Artist(s) That You Need To Hear: Boot Camp Clik

             
               Boot Camp Clik is a supergroup that consists of four different hip-hop groups: Black Moon (consisting of Buckshot, 5ft, and Dj Evil Dee), Smif n' Wessun (consisting of Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah (consisting of Ruck aka Sean Price and Rock), and Originoo Gun Clappaz aka O.G.C. (consisting of Starang Wondah, Louieville Sluggah, and Top Dog). While the group didn't release an album as Boot Camp Clik until 1997, the groups collective of acts had all released their debut albums. In 1993, Black Moon released their debut album, "Enta Da Stage". In 1995, Smif n' Wessun, who appeared on Black Moon's "Enta Da Stage", released their debut album "Dah Shinin'". Soon after this release, Buckshot and Dru Ha founded "Duck Down Records", and went on to sign Smif n' Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, and O.G.C. to the label. Boot Camp Clik released their first single, "Headz Aint Redee", as a group under the new label. This was followed by Heltah Skeltah releasing "Nocturnal" and O.G.C. released "Da Storm" in 1996.
               With all of the acts of the supergroup now established, Boot Camp Clik released their first album, "For The People", in 1997.This was followed by the second round of releases from the individual groups of Boot Camp Clik. In 1998, Smif n' Wessun released "Rude Awakening" and Heltah Skeltah released "Magnum Force". The next year Black Moon, now officially signed to Duck Down Records, released "War Zone" and O.G.C. released "The M-Pire Shrikez Back". In 2002, Boot Camp Clik released their sophomore album "The Chosen Few". This was followed by Black Moon releasing "Total Eclipse" the next year. This would be the last major release from any act from the group for almost four years. However, the group would make a strong comeback in 2006 with "The Last Stand" quickly followed up by "Casualties of War" the next year. Smif n' Wessun also released "Smif n' Wessun: The Album" the same year, followed up by Heltah Skeltah's "D.I.R.T." the next year, their first album together in 10 years.

               While Boot Camp Clik has drawn close comparison to the Wu-Tang Clan, (both groups are close) These two supergroups have distinctly different sounds, lyrical topics, and ideoligies. While Wu deals mostly with Asian culture, Boot Camp Clik deals almost exclusively with military content. However, both crews have frequently collaborated with one another in the past, and hopefully more collabos will come in the future. Although no act in the group has released an album in over four years, (apart from solo mixtapes by Sean Price and Buckshot's albums with KRS-One and 9th Wonder) the group is still close and working on new material for future projects. With almost twenty years of experience and tens of albums between all eight members of the group, Boot Camp Clik has left a strong foundation for future emcees to follow.

Songs To Sway You: Boot Camp Clik Edition
O.G.C.- Gunn Clapp
Smif n' Wessun ft. Talib Kweli- Crystal Stair
Black Moon- Stay Real