So when did I first become a fan of hip-hop music? The beginnings of what would become my somewhat obsession with rap music and hip-hop culture actually had more humble beginnings than you would think. When I was just a youngin, borrowing my Mom's records and making tapes off the radio, I really looked up to my older cousin Sean. Why? He was the epitome of cool at that age: big comic collection, nike and Jordan sneaker collection, and best of all a massive collection of classic rap from the early 90s era. Whether it was riding in the car with him or chillin at the crib, everything from the likes of De La Soul to Rakim, to Black Sheep and Queen Latifah were blasting out the stereo speakers of that little apartment. I had to borrow some albums to show off to my friends for sure. So, I finally worked the nerve up to ask to borrow some cds. And on one lucky day way back when, I got to roll home with with two cds: Wu-Tang Clan's, Welcome to the 36 Chambers, and The Fu Schnicken's F.U. Don't Take it Personal. You may be familiar with the Wu-Tang Clan, so who are the Fu Schnickens you ask? The Fu-Schnickens are an early 90s rap group, comprised of the likes of rappers Chip Fu (Roderick Roachford), Moc Fu (Joe Jones), and Poc Fu (Lennox Maturine). 'Fu' was an acronym meaning 'for unity' and 'Schnicken' was an invented word meaning 'coalition.' These three friends from the East Flatbush area Brooklyn, NY first got their start following a series of notable performances, including a show at a rap conference at Hampton University in 1991, after which they were quickly signed to Jive Records. Patterning their rap flow after rap groups such as Das EFX, their fast and whimsical rhymes made references to cartoons, comic book references, and even kung-fu movies, pre-dating even the Wu-Tang Clan. The Fu Schnicken's debut album F.U. Don't Take It Personal dropped in 1992 and made waves in the hip-hop scene with tracks such as 'Ring The Alarm,' ' A True Fu Schnick,' and 'La Schmoove.' But it the Fu Schnicken's truly gained mainstream attention when they dropped their 1993 single, 'What's Up Doc' which later had a remix released featuring none other than Shaquille O'Neal (also none as Shaq-Fu while on the track). With a certified gold album and a Billboard top 40 hit single off their second album, the group's buzz began to fizzle out in the mid 90s, and the group's last major performance took place on the finale of the The Arsenio Hall Show, performing alongside the likes of KRS-One, the Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty By Nature, MC Lyte, Guru, Mad Lion, Yo-Yo, Das EFX, CL Smooth & A Tribe Called Quest.
So where are they now? Well, the details are foggy on all members of the group, but Chip-Fu is still out there doing it big for hip-hop. He released a mixtape in 2010 titled Stop Playing. Rumors about an album called "M.A.T.H." have been circulating around but nothing conclusive has been found. Also, Chip-Fu made a guest appearance on rap group Jedi Mind Tricks recent 2011 album, Violence Begets Violence. From what I did find, I can tell you Chip-Fu has truly developed into an very talented dancehall/reggae artist and is definitely worth listening to. Hopefully this legend will find some momentum again and keep that Fu Schnickens spirit alive. Until that time, we salute you, Fu. Check out links below for old videos and links for Chip-Fu's current projects.
The Fu Schnickens - "What's Up Doc"
The Fu Schnickens - "La Schmoove"
Chip-Fu - "Six Feet Deep"
To download Chip-Fu's mixtape, Stop Playing: The Mixtape here
• For a recent Interview with Chip-Fu about his upcoming album, click here
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