Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ – a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.” Enter Mr. Sandman with what y’all missed while chasing the REM dragon.
Black Moon is a triumvirate comprised of lyricists Buckshot and 5ft and producer DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz. Their style is rooted in tradition, lyrical musings that pay homage to the forefathers. At the height of their career they were unstoppable, plowing through the underground like runaway trains. They were pro-black before it was a fad and their style influenced multiple generations. Even today their verses still reverberate through the halls of hip-hop.
At the time rap collectives were the norm, but what separated them from the crowd was a style that chronicled the everyday. They weren’t looking to lecture anyone, only relay their experience with no filter attached. With an unrelenting candor in mind, they unleashed a series of narratives that reminded lyricists of how quickly rap was evolving.
Black Moon’s debut album Enta da Stage was a triumph. It charted but didn’t receive notoriety because of other albums that dropped that year including projects from Digable Planets, Wu-Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest. Still, the fact it wasn’t commercially successful only added to its lore. Within its contours discerning ears found raps that hit the chest harder than a straight shot of whiskey. Black Moon didn’t toy with superlatives, instead they embraced images and scenes that ultimately spoke for themselves.
“Slave” is Black Moon at their best. Buckshot splits the earth in two with a railroad nail, enlightening aspiring rappers to what nonsense lies ahead: [LISTEN]
Coming out the gate strong like Black Moon did meant having to come up with something big for their follow up. Pressure of that magnitude took its toll as they waited six long years to release a follow up. War Zone is as the title implies, an all out blitz on the powers that be. Da Beatminerz were instrumental in the album’s success, they mirrored the growth of Buckshot and 5ft without interfering with the lyrical direction.
War Zone was 5ft’s breakout. He hit the ground with Thor’s hammer and established himself as something of an underdog. He wasn’t featured as heavily on their debut, which must have put a chip on his shoulder. On “For All Y’all” we get a glimpse of what he’s capable of. A strong showing that proved that Black Moon was more than a one man show: [LISTEN]
When it comes to lyrical champions, Black Moon hardly comes up in the conversation. Timing played a huge role as other prominent rap groups flourished around the same time. Nevertheless Black Moon’s contributions were essential in rap establishing itself as a stronghold in popular culture. They were respected by their peers as legitimate writers who knew how to transform their experiences into art.
Over the next decade their work would be sporadic, but thanks to those first two albums fans were always on the lookout. And even now, after countless fads have come and gone Black Moon still stands strong. They are unsung heroes who deserve love from both the underground and mainstream.
