Wake N’ Watch: 1997’s Hip-Hop Freshman Class
Damn, the future of music is hard to predict. Back in December 1997 (on DMX’s birthday), journalist Touré assembled an all-star line-up of hip-hop’s hottest rookies for a roundtable discussion. Big Pun, John Forte, Mos Def, Canibus and Mic Geronimo—five MCs that everyone expected to usher rap into the post-jiggy era. Luckily, the Shades of Hip-Hop Video Mixtape was there to capture the event (including this spontaneous freestyle session) because the buzz didn’t last long for most of these once promising artists.
John Forte, in particular, hit on some rough times. Two and a half years after this video was shot, the former Fugees affiliate was arrested in the Newark Airport with $1.4 million worth of liquid cocaine and sentenced to 14 years in prison. But after being granted a pardon from Dubya, Forte finally has his life back—today his eclectic new EP StyleFREE comes out (click here to buy it for $4.99), his first release after seven years behind bars. And who knows, if enough people cop it, Forte will be back eating mangoes in Trinidad with attorneys before you know it.
CouldItBe July 14, 2009 at 8:50 am
Mos Def never stopped spitting that shit that leave you in a daze. Pun at his best and I could of swore I heard that dmx verse guess it was from the first album, nice find true classic.
Nigel July 14, 2009 at 11:02 am
haha thats Re:definition but thats before Black Stars album dropped so it was fresh
Grand Master July 14, 2009 at 11:17 am
Eh. Buzz didn’t last long?
Big Pun => DOA a little later, but still a legend in 09.
Mos Def => Still buzzing.
Canibus => Popping up on guest spots here and there… sure no real “industry” buzz but this Keith Murray group plus his KRS collabo off the JS-1 tape is fire.
2.5/5 = 50% ain’t bad for this industry. Especially not 12 years later.
riff raff July 14, 2009 at 1:02 pm
So was this video before or after the ll cool j-canibis beef? the rhyme he used was from his diss song wasn’t it?
j46les July 14, 2009 at 5:38 pm
this was before the 2nd round knock out was released but it was obviously after the original 4321 was released. Canibus been holding it down for years. Creating infinite rhymes (look it up). Lyrically he’s unmatched. Just wait for THE UNDERGODS
Roo July 14, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Peep how mos left pun hanging.
Save July 14, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Good times, man.