Million Dolla Broke Niggaz

Million Dolla Broke Niggaz: The DVS Mindz Exxxperience 1994-2000
Studio album by DVS Mindz
Released May, 2000
Recorded 1994-2000
Genre Rap, Hip hop
Length 73:37
Label No Coast Records

Million Dolla Broke Niggaz: The DVS Mindz Exxxperience 1994-2000 was the sole official full-length release from the Topeka, Kansas rap group DVS Mindz. “"We got million dollar dreams, but we ain't got no money,” Kutaculus, the group’s DJ, explained of the title.[1]

1994-2000

Million Dolla Broke Niggaz was an anthology of sorts and contained tracks recorded during DVS Mindz' first six years. The CD contained some of the group's most popular songs as well as tracks that were rarely, if ever, performed live. The disc contained 15 tracks and was released on May 9, 2000. A limited-edition of 100 discs featuring different cover artwork and autographed by each member of DVS Mindz, was issued just prior to the official release.

Million Dolla Broke Niggaz compiled tracks from different eras of the group’s career, and the disc features seven producers (S.G., Tom Woosley, D.O.P.E., Dr. Who, Mr. Wolf, Boogieman and Rock). Several tracks are either solo ventures or feature special guests. Three tracks are listed as “Public Service Announcements,” featuring short raps from D.L., Killa The Hun, and Srtr8jakket. D.O.P.E. was unable to complete the recording of his public service announcement in time, and was therefore not included on the disc.

A changing sound

Four of the group’s most frequently performed live tracks were featured on the disc: “Madness,” “Tired of Talking,” (both produced by D.O.P.E.), "Bust Something," and "Niggaz" (both helmed by the production duo Boogieman and Rock). Interestingly, two versions of “Tired of Talking” were recorded, the latter version of which was the more popular, at least with the group. DVS Mindz rarely performed the original version live, and the newer take was used as the soundtrack for the band's first music video. Puzzlingly, Million Dolla Broke Niggaz includes the original version of "Tired of Talking" rather than the newer one. It was rumored that the change was made due to failed negotiations to secure the production rights to the newer version of the song. “Bust Something,” a popular live cut that featured Kansas City rappers the Zou, appeared in its “radio friendly” censored version on the disc. In retrospect, the omission of the newer "Tired of Talking" and the uncensored version of "Bust Something" gave the disc less impact than it might otherwise have had. However, it remains a classic piece of Midwest hip hop that has aged well. The two newest tracks on the disc, “Bust Something” and “Niggaz” represented the group’s growing inclination towards hardcore, gangsta rap, a move embraced by newer fans, but one questioned by some longtime fans. “Our sound has changed,” Killa The Hun admitted. “We've matured lyrically a lot. DVS Mindz has gone through some rebuilding, but now that we've got everything in order, we're like the stunt men of rap.... We come in and take the bumps and bruises and go on about the business."[2]

Solo tracks and collaborations

In addition to the public service announcements, the group members contributed to the release in various ways. “Murdarous Verses” is a solo tracks featuring Killa the Hun, with D.L. contributing backup vocals. “Me Against Myself and I Prevail” features three of Str8jakkett’s personalities, all rapping in a schizophrenic bouillabaisse. D.O.P.E. produced two notable cuts, “Madness” and the original version of “Tired of Talking.”

The album also included lesser-known songs such as “DVS Mindbender,” which the group promoted as a potential single, performing the song several times in concert in the wake of the album's release. The album also featured rarely performed numbers such as “Unsigned Hype” and “Misrepresenters” two of the oldest tracks on the release. A track that continues to get attention is “Seven,” a seven-minute track with a chorus that didn’t show up until the last 30 seconds. “Seven” featured seven MCs, with DVS Mindz collaborating with a young trio called Qui-Lo, consisting of Jus an M.C. (who would later become Joe Good, an associate of Mac Lethal), Masta Chi (who would later become Titanium Frame), and Sket (who would later become Godemis and help found the Kansas City rap act Ces Cru). “These cats were like 17, 18 years old and they were on stage rocking 600 or 700 people at the Grenada,” Str8jakkett recalled in an interview.[3] Qui-Lo was signed to DVS Mindz' independent label, No Coast Records, and recorded its debut album, which went unreleased after the trio disbanded.[4]

CD release party

The release party for Million Dolla Broke Niggaz was held at the Granada Theater in Lawrence, Kansas on April 30, 2000. The show also featured the Zou, the 57th Street Rogue Dog Villains, and Tech N9ne. This performance remains the longest ever performance by DVS Mindz, clocking in at just over an hour. During the set, the band included songs that were rarely performed live, including “Murdarous Verses,” "Me, Myself, and I Prevail," and “Misrepresenters.” The disc received nearly universal critical praise from the local music press. The Pitch writer JJ Hensley noted that many "consider DVS Mindz the area's best rap group,",[2] and journalist Geoff Harkness opined in a June 1, 2000 review for the Lawrence Journal-World that "the DVS debut serves as a bell-ringing wake-up call to area rap groups: The game just got raised to a whole new level." The CD has been long out of print, but it is relatively easy to find used copies online.

Track listing errors

The disc's track listing shows Str8jakket as the MC on track #1, but it is D.L. rapping on the first track. D.L.'s public service announcement is listed as #10, but it is Str8jakkett rapping on the tenth track.

Track listing

  1. "Public Service Announcement: D.L." – 0:40
  2. "Madness" – 4:45
  3. "DVS Mindbender” – 5.19
  4. "Seven" (feat. Qui Lo) – 7:10
  5. "Public Service Announcement: Killa The Hun” – 1:03
  6. "Murdarous Verses” – 4:22
  7. "Misrepresenters” – 6:13
  8. "Tired of Talking" – 6:24
  9. "Inferred Connection” (Feat. Bronz and Paw Paww) – 7:33
  10. "Public Service Announcement: Str8jakkett” – 1:46
  11. "Me Against Myself and I Prevail" – 5:38
  12. "Unsigned Hype" – 5:09
  13. "Bust Something (radio edit)" – 5:29
  14. "Niggaz" – 6:00
  15. "Yellow Brick Road" (Feat Pontiak) – 6:13

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "'A puzzle full of pieces' / LJWorld.com". .ljworld.com. 2000-12-21. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  2. 1 2 Danehy, Tom. "Devel - workin' workin' workin!!!". Rss.pitch.com. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  3. ↑ "mp3/interview: Str8jakket and the DVS Mindz Clique (Local hip hop history lesson). *Top-City Got Somethin' To Say Pt. II*". Demencha.com. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  4. ↑ "Titanium Frame | The Bottom Line". CD Baby. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
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