Biography
U.T.F.O. emerged as a Brooklyn rap quartet whose lineup consisted of Kangol Kid, Doctor Ice, the Educated Rapper, and Mix Master Ice. The four first crossed paths while serving as dancers for Whodini and officially assembled the act in 1983, adopting the name Untouchable Force Organization. At the outset they styled themselves the Village People of Rap because each performer cultivated a distinct visual identity: Doctor Ice operated as the Hip-Hop Physician, the Educated Rapper appeared as a college student in suit and tie, Mix Master Ice projected a ninja persona tied to his turntable cutting, and Kangol Kid earned his handle from a constant preference for Kangol-brand hats.
After inking with the Select label in 1984, the group notched an immediate blockbuster via the single Roxanne, Roxanne, a track whose impact on the still-developing rap landscape triggered a wave of answer records such as Roxanne's Revenge, The Real Roxanne, Roxanne You're Through, Roxanne's Mother, Roxanne's Brother, Roxanne's Doctor, and, most unusually, Roxanne's a Man; several female rappers also took the Roxanne moniker, among them Roxanne Shanté and The Real Roxanne.
U.T.F.O. delivered their self-titled debut album in 1985, which contained the follow-up Calling Her a Crab (Roxanne Part 2) yet failed to replicate the original's reach. During this period the members joined Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, the Fat Boys, and Newcleus for the 30-city New York City Fresh Fest package tour. On the 1986 sophomore release Skeezer Pleezer the Educated Rapper stepped away temporarily, returning in time for the 1987 album Lethal; that project drew criticism from longtime supporters for its more explicit lyrical direction, even though the anti-drug title track included an early musical appearance by heavy metallists Anthrax that preceded the band's better-known work with Public Enemy. Two further sets, 1989's Doin' It! and 1990's Bag It & Bone It, preceded the group's dissolution.
Following the breakup Doctor Ice issued solo projects including Mic Stalker and Rely on Self, while a 20-track compilation titled The Best of U.T.F.O. appeared in 1996 and a two-for-one reissue pairing Skeezer Pleezer with Lethal arrived in 2000.
After inking with the Select label in 1984, the group notched an immediate blockbuster via the single Roxanne, Roxanne, a track whose impact on the still-developing rap landscape triggered a wave of answer records such as Roxanne's Revenge, The Real Roxanne, Roxanne You're Through, Roxanne's Mother, Roxanne's Brother, Roxanne's Doctor, and, most unusually, Roxanne's a Man; several female rappers also took the Roxanne moniker, among them Roxanne Shanté and The Real Roxanne.
U.T.F.O. delivered their self-titled debut album in 1985, which contained the follow-up Calling Her a Crab (Roxanne Part 2) yet failed to replicate the original's reach. During this period the members joined Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, the Fat Boys, and Newcleus for the 30-city New York City Fresh Fest package tour. On the 1986 sophomore release Skeezer Pleezer the Educated Rapper stepped away temporarily, returning in time for the 1987 album Lethal; that project drew criticism from longtime supporters for its more explicit lyrical direction, even though the anti-drug title track included an early musical appearance by heavy metallists Anthrax that preceded the band's better-known work with Public Enemy. Two further sets, 1989's Doin' It! and 1990's Bag It & Bone It, preceded the group's dissolution.
Following the breakup Doctor Ice issued solo projects including Mic Stalker and Rely on Self, while a 20-track compilation titled The Best of U.T.F.O. appeared in 1996 and a two-for-one reissue pairing Skeezer Pleezer with Lethal arrived in 2000.
Albums
