The Goats - Tricks of the Shade

it's a real shame to admit that

it was a real joy to steal this

from Chicago Tower in 1992

allmusic: One of the more overlooked groups in the early-'90s alternative rap movement, the Goats were an interracial Philadelphia trio who featured a live backing band before fellow hometowners the Roots shot to acclaim with a similar format.

The Goats sounded a bit different, though, mixing intelligent, Public Enemy-influenced political raps with good-humored Native Tongues positivity, plus a bit of aggressive, hard-partying funk-rock. Oatie Kato (born Maxx Stoyanoff-Williams), Madd, and Swayzack first got together in 1991, and became the first signing for the Philly-based hip-hop label Ruffhouse (which would soon land a distribution deal with Sony).

The group released its debut album, 1992's Tricks of the Shade, to strongly positive reviews, and shortly thereafter put together an in-concert backing band which took their sound in a rap-rock direction. However, Oatie soon left the group, dissatisfied with the behind-the-scenes excess; he went on to form Incognegro, and took much of the Goats' political perceptiveness with him.

The Goats' quirky 25-track 1992 debut bears the stylistic influence of hip-hoppers like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest; their juxtaposition of rock, funk and rap rhythms also recalls the heady eclecticism of the Beastie Boys.

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