J/boy's Hot Damn 10 Freestyle 11/04
Close Encounters:
RESPECT OF THE SEASON:
Kraftwerk-Trans Europe Express 1977
Can we say revolutionizing and innovative of its time? While Disco peaked and electronic music was beginning its first seeds, these German creators developed a beat that would forever affect dance music-especially electro-funk, house, trance, techno, and yes, freestyle. It was from this tune that hip hop godfather Bambaataa created his "Planet Rock", using innovative machines at his time, and released it to the public April 1982 which went on to sell over 600,000 in the early 80s alone. Bambaataa called it "the wierdest sh*t" he heard back then and that Kraftwerk was always popular among black audiences. In the early 80s, Kraftwerk came back strong with hits such as "Numbers", "Computer Love", and "The Model".
15. Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel-White Lines (Don't Do it) 1983
14. Starpoint-Object of My Desire 1985
13. Cynthia-Endless Night 1989
12. Lil' Suzy-Still I Cry 2002
11. Dee Roberts-Separate Ways (Calle's Mixshow mix) 2002
10.T.K.A.-Scars of Love 1987
9. C-Bank with Diamond Eyes-I Won't Stop Loving You 1986
8. K5-Lovin' Feelin' 2001
7. George Lamond-Without You '98 (Cibola mix) 1998
6. Dune-Electric Heaven 1998
5. Lisette Melendez-He's My Baby Now 1994
4. Sa-Fire-Boy I've Been Told 1988
3. The Unit-Dreamin' 2003
2. Pretty Poison-Catch Me (I'm Falling) 1987
1. Joyce Simms-(You are My) All N All 1986
Joyce Simms is such an underrated diva. Her early 1986 electro-soul, freestyle smash "All N All" has a driving beat with vibrant Latin instrumentation as is present through the loud, proud trumpets and a sweet n sexy diva voice, almost in a pleading-like manner. A classic Freestyle club record that crossed over into the R&B and pop markets. Well done and thought out.
Pretty Poison's, who debuted 1983 with "Nighttime", "Catch Me", a rock/pop/R&B/dance crossover smash...the overlooked underground 2003 tune "Dreamin'"...Sa-Fire's first taste of super success...the song battle between Joei Mae and Lisette Melendez...Trance/Euro set Dune doing Freestyle? Yes...George Lamond took advantage of the rising electro/freestyle/bass, teamed with cibola, and garnered a club hit...Group K5 has a new voice and steals Afrika's 1982 smash "Planet Rock" beat, but backed wih a beautifully charming voice, guitar licks, and a lovely melody...producer/artist John Robie's project (who helped with "Planet Rock") with the beautiful Diamond Eyes who scored her first hit back in '86. Doesn't Judy Torre's "Come into My Arms" kind of sound familiar?...Tony Kayo Angel, the #1 freestyle boy band with pop/R&B/dance success, have their first smash...Dee Roberts copies Journey's 1981 "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" smash and performs it to a beat with heavy freestyle influences...The wonderful Lil' Suzy, who debuted with "Randy" back in 1988..."Change on Me," "I Can't Stop", and now her third single, "Endless Night". She's a winner...R&B/Disco sensation Starpoint have a freestyle hit, following the Lisa Lisa trend as did other records when Lisa released "I Wonder if I Take You Home" to the U.S. in March 1985...Freestyle, known back then as Latin Pop or Latin Hip Hop, even Latin-Disco or simply termed "electro", is still hip hop. Yes, Grandmaster Flash's and Melle Mel's late 1983 tune "White Lines" can be considered Freestyle with its driving beat, released at the period when Shannon debuted with "Let the Music Play" in August 1983.
New notes...R&B songstress Ciara (of "Goodies" fame) has an electro-soul, Freestylish number with "1, 2 Step" featuring rapper Missy Elliot. Elements of this sound can be found throughout her album Goodies...Freestyle for 2004 is in its worst year of the new millenium. Once freestyle artists now have stretched their imaginations to delve into new sounds...Miami breaks, Florida breaks-a gross misinterpretation of Freestyle. However, it is a new wave that could give Freestyle back its number one title as it had held in the 1980s. In addition, Electro is becoming very big as is used by pop icons Madonna and Britney Spears.
