Olori Rock - Ruff-N-Tuff / Don't Test Me - 1994

12" - 1994 - LonGevity Records

Back in '94 with this rare 12" released by Olori Rock, a young MC from Harlem 'Grant Projects' (125st & Amsterdam Ave). The wax is composed of 2 tracks 'Ruff-N-Tuff' and 'Don't Test Me', both produced by a cat named LSD. It came out on LonGevity Records and was also engineered by LG, Positive K's DJ. 
The main single of the 12" is 'Ruff-N-Tuff' available on the 'That Ride' side, in its Wrekless Radio Mix version and Rugged Butta Remix version, but the flip side wins this time with the excellent 'Don't Test Me (Smooth Radio Mix)' which is Olori's favorite track too, according to him.

Olori Manns : "I was already discovered by a group from Brooklyn 3-4 years prior to that, Witchdoctor & the Dominating three MC's on loan on Timberwolfe Records, which I made a record with, doing the human beatbox."

Olori Manns :"Timberwolfe Records was managed by Susane Buckley and Fred Porter. DJ Witch Doctor a.k.a Norman Glover (RIP) was the DJ's name also known as Platinum producer on Biggie Smalls album 'Ready to Die' years later."

 Olori Rock (Bottom) / Superlova Cee and Casanova Rud / Mellow Nate Dee / Rock Master J  Count Cool Out & DJ Witchdoctor - Photo courtesy of Olori Manns

Olori Rock / Rockmaster J Count Cool Out / Mellow Nate Dee / DJ Witch Doctor - Photo courtesy of Olori Manns

Olori Manns : "I met Steven Brown a.k.a LSD at the Apollo. He came down to see me performed when musician Nat Adley recommended him to go and see me. Nat Adley played Instrument for Luther Vandross and his daughter went to school with my sister. She was 4 years younger than me probably about 11 or 12 when my sister's friend's mother heard my demo, she told her husband who is Nat Adley and he called Steven Brown ... that's how the connection happened.

Longevity records was put together by Steven Brown and Stanley Brown who is Steven's Father. Steven got his dad to give him $10,000 to invest in my first Single "Ruff-N-Tuff / Don't Test Me" in 1994."

Mad Props to Olori Manns a.k.a Olori Rock, thanks for your time !