Never Dated (1994)
http://www.zshare.net/download/737577726bf7d702/
This album, or EP I guess, from Milk D (dropping the D here) snuck up on me. I didn't hear anything about it before it came out and I can't remember exactly how I did hear about it. It was either The Source (back in the good ol' days), Yo! MTV Raps or I just saw it in a local record store. Actually, now that I think about it, I think it was in print or on TV, because I remember only being able to find the tape and I couldn't find the CD anywhere.
So, I rocked the tape for a few years until my buddy Drew hooked me up with the CD. For some reason, some CD's had a couple extra tracks, which I'm assuming is similar to the vinyl version, which I picked up a year or two when Sandbox started selling off vinyl on ebay. The vinyl has 2 extra tracks, "Smoke Up My Ass" and "Get Off My Log (the jazzyfatwoody remix)". Unfortunately, I don't have a hook up to burn vinyl to mp3, so I can't upload those 2 tracks.
Regardless, this release snuck up on me and was a real pleasant surprise. The production, arrangement, engineering and mixing was primarily handled by Milk D himself. Rick Rubin is listed as an exec producer with Nat Robinson, which I think is his father, or Gizmo. I know that Giz and Milk had some sort of falling out, but I never really heard why, so I'm thinking it isn't Giz. Either way, Never Dated is a real solid release and featured an amazing collaboration with Ad Rock on "Spam".
1) Intro - Just a quick little intro to let you know Milk is back.
2) Get Off My Log (feat. Big V) - Booyah!!! This was the first track I heard from this EP and one of the best. I love the beat on this track and as usual, the more scratching on a song, the better for me.
3) Laid & Paid II - Another scratch heavy track with a nice beat. You can kind of figure out the subject matter based on the title of this song.
4) Spam (feat. The King Ad Rock) - Two of the best high pitched emcee's ever on the same track. The beat is bangin' and Adrock and Milk kick some braggadocio-type rhymes backed by Mike D on drums. This is a must-have track for even casual Milk D and Beastie fans.
5) Rude & Cocky - Bragging and boasting and doing it well. This song is solid.
6) Go 2 Hell! - So, you don't like Milk D, huh? Well, kindly go to hell. The beat here is a little more simplistic than the rest of the album, but it's a nice track and the chorus is fun to listen to when you're in one of those "go to hell" kind of moods. Oh, and Atlantic sucks (go to hell)!
7) Ask Me How Thick - Just another solid track on this (too) short release. "Smoke Up My Ass" is hidden in this track and Milk calls out fake gangster rappers, of which there was an abundance of in the 90's, and now for that matter.
Big up to Trav for getting me into an Audio Two/Milk D mood!
3/16/2010
Milk D - Never Dated
10/22/2007
What More Can I Say?!?! The Milk Dee Interview.
Growing up as a young kid just getting into Hip Hop, one of the first groups I discovered beyond my Beastie Boys and Run DMC land I was in, was Audio Two. I've been hammering my head trying to figure out when I first heard of them. I can't say if it was "I Like Cherries" that appeared on The Audio Two/Alliance Flip Flop EP or it might had been Top Billin' that I saw on Soul Train or something like that. I know when I first really got into them, I saw them as "up & coming" on the first episode of "Yo! MTV Raps". Right after that appearance, I went out and bought "What More Can I Say" and I was sold on them ever since. I guess you can include the whole First Priority Family in that mix as I've dropped several posts highlighting my FPM "stan" status in the past. Needless to say, to sit down and talk to Milk Dee was another great highlight of my "career". We talk about everything from the early Audio Two days, to the lost "Last Dead Indian" LP, to the American days to what he has been up to lately.
WYDU: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, its much appreciated. First off, you have gotten somewhat of a renewed interest in you and your career with this 50 Cent project dropping and you are back in the limelight, how does that feel at this stage of your career?
Milk Dee: It feels good, I definitely enjoy the attention. I'm in the process of relaunching our label, First Priority and I'm working on putting out new material so it's given me a good opportunity to be out there and getting my feet wet again.
W: It is pretty special to still be relevant after some 20 years later with your name living on through the samples and even the 50 song "I Get Money". When you first picked up a mic, what were you striving for when you first came up back in '86, '87?
Milk: Actually my first record came out in '84, it was called "A Christmas Rhyme" when I was 14. I started rhyming when I was around nine, listening to Cold Crush Brothers, Kool Moe Dee, those are the artists that inspired me. When I first started rhyming, my goal was to be the best MC of all time. I think thats part of what being an MC is, wanting to be the best. I think that every artist has their own path and although it doesn't always go like we want it to go, each path is different and I wouldn't believe my path would have ended up like this but I'm extremely happy that it did. I'm happy with what is going on and being relevant some years later, its good I'll take that, I feel like I've accomplished something.
W: Talk about First Priority back in the day. It was a family ran label and the artist roster seemed pretty tight, you had the "First Priority Basement Music" compilation and the such, kind of a Juice Crew type vibe going on. How was the atmosphere back then, how was it working with everyone?
Milk: It was great. I miss that atmosphere in the studio. Its different now, it doesn't have anything to do with the artists or whatever, but its just a different vibe. At that time, it was a real fun and creative vibe going on. We'd go in to do the songs and we'd spend a lot of time creating, just having fun and creating. I think that a lot of time the atmosphere of whats going on allows talent to grow. Sometimes if your in the studio with the right producer or the right artist, they can bring that extra edge out in you. I don't really compare ourselves to Juice Crew or whoever. They made their mark and we made our mark. It is impressive to see that amount of impact that we had. The amount of samples and I'm not talking just about Top Billin, I mean our whole catalog made an impact.
W: Are you still in contact with Barsha or King of Chill or any of those guys anymore?
Milk: I don't keep in touch with Barsha. I see King of Chill every now and then, I spoke with him a couple weeks ago. He's still doing great, he works with DJ Premier.
W: Daddy-O got part of the production credit for "Top Billin'", and at that time, Daddy-O was pretty hot. How did you end up hooking up with him for that track?
Milk: Daddy-O is my mentor, he was one of the first artists that I ever met that was out there doing "it", we just kind of hit it off. So when it was time to release some more new music, I felt like I had to have Daddy-O involved in it because he is like a specialized pro.
W: We've seen it and read it before, but for those of our readers who might have missed it, can you go over how "Top Billin'" came to be?
Milk: One night I was working on a remix for one of Lyte's songs and I came up with the beat for it by playing around. The beat inspired me to write to it, so I wrote it and put it down that same night. The whole song took a little less than an hour. The next day I let Daddy-O hear it and he was like "Damn, this is it, this is the one". We then went into the studio to mix it and Daddy-O added his finishing touches to it and it was done, history.
W: You mentioned your sister, Lyte, how is she, what is she up to these days?
Milk: Lyte is good, she is working TV stuff and she is still working on her music. She has a single coming out that Premier produced so she still working the music as well.
W: Do you mind discussing how it was working with her back in the day because you were pretty instrumental in her first couple albums?
Milk: Yeah, there would be no MC Lyte without Milk Dee! hahaha. I did her first song, which was "I Cram To Understand U". Lyte is, in my opinion, the best female rapper of all-times. People may disagree, but thats how I see it. She is an extreme talent, she has everything it takes to be an MC, starting with the "spunk". Thats what really inspired me with Lyte starting off, she was so spunky. It may not be no big deal now, but then, the fact that she would curse, that was spunky. You never heard no female MC on the mic say "fuck", that was a big thing back then.
W: In hindsight, how do you feel when you look back at "What More Can I Say?"
Milk: The funny thing is, on the low, all our albums are classics including the album that never came out, "First Dead Indian"...
W: Oh I have a question about that album coming up.....haha
Milk: haha, oh okay...I feel like the first album kind of explains who I am as a person. I always try to take chances, I was very experimental. You either get it or you don't. In the end it was a classic, so I'm completely happy with that.
W: The second album, which I probably like just as much or more than the first, you didn't get quite as much credit for that album. There was a lot of things going on at that time with the changing tides in Hip-Hop during that time. How do you feel about that album looking back on it?
Milk: We did have some problems over at the label. There was some controversy going on which I don't even want to talk about. I think times were changing, and you know, it was the sophomore album. The people that get it, get it and they love it others, they don't know about it. There are certain things on the second album that I like more than on the first. I think the second album was a better album, maybe overall. Like "I Get The Paper", thats my song, I love that song. But then again, "On The Road Again", which was basically Atlantic forcing us to do the type of song that they wanted as a single.
W: The video for "On The Road Again" was great though, I was just watching that before the interview.....
Milk: haha, yeah, thanks. It was fun doing that video. Even "Never Dated", an underground classic, I get more requ
ests for "Never Dated" material that "Top Billin'" these days. Which means a lot of people were right about "Never Dated". "Never Dated" came out in a different era than "Top Billin'", so the ones into "Never Dated", they may not even be as familiar with "What More Can I Say", or "I Don't Care", all they know is "Get Off My Log" and "Spam".
W: Back when "I Don't Care" dropped, you got some heat for some of the things you said on the second album. How did you look at that then and how do you look at that now?
W: You mentioned the "First Dead Indian", which is kind of a lost treasure to some of us internet dorks are dying to hear. What happened to that and what are the chances of that ever seeing the light of day?
Milk: "First Dead Indian" was scheduled to come out and we got into a controversy with the label and we left Atlantic. What is happening now, with the relaunch of First Priority, we are going to release "First Dead Indian" and some other never released songs as kind of a boutique for the label. It will be cool, I mean I get the desire to hear it. I would be interested in hearing a lost Big Daddy Kane album or something like that, so I get why people want to hear it.
W: Its about equivalent to that, I know there will be some happy people to hear that finally, myself included. After that album you ended up going to Rick Rubin's American label, how did you hook up with American and Rubin?
Milk: I've always been a big Rick Rubin fan. In a lot of ways, I modeled my production after his. He was a big influence on me, especially the cockiness, not being scared to experiment. So I felt like that would be a perfect place for me, be over there because I figured he'
d understand what I was trying to do and I wouldn't be pressured into making music that I didn't want to make. It's actually a funny story. I called him, which anyone knows anything about Rick, they know its impossible to get a hold of him, so I left him a message. Six hours later he calls me and he's like "Yo, this is Rick Rubin", he didn't sound like I thought he'd sound like, so I think someone is playing games with me, but it was him. I told him I was out of my situation over at Atlantic and I'd really like to be on his label and he said it'd be his honor to have me on his label and lets do it. So that was it, it was done. The paper work wasn't done until later, but all it took was that one phone call. Its funny, my A&R guy said when he was interviewing with Rubin for his position, they both went to Tower Records and Rick told him to go buy two CD's and he would go buy two CD's and then they'd come back to the car and discuss the two CD's they had bought. Rick came back with a Mix-A-Lot CD and an Audio Two CD and he told him he wanted these two artists for his label. He had already wanted me over there and I wanted over there, so it was one of those things that it worked out well for both of us.W: There was never a full length release follow up to "Never Dated", why is that?
Milk: There was just things going on. At that point Rick was renegotiating his contract. He moved from Warner to Sony. At that point I wasn't really ready to continue rapping anyway.
W: The single "Spam" seemed to get a lot of play. How did you go about getting Ad-Rock on that track?
Milk: I don't even remember who's idea it was. Like I said I'm a big Rick Rubin fan and the Beastie Boys were a big part of that. I think maybe it was Dan (his A&R for the project) suggested that I contacted them. Ad-Rock was excited about doing it, but he was a little upset because he was mad at Rick at the time and he didn't want it being on Rick's label, but he was happy to do it. We went into the studio and had a great time. He's a real cool dude.
W: Since the last EP, what have you been up to since then?
Milk: Since that last EP, I've been in the studio producing and working. I did a Janet Jackson remix, I did some movie scores, one was "Hell's Kitchen" which had Mekhi Phifer and Angelina Jolie. I did some songs for "Civil Brand", with MC Lyte in it. I had a big artist overseas by the name of Jason Downs who had the hit "White Boy With A Feather", which was really big overseas. Most recently, Eamon, "I Don't Want You Back" and that album. That song was the most played in 2004 and sold millions of copies.
W: How did the movie scores come about?
Milk: At the time Mekhi Phifer did that movie, he was still one of my artists and I was working on an album for him. We became cool with the director of the movie and he decided he wanted to include some of the music.
W: I'm not much of an R&B guy, but how did you hook up with Eamon?
Milk: Eamon is pop haha...
W: Yeah my bad....
Milk: I was in the studio working on the remix for a Janet Jackson track and the engineer at the time, Mark Passy, who is now the COO for First Priority told me that I had to hear this kid. So I went to the other studio to listen to him and the I had an idea with what I wanted to do with him, so I signed him. I like all types of music. I like to produce all types of music. It's not about the genre, its about the creativity. When work with different artists, you get creative in different ways.
W: So how do you change your approach when you work with the different genres then? How is each different?
Milk: It's not. For me its the same thing, I just do what I do. I just do the beat and a lot of times the artist dictates that some. Eamon comes from a Doo-Wop background as a child. He was doing Doo-Wop. So when I heard that, I thought "Oh, we need to do some sort of doo-wop/hip hop type of thing", I do the same thing I do and when he does his thing to them, they become pop. But the beats are still hip hop...
W: Same backbone then kind of....
Milk: Yeah, I mean I'm the same person. I don't switch it on and off. I just do what I do. Sometimes if I'm in the studio with a rock artist, which I work with a lot now, the guitars might make people say it's "rock", but the beat is still hip hop.
W: You mentioned the re-launch of First Priority, so it sounds like there is going to be a R&B, Hip-Hop, and pop obviously.....
Milk: Yes, we are re-launching as a total entertainment company, where we won't be limited to any genre and we plan on making unique music for everybody. I think that the state of the music industry right now is perfect for what we want to do.W: What is it that you are hoping to accomplish with it then?
Milk: What we WILL accomplish! Haha...Right now, I think the music is a reflection for the time and I feel like its about right for what is going. I do think some of the music is lacking and I think it could be setting up for a new renaissance of music. I feel like we are going to get new music in the atmosphere and give the people more options to listen to. We are hoping that people will be looking for new, interesting music. I'm in the studio trying to make sure the music is special and I'm putting a little extra effort, no excuse me A LOT of extra effort into it. I think thats part of the reason the sales are so low. The music doesn't compel you to go buy it, I mean you can do with it or you can do with out it.
W: How has the internet changed the way a label is ran then?
Milk: The internet is both a blessing and a curse. When we first started there was no such thing as the internet. It was a lot harder to get the music exploited. It was a lot more manual labor to get the music out there. You had to physically send out racks of stuff, cause even back then there were no CD's either. Now with the internet you can reach so many more people, with that though comes the downloading and the easy accessibility to music AND videos. Before you had to have the record and play it whenever you wanted to hear it. Now you can just go on the internet and play the video to hear it, you can go to I-tunes and buy it there. Its a blessing and a curse. With all these things, you have to figure out creative ways to market. Back then you had to be creative in marketing. Now you also have to be creative but in different ways. Use whatever you have and do whatever you can.
W: You mentioned something about working on new material and maybe a new album in another interview I read, whats the scoop with that?
Milk: Yes, I was just in the studio working on some new material. I'm doing a new
Milk Dee album. We are going to start off with a few singles. I might have a single before the end of the year, if not then definitely at the top of the year you'll hear a new single.W: So what can we expect from the new album?
Milk: Right now I'm in the studio, catching the vibe, figuring out what its going to be. In the position that I'm in, its hard to shake off all the experience and all that you've learned. What I'm looking for is a completely free project and just do what I do, and not what I'm told and not what everyone else is telling me to do. Just some Milk Dee shit.
W: Then its basically for fun and what you want then, is that correct?
Milk: It's definitely for fun, but its not just for me, I don't want it to be only me that understands it. I think will get it, in fact I think people will be searching for something other than the same thing over and over again. Something for fun, that is not out there, but if the people have the opportunity to decide if they would like it or not, they would probably like it.
W: Are you producing it yourself?
Milk: Actually I have a lot of material that I've produced myself. I'm just going to keep working at it until I come up with the ones that I think will fit the album. The whole creative process is a whole strange thing, sometimes is hard. It depends on how much weight you put on your shoulders. Sometimes it stifles your creativity. A lot of these cats are making music for the sole intention of what they think might get play on the radio. Doing what they think is "Hot". That has a lot to do with the labels to. They don't want to take the chances of doing something different. I mean are there any true A&R cats out there anymore? And when I say A&R, I mean from a Motown perspective. Are they developing the artist, are they making the artist record songs over and over again until it is right or experimenting with different producers. Now its like "Is the song done?"
W: So the infamous question, is hip hop dead or is it alive, on life support?
Milk: I think hip hop is alive. Like I said before, music is a reflection of the times. Can it get better? Absolutely. Music goes in cycles, nothing is constant but change. I think we will go through a cycle that its better than what it is now. But its not dead, its larger than ever, well not larger than ever, but the amount of revenue that is generated from hip hop right now is a lot more than what it generated in 1988.
W: Exactly, how different are things between '88 and now....besides the obvious things?
Milk: Everyone asks this question. It's a lot different. I have certain things that are true about hip hop, like I think things should be a certain way. But you can't get stuck, its constantly evolving. From the technical aspect, back in the day it was all analog, now you have the whole digital/analog controversy. We went from tape to DAT machines and now DAT machines are obsolete. I remember when DAT machines came out but the technology is going to keep changing and with that the sound of the music is going to keep changing. It is what it is. If you are into music and you make music, if you are listening to the radio and you are hearing music that you don't like, that is a cue to create something that you like that everyone else will like also. In the 80's all the 35 year old people were saying hip hop was garbage back then like "What is this garbage". I mean isn't that the same thing that happened with Motown and its downfall? I talk about all these labels because I read a lot of books on them. Thats my hobby, I've read five books on Motown, I've read books on Def Jam, Death Row, Ruthless, all those labels and what I find, its always the same story. Like Motown is the same story as Death Row, the time frame is different, the characters are different, but they follow the same story line. You approach a label the same way Motown and make adjustments for the technology or whatever, it'll work. Same stories, different details.
Milk: Motown's story is the same story as First Priority's story. We are just going to do what we did. It's still the same story, but just different details. Right now, because of how the labels are, its harder for that story to come about. But in the near future, you'll see more independence. You'll see more music being successful. Some with a vision and heart will come out striving to make the best music that you can. In Motown's day, you couldn't put colored artists on the covers. What could they have done if they were allowed that type of thing. Now you have downloads, same story, different details.
W: Speaking of downloads, how do you feel about downloading?
Milk: You heard about the whole Radiohead thing, right?
W: Yes.
Milk: I think thats a cool way to do it. The main problem is, the music doesn't make you want to go buy it. If you're scared to go buy an album because you know there is only going to be one or two good songs, then you are not going to go buy that album. I think the sales could be better, but they are never going to be the some because of the downloading. What Radiohead is doing is basically saying, "If you like this, then pay for it". It's risky, but thats cool, they are saying "We believe in our music and if you like the music, then you'll pay for it". Its part of the game. What do you do? Just fold? You have to get creative with it. You have to adjust.
W: Is your father still going to be involved in the label?
Milk: Absolutely, we are still partners. Right now, its Nat Robinson CEO, Mark Passy COO, and me. We are the core of the label and the core is still the same.
W: What artists do you have signed that haven't been mentioned?
Milk: We have a rapper named June Lover. We have a rock guy who is named John Lardieri. We have an R&B guy who's name is T-Marvin and we a couple other things we are working. Great things are going to happen.
W: Well I just great talking with you, you have long been one of my favorites, I bought a bunch of your early material so I've been into your music from day one.
Milk: It's because of people like that we were able to originally launch the label. I just got to say this and I'll let you go: In the light of things, I almost feel like its 86' all over again. When we started, there was no radio station, "Home of Hip Hop & R&B", there was no such thing. Just to get them to play a hip hop song was a great feat. Now we have "Home of Hip Hop", and three different radio stations playing hip hop. Now we have the downloads, but why are we not able to exploit it? Its no worse than not having no radio stations playing our music like before.
W: Great, thanks again Milk!
Milk: Thanks.
Contact Milk
http://www.myspace.com/mcmilkdee
milkdee@firstprioritymusic.com
9/12/2007
Mid-Week Lite
One of the weird things about having a blog with a moderate amount of success is having artists, or people involved with artists, contact you. I've had everyone from owners of very large labels to MC's from the early 90's that most people have forgotten about, write to me about one thing or another. Even in the comments, ever so often, a surprise guest drops by. I'll admit, I'm pretty bad checking comments left on posts that are more than a week old or so (which is why if you have a request for a re-up, it's better to post up in the c-box, a lot better chance I'll see it). I also have an email set-up especially for comment alerts. I check it once a week or so, just to see if I'm missing anything from the really old posts. Much to my surprise, on Friday night, I came across this comment in an old Frankenstein post:
http://wakeyourdaughterup.blogspot.com/2006/10/bootleg-of-bootleggers-part-one.html#comments
Now, I have a group of artists that I'll admit that I like probably more so than the average hip-hop head, Milk Dee, Son Of Bazerk, MC ADE, No Face, Nine, and Frankenstein would most certainly be in the group as well. When I read that comment, I got giddy like a little school girl just at the thought of getting some unreleased Frank material. I have yet to hear back from Frank or anonymous, but getting my hands on something like that would be up in the top three things that have happened to me thanks to this little humble blogspot. It would be right up there with the shelved Big Beat Masta Ace album, Audio Two's "Dead Little Indian" album, the shelved Son Of Bazerk and No Face sophomore albums as well (anyone got any leads on those, let me know) as the holy grails I hope to one day hear.
Here is a re-run of that October post for those who may have missed it....
Frankenstein - The Bootleg Album http://www.megaupload.com/?d=77RVKIQA
1. Intro
2. Frankenstein's Pain
3. The Pain (Remix)
4. Fakin' Jax (Frankenstein Remix) - INI
5. The Rain Is Gone
6. Shook Ones Part 2 (Frankenstein Remix) - Mobb Deep
7. Rock The House
8. What Does It All Mean
9. Combine With Frankenstein
10. Amateurs Get Hung - Unsung Heroes Ft. Frankenstein
11. The Projects (A.N.D. Version)
12. Sparkin Intellect
13. U.V.
14. Rocksumshit
15. The Path Is Narrow - Unsung Heroes Ft. Frankenstein
16. Attic - Nas T Howie (Frankenstein Remix)
17. Slow Down Waterfall (Remix)
18. All Hands
19. Strange 2 The Eye
20. Saxy
If you've been following my "WYDU Classics" you will know I'm a huge fan of this man's production. This T.Dot producer/MC is one of the more underrated cats in the game in my humble opinion. Frankie Ano aka Frank Fallico aka Frankenstein first dropped his first single in 94' and by 95' he had his "Knowledge Of Self" label that he dropped numerous 12" singles along with his only "Official" LP, the UV album, which was more of an EP with some of his tracks and instrumentals. He also had a white label album "Live From New York Remix Album" the same year back in 97'. Some of his remixes for artists (unofficial remixes) are so dope that cats should have been checkin' for his production skills back then instead of messing with some of the crap that was out there.
I'm not sure what it is about Frank's sound that is so appealing to me, but he definitely has a "sound" to his beats that are very compelling to me. I first heard him on a Salt Lake City hip hop radio show when they played "The Rain Is Gone" back in 98'. Immediately I was fiendin' for this track. Luckily enough I had the tape deck recording that night and that tape became a prized possession. The only problem though, was that I didn't know who he was and at that point in time, if I didn't know who an artist was, it was sure that no one else that I knew would know who he was and this was before the internet really took off (it's crazy, but true, we didn't have the internet to look up all this shit back in those days...and I walked up hill in the snow both ways to school). The internet did pay off in the form of these blogs about a year ago, I ran into someone that posted up some tracks and "The Rain Was Gone" was one of them.
Milk Dee
Another one of my "lost" hip hop heroes has been making some noise as of late too. I'm sure most of you have seen and/or heard it, but 50 Cent does a little thing with Milk Dee on his new album and if you happen to have Milk on myspace, then you see the bulletins for links for the download of the AP Remix track six times a day. I've always been a sucker for any track that contains one of the most recognizable drum breaks in hip-hop history.
Milk has a video for the DJ AP remix of "I Get Money" that has the Milk verse at the end and uses the "Top Billin'" track. It's good to see Milk back on the scene....now return a response to my interview request!!!
It isn't surprising that 50 Cent's new song "I Get Money" is a hit: The catchy sample that drives it has powered more than a few hits over the past two decades.
The words in its chorus were rapped 20 years ago in the classic hip-hop song "Top Billin' " by MC Milk Dee as half of Audio Two.
"I feel really good that my song has had so much impact," says Milk Dee from his home in Staten Island, N.Y.
The verses of "Top Billin' " and its signature drumbeat (taken in turn from an old soul record called "Impeach the President" by the Honeydrippers) have been digitally sampled by artists including Dr. Dre, R. Kelly, Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G.
The Luniz used three of Milk's words ("Got it good") for the chorus of the million-selling 1995 rap classic, "I Got Five on It." And in 1993, Mary J. Blige's breakthrough No. 1 R&B hit, "Real Love," was propelled by the staccato beat of "Top Billin'."
The original "Top Billin' " -- recorded before rap was widely played on radio and MTV -- never achieved the success of the hits that sampled it. Although Milk Dee's career as a rapper hasn't matched his calling as a producer -- he scored an international hit with Eamon's "I Don't Want You Back" in 2004 -- Milk (born Kirk Robinson) has made a cottage industry out of royalties from artists sampling lines from his most famous song.
And after hearing 50 Cent's tribute to "Top Billin'," Milk Dee created his own remix of "I Get Money," shot a video and posted it on YouTube. "I keep getting checks from the artists that sample me," he raps. "The list goes on and on/If you want a hit, then use my song."
"I had been thinking about doing a new verse over 'Top Billin' ' for a long time," Milk Dee says. "I thought this was a perfect opportunity let people know how I feel."
-- Dan Charnas
New eMC track
"Git Some" feat Sean Price can be heard on their myspace page:
An "inside source" also told me that after years of fighting the impending myspace craze, Ace has decided to finally put one up. It's not up yet, but I'll be sure to mention when it is.
Freebies....
Here is a brief overview.....
You can download The Borrowed LP here–
http://www.zshare.net/download/3461317b97639b/
Here's an mp3 of "Any of This" for immediate DL –
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/1/7/611224/jp_borrowedlp_11_anyofthis.mp3
Give John a look at his MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/johnpublic.
Charon Don & DJ Huggy (Hands Down) - Pre Art Of Life Mixtape (Good Hands)
Read my spins for the week to get a synopsis about this group and their new album "Art Of Life". This was the mixtape the Pittsburgh duo was using to promote their new album "Art Of Life". It's free, check it out.
1. Intro
2. Hands Up feat. Lil’ Scrappy and Rah Digga
3. Freestyle
4. It’s Handsdown
5. Time’s of the Essence
6. My Life
7. I’m Charon Don
8. Voices In My Head feat. Phate
9. Lose Yaself Skit
10. Freestyle
11. Who’s That?
12. State of Enemies feat. Reef the Lost Cauze
13. Beep Beep
14. U Don’t Know
15. The Time Is Now feat. Lucky Face Dollars
16. One Life 2 Live
17. Mansion Rap Interlude
18. Keep Doing It
19. Wordz of Wisdom
20. Sometimes
21. Judas Kiss
22. Guess Who feat. Nabri Savior and Rennaissance
23. Mudd Foot Skit
24. Scat Rap Blues
25. Due Time
My Favorite Rawkus 50 Group........I know this will come off as some ass kissing or something with Rawkus gobbling up blog sites like Pac-Man, but this group has been on my radar since first discovering their myspace over a year ago.
I first ran into the Smile Rays (out of Jacksonville, Fla) myspace when I was doing some research into Asamov (now known as The AB's), their track "Cest La Ves" came in at #73 on my top 100 favorite songs of last year. The MC is Therapy from "The AB's". At first when you see the group name "Smile Rays" and then see the goofy looking white dude, which there is nothing wrong with since I'm a goofy looking white dude, and a white chick that looks she came straight off the University of Colorado campus up in Boulder, you are thinking this is going to be some happy hippy flower hugging shit. It's not, it's some straight up quality hip-hop. Don't get me wrong, you won't find any drug and gang tales. No one gets killed, it's just positive hip-hop.
They have a digital album out on Rawkus called "Chicken", and it looks like I will be buying my first digital release, which I still find incredibly.....they piss me off, but that's a not the point, but the album is very good. Listen to tracks like "Smilin' On You" feat Akrobatic are just raw, funky tracks with straight at your throat lyrics. Bautsauce brings funky, funky, funky beats and Dasey adds some soulful vocals. I've probably listened to this album five or six times at work this week. Check it out. I look forward to hearing more from these cats.
Top 5 Spins Of The Week
1. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
I think Eric and I said it all we could about this. I'm still kind of wondering where this came from, I mean I really disliked Aesop before this album minus a few verses and single tracks. I even busted out the "Labor Days" album and liked it pretty much. I'm not sure what is wrong with me.
2. Panacea - Both "Ink Is My Drink" & "The Scenic Route"
I liked "Ink Is My Drink" when it dropped, but then something happened called "Used Your Confusion" and a couple other albums and I kind of spaced it off. Then the blog scene seems to be clamoring for the new joint "The Scenic Route", so I figured I'd try to see what the buzz is about. I honestly don't have much of opinion of this yet, I'm always doing something when listening to this and it hasn't been good enough to make me drop what I'm doing and take notice, but I'm not writing it off just yet.
3. Median - Median's Relief Promo
Another album I was expecting to like more than I have so far. It's not bad, just not.....what's the word I'm looking for....great I guess. More listens will help though.
4. Charon Don & DJ Huggy (Hands Down) - Art Of Life
I threw this on the computer while playing Madden last week and I had to stop what I was doing and listen to this album. I wasn't entirely familiar with Charon Don or DJ Huggy, but apparently he is part of the JuJu Mob, that runs with Chief Kamanchi and released an album last year. Plus he's from Pittsburgh, which I guess I was from in a previous life, since I'm a Steelers and Pirates fan. Good album, somewhat like some of the Chief Kamanchi/JuJu stuff, which is reasonable, since they are all on the same label, Good Hands. Check the mixtape above to get a feel for it.
5. Top Shelf 8/8/88
Still playing this one after my required listening for the reviews Eric and I did. Regardless if its old or not, it's still pretty good album with quality tracks, and that Biz joint is just fuckin' bananas.
WHY????
Why is it whenever Kanye opens his freaking mouth anymore he's crying? At the VMA's, he cried some more about not winning an award. Dude, just shut the fuck up and make some beats. I'm sick of his shit. Seriously. Two cents, I'd buy his album, wipe my ass with it and send it back to him. Alright, thats my vent for the day. I'm just really sick of his pompous ass attitude and him thinking he is god's gift for everything.
Why is it, speaking of VMA's, I wanted to see those two dirtbags, Tommy Lee and Kid Rock throw down and just fuck each other up? And all that over a chick that is going to need an EPA permit if she is ever cremated...hell just buried. I'm sure its illegal to bury toxic waste and as much plastic and shit she has, there has got to be some environmental issues, I just know it.
Why does it look like that Busta hooked up Dre with his dealer. Dude was built like a brick shit house at the VMA's
Why was Aesop Rock all over those VMA's as well? Hmmmm......shit is kind of funny
Why am I not too excited about this "La Coka Nostra" project? I've never been a big fan of Ill Bill and the others are just kind of....eh. I also think they lost what buzz they had going. Plus super groups usually fail in a big ball of flames.
Why does that Little Brother "Get Back" sampler make me feel a little better about the album? Click here read an interview with Big Pooh as he goes over each track. Good read for anyone looking forward to this album.
Why was I enjoying that "Breakin' Your Heart" joint until that annoying ass Lil Wayne (Sorry Alley) started spitting. Bleah...
Why do people seem to dig "Pitchfork" for hip-hop reviews? Never was big on that site or their reviews.
Why do I kind of like that "Rock Star" song. Don't get me wrong, as far as quality hip-hop, it's not, but for just pop music, I kind of like it. I guess it's the guitars.
Why the hell does Congress have nothing better to do than exam hip-hop again? Don't they have some fucking bridges to check or something? Jackasses...
Why doesn't it surprise me that the Patriots were cheating?
Why do those Talib and Common joints utterly disappoint me?
Why do I have a feeling my PS2 controller isn't going to last much longer this Madden season. I already have it cracked open on one side.
Why is a pregnant Salma Hayek still a hot Salma Hayek. That dude is schmuck though.Why do I have a feeling that every baseball at one point in their career has been on the "Juice".
Why do I always want something I can't have?
Why would Vibe magazine mention my little site in their ultra glossy magazine? No conformation on that, I'm going to hit up the nearest Border's after I'm done with this.
Speaking about baseball players on the juice, here is a before and after picture for Barry BondsBefore After
WYDU Classics.....RE-UP
WYDU Classics Mar 07: The Spring Break Edition
1. King Tee - Act A Fool
This was always the joint I'd fire up before any night out. It's a high school classic, but it's helped me get in the mood for many many years.
2. DJ Quik - Tonite
This song is good for both getting ready and the day after, especially if your trying to get up for a Saturday night after a long friday night. I've been hung over many a time pumping this trying to get the second wind for Saturday night.
3. Eazy E - 8 Ball
So nothing really relevant to my upbringing, but it was a great song to throw on during the high school party.
4. Beatnuts - Pyscho Dwarf
This was later on in my life, me and my hip hop heads would pump this shit before going out. Isn't it just about everyones goal before heading out?
5. Brews Brothers feat Charlie Bawles & Louis Logic - Happy Hour
A great drinking joint to pump when doing the pre-game bar hopping warm-up.
6. E-40 Feat The Click - Hurricane
My boy got me hooked on this one. He'd always come get me from the bars then him and I'd continued to get faded while playing Mortal Combat on sega blasting this joint till his g/f friend would come down and yell at us for being loud.
7. Young Black Teenagers - Tap The Bottle
When this dropped, I was always the hip hop head in the bunch of friends I was hanging with. I got everyone hooked on this song. We'd have to play at any party we had.
8. Masta Ace Inc - Rollin' Umdada
This song comes on in my head any time I would roll into a hip hop club with my boys. It was also a good primer club joint. Get's you pumped to hit the clubs, something I don't do much of anymore.
9. Atmosphere - A Tall Seven & Seven
This song would always reminded me of the amateur drinkers that couldn't hold their alcohol. It's never fun being around cats that can't hold their liquor. I've been guilty of it myself, but doesn't happen much anymore.
10. Louis Logic - Factotum
I'd play this joint a lot when I'd come home after a few. It's a great chilled song to have a couple more on the couch before going to bed and pass out.
11. Fila Fresh Crew - Drink It Up
This joint appeared on the NWA & The Posse album that dropped before "Straight Outta Compton". It was another song that us drunk 16-18 y/o would sing a long with at the party.
12. King Tee & Ice Cube - King Tee's Beer Stand
There are probably a handful of King Tee songs you could through on this, but this little blip with Cube was always a favorite of ours while rolling to where ever we were getting our drink on.
13. Spice 1 - 187 Proof
I thought this was a cool damn thing when it dropped. We'd play it on the way to the college parties or later on with my hip hop heads, we'd play it at a house party.
14. Mobb Deep - Drink Away The Pain
Another after bar joint that my boy and I'd blast during our late night drunken Mortal Kombat battles.
15. J-Zone - 190
This has all happened to a few of us. Wake up the next morning, with everyone pissed at you and you don't remember why. Play this before going to bed and drink a glass of water.
16. Schoolly D - Saturday Night
This was always my goal when I'd go out at night in my younger years. Well, maybe not the big fat ugly girl, but it sounded cool. It was hoping for a crazy night.
17. Greyson & Jayson - Intoxication
This song starts off great, but has a little message. We here at WYDU encourage you drink responsibly, okay, there's the warning....but the song is great at the beginning, gets you in the mood, until the drunk driving part. I'm not going to say it kept from drunking too much and puking or from drinking and driving, but it's always good to hear. There is a reason I have never gotten a DUI, and it's not all related to luck. It was honestly this song or EPMD's "You Drank Too Much", which contains a similar story, but maybe a bit more humorous.
18. Tha Alkaholiks - Last Call
Honestly, I used to just throw on "21 & Over" before going out or at a party. This is a great song, and it's the last call for this compilation.
19. Hi-C - Skanless
You are lying if you say that this has never happened to you after drinking. It happens to the best of us. Of course this has to be the last song.....
WYDU Classics Mar 07
2. Chubb Rock - Treat 'Em Right
This shit makes you want to dance on your desk. A tasty Raseberry Wheat, full of flavor that will make you get up and dance
3. Smif N Wesson - Bucktown
Ill horn sample. Boom bap at it's finest. This is the equivalent to Colt 45, classic brew right up in your face
4. Jeru The Damaja - D. Original
I always felt this got overlooked being released after "Come Clean" at least by me. This is like Guiness at it's best, dark, thick, a meal in a can. Jeru gives you all you need in one album.
5. Diamond - 5 Fingas of Death feat Big L, Fat Joe, Lord Finesse, & AG
This doesn't get mentioned enough in the classic posse cuts. This is like a six pack of Coors Light that I bring to a party (I only bring five, cause I always drink one on the way there). It's an old favorite that you always know what you are getting.
6. A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God (UK Flavor Radio Mix)
I just heard this remix on something Crooklyn posted up on his site a while ago. I love it! This is hip hop equivalent of Newcastle Brown Ale, those Brits know how to make some tasty beer and beats.
7. Schoolly D - Run
Schoolly is another one of my personal favorites. Good luck trying to find any of his early CD's under $40 bucks. This of course has to be the old gangsta favorite, Olde English 800.
8. Cypress Hill - Throw Your Hands In The Air feat Erick Sermon, Redman, & MC Eiht
I had honestly totally forgot about this song until someone posted the video online not too long ago. With this bunch, you got to think Bud....one kind or the other.
9. Saafir - Light Sleeper (OG Version)
I think I like this better than the album version. This is the Saafir I like, his voice is ill.
Think of this is some Coors Light; light, crisp, and goes down easy.
10. Kokane - Nickel Slick N---a
Kokane was always one of my favorite west coast artists and doesn't nearly get enough recognition. Some smooth funk here. I'd go with Mickey's on this, smoothed out, but it'll fuck you up with the quickness
11. Lench Mob - Freedom Got An AK (remix)
The first Mob album is probably one of my top 5 all-time produced albums. This remix would have been right at home on the album as well. This the equivalent to some St.Ides straight to your grill. Shit is mean as fuck, but after you drink/hear enough, you are intoxicated by the kick.
12. Snoop Doggy Dog - Jus Dippin (Battlecat Remix) feat Dr.Dre & Jewell
More g-shit 4 dat azz....The Battlecat remix is better than the original IMO. Just like Ice beer, a remix of the original but with more punch than the original.
13. E-40 - Sprinkle Me feat Suga T
I kind of slept on 40 Water in my younger days. Not sure why, I liked this album back then, a friend of mine had it, but never checked it until the last couple years. For me, it's kind of like the old school Lowenbrau, you never realized how good it was until you got some sips/spins.
14. UGK - Pocket Full Of Stones
my first real introduction to UGK. Not the greatest in the world, but in small doses or in the right mood, it serves it's puprose, kind of like Old Milwaukee's Best.
15. Bizarre - Get The Dick (Raw Mix) feat The Outsidaz
That's right, Bizarre from D12. This EP was from '98, but the main reason I love this joint is THE MOST underrated group of all-time, the Outsidaz. Michelob Amber Bock is an underrated beer. Cheap, but still tastes good.
16. Da Ruckus - Shine On feat Eminem
I can't remember where I got this, but it's a great track, nice production and a nice guest drop by Slim Shady himself. Kind of like some Micro brews, you might not hear much about them, or where they come from, but they are mighty satisfying.
17. Omniscience - Touch Y'all (remix 2) feat Sadat X
Another great track that didn't appear on the lost album. I compare this to a great Heffeweizen, tastes good by itself, but once you and a little lemon to it aka Sadat X, it just adds to the whole beer.
WYDU Classics Vol 4 (April 06)
1. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rudd- Girls, I Got Em' Locked
(12" released in 88', also included on an LP with the same name in 88')Super-slept on album and single. Mixed by the legendary Paul C (who is responisble for Large Pro, Critical Beatdown, and numerous other classics), . I've always liked the beats on this album. Not sure why it is more hearlded among the older heads. I know I'm guilty myself not giving the album it's just due as well.
2. Black, Rock & Ron- You Can't Do Me None (Price Paul Remix) (single released in 90', from the 89' released "Stop The World")
I remember this video being on "Yo!" (common occurance for a lot of these joints) and for the life of me I could never find an album by them. I guess they didn't carry the album in small little northwestern town like the one I was from. I did always know which VHS tape of mine had this video though.
3.Nice N Smooth- Funky For You (self titled album released in 89', the single dropped in 90')
"Dizzy Gilespie plays the sax, me, myself, I love to max", that was the shit when it kicked off, although, Gilespie wasn't known for his sax playing, although Greg Nice claimed, dizzy, did in fact play the sax as well. This is the album version, but I remember the video version being slightly different, the chorus I believe was different.
4. Frankenstien- The Quiet Storm (appears on his 97' "UV" album)
Yes, I'm a big fan of Frankenstein, as should be evident with him appearing before. Not alot of even so called "die hard hip hop heads" know about this T-Dot producer. His shit is sooo smoooooooth. This was on his "UV" album. It's an older song, but honestly, I first heard it a few months ago. It was one of those songs that just "struck" me. I listened to it probably no fewer than 5 times in a row. Not much makes me do that these days.
5. Nine- Whatcha Want (single dropped in 94', his "Nine Livez" debut album dropped a year later in 95')
How this song wasn't included in an earlier volume is beyond me. I meant to, but didn't, I guess. Between the beat and his style, this is some hot shit. I'll admit, 90% of the artists from his era that had some fucked up vocal tone/style, I find extremely wack now, but he sounds better than when he first dropped in my opinion.
6. Xzibit- Paparazzi (single dropped in 96 along with his "At The Speed of Life" LP)
Sticking with the string orchestration production theme, Paparazzi isn't all that "obscure", but I've always loved the production on it, which is by the obscure Thayod Ausar. I do have to look down at X to The Z for dropping the crew that brought him up, when he bailed from the Likwit Crew to Dre's camp. That was some fucked up shit and goes against his message in this song.
7. Threat- PDK (on the album "Sickinnahead" that dropped in 93')
Threat was probably the most slept on MC from that early pre G-Funk west coast era. He appeared with Cube on "Death Certificate", was on Pac's "Stictly...." album, rocked it with Tha Liks on their debut. This album is really good. Lots of DJ Pooh produced gems, but he never got his due really. I had problems picking which joint I wanted to include, although I'm sure they'll be more from this album in the future.
8. Hi- C - Punk Shit (from his "Skanless" album that dropped
in 91)
This album has numerous hits. It dropped in 91, my senior in High School (yeah, I'm dating myself), so it has lots of memories. I chose this song because it had a lot of lines that I loved, so it got the nod, but more to come from it as well.
9. 2nd II None- Be True To Yourself (self titled album dropped in 91, single was dropped sometime around then as well)
Some more 304 shit (Hi C, 2nd II None, AMG, DJ Quik, for yo bustas out there). I believe this was their first single as well, but can't find any easy info on that and I don't feel like digging for it. This is when I liked the west as much as the east for the most part. When everyone started trying to imitate Dre is when the west fell off in my opinion. The whole album is pretty good. I remember my AMG/Hi C/2nd II None homemade tape I made got A LOT OF PLAY back in those days.
10. Digital Underground- Sounds Of The Underground (appeared on the TAPE only version of "Sex Packets" from 89')
You won't find this on the CD or the wax versions of "Sex Packets". It was a cassette only release. Yes, I bought the tape back in the day, so when I bought the CD a few years later, I was pissed not to find 4 songs not included on the CD that were on the cassette. This song is more of a Raw Fusion song than a DU song. It's all Money B and he mentions DJ Fuze often as well. It's a bass heavy track with a wicked electric guitar, which I'm a sucker for if done right.
11. Derek B- Bad Young Brother
(12" released in 88', was also on
I'll be the first to admit, us Americans are snobby as hell when it comes to foreign hip hop, I'm guilty of it myself at times. Derek B was the first foreign hip hop I heard way back in 88'. I didn't know, or didn't care, but I liked this joint and the album a lot. It was among the first episodes of "Yo!" that they played this and I remember running out and finding it out a department store of all places.
12. Awesome Dre & The Hardcore Comittee- Frankly Speaking (12" dropped in 89' and was also on the "You Can't Hold Me Back" LP from 89')
Quick quiz: Who was the first hip hop artist out of Detriot to make noise in the game? No, not eminem or Jay Dee (rip), It was Awesome Dre and the Hardcore Comittee. The joint popped up on Yo! a few times back in the days and I was all over it.
13. MC Breed- Ain't To Be Fucked With (From his "20 Below" album in 92)
This was about the time I was into a lot of bass music because I had the "boomin' system" & the funk in the trunk with my little Jetta. This is my favorite MC Breed album, although I'm not much of a MC Breed authority by any means. Just a cool "crusin'" song.
14. Erick Sermon feat Joe Sinister- Payback II
My favorite sole E Double album, this song is sick. Funk for days. The guest, Joe Sinister, was the shit. His last verse on this song got "Quotable Of The Month" in The Source back in the day. I always hoped he would drop something, because the man was good. The only other thing I know he appeared on was on Terminator X's second album, with the track "Under The Sun", which is coming soon!
15 Terminator X feat Celo of The Casino Brothers- Wanna Be Dancin (Dropped as promo only 12" in 90' was on the full length album in 91)
Speaking of Terminator X, I always liked this album and this was one of my favorite songs from it. I was always hoping the "Casino Brothers" would drop something, but I don't know much about them. Some more of that funk and bass from the bottom. You had to have your speakers set up just right for this stuff to sound good.
16. Gangsta Bitch- Apache (single dropped in 92, was also on his full length album)
This was a hit back in the day, then not much was heard from him. It's some of your classic east coast sounds from back in the day, produced by none other than A Tribe Called Quest.
(Sorry, got bust through this and I have to post this now, any questions on the last three tracks, hit me up)
17. Red Hot Lover Tone- 4 My Peeps & Others
18. Show N Prove- Big Daddy Kane and Others
19 Fuck Everyone- Everlast
WYDU Classics Jan 071. Diamond - Hiatus (remix)
2. Showbiz & AG - Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)
3. Sadat X - Wild Cowboys (Original Version)
4. Rampage - Beware Of The Rampsack (Smack U Bak Mix)
5. Chi Ali - Let The Horns Blow feat Various Artists (You should know who they are)
6. KMD - Nitty Gritty (Remix) feat Brand Nubian & Leaders
7. Grand Puba - I Like It (Buckwild Remix) feat Sadat X
8. Double X Posse - Not Gonna Be Able To Do It (Criminal Minded Remix)
9. Milk - Spam Feat Ad Rock
10. Rappin' Ron & Ant Diddly Dog - The Bomb feat Ant Banks
11. MC Rondo & Crazy Rak - Get Your Gat
12. College Boyz - Victim Of The Ghetto
13. Afro-Rican - Give It All You Got (Fuck that Fergie Bullshit)
14. Masta Ace - Jeep Ass Nigguh (Bizcapella Mix)
15. Frankenstien - So I
16. Supreme Nyborn - It Gets No Smoother
17. Tall Dark & Handsome - The Bronx Is Back
18. Krown Rulers - B-Boy Document
WYDU Classics Feb 07: The Valentines Edition
1. Digital Underground - Kiss You Back
2. Nice & Smooth - Sex, Sex, Sex
3. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - I Got A Love
4. Little Shawn - I Made Love (4 Da Very 1st Time)
5. Pharoahe Monch - The Light
6. The Roots - You Got Me
7. Atmosphere - Don't Ever Fucking Question That
8. The Coup - I Just Wanna Lay Around All Day In Bed With You
9. Bizzie Boys - I Think I'm In Love
10. Supreme Nyborn - Do It Baby
11. 2 Deep - How About A Kiss
12. B.O.X. - Hey Luv
13. Kurious - Nikole
14. Al Tariq - Nikki
15. Masta Ace - Bklyn Masala feat Leschea
16. Tonedeff - Shag
17. Barsha - Knockin' Hiney
18. Kwame - Ownless Eue
