You’ll find many comparisons being made to Naughty by Nature in terms of their style for pushing party anthems but unlike Treach and crew , Pretty Lou and DJ Spigg Nice had Freaky Tah’s hype man vocal instrumentation adding something dark yet unique on highlighting varied subject matter their frontman Mr Cheeks would lyrically bring to bear.
The four member collective representing South Jamaica, Queens NYC first caught my ear in 1995 being featured on the New York Undercover Soundtrack for their single
‘Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz’
They’d secured a record deal with Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records off the buzz created by a previous single called ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless’.
A year later they offered their debut album ‘Legal Drug Money’ which included both hits.
I’d purchase the album on cassette.
After a brief jazz sampled intro , track 2
‘The Yearn’ produced by Pete Rock , sets off Cheeks responsibly showcasing his view on maintaining ethics on keeping a cool head having recently acquired entry into the rap arena’s fast life and with a boisterous chorus he chants :
‘It’s the cheebas, the niggas, the condoms, the ass’.
With sarcastic charm he raps ‘ I’m just a rap artist / not saying that I’m the best not the smartest ‘ and later cautions ‘make sure that you protect yourself, that shows that you respect yourself…be aware, yeah we play the game, but Aids ain’t got no name…chancy niggas playin cute, don’t jump without a parachute ‘.
‘Music Makes Me High’ follows as another infectious anthem produced by Mr Sex but its ‘ Renee’ that packs the most punch amongst four tracks he contributes to the album.
Inspired by a true event regarding a young woman killed in the neighbourhood, Mr Cheeks offers an endearing storyline detailing the early beginnings of a start up romance later evolving into love and finally concluding as a love innocently lossed to the socioeconomic ills of street life – a not so unfamiliar setting that hits to heart just as mercilessly as the tumbling, trembling bass heavy track.
The song has two versions where outside of the album it was marketed on the ‘Don’t Be A Menace to South Central While Sipping Your Juice In The Hood ‘ soundtrack.
Neither version fell short of being a sure fire hit.
Most of what’s left on the album remains true to ghettocentric themes, LB fam commaradery and kinmanship amongst shout outs for retail therapy at Timberland other than also encouraging philly blunt rolling and smoking.
By no means would one simply consider the Lost Boyz as your quick turnaround to a more commercially acceptable group like Naughty by Nature.
A quick glance at the production credits for Legal Drug Money further supports this statement with names like Big Dex as well as Easy Moe Bee who’d worked alongside the Notorious B.I.G on his legendary come up.
The Lost Boyz fared well as a gold selling non-sensation and in 1997 they’d find further success with their follow up album ‘Love, Peace and Nappiness’ known for hits like ‘Me and My Crazy World’ and the A+, Redman and Canibus assisted ‘Beasts from the East’.
The group however seemed to have musically faded following this sophomore and even worse they’d suffer Freaky Tah’s murder in 1999 and Spigg Nice’s incarceration in 2004 where Mr Cheeks had started pursuing a somewhat mediocre solo rap career.
We remember the Lost Boyz at their best and I continue bumping them to this day.
Whose with me ?
Thank you for the music 