Diggin' in the Greats Vol 1. - "And if we would not, people could've forgot."

The 9th Creation - "Bubble Gum"
Falling in Love
PYE, 1975

Artifacts - "Wrong Side of the Tracks"
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Big Beat/Wea, 1994

Back in 1994, Newark, New Jersey duo the Artifacts had an underground hit with "Wrong Side of the Tracks," spawned from their debut LP Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Specializing in graffiti themed hip-hop, Tame One and El the Sensai's relatable halcyon styles were a favourite among hardcore listeners, who in those days were involved in multiple elements of hip-hop culture rather than just Myspace rapping and Fruity Loops production. Check Tame's testament to a day in the life of a tagger on "Wrong Side...":

"I'm out to bomb like Vietnam under the same name Tame One
The bad one, ink flow master bastard with the Magnum
I tags up quick, and then I steps to the exit
When it's time to get sess'ded or flex on some fresh shit
Some wack crook stole my black book I know who took it
I know his whole tag because the fag writes his name crooked
The ink I use might stink, but you gotta think
I got my props hops, cause my tags don't shrink
I'm taggin' and baggin' bitches cause my name, is famous in the street
Cause they know my name's from cruising in the Jeeps
So yo, grab a can and put your man up and stand up
For the fresh never stale niggas off the third rail
Deep, dark and black like the Magnum I pack
It's that Artifacts chat from the wrong side of the tracks"

The references to black books, tag styles and the third rail all capture the essence of the multifaceted b-boy stance popular on the early 90s hip-hop scene. Produced by T-Ray from the Soul Assassins clique, the song sampled 9th Creation's "Bubble Gum," featured on the bands 1975 album Falling in Love. A reputable Californian funk and soul band from the 70s, 9th Creation were known for their brooding guitar licks and laid-back grooves. Like a good deal of funk bands, they'd eventually deliquesce from the limelight due to the obliterating popularization of disco. Thanks to hip-hop sampling, their name will live on for a few generations yet through the music of not only the Artifacts, but 3rd Bass, Black Moon and Pete Rock & CL Smooth.

Check out the Artifacts - "Wrong Side of the Tracks" video right hurr: