Divine Sounds: The Emergence of Brooklyn

While the Bronx and Harlem were bubbling with activity in the early days of Hip-Hop, Brooklyn was doing its thing with much less fanfare. There were crews that were representing the elements of Hip-Hop, but under the radar of many of the crews who were beginning to branch out into the record business. Brooklyn would finally get its voice through a group out of Bed-Stuy known as Divine Sounds.

Divine Sounds (DJ Mike Music, Shelton D, and Disco Ritchie) formed in the late 1970s. The group’s music had a funk-inspired sound. Early groups from the Brooklyn area were influenced by the sound of funk music. Brooklyn was the home of groups like B.T.Express, Crown Heights Affair, and Ready Made Family. By 1984, they released their biggest hit song “What People Do For Money” on Specific Records. The song had a catchy hook and took hold on New York radio. The song stayed in rotation for over six weeks, which was a major feat for a rap song during that time. On the B-side to the single were “Changes” and “Do or Die Bed-Stuy”. “Do or Die Bed-Stuy” had a real street feel to it that, in my opinion, captured the vibe of Brooklyn.

Divine Sounds was one of the first Hip-Hop groups from Brooklyn to release a record. They paved the way for other Brooklyn artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., AZ and M.O.P..