http://www.allmusic.com/album/lifestyles-of-the-young-and-crazy-mw0000863544
The obscure 1-Five Posse was never one of hip-hop's well-known acts; however, the Atlanta-based group did record two noteworthy albums for the Ichiban-distributed World Export label in the early '90s. The second of the two was Lifestyles of the Young and Crazy, a very sociopolitical effort along the lines of Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions. Although not remarkable and not in a class with PE or BDP's work, this is a decent (if slightly uneven) CD that takes a long, hard look at the problems of the inner city. 1-Five does provide a few escapist party jams -- most notably "Flirt." But most of the tunes tackle social issues, including drugs and black-on-black crime. Lyrically, "Dick Got Sic" mines the same waters as Kool Moe Dee's "Go See the Doctor" -- it is a frank, no-nonsense account of contracting a venereal disease after making the mistake of having unprotected casual sex. Wiz, who produced this 1992 release, favors a sample-heavy approach that isn't unlike what Marley Marl and DJ Mark the 45 King were doing in New York at the time. Fans of 1970s music will have fun playing "name that sample"; the 1-Five Posse samples everything from El Chicano's "Tell Her She's Lovely" on the title track to Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" on "Bustin' Out" and Kool & the Gang's "Hollywood Swinging" on "Flirt." Is Lifestyles of the Young & Crazy a masterpiece? No, but it's a likable, although imperfect, footnote in the history of the Atlanta rap scene.
