Whodini
Whodini is a hip hop group formed in the 1980s, made up of Jalil (Jalil Hut… Read Full Bio ↴Whodini is a hip hop group formed in the 1980s, made up of Jalil (Jalil Hutchins), Ecstasy (John Fletcher) and Grandmaster Dee (Drew Carter).
Along with Run-D.M.C. and Fat Boys, Whodini were among the first rap groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip-hop music, and made significant inroads on Urban radio. The Brooklyn, New York-based trio consisted of vocalist/chief lyricist Jalil Hutchens, (one of the few rappers to go by his real name), co-vocalist John Fletcher, aka Ecstasy (so-named before the drug trend), who tended to wear a Zorro-style hat as his trademark; and DJ Drew Carter, aka Grandmaster Dee. Contemporaries of Run DMC, they were managed by Russell Simmons, brother of Joey “Run” Simmons. Signed to NY-based indie Jive Records in 1982, they enjoyed a string of hits, mostly charting on Urban/R&B stations. The bulk of production on their releases was done by Larry Smith, a bass player who also handled much of Run DMC’s early work. In keeping with 80’s trends, Whodini’s cuts tended to be synthesizer driven with a heavy electronic drumbeat. The sampling technology that became identified with rap hadn’t really become prominent during Whodini’s early days, and their works were thoroughly original compositions.
“Haunted House of Rock” was their first single, a whimsical Halloween-themed number. Synth-pop pioneer Thomas Dolby produced another of their early singles, “Magic’s Wand”. Speaking with Songfacts about "Magic's Wand" in a 2011 interview, Dolbyexplained that he hooked up with Whodini after sending his demo tape to the music publisher Zomba, who had launched the label Jive Records. Whodini was one of the acts on the label, and Zomba put Dolby together with the New York rap trio.
The group culled a female audience with such relationship-themed cut as “Friends” and “One Love”. Backstage partying was extolled in the mildly controversial “I’m a Ho”. “Fugitive” was guitar-driven funk. From 1982 - 1986 was the band’s heyday, touring with Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Fat Boys, and other prominent R&B and funk outfits of the 80’s.
Their albums Whodini (1983), Escape (1984), and Back in Black (1986; no relation to AC/DC) were all well-received by rap fans and youthful R&B enthusiasts. The ‘Fresh Fest’ tours were the first arena-sized tours to feature all hip-hop lineups, but full-fledged crossover fame seemed to elude them, however. The group had earned their share of gold singles and albums by 1987, when the hits started to slump. Open Sesame, their release that year, failed to produce any hits. After that point, the band eked out their tenure on Jive by occasionally releasing singles, including “Anyway I Gotta Swing it” for the Nightmare on Elm Street 5 movie soundtrack.
Along with Run-D.M.C. and Fat Boys, Whodini were among the first rap groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip-hop music, and made significant inroads on Urban radio. The Brooklyn, New York-based trio consisted of vocalist/chief lyricist Jalil Hutchens, (one of the few rappers to go by his real name), co-vocalist John Fletcher, aka Ecstasy (so-named before the drug trend), who tended to wear a Zorro-style hat as his trademark; and DJ Drew Carter, aka Grandmaster Dee. Contemporaries of Run DMC, they were managed by Russell Simmons, brother of Joey “Run” Simmons. Signed to NY-based indie Jive Records in 1982, they enjoyed a string of hits, mostly charting on Urban/R&B stations. The bulk of production on their releases was done by Larry Smith, a bass player who also handled much of Run DMC’s early work. In keeping with 80’s trends, Whodini’s cuts tended to be synthesizer driven with a heavy electronic drumbeat. The sampling technology that became identified with rap hadn’t really become prominent during Whodini’s early days, and their works were thoroughly original compositions.
“Haunted House of Rock” was their first single, a whimsical Halloween-themed number. Synth-pop pioneer Thomas Dolby produced another of their early singles, “Magic’s Wand”. Speaking with Songfacts about "Magic's Wand" in a 2011 interview, Dolbyexplained that he hooked up with Whodini after sending his demo tape to the music publisher Zomba, who had launched the label Jive Records. Whodini was one of the acts on the label, and Zomba put Dolby together with the New York rap trio.
The group culled a female audience with such relationship-themed cut as “Friends” and “One Love”. Backstage partying was extolled in the mildly controversial “I’m a Ho”. “Fugitive” was guitar-driven funk. From 1982 - 1986 was the band’s heyday, touring with Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Fat Boys, and other prominent R&B and funk outfits of the 80’s.
Their albums Whodini (1983), Escape (1984), and Back in Black (1986; no relation to AC/DC) were all well-received by rap fans and youthful R&B enthusiasts. The ‘Fresh Fest’ tours were the first arena-sized tours to feature all hip-hop lineups, but full-fledged crossover fame seemed to elude them, however. The group had earned their share of gold singles and albums by 1987, when the hits started to slump. Open Sesame, their release that year, failed to produce any hits. After that point, the band eked out their tenure on Jive by occasionally releasing singles, including “Anyway I Gotta Swing it” for the Nightmare on Elm Street 5 movie soundtrack.
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Whodini Lyrics
5 Minutes of Funk Now the party didn't start till I walked in And I…
BE MY LADY [J.D.] Yo these niggaz ain't ready for this [R. Kelly] …
Be Yourself Grandmaster Dee If you please Be yourself I'm not rocking …
Big Mouth A big mouth, a big mouth There’s a rumor bein’ spread…
Can't Get Enough (feat. Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz) [VERSE 1: Peter Gunz] …
Cash Money Cash Money Cold Cash Money you see Bill has lots of…
Echo Scratch Serve you your way From the people's republic of turntable …
Escape Escape, gotta get away I need a break, gotta get away a I…
Featuring Grand Master Dee Now the party didn't start till I walked in And I…
featuring grandmaster dee The freaks come out at night The freaks come out at…
Five Minutes Of Funk Now the party didn't start till I walked in And I…
Freaks [Chorus] The freaks come out at night The freaks come out at…
Freaks Come Out The freaks come out at night The freaks come out at…
Friends Friends How many of us have them? Friends Ones we can depen…
Fugitive to the highest degree in quality! In our rap technology ladi…
Funky Beat Funky boss, funky boss Funky boss, funky boss Funky boss, …
Growing Up It’s all just a part of growing up Things are gonna…
Haunted House Of Rock Welcome to the place where all the creatures meet The last…
Haunted House of Rock (Westbam Welcome to the place where all the creatures meet The last…
How Dare You How dare you! How dare you! How dare you! How dare you! How …
I'm a Ho (Intro) I'm ready Here we go Yo Donkey Yo what's up man Yo w…
It's All in Mr. Magic's Wand (Oh my God, I think I'm having a rap attack) -Somebody…
Keep Running Back (I keep running) huh, you know why? She know how to…
Last Night Last night, I had a long talk with myself Last night,…
Magic [ woman ] Oh my God, I think I'm having a…
One Love The L(echo 3x) The O(echo 3x) And the V (echo â??the Vâ??…
Out of Control Jalil, where you goin’? Be quiet Man! Can’t you see I’m…
Rap Machine Now the party didn't start till I walked in An' I…
The Freaks Come out Tonight The freaks come out at night The freaks come out at…
The Good Part When we gonna get to the good part? (Good part) Get…
The Haunted House of Rock Welcome to the place where all the creatures meet The last…
Turn the Whole World Around Here he comes (No no no no) Wait wha? Let's do it like…
Underground Underground Underground Underground Underground Underground…
We Are Whodini We are Whodini. We are Whodini. We are Whodini. We are Wh…