And most recently, in 2022, Hip Hop Enterprises released a new, properly pressed CD version of Wreckless Writers that features all the remastered tracks from the original CDR (including the "Intro"), "Chastisement" and the two tracks from the Prophets' third and final 12" from 2002, which featured two songs not included on the CDR or the Dope Folks EPs. It was meant to be the lead single from their second album, Backyard Visions, but that's as far as they got. They did put one of the unreleased tracks, called "Check the Rhyme" up online at the time, but I doubt you could find it now. But so anyway, to be clear, the new CD features every song ever by The Prophets except "Save da Chit Chat," which is the exclusive B-side to their very first 1996 12". It's too bad they couldn't have squeezed that on their, too, handily compiling their complete discography on a single release... especially since it's a dope track built around a fun "5 Men and a Mic" vocal sample. But it is what it is.
For the uninitiated, these guys kinda work like Killarmy or a crew like that, where none of them is really going to start crowding out your Top Five. But since there's a bunch of 'em, anytime one verse underwhelms, there's always another MC around the corner. Practically every song is the beloved posse cut. Especially since they do wrangle up a bunch of guests. most notably Bahamadia, but also one of the guys from Adagio! and Mecca Star, who you may remember as the female guest rapper on Bahamadia's banger "Three the Hard Way."
They do also suffer a bit from 90's Excessive Punchline Syndrome, so there's tons of lines like, "you lack like Sima" or "we be on your back like government does your taxes." But they also get more creative, playing with alliteration on "Verbal Lubrication" or Meat's playful verse on "Puff N Listen." That particular track also includes a nice, subtle ragga hook and some killer percussion. The Prophets consistently come with tough, rugged production. I would've preferred a few more samples and a few fewer studio kit sounds, but this is late 90s, not early 90s, so that all comes with the territory. They at least implement them about as well as anybody, and since they have two DJs, you can count on a lot of fresh scratch hooks and breakdowns. I love the little Tim Dog "Yeah" stabs on "The Battle" for example. And it's not like they don't use samples for the instrumentals at all. You'll definitely recognize the classic "Paper Thin" ("I'm Glad Your Mine") break in "I Speak" or the "South Bronx" beat on "West Phil," which in that case is a deliberate reference.
If you're unsure about these guys, just check out their banger "Kurrency," and you'll be sold. Or "Extreme Heat." Or "Muffled Mics." A lot of these tracks are catchy skill flexers, but they also live up to their name on tracks like "Fake Identity," where they start throwing shame at those failing to live up to their Islamist ideals. Or "Support," which sets it off on the music industry for failing to back conscious rap. They don't make music like this anymore, which is why we're fortunate we've still got labels uncovering all these overlooked gems from the past.
So I'll just sum up by saying the only way to get everything on vinyl is to pick up their debut 12", their "Chillin On the Chillin Chillin" 12" and both Dope Folks EPs. Both of those were limited to 300 copies, the first all on black wax, with Part 2 divided into 100 white (white) copies and 200 black. And even then, you'll be missing the "Intro" (though it's no great loss; it's not a song with any rapping or anything). If you're fine with CDs, all you need is their debut 12" - there's no getting around that - and the Hip-Hop Enterprise CD, which is also a limited pressing of 300 copies. Whichever path you take, it's worth it, because these guys were good.
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