MAGNUM Vinyl & CDs

Review: Way back in 1981, legendary Bronx producer Bullwackie - an exiled Jamaican famous for founding the influential, boundary-blurring, reggae-rooted Wackies imprint - launched a new label named after his daughter, Shevone. It released just one record, a now sought-after - and impossible to find 12" containing a trio of early NYC hip-hop cuts informed by his own dub and dancefloor reggae productions. This Backatcha reissue boasts both cuts from the original 12", plus the never-heard-before shortened version of 'Squivatch', a hybrid disco-rap/disco-reggae number rich in rubbery slap bass, pleasingly loose-limbed drums, squally electric guitar riffs, heavy horns and delay effects aplenty. That's best enjoyed in its full-length version form, which includes more production trickery from Bullwackie. 'Master Mix', meanwhile, is a subtly dubby, synth-sporting formative hip-hop gem featuring a rap crew who later enjoyed success as Chapter III.