Mean Machine

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Members
DJ Julio (Steven Santiago)
Jimmy Mac (James Mclean)
Mr. Nice (Jose Semprit)
Mr. Schick (Daniel Rivera
)

The Mean Machine went through a few members in the late 70s, before settling to the final four members at the end of 1979.

About a year and a half later, they were knocking on the doors of Sugar Hill Records and auditioning for Sylvia Robinson and her crew.

They rapped in both English and in Spanish making them one of the first bilingual rap groups around.  Sylvia loved the idea of making a bilingual rap record and released their first single “Disco Dream” in the summer of 1981.  Many of the lyrics used on the track were actually borrowed from Son of Sam of the Harlem World Crew with his permission.

Hispanics all over the country went crazy over the group when they heard Spanish rap for the first time.  This of course lead to the opening of doors to Latin America.

The group was shelved by Sugar Hill following a radio interview they did with Frankie Crocker at New York’s WBLS.  One of the members said something about the label that didn’t sit well.

The recorded for Honey Hush Recordings in 1986 with the single “At the Party”.

The group split up and hasn’t recorded since.

Info submitted by DANNYRAPS AKA MR.SCHICK and Charlie Rock

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Author: JohnG

Administrator of OldSchoolHipHop.Com

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12 Comments

  1. I am looking for the lyrics to Disco Dream! Where can I find them?

    Thanks,
    Kofi

  2. Jimmy Mac was my best friend before Mean Machine ever recorded their first song. We grew up together in the Bronx and he lived on 162nd St and 3rd Avenue. I sat in on a few of their practice sessions and I knew everyone in the group. Unfortunately we grew apart and I heard some things about how he wasnt doing too well. I dont know how or when he passed and it’s bothering me something awful. If anyone knows anythhing about this I would appreciate some information. I miss him dearly. May God rest his soul!

  3. Yes Elton, I dated him briefly and would like to know also. God Bless him. I have been searching the internet. I will check with some people I know that know him as well.

  4. Hi Elton my name is natalie and i use to live in the same building with james and his brother raymond. contact me if you remember me. Also are you saying that he passed away? I use to call him and raymond my brothers. He stayed with us for a few months back in the 80 when we moved to Jamaica Queens and i havent heard from him since

  5. Shickt was a wack tag artist who didnt kow anything from about rap, untill he saw me and my brother perform at our graduation in 1978 i was 16 a b boy and emcee named Spike la rock my brother deejayed and was called dj eddie d, we gave him a tape and he ran with it, i had to do 3 years in the navy…another re written lie about hiphop, till this day if i see him, ill set him straight.

    Paradox 2wx aka Spike La Rock

  6. In response to Rick Rosa comment…I don”t know you…Never met you…Never took anything from you or your brother…I am the first bilingual rap artist and those spanish rhymes were mine…Sorry but What you said about me is not true… no hard feelings…

    Schick…

  7. Mr.Schick’s pops owned a bodega on a 183 & Grand & Dj Julio use to spin around there too! Good ol’days!

  8. Yo Schick my aunt Judy use to stay in the building above the bodega we lived on 184th my dad was the twins Angel & Louie

  9. if you Schick Salsa the tag artist who went to the national Puerto rican forum back in 1978 I truly remember who you are, and there was a guy named Dave there also, ” Be Honest with your history ” as Prince Whipper Whip was one of the first latin emcees as well as Spike La Rock aka Paradox 2wx member of the Universal Zulu Nation.

  10. Some of us have been trying to build up a transcript for “Disco Dream” over at Genius, but my Spanish skills ain’t the best. If y’all can help out, that would be süüüüüper dope!! Check it: https://genius.com/The-mean-machine-disco-dream-lyrics

  11. I remember James. He was my sport buddy in the early and mid seventies. I remember a fish, a huff, a Dave(june bug) and his beautiful sister, a Kenneth, a skinny, a pepe. James Mom treated me super duper. I heard he did not take his mom passing too well. very vague info on james or his bro. I know this post is old but Elton and Natalies posts stirs strong memories. I remember a crazy brown dog that ran 162 st and 3rd. called Browny.

  12. Hey Schick…I haven’t seen you since the late 80s…this is Tony Tone..the.bass player…We built Honey Hush..and recorded at the party..I still have some of our practice tapes…hit me up

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