Monday, December 22, 2008

Def Dames

To make up for lack of posts lately I'm trying to do several today. Up next is another group I didn't discover until recently. The neon pink and green of Def Dames's album cover 2-4 The Bass literally screamed at me while I was at a music store not too long ago (they are a dying breed so I try and support them when I can). The cheap price and the even cheaper cover was all it took to purchase the album. The release is from 1989 on the indie label Sedona Recording Company. Def Dames (not to be confused with 90s Euro dance act Def Dames Dope) were Kandy Kane and Special T (which by today's standards sound like either stripper or porn star names...actually they probably sounded this way in 1989). From what little I could find (mostly via billboard.com) the album peaked at #76 on the R&B Album Chart. It also spawned two singles that charted on the Hot Rap Singles Chart. 976-Boom peaked at #19 while Set It Off (wonder if Peaches was a fan?) peaked at #20. The album is über cheesy bass/electro rap which was never really taken that seriously back in the day, but it's cheesiness lives on. Of note the song Work It even pokes fun of Salt N Pepa and L'Trimm (which is quite ironic since this album doesn't sound that far off from L'Trimm at times).







(L-R; 2 4 The Bass CD; Set It Off 12"; 2 Large CD; The King Of Romance 12")

They followed up their debut with 2 Large. This album failed to chart but yielded at least two singles The King of Romance (which peaked at #20 on the Hot Rap Singles Chart) and Whip It, which you can guess samples Devo's hit heavily. After this album came and went it seems like the ladies of Def Dames pretty much disappeared. What little info I was able to find was via this myspace page which seems to be run by their old producer/discoverer DJ Sparkle. Not much is said about the two ladies that made up the duo, but apparently two new ladies (Tish 'n' Playette) are now part of Def Dames and have a new album coming out soon. That's all fine and dandy, but what about Kandy Kane and Special T? Faithful readers I'm hoping someone can help us out or even give more insight into the group. In the meantime I was able to find the following videos on youtbe. God bless the internet.

First up is Whip It:




Next up, The King Of Romance:

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Def Dames were a duo out of Bakersfield California after the second album Special T. changed her name to The Ace Señorita...she did leave the group in late 91 and was replaced by a young lady named Larissa who appears rapping Ace's parts in the "King of Romance" video...Larissa appeared with Kandy Kane in Oct 91 very pregnant performaing at the "Sister's In The Name of Rap" payperview concert to a not so warm response. Kandy Kane can be found on Myspace these days she is based out of Sacramento now and produces and raps under the name Touch.

Anonymous said...

i love that you're giving props to the women of def dames, whose _2-large_ i was just listening to at the gym, today. i don't think you meant to say, though, that their album cover "literally screamed at [you];" that would imply that the album cover actually spoke to you. What probably happened is that it *figuratively* screamed at you.

Anonymous said...

Hello My name is Touch aka Kandy Kane from the Def Dames. I appreciate your interest in the Def Dames. I can tell you anything you want to know. Both Ace Senorita and I are doing fine. Ace is happily married with 4 kids. She did leave the rap game for a good reason. Love her always. DJ Sparkle is full of shit and doesn't have the right or the power to replace us and was dropped by the record label after the first album because he put his foot in his mouth. I'm not ashamed of anything I've done, wait I take that back that album cover is dodo.
Everybody know how the rap game is for females but if I can do it over I would have fought harder to be more original. I will never give up the rap game so I started producing my own tracks. I'm alive. Touch aka Kandy Kane from the Def Dames www.myspace.com/giftrap2

Spark's Daughter said...

Hmmm I guess history is a funny thing...it does repeat itself..sometimes better the second time around than it did the first...
I happen to be Sparkle's oldest daughter and i remeber him teaching those girls how to rap..he wrote all of their material and even blew off taking me to magic mountain just to go to the studio with them instead..I love my father as well as his work..I didnt appreciate Kandy/Marilyn's comment saying he was full of shit because if that were true..he would have given their record deal to Dr Cream and SB instead of them or he could have rapped it himself since he wrote eveything..if ignorance is what has happened to the past..i know it wont be repeated this time..and the new damez are much better than the old ones because they stay true and loyal to this game..nuff said...Spark's Daughter

Anonymous said...

That's funny you said that history do repeat itself. The Def Dames (did) another album after Sparkle. They did chart billboard and no one have ever heard of the new damez. He can't use the real name it is owned by the company,and the music that he posted on his site was produced by the other producer not him.

Don't start none-Won't be none

Anonymous said...

Ok I don't know how long ago this combo happened but on the behalf of kandy and t. Look I was there befor any kinda deal happened I'm from Bakersfield and me and one of the girl's in the group was very close we dated for a short time and I seen the stress that neggro put them thrue after all their hard work he give her a funky 5000 dollar check and put my folks in a used Benz I don't care who kid u or anyone else is watch ur lango they deserve more credit then that watch ur mouth and so u know who said this Yongworld aka Hurk aka Myers and !!!!!!!

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