Several weeks ago Twista dropped his latest project Lifetime with the title track featuring none other than Mad Lion. Mad Lion is best known through his partnership and works with the legendary blastmaster KRS-One. They were prominent in the Ragga Hip Hop movement during the nineties, a fusion of hip hop and reggae. Even till this day the two artists have remained close, still periodically putting out material together.
Twista – Lifetime feat. Mad Lion
In 1993 Mad Lion put out the single “Shoot to Kill” which garnered significant buzz, especially in New York. The track produced by Krs-One had been initially used on his own album Return of the Boom Bap through the song “Black Cop”. It was the next single “Take It Easy” produced by Krs-One as well that helped Mad Lion begin to garner mainstream success in 1994.
Mad Lion – Shoot to Kill (prod. by Krs-One)
Krs-One – Black Cop
Mad Lion – Take It Easy (prod.by Krs-One)
The following year Mad Lion put out the project Real Ting. “Double Trouble” from the album was given the remix treatment with Krs-One appearing on the mic besides Mad Lion. Around that same time the duo appeared on the classic posse cut “1,2 Pass It” along with Doug E Fresh, Fat Joe, Smif-N-Wessun, and Jeru The Damaja. The song was produced by DJ Premier from “The D&D Project”. DJ Premier worked on the two others again on “Wannabemceez” from Krs-One’s self-titled album.
Mad Lion – Double Trouble (remix) feat. Krs-One
Krs-One – 1,2 Pass It feat. Mad Lion, Doug E Fresh, Fat Joe, Smif-N-Wessun & Jeru The Damaja (prod. by DJ Premier)
Krs-One – Wannabemceez feat. Mad Lion (prod. by DJ Premier)
In 1997 Mad Lion would put out the album Ghetto Gold Platinum Respect with KRS-One handling the production. Standout tracks from the album were “Carpenter” and “New York”. In 1998 Shaggy teamed up with them on “Ey-Yo!(The Reggae Virus)” from the soundtrack for the film Caught Up. Xzibit put them on the compilation Likwit Rhymes with Ras Kass on the cut “Up from da Underground”.
Mad Lion – Carpenter (prod. by Krs-One)
Mad Lion – New York (prod.by Krs-One)
Mad Lion – Ey-Yo!(The Reggae Virus) feat. Krs-One & Shaggy
Xzibit – Up from da Underground feat. Mad Lion, Krs-One & Ras Kass
Post 2000 Mad Lion has gone on to produce tracks for Krs-One. He has appeared alongside him periodically. Till this day they still showcase great chemistry, representing ragga hip hop at its finest. A perfect example of two genres of music meshing well together. Serving as a reminder of the movement that had a large presence in the nineties and is sorely missed.
