On Golden Age Thursday, Glide will be digging out videos from the hallowed Golden Age of Hip Hop.
Originally founded in 1982, Whodini is one of the quintessential groups of Hip Hop’s “Golden Age”. The trio consists of turntable specialist Grandmaster Dee performing behind vocalists Jalil Hutchins and John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, the latter passed back in 2020. The group debuted in 1983 with their self-titled debut, producing hits like “Magic’s Wand” and “The Haunted House of Rock”. Along with their tongue-in-cheek lyricism, Whodini quickly became known for their theatrical live performances that included backup dancers. Members of the equally influential hip-hop powerhouse UTFO would breakdance on stage while Whodini ran through their plethora of youthful, vibrant hip-hop.
The year was 1990 and Whodini’s discography was shaping into something special. They released Escape (1984), Back in Black (1986), and Open Sesame (1987). They had skyrocketed to the top of hip-hop, pioneering the genre into the airwaves with hits like “Friends”. The video we have for you today features Whodini at its peak. With four acclaimed and commercially successful albums under their belt, the trio takes the stage at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, you can see their famous backing dancers spinning around as Whodini tears the house down with a stellar performance of their hit “Friends”.
