My Bass Rocks

Every now-and-then I like to give props (where props are due) to artists that have been out of the spotlight.  This past weekend I was digging in the huge CD collection at Amoeba Records and came across a true gem.  Main Source’s Breaking Atoms (1991) is a near flawless record, which introduced a 17 year old MC by the name of Nasty Nas on “Live at the Barbeque:”

While this record never hit Illmatic status, it is well respected by music critics (5 mics in the Source), and regarded as a classic within the hip-hop community.   The group consisted of Large Professor, K-Cut, and Sir Scratch.  Breaking Atoms succeeds due to its sharp production complete with heavy (and groundbreaking) sampling, courtesy of Large Pro.  Here are the main singles (in order of release on 12”):    

“Looking at the Front Door:”

“Watch Roger Do His Thing:”

“Just Hangin’ Out:”

“Peace is not the Word to Play:”

However, due to business conflicts Main Source broke up just before their second album (The Science) was released.  Following the split, Sir Scratch and K-Cut worked on an album together as Main Source (Fuck What You Think), with Mikey D on vocals in place of Large Professor.  This album was shelved altogether, due to continual differences within the group and record label.

Large Professor went on to having a very successful solo career, working with such artists as A Tribe Called Quest, (“Keep it Moving”), Nas (“Halftime,” “One Time 4 Your Mind,” “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”), Organized Konfusion (“Stressed (Remix)”), and Busta Rhymes (“The Heist”).