Something Fresh “Oak Cliff” (1987, Get Off Me Records)
Something Fresh, aka Nemesis, is one of (the?) first Dallas rap crews, who achieved some national notoriety after signing to Profile Records in the late 1980s. Comprised of a revolving cast of DJs and emcees, including Snake, Big Al, Casanova Rock, Eazy Rock and Azim (and probably a few other artists), the crew blazed a trail for southern hip hop through their regular appearances on KNON FM.
As Something Fresh, they released the “Oak Cliff” b/w “Snake Beats” 12” in 1987 on Get Off Me Records, before joining Cory Robbins’ and Steve Plotnicki’s Profile imprint and adopting a more menacing moniker a few years later. Though probably best known for their 808s and P-funk workout, Temple Of Boom, “Oak Cliff” certainly hinted at the gangsta bass leanings the group would later adopt, though eschewed the more sinister side of their Profile records for a Golden Era block anthem .
Largely forgotten even within the already marginalized North Texas rap scene, Nemesis was vital to the proliferation of southern funk beyond the Lonestar State, and is a crew worthy of some YouTube diving. I’d recommend starting here.
-SM
(via Texas Rapps)
