Rap Hands

Dope Jam Tour

By Timothy Moriarty

It’s hard to surpass the Tougher Than Leather Tour lineup, EPMD, Public Enemy, D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and Run-D.M.C. But Dope Jam1 may have accomplished the impossible. Dope Jam’s lineup of Biz Markie, Ice T, Boogie Down Productions, Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, Kool Moe Dee, and Eric B. & Rakim, boast two, top five emcees of all time 2, a West Coast legend 3, and one of the earliest lyrical innovators4. Each performer dropped a certified classic album in 1988.5 Needless to say, we were excited. This concert, only the crew from the ‘Ville went, Andy, Mike, and me. I am pretty sure Andy drove his dad’s Grand Am with the fly cassette deck, as I remember listening to BDP on the way to the show. More importantly, we learned our lesson from the Tougher Than Leather Tour and arrived early. We got down to the fourth row. I must have been inspired by listening to BDP on the way up and ended up with a By All Means Necesarry album cover t-shirt. I should have got the Eric B. shirt with the concert dates on the back. But, on to the show.

Going into the show, I don’t believe we had any idea who would rock the crowd first and who would headline, but, first up was Biz Markie. I am guessing he performed four, maybe five songs. He definitely performed the “Vapors”, since it was in heavy rotation on Yo! MTV Raps, which debuted August 6, 1988. The other possibilities were “Biz Is Goin’ Off”, “Nobody Beats The Biz”, “Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz”. The one song I distinctly remember, was “Pickin’ Boogers”. Only because the Biz let the crowd finish this line:

Now this may sound disgusting and like very gross
But it’s sure to have you trippin’, so yo, listen close
It’s not bright as the sun or sweet like sugar
But it’s rather on the bug tip and it’s called Pickin’ Boogers

Biz Markie, Pickin' Boogers

Andy was proud, and felt like he was the only one that knew the desired response, pickin’ boogers.

Next up, was Ice T. His hot song of the summer was “Colors” off the Colors Soundtrack. He was accompanied on stage by DJ Evil “E” and Afika Islam. He definitely performed “6 ‘N The Morning” off his debut, Rhyme Pays and “Colors”. But he brought down the house when he performed “Girls L.G.B.N.A.F.” from his forth coming album Power.

Boogie Down Products was third in line. I can’t remember what songs they did, I just remember a ton of people on stage with KRS-One. Ms. Melody was there. I am guessing Kenny Parker and D-Nice was there. Maybe even Red Alert. He ran through gang of songs, although he only did the first verse of each one.6 Also, they were wearing the leather BDP jackets just like on the album cover.

I am fairly positive Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew started the second half. Other than “Keep Risin’ To The Top” 7, the only thing I distinctly remember is Doug E. Fresh doing the beat box with the harmonica. For some reason, I think they may have performed “Nuthin” from Oh, My God!. They probably did “The Show” also, but sadly, M.C. Ricky D wasn’t there to do “La Di Da Di” or his part in “The Show”.

Kool Moe Dee was next up. He ran through “How Ya Like Me Now”, “Wild Wild West”, and “Let’s Go” for sure. Probably did “Go See The Doctor”. He was up there with a leather trench coat on, some Star Trek shades, and some other dudes doing dance routines. He didn’t do any of his Treacherous Three stuff, because, this was 1988. But, I can’t front, it was great.

Finally, it was time for Eric B. & Rakim.8 It was crazy. Eric B.’s D.J. stand was a pyramid. They had lasers. Rakim came out rocking a Nike track suit. It was the one Rob Bass was wearing in the “It Take’s Two” video, except white with red trim. At some point, probably while performing “I Know You Got Soul”, Rakim unzipped his jacket to reveal his fat gold chain. Their set was a pretty balanced mix of songs from Paid In Full and their 1988 release, Follow The Leader. Rakim didn’t address the crowd and Eric B., basically, just stood on his pyramid DJ stand.9 They ended the show with lasers writing Follow The Leader in the background and letting “Eric B. Never Scared” play. I thought there was going to be an encore, but…

Discography

Audio Two *What More Can I Say?, 1988

Biz Markie Goin’ Off, February 23, 1988

Boogie Down Productions By All Means Necessary, February 17, 1988

Colors Soundtrack, April 26, 1988

Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew The World’s Greatest Entertainer, 1988

Eric B. & Rakim, Follow The Leader, July, 25, 1988

Ice T Rhyme Pays, July 7, 1987

Ice T Power, September 13, 1988

Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now, November 3, 1987

Kool Moe Dee “Let’s Go”, 1987

  1. Here is the most in depth recollection of Dope Jam I could find on the internets, written by Darrell D., I presume, from Milwaukee.back
  2. KRS-One and Rakim Allahback
  3. Ice Tback
  4. Kool Moe Dee was one of the most innovative emcees of all time and his history is much more interesting and detailed than the "Wild Wild West". He was a founding member of the Treacherous Three, a crew formed in the late 70's before rap was on wax. Moe Dewese was a top three lyricist along side of Grandmaster Mellie Mel and Grandmaster Caz. Moe Dee reinvented the rap battle with his battle with Busy Bee. He also created fast rap with the "New Rap Language". Get your lessons here.back
  5. Ice T's 1988 album, *Power*, was released the next month.back
  6. Just listen to Live Hardcore Worldwideback
  7. Now let the beat drop... Da dunt da dunt da dunt. Pump it up. Now we're the get fresh crew, yeah.back
  8. By all accounts on the internets, Eric B. & Rakim's sophomore album, *Follow The Leader*, was released on July 25, 1988. I can't find any evidence to suggest that this date is incorrect. But this means I bought my copy either the week it was released, or the week after. I feel like it must have been released earlier in the summer. But, I am sure I am wrong. I do remember, when I bought it, Andy bought Audio Two <a href-"https://www.discogs.com/Audio-Two-What-More-Can-I-Say/master/109454">What More Can I Say?</a>. But what makes this more incredible, if the release date is correct, is the fact that they were the headliners. Their album wasn't even released when this tour was planned. Also, everyone on this tour had hot albums and singles. I don't think anyone would have questioned if Ice T, BDP, or Doug E. Fresh was the headliners, all who had albums that had more traction. The other crazy thing is NOBODY questioned the fact that Eric B. & Rakim were the headliners. It somehow, seemed obvious.back
  9. This inspired the phrase, at least in our group, "are you going to Eric B. on em" or "are you're doing the Eric B." Basically meaning, someone is standing like a hard rock with their arms folded.back