"Stone Cold Hustler" is the debut
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
released in 1987 by the
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
-based
hip-hop artist
D.C. Scorpio
Lanard "D.C. Scorpio" Thompson (also credited as "DC Scorpio") is a Washington, D.C.-based hip-hop recording artist. He is best known for the singles " Stone Cold Hustler", "Beam Me Up, Scotty", and "Stone Cold Hustler II". D.C. Scorpio is con ...
.
The song was performed live at ''
Go Go Live at the Capital Centre
''Go Go Live at the Capital Centre'' was a concert performance by various prominent go-go bands and hip-hop artists based in the Washington metropolitan area. It was recorded live in October 1987 at the Capital Centre (a defunct indoor arena in L ...
'' in 1987, and the single was released thereafter. The song also appears on the 1988 compilation album ''
The Go Go Posse
''The Go Go Posse'' is a compilation album released in 1988. The album consists of nine original songs recorded by prominent Washington, D.C.-based go-go bands and hip hop artists, and includes the anti-violence song "D.C. Don't Stand for Dodge ...
''.
Background
On April 15, 1987, D.C. Scorpio was part of a
rap contest held at the Chapter III
go-go club in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
The winner of the contest would win an opportunity to perform live at the annual go-go concert held at the
Capital Centre Capitol Center or Capitol Centre or Capital Center or Capital Centre may refer to:
Singapore
*Capitol Centre, Singapore
United Arab Emirates
*Capital Centre (Abu Dhabi)
United Kingdom
*Capitol Centre, Cardiff, a shopping mall
United States
* Ca ...
(the defunct arena formerly located in
Landover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 25,998.
Landover is contained between Sheriff Road and Central Avenue to the so ...
).
Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh (born September 17, 1966) is a Barbados-born American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer, also known as the "Human Beat Box". The pioneer of 20th-century American beatboxing, Fresh is able to accurately imitate drum machines an ...
was one of the honorable judges along with several prominent go-go musicians.
D.C. Scorpio won the contest by rapping poignantly about the drug dealing and violence associated with the
crack epidemic
The crack epidemic was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the United States throughout the entirety of the 1980s and the early 1990s. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in Ameri ...
of the D.C. region in the late-1980s. The song was titled "Stone Cold Hustler" and D.C. Scorpio performed the song live at ''
Go Go Live at the Capital Centre
''Go Go Live at the Capital Centre'' was a concert performance by various prominent go-go bands and hip-hop artists based in the Washington metropolitan area. It was recorded live in October 1987 at the Capital Centre (a defunct indoor arena in L ...
'' with
Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers
Charles Louis Brown (August 22, 1936 – May 16, 2012) was an American guitarist, bandleader and singer known as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, The Godfather of Go-Go". Go-go is a subgenre of funk music developed around the Washington m ...
.
After the
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
was released, it quickly became a popular hit and D.C. Scorpio quickly became known as the region's pioneer
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
.
Before this point,
hip-hip was not popular in the D.C.-region,
while
go-go
Go-go is a subgenre of funk music with an emphasis on specific rhythmic patterns, and live audience call and response.
Go-go was originated by African-American musicians in the Washington, D.C. area during the mid-60s to late-70s. Go-go has lim ...
music was at its zenith in popularity in D.C. Most hip-hop artists were unable to sellout concerts in D.C. unless a go-go band was on the ticket.
However, after the release of "Stone Cold Hustler" the D.C.-region became more receptive of the hip-hop genre.
Track listing
;Side A (33-1/3 RPM)
#"Stone Cold Hustler"
(long version) – 8:39
;Side B (33-1/3 RPM)
#"Stone Cold Hustler"
(instrumental) – 8:39
#"Stone Cold Hustler"
(radio version) – 3:48
See also
*
Hip hop in Washington, D.C.
Hip hop music in Washington, D.C. has been an important part of the culture of the area.
In the early 1980s, DC's DJ100 was the first station to play hip hop, including the likes of Whistle 2, Run-DMC, Kool Moe Dee, and The Beastie Boys. DJ100, ...
*''
Go Go Live at the Capital Centre
''Go Go Live at the Capital Centre'' was a concert performance by various prominent go-go bands and hip-hop artists based in the Washington metropolitan area. It was recorded live in October 1987 at the Capital Centre (a defunct indoor arena in L ...
''
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
"Stone Cold Hustler"at
Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
1987 debut singles
Go-go songs
American hip hop songs