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.
The Crooklyn Dodgers is a rap collective that consists of a rotating cast of lyrical panthers. The genesis involved luminaries Masta Ace, Special Ed and Buckshot, and since has evolved to include artists like Chubb Rock, Jeru the Damaja, Mos Def and Jean Grae to name a few. No one incarnation embodied The Crooklyn Dodgers, instead it was a collective who worked together to capture multiple dimensions of black consciousness.
The original group came together to soundtrack Spike Lee’s Crooklyn. It featured Q-Tip on production who at the time was one of the hottest producers around. The standout single “Crooklyn” featured Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan (playing baseball of all things), and aimed to capture the essence of Brooklyn; the attitude, the moxie and the desire for excellence.
At the time Special Ed was a ghost, but when he materialized with Crooklyn he brought with him a mountain of knowledge. He penned a verse that showed the depth of the change that was going on, a vision of truth that described something far more serious than adolescent high jinks: [LISTEN]
The second phase of the Crooklyn Dodgers collective built off what the original group had started. Spike Lee once again brought two generations of rappers together, ensuring a history that could be followed and learned from. Chubb Rock was big poppa and served as the cornerstone while O.C. and Jeru the Damaja brought the razor sharp wit and lyricism of the youth. Premier was the architect and together they created an unstoppable force of hip-hop greatness.
Jeru stands out as a once in a generation lyricist. He was an all-around talent who combined stealthy lyrics and liquid wordplay with heady content that would bend the mind backwards. On “Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers” he does what he was born to do, drop knowledge like a tenured professor: [LISTEN]
The Crooklyn Dodgers represented a lifestyle, a state of mind that supported black power while still being critical of what was happening. They told the truth for all it was worth, yet they didn’t compromise the artistry in it. Painting with a keen eye for detail they transformed their experiences into some of the finest lyricism in decades.
There’s been no word of a Crooklyn Dodgers reboot, but their impact was and still is felt. Without them there would be no Beast Coast collective or Odd Future. The Crooklyn Dodgers came and went, but their influence is still felt.
