Although he never reached the heights of stardom like other Midwest rappers such as Kanye West, Common and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Eric “MC Breed” Breed, who passed away from kidney failure this past Saturday at the age of 37, was a pioneer in his own right.
Born in Flint, Michigan, Breed became the first commercially successful rapper to come out of the Midwest, scoring national hits with 1991’s “Ain’t No Future in Yo’ Frontin’” and “Gotta Get Mine,” featuring Tupac Shakur. The latter’s unremorseful attitude gives a glimpse into the determination that allowed Breed to break down hip-hop’s geographical borders. Although he achieved modest success after that with a string of independent releases, his two biggest songs laid the foundation for the influx of talent that has become such a huge part of hip-hop and pop culture today. At the time of his death, he was reportedly working on a new album, MC Breed – The Original Swag, with Too Short, Erotic D, Ant Banks and the D.O.C.
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in 89 when i first came to portland,or. from chi-town i found out that they ain't have black radio. everything i heard was from the street or rap city. i remember the day my punk *ss cousin rolled up bumpin' ain't no future in yo frontin' from mc breed. that sh*t was played for days! i swear to this day any motherf*ck*n' thing i got that plays music has that one on it. i played it at work hours before i found out that breed had passed on. R.I.P.