Posted by samsation on Friday, February 19 @ 09:23:32 CST
Samsation writes "UTFO REUNITES
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
It’s official, Hell has frozen over. The original members (Kangol Kid, Doctor Ice, Educated Rapper and DJ Mix-Master Ice) of The Untouchable Force Organization (UTFO) have reunited and are ready to entertain true Hip Hoppers with their unique blend of Rap, Breakdance, Singing and incredible turntable skilled performances.
For a brief period in late winter 1984/5, you couldn't leave your house or turn on your radio in New York without hearing some rapper going on about a girl named Roxanne. There was "Roxanne's Revenge," "The Real Roxanne," "Roxanne You're Through," "Roxanne's Mother," "Roxanne's Brother," "Roxanne's Doctor" and perhaps strangest of all, "Roxanne's a Man" (in addition, several female rappers adopted the "Roxanne" name themselves, including Roxanne Shanté and The Real Roxanne). Demonstrating the volatility of the dance music market, Roxanne replaced "y'all" as the word most frequently used in raps, and the term quickly passed into urban slang for an unaccommodating woman. Credit for this fad goes to Brooklyn's UTFO (Untouchable Force Organization), the trio who started it all with "Roxanne, Roxanne," a playful poke at a good-looking girl with the temerity to resist their suave attentions.
From the beginning, Brooklyn, NY-based rap group, comprised of the Kangol Kid, Doctor Ice, the Educated Rapper and D.J. Mix-Master Ice (Doctor Ice was the "Hip-Hop Physician," Educated Rapper was a college student who wore a suit and tie, Mix Master Ice assumed the persona of a ninja since he would "cut things up" on the turntables, and Kangol Kid got his name due to his affinity for always wearing Kangol-brand hats) led a charmed life. After winning a break-dancing contest, they found themselves on the Phil Donahue Show, which led to an invite to Dustin Hoffman's daughter's birthday party and ultimately went onto a European tour with as dancers for Whodini. Before things could get any weirder, they released a 12-inch of the sharp and fast "Beats and Rhymes, followed-up, with "Roxanne, Roxanne” and that’s all she wrote.
The Roxanne fad ended, leaving the talented UTFO at mortal levels of popularity as their self-entitled album launched “Leader of the Pack”, “Bite It” and their surprising song ballad “Fairytale Lover” which introduced them as vocalist as well. The Educated Rapper sat out Skeezer Pleezer but that didn't stop the group next hit “Split Personality”. Restored to full four-man strength, a more adult UTFO came back harder on Lethal, a sharp-sounding recordings which climbed the charts to becoming the #1 Rap Album in the country. Fellow influential rap acts as Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, the Fat Boys, and Newcleus travel with UTFO on a 30-city venue tour called the New York City Fresh Fest and later UTFO accompanied New Edition for several months on their tour of the states.
UTFO is possibly responsible for almost every hip-hop formula invented. They paved the way for future rappers by accomplishing the following: • First rap/breakdance group • First breakdancers for a rap group (Whodini) • First breakdancers on a national talk show (Phil Donahue) • First rap group to perform at The World Famous Apollo Theater • First rap group to integrated Rap with Reggae ("Pick Up The Pace") • First rap group to record an R&B love ballad ("Fairytale Lover") • First rap group to challenge Michael Jackson for #1 on Billboard • First rap group to challenge Guiness Book of World Records.
Today UTFO has regrouped for the purpose of celebrating the 20th year anniversary of “Roxanne, Roxanne”. As individuals, Educated is an A&R Director for an independent record company, Doctor Ice has appeared as an actor in several short films, MixMaster Ice is an air-personality on radio and Kangol is a music producer for various artists and is scoring his second film.
The Hip-Hop Community truly owes a great deal to these four LEGENDS.
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