Young Black Teenagers
Encyclopedia
Young Black Teenagers was an early 1990s American
rap group consisting of Kamron, First Born, Anthony DelCioppo, Tommy Never, and DJ Skribble
. Despite their name, none of the group was black. They intended their name as a tribute to the black culture they were influenced by, but some thought their name offensive or ridiculous.
YBT had the support of the prominent rap group Public Enemy and their producer Hank Shocklee signed them as the first act of his label Sound of Urban Listeners (SOUL). They released their second album with MCA Records
.
Their debut album Young Black Teenagers
(1991) featured the singles "Nobody Knows Kelli" (about the character Kelly Bundy from the sitcom Married With Children), "Proud to Be Black", and "To My Donna" (an attack on Madonna
for taking the rhythm track of the Public Enemy song "Security of the First World" for her single "Justify My Love
"). After the first album, Tommy Never inexplicably left the group, and YBT became a foursome, with A.T.A. contributing more vocally. Their second album, Dead Enz Kids Doin' Lifetime Bidz (1993), featured the song "Tap the Bottle
", their biggest single. The band did gain some publicity (albeit not necessarily positive) for the song "Time To Make The Dough Nutz", as it contained a sample of Rush
's 1981 hit "Tom Sawyer
", angering many devoted Rush fans, even though YBT insisted it had been meant as a tribute.
YBT were listed among VH1
's "Least Hiphop Moments", where they were overtly ridiculed for their overall name and premise.
After "Tap The Bottle" became their only worldwide hit, YBT called it a day in 1994.
DJ Skribble
worked for MTV
for several years as an in-house DJ
. He currently owns a car customization
shop called 'Skribble's Auto Spa' located in Queens
, New York
. Kamron (Ron Winge) along with ATA (Rodney) previously ran a music studio in Roosevelt, New York
and produced hip hop tracks.
Kamron works with the Marksmen now producing tracks for video games and prominent musicians. He also played the role of Jamal in House Party 2
. He also DJ's at clubs in New York City.
A.T.A. (Rodney) is a manager and a clothing entrepreneur. First Born owns and operates a tattoo shop in Brooklyn, New York called Ringleaderz Ink. He is rumored to be a relative of former Non Phixion
MC Goretex. Tommy Never worked with Clivillés + Cole in The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
after leaving YBT. He now runs a wealth management firm in New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rap group consisting of Kamron, First Born, Anthony DelCioppo, Tommy Never, and DJ Skribble
DJ Skribble
DJ Skribble is an Italian-American DJ, producer, remixer, radio personality and actor.In the early 1990s he teamed up with Kamron, ATA, Firstborn, and Tommy Never in Young Black Teenagers, who released two albums before splitting up.In 1996 he worked with Bill Irwin on the musical Hip Hop Wonderland...
. Despite their name, none of the group was black. They intended their name as a tribute to the black culture they were influenced by, but some thought their name offensive or ridiculous.
YBT had the support of the prominent rap group Public Enemy and their producer Hank Shocklee signed them as the first act of his label Sound of Urban Listeners (SOUL). They released their second album with MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
.
Their debut album Young Black Teenagers
Young Black Teenagers (album)
Young Black Teenagers is the self titled debut album by rap group, Young Black Teenagers. The album was released in 1991 for Hank Shocklee's Sound of Urban Listeners, or Soul Records. Although the album did not do as well as the group's follow-up album, the album featured one hit single, "Loud &...
(1991) featured the singles "Nobody Knows Kelli" (about the character Kelly Bundy from the sitcom Married With Children), "Proud to Be Black", and "To My Donna" (an attack on Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
for taking the rhythm track of the Public Enemy song "Security of the First World" for her single "Justify My Love
Justify My Love
"Justify My Love" is the first single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection and was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records. It caused international controversy due to the accompanying music video which was sexually explicit...
"). After the first album, Tommy Never inexplicably left the group, and YBT became a foursome, with A.T.A. contributing more vocally. Their second album, Dead Enz Kids Doin' Lifetime Bidz (1993), featured the song "Tap the Bottle
Tap the Bottle
"Tap the Bottle" is the first single released from the Young Black Teenagers' second album, Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz. It was released on November 24, 1992, written by group members Firstborn and Kamron and was produced by Terminator X and the groups DJ, DJ Skribble...
", their biggest single. The band did gain some publicity (albeit not necessarily positive) for the song "Time To Make The Dough Nutz", as it contained a sample of Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
's 1981 hit "Tom Sawyer
Tom Sawyer (song)
"Tom Sawyer" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush, named after Mark Twain's literary character. The song was released on Mercury Records and PolyGram in 1981 on the Moving Pictures album and numerous compilations thereafter, such as 1990's Chronicles. It has also appeared on several live albums and...
", angering many devoted Rush fans, even though YBT insisted it had been meant as a tribute.
YBT were listed among VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "Least Hiphop Moments", where they were overtly ridiculed for their overall name and premise.
After "Tap The Bottle" became their only worldwide hit, YBT called it a day in 1994.
DJ Skribble
DJ Skribble
DJ Skribble is an Italian-American DJ, producer, remixer, radio personality and actor.In the early 1990s he teamed up with Kamron, ATA, Firstborn, and Tommy Never in Young Black Teenagers, who released two albums before splitting up.In 1996 he worked with Bill Irwin on the musical Hip Hop Wonderland...
worked for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
for several years as an in-house DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. He currently owns a car customization
Custom car
A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been modified in either of the following two ways. First, a custom car may be altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission. Second, a custom car may be a personal "styling" statement, making the car look...
shop called 'Skribble's Auto Spa' located in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, 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...
. Kamron (Ron Winge) along with ATA (Rodney) previously ran a music studio in Roosevelt, New York
Roosevelt, New York
Roosevelt is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 16,258 at the 2010 census.Roosevelt is in the town of Hempstead.-Geography:Roosevelt is located at ....
and produced hip hop tracks.
Kamron works with the Marksmen now producing tracks for video games and prominent musicians. He also played the role of Jamal in House Party 2
House Party 2
House Party 2, the sequel to the 1990 film House Party, was released in 1991 by New Line Cinema. The sequel returns most of the cast of the first movie along with new cast members such as Queen Latifah and Iman. The second installment includes more guest appearances from other famous entertainers...
. He also DJ's at clubs in New York City.
A.T.A. (Rodney) is a manager and a clothing entrepreneur. First Born owns and operates a tattoo shop in Brooklyn, New York called Ringleaderz Ink. He is rumored to be a relative of former Non Phixion
Non Phixion
Non Phixion was a New York-based hardcore hip-hop group.-History:In late 1994, MC Serch took his protege Sabac and teamed him up with DJ Eclipse and Ill Bill, thereby creating the group known as Non Phixion. Within six months Goretex, a childhood friend of Ill Bill, had joined the crew after...
MC Goretex. Tommy Never worked with Clivillés + Cole in The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. was an American 1990s R&B and dance music group, assembled by Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C&C Music Factory. The group featured lead vocals by Michelle Visage, who was formerly a member of another Clivilles & Cole group, Seduction...
after leaving YBT. He now runs a wealth management firm in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Discography
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Hip-Hop Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||||
| 1991 | Young Black Teenagers Young Black Teenagers (album) Young Black Teenagers is the self titled debut album by rap group, Young Black Teenagers. The album was released in 1991 for Hank Shocklee's Sound of Urban Listeners, or Soul Records. Although the album did not do as well as the group's follow-up album, the album featured one hit single, "Loud &... |
- | - | ||
| 1993 | Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz is the second and final album by rap group, Young Black Teenagers. The album was released in 1993 for MCA Records and featured production by legendary producers, Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee, Grandmaster Flash and Terminator X... |
158 | 56 | ||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released | |||||
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Hot Rap Singles | |||
| 1991 | "Loud and Hard to Hit" | - | 25 | Young Black Teenagers |
| 1993 | "Roll W/ the Flavor" | - | 22 | Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz |
| "Tap the Bottle Tap the Bottle "Tap the Bottle" is the first single released from the Young Black Teenagers' second album, Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz. It was released on November 24, 1992, written by group members Firstborn and Kamron and was produced by Terminator X and the groups DJ, DJ Skribble... " |
55 | 6 |