Search - Whodini :: Funky Beat: The Best of Whodini

Great Compilation for Pioneers of Rap--

Hype Currie | Detroit, Michigan United States | 11/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whodini is a hip hop group formed in the 1980s, made up of Jalil (Jalil Hutchins), Ecstasy (John Fletcher) and Grandmaster Dee (Drew Carter).

Along with Run-DMC and The Fat Boys, Whodini were among the first rap groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip-hop music, and made significant inroads on Urban radio. The Brooklyn, New York-based trio consisted of vocalist/chief lyricist Jalil Hutchens, (one of the few rappers to go by his real name), co-vocalist John Fletcher, aka Ecstasy (so-named before the drug trend), who tended to wear a Zorro-style hat as his trademark; and DJ Drew Carter, aka Grandmaster Dee. Contemporaries of Run DMC, they were managed by Russell Simmons, brother of Joey "Run" Simmons. Signed to NY-based indie Jive Records in 1982, they enjoyed a string of hits, mostly charting on Urban/R&B stations. The bulk of production on their releases was done by Larry Smith, a bass player who also handled much of Run DMC's early work. In keeping with 80's trends, Whodini's cuts tended to be synthesizer driven with a heavy electronic drumbeat. The sampling technology that became identified with rap hadn't really become prominent during Whodini's early days, and their works were thoroughly original compositions. "Haunted House of Rock" was their first single, a whimsical Halloween-themed number. Synth-pop pioneer Thomas Dolby produced another of their early singles, "Magic's Wand". The group culled a female audience with such relationship-themed cut as "Friends" and "One Love". Backstage partying was extolled in the mildly controversial "I'm a Ho". "Fugitive" was guitar-driven funk. From 1982 - 1986 was the band's heyday, touring with Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Fat Boys, and other prominent R&B and funk outfits of the 80's. Their albums Whodini (1983), Escape (1984), and Back in Black (1986; no relation to AC/DC) were all well-received by rap fans and youthful R&B enthusiasts. The `Fresh Fest' tours were the first arena-sized tours to feature all hip-hop lineups, but full-fledged crossover fame seemed to elude them, however. The group had earned their share of gold singles and albums by 1987, when the hits started to slump. Open Sesame, their release that year, failed to produce any hits. After that point, the band eked out their tenure on Jive by occasionally releasing singles, including "Anyway I Gotta Swing it" for the Nightmare on Elm Street 5 movie soundtrack.

In the 90's, the band made a handful of attempts at a comeback. In 1990, they signed with MCA Records and released the Bag-A-Trix LP in 1991, which promptly failed to have commercial impact. In mid '94 they did score a hit single in "It all Comes Down to the Money" (not included here), co-produced by Public Enemy DJ Terminator X. Talks with Def Jam for a new deal stalled, and In 1996, they were signed by Jermaine Dupri (mentor/producer to Kriss Kross and Bow Wow) to his So So Def/Columbia imprint. Dupri, as a child, did a brief stint as a dancer for the group in the 80's. The album, "Six", birthed "Keep Running Back", a brief R&B charter (included here), before quickly sinking down the charts. Curiously, their old label, Jive, which initially consisted of a near-exclusively hip-hop roster, scored a mega-coup by signing Britney Spears, soon followed by The Backstreet Boys and NSync. In recent years, Whodini still tours occasionally, and their old records still surface on pop and R&B radio, especially during "old school mix" shows. Interestingly, their records have now become sample sources for contemporary rappers like Nas and Master P.

"

You can't make WHODINI disappear from Hip-Hop history

capaBILLity | Somewhere Out There, NJ USA | 02/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First rap group to go platinum (ESCAPE), first rap group to get major distribution from an independent label (Jive/Arista). WHODINI may have came on the scene on the R&B vibe with European sounding production. But we actually need a group like WHODINI back in hip-hop, if not them themselves.



FUNKY BEAT: THE BEST OF WHODINI, mainly yes. Back when having a goodtime meant having a feel good time. "Freaks Come Out At Night", "Magic's Wand", "One Love", "Haunted House Of Rock", "Big Mouth", "I'm A Ho", "Be Yourself" it's all here. Ready for constant playback. What could have been added to this FUNKY BEAT: THE BEST OF WHODINI thang (if the songs could fit on the disc) would be "Fugitive", "Any Way I Gotta Swing It", "Freaks" (from the BAG-A-TRIX album, number 5) and TERMINATOR X's "It All Comes Down To The Money". Get rid of "Rock You Again" and "Judy". If those missing tracks were on here, FUNKY BEAT: THE BEST OF WHODINI would be too hot to the touch. You'd have to throw the disc in the player.



Brooklyn's Jalil, Ex and Grandmaster Dee have put in some serious work within just 6 albums in their short rise to the top, back at the bottom career. Nonetheless, WHODINI didn't have to be hardcore to score! One Love."