Here's one I slept on for a long time. The first I ever heard of Intrepid Stylez is when Chopped Herring putting out their Junior Criminalz EP. I only noted it because I've always check out every Herring release when they drop. But a random group of Canadian teens I'd never heard of? It was an easy pass when you've gotta save money for all the unreleased Natural Elements and JVC Force they were restoring on wax. But then, when I started working with Dust & Dope, they hit me off with a bunch of CDs they'd released in the past, including this Intrepid Stylez EP, which is basically the CD version of the Herring vinyl that they put out concurrently. But when I listened to it, I realized, damn, I shouldn't've ignored these guys.
Intrepid Stylez is a four-man crew from Toronto. The CD booklet helpfully breaks down how rapper Mast started out in a B-Boy crew in the UK called the Intrepid Street Rockers. When he moved to Canada, he teamed up with his cousin Chill da Bandit, Special and their producer DJ Kama to become Intrepid Stylez. They first came out on wax in 1996 with one song ("Junior Criminalz") as the B-side of a bootleg Tone Hooker white label. Then they released their first (and only) proper 12" single in '98 on their own label, ISR (which I assume stands for Intrepid Stylez Records) Productions. They followed that up with a self-released full-length 1999 album on CD called Underground Connex, which featured all three songs from their official single, but not "Junior Criminalz." That's their whole catalog. Both IRS releases are pretty rare, and if you weren't plugged into their local scene in the late 90s, you probably missed out on these guys like I did. So just the thing for Chopped Herring and Dust & Dope to resurrect.
So this EP is seven tracks deep - it's the same track-listing on the CD and vinyl except the sequence is changed slightly. "Junior Criminalz" is on here, as is an earlier, demo version of the lead track from their 12", "Da Outcome." There's also an earlier demo version of a song called "Kasualties" from Underground Connex and four previously unreleased songs from 1997. "Junior Criminalz," then, is the only track that's been released before.
And okay, you might be thinking what I thought seven years ago, "some young Canadian cats I never heard of? I'm good." But at least find some sample online and give them a listen, because these guys are nice, on a real Mobb Deep kind of vibe, with a slick flow over catchy, original production. The opener is "Massacre Pt. 1." You might've wondered what the deal was with "Massacre Pt. 2" on Underground Connex; well, now you finally get to hear the original. They're completely different songs, instrumentally and lyrically, though they definitely share a vibe. Each MC has a distinct voice and style - they work well together, but you'll immediately work out who's rapping when, especially since they're constantly name-checking themselves. And as far as the dueling "Massacre"s, I think I actually prefer this recovered original.
While we're in comparison mode, let me talk about the two demo versions. "Da Outcome" is pretty similar. Like, it features that same, big chunky piano sample that prompted them to make it their big single in the first place. You know that sound that made the indie 90s beautiful. This one sits in the middle of Shadez of Brooklyn's "Change" and Milkbone's "Keep It Real." And did I mention a Mobb Deep vibe? It's never more overt than here, with their "there's a war going' on outside no man is safe from" hook. I thought it was vocal sample at first, until they took it in their own direction, "Intrepid Stylez droppin' bombs, feel the outcome." I'm telling ya, give these guys a chance!
So yeah, both this and "Kasualties" are basically the same tracks, I guess mixed a little different (the Underground Connex version of "Kasualties" I heard online sounds more echoey), but the key distinction is that they're lyrical remixes. Completely new verses on both songs. And the new songs are completely in keeping with their released material. "For Instance" is a typical weed smokers' song, and the one I like the least, but it still has a smooth vibe that fits in well with the rest of the EP. "How de Hell" features a tight NY beat with a taught string loop and a ragga hook by a guy called Sample King, and "Streetz No Joke" lets DJ Kama flex his turntable skills on the hook, while the track takes an otherwise grittier turn. It'll have you saying "naaah, these kids can't be from Canada" more than any Maestro record.
Chopped Herring's EP 12" EP came in a sticker cover on limited yellow (yellow) and blue vinyl (120 copies) and black (230 copies). Dust & Dope's release is a properly pressed CD limited to 300 copies in a jewel case with 2-page booklet including the aforementioned notes. And if you missed out on Underground Connex, don't worry! It's getting it's vinyl debut wax this month from SCMD Music (I'm not really familiar with them, but Hip Hop Enterprise is carrying it) in a full gatefold sleeve picture cover on both gold and black wax.
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