Black Moon is an American hardcore hip hop group, consisting of members
Buckshot, 5ft and DJ Evil Dee (of Da Beatminerz). The group is most
well-known for their debut album Enta Da Stage, and their affiliation
with the Boot Camp Clik.
Black Moon (Brothers who Lyrically Act
and Combine Kickin Music Out On Nations) debuted in 1992, with the
release of the single "Who Got Da Props?". The song became something of
an underground phenomenon, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100. With
the help of DJ Chuck Chillout, the group landed a record deal with
Nervous Records for the release of their debut album Enta Da Stage,
released in late 1993. The album included "Who Got Da Props?", as well
as the singles "How Many MC's...", "Buck Em Down", and another Hot 100
hit, "I Got Cha Opin (Remix)". The album went on to sell over 350,000
copies in the U.S., and is now regarded as an underground hip hop
classic.
During the group's hiatus, DJ Evil Dee continued his
production career with his crew Da Beatminerz, and lead MC Buckshot
headed out and formed his own supergroup called the Boot Camp Clik,
featuring fellow Brooklyn locals Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and
O.G.C.. Following the releases of the debuts from Smif-N-Wessun (Dah
Shinin'), Heltah Skeltah (Nocturnal), and O.G.C. (Da Storm), Black Moon
reformed on Buckshot's label Duck Down Records. In late 1996, Nervous
Records released a Black Moon compilation album titled Diggin' in Dah
Vaults, which featured a number of remixes and B-Side tracks.
In 1999, they released their long awaited second album War Zone. The
album saw a change in the group's musical style, with a more mature
Buckshot showing off a calmer, more serious lyrical delivery, and also
featured a new lo-fi production sound from Da Beatminerz. The album's
singles "Two Turntables and a Mic" and "This is What it Sounds Like
(Worldwind)" made small impact, and the group wasn't able to properly
capitalize on their hype.
The Camp returned in 2002 for their
second group album, The Chosen Few. Black Moon returned in 2003 for the
release of their third album Total Eclipse. The album featured the
underground hit "Stay Real", as well as two music videos, shot for the
singles "Stay Real" and "This Goes Out to You". The album, like their
previous efforts, received good reviews, but wasn't able to reach
outside the underground hip hop audience. The three were planning on
another group release, but backup MC 5ft was sentenced to four-to-nine
years in prison on March 6, 2004 for sale of an illegal substance. DJ
Evil Dee has continued production work with Da Beatminerz, and Buckshot
has continued work with the Boot Camp Clik. In 2005, Buck released a
collaboration album with producer 9th Wonder titled Chemistry. In 2006,
DJ Evil Dee and his brother Mr. Walt released a mixtape titled Alter
the Chemistry, which paired Buckshot's vocals from the Chemistry album
with classic Black Moon beats.
