631 is still number one.
JVC Force, a group of hip-hop pioneers, put the suburbs on the map during the late 1980s with their well-known anthem “Strong Island.” This catchy tribute to Long Island has recently gained renewed appreciation internationally.
“People have approached me and expressed how significant that song is to them,” said AJ Roque, a member of the group who relocated to Islip from Westchester as a child.
Roque and his partner B-Luv have just reunited nearly 37 years after the release of “Strong Island” and are currently on a mini-tour in Europe, where there’s a strong appetite for classic hip-hop.
As Roque put it, “My love for overseas never fades. I’ll probably return six times. By the way, I only do interviews once a year,” he shared before heading to a recent JVC show in Amsterdam.
The impact of “Strong Island” was profound, distinguishing Long Island from New York City—a first for the Bronx-born genre. “Back then, not many people recognized that there were rappers from Long Island,” Roque remarked.
Defeating the Autonomous Region
Archie Snowden, a figure who helped shape hip-hop during that period, and who is now producing a documentary about Long Island rap history, highlighted the tense relationship between the city’s music scene and outsiders since the 1980s. “Locals often tried to block it,” he noted about Long Island artists.
Many artists chose to claim they were from Brooklyn or Queens because it was more acceptable, he said. Rakim was one of the first to clearly differentiate himself when he rapped in his 1986 track “My Melody,” “Rough enough to tear New York down from Long Island.” Public Enemy also pushed this boundary when they wove it into their song “Rebel Without a Pause” a year later.
“That’s what we sampled,” said Ms. Locke, whose real name is AJ Woodson.
Three members of JVC Force, AJ Rok, B-Luv, and DJ Curt Cazal, have played a significant role in placing Long Island on the hip-hop map.
Despite the genre’s Bronx origins, JVC Force helped showcase that rappers were also thriving on Long Island. “At the time, folks didn’t realize Public Enemy hailed from Long Island. When we released ‘Strong Island,’ it gave identity to future artists,” he further explained, referring to groups like De La Soul from Amityville.
The decision to embrace local culture paid off, as college radio stations like those at Adelphi and Hofstra University began playing their records regularly.
According to Roque, college radio was crucial during that time, especially for up-and-coming artists like Busta Rhymes and his group, Leaders of the New School, who were receiving calls from major studios.
Snowden mentioned that “Strong Island” acted as a wake-up call for the music industry, prompting them to notice the vast talent residing just outside the five boroughs. “Celebrities began to recognize it,” he noted, referring to figures like Michael Rapaport still talking about JVC Force.
Locke concluded, “It seems to be making a comeback now, and it’s likely to open many doors for us.”
