Legendary Brooklyn born rap group Whodini rose to fame in the 80’s with hip hops first double platinum album Escape. This album featured five chart topping singles, Friends/ Five Minutes of Funk, Big Mouth, Escape and Freaks Come out at Night. The rapper Jalil Hutchins and John “Ecstasy” Fletcher were part of the original artists signed to Jive Records and managed by Russell Simmons. The growing success and popularity of rap music lead to the first national hip hop tour in 1984, The Fresh Fest. This tour featured prominent hip hop acts Whodini, Run DMC, The Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow, and others, selling out arenas all over the world. Their live shows featured the Key Stone Dancers, soon to be the group UTFO. UTFO member, Doc Ice, still tours with them today. Their high energy stage shows kept their fans wanting more. They created many songs that were ground breaking in hip hop culture. Their self-titled debut album, “Whodini” featured songs, Mr. Magic, the theme song for the first hip hop DJ with his own rap radio show to be aired on a major station, also produced by electro pioneer Thomas Dolby, and The Haunted House of Rock. Whodini’s trendsetting videos set them apart featuring celebrities and artists on the rise. Everyone from a young Jermaine Dupri, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Bobby Brown, Melle Mel, Jam Master Jay, and others could be seen in them. While most groups wore sweat suits, they wore silky sportswear, leather shorts, and shades. John “Ecstasy” Fletcher’s leather Zorro style hat has become a Whodini trademark.

Not ones to disappoint, they kept the momentum going with their third album, the second to go platinum, Back in Black, in 1986. This album had hits Funky Beat, I’m a Ho, and the hip hop salutation known worldwide “One Love“ from their song One Love. Continuing to show proof of hip hop’s mainstream success, Whodini hit the road as part of Run DMC’s Raising Hell Tour. One of the top fifty concerts in the last fifty years, according to Rolling Stone magazine, with other hip hop legends Run DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys and others. The groups’ songs were upbeat dance tracks that had a message that is still relevant today. Their classic hits have been sampled by contemporary artists 2Pac, Nas, Ice Cube, Snoop Dog, Jermaine Dupri, Public Enemy, and Kid Rock, just to name a few. For their contributions and long-term influence in hip hop culture, the group was nominated for two Soul Train Music Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Single, one of VH1’s Hip Hop Honorees in 2007, in 2012 was presented with The Icon Award by the Underground Music Awards, inducted into The Long Island Music Hall of Fame, and the 2018 Black Music Honors Hip Hop Icon Recipients. Whodini stays visible by touring to sold out crowds all over the world.