By Odeisel

Twenty years ago this weekend, October 19, 1993, Black Moon released Enta Da Stage on Nervous Records. The album, which got 4 mics back when the Source was reputable, was just the beginning of a movement, but by itself it has stood the test of time as one of the East Coast’s dopest albums.

Enta Da Stage was Brooklyn grime, mixed with Buckshot’s melodic flow and the Beat Minerz jazz-backed hard drum-driven beats. There was no attempt to create a world and bring you in, but more an unapologetic aesthetic that put the Brooklyn way of life front and center. Black Moon pioneered a new kind of hook, where half your block is yelling it out, further adding to the organic (I know, overused) feel of the album.

It’s funny how story arcs run. I’m a couple years younger than those guys, but I jammed hard to this album and I still have the CD, albeit a lil scratched. In the 20 years since it has dropped, I have gone from a fan, to a person that chronicles Hip-Hop and I’ve gotten to know Buck and Drew and a lot of the fam. It’s a true joy to see them still alive and thriving and their movement still pushing hard.

Back then, there was no Duck Down Music, or even Duck Down Records. Just Evil, Walt, 5 and Buck and some Nervous employee named Drew Friedman. These guys still make Hip-Hop music that is true to their original intent and to see it maintain without switching up what they are about. I’ll let the vid tell you the story of the album. I can tell you as a witness that they live it. May they see 20 more years of success.

Black Moon: The Beginnings from Duck Down Music Inc. on Vimeo.