Hip-hop has deep roots in Syracuse. In 2004 the Salt City hosted the first Hip-Hop Educational Summit, with Doug E. Fresh, Rev. Run (Run-DMC), Fabulous and Russell Simmons on the panel, plus a special performance from Kanye West. In spring 2005, Syracuse University Professor Greg Thomas developed the first college course devoted to the study of Li’l Kim.
The coffin for hip-hop legend Biggie Smalls was built at Marcellus Casket factory in 1997.
Before Facebook, the campuses of SU, Le Moyne College and Onondaga Community College were plastered with posters promoting underground rap and deejay battles, slam poetry, rap concerts, house parties and breakdancing shows. Even the coffin for hip-hop legend Biggie Smalls was built at Marsellus Casket Company in 1997.
Central New York in the 1990s had a diverse music scene that rivaled New York City. SU’s Greek Freak and the Caribbean Festival brought rappers and reggae artist from around the world. As a teenager I was fortunate to see performances by Gang Star, Tribe, Jeru the Damaja, Mad Lion and Slick Rick.
I got schooled in pool at the Schine Student Center by Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers, and was pulled aside by Chuck D from Public Enemy to discuss the infamous Willie Lynch letter. I witnessed rapper-actor Common freestyling over lunch at Hendricks Chapel for a small group of high school students, and celebrated with Big Daddy Kane at his birthday party at Nowhere City.
Left to Right: Yusuf Abdul Qadir, El-Java Abdul Qadir, Emad Rahim and Common.
Almost every corner store, barbershop and gas station on South Salina Street sold mixtapes. Rap vinyl could be found at Souls, Sound Shack, Music World, Temple Entertainment and Sound Garden. Nationally known deejays Clue, Tony Touch, Bam Bam, Doo Wop, Dirty Harry, Green Lantern and Kid Capri all spun here. If you are a true Syracuse hip-hop head you will remember those red tapes and dope album covers from Souls.
Under my alias, DJ Plaintruth, I was slinging my music in high school cafeterias at Fowler, Henninger, Corcoran and Nottingham, and spinning my turntables at Millennium, the Ozone and the Country Club. At 17 I got my first taste in the music business working at Radio Underground, where I had access to the latest records, mixtapes and recording equipment. I crafted my mixing skills from local DJs like Ace, Showcase, Nuttin’ Nice, Scratch, Mad Stylez, Manny Love and Divine.
Rufus Morris (DJ Scratch) put out one of the first successful local independent albums, Makeba & Skratch’s Mental Fitness.
Rufus Morris (DJ Scratch) put out one of the first successful local independent albums, Makeba & Skratch’s Mental Fitness, and later founded Radio Underground and Nowhere City. When he hosted the radio show The Scratch Attack on WPHR-FM 106.9, I was the person that answered the request hotline phone.
I saw the Mad Pack live at the 1995 Syracuse Hip-Hop Expo, sponsored by Select Records, which motivated me to plaster their stickers all over the city (sorry, Centro). I was even prouder to see Seth Marcel’s album promoted on billboards all over the city and his single “Hardcore” remixed with Jada Kiss on heavy radio rotation. I almost fell off the stage in tears at a local block party when Jus One
performed a song he wrote in memory of Will King (RIP). And I turned into a groupie trying to find the great Rakim while he was visiting Syracuse.
This city’s artists and musicians helped shape my awareness and appreciation for rap music. Rapper and poet KRS-One said, “Rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live.” Jay Z suggested that hip-hop has done more for racial relations than civil rights. You may agree or disagree with their opinions on the music, but you can’t disagree on hip-hop’s influence on the music industry and urban culture.
Listen to Makeba & Skratch’s, “Better Man Than He”
