RC and Synister Rhyme | West Coast Rap Groups | West Coast Rap Pioneers | Tribute to the Early West Coast Rap Scene (Kopie 1): Website Title

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: RC / Synister Rhyme "Best of the West" Rapp Contest 1985

: Melle Mel & Scorpio 1985 at the "Best of the West" Rapp Contest

: Mark Davis aka Sir Jamelot 1985

: Park Avenue 1985 Synister Rhyme / MC Fosty / Vince D / RC

: Flyer NCO Club 1985

: Direction NCO Club 1985

: Camelot II in 1987 Richard Clark / Synister Rhyme

: Champions Forever 1989

: Richard Clark aka RC 2007

RC & Synister Rhyme Winners of the KDAY "Best of the West" Rapp Contest

Founded: 1985
Original Members: Richard Charles Clark Jr., Reginald Barrett

RC was born and raised in Los Angeles Ca. under the name Richard Charles Clark Jr. He started his musical career in 1984 as an DJ/Entertainer in various venues throughout the Los Angeles Area. He was inspired to become an entertainer up meeting a rapper named MC Fosty at the Red Onion Night Club on Wilshire Blvd. He practiced his technique with a music crew called Camelot Sound, where he met his future partner Reginald Barrett.

In 1985, they formed the rap group RC & Synister Rhyme. They won the first and only “Best of the West” Rapp Contest, sponsored by radio station Kday and Sugarhill Records. The group then expanded to four adding MC Fosty & Vince D., and assumed the name Park Avenue. Releasing their 1st 12” single “Tear down the Rockhouse”, (SH-32052), written and arranged by Charles “Rich” Cason and Jimmy Lewis on the Sugarhill Record Label.

In 1987 RC & Synister Rhyme moved to Jam Kru Records, where they became “Camelot II”, releasing (3) three 12” singles, the first was “Happy Rapp” (JK-1719), which was also distributed in West Germany through BCM Records (BC-33-2027-43) soon followed “Tell me what you want” (JK-1721-24) & “We´re in the House” (JK-1726-27), written by RC & Synister Rhyme and produced by Charles “Rich” Cason.

In 1990, RC decided to go solo. He spent a few months on the East Coast. Upon his return to Los Angeles he did session work on several projects. These include the theme song for Ion Pictures Dokumentary “Champions Forever” which he co-wrote and performed with Charles “Rich” Cason & Larry Rose of “The Rose Brothers”. RC also co-wrote and performed a song with the legendary Ray Charles on the Quest Record Label entitled “I need a good women bad”.

In 1992 RC started his own entertainment company called Ricochet Entertainment and has performed throughout the Los Angels and Las Vegas Area. In 2007 currently residing in Las Vegas, RC is still on the Grind as a DJ/Entertainer.

Richard Charles Clark and Synister Rhyme Interview 06/2007

What was the first artist or records you´ve been inspired by?
RC: MC Fosty will the first rap artist that inspired me to want to become a entertainer. At the time he had a song being played on KDAY called Radio Activity Rap on the Rappers Rapp Record Label.
SYNISTER RHYME: Kurtis Blow was the first artist that inspired me to become an entertainer and my favorite songs were "Basketball" and "The Breaks".

How and when did you get in contact with the rapscene back in the days?
RC: This happened about 1984 when I met a DJ named Mark Davis AKA Sir Jamelot.
SYNISTER RHYME: It happened when I was in High School hangin with my cousin in 1978.

Can you describe the early rap scene back in the days from your point of view?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: It was all about braggin about yourself or your crew, gettin the party started with a party rap or telling a story.

What influence had Kday at that time?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: KDAY had a major influence on the West Coast Rap Scene because they had their ear to the streets. They heard what everybody was jammin to at the clubs, cars driving by or just people playing music at a house party. Once they got the GO to broadcast Rap music, the rest was history, no other AM or FM stations would play it. Not only that none of the Music Award Shows like Billboard, American or even the Soul Train Awards would even categorize it as a music category.

When did you all came together as a crew?
RC: Mark Davis AKA Sir Jamelot was the 1st member I met in 1984 at a nightclub called Mingles in Los Angeles CA. I met Synister Rhyme at a place called The NCO Club, a military base located in El Segundo CA in 1985.
SYNISTER RHYME: I met both RC and Mark Davis at the NCO Club in EL Segundo.

How did you get your groupnames “Park Avenue” and “Camelot II”?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: Park Avenue came from an idea of Rich Cason.....since we were going to record on the Sugarhill Record label, we wanted a name that the East Coast could identify with.
The group name Camelot II was comprised by Camelot Sound a local DJ/Entertainment crew consisting of 3 primary members. Mark Davis AKA Sir Jamelot, RC & Synister Rhyme.

Who were the other groups performing to win the title “Best of the West Rap Contest” and what was the 1st place price?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: We cannot remember any of the groups who participated in the contest. We were so focused on the contest itself and what we had to do to win, we really didn't pay that much attention to the other groups. The 1st place prize for winning the contest was a recording contract with Sugarhill Records.

How did it came that you signed to Sugarhill Records which was a East Coast Record Label?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: GOOD QUESTION!............The contest was sponsored by radio station KDAY & SUGARHILL RECORDS, so how that business relationship developed would be a question for the Mack Attack, Greg Mack

How and when did you met Rich Cason for the first time?
RC: I met Rich Cason in 1985 at Private Island Trax Recording Studio in West Los Angeles. I was invited down by MC Fosty to sit in on his recording session of " When Dove's Cry Rap". Rich Cason was the producer on the project. Fosty introduced me as one of the winners of the "Best of the West Rapp Contest" and that's pretty much how we met.
SYNISTER RHYME: I met Rich Cason through RC in 1985 during the making of "Teardown the Rockhouse".

Can you describe the making of the song “Tear down the Rockhouse”?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: "Tear down the Rockhouse" was written and produced by Rich Cason and Jimmy Lewis. Both felt it would be a good song to debut with because at the time it was a big crack cocaine epidemic going on. We also added two members to the group expanding to four. MC Fosty and Vince D. which was also Rich Cason's idea and branded that group's name "PARK AVENUE".

Can you describe your work with Rich Cason?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: Working with Rich was more that a work relationship, he was sombody you could always talk to about anything, he always kept it real. Working with him in the studio was both pleasurable and sometimes challenging, but at the end of the day you always looked forward to tomorrow. May his Soul rest in Peace and the legacy of his music continue on.

The song “Happy Rapp” was well known here in Europe. How did you handle it to release your songs overseas?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: It was beautiful feeling to know that "Happy Rapp" was being distributed and promoted in Europe. To be new artists in the business and have our song being marketed overseas, was one of our greatest moments!

Who was your favourite rapper you worked with and why?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: Each other, we had a chemistry that worked. Being successful as an artist takes a good team to work together make it happen. We didn't have an opportunity to work with any other rappers othe than MC Fosty, and working with him Vince D. worked well for the time that we together.

What was your greatest memorable moment back in the days?
RC: Winning the "Best of the West Rapp Contest"
Synister Rhyme: Performing "Tear Down The Rockhouse" at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in front of 5,000 people. We performed with Doug E Fresh, Rockmaster Scott & The Dynamic 3, Toddy Tee and the Bad Boys.

Did you ever meet other famous artists like Egyptian Lover, Ice T or Roger Clayton?
RC: Ice T, Melle Mel, Roger Clayton, Heavy D & The Boyz, Grandmaster Lonzo, King MC, Clientel, The Rose Brothers, The Whispers, The Legendary Ray Charles and Robin Harris "comedian".
SYNISTER RHYME: Ice T, Melle Mell, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Grandmaster Lonzo, Heavy D & The Boyz,
Robin Harris "comedian" , The Rose Brothers, The Whispers.

Can you name your personal five songs from back in the days?
RC: 1. Hard Times- RUN DMC, 2. Five Minutes of Funk - WHODINI, 3. Jam on It - NEWCLEUS, 4. 2001 Boogie - RICH CASON, 5. Clear - CYBOTRON
SYNISTER RHYME: 1. Basketball - KURTS BLOW, 2. The Message - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE, 3. White Lines - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE, 4. Freaks Come Out at Night - WHODINI, 5. I go to Work - KOOL MOE DEE

What were the hottes places to go back in the days?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: Radio Tron, World on Wheels, and the Red Onion Nightclub on Wilshire Blvd.

Are you still in contact with artists you worked with at that time?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: Mark Davis AKA SIR JAMELOT.

What was your biggest musical success?
RC: Doing a recording session with Rich Cason and the Legendary Ray Charles.
SYNISTER RHYME: Recording my 1st 12" single "Tear Down the Rockhouse".

What are you doing today?
RC: Currently I'm a DJ/Entertainer still pursuing my career and own my own Entertainment company called Ricochet Entertainment located in Las Vegas NV.
SYNISTER RHYME: I am now a Ordained Minister, Gospel Artist and Actor.

How old are you now?
RC: 44 years old (12-17-1962)
SYNISTER RHYME: 43 years old (7-23-1963)

Would you like to thank anybody?
RC & SYNISTER RHYME: We'd like to thank God for giving us the strength & talent to pursue our goals & ambitions and all the people that help mold us into who we are today personally and professionally.

Peace and Love