You Can’t Hold Me Back

You Can’t Hold Me Back is the debut album by Awesome Dré and the Hardcore Committee, released in 1989 on Bentley Records (BL-12001) and on Priority Records (SL57114).

The story

According to Awesome Dré, the album was recorded in the latter part of 1987. Kick Magazine described it as “Detroit’s first real attempt at a national rap identity” and the work of the first Detroit rap group signed to a major label. The title track and the album’s artwork took aim at Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J. The singles “You Can’t Hold Me Back” and “Frankly Speaking” both had videos, and “Frankly Speaking,” filmed in downtown Detroit, reached Yo! MTV Raps.

Sound and production

Awesome Dré is credited as producer and André Acker as writer. The Detector engineered and mixed, Brian Gardner mastered, and Anthony Perry and Ivan Ill were executive producers. The sleeve credits Up Time Studios. The thirteen tracks include “Murder One,” “Executioner Style,” “Master Of Philology,” “Committing Rhymes” and “I Don’t Like You! (Kool Moe She).”

Legacy

The album charted on Billboard’s Black albums chart. It was reissued in 2009 on Awesome World Entertainment, and a 30th-anniversary remaster, mastered by Shawn Franklin at TDX, came out on red vinyl through blocSonic and Get On Down on May 18, 2020.

More from hip hop in 1989.