Fu-Schnickens

Fu-Schnickens were an American hip-hop trio from 1988 to 1995, based in Brooklyn, New York.

Fu-Schnickens
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1988–1995
LabelsJive/BMG Records
MembersRoderick Roachford (a.k.a. Chip Fu)
Joseph A. Jones (a.k.a. Moc Fu)
Lennox Maturine (a.k.a. Poc Fu)

History

Fu-Schnickens was composed of Chip Fu (Roderick Roachford), Moc Fu (Joe Jones), and Poc Fu (Lennox Maturine). Fu stood for unity and schnicken was a made-up word that meant "coalition".[1] The three friends from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, first gained attention after performing at a hip hop event at Howard University, after which the group was signed by Jive Records.[1] The group's debut single, "Ring the Alarm", entered the top ten on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1992,[2] which sparked anticipation for the group's debut album, F.U. Don't Take It Personal, and also inadvertently immortalized and ignited a new-found popularity for the original "Ring the Alarm", the signature tune of dancehall reggae singjay Tenor Saw from 1985, which the group sampled to create its track of the same name. Furthermore, with the hit singles "La Schmoove" (featuring Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest) and "True Fu-Schnick," the album reached the top 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart [1][2] and was certified for gold-level sales by the RIAA.[3]

In 1993, Fu-Schnickens began work on its second album. The group recorded a fast-paced song called "What's Up, Doc?" which featured a sample of Bugs Bunny saying his famous catchphrase. But the group could not get sample clearance from Warner Bros. so the song was shelved. Meanwhile, the then-rookie NBA star Shaquille O'Neal was a media sensation. In many interviews, he talked about his love of hip hop music and stated that the Fu-Schnickens were his favorite hip hop group. This prompted the group to contact O'Neal for a collaboration. O'Neal recorded a verse that was added on to the already-recorded "What's Up, Doc?" with the group and O'Neal saying "What's up, doc?" to replace the Bugs Bunny sample. Although the group had not yet completed work on its album, the song was quickly released as a single to capitalize on O'Neal's popularity. The single was a top-40 hit in the summer of 1993,[2] which briefly propelled the group into the mainstream.[1] The group's second album, Nervous Breakdown, did not arrive until 1994.

The group took part in a huge performance on the finale of The Arsenio Hall Show, alongside the likes of KRS-One, Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, MC Lyte, Guru, Mad Lion, Yo-Yo, Das EFX, CL Smooth, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Fu-Schnickens is also notable for its many references to martial arts films and Asian culture before Wu-Tang Clan,[1] which eventually helped make such references popular in hip hop music.

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
US
[4]		 US
R&B
/HH
[5]		 CAN
[6]
F.U. Don't Take It Personal 64 13 20
Nervous Breakdown
  • Released: October 25, 1994
  • Label: Jive
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
 81 19 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums
List of compilation albums
Title Album details
Greatest Hits[lower-alpha 2]
  • Released: December 1995[9]
  • Label: Jive
  • Formats: CD, Cassette
Fu-Schnickens - True Fu-Schnick
  • Released: September 12, 2006[10]
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Formats: CD

As lead artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[18]		 US Dance
[19]		 US R&B
[20]		 US Rap
[21]		 AUS
[22]
"Ring the Alarm" 1991 — — — 6 — F.U. Don't Take It Personal
"La Schmoove"
(featuring Phife Dawg)		 1992 — —[lower-alpha 3] 30 3 —
"True Fuschnick" — 14 97 18 —
"Heavenly Father"[24] — — — — —
"What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)"
(with Shaquille O'Neal)		 1993 39 26 56 22 59 Nervous Breakdown and Shaq Diesel
"Breakdown" 1994 67 —[lower-alpha 4] 38 7 — Nervous Breakdown
"Sum Dum Munkey"[26] 1995 — — — — —
"Got It Covered"[lower-alpha 5][27] — — — — — Die Hard With A Vengeance Soundtrack
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

Notes
  1. Sales figures based on certification alone.
  2. "Included four previously unreleased songs: "Cray-Z," "Original Rude Boy," "Voice of the Ghetto," and "Bring It Back"".
  3. "La Schmoove" did not enter the Dance Club Songs, but peaked at number 36 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales.[23]
  4. "Breakdown" did not enter the Dance Club Songs, but peaked at number 10 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales.[23]
  5. "Got It Covered" was released as a split single with "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful

Citations
  1. Huey, Steve. "Fu-Schnickens: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  2. "Fu-Schnickens: Charts & Awards". allmusic. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  3. "American album certifications – Fu-Schnickens – Take It Personally". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. "Fu-Schnickens Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. "Fu-Schnickens Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. Canadian studio albums chart peaks:
  7. "American album certifications – Fu-Schnickens". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  8. "CAN Certifications > Fu-Schnickens". Music Canada. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  9. "Fu-Schnickens - Greatest Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  10. "Fu-Schnickens - True Fu-Schnick". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  11. "Fu-Schnickens". Discogs. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  12. "Fu-Schnickens - Chart history (Billboard)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  13. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  14. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  15. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  16. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  17. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  18. "Fu-Schnickens - US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  19. "Fu-Schnickens - US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  20. "Fu-Schnickens - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  21. "Fu-Schnickens - US Hot Rap Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 91.
  23. "Dance/Electronic Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  24. Heavenly Father (track listing). Fu-Schnickens. Jive Records. 1992. JIVE T 315.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "American album certifications – Fu-Schnickens feat. Shaquille O'neal". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  26. "Fu-Schnickens - Sum Dum Munkey [Vinyl Single] (12 inch Vinyl Single - Jive #42276)". AllMusic.
  27. Summer In The City (From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Die Hard With A Vengeance) (track listing). The Lovin' Spoonful / Fu-Schnickens. RCA Victor. 1988. 09026-68307-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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