“Straight from Crooklyn better known as Brooklyn”.

Black Moon spit it in 93 in the legendary underground tune Who Got Da Props. And it defines suitably what was going on in the New York neighborhood back then. A place full of crooks and rappers as well.

It also inspired the creation of Hip-Hop supergroup (as they call it) for Spike Lee’s soundtrack of Crooklyn in 1994 and Clockers in 1995. Two times for the occasion, great names gathered to record classic track under the name of Crooklyn Dodgers. Here they are.

First thing you need to know about the Crooklyn Dodgers is that they picked their name as a reference to the baseball team Brooklyn Dodgers which used to play in the area. They got famous for being the first team to contain a African-American player in its roster: Jackie Robinson. For decades, black players has been confined to “Negro Leagues”. But the Dodgers broke the color barrier and Jackie Robinson became a baseball legend for both his athlete skills and his pioneer status. The team moved out to Los Angeles in 1957, and Brooklyn remained without a professional sport team until the Nets arrived this year.

Anyway, the first track is produced by Mr John Davis also known as Q-Tip. And he chose to sample another great Mr Davis, the jazz master, Miles. On the verses side, only heavy-weight rapper: Special Ed, Buckshot (from Black Moon), and Masta Ace. All three have in common their place of birth: Brooklyn.

The trumpet echoing throughout the song is a sample from Miles Davis’ great success, “It’s About That Time”. If we mention trumpet, who else could it be?

Notice the short sample, and just beneath the videoclip starting with Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan’s footage.

Miles Davis – It’s About That Time (sample appears at 0:21)

Crooklyn Dodgers – Crooklyn

The second reunion of the Crooklyn Dodgers came a year later.

But funny thing, original MC’s were replaced by a bunch of new members. So, for the Clockers‘ soundtrack, another Spike Lee joint, the old Chubb Rock, the fresh Jeru the Damaja and O.C from D.I.T.C were taking place on the microphone. Once again, all three were representing Brooklyn, where they came from.

DJ Premier took care of the production part by sampling these beautiful chords from the Young Holt Unlimited.

Young Holt Unlimited – Strangers in The Night (sample appears at 0:01)

Word to Jeru who killed his verse.

Excuse me while I light my spliff but some choose to sip
So bullets hit brains, when bottles hit lips

Please note the reference to Bob Marley, line sampled in “Easy Skanking“.

Crooklyn Dodgers 95′ – Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers