John Mars, known as 2 Black 2 Strong, is an American rapper who recorded in the early 1990s. [1] [2] He is perhaps best known for his song "Burn Baby Burn", about the right to burn the American flag. [3] [4] He led a crew of rappers, MMG (Militant Manhattan Gangsters or Mighty Motherfuckin' Gangsters), which appeared on many of his tracks.
2 Black 2 Strong is the professional name of John Mars. [2] He was 22 years old in January 1991, so he was likely born in 1968. [1]
"Burn Baby Burn," [upper-alpha 1] recorded in 1990, features a guest verse from Chuck D. [2] The song, about the right to burn the American flag, was controversial. A pressing plant, Sonopress, refused to press it, and Musicland and Sam Goody refused to carry it. [5] The song was released on an EP of the same name by Effect/Clappers. Robert Christgau, in The Village Voice , gave it an honorable mention rating, specifically highlighting "Burn Baby Burn." [6] Gregory Lee Johnson, an activist who had a flag-burning conviction overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States, introduces the song. [2] [7] [upper-alpha 2]
2 Black 2 Strong, backed by MMG, released his debut album in 1991 on Relativity Records. Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth received positive reviews from critics. Alex Henderson, in AllMusic, gave it a 4-star rating (out of 5) and called it "one of the strongest -- and most unjustly neglected -- rap releases of 1991... a riveting, gutsy work that makes its share of highly valid points when addressing social and political issues." [9] Henderson went on to write that "unfortunately, as the '90s progressed, 2 Black 2 Strong remained undeservedly obscure." [9] Christgau also praised the album, awarding it a B+ grade and writing: "The music of this Harlem crew is loud beats anchored to spare guitar, the hip hop obverse of death metal if death metal didn't always strain for drama... Without reveling in brutality for its own sake, they state the amoral facts as they understand them--or misunderstand them, if it makes any difference." [6] One track, "War on Drugs," addresses the possibility of the federal government's role in the crack epidemic. [10] [11]
Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav on Long Island, New York, in 1985. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as American racism and the American media. Their debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim, and their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), was the first hip hop album to top The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Their next three albums, Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991) and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994), were also well received. The group has since released twelve more studio albums, including the soundtrack to the 1998 sports-drama film He Got Game and a collaborative album with Paris, Rebirth of a Nation (2006).
Damaged is the debut studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. It was released by SST Records in November 1981.
Who's Got the 10½? is a live album by the American hardcore punk rock band Black Flag. It was released on March 19, 1986 through SST Records. The album was recorded live at Starry Night in Portland, Oregon on August 23, 1985.
Wasted…Again is an album released by American hardcore punk band Black Flag in 1987 on SST Records. It is a "best-of" compilation released after Black Flag's breakup in 1986. It features various songs about drinking and beer from their discography.
Done by the Forces of Nature is the second studio album by American hip hop group Jungle Brothers, released on November 7, 1989, by Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 1989 at Calliope Studios in New York City, and production was handled by the Jungle Brothers. It was mixed at Apollo Studios by Kool DJ Red Alert and the Jungle Brothers. The album's title may refer to a line from the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, wherein Krishna says, "Those who are deluded by the illusive power (Maya) of Nature become attached to the work done by the forces of nature," 3:28.
To the Extreme is the major label debut studio album of American rapper Vanilla Ice released on September 10, 1990 by SBK and EMI. Recorded between 1989–90, it contains Vanilla Ice's most successful single, "Ice Ice Baby". It primarily contains hip hop and pop rap tracks produced by Earthquake, Kim Sharp, Khayree, and Darryl Williams.
Fear of a Black Planet is the third studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was released on April 10, 1990, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records, and produced by the group's production team The Bomb Squad, who expanded on the sample-layered sound of Public Enemy's previous album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988). Having fulfilled their initial creative ambitions with that album, the group aspired to create what lead rapper Chuck D called "a deep, complex album". Their songwriting was partly inspired by the controversy surrounding member Professor Griff's anti-Semitic public comments and his consequent dismissal from the group in 1989.
Atomizer is the debut full-length album by American punk rock group Big Black released in 1986.
"Ice Ice Baby" is the debut single by American rapper Vanilla Ice, K. Kennedy and DJ Earthquake. It samples the bassline of the song "Under Pressure" by British rock band Queen and British singer David Bowie, who did not receive songwriting credit or royalties until after it had become a hit. Released on Vanilla Ice's debut album, To the Extreme (1990), it is his best-known song. It has appeared in remixed form on Platinum Underground and Vanilla Ice Is Back! A live version appears on the album Extremely Live, while a nu metal version appears on the album Hard to Swallow, under the title "Too Cold".
Songs About Fucking is the second and final full-length studio album by the punk rock band Big Black, released in 1987 by Touch and Go Records, and reissued in 2018. The album includes a rendition of Kraftwerk's "The Model" in a remixed version from that which appeared on Big Black's then-recent single. The compact disc of Songs About Fucking added the other side of that single, a cover of Cheap Trick's "He's a Whore".
Yellow Moon is an album by the Neville Brothers, released in 1989. The track "Healing Chant" won best pop instrumental performance at the 32nd (1989) Grammy Awards.
Distant Plastic Trees is the debut studio album by American indie pop band The Magnetic Fields, released in 1991. Lead vocals on the album are performed by Susan Anway.
One for All is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian, released on December 4, 1990, by Elektra Records. The album was highly acclaimed for its politically charged and socially conscious content. Sales never matched the wide acclaim — the album has only sold 350,000 copies as of May 2013 — but it has remained in print since its 1990 release. The album is mainly produced by Brand Nubian, but it also features production by Skeff Anselm, Stimulated Dummies, and Dave "Jam" Hall. The album's production contains many motifs of hip hop's golden age including James Brown-sampled breakbeats and funky R&B loops. The album is broken down track-by-track by Brand Nubian in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.
Embrace the Chaos is the second studio album by the American rock band Ozomatli. It was released on September 11, 2001 via Interscope Records. Production was handled by Bob Power, Steve Berlin, Mario C. and Ozomatli. The album peaked at number 138 on the Billboard 200, number two on the Heatseekers Albums, and topped both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts in the United States. It won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards.
Am I Black Enough for You? is the fourth album by rapper Schoolly D, released in 1989 via Jive Records/RCA. It was produced by Schoolly D and DJ Code Money. The album did not chart, although three singles were released: "Gangster Boogie", "Pussy Ain't Nothin'", and "Livin' in the Jungle". It was Schoolly D's last album for Jive Records.
Blood of the Profit is an album by the American rapper Professor Griff. It was released in 1998 on Lethal/Blackheart/Mercury, and was produced by Professor Griff and Chuck D. The single, "The Ole Bitch-U-Worryz," which featured Chuck D, made it to No. 16 on the Hot Rap Singles and No. 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.
Terminator X & The Valley of the Jeep Beets is the debut solo album by American DJ Terminator X, released in 1991. Produced by Terminator X and Carl Ryder, the album was moderately successful, reaching number 97 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Two successful singles were released: "Homey Don't Play Dat," which made it to number one on the Hot Rap Singles, and "Buck Whylin'," which made it to number 7 on the Hot Rap Singles and featured Chuck D and Sister Souljah, as well as a sample from "Rise Above" by Black Flag.
Babes in Arms is an album by the American band MC5, released in 1983. Originally released as a cassette, it has been reissued several times.
What's Bootsy Doin'? is a 1988 album by Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins. The album was released by Columbia Records and was his first album after a six-year hiatus from the music scene. The album reunites Collins with former P-Funk players Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley and Gary "Mudd Bone" Cooper, and also features newcomers including Mico Wave and Godmoma.
Sunburn is the third album by the Blake Babies, released in 1990.
... takes its cues from the current battles over free speech and the recent Supreme Court decision upholding a citizen's right to burn the flag. "You gave me freedom of speech in the First Amendment/ so why the {expletive} are you trying to scold me/ when I'm torching the flag I'm only doing what you told me I could. ... See I made up this new rule and I want you all to learn it/ strike a match to the American flag and burn it."