In 1983 I tuned into Power 99 in Philly to listen to Lady B's Street Beat!
I heard the voice of Kangol Kid say..."YO EMD!"
And this great music called hip hop had not only gotten better but was becoming historic with the contribution of The Untouchable Force Organization (or UTFO.)
The song was Roxanne Roxanne. The single produced by Full Force featured Kangol, EMD The Educated Rapper and Doctor Ice.
Roxanne Roxanne went on to be the most inspiring song in hip hop history and that song not only launched the careers of UTFO and Full Force but also The Real Roxanne, Roxanne Shante, and Marley Marl. For more two years rappers and singers were coming out claiming in songs to be Roxanne, Roxanne's father, Roxanne's brothers and sisters, her doctor and more.
After the single (an EP actually) came the debut LP the self titled UTFO!
Kangol, Doc and EMD only kind of answered all the Roxanne's with "Calling Her A Crab". Most of their career was spent breaking new ground in 80's Hip Hop. In fact most of their most creative singles like Just Watch and Bad Luck Barry never became hits.
One creative song they made that did break ground and was a hit was Pick Up The Pace which was one of the first songs to fuse hip hop and reggae.
Unfortunately, UTFO were never recognized by VH1's Hip Hop honors (and they are not the only ones owed respect in that format.)
However, REAL hip hop HEADS KNOW.
We were there when the Untouchable Force Organization had 3 MC's that could tear your career apart if you battled them. UTFO had better punch lines than Biz Markie. We know UTFO had some of music's greatest producers in Full Force who would also sing on their songs. UTFO also had one of the quickest DJ's in Mix Master Ice! (The debate was never settled between who was better Mix Master Ice or Howie Tee.)
UTFO can be credited as maybe still the only hip hop group to have a hit song where they don't rap at all only sing....Fairy Tale Lover! ( A Prom and School dance favorite.)
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Last night June 4th, the day on the calendar after we lost Muhammad Ali...the world of hip hop lost
Jeffrey Campbell , The Educated Rapper to cancer.
Mr. Campbell was 54.
WE.. The Light Nation send our prayers to his family and his many friends!
I, Raymond Tyler...personally thank Mr. Campbell for so many years of great contributions to the art of hip hop. And I thank him for the fun my friends and I had listening /dancing to your music!
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