In the 1990’s HOP music was at it’s strongest point because it was building on the decade before with rappers and the music discovering it’s potential. Labels were taking chances, media was exposing acts and listeners were hungry for the next new thing. With all of that innovation the genre also witnessed a lot of acts that were “one and done.” This was usually caused by those acts never being that good or the consolidation of media and record labels by 1997. Here we have Punk Barbarians who debuted in 1996 from the Long Island area of New York. They consisted of four rappers Sunny Cheeba, Bam Bam, Doozer and Renegade (a.k.a. Shine On). My initial introduction to them was a song called ‘Bubblin’ which I remembered seeing the video but never got into the song. ‘Blast Off’ I happen to catch one the few times it was played on Rap City and I was loving this track, to which I didn’t realize this was the same group with the ‘Bubblin’ song. Fast forward at least seven years, I find this album to give it a listen and I was blown away by at least the beats. ‘Sex, Props & Cream’ is an album that highlights those elements which seem to drive HOP music at that time and arguably still today. The subtext of this album is “the drama in between” which is what the group claims to deal with on the record. What listeners will hear from the group is a lot of free flowing ideas, mixed with a bit of comedic presence, but not much in substance for content. The music provided by Poisoned Ivy is the highlight and glue that keeps this album afloat. Ironically the ‘Bubblin’ track they released as a single is a different version than what’s on the album, which had they used I might have been in support much earlier. If one is a fan of the swing bass and heavy thump the mid-1990’s provided, they will be or were satisfied by this release. To this day I still don’t understand the meaning of the groups name which just adds to the macabre nature of their “one and done” moment in HOP music. I do however appreciate this album and it’s always a fun listen whenever I return to it. What did you think of the album?

Singles include:
‘Blast Off,’ ‘Bubblin’ & ‘Hooptie Car’

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