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Hip Hop Be Bop

Hip Hop music and more

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44630719_1313000682175162_8797249343368200192_n

Hip Hop Be Bop

Hip Hop music and more

Divine Sounds

Members: Disco Ritchie, DJ Mike Music, Shelton-D

Divine Sounds were a rap group from Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Sty), Brooklyn, New York. The group originally consisted of brothers Disco Ritchie (Richard Dowling) and DJ Mike Music (Michael Dowling – RIP). After the duo wrote What People Do For Money, they decided it would be a good idea for Disco Ritchie to have a rhyming partner. Enter Shelton-D (Shelton McCoy), who they met at a local rap contest where he was appearing as a member of another group. After reading the lyrics he agreed to join Divine Sounds.

The trio finished their demo and shopped it to various labels with little success. The original track featured a sung chorus by Disco Ritchie until someone at Streetwise suggested having a female chorus. After making the necessary changes the group shopped the track again which lead to a deal with New Jersey’s Specific Records. With production from Clark Jay, John Jackson and Jerry Bloodrock, they debuted in 1984 with the classic What People Do For Money for which there are several label variations. The track was so successful that it was picked up for wider distribution by Danya.

Their second release, Changes, also included the classic DJ tool, Do Or Die Bed Sty, on the flip but although the group had a few more releases, nothing really matched the success of their debut. In 1989, What People Do For Money was reissued by JDC as part of their JDC Classics series and itself, featured a couple of label variations.

Shelton-D eventually left the group and was signed to Zakia where he released Shelton-D Is Outstanding in 1988. In 1993 he attempted a comeback with a 4 track single on Ox Records but nothing materialized after that.

[Check JayQuan at Tha Foundation for an in-depth interview]

divine sounds 1

What People Do For Money

Label: Specific Records
Year: 1984
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. What People Do For Money [7:24]

Side B

  1. Dollar Bill Dub Dub [8:24]

Notes: There a few label variations for this release including a couple of later JDC reissues, all of which include the same track listing.

Another thing worthy of note is the first pressing on the blue label is the only Specific release that doesn’t have A Sure Shot Record Breakers Mix printed at the bottom.

Changes (We Go Through)

Label: Specific Records
Year: 1984
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. Changes (We Go Through) [7:09]
  2. Changes (We Go Through) (Short Version) [3:57]

Side B

  1. Do Or Die Bed Sty [3:58]
  2. Changes (We Go Through) (Dub Dub) [6:25]

Notes: Note the different track times. This version is the original release.

Label: Specific Records
Year: 1984
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. Changes (We Go Through) [5:51]
  2. Changes (We Go Through) (Short Version) [3:56]

Side B

  1. Do Or Die Bed Stuy [3:56]
  2. Changes (We Go Through) (Dub Dub) [6:24]

Notes: This version is the remix and the track times differ slightly. Below the producer credits on the right, it also includes the text “Special Fresh Re-mix by: Clark Jay, David Avis-Monique & David Lucchesi”.

How Fast Money Goes

Label: Specific Records
Year: 1985
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. How Fast Money Goes [6:47]

Side B

  1. How Fast Money Goes (Instrumental) [5:47]
  2. How Fast Money Goes (Radio) [3:30]

Label: Somersault Records
Year: 1985
Format: 12″
Origin: Canada

Side A

  1. How Fast Money Goes [6:49]
  2. How Fast Money Goes (Instrumental) [3:05]

Side B

  1. How Fast Money Goes (Radio) [3:30]
  2. Changes [7:11]

Notes: This Canadian release is worthy of note as it also includes Changes. Also note that the instrumental appears to be the shorter radio version.

My Mother

Label: Reality
Year: 1986
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. My Mother (Short) [4:30]
  2. My Mother (Long) [7:10]

Side B

  1. The Circus (Let’s Get Stupid) [5:50]
  2. Boy… You’re Too Fat [5:25]

Me & My Posse

Label: Reality
Year: 1986
Format: 12″
Origin: US

Side A

  1. Me & My Posse [3:06]
  2. Me & My Posse (NY Style) [4:20]
  3. Me & My Posse (Instrumental) [2:42]

Side B

  1. Do Or Die Bed Sty [4:50]
  2. Do Or Die Bed Sty (Instrumental) [4:30]