Ahead of his Philly Music Festival show, Schoolly D recently sat down with Philadelphia Magazine to touch on his illustrious career. Specifically, how he built upon Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's "The Message" to give birth to what we know recognize as the gangster rap genre.

Schoolly D recorded "Gangster Boogie" in 1984. The rhymes built upon Melle Mel's portrait of life in the inner city — specifically taking the point of view of someone selling drugs on the block. The tape subsequently circulated through club DJ's.

He took the self-produced — and self-pressed record (made from money selling shoes) — to DJ Lady B whose Street Beat show on Power 99 was one of the most influential Hip-Hop radio shows in the country at the time. She told him that the record was too grim in its portrayal of life to warrant any spins. Undeterred, he doubled down.

GET THE FULL STORY AT ROCKTHEBELLS