GemStones #26: Derelect Camp (East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Hardcore Rap) October Is Aquilla Month🎂🔥🔥

Aquilla

Hailing from Queens, New York. This underground Hip Hop crew had their origins in the late 80s when they were originally a trio known as Black, Rock, and Ron (Lord Black, The Ruler Master Rock, and Ron Scratch). They would later team up with Jakpot, M.I., and 3 other rappers to form what would later be Derelect Camp and the rest is history. Signing with Next Plateau Entertainment, the crew were able to drop a few singles between 1995 - 1997. However, unfortunately, the crew never dropped an album and nothing was heard of them since.

In better news, of all the underground East Coast Hip Hop acts that were rising around that era ('95-'97), I've always liked their energy. It had a very youthful uncle feeling to it. Let me explain, it doesn't really sound or scream dustiness at all. Everything feels smooth and jazzy, the atmosphere being some early morning, AM radio esque soundscapes. Difference being it's high quality, with the resilient positivity of "Hold On" and the piano intensity of "Prillz". These songs showcase a sense of fluidity and smoothness that would later be see again in the early 2000s(Think of State Property, Cormega, Cam'Ron, Blaq Poet, Reflection Enternal, etc.). And don’t get me started on "Move It In, Move It Out"; one of my favorite tracks of all time has this in spades. Really feels like some East Coast Neo Soul sensibilities, almost as if D'Angelo or Amel Larrieux would have flowed perfectly on the hypnotic, jazzy instrumental Very Pre-Rawkus but a bit more street. The closest style and sounds to what these guys were doing was definitely the 2nd wave Toronto Hip Hop Golden Age scene (Choclair, Infinite, Ghetto Concept, etc.)

In Addition, Derelect Camp's rapping abilities and chemistry were insane. Although, I don't know really know the individual rappers that well compared to Def Squad or Boot Camp Clik. You can tell that the guys are tight and locked in. They don't overshadow each other and they allow each other to get their shine on. It's really a thing of beauty when you have a group of rappers without ego problems or enmity just enjoying the art of rapping. Yet, despite their lyrical dexterity, the group still knows how to make cool music that matched their East Coast swagger and freshness. Baggy jeans, throwback jerseys, silky durags, nautica hoodies, and bass rattling jeeps, these guys were so dope. We need more rap groups like this, that can put the prillz on us.

Thank y'all for tuning in October is Aquilla month and today is my birthday, I'm 24 now brehs . As some Gen Zers have told me, I'm old asf lol but I don’t give a damn I thank God for allowing to me live a long time and Imma keep doing what I love. This really unlocked a childhood memory for me, I remember my step uncle(who was trendy as hell) always played some of the most fresh music and I remember hearing songs like this come on everytime we visited the house. So, it really brought back memories doing this. Took me awhile as it was that poignant of a memory for me, the good and the bad Much love to all ya'll!

Aesthetic:

Examples

Similar Artists
Boot Camp Clik
Choclair
Pitch Black
QuestionMark Asylum
Shades Of Brooklyn
PMD
Infinite
Ghetto Concept
AZ
Non-Phixion
Godfather Don
State Property
Cormega