Spoonie Gee
Biography
Spoonie Gee is an American rapper of the early days of hip hop. He recorded for Bobby Robinson's Enjoy Records. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoonie_Gee [Jan 2006]Profile
[...] "Spoonie Gee cut "Spoonin' Rap", on
'Sounds Of New York, Usa' records, one of Peter Browns many labels. It also appeared on an album on 'Queen Constance' records called "The Big Break Rapper Party" and was remixed and re-released in 1984 on 'Heavenly Star' records. "Spoonin' Rap" was like a diamond in a pile of rubble in Peter Brown's recordings, usually classics of low-budget incompetence, e.g. label says 33 on a 45 recording, raps out of time, drummers losing the beat, and sound like your dad's garage...Spoonie Gee shone through as a real talent.
written by Jeff Slattery (slats@uclink3.berkeley.edu)
[...] Spoonie G, maybe? if so, he is the godson of Bobby Robinson (Enjoy records) and sylvia robinson (Sugarhill records), who was writing rhymes in the front room of their apartment as a kid, and thus helped inspire the concept of the Sugarhill Gang (in addition to several other influences, including Paul Winley's (Winley records) daughter's fanaticism with rap). Once Bobby Robinson had a few things going his way, he and peter brown were looking for talent, and someone reminded him in his record store one night that, "Spoonie Can Rap." After the success of the gang and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Bobby Robinson paired the treacherous three (Kool Moe Dee, Special K, and L.A. Sunshine) in their debut with Spoonie G. one side was the tongue-twisting "the new rap language", a rap with a nod to mary poppins which set a new style of quickfire rhyming against a 112bpm beat with a slowish feel. On drums was Pumpkin, and on congas was Spoonie's brother. the b-side was "love rap", a solo rap by Spoonie G, with strictly drum/conga accompaniment. one of the very first commercially released aps with only beats for backing, it has been a consistent seller right hrough to the present.
After the take on Mary Poppins, spoonie gee cut "Spoonin' Rap", on 'Sounds of New York, Usa' records, one of Peter Browns many labels. it also appeared on an album on 'Queen Constance' records called "the Big Break Rapper Party" and was remixed and re-released in 1984 on 'Heavenly Star' records. "Spoonin' Rap" was like a diamond in a pile of rubble in Peter Brown's recordings, usually classics of low-budget incompetence, e.g. label says 33 on a 45 recording, raps out of time, drummers losing the beat, and sound like your dad's garage...Spoonie Gee shone through as a real talent.
[1995] spoonie is currently working as a supervisor in a rehabilitation center for the mentally disabled under his real name of Gabe Jackson (his nickname came from his habit of eating with a spoon as a small boy).
"Spoonin' Rap" was the first release on a journey through three different labels before his latest signing at 'Tuff City' records. he already sounds self-assured, fluently rolling out the seduction routine that has become his trademark over a slinky backing track of bass and drums, some flexatone and whistles. with his tall tales, Spoonie is closest to the mythical jody, the woman stealer and death dealer. however regrettable outsiders may find the sexism of his songs, they are part of a line in black oral literature and song which extends at its furthest limits to Spoonie's favorite form of music, the romantic soul ballad: "i'm into all types of music but i like the type of music i can lay back to and listen. i like old records, old and new, but i like slow ballads. i'll take slow music over fast music any day. i like Marvin Gaye, nat king cole, brook benton. i like, god bless the dead, jackie wilson. i even liked elvis. and i can't forget barry white."
other releases include "monster jam" (1981), "the godfather" (1985), and
"i'm all shook up", (1989).
CDs
- The Best of Enjoy Records [CD, Amazon US]
[FR] [DE] [UK]
Enjoy was Bobby Robinson's label. This Harlem label had been home to saxophone legend King Curtis, and in 1979 it put out its first hip hop record, "Rappin' and Rockin' in the House" by The Funky Four (Plus One More).
- Superappin - Grand Master Flash & Furious Five
- Love Rap - Spoonie Gee & The Treacherous Three
- Body Rock - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee)
- At The Party - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee)
- It's Magic - Fearless Four
- Move With The Groove - The Disco Four
- Funk Box Party - The Masterdon Committee
- Feel The Heart Beat - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee) [a remake of Taana Garder's Heart Beat on West End]
- Just Having Fun - Doug E. Fresh
- New Rap Language, The - The Treacherous Three
- Rockin' It - The Fearles Four (possibly remixed by Larry Levan]