Nod to the oft-mentioned Frenchie Justice, but this blog’s not about you. This one is for the original, The Hip Hop Gangster, Brooklyn-born Just-Ice (a.k.a. Justice, his assumed name within the Five-Percent Nation of Islam).
Just-Ice emerged in 1986, and left heavy footprint in hip-hop’s sprawling path(s). His debut album, ‘Back to the Old School’, produced fully by iconic beat-maker Kurtis Mantronik, of hip-hop group Mantronix was original in many ways. It was gangster, it was electro, it was dancehall, it was New York, it was heavy in beat-box.
Kurtis Mantronik and Just-Ice met at a club, hit it off proper. Their fruit, ‘Back to the Old School’ found a home on short-lived, but legendary, Sleeping Bag Records (primarily a dance label), or more specifically their equally legendary subsidiary, Fresh Records—the first home of Nice & Smooth and EPEE MD (later EPMD).
Just-Ice’s first track ‘Put the Record Back On’ became his first 12″ single, and is backed by his second recorded track, ‘Latoya’—both featuring pioneering human beat-boxer DMX (who differs from the widely-known Ruff Ryders‘ DMX). DMX was more than a novelty, his contribution to Just-Ice’s first record is substantial, adding greatly to the entire album, and notably the human-percussion only cut, ‘That Girl is a Slut’, a humorous (albeit, arguably misogynistic) rip on an un-named STDzy skeezer. Just-Ice is absolutely the first recognized gangster rapper in NY, and among the very first in any area code. Not quite bangin’ on wax, but hella gangster, none the less:
MP3: Just-Ice - Put the Record Back On (1986)
MP3: Just-Ice - Latoya (1986)
MP3: Just-Ice - That Girl is a Slut (1986)
Kurtis Mantronix has always had beats made for the dancefloor. Kurtis’ production with Mantronix and for Just-Ice shows marked electro sensibility. After the ’80s era, Kurtis Mantronik’s solo career went on to include production and remix work for EDM icons including Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers—Not to mention remixes for *NSYNC (in their heyday), and more recently, Rihanna. It’s all part of a well-rounded resume, don’t hate.
Listening to ‘That Girl is a Slut’, hip hop fans might notice a crude sample from early N.W.A. hits regarding dick sucking. L.A. gangsta rappers N.W.A. sampled Just-Ice on their poetic ode to oral, ‘Just Don’t Bite It’ and the sequel track, ‘She Swallowed It’. Did Just-Ice inspire early N.W.A.? Definitely.
Just-Ice’s second album, titled ‘Kool & Deadly (Justicizms)’ departed from the production guidance of Kurtis Mantronik and relied solely on that of another hip hop pioneer, KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions. The pair had chemistry and KRS-One provided hard-hitting production based on the break beat. Just-Ice recorded ‘Going Way Back’ as a brief history lesson of hip hop in NY. Name dropping, it serves as a decent time-capsule of the era, or—at the least—a great track to space out and head-bob to.
‘Moshitup’ with MC/producer KRS-One is one of my favorite tracks. Just-Ice was one of the very first MCs to mesh dancehall rhymes with rap, and ‘Moshitup’ is a perfect specimen. Just-Ice in all of his dancehall-infused gangster-dom probably influenced Spice 1 and all future hardcore rappers with a streak of dancehall toasting (like, Soulja Boy who is in the stylistic shadow of Just-Ice, whether he knows it or not).
MP3: Just-Ice - Going Way Back (1987)
MP3: Just-Ice - Moshitup (feat. KRS-One) (1987)
Just-Ice’s full career is beyond the scope of this mp3 blog. He has 7 LPs in his catalog and is still making music, now with the ultimately talented producer, DJ Premier of Gangstarr.
We’re wrapping up, but not finished quite yet! On Just-Ice’s 5th album, 1993’s ‘Gun Talk’ he collaborated once again with Kurtis Mantronix and the formula still worked! Here is a favorite dancehall rhyme titled, ‘Girls N Guns’.
MP3: Just-Ice - Girls N Guns (1993)
Lastly, Just-Ice collaborated to a P.S.A. style posse-cut titled, ‘Self-Destruction’, for the Stop the Violence Movement. The cut is produced by KRS-One and D-Nice of Boogie Down Productions and features Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Heavy D, Public Enemy and Just-Ice.
Think of it as the East-Coast version of the previously blogged ‘West Coast Rap All-Stars’.
MP3: The Stop the Violence Movement - Self-Destruction (Extended Mix) (1989)
Further reference, check the in-depth interview with Just-Ice over at Jayquan.com (part 1) and Mantronix MySpace Blog (part 2). Or, skim the surface with a Just-Ice bio on Wikipedia.
Buy Just-Ice classics on Amazon.
Visit Just-Ice on MySpace.
Old Rap Wednesday? On Tursday! Better late than neverz.
