Danger Zone

In discussions of the classic hip-hop era of the 1980s, frequently lost in the shuffle is the homegrown scene of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is unfortunate, due to the wealth of talent the scene produced, including bonafide legends such as Schoolly D, Three Times Dope, Cash Money & Marvelous, and of course the wildly successful DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Frequently underrated is Tuff Crew, who were billed as "Philly's First Rap Supergroup", and consisted of a crew of ethnically diverse MCs and DJs who were regular performers of North Philly's famed After Midnight club. Throughout the mid-to-late 1980s, Tuff Crew would perform alongside some of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, including Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and 2 Live Crew, but would never reach the heights of commercial success, despite landing various singles on the Billboard Rap charts. The peak of thus success undoubtedly came with the release of their 1988 LP Danger Zone, which featured 10 tracks of classic 80s rap, including the Billboard-charting "My Part Of Town". (#23 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles charts.) An obscure, but vital piece of old school ephemera, and a must-have for any hip-hop historian.