Potts

“South Africa, What’s Up?” (radio / dub mix)

Resistance Records

“Potts” is Danan Potts, a Detroit-based producer active in the early-mid Eighties. While I am most enthralled with his out-of-this-world proto-techno track “Go Bananas” under the Superlife moniker, his “Psycho For Your Love” (credited to Westwood/Cash) is intense electrofunk boogie that’s definitely worth a listen. Both these records command solid prices ($200-300) and I paid such for my copies.

A few days back the reliably deep eBay seller nemo23 popped “South Africa” up for sale and I was entranced. Sounding more hip hop than any of his earlier efforts and pressed on a 7-inch, this is FAR more my realm than his earlier work. And interestingly enough…there was no previously known references to this Detroit-released 7-inch…all the online info pertained to a 12-inch released by Becket Records in NYC.

I was ready for a wild ride and threw a high bid of $333 in an effort to win the heretofore unknown local Detroit rap single. Whatever international record collecting cabal exists in regards to undocumented, independently pressed rap and hip hop 7-inches from Detroit, I feel like an outsider. While it is totally my shit, I don’t really know anyone else who rides for it. I don’t have compatriots to trade or compare records with. Hell, I would love just to trade stories or insight. There’s a dude on discogs with the username Encarnita who really seems to know his shit, but he appears to know ALL rap shit, not just Detroit. I’ll connect…someday.

Yet with only two bids, I unexpectedly won the record for a respectable $39. The radio mix far surpasses the dub mix and has a politically conscious flow name dropping Mandela, Tutu and the racial injustice in South Africa at the time, all coupled with a heavy 808 beat. Far from my favorite Detroit rap, it is still a worthy entry in the still-emerging canon of early Detroit rap and hip hop.