The instant MOST PRIZED POSSESSION of my vinyl collection, acquired this weekend at the Lower Haight’s outstanding record shop, Groove Merchant (thanks to a heads-up from the always on-point O-Dub). You can have your random rap full of arcane regional signifiers, I’ll take mine with Darryl Strawberry 16s, and guest-spots from UTFO, Whistle, and a very-young Richie Rich (with arcane regional signifiers). Considering that Mr. 415ivin was arrested a few years later on possession of cocaine and Darryl’s struggles with the drug are legendary, “Chocolate Strawberry” may rival Less Than Zero as the finest thing 80s Cali coke culture ever produced (other than maybe “Dirty Laundry.”) After all, the synth lines on here glow with glossy, nose-dripping, blood shot-eyed, Rockwell-esque paranoia–not to ignore that the song title sounds like a filthy sex act that only The Butterscotch Stallion would enjoy.
Recorded at the Bayside Recording Studios in Queens for Darryl’s short-lived Strawsome Records imprint, “Chocolate Strawberry” was manufactured and distributed via legendary West Coast indie, Macola Records. How bizarre is this 12″? Production credits are attributed to The Kangol Kid, Richie Rich, and Michelle Strawberry, Darryl’s sister. Presumably cut in the off-season following the Met’s ’86 championship, The Straw’s rapping makes Ron-Ron look like Rakim, but the beat grooves in a codpiece funk sort of way and there are scratches from DJ Silver Spinner and Mixmaster Ice. For sheer kitsch value alone it’s priceless, but it also manages to nicely encapsulate the tail-end of the sequined suit electro-rap that ruled the West Coast pre-Straight Outta Compton. The only way to improve this for me would be an Eric Davis guest-spot.
Pictures of the vinyl below the jump, courtesy of West Coast Pioneers, who thankfully exist so that my feeble photo editing skills aren’t revealed to the world.
