We've spent the last couple weeks going over what a committee thought were the best "obscure" tracks. What did we learn? Get nine people together to discuss hip hop music and make a "best of" list of any kind and it's nearly impossible. Oh, and that the term "obscure" is rather relative.
As we put the cherry on top and put an end to this little series, I figured I would post up my personal FAVORITES (read: joints I like) hard-to-find, not your run of the mill, not found on an album, or any other term I can use for "obscure" without actually using it. I wouldn't say this is all of them, but they are the ones that were off the top of my head AND actually on my computer. I've long had personal favorite songs that were not necessarily readily available to every Tom, Dick and Harry with a blog. Not saying that these are super hard to find either. I haven't tried, but I'm sure if you did some looking, you could probably track down most of these (most of these have appeared in one form or another on this blog) nor am I any better for having these. I'm still the same chump working a crappy job, dreaming of being the next Paul Rosenberg, Russell Simmons or Kevin Powell. Enough with the introductions....my ass is tired so heeeeere we go.....
Link To All Of Part One
Ace Lover - Area Codes 1(212) feat C-Rayz Walz (Marcion Records, from the "Area Codes" b/w "Lucky 7" 12 inch, 2000
I mentioned last week that you would see Ace Lover pop up on this list before it was all said and done. Ace Lover had two singles out during the turn of the century that I loved, "Weed Spots" and this single, "Area Codes 1(212)". Produced by DJ Rust, the beat was sparse, with a simple drum track that had a piano loop on top of it. It was basic but effective. The true gem of this song is listening to Ace Lover kick his rhymes. I'm someone who listens to be beats first and foremost, so it takes an extremely talented or catchy MC for me to be about the lyrics and Ace Lover is both. I remember hearing this track on UGHH back when you could listen to tracks before purchasing (maybe they still do that) then went and found it on Audio Galaxy or maybe it was Napster. Regardless, this track got a ton of play and is still one of the reasons I'm waiting for a full length album from Ace Lover.
R.A. The Rugged Man feat Akinyele - What The...... (White Label, from the 12 inch of "What The..." b/w "Stanley Kubrick", 1998 or 1999?)
"What The...." is as crazy as you might think when looking at this pairing for the first time. Armed with what sounds like a kids choir singing the hook, which consists of saying "Whaaaaat the fuuuuuck, whaaaat the fuck is going on". The beat is minimalistic in nature, but it's perfect to hear RA and Ak just rip shit to shreds. I've had a hard time finding any info on this track at all. No year, no producer, not much of anything is listed about it nor do I hear many people talking about this classic track. What the fuck?
Amad Jamal - The Renaissance (ABB, from the "The Renaissance" 12 inch, 2001)
One of my most puzzling mysteries came to a close last week, when one of Amad Jamal's band members emailed me, alerting me that AJ was still making music and planning on dropping an album in the next month or so. Great news, since I've often wondered what happened to Amad Jamal after dropping two DOPE 12 inch singles back in 2001. Every song he has put out has my stamp of approval on it, but "The Renaissance" was my favorite out of the handful of tracks he did. Produced by Joey Chavez, the track uses a sample that again I should know, but don't. Regardless, it's beatufully produced and full of the LA underground goodness that I loved during this time. Amad Jamal is also one hell of an MC. He drops many memorable lines on this track. Good to hear him coming back (and the songs I've heard have all been dope, like he hasn't missed a beat).
Common - Can-I-Bust feat Y-Not (Relativity, from the "Soul By The Pound (Thump Mix)" b/w "Can-I-Bust" & "Heidi Ho" 12 inch, 1993
Hailing from one of my favorite 12 inch singles ever, or in my case, favorite cassette singles, I was having troubles trying to decide whether to include the b-side or the a-side. I figured most heads should have heard the "Thump" mix of "Soul By The Pound", so that left the equally dope flip side, "Can-I-Bust". I wasn't crazy about Common as an MC on that first album, but this track, which dropped quite awhile after "Can I Borrow A Dollar", gave a glimpse at what Common would later become as far as a talented MC. Even his guest, Y-Not, was entertaining as well. The beat uses an upright bass sample for the schizophrenic bassline along with some horn samples littered around the track. Truly one of my favorite b-sides.
Craig Mack - Wooden Horse (from the "What's The Worse That Could Happen" OST, 2001)
You learn something everyday. I just learned that Craig Mack's "Wooden Horse" was on a movie soundtrack. Never knew. So this might not be so hard to find as I once thought it might be. Oh well. Regardless, I was a Craig Mack fan, well I enjoyed his first album at least, but then he kind of disappeared. He would pop up again, after his sophomore album fizzled, in 2001 with this Frank Sinatra sampled track that his a certified head nodder. I'm actually surprised this didn't have sample issues, since Frank isn't exactly the easiest artist to clear samples for. Regardless, if you haven't heard this track in the past, it's worth a listen.
Das EFX - Hard Like A Criminal (East/West, from the "Straight Out The Sewer" b/w "Hard Like A Criminal", 1992)
When I learned that there were equally wacked out kids out on the internet collection hip hop like I was, "Hard Like A Criminal" was one of the first tracks I started looking for. The track has long been a favorite of mine, after I bought the cassette single for "Straight Out The Sewer" way back when. The track was also mentioned in an interview with Das in The Source as the only track that wasn't included on their first album. The reason being was it didn't seem to fit, which they are right. The sound, the story telling, all would have stood out like a green thumb on an album that featured mostly freestyled lyrics. No question that I had to include this track.
Donte (of Mood) - Heat (4 Da Streetz) (Wish Masta Entertainment, from the "Heat (4 Da Streetz) 12 inch, 2003)
One of the newer songs included on this list, "Heat" is one of those songs that never got the attention it deserved. It's actually kind of surprising though, since the beat was produced by Hi-Tek, who at the time was still carrying a strong reputation as a beat maker. The beat is the shining aspects of the track as Hi-Tek hooks up some booming drums that reminds me of the drums used on "Move Somethin'" from the Reflection Eternal album. It's also very dark, with an ill vocal sample that fits the mood well. Donte, who was Hi-Tek's crew group member in Mood, is a strong lyricist as well, which makes me wish he'd drop his own album one of these days.
Frankenstein - Rain Is Gone (Knowledge of Self, from the "Rain Is Gone" b/w "All Hands" 12 inch, 1996)
Another artist that I've pumped up quite often on this blog. To me, Frankenstein is my all-time favorite "Obscure" artist and I don't have a problem using that label on his either. The 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.
Frescho & DJ Miz - We Don't Play (Tommy Boy, from the "We Don't Play" "Ain't U Frescho" b/w "Now Ya Know", 1990)
What do you get when the 1989 New Music Seminar DJ Champion hooks up with the 1989 New
Music Seminar MC Champion? Well you get a pretty dope 12" and a song that got some play on "Yo! MTV Raps" back in the day. DJ Miz continued the legacy of the Philly DJ's during the late 80's and has some great cuts on this track. Frescho was a Brooklyn MC, that seems to pop up from time to time, but never really took off. He had a track called "Planet Brooklyn" that was produced by Primo. It's said he is on the Christian Hip Hop tip now.
The group never released an album, which is unfortunate, because it would have been interesting to see what they could have done. This track was the A-side to said 12", the b-side was "Ain't U Frescho?" & "Now Ya Know". This track is pretty dope in terms of lyrics and scratches. Frescho has a pretty quick rapid fire type flow and a commanding voice. Miz cuts up shit nicely through out the whole song. The beat itself seems kind of dated. I played it for a friend of mine and he curled his nose up and said it sounded wack, guess you had to be there to appreciate it. I've been told that that is was all they released, which is unfortunate.
Masta Ace - N.F.L. (Not For Long) (Replay Records, from the 12 inch "N.F.L. (Not For Long)" b/w "Warfare", 1999)
I would probably dare to say "NFL" is my favorite non-album Masta Ace track. It features J-Love on the beats, and to this day, I've never understood why he hasn't produced any tracks for any of Ace's albums. Ace displays some good old fashioned story telling with this track. It deals with the fact that if you are on top, it won't be for long. The track would drop when Ace was in between his "Sittin' On Chrome" LP and the "Disposable Arts" LP, when he was dropping a lot of 12 inch singles. A lot of those are said to be from the lost Big Beat LP (no don't ask me, because I don't have it) that got shelved in '97 or so, but I'm pretty sure "NFL" was made after that fact. Production wise, the beat is remarkable. The strings are melodic and you get sucked into the story, although short and sweet. I've often played this beat over and over in my head. The beat just fits it all together nicely.
Ras Kass - Oral Sex (Priority Records, on the "Oral Sex" 12 inch promo, 1999)
Just why a Ras Kass track that was produced by the Beatminerz wasn't properly released is a perfect example why Priority dropped the ball more than once when it came to Ras. Probably on top of the list for my favorite and most talent left side artists, this track is nothing but fire. Da Beatminerz dropped some serious shit on this track, with their trademark deep ass bassline and dusty productions. Ras is on some other shit lyrically on the track. Dropping one liner after one liner. It was songs like this that made him one of the best and also marks why it was such a waste that he never blew up.
Sticky Fingaz - Jackin' For Beats '99 (White Label, on the "Jackin' For Beats '99" 12 inch promo, 1999)
Before my addiction to the Black Album/AG remixes, I had an addiction to the “Jack
in’ For Beats” tracks that were coming out at a weekly clip at one time. I loved the original from Cube, I’m not sure what it was, but it just got me amped. In ’99, Sticky Fingaz released his version of “Jackin’ For Beats” complete with a 50 cent dis and some GREAT lines. You can’t help wanting to get up and punch someone while listening to this version. This is right when Sticky went solo and it was a great way to throw his hat in the ring. He jacked bigged name stars such as Jay, Nas, and Busta, and in some cases, sounded better on the beats than the original artist. That was the reason Cubes original version became so wildly popular in the first place. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I quickly became cured of the “Jackin’ For Beats” obsession when I realized that most of these songs sucked.
4/10/2008
Philaflava's 100 Greatest Obscure Tracks :The Bonus Tracks aka Trav's Picks
9/25/2007
Re-Ups....
I like these kind of posts, easy and not much required on my part but uploading materials. I don't really have a problem with re-upping things (God knows how many albums are on this site), and I'm sure their will be more. Just ask politely, be patient and I'll get to it. If its been awhile, don't be afraid to remind me again. Between working two jobs, still fucking with school, dealing with other things that life throws at me and probably killing more brain cells than I should have in my younger years, I forget rather easily.
J-Zone - Gimme Dat Beat Fool!
| 1. Polka Intro |
| 2. Saga |
| 3. Famous |
| 4. Rockaway and Crenshaw |
| 5. Prostitute Interlude |
| 6. On the Grind |
| 7. Bitch Witta Weave |
| 8. Late Greatness |
| 9. KMDGMC Interlude |
| 10. Hustlaz Iz Hustlaz |
| 11. Stomp That Bitch Out |
| 12. Outro |
Ras Kass - Soul On Ice Demo ****UPDATED FIXED LINK (AGAIN)****
- 1. Everything I Love
- 2. Core Audience
- 3. High IQ
- 4. Won’t Catch me Running
- 5. Capital R-A-S
- 6. Blood Is Thicker Than Water
- 7. Interlude
- 8. Take A Deep Breath
- 9. Remain Anonymous
- 10. Take A Deep Breath (remix)
- 11. Walk The Walk
When you talk about the offical release of "Soul On Ice", the lack of quality of production is usually brought up somewhere in the conversation. Likewise, the quality of lyrics and the scathing social commentary is almost always brought up as well. When taking a listen to this demo version of "Soul On Ice", in it's orginal carnation, one must wonder what could have been.
The demo version (if that what it truly is) features a less polished MC in Ras, but a unpolished Ras is still better than 90% of the MC's out there. It also features beats that are better than what is heard on the final version. Information on who exactly are the producers is sketchy at less, but it seems to be the same two producers who are featured on the majority of the production on the final version, fellow Western Hemisphere memebers, Bird and Voodoo. This version is dark in nature much like it's final version, but the beats are more layred but with a fuller, harder sound.
Lyrically, Rassy still can bring it on the mic, which he does on this version. Yet, he just doesn't seem as sharp as what was heard on the later product. "Remain Anonymous" and "Won't Catch Me Runnin'" eventually did leak their way out in the public, so if you have heard those, it's a glimpse of what to expect on this.
As far as I can tell, most of these songs were scrapped for a variety of reasons. Sample clearance issues, label drama (damn, even back then) and inner beefs with his Western Hemisphere crew lead to most of these cuts getting scrapped. While it's not the potential "breakout" album Ras has been missing, it's still fun to hear some of the stuff that didn't make the final cut and some of that is unfortunate.
Chilly Tee - Get Off Mine (MCA, 1993) ****UPDATED FIXED LINK***
| 1. Thinking of a Master Plan |
| 2. One for the Trouble |
| 3. Get off Mine |
| 4. I Guess She Didn't Know |
| 5. Audi Like Jetta |
| 6. On the Outz |
| 7. Krisis of Identity |
| 8. Snap Ya' Neck to This |
| 9. Just Do It |
They must have not paid the Bomb Squad enough money, because they couldn't save this.
Gorilla Pimps (J-Zone) - Hotter Than Fish Grease, Vol 1 (Hip Hop Site.com Exclusive, CD Rip)
1. It Ain't Easy
2. Pimptro
3. Bitch, I'm Rich
4. $lap That Bitch, Punch That Ho
5. Million Mack March
6. Pimp-A-Thon
7. Flo$$Traphobic
8. Ki$$ My Pimpin' A$$
9. ...And When You Whup Here
10. I $lapped The Bitch, The Money Was Short
11. Bu$ta Free Bubble Gum and Colla Pop Cookie$
12. Pimp Olympic$
13. What Work?
From the back of the Slip that came with the CD:
After years of legend and fable, Go-Rilla Pimp$' album is here! This album was recorded one night, under heavy influence of Bacardi Limon, Billy Dee (Colt 45), the movie American Pimp, and some Too Short, Big Tymers, and Suga Free CD's. Fuck a good mixdown, fuck creative production techniques, fuck getting it tight. We just made some typical funk "beats" hit the booth drunk and tried to have some fun and talk shit. Fuck edits, punch-ins, EQ, creative concepts, and all that shit! Once in a while you need to do something "unartistic" and clear your head! Half of y'all will probably take this project too serious and say, "Oooh, its not as creat as 'Music Tu Madre', he fell off." Y'all need to chill the fuck out. This is me and Dick Stallion buggin in the studio, right after I finihsed recording "Fight Club" with Al-Shid and Huggy. So stop bitchin' get a drink and pop this bad boy in ya system. But be warned ....I mixed this album drunk in one night in one take, so your speakers might get blown if you don't adjust them song for song. Be glad u have this, cause this shit is NEVER comin' out commercially. But volume 2 is going to be on MTV! And as much as this album was just a joke to us, its still better than your favorite rappers real album.....BITCH!
Hydra Beats 6 - Ghetto Pros (Hydra Beats)
Can't find shit on this release, track list or cover
Hydrabeats Vol XI: Godfather Don 
A1 Mental Liks
A2 Pure Elevation
A3 As The World Burns
A4 Wilson Ave.
A5 Getaway
B1 Feel Me
B2 Pay Back
B3 Where I'm Coming From
B4 Twisted
B5 I'll Be Back!
A few weeks ago we looked at Scientifik’s recently re-released gem ‘Criminal’. Th
is week we’ve got Sci’s much more elusive ‘Most Blunted’ album. This record is a collection of demo songs Scientifik put together with the help of the Vinyl Reanimators team around 1992-1993. Thankfully, and unlike most other demo tape bootlegs floating around, the sound quality on this is pretty good and does not distract from the material.According to the Reanimators’ DJ Shame, these songs were originally recorded on VR beats but for some reason were then remixed onto tracks made popular by other rappers of the time. Consequently, check the beat from Chi Ali’s ‘Step into My Room’ interpolated into the slamming safe sex anthem ‘Slicka Picka Upper’, Nas’s ‘Memory Lane’ flipped into the humorous ‘I Ain’t the Damn One’ etc. I’m not the hugest fan of recycling other people’s beats, but Scientifik definitely does all these tracks justice.
As much as I like ‘Criminal’, I think Scientifik comes off a bit nicer on the mic on these joints, his delivery sounds more relaxed and effortless. The subject matter here is more varied too, even if it ain’t groundbreaking. My favorite track ‘I Used to Know Ya’ with longtime associate Ed O.G. (the only guest spot on the record) features the two Bostonians trading stories about the hard it work it takes to get in the game and the inevitable lobsterheads who come calling once you make it.
No doubt these tracks would have languished in someone’s basement were it not for a mysterious entity calling itself ‘Don Corleone Entertainment’ who released the ten track album on wax around 2001. Reliable sources tell me that the people who put this out were the owners of the legendary Mr Bongo record store in London. I don’t know either way, but that’s where I copped my copy back in 2002 when I was living there (it was the last one in the rack). This shit now goes for crazy prices on eBay, and the revived interest in Sci due to the re-release of ‘Criminal’ is just more fuel to the fire. So for this is for all the broke cats like me: kick back and enjoy some classic east coast hip hop.
Polarity - with special thanks to Travis for uploading this for my busted ass.
A1 Unreliable
A2 No Free Shows
A3 Hey! Why Show Up?
A4 Call Me A Cab
A5 Boning
B1 Just Mix It Yourself
B2 My Drivers Downstairs
B3 Video Taping
B4 Beep Lance
B5 Porno's My Game
Year: 1995Label: East/West Records
1. Intro
2. Maintain
3. Greatest MC In The World
4. Who Is Down With Us
5. Lost In The Music
6. Everybody's Got An Ego
7. Love To The Crews
8. Bumpheads
9. Touch Y'all
10. Amazin'
11. My Main Man
12. Big Kap (Interlude)
13. Get Our Dicks Sucked
14. Act Like You Know
15. Lady's Freestyle
16. We Do It Like This
17. Rules Of The Game
18. Stage Domination
19. Fuck The Critics (Interlude)
20. Causin' Terror
21. Halfway
Thanks to ShareAndSshareAlike for the track listing
Today we'll jump into one of the harder to find albums out there, at least before the mp3 boom, and even now it's not the easiest thing to find. Before I get into this, I must thank 6MWTD for dropping gem on the cocaine blunts boards this spring.
Omni was an MC coming straight outta of North Cacalack (North Carolina for those who don't know). Finding info on him is rather difficult, most of what I tracked down came from two sites, the legendary Vinyl Addicts (RIP) and a site that I never knew about before www.smalltimehustle.com that had the most info about Omni that I've ever seen.
He first appeared on the scene sometime in the early 90's as part of a group called Funke Leftovers with another North Carolina pioneer The Rhythm Fanatic from the early Bizzie Boys crew that also included Ski of Roc-a-Bloc fame. The duo dropped a single called "I Like Girls" in 92'. Around 93' Omniscience ventured out as a solo artist and dropped "The Funky One Liner" EP. The EP featured four tracks, two for sure appears on this LP.
On the strength of that EP, Omniscience got signed to Elektra's East/West Recordings, which would turn out to be the kiss of the death for Omni, among many others during this period of Elektra's mishandling of classic underground hero's. He would drop the underground gem of 95' with his first single "Amazin'" (pictured up above). He would then drop a second single "Touch Y'all" which featured a remix w/ Sadat X, which Smoov from Vinyl Addicts posted up during his hayday. Shortly after the release of the second single, Elektra would do to him that they did to 8Off Agullah, Supernatural and a host of others, they shelved the album and dropped them from the label. As far as I can gather, the album was shipped as a promo to DJ's and the such during the time and that's probably where this came from.
Omniscience sounds like (voice wise) a mix of buckshot, canibus, and someone else I'm still trying to put my finger on. Lyrically he's pretty nice with his. He drops lot's of one liners ("I'm not Denny's, I serve many brothers") guess thats why he calls himself the "Funky One Liner". Production wise, as far as I can tell, there were at least three people/crew's involved in the production of the album, The Rhythm Fanatic, 3 Boyz From Newark, and Rheji Burrell and Vincent Herbert. There is some nice smooth shit and there is some funky ass shit. It's very well produced..
This copy isn't bad as far as sound quality. Some tracks fade out, and I'm not sure if that's the way they are or not and their sounds like some basic freestyles here and there, so not sure what the deal is with that. None the less if you are a fan of the early/mid 90's east coast sound, this is a MUST HAVE. Enjoy!8/20/2007
Today Was A Good Day....(Someday Of The Week Lite)
If you know me at all, you know I'm a pretty big sports fan. For me, its mainly about football and baseball. I have two favorite teams in both sports that I have been rooting for since I was six years old, the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball and the Pittsburgh Steelers in football. No, I'm not from Pittsburgh, it was coincidence for the most part. Today was a pretty good day as far as my connection to my teams.
Steelers are playing in Denver on Oct. 21, a Sunday night game. I already went to the AFC Championship here in Denver in Jan. of '06, with the Steelers going on to the Super Bowl. One of the greatest moments in my life. My best friend (a Broncos fan) called me this morning saying he had a chance to grab two tickets for that Sunday game and if I wanted to go. Stupid question, of course I want to go. So I have tickets to that Sunday game, I'm pretty stoked. Plus my buddy lives in Salt Lake, so needless to say, we have a great time when he comes to town. Now as long as they are half way competitive, I'll be happy.
Then there is the Pirates. The worst record in the NL
Pittsburgh Pirates. I'm a firm believer in sticking with your teams. I hate bandwagon fans, but the Pirates are testing my alliance to them. The ownership is a big joke who don't give a rats ass about winning and only care about the bottom dollar. Regardless, I get geeked up every year they come to Denver. And guess what? It's that time of the year again. The Pirates visit Coors field for a four game set, starting tonight. Actually, the first two years I was here ('04 & '05) they won the four games I went to. Last year was a different story as I missed the first game in which they won, and watched them lose the next two games, including the hottest game ever in Coors field which they got blown out 16-4 or some shit. Counting the first game I ever I saw, in which the Pirates lost 7-5 in 1997 and they are 4-3 with me in attendance. We'll see what happens in these four games as I plan to hit them all up. (Note they won last night 4-2 in extra innings and I had to bite my tongue when three drunk frat boys started talking shit to me. Something I'm not too good at, but didn't like my chances with three on one.)
I'm a Pirates fan because that was the name of my t-ball team in little league and I've stuck through it all since then. I remember the Cocaine scandals of the early-mid 80's, with coke head Dale Berra and Lee Lacy. They sucked horribly through most of the 80's, only to actually build a strong team that won the NL East three years in a row with one of the best Outfields in the majors at that time with Bonds, Bonilla and Van Slyke along with Cy Young winner Doug Drabek on the mound. I've mentioned it before, but the '92 NLCS is the hardest sports moment I've ever had to endure. I've seen the Steelers lose four AFC championships, but none of them were harder to handle than watching Sid Bream round third and Bonds half assing it to the ball and throwing it in to the catcher only to have Bream slide around the tag. I still wake up in cold sweats dreaming about that play.
It's been fourteen years, thats right 14 long years since the Pirates have had a winning record. It tests you alright, I've pretty disgusted with their front office the past few years. Horrible trades, stupid FA signings have both plagued the Pirates front office. I used to believe that it was because of the small market the Pirates were in, but thats BS now with the Twins, A's and other teams with no larger markets than the Pirates playing with the big boys. Yet, I still stand by team, no matter how pitiful they might be. Here is to hoping they get a split, cause I don't know if I can handle a sweep. That might be enough to make me track down someone from the front office, and burn my Pirates jersey and hat right in front of them.
Talib Kweli Interview.....
On to some music, I'm sure you came here for that and not my rants on how bad the Pirates suck. Talib Kweli seems like he has taken some heat for his latest album. I've heard some people love it (Dan Love, my boy Dino) and others don't care for it at all (Eric and a few others). Myself, I'm kind of in between. I don't think it is up to his quality, which I'm not sure if that is being reasonable anymore since he only had one "great" album in Reflection Eternal, although I know a lot of you out there love the Black Star joint as well. Everything else he has done without Mos or Hi Tek has been mediocre at best (although I still like that "Liberation" joint he did with Madlib earlier in the year). None the less, I was sent a link for a good interview with Kweli on Studio 360. Kweli discusses his roll in the underground and why he is just a big nerd at heart. I'll go ahead and post the interview, although they addressed me as "Trevor" in the email, but I like to think it was some hot young female intern that sent me the link, so I'll let it slide...hahah
Talib Kweli Interview on Studio 360
Nas - Thief's Theme Remix Video
I thought the original was pretty dope, but this remix is on some other shit. I freaking love it. I guess it was shown on that Conservative cock smoker Bill O'Reilly on the show he did about the whole Nas preforming at the Virgina Tech. O'Reilly doesn't even know what he is talking about on the show and it shows when he mispronounces Nas' name (do some research you conservative fuck, it makes you look even more like you are talking out of your ass...Nazz) and calls "Nazz" a "gangsta rapper", which I don't think anyone who knows anything about the music would call Nas.
Nas - Thief's Theme (Midas Touch Remix) (anyone got an mp3?)
Bill O'Reilly Spewing Shit Out Of His Pie Hole
Funny Rebutal From XXL Mag Over The Whole Thing
Trav's Top Spins
2. Storm Davis - Kegstand Poetry for the Recovering Alcoholic
Doing the review for the album, plus it has just become one of those things I listened to every day. The album is kind of like a pair of comfortable shoes (no, really, that is a compliment) that I like putting it on while I'm doing shit around the apartment or getting raped by Poker Stars online.
3. Junk Science - Feeding Einstein
My love of albums that I missed the last two years continues as I am really loving this album of late once again. I just hope that since their next album is coming out on Def Jux ruins them.
4. Jazz Addixx - Oxygen
I'll admit that when I first heard this CD, I saw it being no different than a 3582, Fat Jon, J Rawls, 5 Deez album. Which isn't bad necessarily, but its something I must be in a mood for. I guess I was in the mood for them this past weekend during my all day Madden bender, because I played this album three or four times over the weekend.
5. Dahlek - Dual Consciousness
My next review material, hopefully to be up sometime this week. Remember, just because something appears in this top 5 spins means I like it, or does it...........?
WHY???
Why do I really have no interest in hearing that Lords Of The Underground joint?
Why does this interview with Q-Tip (who used to be one of my MC's) only sink my hopes for any of the three albums he has on the shelves being any good?
Why do you not want to get me started on the whole Kayne/50 Cent debacle that might happen on 9/11 release day?
Why am I starting to think....hell, I've always thought, that Oh No is becoming a better producer than his brother, Madlib?
Why does the charges of a phony, lip syncing Doom in SF not surprised me?
Why do I always find RZA's interviews at least entertaining, and sometimes not in a good way
Why do I always enjoy Ras Kass material, and why is he so on point his new joint "Hip Hop is Annoying"? Now, if he could just get some decent beats, shit would be on...Yeah!
Why do I really not care about Hi-Tek's "Hi-Teknology 3"?
Why is it just when I think Havoc is the smart one in Mobb Deep he goes and says some stupid shit like ""Fuck T.I., I'm not trying to hate on him, because he's definitely in my list, he's a good artist. I love him to death as an artist, but he can't fuck with M.O.B.B." Has he heard the last couple Mobb Deep albums? I do agree with him though, saying there is a bunch of BS coming out of the South. But before the South cats come at me, there is a lot of BS coming out of New York as well.
Why did I spit out my Ice Tea when I read about a song by Duran Duran featuring Timbaland and Justin Timberlake?
Why am I excited about the upcoming Junk Science album, but weary of ties to Def Jux? Maybe I haven't heard much out of the Def Jux camp that I've liked.
Why have I still not seen Barry Bonds record breaking home run? I hope I never see it.
Why is a pregnant Salma Hayek still sexy?
Ominscience ..... So good, I'm posting it twice. When you been doing this for almost two years, you can post a re-run every now and then.
Year: 1995Label: East/West Records
1. Intro
2. Maintain
3. Greatest MC In The World
4. Who Is Down With Us
5. Lost In The Music
6. Everybody's Got An Ego
7. Love To The Crews
8. Bumpheads
9. Touch Y'all
10. Amazin'
11. My Main Man
12. Big Kap (Interlude)
13. Get Our Dicks Sucked
14. Act Like You Know
15. Lady's Freestyle
16. We Do It Like This
17. Rules Of The Game
18. Stage Domination
19. Fuck The Critics (Interlude)
20. Causin' Terror
21. Halfway
Thanks to ShareAndSshareAlike for the track listingToday we'll jump into one of the harder to find albums out there, at least before the mp3 boom, and even now it's not the easiest thing to find. Before I get into this, I must thank 6MWTD for dropping gem on the cocaine blunts boards this spring.
Omni was an MC coming straight outta of North Cacalack (North Carolina for those who don't know). Finding info on him is rather difficult, most of what I tracked down came from two sites, the legendary Vinyl Addicts (RIP) and a site that I never knew about before www.smalltimehustle.com that had the most info about Omni that I've ever seen.
He first appeared on the scene sometime in the early 90's as part of a group called Funke Leftovers with another North Carolina pioneer The Rhythm Fanatic from the early Bizzie Boys crew that also included Ski of Roc-a-Bloc fame. The duo dropped a single called "I Like Girls" in 92'. Around 93' Omniscience ventured out as a solo artist and dropped "The Funky One Liner" EP. The EP featured four tracks, two for sure appears on this LP.
On the strength of that EP, Omniscience got signed to Elektra's East/West Recordings, which would turn out to be the kiss of the death for Omni, among many others during this period of Elektra's mishandling of classic underground hero's. He would drop the underground gem of 95' with his first single "Amazin'" (pictured up above). He would then drop a second single "Touch Y'all" which featured a remix w/ Sadat X, which Smoov from Vinyl Addicts posted up during his hayday. Shortly after the release of the second single, Elektra would do to him that they did to 8Off Agullah, Supernatural and a host of others, they shelved the album and dropped them from the label. As far as I can gather, the album was shipped as a promo to DJ's and the such during the time and that's probably where this came from.
Omniscience sounds like (voice wise) a mix of buckshot, canibus, and someone else I'm still trying to put my finger on. Lyrically he's pretty nice with his. He drops lot's of one liners ("I'm not Denny's, I serve many brothers") guess thats why he calls himself the "Funky One Liner". Production wise, as far as I can tell, there were at least three people/crew's involved in the production of the album, The Rhythm Fanatic, 3 Boyz From Newark, and Rheji Burrell and Vincent Herbert. There is some nice smooth shit and there is some funky ass shit. It's very well produced..
This copy isn't bad as far as sound quality. Some tracks fade out, and I'm not sure if that's the way they are or not and their sounds like some basic freestyles here and there, so not sure what the deal is with that. None the less if you are a fan of the early/mid 90's east coast sound, this is a MUST HAVE. Enjoy!
Superrapin' (Groove Attack. 1999)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KE0SASHK
