Steady "B"* – Just Call Us Def

There's some back and forth in the editing comments regarding the date and order of this release in relation to Take Your Radio. If I may try to help clarify the situation:

It's clear that Just Call Us Def came after Take Your Radio as KD cuts up the 'Steady B' call out from Take Your Radio on Just Call Us Def ("yo, what's my name? scritchy scratch 'steady b!' etc..).

The other part is to consolidate the 1985 release date on the label with most people's recollection of this being spring '86. I was going to say that this isn't hard to resolve as this was would have been released right at the end of 1985 and I have this on tape from circa Jan '86 from Mike Allen. Being similar to other tracks that were being played around the same time like Just Buggin, Rock Hill's Rock The Beat & Byron Davis' My Hands Are Quicker Than The Eye which all have 1985 on the labels but peaked early-mid '86. However, I'm listening to Fly Shante on the flip as I write and I realize that KD's cutting up "I'm Shante" from Def Fresh Crew which was definitely early '86, and it says '86 on that release's label too. Either way, they all were very early '86!

As for the track, what can be said? Just Call Us Def was a straight up hardcore hip hop track at the time, and still is. Fierce scratching, beats and rhyme's make this head and shoulders above Take Your Radio and up there with the best of the year of '86, and edges itself a small notch above Bring The Beat Back even IMO.

As for Fly Shante, I'm going to be honest and say I'm not big on the buzzer scratch sound that is used throughout but the story is good and everything else is pretty nice too. However, the definitive version of this track was released separately, remixed by Marley Marl, and featuring a fuller back and forth between Steady B & Roxanne than what is on this release. It also features a very ill synth hook that ties it all together much better overall. Looks like it's a bit tricky to get a hold of on wax but definitely worth seeking out for the full story.

Steady B's finest track by a mile. I hearing this on the radio, played by the late John Peel (R.I.P) The production and the sound is so gritty and raw. Purchased it within a week of hearing it. I wish hip hop would revert back to this style more, The MC, and The DJ, that's all you need. My favourite release from Pop Art

This is def! Steady B's rhyming is hardcore! That DJ ...Whoaaaa.... Ripz the kut right from under the Skinny boys and kills it!... One of a kind! Believe! DEF! Ps what is that scratch that KD cuts up? Yeah that heavy metal break! ;)
You wont ever get HIPHOP like this ever again!..
Shame but true (but if you dont believe I doubt its many but the few 'hardcore )!
Masterpiece.................................................................................................