Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 July 2005 — Page 83

The Indianapolis Recorder

July 8, 2005 57

to deliver the magic of classic hip-hop

By BRANDON A. PERRY Staff Writer

For over 20 years fans of classic hip-hop music have recognized that “ain’t no party like a Whodini party.” With explosive turntable hits such as “Freaks Come Out at Night” “Five Minutes of Funk” and “Friends ” the group has maintained mad respect among individuals in both the old and new “schools” of hip-hop. The rap trio, which has maintained a steady following in Indianapolis among hiphopfansffomthe beginning, will be returning to the Circle City during the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. In a musical bash celebrating Black music from the 1980s, Whodini will perform with fellow rap veteran Doug E. Fresh, as well as Ashford & Simpson, Cameo, Stephanie Mills and Keith Sweat during Music Heritage Festival I. The concert will take place on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. VIP tickets are $39-99, and tickets for $37-99 are on sale at all TicketMaster locations, via www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (317) 259-5151. Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter, a founding member of Whodini, said the group is excited to be returning to a city that has always received them well. “It’s one of the best places to perform,” said Grandmaster Dee. “I’d say Indianapolis is one of our main cities.” Whodini, which still features original

members Jalil Hutchins, John “Ecstacy” Fletcher and Grandmaster Dee (the disc jockey), was formed in the early 1980s. The New York based trio was nurtured in the same environment that birthed the hip-hop movement and was inspired by rap pioneers such as the Cold Crush Brothers, the Treacherous Three and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Whodini’s 1984 platinum album “Escape” elevated them to almost superstar status among both hip-hop and R&B lovers with “Freaks Come Out at Night,” the roller rink j am “Five Minutes of Funk” and “Big Mouth,” a hilarious indictment on people who spread gossip. Whodini followed that success with “Funk) 7 Beat” (1986), “Be Yourself” (1987) and “One Love,” a rare rap ode to fidelity in relationships. Between 1984 and 1988 they toured the world with such acts as Run-DMC, the Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow and Newcleus. They topped the charts in what is sometimes referred to as the “golden era” of hiphop, when rappers wrote mostly positive party music, break dancers dominated contests and guys would walk up and down the street with boom boxes on their shoulders. Grandmaster Dee, who recently celebrated his 43rd birthday, noted that hip-hop has changed radically since Whodini’s heyday. “It’s made a big change,” he said. “Back then we had rappers who were called hardcore, but I really think what we have today is definitely hardcore. This is hardcore rap for sure and it’s totally different because back

then you could identify each and every one of the groups that were out. Today everybody’s gotthe same style. Everybody’s following each other and talking about the same thing.” But Grandmaster Dee, who was known for being able to rock a house party and scratch a record (in early hip-hop fashion) with virtually every part of his body, added that he believes hip-hip is on the verge of a change for the better. As for Whodini, they continued to record into the 1990s while also taking on the role as family men, beginning with 199l’s “Bag-a-Tricks,” which didn’t do well on the charts. Their most recent release, 1996’s “Six,” also failed to gather attention and was among albums issued by rap veterans that were lost in the shuffle involving the East Coast/West controversy of hard-hitting rappers of the time like 2-Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. Although he didn’t offer a specific release time frame, Gradmaster Dee said Whodini is currently working on a new recording project, and has no concerns about being able to measure up to the expectations of today’s hip-hop fans. “We’ve been in and out of the studio but we have also been doing a lot of touring, so when we get a good break we’ll go back in and finish it up,” he stated. “It’s going to be music you feel and music you can enjoy.” To Whodini fans in Indianapolis who are also interested in getting in the rap game he said, “Just believe in yourself and follow your dreams, no one can stop you but yourself.”

About Whodini ■ Whodini was the first rap group to travel with its own team of dancers. (Whodini featured U.T.F.O. members Dr. Ice and Kangol Kid of “Roxanne Roxanne” fame). ■ Whodini has gained unlikely fans over the years, including elected officials such as Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.