The Dayton Family made some noise throughout the South and Midwest with their major-debut, What’s on My Mind. However, F.B.I., their second release, solidified them as a serious Hip-Hop force to be reckoned with. Let’s chop it up about the latter.
Released in September 1996, the album was filled with street joints that would’ve had Wes Craven paranoid after a listen. The album opens with “79th & Halstead,” one of the hardest opening tracks of the time. In context, it tells the story of how they were scheduled to perform in Chicago, only to get jammed up at a liquor store on 79th and Halstead on the city’s South side. They didn’t take the incident lightly and promised revenge.
I’m making preparations to return to 79th and Halstead/I came to perform but bled instead/Infiltrated by an enemy trying to paint me red/I discovered the true essence of a Vicky Lou/Quick to mob when odds are 70 to 2. – Bootleg
They matched that energy with “Hands That Rocks the Cradle,” the following track.
Bootleg and Shoestring brought along a couple of female vocalists to let us know what F.B.I. really means to The Dayton Family in the title-track, “F**k Being Indicted.”
The Dayton Family used a Whodini bassline to inform the Hip-Hop world that Dayton Avenue is “Real with This.” On the contrast, they showed a more reflective side of their upbringing on “Ghetto.”
F.B.I. peaked at the number 45 spot on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was certified Gold.
The Dayton Family may not have been from Compton or The Bronx, but they proved that Flint, Michigan birth the same type of street cats.
The Dayton Family’s ‘F.B.I.’; Classic!, Dope, Regular, or Garbage?
Polls Are Closed!
Classic! – 53%
Dope – 31%
Regular – 8%
Garbage – 8%
