Unsigned Hype: Top Quality

The subject of The Source magazine's March-April 1991 Unsigned Hype column was Top Quality. Though his hometown is not mentioned, the rapper from White Plains, New York is claimed by his management company to be "faster than The Jaz when it comes to speed rhymes" (once an incredible comparison at one point, not very applicable nowadays). When his "tongue quickness" slows down however, his delivery is similar to Super Lover Cee. The article ends with a quote by Top: "I refuse to die unknown".

Top Quality will fortunately not die completely unknown as he was able to release one album and a handful of singles during the 1990s. His first release was the single "Northbound Renegade", released in 1992 on New Image Records. The single is notably the first production credit for producer Tone Capone, who would later find greater success in the West Coast hip hop scene. The single caught the attention of PMD, who signed Top to his label PMD Records under RCA Records. Top released his debut album, Magnum Opus, in 1993. Bizarrely, PMD produces no songs on his protégé's album (but does serve as its executive producer), and instead enlisted an array of producers who are credited with their full names and have their sole production credit on this album (never a good sign). Jesse West is by far the most accomplished producer on the album, and he would collaborate alongside Top on a number of occasions under his rap name 3rd Eye. Top Quality is definitely a sufficient rapper with interesting subject matter and great vocal inflection, but it is his production and beat choices that really limit him. Even with the release of three singles with music videos ("Magnum Opus", "I Can't Hear You" and "What") and major label backing, Magnum Opus failed to sell many copies and Top faded away without releasing any additional solo material.

Discography
"Northbound Renegade" single (1992)
1. "Northbound Renegade"
2. "Let Me Breathe"
3. "Who the Hell Am I"

Magnum Opus - Top Quality (1993)
1. "Messages from Uptown"
2. "Someone So Fly"
3. "Caught Up in the Flizny"
4. "Magnum Opus"
5. "Check the Credentials"
6. "What"
7. "You Gotta Check It"
8. "Something New"
9. "I Can't Hear You"
10. "Graveyard Shift"
11. "U Know My Name"
Bonus: "I Can't Hear You (Remix)"

Shadé Business - PMD (1993)
10. "Fake Homeyz" feat. 3rd Eye & Top Quality
14. "No Shorts and No Sleep" feat. 3rd Eye, Top Quality & Zone 7

Planets - 3rd Eye (1997)
7. "Troopas Represent" feat. Lord Finesse, Nine, Top Quality & Zone 7