TJ Swan – Mellow Love [unreleased]

Late eighties (or maybe early nineties?) footage of the Juice Crew Cold Chillin’ at the Apollo. Plus some backstage interviews. History right here. Shared by MC Shan.

via oshht

Juice Crew – Mr Magic Tribute ft. Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Craig G, Shante, Marley, Biz and TJ Swann (Dj Premier Remix) / radio rip

via

Classic track and near-classic performance of The Symphony. If only Kool G Rap was there to do his verse… Link

More videos @ youtube.com/grandgood.

Wonder why the Juice Crew chose to do a reunion show in Atlanta of all places. Let’s hope they do another show in NYC. Link (via), show pictures

see also:
Masta Ace Explains How His Verse Ended Up On ‘The Symphony’ And Why He Won’t Be Able To Make It To The Reunion
Marley Marl and Craig G on New Album Dropping Spring ‘08

Do you have any interesting Juice Crew anecdotes from back in the day?

One story that a lot of people aren’t aware of is how I ended up being on “The Symphony” record.

It was recorded in ’88 at Marley Marl’s townhouse in Astoria, Queens. Everybody assumed that it was planned out that the four of us [Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, and Ace] were going to be on it, and it was going to be a classic record. But MC Shan was actually supposed to be the fourth MC on that song. But since he was a bigger name at that time than all of us, he felt like it wasn’t a good career move for him to be on this record with a bunch of new artists.

It came about only by virtue of me wanting to tag along to the studio. I just wanted to see these guys record; I was just there to see the process. When it came time to get in the booth and rhyme, there was this big tug of war about who would go first. Nobody wanted to go first.

“You go first!”

“Nah, you go first.”

So Marley put me on the spot, and said, “Ace, you got something? Maybe if you warm the mic up these guys will stop being scared. Just go in there and do a little something.”

And I went in and did a verse off my mental Rolodex, something from my memory, and that became the verse that made it on the record. I don’t think he had any intention of keeping the verse originally, but after he heard the whole song together, he decided I did a good enough job on it to keep it. And the rest is history.

With a Juice Crew movie that takes a look back at one of hip-hop’s most storied group of artists on the horizon, Crew member Craig G and founder/producer Marley Marl are still looking towards the future. The duo have teamed up to release “Operation: Take Back Hip-Hop” late this spring on Good Hands Records.

“”Operation: Take Back Hip-Hop” is just what it is,” said Craig G. “Instead of me wasting years complaining along with journalists and everyone else, Marley and I are trying to make change through music. This is my passion, this is what raised me, and I refuse to stand by and watch my culture get destroyed any further with poor quality music.”

After the success of his collaboration with KRS-One on 2007’s “Hip-Hop Lives,” Marley Marl is confident the new album with Craig G is just what people are looking for.

“True hip-hop fans stand up, “Operation: Take Back Hip-Hop” is what you’ve been waiting for,” said Marley Marl.

The album features guest appearances by KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Rakaa (Iriscience) of Dilated Peoples, and Sadat X. Marley Marl handles most of the production, with help from Tue Track, Kid Nyce and a possible surprise addition or two.

In addition to his Juice Crew days, Craig G has also become known for penning most of the battle lyrics in the Eminem movie 8 Mile.

previously:
Cuba Gooding Jr. To Play Marley Marl, David Banner Will Be Biz Markie

update: Marely Marl says it’s still too early, Cuba and Banner not confirmed (via)

previously:
Legendary Juice Crew Coming To A Theatre Near You!

The story of legendary Hip-Hop collective The Juice Crew is coming to the big screen in a new movie titled The Vapors. The Vapors is set against the backdrop of New York City’s Queensbridge Housing Projects, where The Juice crew was based. The character driven story is inspired by the true life events of DJ Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane and Roxanne Shante and chronicles the group’s rise to fame during Hip-Hop’s golden age.