THE SPIN-OFF

A successful TV show leads to a spinoff for a minor or major character whom the network feels the viewing public would love to see. Keep It Oldskool shouts out some of the favorite OLDSKOOL shows and the spinoffs that they spawned. We also wonder why some of our favorite characters did not get their own show.  We would have loved to see the "Rolo (From Sanford and Son) Show" how about the "Sweet Daddy Williams (From Good Times) Show" I mean if they gave "Chachi" from Happy Days a show (Joanie Loves Chachi)  why not. Some shows that were a spin-off often created their own spin-off  (see *)  Some of the shows that people did not watch created shows that they did watch. The Saga of the Spin-off continues...

Sanford and Son (1972-1977)

Spin-offs
Grady (1975-1976)

Sanford Arms (1977)

Sanford (1980-1981)

Happy Days (1974-1984)

Spin-offs
Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983)

Mork and Mindy (1978-1982)

Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-1983)

The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)

Spin-offs
Enos (1980-1981)

The Dukes (1983-1984)




Different Strokes (1978-1986)

Spin-Off
Facts of Life (1979-1988)

All in the family (1971–1979)

Spin-Offs
Maude (1972-1978)

   *Good Times (1974-1979)

The Jeffersons (1975-1985)

   *Checking In (1981)

Archie Bunkers Place (1979-1983)

Gloria (1982-1983)

The Cosby Show (1984-1992)

 Spin-off
 A Different World (1987-1993)

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

Saturday Mornings

Saturday Mornings (The remix with added youtube clips) 



Fellow Oldheads remember getting up early Saturday mornings (before our parents got up) eating a bowl of cereal and watching the wild assortment of cartoons. Before Nickelodeon The Cartoon Network and Boomerang there was only channel 3,6 and 10 to see all the cartoons. The Saturday Morning cartoon line-ups were so serious that they would have prime time specials announcing what would be coming to Saturday mornings. There was something for everyone from The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, The Snorks, The Smurfs etc . The other aspect of the Saturday Morning cartoon structure was that all of the celebrities seemed to have their own cartoon. There was New Kids on the Block, Gary Coleman, The Bionic Globetrotters and even M.C. Hammer has a cartoon. If the structure was the same on Saturday mornings in this day and age we would be watching "The Kardashians Cartoon, Kanye West Cartoon The Honey Boo Boo Cartoon and maybe  even "The Puff Daddy Take That Take That Cartoon Hour"
                                     CBS


                                     









          

   Drak Pack (CBS) 

                    ABC

  

 Happy Days Cartoon  (ABC) 

                                       NBC

The Flinstones Comedy Show (NBC) 


 The Saturday Morning cartoons are around in some form but it will never be like it was.

1989

PART 2
KEEP IT OLDSKOOL REMEMEBERS THE GREATEST YEARS IN HIP HOP

    In this era of Hip Hop there is way more exposure. But can you honestly say that the music AS A WHOLE is better? Sure there are years when you get maybe 1 or if your lucky 2 classic Hip Hop albums but in 1989 and a couple other years it seemed that every album that came out was an instant classic. 

 

      1989

• 3 feet high and rising –De La Soul
• Paul’s Boutique-Beastie Boys
• Nasty as they want to be-2 Live Crew
• The Cactus Album-3rd Bass
• No One can do it better-DOC
• Straight outta Compton-NWA
• Road to the Riches-Kool G Rap
• Fear of a Black Planet-Public Enemy
• 3xdope-Original Styling
• All Hail the Queen-Queen Latifah
• Eyes on this –M.C Lyte
• The Ruler is Back-Slick Rick 

1988

     KEEP IT OLDSKOOL REMEMEBERS THE GREATEST YEARS IN HIP HOP

    In this era of Hip Hop there is way more exposure. But can you honestly say that the music AS A WHOLE is better? Sure there are years when you get maybe 1 or if your lucky 2 classic Hip Hop albums but in 1988 and a couple other years it seemed that every album that came out was an instant classic. There was diversity and most of the artists listed below are Hall of Famers.

 

     1988

• Critical Beatdown-Ultramagnetic M.Cs
• He’s the DJ. I’m the Rapper –Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince
• Long Live the Kane-Big Daddy Kane
• Going Off-Biz Markie
• Greatest Entertainer-Doug E Fresh
• Power-Ice T
• Follow the Leader-Eric B and Rakim
• We want Eazy-Eazy E
• Strictly Business-EPMD
• It takes a nation of millions…. -Public Enemy
• Straight out the Jungle-Jungle Brothers
• Danger Zone-Tuff Crew  

THREE TIMES DOPE NO WORDS (REMIX)

 

THE KEEP IT OLDSKOOL VIDEO OF THE DAY

Lyric of the day

The Keep it old skool lyrics of the day come Krs One from Boogie Down Productions
The song "Black Man in Effect"  the album Edutainment 1990

The point is that we descend from kings

Science, art and beautiful things

African history is the world's history

This is the missing link and mystery

Once we realize that all are African

White will sit down with black and laugh again

So judge not least ye may be judged

By the judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged

Matthew seven, first verse doesn't budge

No man should walk the Earth in sludge

If you don't believe, you can go and check

To see how and where the Blackman’s in effect

 
KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

"THE SH**** IS REAL" -Fat Joe The Keep It Oldskool video of the day (Throw Back)

*****Warning Explicit Lyrics*****

The Greatest Cookout Music Ever

Since cookout season has begun here is Keep It Oldskool's Guide to cookout music

The key to cookout music is that it has to be universal meaning that the kids,teenagers and grownups all feel comfortable listening to it.You know you have met the criteria when you hear Uncle Sylvester saying "what you know about that song nephew" and your reply is "huh this the jawn"  So if your at a cookout,having a cookout or planning one here is some songs that need to be on the playlist

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

  

      THE KEEP IT OLDSKOOL VIDEO OF THE DAY

         "NOD YA HEAD TO THIS"-Kings of Swing 1990

What We Wore

The Keep it Oldskool Photos of the day

THE SNEAKERS

The Jeans

The Jackets

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

THE ORIGINAL "BAD BOYS" THE KEEP IT OLDSKOOL "IN THE CUT MOVIE OF THE DAY"




This 1983 movie starring a young Sean Penn and Esai Morales seems more relevant now then it did in the early 80s when it was made. There is no real hero in this movie. As we meet Sean Penn's "Mick Obrien" character we really don't like him. He is a petty criminal who takes a jump into big leagues but since he is a minor he is not sent to the mens prison. There is a memorable "soda machine" scene that has been parodied by The Family Guy. Esai Morales' "Paco Moreno" is more a less the villain whom you can sympathize with for a time and then he does something to make you hate him too. Most people in there 40s may have seen this movie. For the younger generation make a point to see this movie




From the Old Skool Balcony  Chuck Da Original Oldhead

3 THE HARD WAY
The Keep it Oldskool "in the cut" movie of the day



   In continuing with the "in the cut" movies that many have not seen and in the Blaxploitation vane there is "3 The Hard Way"  a 1974 action movie that starred at the time the 3 hottest African American action stars. Jim Brown (former NFL player,The Dirty Dozen, Slaughter) Jim Kelly (Enter the Dragon, Black Belt Jones) and Fred Williamson (Black Caesar,Hell Up in Harlem, Bucktown)

  The premise was fairly simple the 3 have to band together to thwart a plot hatched by "the man" who has created a serum that is lethal and only affects African Americans. This movie was another in a long line of  "Puttin Foot to Ass" classics. These movies were escapism for many in the community that felt the "foot of the man on they back" In these movies the "brothers and sisters" always came out on top





Chuck Da Original Oldhead chillin in the Oldskool Movie Balcony ...pass that popcorn

   You may be an Oldhead                    

                                                                             

                                                                                          

  Despite wearing the jeans that fit like “jeggins” and saying that you love Rick Ross, Weezy, Drake etc., you may be an Oldhead. It’s nobody’s fault I am sure that feel that you are current and that there is no way you can be an Oldhead. I have put together the symptoms that you can watch out for.  If you have these symptoms I have to inform you that you ARE AN OLDHEAD. Don’t worry there are many support groups that can help you. I myself was diagnosed as an Oldhead early in life. I had that rare form that effects youngsters and manifests itself by loving and listening to music that is well before your time. Back to the matter at hand. Here are the symptoms of being an Oldhead

• If you know the real names of tv couple “Willis and Charlene”  you are a Oldhead
• If you hear the phrase “I came in the door and said it before” and can finish it then you are an Oldhead.
• If you ever had a birthday party and the DJ’s name was “Hollywood” or “Spacebug” you are a Oldhead
• If you remember when the only tv stations were 3,6,10,12,17 and 48 also that HBO was the only cable channel so you had to watch movies like “Chariots of Fire” you are a Oldhead
• If you can remember when the VCR was cutting edge technology then you are a Oldhead
• If you remember thinking that Prince and Michael Jackson needed to battle then you are a Oldhead
• If you drank Bartle’s and James wine coolers then you are a Oldhead        
  
  
• If you did the “Wop ,The Prep, Fila” dances then you are a Oldhead
• If you remember the “Givens Kids” singing “Bubbling Brown Sugar” …well you know the rest.

 Is there a cure for this? Why would you want it? Admit it when you were in your teen years and 20s and out with your friends you saw a man or woman in their late 30s or 40s hanging in the same place you laughed at them and said “What is they old ____ doing in here? So if you have the Oldhead Affliction wear it with pride and say it with me “My name is ________ and I am an Oldhead

THE CREWS

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL  wants to shine the light on the crews. Although there are crews in todays Hip Hop none can match the scope and the prestige of the ones that came before. Here are some of the classic crews in Hip Hop


The Juice Crew

Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante(not pictured), MC Shan, Mr. Magic,(not pictured) Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Tragedy, Biz Markie, TJ Swann (not pictured), Masta Ace, 



NATIVE TONGUES

 Trugoy(not pictured), Maseo, Posdnous, Mike Gee, Baby Bam, Sammy B, Phife(not pictured), Ali Shaeed, Muhammad, Jarobi(not pictured), Q-Tip, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Chi Al(not pictured)i, Dres(not pictured), Mista Lawnge (not pictured)

 WU-TANG CLAN
   
The RZA, The GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon The Chef, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Method Man, Cappadonna (not pictured)

NWA

Ice Cube,DJ Yella,Dr Dre,D.O.C,Eazy E, Mc Ren


RUFF RYDERS
 

DMX, Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Eve, Drag-On, Swizz Beatz




There were countless others such as No Limit,Cash Money Millionares, Dungeon Family, Money Millionares, Boot Camp Clique, Hit/Def Squad, Hilltop Hustlers, and the Hieroglyphics Crew To be crew you had to do more then just do a guest apperance on a track. Alot of times the crew would do uncredited background vocals. A lot of the crews fractured or fell apart but some continue on to this day.

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

Large Professor

The Keep It Oldskool Artist/Producer of the Day




William Paul Mitchell aka "The Large Professor/Xtra P" is a name mostly associated and credited for discovering Nas. What KEEP IT OLDSKOOL wants people to know is that in addition Xtra P is an accomplished rapper as well as producer. Growing up in the Queens section of NYC he started producing at an early age. His first foray in to making beats was making "pause tapes" He learned from the late Paul C (Paul C Mckasty) how to use the E-mu-SP-1200  beat machine and created his own distinct sound. As a high school student he was asked to program beats for Eric B and Rakim's 3rd Album "Let the Rythym Hit Em" He joined with K-Cut and Sir Scratch to form Main Source together they released 1991's Breaking Atoms which included singles "Looking at The Front Door","Peace is not the word to play" and the star(Nas)making song "Live at the Bar B Que"




After going solo Xtra P became a highly sought after producer working with groups and acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock and C.L Smooth. Many people don’t know the story how he discovered Nas and the connection between Nas and Rakim. It seems that Nas recorded in studios that were booked for Rakim. Xtra P has stated in interviews Eric B said to him and Paul C "do some beats or do whatever you want, but I need something to come out of every session.” And so I was like, “Yo, I got my man (Nas) down the block in Queensbridge, he rhymes. Alright, get him in the studio man". We know what those sessions turned into. Xtra P continues to write and produce. His most recent album was 2012's            "Professor @Large" 

Large Professor/Xtra P KEEP IT OLDSKOOL!

"TROUBLE MAN"
THE KEEP IT OLDSKOOL "IN THE CUT" MOVIE OF THE DAY



"Trouble Man" is another movie not many have seen. The movie released in 1972 starred Robert Hooks as privtate eye/OG that many in the rough neigborhood he calls home can ask help from when they can't count on anyone else.The movie was in the "Shaft" mode in the sense that here was a brother that wasn't going take it from "the man" or anyone else that got in his way. The movie also starred Paula Kelly, Paul Winfield and even Ralph Waite from the "Waltons". With lines in the movie like "This is T Chalky is dead now I'm coming to get your honky ass" you know what your in for, a good old fashion "puttin foot to ass flick".




No mention of this movie can go without speaking on it soundtrack. Marvin Gaye fresh of his 1 million dollar contract with Motown,decided to try his hand at creating a soundtrack. From the Dj Jazzy Jeff sampled "T Plays it cool"  to the title track "Trouble Man" the soundtrack was a mellow companion piece to the movie.

From the Oldskool Movie Balcony this is Chuck Da Original Oldhead

DANCE YOUNGIN !

While you stand around "mean mugging" at the party in jeans that fit like jeggins (dudes) we (Oldheads) went to party. In the 80s and early 90s at the party you had a smattering of guys standing around but most of us was doing the "Wop", the "Fila" the "Running Man" and yes even the "Cabbage Patch" We had no problem getting on the floor and getting our "jig" on. The women liked a guy who could do the latest dance and wasnt afraid to show it. Even the hardcore rappers like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap etc had dancers. In fact we sometimes argued which rapper had the best dancers.(of course it was Big Daddy Kane)

  It made no difference whether it was a house party or at the club we danced. At some point it became un-cool to dance. Maybe it was the music. The music changed and you really couldn’t dance to it. If you walk up to someone over age 40 and play "Eric B for President" they will "WOTS" (Wop on the spot).I wonder who made the decision "we do not need to dance let’s just stand around and look cool "I am sure it wasnt the same person who decided "I am going to start wearing jeans so tight that people will be able to tell if the change in my pocket is heads or tails".Youngins remember you are going to a party to have fun and not pose for a "stay up" prison photo!

 



I am Chuck Da Original Oldhead over here doing the "Prep"

THE KEEP IT OLDSKOOL OLDSKOOL "IN THE CUT" (not widely seen) MOVIE OF THE DAY



The Education of Sonny Carson is a 1974 movie that spoke of the gang life in New York City in the early 70s and its effects on the children who fell under its spell. The movie tells the story of Sonny who as a youth joins the "Lords" street gang. His violent initiation is a scene that after watching you will not soon forget. The movie shadows Sonny as he grows in stature in the structure of the gang and the deadly rivalry with another (real life) street gang the "Tomahawks" The movie would have more then likely stayed in the background were it not for Ghostface Killer's 1996 LP Iron Man which borrowed many lines from the movie "13? Dam them bastards must be runnin out of people to arrest" I have you have not seen this movie please do so. It will not win any academy awards for acting but still a great snapshot of the gang culture


Chuck Da Original Oldhead
KEEP IT OLDSKOOL

  
LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE

  Back and forth his hands fly with the speed of cheetah that will puzzle your eye” is a verse from the song “The Magnificent” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Once upon a time the DJ was the most important aspect of a group and as such in most cases the name of the DJ went first. Does anyone think that if they were to ever get back together that it wouldn’t now read Will Smith/Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff?  Everyone knows the foundation of Hip Hop was the DJ. While the title has evolved since the early days of Hip Hop originally the skills of the DJ on the turntable was the driving force. There are still DJs out there that can and do still put it down. However once upon a time it was all about the DJ. During those days there were names like DJ Hot Comb and MC Curling Iron, DJ Gravy and MC Turkey-Turk The skill of the MC was secondary not to say that there were not MCs that even now could destroy many current MCs. During those times all the MC needed to do was tell you his DJ’s name and give prompts to him with word play. There was not a rap album released during those years that did not feature a song displaying the DJ’s skills on the turntable. Here are some of the best ones that come to mind:

 Artist  >  Song  >  Year  >  DJ

Run-DMC  >  Jam Master Jay  >  1984  >  Jam Master Jay  

Steady B  >  Rockin Music  >  1987  >  Tat Money

Eric B & Rakim  >  Chinese Arithmetic  >  1987  >  Eric B  

Gangstarr  >  DJ Premier in deep Concentration  >  1989  >  DJ Premier

LL Cool J.  >  Go Cut Creator Go  >  1987  >  Cut Creator/Bobcat

Dj Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince  >  Rhythm Trax-House Party Style  >  1988  >  Jazzy Jeff

A Tribe Called Quest  >  Mr. Muhammad  >  1990  >  Mr. Muhammad


  The above songs were either all instrumental displays of the DJ or vocals proclaiming their DJ as the best in the world. As the music evolved it became less and less about the DJ’s skills and more about the M.C. As a former DJ I had mixed emotions about that. Many DJs decided that they would get into beat making and productions. Some of the most prolific producers in music started out as a master of the “Transformer Scratch” Producing became the logical next step because once the MC became dominating factor you no longer had a need to have a great DJ. Some DJs are still larger then life where as that you can still say their name and the name recognition is instant. Who can forget the way DJ Jazzy Jeff killed it during the tribute to Jam Master Jay? Some DJs are now mostly known for the skill at beat making. There wasn’t a New York/East coast MC that didn’t want a DJ Premier beat. The art of scratching is not lost as The X-Ecutioners have traveled the world displaying the skills of a DJ. But what is lost is the group dynamic of a DJ and MC. Here are some more instances where the DJ was either as prominent or in some cases more prominent then the MC within the group:

Freshco and Miz

DJ Cash Money and Marvelous

DJ Chuck Chillout and Kool Chip

Salt N Pepa

Whodini

Main Source

Showbiz and AG

The DJ lives on and even in its current form is still vital to HIP HOP.


I am Chuck Da Oldhead formally known as DJ EZ Chuck Money of the So Fresh Crew

HIP HOP …. YOU CHANGED

 

  At 42 years of age I remember when Hip Hop was “Now see everybody around the nation I want to give you some inspiration” Rc-Larock “Micstro” 1980 is a classic “time capsule” song that gives a glimpse of what Hip Hop was. It is not that I expected Hip Hop to stay in that form but what we have now I do not really see as Hip Hop. There is Hip Hop artist that are doing what the Pop stars were doing in the late 80s and 90s. The Pop stars of that day wanted to get a “hard edge” about themselves so you would see the video with them doing dance steps with African Americans as back up dancers. These artists would seemingly go out of their way to seem part of the Hip Hop Culture. What I would have never expected to see was Hip Hop artist decide to go the other way. So many of acts in Hip Hop have decided that they want to be like rock stars of the early 80s. I understand that fashion trends change as well as music trends but can anyone honestly think they would see the day that Hip Hop artists would be wearing jeans that fit like thermals?

   From a music standpoint the music we get from the most successful Hip Hop artist doesn’t sound like the Hip Hop of old and sometimes that can be a good thing. I am a student of all musical genres and I sometime can only tell if a song is a Hip Hop song is  by listening to how many rap “bars” that are in the song opposed to the singing “bars”. It seems that many of today’s Hip Hop artists no longer want to be Hip Hop they would rather become Pop Stars. Now more the ever it is the reverse of Pop stars of the 80s and 90s. Hip Hop artists look for Pop stars to put in a Hip Hop song. If they can find one then they fill the role themselves of the Pop star on the said song. Hip Hop was always more than just the music. I think that essence of what Hip Hop used to be is now being lost and completed encased in Pop.  I realize that it is about records sales and that radio play and now more than ever the “hot” music is not something that a classic Hip Hop Head can understand or relate to. There are Hip Hop artist that have decided that they do not want to be a Pop Star and try to stay true to Hip Hop but so many of them either “flame out” or have to go the independent label route as the major labels no longer even sign those type of artists. There is no answer to this other than to say HIP HOP YOU CHANGED!

Chuck Da Original Oldhead

The Rhythm the Rebel is 25

 

  On April 14^th 1988 one of the most important albums (not just Hip Hop) of all time was released. Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back should be time capsuled as a snapshot of the times in the late 80s. In 1988 Public Enemy seemed to be at a proverbial crossroad. Despite the critical acclaim of the music critics their debut album YO Bum Rush the Show had sold only 300,000 copies. Though not a paltry sum the group was on mega label Def Jam. It was in this atmosphere that they started work on the sophomore album. Chuck D leader of the group has stated “our mission was to kill the “Cold Getting Dumb” stuff and to address some situations” The album was a collection of hard edge beats and rhymes that not only entertained but made the listener think. The album was executive produced by Def Jam founder Rick Rubin with the beats done by a Hank Shocklee led group which would soon become known around the world as the Bomb Squad. People like to refer to the late 80s to early 90s as the Golden Age of Hip Hop. I whole heartily co-sign to this sentiment. This author has already documented what he believes are the 2 greatest years in Hip Hop ever (1988-1989). This  album was released during a period of astounding diversity. Hip Hop today is dominated by music that some may say sounds the same or that doesn’t really say anything. One could imagine if a Public Enemy would be signed today. For now let’s get to the music.

   The first single from the album Rebel Without A Pause when released sounded like nothing ever heard before. The sample of the trumpet that is looped continuously gave a futuristic sound. Some of the lyrics included:

  “From a rebel its final on black vinyl Soul, rock and roll comin' like a rhino Tables turn - suckers burn to learn They can't dis-able the power of my label Def Jam”

From the imaginative album cover to the eclectic mix of singles that were released from that album. Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads and the final single from that album Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos This album was ahead of its time. Who can forget Chuck D walking through the prison in the video of  Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos? After this album the group continued to make great music and albums with the most recent being 2012s The Evil Empire of Everything.  In 2013 Public Enemy still tours and are among the inductees of the 2013 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the Barbershop the Oldhead is listening to It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.

I am Chuck Da Original Oldhead