Whodini - Open Sesame

The last gasp of Old School, with a bit of New School thrown in...

OPEN SESAME is the fourth album by American Hip Hop group, Whodini, which spawned only one single, "Be Yourself". Though OPEN SESAME was certified gold it was the final "classic" album by Whodini, who tried to restart their career with two later albums in the 1990s. By 1987 New School rap was coming into full effect with artists like LL Cool J (for one example), who's debut was certified platinum in 1986 and next release came out around the time of OPEN SESAME. With topics like "Early Mother's Day Card" falling to the wayside for newcomers "On The Ill Tip," it's actually interesting to note the musical foundation that a group like Whodini provides for the likes of LL... Cool J delivers his rhymes at lightning speed compared to the storytelling style of Jalil & Ecstasy, but Cut Creator obviously benefited from the likes of Grandmaster Dee's basic skills. One of the differences lies in Creator taking technique that someone like Grandmaster would only use on a DJ feature like the CD only bonus track "Now That Whodini's Inside the Joint" (from the "Rock You Again" single) for New School rappers to deliver weaving and bobbing rhymes around. At this point New Schoolers were still using bells and synth stabs as heard on "You Brought It on Yourself," but next to something like Run-DMC's RAISING HELL, "Remember Where You Came From" has way to much space around the echoing snare sound while "For My Body" is just an antiquated notion of Rap. A missed R&B hit is the classic "You Take My Breath Away," which goes straight to the bedroom in a major way with it's slinky bass and piano solo. One solid indicator that Whodini could have moved into the New School if not for their four year hiatus, is the Cool J-style "I'm Def (Jump Back & Kiss Myself)," which easily brought the new noise, while "Rock You Again" has an obvious connection to the crossover work Run-DMC pioneered. While OPEN SESAME stands as the last gasp of Old School (unless you count their song on the soundtrack for "A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 : The Dream Child"), and in more ways than one the sillyness of "Be Yourself" is the stereotype Whodini are often saddled with; anyone who wants to dig can find plenty here to get down with (just skip 3,4,10,11).
P.S. - Check Grandmaster Dee's transformer-scratchs of the Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real," and look for the Shocklee-Style instrumental version of "I'm Def (Jump Back And Kiss Myself)." Now, wonder if I can figure out who plays guitar on "Rock You Again"?!
June 4, 2008

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