Top Authority
Encyclopedia
Top Authority were one of the first rap groups from Flint, Michigan
to release an album nationwide. Bootleg, a member of the slightly later Flint group The Dayton Family
, told Murderdog magazine, "We grew up together, same hood. We'd be together every day. That's family." He lists them as leading lights in Flint music, along with acts like Ready for the World
and MC Breed
. Rapper Chilla Pertilla defined Northern hip hop to Murderdog as "Eminem
, Twista
, Bone
, Breed, Dayton Family, Top Authority, Esham
, and ICP
".
They first came to public attention with the single "93 (Things Ain't How They Should Be)" from the debut album Something To Blaze To (TRAK Records, 1993). Something To Blaze To reached #21 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart
in April 1994. The "rolling g-funk
trio" (as allmusic describe members Shotgun, Dalo and Flex) followed up with Rated G for Wrap Records in 1995. It featured scratches from DJ Aladdin and reached #16 on the Top R&B Albums chart. allmusic considers 1997's Top Authority Uncut (The New Year) to be their best release. It peaked at #21, with the single "World War III" charting at #37 on Billboard' s Hot Rap Singles. In 2009 Top Authority returned with their fourth album, kush music, on which MC Breed
and Do or Die
make guest appearances.
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
to release an album nationwide. Bootleg, a member of the slightly later Flint group The Dayton Family
The Dayton Family
The Dayton Family is an American hip hop group from Flint, Michigan. The group is composed of Ira Dorsey, Raheen Peterson, and Matt Hinkle, who perform under the respective personas of Bootleg, Shoestring, and Backstabba...
, told Murderdog magazine, "We grew up together, same hood. We'd be together every day. That's family." He lists them as leading lights in Flint music, along with acts like Ready for the World
Ready for the World
Ready for the World is an American R&B band from Flint, Michigan who scored several moderate pop, soul, and dance hits in the mid to late 1980s...
and MC Breed
MC Breed
Eric Breed better known as MC Breed, was an American rapper best known for his singles "Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin", which peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Gotta Get Mine", featuring 2Pac, that made it to #6 on the Hot Rap Singles.-Biography:Born in Flint, Michigan, Breed is also...
. Rapper Chilla Pertilla defined Northern hip hop to Murderdog as "Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
, Bone
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
, Breed, Dayton Family, Top Authority, Esham
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
, and ICP
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
".
They first came to public attention with the single "93 (Things Ain't How They Should Be)" from the debut album Something To Blaze To (TRAK Records, 1993). Something To Blaze To reached #21 on Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
in April 1994. The "rolling g-funk
G-funk
G-funk, or Gangsta-funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from Westcoast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. G-funk incorporates multi-layered and melodic synthesizers, slow hypnotic grooves, a deep bass, background female vocals, the extensive sampling of P-funk tunes, and a high-pitched...
trio" (as allmusic describe members Shotgun, Dalo and Flex) followed up with Rated G for Wrap Records in 1995. It featured scratches from DJ Aladdin and reached #16 on the Top R&B Albums chart. allmusic considers 1997's Top Authority Uncut (The New Year) to be their best release. It peaked at #21, with the single "World War III" charting at #37 on Billboard
MC Breed
Eric Breed better known as MC Breed, was an American rapper best known for his singles "Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin", which peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Gotta Get Mine", featuring 2Pac, that made it to #6 on the Hot Rap Singles.-Biography:Born in Flint, Michigan, Breed is also...
and Do or Die
Do or Die
Do or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...
make guest appearances.
Albums
- Something To Blaze To, 1993.
- Rated G, 1994.
- Top Authority Uncut (The New Year), 1997.
- kush music, 2009.
Sources
- John Bush. "[ Top Authority"], allmusic. See also their charts information for Top Authority. Link retrieved July 31, 2009.
- Joe Walker. "Chilla Pertina", Murder Dog vol. 15 #1.
- Black Dog Bone. "Dayton Family", Murder Dog vol. 8 #3.
External links
- 2001 review of Something to Blaze to from the webzine Booming Words From Portsmouth. Archived version.
- "I Miss It: Flint, MI", Flint hip hop reminiscing @ hoodhype.com
- Flint Rap. A little history of the local scene from DocBeezy.
- kush music tracklisting @ cdbaby