Main Source

Main Source
Background information
Origin	Queens, New York, U.S. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Hip Hop
Years active	1989–1994
Labels	Wild Pitch/EMI Records
Past members	Large Professor K-Cut Mikey D Sir Scratch

Main Source was a hip hop group based in New York City/Toronto, composed of Toronto DJs and producers, Sir Scratch and K-Cut, and Queens MC and producer Large Professor. Later, Michael Deering aka Mikey D (also from Queens) replaced Large Professor.

History

The group's first album, Breaking Atoms, released in July 1991, featured conscious tracks such as "Looking at the Front Door", "Just a Friendly Game of Baseball", and "Watch Roger Do His Thing", as well as the first on-record appearance of Nas on "Live at the Barbeque," which also featured Joe Fatal and Akinyele. Because of business differences, the group broke up before its second album, tentatively titled The Science could be released. However, Sir Scratch and K-Cut released a second album under the Main Source name titled Fuck What You Think, with new recruit Michael Deering aka The Real Mikey D on vocals & featured another first on-record appearance for The Dog Pack which would later become the legendary Yonkers rap group The LOX on "Set It Off"; however, the album was shelved due to inner conflicts between Wild Pitch Records and group management. Singer Madonna sampled the bassline from "What You Need" on Fuck What You Think in the song "Human Nature," which appeared on her 1994 album, Bedtime Stories. Michael Deering better known as The Real Mikey D, prior to Main Source, was also 1/3 of the Laurelton Queens based hip hop group L. A. Posse. The group also consisted of DJ Johnnie Quest and Legendary engineer/ producer Paul C (who was also the mentor of Large Professor). In 1988 Mikey was also the winner of the New Music Seminar battle for world supremacy. Large Professor went on to be an instrumental producer for hip hop stars such as Eric B. & Rakim, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Nas, and Diamond D. He references his falling-out with Sir Scratch and K-Cut on A Tribe Called Quest's third album Midnight Marauders. On the track "Keep It Rollin'" he says, "I'm Uptown chillin', takin in this Grandmaster Vic blend/from the projects, the PJ's, fuck them two DJ's; Self mission."

K-Cut also produced for a wide range of hip hop artists including Big Pun, Maestro Fresh-Wes, Fu-Schnickens, Queen Latifah, and even NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. He also mentored another Toronto-based producer named Watts.

Breaking Atoms was named as one of two jury vote winners, alongside Buffy Sainte-Marie's It's My Way!, of the Polaris Heritage Prize at the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

Discography

Studio albums

• Breaking Atoms (1991)
• Fuck What You Think (1994)

Singles

• "Think" (1989)
• "Looking at the Front Door" (1990)
• "Watch Roger Do His Thing" (1990)
• "Just Hangin' Out" (1991)
• "Peace Is Not the Word to Play" (1991)
• "Fakin' the Funk" (1992)
• "What You Need" (1993)

Guest appearances

• The Brand New Heavies - "Bonafide Funk" from Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1 (1992)

Charts

Year	Song	US Rap	Album
1990	"Looking at the Front Door"	1	Breaking Atoms
1991	"Just Hangin' Out"	11	Breaking Atoms
1992	"Fakin' the Funk"	1	White Men Can't Rap
1994	"What You Need"	48	Fuck What You Think

External links

• Main Source at MySpace
• Main Source discography at Discogs