In the early 90s, the Long Island quartet Leaders of the New School seemed like they had all the makings of Hip-hop’s next stars. The group consisted of Charlie Brown, Cut Monitor Milo, Dinco D, and Busta Rhymes. While Rhymes’s inevitable rise as a solo act may have splintered the group, they left behind two phenomenal examples of their jovial, punchy flows. Their 1991 debut, A Future Without a Past, was released by Elektra Records after the group’s debut double-sided single included hits like “Case of the P.T.A.” and “Teachers, Don’t Teach Us Nonsense.” Their star began to shine in a blinding way after the group appeared on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” but due to creative and leadership differences that were boiling within the group from the start, Leaders of the New School broke up shortly after the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore album, 1993’s T.I.M.E.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we take a look at Leaders of The New School right as their Hip-hop fantasies were coming to life. The group stormed the In Living Color set for an electrifying performance of “Teachers, Don’t Teach Us Nonsense.” The track, which took aim at the public school system, is a bouncy anti-authority anthem with verses that were meant to be yelled and a hard-hitting instrumental. The group’s frenetic energy bubbles out of the screen as Leaders of The New School put on a beautifully coordinated performance while displaying a Hip-hop prowess that continues to echo via their undeniable legacy.
