music had it’s best years in the mid to late 1990’s. As the new millennium began, that underground scene was bittersweet because there was more exposure to acts that didn’t have huge media exposure, but it was also hard to keep up with the emerging scene. By the end of the 2000’s, the term “underground hip-hop” did not mean the same as it once did and due to the internet audiences just broke off into “tribes.” The deep underground scene remains to this day, and during the 2010’s some names entered that category who had a good buzz within the culture of underground HOP listeners. Epidemic was a two rapper group I was put on to during the last decade. consisting of Hex One and Tek-nition. They represented Florida which only showed how far along the “underground Hip-Hop” scene expanded. Ironically I was put on to them when they dropped their last album ‘4 Dimensions On A Paper’ in 2016. This release was enough to have me interested in the crew which lead me to Hex One’s collaboration with beatmaker BBZ Darney. ‘String Theory’ is the name of the album and group with Hex One and BBZ Darney. This 12 track, forty minute album is HOP music that reminds me of the early 2000’s in terms of its execution. One M.C. with one producer, and a few features from their close crew that the public are then put on to. Hex One has a style of rapping that is syllable heavy while BBZ Darney’s beats compliment Hex’s style with a nice balance of mellow with slightly dark textures for the more serious content on the album. Where this album could have been better is making sure that songs sound more distinguished. At times Hex One’s style can seem like it is one dimensional, so if listening for the first time one might think they heard a song twice from the vibe created. The listening of this album is not a failure as it is often “edutainment” with songs like ‘Used To Be,’ ‘Realities’ and others. String Theory might operate from a small cog in HOP music’s atmosphere but that has a relation to the ears that want to hear the fundamentals to what makes this music last. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Currents,’ ‘Reminisce’ & ‘Art Of Rap’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: E.P.M.D. ‘Strictly Business’ 1988

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  It’s the debut album from the legendary duo from Long Island, New York, who carved their own lane with hard hitting beats and their signature “slow flow” delivery. E.P.M.D. which stands for Erick and Parrish Making Dollars, was seemingly a perfect combination for a time in HOP music where not only the aesthetics were changing but the music as well. Comparatively to a Run D.M.C., Erick and Parrish were more stripped down with less resources for distributing music but this also made them a bit more relatable. ‘Strictly Business’ is an album that not only sets a standard for the group but allowed for some of the most memorable quotes and songs in HOP music. From the b-boy anthem of ‘It’s My Thing,’ the infectious ‘You’re A Customer,’ and the inception of what would become a theme on their later albums ‘Jane.’ Even turning comedic actor Steve Martin into a dance; E.P.M.D. marked their territory for what was at the time an “underground audience” but the music would soon reach a worldwide fever pitch. My earliest memory of the group were the videos for ‘You Gots To Chill’ and ‘Strictly Business.’ At the time my only method of hearing HOP music was through video shows so seeing the dancers in ‘You Gots To Chill’ was an overstimulating factor in me wanting to dance just like them. To this day I still quote the passive aggressive introduction of the “M.C. Sherriff, the best in town” from the ‘Strictly Business’ video. However I did not get around to hearing this album in full until 2007. Ironically enough (and I promise not planned) I finally bought this album the day Little Brother’s ‘Get Back’ released. That album’s cover art paying homage to E.P.M.D.’s debut. E.P.M.D. would have a bit of a roller-coaster ride in their careers as a group and solo acts. At current date they are still a group and tour, but best believe when performing songs from an album almost 40 years old, the crowd, whether new or old still have the same exhilaration. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘It’s My Thing,’ ‘You Gots to Chill,’ ‘Strictly Business’ & ‘I’m Housin’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: Organized Konfusion ‘Stress: The Extinction Agenda’ 1994

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  The second album from the Queens New York duo, Organized Konfusion has been considered a classic over the years and with good reason. It was Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po establishing their rightful footing in rap music. Having released their debut album three years prior, it did not seem to make the impact that ‘Stress: The Extinction Agenda’ made. For on this album the group seemed to be hitting on all cylinders and did with limited resources. I was first introduced to Organized Konfusion in the summer of 1994 through the Video Jukebox. A program that ran videos all day everyday, but the caveat was the playlist was controlled by how many people called in to pay and request the videos shown. In rotation at one point was the first and only single from this album ‘Stress.’ What made the video and song unique was how chaotic it felt. The hook for the song is like a build up to something cataclysmic while the video expressed this same feeling by how it edits the two M.C.’s on the streets of New York, to hiking in borrowed snow in the woods. For me this was all new and a bump in evolution of rap music back then. The album continues this theme while not going too far off the deep end. ‘Stress…’ is produced mainly by Organized Konfusion and Buckwild, with Rockwilder closing the album with the emotion felt ‘Maintain.’ O.C. and Q-Tip show up on ‘Let’s Organize,’ which gives the listener a full on experience of Organized Konfusion. Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po utilize their voices as distinct instruments while providing some vivid moments in storytelling and rhyming abilities. ‘Why’ is that moment every man has to face concerning trusting the opposite sex while ‘Black Sunday’ gives a dark origin of the two coming together to “organize” and create the brand audiences know today. ‘Stray Bullet’ is the track that truly shines the light on the talent of the duo as they take the listener on a journey of a single bullet, and the consequences it creates within inner city neighborhoods. This album is a jewel that has aged extremely well over the years. My biggest issue has always been the stretch from ‘Black Sunday’ to ‘Bring it On.’ It’s the only moment in the album where there is a bit of a lull; and ‘Drop Bombs’ and ‘Bring It On’ are tracks that feel “suspended in time.” There is also a remix to ‘Bring it On’ that I wish could have been the original on this album. Nevertheless Organized Konfusion created a piece of art that is solidified among HOP music listeners. A timeless album cover created by “Matt Doo” who also created Company Flow’s ‘Funcrusher Plus’ cover art, classic moments that are embedded in listener’s ears, and music that sparks universal familiarity when played. All this while having simply one single for the release. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Stress’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

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