World Class Wreckin' Cru - World Class (1985)

"Juice" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

Did you spot Dr. Dre in the "Same Song" video?  Both Eazy-E and he are impossible to miss as neither seem to want to be there.  Dr. Dre's first recordings were with the World Class Wreckin' Cru.  The Wreckin' Cru released their debut album World Class in 1985 on Kru-Cut Records, a label created by group leader Lonzo (or Alonzo Williams) to release the Cru's output.  The album is often redundant ("Planet"), occasionally forward looking ("Gang Bang You're Dead") and entirely percussive.

Here is the discography surrounding World Class Wreckin' Cru's debut album:

Slice (1984 single as The Wreckin Cru)

Surgery (1984 single as The Wreckin Cru)

Juice (1985 single)

World Class

Bust It Up (1985 single)

Juice (1985 EP)

"Surgery" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

"Gang Bang You're Dead" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

Pass the Headphones!!

Digital Underground - This Is an E.P. Release (1991)

"Nuttin' Nis Funky" by Digital Underground

As one of the Oakland's premier rappers, Shock G made a couple of guest appearances on Luniz material: on the Oakland-loaded remix of "I Got 5 On It" and as Shock Jesus on "5150".  We return, then, to Digital Underground for their Gold-certified This Is an E.P. Release released in 1991 by Tommy Boy Entertainment.  The EP capitalized on the group's appearance in the film Nothing But Trouble from the same year.  The film featured two songs from the EP, "Same Song" and "Tie the Knot".

The album might seem like a cash grab but its quality as filler only gives Shock G more room to shine.  Shock's multiple-personality based humor and his keyboards become the reason to keep playing this record, and the remixes (of Sex Packet singles) reinforce Digital Underground as an act untethered by genre.  Oh, and 2Pac has a verse on "Same Song".

Note: This is the Tour's first stop at an EP release rather than an album or compilation album.  These kinds of stops I reserve for notable EPs.

Here is the discography surrounding Digital Undergrounds second release:

Same Song (1991 single)

This Is an E.P. Release

Nuttin' Nis Funky (1991 single)

"Same Song" by Digital Underground

"Tie the Knot" by Digital Underground

"Arguin' on the Funk" by Digital Underground

Pass the Headphones!!

Luniz - Operation Stackola (1995)

"Pimps, Playas & Hustlas" by Luniz

"Chris spreading faulty rumors around the town like Club Nouveau/Really though?"

Luniz used a degraded sample of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" to lay the framework for their song "I Got 5 On It".  (On the all-star remix, E-40 is hip to the sample and runs the line to start his flow.)  The song also featured Michael Marshall of Timex Social Club singing the chorus.  Luniz released their debut album Operation Stackola in 1995 on Noo Trybe Records (a sublabel of Virgin Records.)  

Here is the discography surrounding Luniz's debut album:

(Formally Known as The LuniTunes) (1994 EP)

I Got 5 On It (1995 single)

Operation Stackola

Playa Hata (1995 single)

Operation Stackola (6 Tracks EP) (1995 promo EP)

Operation Stackola (Hot Club Wax)

X.O. (1996 single)

Out to Be the Boss (1996 compilation track with Seagram)

Bootlegs & B-Sides (1997 compilation album)

"I Got 5 On It" by Luniz

"I Got 5 On It (Clean Bay Ballas Vocal Remix)" by Luniz

"5150" by Luniz

Pass the Headphones!!

Club Nouveau - Life, Love & Pain (1986)

"Jealousy" by Club Nouveau

Timex Social Club's producers, Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy and Jay King, all bailed on the Timex Social Club project and formed their own Club Nouveau.  Off the strength of their hit single with Timex, Club Nouveau signed with Warner Bros. Records and released their debut album Life, Love & Pain in late 1986.  The album is much of the same including their first single "Jealousy" an echo of and response to Timex's "Rumors".  The songs are, as before, meant for the club and a good time and some of those songs endear you to them over time... particularly those silly, synthy "Lean on Me" bass lines.

Here is the discography surrounding Club Nouveau's debut album:

Woo Baby (1984 single as Sorcerey)

Jealousy (1986 single)

Life, Love & Pain

Situation #9 (1986 single)

Lean on Me (1987 single)

Why You Treat Me So Bad (1987 single)

Let Me Go (1987 promo single)

Heavy on My Mind (1987 single)

Who's That Girl (1987 album track)

Step by Step (1987 single)

Why You Treat Me So Bad (Remix) (1987 single)

"Lean on Me" by Club Nouveau

"Why You Treat Me So Bad" by Club Nouveau

"Woo Baby" by Sorcerey

Pass the Headphones!!