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Fearless Four | |
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Origin | New York |
Genres | Hip hop Old-school hip hop |
Years active | 1977–1994 |
Labels | Enjoy!, Elektra, Tuff City, Mercury |
Past members | DLB Mighty Mike C Tito The Great Peso Krazy Eddie Master OC |
The Fearless Four (also known as Fearless 4 and Fearless Four) is an American old school hip hop group from Harlem, New York. The group is best known for its 1982 single "Rockin' It", [1] which was based on the Kraftwerk track "The Man-Machine", [2] and was featured in the 1983 documentary Style Wars . Originally, the Fearless Four was a two-member group called the Houserockers Crew. [2] Later, it reappeared as a six-member group consisting of the Great Peso, Devastating Tito, Mighty Mike C, Krazy Eddie, DLB, and Master OC. [2]
In 1983, the group collaborated with rapper Kurtis Blow to produce the single "Problems of the World." [2] It was the first crew to be signed to a major label, Elektra Records. [3] The group only released one studio album, Creepin' up on Ya, which was released in 1994.
Group member, Mighty Mike C, recently signed a book deal. The book, "Hip Hop Is Fearless" is being published by Spice Star Group, in March, 2023. A song with the related title "Hip Hop Is Fearless" is in production to be released featuring various artists.
The Fearless Four recently performed in Staten Island (New York City) and Mighty Mike C recently performed with Kool Moe Dee, and had a separate performance at the Harlem Week Parade with legendary Doug E. Fresh.
Kurtis Walker, professionally known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record/film producer, b-boy, DJ, public speaker and minister. He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. "The Breaks", a single from his 1980 self-titled debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. Throughout his career he has released 17 albums and is currently an ordained minister.
Kevin Smith, best known by his stage name Lovebug Starski, was an American MC, musician, and record producer. He began his career as a record boy in 1971 as hip-hop first appeared in the Bronx, and he eventually became a DJ at the Disco Fever club in 1978. He is one of two people who may have come up with the term "hip-hop". Starski claimed that he coined the phrase, while trading the two words back and forth, while improvising lines with Keef Cowboy of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, at a farewell party for a friend who was headed into the Army.
Mohandas Dewese, better known by his stage name Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter and actor. Considered one of the forerunners of the new jack swing sound in hip hop, he gained fame in the 1980s as a member of one of the pioneering groups in hip hop music, the Treacherous Three, and for his later solo career. During his career he released a total of seven studio albums, with 1994's Interlude being the last to date.
Ya Kid K is a Congolese–Belgian hip hop recording artist. She was the rapper for the dance/house act Technotronic. Her sister is Karoline 'Leki' Kamosi.
Melvin Glover, better known by his stage name Grandmaster Melle Mel, is an American rapper who was the lead vocalist and songwriter of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
MVP was a hip hop act from New York. The line-up of the group featured an R&B singer from The Bronx, Vice Verse ; MC Stagga Lee ; and Robert Clivillés.
The Treacherous Three was a pioneering American hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee, with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie. They first appeared on record in 1980 on the B-side of Spoonie Gee's single, "Love Rap".
Gabriel Jackson, better known by his stage name Spoonie Gee, is one of the earliest rap artists, and one of the few to have released rap records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term hip hop and some of the themes in his music were precursors of gangsta rap.
Derek Murphy, better known as Sadat X, is an American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.
Dirty rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that contains lyrical content revolving mainly around sexually explicit subjects.
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Crash Crew is an American early hip-hop group who recorded for Mike and Dave Records in 1980 and then signed to Sugar Hill Records. The group, based in Harlem, Lincoln Projects New York City, consisted of members DJ Daryll C., G. Man, La Shubee, Barry B-Stro, Michael EK Shahid, and Reggie Reg. The group is managed by Spice Star Group who are also releasing the DJ Darryl C Book and related song.
Paul Kelly is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely covered, and was a hit for soul singer Jackie Moore and singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff and country singer Ronnie McDowell. Other songs have been covered by gospel artists, including the Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Staple Singers.
Frederick Crute, known professionally as Kool DJ Red Alert, is an American disc jockey who rose to fame on WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM in New York City and is recognized as one of the founding fathers of hip hop music and culture. His weekly radio show airs on WBLS 107.5 FM from Monday to Saturday at 6pm EST.
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde was an American 1980s hip hop group consisting of Andre "Dr. Jeckyll" Harrell and Alonzo "Mr. Hyde" Brown. The group was known for its corporate business image, wearing designer suits and ties while they rapped. The group first performed under the name Harlem World Crew and recorded on Tayster and Rojac Records in 1980.
Errol Eduardo Bedward, better known by his stage name Pumpkin was a musician, percussionist, and band leader. He was renowned for being the one behind many old school hip hop tracks for the Profile, Enjoy, and Tuff City record companies.
Paul Winley Records Inc. was a doo-wop record label founded in 1956 that, in 1979, became one of the earliest hip hop labels. It was situated on 125th Street, Harlem, New York City. Winley released doo-wop by The Paragons and The Jesters, and hip hop records by Paul Winley's daughters, Tanya and Paulette, produced by Winley's wife, Ann. The label can lay claim to a number of firsts: one of the earliest rock and roll compilations, one of the earliest breaks compilations, an early solo female rap artist and an early instance of social commentary in rap. Winley was also the first label to record one of hip hop's most important figures, Afrika Bambaataa.
Rock Steady Crew is an American breaking and hip hop group which has become a franchise name for multiple groups in other locations. The group's 1983 international hit song "(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew" peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, and reached the top 10 in many European countries. Members of Rock Steady Crew featured in the films Flashdance and Beat Street, which ignited international interest in the b-boy subculture.
Curtis Brown, better known by the stage name Grandmaster Caz or Casanova Fly, is an American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He was a member of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. He is best known as the (uncredited) main writer of Big Bank Hank's raps on the seminal 1979 hip hop single by The Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight".
Richard "Richie Rich" Anthony, known professionally as The Real Richie Rich, is an American actor, hip hop and R&B record producer, rapper and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of Richworld Entertainment. Richie is mostly known for his works with one of the pioneers of the West Coast scene rap group LA Dream Team. Richie has originated later in Los Angeles, California and has worked on a substantial roster of projects producing recording artists such as Joe Serious, Teena Marie, Kid Frost, O.G. Cell-E-Cell, Mellow Man Ace, UTFO, and many more. As a studio owner, he has also produced popular groups like South Central Cartel, Domino, Whodini, Mokensteff, Y?V, Funkdoobiest, WC and the Maad Circle, Club Nouveau, Daddy Freddy, Lucky Luciano and Ray from the Dutch eurodance group 2 Unlimited.