Another weekend in the books and another weekend without a post. Oh well, you all should be getting used to that. So be it, I guess. It'd be okay if I was actually getting work done even without a post, but I can't say that's happening either. One of these weeks, hopefully, I'll become a wild man unleashed and get everything done that I keep telling myself that I'm going to get done...until then, we'll keep on winging it.
While I continue to get in order (read: start on) the next big series I have planned, I thought I'd do something I haven't done in a while and that's take requests and do re-ups. Instead of doing it all in one day like I did last fall, we'll spread it over the week. THE RULES: Request anything that I have posted up in the past that is no longer working (MAKE SURE IT'S NOT WORKING check first, because I will) or if there is something you are looking for that you can't find (meaning do a blog search first), drop me a line in one of three ways: 1. The comments 2. The C-box 3. An email. Each day I'll post up 3-5 requests/re-ups. Try to keep the requests in the "rare" and out of print realm of things. Easiest way to check if something is out of print is to go to Amazon.com and see if they are selling new copies of said album or not. If they do not have it in stock, it's more than likely out of print. I'll make a few exceptions, there are a few things out there in print but are just a bitch to find regardless. I'd be open to sharing those, but I'm not going to post up the new Brother Ali album or something like that, there is more than enough places to download that type of stuff if you must. Stick to the albums, I've never been a DJ, so any 12 inch releases I have are stuff I've gotten from other blogs. Polarity is the 12 inch genius, but it would be a while for him to get any of that kind of stuff up.
There won't be in system on how I'll do it, basically whatever I can find the easiest in my collection will get posted up first. Also if you are a fellow blogger or a "preferred" visitor, you'll more than likely have your stuff up a bit faster as well (I do play favorites). Feel free to help each other as well. That was the beautiful thing about doing the requests last year, people would help each other with requests. Get to requesting........
Songs-----------
In the vein of a traditional "Sunday Lite" posts, we're sticking to single tracks, because, well, I want to.
Dr. Dre feat Royce Da 5'9 - Way I Be Pimpin'
I meantioned the whole Dr. Dre/Royce ordeal that went down during the making of "The Chronic 2001" last week when I posted up the Royce Aftermath demo. The track contains the same sample/beat (I should know the sample, but can't think of it), but with different lyrics from Dre, that were ghost written by Royce with the hook done by Royce. After the fall out between the supposed "big headed' Royce and Dre, Dre went back to the lab and cranked out the album version of the song, which would become "Xxplosive".
I can't say which I prefer more really. I'm more used to the album version, so I suppose I would go with that creation, but it just shows what could have been, if Royce would have kept his head on straight. To give Royce some credit, he did seem to learn his lesson. On "Death Is Certain", he produced a much more personal and humble album that I thought was highly overlooked.
De La Soul feat Mos Def & Truth Enola - Stakes Is High (remix)
This is one 12 inch release I wouldn't mind having, Itzsoweezee(Hot) b/w Stakes Is High (Remix). The A-Side was possibly one of my favorite tracks on my seventh all-time favorite Hip Hop album (the dorkiness continues) and any remix that has a Jay Dee beat and Mos Def added to it, you know it has to be fairly decent.
The beat itself is basically the same but switched up from the original. It's still got that early Jay Dee/J Dilla feel to it in the same vein as "Runnin'" or some of his other earlier works. The lyrics are also different as well, but sticking with the original meaning of the song. Mos Def, who at this time was fairly new to the game (I can't remember if the UTD stuff came out before this or not). De La's weed carrier at the time was also featured on this track, Truth Enola. Enola never really impressed me and I can't say I heard his album from a couple years ago, but he doesn't ruin the song, which is all you want.
The Pharcyde - Pork
I realized when started to do a write up on this joint that it isn't as rare as it once was. Originally
, you could only find this track as the unreleased B-Side to "Passing Me By", but it was recently included on the "Sold My Soul" compilation released last year, but whatever, for those of you that slept on that, you need to get with this track. You know what to expect if it was recorded in the "Bizarre Ride..." era, some off the wall, silly, fun to listen to joint, it is called "Pork" after all.
Produced by La Jay, the horns on this track are lovely and all four MC's (wouldn't that be great again?) are in rare form, coming with their trademarked goofiness that made everyone love "Bizzare Ride..". If you haven't heard this, get up on it.
Beastie Boys feat Def Squad & Biz Markie - Body Movin' Remix
I always kind of chuckle/vomit in my mouth at the same time when someone says the Beasties
were a bunch of sell outs. Is that why everyone from Q-tip to Redman to Biz Markie has worked with them? Give me a break. The Beasties are just as much as a part of Hip Hop as any of the Golden Age greats. And don't even get me started on the two white dudes dressing up in business suits questioning the music store clerk because the Beasties are filed underneath Hip Hop and not Rock, which I was a witness to last week which made me want to take an used White Lion CD and beat them upon the upper torso region for being stupid.
All 80's rock violence aside, the Beasties come at us with another posse cut similar to Soul Assasians remix of "So Whatcha Want" from the "Check Your Head" LP. This time Redman, E Double and Biz Markie join the Beasties and basically steal the show. You don't hear a lot from the Beasties on this one, basically some adlibs and the such. Biz, a long time Beasties cohort, drops a verse as well that will please any Diabocal fan. (Excuse the quality of the track, it was copied to one of the first CD-R's I ever did, making it probably 8 years old or so, so the CD has received a beat down of epic porportions)
Eminem - Bad Influence & Go To Hell (?) feat Pauly Yams
On the topic of shunned white MC's, we'll piss everyone off and go to some Eminem. I know, I know, whats a 30 something, self
proclamied Hip Hop purists posting up some Eminem for? I ain't going to lie, I like me some early Eminem (no homo). The Rawkus stuff? That track was an example of all that's right in Hip Hop, humor, clever rhymes and just fun to listen to. His apperance on Sway & King Tech's album was just as good as that was and the joint on Funk Flex's "The Tunnel" could be grouped in this class as well. His first two albums were, yes, some what mainstream, but also catered to the underground head as well. I know his whiteness has helped him for than hurt him, but I believe if he was black, he might not have sold 70 zillion copies of his albums to every 12-15 white surbuban kid, but he'd be more appreciated for what he really is(was) and that's a talented MC.
The first track is from the straight to video (okay, it should have been) Arnold "Da Govenator" flick "The Last Days". It come out right after Em's first album (I get the names of the LP's mixed up and am in a hurry, so I won't bother looking it up) and sounds like a cast off or a different version of "Role Model" from said album, but there is some pissed off Em, doing what he does best, bitching, but he sounds good doing it. Since the Soundtrack probably sold less than the actual movie, I'm trusting not too many people have heard this. I (blushing) bought the OST just for this song (it was before I was too into downloading music off the internet).
The second track is kind of mystery to me. I believe I found it on Audio Galaxy or Napster back in the day. I think it was supposed to be included on DJ Jazzy Jeff's "The Magnificant", but I can't find much as a name, let alone it's orgins. I've always called it "Go To Hell" from the sample from South Park it uses (Mr. Garrison screaming "You Go To Hell"). Pauly Yams from Jeff's camp also appears on the track, which is the reasoning I use that It didn't make the "The Magnificant" cut or something. Maybe someone down with Em's crew reading this will fill us in...(yeah right, like Paul Rosenberg reads this, or any blog).
Trav's Top 5 Spins Of The Week......
1. Stricklin - The Resume Mixtape
Big Strick! I'll be the first to admit that when I'm listening to something new, the first few listens I will concern myself with the beat, if the beat doesn't grab me, I won't usually give it enough time to listen to the lyrics. Not so with Strick, which to me, is a sign of a good MC. Eminem, Redman and a few others are MC's that have that effect on me. Some of the stuff Strick kicks lyric wise is nothing short of amazing.
2. Senim Silla - The Name...The Motto...The Outcome
I was pretty big on Binary Star's "Master's Of The Universe", which would probably be in the top 10 albums of this decade in my book. They split and One Man Army aka One Be Lo went on the solol tip and dropped a top 5 album in '04. His partner Senim Silla comes with his own project, which is just as good as One Be Lo's effort. All Binary Star fans should check this out.
3. Evidence - The Weatherman
Still pumping the Ev album, one of the better albums of the first third of the year.
4. 10 Bass T - Do You Know The Way
Every now and then, I'll pull out an album I haven't heard in awhile and give it a listen, that was the case with this album. I love this album, but know next to nothing about the group except they were from San Fransico....I think. Despite my lack of knowledge on the group, the album is a solid effort from the mid 90's. Good luck trying to find a copy, I still haven't seen it except for a couple times on Amazon for two President Jacksons.
5. Joel Ortiz - The Brick: The Bodega Chronicles
After a close friend of mine told me I NEEDED to hear this joint, I finally gave into my recent fear of the sound a like/rhyme a like/ look a like NY artists such as Tru Papoose or Dip Life or any of those other artists that have 15 million mixtapes out, yet not one album amoung them. This pains me to say that about NY artists, because NY is the Mecca of hip hop, the birthplace, it's where my love for hip hop started....but they are just as guilty of bringing stale music to the table as the south. Back to the actual album, this was better than I expected, which wasn't much (the same friend told me I had to listen to Serius Jones and Tru Life and I fell asleep and/or stopped half way through both of them). I'll give it more listens than the 3-4 I gave it last week. It has potential and is much better than any of the PapdipsetoosetruJonesLifeSerius that I've heard lately.
WHY?????
I recieved emails from both David Icke and Condoleeza Rice about me not doing a "Why???" during my Sunday Lite posts, so due to such high requests, I figured I'd better throw of the more mind questioning thins I've been pondering recentely.
Why will the Cleveland Browns still suck even after their "A+" graded draft? (edit: Because they are still the Browns and Tim Couch errr Brady Quinn won't save them....hahaha)
Why did the Steelers draft a TE in round three when they already have Heath Miller?
Why did they trade up to draft a punter in the forth round....yes, A PUNTER??????
Why are some of my early CD-R's starting to fall to pieces, I thought CD's were supposed to last "forever"?
Why does going out anymore on the weekends result in dropping no less than 60 bucks?
Why am I not excited about the new Beastie Boys album? (probably because their last one was their worst)
Why did watching MTV's original "Rapumentary" this past weekend almost bring tears to my eyes? (in a good way)
Why are there not more songs like "Nostaglia" by Masta Ace these days?
Why is a big fat Chicago Principal hooking up with with seeminly hot looking teachers?
Why on God's green earth is the godess Salma Hayek marrying this dude?
Why can't the Pittsburgh Pirates win a game at home to save their ass?
Why am I in last place a month into the season in the Bloggers Celebrity Fantasy Baseball Challenge?
Why is Alfonsio Soriano being a piece of over priced crap?
That is all....dismissed
Travis
4/30/2007
Sunday Lite: A Day Late
4/27/2007
First Priority Music Family's Greatest Hits, WYDU Style
When you've been around for over a year and a half (which is 25 years in bloggers years), you can get away with posting up a re-run every so often. This week has been craaazy, school, work, bomb threats at work (long story), computer issues, internet issues, and I added a second job (bartending for catering company) has left me with a crunch with time. Hopefully the second job will enable me to finally hook up high speed internet at my apartment and then a lot of this will be a none issue.
Anyway, I'm going to re-use a previous post to back up this next Greatest Hits collection I have for my second favorite "Posse" of all time (after the Juice Crew), the First Priority Music family, which consisted of Audio Two, MC Lyte, Alliance, Barsha, Michie Mee, Kings Of Swing and Positive K. They were THE crew after the Juice Crew disbanded in the late 80's, yet they don't recieve much recoginition in the grand scheme of things in the history of the hip hop culture. The FPM family consisted of; Audio Two (brothers Milk Dee & Gizmo), MC Lyte, Alliance, Michie Mee, Kings Of Swing, Positive K, Barsha, and one of two in house producers (Milk Dee was the other) King of Chill. The label was lead by Lyte's, Milk's & Giz's father, Nat Robinson who, if I remember right, started up the label to help Milk further his hip hop career.
As noted, much of the production on many of the albums was handled by either Audio Two or King of Chill and consisted of the "bare bones" approach so highly popular during the day. It was great "boom bap" music of the time. The label never garnished any high record sales, except with maybe Lyte's releases (gold on the first two releases ?), but still mark one of the greatest labels in the "golden age" of hip hop. They are still in business and I was suprised to see they had the R&B sensation from a few years ago, Eamon.
http://www.myspace.com/firstprioritymusic
http://firstprioritymusic.com/
Here's a little re-post in case anyone missed it the first time. I must also give MAJOR props to Moves on the cocaine blunts boards, if it wasn't for him, a few of these albums wouldn't be available to me and it's helped quench my thirst for this early FPM music.
THE DISCOGRAPHY
The First Priority Music Family : Basement Flavor (First Priority Music 1990)
1 Alliance -Get On Down (3:48) Producer - The King Of Chill
2 Audio Two- Many Styles (4:55) Producer - Audio Two
3 MC Lyte & Positive K- I'm Not Havin' It (3:29) Producer - Audio Two
4 Michee Mee & LA Luv- Victory Is Calling (5:29) Featuring -MC Lyte Producer - Beat Factory
5 MC Lyte- Survival Of The Fittest (3:58) Producer -The King Of Chill
6 Positive K- Tramp (3:22) Featuring - Milk Dee Producer - Audio Two
7 Audio Two- Peer Pressure (4:06) Producer - Audio Two
8 Michie Mee & LA Luv- On This Mic (5:42) Producer - Beat Factory
9 Alliance- Kibbles And Bits (4:24) Producer - Alliance
10 Positive K- Impulse On Three (4:35) Featuring - Barsha Producer - Audio Two
11 Soulshock- Break The Limits (4:54) Featuring - See-Que Producer - Solid Productions
Kings Of Swing - Strategy
The first legit post of this series see's the Kings of Swing's album "Strategy" which was released in 1990. The Kings of Swing consisted of Sugar Kay, Mike Master & Cocoa Chanelle. Despite the horrible looking R&B/New Jack Swing looking cover
the album contains some rather nice tracks. The album was produced by the two in house producers, Milk and King of Chill, and has some rather funky breaks used, something that seemed more diverse than some other FPM family releases. Two Minutes of Funk is just that, two minutes of funk and uses a loop that Marley Marl dug up on LL's To Da Break Of Dawn. Betty Boop has a funky guitar loop conjured up by King Of Chill. On the next track, Nod Your Head To This uses a loop that would later be used by DJ Muggs on Cypress Hill's Real Estate track from their self-titled debut. The cut also contains some crazy DJ work.
One of the odd things about the group then, and even now, is the fact the female, Cocoa Chanelle, was the groups DJ and a damn good one at that. This album contains lots of cuts and scratching from the female DJ and even has two DJ cuts on here. From what I read, she is now a DJ on one of the NY radio stations.
While they are not the greatest MC's, they are able enough not to distract from the overall product and let's face it, lyricism wasn't at an all time during this time period for the most part. I'm sure overrating this because of the old school mode I've been in lately, but this is one of the better albums of 1990 (I always thought 90' was the most over hyped of the so-called "Golden Years"), defintely give it a listen if you at all into the older stuff.
AUDIO TWO - I Don't Care The Album & What More Can I SayPart two of our First Priority Music Family series leads us to who I orginally wanted to lead off with, Audio Two. Audio Two were composed of Milk Dee on vocals and Giz as the DJ. As mentioned before, the two were brothers and sons of label head, Nat Robinson. Despite that MC Lyte seemed to be the top seller (I don't have the actual numbers, just guessing) on the label, Audio Two seemed to be the the crown princes of the label. This is was only natural since Giz and Milk were Nat Robinson's natural son's while Lyte was only a half sibling of the two. They dropped a hip hop classic in "Top Billin" (my personal favorite all -time favorite hip hop single) in 87' and then their debut album "What More Can I Say" in 88'. It garned enough attention to put them up amoung top releases of one of the best hip hop years ever. In 1990 they dropped their somewhat underrated album "I Don't Care: The Album".
I've read a lot of bad press on this album. I think it was actually TO bragadocious for people. The album got slammed for being "to one dimensional" (go figure, now it's okay). It also caught flack for some of the lyrics on "Whatcha' Lookin' At?" which contained some so called "bigotary" lyrics, with his "gay mutha's should get punched in the face" line along with a few other questionable lines. As a naive high school senior, I loved it. Not saying it was right, but it added to the albums attractiveness. As far as lyrics, there is nothing ground breaking. It's either party starters or Milk bragging how bad he is. To me hip hop is built on that though, people forget that. Yeah, it's fine to grow, but like the roots of a tree, the roots of hip hop also hold the art form into the ground firmly and thats what Audio Two did. It's in your face bragging rhymes. Tracks like "Milk Does The Body Good (remix)" are straight badass lyrics. While it's true Milks lyrics are not deep or politicaly correct, but to me, this is the stuff that drew me to hip hop in the first place. They are one of the first artists to dis MC Hammer on "Start It Up Y'all" with his "(Pos K & others)So what's up with Hammer? Yo Hammer can't rhyme and 357 is a bunch of Ho's". Straight in your face lyrics and hard core beats. Don't expect to be blown away by lyrics.
Beat wise, it's all done by Milk. It's a bit more musical that "What More Can I Say", but that ain't sayin' much. Lot's of familar breaks (familar because of Milk and the other old school cats) and some hard drums. Milk seemed to still favor the 808 approach to things that had started to pass by NY by this time. There is nothing mind blowing as far as beats go, but for a simpler time, this music was great. I remember playing this a lot on the way to my senior year in high school (yeah I'm dating myself) and knowing just about all the words. This is a classic to me, fuck everyone else....
Alliance - We Could Get Used To This (First Priority Music, 1988)
1 Bustin' Loose (3:58) 2 We Could Get Used To This (4:48) 3 I, Alliance (3:49) 4 Fish Heads (2:55) 5 Your Idol (3:07) 6 Down To Earth (3:15) 7 Just Another Message (3:04) 8 Ready Set (4:08) 9 I've Found (2:13) 10 Pure Skill (3:37) 11 Extensions (0:41) 12 Leeches (3:01) 13 Still You Sleep (3:04)
Part three of our FPM family takes to the 1988 album from the Alliance. The Alliance were made up of King Of Chill, K-Swift and DJ Skill. They were also among the first to drop albums on the label, right after Audio Two and MC Lyte. King of Chill would become one of the main producers at the label.
I honestly don't know shit about the group for the most part and was only introduced recently to the album by Moves from the Cocaine Blunts board. I've only gone through the ablum 2-3 times real well, but it's in typical FPM fashion, a definete must for any fan of the label.
Michie Mee & LA Luv - Jamacian Funk, Canadian Style (First Priority Music, 1991)
1. Prelude No. 1 2. Jamaican Funk Canadian Style 3. Kotch 4. Insecure Luva 5. Prelude No. 2 6. If Only They Knew 7. Prelude No. 3 8. All Night Stand 9. We've Arrived In America 10. L.A. Luv De Bout 11. You're Feisty 12. A Portion From Up North 13. Canada Large 14. Get It Together (Bonus Track) 15. Jamacian Funk (Bonus Track)
Part four of the series is another album I know very little about. While looking for an album cover and some info on Michie, I found out she was the first female Canadian hip hop artist signed to an american label. The album itself is a weird mix of raggae and hip hop, which was abundant in the early 90's with the dancehall craze taking off. She has a done some acting in recent years. You can learn more about her here http://www.myspace.com/michiemee2007
Then of course you had the first two MC Lyte albums that were heavily First Priority influenced with either King of Chill or Milk D doing the production on themWYDU PResents The First Priority Music Family's Greatest Hits (For all those out there unfamiliar with the Crew, here is a sampler of their music)
http://www.divshare.com/download/475128-f2a
1. Audio Two - Top Billin
2. Positive K & MC Lyte - I'm Not Havin' It
3. Alliance - Bustin' Loose
4. Audio Two - On The Road
5. Kings Of Swing - Strategy
6. Audio Two - I Don't Care
7. Michie Mee & DJ LA Luv - Jamican Funk Candian Style
8. Barsha - Knockin' Hineys
9. MC Lyte - Cha Cha Cha
10. Kings Of Swing - Two Minutes Of Funk
11. Alliance - We Could Get Used To This
12. Positive K & Barsha - Tramp
13. Barsha - B.A.R.
14. Alliance - Get On Down
15. Kings Of Swing - Nod Your Head To This
16. Audio Two - Milk Does The Body Good
17. MC Lyte - Lyte As A Rock
18. Audio Two - The Questions
19. Alliance - Kibble and Bits
20. Audio Two, MC Lyte, & Positive K - Start It Up
21. Positive K & Barsha - Impulse On Three
4/24/2007
Best Of Albumbase/Trav's Favorite Top 25 Albums
Lot's of things going on today, mainly because I'm backed up after not posting anything up the past three days. For that reason, and the fact I come up with many of my ideas while laying in bed listening to stuff before drifting off into dreamland, I have a few things on my plate that I'll throw out today while I'm still trying to finish up a guest post I have on another site and my own colossal series that (fingers crossed) I hope start this week.
I miss doing my Sunday Lite posts, they were fun, a break from the norm, and let me spew some of my rants and raves. So, fuck it, we'll work this post something like one of those. I don't really have any individual songs to post up today, so we'll run with the albumbase links again and hopefully I've dug up a few things that are new to those albumbase members and new to those who don't have albumbase. We'll get those out of the way for those visitors that don't have the attention span to actually read....
Royce Da 5'9 Aftermath Demo
1. Another Hit
2. King Of Kings
3. United Divided
4. The Desert ft WallStreet
5. I Dare You
6. Clap To This
7. Flash On
8. Friends
When Em signed with Dre's Aftermath label, he originally brought his boy Royce along with him. Together, they would work together on Dre's "2001" album, with Royce, reportedly, doing a chunk of the ghostwriting for Dre. There would be leaks of tracks that contained appreances from Royce, one being the original version for "Xxplosive" and some others. Royce would then, allegedaly, get a bit too cocky for Dre's tastes that was fuled by some misconceptions that Royce was actually signed to Aftermath. One thing led to another (meaning I'm not sure exactly happened myself) and Royce bounced from the project.
I honestly haven't heard what this "demo" is yet. Nine times out of ten, it's some kid with a computer that has more time than he knows what to do with on his hands and puts together a bunch of early Royce tracks from that time that had already been leaked and called it a "demo". Hopefully though, this does contain some of those earlier tracks, because regardless if this is a demo or not, they are nice tracks to have/hear.
Atmosphere - New, Unreleased & B-Sides VOL 2 *LINK FIXED**
(There were no track numbers, soooooo)
American Idle feat Busdriver & 2Mex
Better Man Feat Creature
Cats Van Bags (remix) feat Brother Ali
Fallen feat Vakill
Get Depressed
Gotta Love Em' feat Eyedea
H Overkill feat Mac Lethal
Hold Mine feat Blueprint, Aesop Rock, Eyedea, & Illogic
Insomnia 411 feat Roosevelt Franklin & Jean Grae
Knock Knock Joke 2
Ooooh
Outro
Seven Goes Bonkers pt 1 feat Dose One
Seven Goes Bonkers pt 2 feat Dose One
Sick Pimpin' Remix
Snapshot feat Booka B
Steel Toe Verses The Rookie Feat Micranots
Windy feat Mr Skurge
Wooden Ships feat PNS
I seemed to get some fanfare for the Aesop I posted up last time, so we obviously have some "Nerd Rap" fans that frequent the site. I hate using that term, just because I think it's stupid, although I don't care for most of the music that would be classified in that vague label. I've never cared for the Sage Francis', the Aesop Rocks, and I would rather listen to country music than listen to any Anticon material, but one such group/artist that I've liked from said "genre" is Atmosphere. Maybe it's the fact in all my "whiteness" and alcoholic tendicies, I can identify with the "emo-ness" that is Slug and Atmosphere's music and topics. If I actually had the talent to rap and make music, I'd be a cross between Atmosphere and Run DMC, with a Bomb Squad/J-Zone sound.
Again, I think these are someones homemade collections, but they are pretty good collection of his non-album stuff. There are three volumes floating around that I know of, which I only have the first two, so if someone else has the third volume, hook a white boy up.
DJ Premier - New Zealand & Australia Mixtape 2004
Not sure what this is, but it has Primo, so it has to be half way decent. I'm guessing a live mix from a tour overseas, but hell, check it out. (Edit) It's a mixtape of sorts, judging by the tracklisting (it's already in there, I don't feel like typing it out right now)
Black Star - B-Sides and Rarities
A collection of Mos & Talib apprearing on tracks together and the such. SOme stuff on here I hadn't heard before, so worth checking for Mos/Talib/Black Star fans.
Trav's Top Spins For The Week....
1. Evidence - The Weatherman LP
This album just keeps getting better and better. I think the Alchemist production on this is much better than his production on the new Prodigy album. It's not a classic by anymeans, but it's a good album to pass the time.
2. El-P - I'll Sleep When Your Dead/ Brother Ali - The Untold Truth
I went a week without listening to this and got back on the bandwagon again last week. You either love this or hate it. I haven't liked Brother Ali in the past, mainly because his voice bugged the fuck out of me, but I'm getting used to it on this album
3. Stricklin - The Resume Mixtape
Masta Ace's protege, I expect big things out of Strick in the future as a solo artist and as part of eMC with Ace, Punchline and Wordsworth. This is a collection of all the material he has released so far. Pick it up here
4. WYDU Presents Slick Rick's Greatest Hits & WYDU Presents Schoolly D's Greatest Hits (Tie)
Yeah, I got in the mood to listen to these two artists, after all, they are my favorite songs.
5. Storm Davis - Kegstand Poetry for the Recovering Alcoholic
I got this off of HHB out of curiousity, since the title and artist name contained two of my favorite things in life, alcohol and baseball. I gave it a listen then put it to the side for awhile. About a week later I had a tune stuck in my head, but couldn't remember where I heard it. I went back and found it on this album so since then I've been giving it some listens.
Trav's Favorite 25 Albums of All-Time
Since all the cool kids are doing it in blogger land, and I was asked to compile a list by none other than the almighty Jeff Weiss of Passion of the Weiss (if you don't read his blog, you suck) I figured I'd turn one into the Weiss/Straight Bangin' poll they are doing. Add in the fact that I am some kind of sick and perverted list junky who likes doing this kind of thing anway, so I had to do it.
Once again, this is MY personal favorites, not what I would consider THE top 25 of all-time. Lists are like assholes, everyone has one. My age is bound to show a bit, and it's probably not terribly different than the others I've seen so far, so without further suspense, here is my list.
1. Slaughtahouse- Masta Ace
2. Takes A Nation Of Millions..- Public Enemy
3. Raising Hell- Run DMC
4. Whut..Thee Album- Redman
5. Low End Theory- A Tribe Called Quest
6. Bigger And Deffer- LL Cool J
7. Stakes Is High- De La Soul
8. 21 & Over- Tha Alkaholiks
9. The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick- Slick Rick
10. (Tie) Dare Iz Da Darkside- Redman
Criminal Minded- Boogie Down Productions
11. The Infamous....- Mobb Deep
12. Wolf In Sheeps Clothing- Black Sheep
13. Pauls Boutique- Beastie Boys
14. Enter The 36 Chambers- Wu Tang Clan
15. Illmatic- Nas
16. Illdelphhalflife- The Roots
17. Disposable Arts- Masta Ace
18. Liscense To Ill- Beastie Boys
19. Labcabincalifornia- Pharcyde
20. Momma Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J
21. Death Certificate - Ice Cube
22. Kings Of Rock - Run DMC
23. Tha Trifflin' Album- King Tee
24. Things Fall Apart- The Roots
25. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx - Raekwon
There are a lot more I wanted to fit in, but in the end, this was it. Don't give me "Illmatic is only 15th?", cuz it's my list and my likes. A lot of the stuff has to do with the memories it leaves on me, what I was doing when the album was popular, where I was at in life, ect....Besides, they are all my very most favorite albums, so there isn't a lot of difference between number one and number twenty-five.
4/23/2007
I Was Going To Do A Post But.......
All of Eastern Colorado (incl. Denver) is under a Tornado watch....and you know what that means to me. There was no write up's this weekend because of my storm chasing addiction as well. Hopefully you guys can wait, hope to have something up tomorrow. Top is of a storm we saw Saturday, that my partner took. Peace out party people.
Update: Got caught up in work and didn't get out until almost 6 p.m., just long enough to catch a storm heading out east from DIA. That was about it, oh well.
4/20/2007
Used CD Shopping Trip 4-19-07
I came home with nine disks, only one which I was truly "excited" about, but some decent pick-ups none the less. All except two I already had in mp3 format, but I'm one of those geeks that needs the actual copy of something to make myself feel important and happy. Once again, you, the visitors reap the joys of my bounty as I share what I bought.....so enjoy!
Cheapo Disks 4-19
I was hoping a break from bi-weekly trips would allow some stuff to filter in there. I am aware there are others out there hit these stores up, but my history with these stores has been there is usually a good amount of stuff there after I haven't been there for a month or so. There used to be another Hip Hop head working there at one time who was my main competition for getting stuff there, but I haven't seen him there the last couple visits. He'd always see what I was getting and every once in awhile he'd curse for missing something that came in that I would grab (A.T.E.E.M is one I remember). This trip wasn't all that eventful, some decent stuff, but nothing mind blowing. I kept telling myself I was going to run into a Nine CD, in hopes that a positive state of mind would attract it to me, but it didn't happen.
Questionmark Asylum (Kaper Records/RCA, 1995) $5.95
1. Intro
2. Hey Lookaway
3. Curse Of The Q
4. Baby
5. Freakazoid
6. Sex On The Brain
7. You Don't Understand
8. Love, Peace & Soul
9. Everything's Love
10. Sweatin' Me
11. Get With You/I'd Rather Be With You
12. Got Dem Joints
13. Daddy
14. We're Thanking You
I never listened to this album pre-internet age. I was aware of it, but for whatever reason, it was one of the few things I saw in the stores but never bought. I downloaded it about a year ago or so and liked it the few times I listened to it back then. I figured I'd pick it up to add to the collection. It's going for .49 cents on amazon (add a couple bucks shipping) and I could have picked it up cheaper and the six bucks I forked out for it was probably more than I should have spent, but so be it.
The group is from DC, one of the artists (besides Nonchalant) to release a record on a major label from the area. The four memeber group kind of reminds you of a poor man's east coast Pharcyde, kind of the playful and fun vibe. Listening to it last night though, it really kind of bored me.
DJ Magic Mike - Repersent (Cheetah Records, 1994) $6.95
1. Royal Reject (Prelude)
2. Represent
3. You Dumb Ass (Prelude)
4. Move Them Butts
5. You Hear It Hummin'
6. A Real Nigga (Prelude)
7. (O.K. Nigga) Here We Go
8. A Message From Juan (Prelude)
9. Feel The Bass V.
10. Cut The Record Down To The Bone
11. Mind Blowing Decision (Prelude)
12. Down Through The Years (Remix)
13. Magic's Groove
14. Move Them Butts (Hip Hop Version)
15. Royal Rejects (Outro)
If you read this blog often, you will know I have a fondness for Miami Bass and how can one be a fan of Miami Bass without liking DJ Magic Mike. This album isn't his best ("Ain't No Doubt It" has that distinction), but it's still one of his better ones.
Capital Tax - The Swoll Package (MCA, 1993) $5.95
1. The Lab
2. Mista Wonka
3. Make a Move Y'all
4. Freestyle
5. I Can't Believe It
6. We Pals
7. Can You Dig It
8. Nottie Natural
9. The Masha
10. In Memory Of
11. Givin' It Back
12. Styles I Manifest
13. Make Some Cash
14. Poet Treeman
15. Treetop Connection
16. Outs
I've always kind of liked this album, so I finally decided to grab it. They are a Bay area group that doesn't have much out there about them and unfortunately, I know very little about them as well.
Mesanjarz Of Funk - Mesangarz Of Funk (Warner Bros. 1993) $4.99
2. Funk in da Trunk
3. Gangsta
4. Messengers of Funk
5. Naughty Shorty
6. Spanish Flavor
7. Point Blank
8. Save the Drama
9. What U Wanna Do
10. Freedom International
11. 40 & A Blunt
12. Flip da Script - Lord Finesse, Mesanjarz of Funk
13. Straight Outta Ill Street
14. Stickup Game
15. Buckwild Boricua
16. Come on Now
17. Keep It Flowin' [Remix]
This is one of those albums I slept on until someone showed me the err of my ways in the last couple of years. Not particullary hard to find, but definately in that boombap era that I love so much. It's another album I probably could have gotten cheaper on Amazon, but half the fun is finding this stuff in the stores.
Second Spin 4-19-07
Busy Bee - Runnin Thangs (EMI, 1988) $7.99 **Also just recently re-released by Traffic 4-10-07
4/18/2007
WYDU Presents "The Greatest Hits": Schoolly D
I'm kind of disappointed, I could write a book on Schoolly, well maybe a small magazine article, but I'm a little short on time and didn't want to hold this back until tomorrow, so I'll go ahead and post it up today with out the write up I had planned.
Making things short, Schoolly has been around
forever it seems, or at least since '85 and is one of the pioneers of "Reality Rap", "Gangsta Rap", "Hardcore Rap", or whatever label you want to apply to the music. He's been one of my favorites since I first saw the video for "No More Rock 'N Roll" on "Yo MTV Raps", which was rather hiliarous, even if it didn't mean to be. I bought "Smoke Some Kill" soon after and it actually kind of scared me more than anything. It's "in your face" attitude that is displayed on the album more or less scared the shit out of me at the time. I was probably a freshman or sophomore in high school and I got the feeling that Schoolly didn't like white people or anything they had to do with.
I'd eventually overcome my fear by getting into his earlier works, which are straight up 808 kick drums to your dome and simple yet effective lyrics for the times. A lot of his music was featured promiently on "King Of New York". After seeing that movie, I went out and bought "Saturday Night Album", which is probably his best piece of work, although I tend to favor "Am I Black Enough For You". I really had a difficult time making this comp just for the simple fact I was trying to make it fit onto one CD and I left off a few songs I really wanted to include, but oh well.
As for anyone that is bored with the compilations, I really don't like doing them that much myself, but you have to realize I only have so much time and so much material to share. I have a pretty big series coming in the near future which will also probably deal with more mixes, but I hope they are more for "the advanced listener" than some of these are. I realize a lot of people might have most of this stuff, but I also realize there are not just the crate diggers checking this blog, there are some people who are getting their learn on, who weren't around when this stuff originally dropped and I think it's important to reach those folks as well. These "Greatest Hits" mixes are probably more aimed toward them than the advanced person. I think it's important to know ones audience, and I try to cater to the majority, but every once in a while I will cater to the minority as well. I also never stared this blog to be in some kind of popularity contest. I post up what I feel like and what I want for the most part. I do me...if everyone is on board great, if not, oh fucking well.....'nuff said.
WYDU Presents Schoolly D's Classics
UPDATED LINK!!!!!
1. Run
2. Gangster Boogie
3. King Of New York
4. PSK What Does It Mean?
5. Livin' In A Jungle
6. Saturday Night
7. Gucci Time
8. Gucci Again
9. Where'd You Get That Funk From
10. Parkside 5-2
11. Dedication To All The B-Boys
12. It's Like Dope
13. Smoke Some Kill
14. B-Boy Rhyme & Riddle
15. Mr. Big Dick
16. D. Is For
17. Signifying Rapper
Nothing from his last three album. I tried to get a couple joints from "Welcome To America", but they got cut at the last minute. The other two albums are nothing really to write home about.
Essential Schooly D albums
Marco Polo feat Masta Ace - Nostalgia Video
Great video for a great track! Enjoy it and spread the word!
SoulClap
4/17/2007
Getting Old...
Thirty-four years ago today, a child was born. We’ll call him “Trevor”. Trevor was born to young parents, barely in their twenties. His mom was a student and his father worked three jobs at 16 hours a day to make ends meet. They rented a small run down house close the college that had water pipes that would freeze every winter when ever it got cold. They lived in a then small town in the Pacific Northwest. It was the end of the Vietnam War, the energy crisis was looming and the free will of the 60’s was giving way to the confusion and disillusionment of the 70’s.
Trevor grew up in a fairly stable home. His mom would go on to manage various pet stores around the city and his dad would be lucky enough to catch on with Hewlett Packard as a machinist. The new job would in able his pops to give the family a step up from paycheck to paycheck life they lived early on in the beginning to being able to afford some of the nicer things in life. No more generic Mac & Cheese, it was the Kraft brand from then on out. The family would buy a house outside of the main city after a few years, in an area that would later give way to crime, drugs and drive-by’s. Trevor would never see the rough life that would plague the area later in the 80’s and the 90’s as the family’s five year stay there was peaceful and uneventful, but he still likes to point this out as it is his only real claim to living the “rough life”.
(Trevor's latest Photo)
In 1980, the family would move back to the traditional suburbs surrounding the growing town. This would be the home that Trevor would grow up in for the next fifteen years. The neighborhood would become Trevor’s stomping grounds as he made the journey through adolescence. Trevor didn’t get into a excessive amount of trouble. He would get sent to the principal’s office several times during grade school for fighting. In Junior High, he would decide to test authority at be a teachers nightmare. In High School, he would get kicked off the freshman baseball team for telling his coach/math teacher to “fuck off” and he would be suspended for a freshman football game for punching a teammate on the sideline for missing a tackle. The worse trouble Trevor got into during high school was getting busted in a vacant field with a case of empty beer cans and three half naked girls by Five-O the summer between his Sophomore and Junior years. The cops would overlook the beer (luckily) but would give him a curfew ticket. The cops took it easy on Trevor, Trevor’s father though, was not so forgiving. His father, a very big man and intimidating man with a short fuse, was a strict disciplinarian and it would be another year before Trevor ever drank again.
For the most part, Trevor’s adolescence was fairly drama free. He would screw his head on straight his Junior and Senior years and graduate High School in ‘91 and go straight to college. That might have been a mistake as Trevor took advantage of the lack of people giving a rip if he was in class or not and would spend most of that first year of college drinking 40’s and playing pool in his friends garage. That summer, he would rupture a disc in his back and would need back surgery that would require him to miss a large of chunk of the semester. He would end up sitting out the semester, which was probably the best thing that could have happened to him at the time. Again, all he would do is rehab and work-out and play pool in his friends garage while drinking 40’s the whole semester, but it also gave him time to reflect on his future. Amazing how 40’s and blunts will do that to a man.
Why am I bringing all this crap up about Trevor? Well, as I said Trevor turns 34 today and one thing that has always tied my…errrrr…..Trevor’s life together is music. As Trevor reminisces about the past 34 years, his love of music that his mom installed at him at an early age is the one thing that is comes up in all his memories. He can remember watching “Solid Gold” and watching Blondie performing “Rapture” in the early 80’s. It wasn’t though until he saw Run DMC performing “Walk This Way” on MTV that he would discover his love for hip-hop. From there on out, hip-hop would always be the there for him. For more than half his life now, if things were going shitty, he put on some hip-hop, if things were going good, celebrate with some hip-hop. You get the idea. Trevor was putting together a mix of songs that have some sort of personal meaning to him during his time here on this world and thought he would share it with all of you.
I had several ways I wanted to go with this post. As I….errrr….Trevor gets up there in age, entering now his mid-30’s, the age of the average hip-hop is also rising. Where do the older listeners go? What do they do? Is the music still relevant to us? As Hip-Hop gets older so will it’s listeners and what happens in the future is up for debate. There are artists that are getting older as well, but hip hop hasn’t been exactly nice for it’s vets either. I personally don’t want to hear the same things I wanted to hear when I was 18 or 19. I’d rather hear things relevant to my 30 something life. Is there room for that in hip hop? Time will tell….
Edit Note:
(I’m not one to talk much about myself. I like to think I’m fairly private and keep things to myself, especially in an everyday type of setting with people I deal with on an everyday level. But every so often, I open the book that is my life and share it with others, especially since 99.9% of you will never meet me in a real life setting. I’ve had some personal and internal strife the past couple weeks. I think I’ve finally found a way to be happy after about 10 years of battling personal demons. It’s not over yet, but I think I’m well on the way to being “me” again.)
This probably will hold no meaning to anyone else other than “Trevor”, but fuck it, I’ll post it up. It’s a collection of songs dealing with the impending aging, the state of hip hop, or what was hip hop, and just personal songs that mean something to uh, Trevor. They are not old or rare, just sentimental, fuck it, I’m past giving a fuck what others think, so call it emo, it is what it is.
WYDU Presents: “Grown Folks Music”
1. Juggaknots – 30 Something : A song for the 30 something b-boy. This song would be something only someone who is older than 30 could appreciate, if the beat wasn’t so damn dope.
2. Supastition – Fountain Of Youth: If I could write a song on how I feel, this would be it. Perfect for the old, grumpy, disgruntled b-boy. True shit for true people. If you haven’t heard this song and are over 30, download this just for this song.
3. Nas – Can’t Forget About You: This generations “I Used To Love HER”. I think if this song came out 10 years ago, it’d be a classic. And this coming from someone who didn’t care for “Hip Hop Is Dead”
4. Kaze – 50/50 Amp: Another song dealing with the “good ole days”. It went under the radar, but still a great song for kicking back and reminiscing of the good days.
5. Common – I Used To Love H.E.R.: A timeless classic, twenty years from now, come 35 year old will be bitching about how hip hop sucks compared to twenty years ago, but will still mention this in his blog, or whatever the fuck they are using then.
6. Binary Star – Honest Expression: A few years back when I hated almost any hip hop that was not made in the post 90’s, this was my theme song. I still agree with the song though.
7. Cunninlynguists feat Masta Ace – Seasons: Another classic joint that deals with the glories of hip hop that can make any 30 somethinger throw on a pair of shell toes and a fat dookie rap and spit along with it.
8. Pharcyde – Runnin’: We’re getting into the personal tracks for me. People ask me my favorite Pharcyde album and I always said “Labcabin”, for the only reason I was going throw a tough time in my life when that album was dropped and it helped me get through it. The dark time dealt with back stabbing friends and a lost love and this album helped get throw it. This song was the main song I’d play with Tre’s verse being my guiding light for a few times. “I let the bullshit blow in the breeze…” was my saying for a long time.
9. Atmosphere – Die Motherfucker Die: Listen to the song….then listen to the last line. One can’t like anyone else if one doesn’t like ones self…and that’s not always easy and drugs don’t always make it any easier.
10. Little Brother – Sinners: I’m not religious, in fact I have pretty adamant feelings against organized religion that I could get into a 20 page diatrade about, but I won’t. I am spiritual though. I’m no where near a perfect person, but I do try. This song reminds me why.
11. Tupac – When My Homiez Call: If you are like me, you have friends that you will always be there for, but somewhere in life, you took a different path than they did. As I mentioned, I stayed out of major trouble in high school. One of my best friends though, chose a different path. He got into drugs, selling and using, stealing shit and other things that I wasn’t down with. The last real time I hung out with him much was those garage pool days where we’d drink 40’s and shoot pool and…listen to Tupac. I hear this song now and I think of him. I still hear from him every couple years or so, when he’s not in jail and he still brings up this song.De La Soul – I Am I Be: Something about this song. Not sure what it is, but it’s always struck a chord with me. Especially the “Or some tongues that lied and said we’d be natives to the end, now a days we don’t even speak…”. I used to roll with a crew of guys and this was about the time I saw people in a true light
12. Atmosphere – Little Man: I would have hated Atmosphere when I was younger, but now it’s a group I can identify the most with, I don’t care what anyone says. I have a little girl, and I wish I could say those kind of things to her. Then the self-destructive nature that some people do to themselves, it’s something I can identify with. The line “How’s the self abusiveness..” hits home.
13. Foreign Exchange – Happiness: “Good Lovin’, good people, good music in my life, it makes me happy”. Positivity breeds positivity, it’s something I’ve struggled with in recent years. This song helps me remember that.
14. Masta Ace – Beautiful: A feel good song that make the hardest hard rock smile
15. Oh No feat Posdnous – Smile A Lil’ Bit: Life is what you make it……
16. Jay-Z – 30 Something: I like the Juggaknots version better, but you gotta get some floss when you get older as well, this is for the millionaire 30 something year olds.
Trevor didn’t go out this weekend, lack of funds. This weekend though, it’s on. Drinking when used for the right reasons can be fun, and what the fuck, you only turn 34 once, right? Sorry if this was some wishy washy shit, but sometimes, I might not wear my emotions on my sleeve, but close underneath. I’ve been doing some soul searching recently, I hope I found it.
Peace out party people!
WYDU Presents "The Greatest Hits"; Slick Rick
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend. By the looks of things, the blog was still getting some love even with the lack of posts over the weekend. Last week was the busiest week ever for our little blog, which is kind of cool, even with the lack of quality posts that I come to expect out of myself. No fear, I have a full slate of things planned for the next few weeks. This week itself is kind of a special one for me, but I'll get into that more tomorrow.
I really don't know what to expect as far as reader reaction with this next series I'm going to do. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've always been one of those wacked out kids that makes compilations of all sorts. I always made stuff for friends who were hip hop heads, for people who weren't, but wanted to hear more, for myself, all kinds of things. As hip hop has aged and more artists put out their fourth, fifth and sixth albums, I've liked making a "greatest hits" CD that I can bump in my headphones or in my car.
In the age of the I-Pod, stuff like the "greatest hits" has almost become obsolete in a sense, hell disks in general are becoming an endangered species. I personally don't own an I-Pod or any mp3 player like it. I'm still locked in the days of the mp3 walkman that can play the mp3 disks. That is as far as my technological revolution has gone. So I still occasionally make my "WYDU Classics" and this week, I'm going to post up some "Greatest Hits" collections of various artists that I enjoy.
The other potential problem with doing these, everyone has their own favorites on albums. Songs that I may like, someone else may have thought was do-do and someones favorite song from an album maybe one I disliked. So coming up with an universial "Greatest Hits" package is nearly impossible.
When I started thinking about this idea a couple of weeks ago, I was kind of amazed at the number of "Greatest Hits" retail projects that have already been dropped. I still think the best representation of a greatest hits collection is Gang Starr's "Full Clip", which covers pretty much all the best stuff. None the less I'm going to try to cover a few artists that haven't and probably won't have a "Greatest Hits", maybe even some labels and producer's collections as well. My man Jaz at "Cold Rock Da Spot" has this kind of thing sewed up, but I'm only doing this for a week then we'll go back to leaving it all up to Jaz.
First up, my favorite story telling MC of all time, Slick Rick.....crumbs! Do we even dare get into what could have been with Rick? Rick's story is one worthy of "Behind The Music" thingy's that VH1 has on all the time. We'll recap it quickly for the kiddies out there not in the know and that haven't done their homework.
Rick's legacy is long and distinguished. Ricky D got his start as many artists did from that time period, in the school's lunch room, rhyming in a cipher while someone beat boxed or pounded on the table. He was part of the "Kangol Crew" with Dana Dane, while they never released any music that I'm aware of, they still get enough mention in the "myths" of Hip Hip lore.
After winning some MC battles, Rick was introduced to Doug E Fresh, who was a well known local artist himself in those days. As they say, the rest is history, with Rick getting together with Doug to form "Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew". They would drop the classic 12 inch "La Di Da Di b/w The Show" in '85. It was said, back in those days, Rick was just a tad bit arrogant, so naturally he wasn't sticking around in any group that he wasn't featured. Dressed down in jewels and using his own style and verbage, the Rickster would team up with Hank Shocklee and "The Bomb Squad" (although Rick denies they were involved much with the album other than getting the credit for beats he made) and drop the classic "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick" on then power house rap label, Def Jam. The album would go platnium (damn, they don't do that much these days anymore) and Rick looked to be on his way to legendary status such as LL Cool J, Public Enemy and others. Instead, what would happened would effect Ricks professional career and personal life.
The rumor/story is as such. Every great/wealthy MC needs protection, even in those days. Rick
decided to keep in in the family and help out a cousin who was struggling to stay clean and out of trouble. Things turned sour between Rick and the cousin over some money (what else) and cuz threatened Rick, his family and his mother. Rick was fearing for his own safety and that of his family so he decided to take the situation into his own hands and handle his biz. In events that sound eerily like it came straight out of "Children's Story", Rick would pull a drive by on his cousin standing in front of a building. Instead of capping his cousin (he did get a piece of him), he would shoot an innocent bystander in the leg. He then proceeded to "Raced up the block doing 83/crashed into a tree near an university"...no really, that's what happened, he hit a tree after speeding off. To his defense, Rick was going through a rash of shit, getting robbed himself, home invasions and the breaking straw, getting his Nissian Pathfinder shot up in front of a club, sending him and a female companion to the hosipital
Rick was brought up on attempted murder charges. While awaiting trial and sentacing, he would rush into the studios and pump out two other albums. While decent in quality (hell, they are better than 90% of the crap out today) they do have the feeling of being rushed. Rick would get out for work release and re-do most of "Behind Bars", but it still wasn't a classic.
Rick, who was born in the UK, never recieved his citizenship and
in '93 the INS informed Rick they were in the process of deporting him back to a country that he never really lived in due to the fact he used a gun in a felony. The goverment returned him back to prison where he would fight deportation and eventually won the right to stay. But then the wonderful INS appealed based on the time Rick had served in jail (the time they sent him back to prison counted against him) and won, ordering Rick back to England. An agreement of sorts was reached and the INS reportedly told Rick they would not force him to leave the country. This was in the late 90's. Times changed in the US after 9/11, in 2002 Rick performed on a cruise ship for charity and upon reentry in Miami, was arrested by Homeland Security. Rick would spend 17 months in detention before an NY judge ruled that the INS broke the law in reopening his case in '95. The INS is still fighting the case, and fought against the NY decision saying the case is in Florida's jurisadiction. As of last fall, the case was still awaiting to be heard in the Florida courst system
These days, Rick says he is just waiting for a more mature hip hop audience and expecting to be told to pack up and move back to England....
***This was the pre cutdown version. It might not fit on a traditional 700 mb.**
WYDU Presents: Slick Ricks Greatest Hits
1. The Show
2. Children's Story
3. I Shouldn't Have Done It
4. I Own America
5. Mona Lisa
6. Mona Lisa 2
7. Treat Her Like A Prositute
8. A Love That's True Pt 2
9. 2 Way Street
10. Mistakes Of A Woman In Love With Other Men
11. Sleazy Gynecologist
12. Lick The Balls
13. I Run This
14. The Moment I Feared
15. Captain Caveman
16. King
17. He Kills
18. Teacher, Teacher
19. Memories
20. A Letter 2
21. The Sun feat Ghostface & Raekwon
22. Behind Bars
23. Sittin' IN My Car feat Doug E Fresh
24. La Di Da Di
Steve Refkin back with Loud.com ?
In 1992 Steve Refkin founded a record label named Loud Records who should become the home of the Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete Rock, Xzibit, Twista, Dead Prez, the X-ecutioners and many others, unfortunately the label shut down in 2002 as many different well known hip hop labels did back then...
Refkin went on to found a new label named Street Records Corporation and success came again very quick with such artists like Akon, David Banner or Remy Ma, now Mr. Refkin brought back his former Loud label to start a new form of contest strictly for our rappin' visitors, I'm still not sure if it's only hype and if anything great turns out of this contest, but for those interested, please read on what the people over at Loud.com tell us abouth their idea and about the contest:
"With a lot of emcee’s out there leaving something to be desired in today’s Hip Hop scene, why not leave it up to the people to decide who the next greatest rapper will be?
As I’m sure you know, both Battlerap and LOUD.com are back and they’re giving some talented and some not-so-talented people out there a chance at an SRC contact and $100,000 in cash!
There’s plenty of incentive to sign up, like getting to use beats from hot producers like DJ Khaled, Cool and Dre, and Zukhan Bey, and then having them judge your skills week after week, but if you’re not an emcee, think of this as your way to control what you’re listening to on the radio. We’re talking about SRC, LOUD.com, and Steve Rifkind, some of the biggest names in Hip Hop and YOU can control who gets signed.
People with less than 25 votes a week don’t even have a chance at getting judged, that’s where you have to come in and support if you like the artist, or shoot them down if they’re really wack! We definitely don’t need another horrible rapper on the radio! But we do need new fire, so please help spread the news and support!
The competition officially started yesterday April 15th, so right now your next favorite rapper could be preparing his material at home and he’ll need your support! Or, by helping promote this contest, you could inspire some true artists to sign up and get noticed."
For full details on how the contest works, click here: http://www.loud.com/faq/
Now i must say that the idea sounds pretty good, but I still doubt that this has the potential and power to as they say "to control what you’re listening to on the radio",
well we'll see....
Chris
4/13/2007
Young Zee - Musical Massacre
Good afternoon hip hop girls and boys, once again back up in this mutha with some music. I don't have a lot with me and didn't have a plan coming into this, so once again we are going to wing it just for the simple fact I don't think I'm going be around much this weekend again and don't think a post will happen, so we'll post up something to get by.
I dug through the music I had with me and pulled out one of my favorite albums that was never released from one of my favorite MC's that never gets the props and recognition he deserves. I looked around to see if anyone had posted this album up in a while, but didn't see any posts on it. I'm almost positive it's been posted up before and I might have even posted it before. When you've been doing this for over a year and a half and posted up hundreds and hundreds of albums, you can't remember everything you've done. So if it's posted up recently, I apologize, but we'll run with it.
The MC in question? Young Zee of the "Outsidaz", one of the more unique MC's in terms of vocal tone, delivery and just over all charisma. Hailing from Newark, NJ, Zee has always been on the cusp of becoming one of the games premier MC's but it always seems to allude him. From coming up with Pacewon back in the early 90's to forming the clique the "Outsidaz" with a underground beast in Eminem to even being on Em's label at one time, Zee has been right there. He's appeared on the underground classics such as "Disposable Arts" from Masta Ace with a show stealing verse as well as and appearance on mainstream smashes on "The Score" with the Fugees, Zee should have blown up by now, but has always been blocked by the industry bullshit. Even his solo album titled "Musical Massacre" back in 96/97 was never released.
The album was supposed to drop on Ruff Nation/Columbia, but due the usual bullshit, it never saw the light of the day. While I don't think the album would have broke down any barriers back then, it would have held it's own in a more competitive album scene back then. Zee displays a crazy flow with very witty lyrics and that with a sense of humor, you transfered back to a time when skills and individuality still matter in an MC.
I've seen a couple different versions to this, so this might be original, or it might be different. As far as I know, only a promo tape came out for this.
http://sharebee.com/5cdd3122
1. Toxic Waste
2. Don't Fuck With New Jersey
3. Problems
4. Tonsil Check
5. Plucker
6. Crazy
7. EZ Widers
8. Juice
9. Milk
10. Jack Mode
11. Electric Chair
12. Throw Your Hands In The Air
13. Freestyle
14. Hard Act To Follow
15. ?
16. Just Chill
17. Stay Gold
Young Zee online....
Young Zee interview from last year
4/11/2007
WYDU Classics: Season 2 Vol 4 - The Posse Cuts
1. Eastern Conference All Stars (Tame 1/Copywrite/J-Zone/Cage/Mr. Eon/Skillz/Camu Tao) - Eastern Conference All Stars (J-Zone drops a hilarious verse on this joint)
http://sharebee.com/8237b68c
2. Ain't A Damned Thing Changed
3. Who Can Get As Lyrical
4. Comp Stompin'
5. Bass Test
6. The Weekend
7. Rollin' With The Posse
8. The Way I Swing
9. A Word From J-Bass
10. Kid's Groove
11. The Power Of Rhyme
12. Rap To You
13. The Emerald City
14. She's Fake
15. Ride The Rhythm
16. Dollars & Sense
17. Unstoppable
18. Stan's Groove
