2 Black 2 Strong

Last updated

John Mars, known as 2 Black 2 Strong, is an American rapper who recorded in the early 1990s. [1] [2] He is 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.

Contents

Early life

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]

Career

Burn Baby Burn EP

"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]

Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth

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]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>Whos Got the 10½?</i> 1986 live album by Black Flag

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.

<i>Wasted…Again</i> 1987 compilation album by Black Flag

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.

<i>Done by the Forces of Nature</i> 1989 studio album by Jungle Brothers

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.

<i>Fear of a Black Planet</i> 1990 studio album by Public Enemy

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.

<i>The New Danger</i> 2004 studio album by Mos Def

The New Danger is the second studio album by American rapper Mos Def, released on October 12, 2004, by Rawkus and Geffen Records. It is the follow-up to his breakthrough solo effort Black on Both Sides (1999), after which he devoted more time into his film and stage career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Hard (song)</span> 1984 single by Beastie Boys

"Rock Hard" is a single by the Beastie Boys, released by Def Jam Records on 12" in 1984. The track contains samples from the AC/DC song "Back in Black", which was used without obtaining legal permission, causing the record to be withdrawn. When the group planned to include the out-of-print song on their 1999 compilation, Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science, AC/DC refused to clear the sample. Mike D spoke to AC/DC's Malcolm Young personally on the phone when their lawyers refused to clear the sample, and later said that "AC/DC could not get with the sample concept. They were just like, 'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'" Ad-Rock then added, "So we told them that we don't endorse people playing guitars."

<i>Songs About Fucking</i> 1987 album by Big Black

Songs About Fucking is the second and final studio album by American rock band Big Black, released in 1987 by Touch and Go Records. 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".

<i>Yellow Moon</i> (Neville Brothers album) 1989 studio album by the Neville Brothers

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.

<i>Out My Way</i> 1986 EP by Meat Puppets

Out My Way is an EP by the alternative rock band the Meat Puppets, released in 1986. It features a more hard rock-oriented sound than on previous releases, leading some critics to say that the sound is similar to the southern/hard rock stylings of ZZ Top. The EP was reissued in 1999 by Rykodisc, with additional bonus tracks.

<i>Jah Kingdom</i> 1991 studio album by Burning Spear

Jah Kingdom is a studio album by the Jamaican musician Burning Spear, released in 1991. Burning Spear supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Embrace the Chaos</i> 2001 studio album by Ozomatli

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.

<i>Tongue in Chic</i> 1982 studio album by Chic

Tongue in Chic is the sixth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1982. The album includes the singles "Hangin'" and "I Feel Your Love Comin' On". Tongue in Chic peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Am I Black Enough for You?</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Schoolly D

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.

<i>Blood of the Profit</i> 1998 studio album by Professor Griff

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.

<i>America</i> (Kurtis Blow album) 1985 studio album by Kurtis Blow

America is the sixth album by rapper Kurtis Blow, released in 1985 on Mercury Records. The album includes the song "If I Ruled the World" from the film Krush Groove, Blow's biggest hit since "The Breaks" and one of the last of his musical career. The album was the first album Kurtis Blow produced in a new deal with PolyGram Records that gave Kurtis the title Hip Hop's First Millionaire. The album was released in an era when old school hip hop was being overtaken by a harder sound and attitude. The album includes the first sample loop that revolutionized the music industry. The single, "If I Ruled the World", reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1986.

<i>Whats Bootsy Doin?</i> 1988 studio album by Bootsy Collins

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.

<i>Sunburn</i> (Blake Babies album) 1990 studio album by Blake Babies

Sunburn is the third album by the Blake Babies, released in 1990.

<i>Columbia: Live at Missouri University</i> 1993 live album by Big Star

Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93 is a reunion live album by the American power pop group Big Star, recorded and released in 1993 by the original Big Star members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens together with The Posies' members Jonathan Auer and Ken Stringfellow. It was recorded at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

<i>Christgaus Consumer Guide: Albums of the 90s</i> 2000 book by music journalist Robert Christgau

Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s is a music reference book by American music journalist and essayist Robert Christgau. It was published in October 2000 by St. Martin's Press's Griffin imprint and collects approximately 3,800 capsule album reviews, originally written by Christgau during the 1990s for his "Consumer Guide" column in The Village Voice. Text from his other writings for the Voice, Rolling Stone, Spin, and Playboy from this period is also featured. The book is the third in a series of influential "Consumer Guide" collections, following Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981) and Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s (1990).

Tom Hull is an American music critic, web designer, and former software developer. Hull began writing criticism for The Village Voice in the mid 1970s under the mentorship of its music editor Robert Christgau, but left the field to pursue a career in software design and engineering during the 1980s and 1990s, which earned him the majority of his life's income. In the 2000s, he returned to music reviewing and wrote a jazz column for The Village Voice in the manner of Christgau's "Consumer Guide", alongside contributions to Seattle Weekly, The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, NPR Music, and the webzine Static Multimedia.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ For other songs with the same title, see Burn Baby Burn.
  2. ↑ Parenthetically, in the United States, the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized flag burning as being protected by the First Amendment. On 21 June 1989, a 5-4 "deeply divided' court upheld the rights of protesters to burn the American flag in Texas v. Johnson , a landmark First Amendment decision. [8]

    Citations

    1. 1 2 Geller, Lynn (1 January 1991). "2 Black 2 Strong by Lynn Geller". BOMB . bombmagazine.org. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Harrington, Richard (8 August 1990). "THE PUBLIC ENEMY DOCUDRAMA". The Washington Post .
    3. ↑ Vile 2018, p.  66.
    4. ↑ SPIN Media, LLC 1990, p.  30.
    5. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: A Togetherness Kind of Thing: 2 Black 2 Strong". www.robertchristgau.com.
    6. 1 2 3 4 Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: 2 Black 2 Strong". www.robertchristgau.com.
    7. ↑ Dubin 1992, p.  334.
    8. ↑ NCC Staff (21 June 2019). "When the Supreme Court ruled to allow American flag burning". National Constitution Center . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    9. 1 2 3 Henderson, Alex. "AllMusic listing". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
    10. ↑ Perkins 1996, p.  154.
    11. ↑ Kelley 1996, p.  283.
    12. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Relativity/Clappers".

    Bibliography

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.