Trends of Culture

Trends of Culture
M.O.L. (left), Nastee (center) and Grapevine (right).
M.O.L. (left), Nastee (center) and Grapevine (right).
Background information
Also known asTrends, Trendmen
OriginManhattan, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1992โ€“1995
LabelsMad Sounds Recordings
MembersGrapevine
DJ M.O.L.
Nastee

Trends of Culture was an American hip hop trio from Harlem, New York City. The group consisted of Edward "Grapevine" Fordham Jr., Marcus "Nastee" Jones and Antonio "DJ M.O.L." Perry. They were signed to the Motown subsidiary Mad Sounds.

History

Trends of Culture was the first group signed to Motown's subsidiary label Mad Sounds, set up in 1992 for hip hop artists.[1] The group's manager, Darrin Chandler of Top 10 Entertainment, had been speaking to Motown executives who wanted to sign rap groups, and convinced the label to set up a specialist hip hop subsidiary label and to sign his act to the label.[2]

Trends of Culture's first two singles "Off & On" (with a remix by Lord Finesse) and "Valley of the Skinz" were both successful on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles Chart, with "Off & On" reaching number nine in May 1993[3] and "Valley of the Skinz" reaching number one in October 1993.[4] However, subsequent singles and their debut album Trendz were not successful, and the group were dropped and their second album When Trend Men Come, originally scheduled for release in March 1995,[5] was not released by Mad Sounds. In 2019, When Trend Men Come was finally released on Gentleman's Relief Records.[6]

Grapevine is also an actor. He appeared on television shows like Cuts and One on One. He also played Detective Aaron "Funk" Funkhauser on Battle Creek.

Discography

Albums

  • Trendz (1993)
  • When Trend Men Come (scheduled 1995, released 2019)

Singles

  • "Off & On" (1993)
  • "Valley of the Skinz" (1993)
  • "Who Got My Back?" (1993)
  • "Make a Move" (1995)

References

  1. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (November 5, 1994). "Motown Today". Billboard. p. 76.
  2. ^ "Mad for Trends". Billboard. May 22, 1993. p. 25. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "Hot Rap Singles โ€“ For Week Ending May 29, 1993". Billboard. May 29, 1993. p. 31.
  4. ^ "Hot Rap Singles โ€“ For Week Ending October 30, 1993". Billboard. October 30, 1993. p. 29.
  5. ^ "Coming Soon". Billboard. November 26, 1994. p. 32.
  6. ^ "Trends of Culture "When Trend Men Come" (Album Sampler)".