Treacherous Three
Encyclopedia
The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop
group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee
, L.A. Sunshine
, Special K
and Spoonie Gee
(who left in the late 1970s), with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie. They first appeared on record in 1980 on the B side of Spoonie Gee's single Love Rap.
. He managed to persuade his uncle to let the Treacherous Three to do a song on the B side of his first single with Enjoy
which was called Love Rap and the B side was the song New Rap Language, which was released in 1980. New Rap Language was popular and made the group famous for the fast rapping style they used (dubbed speed rapping), which would be what they were originally known for. After this Enjoy
gave the group a single deal.
. Their first single at Sugarhill was Whip It which featured singer Phillippe Wynne, formerly of the Spinners, which was very popular at the time. They then released song Yes We Can-Can which followed on from the political trend that was set by the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
's single "The Message." In 1983, they released Action, Turning you On and Get Up. In 1984 they released, Xmas Rap and Santa's Rap. By 1985 the group was being overshadowed by other groups such as Run-D.M.C.
and L.A Sunshine was getting increasingly frustrated with their financial situation at Sugarhill and eventually became disillusioned with making records. During this time many of the groups signed to Sugarhill Records were put on suspension and Special K and L.A Sunshine didn't want to make any more records for Sylvia Robinson
(the co-owner of Sugarhill). Kool Moe Dee was the only MC in the group that was still actively working for Sugarhill, writing for the Sugarhill Gang. In 1985 Kool Moe Dee managed to persuade Special K and L.A Sunshine to go back into the studio to record Gotta Rock. when it came to recording the B side to Gotta Rock, Turn it Up L.A Sunshine did not turn up to the recording session and Special K did not stay for the full session. Kool Moe Dee felt that Special K's rhymes were not up to his usual standards and therefore left them out. This would lead to the rise to Kool Moe Dee's solo career and the breakup of the group.
, at the end of the film they are seen performing. Kool Moe Dee can also be seen briefly during the film as well. In 1984 they appeared in the film Beat Street
, where they performed their song Santa's Rap along with a young Doug E. Fresh
. Kool Moe Dee later went on to appear in numerous films and Television programmes after the group split up.
. DJ Easy Lee expressed the view that one of the reasons that the album was not as well received as they thought it would be was because the new version of Feel the Heartbeat was almost exactly the same and that they should have released the posse cut We Wit It which featured Big Daddy Kane
, Chuck D
, Grandmaster Caz
, Heavy D, Melle Mel
, Tito (of the Fearless Four
), this song was a lot more popular but was never released as a single. In 1999 the group released Turn It Up
which featured previously released records and was their unofficial greatest hits album. Since then the group has not released any new material.
, LL Cool J
and Rakim
. They are also known as the first MC's to represent lyrical rap. They were also the first MCs to perform in Brazil, Holland, and Bermuda and were among the first MC's to travel to approximately 14 other countries. Kool Moe Dee began a successful solo career in 1986 and is known for such classic hits as Wild Wild West, Go See the Doctor, God Made Me Funke, I Go To Work and How Ya Like Me Now. Special K put out his own solo single in 1987. L.A went on to choreograph all of Kool Moe Dee's videos just as he did with all of the Treacherous Three's shows. DJ Easy Lee moved on to producing music and took a job as National Director of Promotions at Itchiban records.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee
Mohandas Dewese , better known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American Hip Hop MC prominent in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. He was born in Manhattan, New York...
, L.A. Sunshine
LA Sunshine
Lamar Hill, a.k.a. LA Sunshine is an American old-school MC prominent in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.- MC career :...
, Special K
Special K (artist)
Kevin Keaton, a.k.a. Special K was an American old-school MC prominent in the late 1970s, throughout the 1980's and early '90s.- Early career :...
and Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee is one of the earliest rap artists, and one of few rap artists to release records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term 'hip hop' and some the themes in his music were precursors of Gangsta rap....
(who left in the late 1970s), with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie. They first appeared on record in 1980 on the B side of Spoonie Gee's single Love Rap.
Origin
Kool Moe Dee and L.A Sunshine (Lamar Hill) grew up in the same neighborhood and they met DJ Easy Lee (Theodore Moy'e) in elementary school. Kool Moe Dee and Easy Lee both went to Norman Thomas high school where they met Special K (Kevin Keaton). DJ Easy Lee met Spoonie G through playing basketball and through his sister who knew Spoonie G. When Spoonie G left the group, Kool Moe Dee replaced him with Special K. Although he technically had left the group Spoonie G was still affiliated. Spoonie G released a single called Spoonin Rap with the record label Sound of New York, after his relationship broke down with the label he got a deal with Enjoy records which was owned by his uncle Bobby RobinsonBobby Robinson (record producer)
Bobby Robinson was an African-American independent record producer and songwriter in New York, most active from the 1950s through the mid 1980s. He produced hits by Wilbert Harrison, The Shirelles, Dave "Baby" Cortez, Elmore James, Lee Dorsey, Gladys Knight & The Pips, King Curtis, Spoonie Gee,...
. He managed to persuade his uncle to let the Treacherous Three to do a song on the B side of his first single with Enjoy
Enjoy Records
Enjoy Records was a record label owned and operated by Bobby Robinson from 1962 through the mid-1980s, and was run out of his record shop at 125th Street and 8th Ave. in Harlem...
which was called Love Rap and the B side was the song New Rap Language, which was released in 1980. New Rap Language was popular and made the group famous for the fast rapping style they used (dubbed speed rapping), which would be what they were originally known for. After this Enjoy
Enjoy Records
Enjoy Records was a record label owned and operated by Bobby Robinson from 1962 through the mid-1980s, and was run out of his record shop at 125th Street and 8th Ave. in Harlem...
gave the group a single deal.
First releases
In the same year they released Body Rock, which was one of the first records to mix hip-hop and rock and roll. They also released At the Party, Put the Boogie In Your Body and Feel the Heartbeat, the latter of which was very popular at the time. The group approached Bobby Robinson to express their unhappiness with the money they were making at the time, the group received $3,000 each for each record they made.Sugarhill Records
In 1981, they moved to Sugar Hill RecordsSugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
. Their first single at Sugarhill was Whip It which featured singer Phillippe Wynne, formerly of the Spinners, which was very popular at the time. They then released song Yes We Can-Can which followed on from the political trend that was set by the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. Composed of one DJ and five rappers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in...
's single "The Message." In 1983, they released Action, Turning you On and Get Up. In 1984 they released, Xmas Rap and Santa's Rap. By 1985 the group was being overshadowed by other groups such as Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
and L.A Sunshine was getting increasingly frustrated with their financial situation at Sugarhill and eventually became disillusioned with making records. During this time many of the groups signed to Sugarhill Records were put on suspension and Special K and L.A Sunshine didn't want to make any more records for Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
(the co-owner of Sugarhill). Kool Moe Dee was the only MC in the group that was still actively working for Sugarhill, writing for the Sugarhill Gang. In 1985 Kool Moe Dee managed to persuade Special K and L.A Sunshine to go back into the studio to record Gotta Rock. when it came to recording the B side to Gotta Rock, Turn it Up L.A Sunshine did not turn up to the recording session and Special K did not stay for the full session. Kool Moe Dee felt that Special K's rhymes were not up to his usual standards and therefore left them out. This would lead to the rise to Kool Moe Dee's solo career and the breakup of the group.
Film career
The Group also had a short lived film career. Kool Moe Dee and L.A Sunshine had a brief cameo appearance in the movie WildstyleWildstyle
Wildstyle is a complicated and intricate form of graffiti. Due to its complexity, it is often very hard to read by people who are not familiar with it. Usually, this form of graffiti incorporates interwoven and overlapping letters and shapes. It may include arrows, spikes, and other decorative...
, at the end of the film they are seen performing. Kool Moe Dee can also be seen briefly during the film as well. In 1984 they appeared in the film Beat Street
Beat Street
Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...
, where they performed their song Santa's Rap along with a young Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
. Kool Moe Dee later went on to appear in numerous films and Television programmes after the group split up.
Reunion
In 1993 the group resurfaced to do a reunion album on Easy Lee's record label 'Wrap Records'. The album, Old Skool Flava was released in 1994. The first single released was Feel the New Heartbeat which was a remix of the original record Feel the Hearbeat, the new version included Doug E. FreshDoug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
. DJ Easy Lee expressed the view that one of the reasons that the album was not as well received as they thought it would be was because the new version of Feel the Heartbeat was almost exactly the same and that they should have released the posse cut We Wit It which featured Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
, Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Caz
Curtis Fisher , better known by his stage name Grandmaster Caz or Cassanova Fly is an American "Old Skool" rapper, MC, and DJ...
, Heavy D, Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Grandmaster Mele Mel , also known as Melle Mel , is an American hip-hop musician — one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.- Biography :...
, Tito (of the Fearless Four
Fearless Four
The Fearless Four was an old school rap crew from Harlem, New York, best known for their 1982 single "Rockin' It", which was based on the Kraftwerk track "The Man-Machine" and was featured in the 1983 documentary Style Wars. Originally The Fearless Four was a two-member group called the...
), this song was a lot more popular but was never released as a single. In 1999 the group released Turn It Up
Turn It Up (Treacherous Three album)
Turn It Up is a compilation album of rare and unreleased material by The Treacherous Three and Kool Moe Dee. It was released on July 11, 2000 for Sequel Records and was produced by the members, DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, Special K and LA Sunshine...
which featured previously released records and was their unofficial greatest hits album. Since then the group has not released any new material.
Legacy
The Treacherous Three are remembered as the originators of fast rapping, they directly influenced MCs such as T La RockT La Rock
Clarence "Terry" Ronnie Keaton , known by the stage name T La Rock, is an American old-school emcee best known for his collaboration with Def Jam Recordings co-founder Rick Rubin and the 1984 single "It's Yours." He disappeared from the hip hop scene after a traumatic brain injury in 1994, but as...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
and Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
. They are also known as the first MC's to represent lyrical rap. They were also the first MCs to perform in Brazil, Holland, and Bermuda and were among the first MC's to travel to approximately 14 other countries. Kool Moe Dee began a successful solo career in 1986 and is known for such classic hits as Wild Wild West, Go See the Doctor, God Made Me Funke, I Go To Work and How Ya Like Me Now. Special K put out his own solo single in 1987. L.A went on to choreograph all of Kool Moe Dee's videos just as he did with all of the Treacherous Three's shows. DJ Easy Lee moved on to producing music and took a job as National Director of Promotions at Itchiban records.
Discography
- 1984: The Treacherous ThreeThe Treacherous Three (album)The Treacherous Three is the self-titled first studio album by hip hop group Treacherous Three, released in 1984 through Sugar Hill Records and MCA Records. A second album, Old School Flava, was released a decade later....
- 1994: Old School FlavaOld School FlavaOld School Flava is the second album by legendary old school rap group, Treacherous Three. It was released in 1994 for Wrap Records and was produced by DJ Easy Lee, DJ Clark Kent, T La Rock, Ced Gee, Rahiem, Special K, Kool Moe Dee and LA Sunshine...
- 2000: Turn It UpTurn It Up (Treacherous Three album)Turn It Up is a compilation album of rare and unreleased material by The Treacherous Three and Kool Moe Dee. It was released on July 11, 2000 for Sequel Records and was produced by the members, DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, Special K and LA Sunshine...