Audio Two
Encyclopedia
Audio Two were the Brooklyn
, New York
hip hop
duo of emcee
Kirk "Milk Dee" Robinson and DJ Nat "Gizmo" Robinson, most famous for its first hit, the classic "Top Billin'
." The members of the duo are also the older brothers of female hip-hop star MC Lyte
.
and Milk Dee's lyrics would be sampled and referenced time and time again, even by the group itself: both the group's full-length debut, 1988's What More Can I Say? and its 1990 follow-up, I Don't Care: The Album, were titled after lines from the song. However, the duo would never recapture its initial success. The singles of its second album, "I Get the Papers" and "On the Road Again," were only moderate hits. It was a time of rapid change in the hip hop market; gangsta rap
was rising in popularity, and Audio Two found itself unsuccessfully struggling to maintain recording contracts and a fanbase. A third album, First Dead Indian, due for release in 1992, was canceled before it was released even though it had an assigned catalog number. Because of its downfall, the duo disbanded.
Audio Two did, however, pave the way for the duo's younger sister MC Lyte
, who would launch her career with the hit single "I Cram To Understand You (Sam)," which went to #1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop chart
in 1989. Lyte's 1998 album Seven & Seven would feature a remake of "Top Billin'"—with the original instrumental—this time a duet between her and her older brother. In 1994, Milk released a solo EP titled Never Dated on Rick Rubin
's American Recordings. While the EP was notable for its single "Spam," a duet with the Beastie Boys
' Adrock with drum programming
by Mike D, aside from the devoted Beastie Boys fanbase the album generated little interest. Milk would eventually rediscover success by producing singer Eamon
, who recorded the 2004 hit "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)
."
In 2007, Milk Dee recorded a verse for a remix of "I Get Money
" by 50 Cent, thanking all the music artists that sampled "Top Billin'," which earned him royalties.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo of emcee
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Kirk "Milk Dee" Robinson and DJ Nat "Gizmo" Robinson, most famous for its first hit, the classic "Top Billin'
Top Billin'
"Top Billin" was the breakout hit for American hip-hop duo Audio Two, although it was released as the B-side to "Make It Funky" in 1987, from the album What More Can I Say?. The song made a deep cultural impact on hip hop. The song was voted #8 in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs...
." The members of the duo are also the older brothers of female hip-hop star MC Lyte
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
.
History
The duo’s debut single, "Make it Funky," was released in 1987, but it was the b-side, "Top Billin'," that hit, making not only the group instant stars but also making a deep cultural impact on hip hop. The beat by Daddy-O of StetsasonicStetsasonic
Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. It is remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and the group's positive, uplifting lyrics made it forerunners of alternative hip hop and jazz hip...
and Milk Dee's lyrics would be sampled and referenced time and time again, even by the group itself: both the group's full-length debut, 1988's What More Can I Say? and its 1990 follow-up, I Don't Care: The Album, were titled after lines from the song. However, the duo would never recapture its initial success. The singles of its second album, "I Get the Papers" and "On the Road Again," were only moderate hits. It was a time of rapid change in the hip hop market; gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
was rising in popularity, and Audio Two found itself unsuccessfully struggling to maintain recording contracts and a fanbase. A third album, First Dead Indian, due for release in 1992, was canceled before it was released even though it had an assigned catalog number. Because of its downfall, the duo disbanded.
Audio Two did, however, pave the way for the duo's younger sister MC Lyte
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, who would launch her career with the hit single "I Cram To Understand You (Sam)," which went to #1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop chart
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
in 1989. Lyte's 1998 album Seven & Seven would feature a remake of "Top Billin'"—with the original instrumental—this time a duet between her and her older brother. In 1994, Milk released a solo EP titled Never Dated on Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
's American Recordings. While the EP was notable for its single "Spam," a duet with the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' Adrock with drum programming
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
by Mike D, aside from the devoted Beastie Boys fanbase the album generated little interest. Milk would eventually rediscover success by producing singer Eamon
Eamon (singer)
Eamon Jonathan Doyle, professionally known as Eamon, is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is known for his hit single, "Fuck It "....
, who recorded the 2004 hit "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)
Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)
"Fuck It " is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American R&B singer Eamon. It was released in November 2003 as the lead single from the album, I Don't Want You Back....
."
In 2007, Milk Dee recorded a verse for a remix of "I Get Money
I Get Money
"I Get Money" is the third single from 50 Cent's third album, Curtis. This song was #14 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.-Production:...
" by 50 Cent, thanking all the music artists that sampled "Top Billin'," which earned him royalties.
Albums
- 1988: What More Can I Say?What More Can I Say?What More Can I Say? is the debut album by rap duo, Audio Two. It was released in 1988 for First Priority Records, distributed by Atlantic Records and was produced by members, Milk D and DJ Gizmo. The album found only mild success, only making it to #45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums...
- 1990: I Don't Care: The AlbumI Don't Care: The AlbumI Don't Care: The Album is the second and final album by rap duo, Audio Two. It was released on April 18, 1990 for First Priority Records, distributed by Atlantic Records and was produced by members, Milk D, DJ Gizmo, along with The King of Chill. I Don't Care: The Album was not a success, only...
- 1992: First Dead Indian
Singles
- 1986: "A Christmas Rhyme / Audio Two's Jam"
- 1987: "Make it Funky/Top Billin'Top Billin'"Top Billin" was the breakout hit for American hip-hop duo Audio Two, although it was released as the B-side to "Make It Funky" in 1987, from the album What More Can I Say?. The song made a deep cultural impact on hip hop. The song was voted #8 in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs...
" - 1987: "Hickeys Around My Neck"
- 1988: "I Don't Care"
- 1988: "Many Styles" / "The Questions"
- 1989: "Paquito el chocolatero"
- 1989: "I Get the Papers"
- 1990: "On The Road Again" / "Interlude One"
External links
- Who Is Milk D at BeastieMania.com
- Milk D's Never Dated review at RapReviews.com
- Milk Dee Interview at HoodHype.com
- Milk Dee interview at RiotSound.com
- MC Milk Dee at MySpace.com