Earlier today, Kennedy Jones delighted the DAD staff when he dipped back into 1984 and revived Debbie Deb's classic freestyle jam "Lookout Weekend." What's "freestyle," you might be asking. Freestyle was also known as "Latin freestyle" or "Latin hip-hop" for a time, and was built off the growing electro scene of the early 1980s, although freestyle's known specifically for the pop leanings that are exhibited throughout its music. How pop? From 1987 through the early 1990s, freestyle crept into the Billboard charts, getting hits on the Top 40, Hot 100, and U.S. Dance charts. At times it could be corny (as much of the pop scene was in the '80s and '90s), but that was a part of its charm, and if you were in the city and trying to get your dance on, any freestyle night would do.
This scene didn't pop everywhere, though; it seemed to be concentrated in New York City, spots in Jersey and Philly, Miami, and in communities in California. We have a feeling many of today's EDM fan isn't that versed in the freestyle scene, so why not give you androids a primer, highlighting the different sounds of freestyle music from a decade of it's existence.
Debbie Deb - "When I Hear Music"
Label: Jam Packed
Year: 1983
Shannon - "Let The Music Play"
Label: Warehouse
Year: 1983
Deebie Deb - "Lookout Weekend"
Label: Jam Packed
Year: 1984
Connie - "Funky Little Beat"
Label: Sunnyview
Year: 1985
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - "Can You Feel The Beat"
Label: Columbia
Year: 1985
Exposé - "Come Go with Me"
Label: Arista
Year: 1986
Nice & Wild - "Diamond Girl"
Label: Top Hits
Year: 1986
Trinere - "I'll Be All You Ever Need"
Label: Jam Packed
Year: 1986
Will To Power - "Dreamin'"
Label: Thrust
Year: 1986
The Cover Girls - "Show Me"
Label: Fever
Year: 1987
Johnny O - "Fantasy Girl"
Label: Micmac
Year: 1988
Stevie B - "In My Eyes"
Label: LMR
Year: 1989
Cynthia & Johnny O - "Dreamboy/Dreamgirl"
Label: Micmac
Year: 1990
Tony "Dr. Edit" Garcia ft. Lil Suzy - "Take Me In Your Arms"
Label: High Power
Year: 1991
George LaMond - "Where Does That Leave Love"
Label: Columbia
Year: 1992