Slept On... Questionmark Asylum

Before Wale was the voice of Washington DC, there was Questionmark Asylum. If you don’t know who I’m referring to don’t feel too bad, there’s not even a Wikipedia page on the group. The little known group consisting of four members: Mistafiss, Rosta Swan, Digge Dom, and Ding-Ding (love that last name) released one album on RCA before fading into Hip Hop oblivion. This was not due to the music, but timing and location. Their only album appropriately titled, The Album, was released in 1995 and was simply overshadowed by other albums now considered legendary. Other albums released that year include: Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, 2pac’s Me Against the World, and GZA’s Liquid Swords just to name a few. Being from Washington D.C. did not do them any favors. The rap world was consumed with East Coast vs. West Coast and if you weren’t taking shots at Biggie or 2pac, airplay and media hype was scarce.

The funny thing is if you listen to any of the tracks off the album you’re thinking these guys are coming straight from the golden state. They have that same distinct mid 90’s California sound you might expect from Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, or The Coup. It’s the type of music you picture rolling down Crenshaw Blvd. or Venice on a warm summer’s day with palm trees surrounding your ride. Then again I’m sure it sounds just as good cruising down the mall in D.C. with Cherry Blossoms flanking your car. While you wouldn’t classify the sound as G-Funk, there’s undoubtedly some George Clinton/P-Funk influence in the beats. This sound is especially prevalent in songs like “Hey Lookaway”, “Freakazoid”, and “Get with You.”

Another factor that made Questionmark Asylum the red headed stepchild of the Hip-Hop community was their subject matter. Hip Hop was getting increasingly darker. It was before the Bling Bling movement of Cash Money in the late 90’s and right around the time Suge Knight was making members of Puffy’s entourage drink cups of hot piss (literally). Every rapper had a shotty by the shower and was painting their Acura black with crack sale intentions. While other rappers were tallying their verbal homicides; Question Mark Asylum were slaying honey dips like Fillmore Slim. Nearly all 14 tracks on their album had to do with buttering biscuits and being cherries on top of ladies ice cream. This was not some sort of new phenomenon in Hip Hop i.e. 2 Live Crew and Too $hort, but it did kind of break away from the mold of their contemporaries.

So where are they now? Good question. They do have a myspace page and apparently Ding Ding passed away (RIP Ding Ding). They have one new video entitled “Sho’em What 2 Do Wit It” and if I were Ding Ding I would be less than impressed with the groups direction. It just sounds like some generic bullshit. This is not to take away from The Album, where all the tracks are pretty stellar. My favorite track would probably have to be “Get With You.” Other stand out tracks would have to be “We’re Thanking You”, “You Don’t Understand”, and “Hey Lookaway.” I would give “Got Dem Joints” an honorable mention. At first glance you might think that’s their weed smoking anthem on the album, but rather a cautionary tale of people who knowingly have H.I.V. giving it to other people.

So if you find yourself on a warm sunny day missing some classic fun loving Hip-Hop, go pick up a copy of The Album. They just don’t make MC’s like Ding Ding no more.