Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Various Blends :




According to Steve Huey, "Various Blends were originally formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1991, and consisted of MCs/producers Friz-B and Eb.F (both friends from childhood) and MC Rasco. They grew out of a previous group called Children of One Destiny, which also included future solo artist Saafir."


 Photo courtesy of Frank Wesley RasCue Quattlebaum

In 1996, the trio released a 12" single "Chill as I Flex / The Dopess" released on Khalif International and produced by Friz-B a.k.a The Real S.K.

12" - 1996 - Khalif International 





"They went on hiatus when Rasco departed for a solo career the following year (he would go on to record for Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw label). In the meantime, Eb.F DJed around the area under the name DJ Rasta Cue Tip, and he and Friz-B reconvened as Various Blends in 1999."




They dropped the same year their next single, "Krazee Madeo Stylez / Pick a Chemical" on the Berkeley based label Baraka Foundation. Friz-B still on the productions and cuts by the  Invisibl Skratch Piklz member, Dj Apollo.




12" - 1999 - Baraka Foundation





"With production by both group members, as well as Peanut Butter Wolf, and turntable contributions from DJ Serg, Various Blends finally issued their first full-length album, Levitude, on Baraka in late 1999. It gained favorable reviews for its inventive, trippy production, but not much exposure."
The album is composed of 13 tracks and features artists like Rashinel, Saafir, Pismo (Burnt Batch), Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & Mystik Journeymen. 


LP - 1999 - Baraka Foundation





Review from Urban Smarts , courtesy of tadah the byk



After that, the group dropped few 12" singles, but all the tracks were from the Levitude album, so nothing new until their last release in 2003 on No Mayo Records.


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