Original Concept
| Original Concept | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Long Island, New York, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1986–1988 |
| Labels | Def Jam |
| Associated acts |
Public Enemy Beastie Boys |
| Past members |
Doctor Dré T-Money Rapper G Easy G |
Original Concept were an American 1980s hip-hop group from Long Island, New York, United States, best known for their single “Can You Feel It.”[1] They only made one album and it was notable for the absence of lyrics on many of the tracks. The group are perhaps better known for their production prowess and instrumentals.
History
In the early 1980s, a group of young men at WBAU FM formed a group called the "Concept Crew." Their show “The Operating Room” was broadcast on Monday nights from Adelphi University on the same station which featured the Spectrum City DJs (Chuck D and Flavor Flav) who later went on to form Public Enemy. The members were Doctor Dré, T-Money, Rapper G, Easy G and Wildman Steve. By 1986, the group began calling themselves Original Concept and had released their first record, "Knowledge Me" in February of that year. The B-side of "Knowledge Me" went on to become their first single, "Can You Feel It." The single has since gone on to become one of the most sampled source records in hip-hop music.[1]
In 1988, the group was signed to Def Jam Records and late in that year they released their first and only album, Straight From the Basement of Kooley High![1] on Def Jam. The album featured a cameo by Beastie Boys member, Mike D. on the track, "She's Got a Moustache". The album featured samples from The Jackson 5, The Fat Boys, Run-D.M.C., and P-Funk.
Where are they now
The members of the group were generally more successful in their subsequent solo careers as television personalities and radio DJs, than they were as a hip-hop group.
- Doctor Dré - went on to become a DJ for the Beastie Boys, a host for Yo! MTV Raps and a hip-hop radio host with Ed Lover.
- T-Money - went on to become another host for Yo! MTV Raps.
- Rapper Gee also known as Gerald Gray - Worked on the "Proud to be Black" project along side "Run-D.M.C.". Later on went into producing and photography "GD GRAY ARTWORKS"
- Easy G - unknown
Discography
| Album information |
|---|
Straight From the Basement of Kooley High!
|
Songwriting credits included Andre Brown / Gerald Gray / Tyrone Kelsie.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 John Floyd. "Original Concept | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- 1 2 Ron Wynn. "Straight from the Basement of Kooley High! - Original Concept | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-02.