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One Hit Thunder

“What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock?) [with Shaquille O’Neal]” by FU-Schnickens (f/ Matt DiStefano)

·1 hr 11 min·5 clips
In 1993, a Brooklyn hip-hop trio collaborated with NBA rookie Shaquille O'Neal on a Bugs Bunny track that cracked the top 40—was Shaq as diesel on the mic as on the court?
The episode opens with a setup of FU-Schnickens' 1993 collaboration with NBA rookie Shaquille O'Neal, a Bugs Bunny-inspired track that peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hosts Chris Fafalios and Matt Kelly, alongside guest Matt DiStefano, delve into the group's formation and early success, including their gold-certified debut album. They discuss Chip Fu's musical background in ska and Afrobeat, which influenced his fast, rhythmic delivery. The conversation covers the chaotic creation of 'What's Up Doc?', including sample clearance issues with Warner Bros. and the song's rushed release on Shaq's album before FU-Schnickens' own. The hosts analyze the group's second album, recorded in just a day and a half, and how it felt antiquated compared to 1994 hip-hop landmarks like Nas's Illmatic and the Beastie Boys' Ill Communication. They examine FU-Schnickens' sudden disappearance, speculating on whether label demands for gangster rap or their own artistic limitations were to blame. The episode includes a trivia game about Shaq's career and endorsements, with Matt DiStefano emerging victorious. In the closing segment, the hosts give their final ratings: Matt Kelly awards 'thunder' for the group's originality, while Chris and Matt DiStefano lean toward 'blunder' due to missed opportunities and dated material. The episode wraps with promotions for DistroKid and the hosts' musical projects.

As heard by us

A summer 1993 rap crossover gets a clear, affectionate look at its unlikely top-40 run.

One Hit Thunder frames a summer 1993 rap curiosity as a small lesson in crossover chemistry: an up-and-coming Brooklyn hip-hop act teaming with an NBA rookie sensation for the Bugs Bunny-inspired "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock?)," a single that reached the top 40.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the story behind a Bugs Bunny-inspired rap team-up between a Brooklyn hip-hop trio and an NBA rookie sensation? Start here.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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