The Points
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Album Summary
Released in 1995, 'The Points' is a vinyl single or EP from the Various catalog, presenting multiple versions of one track across both sides of the record — coming at you dirty and clean, like only the mid-90s hip-hop underground knew how to do. The release features remix or interpretation credits from U-Neek, Easy, and Mista Lawnge, names deeply rooted in the Native Tongues-adjacent world of hip-hop production and performance. Mista Lawnge, known for his work with Black Sheep, brings serious credibility to this project, and his presence alongside U-Neek and Easy situates this release firmly within that golden era of thoughtful, soulful, East Coast hip-hop craft. The format — multiple 'Points' versions spread across the A and B sides — reflects the era's vinyl culture, where DJs and collectors alike sought out every version of a track to find the one that hit just right in the mix.
Reception
- Specific chart performance data for this 1995 release has not been widely documented in mainstream music trade publications.
- The release appears to have been oriented toward the DJ and collector market, where its multi-version format would have been most appreciated by those digging in the crates.
- Critical reception specific to this release has not been broadly captured in surviving music press from the period.
Significance
- The presence of Mista Lawnge of Black Sheep connects this release to one of the most respected creative lineages in early-to-mid 1990s hip-hop, lending the project an air of artistic authenticity that the underground scene held in the highest regard.
- The structure of the release — offering both 'Dirty' and 'Clean' versions across multiple contributors — reflects the dual demands of street credibility and radio playability that defined the mid-1990s hip-hop marketplace.
- As a multi-artist, multi-version vinyl format release from 1995, 'The Points' stands as a document of the era's deep respect for the DJ as curator, giving record spinners the tools to work the track from multiple angles on any given night.
Tracklist
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A1 The Points (U-Neek's Points Dirty) —
8:55
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A2 The Points (Easy's Points Dirty) —
9:09
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B1 The Points (Mista Lawnge's Points Dirty) —
5:02
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B2 The Points (U-Neek's Points Clean) —
5:09
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B3 The Points (Easy's Points Clean) —
6:40
Artist Details
Here's the thing about Various, baby — this artist burst onto the 1980s rock scene like a force of nature, blending raw energy with a sound that was somehow both timeless and perfectly of its era. Various carved out a reputation for delivering tracks that hit you right in the chest, the kind of music that made you pull over your car just to let the song breathe. With a catalog that speaks for itself, Various remains one of the most compelling figures to come out of that decade of big hair, bigger riffs, and even bigger feelings.
