Hip-Hop Icons, Ultramagnetic MC's Celebrate The 30 Year Anniversary of ‘Critical Beatdown'

[@MaryPoppinOfPimpin]

I can't believe some old heads never heard of these guys and I'm 26. They are legendary. Critial Beatdown is that Hidden Gem classic. GTA San Andreas too.

[@taylorchasesteele]

Im 24 thats why i love sway. I get to hear mc's i should but dont know about. Helps me learn and hearing old heads talk teaches you some hip hop and life lessons. You got to really pay attintion though.

[@Digamortis]

Exactly I'm 21 and Ultramagnetic MC's are one of my favorite groups of all time. If it wasn't for hearing Ego Trippin on THUG 2 I probably wouldn't be here lol. Also I feel like Ced Gee deserves a lot more credit as a producer.

[@deathhop1]

Hidden Gem classic? There's nothing hidden about one of the best Hip Hop LPs of the Golden age.

[@kmc1steelers998]

They are not real hip hop heads if you don't know Ced Gee, and Kool Keith period

[@smithydavis1033]

22 Though I first heard of Kool Keith from Dr.Octagan with Dan the Automator. I heard Ultramagnetic Mcs and I was attached from then

[@terrytees]

Ced is the most underrated producer if all time in hip-hop, crazy cause he is one of the best that ever did it.

[@tiesheawilliams9004]

Facts

[@kmc1steelers998]

Indeed. ...The man Ced GEE

[@patrick3926]

Game changer!

[@exf20]

Isn't that the truth!

[@jasonhardy142]

U.k Hip Hop Head totally agrees.

[@TheBigShotTMD]

Critical Beatdown is 1 of the most underrated and overlooked gems of 80s hip hop & also 1 of the best group albums ever made period. This does NOT get enough props or mentions that it rightfully deserves in hip hop history by the majority of fans.

[@therealzdeal5630]

Facts that album really helped shaped lyrical rap,

[@fiyahriddims]

In my 50 years of living nothing in hip hop has stayed in my brain as ultramagnetic MC's. The best is captivating and unique, the rhyming, on a PHD level. Pure 🔥🔥🔥

[@highfived]

Ced gee is one of the nicest guy I have ever met in hip hop always have time for his fans

[@ministerservertavares4714]

Wooow!! Nuff respect to to Sway and the crew for having Hip Hop pioneers Ultramagnetic MCs on the show!! Kool Keith and Ced Gee are LEGENDARY in Hip Hop as DOPE eMCees and producers!! Why was the interview so short?! They need to return, I know that got maaaad stories to share, WORD!!

[@craigdavis4265]

The Ultramagnetic M.C.s are Hip Hop hidden gems man.

[@drfangaz-pronouncedlikefan4019]

Salute to Ultra Magnetic MCs and Sway. Thanks for giving these brothers their just due. 💙💙💙✊🏿

[@tizosh7]

These Brothers were just waaaaay ahead of their time!! People still not caught up since 30 years ago

[@jasonhardy142]

England UK 1988. Critical Beatdown album on the pirate radio every single day, especially Watch Me Now and Ease Back. I was in awe of them two tunes back in the day and in 2020!

[@chrismclaren75]

hands down THE BEST ALBUM of all time! Nothing comes close.

[@oneflowerninjamagic1912]

Mobb Deep The Infamous.... is being damn close huh?

[@barty2381]

Critical Beatdown definitely best Hip Hop album ever made. I remember when I first purchased in 88, I got home and played that album and it just blew me away!

[@messiahblack4816]

Peace and Blessings I rocked CRITICAL BEATDOWN daily in my Walkman in 89'.....

[@inquizative44]

Me too! Just pressed play. You didn't have to rewind or fast forward nothing. Just pressed play and let the tape rock till the tape pop!! with auto-reverse.

[@sidneyjohnson1965]

Yo that's what's up Sway. M.C. Ultra Magnetic in the house. Grew up listening to these dudes.

[@djarchive8303]

The Greatest Hip Hop Album Of ALL Time!

[@chefmanrashidchannel88pl3]

DJ Archive and they always underated the realist

[@oneflowerninjamagic1912]

i almost wanna agree... but that Mobb Deep the Infamous prevents me from committing/co-signing to that statement.

[@LIONKING1103]

All I can say is.... "Mr magic on wbls friday nights"🖤🖤🖤👊🏿

[@mrstevens70]

I thoroughly enjoyed Ultramagnetic MC's. This takes me back to my youth(NYC).

[@mikemiller5257]

My favorite group: Mentally Mad!

[@lroy74]

Im like a sniper when im loadin my gun/ I got the suckers paranoid and they on the run FUUUUCK YES!! My fav too

[@cjhepburn7406]

That Joint Was Something Else!

[@4evertwisted]

Still listening to that album today from when I first bought it on vinyl back then. When they dropped chorus line man I had that on repeat. I think I bought 2 live crew album too on the same day. Best days back then. Would buy a record every 2 weeks.

[@elboogie4u]

Shout out to the true hip hop legends. Coming through with the history lesson. 💯

[@aslaammahdi3244]

STILL one of my favorite albums PERIOD!!!

[@loma-uu5mg]

edit: Where's the whole video?? " It seems weird, ya head is triangle!! " " Mandatory, capital statements, I am the teacher, teaching what makes sense " Critical Beatdown has so many off-kilter rhymes and they're still fresh today. The album still stands up production wise and I know fans of the album that are electronic music nerds/metalheads/psychedelic rock fanatics etc. It has a wide appeal because of the color, personality and overall quirkiness of the album. And it absolutely BANGS.

[@foarfield]

Stuttering, uttering, parkay margarine, everything's butter and another thing, you shoulda been a muppet!

[@cld_crush_brthers_ultra_ma60]

Think there’s another part of the video with Roxanne Shante

[@robertgirdwood1801]

I don't usually comment on videos but Kool Keith is just on another level looking down.

[@kmc1steelers998]

Ced Gee...master of beats... I love beats...

[@Iamnobodyelseinc]

I hit the like button before I even watched the video. #Legends

[@walterdavenport9562]

Legendary 🔥🔥🔥

[@brunoiciano]

Sway please upload the rest of the interview. My favorite group I never forget seen them live at USA Roller Skating Ring in Queens NY. They rolled like 30 man crew on the stage and destroyed Ego Tripping, Funky, Feeling it. 32 year ago awesome times..

[@TrevorHamberger]

That sounds incredible

[@ogmarkcurry]

Man.. this is amazing.. they are very very very important in our history.. thank you for recognizing

[@tiesheawilliams9004]

One of my favorite groups hands down 😍

[@jayelbee1111]

I remembered hearing the Ultramagnetic M.C.s for the first time in 1986 when I purchased "D.J. Red Alert Goes Berserk" compilation album. Ultramagnetic M.C.s had two singles on the album called "Ego Trippin" and "Bait." I was hooked since. They started releasing singles "Traveling at the speed of thought", "Funky", "Funky Introduction" Ced-Gee is a pioneer using the SP-1200 sampler. He produced Boogie Down Productions "Criminal Minded" album and produced the Grandmaster Caz single "The get down". Ged-Gee is so underrated as a producer and Kool Keith is so underrated as an emcee-Legends!!!

[@chrismclaren75]

Ced Gee = Paul C = Large Professor.

[@iketyson718]

Paul showed them all how to work that SP12...

[@lroy74]

Man if Paul C didn't die so young... He'd be harder than Rick Ruben

[@diggindan1498]

@@iketyson718 Exactly Paul C before them & Marley Marl

[@dawolf856]

FACTS

[@charlesscott27]

Critical Beatdown: Classic !

[@KuttyJoe]

This is definitely a legendary group. I always loved their style. Crazy energy in theor style.

[@TrevorHamberger]

Im a fan. Huge fan. Didn't hear them til like 2020 at best

[@Neckproblems78]

I always loved Ced-Gee style! And Keith was way ahead of his time and should be considered one of the goats

[@tee356]

Nuff respect to sway for bringing in a massive massive iconic group. Highly respected, STILL loved and revered here in the U.K & Europe -ULTRA!!

[@sidneysnyder854]

Ultra and Mantronix. Changed my life.

[@thedarkwarriorperspective7475]

Sidney Snyder both are dope! Great choices.🙌🏾

[@jerryspearman]

Man..........that’s one of my favorite albums of the golden years of hip-hop respect ✌🏿🎼

[@oneflowerninjamagic1912]

that is the truth - classic

[@cdjxman]

They’re STILL one of my favourite groups!🤩👍

[@sparkzmentalz2]

Salute to Ultra! Critical Beatdown inspired me so much. Glad to see Ced Gee getting recognition for his innovative production and Kool Keith for his unorthodox style.

[@cliftoncameron5632]

What a gift. Thank you

[@jaywyse4720]

Legends in the game! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Migsycruz]

Salute to the kings 👏👏👏👏

[@mrgooakalegooster]

ULTRA ULTRA CLASSIC!!!! 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@victorortiz6483]

Legends , ultra please give us another album!!!

[@yuatjawarriorcityhunter1782]

One of my favorite groups. Ego Trippin!!!

[@Plexpara]

ced gee is extrem underrated.i would love to hear more from him but he Chose they way as a prducer.i was in love with his style of rappin.want to see more of them

[@johnniemurray986]

Yes we got some legends "Critical Beatdown" was my shit when i was a kid

[@carlosrob6494]

peace; The baddest hip hop group ever

[@CoolMikey81]

Carlos Rob N.W.A!

[@inquizative44]

Indeed!

[@negroantonio28]

PURE FACTS💣💥 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@curtispresident327]

Peace!!!

[@Sispex]

It should be hard for me to pick my fave Hip Hop LP of all time. I would struggle to select my fave soul, Jazz, Reggae etc albums BUT Its an easy one for me. Critical beatdown hands down. So ahead of its time both lyrically and Production wise. All crafted under the masterful ear of the late GREAT Paul C. MAXIMUM RESPECTto everyone involved in this bona fide masterpiece.

[@fab5frk]

Abstract Legends !!

[@DEVINEJUSTICEALLAH72]

FACTS!!

[@ИгорьИванов-к7д]

Kool Keith 4 Real !!!Big Respekt From Saint-P (Russia)

[@dawb86]

Bruh, that's wild as hell. Why was I literally just listening to "Ego Trippin'" YESTERDAY thinking how ahead of their time Ultramag was not even realizing the 30 year anniversary of the album was today?!? Legends right here, respect to big OG Sway.

[@TravelingTal]

I Refuse to Put any Hip Hop Album ahead of Ultramagnetic's Critical Beatdown Based simply on the fact that it Inspired so many MC's and DJ's during that Golden age of Hip Hop. Paid in Full, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, Enter the Wu Tang 36 Chambers and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back are in the same Category but Critical Beatdown is at the top.

[@kmc1steelers998]

My Ceddy..... History right here. ♥️

[@apollobelladona]

Critical Beatdown is for me the blueprint of Hip Hop. A pure classic.

[@oneflowerninjamagic1912]

hip hop was heroin; critical beatdown was Fentanyl

[@Panabandit]

Awesome 2, 4-5a every Sunday morning

[@casualworker45]

Instant notification, I clicked fast and liked immediately. Thank you UMC's for your contribution to Hip-Hop/Rap and being influential to a lot of MC's styles.

[@octagonseventynine1253]

I was introduced to Keith from The Prodigy sampling him in the early 90s and eventually even doing tracks with him. I have bought 30+ of his albums and group projects over the years. One of my favourite rappers of all time.

[@manjuanprinceofthepowerdel2740]

Love how Sed said: he had to come back with frequencies and data, after he heard Kieth spit, choosing scientific matter😝...they both murdered mentally mad!!! Shalom and May YAHAWAH continue to bless both them Kings 👑✊🏼🙏

[@harrypool71]

🌸🌼🌺🌷🌺🌼🌸. These are the Flowers that Ultramagnetic Magnetic MC’s deserve. Salute!!!!

[@tiesheawilliams9004]

I'm still listening to ultra magnetic MCs

[@4TheExec]

*FEELIN' IT* my favourite track!

[@BrotherApexx]

"And if you bad I'll smack you through/a glass of rhymes/shattering/now you cut up/say what up/shut up/ cause I'm feeling it"

[@rickphilly1975]

@@BrotherApexx in the best MC in the whole wide world

[@trzarector]

HUH!!!! Why this cut off like that!!!

[@marcmason165]

The four horsemen is their best album to me.. Production was tight also

[@aslaammahdi3244]

I have to disagree it was dope, but critical beatdown was the better!!!

[@CoffeeeNBears]

Kool Keith!

[@ivelissefranco8127]

Bait ! Best song ever.

[@jerryspearman]

Real hip-hop that is ✌🏿🎼

[@twilson2605]

Ain't it good to you!

[@patrick3926]

Excellent interview! Legends!

[@inquizative44]

Critical Beatdown was the tape you just popped in and pressed play. Didn't matter what song played it was all dope! Classic, iconic album.......and Keith, rap general chief? Nuff said....

[@aslaammahdi3244]

Album dope from beginning to end

[@ashfaq1999]

One of legends of 80’s rap 👊

[@marcyme444]

Rip Tim Dog.

[@harrypool71]

If he’s actually dead

[@mhc12k]

God level right here

[@matthewcoundon9603]

Critical Beatdown is an absolute belter! Been listening to it since I did my paper round (tape version) in the early 90's and still love it today. Great rdp group album. Love Horns of Jericho by Hijack too👍👍

[@bxdale83]

Ced Gee is one of the most underrated producers in Hip Hop History. Which record came out first MC Shan's "The Bridge" or Ultramagnetic's "Ego Trippin"?

[@BlindassassinMGTOW]

INFINITE 2020 the bridge did come out in '85? I believe.

[@BlindassassinMGTOW]

@JezBollah 667 no '87

[@BlindassassinMGTOW]

@INFINITE 2020 hmph interesting thanks.

[@BrotherMan1969]

The original Traveling at the speed of thought came out in 85 when the Bridge came out. Then Ego Trippin came out.

[@andrewbintang4591]

ego trippin ain't their first single though, that was the one they were talking about in the beginning of this video when lyor cohen was listening and wanted to sign 'em: make you shake/to give you love. then there was this 1985 track they made before that: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2KwfWWpYtaElac

[@austinbailey5990]

Got mixed tapes from NYC with Ultra Magnetic

[@louiswilliams1529]

Much respect to UltraMagnetic MC's!!💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@rdmkemestry510]

Good interview!

[@keithcarter1424]

They change the lyric game right along with Rakim

[@wisewerethewords]

WTF?! Actual airtime for our giants? Had to know it was going down on Sway's show.

[@CGY-]

Moe Luvs on the Mix tonight. Moe Luvs Theme.

[@Dablkwid0w2008]

You know u dope when u bob ur head to ur own record

[@SurfDUI]

Royalty. Critical Beatdown... man.

[@dannyravel9237]

I met Kool Keith once,very cool and humble dude.

[@koolkeithultra1715]

Critical beatdown

[@Sispex]

Maximum Props sir!

[@carlmuhammad3938]

Ego Trippin was a diss record at Run Dmc

[@TpXThinner]

Care to elaborate?

[@mannysavage88]

@@TpXThinner listen to the opening lines to the song... it's obvious

[@TpXThinner]

@@mannysavage88 yeah after I responded I listened and clocked.... never noticed in over 30 years!. Same year as Peter Piper... "simple back n forth' 'nursery rhymes' etc... Kind of takes a tangent after that mind you...

[@DermDZL1]

To be fair, they dissed EVERYBODY

[@BrotherApexx]

If you hear Keith tell it, he was dissin lines more than emcees.

[@kincamell]

Gratitude "Took the work from a horse Gave it an engine Copied the wings from a bird They just had to fly I wonder what's next, what's next Watch out my love It could be you"- Melvin Bliss

[@oskamadison]

Once you get past that funky beat and listen to what dude was saying, that joint is heavy!…

[@omararcher7105]

Legends in hip hop! Critical beatdown, Funk your head up and not to mention, Kool Keith's catalog.

[@1995RangeRover]

Big love to Ultra Mag!!

[@dddlll2471]

kool Keith n ultra magnetic was so ahead of its time.... they are fukin ROYALTY

[@highfived]

WESTWOOD bootleg Mc champion what I need to here more ? You still should of put it on the album

[@carltoneasy9984]

For real

[@ogmarkcurry]

Wow.. I looked up to them.. not many more

[@oblivion_007]

"Here's the K, combined the double-O Swing in the L, I'm ready to go as Keith, Rap General Chief Executive plus exquisitive Mandatory, capital statements I am the teacher, preaching what makes sense Class, you wasn't able to pass For any germ or lice who come last I'm boric, high computing acid Get off the mic and won't you please pass it to me, for a one-two check Give me a pound and lots of respect No hands, you dissapointing my fans You on reverb, and talking to cans Hello - how are you doing? I come to wreck, and parties I'll ruin with rhymes, pumpin up smoke Diesel advances makin them choke and cough up, the hard-headed I'll soften spongee, then after that drink a ? Roll the sess, the buddha with the ganji Puff up, while I make tough stuff up I'm Kool Keith, cold rippin MC's I'm hype - for the critical beatdown!"

[@apollobelladona]

I don't think Tim Westwood bootlegged it, he just played that shit heavy on the radio. Those original tracks sounded so iLL that I was thinking you guys would top Critical Beatdown.

[@omarhendricks9756]

Legends

[@salaamsupreme1653]

Real Hip Hop💯🔥💥💪

[@dustyddrumologistdubreggae3066]

The best rap group and MC'S ever!!!777

[@josephisaac2060]

Critical Beatdown is in my top 10 all time easily...............

[@bigal05171957]

RAISE IT UP ULTRAMAGNETIC MC'S 93 was BUMPIN with funky jazz Beats Lords of The Underground Black Moon Trenz of Culture Capitol Tax Souls of Mischief 🎙🎙🎙🔊🔊

[@bingrim]

What i love about Ultra's honesty was that for example Keith gave it up to Special K of Treacherous 3. The song is "Gotta Rock". My emcee partner from Harlem pointed this out to me a decade ago and when i heard the pattern and subject matter i flipped out! Because only Special K, his cousin TLa Rock, Just Ice, Ultra, De La and Divine Styler were really the only people rhyming off kilter. That is why Treacherous 3 plays a great part in style patterns that would give life to a Kool Keith and a Rakim ect. Peace

[@bingrim]

No matter what, during the Next Plateau 12 inch singles and thr CB Lp Ced Gee was a Beast of an Emcee. It's said that a couple of his verses Keith helped write. But for the most part Ced had a distinguishable voice aside from Kk. I thought Ced up to this point was as Ill a KK. Also that Keith Pointed out that Aside from Diamond D and Large Pro he was one of the earlier Emcee/Producers Pre Pete Rock/Dilla

[@stephenheath8465]

Ghostface Killah and Paroahe Monch has that same abstract style of rhyming like Keith

[@bingrim]

@@stephenheath8465 yes they are products or fruits from the family tree of the complex wordplay.

[@bingrim]

Listen to Ego Trippin! They literally did the flow pattern to the kicks and snares of Synthetic Substitution!