Top Authority
Top Authority was one of the first rap groups from Flint, Michigan and among the earliest of the underground Midwest rap scene to release a nationally recognized album. 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.
Albums
- Something For Them To Blaze To, 1993.
- Rated G, 1995.
- 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
