The Original M & Ms

 Everyone knows how skilled Eminem is vocally. And the Beastie Boys although Hip Hop hall of famers would never really win a "rhyme fight" There were 2 other M.Cs that were very skilled and although never really reached the level that Eminem  enjoys, they were respected as rappers not as a novelty. Formed in 1987 as "3 the Hard Way" the group featured  rappers Pete Nice, Mc Search and DJ Daddy Rich. DJ/Sam Sever who knew both rappers advised that the 2 should work together. Pete Nice who was attending Columbia University and hosted a radio show had to be convinced that the dancing locally known Mc Search would be a good fit together.
 

3rd Bass released their first album "The Cactus Album" in 1989 which featured singles The Gas Face, Steppin to the A.M, Products of the Environment and Brooklyn Queens. What separated this group from the Beastie Boys was that these 2 MCs were very skilled on the mic and to that point had never really been seen before. We will not even mention that Search did all the dance steps with the groups dancers. The debut album was released by Hip Hop powerhouse label Def Jam which had at one point had the Beastie Boys signed to the label so the comparisons were there. 3rd Bass did diss the Beastie Boys after they left Def Jam to sign with Capitol Records with a song called "Sons of 3rd Bass"

"Put to bed, three kids to a third track
Cap the front and grip, when they heard that
The crew from the L.Q. stepped to the Club Mars
Shook the Beast' and soon to be dubbed stars"

The debut album went on to achieve gold status (500,000 copies sold) The group did release a follow up album called Derelicts of Dialect in 1991 which contained the only released single from that album "Pop Goes the Weasel" having moved on from previous targets the Beastie Boys the song and video was blatant attack on Vanilla Ice who had come on to the scene. The song spoke of rap artists allowing themselves to be used in any matter (Vanilla Ice in the Ninja Turtles Movie) and that the commercialization of Hip Hop was causing damage to a real art form. That album also went on to achieve gold status. The group disbanded in 1992 with MC Search going solo and Pete Nice and Daddy Rich becoming a duo. MC Search went on to release "Return of the Product" in 1992 and the Pete Nice/Daddy Rich 1993 release was called "Dust to Dust"  After that Serch was instrumental in getting Nasty Nas signed to Columbia Records by putting him on song "Back to the Grill Again" Nas' second major label recording. Pete Nice runs a sports bar and a sports memorabilia store. Search host a radio show in Detroit. They briefly reunited for performances in 1998 and 1999 and there is a rumored reunion tour to celebrate the 25 anniversary of the "Cactus Album"
 



Although Eminem owes a debt of thanks to the Beastie Boys whether he knows or not he owes a greater debt to 3rd Bass as they were the first "yo did hear that verse from that white boy"