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Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago

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On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to X-Clan’s Professor X, Sissyyyyy! (R.I.P.)

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On this day in 1956, Lumumba Carson aka Professor X of the groundbreaking X-Clan was born. He would’ve been 68 years old today.

Known by his stage names Baba Professor X the Overseer, Professor X, or PXO, was born the son of Brooklyn-based activist and community leader, Abubadika Sonny Carson on this day. Abubadika was a black nationalist and very well known for his community leadership and political organizing, including many public demonstrations. Not to mention, the elder Carson was the subject of the 1974 film, The Education of Sonny Carson, which was based on the autobiography of the gang leader turned activist.

During the 20th century, every thirty years seemed to create a zeitgeist of politicism among African-American people. In the 1990s, the century’s last gasp at politicism played many parts, mostly manifested through the burgeoning hip hop movement. Public Enemy, the Native Tongues, and Brand Nubian are just to name a few because there was a wide variety of “conscious” rap acts back then, but none were like X-Clan, ostensibly founded by Paradise the Grand Architect, guided by Lumumba Carson, better known as, Professor X.

Being discovered by Paradise Gray, both Professor X and the brilliant Jason Hunter, known to the world as Brother J, unleashed lyrical masterminds on hip hop. The sound of his signature catchphrase, “Vanglorious! This is protected by the Red, the Black, and the Green with a key, sissy!,” could make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and also not to mention, his African walking staff, aka “verb stick.” He was featured on nearly all songs on the albums, To the East Blackwards in 1990, and Xodus shortly after, in 1992. In the same year of 1990 he released a solo album, Years of the 9, on the Blackhand Side, and another solo album in 1993, titled, Puss and Boots the Struggle Continues.

Professor X passed away from complications of meningitis on March 17, 2006.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday to X-Clan’s Professor X, Sissyyyyy! (R.I.P.) first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday to X-Clan’s Professor X, Sissyyyyy! (R.I.P.) appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 33 Years Ago

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On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 32 Years Ago

by
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On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 32 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.