This stark, bleak, intentionally low-budget affair was a surprise hit towards the end of 1991 thanks to the single "Mind Playin' Tricks On Me". Paired with a rather grotesque album cover, it belied the actual fact that the group was splintering behind the scenes, which is the reason most the tracks are solo efforts, giving it a disconnected feel. Some of these spots stand out on sheer outrageousness alone - Bushwick Bill's "Chuckie" writes the initial book on horror-core rap, and Willie D's "Trophy" is a great dig at music industry hypocrisy - but more often than not, the diatribes miss their target, or don't have anything to say. Still, all of these crazy personalities trying to share space on a rap album is not something you hear every day.
The group is in Williamsburg for a raid when Isak encounters his long-lost brother Pompey (played by Paul Winfield) who is actually working as a British spy, for promise of his eventual freedom. Now the Revolution seems small compared to dealing with the consequences of chattel slavery. Once again, the show connects a current topic with the Revolution in a very classy manner. And they even slip a Quaker in the episode, too!
David Soul portrays future Chief Justice John Marshall (here as just Captain Marshall) while Danny Bonaduce clone Mitch Vogel plays the annoying tag-along Tad who nearly cajoles our band of rebels into the deadly noose because of his meddling. This one felt like an excuse to get the guest actors' names out there for promotional purposes more than the story itself.
