Retro Video of the Week: "True Fuschnick" by Fu-Schnickens

This Sunday will mark the 25th anniversary of the release of F.U. Don't Take It Personal, the debut album from Brooklyn-based rappers Fu-Schnickens.  Taking the stagenames Chip Fu, Moc Fu, and Poc Fu, Fu-Schnickens brought Asian and martial arts influences to hip hop before Wu Tang Clan.  Unlike a lot of other rappers in the early '90s, Fu-Schnickens kept their lyrics pretty clean (and sometimes bordering on silly -- their name was a word they made up), but don't mistake the lack of swearing for a lack of talent.  These guys were great.  

While the group achieved their biggest success a year or so later with their collaboration with Shaq -- "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)" -- I discovered F.U. Don't Take It Personal not long after it came out (probably thanks to Yo! MTV Raps) and loved it. I used to listed to this album (on tape, of course) a ton.  I was (and still am) blown away at how fast Chip Fu could rhyme.  Hell, they even rhymed backwards!  The album was co-produced by the group and A Tribe Called Quest, and Pfife Dawg makes a guest appearance on the track "La Schmoove."  I'm going with "True Fuschnick" because it's a great introduction to one of hip hop's forgotten gems.  Chip Fu's first verse is just ridiculous.