"Principal's Office" by Young MC

Song#:  4117

Date:  11/25/1989

Debut:  88

Peak:  33

Weeks:  14

Genre:  Rap

Pop Bits:  This NYC rapper scored a huge hit with the single "Bust a Move." It would end up getting to #7 Pop while spending 39 weeks on the chart. That longevity played into sales and the single would go platinum. It would also earn Young MC a Grammy. He would quickly record a debut album titled Stone Cold Rhymin' that would be released in the fall followed by this next single. It wouldn't come close to the success of his previous single, but it would make the Pop Top 40 while getting to #51 Dance. A third single, "I Come Off," would make it to #75 Pop/#36 Dance/#52 R&B. The album would top out at #9 Pop/#8 R&B and go platinum.

ReduxReview:  The one thing Young MC did well was set great grooves on a lot of the Stone Cold Rhymin' tracks and this is one of them. He weaved samples well enough to make anyone bop along. While this song paled in comparison to the classic "Bust a Move," it was still a solid track with a groove that was hard to ignore. The lyrics are certainly old school now, but they were fine back then and not as juvenile as ones by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, who where desperately trying to be cute and funny. Although Young MC had just one huge hit, he did have other charting singles including this one, so a little difficult to call him a one-hit wonder. However, it seems he got that tag from some folks and perhaps even believed it himself because he titled his fourth album Return of the 1 Hit Wonder.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  After the success of Stone Cold Rhymin', Young MC chose to leave his label Delicious Vinyl and sign on with Capitol Records. His second LP Brainstrom would arrive in '91. Its first single "That's the Way Love Goes" would be a minor entry at Pop (#54) and R&B (#32). Still, the album would become a gold seller making it to #66 Pop/#61 R&B. A third album, '93's What's the Flavor?, would quickly come and go failing to chart. With that result, Young MC was off the Capitol roster. Some indie albums would follow with only 2000's Ain't Goin' Out Like That making the R&B chart at #85. Over the years, Young MC would also make appearance in films and on TV shows. He would end up participating in two reality TV competitions shows, Weakest Link - Rap Stars Edition and the third season of Celebrity Fit Club. He would end up being the winner of both shows.

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