In 1979, while a student on the campus of Eastern Michigan University, Duane Hughes, now professionally known as Spyder D, became the first rap artist to found and operate his own rap label.
That label was aptly named, Newtroit Records.
New for New York, where Spyder was from, troit for where he was at, as in Detroit. Motown. Birthplace of a legendary sound and iconic culture for the sixties and seventies.
The single that was written, produced and arranged by Spyder D for Newtroit Records, was "Big Apple Rappin'", a verbal tour of New York City, backed by pure midwestern funk, with a touch of jazz.
"New York is just a great big stage, where everyone has his part to play
You might just see anything, from a bank gettin' robbed to a pocket book sting", wrote a then nineteen year old, homesick Duane Hughes, from Hollis, Queens, New York.
Ruben Pierce was the drummer for that session. He brought along the rest of the band to the small eight track studio, that inlcuded keyboardist Earl Rice, guitarist Wayne White, and bass player Billy Motley.
That same Billy, is now Billy Wilson, currently President of the Motown Alumni Association.
Through Billy Wilson, Spyder met Mike Pierre of TOFA Enterprises, who signed Spyder to a piggyback distribution deal with Paul Klien's Empire MusicWerks/Universal.
Now...
The rest shall become History!
All over again.
