Name that early-90s rap song.

December 15, 2009 3:10 PM

There is a rap song about closing down the crack house. It had lots of early-90's rappers on it - I think I remember KRS-ONE, and Shock G from Digital Underground. What was this song called, and who was the main artist?

My memory says it was called "Close the Crack House Down," maybe even "Close the Crack House Down Part II." We're talking somewhere between 1992 and 1995. The video played a lot on the Box, but not MTV.

posted by kensington314 to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Amazing to hear someone mention The Box.

I don't remember that song, but it was probably the B side to We're All in the Same Gang.
posted by gabrielsamoza at 3:23 PM on December 15, 2009

Close the Crackhouse?
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 3:25 PM on December 15, 2009

Oh, hey, here's a video, too.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 3:26 PM on December 15, 2009

I can see why that video made such an impression on you.
posted by gabrielsamoza at 3:31 PM on December 15, 2009

Man, I forgot how crazy Professor X was. Great video though.
posted by electroboy at 3:32 PM on December 15, 2009

Man, that was wack. It sounds like Parappa the Rapper. But hells yes, that video is wild.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:37 PM on December 15, 2009

Quick work Fairytale of Los Angeles. This video blew my mind. The Box was like a third parent to me.

Also, Parappa the Rapper is really cool, Admiral Haddock.
posted by kensington314 at 3:44 PM on December 15, 2009

Well, alternatingly wack and dope.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:45 PM on December 15, 2009

Man, what a trip. I agree, both wack and dope...but certainly charming in the sense that it was about something. Can anyone name all those MCs? Who is the pirate?
posted by gnutron at 3:59 PM on December 15, 2009

The first MC is Professor X, the second is Brother J, also from X-Clan, the third is Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers fame), the fourth is Big Daddy Kane, the next two are Money B and Shock G/Humpty Hump from Digital Underground... upon further reflection, this information is also available in fairytale's first link.

I think the pirate you refer to is Freedom Williams (about six minutes in), who's probably best known for rhyming on C&C Music Factory's 'Gonna Make You Sweat.'

That's quite a posse cut--it's got heavy hitters like Kane, flavors-of-the-month like Williams, weed carriers like 2 Kings in a Cypher, and it still makes room for some of X-Clan's 5-percenter buddies.
posted by box at 4:22 PM on December 15, 2009

I have to say, Professor X always reminded me of Frank Nelson.
posted by electroboy at 5:32 PM on December 15, 2009

It's amazing how Chuck D, certainly never the best technical rapper, comes in and just puts them all to shame.
posted by mannequito at 5:53 PM on December 15, 2009

Mannequito, maybe this is the only instance in history where Chuck D has outrapped anyone not named Flavor Flav?

Think about how Big Daddy Kane slaughtered "Burn Hollywood Burn" in 1990 and in 1993 Chuck D actually outraps him. Impossible. Inconceivable.

WEIRDEST POSSE CUT EVER.

Also, note the conspiracy theory throughout that white people created crack to bring down the black community . . . as evidenced by white people in lab coats with beakers. "The biggest crack house is on Pennsylvania Ave." I don't say it as a criticism, and I know that there have been journalists in the past who have made that link. But when's the last time it showed up on MTV?
posted by kensington314 at 9:54 PM on December 15, 2009

Professor X and the 5 percenters go even farther than that. They also occasionally claim that white people were made in the lab of a black scientist.
posted by electroboy at 3:43 AM on December 16, 2009