25 Astonishing First Appearances By Famous Rappers

Spectrum City, "Lies" (1984)

Spectrum City was a Long Island mobile DJ crew started by future Public Enemy producer Hank Shocklee in 1975. They found an MC in a graphic designer named Chucky D in 1979; and ended up with a popular show on Adelphi University's radio station in 1982. There was no one in Strong Island more dedicated to playing rap records and they decided they would finally record their own. Chuck and Spectrum MC Butch Cassidy use the "It's Like That"/"Hard Times" flow of Run-D.M.C. (who they once invited to the station for their first interview) and the keys of James Brown's "Sex Machine." While their show remained popular, the single didn't exactly rocket them to stardom. Once acquiring fellow WBAU DJ Flavor Flav and signing to the nascent Def Jam, they would re-emerge as Public Enemy three years later.