30 years ago today One For All was released. It was dumped in the 4th quarter when that really meant something and was expected to die a quick death. The urban staff hated it, the first video Wake Up directed by Fab 5 Freddy was initially rejected from Yo MTV and had to be re-edited due to a controversial image or two. My boss Howard Thompson hated it and me, but the tape which had circulated for months in the NYC streets and beyond had developed a cult following. Red Alert championed it. Chris Lighty started managing them. There peers Tribe, Cypress Hill and De La amongst others embraced them. The Source gave it 5 mics one of the first times this ever happened and bong bong we had a sleeper hit on our hands. A lot transpired within the group. It wasn’t always easy to navigate but it was always worth it. The end result was exactly as Allah and The Gods intended. Me and my crew the SD50s produced a few tunes on it a real blessing. My partners John Gamble aka @jgambles and Geeby Dajani aka @fortydeucenyc my mentor who made Step To The Rear both passed this year, it would have been nice to share this beautiful milestone with them, but so is life. I had and have a very deep connection to this group and to this record. I love these cats, working with them was an honor, it altered my life’s course in the best of ways. Theres a reason I had them perform at my 50th Bornday. Peace to The Gods and all those who helped make this such a special moment in time for me. This project was one of the most personally important things I ever had a hand in. Making it feels like yesterday and a million lifetimes away all at once. i am a truly blessed man 🙏🏼 #Honored #OGGratitude #PeaceToTheGod #SD50s #ElektraRecords #OneForAllBrandNubian (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIXpqj3A1vO/?igshid=sodknvj5g8kr
