{{Use American English|date=November 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{short description|American hip hop group}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fu-Schnickens | image = Fu-Schnickens.jpg | caption = From L—R: Moc-Fu, Poc-Fu, and Chip-Fu | origin = East Flatbush, Brooklyn, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|alternative hip-hop}} | occupation = | years_active = 1988–1995 | label = {{hlist|Jive|BMG}} | website = | current_members = Chip-Fu <br> Moc-Fu <br> Poc-Fu }}
'''Fu-Schnickens''' were an American hip-hop trio from 1988 to 1995, based in Brooklyn, New York.
== History == Fu-Schnickens was composed of '''Chip-Fu''' ('''Roderick Roachford'''), '''Moc-Fu''' ('''Joe Jones'''), and '''Poc-Fu''' ('''Lennox Maturine'''). ''Fu'' stood for unity and ''schnicken'' was a made-up word that meant "coalition".<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p26098|pure_url=yes}}|title=Fu-Schnickens: Biography|author=Huey, Steve|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 18, 2009}}</ref> The three friends from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, first gained attention after performing at a hip hop event at Howard University, after which the group was signed by Jive Records.<ref name="allmusic"/> The group's debut single, "Ring the Alarm", entered the top ten on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1992,<ref name="charts">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p26098|pure_url=yes}}|title=Fu-Schnickens: Charts & Awards|publisher=allmusic|access-date=July 18, 2009}}</ref> which sparked anticipation for the group's debut album, ''F.U. Don't Take It Personal'', and also inadvertently immortalized and ignited a new-found popularity for the original "Ring the Alarm", the signature tune of dancehall reggae singjay Tenor Saw from 1985, which the group sampled to create its track of the same name. Furthermore, with the hit singles "La Schmoove" (featuring Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest) and "True Fu-Schnick," the album reached the top 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart <ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="charts"/> and was certified for gold-level sales by the RIAA.<ref name="Fu-SchnickensRIAA">{{certification Cite|region=United States|title=Take It Personally|artist=Fu-Schnickens|type=album}}</ref>
In 1993, Fu-Schnickens began work on its second album. The group recorded a fast-paced song called "What's Up, Doc?" which featured a sample of Bugs Bunny saying his famous catchphrase. But the group could not get sample clearance from Warner Bros. so the song was shelved. Meanwhile, the then-rookie NBA star Shaquille O'Neal was a media sensation. In many interviews, he talked about his love of hip hop music and stated that the Fu-Schnickens were his favorite hip hop group. This prompted the group to contact O'Neal for a collaboration. O'Neal recorded a verse that was added on to the already-recorded "What's Up, Doc?" with the group and O'Neal saying "What's up, doc?" to replace the Bugs Bunny sample. Although the group had not yet completed work on its album, the song was quickly released as a single to capitalize on O'Neal's popularity. The single was a top-40 hit in the summer of 1993,<ref name="charts"/> which briefly propelled the group into the mainstream.<ref name="allmusic"/> The group's second album, ''Nervous Breakdown'', did not arrive until 1994.
The group took part in a huge performance on the finale of ''The Arsenio Hall Show'', alongside the likes of KRS-One, Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, MC Lyte, Guru, Mad Lion, Yo-Yo, Das EFX, CL Smooth, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Fu-Schnickens is also notable for its many references to martial arts films and Asian culture before Wu-Tang Clan,<ref name="allmusic"/> which eventually helped make such references popular in hip hop music.
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''F.U. Don't Take It Personal'' (1992) * ''Nervous Breakdown'' (1994)
===Compilation albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of compilation albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;" | Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''Greatest Hits''{{efn|"Included four previously unreleased songs: "Cray-Z," "Original Rude Boy," "Voice of the Ghetto," and "Bring It Back"".}} | * Released: December 1995<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000645709 |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=August 6, 2021 |title=Fu-Schnickens - Greatest Hits}}</ref> * Label: Jive * Formats: CD, Cassette |- ! scope="row" | ''Fu-Schnickens - True Fu-Schnick'' | * Released: September 12, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/true-fu-schnick-mw0000451491 |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=August 6, 2021 |title= Fu-Schnickens - True Fu-Schnick}}</ref> * Label: Sony BMG * Formats: CD |- |}
=== Singles === ==== As lead artist==== <!-- ALL SINGLES MUST BE LISTED HERE. ANY SINGLE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO RADIO IS CLASSIFIED AS A SINGLE. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE -->
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/40915-Fu-Schnickens|title=Fu-Schnickens|website=Discogs|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302527/fu-schnickens/chart|title=Fu-Schnickens - Chart history (Billboard)|magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1992-03-28|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1992-07-04|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1992-11-21|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1993-08-28|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1994-10-22|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/fu-schnickens/chart-history |title=Fu-Schnickens - US Hot 100 |publisher=billboard.com |access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Dance<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/fu-schnickens/chart-history/DSI |title=Fu-Schnickens - US Dance Club Songs |publisher=billboard.com |access-date=June 11, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US R&B<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/fu-schnickens/chart-history/BSI |title=Fu-Schnickens - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |publisher=billboard.com |access-date=June 11, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Rap<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/fu-schnickens/chart-history/RAP |title=Fu-Schnickens - US Hot Rap Songs |publisher=billboard.com |access-date=June 11, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br><ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=91}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Ring the Alarm" | 1991 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 6 |align="center"| — | |rowspan="4" | ''F.U. Don't Take It Personal'' |- ! scope="row"| "La Schmoove"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring Phife Dawg)</span> |rowspan="3" | 1992 |align="center"| — |align="center"| —{{efn|"La Schmoove" did not enter the Dance Club Songs, but peaked at number 36 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales.<ref name="DSA">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/fu-schnickens/chart-history/DSA |title=Dance/Electronic Singles Sales |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=May 26, 2021}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>}} |align="center"| 30 |align="center"| 3 |align="center"| — | |- ! scope="row"| "True Fuschnick" |align="center"| — |align="center"| 14 |align="center"| 97 |align="center"| 18 |align="center"| — | |- ! scope="row"| "Heavenly Father"<ref>{{cite AV media notes | others=Fu-Schnickens | date=1992 | title=Heavenly Father | type=track listing | publisher=Jive Records | id=JIVE T 315}}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |- ! scope="row"| "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Shaquille O'Neal)</span> | 1993 |align="center"| 39 |align="center"| 26 |align="center"| 56 |align="center"| 22 |align="center"| 59 | *RIAA: Gold<ref>{{cite certification|region=United States|type=album|artist=Fu-Schnickens feat. Shaquille O'neal|accessdate=July 23, 2021}}</ref> |''Nervous Breakdown'' and ''Shaq Diesel'' |- ! scope="row"| "Breakdown" | 1994 |align="center"| 67 |align="center"| —{{efn|"Breakdown" did not enter the Dance Club Songs, but peaked at number 10 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales.<ref name="DSA" />}} |align="center"| 38 |align="center"| 7 |align="center"| — | |rowspan="2" | ''Nervous Breakdown'' |- ! scope="row"| "Sum Dum Munkey"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/sum-dum-munkey-vinyl-single-mr0001597738|title=Fu-Schnickens - Sum Dum Munkey [Vinyl Single] (12 inch Vinyl Single - Jive #42276)|website=AllMusic}}</ref> |rowspan="2" | 1995 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |- ! scope="row"| "Got It Covered"{{efn|"Got It Covered" was released as a split single with "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful}}<ref>{{cite AV media notes | others=The Lovin' Spoonful / Fu-Schnickens | date=1988 | title=Summer In The City (From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Die Hard With A Vengeance) | type=track listing | publisher=RCA Victor | id=09026-68307-4}}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |''Die Hard with a Vengeance Soundtrack'' |- | colspan="9" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
==References== ===Notes=== {{notelist}}
===Citations=== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p26098|label=Fu-Schnickens}} * [http://www.goldeneravideos.com/artists/fu-schnickens Fu-Schnickens Music Videos] {{Fu-Schnickens}} {{Authority control}}
Category:African-American musical trios Category:Jive Records artists Category:Hip-hop groups from New York City Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn Category:Musical trios from New York (state) Category:People from Flatbush, Brooklyn