Bloggerhouse Hip Hop

Whaddup Peoples? Okay, Marley Marl is a legend…Period! The man who orchestrated the “BDP-Juice Crew” beef in the 80′s, the man behind perhaps the most celebrated posse cut of all time “The Symphony”, the mastermind behind the boards..producing classic joints for the likes of Biz Markie, Master Ace (yeah, back when it was Master!), Big Daddy Kane, Intelligent Hoodlum (Tragedy), Capone N Noreaga, LL, Real Live…and it don’t stop! Okay, to celebrate Marley’s latest venture with the one and only Krs One “Hip Hop Lives”(which is also posted below)and Rasul’s various e-mails urging me “Man, you NEED to do a Marley post”..here it is folks! No need to go too far into detail, Marley is flat out a cornerstone in Hip Hop history. I could not track down Marley’s “House Of Hits” joint, (maybe, someone could link me up with it)but here is the bulk of Marley’s material I have for everyone to engulf. Respect your history kids without Marley’s innovative production (a James Brown sample anyone?) who knows what we would’nt have been blessed with. And lastly, thank you for all the continued support and e-mails and I’m sure I speak for Rasul as well. And speaking of Rasul, can dude write some sh*t or what? Ra’s got a good mind and it is deeply expressed through his words and many of his lyrics. Drop Rasul a line or two as well. He contributes regularly to this blog just for his love of Hip Hop and believe me he stays busy throughout the week as well. Stay up everyone and have a great week!…Eric

Marley Marl-In Control Vol.I

Marley Marl-In Control Vol.II

Marley Marl-Hip Hop Dictionary PW=willforall

Marley Marl-Re Entry

**New Ish!!* Marley Marl & Krs One-”Hip Hop Lives” b/w “Kill A Rapper”

1  1

Another weekend in the books and another weekend without a post. Oh well, you all should be getting used to that. So be it, I guess. It’d be okay if I was actually getting work done even without a post, but I can’t say that’s happening either. One of these weeks, hopefully, I’ll become a wild man unleashed and get everything done that I keep telling myself that I’m going to get done…until then, we’ll keep on winging it.

While I continue to get in order (read: start on) the next big series I have planned, I thought I’d do something I haven’t done in a while and that’s take requests and do re-ups. Instead of doing it all in one day like I did last fall, we’ll spread it over the week. THE RULES: Request anything that I have posted up in the past that is no longer working (MAKE SURE IT’S NOT WORKING check first, because I will) or if there is something you are looking for that you can’t find (meaning do a blog search first), drop me a line in one of three ways: 1. The comments 2. The C-box 3. An email. Each day I’ll post up 3-5 requests/re-ups. Try to keep the requests in the “rare” and out of print realm of things. Easiest way to check if something is out of print is to go to Amazon.com and see if they are selling new copies of said album or not. If they do not have it in stock, it’s more than likely out of print. I’ll make a few exceptions, there are a few things out there in print but are just a bitch to find regardless. I’d be open to sharing those, but I’m not going to post up the new Brother Ali album or something like that, there is more than enough places to download that type of stuff if you must. Stick to the albums, I’ve never been a DJ, so any 12 inch releases I have are stuff I’ve gotten from other blogs. Polarity is the 12 inch genius, but it would be a while for him to get any of that kind of stuff up.

There won’t be in system on how I’ll do it, basically whatever I can find the easiest in my collection will get posted up first. Also if you are a fellow blogger or a “preferred” visitor, you’ll more than likely have your stuff up a bit faster as well (I do play favorites). Feel free to help each other as well. That was the beautiful thing about doing the requests last year, people would help each other with requests. Get to requesting……..

Songs———–

In the vein of a traditional “Sunday Lite” posts, we’re sticking to single tracks, because, well, I want to.

Dr. Dre feat Royce Da 5’9 – Way I Be Pimpin’

I meantioned the whole Dr. Dre/Royce ordeal that went down during the making of “The Chronic 2001″ last week when I posted up the Royce Aftermath demo. The track contains the same sample/beat (I should know the sample, but can’t think of it), but with different lyrics from Dre, that were ghost written by Royce with the hook done by Royce. After the fall out between the supposed “big headed’ Royce and Dre, Dre went back to the lab and cranked out the album version of the song, which would become “Xxplosive”.

I can’t say which I prefer more really. I’m more used to the album version, so I suppose I would go with that creation, but it just shows what could have been, if Royce would have kept his head on straight. To give Royce some credit, he did seem to learn his lesson. On “Death Is Certain”, he produced a much more personal and humble album that I thought was highly overlooked.

De La Soul feat Mos Def & Truth Enola – Stakes Is High (remix)

This is one 12 inch release I wouldn’t mind having, Itzsoweezee(Hot) b/w Stakes Is High (Remix). The A-Side was possibly one of my favorite tracks on my seventh all-time favorite Hip Hop album (the dorkiness continues) and any remix that has a Jay Dee beat and Mos Def added to it, you know it has to be fairly decent.

The beat itself is basically the same but switched up from the original. It’s still got that early Jay Dee/J Dilla feel to it in the same vein as “Runnin’” or some of his other earlier works. The lyrics are also different as well, but sticking with the original meaning of the song. Mos Def, who at this time was fairly new to the game (I can’t remember if the UTD stuff came out before this or not). De La’s weed carrier at the time was also featured on this track, Truth Enola. Enola never really impressed me and I can’t say I heard his album from a couple years ago, but he doesn’t ruin the song, which is all you want.

The Pharcyde – Pork

I realized when started to do a write up on this joint that it isn’t as rare as it once was. Originally, you could only find this track as the unreleased B-Side to “Passing Me By”, but it was recently included on the “Sold My Soul” compilation released last year, but whatever, for those of you that slept on that, you need to get with this track. You know what to expect if it was recorded in the “Bizarre Ride…” era, some off the wall, silly, fun to listen to joint, it is called “Pork” after all.

Produced by La Jay, the horns on this track are lovely and all four MC’s (wouldn’t that be great again?) are in rare form, coming with their trademarked goofiness that made everyone love “Bizzare Ride..”. If you haven’t heard this, get up on it.

Beastie Boys feat Def Squad & Biz Markie – Body Movin’ Remix

I always kind of chuckle/vomit in my mouth at the same time when someone says the Beasties were a bunch of sell outs. Is that why everyone from Q-tip to Redman to Biz Markie has worked with them? Give me a break. The Beasties are just as much as a part of Hip Hop as any of the Golden Age greats. And don’t even get me started on the two white dudes dressing up in business suits questioning the music store clerk because the Beasties are filed underneath Hip Hop and not Rock, which I was a witness to last week which made me want to take an used White Lion CD and beat them upon the upper torso region for being stupid.

All 80′s rock violence aside, the Beasties come at us with another posse cut similar to Soul Assasians remix of “So Whatcha Want” from the “Check Your Head” LP. This time Redman, E Double and Biz Markie join the Beasties and basically steal the show. You don’t hear a lot from the Beasties on this one, basically some adlibs and the such. Biz, a long time Beasties cohort, drops a verse as well that will please any Diabocal fan. (Excuse the quality of the track, it was copied to one of the first CD-R’s I ever did, making it probably 8 years old or so, so the CD has received a beat down of epic porportions)

Eminem – Bad Influence & Go To Hell (?) feat Pauly Yams

On the topic of shunned white MC’s, we’ll piss everyone off and go to some Eminem. I know, I know, whats a 30 something, self proclamied Hip Hop purists posting up some Eminem for? I ain’t going to lie, I like me some early Eminem (no homo). The Rawkus stuff? That track was an example of all that’s right in Hip Hop, humor, clever rhymes and just fun to listen to. His apperance on Sway & King Tech’s album was just as good as that was and the joint on Funk Flex’s “The Tunnel” could be grouped in this class as well. His first two albums were, yes, some what mainstream, but also catered to the underground head as well. I know his whiteness has helped him for than hurt him, but I believe if he was black, he might not have sold 70 zillion copies of his albums to every 12-15 white surbuban kid, but he’d be more appreciated for what he really is(was) and that’s a talented MC.

The first track is from the straight to video (okay, it should have been) Arnold “Da Govenator” flick “The Last Days”. It come out right after Em’s first album (I get the names of the LP’s mixed up and am in a hurry, so I won’t bother looking it up) and sounds like a cast off or a different version of “Role Model” from said album, but there is some pissed off Em, doing what he does best, bitching, but he sounds good doing it. Since the Soundtrack probably sold less than the actual movie, I’m trusting not too many people have heard this. I (blushing) bought the OST just for this song (it was before I was too into downloading music off the internet).

The second track is kind of mystery to me. I believe I found it on Audio Galaxy or Napster back in the day. I think it was supposed to be included on DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “The Magnificant”, but I can’t find much as a name, let alone it’s orgins. I’ve always called it “Go To Hell” from the sample from South Park it uses (Mr. Garrison screaming “You Go To Hell”). Pauly Yams from Jeff’s camp also appears on the track, which is the reasoning I use that It didn’t make the “The Magnificant” cut or something. Maybe someone down with Em’s crew reading this will fill us in…(yeah right, like Paul Rosenberg reads this, or any blog).

Trav’s Top 5 Spins Of The Week……
1. Stricklin – The Resume Mixtape
Big Strick! I’ll be the first to admit that when I’m listening to something new, the first few listens I will concern myself with the beat, if the beat doesn’t grab me, I won’t usually give it enough time to listen to the lyrics. Not so with Strick, which to me, is a sign of a good MC. Eminem, Redman and a few others are MC’s that have that effect on me. Some of the stuff Strick kicks lyric wise is nothing short of amazing.

2. Senim Silla – The Name…The Motto…The Outcome
I was pretty big on Binary Star’s “Master’s Of The Universe”, which would probably be in the top 10 albums of this decade in my book. They split and One Man Army aka One Be Lo went on the solol tip and dropped a top 5 album in ’04. His partner Senim Silla comes with his own project, which is just as good as One Be Lo’s effort. All Binary Star fans should check this out.

3. Evidence – The Weatherman
Still pumping the Ev album, one of the better albums of the first third of the year.

4. 10 Bass T – Do You Know The Way
Every now and then, I’ll pull out an album I haven’t heard in awhile and give it a listen, that was the case with this album. I love this album, but know next to nothing about the group except they were from San Fransico….I think. Despite my lack of knowledge on the group, the album is a solid effort from the mid 90′s. Good luck trying to find a copy, I still haven’t seen it except for a couple times on Amazon for two President Jacksons.

5. Joel Ortiz – The Brick: The Bodega Chronicles

After a close friend of mine told me I NEEDED to hear this joint, I finally gave into my recent fear of the sound a like/rhyme a like/ look a like NY artists such as Tru Papoose or Dip Life or any of those other artists that have 15 million mixtapes out, yet not one album amoung them. This pains me to say that about NY artists, because NY is the Mecca of hip hop, the birthplace, it’s where my love for hip hop started….but they are just as guilty of bringing stale music to the table as the south. Back to the actual album, this was better than I expected, which wasn’t much (the same friend told me I had to listen to Serius Jones and Tru Life and I fell asleep and/or stopped half way through both of them). I’ll give it more listens than the 3-4 I gave it last week. It has potential and is much better than any of the PapdipsetoosetruJonesLifeSerius that I’ve heard lately.

WHY?????

I recieved emails from both David Icke and Condoleeza Rice about me not doing a “Why???” during my Sunday Lite p
osts, so due to such high requests, I figured I’d better throw of the more mind questioning thins I’ve been pondering recentely.

Why will the Cleveland Browns still suck even after their “A+” graded draft? (edit: Because they are still the Browns and Tim Couch errr Brady Quinn won’t save them….hahaha)

Why did the Steelers draft a TE in round three when they already have Heath Miller?

Why did they trade up to draft a punter in the forth round….yes, A PUNTER??????

Why are some of my early CD-R’s starting to fall to pieces, I thought CD’s were supposed to last “forever”?

Why does going out anymore on the weekends result in dropping no less than 60 bucks?

Why am I not excited about the new Beastie Boys album? (probably because their last one was their worst)

Why did watching MTV’s original “Rapumentary” this past weekend almost bring tears to my eyes? (in a good way)

Why are there not more songs like “Nostaglia” by Masta Ace these days?

Why is a big fat Chicago Principal hooking up with with seeminly hot looking teachers?

Why on God’s green earth is the godess Salma Hayek marrying this dude?

Why can’t the Pittsburgh Pirates win a game at home to save their ass?

Why am I in last place a month into the season in the Bloggers Celebrity Fantasy Baseball Challenge?

Why is Alfonsio Soriano being a piece of over priced crap?

That is all….dismissed

Travis

1  1

Soul For Real-Candy Rain

You can’t even front on these youngstas…cause’ I know you were jammin’ to “Candy Rain” back in 1995. If my memory serves me correctly, I think all four of the members were brothers. I also thought that this was there only release, but they actually released to albums following “Candy Rain”. Heavy D more or less played the big brother to these fellas, also while handling much of the production on the album along with Sean “Puffy, P Diddy, Puff-Daddy” or whatever his moniker is today” Combs. I can’t front though, this album sounded a hell of a lot fresher in 95′ as a opposed to today…now, it has moments of unavoidable corniness. Still, “Candy Rain” and “Every Little Thing You Do” are the standouts on this R & B flashback.

Jon B-Cool Relax pw=www.rapgodfathers.com

I know that many of your initial impressions of Jon B are more than likely “Man, Dude’s wack”….are you kidding me? Jon B was and still is IMO one talented MoFo!! I mean c’mon the production (which he handles mostly) has improved more and more with each forthcoming release and his vocals are well above average as well. His most recent album “Stronger Everyday” is probably one of my favorite R & B albums of all time. Oddly enough, ATCQ’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad makes an appearance on “Cool Relax” producing the title cut and of course everyone and their Mother remembers “R U Still Down f. 2pac, which was produced by Johnny J (who handled many of Pac’s beats). Again, while not my favorite Jon B album it was still a big surprise to me after hearing this album…b/c even I’ll admit I thought he was wack as hell after hearing his debut album. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised as well, definitely worth the pick up.

Mary J. Blige-What’s The 411?

This album is..well…I’d have to put it up there with my top 5 R & B albums ever. I first heard “You Remind Me” blaring out of boomboxes in Ocean City, MD during a family vacation in the summer of 92′ (along with GangStarr’s “Take It Personal”)and after seeing an feature on her in an issue of The Source that same trip I decided to pick up “What’s The 411″. This album was the soundtrack to many of my backseat “trips” in the 88′ Honda Civic hatchback. Mary was “that girl” from abot “92-95″, once even appearing on the cover of The Source (who can forget the iced out photo?). “You Remind Me” actually made it’s debut on the “Strictly Business” soundtrack and scored Mary a HUGE hit, soon to be followed by an even “HUGER” hit “Real Love” and a remix to that same cut featuring an overweight fellow who “died on March 9th”. Hell, Mr. Puba himself even drops in for the title cut. I had to post this one, even though I’m sure most of you have it already just because I love “What’s The 411?” soo much…Enjoy!

1  1

1. “125th Pt.IV (The Finale)”-Joell Ortiz….I don’t know who produced the track but it really sounds like a 9th Wonder beat….Deeply personal, Emotional, Soulful track from “The Next Big Thing”…trust me!
2. “Dead People”-Consequence f. GLC, Menace & P Watts….from “The Cons. Vol. 4″ you’ve gotta’ hear this, you can download it for free @ClintonSparks.com or MixtapeTorrents…this is crazy ill wait’ll you hear the bassline in this joint!
3. “Cold on The Beats”-Hi-Tek…another mixtape you can pick up @ClintonSparks.com..this was “supposed” to be a freestyle, but this should’ve been used on “The Chip”
4. “Sitting Here”-Down South…did a review for “Lost In Brooklyn” earlier this week and I just loved this track..somethin’ to chill to and nod your head continuosly!
5. “Commute”-MC Serch..taken from his recently leaked “M.any Y.oung L.ives A.go-94 sessions”LP..I lost some respect for Serch due to his “White Rapper Show” debacle, but this is dope, vivid track. Hit me up and I’ll hook you up with the album.
6. “Last Day” -Phonte (Little Brother)…taken from the “And Justus For All” mixtape w/Mick Boogie…Te’ rides Onyx’s “Last Day” and flips the scripts on his retail days…”I’m an equal oppurtunity racist…I hate all ya’ll” Te’ is a funny dude….He needs to drop a solo LP as well!
7. “One Time For Your Mind”-Nas ..from the classic “Illmatic”….God, Nas killed it on this one…I probably didn’t listen to this for a year and I remember every lyric from this LP like it was yesterday.
8. “Movin’ On Em’ Remix”-Two Kings In a Cipher…again, reviewed the album this week and fell in love with this track all over again!
9. “Nostalgia”-Marco Polo f. Masta Ace..you know the deal.
10. “Rock On” Funkdoobiest…Damn, hadn’t played this one in a while and I forgot how completely dope this cut was.

    

Rasul’s Most Played

1. “Midnight In A Perfect World”-DJ Shadow… Shout outs to my man Dan Love. You made me remember a good one here. Still, your list is kind of crazy…
2. “Hip Hop Remix”-Joell Ortiz f. Jadakiss & Saigon… Jada’s verse is one of the best sixteen’s I’ve heard in a while- a real long while.
3. “Starz In Their Eyes”-Just Jack… Good song off a very good album- very diverse, very innovative, very different…
4. “My Soul Ain’t For Sale”-DJ Jazzy Jeff f. Raheem DeVaughn… One of the best tunes I’ve heard in a while. Love it how he’s flipping all these Hip Hop terms into harmonies…
5. “Hot & Cold”-Evidence… My Evidence pick of the week. I’m still waiting for an album to take over the 2007 throne…
6. “Lost Without You”-Robin Thicke… OK, his wife is breathtakingly gorgeous but the song is now growing on me- really…
7. “It’s Too Late”-The Streets… I don’t know if you guys really know about Mike Skinner and The Street, but this is a beautiful song off a groundbreaking album. Holla at me…
8. “I Want You”-Moloko… You wouldn’t believe it but yes, I told you: I listen to this joint every day…
9. “Nostalgia”-Marco Polo f. Masta Ace… Gets better everyday; just one of those songs that make me think and dig deep…
10. “Taste Of Life”-Sqaure One… Read “I Am Part 2″…

Most DL’ed For The Week

1. “Call Me D-Nice”-D-Nice
2. “Ghetto Gold & Platinum”-Mad Lion….surprise, surprise
3. “Self Titled”-Groove Theory…damn, I’m surprised at the amount of DL’s that the R& B joint I post get!
4. “Throwback Classics”-DJ Green Lantern…good selection
5. “Self Titled”-BlackStreet
6. “How I Do”-Res…I hope as many folks loved this as much as I do!
7. “Resonable Doubt”-Jay Z
8. “Times Up”-K Solo
9. “Return Of The Boom Bap-Krs One
10. “From Pyramids To Projects”-Two Kings In A Cipher

1  1

So a small door opens up and despite the uneasy reluctance itching in your bones and the blind fury rising up your nostrils, you gather all your courage to ball both of your fists and you enter. Your eyes have to adjust to the burning rays of light, the heat burns scars on the trace of your skin and your lips seem to dry out by the omnipotent powers of unfamiliarity, occupying your mind with uncalled questions like, how did I get here in the first place? You begin to walk towards nothingness, looking around for signs of guidance, desperate to read the letters on all the faces passing you by, trying to understand the captions on the pavements you’re walking on and all of a sudden, yes all of a sudden, the music kicks in. The blaring horns of seduction, with their playful symphony, sound all too intimate and various associations begin to rush through your head. First there is the bluish artwork with the two heroes, one sitting and one standing tall in front of a wall adorned with hieroglyphics canned with aerosol; then there is Tom Scott’s original masterpiece erupting somewhere in a dark corner of your subconscious, the original tune that has borrowed its bits and pieces to our architects, and after a slight second of satisfaction, all you’ve ever cared for are the words “I reminisce for a spell or should I say think back…” to be uttered, and as those lines blend in, every shadow of strange diction fades away to oblivion.

I’m still reminiscing. After being a caricature of myself, abandoning all the virtues and orders that have brought me here, I have to think about the most compelling question: Why? Why is it that I fell in love with this muse initially? Why did I continue to caress and nourish this secret garden of “bars and hooks” without ever doubting its motifs, protecting its dignity like the balls of my eyes? How I spent endless nights deciphering the second meanings of its poetry, digging for obsolete records to recreate so I could pen my own eulogies, why? How I went to the grocery store to grab some pasta, seeing an old acquaintance with her own torn family in tow, someone I had danced with to “Rump Shaker” many many ages ago, exchanging the obligatory formalities, only to be asked the brutal question: “So tell me Ali, are you still making music?” I always felt irascible, somehow troubled, when someone from my past dared to ask me that question. It wasn’t their nosiness to value my success; if anything, they wanted to explicitly know what I had done with my miserable life! Bear with me brothers and sisters- I know my shortcomings. I know the sleepless nights I’ve given my mother skipping school and the ugly arguments with my father about responsibility and honor; how I neglected my beloved sidekick, my lady and best friend, when I went on tour to order an audience to oblige. I know I’ve failed but I kept on pushing my luck, only to find myself deeper entrapped in a black endless well. For all I know, for every “3 Feet High And Rising”, every “Midnight Marauders” or “The Adventures of Slick Rick”, there are numerous records, records I do not wish to mention, filled with filth and disgraceful material. I understood a lot of my peers in the mid 90s who chose to jump ship. I understood their intolerance to empty content and recycled beats. I understood their all too visible awe when Champion hoodies were replaced by shiny suits, when social awareness was easily replaced by economic awareness and African medallions substituted for Mack 11s; when your upbringing and secluded environment were labeled as a plague, a deadly disease, and not a bland indication for unreasonable pride. How your once dearest icons could not keep up the pace of change, never succumbing to the mass hysteria taking over, and were simplemindedly forgotten and never mentioned again. How the Notorious B.I.G his “Ready To Die” rose to be the bible, the best record of all time (you must be kidding me!?) because it paved the way for yet to come hypocrisy. How friends told me, they will rather branch out and listen to DJ Shadow’s “Entroducing”, an instrumental album at its best, since there was no spitted bigotry, no false lyrics to endure. Yes, I understood then and sadly enough, I sincerely understand now. So why, why would you still do this to your self?

True love is always unconditional. True love means unconstrained commitment; it reflects genuine and unequivocal dedication, a deep and absolute pledge for inscription, a promise to rightfully forgive and incontrovertibly forget since mistakes or wrongdoings can never shake the basic fundaments of love! I used to love H.E.R and god is my witness, I still do. I love Hip Hop for every lesson learnt, every hope ignited and every path indicated to reach enlightening. I love hip Hop because it chose me , because it taught me to express my most remote emotions; because it taught me to feel and it taught me to write. Forget the records I have released, all the questioning eyes following my every step walking down the streets, the brave admirers who respectfully approached me to voice their appreciations, fellow musicians acknowledging the depth and detail or the countless praise from all over the globe for this particular art composed in Germany. Yes, forget all that since I can tell you about other various instances of people crucifying my music, journalists questioning my integrity, or label executives doubting my potential! I ask you one more time: forget all that. Beyond all the glamour and the glitz, beyond every trial and tribulation and tears of disappointment, Hip Hop has taught me how to love from the bottoms of my soul…

I am quite busy these days: I wake up early in the morning, check my emails, go through my writings of the previous days, grab my books and head downtown for the library. I lean back in the uncomfortable chairs, try to figure out myself and all the words that pop into my head, write something new, listen to some beats for some inspiration, grab something to eat, walk down the streets for awhile to breeze my mind and, well, I go back and write. This is how I’ve spent my last days. The other day, yours truly, Eric sent me this link with another blog spot where someone had posted Square One’s (my old group) “Walk Of Life”! First and foremost, I was stunned that people actually remembered. I although felt flattered and next thing you know, I popped in the CD (yes, I still have my copy) and listened to my own album after so many years. Surprisingly enough, I liked it for the most part and without getting too analytical about what I would do different now and which songs are still relevant, I remembered the song “Taste Of Life”, a tune I had written for my lady. Listening to the song, recreating the sceneries attached to its melody, and re-reciting the words penned in the spring of 2001, I was given the answer to all those questions listed above! If something should happen to me, If I should go to sleep after saying my prayers and not wake at the next dawn, if my bus taking me to the library every morning should derail and fly off the Lions Gate Bridge and hit the shores of the pacific, or whatever my God should have in store for me; I will look back at my decent legacy of a wonderful family, an enriching career with multiple records released and I will feel content. I would feel content because I did it my way- the Hip Hop way- but more than anything, because I wrote and recorded that particular song, a Hip Hop song, “Taste Of Life”, to eternalize my untamed affection for the woman I was born to love, and the unalloyed certitude that a couple of thousand listeners, maybe lovers themselves, have heard this exact serenade. What can be more fulfilling than that I ask you?

r />

This is post is dedicated to my soulmate, my heart and soul and above all, my best friend! I will always love you…

When you’ve been around for over a year and a half (which is 25 years in bloggers years), you can get away with posting up a re-run every so often. This week has been craaazy, school, work, bomb threats at work (long story), computer issues, internet issues, and I added a second job (bartending for catering company) has left me with a crunch with time. Hopefully the second job will enable me to finally hook up high speed internet at my apartment and then a lot of this will be a none issue.

Anyway, I’m going to re-use a previous post to back up this next Greatest Hits collection I have for my second favorite “Posse” of all time (after the Juice Crew), the First Priority Music family, which consisted of Audio Two, MC Lyte, Alliance, Barsha, Michie Mee, Kings Of Swing and Positive K. They were THE crew after the Juice Crew disbanded in the late 80′s, yet they don’t recieve much recoginition in the grand scheme of things in the history of the hip hop culture. The FPM family consisted of; Audio Two (brothers Milk Dee & Gizmo), MC Lyte, Alliance, Michie Mee, Kings Of Swing, Positive K, Barsha, and one of two in house producers (Milk Dee was the other) King of Chill. The label was lead by Lyte’s, Milk’s & Giz’s father, Nat Robinson who, if I remember right, started up the label to help Milk further his hip hop career.

As noted, much of the production on many of the albums was handled by either Audio Two or King of Chill and consisted of the “bare bones” approach so highly popular during the day. It was great “boom bap” music of the time. The label never garnished any high record sales, except with maybe Lyte’s releases (gold on the first two releases ?), but still mark one of the greatest labels in the “golden age” of hip hop. They are still in business and I was suprised to see they had the R&B sensation from a few years ago, Eamon.

http://www.myspace.com/firstprioritymusic

http://firstprioritymusic.com/

Here’s a little re-post in case anyone missed it the first time. I must also give MAJOR props to Moves on the cocaine blunts boards, if it wasn’t for him, a few of these albums wouldn’t be available to me and it’s helped quench my thirst for this early FPM music.

THE DISCOGRAPHY

The First Priority Music Family : Basement Flavor (First Priority Music 1990)

1 Alliance -Get On Down (3:48) Producer – The King Of Chill
2 Audio Two- Many Styles (4:55) Producer – Audio Two
3 MC Lyte & Positive K- I’m Not Havin’ It (3:29) Producer – Audio Two
4 Michee Mee & LA Luv- Victory Is Calling (5:29) Featuring -MC Lyte Producer – Beat Factory
5 MC Lyte- Survival Of The Fittest (3:58) Producer -The King Of Chill
6 Positive K- Tramp (3:22) Featuring – Milk Dee Producer – Audio Two
7 Audio Two- Peer Pressure (4:06) Producer – Audio Two
8 Michie Mee & LA Luv- On This Mic (5:42) Producer – Beat Factory
9 Alliance- Kibbles And Bits (4:24) Producer – Alliance
10 Positive K- Impulse On Three (4:35) Featuring – Barsha Producer – Audio Two
11 Soulshock- Break The Limits (4:54) Featuring – See-Que Producer – Solid Productions

Kings Of Swing - Strategy

The first legit post of this series see’s the Kings of Swing’s album “Strategy” which was released in 1990. The Kings of Swing consisted of Sugar Kay, Mike Master & Cocoa Chanelle. Despite the horrible looking R&B/New Jack Swing looking cover the album contains some rather nice tracks. The album was produced by the two in house producers, Milk and King of Chill, and has some rather funky breaks used, something that seemed more diverse than some other FPM family releases. Two Minutes of Funk is just that, two minutes of funk and uses a loop that Marley Marl dug up on LL’s To Da Break Of Dawn. Betty Boop has a funky guitar loop conjured up by King Of Chill. On the next track, Nod Your Head To This uses a loop that would later be used by DJ Muggs on Cypress Hill’s Real Estate track from their self-titled debut. The cut also contains some crazy DJ work.

One of the odd things about the group then, and even now, is the fact the female, Cocoa Chanelle, was the groups DJ and a damn good one at that. This album contains lots of cuts and scratching from the female DJ and even has two DJ cuts on here. From what I read, she is now a DJ on one of the NY radio stations.

While they are not the greatest MC’s, they are able enough not to distract from the overall product and let’s face it, lyricism wasn’t at an all time during this time period for the most part. I’m sure overrating this because of the old school mode I’ve been in lately, but this is one of the better albums of 1990 (I always thought 90′ was the most over hyped of the so-called “Golden Years”), defintely give it a listen if you at all into the older stuff.

AUDIO TWO – I Don’t Care The Album & What More Can I Say

Part two of our First Priority Music Family series leads us to who I orginally wanted to lead off with, Audio Two. Audio Two were composed of Milk Dee on vocals and Giz as the DJ. As mentioned before, the two were brothers and sons of label head, Nat Robinson. Despite that MC Lyte seemed to be the top seller (I don’t have the actual numbers, just guessing) on the label, Audio Two seemed to be the the crown princes of the label. This is was only natural since Giz and Milk were Nat Robinson’s natural son’s while Lyte was only a half sibling of the two. They dropped a hip hop classic in “Top Billin” (my personal favorite all -time favorite hip hop single) in 87′ and then their debut album “What More Can I Say” in 88′. It garned enough attention to put them up amoung top releases of one of the best hip hop years ever. In 1990 they dropped their somewhat underrated album “I Don’t Care: The Album”.

I’ve read a lot of bad press on this album. I think it was actually TO bragadocious for people. The album got slammed for being “to one dimensional” (go figure, now it’s okay). It also caught flack for some of the lyrics on “Whatcha’ Lookin’ At?” which contained some so called “bigotary” lyrics, with his “gay mutha’s should get punched in the face” line along with a few other questionable lines. As a naive high school senior, I loved it. Not saying it was right, but it added to the albums attractiveness. As far as lyrics, there is nothing ground breaking. It’s either party starters or Milk bragging how bad he is. To me hip hop is built on that though, people forget that. Yeah, it’s fine to grow, but like the
roots of a tree, the roots of hip hop also hold the art form into the ground firmly and thats what Audio Two did. It’s in your face bragging rhymes. Tracks like “Milk Does The Body Good (remix)” are straight badass lyrics. While it’s true Milks lyrics are not deep or politicaly correct, but to me, this is the stuff that drew me to hip hop in the first place. They are one of the first artists to dis MC Hammer on “Start It Up Y’all” with his “(Pos K & others)So what’s up with Hammer? Yo Hammer can’t rhyme and 357 is a bunch of Ho’s”. Straight in your face lyrics and hard core beats. Don’t expect to be blown away by lyrics.

Beat wise, it’s all done by Milk. It’s a bit more musical that “What More Can I Say”, but that ain’t sayin’ much. Lot’s of familar breaks (familar because of Milk and the other old school cats) and some hard drums. Milk seemed to still favor the 808 approach to things that had started to pass by NY by this time. There is nothing mind blowing as far as beats go, but for a simpler time, this music was great. I remember playing this a lot on the way to my senior year in high school (yeah I’m dating myself) and knowing just about all the words. This is a classic to me, fuck everyone else….

Alliance - We Could Get Used To This (First Priority Music, 1988)

1 Bustin’ Loose (3:58) 2 We Could Get Used To This (4:48) 3 I, Alliance (3:49) 4 Fish Heads (2:55) 5 Your Idol (3:07) 6 Down To Earth (3:15) 7 Just Another Message (3:04) 8 Ready Set (4:08) 9 I’ve Found (2:13) 10 Pure Skill (3:37) 11 Extensions (0:41) 12 Leeches (3:01) 13 Still You Sleep (3:04)

Part three of our FPM family takes to the 1988 album from the Alliance. The Alliance were made up of King Of Chill, K-Swift and DJ Skill. They were also among the first to drop albums on the label, right after Audio Two and MC Lyte. King of Chill would become one of the main producers at the label.

I honestly don’t know shit about the group for the most part and was only introduced recently to the album by Moves from the Cocaine Blunts board. I’ve only gone through the ablum 2-3 times real well, but it’s in typical FPM fashion, a definete must for any fan of the label.

Michie Mee & LA Luv – Jamacian Funk, Canadian Style (First Priority Music, 1991)

1. Prelude No. 1 2. Jamaican Funk Canadian Style 3. Kotch 4. Insecure Luva 5. Prelude No. 2 6. If Only They Knew 7. Prelude No. 3 8. All Night Stand 9. We’ve Arrived In America 10. L.A. Luv De Bout 11. You’re Feisty 12. A Portion From Up North 13. Canada Large 14. Get It Together (Bonus Track) 15. Jamacian Funk (Bonus Track)

Part four of the series is another album I know very little about. While looking for an album cover and some info on Michie, I found out she was the first female Canadian hip hop artist signed to an american label. The album itself is a weird mix of raggae and hip hop, which was abundant in the early 90′s with the dancehall craze taking off. She has a done some acting in recent years. You can learn more about her here http://www.myspace.com/michiemee2007

Then of course you had the first two MC Lyte albums that were heavily First Priority influenced with either King of Chill or Milk D doing the production on them

WYDU PResents The First Priority Music Family’s Greatest Hits (For all those out there unfamiliar with the Crew, here is a sampler of their music)
http://www.divshare.com/download/475128-f2a

1. Audio Two – Top Billin
2. Positive K & MC Lyte – I’m Not Havin’ It
3. Alliance – Bustin’ Loose
4. Audio Two – On The Road
5. Kings Of Swing – Strategy
6. Audio Two – I Don’t Care
7. Michie Mee & DJ LA Luv – Jamican Funk Candian Style
8. Barsha – Knockin’ Hineys
9. MC Lyte – Cha Cha Cha
10. Kings Of Swing – Two Minutes Of Funk
11. Alliance – We Could Get Used To This
12. Positive K & Barsha – Tramp
13. Barsha – B.A.R.
14. Alliance – Get On Down
15. Kings Of Swing – Nod Your Head To This
16. Audio Two – Milk Does The Body Good
17. MC Lyte – Lyte As A Rock
18. Audio Two – The Questions
19. Alliance – Kibble and Bits
20. Audio Two, MC Lyte, & Positive K – Start It Up
21. Positive K & Barsha – Impulse On Three

Bone Thugs N Harmony-Creepin On Ah Come Up

Cypress Hill-Unreleased & Revamped

Akinyele-Put It In Your Mouth

1  1

Eric’s Thoughts

1. Okay, there’s mad links to download “Fruity Loops, 7″ floating around the net’ everywhere…Warning! whatever you do…especially if your a married man with children like myself….DO NOT pick this up, I’m a beat freak as it is. Man, I was up til’ 3 in the morning last night toying around with “Fruity”. Today my eyes looked like “two pissholes in a snow bank”.
2. Big up to Crooklyn for that Joell Ortiz post, pick it up HERE
3. And while were on the subject of Joell Ortiz….People, this album/mixtape is DOPE…very personal rhymes, quick wit and dope beats…give this dude a listen, he’s definitely a promising MC.
4. What in the hell is all the buzz surrounding Sa-Ra’s new lp “The Hollywood Recordings”? I’ll be the first to admit..this ain’t for everyone!
5. After serving 18 months in Iraq in the Army and still having friends over there….this madness has got to stop, you can’t even go to click on your homepage without seeing a different headline “20 killed in mortar attack” or “suicide bomber kills 12″..C’mon Bush, “bring em’ back home”, enough is enough!
6. Weighing in on the whole “Top 25″ album list floating around lately, it’s good to see some not so common picks mixed in…Like Trav @wakeyourdaughterup listing “Slaughtahouse” as his 1# or Dan Love including Naughty’s “Poverty’s Paradise” in his top 25. Hell, I would put Heavy D’s “Blue Funk” maybe in my top 10…Still, it’s quite fun & interesting to check everyone’s picks.
7. How dope would it be if you could have every back issue of the Source or RapPages up til’ about 96′?
8. I heard probably one of the most beautiful, somber hip hop instumentals in recent memory this past week….”Starch” from Blueprint’s (of Soul Postion fame w/RJD2) “Chamber Music” I downloaded this about 2 years ago and have just been playing it this past week. It’s the type of track that’ll make you say “Damn, I want this played at my funeral”….Please, check for this and hit me up! And don’t sleep on Blueprint as an MC….his “1988″ was kinda ill.
9. Damn, that’s a good poll…”what song would you want played at your funeral”?
10. You know, I get tired of The Game but “Runnin’” off of his debut album “Documentary” is probably one of my favorite tracks ever…..Hi-Tek hit him off big time, that beat is NUTS!

Rasul’s THOUGHTS

1. I was recently checking out Dan Love’s Top 25 list of the best Hip Hop albums of all time on his infamous Blog “From Da Bricks” and was sort of irritated to find DJ Shadow’s “Entroducing” being mentioned. Irritated, because an instrumental album will always have a hard time to compete (in my terms) but than again, “Midnight In A Perfect World” still sounds like the ingenious soundtrack to my life!
2. I was pleasantly surprised by Joell Ortiz’ “The Brick”. But why is everybody comparing him the late great Big Pun? Don’t get me wrong, the man is nice but he is definitely not on Pun’s level of expertise…
3. Is anybody seriously waiting for Wu-Tang’s “8 Diagrams”?
4. On another note, what is the big fuss about Alec Baldwin and his choice of vocabulary directed at his own daughter?! What are the real standards of raising children these days?
5. And speaking of derogatory language, is Russell the right spokesperson to carry the torch at these decisive times of horror representing our culture? I guess he’s the next best thing around…
6. Did anybody check for Badboy’s Aasim and his “The Departed Mixtape” with Green Lantern? The man is killing it on “Say New York City”. He says: “As a matter of fact I can battle the world / And win with a verse that was written by my girl”. That’s a good one (Well, It doesn’t read that well but just listen to the track, you’ll get it)…BTW, get it HERE
7. And yeah New York, how many other rookies are going to step up and claim the throne of the city? I know Mims and his nursery rhymes didn’t do a damn thing for me…
8. Did anybody catch Murs his interview on xxl.com where he talks about his major label debut and him “only” listening to gangster-rap? Well, I heard that before, somewhere…
9. Now that the NBA playoffs have started, does anyone have the slightest doubt that this year’s winner will come from the West? Again?
10. I’m sincerely missing home…

Rottin Razkals-Rottin To Da Core

Whatever happened to the Rottin Razkals? I can remember “Oh Yeah” fitting in nicely between the videos of Pete & CL’s “I Got A Love” & Scarface & Pac’s “Smile” on some of the last episodes of Yo!MTV Raps. Benefiting from a strong affiliation with Naughty By Nature (Wasn’t one of the MCs Treach’s Cousin?) as witnessed by production contributions from Kay Gee. This is an above average album that many passed over in 95′, with excellent production which is exactly what you came to expect from Kay Gee. The Naughty influence is clear as day, from the battle ready lyrics to the bouncy, quick hitting basslines. Oh, and be sure to check out “Life Of A Bastard” which samples the same riff that Ghost & Rae used for “Heaven & Hell”….which I feel is a highly underrated track that wasn’t even available on the “Purple Tape”….but was featured on the “Fresh” soundtrack. Lastly, don’t sleep on this debut album, especially if your a Naughty fan…-words by Eric

Nice & Smooth-IV:Blazing Hot

This CD needs to thank me. Why you ask? Well, let me sum it up for you. After being a huge Nice & Smooth fan ever since first hearing “Smooth B, notorious, glorious, knowledge is infinite I live in a fortress” or should I say “Funky 4 You” from the duo’s self titled debut album. Since last hearing “Jewel Of The Nile” I’d come to the conclusion that while “Jewel” was a solid album it was probably the last time we’d expect to hear from Greg Nice & Smooth B. While doing some record shopping in 97′, I came across “Blazing Hot”, at first I thought it may have been a “Greatest Hits” compilation or something to that effect. After purchasing this disc I was amped to hear Greg N-I-C-E and Smooth B take it back to 92′…mind you, again this album dropped in 97′ around the time….well, Hip Hop was starting to suck!! The title track “Blazing Hot” sounded

dope, some good ol’ Nice & Smooth and actually after the 9 second “track” “NY” I thought the cut with Easy Mo Bee was aiight as well (somebody hook me up with the Rappin is Fundamental joints…please!)…but then, all hell broke loose. At one point, upon first listen to this bomb I actually ejected the CD out of the CD player and threw it out the window of my Jeep Wrangler. Of course I’m pretty short tempered, my girlfriend at the time actually made me circle around to pick it up and so it goes….Folks, this is a sad ending for Nice & Smooth as a duo. Although, the highlight of “Blazing Hot” is the live performance of “Dwyck” but other than that I’m just upping this for those of you just to solidify your reasoning for not purchasing this MAJOR disappointment…-words by Eric

DJ Green Lantern-Throwback Classics

Many of you are surely familiar with DJ Green Lantern through his affiliation with Eminem, and don’t get it twisted when Green Lantern drops a mixtape it’s usually pretty damn solid. I’ve seen plenty of “Golden Age” mixtapes but this one blends together quite nicely with a few tracks you wouldn’t see on alot of DJ’s so-called “Golden Age” mixtapes. I’m glad I came across this one yesterday, I’m trying to upload all my CD’s and tapes to a spare hard drive…boy if that doesn’t take over your life, mad time consuming!! In the meantime, I’m sure that your ears will be pleased after hearing this…-words by Eric
Tracklisting
1 – Intro
2 – Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Mecca & The Soul Brother
3 – A Tribe Called Quest – If The Papes Come
4 – Kool G Rap – Road to the Riches
5 – JB’s – Jimbrowski (Green Lantern remix)
6 – Ed O.G. – I Gotta Have It
7 – O.C. – Time’s Up (Green Lantern remix)
8 – Nas – It Ain’t Hard To Tell (remix)
9 – Special Ed – Five Men & A Mic
10 – The Beatnuts – Reign of the Tec
11 – KRS-One – Sound Of Da Police
12 – Masta Ace – Saturday Night Live
13 – Main Source feat. Nas – Live At The BBQ
14 – Black Moon – Who Got Da Props
15 – Diamond D – Sally
16 – Gangstarr – DWYCK (remix)
17 – De La Soul – Saturdays
18 – Ultramagnetic MC’s – One To Grow On
19 – Main Source – Fakin’ The Funk
20 – K-Solo – Spellbound
21 – A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (remix)
22 – KRS-One – Like A Throttle
23 – Gangstarr – Just To Get A Rep (Green Lantern remix)
24 – Jeru da Damaja – Come Clean
25 – Public Enemy – Shut ‘Em Down
26 – D.O.C. – Funky Enough (Green Lantern remix)
27 – Lady of Rage – Afro Puffs
28 – Ice Cube – Tell Ya Bitch To Come Here
29 – MC Eight – Growin’ Up In The Mood
30 – Kool G Rap – Ill Street Blues (Green Lantern remix)
31 – Fat Joe – Flow Joe
32 – The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By (Green Lantern remix)
33 – A Tribe Called Quest – Butter
34 – Big Daddy Kane – Young, Gifted & Black

Shadz Of Lingo-A View To A Kill

Out of the three albums posted today this has to be my least favorite and least listened to, so I’m not going too ramble on too much while discussing “A View To A Kill”. My introduction to Shadz Of Lingo was from one of the members providing the introduction to Erick Sermon’s “Hittin’ Switches”. I think that Sermon discovered these cats after splitting with Parish and relocating to Atlanta because that is where Shadz Of Lingo is originally from, I could be way off though. I browsed over this album countless times while record shopping it’s not even funny. The biggest problem with “A View To A Kill” is that it was released in 94′, which many have proclaimed “The Biggest Year In Hip Hop”. The lack of media attention and promotion basically left Shadz Of Lingo by the waste side, although there is definitely some solid production here. What’s crazy is the production lineup for “A View…”, Diamond D produced 4 cuts while Dallas Austin contributed 2 cuts and lastly Erick Sermon producing and also making an appearance on “Mad Flavaz”. Nothing too exciting going on here but still a good pickup nonetheless…-words by Eric

Down South-Lost In Brooklyn

Now, this is some feel good hip hop right here! I usually like to listen to an album to refresh my memory a night or so before I post the album. I’ll tell you this much, after listening to “Lost In Brooklyn” this past weekend I’ve had it in constant rotation ever since. The beats carry this debut disc from Down South, while the majority of the production sounds exactly like The Beatnuts (who, BTW produced “Open Sesame”, “Around The Clock” and the title cut)which IMO is a good thing. Of course my favorite, as well as mostly everyone’s who’s ever heard “Lost In Brooklyn” has to be “Southern Comfort” which features production from Stretch Armstrong, but “Jimi Crack Korn” comes in a close second. What’s quite surprising is that most of the production has a nice change of pace within the track, it’s not just the same loop over and over, props to Shawn J Period who handled the majority of the beats. Lyrically, it’s enough to keep you entertained but again..I’m all about the beats, you could be spitting the most nonsensical lyrics but if the beat knocks I’m all in! Be sure to check for the 1:18 instrumental “Departure” that sounds like a Beatminerz banger. While we’re on the subject of “all too short instrumentals”, nothing pisses me off more when an MC wastes a perfectly dope beat by utilizing it for an album break or whatever..God, that kills me!! Still, please do yourself a favor and give this one another listen I promise you be glad you did. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Bobbito makes a brief appearance on the posse cut “Spin Da Bottle”…now, one thing’s for sure Bobbito was never Rakim on the mic! …-words by Eric

Two Kings In A Cipher

By now everyone knows the story of Two Kings In A Cipher, but to make a long story short here goes: Two young Howard students are introduced and later go on to form a group. Those two students names were Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie & Ron “Amen Ra” Lawrence…yes, of Puffy’s Hitmen production team. Needless to say, I’m sure that not only did those two make Puffy a bundle load of money but it’s probably also safe to say they only made their pockets fatter in the process. Now, I’m sure some smartass is going to post a comment or drop a c-box comment stating “D-Dot’s not a “One Album Wonder”, he dropped an album as the Madd Rapper “Tell Em’ Why You Madd Son”….okay, great! Anyway, back to the duo’s debut “Two Kings In A Cipher” which still contains elements that sound fresh today. First and foremost, Ron & D-Dot really had a nice lyrical chemistry, you can definitely hear a HUGE Rakim influence in their wordplay and flow. “Definition Of A King” starts the album off nicely, with it’s 5% discussion and “do the knowledge” mind state. Without a doubt what pushed me to purchase this album was Two Kings single “Movin’ On Em” which utilizes the same track as Positive K’s “I Gotta Man”. It’s kinda’ hard to believe that this album dropped in 91′, I mean sh*t that was 16 years ago!!! Damn, album’s like this sure make me feel old!! “Pyramids To Projects” is really an enjoyable listen and is sure to take you back to the days of Cross Colours and Hoodies…-words by Eric

1  1

Lot’s of things going on today, mainly because I’m backed up after not posting anything up the past three days. For that reason, and the fact I come up with many of my ideas while laying in bed listening to stuff before drifting off into dreamland, I have a few things on my plate that I’ll throw out today while I’m still trying to finish up a guest post I have on another site and my own colossal series that (fingers crossed) I hope start this week.

I miss doing my Sunday Lite posts, they were fun, a break from the norm, and let me spew some of my rants and raves. So, fuck it, we’ll work this post something like one of those. I don’t really have any individual songs to post up today, so we’ll run with the albumbase links again and hopefully I’ve dug up a few things that are new to those albumbase members and new to those who don’t have albumbase. We’ll get those out of the way for those visitors that don’t have the attention span to actually read….

Royce Da 5’9 Aftermath Demo

1. Another Hit
2. King Of Kings
3. United Divided
4. The Desert ft WallStreet
5. I Dare You
6. Clap To This
7. Flash On
8. Friends

When Em signed with Dre’s Aftermath label, he originally brought his boy Royce along with him. Together, they would work together on Dre’s “2001″ album, with Royce, reportedly, doing a chunk of the ghostwriting for Dre. There would be leaks of tracks that contained appreances from Royce, one being the original version for “Xxplosive” and some others. Royce would then, allegedaly, get a bit too cocky for Dre’s tastes that was fuled by some misconceptions that Royce was actually signed to Aftermath. One thing led to another (meaning I’m not sure exactly happened myself) and Royce bounced from the project.

I honestly haven’t heard what this “demo” is yet. Nine times out of ten, it’s some kid with a computer that has more time than he knows what to do with on his hands and puts together a bunch of early Royce tracks from that time that had already been leaked and called it a “demo”. Hopefully though, this does contain some of those earlier tracks, because regardless if this is a demo or not, they are nice tracks to have/hear.

Atmosphere – New, Unreleased & B-Sides VOL 2 *LINK FIXED**
(There were no track numbers, soooooo)
American Idle feat Busdriver & 2Mex
Better Man Feat Creature
Cats Van Bags (remix) feat Brother Ali
Fallen feat Vakill
Get Depressed
Gotta Love Em’ feat Eyedea
H Overkill feat Mac Lethal
Hold Mine feat Blueprint, Aesop Rock, Eyedea, & Illogic
Insomnia 411 feat Roosevelt Franklin & Jean Grae
Knock Knock Joke 2
Ooooh
Outro
Seven Goes Bonkers pt 1 feat Dose One
Seven Goes Bonkers pt 2 feat Dose One
Sick Pimpin’ Remix
Snapshot feat Booka B
Steel Toe Verses The Rookie Feat Micranots
Windy feat Mr Skurge
Wooden Ships feat PNS

I seemed to get some fanfare for the Aesop I posted up last time, so we obviously have some “Nerd Rap” fans that frequent the site. I hate using that term, just because I think it’s stupid, although I don’t care for most of the music that would be classified in that vague label. I’ve never cared for the Sage Francis’, the Aesop Rocks, and I would rather listen to country music than listen to any Anticon material, but one such group/artist that I’ve liked from said “genre” is Atmosphere. Maybe it’s the fact in all my “whiteness” and alcoholic tendicies, I can identify with the “emo-ness” that is Slug and Atmosphere’s music and topics. If I actually had the talent to rap and make music, I’d be a cross between Atmosphere and Run DMC, with a Bomb Squad/J-Zone sound.

Again, I think these are someones homemade collections, but they are pretty good collection of his non-album stuff. There are three volumes floating around that I know of, which I only have the first two, so if someone else has the third volume, hook a white boy up.

DJ Premier – New Zealand & Australia Mixtape 2004

Not sure what this is, but it has Primo, so it has to be half way decent. I’m guessing a live mix from a tour overseas, but hell, check it out. (Edit) It’s a mixtape of sorts, judging by the tracklisting (it’s already in there, I don’t feel like typing it out right now)

Black Star – B-Sides and Rarities

A collection of Mos & Talib apprearing on tracks together and the such. SOme stuff on here I hadn’t heard before, so worth checking for Mos/Talib/Black Star fans.

Trav’s Top Spins For The Week….

1. Evidence – The Weatherman LP
This album just keeps getting better and better. I think the Alchemist production on this is much better than his production on the new Prodigy album. It’s not a classic by anymeans, but it’s a good album to pass the time.

2. El-P – I’ll Sleep When Your Dead/ Brother Ali – The Untold Truth
I went a week without listening to this and got back on the bandwagon again last week. You either love this or hate it. I haven’t liked Brother Ali in the past, mainly because his voice bugged the fuck out of me, but I’m getting used to it on this album

3. Stricklin – The Resume Mixtape
Masta Ace’s protege, I expect big things out of Strick in the future as a solo artist and as part of eMC with Ace, Punchline and Wordsworth. This is a collection of all the material he has released so far. Pick it up here

4. WYDU Presents Slick Rick’s Greatest Hits & WYDU Presents Schoolly D’s Greatest Hits (Tie)
Yeah, I got in the mood to listen to these two artists, after all, they are my favorite songs.

5. Storm Davis – Kegstand Poetry for the Recovering Alcoholic
I got this off of HHB out of curiousity, since the title and artist name contained two of my favorite things in life, alcohol and baseball. I gave it a listen then put it to the side for awhile. About a week later I had a tune stuck in my head, but couldn’t remember where I heard it. I went back and found it on this album so since then I’ve been giving it some listens.

Trav’s Favorite 25 Albums of All-Time

Since all the cool kids are doing it in blogger land, and I was asked to compile a list by none other than the almighty Jeff Weiss of Passion of the Weiss (if you don’t read his blog, you suck) I figured I’d turn one into the Weiss/Straight Bangin’ poll they are doing. Add in the fact that I am some kind of sick and perverted list junky who likes doing this kind of thing anway, so I had to do it.

Once again, this is MY personal favorites, not what I would consider THE top 25 of all-time. Lists are like assholes, everyone has one. My age is bound to show a bit, and it’s probably not terribly different than the others I’ve seen so far, so without further suspense, here is my list.

1. Slaughtahouse- Masta Ace
2. Takes A Nation Of Millions..- Public Enemy
3. Raising Hell- Run DMC
4. Whut..Thee Album- Redman
5. Low End Theory- A Tribe Called Quest
6. Bigger And Deffer- LL Cool J
7. Stakes Is High- De La Soul
8. 21 & Over- Tha Alkaholiks
9. The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick- Slick Rick
10. (Tie) Dare Iz Da Darkside- Redman
Criminal Minded- Boogie Down Productions
11. The Infamous….- Mobb Deep
12. Wolf In Sheeps Clothing- Black Sheep
13. Pauls Boutique- Beastie Boys
14. Enter The 36 Chambers- Wu Tang Clan
15. Illmatic- Nas
16. Illdelphhalflife- The Roots
17. Disposable Arts- Masta Ace
18. Liscense To Ill- Beastie Boys
19. Labcabincalifornia- Pharcyde
20. Momma Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J
21. Death Certificate – Ice Cube
22. Kings Of Rock – Run DMC
23. Tha Trifflin’ Album- King Tee
24. Things Fall Apart- The Roots
25. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx – Raekwon

There are a lot more I wanted to fit in, but in the end, this was it. Don’t give me “Illmatic is only 15th?”, cuz it’s my list and my likes. A lot of the stuff has to do with the memories it leaves on me, what I was doing when the album was popular, where I was at in life, ect….Besides, they are all my very most favorite albums, so there isn’t a lot of difference between number one and number twenty-five.