My Bass Rocks

Fondle ‘Em Records

By Zeck Wreck aka Jerry Nice

Since moving from Seattle to San Francisco, I have developed a rather unhealthy record-buying habit. In particular, there is a record store near lower Haight Street called Groove Merchant Records, where I spend ridiculous amounts of money every weekend. At this point the owner knows what kind of music I’m looking for (that good stuff), and knows that I’m not scared to spend a lot either. That being the case, I get introduced to a ton of incredible music that most have not had the privilege to listen to.

I thought this would be a perfect chance to share some of these gems with the good people at Bass, with a segment I call Diggin’.

When I walked into Groove Merchant two weekends ago, the owner immediately asked me if I had been looking for a record entitled The Visualz EP, by Siah and Yeshua DapoED. I told him I hadn’t, but he insisted that I give it a listen because he knows my taste better than anyone else at this point (like a drug dealer knows his clientele). The second I put the groove down on track one (“The Visualz”), I was hooked on the jazzy keys and organic sounding drum samples. Also, both Siah and Yeshua seem to bounce back and forth (ala Run DMC) over the beats almost effortlessly. I can easily say this is the most refreshing a record has ever felt coming out of those busted listening-station headphones at the shop. Needless to say, I bought this record on the spot.

In the same session, I came across an original copy of MF Doom’s Operation Doomsday (his first solo album under the Doom guise).

After getting home, I did some research on The Visualz EP. I came to find out that this particular record is considered very rare among the crate-digging community, and was released on an independent record label called Fondle ‘Em Records in 1996. To my surprise, Operation Doomsday was also released on the same label some years later…I was officially on the Fondle ‘Em jock (pun intended).

Fondle ‘Em Records was founded by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia in 1995. The label began as an outlet for unsigned artists that appeared on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” which was co-hosted by DJ Stretch Armstrong for a Columbia University radio station. Through its six years (1995-2001), the label created an impressive catalog featuring the following releases:

Fondle ‘Em Records Releases

1. FE001: Godfather Don & Kool Keith, “The Cenubites” EP
2. FE101: Godfather Don & Kool Keith, The Cenobites LP/CD
3. FE002: The Juggaknots, Clear Blue Skies LP
4. FE003: The Arsonists, “The Session/Halloween”
5. FE31: The Arsonists, “Blaze/Geembo’s Theme/Flashback”
6. FE004: Mr. Live, “Relax Y’self/Supa Dupa/Hunger Strike (feat. Tony Bones)”
7. FE005: Siah & Yeshua DapoED EP
8. FE0052: Siah, “Repetition/Pyrite”
9. FE006: Lord Sear, “Alcoholic Vibes” b/w Stak Chedda, “My Hindu Love”
10. FE007: Cage, “Radiohead/Agent Orange”
11. FE72: Cage, “Mersh/4 Letter Word”
12. FE008: MF DOOM, “Dead Bent/Gas Drawls/Hey!”
13. FE0082: MF DOOM, “Greenbacks/Go With The Flow”
14. FE83: KMD, Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares EP
15. FE84: KMD, “What A Nigga Know/Constipated Monkey/Q3″
16. FE85: MF DOOM, “The M.I.C./Red & Gold”
17. FE86: MF DOOM, Operation: Doomsday 2LP/CD
18. FE87: Subroc/KMD, “It Sounded Like A Roc/Stop Smokin’ That Shit”
19. FE009: Scienz of Life, “Powers of Nine Ether/The Anthem”
20. FE91: Scienz of Life, “Metaphysic/2000 and What to Expect!”
21. FEMF1: MF Grimm, “Do It For The Kids/Bloody Love Letter”
22. FEMF2: MF Grimm, “Landslide Remix/Tick Tick”
23. FEMF3: MF Grimm, “WWIII/Scars & Memories”
24. FETBC: The Boulevard Connection, Sut Min Pik EP
25. FENH1: Da Nuthouse, “A Luv Supreme/Synapsis/Very Vocabulary”
26. FEMHZ1: MHz (MegaHertz), “World Premier/Camu”
27. FEMHZ2: MHz (MegaHertz), “Rocket Science (feat. Jakki Tha Mota Mouth)/Magnetics/Absolutely Posolutely”
28. FEJT1: J-Treds, “Make It Happen/Praise Due”
29. FERO1: Rok One, “Certified Superior/Ninety Degrees A Piece”
30. FECK1: DJ Eli & Shan Boogs (Cloudkickers), “And So Kiddies… (feat. Cage) / Truly Gifted Ones (feat. Yeshua DapoED, J-Treds & Pumpkinhead)”
31. FEJAKK1: Jakki Tha Mota Mouth, “Widespread (feat. Copywrite of MHz)/The Chosen”
32. FEMEG: Megalon, “One In A Million/Peace To The Homeless”
33. FESA1: Cashless Society, “Blazetha Breaks” / Mizchif, “Place For A Wife”
34. FEYAK1: Y@k Ballz, “HomePiss/Nasty or Nice/The Plague/Flossin”

The following weekend I was able to nab a copy of Mr. Live’s “Relax Y’Self” twelve-inch, which is another incredible entry from the label. It’s a classic 1996 feel-good jam, in the same vein as Busta Rhymes’ “It’s a Party,” including a very appropriate call-and-response to the ladies (“Cuz it’s a parlay session in the house…Yeahhhhh”). This record is proof that Fondle ‘Em may have been a hip-hop label by nature, but it was definitely eclectic in its taste.

Until then, I am going to be on the lookout for more music from this short-lived (but very potent) independent label. Oh, and be sure to let me know if anyone runs across a copy of Cage’s “Radiohead/Agent Orange” twelve-inch.

Don’t Sleep…