UTFO

UTFO (an abbreviation for Untouchable Force Organization) was an American old-school hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York City.

UTFO
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1983–1992
Labels
Associated acts
Past members
  • Doctor Ice
  • Educated Rapper (deceased)
  • Kangol Kid
  • Mixed Master Ice

The group consisted of Kangol Kid (Shiller Shaun Fequiere), Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell), Doctor Ice (Fred Reeves), and Mix Master Ice (Maurice Bailey). The group's best-known single is "Roxanne, Roxanne," a widely acclaimed and hip hop classic, which created a sensation on the hip hop scene soon after it was released and inspired a record-high of 25 answer records in a single year (Roxanne Wars),[1][2][3] with estimates ultimately spawning over 100.[4] The most notable remake was done by Marley Marl's protégée Roxanne Shanté, which led to hip hop's first rap beef.[5][1] "Roxanne, Roxanne" was originally the B-side of the lesser-known single "Hangin' Out."[6][3] Due to personal issues, Educated Rapper was absent for its second effort, Skeezer Pleezer (1986), which produced one notable track with the song "Split Personality." EMD was, however, on one album track, "Pick Up The Pace", also featured in the movie Krush Groove.

In 2008, “Roxanne, Roxanne” was ranked number 84 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.[7]

History

Kangol Kid and Doctor Ice were originally known as The Keystone Dancers and were a dance duet, before going on to be dancers for Whodini. Eventually, they went on to form UTFO in their hometown of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. In 1984, the group signed with Fred Munao's Select Records, and, in the same year, it released its hit single "Roxanne Roxanne." The group's debut album was produced by R&B group Full Force. Full Force brought in New York's sound and sampling wizard, Gary Pozner, to help create the sounds and the beats. This was one of the first instances of the new sampling machine, the E-mu Emulator, used on a commercially released record.

While UTFO no longer operates as a group, it is all still very active in the field. Doc is currently back to dancing for Whodini while also pursuing his solo career. Mixmaster Ice DJs in Columbus, Ohio, and around the world. Kangol Kid still writes and produces; With Shaunda Lumpkin he founded the Mama Luke Foundation, hip hop's weapon against Breast Cancer.

On June 3, 2017, Campbell died following a battle with cancer.[8]

The members of UTFO were the first breakdancers to appear on The Phil Donahue Show.[9]

Discography

Albums

Singles
  • "Hangin' Out" b/w "Roxanne, Roxanne" (1984), Select
  • "Roxanne, Roxanne" (1984), Select
  • "Beats and Rhymes" (1984), Select
  • "Rough & Rugged" (1989), Select
  • "Bite It" (1985), Select
  • "Leader of the Pack" (1985), Select
  • "Pick Up the Pace" (1985), Select
  • "Split Personality" (1986), Select
  • "We Work Hard" (1986), Select
  • "Ya Cold Wanna Be with Me" (1987), Select
  • "Lethal" (1987), Select
  • "Let's Get It On" (1988), Select
  • "Wanna Rock" (1989), Select
  • "Lisa Lips" (1989), Select
  • "My Cut Is Correct" (1989), Select
  • "If You Don't Wanna Get Pregnant" (1990), Jive
  • "I'm a Dog" (1991), Jive

Compilations
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See also

References
  1. Press, ed. (1 September 2008). "Yo Kangol!: INDUSTRY ADVISOR". All HipHop. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. Palmer, Robert, ed. (14 August 1985). "THE POP LIFE". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. MacInnes, Paul, ed. (12 June 2011). "The Roxanne wars". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. Hess, Mickey, ed. (25 November 2009). "Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide". ABC-CLIO. p. 36 (xxxvi). ISBN 9780313343216. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  5. Wilkinson, Dan, ed. (13 August 2015). "The story of the first ever rap beef". RedBull. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  6. "U.T.F.O.* - Hanging Out / Roxanne, Roxanne". Discogs.
  7. Press, ed. (2 June 2017). "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  8. P., Milca (June 3, 2017). "Educated Rapper aka EMD of UTFO Has Passed Away At the Age of 54". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  9. "OldSchoolHipHop.Com - Old School News". Archived from the original on 2006-03-19. Retrieved 2006-04-11.
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