Damu Ridas

Damu Ridas came out of Los Angeles in the early 1990s with a hardcore hip-hop sound. The group included Damu the Fudgemunk on vocals, with DJ Pogo, D-Styles, and J-Rocc handling turntables. Their 1994 self-titled debut set the tone for what followed.

Their 1996 album 'Damu Ride' became a touchstone for their sound, featuring tracks like the title cut and 'Give It Up.' The music had a raw, confrontational edge that spoke to issues of race and poverty, which drew both fans and criticism. They kept putting out records through the late '90s and into the 2000s, including 'Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos' and 'The Last of the Mohicans.'

Songs like 'Young Active Brazy' captured their unvarnished style. The group's approach wasn't for everyone, but it found an audience in the underground. They worked steadily without softening their message, leaving behind a catalog that feels specific to its time and place.