Wikipedia

Just Say Stet

"Just Say Stet" is the debut single by American hip hop group Stetsasonic, released in 1985 via Tommy Boy Records. It was included on their debut album On Fire, released the following year. All members of the group have credits as composers of the song,[1] which they produced in collaboration with Eric Calvi and Robin Halpin as per the liner notes credits.

"Just Say Stet"
Side A of the US 12-inch vinyl
Single by Stetsasonic
from the album On Fire
B-side"Rock De La Stet (Vocal)"
Released1985
StudioTommy Boy Recording
GenreHip hop
Length3:40
LabelTommy Boy
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Stetsasonic singles chronology
"Just Say Stet"
(1985) 		"Go Stetsa I"
(1986)

The song has a production based on electro music.[5] Also in it DBC is credited with playing keyboards and horn, being one of the most remarkable peculiarities of the group that its members play instruments.[6]

In 1999, Ego Trip's editors ranked "Just Say Stet" at No. 10 in their list of Hip Hop's 40 Greatest Singles by Year 1985 in Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists.[7]

Conception and composition

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Prince Paul told Complex in 2011, that he was still attending high school at the time of producing the song:

"I was like 17. I was naïve until the record came out. I was just like, 'Oh, I got a record out.' You know? I never took it seriously. So that’s how my earlier records just randomly came about.(...) I remember the first record getting played on the radio was "Just Say Stet." And I was like freaking out. Like, 'Mom! Check this out!' I was like 18 at the time. First record, first single, and boom it was on WHBI. I really don’t remember who played it, but I remember turning on the radio, and it was like, 'My record’s on. Oh, my God. I have a record on the radio.'"[8]

Though it's labeled "Instrumental", A2 is in fact more like a slightly extended dub version of A1. It ends in a locked groove with the word "Stet" at the end of the final "Just say Stet!" repeating over and over to infinity (The scratched message in the runout groove on Side A references this). Some copies came with a free STET sticker.

Reception

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John Leland at Spin said, "This isn’t so much a record as a challenge. Stetsasonic gets inside your shirt and for four minutes threatens to kick your ass. Not in so many words, but the sound of this record is so tough and the raps so aggressive, that it just bullies you into submission."[5]

Personnel

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Credits are taken from the liner notes and the official page of the ASCAP.[9][10][1]

  • Written By – Glenn Bolton, Arnold Hamilton, Paul Huston, Martin Nemley, Leonardo Roman, Marvin Shahid Wright
  • Producer – Stetsasonic
  • Co-producer – Eric Calvi, Robin Halpin (tracks: A1, A2), Jim Klein (track B)
  • Keyboards, Horns – DBC
  • Mastered By – Herbie Jr :^)* (Herb Powers Jr.)
  • Engineer – Eric Calvi
  • Producer (exec.) – Tom Silverman

Single track listing

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12" Vinyl

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A-Side

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  1. "Just Say Stet" (3:40)
  2. "Just Say Stet" (Instrumental) (3:44)

B-Side

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  1. "Rock De La Stet" (Vocal) (6:30)

References

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  1. ^ a b c "ASCAP Repertory entry for this song". ASCAP. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Stetsasonic · Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Eric Calvi · Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Robin Halpin · Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b John Leland (March 1986). SPIN Mar. 1986. SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Stetsasonic's Bobby Simmons Argues They Are The Only Hip-Hop Band (Audio)". Ambrosia For Heads. April 6, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Hip-Hop's Greatest Singles By Year (Ego Trip Magazine)". Genius. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Prince Paul Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records (Part 1)". Complex. December 8, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Just Say Stet (track listing). Stetsasonic. Tommy Boy. 1985. TB 875.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ On Fire (track listing). Stetsasonic. Tommy Boy. 1986. TBLP-1012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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