Search - Oaktown's 357 :: Wild & Loose (Bonus Dvd)

Props to MC Hammer's dancers and pioneering female MCs

Chad Zurko | Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA | 12/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Say what you want about this trio of proteges of the once omnipresent MC Hammer, Oaktown's 357 had the potential to be as big as the Hammer man himself with fierce lyrical delivery, hyperkenetic dance moves, flashy videos backed by catchy pop beats (in an interview it was said the group chose "357" as numbers symbolizing strength and power). This album was originally released in 1989, a year before Hammer's own career peaked. Unfortunately by the beginning of the '90s both acts failed to keep up with the changing pop landscape and the advent of "gangsta" rap. The inevitable backlash came against Hammer, Oaktown's 357 and other "cheesy" rap acts. Most female rappers with the exception of Salt N' Pepa were already forgotten by the time 357 (now a duo) released their far inferior sophomore disc "Fully Loaded." And even today with the world wide web there is little information about this enigmatic and short-lived group. Therefore it is great to see this "guilty pleasure" get re-released and remastered WITH an awesome DVD that includes not only all the videos from "Wild and Loose:"

357 Straight At You

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Juicy Gotcha Krazy

We Like It (Get Loose)



...but also the videos from "Fully Loaded:"

Honey

It's Not Your Money

Turn It Up



I had not seen a couple of these ever, and had not seen the others in many years so this was really a treat and reminded me how irresistably watchable the videos were (thanks no doubt to MC Hammer and his handlers). I did have to wince at seeing "Straight at You" again, where "Terrible T" and "Sweet LD" lip-synched the parts of "Little P," who for some reason was gone by the time the video was shot (random trivia: Little P was the keyboard player in Bobby Brown's "My Perogative" video with the high top fade LOL). It's a shame the DVD nor its track listing were even mentioned on the jewel box label; also a shame that I was able to find a "cutout" copy only 5 months after its release. Still, props to Bungalo records for giving it a try and doing a halfway decent job unlike so many re-released, supposedly remastered recordings these days. You can definitely hear the improved sound quality on the one listen I've had so far. My only other complaint is the listed "remix" of Juicy Gotcha Krazy that replaced the original album mix. This remix consists only of the original with an annoying hollow background beat. I was surprised they didn't use the bass-heavy single/video version with B Angie B or another mix I've heard that cleverly combines the album and single mixes. But the DVD more than makes up for that.



I hope this review will provoke others to write in on their likes (or dislikes) of this underrated group and album, and maybe the word can be spread and others will get to hear fun "vintage" rap/hip hop."

More Than Just Hammers Dancers

IJustDiedAlive | Northern CA, USA | 07/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This group came out strong in 89' after performing with Hammer since 87'. As part of the Oaktown Posse these ladies were more than just some of the best hip-hop dancers of that time they had skills on the mic as well. After shooting the music video for Yeah,Yeah,Yeah the group had a little drama that led to Lil'P leaving the group. Another reviewer said that she was the keyboard player in Bobby Brown's video but that is incorrect. That girl was a back up dancer for 357 known as Vicious C not part of the group. Lil'P was the other girl in the video aside from Terrible T and Sweet LD and she can also be seen in the Hammer video for Pump It Up. Anyway this cd was remastered very well and sounds great. I wish the B Angie B version of Juicy was included as well as the remix for We Like It with only TT and Sweet LD. But the videos are great anyway."