Tuff Crew is a hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dubbed "Philly's first Rap Supergroup", founded in 1985. Members include Ice Dog, L. A. Kid, Tone Love, Monty G, and DJ Too Tuff.
They released four albums. Their joint debut LP with The Krown Rulersfrom Camden, New Jersey included production by the Ultramagnetic MCs' Kool Keith and Ced Gee, with a style that was bass-heavy with the Roland TR-808 drum machine and E-mu SP-12 sampler, raw "street" lyrics and aggressive scratch DJing. They performed with Public Enemy, Run–D.M.C., Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, LL Cool J, and many others. They toured the US as the support act for 2Live Crew, and were fan favorites on the groundbreaking Street Beat radio program on Power 99, hosted by Lady B. They were racially mixed and ethnically diverse, and were regular performers at the After Midnight club in North Philly, once the largest Hip-Hop club in America. Their contemporaries included DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, DJ Cash Money and Marvelous, Cool C, Schoolly D, MC Breeze, and Three Times Dope.
During the recording of their fourth album "Still Dangerous", the group was joined by Smooth K and DJ Cutzology. Members Tone Love & DJ Too Tuff were absent during this 1991 recording working on outside project Danger Zone Mobb Sqwad.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have discovered the group in 1988, according to available tracklistings on this site. Further material from the group were played by Peel, but after the early 90's, he seemed to have lost interest in them, as well as, with many hip hop artists, who he thought were sexist and misogynist.
Shows Played[]
- 31 May 1988: Detonator (LP - Danger Zone) Warlock
- 06 June 1988: Detonator (12" - My Part Of Town) Soo Deff
- 20 July 1988: Let It Rip (LP - Danger Zone) Soo Deff
- 25 July 1988: Bound To Ike (album - Danger Zone) Warlock / Soo Deff
- 26 July 1988: Open Field Attack (album - Danger Zone) Warlock / Soo Deff
- 27 July 1988: 'Smooth Momentum (LP-Danger Zone)' (Warlock / Soo Deff)
- 01 August 1988: 'Deuce, Ace, Housin' (LP-Danger Zone)' (Warlock / Soo Deff Recordings)
- 16 August 1988: North Side (LP - Danger Zone) Soo Deff
- 16 August 1988 (Radio Bremen): Open Field Attack (album - Danger Zone) Soo Deff
- 1989
- 10 August 1989: Danger Zone Assault (album - Back To Wreck Shop) Warlock
- 15 August 1989: Show 'Em Hell (album - Back To Wreck Shop) Warlock
- 31 August 1989: Mountain's World (album - Back To Wreck Shop) Warlock
- 04 September 1989: Soul Food (album - Back To Wreck Shop) Warlock
- 05 September 1989: Down With The Program (album - Back To Wreck Shop) Warlock
- 1991
- 25 May 1991: Robbin Hoods (12" - Jimmy Crack Corn / Robbin Hoods) Soo Deff
- 01 June 1991: Robbin Hoods (12" - Jimmy Crack Corn) Soo Def