"Taking selfies while the world burns..."
- Konny Kon
The title is the only way to describe putting this episode together! The headphone monitoring on my mixer is broken, and I can't get any service centres to respond to my emails (are they scared of money?), and then the machine where I usually run my Serato DJ software decided we weren't friends anymore. I've hopefully delivered an episode not too rough around the edges, with a good number of brand new/very recent releases alongside some album cuts and remixes you can now flex about knowing 😁
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mega Ran ft. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien : Box And One
"Live '95" is the kind of basketball-themed release that was perfect for a Hip-Hop and hoops head like me. Philadelphia (Mega Ran) and California (Del) come together for a real bar exam, no hook, with references piled upon references like a librarian's book trolley. DJ DN3 provides the beat, as he does on most of the album, and it'll have your shoulders moving and your head nodding! Oh, and for those that don't know, a "box and one" is a specific (some say gimmicky) defensive strategy in basketball intended to slow down an opposing star and force their teammates to score instead #KnowBall
Exile : Heavens Gates
Just so you know, the apostrophe is missing in the original title 😁 Anyway, the Los Angeles MPC master Exile released this instrumental on his 2019 contribution to the "Baker's Dozen" series, and it's a standout. Gospel provides the sample source and he turns the sample inside out in an unsettling way with a skittering hi-hat line running alongside an organic-feeling kick and snare. This beat was originally released back in 2006 as the music for "Pearly Gates" by Mobb Deep - very dope track, but if you have delicate religious sensibilities, do not listen to Prodigy's closing verse!
Children Of Zeus : As The World Burns
We kick the first mix off with the title track from the big release of the month, the latest LP from Children of Zeus! While Tyler Daley's smooth tones build the hook, the meat of the song has both he and Konny Kon in full MC mode, running down the state of the Zeus nation over a chunky beat produced by Cre8, Styles Davis, Forestxfire and Orenji Soul. The world might well be burning down, but at least we have a quality soundtrack to watch the bonfire!
Sway : On My Own
It was a real shock to hear of the passing of Sway (Derek Dasafo) this month, an artist who blazed a trail independently in UK Hip-Hop and truly deserved his flowers. This track is taken from his debut LP "This Is My Demo", and he tells the tale of his struggle - from childhood, through to choosing music as his career path and trying to make his mark. With vocalist Nate James adding the sung chorus as a breather between two serious verses, this is a testament from an independent spirit. May he rest peacefully.
Tall Black Guy : Believe In Me
TBG is back with another collection of mind-bendind sample flips, the "Black Vandross Suite" project. This spacey, polished track gives you the rhythmic feel of something like Slum Village's "Tainted" while folding in samples from a classic Luther Vandross number, before elevating the combination even further with bass and I think extra keys too. Luther's voice haunts the proceedings, and this track stands out as a personal highlight of the album.
Mary J. Blige ft. Mos Def & Talib Kweli : Beautiful (Blackstar Remix)
A great extra track from the 12" of "More Than I Can Say", with Mos Def and Talib Kweli adding a bonus to the headline-worthy vocals of the great Mary J. Jam and Lewis are credited as the main producers, with Hi-Tek on the boards for the smooth grooves of the remix. Recording-wise though, there is a little distortion on this - and having had a go at digitising it twice, I think it's part of the pressing. If you can excuse that, the 1999 12" is currently available at very reasonable second-hand prices, so don't miss out on this.
[Kev Brown] MindsOne : Equinox (Instrumental)
Kev Brown, the bassline master, the groove specialist, the pride of Landover, Maryland. Here he is with an instrumental from the 2014 "Pillars" EP, a collaboration with the North Carolina crew MindsOne, building the track around a nicely-chopped piano sample, then adding a bassline that interplays with it, and a simple (sounding) but effective drum track. "Pillars" is one of those welcome releases where there's a full set of instrumentals included, so definitely one for the beat heads.
Busta Rhymes & J Dilla : Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain
Not a meditation on life in your forties, but a straight thumper from the brand new "Dillagence II" album - the latest from Busta Rhymes, soundtracked by beats left to him personally by the late great J Dilla. That famous Mantronix siren sample is the little signature and warning, and then Busta stomps straight through on a track that showcases a different facet of Dilla's range to the chilled, loose-feel style that so many people have tried to take and run with. It's not Busta's most sharply lyrical performance by any means, but his aggressive energy matches the instrumental.
Clear Soul Forces : Blow Ya Mind
This doesn't sample the track I'm thinking of, but it feels very much like the banquet theme from "Enter The Dragon", chopped and blended with highly-fortified drums - a level of ruggedness required to balance out the lyrical onsalught of CSF! Nameless on the beat, and the whole crew on the mic, this is a banger from their 2015 "Fab 5ive" album that represents that era of Detroit in fine style.
Semi Six : Luxuries
Back-to-back Detroit, with the title track from the brand new "Luxuries" EP by my man Semi Six. How much do you value luxuries? How far would you go to get and keep them? It's all here in this heavy track, produced by Nigerian boardsmith Buharee Black, who handles the beats for the whole project. Buharee brings in a dramatic, piano-laden boom-bap track and Semi brings the heat - no hook, just a stream of bars upon bars.
Organized Konfusion : Thirteen
An old favourite, and not just because of the title! This killer from 1994's "Stress : The Extinction Agenda" sees Pharoahe Monch going solo on the mic for three strong verses. Elite level bars, with lots of playing with flows and tone as well, and the Buckwild beat makes this an album cut classic. This was the second LP from OK, and one that laughed in the face of the dreaded sophomore jinx - seek it out for a listen if you've never heard it.
DJ Epik : Criminology (DJ Epik Remix Instrumental)
Philosophical question - if you remix a track with an all-new beat and then drop the vocals, do you just call it something new? In all seriousness though, dope work from Sacramento's DJ Epik, whose Bandcamp is well worth following for some great singles and remixes!
Blu & Sndtrak : Jesus
You're probably more familiar with the combination of Blu and Exile, who have done incredibly strong work together, but this release was a welcome surprise! Sndtrak is an absolute beast of a young producer who, while best known for his exceptional sample-flipping work presented in instrumental form, shows here that he can take an MC to the next level. The ten-track "LA" is exactly what the name suggests, an unapologetically Los Angeles album in all ways, with some beats we've heard on flip tapes before while others sound brand new - I think this is one. This church-music-sampling closer thumps at a menacing low tempo while Blu's vision of Jesus coming to Earth in modern day Cali is reminiscent of the "Black Jesus" series, but goes deeper. The Joe Biden reference possibly indicates that these lyrics might have been written a while ago; if they were more contemporaneous, we might be talking about the current situation bringing on wrecked markets, chasing with whips, and the rest...
Dilated Peoples : Back Again
Before the era of the drumless beats, The Alchemist was providing beats with this kind of sharp-edged sonic character to some of the best artists in the culture, and he hit Dilated with a good one here! This specific recording is from a 12" single release but the track was a single from the 20/20 album - one which kind of passed me by at the time of release in 2006 but really should get a proper listen twenty years later... The MCing is quality as always, and of course the third member of the group, DJ Babu (who invented the word "turntablist") seasons it up nicely with his cuts. One extra touch which will always make this track memorable for me is the pull-up and rewind off the back of Evidence's first two bars - great execution to emphasise his reversal of a famous Diddy line.
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon, Method Man, and GZA : The Trial
With roughly 50% of the Wu on this cut, you know you're in for a treat! "Supreme Clientele 2" was a welcome surprise as part of the recent "Legend Has It" series of releases, and this deep album cut was one of the best tracks. Method Man is the judge in this case, with the other MCs giving testimony and filling out the courtroom scene with their verses, GZA's uninterrupted closing verse (statement?) being the highlight. RoadsArt comes with a heavy, somewhat gloomy beat to carry the gravity, rounding out a track that demonstrates once again that actual writing is still important.
Da Flyy Hooligan : SAAB '98
I do wish I'd bought a Saab before they went out of the car business! Nevertheless, Hooli gives us some precision vibes on this track from his second release of the year, the eleven-track, luxury-flavoured "Today's Agenda" album. The bars are delivered in a package of smooth instrumentation and crisp, tight drum programming with some nice rolls to add a little extra flourish. If you're not already on board, this North London representative is an artist to check if you want lyrics for the headphones and beats for the ride.
Mitch Murder : Bayshore Connect
I became aware of Mitch Murder through his bread and butter, the synthwave/80s vibe that he's a leader in, but he's got a very nice recent sideline in this kind of clean, airy drum & bass. I don't know if the vocals were recorded for this track, or imported and manipulated here, but the processing of the vocalist and the added effects make for interesting extra feel. Pick up this smooth, beautiful track from last year's "Hurricane" single/EP - or treat yourself and buy the whole thing!
4am Kru : High Time
We end the show with more D&B, this time leaning on a sample/interpolation of a classic I won't mention here, just in case... 4am Kru was a new name to me who I assumed was an artist with a much longer history, but is actually a duo from the modern day influenced by the old-school jungle flavours! Forming in 2019, this London duo have by all accounts being coming with heat, including one album and a raft of singles and EPs - as well as energetic live shows. This track blends the classic sped-up break jungle style with a vocal sample from Memphis' Gangsta Pat's 1995 track "I Wanna Smoke", not an obvious choice but a great one. Even if, like me, you're not a smoker, you might find yourself humming along to this one as you go about your day...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Taking selfies while the world burns..."
- Konny Kon
The title is the only way to describe putting this episode together! The headphone monitoring on my mixer is broken, and I can't get any service centres to respond to my emails (are they scared of money?), and then the machine where I usually run my Serato DJ software decided we weren't friends anymore. I've hopefully delivered an episode not too rough around the edges, with a good number of brand new/very recent releases alongside some album cuts and remixes you can now flex about knowing 😁
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mega Ran ft. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien : Box And One
"Live '95" is the kind of basketball-themed release that was perfect for a Hip-Hop and hoops head like me. Philadelphia (Mega Ran) and California (Del) come together for a real bar exam, no hook, with references piled upon references like a librarian's book trolley. DJ DN3 provides the beat, as he does on most of the album, and it'll have your shoulders moving and your head nodding! Oh, and for those that don't know, a "box and one" is a specific (some say gimmicky) defensive strategy in basketball intended to slow down an opposing star and force their teammates to score instead #KnowBall
Exile : Heavens Gates
Just so you know, the apostrophe is missing in the original title 😁 Anyway, the Los Angeles MPC master Exile released this instrumental on his 2019 contribution to the "Baker's Dozen" series, and it's a standout. Gospel provides the sample source and he turns the sample inside out in an unsettling way with a skittering hi-hat line running alongside an organic-feeling kick and snare. This beat was originally released back in 2006 as the music for "Pearly Gates" by Mobb Deep - very dope track, but if you have delicate religious sensibilities, do not listen to Prodigy's closing verse!
Children Of Zeus : As The World Burns
We kick the first mix off with the title track from the big release of the month, the latest LP from Children of Zeus! While Tyler Daley's smooth tones build the hook, the meat of the song has both he and Konny Kon in full MC mode, running down the state of the Zeus nation over a chunky beat produced by Cre8, Styles Davis, Forestxfire and Orenji Soul. The world might well be burning down, but at least we have a quality soundtrack to watch the bonfire!
Sway : On My Own
It was a real shock to hear of the passing of Sway (Derek Dasafo) this month, an artist who blazed a trail independently in UK Hip-Hop and truly deserved his flowers. This track is taken from his debut LP "This Is My Demo", and he tells the tale of his struggle - from childhood, through to choosing music as his career path and trying to make his mark. With vocalist Nate James adding the sung chorus as a breather between two serious verses, this is a testament from an independent spirit. May he rest peacefully.
Tall Black Guy : Believe In Me
TBG is back with another collection of mind-bendind sample flips, the "Black Vandross Suite" project. This spacey, polished track gives you the rhythmic feel of something like Slum Village's "Tainted" while folding in samples from a classic Luther Vandross number, before elevating the combination even further with bass and I think extra keys too. Luther's voice haunts the proceedings, and this track stands out as a personal highlight of the album.
Mary J. Blige ft. Mos Def & Talib Kweli : Beautiful (Blackstar Remix)
A great extra track from the 12" of "More Than I Can Say", with Mos Def and Talib Kweli adding a bonus to the headline-worthy vocals of the great Mary J. Jam and Lewis are credited as the main producers, with Hi-Tek on the boards for the smooth grooves of the remix. Recording-wise though, there is a little distortion on this - and having had a go at digitising it twice, I think it's part of the pressing. If you can excuse that, the 1999 12" is currently available at very reasonable second-hand prices, so don't miss out on this.
[Kev Brown] MindsOne : Equinox (Instrumental)
Kev Brown, the bassline master, the groove specialist, the pride of Landover, Maryland. Here he is with an instrumental from the 2014 "Pillars" EP, a collaboration with the North Carolina crew MindsOne, building the track around a nicely-chopped piano sample, then adding a bassline that interplays with it, and a simple (sounding) but effective drum track. "Pillars" is one of those welcome releases where there's a full set of instrumentals included, so definitely one for the beat heads.
Busta Rhymes & J Dilla : Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain
Not a meditation on life in your forties, but a straight thumper from the brand new "Dillagence II" album - the latest from Busta Rhymes, soundtracked by beats left to him personally by the late great J Dilla. That famous Mantronix siren sample is the little signature and warning, and then Busta stomps straight through on a track that showcases a different facet of Dilla's range to the chilled, loose-feel style that so many people have tried to take and run with. It's not Busta's most sharply lyrical performance by any means, but his aggressive energy matches the instrumental.
Clear Soul Forces : Blow Ya Mind
This doesn't sample the track I'm thinking of, but it feels very much like the banquet theme from "Enter The Dragon", chopped and blended with highly-fortified drums - a level of ruggedness required to balance out the lyrical onsalught of CSF! Nameless on the beat, and the whole crew on the mic, this is a banger from their 2015 "Fab 5ive" album that represents that era of Detroit in fine style.
Semi Six : Luxuries
Back-to-back Detroit, with the title track from the brand new "Luxuries" EP by my man Semi Six. How much do you value luxuries? How far would you go to get and keep them? It's all here in this heavy track, produced by Nigerian boardsmith Buharee Black, who handles the beats for the whole project. Buharee brings in a dramatic, piano-laden boom-bap track and Semi brings the heat - no hook, just a stream of bars upon bars.
Organized Konfusion : Thirteen
An old favourite, and not just because of the title! This killer from 1994's "Stress : The Extinction Agenda" sees Pharoahe Monch going solo on the mic for three strong verses. Elite level bars, with lots of playing with flows and tone as well, and the Buckwild beat makes this an album cut classic. This was the second LP from OK, and one that laughed in the face of the dreaded sophomore jinx - seek it out for a listen if you've never heard it.
DJ Epik : Criminology (DJ Epik Remix Instrumental)
Philosophical question - if you remix a track with an all-new beat and then drop the vocals, do you just call it something new? In all seriousness though, dope work from Sacramento's DJ Epik, whose Bandcamp is well worth following for some great singles and remixes!
Blu & Sndtrak : Jesus
You're probably more familiar with the combination of Blu and Exile, who have done incredibly strong work together, but this release was a welcome surprise! Sndtrak is an absolute beast of a young producer who, while best known for his exceptional sample-flipping work presented in instrumental form, shows here that he can take an MC to the next level. The ten-track "LA" is exactly what the name suggests, an unapologetically Los Angeles album in all ways, with some beats we've heard on flip tapes before while others sound brand new - I think this is one. This church-music-sampling closer thumps at a menacing low tempo while Blu's vision of Jesus coming to Earth in modern day Cali is reminiscent of the "Black Jesus" series, but goes deeper. The Joe Biden reference possibly indicates that these lyrics might have been written a while ago; if they were more contemporaneous, we might be talking about the current situation bringing on wrecked markets, chasing with whips, and the rest...
Dilated Peoples : Back Again
Before the era of the drumless beats, The Alchemist was providing beats with this kind of sharp-edged sonic character to some of the best artists in the culture, and he hit Dilated with a good one here! This specific recording is from a 12" single release but the track was a single from the 20/20 album - one which kind of passed me by at the time of release in 2006 but really should get a proper listen twenty years later... The MCing is quality as always, and of course the third member of the group, DJ Babu (who invented the word "turntablist") seasons it up nicely with his cuts. One extra touch which will always make this track memorable for me is the pull-up and rewind off the back of Evidence's first two bars - great execution to emphasise his reversal of a famous Diddy line.
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon, Method Man, and GZA : The Trial
With roughly 50% of the Wu on this cut, you know you're in for a treat! "Supreme Clientele 2" was a welcome surprise as part of the recent "Legend Has It" series of releases, and this deep album cut was one of the best tracks. Method Man is the judge in this case, with the other MCs giving testimony and filling out the courtroom scene with their verses, GZA's uninterrupted closing verse (statement?) being the highlight. RoadsArt comes with a heavy, somewhat gloomy beat to carry the gravity, rounding out a track that demonstrates once again that actual writing is still important.
Da Flyy Hooligan : SAAB '98
I do wish I'd bought a Saab before they went out of the car business! Nevertheless, Hooli gives us some precision vibes on this track from his second release of the year, the eleven-track, luxury-flavoured "Today's Agenda" album. The bars are delivered in a package of smooth instrumentation and crisp, tight drum programming with some nice rolls to add a little extra flourish. If you're not already on board, this North London representative is an artist to check if you want lyrics for the headphones and beats for the ride.
Mitch Murder : Bayshore Connect
I became aware of Mitch Murder through his bread and butter, the synthwave/80s vibe that he's a leader in, but he's got a very nice recent sideline in this kind of clean, airy drum & bass. I don't know if the vocals were recorded for this track, or imported and manipulated here, but the processing of the vocalist and the added effects make for interesting extra feel. Pick up this smooth, beautiful track from last year's "Hurricane" single/EP - or treat yourself and buy the whole thing!
4am Kru : High Time
We end the show with more D&B, this time leaning on a sample/interpolation of a classic I won't mention here, just in case... 4am Kru was a new name to me who I assumed was an artist with a much longer history, but is actually a duo from the modern day influenced by the old-school jungle flavours! Forming in 2019, this London duo have by all accounts being coming with heat, including one album and a raft of singles and EPs - as well as energetic live shows. This track blends the classic sped-up break jungle style with a vocal sample from Memphis' Gangsta Pat's 1995 track "I Wanna Smoke", not an obvious choice but a great one. Even if, like me, you're not a smoker, you might find yourself humming along to this one as you go about your day...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...we gon' act like we on vacation, with this on rotation."
- Nas
This episode was a challenge - I needed to get the audio recorded before going off on a beautiful honeymoon/anniversary trip with Dr. Lisa, which meant I had to work fast! Now that I'm back, I've been able to use a photo I took on the trip for some appropriate cover art for an episode that in the main is in that cruising/vibing/grooving lane. If any of these tracks are new to you, I get the feeling at least one will stick in your head over the coming weeks...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Jak D, Craig G, Sean Price, and Large Pro : Why You Wanna Do That?
You didn't bring in the late Sean P for your light and polished beats, he was someone who got the call for blessing the crunchier, more traditional production. This track falls between the two, and is from one of those super-underground 12"s that make up the distinctive parts of a DJ's collection. The unmistakable Large Pro is the first voice you hear among this set of respected NYC MCs, and he supplies the low-key bouncy production too.
Ilajide : Nubian Lady
Serious bassline action from Detroit's own Ilajide, taken from the "Latex" LP. This funk disciple was of course the producer for Clear Soul Forces, and has worked with artists like Semi Six, but I'd love to hear even more MCs taking on his beats!
Kokane : Out Of My Mind
We enter the first mix on a romantic tip, with a G-Funk lean, courtesy of Pomona's Kokane - a man you may have heard here and there alongside more mainstream rappers, but who has a long catalogue and storied career in his own right. Here he shows that his singing isn't limited to just the occasional hook, as he carries the whole track in his inimitable style and over his own production. This is the highlight of "Lady Kokane Presents Kokane Love Songs" for me, but far from the only quality track.
Anthony Danza ft. B-Legit, J. Stalin, and Bosko : Nobody Mobbin
Heading up the coast to the Pacific Northwest, we land in Seattle for an album cut from the brand new Anthony Danza release "Highway Lifestyle". Of course you recognise the hook, flipping a Chaka Khan classic, before the bright, grooving Church Santana beat even fully kicks in. Once we're up to speed, Danza slays the opening verse before yielding the floor to his guests - with foundational "mob music" MC B-Legit of The Click being an especially welcome inclusion. Plus, you can never go wrong with adding a bit of talkbox (not Autotune!)
Kurupt, DJ Battlecat, and Butch Cassidy : West Coast Muzik
Ain't that the truth? Quintessential Cali funk right here. Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound has just released a full album ("Tales From My Hood") with production legend DJ Battlecat, re-uniting a duo who have a history going back at least as far as Kurupt's solo debut back in 1995. With this being released on Death Row Records, we basically time travel back to the 90s for a few minutes, as Kurupt and then veteran MC/singer Butch Cassidy represent their side over a bouncy, sunny beat that, together with its underlying toughness, strongly reflects the place it comes from.
Moon Riders : The Galaxy
Who'd have thought Italy would be the home of a producer on a mission to keep that 80s synth-bassed, talkbox funk alive? Ivan Makvel, half of Moon Riders, is also the owner of The Sleepers Recordz, and a devotee of that sound. On "The Boogie Diaries" he combines with fellow astronaut Esko Boogie to take all those vintage influences and fold them into a collection of modern funk dopeness, with this track being a prime example. Heavy synth bass, talkbox lead vocal, handclaps in place of a snare, it's all there!
Onra : Moving
The Parisian Onra is a producer who was on the 80s/boogie tip way before most, and here he takes a nice 1983 record and keeps it recognisable while dropping the speed and putting his own swing on the added drums. The full track is only about two and a half minutes long, but absolutely earns its place on the 2010 "Long Distance" LP. The album is an expensive one these days, at least partially because it's not available for digital purchase or streaming - so if you see a copy for anything like a reasonable price, pick it up as it'll likely be a while, if ever, before you see another!
AZ : Fresh Water
Mr. Quiet Money returned this year with the third entry in his "Doe Or Die" series, that started way back in 1995. AZ gets outrageously fly over two strong verses here - I could have done without the interlude between the two, but then that's just my preference. Bink does a great job on the boards, with what sounds like a sped-up soul sample being pounded into submission by big, booming drums that AZ simply glides over. This is the sound of an MC who hasn't lost a single step in over thirty years.
Nas : You Wouldn't Understand
"Life Is Good" seems like a relatively-recent release, but is actually a 2012 release - how the time has flown! Nas' tenth album was of course headlines by the mighty "The Don", but this smoothly-produced cut quietly holds down its spot. The Eighties-infused production from Buckwild of DITC provides the bedding for Nas to express the uniqueness of his life, while Victoria Monét provides the sweetly-sung hook that helps bring it all together. Go back and check the whole album sometime, the deluxe edition ideally.
DJ.Fresh : Sugarfoot
This track channels strong Ohio flavour via California, with Oakland/LA producer DJ.Fresh for a mostly-instrumental ride. The "Zapp & Roger Refreshed" project is a collection of tracks flipping and reworking the work of the late great Roger Troutman, and this samples something I didn't even know existed! Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner of the Ohio Players released a solo LP "Sugar Kiss" in 1985 which was produced by Roger, recorded at Troutman Sound Labs, and which needs to be chased down and added to my crates :)
BusCrates ft. Lailah Reich : Gotta Get Back
The Pittsburgh synth boss continues the funky thread, with the guitar licking crazy and the bassline warm and enveloping. Late-night lounge vibes from the "Altitude" album from last year, with Lailah Reich adding a cool, assured vocal performance. If you like this kind of music at all, I think it's impossible not to enjoy the LP.
Nicolay : Players' Ball
For those who don't know, Nicolay came onto the scene from The Netherlands in the early 2000s via his work with Little Brother, and Phonte in particular - the duo formed the much-loved duo The Foreign Exchange. While those releases were lauded and popular amongst those in the know, there was a lot of material that didn't see the light of day...until now! "Nice Chops - The Dutch Schultz Tapes 2004-2008" is pretty much what the name suggests - previously unreleased material from the 2004-2008 period, remastered for a 2020s release. A breezy beat like this one could easily have made a great album cut with vocalists on it, but here we have the mind of the producer in its undiluted form.
LE$ : Nothin New
LE$ continues to be one of the most prolific artists of the modern era, with the "Reset" LP that features this track being his fifth release of the year - and at the time of writing, he's released another! This is driving music, bonus if you're in a convertible, with a tempo and a smoothness that makes you want to cruise slow rather than put your foot down. The youngster Luka Burr holds it down on production, and LE$ continues to deliver his trademark style - staying in his lane, as it were, to give his fans what they came for!
Dewey da Don & Novacain : Takes Two
Gangsta meets player vibes on this new single, as the Kansas City (Missouri) rapper Dewey da Don, an MC new to me, connects with hometown comrade Novacain. Downtempo, clean, and funky in its execution, both MCs come with subdued flows to match, and the voice in the hook sounds almost ghostly - a result of how it was mixed as much as the delivery. If you're someone who insists on higher tempos or more animated deliveries, then this might not be for you, but for the rest of us...volume up!
Mecca:83 : AllNite
Mecca's 2024 "Quiet Storm" beat tape was a masterwork, a producer's love letter to 80s and 90s R&B/Quiet Storm music that spanned fifteen tracks of smooth goodness. The rhythm on this is chunkier and looser than the tune sampled for the melody, and makes for a satisfying union.
Mya ft. Lloyd Banks : Why You Gotta Look So Good?
The rhythm pounds and stalks while the keyboards bubble on this one! Rockwilder comes over to the R&B side to produce a track for the one and only Mya for her "Moodring" LP, which she takes on skilfully. Unlike Paul Cain on the remix of "Don't You Forget It", the guest MC here sounds like a piece of work because that's the picture the whole song is supposed to paint - rather than spectacularly missing the point. Either way, she definitely needs to leave this guy!
Beatology Beatz (?) : Freaky
Just a little instrumental breather from the "Beatology Beatz" collection with all the synth action that might remind you of that second-ish wave of G-Funk in the mid-90s - despite this being a 2006 release. The question mark is due to this also being credited to DJ Stealth on at least one version on iTunes - so I'm not sure if I've got the artist 100% correct here!
Blak Twang : For The Summa
Finishing back in the UK, we take it down to London for a selection from the fifth (and currently final) Blak Twang LP, "Speaking From Xperience". Silvastone Beats on production gives us a track which, when placed at the end of the show, makes for a nice wind-down. This feels like the British, more underground, slightly rougher-edged take on DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Summertime", and an appropriate one to end on - even if plenty of people have spent our summer dodging the intense heat!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...we gon' act like we on vacation, with this on rotation."
- Nas
This episode was a challenge - I needed to get the audio recorded before going off on a beautiful honeymoon/anniversary trip with Dr. Lisa, which meant I had to work fast! Now that I'm back, I've been able to use a photo I took on the trip for some appropriate cover art for an episode that in the main is in that cruising/vibing/grooving lane. If any of these tracks are new to you, I get the feeling at least one will stick in your head over the coming weeks...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Jak D, Craig G, Sean Price, and Large Pro : Why You Wanna Do That?
You didn't bring in the late Sean P for your light and polished beats, he was someone who got the call for blessing the crunchier, more traditional production. This track falls between the two, and is from one of those super-underground 12"s that make up the distinctive parts of a DJ's collection. The unmistakable Large Pro is the first voice you hear among this set of respected NYC MCs, and he supplies the low-key bouncy production too.
Ilajide : Nubian Lady
Serious bassline action from Detroit's own Ilajide, taken from the "Latex" LP. This funk disciple was of course the producer for Clear Soul Forces, and has worked with artists like Semi Six, but I'd love to hear even more MCs taking on his beats!
Kokane : Out Of My Mind
We enter the first mix on a romantic tip, with a G-Funk lean, courtesy of Pomona's Kokane - a man you may have heard here and there alongside more mainstream rappers, but who has a long catalogue and storied career in his own right. Here he shows that his singing isn't limited to just the occasional hook, as he carries the whole track in his inimitable style and over his own production. This is the highlight of "Lady Kokane Presents Kokane Love Songs" for me, but far from the only quality track.
Anthony Danza ft. B-Legit, J. Stalin, and Bosko : Nobody Mobbin
Heading up the coast to the Pacific Northwest, we land in Seattle for an album cut from the brand new Anthony Danza release "Highway Lifestyle". Of course you recognise the hook, flipping a Chaka Khan classic, before the bright, grooving Church Santana beat even fully kicks in. Once we're up to speed, Danza slays the opening verse before yielding the floor to his guests - with foundational "mob music" MC B-Legit of The Click being an especially welcome inclusion. Plus, you can never go wrong with adding a bit of talkbox (not Autotune!)
Kurupt, DJ Battlecat, and Butch Cassidy : West Coast Muzik
Ain't that the truth? Quintessential Cali funk right here. Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound has just released a full album ("Tales From My Hood") with production legend DJ Battlecat, re-uniting a duo who have a history going back at least as far as Kurupt's solo debut back in 1995. With this being released on Death Row Records, we basically time travel back to the 90s for a few minutes, as Kurupt and then veteran MC/singer Butch Cassidy represent their side over a bouncy, sunny beat that, together with its underlying toughness, strongly reflects the place it comes from.
Moon Riders : The Galaxy
Who'd have thought Italy would be the home of a producer on a mission to keep that 80s synth-bassed, talkbox funk alive? Ivan Makvel, half of Moon Riders, is also the owner of The Sleepers Recordz, and a devotee of that sound. On "The Boogie Diaries" he combines with fellow astronaut Esko Boogie to take all those vintage influences and fold them into a collection of modern funk dopeness, with this track being a prime example. Heavy synth bass, talkbox lead vocal, handclaps in place of a snare, it's all there!
Onra : Moving
The Parisian Onra is a producer who was on the 80s/boogie tip way before most, and here he takes a nice 1983 record and keeps it recognisable while dropping the speed and putting his own swing on the added drums. The full track is only about two and a half minutes long, but absolutely earns its place on the 2010 "Long Distance" LP. The album is an expensive one these days, at least partially because it's not available for digital purchase or streaming - so if you see a copy for anything like a reasonable price, pick it up as it'll likely be a while, if ever, before you see another!
AZ : Fresh Water
Mr. Quiet Money returned this year with the third entry in his "Doe Or Die" series, that started way back in 1995. AZ gets outrageously fly over two strong verses here - I could have done without the interlude between the two, but then that's just my preference. Bink does a great job on the boards, with what sounds like a sped-up soul sample being pounded into submission by big, booming drums that AZ simply glides over. This is the sound of an MC who hasn't lost a single step in over thirty years.
Nas : You Wouldn't Understand
"Life Is Good" seems like a relatively-recent release, but is actually a 2012 release - how the time has flown! Nas' tenth album was of course headlines by the mighty "The Don", but this smoothly-produced cut quietly holds down its spot. The Eighties-infused production from Buckwild of DITC provides the bedding for Nas to express the uniqueness of his life, while Victoria Monét provides the sweetly-sung hook that helps bring it all together. Go back and check the whole album sometime, the deluxe edition ideally.
DJ.Fresh : Sugarfoot
This track channels strong Ohio flavour via California, with Oakland/LA producer DJ.Fresh for a mostly-instrumental ride. The "Zapp & Roger Refreshed" project is a collection of tracks flipping and reworking the work of the late great Roger Troutman, and this samples something I didn't even know existed! Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner of the Ohio Players released a solo LP "Sugar Kiss" in 1985 which was produced by Roger, recorded at Troutman Sound Labs, and which needs to be chased down and added to my crates :)
BusCrates ft. Lailah Reich : Gotta Get Back
The Pittsburgh synth boss continues the funky thread, with the guitar licking crazy and the bassline warm and enveloping. Late-night lounge vibes from the "Altitude" album from last year, with Lailah Reich adding a cool, assured vocal performance. If you like this kind of music at all, I think it's impossible not to enjoy the LP.
Nicolay : Players' Ball
For those who don't know, Nicolay came onto the scene from The Netherlands in the early 2000s via his work with Little Brother, and Phonte in particular - the duo formed the much-loved duo The Foreign Exchange. While those releases were lauded and popular amongst those in the know, there was a lot of material that didn't see the light of day...until now! "Nice Chops - The Dutch Schultz Tapes 2004-2008" is pretty much what the name suggests - previously unreleased material from the 2004-2008 period, remastered for a 2020s release. A breezy beat like this one could easily have made a great album cut with vocalists on it, but here we have the mind of the producer in its undiluted form.
LE$ : Nothin New
LE$ continues to be one of the most prolific artists of the modern era, with the "Reset" LP that features this track being his fifth release of the year - and at the time of writing, he's released another! This is driving music, bonus if you're in a convertible, with a tempo and a smoothness that makes you want to cruise slow rather than put your foot down. The youngster Luka Burr holds it down on production, and LE$ continues to deliver his trademark style - staying in his lane, as it were, to give his fans what they came for!
Dewey da Don & Novacain : Takes Two
Gangsta meets player vibes on this new single, as the Kansas City (Missouri) rapper Dewey da Don, an MC new to me, connects with hometown comrade Novacain. Downtempo, clean, and funky in its execution, both MCs come with subdued flows to match, and the voice in the hook sounds almost ghostly - a result of how it was mixed as much as the delivery. If you're someone who insists on higher tempos or more animated deliveries, then this might not be for you, but for the rest of us...volume up!
Mecca:83 : AllNite
Mecca's 2024 "Quiet Storm" beat tape was a masterwork, a producer's love letter to 80s and 90s R&B/Quiet Storm music that spanned fifteen tracks of smooth goodness. The rhythm on this is chunkier and looser than the tune sampled for the melody, and makes for a satisfying union.
Mya ft. Lloyd Banks : Why You Gotta Look So Good?
The rhythm pounds and stalks while the keyboards bubble on this one! Rockwilder comes over to the R&B side to produce a track for the one and only Mya for her "Moodring" LP, which she takes on skilfully. Unlike Paul Cain on the remix of "Don't You Forget It", the guest MC here sounds like a piece of work because that's the picture the whole song is supposed to paint - rather than spectacularly missing the point. Either way, she definitely needs to leave this guy!
Beatology Beatz (?) : Freaky
Just a little instrumental breather from the "Beatology Beatz" collection with all the synth action that might remind you of that second-ish wave of G-Funk in the mid-90s - despite this being a 2006 release. The question mark is due to this also being credited to DJ Stealth on at least one version on iTunes - so I'm not sure if I've got the artist 100% correct here!
Blak Twang : For The Summa
Finishing back in the UK, we take it down to London for a selection from the fifth (and currently final) Blak Twang LP, "Speaking From Xperience". Silvastone Beats on production gives us a track which, when placed at the end of the show, makes for a nice wind-down. This feels like the British, more underground, slightly rougher-edged take on DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Summertime", and an appropriate one to end on - even if plenty of people have spent our summer dodging the intense heat!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Somewhere between unc and old head"
- Agu
We come to the end of a hot July with some equally hot selections, including new Children Of Zeus, a dancehall killer that'll stick in your head, and some tracks you'll never find on the streaming platforms! We begin with a tribute to classic gaming and end with a tribute to two classic records...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mega Ran & Richie Branson : Super Nintendo Sega Genesis (Remix)
One for the gamers to start things off, with a newly-released remix of a 2012 track from the deluxe version of the Richie Branson release "The Ghouls 'n Ghosts EP". With he and Mega Ran in combination, there's no-one better to take that sample from Biggie Smalls' "Juicy" and spin it out into a whole track about the magic of the 16-bit era. You can play a lot of the games on emulators now, but it was truly special to live through that time! Playing NBA Live 95, listening to Wu-Tang...memories.
[Peanut Butter Wolf] Rasco : Hip-Hop Essentials (Instrumental)
That crusty sound isn't a sign that my vinyl isn't well cared-for - it's part of the record itself! Stones Throw label head and veteran crate digger PBW is on the boards here, keeping it pure boom-bap. For those looking to seek out the vocal version, Cali agent Rasco is similarly straight down the line, scolding MCs who front and sell out for commercial appeal - certainly not an accusation that could be levelled at this record!
Maka & Phlow : Lose My Mind
The release of the debut LP "Maka & Phlow: Hard Shell Soft Center" from the union of Maka (singing) and Phlow (rhyming) was a welcome surprise last month, with this ode to the mess of the modern dating game standing out as a great introduction. Both vocalists are Nigerians based in London, who are carving their own distinct paths away from the modern Afrobeats scene which has burst from its West African origins into mainstream popularity. They're very much in the space where Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul meet, and Teck-Zilla gives them a beat to match here, as well as taking the production reins for the rest of the album. Definitely one to check!
Children Of Zeus : Weed & Rum
Brand new Zeus 🎉 I was minding my own business when this suddenly popped up on IG and grabbed my attention immediately! Coming with an appropriately-summery anthem, they give us a single that has us all ready, once again, for them to come with a fire LP. Production is handled by Beat Butcha and Coop The Truth, while Tyler and Konny of course give us that magic on the mic - with Konny's verse being hilariously specific. Never ask if it's based on a true story, some things are best left for us to wonder!
213 : Mary Jane
Keeping it smoky on this selection, we have a track from a great album which isn't available on streaming platforms, "The Hard Way" by the Long Beach supergroup 213, made up of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Quazedelic give this a groove with a little wobble, a little sway - must be the ganja! No surprise on the lyrics, with Warren G referencing the Rick James classic almost immediately as part of 213's ode to their favourite plant :)
Above The Law : Pawns
It's been fourteen years this month since the passing of KMG, one of the MCs in the Pomona crew Above The Law, and we remember him with a cut from one of their later albums, 1999s "Forever: Rich Thugs, Book One". It's a track where the tonal contrast between KMG and Cold 187um is on full display, and despite the synthy beat (co-produced by 187 and Nick) being kind of busy, KMG is utterly unhurried throughout. RIP to a legend lost far too soon.
[Dr. Dre] Ice Cube : Hello (Instrumental)
I had to let this instrumental breathe just enough for you to hear that little pitch bend on the bass, which happens only that one time on the whole record! This comes from the era when the former members of NWA (of course, except for the late Eazy-E) were working with each other again and angling towards a reunion, and saw their most famed producer - because Yella got busy too - and the man who wrote for not just himself, but Dre and Eazy too. Very identifiably a Dre track from the era, with that uncluttered drum pattern and piano/keyboard work.
Konshens : Do Sumn!
I first heard this track when watching a video by OfficiallyAlfredo who is...unique! He's certainly introduced me to some great dancehall singles and I thought I'd pass on the favour here. I got this track as a single, but it's also on the 2012 "Mental Maintenance" LP. Ward 21's "Long Talking" riddim bangs, and Konshens' hook will definitely stick in your head!
Skitz ft. Rodney P : Left
This one comes in like video game boss fight music, as Skitz goes electronic on this cut from the 2010 "Sticksman" album. While I personally wasn't as into this LP as I was the predecessor "Countryman", I've grown to enjoy it more over the years as the musical landscape has changed and adjusted my palate, as it does to all of us! While the digital texture of the musical backdrop might have been new, Rodney P's flow remained - in the best possible way - the same as it ever was, confident and distinct.
The Gang WGO and Erick Sermon : Chill
You know from the first note that this has to be a heavy tune. The Twist-produced beat leans on the classic Zapp "More Bounce To The Ounce" sample via EPMD's "You Gots To Chill" while adding some extra low-end hits, and is elevated by not just scratched-in samples from the EPMD track but bringing in E Double himself all the way from Long Island for a guest verse! On either side, Te Money and Eastside KBoy of The Gang WGO (We Govern Ourselves) get busy on their verses for a West Coast gangsta hit.
Terrace Martin ft. Hit-Boy : Circuitry
Ok, not everyone likes jazz. How about some jazz with some heavy bass? Still not convinced? What about if we throw in a kick drum that sounds like the police trying to pound someone's front door in? You get on all on this collaboration between modern jazz veteran Terrace Martin and the producer Hit-Boy from the "Perspective" album.
Nina Sky & Statik Selektah : I'm Hot
Great new single from the Nuyorican duo out of Astoria, with Statik Selektah on the boards. Not too much to say about this one other than even if it hadn't been perfectly fitting for our recent heatwaves, it'd still be an essential purchase. As it is - what are you waiting for?
Mary J. Blige : All My Love
There's always a Mary J track that can enhance your mix, and this one from the 2023 "Love & Life" album has the added bonus of being based on a Hip-Hop classic - "I Like It" by Grand Puba, which makes up the foundation of the instrumental here. Diddy and The Natural both have production credits here, and it probably doesn't take a musicologist to guess which of them decided to pretty much lift that beat wholesale! That said, it's very much in keeping with the style that made her famous, and which Diddy/Puffy was instrumental (no pun intended) in shaping - R&B over Hip-Hop beats.
N8E : Brainstorm
N8E is a Los Angeles artist with a lone album release ("One UniverSoul", from 2000), but this 2004 cut lurked on the B-side of his "Rock On" single before being given a second life on the "Galactic Soul (Cosmic Street Soul Classics)" compilation the next year. Relaxed flow from start to end talking about his love for and journey through Hip-Hop, with production from not one of the usual suspects, but R&B singer Jon B showing that he could tweak his sound to cater to an MC.
Natural Elements : Time Doesn't Exist
As N8E finished the last track exploring space-time, we blend straight into NYC's Natural Elements on the other side! Charlemagne's production gives off "Human Nature" energy and combines that with a classic, foundation breakbeat. Any Natural Elements apprearance promises high-level bars, and this selection from "AligNmEnt" doesn't disappoint!
[Eric Kirkland, Michael Angelo Saulsberry] Shanice : It's For You (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this great 90s R&B tune a few episodes back, but decided to play the instrumental here as it leans on the same classic drum break as the previous track - and besides that, I think it's just an excellent piece of production!
Ukokos and Jabco : Keep Rising All Night Long (Sunday Service Mix)
A great uplifting vibe to finish the episode! I bought the digital release of this a while back, and then after recording this episode I saw a rare vinyl press of it for sale in Manchester, so snatched it up for special gigs. Ukokos and Jabco are a production duo who've taken a performance of the Kanye-conducted Sunday Service Choir and laced it with some quality drum programming and additional instrumentation/production to make it a future classic. The choir transition from their cover of Keni Burke's "Risin' To The Top" to their take on "All Night Long" by the Mary Jane Girls and their vocal skills and power are a joy to behold - combined with the extra elements, this is immaculate.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Somewhere between unc and old head"
- Agu
We come to the end of a hot July with some equally hot selections, including new Children Of Zeus, a dancehall killer that'll stick in your head, and some tracks you'll never find on the streaming platforms! We begin with a tribute to classic gaming and end with a tribute to two classic records...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mega Ran & Richie Branson : Super Nintendo Sega Genesis (Remix)
One for the gamers to start things off, with a newly-released remix of a 2012 track from the deluxe version of the Richie Branson release "The Ghouls 'n Ghosts EP". With he and Mega Ran in combination, there's no-one better to take that sample from Biggie Smalls' "Juicy" and spin it out into a whole track about the magic of the 16-bit era. You can play a lot of the games on emulators now, but it was truly special to live through that time! Playing NBA Live 95, listening to Wu-Tang...memories.
[Peanut Butter Wolf] Rasco : Hip-Hop Essentials (Instrumental)
That crusty sound isn't a sign that my vinyl isn't well cared-for - it's part of the record itself! Stones Throw label head and veteran crate digger PBW is on the boards here, keeping it pure boom-bap. For those looking to seek out the vocal version, Cali agent Rasco is similarly straight down the line, scolding MCs who front and sell out for commercial appeal - certainly not an accusation that could be levelled at this record!
Maka & Phlow : Lose My Mind
The release of the debut LP "Maka & Phlow: Hard Shell Soft Center" from the union of Maka (singing) and Phlow (rhyming) was a welcome surprise last month, with this ode to the mess of the modern dating game standing out as a great introduction. Both vocalists are Nigerians based in London, who are carving their own distinct paths away from the modern Afrobeats scene which has burst from its West African origins into mainstream popularity. They're very much in the space where Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul meet, and Teck-Zilla gives them a beat to match here, as well as taking the production reins for the rest of the album. Definitely one to check!
Children Of Zeus : Weed & Rum
Brand new Zeus 🎉 I was minding my own business when this suddenly popped up on IG and grabbed my attention immediately! Coming with an appropriately-summery anthem, they give us a single that has us all ready, once again, for them to come with a fire LP. Production is handled by Beat Butcha and Coop The Truth, while Tyler and Konny of course give us that magic on the mic - with Konny's verse being hilariously specific. Never ask if it's based on a true story, some things are best left for us to wonder!
213 : Mary Jane
Keeping it smoky on this selection, we have a track from a great album which isn't available on streaming platforms, "The Hard Way" by the Long Beach supergroup 213, made up of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Quazedelic give this a groove with a little wobble, a little sway - must be the ganja! No surprise on the lyrics, with Warren G referencing the Rick James classic almost immediately as part of 213's ode to their favourite plant :)
Above The Law : Pawns
It's been fourteen years this month since the passing of KMG, one of the MCs in the Pomona crew Above The Law, and we remember him with a cut from one of their later albums, 1999s "Forever: Rich Thugs, Book One". It's a track where the tonal contrast between KMG and Cold 187um is on full display, and despite the synthy beat (co-produced by 187 and Nick) being kind of busy, KMG is utterly unhurried throughout. RIP to a legend lost far too soon.
[Dr. Dre] Ice Cube : Hello (Instrumental)
I had to let this instrumental breathe just enough for you to hear that little pitch bend on the bass, which happens only that one time on the whole record! This comes from the era when the former members of NWA (of course, except for the late Eazy-E) were working with each other again and angling towards a reunion, and saw their most famed producer - because Yella got busy too - and the man who wrote for not just himself, but Dre and Eazy too. Very identifiably a Dre track from the era, with that uncluttered drum pattern and piano/keyboard work.
Konshens : Do Sumn!
I first heard this track when watching a video by OfficiallyAlfredo who is...unique! He's certainly introduced me to some great dancehall singles and I thought I'd pass on the favour here. I got this track as a single, but it's also on the 2012 "Mental Maintenance" LP. Ward 21's "Long Talking" riddim bangs, and Konshens' hook will definitely stick in your head!
Skitz ft. Rodney P : Left
This one comes in like video game boss fight music, as Skitz goes electronic on this cut from the 2010 "Sticksman" album. While I personally wasn't as into this LP as I was the predecessor "Countryman", I've grown to enjoy it more over the years as the musical landscape has changed and adjusted my palate, as it does to all of us! While the digital texture of the musical backdrop might have been new, Rodney P's flow remained - in the best possible way - the same as it ever was, confident and distinct.
The Gang WGO and Erick Sermon : Chill
You know from the first note that this has to be a heavy tune. The Twist-produced beat leans on the classic Zapp "More Bounce To The Ounce" sample via EPMD's "You Gots To Chill" while adding some extra low-end hits, and is elevated by not just scratched-in samples from the EPMD track but bringing in E Double himself all the way from Long Island for a guest verse! On either side, Te Money and Eastside KBoy of The Gang WGO (We Govern Ourselves) get busy on their verses for a West Coast gangsta hit.
Terrace Martin ft. Hit-Boy : Circuitry
Ok, not everyone likes jazz. How about some jazz with some heavy bass? Still not convinced? What about if we throw in a kick drum that sounds like the police trying to pound someone's front door in? You get on all on this collaboration between modern jazz veteran Terrace Martin and the producer Hit-Boy from the "Perspective" album.
Nina Sky & Statik Selektah : I'm Hot
Great new single from the Nuyorican duo out of Astoria, with Statik Selektah on the boards. Not too much to say about this one other than even if it hadn't been perfectly fitting for our recent heatwaves, it'd still be an essential purchase. As it is - what are you waiting for?
Mary J. Blige : All My Love
There's always a Mary J track that can enhance your mix, and this one from the 2023 "Love & Life" album has the added bonus of being based on a Hip-Hop classic - "I Like It" by Grand Puba, which makes up the foundation of the instrumental here. Diddy and The Natural both have production credits here, and it probably doesn't take a musicologist to guess which of them decided to pretty much lift that beat wholesale! That said, it's very much in keeping with the style that made her famous, and which Diddy/Puffy was instrumental (no pun intended) in shaping - R&B over Hip-Hop beats.
N8E : Brainstorm
N8E is a Los Angeles artist with a lone album release ("One UniverSoul", from 2000), but this 2004 cut lurked on the B-side of his "Rock On" single before being given a second life on the "Galactic Soul (Cosmic Street Soul Classics)" compilation the next year. Relaxed flow from start to end talking about his love for and journey through Hip-Hop, with production from not one of the usual suspects, but R&B singer Jon B showing that he could tweak his sound to cater to an MC.
Natural Elements : Time Doesn't Exist
As N8E finished the last track exploring space-time, we blend straight into NYC's Natural Elements on the other side! Charlemagne's production gives off "Human Nature" energy and combines that with a classic, foundation breakbeat. Any Natural Elements apprearance promises high-level bars, and this selection from "AligNmEnt" doesn't disappoint!
[Eric Kirkland, Michael Angelo Saulsberry] Shanice : It's For You (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this great 90s R&B tune a few episodes back, but decided to play the instrumental here as it leans on the same classic drum break as the previous track - and besides that, I think it's just an excellent piece of production!
Ukokos and Jabco : Keep Rising All Night Long (Sunday Service Mix)
A great uplifting vibe to finish the episode! I bought the digital release of this a while back, and then after recording this episode I saw a rare vinyl press of it for sale in Manchester, so snatched it up for special gigs. Ukokos and Jabco are a production duo who've taken a performance of the Kanye-conducted Sunday Service Choir and laced it with some quality drum programming and additional instrumentation/production to make it a future classic. The choir transition from their cover of Keni Burke's "Risin' To The Top" to their take on "All Night Long" by the Mary Jane Girls and their vocal skills and power are a joy to behold - combined with the extra elements, this is immaculate.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Every time, no question..."
- Prodigy
This has been a big year, with the 200th episode, and now the last birthday before the show reaches adulthood - this is the seventeenth birthday edition! As part of the celebration, please indulge me while I play some tracks I just really wanted to hear myself 🙂 In this month's selection, we have tracks from some true veterans (including the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep) alongside some releases from artists just starting to make their mark. Tempo-wise, we ramp it up over the course of the episode, kicking off with a deep Meyhem Lauren cut with a heavy, grimy sound...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud : Yucca
This track from "Glass 2.0" deserves inclusion for that intro alone - I'll never look at a swordfish the same way again :) There's plenty more here though, as Meyhem Lauren flows confidently through one long unbroken verse over a woozy Harry Fraud beat. Pretty much every time you listen to a new Meyhem cut, you're going to hear a word or turn of phrase you can't imagine any other MC using, and this is no exception! There are some great instrumentals
Lord Finesse : Abstrakt Neo Synopsis
Finesse's "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening" album is another demonstration of what can be done with a mere ten seconds of sample time, as Lord Finesse works his magic on the famed Emu SP-1200 drum machine.
DJ Premier & Joey Bada$$ : Lettin' Off Steam
A cross-generational connection that makes all the sense in the world, with two eras of Brooklyn (Preemo via Texas) coming together as part of the 2023 celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Kool Herc party that is widely credited with being the start of Hip-Hop. Mass Appeal records put out some great EPs that year to mark the anniversary and this comes from "Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1 - EP", which was fully produced by Premier. Here, the simple boom-bap drums, with no hi-hat that I can hear, adds solidity to the structure of the beat that is headed up by a dramatic, almost abrasive sample. Joey B has no problem commanding the focus lyrically though, going fully aggressive over two verses that are broken up by the now-classic Preemo scratch hook/outro style.
Redman : Iz He 4 Real
I finally got round to digitising my vinyl of the "Muddy Waters" LP, unquestionably one of the strongest entries in Reggie Noble's catalogue, and it opens up (intro aside) strong with this one. Somehow, bearing in mind that sampling a sample/sampling Hip-Hop has always been a controversial topic within the culture, this is the second track I can think of that borrows from The Roots' "Section", which was also sampled on Beenie Man's "Who Am I?" Can you hear it now? Erick Sermon and Redman come together to construct the chunky beat here, before clearing the decks for Redman to get an unobstructed run at the mic. One verse is all he needs, slaying the track with efficiency.
9th Wonder, JADA & S14H : Ride Wit Me (Let's Ride)
I've been waiting to play this one for months, as it was available on streaming services but only for pre-ordering otherwise, which was annoying. Artists, labels, please take note - if your song is available to stream, many of us will want to actually buy it! Anyway, it finally landed as part of the "Zenith" LP from North Carolina duo JADA (beats) and S14H (rhymes). 9th Wonder executive produces here, but the actual work on the boards is done by his daughter (talk about a passing of the torch!) JADA, who takes a classic sample that EPMD touched many moons ago and shapes it into a late-night drive bumping groove. S14H's skilled flow is suitably mellow and the vibes are good, hopefully making this track a strong enough inducement for you to pick up the whole LP - I know I did.
Klashnekoff : Rest Of Our Lives (Black Rose Part 2)
It's nearly twenty years since the release of "Lionheart : Tussle With The Beast", but this track has long none of its power, with an great writer and MC talking about the gritty realities of a life that, while being his own personal story, unfortunately isn't unique by any stretch of the imagination. There's nothing I can say about the lyrics that would add any more value than the words of the man himself, so I'll leave that there and let you have a proper listen. Joe Buhdha, the Nottingham legend, is on production with a little sped-up jazz-funk foundation that becomes the perfect backing. I've looked at the digital release of this album and it seems to miss this track (sample clearance maybe), so you'll need to hunt out the CD.
[Scram Jones] Raekwon : Walk Wit Me (Instrumental)
I had a rare day off work this month and used some of it to go record shopping - the highlight was finding that the instrumentals for Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II" album are now available, and on vinyl at that! Lots of top-shelf beats there, but I've picked one of the last tracks on the LP, with a gorgeously-smooth beat from DJ and producer Scram Jones, who absolutely held his own among giants like RZA, Dilla, and Pete Rock on that album. I'd recommend getting a copy before it potentially goes out of press!
Larry June & DJ Manifest : Keep Calling (Feat:Blxst)
Larry June is an MC I still haven't full taken to - though I love the energy he brings as a human from everything I've seen - but he definitely does his thing here. Montreal's DJ Manifest (rapidly becoming a must-check producer for me) decided to pay homage to June's "Until Night Comes" album by doing his own remixes and adding a few bonus tracks for good measure, of which this is one. It's all Cali on the vocals with LA's Blxst linking with San Francisco's Larry June, and Manifest laces the track with the kind of mid-tempo premium funk/synth/boogie vibes that he's continuing to make his name with.
Tall Black Guy x Michael Jackson : Love U Alwayz (Rock With You)
Incredible sample flip right here, with a beat swing that can only mandate a pulse check for you if it doesn't make you move! Detroit's Tall Black Guy has an absolutely top-flight resume when it comes to flips and remixes before you even get to the rest of his catalogue, and his "Tall Black Guy Vs Michael Jackson" collection should immediately be added to your collection if you can find it - it seems to have vanished from Bandcamp. He takes Michael Jackson's "Rock With You", drops the tempo by over 20BPM, chops it up, spaces it out, adds the low-end thump, and gives us an undeniable heater!
OXP (Onra & Pomrad) ft. Grand Puba and Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard : In The 90s
Summary : Puba - "The 90s was a special era with style and flavour". Pudgee - "You would have been shot and robbed" 🤣 To be fair, he does calm down a little later in the verse and at least bring it back to MC combat on a bright, bouncing beat from Onra and Belgian synth maven Pomrad that conjours up the club feeling of a bygone age for sure. The 2020 "Swing Convention" album is definitely worth a listen if you enjoy this one - they use all analogue equipment to craft the production for a wide range of vocalists over fourteen tracks.
DJ Epik ft. Buscrates, E-Live and Disco-E : Nunnya...
More modern synth-funk stylings on this selection, a track where having an "E" as part of your stage name wasn't compulsory but didn't hurt! Sacramento's DJ Epik is in charge here and pulls together a stellar team - Buscrates together with E-Live on the vintage keys, and Disco-E getting busy on the guitar. This was a single-only release as I understand it, and still available on Bandcamp, which is always one of the best ways to buy digital music as far as making sure the money gets into the artist's pocket.
Flamingosis : Mystic Operator
You may have heard this New Jersey/Brooklyn artist here and there in my sets, but he gave the fans of his work a major boost when he released the "Mood Provider" mixtape series of previously-unreleased music. "Mood Provider 3" came out earlier this year with absolutely no let-up in quality from the previous editions, with this track being a personal favourite. Whether or not he used one, it has all the feel of some MPC chopping action, with a few bits in there you may recognise, and perfect for a sunny day!
Busta Rhymes, Rakim, Styles P, and Dave East : Thank You New York Knicks
This single actually came out during last year's playoff run for the Knicks, but with their championship win this year, it was literally the perfect time to pull it out again! It's a very short track with brief performances from each MC, but it doesn't get much more NY than this. The beat is drawn from Eric B & Rakim's classic heater "I Ain't No Joke", and it's only right that Long Island's Rakim gets the chance to set it off, with his borough-mate Busta getting the very last word.
DJ Premier & The Alchemist : For The Gig
This release was a very pleasant surprise - it's a track that Premier and Alchemist performed when they visited Manchester, and I presume on other tour stops too! Apparently this is a team effort on production, with Preemo on the drums and cuts and ALC taking charge of the other elements - as well as getting on the mic as he did on tour.
Drama B : Where I'm From
The Bronx's Drama B is on a mission to make sure that classic boom-bap sound continues to live on, and if he keeps going like this then it should be in good hands. He's been releasing music since 2020 but is new to me, and this 2026 single was the track that brought him to my notice - absolutely attacking the mic over one mean verse, and a beat that sounds like it could have come from the DJ Muggs vaults. Drama B may have only been born in the 90s, but he clearly absorbed the flavour of that era from the air and water.
Mobb Deep : That Mobb Deep
We remember Prodigy this month with a track where he and Havoc are fully in battle mode! Over an uptempo, clean yet still slight sinister Havoc beat, both MCs take on the opposition QB style, with the last verse making it clear that Nas was at least one of the artists in their sights. Not the easiest track to find, but it's on the "Infamous Allegiance" mixtape, which is well worth finding if you're at all a fan of the Mobb.
J Dilla : Go Get Em
I can't remember if anyone has ever picked this one up to rhyme on, but they should! Flipping an early 80s electronic track for the non-percussive side of the track, Dilla demonstrates deftly that you don't always need some super-complex drum track - something simple that doesn't fight the groove of the sample does just fine. This may have turned up in various places, but I got it on "Lost Tapes, Reels + More".
Rogue VHS : Akira
I stumbled upon this one while putting a playlist together to drive out and watch a re-release of the film "Akira" with friends a few months ago! Rogue VHS is not just a synthwave producer, but also a coach - so if you work in this style and want to elevate your game, see what you think of this track! Folding in some vocal samples from the film as well as the ringing sound Tetsuo hears, it stays on theme while otherwise being its own thing musically.
Wu-Tang Clan : Chamber Music
You will never convince me that the Wu didn't save New York in this year's NBA Finals! I did think about going back to one of the earlier tracks from their catalogue, but decided instead to feature this cut from their third LP "The W". Raekwon, GZA, Masta Killa, and Method Man all kill their verses over RZA's insistent, urgent beat - complete with the signature kung-fu samples. Definitely one of the best tracks on that album, and one striking enough that the title was used for Will Ashon's excellent book on the Wu.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Every time, no question..."
- Prodigy
This has been a big year, with the 200th episode, and now the last birthday before the show reaches adulthood - this is the seventeenth birthday edition! As part of the celebration, please indulge me while I play some tracks I just really wanted to hear myself 🙂 In this month's selection, we have tracks from some true veterans (including the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep) alongside some releases from artists just starting to make their mark. Tempo-wise, we ramp it up over the course of the episode, kicking off with a deep Meyhem Lauren cut with a heavy, grimy sound...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud : Yucca
This track from "Glass 2.0" deserves inclusion for that intro alone - I'll never look at a swordfish the same way again :) There's plenty more here though, as Meyhem Lauren flows confidently through one long unbroken verse over a woozy Harry Fraud beat. Pretty much every time you listen to a new Meyhem cut, you're going to hear a word or turn of phrase you can't imagine any other MC using, and this is no exception! There are some great instrumentals
Lord Finesse : Abstrakt Neo Synopsis
Finesse's "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening" album is another demonstration of what can be done with a mere ten seconds of sample time, as Lord Finesse works his magic on the famed Emu SP-1200 drum machine.
DJ Premier & Joey Bada$$ : Lettin' Off Steam
A cross-generational connection that makes all the sense in the world, with two eras of Brooklyn (Preemo via Texas) coming together as part of the 2023 celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Kool Herc party that is widely credited with being the start of Hip-Hop. Mass Appeal records put out some great EPs that year to mark the anniversary and this comes from "Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1 - EP", which was fully produced by Premier. Here, the simple boom-bap drums, with no hi-hat that I can hear, adds solidity to the structure of the beat that is headed up by a dramatic, almost abrasive sample. Joey B has no problem commanding the focus lyrically though, going fully aggressive over two verses that are broken up by the now-classic Preemo scratch hook/outro style.
Redman : Iz He 4 Real
I finally got round to digitising my vinyl of the "Muddy Waters" LP, unquestionably one of the strongest entries in Reggie Noble's catalogue, and it opens up (intro aside) strong with this one. Somehow, bearing in mind that sampling a sample/sampling Hip-Hop has always been a controversial topic within the culture, this is the second track I can think of that borrows from The Roots' "Section", which was also sampled on Beenie Man's "Who Am I?" Can you hear it now? Erick Sermon and Redman come together to construct the chunky beat here, before clearing the decks for Redman to get an unobstructed run at the mic. One verse is all he needs, slaying the track with efficiency.
9th Wonder, JADA & S14H : Ride Wit Me (Let's Ride)
I've been waiting to play this one for months, as it was available on streaming services but only for pre-ordering otherwise, which was annoying. Artists, labels, please take note - if your song is available to stream, many of us will want to actually buy it! Anyway, it finally landed as part of the "Zenith" LP from North Carolina duo JADA (beats) and S14H (rhymes). 9th Wonder executive produces here, but the actual work on the boards is done by his daughter (talk about a passing of the torch!) JADA, who takes a classic sample that EPMD touched many moons ago and shapes it into a late-night drive bumping groove. S14H's skilled flow is suitably mellow and the vibes are good, hopefully making this track a strong enough inducement for you to pick up the whole LP - I know I did.
Klashnekoff : Rest Of Our Lives (Black Rose Part 2)
It's nearly twenty years since the release of "Lionheart : Tussle With The Beast", but this track has long none of its power, with an great writer and MC talking about the gritty realities of a life that, while being his own personal story, unfortunately isn't unique by any stretch of the imagination. There's nothing I can say about the lyrics that would add any more value than the words of the man himself, so I'll leave that there and let you have a proper listen. Joe Buhdha, the Nottingham legend, is on production with a little sped-up jazz-funk foundation that becomes the perfect backing. I've looked at the digital release of this album and it seems to miss this track (sample clearance maybe), so you'll need to hunt out the CD.
[Scram Jones] Raekwon : Walk Wit Me (Instrumental)
I had a rare day off work this month and used some of it to go record shopping - the highlight was finding that the instrumentals for Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II" album are now available, and on vinyl at that! Lots of top-shelf beats there, but I've picked one of the last tracks on the LP, with a gorgeously-smooth beat from DJ and producer Scram Jones, who absolutely held his own among giants like RZA, Dilla, and Pete Rock on that album. I'd recommend getting a copy before it potentially goes out of press!
Larry June & DJ Manifest : Keep Calling (Feat:Blxst)
Larry June is an MC I still haven't full taken to - though I love the energy he brings as a human from everything I've seen - but he definitely does his thing here. Montreal's DJ Manifest (rapidly becoming a must-check producer for me) decided to pay homage to June's "Until Night Comes" album by doing his own remixes and adding a few bonus tracks for good measure, of which this is one. It's all Cali on the vocals with LA's Blxst linking with San Francisco's Larry June, and Manifest laces the track with the kind of mid-tempo premium funk/synth/boogie vibes that he's continuing to make his name with.
Tall Black Guy x Michael Jackson : Love U Alwayz (Rock With You)
Incredible sample flip right here, with a beat swing that can only mandate a pulse check for you if it doesn't make you move! Detroit's Tall Black Guy has an absolutely top-flight resume when it comes to flips and remixes before you even get to the rest of his catalogue, and his "Tall Black Guy Vs Michael Jackson" collection should immediately be added to your collection if you can find it - it seems to have vanished from Bandcamp. He takes Michael Jackson's "Rock With You", drops the tempo by over 20BPM, chops it up, spaces it out, adds the low-end thump, and gives us an undeniable heater!
OXP (Onra & Pomrad) ft. Grand Puba and Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard : In The 90s
Summary : Puba - "The 90s was a special era with style and flavour". Pudgee - "You would have been shot and robbed" 🤣 To be fair, he does calm down a little later in the verse and at least bring it back to MC combat on a bright, bouncing beat from Onra and Belgian synth maven Pomrad that conjours up the club feeling of a bygone age for sure. The 2020 "Swing Convention" album is definitely worth a listen if you enjoy this one - they use all analogue equipment to craft the production for a wide range of vocalists over fourteen tracks.
DJ Epik ft. Buscrates, E-Live and Disco-E : Nunnya...
More modern synth-funk stylings on this selection, a track where having an "E" as part of your stage name wasn't compulsory but didn't hurt! Sacramento's DJ Epik is in charge here and pulls together a stellar team - Buscrates together with E-Live on the vintage keys, and Disco-E getting busy on the guitar. This was a single-only release as I understand it, and still available on Bandcamp, which is always one of the best ways to buy digital music as far as making sure the money gets into the artist's pocket.
Flamingosis : Mystic Operator
You may have heard this New Jersey/Brooklyn artist here and there in my sets, but he gave the fans of his work a major boost when he released the "Mood Provider" mixtape series of previously-unreleased music. "Mood Provider 3" came out earlier this year with absolutely no let-up in quality from the previous editions, with this track being a personal favourite. Whether or not he used one, it has all the feel of some MPC chopping action, with a few bits in there you may recognise, and perfect for a sunny day!
Busta Rhymes, Rakim, Styles P, and Dave East : Thank You New York Knicks
This single actually came out during last year's playoff run for the Knicks, but with their championship win this year, it was literally the perfect time to pull it out again! It's a very short track with brief performances from each MC, but it doesn't get much more NY than this. The beat is drawn from Eric B & Rakim's classic heater "I Ain't No Joke", and it's only right that Long Island's Rakim gets the chance to set it off, with his borough-mate Busta getting the very last word.
DJ Premier & The Alchemist : For The Gig
This release was a very pleasant surprise - it's a track that Premier and Alchemist performed when they visited Manchester, and I presume on other tour stops too! Apparently this is a team effort on production, with Preemo on the drums and cuts and ALC taking charge of the other elements - as well as getting on the mic as he did on tour.
Drama B : Where I'm From
The Bronx's Drama B is on a mission to make sure that classic boom-bap sound continues to live on, and if he keeps going like this then it should be in good hands. He's been releasing music since 2020 but is new to me, and this 2026 single was the track that brought him to my notice - absolutely attacking the mic over one mean verse, and a beat that sounds like it could have come from the DJ Muggs vaults. Drama B may have only been born in the 90s, but he clearly absorbed the flavour of that era from the air and water.
Mobb Deep : That Mobb Deep
We remember Prodigy this month with a track where he and Havoc are fully in battle mode! Over an uptempo, clean yet still slight sinister Havoc beat, both MCs take on the opposition QB style, with the last verse making it clear that Nas was at least one of the artists in their sights. Not the easiest track to find, but it's on the "Infamous Allegiance" mixtape, which is well worth finding if you're at all a fan of the Mobb.
J Dilla : Go Get Em
I can't remember if anyone has ever picked this one up to rhyme on, but they should! Flipping an early 80s electronic track for the non-percussive side of the track, Dilla demonstrates deftly that you don't always need some super-complex drum track - something simple that doesn't fight the groove of the sample does just fine. This may have turned up in various places, but I got it on "Lost Tapes, Reels + More".
Rogue VHS : Akira
I stumbled upon this one while putting a playlist together to drive out and watch a re-release of the film "Akira" with friends a few months ago! Rogue VHS is not just a synthwave producer, but also a coach - so if you work in this style and want to elevate your game, see what you think of this track! Folding in some vocal samples from the film as well as the ringing sound Tetsuo hears, it stays on theme while otherwise being its own thing musically.
Wu-Tang Clan : Chamber Music
You will never convince me that the Wu didn't save New York in this year's NBA Finals! I did think about going back to one of the earlier tracks from their catalogue, but decided instead to feature this cut from their third LP "The W". Raekwon, GZA, Masta Killa, and Method Man all kill their verses over RZA's insistent, urgent beat - complete with the signature kung-fu samples. Definitely one of the best tracks on that album, and one striking enough that the title was used for Will Ashon's excellent book on the Wu.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"..way I be fly, be unidentified..."
- Anthony Danza
It looks like we're getting a little preview of summer this month, so that reflects in at least part of this episode's selection, which goes from as back as far as 1989 to some recent heat. Despite staying mostly within Hip-Hop, this month has a mix of flavours and eras that mean hopefully everyone will discover something new!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Roots ft. John Legend : Doin' It Again
We start off with a piano-led track, some dramatic Questlove drumming and a solid bass groove creating a canvas for Black Thought, one of the best MCs ever to do it, to do it again indeed. John Legend features singing on the hook and reminds me just what a standout flavour he can bring to a song - I don't listen to him enough. While I got this on an Unkut compilation many years ago, this is most easily found on the "How I Got Over" LP.
[Nesto and Laze] Teflon : Get Mine (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this on the podcast absolutely years ago, but now you get a chance to - well, apart from my voiceover - hear the instrumental breathe thanks to Nesto and Laze's production, mixing a light melodic air with some banging drums. You'll need the "Get Mine" 12" to add the instrumental to your collection - get yours!
Da Flyy Hooligan : VERTIGO
The first mix starts in North London, with a motivational track for anyone who can relate to trying to claw themselves up from a tough situation. The production almost sounds like an updated version of The Heatmakerz work for Dipset, with Maschine Man Tim keeping the drums in exactly the right places relative to the sample and adding a few synth sprinkles too for that nice seasoning. The "Business Is Personal" EP came out in February and is definitely worth a listen if you want that gourmet-styled Hip-Hop with a UK flavour.
Camp Lo : China Soul
The "Let's Do It Again" album, Camp Lo's second, was overlooked even by some people who knew it had been released, but it contains some of my favourite tracks from their entire catalogue and this is one of them. We have Bronx slang all day over an Asian-influenced beat by Jocko, and Robin Guines brings some smoothness to the hook on what appears to be her only ever commercially-released performance. Definitely give that album a second chance!
Slum Village ft. Focus, Rapper Big Pooh, Illa J, Vice, T3, and Young RJ : What You Want
Rawness from SV on their collab with DJ Mick Boogie on the 2013 "Dirty Slums 2" mixtape, featuring an impressively-long roster of MCs - especially given the length of the track. Focus works double duty by handling production as well, with filtered drums, and a bassline augmented with some tough guitar and maybe a little organ action hidden in there as well. True Voltron business, with every MC bringing through aggressive bars and holding down their corners.
Voices Of Fire ft. Pharrell Williams : Joy (Unspeakable)
This may be the first explicitly gospel track I've played on the show, even though some other tunes that don't necessarily claim it would have had those leanings. DJ Sam Smite gets credit for this, as he played it on his The Gospel Room show one week and the heavy, bludgeoning bass caught my attention - I'd bought a digital copy before he'd even finished playing it! This is a Pharrell Williams (alongside Larry George) production that most of us would never hear, hammering the low end in the name of Jesus for a group who were actually assembled as part of a reality show! Pharrell went back to his Virginia hometown of Hampton Roads to find all these vocalists - they have the skills and the lungs to cut through this instrumental, and hopefully will go on to sustained success.
Tall Black Guy and Ozay Moore : Viberite (Instrumental)
The bumping smoothness of a TBG track is a signature even though his stuff doesn't all sound the same, which is pretty remarkable. If you want to hear the vocal skills of Ozay Moore (and you should), then search out the original "Of Process And Progression" album from 2022, but TBG kindly gave us beat-heads an all-instrumental version of the LP too, perfect for mixtapes or an evening of beat therapy.
Goodie Mob ft. Lil' Will : They Don't Dance No Mo'
Seems like a constant complaint since that era, but with changing reasons! Over a downtempo and instinctively non-dancing beat from Organized Noize and Mr. DJ, this single from Goodie Mob's sophomore LP "Still Standing" (which somehow is almost thirty years old now) laments what they observed as a shift from good vibes and partying to drama and aggression. Definitely one of the standout tracks of the album, and one where you can look back and say...they were right.
Queen Latifah : Inside Out
An MC, singer, actor, producer, and executive, Queen Latifah is truly one of Hip-Hop's most singular figures. Taking it back to 1989, this is a standout from her debut LP "All Hail The Queen" that also made it as a B-side on the "Dance For Me" 12" - and you know what Chuck D would have to say about that... Anyway, Latifah is in fine lyrical form on what, for the era, is an extremely downtempo cut produced by DJ Mark The 45 King (RIP), and you can hear a touch of reggae influence in there as well.
DJ Swingsett, J. Warrin, and Lisa Shaw : I Think My Heart Is Telling On Me
I only recently heard of the 2001 "Sights Unseen" album, which had gone out of print many years ago - Lisa Shaw is an amazing vocalist and this seemed like something that would only be available for stupid money on Discogs. As luck would have it, it got a digital re-release in the last couple of months and so I snatched up my copy the second it became available! The bell-clear voice of Lisa Shaw is the highlight, while Swingsett and J. Warrin give her a musical backing very different from the deep house that is her usual stock in trade - downtempo, heavy, kind of moody, but the contrast works. The full track is about six minutes long, so I've shortened it here, and I recommend picking up the full re-released LP if you want to hear more.
Beanie Sigel ft. Cam'ron : Wanted (On The Run)
As much as this one from "The B.Coming" knocks, it has a real atmosphere about it - you can imagine the wading through a stream, the chasing dogs and handlers, the desperation of someone who absolutely doesn't want to be found. Beanie successfully makes the life of a fugitive sound thoroughly unappealing, especially on the first verse, and Cam'ron switches things up from Beanie's raw flow into his trademark playful wordplay. Da Neckbones craft the beat from an 80s rock track, mainly the guitar line but snatching a vocal sample too that links the two tracks by their hooks.
[Kanye West] Cam'ron : Dead Or Alive (Instrumental)
I don't really play Kanye anymore to be honest but he was only the producer on this, and while it's a decent beat in its own right, it's really here because it was the perfect thematic follow-up to "Wanted". It's almost two sides of the same pursuit, the outlaw and the lawman.
Jadakiss : Me
Heading a few miles up from Harlem and landing in Yonkers, NY, it's Jadakiss from The Lox with a track from the "Ignatius" album - dedicated to and named after a friend, producer, and A&R from Ruff Ryders, Ignatius Jackson. Interestingly, this somewhat braggadocious cut is produced not by one of the Hip-Hop beatsmiths you might expect, but Bryan-Michael Cox, a songwriter and producer much better known for his R&B work with giants like Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige. It might be that background that lead him to the soul sample that undergirds this track, which he cleverly retains the "me" vocal from and includes in the loop/sequence for Jada to write his rhymes around,
Anthony Danza ft. Stefo : How It Feels
More Seattle action from one of my favourite artists in the last few years, this time from the 2021 "Armorall" album. Self-produced by Danza, this once again is built on a foundation of classic 80s synth-based R&B, along with some fitting (but heavier) drum programming to give it some modern knock, and Danza and Stefo taking the mic to make it all complete. Characteristically fly and dope as anything, this is a perfect track put on repeat in the car on a hot summer day.
Devin Morrison : Cinema
This might not be picked up by Odeon as their new theme tune, but this was a great single from Florida's Devin Morrison that came out last year. Warm, smooth, and polished, while also lyrically being great material for DJ Devv (no connection) on IG :)
The BARtenders ft. MzInkbomb : Westside Slidin
The two-man crew of Mykestro and Columbo Black come out of the West Coast alongside guest MzInkbomb for this mellow midtempo track, decorated with glittering keyboards and background guitar licks. With the summertime vibes on 100, this is like an underground and slightly less radio-friendly version of "Summertime", taken from the 2024 "Luke Warm Summers" album that's well worth taking the time to seek out for several more tracks with this kind of feel.
[ID 4 Winds] Sol Uprising : We Ourself And Us (Instrumental)
Yes, that's the spelling! Chill undertones on this one with a drumline that sounds as though it's trying to break free of the rest of the track, this is a nice bit of production from ID 4 Winds from the "We Ourself And Us" EP by Sol Uprising - a crew I started checking for entirely because of the vocal talents of Stacy Epps, who you may know from her work with Madlib on the "Madvillainy" project.
Dr. Dre : Let Me Ride (Extended Club Mix)
A welcome inclusion on the "Nuthin But A G Thang" single, which I recently picked up on CD hidden amongst a pile of other stuff in a charity shop! I'd only ever heard this on pirate radio in Leeds over thirty years ago, and that might be at least in part because the full version is over eleven minutes long - which ironically, given the title, is too long for your average club set. "Let Me Ride" was a single in its own right and one of my favourite tracks on Dre's seminal LP "The Chronic", and it's good to see it get a more live-instrumented, explicitly P-Funk reworking here. Definitely worth picking up if you can find it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"..way I be fly, be unidentified..."
- Anthony Danza
It looks like we're getting a little preview of summer this month, so that reflects in at least part of this episode's selection, which goes from as back as far as 1989 to some recent heat. Despite staying mostly within Hip-Hop, this month has a mix of flavours and eras that mean hopefully everyone will discover something new!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Roots ft. John Legend : Doin' It Again
We start off with a piano-led track, some dramatic Questlove drumming and a solid bass groove creating a canvas for Black Thought, one of the best MCs ever to do it, to do it again indeed. John Legend features singing on the hook and reminds me just what a standout flavour he can bring to a song - I don't listen to him enough. While I got this on an Unkut compilation many years ago, this is most easily found on the "How I Got Over" LP.
[Nesto and Laze] Teflon : Get Mine (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this on the podcast absolutely years ago, but now you get a chance to - well, apart from my voiceover - hear the instrumental breathe thanks to Nesto and Laze's production, mixing a light melodic air with some banging drums. You'll need the "Get Mine" 12" to add the instrumental to your collection - get yours!
Da Flyy Hooligan : VERTIGO
The first mix starts in North London, with a motivational track for anyone who can relate to trying to claw themselves up from a tough situation. The production almost sounds like an updated version of The Heatmakerz work for Dipset, with Maschine Man Tim keeping the drums in exactly the right places relative to the sample and adding a few synth sprinkles too for that nice seasoning. The "Business Is Personal" EP came out in February and is definitely worth a listen if you want that gourmet-styled Hip-Hop with a UK flavour.
Camp Lo : China Soul
The "Let's Do It Again" album, Camp Lo's second, was overlooked even by some people who knew it had been released, but it contains some of my favourite tracks from their entire catalogue and this is one of them. We have Bronx slang all day over an Asian-influenced beat by Jocko, and Robin Guines brings some smoothness to the hook on what appears to be her only ever commercially-released performance. Definitely give that album a second chance!
Slum Village ft. Focus, Rapper Big Pooh, Illa J, Vice, T3, and Young RJ : What You Want
Rawness from SV on their collab with DJ Mick Boogie on the 2013 "Dirty Slums 2" mixtape, featuring an impressively-long roster of MCs - especially given the length of the track. Focus works double duty by handling production as well, with filtered drums, and a bassline augmented with some tough guitar and maybe a little organ action hidden in there as well. True Voltron business, with every MC bringing through aggressive bars and holding down their corners.
Voices Of Fire ft. Pharrell Williams : Joy (Unspeakable)
This may be the first explicitly gospel track I've played on the show, even though some other tunes that don't necessarily claim it would have had those leanings. DJ Sam Smite gets credit for this, as he played it on his The Gospel Room show one week and the heavy, bludgeoning bass caught my attention - I'd bought a digital copy before he'd even finished playing it! This is a Pharrell Williams (alongside Larry George) production that most of us would never hear, hammering the low end in the name of Jesus for a group who were actually assembled as part of a reality show! Pharrell went back to his Virginia hometown of Hampton Roads to find all these vocalists - they have the skills and the lungs to cut through this instrumental, and hopefully will go on to sustained success.
Tall Black Guy and Ozay Moore : Viberite (Instrumental)
The bumping smoothness of a TBG track is a signature even though his stuff doesn't all sound the same, which is pretty remarkable. If you want to hear the vocal skills of Ozay Moore (and you should), then search out the original "Of Process And Progression" album from 2022, but TBG kindly gave us beat-heads an all-instrumental version of the LP too, perfect for mixtapes or an evening of beat therapy.
Goodie Mob ft. Lil' Will : They Don't Dance No Mo'
Seems like a constant complaint since that era, but with changing reasons! Over a downtempo and instinctively non-dancing beat from Organized Noize and Mr. DJ, this single from Goodie Mob's sophomore LP "Still Standing" (which somehow is almost thirty years old now) laments what they observed as a shift from good vibes and partying to drama and aggression. Definitely one of the standout tracks of the album, and one where you can look back and say...they were right.
Queen Latifah : Inside Out
An MC, singer, actor, producer, and executive, Queen Latifah is truly one of Hip-Hop's most singular figures. Taking it back to 1989, this is a standout from her debut LP "All Hail The Queen" that also made it as a B-side on the "Dance For Me" 12" - and you know what Chuck D would have to say about that... Anyway, Latifah is in fine lyrical form on what, for the era, is an extremely downtempo cut produced by DJ Mark The 45 King (RIP), and you can hear a touch of reggae influence in there as well.
DJ Swingsett, J. Warrin, and Lisa Shaw : I Think My Heart Is Telling On Me
I only recently heard of the 2001 "Sights Unseen" album, which had gone out of print many years ago - Lisa Shaw is an amazing vocalist and this seemed like something that would only be available for stupid money on Discogs. As luck would have it, it got a digital re-release in the last couple of months and so I snatched up my copy the second it became available! The bell-clear voice of Lisa Shaw is the highlight, while Swingsett and J. Warrin give her a musical backing very different from the deep house that is her usual stock in trade - downtempo, heavy, kind of moody, but the contrast works. The full track is about six minutes long, so I've shortened it here, and I recommend picking up the full re-released LP if you want to hear more.
Beanie Sigel ft. Cam'ron : Wanted (On The Run)
As much as this one from "The B.Coming" knocks, it has a real atmosphere about it - you can imagine the wading through a stream, the chasing dogs and handlers, the desperation of someone who absolutely doesn't want to be found. Beanie successfully makes the life of a fugitive sound thoroughly unappealing, especially on the first verse, and Cam'ron switches things up from Beanie's raw flow into his trademark playful wordplay. Da Neckbones craft the beat from an 80s rock track, mainly the guitar line but snatching a vocal sample too that links the two tracks by their hooks.
[Kanye West] Cam'ron : Dead Or Alive (Instrumental)
I don't really play Kanye anymore to be honest but he was only the producer on this, and while it's a decent beat in its own right, it's really here because it was the perfect thematic follow-up to "Wanted". It's almost two sides of the same pursuit, the outlaw and the lawman.
Jadakiss : Me
Heading a few miles up from Harlem and landing in Yonkers, NY, it's Jadakiss from The Lox with a track from the "Ignatius" album - dedicated to and named after a friend, producer, and A&R from Ruff Ryders, Ignatius Jackson. Interestingly, this somewhat braggadocious cut is produced not by one of the Hip-Hop beatsmiths you might expect, but Bryan-Michael Cox, a songwriter and producer much better known for his R&B work with giants like Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige. It might be that background that lead him to the soul sample that undergirds this track, which he cleverly retains the "me" vocal from and includes in the loop/sequence for Jada to write his rhymes around,
Anthony Danza ft. Stefo : How It Feels
More Seattle action from one of my favourite artists in the last few years, this time from the 2021 "Armorall" album. Self-produced by Danza, this once again is built on a foundation of classic 80s synth-based R&B, along with some fitting (but heavier) drum programming to give it some modern knock, and Danza and Stefo taking the mic to make it all complete. Characteristically fly and dope as anything, this is a perfect track put on repeat in the car on a hot summer day.
Devin Morrison : Cinema
This might not be picked up by Odeon as their new theme tune, but this was a great single from Florida's Devin Morrison that came out last year. Warm, smooth, and polished, while also lyrically being great material for DJ Devv (no connection) on IG :)
The BARtenders ft. MzInkbomb : Westside Slidin
The two-man crew of Mykestro and Columbo Black come out of the West Coast alongside guest MzInkbomb for this mellow midtempo track, decorated with glittering keyboards and background guitar licks. With the summertime vibes on 100, this is like an underground and slightly less radio-friendly version of "Summertime", taken from the 2024 "Luke Warm Summers" album that's well worth taking the time to seek out for several more tracks with this kind of feel.
[ID 4 Winds] Sol Uprising : We Ourself And Us (Instrumental)
Yes, that's the spelling! Chill undertones on this one with a drumline that sounds as though it's trying to break free of the rest of the track, this is a nice bit of production from ID 4 Winds from the "We Ourself And Us" EP by Sol Uprising - a crew I started checking for entirely because of the vocal talents of Stacy Epps, who you may know from her work with Madlib on the "Madvillainy" project.
Dr. Dre : Let Me Ride (Extended Club Mix)
A welcome inclusion on the "Nuthin But A G Thang" single, which I recently picked up on CD hidden amongst a pile of other stuff in a charity shop! I'd only ever heard this on pirate radio in Leeds over thirty years ago, and that might be at least in part because the full version is over eleven minutes long - which ironically, given the title, is too long for your average club set. "Let Me Ride" was a single in its own right and one of my favourite tracks on Dre's seminal LP "The Chronic", and it's good to see it get a more live-instrumented, explicitly P-Funk reworking here. Definitely worth picking up if you can find it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Balance without weight..."
- Dug Infinite
Maybe not a fully-themed episode, but we definitely make nods this time towards the recent moon mission that had many of us glued to the various streams and dashboards online! Besides those occasional references, this month we pay tribute to Guru and DMX, and have a selection that spikes both in the 90s and also the very recent past, with some contemporary releases to add to your headphone rotation with the quickness!
(None of the albums in the episode artwork are featured, but one of the artists is 🙂)
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mecca:83 : Love In Space
We start off with an artist local to me whose sound is respected worldwide! Mecca:83 came with the heat on the lovingly-crafted, skillfully-produced "Quiet Storm" beat tape, sampling up all manner of love songs and putting his own signature bump into them. If you like quality work with a solid theme running all the way through, don't miss that one.
Focus... : Space&Time
The man with three dots on the boards here as we go back to the very first "Analog In A Digital World" (doesn't that feel more and more relevant?) album from 2015. Sounding kind of spaced-out despite the snare intentionally rushing a little ahead of the pace, the potentially-hidden ingredient is the sub-bass that drops on some of the downbeats - separate from the bass guitar sounds - that you'll need quality headphones or capable speakers to appreciate.
O.C. : Burn Me Slow
This could be a companion track to KRS-ONE's "I Can't Wake Up", with O.C. likening himself to some quality weed - something I may not know about first-hand, but I'm sure many listeners do! The D.I.T.C. legend carries the theme through three solid verses over a chunky Buckwild beat that samples a great soul-gospel track. This is available from the "Buckwild Presents: Diggin' in the Crates - Rare Studio Masters (1993-1997)" compilation I'm drawing from here, but I believe there's a reissue of the "Jewelz" LP somewhere that includes it as a bonus track.
Natural Elements : infiNitE shiNE
One of the finest MC crews ever to be assembled is back with this month's brand new LP "Alignment", and one of the highlights is this - a new version of "Shine", an absolute heater that was one of their first singles! Charlemagne's beat is just a touch different to the original, a little darker and sharper, and A-Butta/Anthony Cruz, L-Swift/Swigga, and Mr. Voodoo/Agu come through heavy with updated bars for 2026. I've been waiting impatiently for this release, and it's an essential for anyone who respects that real NYC Hip-Hop!
Richie Branson : World Revolution
I bought this Richie Branson CD from the man himself after a show in Manchester (2013 I think), and "From Guardia With Love" still stands up. This San Antonio native has one of the more unusual CVs in Hip-Hop, being not just an MC and producer, but also a game designer! He's very much part of what many would term the "nerdcore" scene, incorporating video game sounds and themes heavily into his work, including this LP which is entirely based on the JRPG "Chrono Trigger". No hook on this, just flows over some slow, live-sounding drums and ominous video game synths. I don't know if the CD is still easily available, but you can get this on Bandcamp and put some money directly in Richie's pocket!
Beaminmusic (ft. Huey P) : Passion Fruit In Blood Diamonds
Coming out of the Pacific Northwest, Beaminmusic combines with fellow Seattle artist Huey P (aka Easthill Huey) to pair a beautiful, harp-laden instrumental with skilful bar work. Listen closely and you can hear the thoughtfulness on this cut from the 2024 album "Diego Escobar Passion, Fruit, In Blood Diamonds".
Evil Needle & chromonicci : Midnight
A chill instrumental to continue the wind-down and palate cleanse coming off the previous short mix, this is a beautiful slice of bumping smoothness from the 2020 "Travelers" EP/mini-LP by the French/German producer Evil Needle, who's done great work on the Chillhop label, alongside Dallas' Chromonicci showing he can get busy on the MPC too.
Benny The Butcher : Gold Plated Leica
Now that would be an expensive camera! My Ko-Fi account is open if you're feeling generous...anyway, here's a track from last year that makes the brightest season sound menacing, with Texas boom-bap specialist Nickel Plated providing the spooky, vaguely unsettling production to fit The Butcher's dope game bars. His two verses sandwich a guest appearance by OT The Real, who keeps the quality level up as well as contributing the hook. "Summertime Butch 2" is the source for this one.
Nas : Blue Benz
If for no other reason, this tune would get ratings from me for the abrupt drop-out to the iconic Louie Rankin (RIP) home invasion monologue from "Belly", but other reasons definitely exist! Hit-Boy, Penthouse Parti, and Roget Chahayed are on the fire beat from the first of the "King's Disease" albums, with Nas recalling the New York of the nineties in his trademark cinematic detail. Definitely one of the standouts on the album.
Semi Six : Truth
Had to do a little edit to give this a nice instrumental intro, as I think this standout from January's "Crown" EP deserves. Jael McCreary and Cameron Falsetti construct a sonic Hip-Hop haunted house for Detroit's Semi Six to coil his flow around on two fire verses. This is an artist who I think still isn't getting the light he deserves yet, but one who always leads with his pen and lets those who can keep up follow!
Clipse : Let God Sort Em Out
"YEAH!" The DJ Drama interjections on this were a nostalgic and welcome surprise on the title track for the latest Clipse LP "Let God Sort 'Em Out", which was in my opinion one of the best on the whole project. We mix out of it just as Nas' guest appearance would have started, one which I think would have been elevated even further if the Pharrell-produced beat you hear up to this point would have kept going instead of the switch-up. This beat is dark, menacing, cold, and perfect - a fitting setting for Pusha and Malice's pitiless bars.
Sndtrak : Bitethedust
Anyone who thinks sampling isn't an artform should hear this masterwork of a flip. On this selection from "Flips V1 : Triple Lindy", Sndtrak takes a rock classic and completely turns it inside out. It's drastically slower, the tough-sounding drums are brilliantly programmed in a slinky pattern, the bassline is totally reconfigured, and snatches of the rest of the instrumentation and legendary main vocal emerge from the shadows periodically before fading back into the darkness. This one deserved to be played all the way through to the end.
Toonorth : To The Moon And Back
I thought this was a nice one to include coming off the back of the successful Artemis 2 mission, which reminded us that competence is still valuable, and gave us back a little of the wonder of space travel that I'd say has been eroded by the Musks and Bezoses of the world. Somehow already eight years old, this relaxing beat from Portland producer Toonorth is most easily found on "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2018".
No I.D. ft. Dug Infinite : Jump On It
Quality 90s head-nod flavour from Chicago - a city which wasn't always recognised for their Hip-Hop at the time. No I.D. (formerly Immenslope) is probably best known for his work with Common, but also gave us a solid solo LP in "Accept Your Own And Be Yourself (The Black Album)" from which this it taken. There's nothing unusual to point out about this track, it's just simple dopeness - the quasi-sci-fi sounds of the intro lead into the main beat before settling into the background of the track, and guest MC Dug Infinite (who is on most of the album) had great chemistry with the headliner as they go back and forth.
Gang Starr : Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot)
I mentioned the soundtrack era last episode - there were some acclaimed ones, plenty of sub-par releases, and occasionally, an overlooked gem. For me, the "Trespass" soundtrack is firmly in the latter category, and gave us some career highlights for several of the featured artists, and this is a quality Gang Starr cut that never appeared on any of their LPs. DJ Premier hooks up a looping funk sample while the late great Guru plays a character in keeping with the larcenous theme of the film, as well as being reminiscent of the perspective of the robber from the GS classic "Just To Get A Rep". Guru's legendary monotone is perfect for the cold outlook of the character, and fits cleanly alongside the beat - as always.
De La Soul : Long Island Degrees
"I got questions about your life if you're so ready to die" 😲 90s again, why not? We move just over from Brooklyn to the Long Island of the title for another non-single selection, this time from De La's "Stakes Is High". They show love to their section over a smooth self-produced beat, going back and forth over six compact verses.
Camper ft. Terrace Martin and Arin Ray : Speak To Me
I can't lie - as someone who is not really a heavy R&B listener, Camper has not really been on my radar, but this track came to my notice because of the guest appearance of Terrace Martin - a musician I think is truly a modern giant. Camper is a Grammy winner himself as it turns out, so clearly I've been sleeping! We slide into some piano-laden jazzy vibes on this cut from the recent "Campilation" project, with Arin Ray contributing the vocal which really melds into the track as a whole: not densely lyrical, but carrying the day with feel.
Pete Rock : Hope The World Don't Stop (Before I Get Mines)
Pretty much. Get this beat on the "Return Of The SP1200" LP, a collection of some true Pete Rock gems.
DMX : Slippin'
Five years after hiw passing, we close the episode with a radio version of one of the singles from DMX' second LP "Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood". DJ Shok hooks up a moody soul-jazz sample as the basis for the instrumental, and DMX tells the story of a difficult early life and his efforts to survive and elevate. This track was apparently so powerful, so soul-baring, that when the video was shown to a judge before X was to be sentenced for tax evasion, the judge gave him a single year rather than the recommended five. That is writing.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Balance without weight..."
- Dug Infinite
Maybe not a fully-themed episode, but we definitely make nods this time towards the recent moon mission that had many of us glued to the various streams and dashboards online! Besides those occasional references, this month we pay tribute to Guru and DMX, and have a selection that spikes both in the 90s and also the very recent past, with some contemporary releases to add to your headphone rotation with the quickness!
(None of the albums in the episode artwork are featured, but one of the artists is 🙂)
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mecca:83 : Love In Space
We start off with an artist local to me whose sound is respected worldwide! Mecca:83 came with the heat on the lovingly-crafted, skillfully-produced "Quiet Storm" beat tape, sampling up all manner of love songs and putting his own signature bump into them. If you like quality work with a solid theme running all the way through, don't miss that one.
Focus... : Space&Time
The man with three dots on the boards here as we go back to the very first "Analog In A Digital World" (doesn't that feel more and more relevant?) album from 2015. Sounding kind of spaced-out despite the snare intentionally rushing a little ahead of the pace, the potentially-hidden ingredient is the sub-bass that drops on some of the downbeats - separate from the bass guitar sounds - that you'll need quality headphones or capable speakers to appreciate.
O.C. : Burn Me Slow
This could be a companion track to KRS-ONE's "I Can't Wake Up", with O.C. likening himself to some quality weed - something I may not know about first-hand, but I'm sure many listeners do! The D.I.T.C. legend carries the theme through three solid verses over a chunky Buckwild beat that samples a great soul-gospel track. This is available from the "Buckwild Presents: Diggin' in the Crates - Rare Studio Masters (1993-1997)" compilation I'm drawing from here, but I believe there's a reissue of the "Jewelz" LP somewhere that includes it as a bonus track.
Natural Elements : infiNitE shiNE
One of the finest MC crews ever to be assembled is back with this month's brand new LP "Alignment", and one of the highlights is this - a new version of "Shine", an absolute heater that was one of their first singles! Charlemagne's beat is just a touch different to the original, a little darker and sharper, and A-Butta/Anthony Cruz, L-Swift/Swigga, and Mr. Voodoo/Agu come through heavy with updated bars for 2026. I've been waiting impatiently for this release, and it's an essential for anyone who respects that real NYC Hip-Hop!
Richie Branson : World Revolution
I bought this Richie Branson CD from the man himself after a show in Manchester (2013 I think), and "From Guardia With Love" still stands up. This San Antonio native has one of the more unusual CVs in Hip-Hop, being not just an MC and producer, but also a game designer! He's very much part of what many would term the "nerdcore" scene, incorporating video game sounds and themes heavily into his work, including this LP which is entirely based on the JRPG "Chrono Trigger". No hook on this, just flows over some slow, live-sounding drums and ominous video game synths. I don't know if the CD is still easily available, but you can get this on Bandcamp and put some money directly in Richie's pocket!
Beaminmusic (ft. Huey P) : Passion Fruit In Blood Diamonds
Coming out of the Pacific Northwest, Beaminmusic combines with fellow Seattle artist Huey P (aka Easthill Huey) to pair a beautiful, harp-laden instrumental with skilful bar work. Listen closely and you can hear the thoughtfulness on this cut from the 2024 album "Diego Escobar Passion, Fruit, In Blood Diamonds".
Evil Needle & chromonicci : Midnight
A chill instrumental to continue the wind-down and palate cleanse coming off the previous short mix, this is a beautiful slice of bumping smoothness from the 2020 "Travelers" EP/mini-LP by the French/German producer Evil Needle, who's done great work on the Chillhop label, alongside Dallas' Chromonicci showing he can get busy on the MPC too.
Benny The Butcher : Gold Plated Leica
Now that would be an expensive camera! My Ko-Fi account is open if you're feeling generous...anyway, here's a track from last year that makes the brightest season sound menacing, with Texas boom-bap specialist Nickel Plated providing the spooky, vaguely unsettling production to fit The Butcher's dope game bars. His two verses sandwich a guest appearance by OT The Real, who keeps the quality level up as well as contributing the hook. "Summertime Butch 2" is the source for this one.
Nas : Blue Benz
If for no other reason, this tune would get ratings from me for the abrupt drop-out to the iconic Louie Rankin (RIP) home invasion monologue from "Belly", but other reasons definitely exist! Hit-Boy, Penthouse Parti, and Roget Chahayed are on the fire beat from the first of the "King's Disease" albums, with Nas recalling the New York of the nineties in his trademark cinematic detail. Definitely one of the standouts on the album.
Semi Six : Truth
Had to do a little edit to give this a nice instrumental intro, as I think this standout from January's "Crown" EP deserves. Jael McCreary and Cameron Falsetti construct a sonic Hip-Hop haunted house for Detroit's Semi Six to coil his flow around on two fire verses. This is an artist who I think still isn't getting the light he deserves yet, but one who always leads with his pen and lets those who can keep up follow!
Clipse : Let God Sort Em Out
"YEAH!" The DJ Drama interjections on this were a nostalgic and welcome surprise on the title track for the latest Clipse LP "Let God Sort 'Em Out", which was in my opinion one of the best on the whole project. We mix out of it just as Nas' guest appearance would have started, one which I think would have been elevated even further if the Pharrell-produced beat you hear up to this point would have kept going instead of the switch-up. This beat is dark, menacing, cold, and perfect - a fitting setting for Pusha and Malice's pitiless bars.
Sndtrak : Bitethedust
Anyone who thinks sampling isn't an artform should hear this masterwork of a flip. On this selection from "Flips V1 : Triple Lindy", Sndtrak takes a rock classic and completely turns it inside out. It's drastically slower, the tough-sounding drums are brilliantly programmed in a slinky pattern, the bassline is totally reconfigured, and snatches of the rest of the instrumentation and legendary main vocal emerge from the shadows periodically before fading back into the darkness. This one deserved to be played all the way through to the end.
Toonorth : To The Moon And Back
I thought this was a nice one to include coming off the back of the successful Artemis 2 mission, which reminded us that competence is still valuable, and gave us back a little of the wonder of space travel that I'd say has been eroded by the Musks and Bezoses of the world. Somehow already eight years old, this relaxing beat from Portland producer Toonorth is most easily found on "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2018".
No I.D. ft. Dug Infinite : Jump On It
Quality 90s head-nod flavour from Chicago - a city which wasn't always recognised for their Hip-Hop at the time. No I.D. (formerly Immenslope) is probably best known for his work with Common, but also gave us a solid solo LP in "Accept Your Own And Be Yourself (The Black Album)" from which this it taken. There's nothing unusual to point out about this track, it's just simple dopeness - the quasi-sci-fi sounds of the intro lead into the main beat before settling into the background of the track, and guest MC Dug Infinite (who is on most of the album) had great chemistry with the headliner as they go back and forth.
Gang Starr : Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot)
I mentioned the soundtrack era last episode - there were some acclaimed ones, plenty of sub-par releases, and occasionally, an overlooked gem. For me, the "Trespass" soundtrack is firmly in the latter category, and gave us some career highlights for several of the featured artists, and this is a quality Gang Starr cut that never appeared on any of their LPs. DJ Premier hooks up a looping funk sample while the late great Guru plays a character in keeping with the larcenous theme of the film, as well as being reminiscent of the perspective of the robber from the GS classic "Just To Get A Rep". Guru's legendary monotone is perfect for the cold outlook of the character, and fits cleanly alongside the beat - as always.
De La Soul : Long Island Degrees
"I got questions about your life if you're so ready to die" 😲 90s again, why not? We move just over from Brooklyn to the Long Island of the title for another non-single selection, this time from De La's "Stakes Is High". They show love to their section over a smooth self-produced beat, going back and forth over six compact verses.
Camper ft. Terrace Martin and Arin Ray : Speak To Me
I can't lie - as someone who is not really a heavy R&B listener, Camper has not really been on my radar, but this track came to my notice because of the guest appearance of Terrace Martin - a musician I think is truly a modern giant. Camper is a Grammy winner himself as it turns out, so clearly I've been sleeping! We slide into some piano-laden jazzy vibes on this cut from the recent "Campilation" project, with Arin Ray contributing the vocal which really melds into the track as a whole: not densely lyrical, but carrying the day with feel.
Pete Rock : Hope The World Don't Stop (Before I Get Mines)
Pretty much. Get this beat on the "Return Of The SP1200" LP, a collection of some true Pete Rock gems.
DMX : Slippin'
Five years after hiw passing, we close the episode with a radio version of one of the singles from DMX' second LP "Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood". DJ Shok hooks up a moody soul-jazz sample as the basis for the instrumental, and DMX tells the story of a difficult early life and his efforts to survive and elevate. This track was apparently so powerful, so soul-baring, that when the video was shown to a judge before X was to be sentenced for tax evasion, the judge gave him a single year rather than the recommended five. That is writing.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm so raw that I'm rare."
- Meth
Nothing too fast, no dramatic moves, just various ranges of head-nod speed this month, with a selection that - trust me - is prime headphone material. After seeing Wu-Tang live and the great Slick Rick in conversation this month, I had to get them both represented in the mix, where they take their place alongside Phife and Biggie who we honour this month as always. There are some fire recent releases here and some real excavations from my collection, with my CD stash contributing a couple of winners, starting with the opening track of the show...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Broke 'n' English : What's Wrong With You
I've recently been digitising my entire CD collection, which has allowed me to rediscover some cuts that I haven't played in a long time! Manchester/Salford's Broke 'n' English, made up of MCs Strategy and DRS (with Konny Kon on the wheels and sometimes the mic too) included this track on the "The Best Of Terms & Conditions Vol. 1 & 2" CD which was included with the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of the British magazine Hip-Hop Connection - and it's one that still sounds great almost twenty years later! Chunky production, and rapid-fire bars, which, as good as they are, were just a warmup for the deep catalogue Strats and DRS built up over the years to come.
Jake One : Chuuucch
The beats on "#PrayerHandsEmoji" all deserved to be longer - and some of them were in fact extended and used on tracks with MCs - so I've had to use a few tricks to extend this one and also strip it back to the drums in a couple of places to create sonic space in the mix. He's not the only Seattle artist in this month's selection, but he's one of those who helped represent the city strong in the pre-modern, post-Mix-A-Lot era (salute to Sir Mix-A-Lot also).
Raekwon & Ghostface Killah : Get Outta Here
We open the first mix with the legendary duo from the Wu-Tang, Rae and Ghost, from the latest Raekwon album "The Emperor's New Clothes". These are two MCs who bring flavour on every single appearance, and are one of the truly great MC pairings you'll ever hear. This kind sample-based, low-slung soul is perfect for them, very much the kind of production Ghost in particular has always shone on top of, and Frank G has to be commended for his work here. Definitely check this album from the arguably already-classic "Legend Has It..." series.
Zo! and Tall Black Guy ft. Brittney Carter and Lyric Jones : Quiet
Making an early claim on being one of the best releases we're likely to hear this year, Zo! and TBG have followed up their 2021 "Abstractions" album with the brand new "Expansions" collaborative LP. Soulful, warm, and bumping, it's definitely one to check - let this track serve as Exhibit A! Smoothly bass-led, with the featured vocalists bringing the MCing and singing sides seamlessly, and featuring an unexpected, but welcome, sprinkling of dancehall samples, this is downtempo headphone gold.
Gang Starr ft. Ne-Yo and Nitty Scott : Get Together
It can't be just me who thinks that this sounds like Ne-Yo wrote that hook on the bus to the studio on the day of recording? Nonetheless, this track may not have immediately jumped out on the final (?) Gang Starr LP "One Of The Best Yet", but it grows on you! Guru is quality as always on his loverman vibes, Nitty Scott makes a fine guest appearance as the other half of the conversation, and DJ Premier gives no hint during the intro of the kind of groove the rest of the track is going to settle into.
Anthony Danza : My Shxt Jump
(Note: this track pre-dates the Sean "Diddy" Combs charges and trial)
I've been introducing you to the work of this Seattle artist over the last year or so, so I hope you're tuned into the vibe enough to enjoy this 80s-sampling riding tune from the "New Jack Danza" and "The Nickel" releases. Danza is flossing hard over the DJ Manifest-produced beat, which shares a sample with a Southern classic that gets a mention in the second verse!
Quantic : Archipelago (Instrumental)
A beautiful beat composition from someone I otherwise don't know, but may be familiar to some of you! I learned about this track many moons ago as part of the "Ibiza - History Of Chillout" compilation, but it's available for digital purchase from the "Shapes Mono (When Shapes Join Together Mix)" collection. Smooth bass, relaxed drums...peaceful vibes for sure. This British producer looks to have a deep catalogue of work on the Tru Thoughts and Breakin Bread labels, so that should give you an idea of the kind of lane he's carved out, and may send you looking for more!
Soul From The O ft. Lalin St. Juste : On My Way
An artist new to me, Soul From The O comes out of Oakland and is an example of the Ronseal school of naming, with the cracking drums and smooth, piano-laden production from Sndtrak providing the canvas for O to spit his conscious rhymes and guest Lalin St. Juste to sing a hook that may well stick in your head as firmly as it did mine. The deeply personal 2023 "Queens And Pharoahs" album is the source for this one, and will especially appeal to those who like a variety of sounds across a whole LP.
The Duke Ya Love To Hate : Rollin'
The 45 heads will likely be familiar with this producer on Dresden's Cold Diggin' record label, but for most of you, this introduction will hopefully have you searching out more of his stuff! This great cut is his own take on "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" by Parliament as well as folding in the influences of some of the West Coast classics that have drawn from it, and it's done with panache. The full versions of this and the A-side "Ridin'" are, so far as I'm aware, only available on wax, with the Bandcamp having just seventeen copies available at the time of writing - don't miss out!
Skyzoo : Penny Jerseys
Definitely evocative of a specific era and a highly-specific cultural reference (I remember my now-wife asking me what "Penny jerseys" were when I played this in the car), this is a standout for me from the Skyzoo and Pete Rock LP "Retropolitan". The lyrics are autobiographical, and I won't say too much apart from that the ending is amazing. Pete Rock, as usual, does the business on production - and if you know the Gang Starr catalogue, you should catch a sample share with the track "The Planet" as part of the soundscape here.
Slick Rick & Common ft. Rene Neufville : Don't Come My Way
Having heard Slick Rick interviewed by Agent J this month I thought I'd dig deep into his catalogue for an inclusion here, and it happened to coincide with me exhaustively bringing my CD collection into the computer for easier access! The "soundtrack era" where all manner of Black or Black-related films was one which produced a glut of releases of varying quality, and even a wide quality spread within the same soundtrack, with labels seemingly using the albums to introduce new artists or dump subpar material which often had little to do with the film in question. Sometimes though, you got a track that was both relevant and up to scratch, and this is one of those - a deep cut from the soundtrack to the 1999 film "Whiteboys", that has The Ruler sharing the mic with Common, a native of the Chicago in which the film is set, Rene Neufville on the hook, and a producer named Che Guevara coming through with staccato string chops on a head-nodding beat. Even ardent fans of Slick Rick or Common could be forgiven for missing out on this one the first time round!
[Da Beatminerz] Black Moon : Stay Real (Instrumental)
I wrote on this beat quite a bit when I played the vocal version a few years back, but just a reminder that this is likely the third usage of this sample - preceding Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement" but brought to the fore by Buckwild on O.C.'s "Word...Life" LP as an interlude and then teased on Da Beatminerz' "Brace 4 Impak" album. To get this long instrumental version though, you need to get the 12" of "Stay Real" by Black Moon, drawn from their "Total Eclipse" LP.
Method Man : M.E.T.H.O.D. Man (Remix)
This track brings back some memories! The first time I heard it was back home in Leeds on a mixtape, when those were hard to come by, from one of the city's most notable Hip-Hop DJs, P-Wiz (later Oddball), copied for me by a mate who also hadn't heard this specific version. A darker, slower take on the original "Method Man" from "Enter The Wu-Tang", still with RZA on production, this one became more widely available when it was included on Meth's debut LP "Tical".
Black Milk ft. Invincible and Finale : Don't Sleep
Straight banging business out of Detroit, with Black Milk behind the boards and Invincible taking the lead alongside Finale running the hook. When she's in her flow mode, Invincible has one of the great but lesser-known voices in Hip-Hop and this track is an excellent example. Even though she's not loud, she cuts through the drums and sirens with no problem at all. This 2010 cut is on the Mello Music Group "Helpless Dreamer" compilation with a bunch of other underground heat from that label.
Phife Dawg : Melody Adonis
Unadulterated 90s Hip-Hop here, from the late, great Phife Dawg's lone solo album, "Ventilation : Da LP". Pete Rock's beat is an undeniable head-nodder and a perfect backing for Phife's three verses - the first two on the love tip (no pun intended), while the third has him expressing his anger and frustration with the breakdown of the Tribe situation at the time. I'm glad they were able to come back together before he passed away - already ten years ago this month. The "Ventilation" LP has a few absolute gems, and this deep album cut is one of them.
DJ Spinna, Phonte, and YahZarah : Guaranteed
Phonte has been one of the great talents of the culture since he emerged as the lead MC of Little Brother in the early 2000s, and then showed off his singing ability as well. One thing he's been able to do well since the beginning is write about relationships - the ups, the downs, the reality - without having to rely on the tired love song cliches. This is another well-written and performed track alongside Ghanaian-American powerhouse YahZarah, with the mature, grown-up soul groove coming from DJ Spinna as part of his "Sonic Smash" project, one which has long been unavailable for streaming but absolutely worth the cash to buy if you can find a copy!
[DJ Spinna] Ty : Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Beyond Real Remix) (Instrumental)
It was Episode 98 when I played you the vocal version of this dope remix (RIP Ty) from "Kick Snare & An Idea Pt.3", so I thought it was a reasonable amount of time to wait before dropping Spinna's instrumental! Classic Brooklyn Thingamajig Lab vibes here, from a producer who can always conjour this signature style without it ever getting stale - as well being one of the most versatile out.
Ma$e, The Notorious B.I.G, and Styles P : Freestyle
I had to include some Biggie - even though it can be a challenge when we're talking about artists who, due to their untimely departures, had relatively short catalogues. The sound quality on this one is pretty rough - coming from a Hot 97 radio broadcast before being pressed onto wax for "Milk Crate Collection Vol. 6 - Part II Of The Biggie Collection (R.I.P.)" - but I hope you can forgive it. This track has two Bad Boy artists going back and forth over the track for "All About The Benjamins" with freestyle bars before Styles P gets on to close it down. Interestingly, Biggie is actually on the "Benjamins" remix that most people know, but never rhymes on this beat, as it changes up for his verse on that version - so here we get the union of the two at last!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm so raw that I'm rare."
- Meth
Nothing too fast, no dramatic moves, just various ranges of head-nod speed this month, with a selection that - trust me - is prime headphone material. After seeing Wu-Tang live and the great Slick Rick in conversation this month, I had to get them both represented in the mix, where they take their place alongside Phife and Biggie who we honour this month as always. There are some fire recent releases here and some real excavations from my collection, with my CD stash contributing a couple of winners, starting with the opening track of the show...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Broke 'n' English : What's Wrong With You
I've recently been digitising my entire CD collection, which has allowed me to rediscover some cuts that I haven't played in a long time! Manchester/Salford's Broke 'n' English, made up of MCs Strategy and DRS (with Konny Kon on the wheels and sometimes the mic too) included this track on the "The Best Of Terms & Conditions Vol. 1 & 2" CD which was included with the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of the British magazine Hip-Hop Connection - and it's one that still sounds great almost twenty years later! Chunky production, and rapid-fire bars, which, as good as they are, were just a warmup for the deep catalogue Strats and DRS built up over the years to come.
Jake One : Chuuucch
The beats on "#PrayerHandsEmoji" all deserved to be longer - and some of them were in fact extended and used on tracks with MCs - so I've had to use a few tricks to extend this one and also strip it back to the drums in a couple of places to create sonic space in the mix. He's not the only Seattle artist in this month's selection, but he's one of those who helped represent the city strong in the pre-modern, post-Mix-A-Lot era (salute to Sir Mix-A-Lot also).
Raekwon & Ghostface Killah : Get Outta Here
We open the first mix with the legendary duo from the Wu-Tang, Rae and Ghost, from the latest Raekwon album "The Emperor's New Clothes". These are two MCs who bring flavour on every single appearance, and are one of the truly great MC pairings you'll ever hear. This kind sample-based, low-slung soul is perfect for them, very much the kind of production Ghost in particular has always shone on top of, and Frank G has to be commended for his work here. Definitely check this album from the arguably already-classic "Legend Has It..." series.
Zo! and Tall Black Guy ft. Brittney Carter and Lyric Jones : Quiet
Making an early claim on being one of the best releases we're likely to hear this year, Zo! and TBG have followed up their 2021 "Abstractions" album with the brand new "Expansions" collaborative LP. Soulful, warm, and bumping, it's definitely one to check - let this track serve as Exhibit A! Smoothly bass-led, with the featured vocalists bringing the MCing and singing sides seamlessly, and featuring an unexpected, but welcome, sprinkling of dancehall samples, this is downtempo headphone gold.
Gang Starr ft. Ne-Yo and Nitty Scott : Get Together
It can't be just me who thinks that this sounds like Ne-Yo wrote that hook on the bus to the studio on the day of recording? Nonetheless, this track may not have immediately jumped out on the final (?) Gang Starr LP "One Of The Best Yet", but it grows on you! Guru is quality as always on his loverman vibes, Nitty Scott makes a fine guest appearance as the other half of the conversation, and DJ Premier gives no hint during the intro of the kind of groove the rest of the track is going to settle into.
Anthony Danza : My Shxt Jump
(Note: this track pre-dates the Sean "Diddy" Combs charges and trial) I've been introducing you to the work of this Seattle artist over the last year or so, so I hope you're tuned into the vibe enough to enjoy this 80s-sampling riding tune from the "New Jack Danza" and "The Nickel" releases. Danza is flossing hard over the DJ Manifest-produced beat, which shares a sample with a Southern classic that gets a mention in the second verse!
Quantic : Archipelago (Instrumental)
A beautiful beat composition from someone I otherwise don't know, but may be familiar to some of you! I learned about this track many moons ago as part of the "Ibiza - History Of Chillout" compilation, but it's available for digital purchase from the "Shapes Mono (When Shapes Join Together Mix)" collection. Smooth bass, relaxed drums...peaceful vibes for sure. This British producer looks to have a deep catalogue of work on the Tru Thoughts and Breakin Bread labels, so that should give you an idea of the kind of lane he's carved out, and may send you looking for more!
Soul From The O ft. Lalin St. Juste : On My Way
An artist new to me, Soul From The O comes out of Oakland and is an example of the Ronseal school of naming, with the cracking drums and smooth, piano-laden production from Sndtrak providing the canvas for O to spit his conscious rhymes and guest Lalin St. Juste to sing a hook that may well stick in your head as firmly as it did mine. The deeply personal 2023 "Queens And Pharoahs" album is the source for this one, and will especially appeal to those who like a variety of sounds across a whole LP.
The Duke Ya Love To Hate : Rollin'
The 45 heads will likely be familiar with this producer on Dresden's Cold Diggin' record label, but for most of you, this introduction will hopefully have you searching out more of his stuff! This great cut is his own take on "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" by Parliament as well as folding in the influences of some of the West Coast classics that have drawn from it, and it's done with panache. The full versions of this and the A-side "Ridin'" are, so far as I'm aware, only available on wax, with the Bandcamp having just seventeen copies available at the time of writing - don't miss out!
Skyzoo : Penny Jerseys
Definitely evocative of a specific era and a highly-specific cultural reference (I remember my now-wife asking me what "Penny jerseys" were when I played this in the car), this is a standout for me from the Skyzoo and Pete Rock LP "Retropolitan". The lyrics are autobiographical, and I won't say too much apart from that the ending is amazing. Pete Rock, as usual, does the business on production - and if you know the Gang Starr catalogue, you should catch a sample share with the track "The Planet" as part of the soundscape here.
Slick Rick & Common ft. Rene Neufville : Don't Come My Way
Having heard Slick Rick interviewed by Agent J this month I thought I'd dig deep into his catalogue for an inclusion here, and it happened to coincide with me exhaustively bringing my CD collection into the computer for easier access! The "soundtrack era" where all manner of Black or Black-related films was one which produced a glut of releases of varying quality, and even a wide quality spread within the same soundtrack, with labels seemingly using the albums to introduce new artists or dump subpar material which often had little to do with the film in question. Sometimes though, you got a track that was both relevant and up to scratch, and this is one of those - a deep cut from the soundtrack to the 1999 film "Whiteboys", that has The Ruler sharing the mic with Common, a native of the Chicago in which the film is set, Rene Neufville on the hook, and a producer named Che Guevara coming through with staccato string chops on a head-nodding beat. Even ardent fans of Slick Rick or Common could be forgiven for missing out on this one the first time round!
[Da Beatminerz] Black Moon : Stay Real (Instrumental)
I wrote on this beat quite a bit when I played the vocal version a few years back, but just a reminder that this is likely the third usage of this sample - preceding Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement" but brought to the fore by Buckwild on O.C.'s "Word...Life" LP as an interlude and then teased on Da Beatminerz' "Brace 4 Impak" album. To get this long instrumental version though, you need to get the 12" of "Stay Real" by Black Moon, drawn from their "Total Eclipse" LP.
Method Man : M.E.T.H.O.D. Man (Remix)
This track brings back some memories! The first time I heard it was back home in Leeds on a mixtape, when those were hard to come by, from one of the city's most notable Hip-Hop DJs, P-Wiz (later Oddball), copied for me by a mate who also hadn't heard this specific version. A darker, slower take on the original "Method Man" from "Enter The Wu-Tang", still with RZA on production, this one became more widely available when it was included on Meth's debut LP "Tical".
Black Milk ft. Invincible and Finale : Don't Sleep
Straight banging business out of Detroit, with Black Milk behind the boards and Invincible taking the lead alongside Finale running the hook. When she's in her flow mode, Invincible has one of the great but lesser-known voices in Hip-Hop and this track is an excellent example. Even though she's not loud, she cuts through the drums and sirens with no problem at all. This 2010 cut is on the Mello Music Group "Helpless Dreamer" compilation with a bunch of other underground heat from that label.
Phife Dawg : Melody Adonis
Unadulterated 90s Hip-Hop here, from the late, great Phife Dawg's lone solo album, "Ventilation : Da LP". Pete Rock's beat is an undeniable head-nodder and a perfect backing for Phife's three verses - the first two on the love tip (no pun intended), while the third has him expressing his anger and frustration with the breakdown of the Tribe situation at the time. I'm glad they were able to come back together before he passed away - already ten years ago this month. The "Ventilation" LP has a few absolute gems, and this deep album cut is one of them.
DJ Spinna, Phonte, and YahZarah : Guaranteed
Phonte has been one of the great talents of the culture since he emerged as the lead MC of Little Brother in the early 2000s, and then showed off his singing ability as well. One thing he's been able to do well since the beginning is write about relationships - the ups, the downs, the reality - without having to rely on the tired love song cliches. This is another well-written and performed track alongside Ghanaian-American powerhouse YahZarah, with the mature, grown-up soul groove coming from DJ Spinna as part of his "Sonic Smash" project, one which has long been unavailable for streaming but absolutely worth the cash to buy if you can find a copy!
[DJ Spinna] Ty : Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Beyond Real Remix) (Instrumental)
It was Episode 98 when I played you the vocal version of this dope remix (RIP Ty) from "Kick Snare & An Idea Pt.3", so I thought it was a reasonable amount of time to wait before dropping Spinna's instrumental! Classic Brooklyn Thingamajig Lab vibes here, from a producer who can always conjour this signature style without it ever getting stale - as well being one of the most versatile out.
Ma$e, The Notorious B.I.G, and Styles P : Freestyle
I had to include some Biggie - even though it can be a challenge when we're talking about artists who, due to their untimely departures, had relatively short catalogues. The sound quality on this one is pretty rough - coming from a Hot 97 radio broadcast before being pressed onto wax for "Milk Crate Collection Vol. 6 - Part II Of The Biggie Collection (R.I.P.)" - but I hope you can forgive it. This track has two Bad Boy artists going back and forth over the track for "All About The Benjamins" with freestyle bars before Styles P gets on to close it down. Interestingly, Biggie is actually on the "Benjamins" remix that most people know, but never rhymes on this beat, as it changes up for his verse on that version - so here we get the union of the two at last!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Algorithms can't silence the beat of the brave..."
- Chuck D
This one has been a challenge to get together in time (thanks Numa Pompilius), but here we are! We've got J Dilla and Big L in the mix (dropped the ball on a Big Pun record that went missing 😕), alongside new material from some of the all-time greats still with us, and gems from newer artists who are very much still writing their stories. Tempo is moderate to low all the way through, as we drag ourselves through what feels like an extended winter... Headphones on, volume up, let's go!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bugzy Malone : The 10 Graft Commandments
We start the episode right here in Manchester, for a track just over a year old from the "The Journal Of An Evil Genius Vol. 2" EP (also available as a single). Over dark, atmospheric production from Glxtch, Bugzy pays tribute to Biggie's "Ten Crack Commandments" as he runs down the steps to his come-up - and what happens when you get there. This one will move your speakers for sure, but to appreciate the bars in details it's one to play in your headphones and sit with.
J Dilla : Dillatronic 14
This selection from the collection of sketches, ideas, and prototypes from Dilla's "Dillatronic" does contain a few synth stabs at the low end along with a sparse drum track and choral sample, but it's not half as electronic as the Dilla beat that follows here...
Phat Kat : Nasty
...the full synth onslaught of this 2007 track from one of his close compadres, Detroit's own Phat Kat! The production is busy but Kat's voice stomps a path through it all to create a fierce B-side to the "Cold Steel" single.
Nas & DJ Premier : Git Ready
The long, long-awaited album from Nas and DJ Premier, "Light-Years" was the final instalment of the "Legend Has It..." series of releases from Nas' Mass Appeal label, and one which I think has been hastily underrated by writers and posters desperate to get their hot takes off. Overall I think it was an excellent album, and this track is the first to pick up the pace after the low-tempo opening track. I think the title of this track comes from the Git version control system used by many software engineers, and Nas goes full tech on the lyrics. He may not be an engineer himself, but he's made a lot of money investing in the industry so the perspective he's writing from here is definitely his own! Preemo's beat is one of my favourites on the LP, lean and funky.
Erick Sermon ft. Public Enemy : How Long
One of the greatest MCs of all time on a track produced by one of the most legendary producers. Erick Sermon's new LP "Dynamic Duos (Volume 1)" sees him behind the boards with a host of mic duos, and this track continues the vibe we're in of blending that old-time funk into the Hip-Hop. Flavor Flav is quite literally just adding the flavour here rather than getting a full verse to himself, while Chuck's radio-clear voice, as always, comes through with exactly the right spirit for these times.
The High & Mighty ft. Large Professor and Tash : Prism (Caruana Mix)
The British producer Tom Caruana kills it on this breezy remix - that flute adding the levity - that gives us a nice midtempo groove with a little Bollywood flavour taking it over the top! It might be a High & Mighty track, and Tash of The Alkaholiks is also always quality, but for me Large Professor steals the show here. He might be best known to most as a producer, but don't forget that he gets very busy on the mic. Great flow and tone, makes the track his own, on a guest appearance you can't help but respect. The original track from "Sound Of Market" is definitely worth hearing, but this single is an excellent re-working.
J Dilla : Jay Dee 44
Simple but not plain, this is taken from another collection of Dilla's prolific unreleased output, "The King Of Beats / The Lost Scrolls", moving along with his trademark bounce. It's well under two minutes long, so there's a little bit of looping here to make it a more suitable length for this mix.
Kofi Stone : Busker Flow
If you hear a busker with bars like this, you'd better dig into your pockets and put something in the bucket! In this case, however, you can buy this track for less than £1, or splash out and pick up the whole 2019 "Nobody Cares Till Everyone Does" album for well under a tenner. Over production from Manchester heavyweight Pitch 92, the self-(but accurately)-styled Mayor of Brum (Birmingham, for international listeners) absolutely obliterates the mic with rapid, precise, and controlled flows that amazed listeners when I recently included it on a Twitch stream. This one should have you reaching for a rewind!
Kardinal Offishall ft. Estelle : Kaysarasara
Canada and UK combined on this one - I'd like to have heard Estelle get a full verse, but at least she does her thing on the hook! I just remembered I had this while ripping a chunk of my CD collection this week, and decided to share this cut from "Fire And Glory" at the last minute. Kardi has the versatility to come off at a range of speeds, and so has no problem fitting into this Jake One production from 2005 which bumps along nicely.
Wu-Tang Clan : Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours
Easily one of my favourite cuts on the second Wu-Tang LP "Wu-Tang Forever", this is a beast of a record building on the "C.R.E.A.M." motif from their debut LP. 4th Disciple outdoes himself here on production, with a ridiculous sample flip and some heavy bottom, and the vocalists absolutely keep the quality level up with the bars. Raekwon is unmistakeable with his slang-encrusted crime rhymes at the start, Method Man follows up with a fire second verse immediately on his heels, and then transitions into the artfully done lowering of the instrumental where he and LA The Darkman (I believe) come together loosely to deliver the killer bridge that ties into the track title. Finally, Ghostface takes the mic, and as though he were channeling the spirit of a young Kool G Rap, rhymes right off the end of the instrumental and is faded out, still rhyming. This track is raw not in the sense of being crude or unpolished, but just in the level of unbridled dopeness at every turn. Classic in my opinion.
Team Demo & Wais P ft. Planet Asia & Skyzoo : Quest Love Bounce
Shouting out the incredible and influential drummer of The Legendary Roots Crew is this banger from the DMV production squad Team Demo, who bring in some fierce MCs to battle their drum-heavy beat - Fresno's Planet Asia and the Brooklyn pairing of Skyzoo and Wais P. A wicked tune from the 2024 "It's A Demo" LP that makes for good weight-training music. Oh yes - bonus points to Skyzoo for the mention of Jabo Starks, another revered drummer!
[Buckwild] Celph Titled : Eraserheads (Instrumental)
Vintage production from Buckwild here, who pulled this one from an old, old floppy disk as part of the haul that Celph Titled rhymed on for the 2010 "Nineteen Ninety Now" album. The beats on the LP were created in the 1994-1995 period, but aged beautifully - and knowing the history, it's nice to know that they eventually went to good use!
Raz Fresco, Futurewave, Estee Nack, al.divino : Alpaca
This track is named after, and samples, what for some reason is still the line I remember best from "American Gangster" - and one which, if I'm honest, has absolutely influenced my approach to stain removal. The only credited artist here I'm familiar with at all is the producer Futurewave, and so it's always a win to become aware of new talent to search out for future listening. Raz Fresco is a Canadian compatriot of Futurewave and they connected for the "Stadium Lo Champions" LP from which this is drawn, and everyone involved gets busy - I'm not sure who that is on the closing verse, but he slays it! I'm always here for street-level rhymes and Polo stunting, and along with the slow and vaguely menacing production, there's plenty to go around.
elBrown016 ft. Criseal : The Get Down
With vocals coming all the way from Dubai, this new single is produced by Criseal, who some of you will know from his appearances at the WORKINONIT beat sessions in Manchester, soundtracking the lyrics of Caribbean/Pakistani MC elBrown016. Sounding both luxurious and ominous, this brand new single is a polished union.
Massive Attack and Mad Professor : Cool Monsoon
A little instrumental bonus between two tracks that are on the brief side, this is the dubbed-out Mad Professor remix of the beautiful "Weather Storm" from the "Protection" album, which you can find along with the rest of his re-imagining of that LP on 1995's "No Protection". Originally only one track was to be remixed as a single release, but once Massive Attack heard the result they asked Mad Professor to see what he could do with more, eventually resulting in a dub version of almost the whole album! Definitely one to check out if you want some high-grade chill music.
Big L ft. Novel : All Alone (Quiet Storm Mix)
A very short track, from the all-too-short life of Big L. The "Legend Has It..." series featured a new Big L LP, made up of unreleased and remastered tracks as well as some classic freestyles. This brief track is notable for being produced by (as well as Dylan Graham) Lord Finesse, the man who discovered Big L and brought him into the Diggin' In The Crates fold. It's a million miles away from something like "Devil's Son", and sees L wishing for romance alongside Novel, who adds an R&B touch.
LE$ : 89 Carrera
"Even though it's in the past, can't forget what I seen" - relatable. I'm going to keep bringing you this Houston artist with the insane workrate, who is back again with his new "Gran Turismo 3" project - entirely self-produced, and fabulously so. This track is the opener and an absolutely fire start, with mellow piano-laden production and Le$' reflective lyrics.
Illa J & J Dilla : Everytime (Instrumental)
The final instrumental of the show is another Dilla production from the "Yancey Boys" LP - enjoy it as a piece of music in its own right, but also take it as a reminder to check out the Illa J catalogue as well as the discography of his famous older brother.
DJ Stussy : Blacker
Sometimes the various social media algorithm actually get something right! This one popped up on my feed, and plenty of Hip-Hop luminaries were backing it in the comments - once I released it was an actual retail release, I picked up the single and thought it'd be a great one to end with at the close of US Black History Month. It moves through various vibes throughout, from tongue-in-cheek to serious to proud, with a melodic flow to give it all an uplifting feel. This has the potential to be something of an anthem!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Algorithms can't silence the beat of the brave..."
- Chuck D
This one has been a challenge to get together in time (thanks Numa Pompilius), but here we are! We've got J Dilla and Big L in the mix (dropped the ball on a Big Pun record that went missing 😕), alongside new material from some of the all-time greats still with us, and gems from newer artists who are very much still writing their stories. Tempo is moderate to low all the way through, as we drag ourselves through what feels like an extended winter... Headphones on, volume up, let's go!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bugzy Malone : The 10 Graft Commandments
We start the episode right here in Manchester, for a track just over a year old from the "The Journal Of An Evil Genius Vol. 2" EP (also available as a single). Over dark, atmospheric production from Glxtch, Bugzy pays tribute to Biggie's "Ten Crack Commandments" as he runs down the steps to his come-up - and what happens when you get there. This one will move your speakers for sure, but to appreciate the bars in details it's one to play in your headphones and sit with.
J Dilla : Dillatronic 14
This selection from the collection of sketches, ideas, and prototypes from Dilla's "Dillatronic" does contain a few synth stabs at the low end along with a sparse drum track and choral sample, but it's not half as electronic as the Dilla beat that follows here...
Phat Kat : Nasty
...the full synth onslaught of this 2007 track from one of his close compadres, Detroit's own Phat Kat! The production is busy but Kat's voice stomps a path through it all to create a fierce B-side to the "Cold Steel" single.
Nas & DJ Premier : Git Ready
The long, long-awaited album from Nas and DJ Premier, "Light-Years" was the final instalment of the "Legend Has It..." series of releases from Nas' Mass Appeal label, and one which I think has been hastily underrated by writers and posters desperate to get their hot takes off. Overall I think it was an excellent album, and this track is the first to pick up the pace after the low-tempo opening track. I think the title of this track comes from the Git version control system used by many software engineers, and Nas goes full tech on the lyrics. He may not be an engineer himself, but he's made a lot of money investing in the industry so the perspective he's writing from here is definitely his own! Preemo's beat is one of my favourites on the LP, lean and funky.
Erick Sermon ft. Public Enemy : How Long
One of the greatest MCs of all time on a track produced by one of the most legendary producers. Erick Sermon's new LP "Dynamic Duos (Volume 1)" sees him behind the boards with a host of mic duos, and this track continues the vibe we're in of blending that old-time funk into the Hip-Hop. Flavor Flav is quite literally just adding the flavour here rather than getting a full verse to himself, while Chuck's radio-clear voice, as always, comes through with exactly the right spirit for these times.
The High & Mighty ft. Large Professor and Tash : Prism (Caruana Mix)
The British producer Tom Caruana kills it on this breezy remix - that flute adding the levity - that gives us a nice midtempo groove with a little Bollywood flavour taking it over the top! It might be a High & Mighty track, and Tash of The Alkaholiks is also always quality, but for me Large Professor steals the show here. He might be best known to most as a producer, but don't forget that he gets very busy on the mic. Great flow and tone, makes the track his own, on a guest appearance you can't help but respect. The original track from "Sound Of Market" is definitely worth hearing, but this single is an excellent re-working.
J Dilla : Jay Dee 44
Simple but not plain, this is taken from another collection of Dilla's prolific unreleased output, "The King Of Beats / The Lost Scrolls", moving along with his trademark bounce. It's well under two minutes long, so there's a little bit of looping here to make it a more suitable length for this mix.
Kofi Stone : Busker Flow
If you hear a busker with bars like this, you'd better dig into your pockets and put something in the bucket! In this case, however, you can buy this track for less than £1, or splash out and pick up the whole 2019 "Nobody Cares Till Everyone Does" album for well under a tenner. Over production from Manchester heavyweight Pitch 92, the self-(but accurately)-styled Mayor of Brum (Birmingham, for international listeners) absolutely obliterates the mic with rapid, precise, and controlled flows that amazed listeners when I recently included it on a Twitch stream. This one should have you reaching for a rewind!
Kardinal Offishall ft. Estelle : Kaysarasara
Canada and UK combined on this one - I'd like to have heard Estelle get a full verse, but at least she does her thing on the hook! I just remembered I had this while ripping a chunk of my CD collection this week, and decided to share this cut from "Fire And Glory" at the last minute. Kardi has the versatility to come off at a range of speeds, and so has no problem fitting into this Jake One production from 2005 which bumps along nicely.
Wu-Tang Clan : Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours
Easily one of my favourite cuts on the second Wu-Tang LP "Wu-Tang Forever", this is a beast of a record building on the "C.R.E.A.M." motif from their debut LP. 4th Disciple outdoes himself here on production, with a ridiculous sample flip and some heavy bottom, and the vocalists absolutely keep the quality level up with the bars. Raekwon is unmistakeable with his slang-encrusted crime rhymes at the start, Method Man follows up with a fire second verse immediately on his heels, and then transitions into the artfully done lowering of the instrumental where he and LA The Darkman (I believe) come together loosely to deliver the killer bridge that ties into the track title. Finally, Ghostface takes the mic, and as though he were channeling the spirit of a young Kool G Rap, rhymes right off the end of the instrumental and is faded out, still rhyming. This track is raw not in the sense of being crude or unpolished, but just in the level of unbridled dopeness at every turn. Classic in my opinion.
Team Demo & Wais P ft. Planet Asia & Skyzoo : Quest Love Bounce
Shouting out the incredible and influential drummer of The Legendary Roots Crew is this banger from the DMV production squad Team Demo, who bring in some fierce MCs to battle their drum-heavy beat - Fresno's Planet Asia and the Brooklyn pairing of Skyzoo and Wais P. A wicked tune from the 2024 "It's A Demo" LP that makes for good weight-training music. Oh yes - bonus points to Skyzoo for the mention of Jabo Starks, another revered drummer!
[Buckwild] Celph Titled : Eraserheads (Instrumental)
Vintage production from Buckwild here, who pulled this one from an old, old floppy disk as part of the haul that Celph Titled rhymed on for the 2010 "Nineteen Ninety Now" album. The beats on the LP were created in the 1994-1995 period, but aged beautifully - and knowing the history, it's nice to know that they eventually went to good use!
Raz Fresco, Futurewave, Estee Nack, al.divino : Alpaca
This track is named after, and samples, what for some reason is still the line I remember best from "American Gangster" - and one which, if I'm honest, has absolutely influenced my approach to stain removal. The only credited artist here I'm familiar with at all is the producer Futurewave, and so it's always a win to become aware of new talent to search out for future listening. Raz Fresco is a Canadian compatriot of Futurewave and they connected for the "Stadium Lo Champions" LP from which this is drawn, and everyone involved gets busy - I'm not sure who that is on the closing verse, but he slays it! I'm always here for street-level rhymes and Polo stunting, and along with the slow and vaguely menacing production, there's plenty to go around.
elBrown016 ft. Criseal : The Get Down
With vocals coming all the way from Dubai, this new single is produced by Criseal, who some of you will know from his appearances at the WORKINONIT beat sessions in Manchester, soundtracking the lyrics of Caribbean/Pakistani MC elBrown016. Sounding both luxurious and ominous, this brand new single is a polished union.
Massive Attack and Mad Professor : Cool Monsoon
A little instrumental bonus between two tracks that are on the brief side, this is the dubbed-out Mad Professor remix of the beautiful "Weather Storm" from the "Protection" album, which you can find along with the rest of his re-imagining of that LP on 1995's "No Protection". Originally only one track was to be remixed as a single release, but once Massive Attack heard the result they asked Mad Professor to see what he could do with more, eventually resulting in a dub version of almost the whole album! Definitely one to check out if you want some high-grade chill music.
Big L ft. Novel : All Alone (Quiet Storm Mix)
A very short track, from the all-too-short life of Big L. The "Legend Has It..." series featured a new Big L LP, made up of unreleased and remastered tracks as well as some classic freestyles. This brief track is notable for being produced by (as well as Dylan Graham) Lord Finesse, the man who discovered Big L and brought him into the Diggin' In The Crates fold. It's a million miles away from something like "Devil's Son", and sees L wishing for romance alongside Novel, who adds an R&B touch.
LE$ : 89 Carrera
"Even though it's in the past, can't forget what I seen" - relatable. I'm going to keep bringing you this Houston artist with the insane workrate, who is back again with his new "Gran Turismo 3" project - entirely self-produced, and fabulously so. This track is the opener and an absolutely fire start, with mellow piano-laden production and Le$' reflective lyrics.
Illa J & J Dilla : Everytime (Instrumental)
The final instrumental of the show is another Dilla production from the "Yancey Boys" LP - enjoy it as a piece of music in its own right, but also take it as a reminder to check out the Illa J catalogue as well as the discography of his famous older brother.
DJ Stussy : Blacker
Sometimes the various social media algorithm actually get something right! This one popped up on my feed, and plenty of Hip-Hop luminaries were backing it in the comments - once I released it was an actual retail release, I picked up the single and thought it'd be a great one to end with at the close of US Black History Month. It moves through various vibes throughout, from tongue-in-cheek to serious to proud, with a melodic flow to give it all an uplifting feel. This has the potential to be something of an anthem!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Big up to all the massive..."
- Buckshot
Somehow, this humble show from the days when you had to explain what a podcast even was has reached the double century milestone! I'm so glad that you're here to listen, whether you've been here for one day or since day one. I asked for voice messages from you to play during this celebratory episode and you generously responded with your love, memories, and favourite songs and episodes. This month, alongside classic tracks from some of my all-time favourite artists and some new gems, enjoy listening to the words and voices of our community!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Black Ivory : I Keep Asking You Questions
Marking the one and only time in the history of the podcast that I've intentionally repeated a song, this is just here as a little intro before we drop the next track - but it's also an opportunity to write a few words as I wasn't doing detailed track notes back when I played this on the very first episode! Black Ivory, originally Mellow Souls, are a Harlem vocal trio who started in 1969 and amazingly have carried on performing right into the 2020s with their original lineup. This track was the B-side of their first single "Don't Turn Around", but as Chuck D famously said, "B-Side Wins Again" as this is definitely the bigger tune in my opinion. As I've played the whole thing before, you just get a taste here before we take a detour to hear how many of us first discovered it...
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Criminology
Somehow never yet played on the show, this was a big single from the no-debate classic LP "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...", which for those who don't know is my favourite Hip-Hop album of all time. RZA borrows from the Black Ivory cut for the intro and hook, but a different soul classic for the verses, and then Rae and Ghost go full-throttle on this mid-90s heater. Imagine having this being a single and still arguably outside the top three tracks on your album - that's "Thriller" magnitude.
Downtown Science : Out There But In There (Instrumental)
Downtown Science were the pairing of MC Bosco Money and the producer Sam Sever, best known to most for his work with 3rd Bass, and were a group I was curious about hearing back in their day - but I didn't see their LP in the local shops (this was the early 90s) or have money for it anyway. When I saw the "Room To Breathe" single on a digging mission many years later, I took the opportunity to pick it up and this was tucked away on the B-side. While the sounds are different, the drum pattern is very reminiscent of EPMD's "You're A Customer", and this instrumental allows you hear all the sounds outside the rhythm clearly.
Jordan Rakei : Wind Parade
Once again going down the road of showing inspiration, we're returning to the "Blue Note Re:imagined" album that we visited last episode to go with a track I was always intending to play on this episode, a fire cover version of a classic Donald Byrd number. UK-based New Zealander Jordan Rakei is very respectful of the original material here while adding his own lyrics to a song that originally had very few.
Black Moon : Buck 'Em Down (Da Beatminerz Remix)
Black Moon : Buck 'Em Down (LP Version)
If "Who Got The Props?" was number 1, "Buck Em Down" has always been my 1A as best track on the debut Black Moon LP "Enta Da Stage", which I still remember rushing to buy as a teen, coming home triumphantly with the vinyl. With that in mind I was incredibly excited to find out that it was going to be a single release, but somewhat wrong-footed when I heard it - the remixed version on the 12" still uses "Wind Parade" as a foundation but is sonically cleaner, and I wasn't initially sold on it. What I did enjoy though was that the single version is radio-friendly via a rewrite (rather than bleeps or other FX), and over time I grew to love it. I do blend into the original at the end though as I always loved the outro and how the instrumental drops out and is deftly brought back in under Buckshot's dedication to his man Butta. It's sonically much darker, as a lot of the LP was actually sampled from cassette recordings, whereas it sounds as though Beatminerz might have access to the original Donald Byrd wax by the time the remix came around...
Janet Jackson : If
This is raw in a different way to the preceding track, but shares the same drum break! Sonically there's nothing else in common though, as we temporarily switch from the jazz world into a loud, discordant rock track. The label wanted this as the first single from the "Janet" LP, but Janet pressed for "That's The Way Love Goes" as the lead before releasing this as the follow-up. Janet gets quietly raw with it over the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis production (Minnesota stand up!), and it's been a track which inspired remixes for many years after the original release. For more about this track, check this amazing writeup on the Janet Jackson Fandom page!
Natural Elements : Live It Up
Those who've been listening for a while will know that NYC's Natural Elements are one of my favourite groups, and this track from their earlier years was one of those that initially grabbed me. "Live It Up" was released as the B-side on the 12" for "2 Tons", another killer cut, as well as part of the soundtrack for the Jet Li film "The Black Mask". NE hang their hats on their mic skills, which they deftly do here without overwhelming Charlemagne's production. If you like your Hip-Hop uncut, and can appreciate the skills, they're a group to check out, who have continued to record to the present day - consider yourself "in the know" if you're a fan!
Casquiat : The Stopper
A little "tax season" (if you know, you know) action on this banging 45! The Californian DJ/remixer Casquiat turns his attention to a classic 90s dancehall badman tune from Cutty Ranks, which was the title track of his first LP. All kinds of Hip-Hop beats get thrown into the mix on this one underneath Cutty's vocals, making for a guaranteed dancefloor killer for the quick-mix generation as well as those of us who remember the original lick. Unfortunately, there were only 400 copies of this pressed, so you may have trouble finding one without going to the used market - if anyone is mad enough to sell theirs!
[DJ Spinna] Platinum Pied Pipers : Fever (DJ Spinna BK Banger Remix Instrumental)
Just a solid beat with that characteristic DJ Spinna wobble in the bass, this is the instrumental for a remix which somehow managed to take a quality record from the Detroit duo of Waajeed and Saadiq and take it to another level. The chunky drum track and percussion, along with that bass, are perfect to work out the speakers of a quality system, alongside the sharp yet gentle synth lines.
Smif-N-Wessun : Black Trump (read below...)
From the day Donald Trump came down that escalator in 2015 this track was ruined for me, and I haven't played it anywhere - but then when I realised that S-n-W had recorded a live version with their own contemporaneous input as part of the "Champion Sound" show in Prague, I thought that this would be a great time to break it out! Luckily, the track only ever mentions the titular Antichrist as part of the scratched sample from Raekwon's "Incarcerated Scarfaces" - incidentally, Raekwon features on the studio recording of this tune but he wasn't at the gig. The original was produced by Lord Self/Self Serve, but reproduced here by Champion Sound, minus some of the extra kick drum action but with some nice extra scratch action and some great little bass runs.
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Say Word
I was quietly amazed that this track hadn't been played already, as it's a standout for me on the classic "Uptown Saturday Night", the Camp Lo debut which has a proud place on my studio wall! Jungle Brown is on the hook as Geechi and Cheeba go back and forth with absolute waves of slang, with flawless flow . Ski's beat is mostly stripped-down to leave space for the MCs, but it bangs hard.
Ilajide : Journey To The Light
Clear Soul Forces' producer is someone I only learned about during the run of the podcast, but he's certainly become a favourite over the years. This has his characteristic bump, keeps you on your toes with the some of the snares coming on the half-beat, and does the business on the low-end. One of the many excellent tracks on the 2015 "Latex" project.
Acolytes : Throwing Slang
Manchester comes through with another winning team, the new pairing of Cheech (Mothership Connection and The Bluntskins) and previous podcast guest Dubbul O (also Mothership Connection, Jointhedots, and more) on the mics and Pro P behind the boards. Their fire debut single was released just too late to make the last episode, but there was no way it was missing this one. Classic boom-bap drums and a solid "just the facts, ma'am" bassline provide the foundation on top of which the ringing keys/bells provide the most recognisable element, hypnotising you into a space for the thrown slang to hit you, bar after bar. Get the single and be on the lookout for more!
Clear Soul Forces : The Genie
From one industrial city to another, we head back to Detroit and back to Clear Soul Forces, with this synth-basslined number from the 2013 "Gold PP7s" album, referring to the deadliest weapon in the N64 classic "Goldeneye". CSF have not only a top-notch producer in the group, but a whole squad of mic-melting MCs who have their skills on full display here. Definitely pick up the LP if you like dense bars along with your beats - they have them for days.
DJ Manifest ft. Lowpocus : Nightshift (Instrumental)
The first of two instrumentals here to create a little more space for your contributions is from another artist who is relatively new to me and who I hope some of you will continue to follow - Montreal's DJ Manifest, a respected DJ and producer who has notably done a lot of work with the Proof Avenue collective. His "1984" album absolutely drips of that era, as you'll be able to hear, and the union of Manifest and fellow Montreal bassline bully Lowpocus makes for a cruising soundtrack that works just as well during the day as at night.
Temu : Temu's Talkbox Groove (Instrumental)
States like Ohio are rightly credited with being hotbeds of the funk - maybe it's something in the water - but New York can bring it too! Temu is a musician out of NYC dedicated to keeping that old flavour alive, and as someone who grew up with records that sounded like this, it's a joy to know that there are new records coming out in this vein. Temu's 2019 LP "Relic Of The Mothership" has some of the tracks, including this one of course, in instrumental form as well as with his well-done talkbox vocals, making it a great one for DJs to have in the collection.
Sean Price : Genesis Of The Omega
This downtempo, mean, grinding track starts with the chaos of The Alchemist running through portions of a sample before the main groove drops. Appropriately titled for the first track of the last mix this month, it's also the first track of the final Sean Price album released in his lifetime, with "Mic Tyson" dropping in 2012 and Sean P's untimely passing coming in 2015. The Brooklyn and Boot Camp Click legend will always be one of my favourite MCs, and those who had the chance to see him live in Manchester have a truly treasured Hip-Hop memory.
Curren$y : Leaving The Dock
Regular listeners will know how much love Curren$y's particular twist on motivational music gets over here, and this short track from the 2012 Miami-themed "Cigarette Boats" EP has him reflecting on his road to success in the style to which we've become accustomed. Harry Fraud is on production, rocking the same electronic sample as dead prez used for their "Wolves" intro on "Let's Get Free", with the drums pounding and the mood eerie.
DJ Premier : N.Y.S.O.M. #20
Controversial, but I've always preferred "N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II" to the original, with that first verse being incredible and DJ Premier's melancholy beat being a standout on the "I Am..." album. With that in mind, I was surprised to hear that very beat on Preemo's "Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 2" collection - its presence implies that maybe no-one wanted it at first, which to me is absolutely nuts. Maybe no-one thought they could do this justice until Nas stepped up?
The Musalini & 9th Wonder : Skyview
The mack man out of NYC is prolific in the way that modern artists kind of need to be just to remain visible in the modern scene; I remembered this track as being older than it actually is, but it's from 2002's "The Don & Eye" LP, a collab between Mus and 9th Wonder. Laid-back player vibes that's a great listen for when you don't want to make too many sudden moves. Nice little sample at the start if you catch it!
Thundercat : Them Changes (Jael Remix)
This is a track I was thinking about keeping strictly for live sets, but it's a special occasion! Thundercat's original track from the "Drunk" LP with the classic drum break is already a hugely popular record, but this remix gives it more speaker-shaking characteristics that get a crowd reaction every time that bass drops. The Moluccan producer/DJ/vocalist/(probably more) Jael out of The Netherlands put this out as one entry on a collection of remixes and club edits, which is available on Bandcamp - you can never accuse me of not letting you know where to get the good stuff!
The Irresistible Force : Nepalese Bliss (Jimpster Mix)
TIF is a project of the veteran DJ Mixmaster Morris, who released the original "Nepalese Bliss" single on Ninja Tune in 1998, before it was remixed by the skilled hands of Jimpster for inclusion on the "Xen Cuts" compilation. Lots of nice drum action here amongst all the dreamy synths and smooth bass. As an aside, I discovered a limitation of the Serato "stems" functionality here, when I echo out the instruments before coming back with just the drums and bass - as soon as you turn anything else on, the echoing stops! Now that you know that, the sharp-eared may catch me trying to work round that limitation to make the change as smooth as possible :)
Lenzman ft. Children Of Zeus : Rain
I do like a double-time/half-time genre switch, and we use that move to transition into the final track of the episode, featuring a group I've been proud to champion from their very beginning as a duo, Children of Zeus. They bring their singing and MC skills to this D&B track from the Dutch producer Lenzman, who's always garnered a lot of respect here in Manchester. This is the final track on the 2019 "Bobby" album, and is also a fitting closer to this landmark podcast episode from the rainy city.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Big up to all the massive..."
- Buckshot
Somehow, this humble show from the days when you had to explain what a podcast even was has reached the double century milestone! I'm so glad that you're here to listen, whether you've been here for one day or since day one. I asked for voice messages from you to play during this celebratory episode and you generously responded with your love, memories, and favourite songs and episodes. This month, alongside classic tracks from some of my all-time favourite artists and some new gems, enjoy listening to the words and voices of our community!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Black Ivory : I Keep Asking You Questions
Marking the one and only time in the history of the podcast that I've intentionally repeated a song, this is just here as a little intro before we drop the next track - but it's also an opportunity to write a few words as I wasn't doing detailed track notes back when I played this on the very first episode! Black Ivory, originally Mellow Souls, are a Harlem vocal trio who started in 1969 and amazingly have carried on performing right into the 2020s with their original lineup. This track was the B-side of their first single "Don't Turn Around", but as Chuck D famously said, "B-Side Wins Again" as this is definitely the bigger tune in my opinion. As I've played the whole thing before, you just get a taste here before we take a detour to hear how many of us first discovered it...
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Criminology
Somehow never yet played on the show, this was a big single from the no-debate classic LP "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...", which for those who don't know is my favourite Hip-Hop album of all time. RZA borrows from the Black Ivory cut for the intro and hook, but a different soul classic for the verses, and then Rae and Ghost go full-throttle on this mid-90s heater. Imagine having this being a single and still arguably outside the top three tracks on your album - that's "Thriller" magnitude.
Downtown Science : Out There But In There (Instrumental)
Downtown Science were the pairing of MC Bosco Money and the producer Sam Sever, best known to most for his work with 3rd Bass, and were a group I was curious about hearing back in their day - but I didn't see their LP in the local shops (this was the early 90s) or have money for it anyway. When I saw the "Room To Breathe" single on a digging mission many years later, I took the opportunity to pick it up and this was tucked away on the B-side. While the sounds are different, the drum pattern is very reminiscent of EPMD's "You're A Customer", and this instrumental allows you hear all the sounds outside the rhythm clearly.
Jordan Rakei : Wind Parade
Once again going down the road of showing inspiration, we're returning to the "Blue Note Re:imagined" album that we visited last episode to go with a track I was always intending to play on this episode, a fire cover version of a classic Donald Byrd number. UK-based New Zealander Jordan Rakei is very respectful of the original material here while adding his own lyrics to a song that originally had very few.
Black Moon : Buck 'Em Down (Da Beatminerz Remix) Black Moon : Buck 'Em Down (LP Version)
If "Who Got The Props?" was number 1, "Buck Em Down" has always been my 1A as best track on the debut Black Moon LP "Enta Da Stage", which I still remember rushing to buy as a teen, coming home triumphantly with the vinyl. With that in mind I was incredibly excited to find out that it was going to be a single release, but somewhat wrong-footed when I heard it - the remixed version on the 12" still uses "Wind Parade" as a foundation but is sonically cleaner, and I wasn't initially sold on it. What I did enjoy though was that the single version is radio-friendly via a rewrite (rather than bleeps or other FX), and over time I grew to love it. I do blend into the original at the end though as I always loved the outro and how the instrumental drops out and is deftly brought back in under Buckshot's dedication to his man Butta. It's sonically much darker, as a lot of the LP was actually sampled from cassette recordings, whereas it sounds as though Beatminerz might have access to the original Donald Byrd wax by the time the remix came around...
Janet Jackson : If
This is raw in a different way to the preceding track, but shares the same drum break! Sonically there's nothing else in common though, as we temporarily switch from the jazz world into a loud, discordant rock track. The label wanted this as the first single from the "Janet" LP, but Janet pressed for "That's The Way Love Goes" as the lead before releasing this as the follow-up. Janet gets quietly raw with it over the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis production (Minnesota stand up!), and it's been a track which inspired remixes for many years after the original release. For more about this track, check this amazing writeup on the Janet Jackson Fandom page!
Natural Elements : Live It Up
Those who've been listening for a while will know that NYC's Natural Elements are one of my favourite groups, and this track from their earlier years was one of those that initially grabbed me. "Live It Up" was released as the B-side on the 12" for "2 Tons", another killer cut, as well as part of the soundtrack for the Jet Li film "The Black Mask". NE hang their hats on their mic skills, which they deftly do here without overwhelming Charlemagne's production. If you like your Hip-Hop uncut, and can appreciate the skills, they're a group to check out, who have continued to record to the present day - consider yourself "in the know" if you're a fan!
Casquiat : The Stopper
A little "tax season" (if you know, you know) action on this banging 45! The Californian DJ/remixer Casquiat turns his attention to a classic 90s dancehall badman tune from Cutty Ranks, which was the title track of his first LP. All kinds of Hip-Hop beats get thrown into the mix on this one underneath Cutty's vocals, making for a guaranteed dancefloor killer for the quick-mix generation as well as those of us who remember the original lick. Unfortunately, there were only 400 copies of this pressed, so you may have trouble finding one without going to the used market - if anyone is mad enough to sell theirs!
[DJ Spinna] Platinum Pied Pipers : Fever (DJ Spinna BK Banger Remix Instrumental)
Just a solid beat with that characteristic DJ Spinna wobble in the bass, this is the instrumental for a remix which somehow managed to take a quality record from the Detroit duo of Waajeed and Saadiq and take it to another level. The chunky drum track and percussion, along with that bass, are perfect to work out the speakers of a quality system, alongside the sharp yet gentle synth lines.
Smif-N-Wessun : Black Trump (read below...)
From the day Donald Trump came down that escalator in 2015 this track was ruined for me, and I haven't played it anywhere - but then when I realised that S-n-W had recorded a live version with their own contemporaneous input as part of the "Champion Sound" show in Prague, I thought that this would be a great time to break it out! Luckily, the track only ever mentions the titular Antichrist as part of the scratched sample from Raekwon's "Incarcerated Scarfaces" - incidentally, Raekwon features on the studio recording of this tune but he wasn't at the gig. The original was produced by Lord Self/Self Serve, but reproduced here by Champion Sound, minus some of the extra kick drum action but with some nice extra scratch action and some great little bass runs.
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Say Word
I was quietly amazed that this track hadn't been played already, as it's a standout for me on the classic "Uptown Saturday Night", the Camp Lo debut which has a proud place on my studio wall! Jungle Brown is on the hook as Geechi and Cheeba go back and forth with absolute waves of slang, with flawless flow . Ski's beat is mostly stripped-down to leave space for the MCs, but it bangs hard.
Ilajide : Journey To The Light
Clear Soul Forces' producer is someone I only learned about during the run of the podcast, but he's certainly become a favourite over the years. This has his characteristic bump, keeps you on your toes with the some of the snares coming on the half-beat, and does the business on the low-end. One of the many excellent tracks on the 2015 "Latex" project.
Acolytes : Throwing Slang
Manchester comes through with another winning team, the new pairing of Cheech (Mothership Connection and The Bluntskins) and previous podcast guest Dubbul O (also Mothership Connection, Jointhedots, and more) on the mics and Pro P behind the boards. Their fire debut single was released just too late to make the last episode, but there was no way it was missing this one. Classic boom-bap drums and a solid "just the facts, ma'am" bassline provide the foundation on top of which the ringing keys/bells provide the most recognisable element, hypnotising you into a space for the thrown slang to hit you, bar after bar. Get the single and be on the lookout for more!
Clear Soul Forces : The Genie
From one industrial city to another, we head back to Detroit and back to Clear Soul Forces, with this synth-basslined number from the 2013 "Gold PP7s" album, referring to the deadliest weapon in the N64 classic "Goldeneye". CSF have not only a top-notch producer in the group, but a whole squad of mic-melting MCs who have their skills on full display here. Definitely pick up the LP if you like dense bars along with your beats - they have them for days.
DJ Manifest ft. Lowpocus : Nightshift (Instrumental)
The first of two instrumentals here to create a little more space for your contributions is from another artist who is relatively new to me and who I hope some of you will continue to follow - Montreal's DJ Manifest, a respected DJ and producer who has notably done a lot of work with the Proof Avenue collective. His "1984" album absolutely drips of that era, as you'll be able to hear, and the union of Manifest and fellow Montreal bassline bully Lowpocus makes for a cruising soundtrack that works just as well during the day as at night.
Temu : Temu's Talkbox Groove (Instrumental)
States like Ohio are rightly credited with being hotbeds of the funk - maybe it's something in the water - but New York can bring it too! Temu is a musician out of NYC dedicated to keeping that old flavour alive, and as someone who grew up with records that sounded like this, it's a joy to know that there are new records coming out in this vein. Temu's 2019 LP "Relic Of The Mothership" has some of the tracks, including this one of course, in instrumental form as well as with his well-done talkbox vocals, making it a great one for DJs to have in the collection.
Sean Price : Genesis Of The Omega
This downtempo, mean, grinding track starts with the chaos of The Alchemist running through portions of a sample before the main groove drops. Appropriately titled for the first track of the last mix this month, it's also the first track of the final Sean Price album released in his lifetime, with "Mic Tyson" dropping in 2012 and Sean P's untimely passing coming in 2015. The Brooklyn and Boot Camp Click legend will always be one of my favourite MCs, and those who had the chance to see him live in Manchester have a truly treasured Hip-Hop memory.
Curren$y : Leaving The Dock
Regular listeners will know how much love Curren$y's particular twist on motivational music gets over here, and this short track from the 2012 Miami-themed "Cigarette Boats" EP has him reflecting on his road to success in the style to which we've become accustomed. Harry Fraud is on production, rocking the same electronic sample as dead prez used for their "Wolves" intro on "Let's Get Free", with the drums pounding and the mood eerie.
DJ Premier : N.Y.S.O.M. #20
Controversial, but I've always preferred "N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II" to the original, with that first verse being incredible and DJ Premier's melancholy beat being a standout on the "I Am..." album. With that in mind, I was surprised to hear that very beat on Preemo's "Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 2" collection - its presence implies that maybe no-one wanted it at first, which to me is absolutely nuts. Maybe no-one thought they could do this justice until Nas stepped up?
The Musalini & 9th Wonder : Skyview
The mack man out of NYC is prolific in the way that modern artists kind of need to be just to remain visible in the modern scene; I remembered this track as being older than it actually is, but it's from 2002's "The Don & Eye" LP, a collab between Mus and 9th Wonder. Laid-back player vibes that's a great listen for when you don't want to make too many sudden moves. Nice little sample at the start if you catch it!
Thundercat : Them Changes (Jael Remix)
This is a track I was thinking about keeping strictly for live sets, but it's a special occasion! Thundercat's original track from the "Drunk" LP with the classic drum break is already a hugely popular record, but this remix gives it more speaker-shaking characteristics that get a crowd reaction every time that bass drops. The Moluccan producer/DJ/vocalist/(probably more) Jael out of The Netherlands put this out as one entry on a collection of remixes and club edits, which is available on Bandcamp - you can never accuse me of not letting you know where to get the good stuff!
The Irresistible Force : Nepalese Bliss (Jimpster Mix)
TIF is a project of the veteran DJ Mixmaster Morris, who released the original "Nepalese Bliss" single on Ninja Tune in 1998, before it was remixed by the skilled hands of Jimpster for inclusion on the "Xen Cuts" compilation. Lots of nice drum action here amongst all the dreamy synths and smooth bass. As an aside, I discovered a limitation of the Serato "stems" functionality here, when I echo out the instruments before coming back with just the drums and bass - as soon as you turn anything else on, the echoing stops! Now that you know that, the sharp-eared may catch me trying to work round that limitation to make the change as smooth as possible :)
Lenzman ft. Children Of Zeus : Rain
I do like a double-time/half-time genre switch, and we use that move to transition into the final track of the episode, featuring a group I've been proud to champion from their very beginning as a duo, Children of Zeus. They bring their singing and MC skills to this D&B track from the Dutch producer Lenzman, who's always garnered a lot of respect here in Manchester. This is the final track on the 2019 "Bobby" album, and is also a fitting closer to this landmark podcast episode from the rainy city.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I am the pottery of greater hands..."
- Common
This month has been a major struggle! My main computer - which is essentially my recording studio, DJ station, and publishing setup - stopped working. I've managed to use other gear around the house to finish recording, and hopefully have done as good a job as usual in assembling this episode.
Edit: This is unbelievably on-the-nose, but after publishing this episode I found that the RSS feeds to Apple Podcasts and Mixcloud were broken, needing pretty much a full working day of debugging to fix, when I'm supposed to be having time off...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
9th Wonder ft. Eli Tha Don : Pillars Of Gold
The North Carolina production legend 9th Wonder released the eleventh in the "Zion" series of albums, and it's mostly a beat collection but lead off with five tracks featuring Cleveland MC Eli Tha Don, of which this was my favourite. 9th starts this track with the original sample source before dropping warm, rounded drums and bass over his chops. Eli comes out of the gate strong and maintains his flow momentum over the length of the track, barely breaking stride to bring in short hooks before getting right back to business.
Sturks : Ursa Major
The "Legacy Echo Volume 3" on the Manchester-based Legacy Echo label was definitely one of the best instrumental projects of the year, pulling together producers from all over the globe, and it was opened by this cut that I thought could easily have come from the heyday of the SP-1200. Turns out that this American producer apparently does use that storied machine as the centrepiece of his setup, and he works that ten total seconds of sampling time in the time-honoured tradition here.
Coyote, Foos Gone Wild, and Lil Mr. E : Cortez On My Feet
I've certainly heard the Nike Cortez referred to in rhyme before (shout out Sir Mix-A-Lot), but this is the first track I've ever heard fully dedicated to the Los Angeles staple! The Chicano culture has held this 1972 classic in high regard, and these MCs all tell the stories of their relationship to this footwear legend, while also referencing Nelly on the hook. Statik Selektah's beat is more East than West Coast, and is subdued in just the right way so that its dopeness doesn't draw focus away from the rhymes.
Show & AG : My Imagination
It might not be the sound you might associate with DITC charter members Show and AG, who can give you the jazzy samples all day, but this moody track from 2012s "Mugshot Music : Preloaded" takes a different tone as it highlights the lyrics of an older, more experienced AG. With a tight two verses focusing on visualisation and elevation, this deserves multiple listens along with the rest of the LP.
Anthony Danza & All Hail Y.T. ft. Left Lane Didon : Keith Sweat (DARE Mix)
The original "All Hail Danza" album by All Hail Y.T. and Anthony Danza was already a quality project, but the "Digital Scale" remix collection takes it to another level, leaning even harder into the 80s vein that has been a thread all the way through Danza's work. DARE Program create a lush synth-soul soundtrack while Danza, Y.T. and guest Left Lane Didon bring the floss talk, Pacific Northwest style. Check how Danza extends the rhyme scheme all the way through the final verse!
Pac Div : No No
Pac Div was once an eleven-member crew out of California, but trimmed down to three and that's the version you hear here on the "Church League Champions" LP, with a track that promotes serious head nodding (thanks to Jack Sample Pros) as they expound on all the things they aren't with. Crafting the lyrics to primarily end in direct or assonant rhymes with the "no no" of the title, they don't forget to show personality while starting with a technical concept.
Blue Lab Beats : Montara
The "Blue Note Re:Imagined" compilation is given away by its very name, a collection of covers of tracks from the truly legendary jazz label. Grammy-winning UK producers Blue Lab Beats do the business on this cover of the 1975 classic by the vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, adding extra body, groove, and modern engineering without taking away from the soul of the original.
Common & 9th Wonder ft. PJ & Bilal : Vision
A recent release from the soundtrack to the ESPN documentary about the trailblazing and influential sports commentator Stuart Scott, this soulful 9th-produced cut has Common speaking from his perspective throughout, with Bilal and PJ adding their own vocal flavour. As an aside, I'm hoping the documentary is somehow viewable in the UK!
Tyler Daley : Let Em Go
The fakeness, the leeching...he's not here for any of it. A short and pointed single-verse track from half of the mighty Children of Zeus, which is one entry in a series of twelve tracks to be released in a twelve-day span this December. Nowadays, that's an album and a half!
Cookin Soul : Funky Xmas For Two
Funky? Yes. Jazzy? I'd say so... ;) Valencia in the house, as Spain's Cookin Soul blends his own production with some TLC and A Tribe Called Quest lyrics you might recognise! The vocal is a little low in the mix, maybe a little unclear at times, but I wanted to play it anyway - it's perfectly seasonal. Find this on 2002s "A Tribe Called Xmas" project, pour yourself a glass of mulled something, and enjoy...
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah and Method Man : 600 School
Pure ruggedness from the Wu camp. Mass Appeal Records, founded by Nas, has absolutely owned 2025 with their "Legend Has It" project, a series of seven albums from legends of the culture. Rae and Ghost both had releases under the umbrella, both both share the spotlight here alongside clansman Method Man on this cut from the former's "The Emperor's New Clothes" LP. With classic Wu flavours all the way down to the "Five Venoms" sample, you might be surprised to find out who the producer is - not RZA, True Master, or 4th Disciple, but Swizz Beats! When you've got a trio of MCs like this ready to spit flames, you need to meet them where they are, and Swizz, despite being almost his era's standard-bearer for club-friendly production, gives them a menacing, dramatic beat for them to burn the booth down to.
[Fakts One] MF DOOM & MF Grimm : The Original (Remix Instrumental)
A beat like this takes you right back to the era it came from in a heartbeat, in this case the turn of the millenium when the independent "MF EP". from the late DOOM and Grimm was released. Both would be well capable of handling production themselves, but for this remix Fakts One of The Perceptionists takes the reins.
Oh No ft. Roc C and Jayo Felony : Corner Goons
I think it was DJ Kruz One out of Boston who introduced me to this track from the "Nodega" album, playing it on one of his Twitch streams. San Diego's Jayo Felony has one of those voices that's unmistakeable if you've ever heard him before, and he's on characteristic street vibes alongside Roc C, who is a native of Oxnard, California - as is Oh No, on production. The production is hazy, and the pianos rain down over some nice live-sounding bass and a simple drum track, giving off just the right amount of tension and unease to match the lyrics.
Papoose : NBA Rhyme Scheme
Bringing it back to the style of records like GZA's "Labels" - and really, GZA is probably the finest to do this concept - NY mixtape veteran Papoose jumps on a DJ Premier beat to give us a brief track folding in the names of every NBA team. Preemo's beat is solid and his little interjections in the form of scratched-in samples are perfectly done. This concept cut is probably the only reason anyone will ever have anytime soon to mention the New Orleans Pelicans on a track #longsufferingfan
Curren$y : Example
Ski Beatz pulled together a great collaboration as the producer; the screaming guitars around the intro and hook here, courtesy of John Cave, give this a bit of a retro flavour and Brady Watt's bass work holds down the rest of the instrumental. Curren$y brings his own unique brand of motivational speaking on this selection from the jump, with this track being the opener on the original "Pilot Talk" album.
Mitch Murder : Bayshore Connect
Mitch Murder is a Swedish artist primarily known for his extensive work in the synthwave genre, which is a modern callback to the synth-heavy music of the 80s, but the three-song "Hurricane" single that came out earlier this year sees him taking a detour into sharp, clean D&B. If synthwave can be categorised as "OutRun" music, this brings to mind something more like "Need For Speed", and shows that there's more than one string to this man's bow.
[Jermaine Dupri] Kris Kross : Da Streets Ain't Right (Remix Instrumental)
You can hear snatches of the same sample as Biggie's "Warning" on this one, which add a bit of grit to JD's production on the remix of this track by fellow ATLiens Kris Kross. Nice offset to the keyboard-based production, from someone who's done it both ways during his career.
Saigon ft. Layzie Bone : Better Way
"The Greatest Story Never Told" album, Saigon's official debut, was an excellent album - one I thought at the time might even be the measuring stick for the mythical, never-coming-out "Detox" album Dr. Dre had been working on for years. While that might have been a bit strong, "Detox" still isn't out so I feel like Saigon won by default 🙂 Just Blaze was the production mastermind behind the album, and Saigon finally got the opportunity to tell the story of his long road to a wider audience after years of grinding on the underground. I don't know who made the decision for Layzie Bone to only do the intro/hook rather than have a verse, but I think it was the right one - clearing space for Saigon to present a single consistent perspective over the three verses, while Just Blaze's production is beautifully melodic.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I am the pottery of greater hands..."
- Common
This month has been a major struggle! My main computer - which is essentially my recording studio, DJ station, and publishing setup - stopped working. I've managed to use other gear around the house to finish recording, and hopefully have done as good a job as usual in assembling this episode.
Edit: This is unbelievably on-the-nose, but after publishing this episode I found that the RSS feeds to Apple Podcasts and Mixcloud were broken, needing pretty much a full working day of debugging to fix, when I'm supposed to be having time off...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
9th Wonder ft. Eli Tha Don : Pillars Of Gold
The North Carolina production legend 9th Wonder released the eleventh in the "Zion" series of albums, and it's mostly a beat collection but lead off with five tracks featuring Cleveland MC Eli Tha Don, of which this was my favourite. 9th starts this track with the original sample source before dropping warm, rounded drums and bass over his chops. Eli comes out of the gate strong and maintains his flow momentum over the length of the track, barely breaking stride to bring in short hooks before getting right back to business.
Sturks : Ursa Major
The "Legacy Echo Volume 3" on the Manchester-based Legacy Echo label was definitely one of the best instrumental projects of the year, pulling together producers from all over the globe, and it was opened by this cut that I thought could easily have come from the heyday of the SP-1200. Turns out that this American producer apparently does use that storied machine as the centrepiece of his setup, and he works that ten total seconds of sampling time in the time-honoured tradition here.
Coyote, Foos Gone Wild, and Lil Mr. E : Cortez On My Feet
I've certainly heard the Nike Cortez referred to in rhyme before (shout out Sir Mix-A-Lot), but this is the first track I've ever heard fully dedicated to the Los Angeles staple! The Chicano culture has held this 1972 classic in high regard, and these MCs all tell the stories of their relationship to this footwear legend, while also referencing Nelly on the hook. Statik Selektah's beat is more East than West Coast, and is subdued in just the right way so that its dopeness doesn't draw focus away from the rhymes.
Show & AG : My Imagination
It might not be the sound you might associate with DITC charter members Show and AG, who can give you the jazzy samples all day, but this moody track from 2012s "Mugshot Music : Preloaded" takes a different tone as it highlights the lyrics of an older, more experienced AG. With a tight two verses focusing on visualisation and elevation, this deserves multiple listens along with the rest of the LP.
Anthony Danza & All Hail Y.T. ft. Left Lane Didon : Keith Sweat (DARE Mix)
The original "All Hail Danza" album by All Hail Y.T. and Anthony Danza was already a quality project, but the "Digital Scale" remix collection takes it to another level, leaning even harder into the 80s vein that has been a thread all the way through Danza's work. DARE Program create a lush synth-soul soundtrack while Danza, Y.T. and guest Left Lane Didon bring the floss talk, Pacific Northwest style. Check how Danza extends the rhyme scheme all the way through the final verse!
Pac Div : No No
Pac Div was once an eleven-member crew out of California, but trimmed down to three and that's the version you hear here on the "Church League Champions" LP, with a track that promotes serious head nodding (thanks to Jack Sample Pros) as they expound on all the things they aren't with. Crafting the lyrics to primarily end in direct or assonant rhymes with the "no no" of the title, they don't forget to show personality while starting with a technical concept.
Blue Lab Beats : Montara
The "Blue Note Re:Imagined" compilation is given away by its very name, a collection of covers of tracks from the truly legendary jazz label. Grammy-winning UK producers Blue Lab Beats do the business on this cover of the 1975 classic by the vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, adding extra body, groove, and modern engineering without taking away from the soul of the original.
Common & 9th Wonder ft. PJ & Bilal : Vision
A recent release from the soundtrack to the ESPN documentary about the trailblazing and influential sports commentator Stuart Scott, this soulful 9th-produced cut has Common speaking from his perspective throughout, with Bilal and PJ adding their own vocal flavour. As an aside, I'm hoping the documentary is somehow viewable in the UK!
Tyler Daley : Let Em Go
The fakeness, the leeching...he's not here for any of it. A short and pointed single-verse track from half of the mighty Children of Zeus, which is one entry in a series of twelve tracks to be released in a twelve-day span this December. Nowadays, that's an album and a half!
Cookin Soul : Funky Xmas For Two
Funky? Yes. Jazzy? I'd say so... ;) Valencia in the house, as Spain's Cookin Soul blends his own production with some TLC and A Tribe Called Quest lyrics you might recognise! The vocal is a little low in the mix, maybe a little unclear at times, but I wanted to play it anyway - it's perfectly seasonal. Find this on 2002s "A Tribe Called Xmas" project, pour yourself a glass of mulled something, and enjoy...
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah and Method Man : 600 School
Pure ruggedness from the Wu camp. Mass Appeal Records, founded by Nas, has absolutely owned 2025 with their "Legend Has It" project, a series of seven albums from legends of the culture. Rae and Ghost both had releases under the umbrella, both both share the spotlight here alongside clansman Method Man on this cut from the former's "The Emperor's New Clothes" LP. With classic Wu flavours all the way down to the "Five Venoms" sample, you might be surprised to find out who the producer is - not RZA, True Master, or 4th Disciple, but Swizz Beats! When you've got a trio of MCs like this ready to spit flames, you need to meet them where they are, and Swizz, despite being almost his era's standard-bearer for club-friendly production, gives them a menacing, dramatic beat for them to burn the booth down to.
[Fakts One] MF DOOM & MF Grimm : The Original (Remix Instrumental)
A beat like this takes you right back to the era it came from in a heartbeat, in this case the turn of the millenium when the independent "MF EP". from the late DOOM and Grimm was released. Both would be well capable of handling production themselves, but for this remix Fakts One of The Perceptionists takes the reins.
Oh No ft. Roc C and Jayo Felony : Corner Goons
I think it was DJ Kruz One out of Boston who introduced me to this track from the "Nodega" album, playing it on one of his Twitch streams. San Diego's Jayo Felony has one of those voices that's unmistakeable if you've ever heard him before, and he's on characteristic street vibes alongside Roc C, who is a native of Oxnard, California - as is Oh No, on production. The production is hazy, and the pianos rain down over some nice live-sounding bass and a simple drum track, giving off just the right amount of tension and unease to match the lyrics.
Papoose : NBA Rhyme Scheme
Bringing it back to the style of records like GZA's "Labels" - and really, GZA is probably the finest to do this concept - NY mixtape veteran Papoose jumps on a DJ Premier beat to give us a brief track folding in the names of every NBA team. Preemo's beat is solid and his little interjections in the form of scratched-in samples are perfectly done. This concept cut is probably the only reason anyone will ever have anytime soon to mention the New Orleans Pelicans on a track #longsufferingfan
Curren$y : Example
Ski Beatz pulled together a great collaboration as the producer; the screaming guitars around the intro and hook here, courtesy of John Cave, give this a bit of a retro flavour and Brady Watt's bass work holds down the rest of the instrumental. Curren$y brings his own unique brand of motivational speaking on this selection from the jump, with this track being the opener on the original "Pilot Talk" album.
Mitch Murder : Bayshore Connect
Mitch Murder is a Swedish artist primarily known for his extensive work in the synthwave genre, which is a modern callback to the synth-heavy music of the 80s, but the three-song "Hurricane" single that came out earlier this year sees him taking a detour into sharp, clean D&B. If synthwave can be categorised as "OutRun" music, this brings to mind something more like "Need For Speed", and shows that there's more than one string to this man's bow.
[Jermaine Dupri] Kris Kross : Da Streets Ain't Right (Remix Instrumental)
You can hear snatches of the same sample as Biggie's "Warning" on this one, which add a bit of grit to JD's production on the remix of this track by fellow ATLiens Kris Kross. Nice offset to the keyboard-based production, from someone who's done it both ways during his career.
Saigon ft. Layzie Bone : Better Way
"The Greatest Story Never Told" album, Saigon's official debut, was an excellent album - one I thought at the time might even be the measuring stick for the mythical, never-coming-out "Detox" album Dr. Dre had been working on for years. While that might have been a bit strong, "Detox" still isn't out so I feel like Saigon won by default 🙂 Just Blaze was the production mastermind behind the album, and Saigon finally got the opportunity to tell the story of his long road to a wider audience after years of grinding on the underground. I don't know who made the decision for Layzie Bone to only do the intro/hook rather than have a verse, but I think it was the right one - clearing space for Saigon to present a single consistent perspective over the three verses, while Just Blaze's production is beautifully melodic.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Make dua for my enemies..."
- Da Flyy Hooligan
Coming off seeing a great performance by DJ Premier and The Alchemist this month, both production legends make it into the selection early, alongside one or two well-known cuts, but overall the kind of mix that will hopefully have you all running to your record or digital store of choice to pick up some gems that are new to you!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Twin & Alchemist : Live At The Amphitheatre
I was amazed to never have played this on the show, a favourite since the first time I heard it on the "Insomnia" mixtape back in 2003. The Alchemist uses one sample for the intro before switching it up for a beat based around an old soul number that sounds a lot different when he's looped it up and added his magic. On the mic he comes together with Twin, one of the most distinctive voices anywhere, as they go back and forth almost like Double Trouble in their scene on the stoop in "Wild Style", which is also sampled here.
Jake One : Gether (Geechi Liberaci)
It's always nice to dig out an instrumental that hasn't made it to the front of your mind in a while, especially when it's as good as this one! You might not expect the 808 drums over this kind of instrumentation, but the veteran Jake One makes it work on this piece from the "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape - although I did need to loop it up a bit to make it long enough to include here.
DJ Premier & Ransom : Amazing Graces
This track has been getting major play in my headphones, car, wherever, since the day it was released. The beat sounds incredibly simplistic at first, but there's more going on than you'd think if you actually break down all the sounds and the mix. Of course you also get the Preemo scratched hook that comes in even before the first verse, but Ransom puts the heavy hand down with his very first line and doesn't let up from there. From weaving all the Gang Starr album titles into the first verse right until the very last bar, he walks you down relentlessly on the slow beat. Absolutely fire single from their new join album "The Reinvention" - and a simple but dope video too!
Termanology, Tek, and Freeway : Hustler's Soul
I thought I'd played you this already, but was pleased to find that this track from the "Teknology" (great name) collaborative LP by Tek and Termanology was still available for me to select! It's Massachussetts, New York, and Philadelphia in combination with Freeway making a welcome guest appearance, and Minnesota contributing a beat that sounds like a 21st century revamp of a Blaxploitation track - perfectly on theme.
Da Flyy Hooligan : Ian McShane
North London's Da Flyy Hooligan is one of the most appropriately-named MCs in the game, keeping it street and bringing the elevated levels in his references and flow to let you know he's not your average. The lyrics start at literally the first second as DFH paints images in your head to set the initial vibe, and then continued to build scenes lyrically all the way through. Micall Parknsun is on the beat here, with an undertone that sounds like a slowed-down Olympic opening with some sharp, crispy drums on top. Perfect seasoning for this gourmet business from the 2002 "Ben Kingsley" album.
O.C. : DNA
O.C. is one of those MCs with a much deeper discography than a lot of people realise. Everyone remembers the first two LPs, then maybe the Apollo Brown project, but the bulk of his work, like 2017's "Same Moon, Same Sun - 1st Phase" went under the radar. Here's a little taste though, showcasing his steady, settled style as he tells you himself that his dedication to the artform is in him at the most foundational level. Motif Alumni handles production and marries up the cracking main drums with some spaced-out synths and booming 808 action.
Amon Tobin : Hey Blondie
A little palate-cleanser before we go into the middle section of the show, from 2002's "Out, From Out Where", sees the Brazilian composer Amon Tobin spacing it out with a dense, effect-laden production paced by some midtempo drum programming - an example of what might have been labelled "trip-hop" at the time. This LP, produced in Montreal, was apparently his first project recorded in a professional studio - but he sounds like an old hand.
Mobb Deep ft. Nas and H.E.R. : Love The Way (Down For You Part 2)
First, a recommendation - buy the digital edition of the new "Infinite" album, which will likely be the last we hear of the late Prodigy, rather than the vinyl. I was so excited for the wax to arrive, and the package looks great, but sounds like someone carved the grooves with a knitting needle. With that out of the way, the "Down For You" single featuring Nas and Jorja Smith was the first most of us heard from this project, but I thought we'd go to a slightly different version that's also on the LP. H.E.R. swaps in for Jorja Smith and also brings a great performance on the hook in her own style. Havoc's moody, string-sampling beat stays, while Nas contributes a new guest verse which exactly reverses a line from "Down For You" - both referencing his appearance on the killer "It's Mine" from "Murda Muzik". It's great to hear Prodigy one last time, and I'm also glad that they respected him by not using any AI trickery to include him on the LP or the video that we've seen so far.
Mathematik ft. Bahamadia : Following Goals
Deep, deep crate pull, one that I don't think I've ever played for anyone. While Mathematik gets the lead credit and definitely does his thing, including on the run-on final verse...this is still a Bahamadia cut to me 😄 With Erf Productions on the beat, this is a solid track that you're most likely to find on the "Superrappin" compilation album like I did - the "Ecology" album it also appears on looks to be an expensive rarity, with not much chance of a re-release!
J Dilla : Jay Dee 42
Absolutely ridiculous digging, sample selection, and MPC manipulation here by the late great J Dilla - and this is an offcut! It's on the "The King Of Beats Vol. 2" compilation, which consists of a considerable number of short snippets from Dilla's constant basement work that by and large didn't make it all the way to releasable ideas in his lifetime.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist : Home Improvement
From following goals on the last vocal track, we move to self-improvement via the metaphor of construction, coming from two great talents. The Alchemist is now a deeply-experienced veteran of the industry with tales to tell of what he got right in life and what didn't, while Hit-Boy is a relative newcomer - though one with a strong resume already. It's a joy to hear them come together on the new "GOLDFISH" album", where you get to hear both of them on the mic, as here, and you know the beats are going to be quality.
Robert Glasper Experiment : Letter To Hermione (Robert Glasper and Jewel Remix)
I'm no expert on jazz, even modern jazz, but Robert Glasper is someone I've been to see a couple of times and make a point to support the work of. His original version of this David Bowie cover on the "Black Radio" album is in a more traditional, spare style, where this one pushes along with a much more active drum track over the melancholy piano and Bilal's plaintive vocal. Both are great, but this cut from "Black Radio Recovered : The Remix LP" takes it for me.
Jobii : Mango Fizz
One algorithm or other brought this instrumental to my attention, and I have to say that Skynet did it's thing. Coming out of NYC, Jobii is the name for the more Hip-Hop/lo-fi leanings of producer/drummer Gabe Millman, and this track bumps along with as much juice and flavour as its namesake fruit. It's a single release well worth picking up and enjoying through a nice system.
Naughty By Nature : Uptown Anthem
An unimpeachable classic, a big tune that is guaranteed to rock any gathering of real heads, this was one of the highlights of the very strong soundtrack to the Ernest Dickerson film "Juice". Kay Gee's beat starts with that slow piano intro, and for anyone who didn't recognise it from that, that first piano chord is unmistakeable. Vinny and Treach kick killer bars, and the hook is classic 90s shoutiness. At this point, I think it's fair to say that while the record may be old, it'll never get old.
Aver : Portals
Dipping back into the "Manchester With Love" compilation, which I believe came in at over 200 tracks, we go to a man who may first have come to your attention many years ago when he first paired with Daysis (Dayse and Aver), or his adventures with the extended The Natural Curriculum crew. He continued to expand his production style and experiment, and right here there are no MCs, just one man and his skills on the boards, sequencing up a dark beat with some tough drums, with that second snare every other bar hitting on the four-and-a-half count, lining us up perfectly for...
Eric B. & Rakim : Rest Assured
...a highly underrated track on the final Eric B. & Rakim album, "Don't Sweat The Technique". It was always one of my favourites, but I've never heard anyone else play this moderately-uptempo jam, with Rakim playing the role of the MC/secret agent back to bring order! He did once say that he shouldn't have left us... Anyway, not only do you get the fire lyrics and grave tone of Rakim, but also an incredible beat with tough drums and that slow-attack bass sound - a distinctive touch that really makes this cut stand out.
Zeyne : Asli Ana
I don't know how I first heard this one, but it grabbed me straight away and I had to go purchase a (digital) copy! Zeyne is a Palestinian-Jordanian artist who found it within herself to write and record this single as part of the "AWDA" album at an incredibly difficult time, and as I understand it it's been well-received by many of us outside her usual audience. "Asli Ana" roughly translates as "My Roots"/"My Own Origin" and she's speaking proudly about her people owning their own identity rather than having it defined by others. I might not be able to understand the words, but absolutely can feel the passion, and can get right behind the message.
Soul II Soul : African Dance
The "Club Classics, Volume 1" album is a landmark, and one that showcased in fine style how the different strands of Black musical tradition in this country as well as the influence from the US could be blended together in a distinctly UK fashion. The flute takes the solo lead over an African-flavoured, house-inspired beat with no lyrics, just riding out for six minutes - though I'm not playing the entire thing here. If you've never heard the LP then I'd say it's worth your time, and even though it's creeping up on forty years old it still stands up.
Chantay Savage : Still (7" Mix)
A soaring, uplifting, soulful end to the episode. Chantay Savage has been putting in work since the 90s, and I first encountered her as the featured artist on Common's "Reminding Me (Of Sef)". After hearing just a few seconds of this on a vinyl retailer's website, I couldn't enter my credit card details fast enough! It's cool and cleansing on the instrumental side thanks to Terry Hunter and James Poyser, and her vocal performance stays right in line, but when she lets go, she really lets it all out on this ode to devotion. You don't have to get the vinyl release - it's on Bandcamp, and is a release that gets my heartfelt recommendation!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Make dua for my enemies..."
- Da Flyy Hooligan
Coming off seeing a great performance by DJ Premier and The Alchemist this month, both production legends make it into the selection early, alongside one or two well-known cuts, but overall the kind of mix that will hopefully have you all running to your record or digital store of choice to pick up some gems that are new to you!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Twin & Alchemist : Live At The Amphitheatre
I was amazed to never have played this on the show, a favourite since the first time I heard it on the "Insomnia" mixtape back in 2003. The Alchemist uses one sample for the intro before switching it up for a beat based around an old soul number that sounds a lot different when he's looped it up and added his magic. On the mic he comes together with Twin, one of the most distinctive voices anywhere, as they go back and forth almost like Double Trouble in their scene on the stoop in "Wild Style", which is also sampled here.
Jake One : Gether (Geechi Liberaci)
It's always nice to dig out an instrumental that hasn't made it to the front of your mind in a while, especially when it's as good as this one! You might not expect the 808 drums over this kind of instrumentation, but the veteran Jake One makes it work on this piece from the "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape - although I did need to loop it up a bit to make it long enough to include here.
DJ Premier & Ransom : Amazing Graces
This track has been getting major play in my headphones, car, wherever, since the day it was released. The beat sounds incredibly simplistic at first, but there's more going on than you'd think if you actually break down all the sounds and the mix. Of course you also get the Preemo scratched hook that comes in even before the first verse, but Ransom puts the heavy hand down with his very first line and doesn't let up from there. From weaving all the Gang Starr album titles into the first verse right until the very last bar, he walks you down relentlessly on the slow beat. Absolutely fire single from their new join album "The Reinvention" - and a simple but dope video too!
Termanology, Tek, and Freeway : Hustler's Soul
I thought I'd played you this already, but was pleased to find that this track from the "Teknology" (great name) collaborative LP by Tek and Termanology was still available for me to select! It's Massachussetts, New York, and Philadelphia in combination with Freeway making a welcome guest appearance, and Minnesota contributing a beat that sounds like a 21st century revamp of a Blaxploitation track - perfectly on theme.
Da Flyy Hooligan : Ian McShane
North London's Da Flyy Hooligan is one of the most appropriately-named MCs in the game, keeping it street and bringing the elevated levels in his references and flow to let you know he's not your average. The lyrics start at literally the first second as DFH paints images in your head to set the initial vibe, and then continued to build scenes lyrically all the way through. Micall Parknsun is on the beat here, with an undertone that sounds like a slowed-down Olympic opening with some sharp, crispy drums on top. Perfect seasoning for this gourmet business from the 2002 "Ben Kingsley" album.
O.C. : DNA
O.C. is one of those MCs with a much deeper discography than a lot of people realise. Everyone remembers the first two LPs, then maybe the Apollo Brown project, but the bulk of his work, like 2017's "Same Moon, Same Sun - 1st Phase" went under the radar. Here's a little taste though, showcasing his steady, settled style as he tells you himself that his dedication to the artform is in him at the most foundational level. Motif Alumni handles production and marries up the cracking main drums with some spaced-out synths and booming 808 action.
Amon Tobin : Hey Blondie
A little palate-cleanser before we go into the middle section of the show, from 2002's "Out, From Out Where", sees the Brazilian composer Amon Tobin spacing it out with a dense, effect-laden production paced by some midtempo drum programming - an example of what might have been labelled "trip-hop" at the time. This LP, produced in Montreal, was apparently his first project recorded in a professional studio - but he sounds like an old hand.
Mobb Deep ft. Nas and H.E.R. : Love The Way (Down For You Part 2)
First, a recommendation - buy the digital edition of the new "Infinite" album, which will likely be the last we hear of the late Prodigy, rather than the vinyl. I was so excited for the wax to arrive, and the package looks great, but sounds like someone carved the grooves with a knitting needle. With that out of the way, the "Down For You" single featuring Nas and Jorja Smith was the first most of us heard from this project, but I thought we'd go to a slightly different version that's also on the LP. H.E.R. swaps in for Jorja Smith and also brings a great performance on the hook in her own style. Havoc's moody, string-sampling beat stays, while Nas contributes a new guest verse which exactly reverses a line from "Down For You" - both referencing his appearance on the killer "It's Mine" from "Murda Muzik". It's great to hear Prodigy one last time, and I'm also glad that they respected him by not using any AI trickery to include him on the LP or the video that we've seen so far.
Mathematik ft. Bahamadia : Following Goals
Deep, deep crate pull, one that I don't think I've ever played for anyone. While Mathematik gets the lead credit and definitely does his thing, including on the run-on final verse...this is still a Bahamadia cut to me 😄 With Erf Productions on the beat, this is a solid track that you're most likely to find on the "Superrappin" compilation album like I did - the "Ecology" album it also appears on looks to be an expensive rarity, with not much chance of a re-release!
J Dilla : Jay Dee 42
Absolutely ridiculous digging, sample selection, and MPC manipulation here by the late great J Dilla - and this is an offcut! It's on the "The King Of Beats Vol. 2" compilation, which consists of a considerable number of short snippets from Dilla's constant basement work that by and large didn't make it all the way to releasable ideas in his lifetime.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist : Home Improvement
From following goals on the last vocal track, we move to self-improvement via the metaphor of construction, coming from two great talents. The Alchemist is now a deeply-experienced veteran of the industry with tales to tell of what he got right in life and what didn't, while Hit-Boy is a relative newcomer - though one with a strong resume already. It's a joy to hear them come together on the new "GOLDFISH" album", where you get to hear both of them on the mic, as here, and you know the beats are going to be quality.
Robert Glasper Experiment : Letter To Hermione (Robert Glasper and Jewel Remix)
I'm no expert on jazz, even modern jazz, but Robert Glasper is someone I've been to see a couple of times and make a point to support the work of. His original version of this David Bowie cover on the "Black Radio" album is in a more traditional, spare style, where this one pushes along with a much more active drum track over the melancholy piano and Bilal's plaintive vocal. Both are great, but this cut from "Black Radio Recovered : The Remix LP" takes it for me.
Jobii : Mango Fizz
One algorithm or other brought this instrumental to my attention, and I have to say that Skynet did it's thing. Coming out of NYC, Jobii is the name for the more Hip-Hop/lo-fi leanings of producer/drummer Gabe Millman, and this track bumps along with as much juice and flavour as its namesake fruit. It's a single release well worth picking up and enjoying through a nice system.
Naughty By Nature : Uptown Anthem
An unimpeachable classic, a big tune that is guaranteed to rock any gathering of real heads, this was one of the highlights of the very strong soundtrack to the Ernest Dickerson film "Juice". Kay Gee's beat starts with that slow piano intro, and for anyone who didn't recognise it from that, that first piano chord is unmistakeable. Vinny and Treach kick killer bars, and the hook is classic 90s shoutiness. At this point, I think it's fair to say that while the record may be old, it'll never get old.
Aver : Portals
Dipping back into the "Manchester With Love" compilation, which I believe came in at over 200 tracks, we go to a man who may first have come to your attention many years ago when he first paired with Daysis (Dayse and Aver), or his adventures with the extended The Natural Curriculum crew. He continued to expand his production style and experiment, and right here there are no MCs, just one man and his skills on the boards, sequencing up a dark beat with some tough drums, with that second snare every other bar hitting on the four-and-a-half count, lining us up perfectly for...
Eric B. & Rakim : Rest Assured
...a highly underrated track on the final Eric B. & Rakim album, "Don't Sweat The Technique". It was always one of my favourites, but I've never heard anyone else play this moderately-uptempo jam, with Rakim playing the role of the MC/secret agent back to bring order! He did once say that he shouldn't have left us... Anyway, not only do you get the fire lyrics and grave tone of Rakim, but also an incredible beat with tough drums and that slow-attack bass sound - a distinctive touch that really makes this cut stand out.
Zeyne : Asli Ana
I don't know how I first heard this one, but it grabbed me straight away and I had to go purchase a (digital) copy! Zeyne is a Palestinian-Jordanian artist who found it within herself to write and record this single as part of the "AWDA" album at an incredibly difficult time, and as I understand it it's been well-received by many of us outside her usual audience. "Asli Ana" roughly translates as "My Roots"/"My Own Origin" and she's speaking proudly about her people owning their own identity rather than having it defined by others. I might not be able to understand the words, but absolutely can feel the passion, and can get right behind the message.
Soul II Soul : African Dance
The "Club Classics, Volume 1" album is a landmark, and one that showcased in fine style how the different strands of Black musical tradition in this country as well as the influence from the US could be blended together in a distinctly UK fashion. The flute takes the solo lead over an African-flavoured, house-inspired beat with no lyrics, just riding out for six minutes - though I'm not playing the entire thing here. If you've never heard the LP then I'd say it's worth your time, and even though it's creeping up on forty years old it still stands up.
Chantay Savage : Still (7" Mix)
A soaring, uplifting, soulful end to the episode. Chantay Savage has been putting in work since the 90s, and I first encountered her as the featured artist on Common's "Reminding Me (Of Sef)". After hearing just a few seconds of this on a vinyl retailer's website, I couldn't enter my credit card details fast enough! It's cool and cleansing on the instrumental side thanks to Terry Hunter and James Poyser, and her vocal performance stays right in line, but when she lets go, she really lets it all out on this ode to devotion. You don't have to get the vinyl release - it's on Bandcamp, and is a release that gets my heartfelt recommendation!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You ain't nice, just a little courteous..."
- Phonte
This episode we blend some tracks from artists I've seen live this month, a few new releases, some obscurities, but first and foremost, some music from the sadly missed D'Angelo, who passed away recently. We open and close with his voice, and go all over the map in the intervening fifty or so minutes. Headphones on, volume up...let's go.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
GZA ft. D'Angelo : Cold World (Power Mix)
There's another mix of this track featuring D'Angelo on the same 12" which I played a long time ago, but in the light of his untimely passing I decided to break out this alternate version by engineering legend Bob Power. It hews pretty closely to the original RZA beat as heard on the "Liquid Swords" LP, but with slightly different arrangement - and of course, that crunchy and yet clear mix. GZA's artfully-written street tales are punctuated by D'Angelo's vocalising and harmonising on the unforgettable hook, which takes it a level up from the classic original.
J Dilla : Say It Big
A good opportunity to play a quality Dilla beat which as far as I know, was only ever released as part of beat tapes/instrumental compilations. It inconveniently loops every five bars, which might be why no MCs ever picked it up despite how dope it is!
Grand Agent ft. Liv L'Raynge : Ooh-La-Lah
This reminds me of the days when we could drop tracks like Wildchild's "Code Red" in some clubs in Manchester to a big reaction! This is a forgotten underground banger, with Oh No on production deciding to see what happens when an accordion player meets an MPC, and guest MC Liv L'Raynge coming out so hard on the opening verse that she arguably steals the show from Philadelphia's Grand Agent, from whose "Under The Circumstances" album this track comes. Glad to give it another airing!
D&D All-Stars ft. Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Guru, and Greg Nice : Hot Shit
This one totally slipped by me - which shouldn't be any surprise, it happens to all of us here and there - looks to be a 2001 track that has recently seen a welcome re-release! From the spirit and customer base of possibly the most storied studio in Hip-Hop comes this Beatminerz-produced banger. With plenty of bass and punching drums to move your speakers, and all the MCs coming correct, this is a great cut to have in your collection.
Nottz ft. Pusha T and Dwele : You Need This Music
Virginia most definitely in the house on this 2010 release, as the highly-respected producer Nottz links up with another legend from the home team, Pusha T of Clipse as they both talk about the realities of their community and music scene. Nottz' beat is pounding and tough, so combined with the seriousness of the tone in the verses, having Dwele add some sweetness to the hook is great for balance.
Big Daddy Kane & RZA : Open Ya Eyes
Probably the biggest surprise release of the month for me, this popped up in my YouTube feed and I'm wondering how many people might be hearing it for the first time right here! Two giants of the culture come together, and while RZA could easily have got on the mic he instead keeps to the production side and cedes vocal duties to the Juice Crew legend Big Daddy Kane, who spits heavy 5% science over the smooth track. It looks like this is a warm-up for a full-length "Bobby Digital Presents : Juice Crew All Stars" album, which should be a must-listen for all heads as soon as it's released.
Funkychild : VX1000
I was able to buy my copy of "Legacy Echo Volume 3" from the label owner Chilla Ninja himself recently at a "Workinonit" event, and had it on the turntable for a front-to-back listen the next morning! Switzerland's Funkychild is channeling classic 90s boom-bap style with the horn flavour that Pete Rock brought to the fore, and the signature sleigh bell sounds in the mix too - even before the Xmas season starts!
Phonte ft. Elzhi : Nor Here Anymore
It's amazing to think of the career of the members of Little Brother, starting from those early tracks popping up on the Okayplayer message boards back in the late nineties! The talent in that crew was extraordinary, and even after they sadly split, it was nice to see them collaborate in twos over the years. Phonte's debut solo album "Charity Starts At Home" was a great showcase for his MCing and singing skills, and this particular track had 9th Wonder on production, doing excellent work with a well-known sample. Phonte's hook channels that original record too, and after his top-notch verses, the last hook is abruptly cut short to make way for Elzhi for the finisher. These with a full album together would really be something...
Layfullstop : Cherries
One of the most talented artists I've ever had the pleasure to meet, Layfullstop has officially retired from music this month - sad for us, but the planned end of that part of life and the start of a new chapter for her. She does leave us with a beautiful back catalogue of music though, deeper than many, and for this selection we dip back to the 2019 "Cherries" EP. Her self-assured flow grabs you immediately, and then she can switch to singing at a moment's notice without it ever feeling forced. With Pitch 92 providing the chilled, soulful production, this undeniable groove could be Exhibit A to demonstrate why Layfullstop has been as respected in the culture as she has, and will continue to be.
The Pharcyde : Passing Me By (Fly As Pie Remix)
I love this version of the classic single "Passing Me By", which, if you listen closely, isn't a straight remix but a re-record - the lyrical delivery isn't identical, but everything comes together with the beautiful instrumentation that totally avoids any of the signature parts of J-Swift's production on the original. L.A. Jay, who co-produced the original, takes the reins on this mix and knocks it out of the park. There are at least a couple of releases where you can find this one, but the most likely one to find (and the best pressing) that I know about is the "Summa Madness '93 Remixes" single, with a couple of versions of Masta Ace's "Saturday Nite Live" on the flip.
Souls Of Mischief : Freshdopedope
As Souls Of Mischief moved on from their first album and had got some more experience of the industry, some of the reality came into sharp focus and this selection is a perfect illustration. While the J-Biz-produced track starts off talking about the youthful enthusiasm to get into the game, it immediately transitions into their observations of the fakeness, wackness, trend-chasing, and negativity all around them. We're thirty years on from the release of "No Man's Land", and it's as true as it ever was...
Lord Finesse : Urban Exploitation (Instrumental)
A smooth piece of clasically-styled boom-bap, as built by the legendary Lord Finesse of DITC, on the legend in a different space, the E-mu SP-1200 sampling drum machine. This is on the 2015 digital version of the "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening" album, as well as the CD, but unfortunately not on the vinyl.
Semi Six & Producer Named 2 ft. Stretch Money : Leaders Of The New School
Dope recent release from the Detroit Polo don, alongside a couple of artists I'm not so familiar with. A Producer Named 2 (it's like A Tribe Called Quest, you have to say the whole thing) cooks up a beat with solid and yet smooth drum track and highlighted by ominous plucked strings, while guest Stretch Money kills the second verse after taking his lead from the hook/title. Fly ish indeed.
Curren$y ft. Jay Electronica : AD6
My first vinyl gift this month was from my wife, who got me the incredible box set of all of Curren$y's "Pilot Talk" albums! There are plenty of personal favourites on the original trilogy, but it was my first time hearing "Pilot Talk IV" and so I thought I'd pull from that album here. The sixth in the "Audio Dope" series, it's a homecoming/reunion affair as New Orleans native Jay Electronica comes through to connect with Curren$y, and does so with heavy local referencing. Longtime collaborator Ski Beatz is on production, with a low-slung vibe and in-keeping use of horns - an element sometimes thrown in "just because" - showing his mastery of his craft.
Le$ : Spy Hunter
As much as I already check for everything Le$ does (and he is prolific), he really had me with my finger over the "Play" button when I saw that the title of this collection was "GameCube"! Every track on this 2024 album was named after a game, but otherwise no direct connection, just referencing a bygone time - while the well-known "Peter Gunn" featured on the original "Spy Hunter", this couldn't be more different. Tavaras Jordan goes low-tempo and strips it back to drums, bass, and piano, with the occasional use of a "braking" effect to drop all the instrumentation out, and Le$ speaks on the grind and his own brand of self-motivation.
Brother Ali : Name Of The One
My man Agent J blessed me with a vinyl copy of the excellent "Satisfied Soul" for my birthday, so I wanted to share a cut from it here. It's only short, but he says what he has to say concisely, expressing his faith in an uplifting track produced by ANT, as is the rest of the LP.
Mecca:83 : Temple Chant
I had to loop this track up for it to be long enough to use here, but it was worth it so you can enjoy this beat from Manchester's own Mecca:83, featured on the Indian-themed "Samskara" beat tape. If you like instrumentals he's definitely a producer to follow and he's got a quality catalogue of albums and beat tapes going back years.
D'Angelo ft. Kool G Rap : Brown Sugar (Beatminerz Remix)
We finish the show as we began, with D'Angelo this time in the driver's seat. "Brown Sugar" was a huge single for him, the title track from his debut LP of course, but this killer remix is actually on the B-side of the "Cruisin'" 12" single. The Beatminerz sample a nice jazz fusion piece which I've heard used maybe once before, and combined with their chunky drums it makes a great backdrop for D'Angelo's voice. The icing on the cake is a short Kool G Rap guest verse, coming through with plenty of weed bars and just a touch of gun talk because...well, it is G Rap!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You ain't nice, just a little courteous..."
- Phonte
This episode we blend some tracks from artists I've seen live this month, a few new releases, some obscurities, but first and foremost, some music from the sadly missed D'Angelo, who passed away recently. We open and close with his voice, and go all over the map in the intervening fifty or so minutes. Headphones on, volume up...let's go.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
GZA ft. D'Angelo : Cold World (Power Mix)
There's another mix of this track featuring D'Angelo on the same 12" which I played a long time ago, but in the light of his untimely passing I decided to break out this alternate version by engineering legend Bob Power. It hews pretty closely to the original RZA beat as heard on the "Liquid Swords" LP, but with slightly different arrangement - and of course, that crunchy and yet clear mix. GZA's artfully-written street tales are punctuated by D'Angelo's vocalising and harmonising on the unforgettable hook, which takes it a level up from the classic original.
J Dilla : Say It Big
A good opportunity to play a quality Dilla beat which as far as I know, was only ever released as part of beat tapes/instrumental compilations. It inconveniently loops every five bars, which might be why no MCs ever picked it up despite how dope it is!
Grand Agent ft. Liv L'Raynge : Ooh-La-Lah
This reminds me of the days when we could drop tracks like Wildchild's "Code Red" in some clubs in Manchester to a big reaction! This is a forgotten underground banger, with Oh No on production deciding to see what happens when an accordion player meets an MPC, and guest MC Liv L'Raynge coming out so hard on the opening verse that she arguably steals the show from Philadelphia's Grand Agent, from whose "Under The Circumstances" album this track comes. Glad to give it another airing!
D&D All-Stars ft. Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Guru, and Greg Nice : Hot Shit
This one totally slipped by me - which shouldn't be any surprise, it happens to all of us here and there - looks to be a 2001 track that has recently seen a welcome re-release! From the spirit and customer base of possibly the most storied studio in Hip-Hop comes this Beatminerz-produced banger. With plenty of bass and punching drums to move your speakers, and all the MCs coming correct, this is a great cut to have in your collection.
Nottz ft. Pusha T and Dwele : You Need This Music
Virginia most definitely in the house on this 2010 release, as the highly-respected producer Nottz links up with another legend from the home team, Pusha T of Clipse as they both talk about the realities of their community and music scene. Nottz' beat is pounding and tough, so combined with the seriousness of the tone in the verses, having Dwele add some sweetness to the hook is great for balance.
Big Daddy Kane & RZA : Open Ya Eyes
Probably the biggest surprise release of the month for me, this popped up in my YouTube feed and I'm wondering how many people might be hearing it for the first time right here! Two giants of the culture come together, and while RZA could easily have got on the mic he instead keeps to the production side and cedes vocal duties to the Juice Crew legend Big Daddy Kane, who spits heavy 5% science over the smooth track. It looks like this is a warm-up for a full-length "Bobby Digital Presents : Juice Crew All Stars" album, which should be a must-listen for all heads as soon as it's released.
Funkychild : VX1000
I was able to buy my copy of "Legacy Echo Volume 3" from the label owner Chilla Ninja himself recently at a "Workinonit" event, and had it on the turntable for a front-to-back listen the next morning! Switzerland's Funkychild is channeling classic 90s boom-bap style with the horn flavour that Pete Rock brought to the fore, and the signature sleigh bell sounds in the mix too - even before the Xmas season starts!
Phonte ft. Elzhi : Nor Here Anymore
It's amazing to think of the career of the members of Little Brother, starting from those early tracks popping up on the Okayplayer message boards back in the late nineties! The talent in that crew was extraordinary, and even after they sadly split, it was nice to see them collaborate in twos over the years. Phonte's debut solo album "Charity Starts At Home" was a great showcase for his MCing and singing skills, and this particular track had 9th Wonder on production, doing excellent work with a well-known sample. Phonte's hook channels that original record too, and after his top-notch verses, the last hook is abruptly cut short to make way for Elzhi for the finisher. These with a full album together would really be something...
Layfullstop : Cherries
One of the most talented artists I've ever had the pleasure to meet, Layfullstop has officially retired from music this month - sad for us, but the planned end of that part of life and the start of a new chapter for her. She does leave us with a beautiful back catalogue of music though, deeper than many, and for this selection we dip back to the 2019 "Cherries" EP. Her self-assured flow grabs you immediately, and then she can switch to singing at a moment's notice without it ever feeling forced. With Pitch 92 providing the chilled, soulful production, this undeniable groove could be Exhibit A to demonstrate why Layfullstop has been as respected in the culture as she has, and will continue to be.
The Pharcyde : Passing Me By (Fly As Pie Remix)
I love this version of the classic single "Passing Me By", which, if you listen closely, isn't a straight remix but a re-record - the lyrical delivery isn't identical, but everything comes together with the beautiful instrumentation that totally avoids any of the signature parts of J-Swift's production on the original. L.A. Jay, who co-produced the original, takes the reins on this mix and knocks it out of the park. There are at least a couple of releases where you can find this one, but the most likely one to find (and the best pressing) that I know about is the "Summa Madness '93 Remixes" single, with a couple of versions of Masta Ace's "Saturday Nite Live" on the flip.
Souls Of Mischief : Freshdopedope
As Souls Of Mischief moved on from their first album and had got some more experience of the industry, some of the reality came into sharp focus and this selection is a perfect illustration. While the J-Biz-produced track starts off talking about the youthful enthusiasm to get into the game, it immediately transitions into their observations of the fakeness, wackness, trend-chasing, and negativity all around them. We're thirty years on from the release of "No Man's Land", and it's as true as it ever was...
Lord Finesse : Urban Exploitation (Instrumental)
A smooth piece of clasically-styled boom-bap, as built by the legendary Lord Finesse of DITC, on the legend in a different space, the E-mu SP-1200 sampling drum machine. This is on the 2015 digital version of the "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening" album, as well as the CD, but unfortunately not on the vinyl.
Semi Six & Producer Named 2 ft. Stretch Money : Leaders Of The New School
Dope recent release from the Detroit Polo don, alongside a couple of artists I'm not so familiar with. A Producer Named 2 (it's like A Tribe Called Quest, you have to say the whole thing) cooks up a beat with solid and yet smooth drum track and highlighted by ominous plucked strings, while guest Stretch Money kills the second verse after taking his lead from the hook/title. Fly ish indeed.
Curren$y ft. Jay Electronica : AD6
My first vinyl gift this month was from my wife, who got me the incredible box set of all of Curren$y's "Pilot Talk" albums! There are plenty of personal favourites on the original trilogy, but it was my first time hearing "Pilot Talk IV" and so I thought I'd pull from that album here. The sixth in the "Audio Dope" series, it's a homecoming/reunion affair as New Orleans native Jay Electronica comes through to connect with Curren$y, and does so with heavy local referencing. Longtime collaborator Ski Beatz is on production, with a low-slung vibe and in-keeping use of horns - an element sometimes thrown in "just because" - showing his mastery of his craft.
Le$ : Spy Hunter
As much as I already check for everything Le$ does (and he is prolific), he really had me with my finger over the "Play" button when I saw that the title of this collection was "GameCube"! Every track on this 2024 album was named after a game, but otherwise no direct connection, just referencing a bygone time - while the well-known "Peter Gunn" featured on the original "Spy Hunter", this couldn't be more different. Tavaras Jordan goes low-tempo and strips it back to drums, bass, and piano, with the occasional use of a "braking" effect to drop all the instrumentation out, and Le$ speaks on the grind and his own brand of self-motivation.
Brother Ali : Name Of The One
My man Agent J blessed me with a vinyl copy of the excellent "Satisfied Soul" for my birthday, so I wanted to share a cut from it here. It's only short, but he says what he has to say concisely, expressing his faith in an uplifting track produced by ANT, as is the rest of the LP.
Mecca:83 : Temple Chant
I had to loop this track up for it to be long enough to use here, but it was worth it so you can enjoy this beat from Manchester's own Mecca:83, featured on the Indian-themed "Samskara" beat tape. If you like instrumentals he's definitely a producer to follow and he's got a quality catalogue of albums and beat tapes going back years.
D'Angelo ft. Kool G Rap : Brown Sugar (Beatminerz Remix)
We finish the show as we began, with D'Angelo this time in the driver's seat. "Brown Sugar" was a huge single for him, the title track from his debut LP of course, but this killer remix is actually on the B-side of the "Cruisin'" 12" single. The Beatminerz sample a nice jazz fusion piece which I've heard used maybe once before, and combined with their chunky drums it makes a great backdrop for D'Angelo's voice. The icing on the cake is a short Kool G Rap guest verse, coming through with plenty of weed bars and just a touch of gun talk because...well, it is G Rap!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...I see you."
- Ras Kass
This was an episode which didn't mystically guide me to each record in the mix - I had to work for my inspiration! On another birth month show, we have some great new releases studded amongst some older gems from my collection - keeping it in the Hip-Hop and funk lanes.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
FirstRepair (ft. Camp Lo, Akil of Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Ras Kass, and The Holy Thief) : DAP
I wanted to include this track an episode or two back, but it was only on streaming services and not yet available for purchase - but finally it's here, and rightly opens the episode. An all-star cast of MCs come together on an urgent-sounding beat for this ode to Black respect and unity, specifically centred around the ritual of giving dap. FirstRepair is a non-profit organisation focusing on the cause of calling for reparations for slavery on a local level, and one of their latest projects in the release of this album "The Reckoning : Freedom Songs For Reparations". An essential track I'm glad to be able to share here, and hopefully one that will make you look into the message and reality behind it.
[The Architect] Mista Sinista : Sseriouss!! (Instrumental Remix)
Were it not for my big digitisation project, this beat could have easily languished on my shelves for years more, but right now this The Architect remix on a 12" from one of the legendary X-Ecutioners crew gets to breathe! I'm not sure if this is available digitally, but you should be able to pick up an inexpensive vinyl copy if you hunt around.
DJ Jazzy Jeff : Scars
We stay on a serious vibe as we enter the first mix, with an absolute beast of a track from Jazzy Jeff's 2018 "M3" album, with Rhymefest and Dayne Jordan on vocals. I'm not even going to go deep into the lyrics as I wouldn't do them justice - this a track to close your eyes to, take it, and digest in full.
Javotti Media, Talib Kweli, Maino, and St. Laz : Go Brooklyn
This has a real live flavour to it, a refusal to tidy up the occasional timing variation in favour of letting the sound of a DJ go undiluted - those cuts and scratches aren't mine, but a part of the actual production as featured on "Notes From The Underground". Javotti Media is credited as the artist on the digital purchase, but as far as I can tell, that's the name of an organisation, with Talib, Maino, and St. Laz being the actual artists on this. The video version that you may already know is a bit more straightforward in terms of presentation, but the lyrical performance is just the same as the MCs speak on their own relationships to the titular legendary borough.
Sadat X : On Tha Come Thru
It seems mad now that some people ever believed Grand Puba was essentially carrying Brand Nubian - the depth of Sadat X's solo catalogue equals that of his talent. Here we visit an LP which is somehow almost twenty years old, 2006's "Black October" for this Beatminerz-produced gem, a strong album cut on a project packed with great producers.
Public Enemy : Gotta Do What I Gotta Do
I was a huge Public Enemy fan growing up (still am, of course), but I have to admit being confused when this track came out - the production and instrumentation sounded incredibly different from pretty much everything that had gone before. I didn't know how difficult and expensive it had then become to produce the kind of sample-dense material which they'd previously been well-known for, in contrast to the more stripped-back approach here. In retrospect though, it's a great cut from the "Greatest Misses" compilation (half new tracks, half remixes) that sounds perfect as the soundtrack inclusion it ended up being when it appeared on the "Trespass" OST, with the incomparable Chuck D in fine form.
K-Def : Blind Run
New Jersey production veteran showed just how much he can slice up a sample with this reworking of a similarly-named track that has been visited by many, many producers before, but not quite like this. It's short, but a highlight on the album "Willie Boo Boo The Fool".
All Hail Y.T. (ft. Ladyy) : Let Me Ride 2021
I love both the original "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre from "The Chronic" and Parliament's "Swing Down Sweet Chariot", and I feel that this record does justice to both. Producer Milo Utu keeps a Hip-Hop vibe while folding in an even heavier P-Funk flavour than Dre's track, and while Y.T. could have easily stuck to the original subject matter, he goes much wider and deeper. Ladyy does a great version of the original hook, and caps off this great homage from the "V-12 Soul : Deluxe" LP.
George Duke : Reach For It
Going all the way back to 1977 for this fire, the title track of one of two albums jazz-funk legend George Duke released that year. This funky cut with Duke's expert guitar work has been sampled a decent number of times, though not as many as I might have thought, and made an appearance in the score of the documentary "American Pimp" - as far as I can tell, purely on the vibe of the instrumental rather than any lyrical/thematic connection. As a bonus, you get the legend Stanley Clarke on bass on this undeniable classic.
Lakim : I'm Rick James, Bitch...
Full sampler annihilation of a classic Rick James track which most of you will recognise, with the bounce and tempo being miles away from the original - best exemplified by the completely altered rhythm that makes the signature vocal like flow like "get/her...off-thestreet". Virginia's Lakim chops this one mercilessly, and it actually runs a little bit longer than you hear in this mix - get the 45 or Bandcamp versions for the whole track, plus BoomBaptist's "Jerry Mane" on the flip.
Lord Finesse : Hip 2 Da Game (Remix)
One of Lord Finesse's most loved singles gets a remix here courtesy of fellow DITC member Buckwild, who adds some boom-bap to a melodic soul sample which you may recognise from another New York Hip-Hop track released the same year - great minds think alike and all that. While I got this remix on "Buckwild Diggin' In The Crates Rare Studio Masters : 1993-1997", it's actually also on the original 12" single, so if you can find a copy of that 1995 release today, thirty years on, then you're winning there.
Abstract Orchestra : Once Upon A Time
I've always loved the full-circle nature of a sample-based Hip-Hop track later being covered by a live band, which is what we have here. Leeds' Abstract Orchestra do a fine job of interpreting Pate Rock and J Dilla's work on the track of the same name from "Fantastic, Vol.2", amongst a selection of other covers on "Fantastic 2020 V.2". There's also a "Fantastic 2020 V.1" album, with the tracks from the original Slum Village LP spanning both releases.
Sir Michael Rocks : Just For You
I've read someone saying this is tough to get now due to sample clearance issues, which is a shame as Mikey's flow over this George Duke is a match made in mixtape heaven. Rocks is half of Chicago duo The Cool Kids, who were on their own vibe from the jump, and he is very much is his own lane of flyness on this track from the original version of his debut solo mixtape "The Rocks Report". Legal issues aside, producer PX gave him a great soundtrack!
Cookin' Soul x LE$ : Day Dreams
LE$ and Cookin' Soul did a great job on the 2014 "ACE" mixtape, which drew inspiration from the film "Paid In Full" - itself inspired by (though not a faithful telling of) the true story of 1980s New York drug figures AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. Calling back to the fantasies of the character of Ace and the dreamlike sequences in the film, LE$ takes that seed and spins his lyrics out from there, but speaking about his own career. Cookin' Soul blesses him with a beat that balances the groundedness of the guitar with the ethereal gliding of strings, perfectly complementing the rhymes as he does throughout the project.
Anthony Danza (ft. Seattle's Key, Joe Fresco, and Ladyy) : Signed & Sealed
I've only got up on Anthony Danza's stuff this year, but I've been playing him heavy and fully expect his name to be prominently towards the top of my "year in review" playlist. This Seattle MC has been putting in that work for years, with an extensive catalogue that draws heavily from the vibes, sounds, and lifestyle of the eighties - and the era looms large from the second you read the title of this album, "Reaganomic". He graciously shares the spotlight here to put some other MCs on, taking the first verse expertly before ceding the mic. Production-wise, the beat from The DARE Program is perfect late-night riding or mix show material with a nice funk guitar lick in the mix, while others on the LP are more heavily on the synth vibe. The album is a recommended listen, especially for those of us raised in the aesthetics of those times.
The Last Emperor : Let's Ride
Philadephia's The Last Emperor always felt like someone whose popular recognition even amongst the core Hip-Hop audience never quite matched the level of respect he gets from his peers. He's worked with KRS, Dr. Dre, and more, and had well-remembered tracks like "Secret Wars" but is still unknown to too many. His debut LP from which this track is drawn was entitled "Palace Of The Pretender" in Europe (which I how I know it), but the original US release is "Music, Magic, Myth", and the strong production roster throughout spoke to the level of regard those in the know held him in. Da Beatminerz come through here with a beat that's knocking and chunky at the bottom yet light and breezy up top with the guitars, and Emperor matches the relaxed groove with an easily-understandable flow and a thoroughly positive message.
[Kenny The Seagull] Mandela & Sisulu (Dr. Oop and Two-B) : Instrumentals Like These
Artist names are absolute gold on this one from top to bottom! It was Manchester veteran Pressey who put me up on Dr. Oop, as I mentioned all the way back on Episode 26, and just like then, he still isn't on production here! Nice beat all the same, from the "Daze Like These" 12".
Fashawn : Peace
Another record I was aiming to include last month! I shaped the final segment of this episode to work towards this new single, giving it a chance to shine and close proceedings. Fresno's Fashawn is someone that, though my own fault, fell off my radar, but I consider this track a wake-up call! Not to be confused with the excellent track "Peace Treaty" he recorded with Murs, this is a call for peace across the board - though looking at where we stand in history, it would be natural to wonder what we'll have to go through to get there.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...I see you."
- Ras Kass
This was an episode which didn't mystically guide me to each record in the mix - I had to work for my inspiration! On another birth month show, we have some great new releases studded amongst some older gems from my collection - keeping it in the Hip-Hop and funk lanes.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
FirstRepair (ft. Camp Lo, Akil of Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Ras Kass, and The Holy Thief) : DAP
I wanted to include this track an episode or two back, but it was only on streaming services and not yet available for purchase - but finally it's here, and rightly opens the episode. An all-star cast of MCs come together on an urgent-sounding beat for this ode to Black respect and unity, specifically centred around the ritual of giving dap. FirstRepair is a non-profit organisation focusing on the cause of calling for reparations for slavery on a local level, and one of their latest projects in the release of this album "The Reckoning : Freedom Songs For Reparations". An essential track I'm glad to be able to share here, and hopefully one that will make you look into the message and reality behind it.
[The Architect] Mista Sinista : Sseriouss!! (Instrumental Remix)
Were it not for my big digitisation project, this beat could have easily languished on my shelves for years more, but right now this The Architect remix on a 12" from one of the legendary X-Ecutioners crew gets to breathe! I'm not sure if this is available digitally, but you should be able to pick up an inexpensive vinyl copy if you hunt around.
DJ Jazzy Jeff : Scars
We stay on a serious vibe as we enter the first mix, with an absolute beast of a track from Jazzy Jeff's 2018 "M3" album, with Rhymefest and Dayne Jordan on vocals. I'm not even going to go deep into the lyrics as I wouldn't do them justice - this a track to close your eyes to, take it, and digest in full.
Javotti Media, Talib Kweli, Maino, and St. Laz : Go Brooklyn
This has a real live flavour to it, a refusal to tidy up the occasional timing variation in favour of letting the sound of a DJ go undiluted - those cuts and scratches aren't mine, but a part of the actual production as featured on "Notes From The Underground". Javotti Media is credited as the artist on the digital purchase, but as far as I can tell, that's the name of an organisation, with Talib, Maino, and St. Laz being the actual artists on this. The video version that you may already know is a bit more straightforward in terms of presentation, but the lyrical performance is just the same as the MCs speak on their own relationships to the titular legendary borough.
Sadat X : On Tha Come Thru
It seems mad now that some people ever believed Grand Puba was essentially carrying Brand Nubian - the depth of Sadat X's solo catalogue equals that of his talent. Here we visit an LP which is somehow almost twenty years old, 2006's "Black October" for this Beatminerz-produced gem, a strong album cut on a project packed with great producers.
Public Enemy : Gotta Do What I Gotta Do
I was a huge Public Enemy fan growing up (still am, of course), but I have to admit being confused when this track came out - the production and instrumentation sounded incredibly different from pretty much everything that had gone before. I didn't know how difficult and expensive it had then become to produce the kind of sample-dense material which they'd previously been well-known for, in contrast to the more stripped-back approach here. In retrospect though, it's a great cut from the "Greatest Misses" compilation (half new tracks, half remixes) that sounds perfect as the soundtrack inclusion it ended up being when it appeared on the "Trespass" OST, with the incomparable Chuck D in fine form.
K-Def : Blind Run
New Jersey production veteran showed just how much he can slice up a sample with this reworking of a similarly-named track that has been visited by many, many producers before, but not quite like this. It's short, but a highlight on the album "Willie Boo Boo The Fool".
All Hail Y.T. (ft. Ladyy) : Let Me Ride 2021
I love both the original "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre from "The Chronic" and Parliament's "Swing Down Sweet Chariot", and I feel that this record does justice to both. Producer Milo Utu keeps a Hip-Hop vibe while folding in an even heavier P-Funk flavour than Dre's track, and while Y.T. could have easily stuck to the original subject matter, he goes much wider and deeper. Ladyy does a great version of the original hook, and caps off this great homage from the "V-12 Soul : Deluxe" LP.
George Duke : Reach For It
Going all the way back to 1977 for this fire, the title track of one of two albums jazz-funk legend George Duke released that year. This funky cut with Duke's expert guitar work has been sampled a decent number of times, though not as many as I might have thought, and made an appearance in the score of the documentary "American Pimp" - as far as I can tell, purely on the vibe of the instrumental rather than any lyrical/thematic connection. As a bonus, you get the legend Stanley Clarke on bass on this undeniable classic.
Lakim : I'm Rick James, Bitch...
Full sampler annihilation of a classic Rick James track which most of you will recognise, with the bounce and tempo being miles away from the original - best exemplified by the completely altered rhythm that makes the signature vocal like flow like "get/her...off-thestreet". Virginia's Lakim chops this one mercilessly, and it actually runs a little bit longer than you hear in this mix - get the 45 or Bandcamp versions for the whole track, plus BoomBaptist's "Jerry Mane" on the flip.
Lord Finesse : Hip 2 Da Game (Remix)
One of Lord Finesse's most loved singles gets a remix here courtesy of fellow DITC member Buckwild, who adds some boom-bap to a melodic soul sample which you may recognise from another New York Hip-Hop track released the same year - great minds think alike and all that. While I got this remix on "Buckwild Diggin' In The Crates Rare Studio Masters : 1993-1997", it's actually also on the original 12" single, so if you can find a copy of that 1995 release today, thirty years on, then you're winning there.
Abstract Orchestra : Once Upon A Time
I've always loved the full-circle nature of a sample-based Hip-Hop track later being covered by a live band, which is what we have here. Leeds' Abstract Orchestra do a fine job of interpreting Pate Rock and J Dilla's work on the track of the same name from "Fantastic, Vol.2", amongst a selection of other covers on "Fantastic 2020 V.2". There's also a "Fantastic 2020 V.1" album, with the tracks from the original Slum Village LP spanning both releases.
Sir Michael Rocks : Just For You
I've read someone saying this is tough to get now due to sample clearance issues, which is a shame as Mikey's flow over this George Duke is a match made in mixtape heaven. Rocks is half of Chicago duo The Cool Kids, who were on their own vibe from the jump, and he is very much is his own lane of flyness on this track from the original version of his debut solo mixtape "The Rocks Report". Legal issues aside, producer PX gave him a great soundtrack!
Cookin' Soul x LE$ : Day Dreams
LE$ and Cookin' Soul did a great job on the 2014 "ACE" mixtape, which drew inspiration from the film "Paid In Full" - itself inspired by (though not a faithful telling of) the true story of 1980s New York drug figures AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. Calling back to the fantasies of the character of Ace and the dreamlike sequences in the film, LE$ takes that seed and spins his lyrics out from there, but speaking about his own career. Cookin' Soul blesses him with a beat that balances the groundedness of the guitar with the ethereal gliding of strings, perfectly complementing the rhymes as he does throughout the project.
Anthony Danza (ft. Seattle's Key, Joe Fresco, and Ladyy) : Signed & Sealed
I've only got up on Anthony Danza's stuff this year, but I've been playing him heavy and fully expect his name to be prominently towards the top of my "year in review" playlist. This Seattle MC has been putting in that work for years, with an extensive catalogue that draws heavily from the vibes, sounds, and lifestyle of the eighties - and the era looms large from the second you read the title of this album, "Reaganomic". He graciously shares the spotlight here to put some other MCs on, taking the first verse expertly before ceding the mic. Production-wise, the beat from The DARE Program is perfect late-night riding or mix show material with a nice funk guitar lick in the mix, while others on the LP are more heavily on the synth vibe. The album is a recommended listen, especially for those of us raised in the aesthetics of those times.
The Last Emperor : Let's Ride
Philadephia's The Last Emperor always felt like someone whose popular recognition even amongst the core Hip-Hop audience never quite matched the level of respect he gets from his peers. He's worked with KRS, Dr. Dre, and more, and had well-remembered tracks like "Secret Wars" but is still unknown to too many. His debut LP from which this track is drawn was entitled "Palace Of The Pretender" in Europe (which I how I know it), but the original US release is "Music, Magic, Myth", and the strong production roster throughout spoke to the level of regard those in the know held him in. Da Beatminerz come through here with a beat that's knocking and chunky at the bottom yet light and breezy up top with the guitars, and Emperor matches the relaxed groove with an easily-understandable flow and a thoroughly positive message.
[Kenny The Seagull] Mandela & Sisulu (Dr. Oop and Two-B) : Instrumentals Like These
Artist names are absolute gold on this one from top to bottom! It was Manchester veteran Pressey who put me up on Dr. Oop, as I mentioned all the way back on Episode 26, and just like then, he still isn't on production here! Nice beat all the same, from the "Daze Like These" 12".
Fashawn : Peace
Another record I was aiming to include last month! I shaped the final segment of this episode to work towards this new single, giving it a chance to shine and close proceedings. Fresno's Fashawn is someone that, though my own fault, fell off my radar, but I consider this track a wake-up call! Not to be confused with the excellent track "Peace Treaty" he recorded with Murs, this is a call for peace across the board - though looking at where we stand in history, it would be natural to wonder what we'll have to go through to get there.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...when they still ain't fixed this one?"
- Treach
It's been a great month - I got married! And just like every month - the podcast is out on time 🙂 Stull, don't expect too much romance and tenderness in the selection this month, as we start off with Brownsville (NY) and Gary (Indiana) in combination and roll from there...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price ft. Freddie Gibbs : Remember
Those of us who know a great when we hear one will always remember Sean Price. You needed the deluxe edition of the "Mic Tyson" LP to get this track, but thanks to digital distribution you can buy it individually - meaning that this combo of Sean P, Freddie Gibbs with his fire guest verse, and Statik Selektah on the boards can be yours for the low!
Lil Will Productionz : Another Day, Another Dollar
I'm sure we've visited "COMMON : THE BEAT TAPE PROJECT" before, but this particular track is probably new to you. Chunky and loping with a little bit of bluesy guitar, this would absolutely have been worthy of having Common bless it on the mic.
Evidence : Sharks Smell Blood
I have to admit that I missed the 2021 "Unlearning, Vol. 1" album, but hearing Evidence perform this track live had me running to mend my ways. Dark and creeping sonically, this is actually not an Evidence beat but a contribution by Sebb Bash, who provides a great backdrop for Ev's measured rhymes.
The Musalini & Khrysis ft. Smoke DZA : On The Go
In full mack mode, Mus brings some smoothness to the traditional Bronx grittiness on this single from his new LP "Pure Izm 2". Khrysis' beat is a tough one to describe, with a seemingly-relaxed relationship to the beat grid, chopped and slowed-down vocal wails, and an overall undeniable, rewindable funk.
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano : Prayer Hands
"The Coldest Profession" pairs one of the best MCs of the modern age - who is also something of a pioneer on the boards - with one of the greatest producers of all time for an enjoyable, if short, new album. Preemo comes with more prominent drums than would be usual on a Roc Marciano cut, and Roc is smooth and witty even with a harder backing. It's also nice to hear the voice of the late Guru on a Premier track once again, even as a sample - a reminder of a beautiful age gone by, and a demonstration of picking out just the right line for a scratch hook.
Jay-Z : Moment of Clarity (9th Wonder Remix)
When the accapellas of Jay-Z's "The Black Album" were circulating in the early 2000s, the result was an absolute swarm of remix editions of the album, including "The Grey Album" which famously mixed Jay with The Beatles, "The Brown Album" produced by Kev Brown, and this one - "Black Is Back" by 9th Wonder. As one of the people who worked on the original album itself (he produced "Threat"), it was striking that even he picked up the remix baton, and his version of this originally Eminem-produced cut is, in my opinion, far superior to the official release.
Devin Morrison : Villanova Terrace
This feels like just the right kind of flavour for a late-night motorway drive - crisp, clean, uptempo, nimble. Devin Morrison's "Dream Lobby" series has some incredible beats, and this track from the eleventh collection is a glittering take on drum & bass.
Clipse : Hear Me Out
A lot of you will recognise the production here off the top - it's much better-known as the instrumental underpinning to "Knock Yourself Out" by Jadakiss, but Pharrell's beat was first heard here on the shelved Clipse debut "Exclusive Audio Footage". You'd be doing well do find a copy of Malice and Pusha's first outing (when Pusha was still called Terrar) since it still doesn't have an official release, but you might just find a digital version!
Paul Wall & DJ.Fresh : Dedicated To The Game
This new track has been getting plenty of rewinds from me in the headphones and in the car! The "The Tonite Show" series by DJ.Fresh has showcased everyone from Curren$y to Raekwon, but now The People's Champ Paul Wall gets his turn to collaborate with this skilled producer. The synth work on this track is topped with some gorgeous piano, while on the mic Paul Wall stays with his perfected approach to his trademark topics - staying down, and getting money.
Zion I : A Little Change
As the Lauryn Hill sample says, it is funny how money changes situations and twists the actions of people. The late Zumbi of this Oakland crew is on the mic, Amp Live is on production, and this relatively-chilled track is a contemplative spot in an incredibly varied album, their debut "Mind Over Matter".
De La Soul ft. Supa Dave West : Speed Limit
I could be wrong (wouldn't be the only time this episode), but I think this track may have escaped the notice of many! Featuring Supa Dave West but apparently produced by Dart La, this particular cut was squeezed onto the "Stimulated Volume 1" compilation, a 2001 release which featured a few gems and is worth picking up if you see it for a reasonable price. Always good to hear De La, and a semi-rarity is a treat for the listener.
[DJ Joc Max] Basement Khemist : Correct Technique (Instrumental)
Solid boom-bap, while also supremely laid-back, this is a nice slice from Kansas City's own Joc Max, the producer for Basement Khemist. Showing just how to chop and layer samples, his technique is indeed correct. This particular version comes from "The Beyond Real Experience Volume One Instrumentals", a great pickup for DJs.
Christina Aguilera : Back In The Day
Correction : Preemo didn't produce the entire "Back To Basics" LP, but was a driving force behind the first disc of the double album.
I'm always here for paying tribute to those who've gone before, which this track does wonderfully. The namechecked artists cover a wide time period, while DJ Premier's production keeps us rooted and focused with a steady, yet grand, foundation. Aguilera's love of tracks like Mos Def's "Mathematics" demonstrated she had a knowledge of Premier's work that went below the surface, and the mutual respect comes through in every bar of this track.
Main Source : Atom
You can see how they ended up with "Breaking Atoms" as the title of their first LP! Here we have the very dawning of Main Source, their first single - the B-side, to be precise - with some old-school jazzy flavour coming through the speakers alongside the vocals of Large Professor. Based on what we now know of the group, I'd expect that LP took the lead on production too, making this 1989 track a powerful opening shot from one of the greats of the culture.
Stacy Epps ft. Believe and Madlib : Feels Like
Gloriously sunshiney soul from one of those artists that those in the know rate highly, and who pops up every so often with an amazing guest appearance or surprise release. You may have heard her on "Eye" from "Madvillainy", and here she is again working with Madlib but taking star billing on this single from her new LP "Flowheart". Fellow ATLien Believe comes through with a solid verse, and the overall creation is one that should have every music lover rushing to hear more!
Ambersunshower : Running Song
This was the big tune on the 1996 "Walter T. Smith" album, which definitely hasn't been heard by enough people! Half of the duo Groove Garden, Ambersunshower (actually her real name) came out strong on this LP, and sampling a classic British record from the 80s and adding her soulful vocals over the top makes this track a standout on her debut.
Ronnie Laws : Love Is Here
For the sake of making my voiceover easier to hear, I dropped out the vocals on this track - though to be honest, there aren't that many. The instrumentation takes centre stage on this jazz-funk workout from the 1978 "Flame" LP. You might know this man for "Tidal Wave", which was borrowed for a classic Hip-Hop single, but his catalogue goes much deeper than that. While some contemporaneous music journalists criticised his moves away from traditional jazz, I'd like to think that some of them may have come around as time has gone on.
Naughty By Nature : World Go Round
We finish up in East Orange, New Jersey, with a track from "Poverty's Paradise" that seems more fitting than ever as the world seems to be spinning off its axis. With Minnesota on production blending multiple elements including the Jacksons sample used for the hook, Treach flows comfortably with feeling over two verses as he expresses his thoughts on the world of the time. Some things still haven't changed...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...when they still ain't fixed this one?"
- Treach
It's been a great month - I got married! And just like every month - the podcast is out on time 🙂 Stull, don't expect too much romance and tenderness in the selection this month, as we start off with Brownsville (NY) and Gary (Indiana) in combination and roll from there...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price ft. Freddie Gibbs : Remember
Those of us who know a great when we hear one will always remember Sean Price. You needed the deluxe edition of the "Mic Tyson" LP to get this track, but thanks to digital distribution you can buy it individually - meaning that this combo of Sean P, Freddie Gibbs with his fire guest verse, and Statik Selektah on the boards can be yours for the low!
Lil Will Productionz : Another Day, Another Dollar
I'm sure we've visited "COMMON : THE BEAT TAPE PROJECT" before, but this particular track is probably new to you. Chunky and loping with a little bit of bluesy guitar, this would absolutely have been worthy of having Common bless it on the mic.
Evidence : Sharks Smell Blood
I have to admit that I missed the 2021 "Unlearning, Vol. 1" album, but hearing Evidence perform this track live had me running to mend my ways. Dark and creeping sonically, this is actually not an Evidence beat but a contribution by Sebb Bash, who provides a great backdrop for Ev's measured rhymes.
The Musalini & Khrysis ft. Smoke DZA : On The Go
In full mack mode, Mus brings some smoothness to the traditional Bronx grittiness on this single from his new LP "Pure Izm 2". Khrysis' beat is a tough one to describe, with a seemingly-relaxed relationship to the beat grid, chopped and slowed-down vocal wails, and an overall undeniable, rewindable funk.
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano : Prayer Hands
"The Coldest Profession" pairs one of the best MCs of the modern age - who is also something of a pioneer on the boards - with one of the greatest producers of all time for an enjoyable, if short, new album. Preemo comes with more prominent drums than would be usual on a Roc Marciano cut, and Roc is smooth and witty even with a harder backing. It's also nice to hear the voice of the late Guru on a Premier track once again, even as a sample - a reminder of a beautiful age gone by, and a demonstration of picking out just the right line for a scratch hook.
Jay-Z : Moment of Clarity (9th Wonder Remix)
When the accapellas of Jay-Z's "The Black Album" were circulating in the early 2000s, the result was an absolute swarm of remix editions of the album, including "The Grey Album" which famously mixed Jay with The Beatles, "The Brown Album" produced by Kev Brown, and this one - "Black Is Back" by 9th Wonder. As one of the people who worked on the original album itself (he produced "Threat"), it was striking that even he picked up the remix baton, and his version of this originally Eminem-produced cut is, in my opinion, far superior to the official release.
Devin Morrison : Villanova Terrace
This feels like just the right kind of flavour for a late-night motorway drive - crisp, clean, uptempo, nimble. Devin Morrison's "Dream Lobby" series has some incredible beats, and this track from the eleventh collection is a glittering take on drum & bass.
Clipse : Hear Me Out
A lot of you will recognise the production here off the top - it's much better-known as the instrumental underpinning to "Knock Yourself Out" by Jadakiss, but Pharrell's beat was first heard here on the shelved Clipse debut "Exclusive Audio Footage". You'd be doing well do find a copy of Malice and Pusha's first outing (when Pusha was still called Terrar) since it still doesn't have an official release, but you might just find a digital version!
Paul Wall & DJ.Fresh : Dedicated To The Game
This new track has been getting plenty of rewinds from me in the headphones and in the car! The "The Tonite Show" series by DJ.Fresh has showcased everyone from Curren$y to Raekwon, but now The People's Champ Paul Wall gets his turn to collaborate with this skilled producer. The synth work on this track is topped with some gorgeous piano, while on the mic Paul Wall stays with his perfected approach to his trademark topics - staying down, and getting money.
Zion I : A Little Change
As the Lauryn Hill sample says, it is funny how money changes situations and twists the actions of people. The late Zumbi of this Oakland crew is on the mic, Amp Live is on production, and this relatively-chilled track is a contemplative spot in an incredibly varied album, their debut "Mind Over Matter".
De La Soul ft. Supa Dave West : Speed Limit
I could be wrong (wouldn't be the only time this episode), but I think this track may have escaped the notice of many! Featuring Supa Dave West but apparently produced by Dart La, this particular cut was squeezed onto the "Stimulated Volume 1" compilation, a 2001 release which featured a few gems and is worth picking up if you see it for a reasonable price. Always good to hear De La, and a semi-rarity is a treat for the listener.
[DJ Joc Max] Basement Khemist : Correct Technique (Instrumental)
Solid boom-bap, while also supremely laid-back, this is a nice slice from Kansas City's own Joc Max, the producer for Basement Khemist. Showing just how to chop and layer samples, his technique is indeed correct. This particular version comes from "The Beyond Real Experience Volume One Instrumentals", a great pickup for DJs.
Christina Aguilera : Back In The Day
Correction : Preemo didn't produce the entire "Back To Basics" LP, but was a driving force behind the first disc of the double album.
I'm always here for paying tribute to those who've gone before, which this track does wonderfully. The namechecked artists cover a wide time period, while DJ Premier's production keeps us rooted and focused with a steady, yet grand, foundation. Aguilera's love of tracks like Mos Def's "Mathematics" demonstrated she had a knowledge of Premier's work that went below the surface, and the mutual respect comes through in every bar of this track.
Main Source : Atom
You can see how they ended up with "Breaking Atoms" as the title of their first LP! Here we have the very dawning of Main Source, their first single - the B-side, to be precise - with some old-school jazzy flavour coming through the speakers alongside the vocals of Large Professor. Based on what we now know of the group, I'd expect that LP took the lead on production too, making this 1989 track a powerful opening shot from one of the greats of the culture.
Stacy Epps ft. Believe and Madlib : Feels Like
Gloriously sunshiney soul from one of those artists that those in the know rate highly, and who pops up every so often with an amazing guest appearance or surprise release. You may have heard her on "Eye" from "Madvillainy", and here she is again working with Madlib but taking star billing on this single from her new LP "Flowheart". Fellow ATLien Believe comes through with a solid verse, and the overall creation is one that should have every music lover rushing to hear more!
Ambersunshower : Running Song
This was the big tune on the 1996 "Walter T. Smith" album, which definitely hasn't been heard by enough people! Half of the duo Groove Garden, Ambersunshower (actually her real name) came out strong on this LP, and sampling a classic British record from the 80s and adding her soulful vocals over the top makes this track a standout on her debut.
Ronnie Laws : Love Is Here
For the sake of making my voiceover easier to hear, I dropped out the vocals on this track - though to be honest, there aren't that many. The instrumentation takes centre stage on this jazz-funk workout from the 1978 "Flame" LP. You might know this man for "Tidal Wave", which was borrowed for a classic Hip-Hop single, but his catalogue goes much deeper than that. While some contemporaneous music journalists criticised his moves away from traditional jazz, I'd like to think that some of them may have come around as time has gone on.
Naughty By Nature : World Go Round
We finish up in East Orange, New Jersey, with a track from "Poverty's Paradise" that seems more fitting than ever as the world seems to be spinning off its axis. With Minnesota on production blending multiple elements including the Jacksons sample used for the hook, Treach flows comfortably with feeling over two verses as he expresses his thoughts on the world of the time. Some things still haven't changed...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Still a couple lessons I can teach..."
- Dilated
The sonic signature isn't as overwhelming as this month's title might suggest, but I wanted to share this pic I got on my first trip to Brighton and the name came naturally! With some big releases from Clipse and Raekwon this month, we sample their latest creations alongside some pretty overlooked selections - new and old - and one or two that most people will know. Glad to be able to bring you quality mixes as we step into the seventeenth year of the show...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Cream Of The Crop
Many, many years ago, I did a beat with the same sample as this, and thought it was good, but you can't front on Charlemagne, the producer I most associate with Natural Elements and certainly the one who has given them their best tracks. He's got this one sounding dramatic as Swigga, Anthony Cruz, and Agu remind you just who and what they are. Absolute mic beasts, all of them, bringing heat on the "3Timesdope" single.
Jake One : Hommula
That is a beat, only short but absolutely worth looping up to hear a bit more! The man from the Pacific North-West cooked this one up as part of the "Tale Of The Tape" EP - a 2003 release which you may still be able to find on wax if you dig hard enough!
Slum Village : We Do It (DJ Spinna Remix)
A crew famous for containing one of the greatest producers of all time have to keep the standard of their beats high every time - they did so when recording the original version of this track with Danish producer KVBeats in 2010, and bringing in the legendary DJ Spinna to kill this remix was a perfect move. His trademark bass bounce is presence right through this one with some straightforward boom-bap drums, which I mean in the best way, and it's easily the best version on the "We Do It (Remixes)" EP in my opinion.
Foundation & Rezidue : Boogie Down's Got The Flavor
I got this on a 45 also containing G-Dep's excellent "Head Over Wheels" and it was a nice bonus - another chance to pick up a 1996 track which the 12" version of is long out-of-print and a little bit pricey now. This beat was originally intended for an R&B singer, until her brother came up with the hook and changed the whole direction! The story is in the "Reviews" section of the Discogs entry for the original single - have a read :)
Kendrick Lamar : You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
Just be real. That's all. That's all the message of this track is, as Kendrick points out how people who build an image on lies are simply not respected and would be better off being genuine. It's the opposite, energy-wise, of the Ice Cube track I think it was named after, but more focused on its topic. LoveDragon on the smooth groove to complete this track from the critically-acclaimed album "To Pimp A Butterfly".
Keith Murray : The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World
I do wish Jive had done better pressings, given the incredible amount of talent that graced their label in the 80s and 90s! Nevertheless, we go to this somewhat muddy-sounding single-vinyl album, Keith Murray's first, for its title track. Erick Sermon puts a bunch of body around a classic soul sample, and Keith's rhymes still sound as dope as when he first had people running to the dictionary to check if "beautifullest" was a real word (spoiler: nope) after his debut appearance on Erick's "Hostile"!
Tavaras Jordan : Backstage With Jade
Nineties vibes again - from the "(Still) Stuck In The 90s" album, no less - with the crystal clarity of modern tech, as this North Carolina native flies the R&B flag high with his formidable production skills. Right here, those who know a classic single will recognise the piano sample he drops throughout this one underneath all his smooth keyboard work and crisp drums, rounded off by, as the title would suggest, a backstage interview with Jade at the end!
Jon Connor & Termanology : Double Murda
Almost all duos in this segment, with an unlikely union kicking things off. I didn't even know Jon Connor, who was previously working alongside Dr. Dre, had put out an album this year, but this single from that LP ("Food For The Soul") is the signal to go and seek it out! I'd be lying if I said I was familiar with the producer Dylan Kusch, but he does a decent job here and doesn't try to fight the MCs for the focus. Both of them come off, but "Deadly as Moderna" though, Term? No, we'd better be more worried about the disease than the prevention!
Raekwon & Nas : The Omerta
Nas' Mass Appeal label is on a run of releasing new material from some of the true greats, and this month saw Raekwon, one of my favourite MCs, return with a fresh LP "The Emperor's New Clothes". It might not be "Cuban Linx 3" but it's still an excellent listen, and this track has The Chef alongside the label head spitting fire on a beat by a real in-the-know production pick, the Virginia veteran Nottz. Raekwon is on that crime business, while Nas folds in some historical talk on the third verse. Mass Appeal are doing great things!
Dilated Peoples : World On Wheels
I always think of this track primarily as a metaphor for the world going round no matter what happens, but if you didn't know, the title is directly drawn from a roller rink in Los Angeles - near where Rakaa Iriscience grew up. Alchemist is on production, giving Dilated a beat with the kind of bounce that isn't as much of a feature of his modern-day style. Great lyrics on this selection from the "Neighborhood Watch" (another incredible title) album.
Dave East & Young Chris : 10 Toes Down
A couple of different generations here, with the more recent MC Dave East opening up with fire on this track before passing off to the Philadelphia veteran Young Chris, who you may remember from his run in the early 2000s with Young Gunz and then State Property. Back like he never left, he links with East for a full LP, "Fine Dining" which just came out last month. This particular beat comes courtesy of quite a slate of producers, with Rondon Beats, Aurora Beats, KXVI & Marz all adding their own seasoning to the pot, and then setting the table lovely for the MCs.
[Agallah] Group Home : Run For Your Life (Instrumental)
Low, creeping, production courtesy of Agallah here, who also features on the vocal version of this East New York underground cut, which is on a 12" single (hence the instrumental), but more easily available on 1999's "A Tear For The Ghetto" album.
KMG : Blue Velvet
I've been looking for a legal (ideally physical) copy of the 2001 "Ear Candy" album for years, but finally dug this one track up on an iTunes search this month! The late great KMG of Above The Law had a relatively short solo catalogue, as he poured most of his efforts into the group, but this is one of his ventures outside that I'm glad to be able to share with those of you who don't know it. He doesn't go super-complex on this, but his low, composed delivery fits the bubbling menace of the beat, with both combining for a track that really has no obvious peers in terms of style. Fully credited to (on my copy) The Beatologists, KMG, DJ Stealth, and Dwayne McGhee, you can get your own copy on the digital release of "The Beatologist's Lab Experiments" album.
Bumpy Knuckles : Time
No hiding that sample! A little pop/jazz/R&B flavour hooked up by OG Jazz O for Bumpy Knuckles to settle into this tune in elder statesman mode. One to sit and chill to from last year's "Level Up" album, with a vibe far from his customary destruction of third verses on other people's tracks...
Storm Green : Computer Love
This is only the second Las Vegas track I've played on the podcast, and Storm Green's lyrics and vibe let you know that the flavour is firmly West Coast, even if they're in the desert! This cut from the "Chevys and Chucks" album shows that you can't go wrong with a sample of the Zapp classic "Computer Love", and banging this one top-down will have you feeling like Caine in "Menace..." - which he actually references - with that synth bass.
Ken Starr & Kev Brown ft. Kaimbr : DDTP
It's been a while since Ken Starr last dropped an album, but last month we finally got "Cold", almost entirely produced by longtime collaborator Kev Brown, the bassline master out of Landover, Maryland. The groove here is prime head-nod business, with the flows being on-point and yet chilled enough that you could imagine the two MCs slaying the verses while lying on their backs. It's pretty short and I would definitely have welcomed another verse, but nowadays the tendency is towards briefer tracks, so it's just in keeping with the times. Dope LP, one to check out for sure.
No Spirit ft. Casiio : Heading South
I needed more of this than No Spirit and Casiio were willing to give, so I've looped it up to extend this beautiful cut from "Chillhop Essentials Fall 2024" enough to take this spot. While there's a recognisable sample in there, it's truly a background element, an accent on top of the rest of this relaxing beat that brings us towards the close of the episode...
Clipse ft. John Legend : The Birds Don't Sing
A lot of legends have already dropped albums this year, with some still to come, but possibly the most anticipated release of 2025, with a masterful run-up, has been "Let God Sort Em Out", the reunion of Clipse. Malice (previously No Malice) has returned to join his brother and they've given us an excellent album, with this as the opening track. It's intensely personal, as they speak on losing both of their parents in quick succession, and expertly written. They're aided by some incredible talent, with Pharrell Williams on production, John Legend on the chorus, and the unmatchable Stevie Wonder on the keys and speaking some words on the outro. While it was perfectly placed at the start of their album, for me, I needed to play this at the end, in full, and follow it with nothing but space for your thoughts.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Still a couple lessons I can teach..."
- Dilated
The sonic signature isn't as overwhelming as this month's title might suggest, but I wanted to share this pic I got on my first trip to Brighton and the name came naturally! With some big releases from Clipse and Raekwon this month, we sample their latest creations alongside some pretty overlooked selections - new and old - and one or two that most people will know. Glad to be able to bring you quality mixes as we step into the seventeenth year of the show...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Cream Of The Crop
Many, many years ago, I did a beat with the same sample as this, and thought it was good, but you can't front on Charlemagne, the producer I most associate with Natural Elements and certainly the one who has given them their best tracks. He's got this one sounding dramatic as Swigga, Anthony Cruz, and Agu remind you just who and what they are. Absolute mic beasts, all of them, bringing heat on the "3Timesdope" single.
Jake One : Hommula
That is a beat, only short but absolutely worth looping up to hear a bit more! The man from the Pacific North-West cooked this one up as part of the "Tale Of The Tape" EP - a 2003 release which you may still be able to find on wax if you dig hard enough!
Slum Village : We Do It (DJ Spinna Remix)
A crew famous for containing one of the greatest producers of all time have to keep the standard of their beats high every time - they did so when recording the original version of this track with Danish producer KVBeats in 2010, and bringing in the legendary DJ Spinna to kill this remix was a perfect move. His trademark bass bounce is presence right through this one with some straightforward boom-bap drums, which I mean in the best way, and it's easily the best version on the "We Do It (Remixes)" EP in my opinion.
Foundation & Rezidue : Boogie Down's Got The Flavor
I got this on a 45 also containing G-Dep's excellent "Head Over Wheels" and it was a nice bonus - another chance to pick up a 1996 track which the 12" version of is long out-of-print and a little bit pricey now. This beat was originally intended for an R&B singer, until her brother came up with the hook and changed the whole direction! The story is in the "Reviews" section of the Discogs entry for the original single - have a read :)
Kendrick Lamar : You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
Just be real. That's all. That's all the message of this track is, as Kendrick points out how people who build an image on lies are simply not respected and would be better off being genuine. It's the opposite, energy-wise, of the Ice Cube track I think it was named after, but more focused on its topic. LoveDragon on the smooth groove to complete this track from the critically-acclaimed album "To Pimp A Butterfly".
Keith Murray : The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World
I do wish Jive had done better pressings, given the incredible amount of talent that graced their label in the 80s and 90s! Nevertheless, we go to this somewhat muddy-sounding single-vinyl album, Keith Murray's first, for its title track. Erick Sermon puts a bunch of body around a classic soul sample, and Keith's rhymes still sound as dope as when he first had people running to the dictionary to check if "beautifullest" was a real word (spoiler: nope) after his debut appearance on Erick's "Hostile"!
Tavaras Jordan : Backstage With Jade
Nineties vibes again - from the "(Still) Stuck In The 90s" album, no less - with the crystal clarity of modern tech, as this North Carolina native flies the R&B flag high with his formidable production skills. Right here, those who know a classic single will recognise the piano sample he drops throughout this one underneath all his smooth keyboard work and crisp drums, rounded off by, as the title would suggest, a backstage interview with Jade at the end!
Jon Connor & Termanology : Double Murda
Almost all duos in this segment, with an unlikely union kicking things off. I didn't even know Jon Connor, who was previously working alongside Dr. Dre, had put out an album this year, but this single from that LP ("Food For The Soul") is the signal to go and seek it out! I'd be lying if I said I was familiar with the producer Dylan Kusch, but he does a decent job here and doesn't try to fight the MCs for the focus. Both of them come off, but "Deadly as Moderna" though, Term? No, we'd better be more worried about the disease than the prevention!
Raekwon & Nas : The Omerta
Nas' Mass Appeal label is on a run of releasing new material from some of the true greats, and this month saw Raekwon, one of my favourite MCs, return with a fresh LP "The Emperor's New Clothes". It might not be "Cuban Linx 3" but it's still an excellent listen, and this track has The Chef alongside the label head spitting fire on a beat by a real in-the-know production pick, the Virginia veteran Nottz. Raekwon is on that crime business, while Nas folds in some historical talk on the third verse. Mass Appeal are doing great things!
Dilated Peoples : World On Wheels
I always think of this track primarily as a metaphor for the world going round no matter what happens, but if you didn't know, the title is directly drawn from a roller rink in Los Angeles - near where Rakaa Iriscience grew up. Alchemist is on production, giving Dilated a beat with the kind of bounce that isn't as much of a feature of his modern-day style. Great lyrics on this selection from the "Neighborhood Watch" (another incredible title) album.
Dave East & Young Chris : 10 Toes Down
A couple of different generations here, with the more recent MC Dave East opening up with fire on this track before passing off to the Philadelphia veteran Young Chris, who you may remember from his run in the early 2000s with Young Gunz and then State Property. Back like he never left, he links with East for a full LP, "Fine Dining" which just came out last month. This particular beat comes courtesy of quite a slate of producers, with Rondon Beats, Aurora Beats, KXVI & Marz all adding their own seasoning to the pot, and then setting the table lovely for the MCs.
[Agallah] Group Home : Run For Your Life (Instrumental)
Low, creeping, production courtesy of Agallah here, who also features on the vocal version of this East New York underground cut, which is on a 12" single (hence the instrumental), but more easily available on 1999's "A Tear For The Ghetto" album.
KMG : Blue Velvet
I've been looking for a legal (ideally physical) copy of the 2001 "Ear Candy" album for years, but finally dug this one track up on an iTunes search this month! The late great KMG of Above The Law had a relatively short solo catalogue, as he poured most of his efforts into the group, but this is one of his ventures outside that I'm glad to be able to share with those of you who don't know it. He doesn't go super-complex on this, but his low, composed delivery fits the bubbling menace of the beat, with both combining for a track that really has no obvious peers in terms of style. Fully credited to (on my copy) The Beatologists, KMG, DJ Stealth, and Dwayne McGhee, you can get your own copy on the digital release of "The Beatologist's Lab Experiments" album.
Bumpy Knuckles : Time
No hiding that sample! A little pop/jazz/R&B flavour hooked up by OG Jazz O for Bumpy Knuckles to settle into this tune in elder statesman mode. One to sit and chill to from last year's "Level Up" album, with a vibe far from his customary destruction of third verses on other people's tracks...
Storm Green : Computer Love
This is only the second Las Vegas track I've played on the podcast, and Storm Green's lyrics and vibe let you know that the flavour is firmly West Coast, even if they're in the desert! This cut from the "Chevys and Chucks" album shows that you can't go wrong with a sample of the Zapp classic "Computer Love", and banging this one top-down will have you feeling like Caine in "Menace..." - which he actually references - with that synth bass.
Ken Starr & Kev Brown ft. Kaimbr : DDTP
It's been a while since Ken Starr last dropped an album, but last month we finally got "Cold", almost entirely produced by longtime collaborator Kev Brown, the bassline master out of Landover, Maryland. The groove here is prime head-nod business, with the flows being on-point and yet chilled enough that you could imagine the two MCs slaying the verses while lying on their backs. It's pretty short and I would definitely have welcomed another verse, but nowadays the tendency is towards briefer tracks, so it's just in keeping with the times. Dope LP, one to check out for sure.
No Spirit ft. Casiio : Heading South
I needed more of this than No Spirit and Casiio were willing to give, so I've looped it up to extend this beautiful cut from "Chillhop Essentials Fall 2024" enough to take this spot. While there's a recognisable sample in there, it's truly a background element, an accent on top of the rest of this relaxing beat that brings us towards the close of the episode...
Clipse ft. John Legend : The Birds Don't Sing
A lot of legends have already dropped albums this year, with some still to come, but possibly the most anticipated release of 2025, with a masterful run-up, has been "Let God Sort Em Out", the reunion of Clipse. Malice (previously No Malice) has returned to join his brother and they've given us an excellent album, with this as the opening track. It's intensely personal, as they speak on losing both of their parents in quick succession, and expertly written. They're aided by some incredible talent, with Pharrell Williams on production, John Legend on the chorus, and the unmatchable Stevie Wonder on the keys and speaking some words on the outro. While it was perfectly placed at the start of their album, for me, I needed to play this at the end, in full, and follow it with nothing but space for your thoughts.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You need this in your life."
- Prodigy
This month's selection is on the reverse warm-up strategy, as we start off uptempo out of the gate with a stone classic, then move through the show to end with a chilled modern gem. As we remember the late great Prodigy, there's a Mobb Deep mixtape cut that you may have missed, a reunion of legends of the culture, and lyrical themes ranging from flossing to fatherhood. Let's get into it...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Big Daddy Kane : Mortal Combat
We start out firing, with one of the greatest of all time spitting what he himself says are the best bars of his storied career. I actually didn't realise until putting this episode together that he produced the track as well, blending one of the most sampled drum breaks of all time with another killer sample, and knowing the whole time that he was going to step into the booth and breathe fire all over the combination. Definitely take a listen to Kane's catalogue if you don't know his music well, including this LP, "It's A Big Daddy Thing".
Mecca:83 : Moon Dance
A short instrumental from last year's "Samskara" beat tape, this is a lovely bit of Asian-influenced drum programming from a similarly-themed collection that's well worth your listening time!
Masta Killa ft. Raekwon and Cappadonna : Eagle Claw
Stripped-down, quintessential Wu - right down to the kung-fu sample! This brand new Masta Killa cut comes from his latest LP "Balance", and while it's MK's track, Raekwon steals the show for me, still spitting that raw after all these years.
Talib Kweli and J. Rawls ft. Maseo, Black Thought, Posdnuos, Mike G, Afrika Baby Bam, Busta Rhymes : Native Sons Part 2
Talib and J.Rawls have done a stellar job here bringing this lineup together, a union of some of the actual legends of the Native Tongues with some of the second generation and even spiritual offspring. Throughout, you hear samples of and tributes to some of the classic tracks from the Tongues' catalogue, bringing up all those warm nostalgic feelings as these veterans get busy. I hear this track, which I bought digitally, is coming out on 45 - despite the crazy prices of 7" singles these days, I'm going to have to have it!
Shanice : It's For You
The same classic drum break from the previous track makes a welcome appearance here! This R&B number from the "Meteor Man" soundtrack only came to my attention last year when someone played it on Twitch, at which point I knew I had to search out a copy of the 12" single. Shanice is best known for "I Love Your Smile" but this is a superior track, more sonic edge on production while still maintaining her lyrical sweetness.
Camp Lo : Bubblin'
The sound quality is rough, but that's because this is one of Camp Lo's original demos, which was finally made available on the "On The Way Uptown" album - with that title alluding to the path they took to their debut LP "Uptown Saturday Night". My understanding is that they wouldn't have been able to get the sample clearance for this one, as they loop up the Anita Baker classic "Caught Up In The Rapture" underneath some snapping drums (all likely the work of Ski), which is a shame as I'd love to have heard this in full studio glory! All the same, the vintage-soaked, slang-heavy style of Cheeba and Geechi is present in pretty much its final form, and from their Rob Base reference in the very first line, they kill it from start to finish.
MF DOOM : The Finest (Instrumental)
One of my favourite cuts from "Operation : Doomsday", now minus the lyrics! As I said when I played the original version many moons ago, DOOM didn't do too much to the original sample, and the track is all the better for it.
Mobb Deep : Three Stories
Deep in the crates for this early-2000s track from Mobb, taken from the "Infamous Allegiance" mixtape. Over a typically sinister beat from Havoc, the late great Prodigy goes solo on the mic here, using his skills to tell the titular three stories from the dark side of life. The crop of modern rappers who rely on punch-ins and refuse to write anything down could never...
Boot Camp Clik : Here We Come
I could have believed this was a Beatminerz track, but it's part of the ongoing relationship between 9th Wonder and the mighty Boot Camp Clik, taken from their LP "The Last Stand", which somehow is almost twenty years old already! When Rock's unmistakeable voice comes in, you know it's going to be classic BCC, as Starang joins him on the chorus before the main course of those verses arrives - with Sean Price and Rock (both of Heltah Skeltah), Buckshot, and Steele all throwing down on this modern-ish boom-bap gem.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Last Emperor : Mystery Man
There are so many good tracks on DJ Jazzy Jeff's first solo LP "The Magnificent", where he very much plays the Quincy Jones role as the grand conductor and creative orchestrating a highly-talented cast, while also jumping in as a primary beatmaker and DJ. This particular track is based around a beat from Ken Wood and lyrics from underground legend Last Emperor, with the scratching contributed, if I understand correctly, by Jeff himself, adding the perfect seasoning. Despite being a hoops fan, I didn't realise how many people primarily know this track from the fifth volume of the And 1 mixtapes - they certainly knew how to pick some heat!
Rain 910 : This Way
Some algorithm or other must have brought this one to me, but I'm glad it did! Rain's self-produced beat is mean, with the growling pitch-bend in the beat sounding like someone hitting the accelerator every couple of bars, while his bars are half-braggadocious and half-judgemental, definitely putting across some strong points of view. The North Carolina native's "7 Keys" album appropriately has seven tracks, but this is the master key to me.
Black Milk : Lookatusnow (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this was on the "Popular Demand" LP, but it was great that the Detroit MC and producer Black Milk gave us an all-instrumental version of the album, from which this is drawn. It's so Detroit as well, and somehow feels like it couldn't have come from anywhere else. There's a lot to be said for regional flavour!
Beedie & Big Jerm : Break The Cycle
A great record on a painful subject, this selection from the "Lord Byron" album sees Pittsburgh MC Beedie speaking from the perspective of someone without a positive father in their life growing up - and who makes the decision to do things better when they enter parenthood. Big Jerm's beat has the right degree of solemnity to carry the theme, and is reserved enough to allow the lyrics to take centre stage, as they should.
Novacain : Flights To Hawaii
Montreal-native DJ Manifest's 80s-inspired production has been getting a lot of play on my system this year, and it's through him that I found Novacain's 2023 "How To Be A Playa" EP. Smooth vibes all the way, with Novacain's voice being as calming as the drug he names himself after, and the beat being based around a classic big of 80s synth soul. Kansas City, midwest flavour.
Clear Soul Forces : Still Driving Down The Freeway
CSF, from their very first release, have been a sure bet to deliver bars upon bars, which they do in spades here. You might be familiar with their ability to burn an uptempo track down, but they slow things to a leisurely roll on this late-night-drive, Ilajide-produced composition from "Detroit Revolution(s)", and tap into some nostalgic memories to boot.
Roc Marciano : True Love
A self-produced gem from 2024's "Marciology" LP, this both has far more drum action than the average Roc Marci track while also being just as laid back. Being able to cover both production and MC duties means he crafts backdrops that suit his lyrical style perfectly, and his trademark low tone and street talk is complemented amazingly by the roots reggae flavours of the beat.
Horace Andy, Joseph Hoo Kim : Girl A Love You Riddim
I wanted to keep the reggae vibe going after the previous cut, so dipped into my 45s stash for this downtempo riddim that's on the clip of Shabba Ranks' "Have This Woman" single.
Lady Wray : Joy And Pain (Pete Rock Remix)
We finish up with a nice 45 I picked up on a trip to France last year! Lady Wray is getting well-deserved respect from those in the know for her soulful vocals, and this track is a perfect showcase. As great as the original from "Piece Of Me" was, my personal taste profile means that I think that Pete Rock's remix only elevates it further, with his head-nod beat adding a touch of melancholy.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You need this in your life."
- Prodigy
This month's selection is on the reverse warm-up strategy, as we start off uptempo out of the gate with a stone classic, then move through the show to end with a chilled modern gem. As we remember the late great Prodigy, there's a Mobb Deep mixtape cut that you may have missed, a reunion of legends of the culture, and lyrical themes ranging from flossing to fatherhood. Let's get into it...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Big Daddy Kane : Mortal Combat
We start out firing, with one of the greatest of all time spitting what he himself says are the best bars of his storied career. I actually didn't realise until putting this episode together that he produced the track as well, blending one of the most sampled drum breaks of all time with another killer sample, and knowing the whole time that he was going to step into the booth and breathe fire all over the combination. Definitely take a listen to Kane's catalogue if you don't know his music well, including this LP, "It's A Big Daddy Thing".
Mecca:83 : Moon Dance
A short instrumental from last year's "Samskara" beat tape, this is a lovely bit of Asian-influenced drum programming from a similarly-themed collection that's well worth your listening time!
Masta Killa ft. Raekwon and Cappadonna : Eagle Claw
Stripped-down, quintessential Wu - right down to the kung-fu sample! This brand new Masta Killa cut comes from his latest LP "Balance", and while it's MK's track, Raekwon steals the show for me, still spitting that raw after all these years.
Talib Kweli and J. Rawls ft. Maseo, Black Thought, Posdnuos, Mike G, Afrika Baby Bam, Busta Rhymes : Native Sons Part 2
Talib and J.Rawls have done a stellar job here bringing this lineup together, a union of some of the actual legends of the Native Tongues with some of the second generation and even spiritual offspring. Throughout, you hear samples of and tributes to some of the classic tracks from the Tongues' catalogue, bringing up all those warm nostalgic feelings as these veterans get busy. I hear this track, which I bought digitally, is coming out on 45 - despite the crazy prices of 7" singles these days, I'm going to have to have it!
Shanice : It's For You
The same classic drum break from the previous track makes a welcome appearance here! This R&B number from the "Meteor Man" soundtrack only came to my attention last year when someone played it on Twitch, at which point I knew I had to search out a copy of the 12" single. Shanice is best known for "I Love Your Smile" but this is a superior track, more sonic edge on production while still maintaining her lyrical sweetness.
Camp Lo : Bubblin'
The sound quality is rough, but that's because this is one of Camp Lo's original demos, which was finally made available on the "On The Way Uptown" album - with that title alluding to the path they took to their debut LP "Uptown Saturday Night". My understanding is that they wouldn't have been able to get the sample clearance for this one, as they loop up the Anita Baker classic "Caught Up In The Rapture" underneath some snapping drums (all likely the work of Ski), which is a shame as I'd love to have heard this in full studio glory! All the same, the vintage-soaked, slang-heavy style of Cheeba and Geechi is present in pretty much its final form, and from their Rob Base reference in the very first line, they kill it from start to finish.
MF DOOM : The Finest (Instrumental)
One of my favourite cuts from "Operation : Doomsday", now minus the lyrics! As I said when I played the original version many moons ago, DOOM didn't do too much to the original sample, and the track is all the better for it.
Mobb Deep : Three Stories
Deep in the crates for this early-2000s track from Mobb, taken from the "Infamous Allegiance" mixtape. Over a typically sinister beat from Havoc, the late great Prodigy goes solo on the mic here, using his skills to tell the titular three stories from the dark side of life. The crop of modern rappers who rely on punch-ins and refuse to write anything down could never...
Boot Camp Clik : Here We Come
I could have believed this was a Beatminerz track, but it's part of the ongoing relationship between 9th Wonder and the mighty Boot Camp Clik, taken from their LP "The Last Stand", which somehow is almost twenty years old already! When Rock's unmistakeable voice comes in, you know it's going to be classic BCC, as Starang joins him on the chorus before the main course of those verses arrives - with Sean Price and Rock (both of Heltah Skeltah), Buckshot, and Steele all throwing down on this modern-ish boom-bap gem.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Last Emperor : Mystery Man
There are so many good tracks on DJ Jazzy Jeff's first solo LP "The Magnificent", where he very much plays the Quincy Jones role as the grand conductor and creative orchestrating a highly-talented cast, while also jumping in as a primary beatmaker and DJ. This particular track is based around a beat from Ken Wood and lyrics from underground legend Last Emperor, with the scratching contributed, if I understand correctly, by Jeff himself, adding the perfect seasoning. Despite being a hoops fan, I didn't realise how many people primarily know this track from the fifth volume of the And 1 mixtapes - they certainly knew how to pick some heat!
Rain 910 : This Way
Some algorithm or other must have brought this one to me, but I'm glad it did! Rain's self-produced beat is mean, with the growling pitch-bend in the beat sounding like someone hitting the accelerator every couple of bars, while his bars are half-braggadocious and half-judgemental, definitely putting across some strong points of view. The North Carolina native's "7 Keys" album appropriately has seven tracks, but this is the master key to me.
Black Milk : Lookatusnow (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this was on the "Popular Demand" LP, but it was great that the Detroit MC and producer Black Milk gave us an all-instrumental version of the album, from which this is drawn. It's so Detroit as well, and somehow feels like it couldn't have come from anywhere else. There's a lot to be said for regional flavour!
Beedie & Big Jerm : Break The Cycle
A great record on a painful subject, this selection from the "Lord Byron" album sees Pittsburgh MC Beedie speaking from the perspective of someone without a positive father in their life growing up - and who makes the decision to do things better when they enter parenthood. Big Jerm's beat has the right degree of solemnity to carry the theme, and is reserved enough to allow the lyrics to take centre stage, as they should.
Novacain : Flights To Hawaii
Montreal-native DJ Manifest's 80s-inspired production has been getting a lot of play on my system this year, and it's through him that I found Novacain's 2023 "How To Be A Playa" EP. Smooth vibes all the way, with Novacain's voice being as calming as the drug he names himself after, and the beat being based around a classic big of 80s synth soul. Kansas City, midwest flavour.
Clear Soul Forces : Still Driving Down The Freeway
CSF, from their very first release, have been a sure bet to deliver bars upon bars, which they do in spades here. You might be familiar with their ability to burn an uptempo track down, but they slow things to a leisurely roll on this late-night-drive, Ilajide-produced composition from "Detroit Revolution(s)", and tap into some nostalgic memories to boot.
Roc Marciano : True Love
A self-produced gem from 2024's "Marciology" LP, this both has far more drum action than the average Roc Marci track while also being just as laid back. Being able to cover both production and MC duties means he crafts backdrops that suit his lyrical style perfectly, and his trademark low tone and street talk is complemented amazingly by the roots reggae flavours of the beat.
Horace Andy, Joseph Hoo Kim : Girl A Love You Riddim
I wanted to keep the reggae vibe going after the previous cut, so dipped into my 45s stash for this downtempo riddim that's on the clip of Shabba Ranks' "Have This Woman" single.
Lady Wray : Joy And Pain (Pete Rock Remix)
We finish up with a nice 45 I picked up on a trip to France last year! Lady Wray is getting well-deserved respect from those in the know for her soulful vocals, and this track is a perfect showcase. As great as the original from "Piece Of Me" was, my personal taste profile means that I think that Pete Rock's remix only elevates it further, with his head-nod beat adding a touch of melancholy.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...I already know what they sayin'."
- Curren$y
This month we maintain a steady pace as we move between some of the newest releases, some overlooked gems, and the odd well-known classic. Definitely one of those where if you already know every track, then let me know - I'd be impressed!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Superbad Solace & Tha Natural : Charging Extra
Queens stand up! A new Solace release is always welcome and this year we got the three-track "Flying Colors" EP, which has the veteran MC and Polo devotee Solace joining forces with producer and fellow 'Lo head Tha Natural for some real, from-the-essence music. This one gives you a grand, slow intro (complete with vinyl surface noise) before settling into the main groove and self-assured bars. The hypebeasts should feel a little sensitive by the end of this cut...
Marco Polo : The Rub
A little something to nod your head to, courtesy of one of the modern keepers of the traditional flame when it comes to making crispy Hip-Hop beats. This is part of Marco Polo's contribution to the "Baker's Dozen" series of albums/beat tapes, and one that definitely gets my recommendation.
Supastition ft. E.Smitty : Look At God!
For those unfamiliar with the expression, he's not calling himself God, he's basically saying "look at what God did"! With this gospel-themed self-produced track from last year's "All That Was Left Unsaid", featuring E. Smitty with some strong background vocals, Supastition speaks on the trials and tribulations of his come-up. He may not be the biggest name on the radio, but he's had a two-decade career in the industry and a catalogue he can rightly look back and be proud of.
Method Man & Redman : The ?
If you missed the "Blackout!" LP from this pair of musical soulmates, you'll never have heard this album cut, and even if you know the album, I bet you've not heard this in a while! The rhymes are the quality you'd expect, but if you'd forgotten that Redman is a highly-capable producer, this track should give you a striking reminder.
Xzibit ft. Dr. Dre and Ty Dolla $ign : Leave Me Alone
The polish of the sound drew me in immediately on this new release. Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre come together for this beast from the "Kingmaker" LP, the first solo studio output from X in years. Every line has its ending highlighted not by a change in vocal tone, or any other aspect of the MCs' performances, but by having the whole backing track basically shut down for the fourth beat of every bar. Definitely one of my favourite purchases this month, and a welcome return for Xzibit.
Clipse : Keys Open Doors
One of those tracks I could have sworn I'd played at some point, this is a dark masterpiece from the third (yes, the third) Clipse album "Hell Hath No Fury". With a distinctly wintry vibe, courtesy of The Neptunes, Malice and Pusha spit some of their quintessential coke dealer bars with the cold affect that has made them legends.
Duett : r e n d e z v o u s
Despite the name, Duett is actually a single musician, a UK-based studio wizard who has taken advantage of the modern options for music distribution to release the work he's really passionate about - synthwave, the 80s-referencing genre that brings back the then-futuristic vibe of the time. This track is from his "Outlines 2" album, a ten-tracker with the core of each track composed in a single day - and in some cases, work to lengthen the running time done later. This is a chilled, drumless piece to give you a pause and a palate cleansing before we go heavy again - but do check out the rest of the album if you want a quality listen!
J-Zone : Funky Child
Had to dig deep and go onto Discogs to get a physical copy of an album/beat tape I'd downloaded almost twenty years ago, "Experienced!" by J-Zone, with each track built around Jimi Hendrix samples. This one is just raw, heavy, bassy goodness, with the MC Ren sample from "Alwayz Into Somethin" being perfectly apt.
MC Ren : Great Elephant
I could lie and say this this was intentionally placed here as a link from the Ren sample on the previous track, but no - I just like it and thought it fit well sonically to help take us where we're going! The too-often overlooked MC from NWA is justified in talking big here, reminding everyone of his pioneering role in the gangsta rap subgenre in one long, unbroken verse. Jessie Willard, who has also worked with Kam and Menace Clan, cooks up a dark, grinding, and tense instrumental for this pick from "The Villain In Black".
Joey Bada$$ : Pardon Me
A release from earlier this year has this Brooklyn MC bringing it to his opposition with all (lyrical) guns blazing, over a beat by The Heatmakerz (an one-man crew of producer Rsonist), who made a strong mark a generation ago with production for Dipset. The "chipmunk soul" style is back here to underscore Joey's NY roots on the title track of his new three-track single.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
I imagine this one will be new to a lot of people, despite being a release from almost twenty-five years ago! This was only available as a hidden/bonus track on the "Jay-Z : Unplugged" album, and came at the tail end of the storied battle between Jay and Nas; Jay opened hostilities with "Takeover", but Nas' "Ether" was a blow that many thought effectively ended the competition. Shortly after, we had this Ski-produced track, with some of Jay's feelings on the circus around the battle and even those close to home being aired out. I read someone on Reddit describing this cut as a "concession speech" and that might be pretty close to the mark.
9th Wonder : Beat III
This one makes me think "late night phone-in show theme music" every time! I'm not sure if this was ever rhymed on by any MCs, but you can get this beat on 9th Wonder's "Unreleased Instrumentals Vol. 3" - if you can find a copy!
Gang Starr : 92 Interlude
The episode number made this one pop into my head - a really short track from Gang Starr's third album, "Daily Operation". Heavy D talked Preemo into re-animating this into the track "Yes Y'all" from the "Blue Funk" LP, but since I've already played that on the show, I couldn't follow up with it. Instead...
Rapsody : Laila's Wisdom
...I found another track based around the same sample! Virginia's Nottz did it proud, hooking it up in his own way - using more of the original track, and chopping it up mercilessly. Rapsody gives us, wrapped up in her bars, her inheritance of strength and wisdom from her grandmother (the "Laila" of the title). I'd like to think this title track from Rapsody's second LP would have made her proud.
Royce Da 5'9" : Regardless
With Carlos "Six July" Broady providing a bed of cooked up from steaming hot classic soul, Royce's opening salvo from his 2004 "Death Is Certain" album serves up beef with some of his fellow Detroit artists - should be plainly obvious who if you listen!
Sean Price : Angel Dust
A well-known sample here, borrowing from a classic track of the same name, and then pretty much staying on-theme! This is a track from the late great Sean P which didn't get an official release but which was included on the "The Lost Files" compilation back in 2012.
Dark Sun Riders : Zoneweilder's Groove
Should that have been "Zonewielder's"? Wish I knew. Either way, this is dopeness from the camp of Brother J, best known as part of X Clan, who also founded this crew that released their sole LP "Seeds Of Evolution" in 1995 - an LP good enough that I've bought it twice over the years. UltraMan is on production and kicks it off with some finger clicks, vibe/bell sounds, and chants that make you think you're in for a meditation and yoga session before the drums and bass kick in! On the mic, the voice of Brother J is unmistakeable, so settle in for styles from a true original.
[L.E.S] Royal Flush : World Wide (Instrumental)
A classic 90s NYC boom-bap instrumental! L.E.S, known to many for his work on Nas' "Life's A Bitch", cooked up this one for fellow Queens native Royal Flush for his reply to Dogg Pound's "New York New York" - which also goes at his fellow Big Apple MCs for not, in Flush's estimation, responding with enough fire. A simple loop with some nice drum programming over the top and the odd sound effect, this is a testament to the power of adding just enough.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : News On Mute
Curren$y features on the show fairly regularly, and this car system favourite has an ending that makes the perfect place for it the end of an episode. Spitta is in his usual lifestyle/luxury/motivational bag here on a no-chorus track (he even refers you back to earlier in the lone verse at one point), and Harry Fraud gives him a soundtrack for a late night mission in a cigarette boat, complete with that ending news broadcast sample. "The Director's Cut" was a fine EP, with this being a standout track for me.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...I already know what they sayin'."
- Curren$y
This month we maintain a steady pace as we move between some of the newest releases, some overlooked gems, and the odd well-known classic. Definitely one of those where if you already know every track, then let me know - I'd be impressed!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Superbad Solace & Tha Natural : Charging Extra
Queens stand up! A new Solace release is always welcome and this year we got the three-track "Flying Colors" EP, which has the veteran MC and Polo devotee Solace joining forces with producer and fellow 'Lo head Tha Natural for some real, from-the-essence music. This one gives you a grand, slow intro (complete with vinyl surface noise) before settling into the main groove and self-assured bars. The hypebeasts should feel a little sensitive by the end of this cut...
Marco Polo : The Rub
A little something to nod your head to, courtesy of one of the modern keepers of the traditional flame when it comes to making crispy Hip-Hop beats. This is part of Marco Polo's contribution to the "Baker's Dozen" series of albums/beat tapes, and one that definitely gets my recommendation.
Supastition ft. E.Smitty : Look At God!
For those unfamiliar with the expression, he's not calling himself God, he's basically saying "look at what God did"! With this gospel-themed self-produced track from last year's "All That Was Left Unsaid", featuring E. Smitty with some strong background vocals, Supastition speaks on the trials and tribulations of his come-up. He may not be the biggest name on the radio, but he's had a two-decade career in the industry and a catalogue he can rightly look back and be proud of.
Method Man & Redman : The ?
If you missed the "Blackout!" LP from this pair of musical soulmates, you'll never have heard this album cut, and even if you know the album, I bet you've not heard this in a while! The rhymes are the quality you'd expect, but if you'd forgotten that Redman is a highly-capable producer, this track should give you a striking reminder.
Xzibit ft. Dr. Dre and Ty Dolla $ign : Leave Me Alone
The polish of the sound drew me in immediately on this new release. Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre come together for this beast from the "Kingmaker" LP, the first solo studio output from X in years. Every line has its ending highlighted not by a change in vocal tone, or any other aspect of the MCs' performances, but by having the whole backing track basically shut down for the fourth beat of every bar. Definitely one of my favourite purchases this month, and a welcome return for Xzibit.
Clipse : Keys Open Doors
One of those tracks I could have sworn I'd played at some point, this is a dark masterpiece from the third (yes, the third) Clipse album "Hell Hath No Fury". With a distinctly wintry vibe, courtesy of The Neptunes, Malice and Pusha spit some of their quintessential coke dealer bars with the cold affect that has made them legends.
Duett : r e n d e z v o u s
Despite the name, Duett is actually a single musician, a UK-based studio wizard who has taken advantage of the modern options for music distribution to release the work he's really passionate about - synthwave, the 80s-referencing genre that brings back the then-futuristic vibe of the time. This track is from his "Outlines 2" album, a ten-tracker with the core of each track composed in a single day - and in some cases, work to lengthen the running time done later. This is a chilled, drumless piece to give you a pause and a palate cleansing before we go heavy again - but do check out the rest of the album if you want a quality listen!
J-Zone : Funky Child
Had to dig deep and go onto Discogs to get a physical copy of an album/beat tape I'd downloaded almost twenty years ago, "Experienced!" by J-Zone, with each track built around Jimi Hendrix samples. This one is just raw, heavy, bassy goodness, with the MC Ren sample from "Alwayz Into Somethin" being perfectly apt.
MC Ren : Great Elephant
I could lie and say this this was intentionally placed here as a link from the Ren sample on the previous track, but no - I just like it and thought it fit well sonically to help take us where we're going! The too-often overlooked MC from NWA is justified in talking big here, reminding everyone of his pioneering role in the gangsta rap subgenre in one long, unbroken verse. Jessie Willard, who has also worked with Kam and Menace Clan, cooks up a dark, grinding, and tense instrumental for this pick from "The Villain In Black".
Joey Bada$$ : Pardon Me
A release from earlier this year has this Brooklyn MC bringing it to his opposition with all (lyrical) guns blazing, over a beat by The Heatmakerz (an one-man crew of producer Rsonist), who made a strong mark a generation ago with production for Dipset. The "chipmunk soul" style is back here to underscore Joey's NY roots on the title track of his new three-track single.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
I imagine this one will be new to a lot of people, despite being a release from almost twenty-five years ago! This was only available as a hidden/bonus track on the "Jay-Z : Unplugged" album, and came at the tail end of the storied battle between Jay and Nas; Jay opened hostilities with "Takeover", but Nas' "Ether" was a blow that many thought effectively ended the competition. Shortly after, we had this Ski-produced track, with some of Jay's feelings on the circus around the battle and even those close to home being aired out. I read someone on Reddit describing this cut as a "concession speech" and that might be pretty close to the mark.
9th Wonder : Beat III
This one makes me think "late night phone-in show theme music" every time! I'm not sure if this was ever rhymed on by any MCs, but you can get this beat on 9th Wonder's "Unreleased Instrumentals Vol. 3" - if you can find a copy!
Gang Starr : 92 Interlude
The episode number made this one pop into my head - a really short track from Gang Starr's third album, "Daily Operation". Heavy D talked Preemo into re-animating this into the track "Yes Y'all" from the "Blue Funk" LP, but since I've already played that on the show, I couldn't follow up with it. Instead...
Rapsody : Laila's Wisdom
...I found another track based around the same sample! Virginia's Nottz did it proud, hooking it up in his own way - using more of the original track, and chopping it up mercilessly. Rapsody gives us, wrapped up in her bars, her inheritance of strength and wisdom from her grandmother (the "Laila" of the title). I'd like to think this title track from Rapsody's second LP would have made her proud.
Royce Da 5'9" : Regardless
With Carlos "Six July" Broady providing a bed of cooked up from steaming hot classic soul, Royce's opening salvo from his 2004 "Death Is Certain" album serves up beef with some of his fellow Detroit artists - should be plainly obvious who if you listen!
Sean Price : Angel Dust
A well-known sample here, borrowing from a classic track of the same name, and then pretty much staying on-theme! This is a track from the late great Sean P which didn't get an official release but which was included on the "The Lost Files" compilation back in 2012.
Dark Sun Riders : Zoneweilder's Groove
Should that have been "Zonewielder's"? Wish I knew. Either way, this is dopeness from the camp of Brother J, best known as part of X Clan, who also founded this crew that released their sole LP "Seeds Of Evolution" in 1995 - an LP good enough that I've bought it twice over the years. UltraMan is on production and kicks it off with some finger clicks, vibe/bell sounds, and chants that make you think you're in for a meditation and yoga session before the drums and bass kick in! On the mic, the voice of Brother J is unmistakeable, so settle in for styles from a true original.
[L.E.S] Royal Flush : World Wide (Instrumental)
A classic 90s NYC boom-bap instrumental! L.E.S, known to many for his work on Nas' "Life's A Bitch", cooked up this one for fellow Queens native Royal Flush for his reply to Dogg Pound's "New York New York" - which also goes at his fellow Big Apple MCs for not, in Flush's estimation, responding with enough fire. A simple loop with some nice drum programming over the top and the odd sound effect, this is a testament to the power of adding just enough.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : News On Mute
Curren$y features on the show fairly regularly, and this car system favourite has an ending that makes the perfect place for it the end of an episode. Spitta is in his usual lifestyle/luxury/motivational bag here on a no-chorus track (he even refers you back to earlier in the lone verse at one point), and Harry Fraud gives him a soundtrack for a late night mission in a cigarette boat, complete with that ending news broadcast sample. "The Director's Cut" was a fine EP, with this being a standout track for me.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...the come-up ain't without a price."
- Rapsody
We go up and down in waves of energy this month, as we start aggressive, cool down to some chilled soulful vibes, then go up and up all the way to a high-energy ending! With a selection dating from 1990 (as we pay tribute to the sadly departed DJ Go Mack) and coming right up to this past month, there's a real range of flavours for you to sample. Let's get into it...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon ft. Mobb Deep : Chinese Marines
Signature Raekwon, and even Ghost - Chinese marines are mentioned exactly once, right at the start, and then it's straight down into the street talk. A standout from the "Unexpected Victory" mixtape, this Scram Jones-produced cut does have a dark, militaristic tone, and the guests are the perfect choice - Mobb Deep, returning the favour from Mobb's "Eye For An Eye" and "Nighttime Vultures" from their second and third LPs respectively. Cheery? Not one iota. Dope? Absolutely.
Erick Sermon : Hittin' Switches (Instrumental)
I've loved this beat since the first time I heard it on pirate radio many moons ago, with its heavy usage of a classic drum break (didn't know about it at the time) being the highlight without being the only thing going on. The vocal version was one of the first things we heard from Erick Sermon after the breakup of EPMD, and it appeared as part of the "Who's The Man?" soundtrack before eventually ending up on Erick's solo debut "No Pressure" as well. Definitely an album to check if you've never heard it, it's a classic of the era and also features the debut of Keith Murray!
Above The Law : Murder Rap
The opening track on the excellent "Livin' Like Hustlers" LP, this starts proceedings off with dense sample usage and an energy level that makes it feel much faster than it is. Even without the vocal samples from that group, the siren sounds remind you of Public Enemy of the era, and Cold 187um folds them into a dope track where he also rhymes every verse, with the late KMG injecting brief snatches spoken word before each one. Of course there are some cuts for seasoning, from ATL's then-two DJs, K-OSS and the recently-departed Go Mack. RIP.
Random Axe : Everybody Nobody Somebody
Random Axe was a supergroup of straight rawness - Detroit's Guilty Simpson and Black Milk alongside the late Brownsville legend Sean Price - and this was a standout on their sole album. It's a dope concept cut where over Black Milk's spooky beat, each MC rhymes on the theme of one of the "body" words of the track title. Young rappers now might boast of never writing, may think it's acceptable to punch in every line while recording, but this is how MCing is really done.
Mr. Lif : New Man Theme
The "I, Phantom" album from Boston's Mr. Lif isn't one I've heard in many years, but I went back to it and just the first listen brought to the surface the feelings of the independent Hip-Hop movement of the early 2000s. Fakts One is on production, soundtracking Lif's story of struggling with the "standard" path through life expected of him, and forging a strong sense of self despite that.
Rae Khalil ft. Freddie Gibbs : Carpinteria
Ok, thanks to Wikipedia I now know that Carpinteria is a town in California and not just the Spanish word for carpentry! Rae Khalil is a Californian who both sings and rhymes, and leans more heavily on the former on this track from her "Crybaby" LP - even incorporating melody when she does rhyme. Freddie Gibbs might not be the most obvious guest, but then he has been known to reference classic R&B himself, and you know he has the skills to elevate any cut. The production, as well as the video, conjours up jazz club vibes with crispy drums and smooth bass. High-quality work.
Mr Thing : Changes
Mr Thing is famous for his skill at playing and manipulating records, well-known as a knowledgeable buyer and seller of them...and can also make an excellent track as well! This beat comes from his "Nothing Leaves The House" anthology, where a group of producers all descend on the home of one, and make beats from whatever they find. Thing had home-court advantage as it was his collection that the records all came from, but you get the impression he'd be able to turn up at your place right now and cook up some heat!
Sndtrak : Run To Me
This monster beat has been getting rewinds upon rewinds from me this month! I'm playing you this from my vinyl copy of the "Foto De Vita" EP, which is pressed onto a single 7" piece of wax - if you want the low-end to thoroughly punch your whole chest in, go and find a digital copy, and be careful of your subwoofers! This producer from The Soul Council simply has a great touch, and doesn't bite anyone else's style - those two elements make him well worthy of your support.
Hi-Tek ft. Riz, Kurupt, and Dion : Back On The Grind
I finally got round to digitising the third album in Hi-Tek's "Hi-Teknology" series, which contained this track I'd totally overlooked. More sombre than the more popular tracks in his catalogue, with the kick drums keeping a steady pulsing time like a heartbeat over the minor-keyed vocals in the background, this is high-quality work with Kurupt being the highlight when it comes to the bars. Dion on the hook, despite being an Ohio compatriot of Hi-Tek, cooks up a hook that reminds you of some West Coast classics (he's worked with some of the big names), and Riz - an MC I'll admit I don't know much about - holds down his end well too.
Rapsody ft. Phonte and Jay Electronica : Jedi Code
We revisit the "She Got Game" mixtape for some straight spitting, with Rapsody pulling in the multi-talented Phonte and the enigmatic Jay Electronica to lay down some fire bars over a 9th Wonder beat - not the last time you'll be hearing from that man this episode, by the way. Somehow it's been over twelve years since the release of this album, but it still sounds fresh even now.
Gang Starr : Doe In Advance
Apologies for the sound quality, but this is a little unreleased Gang Starr gem on a questionably-pressed white label compilation that I thought was still too good not to share as we remember the great Guru. I did a little looking around and apparently, this was slated to be on the "The ? Remainz" single, but when they couldn't clear the sample (a nice little catch from Ohio Players' "Sweet Sticky Thing"), they instead went with "Suckas Need Bodyguards" on the flip instead.
K-Def : Axel Replay
A touch of mellow jazziness to carry us into the next mix, courtesy of New Jersey's own K-Def, a real producer's producer who you may know as formerly being half of Real Live (alongside Larry-O). Having worked with everyone from Lords of The Underground to Ghostface to Shabba Ranks, he got the chance to take centre stage on "Willie Boo Boo The Fool", the instrumental LP this comes from, which is now available digitally. This track is actually a fair bit shorter on the LP, but I've lengthened it to be suitable for use here.
Lost Boyz : Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz
It's the following track that inspired me to pull this one out, a classic 90s club/system tune that I have to remember isn't known by everybody - if you missed it at the time, in the late summer of 1995, it may have passed you by as I don't hear it in as many throwback sets I might have expected. This four-piece (RIP Freaky Tah, who passed in 1999) from Queens put this out as the second single from their debut LP "Legal Drug Money", with the legendary and still-underrated Easy Mo Bee giving them a bumping beat perfect for the systems in the jeeps of the time - and track title!
All Hail Y.T. ft. Chris Skillz & K.O. : Vette, Coupe, Beamer & Benz
We go up the east coast of the US and land in Delaware, where almost exactly 27 years after the release of "Jeeps, Lex Coups...", the MC All Hail Y.T. (who I only stumbled upon fairly recently) and producer Yosonova came together to revive the hook in their own style on a cut from their compact "V-12 Soul: SuperCharged" album. If it sounds familiar, outside the chorus of course, it might be the beat, which draws from the same well as Easy Mo Bee's production on "Temptations" by 2Pac. Sonically more relaxed and spaced-out than the 2Pac cut, and lyrically less party-inclined than the Lost Boyz', this wasn't a combination that would obvious to most, but it works extremely well in my opinion.
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Sweata : Namaste
I would say this is the kind of smoothness you wouldn't expect from Smif-N-Wessun, but then they did a fine job in a similar vein on "Ocean Drive" on their previous LP, 2019's "The All". They're back with a brand new album "Infinity", which I believe is entirely produced by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council, and this is one of the more chilled moments. Truly a group who haven't so much "moved with the times" in the sense of riding a wave, but continued to develop as artists in step with the way they've developed as men over the years.
Shy FX ft. Children of Zeus : On My Way
A new release from one of the pioneers in jungle and DnB, in combination with the incredibly talented Manchester duo Children of Zeus, who lend their respective vocal styles to Shy's classic, polished production. With the weather in the UK slowly improving week by week, I expect to hear this one out and about!
Photek : Trans 7
At this point, I thought we might as well carry on on the DnB path and picked out a track from one of the very first tracks from the genre I actually learned to appreciate, from Photek's 1997 debut "Modus Operandi". Clean, techncial, and menacing, with the dark synth and a sound effect that sounds like someone pulling up on a driveway somewhere on a mission, this is one of the highlights of the LP for sure.
Roni Size / Reprazent ft. Method Man : Ghetto Celebrity
We finish the episode, and our DnB trio, with a second collaboration - this time, the transatlantic pairing of Bristol's Roni Size with his Reprazent crew and Hip-Hop legend Method Man of the mighty Wu-Tang Clan. Meth is definitely the one who has to lean the furthest out of his comfort zone on this one, spitting at high speed to keep up with the furious pace of the instrumental, with its frenetic drums, dramatic strings, and heavy, squelching bass. If you don't know this one, you can find it on the "In The Mode" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...the come-up ain't without a price."
- Rapsody
We go up and down in waves of energy this month, as we start aggressive, cool down to some chilled soulful vibes, then go up and up all the way to a high-energy ending! With a selection dating from 1990 (as we pay tribute to the sadly departed DJ Go Mack) and coming right up to this past month, there's a real range of flavours for you to sample. Let's get into it...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon ft. Mobb Deep : Chinese Marines
Signature Raekwon, and even Ghost - Chinese marines are mentioned exactly once, right at the start, and then it's straight down into the street talk. A standout from the "Unexpected Victory" mixtape, this Scram Jones-produced cut does have a dark, militaristic tone, and the guests are the perfect choice - Mobb Deep, returning the favour from Mobb's "Eye For An Eye" and "Nighttime Vultures" from their second and third LPs respectively. Cheery? Not one iota. Dope? Absolutely.
Erick Sermon : Hittin' Switches (Instrumental)
I've loved this beat since the first time I heard it on pirate radio many moons ago, with its heavy usage of a classic drum break (didn't know about it at the time) being the highlight without being the only thing going on. The vocal version was one of the first things we heard from Erick Sermon after the breakup of EPMD, and it appeared as part of the "Who's The Man?" soundtrack before eventually ending up on Erick's solo debut "No Pressure" as well. Definitely an album to check if you've never heard it, it's a classic of the era and also features the debut of Keith Murray!
Above The Law : Murder Rap
The opening track on the excellent "Livin' Like Hustlers" LP, this starts proceedings off with dense sample usage and an energy level that makes it feel much faster than it is. Even without the vocal samples from that group, the siren sounds remind you of Public Enemy of the era, and Cold 187um folds them into a dope track where he also rhymes every verse, with the late KMG injecting brief snatches spoken word before each one. Of course there are some cuts for seasoning, from ATL's then-two DJs, K-OSS and the recently-departed Go Mack. RIP.
Random Axe : Everybody Nobody Somebody
Random Axe was a supergroup of straight rawness - Detroit's Guilty Simpson and Black Milk alongside the late Brownsville legend Sean Price - and this was a standout on their sole album. It's a dope concept cut where over Black Milk's spooky beat, each MC rhymes on the theme of one of the "body" words of the track title. Young rappers now might boast of never writing, may think it's acceptable to punch in every line while recording, but this is how MCing is really done.
Mr. Lif : New Man Theme
The "I, Phantom" album from Boston's Mr. Lif isn't one I've heard in many years, but I went back to it and just the first listen brought to the surface the feelings of the independent Hip-Hop movement of the early 2000s. Fakts One is on production, soundtracking Lif's story of struggling with the "standard" path through life expected of him, and forging a strong sense of self despite that.
Rae Khalil ft. Freddie Gibbs : Carpinteria
Ok, thanks to Wikipedia I now know that Carpinteria is a town in California and not just the Spanish word for carpentry! Rae Khalil is a Californian who both sings and rhymes, and leans more heavily on the former on this track from her "Crybaby" LP - even incorporating melody when she does rhyme. Freddie Gibbs might not be the most obvious guest, but then he has been known to reference classic R&B himself, and you know he has the skills to elevate any cut. The production, as well as the video, conjours up jazz club vibes with crispy drums and smooth bass. High-quality work.
Mr Thing : Changes
Mr Thing is famous for his skill at playing and manipulating records, well-known as a knowledgeable buyer and seller of them...and can also make an excellent track as well! This beat comes from his "Nothing Leaves The House" anthology, where a group of producers all descend on the home of one, and make beats from whatever they find. Thing had home-court advantage as it was his collection that the records all came from, but you get the impression he'd be able to turn up at your place right now and cook up some heat!
Sndtrak : Run To Me
This monster beat has been getting rewinds upon rewinds from me this month! I'm playing you this from my vinyl copy of the "Foto De Vita" EP, which is pressed onto a single 7" piece of wax - if you want the low-end to thoroughly punch your whole chest in, go and find a digital copy, and be careful of your subwoofers! This producer from The Soul Council simply has a great touch, and doesn't bite anyone else's style - those two elements make him well worthy of your support.
Hi-Tek ft. Riz, Kurupt, and Dion : Back On The Grind
I finally got round to digitising the third album in Hi-Tek's "Hi-Teknology" series, which contained this track I'd totally overlooked. More sombre than the more popular tracks in his catalogue, with the kick drums keeping a steady pulsing time like a heartbeat over the minor-keyed vocals in the background, this is high-quality work with Kurupt being the highlight when it comes to the bars. Dion on the hook, despite being an Ohio compatriot of Hi-Tek, cooks up a hook that reminds you of some West Coast classics (he's worked with some of the big names), and Riz - an MC I'll admit I don't know much about - holds down his end well too.
Rapsody ft. Phonte and Jay Electronica : Jedi Code
We revisit the "She Got Game" mixtape for some straight spitting, with Rapsody pulling in the multi-talented Phonte and the enigmatic Jay Electronica to lay down some fire bars over a 9th Wonder beat - not the last time you'll be hearing from that man this episode, by the way. Somehow it's been over twelve years since the release of this album, but it still sounds fresh even now.
Gang Starr : Doe In Advance
Apologies for the sound quality, but this is a little unreleased Gang Starr gem on a questionably-pressed white label compilation that I thought was still too good not to share as we remember the great Guru. I did a little looking around and apparently, this was slated to be on the "The ? Remainz" single, but when they couldn't clear the sample (a nice little catch from Ohio Players' "Sweet Sticky Thing"), they instead went with "Suckas Need Bodyguards" on the flip instead.
K-Def : Axel Replay
A touch of mellow jazziness to carry us into the next mix, courtesy of New Jersey's own K-Def, a real producer's producer who you may know as formerly being half of Real Live (alongside Larry-O). Having worked with everyone from Lords of The Underground to Ghostface to Shabba Ranks, he got the chance to take centre stage on "Willie Boo Boo The Fool", the instrumental LP this comes from, which is now available digitally. This track is actually a fair bit shorter on the LP, but I've lengthened it to be suitable for use here.
Lost Boyz : Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz
It's the following track that inspired me to pull this one out, a classic 90s club/system tune that I have to remember isn't known by everybody - if you missed it at the time, in the late summer of 1995, it may have passed you by as I don't hear it in as many throwback sets I might have expected. This four-piece (RIP Freaky Tah, who passed in 1999) from Queens put this out as the second single from their debut LP "Legal Drug Money", with the legendary and still-underrated Easy Mo Bee giving them a bumping beat perfect for the systems in the jeeps of the time - and track title!
All Hail Y.T. ft. Chris Skillz & K.O. : Vette, Coupe, Beamer & Benz
We go up the east coast of the US and land in Delaware, where almost exactly 27 years after the release of "Jeeps, Lex Coups...", the MC All Hail Y.T. (who I only stumbled upon fairly recently) and producer Yosonova came together to revive the hook in their own style on a cut from their compact "V-12 Soul: SuperCharged" album. If it sounds familiar, outside the chorus of course, it might be the beat, which draws from the same well as Easy Mo Bee's production on "Temptations" by 2Pac. Sonically more relaxed and spaced-out than the 2Pac cut, and lyrically less party-inclined than the Lost Boyz', this wasn't a combination that would obvious to most, but it works extremely well in my opinion.
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Sweata : Namaste
I would say this is the kind of smoothness you wouldn't expect from Smif-N-Wessun, but then they did a fine job in a similar vein on "Ocean Drive" on their previous LP, 2019's "The All". They're back with a brand new album "Infinity", which I believe is entirely produced by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council, and this is one of the more chilled moments. Truly a group who haven't so much "moved with the times" in the sense of riding a wave, but continued to develop as artists in step with the way they've developed as men over the years.
Shy FX ft. Children of Zeus : On My Way
A new release from one of the pioneers in jungle and DnB, in combination with the incredibly talented Manchester duo Children of Zeus, who lend their respective vocal styles to Shy's classic, polished production. With the weather in the UK slowly improving week by week, I expect to hear this one out and about!
Photek : Trans 7
At this point, I thought we might as well carry on on the DnB path and picked out a track from one of the very first tracks from the genre I actually learned to appreciate, from Photek's 1997 debut "Modus Operandi". Clean, techncial, and menacing, with the dark synth and a sound effect that sounds like someone pulling up on a driveway somewhere on a mission, this is one of the highlights of the LP for sure.
Roni Size / Reprazent ft. Method Man : Ghetto Celebrity
We finish the episode, and our DnB trio, with a second collaboration - this time, the transatlantic pairing of Bristol's Roni Size with his Reprazent crew and Hip-Hop legend Method Man of the mighty Wu-Tang Clan. Meth is definitely the one who has to lean the furthest out of his comfort zone on this one, spitting at high speed to keep up with the furious pace of the instrumental, with its frenetic drums, dramatic strings, and heavy, squelching bass. If you don't know this one, you can find it on the "In The Mode" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Still refuse to sell my spirit to eat..."
- Phonte
A lot of midtempo business this month, as we combine the remembrance of Biggie Smalls and Phife Dawg with some era-appropriate classics, a few obscurities, and then blend in some brand new material that shows how the true artistry of the culture continues to flourish!
I just finished adding all the links into the show notes and then my veteran computer hung...so have tried to replace them all! Besides those, here's my Instagram post on the closing of the Hip Hop Chip Shop, which I mentioned on the episode...it'll be much missed.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Amerigo Gazaway : The B.I.G. Payback
Brilliant move by the remix heavy-hitter Amerigo Gazaway to not just combine two tracks that are great in their own rights, but share a common theme. The whole "The Notorious J.B.'s: The B.I.G. Payback" project is worthy of your attention, but this melding of Biggie's "Somebody's Gotta Die" with James Brown's "The Payback" is the absolute standout for me. Gazaway takes it to that next level when he actually incorporates some of James Brown's lyrics into the verses, a well-planned move that elevates this even further past the fray.
[Kev Brown] DJ Jazzy Jeff : Branded (Instrumental)
While DJ Jazzy Jeff is the headline name on this cut from his "The Magnificent EP", you only have to listen to that bassline style for about half a bar to realise you're dealing with the production of the one and only Kev Brown! Jeff acts as a producer in the traditional sense across this project, bringing in outside talent and guiding them, shaping the output to his vision. The EP is the only release to feature this particular track, so seek it out if you want to hear Pauly Yamz get on the mix over this beat, on a kind of "Drink Away The Pain" concept.
Little Brother ft. L.E.G.A.C.Y : Gotta Get Dat (The Ambition Suite)
A big result for the month was getting a real retail copy of this track! This is very early Little Brother, from their days putting out mixtapes and posting tracks on the Okayplayer forums, and I've loved it for over twenty years but wanted it to get a proper release. Finally, you can get it on the deluxe version of "The Listening", which contains a few other obscurities and a complete set of instrumentals of the main album - I'd advise buying a copy now and not risking it ever disappearing. 9th Wonder is on production of course, with his drums mixed in a way that not everyone was on board with at the time, but which has stood up, and the rest of the LB crew kill it on the mic as well. Having L.E.G.A.C.Y, another member of the Justus League crew, opening the track is a nice bonus, as he's an MC I've always enjoyed, with a voice that is both completely normal and absolutely distinctive.
BusCrates ft. DJ Epik and Anda : Drift
The warm synth sounds of Pittsburgh's BusCrates have been some of the most welcome additions to my regular musical rotation over the last few years. His newest EP "Altitude" is another triumph and is one of the places you can find this - the other being the 7" single it was released on before the EP came out. Anda's vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the production of BusCrates and DJ Epik, who leave more than enough space for her to take her rightful place.
Jigmastas : Penthouse
Just because there's artistry involved, that doesn't mean that Kryminul and Spinna don't want to get paid! This is a track from their 2016 "Resurgence" LP, which was actually just their second, following on from 2001's "Infectious". DJ Spinna is on production of course, with his trademark synth/bassline sound in effect throughout.
Curren$y and Harry Fraud ft. Styles P : Key West Classic
Glamour life and illegal business together on the closing track of the "Regatta" EP, with Harry Fraud bringing a slightly moody air on production and using the perfect samples from TV coverage of the real-life powerboat racing circuit (which has a very "interesting" history) to set the tone. The MCs aren't an obvious combination in terms of their voices and deliveries, but Styles P is the perfect counterpoint to Spitta on this one.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Pray For Me (Instrumental)
While "Infamy" might not be the highest-rated album in the legendary works of Mobb Deep, it certainly had plenty of moments where Havoc and Prodigy excelled, and Hav's production here was one of them. I assumed for a long time that this was essentially an all-synth track, only to find while researching the episode that the main melody is actually a sample - Havoc had it sounding extra-clean!
Kev Brown : High Art
Heat out of Landover, Maryland! Kev was doing one of his "Beats & Stuff" streams on Twitch recently, where he frequently showcases unreleased material alongside his extensive commercial catalogue, and this track popped up. I loved it but had no idea if it had been out or was one from the stash - turns out it's on a short album "GOOD." which he'd put out himself after falling out with an old record label. Only a short track, but a good one where the beat very much has a "walking through the forest" feel and Kev's underrated wit and wordplay adds an extra layer of personality to it. Really glad I found out about this one!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Large Professor : Keep It Rollin
The "Midnight Marauders" album is a masterpiece and a must-own for all Hip-Hop fans that is always welcome for a replay. This particular tune features the late Phife Dawg coming out strong with a memorable first few bars, and a sample of the recently-departed Roy Ayers on the instrumental side, alongside Q-Tip and special guest Large Professor, who you can quite clearly tell if you pay attention was right in the thick of the Main Source breakup. You can certainly put weight on his claims to be the brains behind the crew - on this track from what went on to be a classic album, even production legend Q-Tip stepped back to allow Large Pro to do the business on the boards.
Royal Flush : Makin' Moves
A chilled and suitably melancholy track given the subject, Queens' Royal Flush kept this toward the very end of his 1997 debut LP "Ghetto Millionaire". Describing the hopelessness of the street life, this Buckwild-produced cut is what Ice-T would call a "B-side of the game" record - and the kind of thing that tends to indicate that the writer knows their subject in the most intimate of ways. Flush really holds this one down - while Mic Geronimo features, he's actually only on the hook. A third verse might have been welcome, but the two here are arguable just enough.
Mega Ran ft. Penny The Great and Jermiside : Everyday
Mega Ran did an excellent job of paying homage to Biggie on hit "Notorious R.A.N : Ready To Live" LP, and this was his take on the classic "Everyday Struggle" from "Ready To Die" - coming out of the gate on his verse with a flip of the original opening lines and closing by flipping the last few. Every verse on this is realness, with DJ DN3 swapping out the original drums for something heavier, almost as though they needed to carry the appropriate amount of weight for what the MCs are speaking about.
Sndtrak : Rockinu
One of the modern masters of the flip, Oakland's Sndtrak keeps this famous sample recognisable while also giving it an entirely different feel and tempo. This is from "FLIPS V1: Triple Lindy" which will have you jumping up with recognition and then grabbing your head in disbelief on a regular basis. Street Corner Music have removed their releases from Spotify, so go to your digital distributor of choice and put a few quid down to get your own copies!
Tall Black Guy Productions/Black Vandross : Why Must It Be You
TBG is another master of chopping, flipping, and remixing, with his drum programming skills and mastery of bass bounce and feel making for countless irresistible tracks over the years. The late great Luther Vandross is blended into the mix on this one, which starts off with a nice little Stevie Wonder reference before transitioning into the main spaced-out soul groove. A lot of TBGs digital releases are only available for a limited time, so get yours now at Bandcamp just in case so you don't miss out!
Cappo & Kong The Artisan ft. Konny Kon : Let It Take You
As I said during the episode, I somehow managed to miss this track which is surprising as I follow the work of Children of Zeus faithfully! Zeus' Konny Kon drops bars alongside Nottingham veteran Cappo - or should I say, Doctor Cappo who has fairly recently completed a PhD in the techniques and literary devices used by MCs to discuss trauma. With that said, there's no way I could write anything about his work up to anything near his level, so I'll direct you to this excellent interview and recommend you pick up his "Canon" album.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo : Visionary Riches
Good writing, solid beat, a clear sense of purpose. I hadn't gone back to "The Easy Truth" for a while, but this Detroit/NY collaboration definitely had some solid cuts on it and this was one I felt deserved an airing!
Reks ft. Termanology and Krumb Snatcha : Big Dreamers (Lawtown Remix)
An all-Massachussetts affair now from the B-side of the "Say Goodnight" 12", with all those Boston and Lawrence MCs spitting over a Statik Selektah track. Modern(ish) boom-bap with a laidback vibe despite the skittering hi-hats, it's a worthy setting for all three MCs to tell their stories of aiming for the top - whatever that means to each.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Above The Clouds (Instrumental)
I got an abbreviated, simplified version of this classic Preemo instrumental on a vinyl release of questionable provenance, so have looped it up a bit here and also taken advantage of the "stems" feature on Serato to strip it down to pure drums for a couple of stretches. This will never be a big club or dance track, but everyone who appreciates the Gang Starr catalogue holds this cut from "Moment of Truth" in high regard.
Marsha Ambrosius : Tunisian Nights
The "Casablanco" album is one that it feels like not only couldn't have been made before Hip-Hop reached a certain age, but also needed practitioners who had developed their craft enough to be able to execute it effectively. It blends soul, Hip-Hop, jazz, show tunes, and more into a cohesive piece which is a huge credit to the duo of Marsha Ambrosius, the highly-respected singer from Floetry, and Dr. Dre, who took the reins on production. This particular track has an intro which I've mostly needed to cut, before settling into a groove based on DJ Premier's beat for Nas' "NY State Of Mind", which Ambrosius blesses beautifully. If you've not yet heard the album, I strongly recommend you take at least one listen!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Still refuse to sell my spirit to eat..."
- Phonte
A lot of midtempo business this month, as we combine the remembrance of Biggie Smalls and Phife Dawg with some era-appropriate classics, a few obscurities, and then blend in some brand new material that shows how the true artistry of the culture continues to flourish!
I just finished adding all the links into the show notes and then my veteran computer hung...so have tried to replace them all! Besides those, here's my Instagram post on the closing of the Hip Hop Chip Shop, which I mentioned on the episode...it'll be much missed.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Amerigo Gazaway : The B.I.G. Payback
Brilliant move by the remix heavy-hitter Amerigo Gazaway to not just combine two tracks that are great in their own rights, but share a common theme. The whole "The Notorious J.B.'s: The B.I.G. Payback" project is worthy of your attention, but this melding of Biggie's "Somebody's Gotta Die" with James Brown's "The Payback" is the absolute standout for me. Gazaway takes it to that next level when he actually incorporates some of James Brown's lyrics into the verses, a well-planned move that elevates this even further past the fray.
[Kev Brown] DJ Jazzy Jeff : Branded (Instrumental)
While DJ Jazzy Jeff is the headline name on this cut from his "The Magnificent EP", you only have to listen to that bassline style for about half a bar to realise you're dealing with the production of the one and only Kev Brown! Jeff acts as a producer in the traditional sense across this project, bringing in outside talent and guiding them, shaping the output to his vision. The EP is the only release to feature this particular track, so seek it out if you want to hear Pauly Yamz get on the mix over this beat, on a kind of "Drink Away The Pain" concept.
Little Brother ft. L.E.G.A.C.Y : Gotta Get Dat (The Ambition Suite)
A big result for the month was getting a real retail copy of this track! This is very early Little Brother, from their days putting out mixtapes and posting tracks on the Okayplayer forums, and I've loved it for over twenty years but wanted it to get a proper release. Finally, you can get it on the deluxe version of "The Listening", which contains a few other obscurities and a complete set of instrumentals of the main album - I'd advise buying a copy now and not risking it ever disappearing. 9th Wonder is on production of course, with his drums mixed in a way that not everyone was on board with at the time, but which has stood up, and the rest of the LB crew kill it on the mic as well. Having L.E.G.A.C.Y, another member of the Justus League crew, opening the track is a nice bonus, as he's an MC I've always enjoyed, with a voice that is both completely normal and absolutely distinctive.
BusCrates ft. DJ Epik and Anda : Drift
The warm synth sounds of Pittsburgh's BusCrates have been some of the most welcome additions to my regular musical rotation over the last few years. His newest EP "Altitude" is another triumph and is one of the places you can find this - the other being the 7" single it was released on before the EP came out. Anda's vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the production of BusCrates and DJ Epik, who leave more than enough space for her to take her rightful place.
Jigmastas : Penthouse
Just because there's artistry involved, that doesn't mean that Kryminul and Spinna don't want to get paid! This is a track from their 2016 "Resurgence" LP, which was actually just their second, following on from 2001's "Infectious". DJ Spinna is on production of course, with his trademark synth/bassline sound in effect throughout.
Curren$y and Harry Fraud ft. Styles P : Key West Classic
Glamour life and illegal business together on the closing track of the "Regatta" EP, with Harry Fraud bringing a slightly moody air on production and using the perfect samples from TV coverage of the real-life powerboat racing circuit (which has a very "interesting" history) to set the tone. The MCs aren't an obvious combination in terms of their voices and deliveries, but Styles P is the perfect counterpoint to Spitta on this one.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Pray For Me (Instrumental)
While "Infamy" might not be the highest-rated album in the legendary works of Mobb Deep, it certainly had plenty of moments where Havoc and Prodigy excelled, and Hav's production here was one of them. I assumed for a long time that this was essentially an all-synth track, only to find while researching the episode that the main melody is actually a sample - Havoc had it sounding extra-clean!
Kev Brown : High Art
Heat out of Landover, Maryland! Kev was doing one of his "Beats & Stuff" streams on Twitch recently, where he frequently showcases unreleased material alongside his extensive commercial catalogue, and this track popped up. I loved it but had no idea if it had been out or was one from the stash - turns out it's on a short album "GOOD." which he'd put out himself after falling out with an old record label. Only a short track, but a good one where the beat very much has a "walking through the forest" feel and Kev's underrated wit and wordplay adds an extra layer of personality to it. Really glad I found out about this one!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Large Professor : Keep It Rollin
The "Midnight Marauders" album is a masterpiece and a must-own for all Hip-Hop fans that is always welcome for a replay. This particular tune features the late Phife Dawg coming out strong with a memorable first few bars, and a sample of the recently-departed Roy Ayers on the instrumental side, alongside Q-Tip and special guest Large Professor, who you can quite clearly tell if you pay attention was right in the thick of the Main Source breakup. You can certainly put weight on his claims to be the brains behind the crew - on this track from what went on to be a classic album, even production legend Q-Tip stepped back to allow Large Pro to do the business on the boards.
Royal Flush : Makin' Moves
A chilled and suitably melancholy track given the subject, Queens' Royal Flush kept this toward the very end of his 1997 debut LP "Ghetto Millionaire". Describing the hopelessness of the street life, this Buckwild-produced cut is what Ice-T would call a "B-side of the game" record - and the kind of thing that tends to indicate that the writer knows their subject in the most intimate of ways. Flush really holds this one down - while Mic Geronimo features, he's actually only on the hook. A third verse might have been welcome, but the two here are arguable just enough.
Mega Ran ft. Penny The Great and Jermiside : Everyday
Mega Ran did an excellent job of paying homage to Biggie on hit "Notorious R.A.N : Ready To Live" LP, and this was his take on the classic "Everyday Struggle" from "Ready To Die" - coming out of the gate on his verse with a flip of the original opening lines and closing by flipping the last few. Every verse on this is realness, with DJ DN3 swapping out the original drums for something heavier, almost as though they needed to carry the appropriate amount of weight for what the MCs are speaking about.
Sndtrak : Rockinu
One of the modern masters of the flip, Oakland's Sndtrak keeps this famous sample recognisable while also giving it an entirely different feel and tempo. This is from "FLIPS V1: Triple Lindy" which will have you jumping up with recognition and then grabbing your head in disbelief on a regular basis. Street Corner Music have removed their releases from Spotify, so go to your digital distributor of choice and put a few quid down to get your own copies!
Tall Black Guy Productions/Black Vandross : Why Must It Be You
TBG is another master of chopping, flipping, and remixing, with his drum programming skills and mastery of bass bounce and feel making for countless irresistible tracks over the years. The late great Luther Vandross is blended into the mix on this one, which starts off with a nice little Stevie Wonder reference before transitioning into the main spaced-out soul groove. A lot of TBGs digital releases are only available for a limited time, so get yours now at Bandcamp just in case so you don't miss out!
Cappo & Kong The Artisan ft. Konny Kon : Let It Take You
As I said during the episode, I somehow managed to miss this track which is surprising as I follow the work of Children of Zeus faithfully! Zeus' Konny Kon drops bars alongside Nottingham veteran Cappo - or should I say, Doctor Cappo who has fairly recently completed a PhD in the techniques and literary devices used by MCs to discuss trauma. With that said, there's no way I could write anything about his work up to anything near his level, so I'll direct you to this excellent interview and recommend you pick up his "Canon" album.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo : Visionary Riches
Good writing, solid beat, a clear sense of purpose. I hadn't gone back to "The Easy Truth" for a while, but this Detroit/NY collaboration definitely had some solid cuts on it and this was one I felt deserved an airing!
Reks ft. Termanology and Krumb Snatcha : Big Dreamers (Lawtown Remix)
An all-Massachussetts affair now from the B-side of the "Say Goodnight" 12", with all those Boston and Lawrence MCs spitting over a Statik Selektah track. Modern(ish) boom-bap with a laidback vibe despite the skittering hi-hats, it's a worthy setting for all three MCs to tell their stories of aiming for the top - whatever that means to each.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Above The Clouds (Instrumental)
I got an abbreviated, simplified version of this classic Preemo instrumental on a vinyl release of questionable provenance, so have looped it up a bit here and also taken advantage of the "stems" feature on Serato to strip it down to pure drums for a couple of stretches. This will never be a big club or dance track, but everyone who appreciates the Gang Starr catalogue holds this cut from "Moment of Truth" in high regard.
Marsha Ambrosius : Tunisian Nights
The "Casablanco" album is one that it feels like not only couldn't have been made before Hip-Hop reached a certain age, but also needed practitioners who had developed their craft enough to be able to execute it effectively. It blends soul, Hip-Hop, jazz, show tunes, and more into a cohesive piece which is a huge credit to the duo of Marsha Ambrosius, the highly-respected singer from Floetry, and Dr. Dre, who took the reins on production. This particular track has an intro which I've mostly needed to cut, before settling into a groove based on DJ Premier's beat for Nas' "NY State Of Mind", which Ambrosius blesses beautifully. If you've not yet heard the album, I strongly recommend you take at least one listen!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I don't need a reason."
- Che
February is here once again, and as always we pay tribute to many of our Hip-Hop community who have transitioned; J Dilla, Trugoy, Big L, and Big Pun are all in the mix this month. Of course, it's also important to show love to the legends who are still with us while they can smell their flowers, and we have some brand new releases from veterans right next to some classics that still stand up to this day. The short length of some of the tracks brings the episode length down a touch, but it's concentrated dopeness...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Paul Wall & DJ.Fresh : Woke Up A Millionaire
I've been playing this recent release a lot, and with the track starting off the way it does, it's perfect to kick off an episode. DJ.Fresh's production is centred around what sounds like a drastically-slowed sample - though one I can't place - and he tops it with a clean drum machine beat. North Houston legend Paul Wall is in full motivation mode as he uses this track to set the tone as the opener on his most recent album, "Once Upon A Grind".
J Dilla : Dillatronic 41
First Dilla of the episode, from the posthumously-released "Dillatronic" set of mostly-unreleased beats. The sample source is a nice early eighties soul duet, with the vocals floating through the dreamlike track, and one of the rawest snares you'll ever hear trying to wake you up all the way through.
Anthony Danza : Khalid El Amin
I already know this is going to be near the top of my next Spotify Wrapped the way I've been marathoning it lately! I'm pretty new/late to the material of this MC from the Pacific Northwest, but really into his style - channeling a lot of the sound and flyness from the eighties and blending it with his modern-day mic skills. This self-produced track is pure flames, sampling a well-used soul classic, advoiding the trap of adding too much to it, and then alongside his own bars, giving plenty of room to guest vocalist Che Blaq to bring the soul right back into the groove his own way. Check out 2015's "Intel Design" for this one, and as for the track title? I'd say IYKYK, but here's a link ;)
Mic Geronimo : Shit's Real
From the "The Natural" LP, this is probably the best-known track in the catalogue of this Queens MC who unfortunately didn't have the longevity that many predicted and hoped for, and yet somehow a forgotten entry in the production discography of the recently-deceased Irv Gotti - who back in 1994 was just plain DJ Irv. A very recognisable soul sample, signalling the sensibilities that would make Irv a successful producer of more pop-oriented material later on, is the core of the instrumental on which Mic Geronimo puts forward his view of life in his corner of NYC at the time. Underground classic for sure.
The BARtenders : Magic & Wonders
We go to the other side of the country for some 2024 West Coast flavour, the combination of MCs Mykestro and Columbo Black coming together for a beautifully sunny, if all too brief, track from their short and sweet "Luke Warm Summers" album. This is clean, super clean sonically, and both MCs flow confidently over the production of Dionte Kendricks. I know it's a few months before summer, but having played this album front to back a bunch of times, I'd say it's one to get in your system ready for better days...
Nightmares on Wax : Typical (Children of Zeus Remix)
Just how I like it, Leeds and Manchester in combination! Nightmares on Wax has been doing it on the production tip since 1988 (with the first LP coming in 1991), and as such is eminently qualified to find a quality remix partner - in this case, Manchester's own Children of Zeus. The track from the 2018 "Shape The Future" LP swaps out the bluesy flavour of the original for a smooth streetsoul vibe, and adds on rhymes from Konny and Tyler as a welcome bonus. Of the three versions on the new "Typical Remixes" collection, this is my clear favourite.
Jay Dee : Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)
"Welcome 2 Detroit" - the 20th anniversary 7" boxed set, to be precise - gives us this Dilla instrumental for one of the most unusually-titled tracks I can think of! The vocal version of course does feature Phat Kat, but he gets the day off for this instrumental, which radiates lazy sunny day vibes, in contrast to the weather outside the studio window...
Smif-N-Wessun : Elephant In The Room
Very heavy new cut from two of Brooklyn's finest, giving us a taster of their brand new "Infinity" album. I don't know if Tek is talking to anyone in particular at the start of the track, but he is heated, and brings it as always alongside General Steele, with the sections where they intersperse lines being unmatched in the modern day. It's a chemistry that comes with years of hard work, and Khrysis' production is a thumping, rugged canvas that does these veterans justice.
Big Punisher ft. Busta Rhymes : Parental Discretion
I've got to be honest - this wasn't a track that used to get a lot of replay from me compared to some of the others on "Capital Punishment", but I think it grows on you. If nothing else, the title gives you fair warning of what to expect, pure ruggedness from two MCs who have their own immediately recognisable, unmistakeable styles and voices. Show of the legendary DITC crew has this one banging from the Bronx to your ears, and my only wishlist item for the track would have been for Busta to get a verse to himself!
Big L : M.V.P (Remix #1)
It's always good to stumble on something from Big L's sadly abbreviated discography to play in February, and this remix turned up on a purchase from last year, "Buckwild Presents: Diggin' In The Crates - Rare Studio Masters (1993-1997)", not the catchiest title but certainly descriptive! Of course, lyrically it's the "M.V.P" you likely know already from L's debut "Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous", but Buckwild swaps out the smoothness of the original sample for another one well-known to the diggers, something with a bit more creep to it. The drum track is appropriately chunky and programmed to match up with the new groove. DITC on point as always.
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano : Armani Section
Brand new release, with the king of the "drumless" sound joining forces with a legendary producer well known for his heavy drum tracks! They don't quite meet in the middle, but Preemo's drums don't dominate, and the sample chop is perfect turf for Roc Marci. The two men met in the Armani section of Macy's in Herald Square some years ago, and when Premier reached out last December, Roc suggested the site of that meeting as the track title. Of course, the signature scratched hook brings together a fitting selection of lines that keep the track hot between the flyness of the verses. There's supposed to be a joint EP by these two coming in the future and I'm ready for it!
Lone Apostrophe : Wayment
Just recently we had the final WORKINONIT session at the famed Hip-Hop Chip Shop, and so when this song jumped out during my shortlisting I thought it was only right to give you a taste of the talents of one of the men behind the event, Manchester's own Lone Apostrophe. Get this smooth head-nod flavour on the "Webs" album.
Kev Brown & LMNO : The Beat Tape
I was sure I'd played this cut from "Selective Hearing" for you before but can't find it in any of my old notes, so I'm happy to debut it on the show here! Kev Brown's signature-styled bear absolutely drips flavour here; he shows, like a great chef, what can be done with just a few ingredients and a high skill level (that "yeah" sample that comes in every four bars is perfect seasoning too) He takes the mic alongside LMNO on this short track - and arguably steals the show on that side of proceedings as well!
The Thyrday : Good Music
I have been hunting for a copy of "The Perfection Xperiment Pt.2" for years. This 2004 album from the heyday of the Justus League clearly wasn't produced in huge numbers, didn't come out on wax, and has never been on any digital or streaming services. It pops up occasionally on Discogs for what to me is pretty big money for an album, but this month I bit the bullet and got the lowest-price copy I'd seen maybe ever, and am glad I did and can now play you this MJ-sampling heater that I've been wanting to share for years! There's a slightly different version on the "Just Us, Volume 4" mixtape if you can find that, but both feature 9th Wonder killing it on production and J Gunn, K Slack, and Killa K riding the beat on one of the highlights of the LP. If you see it out there for decent money, trust me and buy it!
Slum Village : 4th and Back
For the final Dilla selection of the episode, we go pretty much back to the beginning for him, with this track from at least one version of "Fantastic Volume One", the much-bootlegged LP derived from Slum Village's 1996 and 1997 demos. The track title and overall concept was revisited on Slum's first commercial release, "Fantastic, Vol. 2", but this was the original lick, with the repeated hook taking up a lot of the vocal time, and that Jay Dee bounce providing a flawless groove on this slice of Hip-Hop history.
De La Soul : Can't Call It (Unreleased Version)
RIP Trugoy! I'd forgotten all about this one, which I got on one of those weird bootleg-ish 12" releases which was otherwise full of Digable Planets stuff, but which was originally on the soundtrack to "High School High" - one of those films that I don't think anyone over here saw, but the soundtrack of which was sought out by the heads. Self-produced by De La, it's a nice head-nodder with everything running at a steady pace, no sudden moves anywhere on the beat or on the mic.
The Beatnuts : The Chase (Instrumental)
Unabashed dark boom-bap for the final instrumental of the month, taken from the "Hydra Beats Volume 5" compilation, a fairly obscure 1997 compilation of twelve chunky beats. Lots of typos on the label, that's how you know the smoke was in the air in a major way...
Ghostface Killah : Apollo Kids
And finally, a track I hadn't DJed in an extremely long time, but which I was reminded about when it was featured in a short documentary on the 200th year of the Clarks shoe company! This is pretty much the poster child for Ghost's style, especially in this "Supreme Clientele" era, of saying off-the-wall stuff that didn't make sense but sounded good; if you can clearly decode "this rap is like ziti, facing me real TV / Crash at high speeds, strawberry kiwi" then you're a better interpreter than most! Of course, it did turn out much later that outside of raw creativity, there were other reasons why Ghost sounded the way he did. Hassan (aka Haas G of the UMCs) laces him with a grandiose, horn-laden production that hasn't aged a day since it came out back in 1999, and this track brings the episode to a triumphant end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I don't need a reason."
- Che
February is here once again, and as always we pay tribute to many of our Hip-Hop community who have transitioned; J Dilla, Trugoy, Big L, and Big Pun are all in the mix this month. Of course, it's also important to show love to the legends who are still with us while they can smell their flowers, and we have some brand new releases from veterans right next to some classics that still stand up to this day. The short length of some of the tracks brings the episode length down a touch, but it's concentrated dopeness...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Paul Wall & DJ.Fresh : Woke Up A Millionaire
I've been playing this recent release a lot, and with the track starting off the way it does, it's perfect to kick off an episode. DJ.Fresh's production is centred around what sounds like a drastically-slowed sample - though one I can't place - and he tops it with a clean drum machine beat. North Houston legend Paul Wall is in full motivation mode as he uses this track to set the tone as the opener on his most recent album, "Once Upon A Grind".
J Dilla : Dillatronic 41
First Dilla of the episode, from the posthumously-released "Dillatronic" set of mostly-unreleased beats. The sample source is a nice early eighties soul duet, with the vocals floating through the dreamlike track, and one of the rawest snares you'll ever hear trying to wake you up all the way through.
Anthony Danza : Khalid El Amin
I already know this is going to be near the top of my next Spotify Wrapped the way I've been marathoning it lately! I'm pretty new/late to the material of this MC from the Pacific Northwest, but really into his style - channeling a lot of the sound and flyness from the eighties and blending it with his modern-day mic skills. This self-produced track is pure flames, sampling a well-used soul classic, advoiding the trap of adding too much to it, and then alongside his own bars, giving plenty of room to guest vocalist Che Blaq to bring the soul right back into the groove his own way. Check out 2015's "Intel Design" for this one, and as for the track title? I'd say IYKYK, but here's a link ;)
Mic Geronimo : Shit's Real
From the "The Natural" LP, this is probably the best-known track in the catalogue of this Queens MC who unfortunately didn't have the longevity that many predicted and hoped for, and yet somehow a forgotten entry in the production discography of the recently-deceased Irv Gotti - who back in 1994 was just plain DJ Irv. A very recognisable soul sample, signalling the sensibilities that would make Irv a successful producer of more pop-oriented material later on, is the core of the instrumental on which Mic Geronimo puts forward his view of life in his corner of NYC at the time. Underground classic for sure.
The BARtenders : Magic & Wonders
We go to the other side of the country for some 2024 West Coast flavour, the combination of MCs Mykestro and Columbo Black coming together for a beautifully sunny, if all too brief, track from their short and sweet "Luke Warm Summers" album. This is clean, super clean sonically, and both MCs flow confidently over the production of Dionte Kendricks. I know it's a few months before summer, but having played this album front to back a bunch of times, I'd say it's one to get in your system ready for better days...
Nightmares on Wax : Typical (Children of Zeus Remix)
Just how I like it, Leeds and Manchester in combination! Nightmares on Wax has been doing it on the production tip since 1988 (with the first LP coming in 1991), and as such is eminently qualified to find a quality remix partner - in this case, Manchester's own Children of Zeus. The track from the 2018 "Shape The Future" LP swaps out the bluesy flavour of the original for a smooth streetsoul vibe, and adds on rhymes from Konny and Tyler as a welcome bonus. Of the three versions on the new "Typical Remixes" collection, this is my clear favourite.
Jay Dee : Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)
"Welcome 2 Detroit" - the 20th anniversary 7" boxed set, to be precise - gives us this Dilla instrumental for one of the most unusually-titled tracks I can think of! The vocal version of course does feature Phat Kat, but he gets the day off for this instrumental, which radiates lazy sunny day vibes, in contrast to the weather outside the studio window...
Smif-N-Wessun : Elephant In The Room
Very heavy new cut from two of Brooklyn's finest, giving us a taster of their brand new "Infinity" album. I don't know if Tek is talking to anyone in particular at the start of the track, but he is heated, and brings it as always alongside General Steele, with the sections where they intersperse lines being unmatched in the modern day. It's a chemistry that comes with years of hard work, and Khrysis' production is a thumping, rugged canvas that does these veterans justice.
Big Punisher ft. Busta Rhymes : Parental Discretion
I've got to be honest - this wasn't a track that used to get a lot of replay from me compared to some of the others on "Capital Punishment", but I think it grows on you. If nothing else, the title gives you fair warning of what to expect, pure ruggedness from two MCs who have their own immediately recognisable, unmistakeable styles and voices. Show of the legendary DITC crew has this one banging from the Bronx to your ears, and my only wishlist item for the track would have been for Busta to get a verse to himself!
Big L : M.V.P (Remix #1)
It's always good to stumble on something from Big L's sadly abbreviated discography to play in February, and this remix turned up on a purchase from last year, "Buckwild Presents: Diggin' In The Crates - Rare Studio Masters (1993-1997)", not the catchiest title but certainly descriptive! Of course, lyrically it's the "M.V.P" you likely know already from L's debut "Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous", but Buckwild swaps out the smoothness of the original sample for another one well-known to the diggers, something with a bit more creep to it. The drum track is appropriately chunky and programmed to match up with the new groove. DITC on point as always.
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano : Armani Section
Brand new release, with the king of the "drumless" sound joining forces with a legendary producer well known for his heavy drum tracks! They don't quite meet in the middle, but Preemo's drums don't dominate, and the sample chop is perfect turf for Roc Marci. The two men met in the Armani section of Macy's in Herald Square some years ago, and when Premier reached out last December, Roc suggested the site of that meeting as the track title. Of course, the signature scratched hook brings together a fitting selection of lines that keep the track hot between the flyness of the verses. There's supposed to be a joint EP by these two coming in the future and I'm ready for it!
Lone Apostrophe : Wayment
Just recently we had the final WORKINONIT session at the famed Hip-Hop Chip Shop, and so when this song jumped out during my shortlisting I thought it was only right to give you a taste of the talents of one of the men behind the event, Manchester's own Lone Apostrophe. Get this smooth head-nod flavour on the "Webs" album.
Kev Brown & LMNO : The Beat Tape
I was sure I'd played this cut from "Selective Hearing" for you before but can't find it in any of my old notes, so I'm happy to debut it on the show here! Kev Brown's signature-styled bear absolutely drips flavour here; he shows, like a great chef, what can be done with just a few ingredients and a high skill level (that "yeah" sample that comes in every four bars is perfect seasoning too) He takes the mic alongside LMNO on this short track - and arguably steals the show on that side of proceedings as well!
The Thyrday : Good Music
I have been hunting for a copy of "The Perfection Xperiment Pt.2" for years. This 2004 album from the heyday of the Justus League clearly wasn't produced in huge numbers, didn't come out on wax, and has never been on any digital or streaming services. It pops up occasionally on Discogs for what to me is pretty big money for an album, but this month I bit the bullet and got the lowest-price copy I'd seen maybe ever, and am glad I did and can now play you this MJ-sampling heater that I've been wanting to share for years! There's a slightly different version on the "Just Us, Volume 4" mixtape if you can find that, but both feature 9th Wonder killing it on production and J Gunn, K Slack, and Killa K riding the beat on one of the highlights of the LP. If you see it out there for decent money, trust me and buy it!
Slum Village : 4th and Back
For the final Dilla selection of the episode, we go pretty much back to the beginning for him, with this track from at least one version of "Fantastic Volume One", the much-bootlegged LP derived from Slum Village's 1996 and 1997 demos. The track title and overall concept was revisited on Slum's first commercial release, "Fantastic, Vol. 2", but this was the original lick, with the repeated hook taking up a lot of the vocal time, and that Jay Dee bounce providing a flawless groove on this slice of Hip-Hop history.
De La Soul : Can't Call It (Unreleased Version)
RIP Trugoy! I'd forgotten all about this one, which I got on one of those weird bootleg-ish 12" releases which was otherwise full of Digable Planets stuff, but which was originally on the soundtrack to "High School High" - one of those films that I don't think anyone over here saw, but the soundtrack of which was sought out by the heads. Self-produced by De La, it's a nice head-nodder with everything running at a steady pace, no sudden moves anywhere on the beat or on the mic.
The Beatnuts : The Chase (Instrumental)
Unabashed dark boom-bap for the final instrumental of the month, taken from the "Hydra Beats Volume 5" compilation, a fairly obscure 1997 compilation of twelve chunky beats. Lots of typos on the label, that's how you know the smoke was in the air in a major way...
Ghostface Killah : Apollo Kids
And finally, a track I hadn't DJed in an extremely long time, but which I was reminded about when it was featured in a short documentary on the 200th year of the Clarks shoe company! This is pretty much the poster child for Ghost's style, especially in this "Supreme Clientele" era, of saying off-the-wall stuff that didn't make sense but sounded good; if you can clearly decode "this rap is like ziti, facing me real TV / Crash at high speeds, strawberry kiwi" then you're a better interpreter than most! Of course, it did turn out much later that outside of raw creativity, there were other reasons why Ghost sounded the way he did. Hassan (aka Haas G of the UMCs) laces him with a grandiose, horn-laden production that hasn't aged a day since it came out back in 1999, and this track brings the episode to a triumphant end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"My heart is a drum, art is my tongue..."
- Chalk
It's always a treat to have a guest in the studio, and we're starting 2025 by hosting one of the most dedicated artists in our local scene, the MC/producer/DJ Chalk! You may know him as a soloist or as part of some of the crews and collectives he's worked with, but for all but his closest circle you'll hear at least one thing about him and his craft that you didn't know before. We feature several of his tracks from the span of his career alongside some excellent recent releases and some venerable headphone favourites of mine. Enjoy the show!
Catch up with Chalk at his Bandcamp page which features his whole solo catalogue, or on Instagram.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Soch : Quest
One of those discoveries that I suppose I have to credit Spotify for, as I stumbled on this track completely by accident, the opening cut on his 2024 EP "I Don't Do Drugs, I Am Drugs". As I understand it, this is one of his first releases if not the first, and it has him off to a fine start. Lyrically he's got his own bell-clear style and the production has an airy warmness to it without sacrificing the bounce that makes you nod your head - it's often the first thing to go when the lean is towards the arty/lyrical/(insert adjective here). This New Jersey-born, Miami-based artist is worth paying attention to.
Chalk : The Crime Scene
I made use of the Serato Stems feature to remove the vocals from this while we spoke, but the full version of the track is part of the story on Chalk's latest release, "Death Knocks And He Shall Die", an audio-only murder mystery LP with the only voices coming from samples - while he got his start as an MC, this album is an end-to-end demonstration of his production prowess. Listen to the interview for more detail about how he painstakingly crafted this project!
[DJ Spinna] Old World Disorder : Never Minded (Instrumental)
We got so into the chat that we ran out of beat, so you get a bonus one - a bit of DJ Spinna work from the Beyond Real days, a suitably subdued head-nodder to keep the vibe going. You can get this and a bunch more beats on "The Beyond Real Experience Volume One Instrumentals", nice easy digital purchase.
Chalk : The Poacher
The first vocal track from Chalk this episode is a great piece of storytelling from his debut LP, "One For Being Me" - the story of a people living a quiet village life, until things go wrong...
Superbad Solace : Keynote
The "Sol Controller" series is an excellent trilogy of albums, and this comes from the second one (mistake on the voiceover there), with Mono en Stereo giving us a piano-drenched boom-bap beat which Solace laced with his strong, solid flow and lyrics. Pure, uncompromising Hip-Hop.
Pitch 92 & Essa : Run It Back
With the kind of lyrics that only an older emcee has the experience to deliver believably, Essa speaks on trying to rekindle the fire in a relationship where - as it does - life and responsibility gets in the way. You could easily imagine this Pitch 92 track featuring only the R&B stylings heard on the hook, but we get the treat of some real (in all senses) bars too. The new "Resonance" LP is polished, well-executed, grown Hip-Hop and definitely worth checking - all the other flavours on the album are done just as well as this.
MC Lyte ft. Common and Stevie Wonder : Change Your Ways
Big names all over this one, with the truly legendary Stevie Wonder lending his vocals - and his classic harmonica skills - to this new track by a Hip-Hop veteran who's been away too long. Nine years passed between the release of "Legend" and her latest, "1 Of 1", both of which are accurate descriptions of this Brooklyn-Queens MC's status. She's aiming for spiritual, grown-woman rap on this album and this Koncept-produced track very much embodies that, with Common providing Lyte some solid backup.
Zero 7 : One Arm Break
At the time of writing, this week marks 25 years since the release of Zero 7's debut EP, from which this headphone favourite is taken. Clean, smoothed out, and perfectly-engineered (which makes sense, as both members met as studio engineers), this track was a worthy inclusion on the release that introduced the world to their sound.
Rome Streetz ft. Meyhem Lauren and Daringer : Cadillac Smoke
Griselda mainstay Daringer is an expert at taking the kinds of samples people use for Roc Marc-inspired drumless beats and incorporating drum tracks that fit perfectly. This one is a great fit for this track from Rome Streetz' 9th (!) album, last year's "Hatton Garden Holdup" - named for the famous London diamond district, and a famous heist. Rome opens proceedings on the mic before Meyhem's feature slams in for the second verse, dripping in luxury talk.
Littles : New York, New York
A little awkward to mix with, with it repeating in groups of five bars rather than four, but this noir-esque street mixtape killer from 2003 is worth it. Riding a familiar sample with an almost hat-less drum track (not sure who produced it), Queensbridge's Littles sets out his street credentials - highlighted by the sample of Prodigy mentioning him on Mobb Deep's "The Start Of Your Ending". "The Feeding" is a mixed bag but does have a few gems I play to this day, with this being the pick of them all.
Le$ : Custom Made
Le$ is in that Curren$y lane right now, which is to say that every time I turn around he has something new out - not that I'm complaining! "Gourmet" came out at the tail end of 2024 and if you like Le$' style, you won't be disappointed hearing speak, as he often does, about the grind needed to get to this point. This was a digital-only release, and as such, not easy to get credits for, but a bit of clicking around on Spotify leads me to believe that this smooth, refined production comes from frequent collaborator Tavares Jordan, which makes sense.
Chalk : His Own
There's not much I can say to do this deeply personal track from the "Growth" LP justice - the story is all there, and Chalk speaks about it in the episode. Not many could lay out their story like this - it's really quite something.
[Buckwild] O.C. : Jewelz (Instrumental)
Nothing too pounding or aggressive after the last track, just a reflective piece of production from the DITC crew, with Buckwild crafting this guitar-led beat for the title track of O.C.'s second album. Funny to think now, but I remember this LP being badly-received in some quarters, as it was felt not to be close enough to "Word...Life". In my opinion, it stands in its own right as one of the great releases in O.C.'s catalogue.
The Natural Curriculum : Cultural Equity
The final Chalk selection is from the The Natural Curriculum catalogue, specifically their most recent album, "The Best Fertiliser Is The Gardener's Shadow" - which as Chalk says, was originally an Aver project, with his production style on full display on this cut. TNC are always a group ready to go deep with the lyrics and concepts, and while Chalk may only be on a handful of the tracks, he makes his presence felt every time, including here.
Pitch 92 + Sparkz : Genius
Mr Pitch again! Killer cut from a couple of artists who've done Manchester proud in their own fields, coming together for the new "Full Circle" album. The drums are snapping as they drive the track along and provide that bed for Sparkz to give you some rapid but still controlled flows. The arrangement of the beat and the rhyme pattern changes play off each other for a track that I wouldn't have minded getting an extra verse of!
Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip : The Abstract & The Dragon
The title track from the 2014 collaboration between two legends is a nice treat if you've somehow never heard it before, bumping along with plenty of body courtesy of Q-Tip (I've always been unsure whether he, Dilla, or both produced this), while Busta growls his bars over the top. "The Abstract & The Dragon" is one to have in the collection, made up of a handful of brand new (at the time) tracks alongside some remakes and rarities.
Black Milk ft. Melanie Rutherford : Bond For Life
One of my favourite tracks from the "Tronic" LP, with one of Detroit's finest on both the mic and the boards - the rapped verses are shorter than you might expect, but that just leaves space for fellow Michigan native Melanie Rutherford to complete things with her vocals. I'm not sure whether the "mistake" towards the end was written in for effect or a real recording flub that they worked around, but either way I think it adds a little extra live, human touch!
[Opio] Souls Of Mischief : Medication (Instrumental)
Easily one of my favourite Souls beats, this instrumental was on the "Medication" 12" I picked up on release at Fat City Records back in 2000. It's a lush track but absolutely not at the expense of hitting the way it needs to. The vocal is of course on the single but also on the album "Trilogy : Conflict, Climax, Resolution".
Nicolay ft. Kay and Sy Smith : My Story
We finish with an old favourite of mine which felt like it either needed to open or close a show, so here it is, closing proceedings as it does on the original version of the "Here" LP! Nicolay's production is relatively simple and beautiful, replaying a classic jazz bassline and augmenting it with Dilla-like drums and gentle keyboards. Sy Smith glides over the hook, while Kay of The Foundation takes centre stage, telling the story of his upbringing in Houston. As good as the whole album is, this is by far my favourite track, played here right to the very end of the extended outro fade.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"My heart is a drum, art is my tongue..."
- Chalk
It's always a treat to have a guest in the studio, and we're starting 2025 by hosting one of the most dedicated artists in our local scene, the MC/producer/DJ Chalk! You may know him as a soloist or as part of some of the crews and collectives he's worked with, but for all but his closest circle you'll hear at least one thing about him and his craft that you didn't know before. We feature several of his tracks from the span of his career alongside some excellent recent releases and some venerable headphone favourites of mine. Enjoy the show!
Catch up with Chalk at his Bandcamp page which features his whole solo catalogue, or on Instagram.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Soch : Quest
One of those discoveries that I suppose I have to credit Spotify for, as I stumbled on this track completely by accident, the opening cut on his 2024 EP "I Don't Do Drugs, I Am Drugs". As I understand it, this is one of his first releases if not the first, and it has him off to a fine start. Lyrically he's got his own bell-clear style and the production has an airy warmness to it without sacrificing the bounce that makes you nod your head - it's often the first thing to go when the lean is towards the arty/lyrical/(insert adjective here). This New Jersey-born, Miami-based artist is worth paying attention to.
Chalk : The Crime Scene
I made use of the Serato Stems feature to remove the vocals from this while we spoke, but the full version of the track is part of the story on Chalk's latest release, "Death Knocks And He Shall Die", an audio-only murder mystery LP with the only voices coming from samples - while he got his start as an MC, this album is an end-to-end demonstration of his production prowess. Listen to the interview for more detail about how he painstakingly crafted this project!
[DJ Spinna] Old World Disorder : Never Minded (Instrumental)
We got so into the chat that we ran out of beat, so you get a bonus one - a bit of DJ Spinna work from the Beyond Real days, a suitably subdued head-nodder to keep the vibe going. You can get this and a bunch more beats on "The Beyond Real Experience Volume One Instrumentals", nice easy digital purchase.
Chalk : The Poacher
The first vocal track from Chalk this episode is a great piece of storytelling from his debut LP, "One For Being Me" - the story of a people living a quiet village life, until things go wrong...
Superbad Solace : Keynote
The "Sol Controller" series is an excellent trilogy of albums, and this comes from the second one (mistake on the voiceover there), with Mono en Stereo giving us a piano-drenched boom-bap beat which Solace laced with his strong, solid flow and lyrics. Pure, uncompromising Hip-Hop.
Pitch 92 & Essa : Run It Back
With the kind of lyrics that only an older emcee has the experience to deliver believably, Essa speaks on trying to rekindle the fire in a relationship where - as it does - life and responsibility gets in the way. You could easily imagine this Pitch 92 track featuring only the R&B stylings heard on the hook, but we get the treat of some real (in all senses) bars too. The new "Resonance" LP is polished, well-executed, grown Hip-Hop and definitely worth checking - all the other flavours on the album are done just as well as this.
MC Lyte ft. Common and Stevie Wonder : Change Your Ways
Big names all over this one, with the truly legendary Stevie Wonder lending his vocals - and his classic harmonica skills - to this new track by a Hip-Hop veteran who's been away too long. Nine years passed between the release of "Legend" and her latest, "1 Of 1", both of which are accurate descriptions of this Brooklyn-Queens MC's status. She's aiming for spiritual, grown-woman rap on this album and this Koncept-produced track very much embodies that, with Common providing Lyte some solid backup.
Zero 7 : One Arm Break
At the time of writing, this week marks 25 years since the release of Zero 7's debut EP, from which this headphone favourite is taken. Clean, smoothed out, and perfectly-engineered (which makes sense, as both members met as studio engineers), this track was a worthy inclusion on the release that introduced the world to their sound.
Rome Streetz ft. Meyhem Lauren and Daringer : Cadillac Smoke
Griselda mainstay Daringer is an expert at taking the kinds of samples people use for Roc Marc-inspired drumless beats and incorporating drum tracks that fit perfectly. This one is a great fit for this track from Rome Streetz' 9th (!) album, last year's "Hatton Garden Holdup" - named for the famous London diamond district, and a famous heist. Rome opens proceedings on the mic before Meyhem's feature slams in for the second verse, dripping in luxury talk.
Littles : New York, New York
A little awkward to mix with, with it repeating in groups of five bars rather than four, but this noir-esque street mixtape killer from 2003 is worth it. Riding a familiar sample with an almost hat-less drum track (not sure who produced it), Queensbridge's Littles sets out his street credentials - highlighted by the sample of Prodigy mentioning him on Mobb Deep's "The Start Of Your Ending". "The Feeding" is a mixed bag but does have a few gems I play to this day, with this being the pick of them all.
Le$ : Custom Made
Le$ is in that Curren$y lane right now, which is to say that every time I turn around he has something new out - not that I'm complaining! "Gourmet" came out at the tail end of 2024 and if you like Le$' style, you won't be disappointed hearing speak, as he often does, about the grind needed to get to this point. This was a digital-only release, and as such, not easy to get credits for, but a bit of clicking around on Spotify leads me to believe that this smooth, refined production comes from frequent collaborator Tavares Jordan, which makes sense.
Chalk : His Own
There's not much I can say to do this deeply personal track from the "Growth" LP justice - the story is all there, and Chalk speaks about it in the episode. Not many could lay out their story like this - it's really quite something.
[Buckwild] O.C. : Jewelz (Instrumental)
Nothing too pounding or aggressive after the last track, just a reflective piece of production from the DITC crew, with Buckwild crafting this guitar-led beat for the title track of O.C.'s second album. Funny to think now, but I remember this LP being badly-received in some quarters, as it was felt not to be close enough to "Word...Life". In my opinion, it stands in its own right as one of the great releases in O.C.'s catalogue.
The Natural Curriculum : Cultural Equity
The final Chalk selection is from the The Natural Curriculum catalogue, specifically their most recent album, "The Best Fertiliser Is The Gardener's Shadow" - which as Chalk says, was originally an Aver project, with his production style on full display on this cut. TNC are always a group ready to go deep with the lyrics and concepts, and while Chalk may only be on a handful of the tracks, he makes his presence felt every time, including here.
Pitch 92 + Sparkz : Genius
Mr Pitch again! Killer cut from a couple of artists who've done Manchester proud in their own fields, coming together for the new "Full Circle" album. The drums are snapping as they drive the track along and provide that bed for Sparkz to give you some rapid but still controlled flows. The arrangement of the beat and the rhyme pattern changes play off each other for a track that I wouldn't have minded getting an extra verse of!
Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip : The Abstract & The Dragon
The title track from the 2014 collaboration between two legends is a nice treat if you've somehow never heard it before, bumping along with plenty of body courtesy of Q-Tip (I've always been unsure whether he, Dilla, or both produced this), while Busta growls his bars over the top. "The Abstract & The Dragon" is one to have in the collection, made up of a handful of brand new (at the time) tracks alongside some remakes and rarities.
Black Milk ft. Melanie Rutherford : Bond For Life
One of my favourite tracks from the "Tronic" LP, with one of Detroit's finest on both the mic and the boards - the rapped verses are shorter than you might expect, but that just leaves space for fellow Michigan native Melanie Rutherford to complete things with her vocals. I'm not sure whether the "mistake" towards the end was written in for effect or a real recording flub that they worked around, but either way I think it adds a little extra live, human touch!
[Opio] Souls Of Mischief : Medication (Instrumental)
Easily one of my favourite Souls beats, this instrumental was on the "Medication" 12" I picked up on release at Fat City Records back in 2000. It's a lush track but absolutely not at the expense of hitting the way it needs to. The vocal is of course on the single but also on the album "Trilogy : Conflict, Climax, Resolution".
Nicolay ft. Kay and Sy Smith : My Story
We finish with an old favourite of mine which felt like it either needed to open or close a show, so here it is, closing proceedings as it does on the original version of the "Here" LP! Nicolay's production is relatively simple and beautiful, replaying a classic jazz bassline and augmenting it with Dilla-like drums and gentle keyboards. Sy Smith glides over the hook, while Kay of The Foundation takes centre stage, telling the story of his upbringing in Houston. As good as the whole album is, this is by far my favourite track, played here right to the very end of the extended outro fade.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...and we don't make the f-ing pistols..."
- Kool G Rap
Sometimes the episode number compels me to follow it to provide an overall theme for an entire show, and this month is one of those! With 187 famously being the California Penal Code paragraph number/police code for murder, and via Hip-Hop becoming widely known and used as a signifier well outside that jurisdiction, I decided that for this episode we'd lean into that as a theme - sometimes literal, sometimes metaphorical, often pure creative writing, and at other times rooted firmly in reality. With that in mind, this episode might not be to everyone's taste, but for everyone else, it's certainly a journey thematically and sonically from the first track to our closer, which is truly a great piece of writing.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
M.O.P. : 187
We won't reveal the sample here as I don't know if it was cleared and don't want to get anyone sued, but I doubt the original artists ever expected it to end up on a track like this! We start Episode 187 with a track of the same title, and Brownsville's own, the World Famous M.O.P. coming out as hard as titanium on this track from the "Street Certified" project, bringing the aggression to absolutely everyone - wack DJs, sucker MC, groupies, sponsors...no-one escapes. Lil Fame produces this one himself, combining the piano sample mentioned earlier with a well-known drum break that has done the business in Hip-Hop time and time again.
Skitz : The Killing (Remix Instrumental)
The original mix of "The Killing" is in my opinion the far superior version, but this minor-keyed piano instrumental is still solid in its own right. As far as I know, the only place to get this is the 12" single of "The Killing", which was just one of the outstanding tracks from the "Countryman" LP. If you see the wax of that about, don't think, just buy.
DJ Marvel : 1-8-7
In the interest of not giving you the "Deep Cover" beat for too long, I'm only giving you a portion of this great DJ/cut-up track, which is based around that famous beat and hook, and turns it into a DJ-killing anthem. DJ Marvel is a UK DJ out of Torquay in Devon, a place that - save for the beach - couldn't be further away in vibes from Long Beach, but he represents his area amazingly on this, probably my favourite track to this day from Bomb Hip-Hop's "Return of the DJ Volume V".
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg : One Eight Seven
Many of you will be familiar with the Dr. Dre classic "Deep Cover", which introduced the world to (as he was called then) Snoop Doggy Dogg, but I think fewer will know this alternate version/sequel, which was on the B-side of the "Dre Day" 12" single. The lyrics are a complete re-write, though the hook is the same, and there are some subtle variations in the arrangement, but otherwise the original groove is the same. Gloriously dark crime rhyme action.
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Crime Pays
My only regret is that the great intro to this track is slower than the main tempo, and so was too slow to play you here! If you want to hear the whole thing front-to-back, then the album you want is the 1992 crime opus "Live And Let Die". Planned to come out a year previously, the subject matter and disturbing cover art (which had its original two ideas shelved for unsuitability, and the final one responsible for a long-time shelving of the LP after release) are dark, extremely aggressive, and you barely come up for air the whole time. Like most of the album, this funky and fairly short track is produced by Sir Jinx of The Lench Mob, with the Juice Crew legend Kool G Rap speaking from the perspective of someone who feels - rightly or wrongly - that crime is their only option, and criticised the hypocrisy of society. The TLDR is that it's something of an "it's bigger than Nino Brown" piece, and very much of its time when you consider it would have been written around the tail end of the murder spike New York City experienced due to the crack epidemic.
Jaylib : Survival Test
I've used both the vocal and instrumental versions of this track from "Champion Sound" here to get a proper intro and outro for mix purposes, with Madlib's dense Bollywood-accented production seeming to absolutely fill the sound field but somehow still having space for J Dilla to get on the mic and be heard clearly. Dilla uses the technique of rhyming the word before the end of each line, while the final phrase on the line repeats, thereby constraining how it can be written; he demonstrates a skill as an MC that many people don't give him his full credit for.
Giggs : Talking The Hardest
There's apparently something of a meme around this track supposedly being the national anthem here, so I thought I'd lead it off with an appropriate sample! Many years after recording, this freestyle is still a very popular tune from Giggs' catalogue, even though it didn't make it onto his debut LP. That might be in part due to the Dr. Dre-produced beat being a direct lift from Stat Quo's "Here We Go", that would have been basically impossible to clear. Nevertheless, there's a digital release of this track, so feel free to get yourself this slice of Peckham street talk for a very reasonable price!
Kardinal Offishall : Bang Bang (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this a long time ago on episode 113, but here you get Kardinal Offishall's production in the raw - dark, thumping, and menacing. The "Bang Bang" promo is the only place to get this instrumental, which I might even try and get a second copy of myself as this one has taken a few scrapes over the last twenty years!
Smif 'n' Wessun : War
Appropriately for representatives from the Boot Camp Clik, Smif 'n' Wessun blend the street and the military on this tough cut from their 2005 album "Tek & Steele: Reloaded". There's a really quick change-up from the original beat, as Ken Ring, Rune Rotter, and Coptic drop out to a sample from a famous film before coming back with an alternative composition to carry things forward for the remainder of the track. The final bit of seasoning is the cutting in of one of the best-known lyrics from the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep, a man amongst the most quotable MCs in Hip-Hop history.
Ran Reed & Shabaam Sahdeeq : Murderous Flow
This is very much one of those records I might never have thought to include if I hadn't digitised all my 12"s! It's pretty much entirely unlabelled and thus easy to lost in the sauce, but this is a single I picked up during my student days on account of the killer Nick Wiz beat and what must have been an affordable price :) The simple formula of a dope beat with dope rhymes (with the titular murderous flow) is followed here by both the New Jersey native reed and guest Shabaam Sahdeeq, who you may actually be a little more familiar with if you know your late-90s underground Hip-Hop. This was a promo 12" which did get an official single release, but isn't on any LP - as such, you may struggle to find it on any streaming service, and so buying the single is the only way.
Xzibit ft. Mobb Deep : Eyes May Shine (Remix)
This has been a favourite track of mine since it was first released way back in 1996, and I can't believe it's taken me so long to finally find a home for it here! In my opinion this is a far superior track to the original "Eyes May Shine" from Xzibit's debut LP "At The Speed Of Life", with Havoc's gloomy, string-led production striking exactly the right tone for this dismissal of studio gangsters. With the late great Prodigy guesting on the mic alongside Havoc, and the overall vibe being what it is, you could easily think this was a Mobb track featuring Xzibit rather than the other way round. This was never included on any albums as far as I know, but you can find it as a promo-only release on 12" or CD, plus on the B-side of the "The Foundation" single.
Jedi Mind Tricks ft. R.A. The Rugged Man : Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story
This track from the 2006 release "Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell" is widely and rightly lauded for a top-tier lyrical performance, this time by guest R.A. The Rugged Man. Vinnie Paz opens up with a really good first verse over Stoupe's production, but R.A. is the absolute star here despite that, as he tells the true story of his own father, the late Staff Sgt John A. Thorburn, an American Special Forces soldier during the Vietnam/American War. The verse goes through the mindset of the man at that time in his life, then a life-changing experience during the war, and finally the some of the repercussions as he returns to civilian life. In keeping with the subject matter, some of it might be uncomfortable, but in my opinion, the father-son bridge that this represents makes it an essential listen at least once.
[Tragedy Khadafi] Capone-N-Noreaga : Illegal Life (Instrumental)
One of my favourite beats of all time, this grabbed me from my very first listen in the mid-late 90s when I heard it on Radio 1. Tragedy gives it some Arabic flavour with the sample, and then backs that with tough Queensbridge boom-bap drums and non-melodic bass. Any rapper should be able to sound good on this, and Capone, Noreaga, and Havoc all do their thing on the vocal version from the 1997 "The War Report" LP.
Meyhem Lauren ft. WestSide Gunn : Trigger Point Therapy
This was a track I played a lot last year, as Spotify reminded me, so it was always a candidate to make it onto the podcast, but the absolute golden thing about it that got it into this episode is the speed and beat change halfway through, as Daringer switches it up into the piano-raining instrumental for "Eric B" by WestSide Gunn - who also guests here as the first MC. Meyhem slays it on the mic as usual, and then pays respect back to WSG at the very end, calling back to "Eric B" with a line taken directly from the hook to close the track. Meyhem and Daringer made magic on 2022's "Black Vladimir" LP, which you'll love if you're into the Griselda sound.
Da Beatminerz ft. Apathy : Martial Law
It was a pleasant surprise to hear Da Beatminerz, the legendary New York production crew, back with a new album this year, and they pulled together an array of guests to bless each beat with their vocals. This track sees the East Coast underground veteran Apathy (Demigodz, Army Of The Pharoahs, etc) spitting on a chunky beat a million miles from the AI-assisted, algorithm-friendly fare that some are involving themselves in, showing us how more experienced artists can continue to plough their own furrows away from the passing trends of the day.
Lake and Cormega : Get It
Buckwild on the beat, my goodness - identified the hot section of a much longer track and isolates it here to great effect, producing a menacing, droning backing for two Queensbridge stalwarts. Cormega is a deeply-respected MC with a deep history who has continued to advance and mature into the present day, while Lake is a man with not so large a catalogue as an artist, but is known both as an executive and as a mover and shaker in his own area. The 2006 collaborative LP "My Brother's Keeper", from which this is drawn, is a solid release with a few real gems on it, including "Dirty NY", and my personal favourite, "The Oath".
Above The Law ft. Madd Harv Dawg : Karma
We go sombre for the penultimate vocal track of the episode, reaching back to Above The Law's fifth album, the 1998 "Legends" LP - produced, as was the rest of their catalogue, by group member Cold 187um. The late KMG might just have the highlist verse here, as he, 187, and guest Madd Harv Dawg remind us all that if you choose to indulge in wrongdoing, you can't be surprised when that negativity ends up coming right back around to your front door.
[Self] Heltah Skeltah : Worldwide (Instrumental)
Not "Self" as in me, or Heltah Skeltah, but a producer also known as Lord Self (or Self Serve) who has done beats like the now thoroughly thematically-ruined "Black Trump" for Cocoa Brovas and Raekwon, and big single "What's My Name" for DMX. We hear him here producing on the second Heltah Skeltah LP "Magnum Force" with a dark, string-laden cut dripping with 90s flavour.
Nas : I Gave You Power
We finish the episode with a spectacular piece of first-person storytelling taken from Nas' second LP "It Was Written", and arguably the standout track on the album. Nas provides a great commentary on the tragedy and endless cycle of gun violence by writing from the point of view of a gun, giving a very different perspective than the ones most MCs might have provided. As the title says, Nas notes how holding the gun gives each owner the feeling of power, provoking and aiding them in wreaking havoc they wouldn't otherwise, until even the gun doesn't want to be involved anymore. DJ Premier is on production, with a perfect boom-bap beat centred around a mournful piano - he notes himself that he didn't want to make any element too busy so that the lyrics would stand out, and that lack of ego makes the final product all the stronger, a true all-time classic.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...and we don't make the f-ing pistols..."
- Kool G Rap
Sometimes the episode number compels me to follow it to provide an overall theme for an entire show, and this month is one of those! With 187 famously being the California Penal Code paragraph number/police code for murder, and via Hip-Hop becoming widely known and used as a signifier well outside that jurisdiction, I decided that for this episode we'd lean into that as a theme - sometimes literal, sometimes metaphorical, often pure creative writing, and at other times rooted firmly in reality. With that in mind, this episode might not be to everyone's taste, but for everyone else, it's certainly a journey thematically and sonically from the first track to our closer, which is truly a great piece of writing.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
M.O.P. : 187
We won't reveal the sample here as I don't know if it was cleared and don't want to get anyone sued, but I doubt the original artists ever expected it to end up on a track like this! We start Episode 187 with a track of the same title, and Brownsville's own, the World Famous M.O.P. coming out as hard as titanium on this track from the "Street Certified" project, bringing the aggression to absolutely everyone - wack DJs, sucker MC, groupies, sponsors...no-one escapes. Lil Fame produces this one himself, combining the piano sample mentioned earlier with a well-known drum break that has done the business in Hip-Hop time and time again.
Skitz : The Killing (Remix Instrumental)
The original mix of "The Killing" is in my opinion the far superior version, but this minor-keyed piano instrumental is still solid in its own right. As far as I know, the only place to get this is the 12" single of "The Killing", which was just one of the outstanding tracks from the "Countryman" LP. If you see the wax of that about, don't think, just buy.
DJ Marvel : 1-8-7
In the interest of not giving you the "Deep Cover" beat for too long, I'm only giving you a portion of this great DJ/cut-up track, which is based around that famous beat and hook, and turns it into a DJ-killing anthem. DJ Marvel is a UK DJ out of Torquay in Devon, a place that - save for the beach - couldn't be further away in vibes from Long Beach, but he represents his area amazingly on this, probably my favourite track to this day from Bomb Hip-Hop's "Return of the DJ Volume V".
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg : One Eight Seven
Many of you will be familiar with the Dr. Dre classic "Deep Cover", which introduced the world to (as he was called then) Snoop Doggy Dogg, but I think fewer will know this alternate version/sequel, which was on the B-side of the "Dre Day" 12" single. The lyrics are a complete re-write, though the hook is the same, and there are some subtle variations in the arrangement, but otherwise the original groove is the same. Gloriously dark crime rhyme action.
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Crime Pays
My only regret is that the great intro to this track is slower than the main tempo, and so was too slow to play you here! If you want to hear the whole thing front-to-back, then the album you want is the 1992 crime opus "Live And Let Die". Planned to come out a year previously, the subject matter and disturbing cover art (which had its original two ideas shelved for unsuitability, and the final one responsible for a long-time shelving of the LP after release) are dark, extremely aggressive, and you barely come up for air the whole time. Like most of the album, this funky and fairly short track is produced by Sir Jinx of The Lench Mob, with the Juice Crew legend Kool G Rap speaking from the perspective of someone who feels - rightly or wrongly - that crime is their only option, and criticised the hypocrisy of society. The TLDR is that it's something of an "it's bigger than Nino Brown" piece, and very much of its time when you consider it would have been written around the tail end of the murder spike New York City experienced due to the crack epidemic.
Jaylib : Survival Test
I've used both the vocal and instrumental versions of this track from "Champion Sound" here to get a proper intro and outro for mix purposes, with Madlib's dense Bollywood-accented production seeming to absolutely fill the sound field but somehow still having space for J Dilla to get on the mic and be heard clearly. Dilla uses the technique of rhyming the word before the end of each line, while the final phrase on the line repeats, thereby constraining how it can be written; he demonstrates a skill as an MC that many people don't give him his full credit for.
Giggs : Talking The Hardest
There's apparently something of a meme around this track supposedly being the national anthem here, so I thought I'd lead it off with an appropriate sample! Many years after recording, this freestyle is still a very popular tune from Giggs' catalogue, even though it didn't make it onto his debut LP. That might be in part due to the Dr. Dre-produced beat being a direct lift from Stat Quo's "Here We Go", that would have been basically impossible to clear. Nevertheless, there's a digital release of this track, so feel free to get yourself this slice of Peckham street talk for a very reasonable price!
Kardinal Offishall : Bang Bang (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this a long time ago on episode 113, but here you get Kardinal Offishall's production in the raw - dark, thumping, and menacing. The "Bang Bang" promo is the only place to get this instrumental, which I might even try and get a second copy of myself as this one has taken a few scrapes over the last twenty years!
Smif 'n' Wessun : War
Appropriately for representatives from the Boot Camp Clik, Smif 'n' Wessun blend the street and the military on this tough cut from their 2005 album "Tek & Steele: Reloaded". There's a really quick change-up from the original beat, as Ken Ring, Rune Rotter, and Coptic drop out to a sample from a famous film before coming back with an alternative composition to carry things forward for the remainder of the track. The final bit of seasoning is the cutting in of one of the best-known lyrics from the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep, a man amongst the most quotable MCs in Hip-Hop history.
Ran Reed & Shabaam Sahdeeq : Murderous Flow
This is very much one of those records I might never have thought to include if I hadn't digitised all my 12"s! It's pretty much entirely unlabelled and thus easy to lost in the sauce, but this is a single I picked up during my student days on account of the killer Nick Wiz beat and what must have been an affordable price :) The simple formula of a dope beat with dope rhymes (with the titular murderous flow) is followed here by both the New Jersey native reed and guest Shabaam Sahdeeq, who you may actually be a little more familiar with if you know your late-90s underground Hip-Hop. This was a promo 12" which did get an official single release, but isn't on any LP - as such, you may struggle to find it on any streaming service, and so buying the single is the only way.
Xzibit ft. Mobb Deep : Eyes May Shine (Remix)
This has been a favourite track of mine since it was first released way back in 1996, and I can't believe it's taken me so long to finally find a home for it here! In my opinion this is a far superior track to the original "Eyes May Shine" from Xzibit's debut LP "At The Speed Of Life", with Havoc's gloomy, string-led production striking exactly the right tone for this dismissal of studio gangsters. With the late great Prodigy guesting on the mic alongside Havoc, and the overall vibe being what it is, you could easily think this was a Mobb track featuring Xzibit rather than the other way round. This was never included on any albums as far as I know, but you can find it as a promo-only release on 12" or CD, plus on the B-side of the "The Foundation" single.
Jedi Mind Tricks ft. R.A. The Rugged Man : Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story
This track from the 2006 release "Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell" is widely and rightly lauded for a top-tier lyrical performance, this time by guest R.A. The Rugged Man. Vinnie Paz opens up with a really good first verse over Stoupe's production, but R.A. is the absolute star here despite that, as he tells the true story of his own father, the late Staff Sgt John A. Thorburn, an American Special Forces soldier during the Vietnam/American War. The verse goes through the mindset of the man at that time in his life, then a life-changing experience during the war, and finally the some of the repercussions as he returns to civilian life. In keeping with the subject matter, some of it might be uncomfortable, but in my opinion, the father-son bridge that this represents makes it an essential listen at least once.
[Tragedy Khadafi] Capone-N-Noreaga : Illegal Life (Instrumental)
One of my favourite beats of all time, this grabbed me from my very first listen in the mid-late 90s when I heard it on Radio 1. Tragedy gives it some Arabic flavour with the sample, and then backs that with tough Queensbridge boom-bap drums and non-melodic bass. Any rapper should be able to sound good on this, and Capone, Noreaga, and Havoc all do their thing on the vocal version from the 1997 "The War Report" LP.
Meyhem Lauren ft. WestSide Gunn : Trigger Point Therapy
This was a track I played a lot last year, as Spotify reminded me, so it was always a candidate to make it onto the podcast, but the absolute golden thing about it that got it into this episode is the speed and beat change halfway through, as Daringer switches it up into the piano-raining instrumental for "Eric B" by WestSide Gunn - who also guests here as the first MC. Meyhem slays it on the mic as usual, and then pays respect back to WSG at the very end, calling back to "Eric B" with a line taken directly from the hook to close the track. Meyhem and Daringer made magic on 2022's "Black Vladimir" LP, which you'll love if you're into the Griselda sound.
Da Beatminerz ft. Apathy : Martial Law
It was a pleasant surprise to hear Da Beatminerz, the legendary New York production crew, back with a new album this year, and they pulled together an array of guests to bless each beat with their vocals. This track sees the East Coast underground veteran Apathy (Demigodz, Army Of The Pharoahs, etc) spitting on a chunky beat a million miles from the AI-assisted, algorithm-friendly fare that some are involving themselves in, showing us how more experienced artists can continue to plough their own furrows away from the passing trends of the day.
Lake and Cormega : Get It
Buckwild on the beat, my goodness - identified the hot section of a much longer track and isolates it here to great effect, producing a menacing, droning backing for two Queensbridge stalwarts. Cormega is a deeply-respected MC with a deep history who has continued to advance and mature into the present day, while Lake is a man with not so large a catalogue as an artist, but is known both as an executive and as a mover and shaker in his own area. The 2006 collaborative LP "My Brother's Keeper", from which this is drawn, is a solid release with a few real gems on it, including "Dirty NY", and my personal favourite, "The Oath".
Above The Law ft. Madd Harv Dawg : Karma
We go sombre for the penultimate vocal track of the episode, reaching back to Above The Law's fifth album, the 1998 "Legends" LP - produced, as was the rest of their catalogue, by group member Cold 187um. The late KMG might just have the highlist verse here, as he, 187, and guest Madd Harv Dawg remind us all that if you choose to indulge in wrongdoing, you can't be surprised when that negativity ends up coming right back around to your front door.
[Self] Heltah Skeltah : Worldwide (Instrumental)
Not "Self" as in me, or Heltah Skeltah, but a producer also known as Lord Self (or Self Serve) who has done beats like the now thoroughly thematically-ruined "Black Trump" for Cocoa Brovas and Raekwon, and big single "What's My Name" for DMX. We hear him here producing on the second Heltah Skeltah LP "Magnum Force" with a dark, string-laden cut dripping with 90s flavour.
Nas : I Gave You Power
We finish the episode with a spectacular piece of first-person storytelling taken from Nas' second LP "It Was Written", and arguably the standout track on the album. Nas provides a great commentary on the tragedy and endless cycle of gun violence by writing from the point of view of a gun, giving a very different perspective than the ones most MCs might have provided. As the title says, Nas notes how holding the gun gives each owner the feeling of power, provoking and aiding them in wreaking havoc they wouldn't otherwise, until even the gun doesn't want to be involved anymore. DJ Premier is on production, with a perfect boom-bap beat centred around a mournful piano - he notes himself that he didn't want to make any element too busy so that the lyrics would stand out, and that lack of ego makes the final product all the stronger, a true all-time classic.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"The sonic still iconic..."
- Dr. Dre
I was all ready to go with a plan for this episode, and was just waiting to have a guest into the studio for interview and to talk about the tracks of his that I'd included in the selection...and then I got COVID. As such, having anyone visit the house was out of the window, and I had to shelve the original plans and cook up an alternative episode in about a week! All things considered though, I think it's a strong selection and one with an assortment of flavours. Hope you enjoy it, as I wait to test negative and fight off the lingering fatigue so that I can rejoin the world...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Saafir ft. Jayo Felony : Mask-A-Raid
RIP Saafir. This is probably the song of his I've heard more than any other, having first found it in those early days of questionable MP3 acquisition ;) Have bought it since, and you can find it on the 1999 "The Hit List" LP. He brings in San Diego street rhyme veteran Jayo Felony to contrast him delivery-wise on the mic, and also clearly told him to escalate immediately, which he does within his first four bars to wake up anyone that might be quietly nodding along with this in the background! Production is handled by Carlos "Six July" Broady, who is best known for his work with various New York artists but complements these Cali emcees perfectly.
[Illmind] The Last Poets, Dead Prez, Common : Panthers (Illmind Remix Instrumental)
Having my whole 12" collection digitised means that hidden gems like this one are easier to unearth, and this remix instrumental from the New Jersey/NYC is just such a gem - buried in a nine-track 12"! I remember seeing Illmind in the ughh.com producer forums back in the days, and it was great to see his dedication rewarded with a long and illustrious career. In the last few years he's not only been a producer but a teacher and mentor to many, which is worth of all the respect!
Nas : The Don
I could be wrong, but I tried to search the notes for the entire podcast collection and it looks like I somehow have managed never to play this track, which is incredible as I love it! Nas didn't perform it on his recent visit to Manchester, but I still remember the night DJ Mr Thing broke it out at In The Loop in Manchester, with the crowd calling for endless pull-ups 🔥 This is an absolute monster from the "Life Is Good" LP, where Nas demonstrates that even if you doubt his beat selections sometimes, he's extremely tough to match when he chooses to give you a big, anthemic, no-candy floss single! Salaam Remi is the producer, and his beat is a dancehall-flavoured banger punctuated by a thoroughly doom-laden kick section, and hooked by a masterful sampling of Super Cat's "Dance Inna New York". Definitely one of Nas' best singles.
Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre ft. Alus : Outta Da Blue
Huge new tune, with these two Los Angeles legends combining on the second (?) single from their upcoming LP "Missionary", set to be released on the revived, now Snoop-owned Death Row Records. Dre crafts an uptempo party jam, weaving in some 80s flavour, and bringing in New Jersey singer Alus on hook duties, including her own interpolation of MIA's "Paper Planes". If this is the mark to judge the album by, it could end up being one to stand proudly next to Snoop's debut "Doggystyle".
The Roots : Without A Doubt
Hearing the little snatches of the drum track (not sure if it's a sample or replay) for Schoolly D's "Saturday Nite" as part of the Snoop and Dre track made me reach for this great cut from The Roots' classic "Things Fall Apart" LP, and I was glad to find that I'd somehow never included it on the podcast before! It's a Philadelphia group of the time, arguably at the height of their powers, covering another Philly legend, and bringing in Lady B, a pioneering DJ from the city, in on backing vocals - an endeavour of brotherly and sisterly love!
L Swift ft. A-Butta : Ride This
Those crispy drums and that beautiful long intro made for a solid transition from Philadephia up to New York, where L Swift (now Swigga) of Natural Elements does his thing on this solo single from 2000, produced by Kenny Dope. With A-Butta of NE also on the feature, you're getting 2/3 of the crew on this track, which is never a bad thing when you're talking about some of the coldest lyricists of the era - and who have continued to keep the standards high to the present day.
[Track Addicts] PMD : Next Chapter
"Dramatic" is the only word you can use to describe this one, a B-side on the "Straight From Da Heart" 12" single which was drawn from Parrish Smith's third solo LP "The Awakening", which was his second after reuniting with Erick Sermon to re-form EPMD. While he's a skilled producer in his own right, PMD brings in Amsterdam's Track Addicts for this one, and they represent for their city well here.
namesbliss : Different Calibre
We had one of this man's tracks on the show a just couple of episodes back, but when I heard this new single I knew we had to feature him again! Scruz provides the bass-heavy beat with the repeating high-mid synth locking you in for the wordplay-heavy work from Namesbliss, who still manages to come through clear as a bell.
Pa Salieu : Dece (Heavy)
I would 100% not have known how to pronounce the name of this track had Pa not said it on the hook! Recently home after some time away, Pa Salieu is an MC out of the Midlands of Gambian background who brings the Afrobeats flavour to the drill/grime world, with this brand new single being a shining demonstration. He comes out this fresh, bouncy beat, matching it measure for measure and confidently playing around within the rhythm, stamping his authority on the track. Heavy indeed.
Slim Thug ft. C.Ward, Killa Kyleon, Sir Daily, and PJ : Boyz N Blue
For this track we go all the way back to Slim Thug's major label debut "Already Platinum", which was a bold and factual statement for an MC who had built a loyal following and, by all accounts, quite a bankroll, doing his own thing independently out of Houston long before the big labels came calling to get in on the action. He's only sparingly on this track as he generously shares the spotlight with a bunch of guests, with each MC taking about four bars each before passing the mic to the next man. The beat by T.A. is classic Houston riding music, and he uses a classic local style for the hook, with the slowed and slightly shopped vocal sample which I'd love to identify - the way it's used here definitely enhances the track.
Leftfield : Chant Of A Poor Man
The kind of electronic low-tempo music that the UK has always done so well is on display here, twenty-five years after it was released as part of the "Rhythm and Stealth" LP, Leftfield's second. That LP managed to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart - nice to know the quality was appreciated in the mainstream! Cheshire Cat (who did not look anything like I might have expected), a live collaborator of the group, provides the reggae-styled vocals here over the slow, deep production, which really shines on a high-quality system.
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Run The Jewels (Instrumental)
The title track to the first Run The Jewels LP wasn't one of my go-to tunes on there, but I may have to re-evaluate that - this is a mean, mean beat. El-P cooked up one for your workout playlists for sure.
Termanology & Tek ft. Flash : Boom Bap Or Die
The combination of Tek and Termanology is Teknology, which I absolutely love! Anyway, these two East Coast spitters combine on this new track with a man who has been performing for many years in different situations - people who remember the Lyricist Lounge era might know him as Flashy of Cipher Complete, while others may know his association with the Ruff Ryders crew. The title is bold, but one I can get behind, as the MCs run back-to-back with no hook over a bumping Nottz beat that very much fits the mold of modern boom-bap while bearing one of his signature styles. The forthcoming "Teknology" LP will be one to make listening space for.
Sndtrak : Letsdanse
This man plays no games when it comes to flipping and breaking down a sample, and right here a David Bowie/Nile Rodgers classic gets the treatment, twitching and stumbling with a rhythm all its own on one of the many top-shelf tracks from "Flips V1 : Triple Lindy". I should get bonus points for being able to get a clean mix with this one! 😆
Illa J ft. Guilty Simpson and J.Rocc : R U Listening?
Over to Detroit for a single from the 2008 "Yancey Boys" album, featuring the union of siblings Illa J and the late J Dilla. Dilla is only on production on this track, with Illa J taking the bulk of mic duties and Motor City stalways Guilty Simpson guesting on the second verse. The title and even the actual lyrics make me think of all the people who lumped Slum Village in with "conscious rap"...because they clearly were not listening to what was actually being said, just riding off the sonic vibes! J.Rocc of the Beat Junkies rounds things out with some tight cuts; go and buy a copy of this track or listen to it on streaming to hear them in full, as we needed to blend out early to head to...
Geechi Suede ft. Tenille Ramos : Garavani Gold
One half of Camp Lo spitting in his distinctive superfly, ultra-slang style on a track that isn't just short but actually cuts off abruptly right at the end, so I had to work around that! "Fishnet Skyscrapers" was missed by most, but is a solid fifteen-track mixtape/LP that we've dipped into before, and I'm sure we will again! As far as I'm aware this was a digital-only release (and it's not even on Discogs), so I don't have any credits for the smooth production here, but it's a job well-done.
Sven Van Hees : Ocean Jive
Belgium's Sven Van Hees started off as a DJ back in 1985, but only started releasing his own albums in 1996. They're spectacular collections of chillout music in the main, with this track coming from "Gemini", his second. Vinyl of this is crazy expensive these days, but you can find the CD much more reasonably-priced on the used market - then let it play, and relax...
Tall Black Guy x Nate Smith x Marvin Gaye : Run To My Mother And Father
In a true case of "if you snooze, you lose", TBG had this track up on Bandcamp for just seven days - so I felt lucky to have been awake enough not to miss it! The signature warm synth production and thick drums back up the sampled vocals of the late great Marvin Gaye, and speaking of those drums - they're a flip of "Pocket Change 2" by multiple Grammy nominee drummer Nate Smith, and a perfect fit here. This number gives us a grooving, soulful end to the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"The sonic still iconic..."
- Dr. Dre
I was all ready to go with a plan for this episode, and was just waiting to have a guest into the studio for interview and to talk about the tracks of his that I'd included in the selection...and then I got COVID. As such, having anyone visit the house was out of the window, and I had to shelve the original plans and cook up an alternative episode in about a week! All things considered though, I think it's a strong selection and one with an assortment of flavours. Hope you enjoy it, as I wait to test negative and fight off the lingering fatigue so that I can rejoin the world...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Saafir ft. Jayo Felony : Mask-A-Raid
RIP Saafir. This is probably the song of his I've heard more than any other, having first found it in those early days of questionable MP3 acquisition ;) Have bought it since, and you can find it on the 1999 "The Hit List" LP. He brings in San Diego street rhyme veteran Jayo Felony to contrast him delivery-wise on the mic, and also clearly told him to escalate immediately, which he does within his first four bars to wake up anyone that might be quietly nodding along with this in the background! Production is handled by Carlos "Six July" Broady, who is best known for his work with various New York artists but complements these Cali emcees perfectly.
[Illmind] The Last Poets, Dead Prez, Common : Panthers (Illmind Remix Instrumental)
Having my whole 12" collection digitised means that hidden gems like this one are easier to unearth, and this remix instrumental from the New Jersey/NYC is just such a gem - buried in a nine-track 12"! I remember seeing Illmind in the ughh.com producer forums back in the days, and it was great to see his dedication rewarded with a long and illustrious career. In the last few years he's not only been a producer but a teacher and mentor to many, which is worth of all the respect!
Nas : The Don
I could be wrong, but I tried to search the notes for the entire podcast collection and it looks like I somehow have managed never to play this track, which is incredible as I love it! Nas didn't perform it on his recent visit to Manchester, but I still remember the night DJ Mr Thing broke it out at In The Loop in Manchester, with the crowd calling for endless pull-ups 🔥 This is an absolute monster from the "Life Is Good" LP, where Nas demonstrates that even if you doubt his beat selections sometimes, he's extremely tough to match when he chooses to give you a big, anthemic, no-candy floss single! Salaam Remi is the producer, and his beat is a dancehall-flavoured banger punctuated by a thoroughly doom-laden kick section, and hooked by a masterful sampling of Super Cat's "Dance Inna New York". Definitely one of Nas' best singles.
Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre ft. Alus : Outta Da Blue
Huge new tune, with these two Los Angeles legends combining on the second (?) single from their upcoming LP "Missionary", set to be released on the revived, now Snoop-owned Death Row Records. Dre crafts an uptempo party jam, weaving in some 80s flavour, and bringing in New Jersey singer Alus on hook duties, including her own interpolation of MIA's "Paper Planes". If this is the mark to judge the album by, it could end up being one to stand proudly next to Snoop's debut "Doggystyle".
The Roots : Without A Doubt
Hearing the little snatches of the drum track (not sure if it's a sample or replay) for Schoolly D's "Saturday Nite" as part of the Snoop and Dre track made me reach for this great cut from The Roots' classic "Things Fall Apart" LP, and I was glad to find that I'd somehow never included it on the podcast before! It's a Philadelphia group of the time, arguably at the height of their powers, covering another Philly legend, and bringing in Lady B, a pioneering DJ from the city, in on backing vocals - an endeavour of brotherly and sisterly love!
L Swift ft. A-Butta : Ride This
Those crispy drums and that beautiful long intro made for a solid transition from Philadephia up to New York, where L Swift (now Swigga) of Natural Elements does his thing on this solo single from 2000, produced by Kenny Dope. With A-Butta of NE also on the feature, you're getting 2/3 of the crew on this track, which is never a bad thing when you're talking about some of the coldest lyricists of the era - and who have continued to keep the standards high to the present day.
[Track Addicts] PMD : Next Chapter
"Dramatic" is the only word you can use to describe this one, a B-side on the "Straight From Da Heart" 12" single which was drawn from Parrish Smith's third solo LP "The Awakening", which was his second after reuniting with Erick Sermon to re-form EPMD. While he's a skilled producer in his own right, PMD brings in Amsterdam's Track Addicts for this one, and they represent for their city well here.
namesbliss : Different Calibre
We had one of this man's tracks on the show a just couple of episodes back, but when I heard this new single I knew we had to feature him again! Scruz provides the bass-heavy beat with the repeating high-mid synth locking you in for the wordplay-heavy work from Namesbliss, who still manages to come through clear as a bell.
Pa Salieu : Dece (Heavy)
I would 100% not have known how to pronounce the name of this track had Pa not said it on the hook! Recently home after some time away, Pa Salieu is an MC out of the Midlands of Gambian background who brings the Afrobeats flavour to the drill/grime world, with this brand new single being a shining demonstration. He comes out this fresh, bouncy beat, matching it measure for measure and confidently playing around within the rhythm, stamping his authority on the track. Heavy indeed.
Slim Thug ft. C.Ward, Killa Kyleon, Sir Daily, and PJ : Boyz N Blue
For this track we go all the way back to Slim Thug's major label debut "Already Platinum", which was a bold and factual statement for an MC who had built a loyal following and, by all accounts, quite a bankroll, doing his own thing independently out of Houston long before the big labels came calling to get in on the action. He's only sparingly on this track as he generously shares the spotlight with a bunch of guests, with each MC taking about four bars each before passing the mic to the next man. The beat by T.A. is classic Houston riding music, and he uses a classic local style for the hook, with the slowed and slightly shopped vocal sample which I'd love to identify - the way it's used here definitely enhances the track.
Leftfield : Chant Of A Poor Man
The kind of electronic low-tempo music that the UK has always done so well is on display here, twenty-five years after it was released as part of the "Rhythm and Stealth" LP, Leftfield's second. That LP managed to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart - nice to know the quality was appreciated in the mainstream! Cheshire Cat (who did not look anything like I might have expected), a live collaborator of the group, provides the reggae-styled vocals here over the slow, deep production, which really shines on a high-quality system.
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Run The Jewels (Instrumental)
The title track to the first Run The Jewels LP wasn't one of my go-to tunes on there, but I may have to re-evaluate that - this is a mean, mean beat. El-P cooked up one for your workout playlists for sure.
Termanology & Tek ft. Flash : Boom Bap Or Die
The combination of Tek and Termanology is Teknology, which I absolutely love! Anyway, these two East Coast spitters combine on this new track with a man who has been performing for many years in different situations - people who remember the Lyricist Lounge era might know him as Flashy of Cipher Complete, while others may know his association with the Ruff Ryders crew. The title is bold, but one I can get behind, as the MCs run back-to-back with no hook over a bumping Nottz beat that very much fits the mold of modern boom-bap while bearing one of his signature styles. The forthcoming "Teknology" LP will be one to make listening space for.
Sndtrak : Letsdanse
This man plays no games when it comes to flipping and breaking down a sample, and right here a David Bowie/Nile Rodgers classic gets the treatment, twitching and stumbling with a rhythm all its own on one of the many top-shelf tracks from "Flips V1 : Triple Lindy". I should get bonus points for being able to get a clean mix with this one! 😆
Illa J ft. Guilty Simpson and J.Rocc : R U Listening?
Over to Detroit for a single from the 2008 "Yancey Boys" album, featuring the union of siblings Illa J and the late J Dilla. Dilla is only on production on this track, with Illa J taking the bulk of mic duties and Motor City stalways Guilty Simpson guesting on the second verse. The title and even the actual lyrics make me think of all the people who lumped Slum Village in with "conscious rap"...because they clearly were not listening to what was actually being said, just riding off the sonic vibes! J.Rocc of the Beat Junkies rounds things out with some tight cuts; go and buy a copy of this track or listen to it on streaming to hear them in full, as we needed to blend out early to head to...
Geechi Suede ft. Tenille Ramos : Garavani Gold
One half of Camp Lo spitting in his distinctive superfly, ultra-slang style on a track that isn't just short but actually cuts off abruptly right at the end, so I had to work around that! "Fishnet Skyscrapers" was missed by most, but is a solid fifteen-track mixtape/LP that we've dipped into before, and I'm sure we will again! As far as I'm aware this was a digital-only release (and it's not even on Discogs), so I don't have any credits for the smooth production here, but it's a job well-done.
Sven Van Hees : Ocean Jive
Belgium's Sven Van Hees started off as a DJ back in 1985, but only started releasing his own albums in 1996. They're spectacular collections of chillout music in the main, with this track coming from "Gemini", his second. Vinyl of this is crazy expensive these days, but you can find the CD much more reasonably-priced on the used market - then let it play, and relax...
Tall Black Guy x Nate Smith x Marvin Gaye : Run To My Mother And Father
In a true case of "if you snooze, you lose", TBG had this track up on Bandcamp for just seven days - so I felt lucky to have been awake enough not to miss it! The signature warm synth production and thick drums back up the sampled vocals of the late great Marvin Gaye, and speaking of those drums - they're a flip of "Pocket Change 2" by multiple Grammy nominee drummer Nate Smith, and a perfect fit here. This number gives us a grooving, soulful end to the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...I'd be filthy rich if not for integrity."
- Ka
The title and theme of this episode came into focus after the second of two tragic losses to the Hip-Hop family this month, both from the same borough - first the peerless wordsmith Ka, and then the legendary producer and DJ Clark Kent. Both Brooklyn natives were held in the highest esteem by all practicioners of their respective arts as experts, and more importantly, spoken highly of as human beings. We feature the music of Ka and Clark Kent in this month's selection alongside some deep cuts from my crates...lock in.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Sad To Say
You may have other favourites, but no-one can narrate and reflect on the street life quite like the legendary Ka of Brownsville, Brooklyn - a man who you'll have heard me say before is one of the greatest writers we've ever had. Of all the artists in the culture, he ranks in the very highest tier of those who refused to compromise their artistic principles to chase as much as a penny, and so his albums are best enjoyed by those who respect that. This piece is taken from 2021's "A Martyr's Reward" and features Ka's trademark subdued production underneath his heavy, heavy pen. While other artists may have got social media fame, their work won't be being studied and analysed for years to come - Ka's will.
[RZA] Wu-Tang Clan : I Can't Go To Sleep (Live Instrumental)
The live performance of this track which was included on the Wu's "The W" album in its original form brings an even more dramatic air to it than the first version. Strangely, there's nothing on the single this comes from to credit the performers of this live version but they do a fine job replaying RZA's production, itself based around some classic Isaac Hayes.
Trae ft. L-Boogie : I Deserve
This near-drumless track felt like an appropriate inclusion here - what was maybe less appropriate was Don Cannon yelling wildly all over the intro, which I tried to mostly omit! Houston legend Trae is talking about real life on this selection from the 2011 "Undisputed" mixtape, with Dre & Vidal taking a tiny sliver of modern soul and turning it into a somewhat mournful backing. As an aside, the L-Boogie lending her vocals to this is not Lauryn Hill!
Knucks & Venna : Alpha House
From Texas we come all the way back to the UK, for a track that couldn't for a second be mistaken for coming from anywhere else - even without Knucks' London accent. It's only a short song, but powerful, as he tells a story going all the way back to where everything started for him. The track carries on long past the final lyric, with the saxophonist Venna playing over Knucks' beautiful production. This is the perfectly-chosen opener from his 2022 "Alpha Place" album, named after the street he grew up on.
Curren$y : Game On Freeze
We go back to 2018's "The Spring Collection" album for this bassy, low-slung track - two short verses from New Orleans' Curren$y, short enough that the hook almost gets equal time, on top of the beat from Sledgren of Taylor Gang. Anyone that is hating on Curren$y can only be jealous of the success he describes, since by all accounts he's one of the most personable artists around!
Organized Noize ft. Joi and 2 Chainz : Kush
Finding one of the supposed 500 copies of the "Organized Noize EP" was a great result from regular local record shopping! The famed production trio (RIP Rico Wade) get free reign to put this collection of tracks together their way, and they go slow, low, dark, and smoked out with this ode to the good weed, starring fellow Atlanta natives Joi and 2 Chainz on vocals. This was released as a single too, and justifiably so.
[Shadetek] Rodan : Witchcraft II (Instrumental)
Dark, grinding, and pretty much completely forgotten by me in favour of the other track on this 12", "Ruler Of Day & Night"! Shadetek does his thing on this, a sequel to "Witchcraft" on the Monsta Island Czars' "Escape From Monsta Island" LP that is drastically slower and much grimmer sonically.
MF DOOM ft. Kurious : ?
A favourite from the classic "Operation : Doomsday" LP, and one of the more poignant tracks as the now-late DOOM talks about his deceased brother, known to most of us as DJ Subroc of KMD, their first group. He self-produces this one, occasionally lightening up the music by swapping out the moody main loop (which is my favourite) with a more optimistically-tinged sample from the same original track. Special guest Kurious does the honours on the second verse, which comes in at first like it's a hook...but then he just keeps going.
The Stic : Qi Gong
I bet you didn't check the notes this month expecting to find a track about a Chinese system of breathing, movement, and meditation! Stic of dead prez gave us the original "The Workout" album full of health and fitness-oriented motivational tracks back in 2011, but we had to hold on until 2020 to get the sequel, which this is drawn from. Unfortunately I don't have a production credit for this one (it was a digital purchase with no information in the files), but the instrumental definitely provides the right mood for an MC who more than most seems to walk what he talks.
Roots Manuva ft. Wildflower : Baptism
When London's own Roots Manuva comes up in discussion, it's usually the "Run Come Save Me" era that gets the shine, largely due to the monster track that was "Witness", but his first LP "Brand New Second Hand" deserves some love too if you've never heard it. Roots Manuva produced much of the LP as well as being the vocalist, so it's fair enough that he brought in a guest to hold down the second verse here! Wildflower does the business, fitting in well over a beat that conjours up strong memories of the more underground, slightly abstract UK Hip-Hop of the time - though make no mistake, not so spacey that you can't nod your head to it!
Pharoahe Monch : Livin' It Up
Bars are a cast-iron guarantee on any Pharoahe Monch track, and this one is no exception, coming from the period immediately following the release of his debut solo LP "Internal Affairs", which is where many people in and around the mainstream first became aware of his mic skills. If you were listening to early 2000s underground Hip-Hop, you probably know the main sample here primarily from the Dilated Peoples cut "Triple Optics", but Baby Paul of the Beatminerz cooks it up with a more straightforward drum pattern and some reinforcing bass for this one, which was on the B-side of Pharoahe's "The Light" single as well as appearing on the "Next Friday" soundtrack.
Marco Polo : War (Instrumental)
Dipped into the crate to select this one just as the previous record was playing and was pleased to find that, according to Serato at least, they're both in the same key! Look at me being all fancy :) A chunky and imperious beat which is on the "War" 12" - pick up the single to hear Kardinal Offishall doing his thing on vocals.
Bob James : Shamboozie
"Nautilus" and "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" are two of the most sampled records in Hip-Hop history, but Bob James has supplied plenty of other material to the culture, including this track from his 1982 "Hands Down" LP. Definitely check out the man's back catalogue and you'll hear all kinds of snippets you know popping out! We go with just a small piece of this track and then hear how it was used by Clark Kent on...
Rakim : Guess Who's Back
While as a DJ there are other tracks on Rakim's solo debut LP "The 18th Letter" I played more, this Clark Kent production was arguably the people's choice, and one that I believe was the lead single for the LP. The sample is cut up just enough to allow some variations on the riff as the track moves, but for the most part it sounds just as it did on the Bob James record. As as far as the bars...it's Rakim. You should know by now.
Ohio Players : Ecstasy
We go into the second sample source, the title track to the 1973 LP by Ohio Players, the group's fourth. Clark Kent has said that this had been his favourite record since childhood, and that he'd tried to sample it before but hadn't captured in it the way he wanted. He eventually cracked the code on the legendary Jay-Z and Biggie collaboration we go to next...
Jay-Z ft. The Notorious B.I.G. : Brooklyn's Finest
If this it sounds a little "off" to you, it's likely because the track is arranged in groups of five bars, not four or eight - tricky for MCs and DJs alike! Clark Kent said it was the only way to properly capture the flavour of the original track and he nails it. Never a single, but one of the most highly-rated tunes from Jay-Z's debut "Reasonable Doubt", this is a street lyrical masterpiece, with each man trying to show he was better than the other. This was a small taste of a huge "what if?", with Biggie Smalls being murdered before the planned inclusion of both MCs in "The Commission", which really would have been monumental. Weird to think that only one of the three people involved in this track is still with us.
Freddie Foxxx : Stick 'Em Up
Maybe a bit niche, but Freddie Foxxx AKA Bumpy Knuckles has some of the best rhymes about robbing other rappers specifically! Clark Kent is best known for being able to give you the big singles, the party tunes, the deft re-contextualising of popular samples, but he could definitely give you different styles and here he goes all the way gully for a thugged-out album cut from 2003's "Konexion". Perfect rawness.
[DJ Premier] The Marxmen : Bloody Murdah (Instrumental)
This is more sparse than "Stick 'Em Up", but has the appropriate level of ruggedness to match it. "The Marxmen" is a cover name for Brownsville's own, world famous M.O.P. and if you're a fan, it's well worth having the "Marxmen Cinema" release - I've got it on wax, but it got a CD release too. This instrumental came from a 12" single release though, and DJ Premier, one of the group's biggest fans, goes as straightforward as it gets on production.
Ka : Beautiful
We close the episode as we began, with a track from Ka, this time from his most recent LP "The Thief Next To Jesus", released less than a month before his passing. The album explores themes around the relationship between Black people and Christianity, and in keeping with that, he works a lot of gospel sounds into his signature near/drumless production. The lyrics on this one are accessible to most, but profound rather than simplistic, and delivered with his appropriately low, subdued tones that complement the downtempo swing perfectly. We only wish he could have had the long life that he himself wished upon us on the chorus of this one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...I'd be filthy rich if not for integrity."
- Ka
The title and theme of this episode came into focus after the second of two tragic losses to the Hip-Hop family this month, both from the same borough - first the peerless wordsmith Ka, and then the legendary producer and DJ Clark Kent. Both Brooklyn natives were held in the highest esteem by all practicioners of their respective arts as experts, and more importantly, spoken highly of as human beings. We feature the music of Ka and Clark Kent in this month's selection alongside some deep cuts from my crates...lock in.
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Sad To Say
You may have other favourites, but no-one can narrate and reflect on the street life quite like the legendary Ka of Brownsville, Brooklyn - a man who you'll have heard me say before is one of the greatest writers we've ever had. Of all the artists in the culture, he ranks in the very highest tier of those who refused to compromise their artistic principles to chase as much as a penny, and so his albums are best enjoyed by those who respect that. This piece is taken from 2021's "A Martyr's Reward" and features Ka's trademark subdued production underneath his heavy, heavy pen. While other artists may have got social media fame, their work won't be being studied and analysed for years to come - Ka's will.
[RZA] Wu-Tang Clan : I Can't Go To Sleep (Live Instrumental)
The live performance of this track which was included on the Wu's "The W" album in its original form brings an even more dramatic air to it than the first version. Strangely, there's nothing on the single this comes from to credit the performers of this live version but they do a fine job replaying RZA's production, itself based around some classic Isaac Hayes.
Trae ft. L-Boogie : I Deserve
This near-drumless track felt like an appropriate inclusion here - what was maybe less appropriate was Don Cannon yelling wildly all over the intro, which I tried to mostly omit! Houston legend Trae is talking about real life on this selection from the 2011 "Undisputed" mixtape, with Dre & Vidal taking a tiny sliver of modern soul and turning it into a somewhat mournful backing. As an aside, the L-Boogie lending her vocals to this is not Lauryn Hill!
Knucks & Venna : Alpha House
From Texas we come all the way back to the UK, for a track that couldn't for a second be mistaken for coming from anywhere else - even without Knucks' London accent. It's only a short song, but powerful, as he tells a story going all the way back to where everything started for him. The track carries on long past the final lyric, with the saxophonist Venna playing over Knucks' beautiful production. This is the perfectly-chosen opener from his 2022 "Alpha Place" album, named after the street he grew up on.
Curren$y : Game On Freeze
We go back to 2018's "The Spring Collection" album for this bassy, low-slung track - two short verses from New Orleans' Curren$y, short enough that the hook almost gets equal time, on top of the beat from Sledgren of Taylor Gang. Anyone that is hating on Curren$y can only be jealous of the success he describes, since by all accounts he's one of the most personable artists around!
Organized Noize ft. Joi and 2 Chainz : Kush
Finding one of the supposed 500 copies of the "Organized Noize EP" was a great result from regular local record shopping! The famed production trio (RIP Rico Wade) get free reign to put this collection of tracks together their way, and they go slow, low, dark, and smoked out with this ode to the good weed, starring fellow Atlanta natives Joi and 2 Chainz on vocals. This was released as a single too, and justifiably so.
[Shadetek] Rodan : Witchcraft II (Instrumental)
Dark, grinding, and pretty much completely forgotten by me in favour of the other track on this 12", "Ruler Of Day & Night"! Shadetek does his thing on this, a sequel to "Witchcraft" on the Monsta Island Czars' "Escape From Monsta Island" LP that is drastically slower and much grimmer sonically.
MF DOOM ft. Kurious : ?
A favourite from the classic "Operation : Doomsday" LP, and one of the more poignant tracks as the now-late DOOM talks about his deceased brother, known to most of us as DJ Subroc of KMD, their first group. He self-produces this one, occasionally lightening up the music by swapping out the moody main loop (which is my favourite) with a more optimistically-tinged sample from the same original track. Special guest Kurious does the honours on the second verse, which comes in at first like it's a hook...but then he just keeps going.
The Stic : Qi Gong
I bet you didn't check the notes this month expecting to find a track about a Chinese system of breathing, movement, and meditation! Stic of dead prez gave us the original "The Workout" album full of health and fitness-oriented motivational tracks back in 2011, but we had to hold on until 2020 to get the sequel, which this is drawn from. Unfortunately I don't have a production credit for this one (it was a digital purchase with no information in the files), but the instrumental definitely provides the right mood for an MC who more than most seems to walk what he talks.
Roots Manuva ft. Wildflower : Baptism
When London's own Roots Manuva comes up in discussion, it's usually the "Run Come Save Me" era that gets the shine, largely due to the monster track that was "Witness", but his first LP "Brand New Second Hand" deserves some love too if you've never heard it. Roots Manuva produced much of the LP as well as being the vocalist, so it's fair enough that he brought in a guest to hold down the second verse here! Wildflower does the business, fitting in well over a beat that conjours up strong memories of the more underground, slightly abstract UK Hip-Hop of the time - though make no mistake, not so spacey that you can't nod your head to it!
Pharoahe Monch : Livin' It Up
Bars are a cast-iron guarantee on any Pharoahe Monch track, and this one is no exception, coming from the period immediately following the release of his debut solo LP "Internal Affairs", which is where many people in and around the mainstream first became aware of his mic skills. If you were listening to early 2000s underground Hip-Hop, you probably know the main sample here primarily from the Dilated Peoples cut "Triple Optics", but Baby Paul of the Beatminerz cooks it up with a more straightforward drum pattern and some reinforcing bass for this one, which was on the B-side of Pharoahe's "The Light" single as well as appearing on the "Next Friday" soundtrack.
Marco Polo : War (Instrumental)
Dipped into the crate to select this one just as the previous record was playing and was pleased to find that, according to Serato at least, they're both in the same key! Look at me being all fancy :) A chunky and imperious beat which is on the "War" 12" - pick up the single to hear Kardinal Offishall doing his thing on vocals.
Bob James : Shamboozie
"Nautilus" and "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" are two of the most sampled records in Hip-Hop history, but Bob James has supplied plenty of other material to the culture, including this track from his 1982 "Hands Down" LP. Definitely check out the man's back catalogue and you'll hear all kinds of snippets you know popping out! We go with just a small piece of this track and then hear how it was used by Clark Kent on...
Rakim : Guess Who's Back
While as a DJ there are other tracks on Rakim's solo debut LP "The 18th Letter" I played more, this Clark Kent production was arguably the people's choice, and one that I believe was the lead single for the LP. The sample is cut up just enough to allow some variations on the riff as the track moves, but for the most part it sounds just as it did on the Bob James record. As as far as the bars...it's Rakim. You should know by now.
Ohio Players : Ecstasy
We go into the second sample source, the title track to the 1973 LP by Ohio Players, the group's fourth. Clark Kent has said that this had been his favourite record since childhood, and that he'd tried to sample it before but hadn't captured in it the way he wanted. He eventually cracked the code on the legendary Jay-Z and Biggie collaboration we go to next...
Jay-Z ft. The Notorious B.I.G. : Brooklyn's Finest
If this it sounds a little "off" to you, it's likely because the track is arranged in groups of five bars, not four or eight - tricky for MCs and DJs alike! Clark Kent said it was the only way to properly capture the flavour of the original track and he nails it. Never a single, but one of the most highly-rated tunes from Jay-Z's debut "Reasonable Doubt", this is a street lyrical masterpiece, with each man trying to show he was better than the other. This was a small taste of a huge "what if?", with Biggie Smalls being murdered before the planned inclusion of both MCs in "The Commission", which really would have been monumental. Weird to think that only one of the three people involved in this track is still with us.
Freddie Foxxx : Stick 'Em Up
Maybe a bit niche, but Freddie Foxxx AKA Bumpy Knuckles has some of the best rhymes about robbing other rappers specifically! Clark Kent is best known for being able to give you the big singles, the party tunes, the deft re-contextualising of popular samples, but he could definitely give you different styles and here he goes all the way gully for a thugged-out album cut from 2003's "Konexion". Perfect rawness.
[DJ Premier] The Marxmen : Bloody Murdah (Instrumental)
This is more sparse than "Stick 'Em Up", but has the appropriate level of ruggedness to match it. "The Marxmen" is a cover name for Brownsville's own, world famous M.O.P. and if you're a fan, it's well worth having the "Marxmen Cinema" release - I've got it on wax, but it got a CD release too. This instrumental came from a 12" single release though, and DJ Premier, one of the group's biggest fans, goes as straightforward as it gets on production.
Ka : Beautiful
We close the episode as we began, with a track from Ka, this time from his most recent LP "The Thief Next To Jesus", released less than a month before his passing. The album explores themes around the relationship between Black people and Christianity, and in keeping with that, he works a lot of gospel sounds into his signature near/drumless production. The lyrics on this one are accessible to most, but profound rather than simplistic, and delivered with his appropriately low, subdued tones that complement the downtempo swing perfectly. We only wish he could have had the long life that he himself wished upon us on the chorus of this one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Traumatised, but full of pride..."
- Bashy
Thanks to the short length of some of the tracks, the total running time of this episode isn't as long as some others, but it's a high-potency forty-eight minutes! We start with one of the realest, toughest tracks I've heard in ages, low-tempo to make sure you catch every word, end on a new track by some of the most dedicated veterans in the culture, and hit some incredible notes between those two points. Let's get it going...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bashy : How Black Men Lose Their Smile
Wow. Stunning, 100% relatable song that everyone should sit down, listen to, then run it back and listen again. Bashy is absolutely flawless here, telling his story while also telling the stories of so many of us Black men who have grown up here. The production by Toddla T just adds to it, with the reggae-influenced beat calling back to the music that has been so prominent in Black British life, and the straight-to-camera video is starkly fitting. "Being Poor Is Expensive" is the title of the new album this track is drawn from, and also a plain statement of fact.
M Slago : Sonic Marvel (Ten City Flip)
"The 80's Beat Tape" coming out of FWMJ's "Producers I Know" collective/project was a ten-track collection of, as you'd expect, producers flipping 80s records into their own compositions. I can't say I remember the original that Nashville's M Slago chopped into this slowed, ominous track, but I do know that many years after the 2015 release of this tape which was recorded at least two years before that, this beat was used for "Finer Things" featuring Kyle Rapps. So nice, we got it twice!
Scarface : No Problem
Scarface's "Deeply Rooted" from 2015 is a quality LP that you should seek out if you can - more than likely, you'll need to fork out to buy a copy since it seems to have long disappeared from Spotify. The Houston icon was on his eleventh solo album here, and his one long verse is an aggressive statement of who he is, what he's about, and what/who he has no respect for, over a dark, grinding beat from Atlanta's KEY! (punctuation is part of the name).
Ghetts ft. Stefflon Don : Slumdog Millionaire
This Bollywood-accented cut from 2017 is such a killer, and an appropriate move coming from the UK where many of us grew up hearing it at least as part of the background growing up - Ghetts himself notes that it was that element that made this Nutty P beat stand out for him. Stefflon Don adds some flavour to the hook, but Ghetts takes centre stage on the mic for two tight verses. If you want more, 2018's "Ghetto Gospel : The New Testament" is the place to go.
GQ : Trap
A track I admit I'd overlooked on the "Rated Oakland" LP despite its position as the closer, this one definitely pulled me in when I went back to it for the first time in a while, ten years after the original release. I've cut it a little short here for the sake of pacing, but you'll get a long spoken word closing from GQ if you go to check the full album! The moody, dark production comes courtesy of Eric G of The Soul Council.
namesbliss : Last Week
I was totally unaware of this highly-skilled MC out of Kilburn, London, until he popped up on my IG feed - who says social media is good for nothing? His rapid-fire, witty, and clean flows are married up with smooth beats (this particular one produced by Scruz) that are miles away from what you generally hear in the grime genre - I've heard this described as "lo-fi grime" and that seems as good a label as any. It reminds of me what KwolleM started a good few years back with his "mellow grime" style, and it's nice to hear an MC like this with room to breathe on the track! This particular cut is a highlight from his latest LP "Lively Experience", which is one of my favourite purchases of the month.
Devin Morrison : The Blisselle
I played a vocal track by Devin Morrison on the podcast back on episode 153, but didn't appreciate until recently how prolific (as well as skilled) a producer he is! In just over two years he has released a twelve volume series of "Dream Lobby" collections, made up of work he didn't think fit a standard album format, and if you like modern, smooth, dreamy, and soulful production then you want to at least dip in if not collect the set. This cut is taken from "Dream Lobby Vol. IX", a seven-track delight from last autumn - so I thought I'd share it as we get ready to enter this one...
Ghostface Killah : The Forest
I had the chance to see The Alchemist live this month, and as he was playing a smoking set of some of his many, many production classics from a long career, he dropped this one - which I totally forgot he did! With all the cartoon characters engaged in legally questionable activities, this track from 2001's "Bulletproof Wallets" is very much like Ghost's take on the two "A Gangsta's Fairytale" tracks Ice Cube did back in the day.
Jeru The Damaja : One Day
Hits differently now, doesn't it? Short, pointed, and naming names, find this DJ Premier-produced dagger on Jeru's second LP, "Wrath Of The Math".
Kuartz & Dubbul O : War Cry
Dubbul O only recently released the "Stay Gold" EP with Cutterz and now he's back with the devastating production of Kuartz on the new "Shigurui" EP, giving us that boom-bap rawness. This is the opening track, with the Manchester duo giving us some Timberland and hoodie music for real. If you miss this style, pick up this LP to hear it being done very well indeed!
Clear Soul Forces : Insane
One of the more light-heartedly amusing moment of this month for the heavily-online Hip-Hop fan was when the great Questlove of The Roots, one of the most knowledgeable music heads in the entire world discovered that Clear Soul Forces existed - it appears he thought they were a new act, but they've been about for almost a decade! We all have things slip under our radars, and there's no shame - if Questlove can miss a talented group like this, then we all can! Anyway, I thought it was fitting to go all the way back to their first album, 2015's "Fab 5ive" for this banger. While most of their catalogue has been produced by Ilajide, who is also an MC, this LP was produced by fellow Michigan native NAMELESS, who has this one smashing while CSF explode lyrically all over the track. As an aside - Quest was of course gracious when everyone leapt in to correct him!
[Kut Masta Kurt] Motion Man : Play Dough (Instrumental)
Early-2000s, independent underground boom-bap business - and while I got this beat from these two Cali natives on the B-side of a 12" single, you can now get the entire set of instrumentals from the "Clearing The Field" LP on Bandcamp!
LL Cool J ft. Busta Rhymes : Huey In The Chair
The buzz around this album since it came out this month has been quite something, with most heads agreeing it's the best thing LL has done in years! "The FORCE" is almost entirely produced by Q-Tip, and the result is a triumph for these two giants from the borough of Queens. This track brings in Busta alongside LL, with both going ultra-Black while referring to the famous image of Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party in the peacock chair that still hits as hard today, over fifty years since it was taken. Definitely check the album if you've not heard it yet.
Slum Village ft. Little Brother : Where Do We Go From Here?
As you likely know, SV have been through many lineup changes over the years and as much as anything the name is a flag to rally under for Detroit's finest - with this track coming from 2010's "Villa Manifesto", an album which thanks to posthumous contributions actually features every member that had been in the group up to that time. The vibe here is kind of retro-futuristic Hip-Hop, with Young RJ on production, Samuel Beubien on string arrangements, and DJ Dez doing a phenomenal job scratching in all the separate lines of lyrics to create a spoken hook. Only two verses, but T3 and then the combination of Phonte and Big Pooh of LB do the business.
Mr. Voodoo aka AGU : Crhyme Life
Alchemist on the beat again, with a dark, tense piece of production to go along with the killer bars of Mr. Voodoo, one-third of the highly-respected Natural Elements crew. As far as I can tell, this was only ever released as a 12" single and I can't find it on the streaming services, but it's available used pretty inexpensively if you want to add some quality rhymes and early Alchemist production to your crates!
Dave East and Mike & Keys ft. Stacy Barthe : So Much Changed
You know you're getting on a bit when tunes you clearly remember growing up are being covered, sampled, and tributed! This track from this year's "APT 6E" album from Harlem's Dave East and the production duo Mike & Keys is a clear tribute to the 1994 release "Pain" by 2Pac, from the "Above The Rim" soundtrack. It's not just the sample, but the lyrical themes that hark back to that original song, particularly on the first verse, and it's well done. Multiple Grammy nominee Stacy Barthe blesses the hook with her vocals, which again are reminiscent of "Pain" but with her own flavour.
[Ice Cube, QD III] Yo-Yo : IBWin' With My CREWin' (Instrumental)
After starting the mix with this stripped down to just the drums and bass courtesy of Serato's "stems" feature, I was tempted to leave it like that but ended up bringing back the rest of the elements on this banging 90s beat from Yo-Yo's third album "You Better Ask Somebody". Yo-Yo first came to our attention on Ice Cube's first solo LP, as his foil on "It's A Man's World" before going on a strong four-album run from 1991-1996 - go and have a listen if you're not familiar!
The B Boys ft. Chuck D and Ice-T : Hello
A record I had no idea was coming, this is a true meeting of veterans, OGs of the artform. The B Boys are the original crew of Donald D, an MC you might know from his excellent late 80s-90s work as part of the Rhyme Syndicate, with Brother B and DJ Chuck Chillout completing the trio. Their original run was roughly 1983-1985, then they went separate ways before coming back together for a couple of EPs in 2022 and 2023, and then a full LP "We Get Down" this year, which this track is on! The Donald D-produced instrumental is heavily drum-centred, and in the best way, sounds like something that could have been on Ice-T's first LP, and leaves plenty of space for the vocals to be heard clearly - and the headliners bring along Ice-T and Public Enemy's Chuck D to provide full verses for a track that runs for over five minutes, a relative rarity these days. Abigail Culley's hook rounds it out nicely, and if you're anything like me, will stick in your head!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Traumatised, but full of pride..."
- Bashy
Thanks to the short length of some of the tracks, the total running time of this episode isn't as long as some others, but it's a high-potency forty-eight minutes! We start with one of the realest, toughest tracks I've heard in ages, low-tempo to make sure you catch every word, end on a new track by some of the most dedicated veterans in the culture, and hit some incredible notes between those two points. Let's get it going...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bashy : How Black Men Lose Their Smile
Wow. Stunning, 100% relatable song that everyone should sit down, listen to, then run it back and listen again. Bashy is absolutely flawless here, telling his story while also telling the stories of so many of us Black men who have grown up here. The production by Toddla T just adds to it, with the reggae-influenced beat calling back to the music that has been so prominent in Black British life, and the straight-to-camera video is starkly fitting. "Being Poor Is Expensive" is the title of the new album this track is drawn from, and also a plain statement of fact.
M Slago : Sonic Marvel (Ten City Flip)
"The 80's Beat Tape" coming out of FWMJ's "Producers I Know" collective/project was a ten-track collection of, as you'd expect, producers flipping 80s records into their own compositions. I can't say I remember the original that Nashville's M Slago chopped into this slowed, ominous track, but I do know that many years after the 2015 release of this tape which was recorded at least two years before that, this beat was used for "Finer Things" featuring Kyle Rapps. So nice, we got it twice!
Scarface : No Problem
Scarface's "Deeply Rooted" from 2015 is a quality LP that you should seek out if you can - more than likely, you'll need to fork out to buy a copy since it seems to have long disappeared from Spotify. The Houston icon was on his eleventh solo album here, and his one long verse is an aggressive statement of who he is, what he's about, and what/who he has no respect for, over a dark, grinding beat from Atlanta's KEY! (punctuation is part of the name).
Ghetts ft. Stefflon Don : Slumdog Millionaire
This Bollywood-accented cut from 2017 is such a killer, and an appropriate move coming from the UK where many of us grew up hearing it at least as part of the background growing up - Ghetts himself notes that it was that element that made this Nutty P beat stand out for him. Stefflon Don adds some flavour to the hook, but Ghetts takes centre stage on the mic for two tight verses. If you want more, 2018's "Ghetto Gospel : The New Testament" is the place to go.
GQ : Trap
A track I admit I'd overlooked on the "Rated Oakland" LP despite its position as the closer, this one definitely pulled me in when I went back to it for the first time in a while, ten years after the original release. I've cut it a little short here for the sake of pacing, but you'll get a long spoken word closing from GQ if you go to check the full album! The moody, dark production comes courtesy of Eric G of The Soul Council.
namesbliss : Last Week
I was totally unaware of this highly-skilled MC out of Kilburn, London, until he popped up on my IG feed - who says social media is good for nothing? His rapid-fire, witty, and clean flows are married up with smooth beats (this particular one produced by Scruz) that are miles away from what you generally hear in the grime genre - I've heard this described as "lo-fi grime" and that seems as good a label as any. It reminds of me what KwolleM started a good few years back with his "mellow grime" style, and it's nice to hear an MC like this with room to breathe on the track! This particular cut is a highlight from his latest LP "Lively Experience", which is one of my favourite purchases of the month.
Devin Morrison : The Blisselle
I played a vocal track by Devin Morrison on the podcast back on episode 153, but didn't appreciate until recently how prolific (as well as skilled) a producer he is! In just over two years he has released a twelve volume series of "Dream Lobby" collections, made up of work he didn't think fit a standard album format, and if you like modern, smooth, dreamy, and soulful production then you want to at least dip in if not collect the set. This cut is taken from "Dream Lobby Vol. IX", a seven-track delight from last autumn - so I thought I'd share it as we get ready to enter this one...
Ghostface Killah : The Forest
I had the chance to see The Alchemist live this month, and as he was playing a smoking set of some of his many, many production classics from a long career, he dropped this one - which I totally forgot he did! With all the cartoon characters engaged in legally questionable activities, this track from 2001's "Bulletproof Wallets" is very much like Ghost's take on the two "A Gangsta's Fairytale" tracks Ice Cube did back in the day.
Jeru The Damaja : One Day
Hits differently now, doesn't it? Short, pointed, and naming names, find this DJ Premier-produced dagger on Jeru's second LP, "Wrath Of The Math".
Kuartz & Dubbul O : War Cry
Dubbul O only recently released the "Stay Gold" EP with Cutterz and now he's back with the devastating production of Kuartz on the new "Shigurui" EP, giving us that boom-bap rawness. This is the opening track, with the Manchester duo giving us some Timberland and hoodie music for real. If you miss this style, pick up this LP to hear it being done very well indeed!
Clear Soul Forces : Insane
One of the more light-heartedly amusing moment of this month for the heavily-online Hip-Hop fan was when the great Questlove of The Roots, one of the most knowledgeable music heads in the entire world discovered that Clear Soul Forces existed - it appears he thought they were a new act, but they've been about for almost a decade! We all have things slip under our radars, and there's no shame - if Questlove can miss a talented group like this, then we all can! Anyway, I thought it was fitting to go all the way back to their first album, 2015's "Fab 5ive" for this banger. While most of their catalogue has been produced by Ilajide, who is also an MC, this LP was produced by fellow Michigan native NAMELESS, who has this one smashing while CSF explode lyrically all over the track. As an aside - Quest was of course gracious when everyone leapt in to correct him!
[Kut Masta Kurt] Motion Man : Play Dough (Instrumental)
Early-2000s, independent underground boom-bap business - and while I got this beat from these two Cali natives on the B-side of a 12" single, you can now get the entire set of instrumentals from the "Clearing The Field" LP on Bandcamp!
LL Cool J ft. Busta Rhymes : Huey In The Chair
The buzz around this album since it came out this month has been quite something, with most heads agreeing it's the best thing LL has done in years! "The FORCE" is almost entirely produced by Q-Tip, and the result is a triumph for these two giants from the borough of Queens. This track brings in Busta alongside LL, with both going ultra-Black while referring to the famous image of Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party in the peacock chair that still hits as hard today, over fifty years since it was taken. Definitely check the album if you've not heard it yet.
Slum Village ft. Little Brother : Where Do We Go From Here?
As you likely know, SV have been through many lineup changes over the years and as much as anything the name is a flag to rally under for Detroit's finest - with this track coming from 2010's "Villa Manifesto", an album which thanks to posthumous contributions actually features every member that had been in the group up to that time. The vibe here is kind of retro-futuristic Hip-Hop, with Young RJ on production, Samuel Beubien on string arrangements, and DJ Dez doing a phenomenal job scratching in all the separate lines of lyrics to create a spoken hook. Only two verses, but T3 and then the combination of Phonte and Big Pooh of LB do the business.
Mr. Voodoo aka AGU : Crhyme Life
Alchemist on the beat again, with a dark, tense piece of production to go along with the killer bars of Mr. Voodoo, one-third of the highly-respected Natural Elements crew. As far as I can tell, this was only ever released as a 12" single and I can't find it on the streaming services, but it's available used pretty inexpensively if you want to add some quality rhymes and early Alchemist production to your crates!
Dave East and Mike & Keys ft. Stacy Barthe : So Much Changed
You know you're getting on a bit when tunes you clearly remember growing up are being covered, sampled, and tributed! This track from this year's "APT 6E" album from Harlem's Dave East and the production duo Mike & Keys is a clear tribute to the 1994 release "Pain" by 2Pac, from the "Above The Rim" soundtrack. It's not just the sample, but the lyrical themes that hark back to that original song, particularly on the first verse, and it's well done. Multiple Grammy nominee Stacy Barthe blesses the hook with her vocals, which again are reminiscent of "Pain" but with her own flavour.
[Ice Cube, QD III] Yo-Yo : IBWin' With My CREWin' (Instrumental)
After starting the mix with this stripped down to just the drums and bass courtesy of Serato's "stems" feature, I was tempted to leave it like that but ended up bringing back the rest of the elements on this banging 90s beat from Yo-Yo's third album "You Better Ask Somebody". Yo-Yo first came to our attention on Ice Cube's first solo LP, as his foil on "It's A Man's World" before going on a strong four-album run from 1991-1996 - go and have a listen if you're not familiar!
The B Boys ft. Chuck D and Ice-T : Hello
A record I had no idea was coming, this is a true meeting of veterans, OGs of the artform. The B Boys are the original crew of Donald D, an MC you might know from his excellent late 80s-90s work as part of the Rhyme Syndicate, with Brother B and DJ Chuck Chillout completing the trio. Their original run was roughly 1983-1985, then they went separate ways before coming back together for a couple of EPs in 2022 and 2023, and then a full LP "We Get Down" this year, which this track is on! The Donald D-produced instrumental is heavily drum-centred, and in the best way, sounds like something that could have been on Ice-T's first LP, and leaves plenty of space for the vocals to be heard clearly - and the headliners bring along Ice-T and Public Enemy's Chuck D to provide full verses for a track that runs for over five minutes, a relative rarity these days. Abigail Culley's hook rounds it out nicely, and if you're anything like me, will stick in your head!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Posthumous ain't the wave..."
- Mega Ran
For this month's cover art, I couldn't resist calling back to one of the most unexpectedly popular stars of the Olympics I was glued to earlier in the month, and going a little Griselda with it 😁 Music-wise, we're almost entirely Hip-Hop this episode, but visiting a lot of different chambers - got some brand new stuff, some tracks that are older than I realised, and we open up with a gem that never got a commercial release...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Warzone : Take It Or Leave It
I left the drop on the front of this track to respect the blog DubCNN, from where I got this track way back - one I've never heard anywhere else! Warzone was a supergroup made up of Kam, Goldie Loc, and MC Eiht of CMW, who drop unapologetically gangsta lyrics through all three verses of this fire tune. Sadly, even though they did record a full album, the world never got to hear it due to them being unable to get a distribution deal - if anyone somehow has a copy, I would love to hear the whole thing! I think Mr. Porter is on production, which makes sense, with the drums having a distinctly Detroit timefeel which really adds to the overall flavour.
Sndtrak : Inhuman
The Detroit stalwart House Shoes was recently playing some beat flips by Oakland producer Sndtrack on a Twitch stream, and before he was done I'd already bought two of his albums, including "FLIPS V2: FLIP-TUCK" from which this is drawn. He deconstructs Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" on his Maschine and turns it into a dark, gothic, booming track which lives up to its title! This is an artist well worthy of your support.
Layfullstop : Did I Stutter
Brand new single from a double-threat MC/singer you might know from her work in the Manchester scene over the last few years - she posted a clip on Instagram and I immediately had to buy myself a copy! Layfullstop kills it in less than three minutes with flows and bars galore over a wicked self-produced beat that features smooth keys under an irresistible rhythm track. An artist to always keep an ear out for!
Mega Ran ft. The Outlawz : In The Game
It was great to see Mega Ran return to play in Manchester this month, and while it would have been easy to just reach for his most recent release, we're going back to a personal favourite, the "Live '95" LP. As someone who grew up loving Hip-Hop, hoops - and of course gaming - in the magical time of the 90s, this album explores the intersections of them all. Edi Mean and Young Noble of The Outlawz, best known as 2Pac's crew guest here with a couple of short and positive verses over Yon Li's production, but it's the headliner who really shines here with an excellent first verse. His lines about "anybody I ain't rock with, don't put them on my projects" ring truer than ever in a world where some are excusing the use of AI deepfake tech to put words in the mouths of the deceased. We don't support that necromancy over here.
Zion I : We Got It
Accidentally deleted my notes for this - let's try again 😂 This was a nice B-side on the flip of "Here We Come" by Skhool Yard, both taken from the 2001 compilation "The Funky Precedent Vol. 2". The production by 418Hz is sparse enough to allow the straight-ahead dopeness on the mic from the late Zumbi to breathe.
Diamond D ft. Torae and Bishop Lamont : MERK
Jo-Jo on the low pro, the Forest Projects and DITC legend Diamond has returned to bless us with a new release this month, the nine-track "The Diam Piece 3 : Initium", loaded with featured guests all doing their thing over his top-shelf production. The crispy drums and guitar sample with a subtle bass backing create a clean but still grimy backdrop for all the MCs - Bishop Lamont from Cali and Brooklyn's Torae, both true insiders' choices - to bring quality bars. Well under three minutes long, this is concentrated dopeness.
[Jay Dee] Slum Village : Fall In Love (Remix Instrumental)
The original version of "Fall In Love" was at least at some point removed from retail copies of "Fantastic Volume II" due to sample clearance problems, but this remixed version is an underground classic in its own way. I recently picked this up as a 45, though I'd expect that there are some 12" and digital releases containing this excellent J Dilla beat as well.
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles ft. Flavor Flav : Shake The Room
He may only be on the hook, but I thought we needed the Public Enemy legend, US Women's water polo team sponsor Flav, and general US Olympic hypeman on the episode somewhere this month! As he has done so often for Chuck D, he brings a different tone and change of energy to this track to contrast the gravelly-voiced and aggressive style of Bumpy Knuckles, with DJ Premier switching up the beat in those sections to match. The first single from the "Kolexxxion" LP, this one has a beat that Busta Rhymes apparently rejected, but Bumpy and Flav have made it what it needed to be.
Black Milk ft T3 and Phat Kat : Danger
Into the crates for a Phat Kat feature after getting the chance to play an all-Detroit warmup set before he performed in Manchester earlier this month! This cut from fellow 313 native and beast producer Black Milk's debut LP "Sound Of The City, Volume 1" has him taking the mic for the opening verse, before T3 of Slum Village takes the baton for the second, and finally Phat Kat burns it down on the close with pure aggression. Some of those that Kat said should "stop rapping and drive a cab" might well prefer to look into rideshare options if they were on the receiving end of this torching 🔥
Jel : Delete Sound
Just a short instrumental bridge courtesy of Jel, co-founder of the Anticon label as well as, of course, a producer in his own right. This is a great drum workout entirely done on the legendary SP-1200, from the 2002 "10 Seconds" album, named after the total sampling time the SP has available!
O.C. : The Inventor
I have to credit DJ Rolling Adam for introducing me to this track after playing it on one of his Twitch streams! It's a bit of an O.C. obscurity that had passed me by, with Ogee cleverly using the intro of a much loved jazz track that has been sampled on some classics - none of which made much of this part of the original. On the mic...standard solid performance from O.C., who can always be relied on to hold up his part of proceedings. You can find this on the 2006 "Hidden Gems" collection, or on 12" if you're willing to buy one of the relatively few copies that seem to be available on the used market.
Kev Brown : The Cause (Instrumental)
Absolutely fire beat! Not a crazy number of elements, just the basics done flawlessly, which is a real strength of Landover's Kev Brown, one of the most respected producers of his generation by those in the know. Of all the tracks from his "Selective Hearing" project with LMNO, this was by far my favourite, and the instrumental works well in a standard DJ set, an MC cipher, as a scratch backdrop - it has a quality and restraint that give it ultimate versatility.
Verb T ft. Malek Winter and Da Flyy Hooligan : Mere Mortal
Heavy UK business. The "Restoration" project is a collaboration between the veteran MC Verb T (who may be best known to many as one quarter of The Four Owls) and Malek Winter, who comes through with the 21st century lo-fi boom-bap styles on production. North-West London "gourmet rap" purveyor Da Flyy Hooligan features here, as one of the very few guests on the LP, as the MCs speak on how no matter how bulletproof you may feel, it's never quite so.
Sean Price : Title Track
Ok - in a total inversion of Ronseal naming conventions, this tune is called "Title Track" but the album it comes on is entitled "Mic Tyson", meaning that this is actually not the title track in literal sense! Classic merry rulebreaking from the late great Sean P, whose brutal bars on this 2012 release jockey for position against Eric G's slow, grinding, dramatic beat for sheer aggression. As always, R.I...P!
DJ Quik ft. David Blake II : Shine
There are all kinds of things I've seen in Hip-Hop as time has gone on that remind me of my (thankfully) advancing years, but this one is up there - DJ Quik, who I first heard as a nineteen-year-old MC on the 1990-recorded "Tonite", being in the game long enough that on this track his son is the featured guest! Quik's production is low-tempo with the double-time hi-hats doing work to add a feeling of extra pace as son and then father get on the mic for each of the two verses. This pick from 2014's "The Midnight Life" is certainly not "Just The Two Of Us", but it's an interesting union all the same.
Trae Tha Truth : Trunk Gone Glow
We go deep and dark sonically as we approach the end of the show, taking it down to Houston, Texas, for a track from a true legend of the scene. This comes from the "Another 48 Hours" mixtape, the second of two albums released by Trae that were recorded in a mere two days each! Trademark Houston lyrical content, talking about the famous SLAB cars and the light-up trunk kits that make them extra-personalised. MOXIII and Watson The Great are credited with production over the whole LP, and this track is a spaced-out, screwed-up synthy soundscape with quality drum machine work over the top.
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Job Well Done (Instrumental)
If I see the instrumentals for a good album available for sale, I make a point of picking them up, so this month I was glad to notice that the beats for the first Run The Jewels LP had been released as a standalone collection. If you already know the album, then you know that it was packed with raw beats and this one is no exception - no crossover style, no chill, just banging, menacing production from El-P.
Justice & Thundercat : The End
This played during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics and sent me - and a lot of other people - scrambling to Shazam it before they switched to something else! The combination of the French electronic duo Justice and Los Angeles bass force of nature Thundercat (although he's primarily on vocal duties here) is sonic bliss, and makes this year's "Hyperdrama" album one to seek out if this is anything to go by. If you have a nice, clean, tuned sound system...this is going to sound spectacular.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Posthumous ain't the wave..."
- Mega Ran
For this month's cover art, I couldn't resist calling back to one of the most unexpectedly popular stars of the Olympics I was glued to earlier in the month, and going a little Griselda with it 😁 Music-wise, we're almost entirely Hip-Hop this episode, but visiting a lot of different chambers - got some brand new stuff, some tracks that are older than I realised, and we open up with a gem that never got a commercial release...
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Warzone : Take It Or Leave It
I left the drop on the front of this track to respect the blog DubCNN, from where I got this track way back - one I've never heard anywhere else! Warzone was a supergroup made up of Kam, Goldie Loc, and MC Eiht of CMW, who drop unapologetically gangsta lyrics through all three verses of this fire tune. Sadly, even though they did record a full album, the world never got to hear it due to them being unable to get a distribution deal - if anyone somehow has a copy, I would love to hear the whole thing! I think Mr. Porter is on production, which makes sense, with the drums having a distinctly Detroit timefeel which really adds to the overall flavour.
Sndtrak : Inhuman
The Detroit stalwart House Shoes was recently playing some beat flips by Oakland producer Sndtrack on a Twitch stream, and before he was done I'd already bought two of his albums, including "FLIPS V2: FLIP-TUCK" from which this is drawn. He deconstructs Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" on his Maschine and turns it into a dark, gothic, booming track which lives up to its title! This is an artist well worthy of your support.
Layfullstop : Did I Stutter
Brand new single from a double-threat MC/singer you might know from her work in the Manchester scene over the last few years - she posted a clip on Instagram and I immediately had to buy myself a copy! Layfullstop kills it in less than three minutes with flows and bars galore over a wicked self-produced beat that features smooth keys under an irresistible rhythm track. An artist to always keep an ear out for!
Mega Ran ft. The Outlawz : In The Game
It was great to see Mega Ran return to play in Manchester this month, and while it would have been easy to just reach for his most recent release, we're going back to a personal favourite, the "Live '95" LP. As someone who grew up loving Hip-Hop, hoops - and of course gaming - in the magical time of the 90s, this album explores the intersections of them all. Edi Mean and Young Noble of The Outlawz, best known as 2Pac's crew guest here with a couple of short and positive verses over Yon Li's production, but it's the headliner who really shines here with an excellent first verse. His lines about "anybody I ain't rock with, don't put them on my projects" ring truer than ever in a world where some are excusing the use of AI deepfake tech to put words in the mouths of the deceased. We don't support that necromancy over here.
Zion I : We Got It
Accidentally deleted my notes for this - let's try again 😂 This was a nice B-side on the flip of "Here We Come" by Skhool Yard, both taken from the 2001 compilation "The Funky Precedent Vol. 2". The production by 418Hz is sparse enough to allow the straight-ahead dopeness on the mic from the late Zumbi to breathe.
Diamond D ft. Torae and Bishop Lamont : MERK
Jo-Jo on the low pro, the Forest Projects and DITC legend Diamond has returned to bless us with a new release this month, the nine-track "The Diam Piece 3 : Initium", loaded with featured guests all doing their thing over his top-shelf production. The crispy drums and guitar sample with a subtle bass backing create a clean but still grimy backdrop for all the MCs - Bishop Lamont from Cali and Brooklyn's Torae, both true insiders' choices - to bring quality bars. Well under three minutes long, this is concentrated dopeness.
[Jay Dee] Slum Village : Fall In Love (Remix Instrumental)
The original version of "Fall In Love" was at least at some point removed from retail copies of "Fantastic Volume II" due to sample clearance problems, but this remixed version is an underground classic in its own way. I recently picked this up as a 45, though I'd expect that there are some 12" and digital releases containing this excellent J Dilla beat as well.
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles ft. Flavor Flav : Shake The Room
He may only be on the hook, but I thought we needed the Public Enemy legend, US Women's water polo team sponsor Flav, and general US Olympic hypeman on the episode somewhere this month! As he has done so often for Chuck D, he brings a different tone and change of energy to this track to contrast the gravelly-voiced and aggressive style of Bumpy Knuckles, with DJ Premier switching up the beat in those sections to match. The first single from the "Kolexxxion" LP, this one has a beat that Busta Rhymes apparently rejected, but Bumpy and Flav have made it what it needed to be.
Black Milk ft T3 and Phat Kat : Danger
Into the crates for a Phat Kat feature after getting the chance to play an all-Detroit warmup set before he performed in Manchester earlier this month! This cut from fellow 313 native and beast producer Black Milk's debut LP "Sound Of The City, Volume 1" has him taking the mic for the opening verse, before T3 of Slum Village takes the baton for the second, and finally Phat Kat burns it down on the close with pure aggression. Some of those that Kat said should "stop rapping and drive a cab" might well prefer to look into rideshare options if they were on the receiving end of this torching 🔥
Jel : Delete Sound
Just a short instrumental bridge courtesy of Jel, co-founder of the Anticon label as well as, of course, a producer in his own right. This is a great drum workout entirely done on the legendary SP-1200, from the 2002 "10 Seconds" album, named after the total sampling time the SP has available!
O.C. : The Inventor
I have to credit DJ Rolling Adam for introducing me to this track after playing it on one of his Twitch streams! It's a bit of an O.C. obscurity that had passed me by, with Ogee cleverly using the intro of a much loved jazz track that has been sampled on some classics - none of which made much of this part of the original. On the mic...standard solid performance from O.C., who can always be relied on to hold up his part of proceedings. You can find this on the 2006 "Hidden Gems" collection, or on 12" if you're willing to buy one of the relatively few copies that seem to be available on the used market.
Kev Brown : The Cause (Instrumental)
Absolutely fire beat! Not a crazy number of elements, just the basics done flawlessly, which is a real strength of Landover's Kev Brown, one of the most respected producers of his generation by those in the know. Of all the tracks from his "Selective Hearing" project with LMNO, this was by far my favourite, and the instrumental works well in a standard DJ set, an MC cipher, as a scratch backdrop - it has a quality and restraint that give it ultimate versatility.
Verb T ft. Malek Winter and Da Flyy Hooligan : Mere Mortal
Heavy UK business. The "Restoration" project is a collaboration between the veteran MC Verb T (who may be best known to many as one quarter of The Four Owls) and Malek Winter, who comes through with the 21st century lo-fi boom-bap styles on production. North-West London "gourmet rap" purveyor Da Flyy Hooligan features here, as one of the very few guests on the LP, as the MCs speak on how no matter how bulletproof you may feel, it's never quite so.
Sean Price : Title Track
Ok - in a total inversion of Ronseal naming conventions, this tune is called "Title Track" but the album it comes on is entitled "Mic Tyson", meaning that this is actually not the title track in literal sense! Classic merry rulebreaking from the late great Sean P, whose brutal bars on this 2012 release jockey for position against Eric G's slow, grinding, dramatic beat for sheer aggression. As always, R.I...P!
DJ Quik ft. David Blake II : Shine
There are all kinds of things I've seen in Hip-Hop as time has gone on that remind me of my (thankfully) advancing years, but this one is up there - DJ Quik, who I first heard as a nineteen-year-old MC on the 1990-recorded "Tonite", being in the game long enough that on this track his son is the featured guest! Quik's production is low-tempo with the double-time hi-hats doing work to add a feeling of extra pace as son and then father get on the mic for each of the two verses. This pick from 2014's "The Midnight Life" is certainly not "Just The Two Of Us", but it's an interesting union all the same.
Trae Tha Truth : Trunk Gone Glow
We go deep and dark sonically as we approach the end of the show, taking it down to Houston, Texas, for a track from a true legend of the scene. This comes from the "Another 48 Hours" mixtape, the second of two albums released by Trae that were recorded in a mere two days each! Trademark Houston lyrical content, talking about the famous SLAB cars and the light-up trunk kits that make them extra-personalised. MOXIII and Watson The Great are credited with production over the whole LP, and this track is a spaced-out, screwed-up synthy soundscape with quality drum machine work over the top.
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Job Well Done (Instrumental)
If I see the instrumentals for a good album available for sale, I make a point of picking them up, so this month I was glad to notice that the beats for the first Run The Jewels LP had been released as a standalone collection. If you already know the album, then you know that it was packed with raw beats and this one is no exception - no crossover style, no chill, just banging, menacing production from El-P.
Justice & Thundercat : The End
This played during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics and sent me - and a lot of other people - scrambling to Shazam it before they switched to something else! The combination of the French electronic duo Justice and Los Angeles bass force of nature Thundercat (although he's primarily on vocal duties here) is sonic bliss, and makes this year's "Hyperdrama" album one to seek out if this is anything to go by. If you have a nice, clean, tuned sound system...this is going to sound spectacular.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I never did a dance for a dollar..."
- Buckshot
This month we don't shift into high gear in terms of tempo at any point, topping out at around 90, so those of you experiencing actual summer don't overheat! We've got some absolutely fire new releases in the mix alongside some versions that you might never have heard, plus some deep album cuts. We start things off with just such a track - if you don't own the album, I'd be willing to bet you've never heard it...never let it be said this is a show that leans on the obvious records!
Still a few tickets left to see Phat Kat at The Hip Hop Chip Shop on August 4th, plus me playing a special Detroit warmup set!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law ft. Kokane : Rain Be For Rain Bo
RIP KMG, who passed away twelve years ago this month. In a season where we maybe haven't had the sunshine we expected, this seemed like an appropriate choice - a downtempo but funky piece from the well-respected LP "Uncle Sam's Curse", Above The Law's third. Cold 187um not only produced the track but also provides the scene-setting first verse, while his cousin Kokane is on the hook, and KMG's second verse builds on the perfect setup. A lot of people were not ready to digest this LP fully when it came out, but if you have time to take a front-to-back listen, especially if you appreciate the West Coast sound, then do - you'll be rewarded.
Tavaras Jordan : Change, Pt. 2 (The Last Thing)
A beautifully smooth instrumental from this talented Hip-Hop and R&B producer out of North Carolina, taken from his short - but very sweet - 2019 "Manifest Destiny" album. Anything with this man's name on is worth a listen!
GZA : Animal Planet
The streets are a jungle, and nature is gangster. Another in GZA's series of themed tracks that started with "Labels" on "Liquid Swords", this grand-sounding Bink and Tyquan Walker-produced cut from "Legend Of The Liquid Sword" allows the Genius to demonstrate once again how he can build a concept track like few others.
Jay-Z ft. Damian Marley : Bam
One of my good friends always plays this track before job interviews, because these people have to "know who they F'in with", to quote Jay-Z! This collaboration with Damian Marley from the "4:44" LP is one of my personal highlights of that release, and the producer No I.D. goes straight to a reggae classic to provide the raw material, the mighty "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy.
Black Moon : General Feva
The "Rise Of Da Moon" album, Black Moon's first after a sixteen-year layoff, seemed to go under-appreciated by many, but I for one was very pleased to see the Brooklyn legends release that LP in 2019. Da Beatminerz on production of course, for some slow, loping boom-bap that is a little dark for summer perhaps, but perfect for this slide towards some sandpaper-type roughness.
Cut Beetlez x Bronx Slang : I'm Not Chillin
If the last track was raw, this is the cow still wandering around in the field! Finland's Cut Beetlez production team linked up with the always-NY Bronx Slang for a brand new EP, from which this is the title cut. As soon as Jerry Beeks told me it was out I had it in my headphones and even after repeated listens, I knew this was the track to go with right here! The sonics snarl, thump, and grind, and yet you can hear every word from the MCs, who just seem to keep getting better with time and can give you the business regardless of the pace of the track.
[J-Zone] Al-Shid : Fight Club (Instrumental)
He may be a full-time and high-quality drummer now, but I'll always remember the originality J-Zone brought to Hip-Hop production for so many years. There's no-one who sounded quite like him, and this instrumental of a track from Al-Shid's debut single is a great example - some might say quirky, but in terms of quality, very serious.
Conductor Williams & Boldy James : Flying Trapeze Act
Too many people think that street rap and lyrical creativity can't go together, but this song from the "Across The Tracks" LP by Kansas City producer Conductor Williams and Detroit's Boldy James, thankfully still with us after a serious accident, have both in spades. The Conductor's track clearly treats its original sample in a pretty extreme fashion (you can hear the warbling which the processing likely introduced) but then adds the subtlest of kick-snare to quietly drive it along, and the vocals left in just add extra soulful flavour beneath Boldy's voice. As he moves between straight description, metaphor, and simile - especially the last punchy one in the hook that gives the track its title - Boldy James puts in excellent work.
El Michels Affair ft. Raekwon : The PJs (Instrumental/Vocal)
I needed to lead with the instrumental just to provide a nice bridge in, but it's always a pleasure to hear the brilliant El Michels Affair play! This is a re-recording of the track "The PJs" from Pete Rock's 2008 LP "NY's Finest" - no Masta Killa this time, but Raekwon returns to do his verses over with some small changes. El Michels Affair, in turn, base their instrumental performance around the way Pete Rock worked the original sample, but with some subtle flourishes. "The PJs...From Afar" is a 12" single well worth adding to your collection.
Da Beatminerz ft. Black Moon : Anti
Black Moon again, because why not? This time we go with their appearance on the new Da Beatminerz project "Stifled Creativity" (bearing in mind that Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz is also an actual member of the group) for one of the highlights of the LP. Over a slow, reflective, almost funereal take on the groove best known from Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity", Buckshot speaks on his journey as an independent artist and label owner (Duck Down) in a straightforward manner while maintaining that trademark flow. To maintain a thirty-plus year independent career through the changes in the industry is quite a feat - salute.
O.C. : This Is Me
This is a track I've always enjoyed, but which I think escaped a lot of people's notice. A selection from the overlooked "Smoke And Mirrors" LP, O.C.'s fifth, it's a track where he speaks on his career-long determination to follow his own path and ignore the trends - in fact, it's spiritually very close to the Beatminerz/Black Moon track that precedes it here. Mike Loe takes a late-70s soul sample, turns the speed up a touch and provides an excellent musical backdrop for the lyrics.
MF DOOM : Dead Bent (Original 12" Instrumental)
If you know the "Operation Doomsday" LP but not this, it would sound like an overstatement to say that the version of "Dead Bent" on the album is a "refined" version of anything, as rough-and-ready as the whole release is, but you can hear that this original is even more beautifully unpolished. Self-produced by the late great DOOM, you can find this not only on the original 12" mentioned in the title, but also on some later reissued versions of the album, containing alternate versions, B-sides, and instrumentals - essential for the DOOM fan.
Dubbul O & Cutterz : Stay Gold
Stellar new release out of Manchester, with this familiar duo (and half of Voodoo Black) headlining their new "Stay Gold" EP with this title track. If you've lost someone close, this one will hit you hard, with Dubbul O's deeply personal lyrics coming through strong over Cutterz' production which is somehow both optimistic and moody at the same time. Definitely check for that five-track EP.
Mecca:83, Phat Kat, and Guilty Simpson : Don't Stop
Exclusive! *Sounds airhorn* Manchester's own Mecca:83 blessed me with a copy of this as-yet unreleased track, with his warm and bumping production backing up two giants of the Detroit scene, Phat Kat and Guilty Simpson. Two cities famous for their industries come together for a great musical union!
Dilated People : The Main Event
I'll be honest - of the three tracks on the classic underground "Work The Angles" 12" single, this is the one I play the least, but the Alchemist-produced middle track on the release (also on 2000's "The Platform" LP) definitely deserves respect. Rakaa Iriscience steps all the way back here and makes space for Evidence to get busy on both verses. The samples of some of the Hip-Hop greats for the hook rounds off the whole package nicely.
Nas & Statik Selektah : Dead Presidence
(That's not my spelling, it's what they printed on the labels of "The Prophecy EP"!) Jay-Z and Ski famously sampled the "presidents that represent me" line from Nas' "The World Is Yours" for "Dead Presidents" on the classic "Reasonable Doubt", but on this track Statik Selektah reverses the game and blends the vocals from the Nas track with Ski's instrumental, and while the original is a flawless cut, these two pieces do fit together beautifully as well.
Marco Polo : Ps & Qs (Remix Instrumental)
MPC magic from Marco Polo, from his entry in the "Baker's Dozen" producer series, with clean drums, a live-sounding bass, and guitar licks placed to perfection.
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Hold On
I've always loved the way this track ends, and as such thought it needed to be played in a position where that portion can be heard uninterrupted. It's not just the closing track here but also the finisher on the 2009 "Stone And Rob : Caught On Tape" album. Jungle Brown is one of the few MCs to make repeated features with the Lo, and he does his thing alongside the legendary Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede while also co-producing it with Apple Juice Kid. If you're a fan of the group, definitely seek out this release as there are some absolute heaters on there, including the back-to-back of "On Smash" and "89 of Crime".
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I never did a dance for a dollar..."
- Buckshot
This month we don't shift into high gear in terms of tempo at any point, topping out at around 90, so those of you experiencing actual summer don't overheat! We've got some absolutely fire new releases in the mix alongside some versions that you might never have heard, plus some deep album cuts. We start things off with just such a track - if you don't own the album, I'd be willing to bet you've never heard it...never let it be said this is a show that leans on the obvious records!
Still a few tickets left to see Phat Kat at The Hip Hop Chip Shop on August 4th, plus me playing a special Detroit warmup set!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law ft. Kokane : Rain Be For Rain Bo
RIP KMG, who passed away twelve years ago this month. In a season where we maybe haven't had the sunshine we expected, this seemed like an appropriate choice - a downtempo but funky piece from the well-respected LP "Uncle Sam's Curse", Above The Law's third. Cold 187um not only produced the track but also provides the scene-setting first verse, while his cousin Kokane is on the hook, and KMG's second verse builds on the perfect setup. A lot of people were not ready to digest this LP fully when it came out, but if you have time to take a front-to-back listen, especially if you appreciate the West Coast sound, then do - you'll be rewarded.
Tavaras Jordan : Change, Pt. 2 (The Last Thing)
A beautifully smooth instrumental from this talented Hip-Hop and R&B producer out of North Carolina, taken from his short - but very sweet - 2019 "Manifest Destiny" album. Anything with this man's name on is worth a listen!
GZA : Animal Planet
The streets are a jungle, and nature is gangster. Another in GZA's series of themed tracks that started with "Labels" on "Liquid Swords", this grand-sounding Bink and Tyquan Walker-produced cut from "Legend Of The Liquid Sword" allows the Genius to demonstrate once again how he can build a concept track like few others.
Jay-Z ft. Damian Marley : Bam
One of my good friends always plays this track before job interviews, because these people have to "know who they F'in with", to quote Jay-Z! This collaboration with Damian Marley from the "4:44" LP is one of my personal highlights of that release, and the producer No I.D. goes straight to a reggae classic to provide the raw material, the mighty "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy.
Black Moon : General Feva
The "Rise Of Da Moon" album, Black Moon's first after a sixteen-year layoff, seemed to go under-appreciated by many, but I for one was very pleased to see the Brooklyn legends release that LP in 2019. Da Beatminerz on production of course, for some slow, loping boom-bap that is a little dark for summer perhaps, but perfect for this slide towards some sandpaper-type roughness.
Cut Beetlez x Bronx Slang : I'm Not Chillin
If the last track was raw, this is the cow still wandering around in the field! Finland's Cut Beetlez production team linked up with the always-NY Bronx Slang for a brand new EP, from which this is the title cut. As soon as Jerry Beeks told me it was out I had it in my headphones and even after repeated listens, I knew this was the track to go with right here! The sonics snarl, thump, and grind, and yet you can hear every word from the MCs, who just seem to keep getting better with time and can give you the business regardless of the pace of the track.
[J-Zone] Al-Shid : Fight Club (Instrumental)
He may be a full-time and high-quality drummer now, but I'll always remember the originality J-Zone brought to Hip-Hop production for so many years. There's no-one who sounded quite like him, and this instrumental of a track from Al-Shid's debut single is a great example - some might say quirky, but in terms of quality, very serious.
Conductor Williams & Boldy James : Flying Trapeze Act
Too many people think that street rap and lyrical creativity can't go together, but this song from the "Across The Tracks" LP by Kansas City producer Conductor Williams and Detroit's Boldy James, thankfully still with us after a serious accident, have both in spades. The Conductor's track clearly treats its original sample in a pretty extreme fashion (you can hear the warbling which the processing likely introduced) but then adds the subtlest of kick-snare to quietly drive it along, and the vocals left in just add extra soulful flavour beneath Boldy's voice. As he moves between straight description, metaphor, and simile - especially the last punchy one in the hook that gives the track its title - Boldy James puts in excellent work.
El Michels Affair ft. Raekwon : The PJs (Instrumental/Vocal)
I needed to lead with the instrumental just to provide a nice bridge in, but it's always a pleasure to hear the brilliant El Michels Affair play! This is a re-recording of the track "The PJs" from Pete Rock's 2008 LP "NY's Finest" - no Masta Killa this time, but Raekwon returns to do his verses over with some small changes. El Michels Affair, in turn, base their instrumental performance around the way Pete Rock worked the original sample, but with some subtle flourishes. "The PJs...From Afar" is a 12" single well worth adding to your collection.
Da Beatminerz ft. Black Moon : Anti
Black Moon again, because why not? This time we go with their appearance on the new Da Beatminerz project "Stifled Creativity" (bearing in mind that Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz is also an actual member of the group) for one of the highlights of the LP. Over a slow, reflective, almost funereal take on the groove best known from Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity", Buckshot speaks on his journey as an independent artist and label owner (Duck Down) in a straightforward manner while maintaining that trademark flow. To maintain a thirty-plus year independent career through the changes in the industry is quite a feat - salute.
O.C. : This Is Me
This is a track I've always enjoyed, but which I think escaped a lot of people's notice. A selection from the overlooked "Smoke And Mirrors" LP, O.C.'s fifth, it's a track where he speaks on his career-long determination to follow his own path and ignore the trends - in fact, it's spiritually very close to the Beatminerz/Black Moon track that precedes it here. Mike Loe takes a late-70s soul sample, turns the speed up a touch and provides an excellent musical backdrop for the lyrics.
MF DOOM : Dead Bent (Original 12" Instrumental)
If you know the "Operation Doomsday" LP but not this, it would sound like an overstatement to say that the version of "Dead Bent" on the album is a "refined" version of anything, as rough-and-ready as the whole release is, but you can hear that this original is even more beautifully unpolished. Self-produced by the late great DOOM, you can find this not only on the original 12" mentioned in the title, but also on some later reissued versions of the album, containing alternate versions, B-sides, and instrumentals - essential for the DOOM fan.
Dubbul O & Cutterz : Stay Gold
Stellar new release out of Manchester, with this familiar duo (and half of Voodoo Black) headlining their new "Stay Gold" EP with this title track. If you've lost someone close, this one will hit you hard, with Dubbul O's deeply personal lyrics coming through strong over Cutterz' production which is somehow both optimistic and moody at the same time. Definitely check for that five-track EP.
Mecca:83, Phat Kat, and Guilty Simpson : Don't Stop
Exclusive! *Sounds airhorn* Manchester's own Mecca:83 blessed me with a copy of this as-yet unreleased track, with his warm and bumping production backing up two giants of the Detroit scene, Phat Kat and Guilty Simpson. Two cities famous for their industries come together for a great musical union!
Dilated People : The Main Event
I'll be honest - of the three tracks on the classic underground "Work The Angles" 12" single, this is the one I play the least, but the Alchemist-produced middle track on the release (also on 2000's "The Platform" LP) definitely deserves respect. Rakaa Iriscience steps all the way back here and makes space for Evidence to get busy on both verses. The samples of some of the Hip-Hop greats for the hook rounds off the whole package nicely.
Nas & Statik Selektah : Dead Presidence
(That's not my spelling, it's what they printed on the labels of "The Prophecy EP"!) Jay-Z and Ski famously sampled the "presidents that represent me" line from Nas' "The World Is Yours" for "Dead Presidents" on the classic "Reasonable Doubt", but on this track Statik Selektah reverses the game and blends the vocals from the Nas track with Ski's instrumental, and while the original is a flawless cut, these two pieces do fit together beautifully as well.
Marco Polo : Ps & Qs (Remix Instrumental)
MPC magic from Marco Polo, from his entry in the "Baker's Dozen" producer series, with clean drums, a live-sounding bass, and guitar licks placed to perfection.
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Hold On
I've always loved the way this track ends, and as such thought it needed to be played in a position where that portion can be heard uninterrupted. It's not just the closing track here but also the finisher on the 2009 "Stone And Rob : Caught On Tape" album. Jungle Brown is one of the few MCs to make repeated features with the Lo, and he does his thing alongside the legendary Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede while also co-producing it with Apple Juice Kid. If you're a fan of the group, definitely seek out this release as there are some absolute heaters on there, including the back-to-back of "On Smash" and "89 of Crime".
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Come on and give me my props..."
- Diamond
Fifteen years! We started this ride in June 2009 and here we still are all these years later. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you'll stay with me for as long as I'm able to keep putting these shows together. The point of this podcast has never been to prioritise new releases, or to only ever look to the past, but a blend of the two. With that in mind, this month's mix certainly has some old personal favourites, a sprinkling of new music, and some obscurities and rarities! Listen, enjoy, and please do spread the word as widely as you can - as I always say, I have a lot of things, but no advertising budget 😆
I was racking my brain trying to come up with cover art that would reference the theme of fifteen...then realised that the infamous "4, 5, 6" combination sums up to that very number!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
The Thryday : Fantastic
The album this was ultimately released on is only available for silly money on the second-hand market, but at least I had this from an old mixtape ("WJLR Radio, Volume 1") to share with you! The Dutch master Nicolay is on production for this North Carolina group who were part of the Justus League family and appreciated by those in the know. This same beat, with the same name, is also on Nicolay's "City Lights" and the "City Lights 1.5" version, but with the rhymes that elevate it so...much harder to get!
[J Dilla] Jaylib : The Red (Instrumental)
You already know! One of the best-loved instrumentals from Dilla's post-Slum career - certainly if the reaction when I drop it in a set is anything to go by - and one that will move your speakers for sure. The original is from the famed "Champion Sound" collaboration between Dilla and Madlib, where each rhymes over the other's production, and now the full set of instrumentals is available, making the deluxe release a 100% must-own.
Jigmastas ft. Mos Def, Mr. Complex, Pharoahe Monch, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Talib Kweli : Lyrical Fluctuation Remix
This is a true all-star MC roster from the late 90s-early 00s independent scene, with DJ Spinna of Jigmastas on remix duties, bringing a different vibe to Joc Max's original, based on crazy short chops of a classic soul sample and having them cheerfully bounce along. I only got this 2000 release in the last few weeks, but have already played it on Twitch, digitised it, and am now sharing its eternally-fresh energy here!
Ghostface ft. Wigz : Outta The Way
"...in the gym throwing the dumbbells all out of order" - disgraceful conduct... Another usage of the same sample from the "Lyrical Fluctuation" remix, this Anthony Acid beat is more straightforward, with Ghostface and Wigz busting through with the energy of two guys rushing a bank! This was one of the standouts on the 2005 Ghostface and Trife "Put It On The Line" LP, though not released as a single despite the potential.
Mobb Deep : Feel My Gat Blow
The soundtrack to the Saul Williams-starring "Slam" was very much a mixed bag in the vein of many 90s-00s soundtracks, but certainly had a few standouts and otherwise-unreleased cuts from some greats, of which this is one. Havoc's beat sounds like a mix between a medieval court and 90s NYC, and the lyrical content is trademark Mobb.
Redman : Winicumuhround
As much as I love Redman's "Dare Iz A Darkside" album (which, notably, he doesn't - reminds him of a bad time), I had all but forgotten about this track until I pulled the vinyl out for a front-to-back listen recently. Erick Sermon and Redman combine on production to have this one thump along with a killer bassline-lead track, and Red is in fine form on the mic. With the voice of the late Hurricane G appearing as part of the densely-packed hook, this is a Def Squad heater for sure.
Pete Rock : Death Becomes You
Definitely one of my favourite Pete Rock beats of all time, but we had to wait a long time to get an instrumental! The original track was on the soundtrack for the 1993 classic "Menace II Society", but it wasn't until the 2019 release of Pete Rock's "Return Of The SP1200" album that we got this version. Absolutely flawless in the sense that there's not a single thing, as a listener or a DJ, that I would have wanted him to change.
Roots Manuva ft. Big P, Blackitude, Fallacy, Rodney P, Skeme : Witness The Swords
I'd be willing to bet that while most listeners, especially in the UK, will be very familiar with the classic Roots Manuva single "Witness (1 Hope)", most won't know this! It's a blend of the lyrics from "Swords In The Dirt" from Roots' second LP "Run Come Save Me" and the "Witness" beat, from the same album. As far as I know, the only place to find this one is the 2002 "Extra Yard (The Bouncement Revolution)" compilation on Big Dada Records, which is worth picking up for some quality UK cuts.
Big Boi ft. Cutty : Shutterbugg
As a photographer, I really should dig this one out more! Big Boi co-produces with Scott Storch on this single from his solo debut "Sir Lucious Left Foot : The Son Of Chico Dusty", which was actually a much bigger hit in the UK than in the US, where it somehow didn't even break the top 50 in the R&B charts. It's a hectic-sounding track which unexpectedly takes a sudden quiet break in the second verse - and it's at that point that we move along...
Stro Elliot : Soul II Stro
...and so we move with a quick transition into another track that not just references but heavily samples the classic "Back To Life" by the UKs own Soul II Soul, a Stro Elliot workout that's just undeniable in its groove. The samples of Caron Wheeler's vocals haunt at times before coming firmly into the foreground, while the drums and bass thump along with an accompanying keyboard line. That Stro Elliot sampled that 1989 classic on his self-titled LP twenty-seven years later is a testament to the power of the original.
Kokane ft. Lil Half Dead : Ghetto Music
When I saw the garage-filmed (high-quality though!) video for this, I kept waiting for the rapping to start - but nope, this is just a funk product from start to finish which, as the track says, will make you want to move! Despite "Da White Album" only being released in 2022, it was apparently recorded back in the early 00s while Kokane was working on Dr. Dre's "2001" LP but shelved for over twenty years. It manages to sound vintage P-funk, 90s G-Funk, and modern all at the same time. Kokane is a real "if you know, you know" artist who has been putting in work for many years, has collaborated with almost everyone you can name, and keeps on bringing the heat!
[Erick Sermon] Tha Truth : Red Lights (U Gotz 2 Chill '96) (instrumental)
If you know me, you know I love Zapp and Roger Troutman, which means that EPMD's classic "You Gots To Chill" single is a firm favourite. On this R&B single from Tha Truth, who only released one album back in 1997, they came out of the gate strong with Erick Sermon on production, reprising his sampling of "More Bounce To The Ounce" and even throwing in the "chill" sample from his original beat. Shout out to DJ Melo D of Beat Junkies, who was the only person I've heard playing this and the one who told me (on Twitch) what it was!
Diamond D, Sadat X, and Lord Finesse : You Can't Front
A great album cut, loved by those in the know, taken from the early 90s classic "Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop". Buckwild and Diamond's production is both clean and still vintage SP-era magic, with Diamond also grabbing the mic to spit a verse between two other greats. Sadat X was the perfect choice to go first, with his unique tone drawing you in immediately, and Lord Finesse brings it home strong.
Common : Dreamin'
For those that have missed the early chatter, here's a sample of the upcoming Common and Pete Rock LP, which promises to channel the specific forms of energy that each artist brought to their 90s work. If this beautifully-produced tale of a dream of a walk with Black greats both living and transitioned is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!
The Kid Daytona : Fly Lullaby
A deep cut from the 9th Wonder production discography, working with a loop that Pete Rock teased us with between tracks on "The Main Ingredient". The Kid Daytona is definitely a grown man now, but this was an early release from the Bronx native on his "The Interlude" mixtape from 2010 - where every track sampled some kind of intro or interlude from another Hip-Hop track. This is exactly the kind of overlooked track I like to throw in for anyone who might have missed it!
Dogg Pound ft. Snoop Dogg, RBX, and The Lady Of Rage : Who Da Hardest?
A grand reunion - would have left it to the last song as it is on the new Dogg Pound "W.A.W.G" album, but it fit so well here sonically that I changed my mind! For a coming together of West Coast legends, the biggest surprise is them bringing DJ Premier in on production, and maybe the most welcome is the featuring of The Lady of Rage, who has been a universally-loved MC since her star turn on "Afro Puffs". It's pretty long, but there's no instrumental outro and I didn't want you to miss out any of the MCs, so you get the whole thing here!
Terrace Martin & James Fauntleroy : Butterfly Effect
"Gotta stop taking life advice from songs" - I'd say that was good advice, but then that's also what you might call a circular problem! We go fully chill at the end of this section, with the undeniable and unmistakable voice and vocal production of James Fauntleroy alongside modern jazz legend Terrace Martin with a track from their joint "Nova" EP.
Marco Polo : Yung Feathers
The man from Toronto with a trademark bit of modern boom-bap on this final instrumental, a track from his "MP on the MP : The Beat Tape Vol.1" release, a great pickup for anyone who appreciates good Hip-Hop production.
M-Beat ft. Nazlyn : Sweet Love
A big switch-up to end the episode, with a vintage UK track - a jungle remake of Anita Baker's 1986 classic "Sweet Love" with Nazlyn on vocals. Even as someone who didn't like jungle when it first emerged, I couldn't deny this one, an absolute classic reworking. I understand it actually sold well - hitting a high of no.18 in the charts back in 1994 - which goes to show that just sometimes, the public at large catches on to some real quality.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Come on and give me my props..."
- Diamond
Fifteen years! We started this ride in June 2009 and here we still are all these years later. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you'll stay with me for as long as I'm able to keep putting these shows together. The point of this podcast has never been to prioritise new releases, or to only ever look to the past, but a blend of the two. With that in mind, this month's mix certainly has some old personal favourites, a sprinkling of new music, and some obscurities and rarities! Listen, enjoy, and please do spread the word as widely as you can - as I always say, I have a lot of things, but no advertising budget 😆
I was racking my brain trying to come up with cover art that would reference the theme of fifteen...then realised that the infamous "4, 5, 6" combination sums up to that very number!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
The Thryday : Fantastic
The album this was ultimately released on is only available for silly money on the second-hand market, but at least I had this from an old mixtape ("WJLR Radio, Volume 1") to share with you! The Dutch master Nicolay is on production for this North Carolina group who were part of the Justus League family and appreciated by those in the know. This same beat, with the same name, is also on Nicolay's "City Lights" and the "City Lights 1.5" version, but with the rhymes that elevate it so...much harder to get!
[J Dilla] Jaylib : The Red (Instrumental)
You already know! One of the best-loved instrumentals from Dilla's post-Slum career - certainly if the reaction when I drop it in a set is anything to go by - and one that will move your speakers for sure. The original is from the famed "Champion Sound" collaboration between Dilla and Madlib, where each rhymes over the other's production, and now the full set of instrumentals is available, making the deluxe release a 100% must-own.
Jigmastas ft. Mos Def, Mr. Complex, Pharoahe Monch, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Talib Kweli : Lyrical Fluctuation Remix
This is a true all-star MC roster from the late 90s-early 00s independent scene, with DJ Spinna of Jigmastas on remix duties, bringing a different vibe to Joc Max's original, based on crazy short chops of a classic soul sample and having them cheerfully bounce along. I only got this 2000 release in the last few weeks, but have already played it on Twitch, digitised it, and am now sharing its eternally-fresh energy here!
Ghostface ft. Wigz : Outta The Way
"...in the gym throwing the dumbbells all out of order" - disgraceful conduct... Another usage of the same sample from the "Lyrical Fluctuation" remix, this Anthony Acid beat is more straightforward, with Ghostface and Wigz busting through with the energy of two guys rushing a bank! This was one of the standouts on the 2005 Ghostface and Trife "Put It On The Line" LP, though not released as a single despite the potential.
Mobb Deep : Feel My Gat Blow
The soundtrack to the Saul Williams-starring "Slam" was very much a mixed bag in the vein of many 90s-00s soundtracks, but certainly had a few standouts and otherwise-unreleased cuts from some greats, of which this is one. Havoc's beat sounds like a mix between a medieval court and 90s NYC, and the lyrical content is trademark Mobb.
Redman : Winicumuhround
As much as I love Redman's "Dare Iz A Darkside" album (which, notably, he doesn't - reminds him of a bad time), I had all but forgotten about this track until I pulled the vinyl out for a front-to-back listen recently. Erick Sermon and Redman combine on production to have this one thump along with a killer bassline-lead track, and Red is in fine form on the mic. With the voice of the late Hurricane G appearing as part of the densely-packed hook, this is a Def Squad heater for sure.
Pete Rock : Death Becomes You
Definitely one of my favourite Pete Rock beats of all time, but we had to wait a long time to get an instrumental! The original track was on the soundtrack for the 1993 classic "Menace II Society", but it wasn't until the 2019 release of Pete Rock's "Return Of The SP1200" album that we got this version. Absolutely flawless in the sense that there's not a single thing, as a listener or a DJ, that I would have wanted him to change.
Roots Manuva ft. Big P, Blackitude, Fallacy, Rodney P, Skeme : Witness The Swords
I'd be willing to bet that while most listeners, especially in the UK, will be very familiar with the classic Roots Manuva single "Witness (1 Hope)", most won't know this! It's a blend of the lyrics from "Swords In The Dirt" from Roots' second LP "Run Come Save Me" and the "Witness" beat, from the same album. As far as I know, the only place to find this one is the 2002 "Extra Yard (The Bouncement Revolution)" compilation on Big Dada Records, which is worth picking up for some quality UK cuts.
Big Boi ft. Cutty : Shutterbugg
As a photographer, I really should dig this one out more! Big Boi co-produces with Scott Storch on this single from his solo debut "Sir Lucious Left Foot : The Son Of Chico Dusty", which was actually a much bigger hit in the UK than in the US, where it somehow didn't even break the top 50 in the R&B charts. It's a hectic-sounding track which unexpectedly takes a sudden quiet break in the second verse - and it's at that point that we move along...
Stro Elliot : Soul II Stro
...and so we move with a quick transition into another track that not just references but heavily samples the classic "Back To Life" by the UKs own Soul II Soul, a Stro Elliot workout that's just undeniable in its groove. The samples of Caron Wheeler's vocals haunt at times before coming firmly into the foreground, while the drums and bass thump along with an accompanying keyboard line. That Stro Elliot sampled that 1989 classic on his self-titled LP twenty-seven years later is a testament to the power of the original.
Kokane ft. Lil Half Dead : Ghetto Music
When I saw the garage-filmed (high-quality though!) video for this, I kept waiting for the rapping to start - but nope, this is just a funk product from start to finish which, as the track says, will make you want to move! Despite "Da White Album" only being released in 2022, it was apparently recorded back in the early 00s while Kokane was working on Dr. Dre's "2001" LP but shelved for over twenty years. It manages to sound vintage P-funk, 90s G-Funk, and modern all at the same time. Kokane is a real "if you know, you know" artist who has been putting in work for many years, has collaborated with almost everyone you can name, and keeps on bringing the heat!
[Erick Sermon] Tha Truth : Red Lights (U Gotz 2 Chill '96) (instrumental)
If you know me, you know I love Zapp and Roger Troutman, which means that EPMD's classic "You Gots To Chill" single is a firm favourite. On this R&B single from Tha Truth, who only released one album back in 1997, they came out of the gate strong with Erick Sermon on production, reprising his sampling of "More Bounce To The Ounce" and even throwing in the "chill" sample from his original beat. Shout out to DJ Melo D of Beat Junkies, who was the only person I've heard playing this and the one who told me (on Twitch) what it was!
Diamond D, Sadat X, and Lord Finesse : You Can't Front
A great album cut, loved by those in the know, taken from the early 90s classic "Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop". Buckwild and Diamond's production is both clean and still vintage SP-era magic, with Diamond also grabbing the mic to spit a verse between two other greats. Sadat X was the perfect choice to go first, with his unique tone drawing you in immediately, and Lord Finesse brings it home strong.
Common : Dreamin'
For those that have missed the early chatter, here's a sample of the upcoming Common and Pete Rock LP, which promises to channel the specific forms of energy that each artist brought to their 90s work. If this beautifully-produced tale of a dream of a walk with Black greats both living and transitioned is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!
The Kid Daytona : Fly Lullaby
A deep cut from the 9th Wonder production discography, working with a loop that Pete Rock teased us with between tracks on "The Main Ingredient". The Kid Daytona is definitely a grown man now, but this was an early release from the Bronx native on his "The Interlude" mixtape from 2010 - where every track sampled some kind of intro or interlude from another Hip-Hop track. This is exactly the kind of overlooked track I like to throw in for anyone who might have missed it!
Dogg Pound ft. Snoop Dogg, RBX, and The Lady Of Rage : Who Da Hardest?
A grand reunion - would have left it to the last song as it is on the new Dogg Pound "W.A.W.G" album, but it fit so well here sonically that I changed my mind! For a coming together of West Coast legends, the biggest surprise is them bringing DJ Premier in on production, and maybe the most welcome is the featuring of The Lady of Rage, who has been a universally-loved MC since her star turn on "Afro Puffs". It's pretty long, but there's no instrumental outro and I didn't want you to miss out any of the MCs, so you get the whole thing here!
Terrace Martin & James Fauntleroy : Butterfly Effect
"Gotta stop taking life advice from songs" - I'd say that was good advice, but then that's also what you might call a circular problem! We go fully chill at the end of this section, with the undeniable and unmistakable voice and vocal production of James Fauntleroy alongside modern jazz legend Terrace Martin with a track from their joint "Nova" EP.
Marco Polo : Yung Feathers
The man from Toronto with a trademark bit of modern boom-bap on this final instrumental, a track from his "MP on the MP : The Beat Tape Vol.1" release, a great pickup for anyone who appreciates good Hip-Hop production.
M-Beat ft. Nazlyn : Sweet Love
A big switch-up to end the episode, with a vintage UK track - a jungle remake of Anita Baker's 1986 classic "Sweet Love" with Nazlyn on vocals. Even as someone who didn't like jungle when it first emerged, I couldn't deny this one, an absolute classic reworking. I understand it actually sold well - hitting a high of no.18 in the charts back in 1994 - which goes to show that just sometimes, the public at large catches on to some real quality.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Slashed all four tyres on the bandwagon..."
- Pos
The end of the fourteenth year of the show is here, with the numerically-satisfying number 180! It's been a good month for shows, with a highlight being seeing Edo G live for the first time, so I've included a couple of his tracks alongside some recent releases, a rarity or two, and some bonafide old classics. The show is a touch longer than usual, running a little over an hour, but hopefully it still flies by for you!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Edo G, DJ Yoda, and Brad Baloo : Talk About It
Coming off the back of seeing a great performance by Edo G and DJ Yoda at The Hip-Hop Chip Shop in Manchester this month, I thought we'd start the episode with a smooth selection from their new "Hometown Heroes" EP. Edo G is in his grown man rap bag on a Brad Baloo beat, with Yoda on the cut - and if the record he's cutting is what I think it is, then that's an A1 selection.
Visoneers : Swahililand
I finally got round to digitising the "Hipology" 7" box set, a 2012 release by Marc Mac's Visioneers project that features tributes to the Hip-Hop side of his influences, and notably contains several cover versions of famously-sampled tracks, of which this is one. This is a beautiful version of a track originally by the late great jazz pianist and composed Ahmad Jamal, which eventually breaks out into the part most people will recognise - the mighty chords sampled from the Jamal version by J Dilla for De La Soul's "Stakes Is High".
DJ Spinna ft. Dynas : More
Grab the "Sonic Smash" album by Spinna if you see it - it's no longer on streaming services and with it also not being available on Bandcamp, picking up a physical copy is the only way to secure yourself a copy of this really high-quality album. In the meantime, take this slice, with Spinna coming with his trademark synth bass as the centre of the instrumental, and Miami's Dynas, a longtime collaborator, spitting a positive message on the mic.
Buscrates ft. Soraya Watti : On My Way
It was great to hear Buscrates play this track during a DJ set on Twitch recently while Soraya Watti was actually in the chat - the love she was getting was beautiful. This warm, bassy, soulful cut is the closer on last year's "Control Center" LP, a triumph from the Pittsburgh synth maestro.
Curren$y ft. Freddie Gibbs : Stash House
Eighties vibes here on the production, with 808-Ray going vaporwave style on the main sample and then adding his drum track to it. Curren$y fills this lane extremely well, as he uses his trademark relaxed flow to liken the dope stuff being exported out of his studio to...well, actual dope...while guest Freddie Gibbs just jumps straight out of the analogies and into the street for real. This is from the "Andretti 12/30", which was one of twelve (!) monthly releases Curren$y did back in 2016 - he might sound relaxed enough to be able to fall off the floor, but he's one of the most prolific MCs of his generation.
Fat Pat : Tops Drop
RIP Fat Pat, the creator of a true Southern classic that just overflows with good vibes! J Slash on production brings in the bassline groove from an 80s soul classic on this track from Pat's debut "Ghetto Dreams", and the lyrics are just about the joys of stunting in a nice convertible. This still gets plenty of play to this day on its home turf, and the youngsters at University of Houston basketball games hear it as the team's theme music - even though it was released before they were born!
Ilajide : Number One
The exact flavour of banging beat we've come to expect from Detroit's Ilajide, with the drums smacking, the main sample stuttering and the bass coming in strong to undergird it all. I might need to go and find/buy the original sample, which plays for a few seconds quietly at the very end, but you can find this track and some other excellent work on the "3" album.
Declaime : Exclaim The Name
A track with a bump so urgent it almost feels like it's tripping over itself (courtesy of Kankick), this is quality turn of the century underground business out of Oxnard, California from the 2001 "Andsoitisaid" LP. Declaime is perhaps better known to many as Dudley Perkins - especially if you follow the Stones Throw label - and while he can sing, don't get confused and think his bars aren't tough.
Semi Six : 24K Rap
One thing about a Semi Six record is that you rarely get a long and clear intro, which might not be ideal for us DJs but shows how eager he is to get on and demolish the track! It's fitting that he mentions Raekwon here, as the track draws its title from a track that Rae and Havoc did with J Dilla that came out on the 2009 posthumous LP "Jay Stay Paid". AntBell! produces this new single, while Semi delivers, as promised, the golden era rhymes he mentions in the hook.
Edo G ft. Krumb Snatcha and Jaysaun : Stop Dat
Pure Boston on the mic here, with the message from all the MCs being an emphatic recommendation to stay true to yourself rather than putting out a false image - one that at best is an embarrassment, and at worst a safety risk. Pete Rock's beat smacks without overly dominating, leaving space for you to understand every single word. The place to find this is the "My Own Worst Enemy" album, which has been re-released digitally in recent years with the instrumentals for every track bundled in, making it a true Hip-Hop DJ jewel.
De La Soul : Big Mouf
A bit of an obscurity for you! "Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run" was a collaboration between De La and Nike (yes, the shoe company) that was intended to be part of a series of albums as soundtracks for runners. The whole thing is a largely continuous mix, and has some really good tracks that even dedicated De La fans might not know! This particular track is a heavy Dave West production with an incredibly long intro before the lyrics properly kick in - that isn't me cutting it back and forth or extending it, the original sounds like that. You might struggle to find this one - I don't think it's on any of the streaming services or download stores, and the 2009 vinyl that I got at the time only pops up for sale occasionally.
DJ Nu-Mark ft. Full Crate : Pass The Courvoisier
Another cover version, this time of a Pharrell-produced Busta Rhymes club banger, which was a highlight of the 2021 "Run For Cover" album - a full version excursion from a DJ known best as part of Jurassic 5. Nu-Mark links up with Full Crate, a producer from Armenia via the Netherlands, for a horn-laden track that could almost make you believe that it's an old original that the Busta record was reworking!
James Brown : Don't Tell A Lie About Me And I Won't Tell The Truth On You
Topical 😆 A slice of funk from "Hell", The Godfather's thirty-eighth studio album, released back in 1974. You may well recognise this title as it was borrowed almost word-for-word for a recent lyric!
[Easy Mo Bee] Termanology : It's Time
This is the tasty, but extremely short, beat that opens up Term's "Politics As Usual" LP, produced by the great Easy Mo Bee. I'd almost forgotten about it, but it provides a nice bridge into the next cut...
Portishead : Strangers
There's not much I can say about the brilliant Portishead debut album "Dummy" that hasn't been said by full-time writers, so just take it from me - it's a must-listen. Beth Gibbons' voice is processed here as though it's coming from a recording decades older, and the union of that and that heavy production was highly innovative at the time.
Chalk : Stay With Me
This month we were treated to a new release by Manchester artist Chalk that has been four years in the making, a real labour of love. His new LP "Death Knocks And He Shall Die" is a film noir-influenced instrumental album, a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist - think of a darker, more vintage take on Prince Paul's "A Prince Among Thieves" without any MCs. It's best appreciated over the full length of its sixteen tracks, but this is a nice sample of what you can expect. When I played this track on a recent Twitch stream, at least a couple of people immediately said that it reminded them of DJ Shadow's "Endtroducing" - high praise indeed.
Planet Asia : Place Of Birth
I can't remember where I first heard this, but it was probably an underground mixtape somewhere, and it reminds me of the kind of thing I often used to end up buying when I was supposed to be shopping for tracks for a club night! Planet Asia is a veteran MC out of Fresno, California, and this 1999 single was a fine one as just the second release in his career. He gets a big assist here from two-thirds of Cali compatriots Dilated Peoples - Evidence's beat is dark and fairly sparse, with Babu's cuts adding extra texture in the hooks, intro, and outro.
Evil Needle ft. Venuz Beats : Dive
Evil Needle is becoming a favorite instrumental producer of mine, and together with Venuz Beats he brings us a heavy-bottomed yet floaty head-nodder which you can find on the "Sound Escapes" EP - well worth picking up just for this one.
UGK : Ridin' Dirty
Finishing up with another Southern classic, another car themed track, but a world away from the celebratory air of "Tops Drop". As funky and mellow as the late Pimp C's production is, this is lyrically dark and paranoid - but as a wise man once said, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. The "they" in this case are the police and their informants, the natural enemies of anyone riding in a car carrying something that they legally shouldn't be... This is the title track from UGK's third LP, and a perfect example of what Pimp C's stepfather meant when advised his son to "put some music into" his Hip-Hop - the multi-instrumentalist was a master at bringing that live feel to his work in a way that ensures it hasn't dated a day.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Slashed all four tyres on the bandwagon..."
- Pos
The end of the fourteenth year of the show is here, with the numerically-satisfying number 180! It's been a good month for shows, with a highlight being seeing Edo G live for the first time, so I've included a couple of his tracks alongside some recent releases, a rarity or two, and some bonafide old classics. The show is a touch longer than usual, running a little over an hour, but hopefully it still flies by for you!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Edo G, DJ Yoda, and Brad Baloo : Talk About It
Coming off the back of seeing a great performance by Edo G and DJ Yoda at The Hip-Hop Chip Shop in Manchester this month, I thought we'd start the episode with a smooth selection from their new "Hometown Heroes" EP. Edo G is in his grown man rap bag on a Brad Baloo beat, with Yoda on the cut - and if the record he's cutting is what I think it is, then that's an A1 selection.
Visoneers : Swahililand
I finally got round to digitising the "Hipology" 7" box set, a 2012 release by Marc Mac's Visioneers project that features tributes to the Hip-Hop side of his influences, and notably contains several cover versions of famously-sampled tracks, of which this is one. This is a beautiful version of a track originally by the late great jazz pianist and composed Ahmad Jamal, which eventually breaks out into the part most people will recognise - the mighty chords sampled from the Jamal version by J Dilla for De La Soul's "Stakes Is High".
DJ Spinna ft. Dynas : More
Grab the "Sonic Smash" album by Spinna if you see it - it's no longer on streaming services and with it also not being available on Bandcamp, picking up a physical copy is the only way to secure yourself a copy of this really high-quality album. In the meantime, take this slice, with Spinna coming with his trademark synth bass as the centre of the instrumental, and Miami's Dynas, a longtime collaborator, spitting a positive message on the mic.
Buscrates ft. Soraya Watti : On My Way
It was great to hear Buscrates play this track during a DJ set on Twitch recently while Soraya Watti was actually in the chat - the love she was getting was beautiful. This warm, bassy, soulful cut is the closer on last year's "Control Center" LP, a triumph from the Pittsburgh synth maestro.
Curren$y ft. Freddie Gibbs : Stash House
Eighties vibes here on the production, with 808-Ray going vaporwave style on the main sample and then adding his drum track to it. Curren$y fills this lane extremely well, as he uses his trademark relaxed flow to liken the dope stuff being exported out of his studio to...well, actual dope...while guest Freddie Gibbs just jumps straight out of the analogies and into the street for real. This is from the "Andretti 12/30", which was one of twelve (!) monthly releases Curren$y did back in 2016 - he might sound relaxed enough to be able to fall off the floor, but he's one of the most prolific MCs of his generation.
Fat Pat : Tops Drop
RIP Fat Pat, the creator of a true Southern classic that just overflows with good vibes! J Slash on production brings in the bassline groove from an 80s soul classic on this track from Pat's debut "Ghetto Dreams", and the lyrics are just about the joys of stunting in a nice convertible. This still gets plenty of play to this day on its home turf, and the youngsters at University of Houston basketball games hear it as the team's theme music - even though it was released before they were born!
Ilajide : Number One
The exact flavour of banging beat we've come to expect from Detroit's Ilajide, with the drums smacking, the main sample stuttering and the bass coming in strong to undergird it all. I might need to go and find/buy the original sample, which plays for a few seconds quietly at the very end, but you can find this track and some other excellent work on the "3" album.
Declaime : Exclaim The Name
A track with a bump so urgent it almost feels like it's tripping over itself (courtesy of Kankick), this is quality turn of the century underground business out of Oxnard, California from the 2001 "Andsoitisaid" LP. Declaime is perhaps better known to many as Dudley Perkins - especially if you follow the Stones Throw label - and while he can sing, don't get confused and think his bars aren't tough.
Semi Six : 24K Rap
One thing about a Semi Six record is that you rarely get a long and clear intro, which might not be ideal for us DJs but shows how eager he is to get on and demolish the track! It's fitting that he mentions Raekwon here, as the track draws its title from a track that Rae and Havoc did with J Dilla that came out on the 2009 posthumous LP "Jay Stay Paid". AntBell! produces this new single, while Semi delivers, as promised, the golden era rhymes he mentions in the hook.
Edo G ft. Krumb Snatcha and Jaysaun : Stop Dat
Pure Boston on the mic here, with the message from all the MCs being an emphatic recommendation to stay true to yourself rather than putting out a false image - one that at best is an embarrassment, and at worst a safety risk. Pete Rock's beat smacks without overly dominating, leaving space for you to understand every single word. The place to find this is the "My Own Worst Enemy" album, which has been re-released digitally in recent years with the instrumentals for every track bundled in, making it a true Hip-Hop DJ jewel.
De La Soul : Big Mouf
A bit of an obscurity for you! "Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run" was a collaboration between De La and Nike (yes, the shoe company) that was intended to be part of a series of albums as soundtracks for runners. The whole thing is a largely continuous mix, and has some really good tracks that even dedicated De La fans might not know! This particular track is a heavy Dave West production with an incredibly long intro before the lyrics properly kick in - that isn't me cutting it back and forth or extending it, the original sounds like that. You might struggle to find this one - I don't think it's on any of the streaming services or download stores, and the 2009 vinyl that I got at the time only pops up for sale occasionally.
DJ Nu-Mark ft. Full Crate : Pass The Courvoisier
Another cover version, this time of a Pharrell-produced Busta Rhymes club banger, which was a highlight of the 2021 "Run For Cover" album - a full version excursion from a DJ known best as part of Jurassic 5. Nu-Mark links up with Full Crate, a producer from Armenia via the Netherlands, for a horn-laden track that could almost make you believe that it's an old original that the Busta record was reworking!
James Brown : Don't Tell A Lie About Me And I Won't Tell The Truth On You
Topical 😆 A slice of funk from "Hell", The Godfather's thirty-eighth studio album, released back in 1974. You may well recognise this title as it was borrowed almost word-for-word for a recent lyric!
[Easy Mo Bee] Termanology : It's Time
This is the tasty, but extremely short, beat that opens up Term's "Politics As Usual" LP, produced by the great Easy Mo Bee. I'd almost forgotten about it, but it provides a nice bridge into the next cut...
Portishead : Strangers
There's not much I can say about the brilliant Portishead debut album "Dummy" that hasn't been said by full-time writers, so just take it from me - it's a must-listen. Beth Gibbons' voice is processed here as though it's coming from a recording decades older, and the union of that and that heavy production was highly innovative at the time.
Chalk : Stay With Me
This month we were treated to a new release by Manchester artist Chalk that has been four years in the making, a real labour of love. His new LP "Death Knocks And He Shall Die" is a film noir-influenced instrumental album, a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist - think of a darker, more vintage take on Prince Paul's "A Prince Among Thieves" without any MCs. It's best appreciated over the full length of its sixteen tracks, but this is a nice sample of what you can expect. When I played this track on a recent Twitch stream, at least a couple of people immediately said that it reminded them of DJ Shadow's "Endtroducing" - high praise indeed.
Planet Asia : Place Of Birth
I can't remember where I first heard this, but it was probably an underground mixtape somewhere, and it reminds me of the kind of thing I often used to end up buying when I was supposed to be shopping for tracks for a club night! Planet Asia is a veteran MC out of Fresno, California, and this 1999 single was a fine one as just the second release in his career. He gets a big assist here from two-thirds of Cali compatriots Dilated Peoples - Evidence's beat is dark and fairly sparse, with Babu's cuts adding extra texture in the hooks, intro, and outro.
Evil Needle ft. Venuz Beats : Dive
Evil Needle is becoming a favorite instrumental producer of mine, and together with Venuz Beats he brings us a heavy-bottomed yet floaty head-nodder which you can find on the "Sound Escapes" EP - well worth picking up just for this one.
UGK : Ridin' Dirty
Finishing up with another Southern classic, another car themed track, but a world away from the celebratory air of "Tops Drop". As funky and mellow as the late Pimp C's production is, this is lyrically dark and paranoid - but as a wise man once said, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. The "they" in this case are the police and their informants, the natural enemies of anyone riding in a car carrying something that they legally shouldn't be... This is the title track from UGK's third LP, and a perfect example of what Pimp C's stepfather meant when advised his son to "put some music into" his Hip-Hop - the multi-instrumentalist was a master at bringing that live feel to his work in a way that ensures it hasn't dated a day.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"If you're wrong, you're wrong, and if you're right, you're right."
- Malcolm X
It's been a rough month in the Hip-Hop community, as we've said goodbye to Mister Cee, Rico Wade of Organized Noize, MC Duke, and Keith LeBlanc, all of whom are included in this episode's selection. Rest in peace to all, and thanks to them for all their contributions.
Despite spending a fair amount of time (and £) digging in the vintage crates this month, the selection is mostly a mix of exploring my existing colllection, plus a few new brand new digital releases. I will be very impressed if there's anyone who knows every track here already!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13 - see upcoming schedule @ events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
MysDiggi : Skull Island
It was a pleasure to hear the well-respected UK MC MysDiggi explain some of his approach to writing and maintaining a career at the Hip-Hop @ 50 event at the Contact Theatre in Manchester recently, and so I wanted to include a track from him on this episode! On this track from "Tip Of Da Mysberg 3", he's in full King Kong mode over an 8-bit-style beat from Manchester's Twizted Roots (now Strange Soul Music) that has demolished the room when he's played it at the WORKINONIT producer sessions. A perfect union for a literally monster tune!
[Dabrye] Bus : Keep Life Right Remix (Instrumental)
Bass and more bass, following up with another electronic track that was very popular in Manchester on the underground scene in the early nineties. The vocal version has lyrics by Scottish MC Soom-T, and if you go all the way back to Episode 55 you can hear it there - though of course, if you like it, I recommend buying a copy!
Sparkz : Buzzin
Last year's "Overload" EP by Manchester's Sparkz was a great release on High Focus records, with five tracks entirely produced as well as written by the man himself - and with a touch not seen nearly enough these days, all the instrumentals coming included as well! This is the opener and probably my favourite, with a nice relaxed bounce to the rhythm and the lyrics flowing over nice and easy...until he ramps it up with some devastating double-speed bars! I don't know if any of the vinyl copies of this are still available, but it's on Bandcamp so you can pick it up for yourself there.
OutKast : Elevators (ONP 86 Mix)
Of course there had to be some Rico Wade this month, and so I've gone back to what is still my favourite OutKast LP ("ATLiens") for the remix of the lead single. It retains some of the same spooky keys as the OutKast-produced original but overall swaps elements out for something more of a live feel, you could say - almost like a funk band putting their own spin on it.
Cookin Soul & The Musalini ft. Planet Asia : I Want It All
Mus has been cultivating his New York take on the "gentleman of leisure" lane, and this luxurious track is a standout on the newly-released "Mackaroni" album, with Valencia's Cookin Soul hooking up an Anita Baker sample for a short and sweet cut, with both Mus and guest Planet Asia cooking (no pun intended) up visions of fly living, with those Mediterranean lamb chops sounding good right about now...
Z-Ro ft. Mya : Clearer
This has been a track on repeat for me this month, great track from Rother Vandross' new "The Ghetto Gospel" LP. He's never really made a mainstream splash, but those who know him have no choice but to appreciate and respect him. Getting the legendary Mya to feature here was a big win, and Beanz & KornBread on production beautifully interpolate a Houston classic for a sparkling clean track perfect for when the sun does eventually appear!
DJ DMD : 25 Lighters (Instrumental)
I was utterly amazed to find out that I'd never played any version of this track on the show before, but with the preceding tune drawing heavily from this Houston anthem, I had to drop the instrumental at least. DJ DMD sampled the classic "Nite and Day" by Al B. Sure and hooked it up perfectly for an absolute classic which has been referenced by many within the culture - and even covered by ZZ Top!
Polyrhythm Addicts : Smash
Banging, bludgeoning Hip-Hop right here, with DJ Spinna's beat indeed out to smash everything in sight. This is taken from the second Polyrhythm Addicts LP, "Break Glass...", which saw Apani B. Fly step away from the group and the also-ill Tiye Phoenix take her spot. I think I missed this the first time round, only really hearing the debut LP, but after happening upon this it sounds like the lesser-known second album is worth seeking out.
Slum Village & Mick Boogie ft. Rapper Big Pooh and Vice : Fresh
This isn't the sound that many associate with Slum Village, but they've produced some pretty varied material sonically through the different lineups of the group over the years. The intentionally raw "Dirty Slums" mixtape by Mick Boogie featured this grimy track, with banging drums, wailing electric guitar and dirty synth bass, plus the Detroit crew bringing in reinforcement from North Carolina in the shape of Little Brother's Rapper Big Pooh.
Dungeon Family : Curtains (DF 2nd Generation)
Going into the Organized Noize/Rico Wade catalogue again, this was a track at the end of Dungeon Family's "Even In Darkness" album, and as the subtitle indicates, showcases the members of the crew who were up next after OutKast, Goodie Mob, and the rest. The one who probably jumps out to most is Killer Mike, who has gone on to have a long career as a soloist and as half of Run The Jewels, but everyone holds theirs down on this track. For those that might not have known, The Dungeon was the name of the basement studio in Rico's mother's house, where he and the rest of the crew honed their crafts and did their first recordings; it's nice that the name lives on.
Nas & DJ Premier : Define My Name
If you're a very online Hip-Hop fan, you'll certainly have heard this track already, but I thought I'd share it for those who aren't! This is the lead single from the long, long-awaited Nas and Preemo album - and as much as some people complain they wanted it years ago, things happen when they happen. Nas breaks down his actual name and then looks back over his history from the viewpoint of someone who, like the rest of us, might not have imagined that nineteen-year-old who wrote "Illmatic" still releasing heat at fifty! DJ Premier's beat is sparse in one of his signature styles, and of course his near-trademark scratch phrase hook is in effect. The wait is almost over...
[Mark B] & Blade : Sealed With A Diss (Instrumental)
RIP Mark B, who along with Blade made a great duo that even managed to get some mainstream success after years of holding it down on the underground. This track, the second A-side cut on the 2001 "There's No Stoppin' It" EP, was the answer to all those who took shots at them because of that success, with this urgent beat and Blade playing no games on the mic!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Kool Keith Model Android 406
Sound quality is a bit rough, combined with some...interesting ideas on panning, but hopefully that doesn't take away too much from this Ultramagnetic rarity! It's on a compilation called "The B-Sides Companion", but I can't seem to find what, if anything, it was ever on the B-side of - information would be appreciated. By the way, if you're looking to buy the compilation you might want to get the CD, as the overall pressing quality of the vinyl isn't great.
Malcolm X : No Sell Out
I was sure I'd played this recently, but couldn't find any record of it so I must have just been listening in the house 😆 Keith LeBlanc was the producer here (though the record is credited to Malcolm X), and he had the idea of combining spoken word samples (this back in 1983!) with a beat, after hearing Grandmaster Flash playing part of the famed Dirty Harry "do you feel lucky?" speech over a record. A drummer by trade, he built the track completely with drum machines, the cutting-edge tech of the time, and then laid quotes from the legendary freedom fighter over the top. It was controversial in some circles, but if nothing else, he ensured that he got permission from Malcolm's widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz, and that the family got paid. Love it or hate it, this was a groundbreaking record for sure, and one that preceded the Afrocentric Hip-Hop era where Malcolm's words very much came to the fore.
Big Daddy Kane : Mister Cee's Master Plan
We hardly have DJs in rap groups anymore, so the DJ track has long since sadly been consigned to the history books in all but a handful of cases. However, there was a time it was a must and Big Daddy Kane cedes the spotlight on this cut from his debut "Long Live The Kane" to his DJ, the recently-departed Mister Cee, bigging him up on the mic and then letting him cut it up on the turntables. Plan executed.
Gang Starr : Take A Rest (Take 5 Remix)
Of course there had to be some Guru this month, so here we have a remix of an old classic from the "Step In The Arena" LP. London's CJ Mackintosh gets on the boards for this one, keeping the foundation of DJ Premier's production but blending a little extra jazz into it! I picked this up on a compilation of Gang Starr rarities, but the official place to find it is on the B-side of the UK release of "Take A Rest" itself.
Sadat X : The Great Dot X (Instrumental)
The wax I got this on (a sampler of tracks from the Stimulated label) unfortunately doesn't credit the producer, but this takes an old R&B (in the original sense) dancefloor classic that was a big single in its day...and wisely, doesn't mess with it too much!
Duke : Return Of The Dread-I
We close the episode with a track from the late MC Duke, a UK pioneer who got his start when he served up the winner of a DMC MC battle who said he could beat anyone in the place! He was signed to the famed Music of Life label, on which he released two LPs - "Return Of The Dread-I" being the second. Of course, it heavily channels "Star Wars" in the way you'd expect from the title, with Double H Productions working the vocal samples into the hook of this frenetic track, with Duke himself coming with the rebel attitude like Luke Skywalker and the aggression of his father. RIP Duke.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"If you're wrong, you're wrong, and if you're right, you're right."
- Malcolm X
It's been a rough month in the Hip-Hop community, as we've said goodbye to Mister Cee, Rico Wade of Organized Noize, MC Duke, and Keith LeBlanc, all of whom are included in this episode's selection. Rest in peace to all, and thanks to them for all their contributions.
Despite spending a fair amount of time (and £) digging in the vintage crates this month, the selection is mostly a mix of exploring my existing colllection, plus a few new brand new digital releases. I will be very impressed if there's anyone who knows every track here already!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13 - see upcoming schedule @ events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
MysDiggi : Skull Island
It was a pleasure to hear the well-respected UK MC MysDiggi explain some of his approach to writing and maintaining a career at the Hip-Hop @ 50 event at the Contact Theatre in Manchester recently, and so I wanted to include a track from him on this episode! On this track from "Tip Of Da Mysberg 3", he's in full King Kong mode over an 8-bit-style beat from Manchester's Twizted Roots (now Strange Soul Music) that has demolished the room when he's played it at the WORKINONIT producer sessions. A perfect union for a literally monster tune!
[Dabrye] Bus : Keep Life Right Remix (Instrumental)
Bass and more bass, following up with another electronic track that was very popular in Manchester on the underground scene in the early nineties. The vocal version has lyrics by Scottish MC Soom-T, and if you go all the way back to Episode 55 you can hear it there - though of course, if you like it, I recommend buying a copy!
Sparkz : Buzzin
Last year's "Overload" EP by Manchester's Sparkz was a great release on High Focus records, with five tracks entirely produced as well as written by the man himself - and with a touch not seen nearly enough these days, all the instrumentals coming included as well! This is the opener and probably my favourite, with a nice relaxed bounce to the rhythm and the lyrics flowing over nice and easy...until he ramps it up with some devastating double-speed bars! I don't know if any of the vinyl copies of this are still available, but it's on Bandcamp so you can pick it up for yourself there.
OutKast : Elevators (ONP 86 Mix)
Of course there had to be some Rico Wade this month, and so I've gone back to what is still my favourite OutKast LP ("ATLiens") for the remix of the lead single. It retains some of the same spooky keys as the OutKast-produced original but overall swaps elements out for something more of a live feel, you could say - almost like a funk band putting their own spin on it.
Cookin Soul & The Musalini ft. Planet Asia : I Want It All
Mus has been cultivating his New York take on the "gentleman of leisure" lane, and this luxurious track is a standout on the newly-released "Mackaroni" album, with Valencia's Cookin Soul hooking up an Anita Baker sample for a short and sweet cut, with both Mus and guest Planet Asia cooking (no pun intended) up visions of fly living, with those Mediterranean lamb chops sounding good right about now...
Z-Ro ft. Mya : Clearer
This has been a track on repeat for me this month, great track from Rother Vandross' new "The Ghetto Gospel" LP. He's never really made a mainstream splash, but those who know him have no choice but to appreciate and respect him. Getting the legendary Mya to feature here was a big win, and Beanz & KornBread on production beautifully interpolate a Houston classic for a sparkling clean track perfect for when the sun does eventually appear!
DJ DMD : 25 Lighters (Instrumental)
I was utterly amazed to find out that I'd never played any version of this track on the show before, but with the preceding tune drawing heavily from this Houston anthem, I had to drop the instrumental at least. DJ DMD sampled the classic "Nite and Day" by Al B. Sure and hooked it up perfectly for an absolute classic which has been referenced by many within the culture - and even covered by ZZ Top!
Polyrhythm Addicts : Smash
Banging, bludgeoning Hip-Hop right here, with DJ Spinna's beat indeed out to smash everything in sight. This is taken from the second Polyrhythm Addicts LP, "Break Glass...", which saw Apani B. Fly step away from the group and the also-ill Tiye Phoenix take her spot. I think I missed this the first time round, only really hearing the debut LP, but after happening upon this it sounds like the lesser-known second album is worth seeking out.
Slum Village & Mick Boogie ft. Rapper Big Pooh and Vice : Fresh
This isn't the sound that many associate with Slum Village, but they've produced some pretty varied material sonically through the different lineups of the group over the years. The intentionally raw "Dirty Slums" mixtape by Mick Boogie featured this grimy track, with banging drums, wailing electric guitar and dirty synth bass, plus the Detroit crew bringing in reinforcement from North Carolina in the shape of Little Brother's Rapper Big Pooh.
Dungeon Family : Curtains (DF 2nd Generation)
Going into the Organized Noize/Rico Wade catalogue again, this was a track at the end of Dungeon Family's "Even In Darkness" album, and as the subtitle indicates, showcases the members of the crew who were up next after OutKast, Goodie Mob, and the rest. The one who probably jumps out to most is Killer Mike, who has gone on to have a long career as a soloist and as half of Run The Jewels, but everyone holds theirs down on this track. For those that might not have known, The Dungeon was the name of the basement studio in Rico's mother's house, where he and the rest of the crew honed their crafts and did their first recordings; it's nice that the name lives on.
Nas & DJ Premier : Define My Name
If you're a very online Hip-Hop fan, you'll certainly have heard this track already, but I thought I'd share it for those who aren't! This is the lead single from the long, long-awaited Nas and Preemo album - and as much as some people complain they wanted it years ago, things happen when they happen. Nas breaks down his actual name and then looks back over his history from the viewpoint of someone who, like the rest of us, might not have imagined that nineteen-year-old who wrote "Illmatic" still releasing heat at fifty! DJ Premier's beat is sparse in one of his signature styles, and of course his near-trademark scratch phrase hook is in effect. The wait is almost over...
[Mark B] & Blade : Sealed With A Diss (Instrumental)
RIP Mark B, who along with Blade made a great duo that even managed to get some mainstream success after years of holding it down on the underground. This track, the second A-side cut on the 2001 "There's No Stoppin' It" EP, was the answer to all those who took shots at them because of that success, with this urgent beat and Blade playing no games on the mic!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Kool Keith Model Android 406
Sound quality is a bit rough, combined with some...interesting ideas on panning, but hopefully that doesn't take away too much from this Ultramagnetic rarity! It's on a compilation called "The B-Sides Companion", but I can't seem to find what, if anything, it was ever on the B-side of - information would be appreciated. By the way, if you're looking to buy the compilation you might want to get the CD, as the overall pressing quality of the vinyl isn't great.
Malcolm X : No Sell Out
I was sure I'd played this recently, but couldn't find any record of it so I must have just been listening in the house 😆 Keith LeBlanc was the producer here (though the record is credited to Malcolm X), and he had the idea of combining spoken word samples (this back in 1983!) with a beat, after hearing Grandmaster Flash playing part of the famed Dirty Harry "do you feel lucky?" speech over a record. A drummer by trade, he built the track completely with drum machines, the cutting-edge tech of the time, and then laid quotes from the legendary freedom fighter over the top. It was controversial in some circles, but if nothing else, he ensured that he got permission from Malcolm's widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz, and that the family got paid. Love it or hate it, this was a groundbreaking record for sure, and one that preceded the Afrocentric Hip-Hop era where Malcolm's words very much came to the fore.
Big Daddy Kane : Mister Cee's Master Plan
We hardly have DJs in rap groups anymore, so the DJ track has long since sadly been consigned to the history books in all but a handful of cases. However, there was a time it was a must and Big Daddy Kane cedes the spotlight on this cut from his debut "Long Live The Kane" to his DJ, the recently-departed Mister Cee, bigging him up on the mic and then letting him cut it up on the turntables. Plan executed.
Gang Starr : Take A Rest (Take 5 Remix)
Of course there had to be some Guru this month, so here we have a remix of an old classic from the "Step In The Arena" LP. London's CJ Mackintosh gets on the boards for this one, keeping the foundation of DJ Premier's production but blending a little extra jazz into it! I picked this up on a compilation of Gang Starr rarities, but the official place to find it is on the B-side of the UK release of "Take A Rest" itself.
Sadat X : The Great Dot X (Instrumental)
The wax I got this on (a sampler of tracks from the Stimulated label) unfortunately doesn't credit the producer, but this takes an old R&B (in the original sense) dancefloor classic that was a big single in its day...and wisely, doesn't mess with it too much!
Duke : Return Of The Dread-I
We close the episode with a track from the late MC Duke, a UK pioneer who got his start when he served up the winner of a DMC MC battle who said he could beat anyone in the place! He was signed to the famed Music of Life label, on which he released two LPs - "Return Of The Dread-I" being the second. Of course, it heavily channels "Star Wars" in the way you'd expect from the title, with Double H Productions working the vocal samples into the hook of this frenetic track, with Duke himself coming with the rebel attitude like Luke Skywalker and the aggression of his father. RIP Duke.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...just to show how many come to the funeral."
- Tee
There's some very serious Hip-Hop in this month's selection - from the rugged to the smooth, and from some old and even unreleased material to brand new releases! Of course we pay tribute to Biggie, Phife, and Nate Dogg, with some music that may have passed you by previously.
RIP Bo$$...I make a point of not repeating tracks on the podcast, but her classic single "Deeper" is in the mix on episode 37 if you fancy going back nearly twelve years into the archives. Her run may have been short, but the talent was there.
Oh yes - the Hieroglyphics gig in Manchester this June still has some tickets available!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Event/stream schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G and 2Pac : Where Brooklyn At? (Freestyle)
Starting off raw, but also very much a selection that makes you sad when you consider what was lost - first a friendship, then two lives. Biggie and 2Pac took the stage together in 1993 at Madison Square Garden for this memorable freestyle performance (with some of the lyrics later turning up on other tracks), and DJ Mister Cee had the presence of mind to record it to cassette. The sound quality might be rough, but it's history. RIP to Biggie and 2Pac.
[Oh No] Grand Agent : After
This track is a shockingly short fifty-two seconds long, so I had to loop it up here to give a long enough instrumental bed for the voiceover - and it's a shame because it's easily one of the best beat on the "Under The Circumstances" project that Oh No produced for Grand Agent back in 2005. This was another bit of wax that I rediscovered during The Great Digitisation, and I'm glad I did - for everyone who missed it the first time round, there's a very affordable digital release!
The Eastsidaz ft. Butch Cassidy, Nate Dogg, and Kokane : Cool
We start the first mix over on the West Coast, Long Beach to be precise, with The Eastsidaz, a group made up of Snoop, Big Tray Deee, and Goldie Loc, and essentially a reprise of a previous group The Eastsiders that had Snoop, Crooked I, and Li'l C-Style as members. While the original group only released one song officially, the later lineup is much better-known, and their second LP "Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way" is a well-regarded album for those who appreciate the style. The late great Nate Dogg blesses them with some vocals on the hook here, alongside the multi-talented but oft-overlooked Butch Cassidy who is actually the lead singer here, and another connoisseur's choice in Pomona's Kokane. The producer isn't one that you might immediately expect, but in fact Hi-Tek working with MCs who are spitting material far from the Reflection Eternal sphere!
Tyler Daley : Never Look Down
The first of a run of three Manchester tracks, this is a brand new single from half of Children of Zeus, taken from his aptly-named "Son of Zeus" EP. Thematically this could have been part of Zeus' "Balance" album, with Tyler both rhyming and singing about the challenges and pressures of balancing family life and a music career, over the kind of modern soul production that is a crew trademark. Definitely get yourself a copy of this new release.
Berry Blacc, Dubbul O, & Jointhedots : The Rain
Possibly the most appropriately-named record that could come from Manchester, Jointhedots are back with their second release of the year, with longtime collaborators Dubbul O and Berry Blacc on the mic. The jazzy, chilled vibe of the instrumental is a trademark of the crew, and both MCs settle into it perfectly - not trying to dominate it, not running wild, just fitting in as two more instruments, lyrical ones of course. Grab this single and keep an eye out for future releases...🤞🏿
KinKai & Mecca:83 : Safe Don't Say
Short, but one where they leave us wanting more! A third straight local selection, this was on the mammoth "Manchester With Love" compilation that raised money after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. With over 200 tracks, it was easy for any individual track to slip under the radar, and somehow this gem did for me! Mecca:83 supplies a piano-led track with a little acoustic guitar in the back, and KinKai displays a preview of the quality he delivered on his debut LP three years later.
[DJ Quik] Suga Free : On My Way (Inst)
Playing instrumentals allows me to feature some songs which might be lyrically a bit...much - and plenty of Suga Free's material fits into that category! The vocal version is on his debut LP "Street Gospel", which is entirely produced by the man behind the boards here, Compton's own DJ Quik.
Math Hoffa : Comeback
Absolute fire - this was being trailed at the start of Math's "My Expert Opinion" podcast videos on Youtube before the full video surfaced. Still, as I said in the comments, I wasn't counting it as a release until the audio was out to stream or buy, and now it is! Wordplay and punchlines are the name of the game here, as the renowned battle rapper and podcast host starts off talking about his iced-out watch and takes it from there. GQ Beatz does a stellar job on production, taking a well-known Janet Jackson sample as the basis and filling out beautifully around it. I'm a huge fan of this single.
Paul Wall & Termanology ft. CL Smooth : It's Magic
The sound of this track is so chunky I wondered for a sec if Statik Selektah had sampled the Alex Isley cover version of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me", but it's the original, expertly augmented. Taken from last year's "Start, Finish, Repeat" album, this may have been an autumn release but it's got summer anthem (for the heads) written all over it. CL Smooth is the perfect guest star, Paul Wall is spitting heavy too, and Termanology brings it home with his rapid-fire flow. Expect to hear this on my Twitch streams and mixes this year!
Large Professor : The LP (For My People)
Classic boom-bap - which was, with a different sentiment, the feeling of Geffen Records, who didn't know what to do with "The LP" when it was completed in 1996 as they felt it was too retro. Well, it's still getting play nowadays while many of the records they expected the Queens legend to ape have long since been forgotten. Bass is thick, drums are too, and it's just that straight-up 90s Hip-Hop.
Phife ft. Dwele : God Send
While I could have played something from Tribe, I decided that the Phife tune this month would be something from his final solo LP, "Forever", which was released posthumously. Despite everything he was going through at the time, some of which he speaks of on the track, Phife is philosophical and even a touch optimistic, which says a lot about his spirit. Dwele provides some great added vocals, and the whole thing is undergirded by production from G Koop & Bobby Ozuna. RIP Mutty Ranks.
Ge-Ology : Q-Boro Bonus Break 1 (Inst)
Bonus is right - a cheeky extra beat on the 12" of Apani B-Fly Emcee's "Estragen" courtesy of Ge-Ology - a producer maybe not known to everyone, but peep this interview!
Defcee and BoatHouse ft. greenSLLIME : Close The Curtain
This has been getting an awful lot of headphone time for me this month, and I can already see it making my Spotify Wrapped come the end of the year. You need to pick up the Import Edition version of the "For All Debts Public And Private" album to get this - worth supporting as there a good number of extra tracks on top of what was already a very solid album. BoatHouse's dark beat is perfect for a weights workout, and both MCs go back and forth in classic duo fasion with skill, but the absolute highlight for me here is Defcee taking Jadakiss' famous boasts from "We Gonna Make It" and adding clever asides for an everyman, self-deprecating take! It's a really nice bit of borrowing that I like to think would make the man from The LOX smile if he hears it 🙂
Curren$y & Statik Selektah ft. Termanology : Gran Turismo
Statik and Termanology together again (as 1982), but this time supporting the New Orleans legend Curren$y on the title track from a very enjoyable, if short release from 2019. Laidback and kind of gentle, despite the solidity of the bassline and the crisp drums, it's less of a racing soundtrack and more of a sunset crusing accompaniment.
X-Ecutioners ft. Anikke and Taboo : The Turntablist Anthem
You might have missed this one, which was a smooth track from the 1997 "X-Pressions" LP. The album wasn't what I was expecting from this legendary turntablist crew, being much more expansive - with scratch tracks and routines rubbing shoulders with spoken word, straight instrumentals, and tracks like this one! With the hook inspired by "Hey DJ" by The World's Famous Supreme Team, this has an unusual structure - on top of the beat you have mostly scratching courtesy of Rob Swift, the hook coming in periodically, and then a single rhymed verse to close out. The album might not have been a big seller, but is definitely worth your time for a listen.
Terrace Martin ft. Arin Ray & Smino : This Morning
I wasn't aware of Arin Ray or Smino (MC on the second verse) until I heard this, likely as a lot of R&B and the like passes me by, but together with Terrace Martin they're a fire combination! This was on the 2021 "Drones" album and it's a sonic treat - those rolling drums, deep sub-bass lurking, and plenty of keys courtesy of Mr Martin put the pressure on the vocalists to come correct, and thy do.
The Alchemist : Break The Bank
A steady, melancholy beat that almost sounds like time counting down. Who'd have thought that half of The Whooliganz would eventually master this kind of vibe? This instrumental is on the "Rapper's Best Friend 3" compilation, but you can hear it with lyrics thanks to Schoolboy Q, on the ten year-old (already?) LP "Oxymoron".
Ice Cube ft. Deadly Threat, J Dee, Kam, King Tee, and The Maad Circle : Color Blind
Wow. I was maybe fifteen when I first heard this towards the end of Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" album, and this collection of testimonies to the realities of Los Angeles' gang violence hits me even harder all these years later. The production draws you in without demanding the spotlight, which is rightly on the MCs. Every single verse has at least one starkly memorable line, even the closing two half-length verses by King Tee and J-Dee. I wanted to play this one in full, with nothing following it, so that you can take it all in in its entirety and hear every single bar clearly. A masterpiece, in my humble opinion.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...just to show how many come to the funeral."
- Tee
There's some very serious Hip-Hop in this month's selection - from the rugged to the smooth, and from some old and even unreleased material to brand new releases! Of course we pay tribute to Biggie, Phife, and Nate Dogg, with some music that may have passed you by previously.
RIP Bo$$...I make a point of not repeating tracks on the podcast, but her classic single "Deeper" is in the mix on episode 37 if you fancy going back nearly twelve years into the archives. Her run may have been short, but the talent was there.
Oh yes - the Hieroglyphics gig in Manchester this June still has some tickets available!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Event/stream schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G and 2Pac : Where Brooklyn At? (Freestyle)
Starting off raw, but also very much a selection that makes you sad when you consider what was lost - first a friendship, then two lives. Biggie and 2Pac took the stage together in 1993 at Madison Square Garden for this memorable freestyle performance (with some of the lyrics later turning up on other tracks), and DJ Mister Cee had the presence of mind to record it to cassette. The sound quality might be rough, but it's history. RIP to Biggie and 2Pac.
[Oh No] Grand Agent : After
This track is a shockingly short fifty-two seconds long, so I had to loop it up here to give a long enough instrumental bed for the voiceover - and it's a shame because it's easily one of the best beat on the "Under The Circumstances" project that Oh No produced for Grand Agent back in 2005. This was another bit of wax that I rediscovered during The Great Digitisation, and I'm glad I did - for everyone who missed it the first time round, there's a very affordable digital release!
The Eastsidaz ft. Butch Cassidy, Nate Dogg, and Kokane : Cool
We start the first mix over on the West Coast, Long Beach to be precise, with The Eastsidaz, a group made up of Snoop, Big Tray Deee, and Goldie Loc, and essentially a reprise of a previous group The Eastsiders that had Snoop, Crooked I, and Li'l C-Style as members. While the original group only released one song officially, the later lineup is much better-known, and their second LP "Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way" is a well-regarded album for those who appreciate the style. The late great Nate Dogg blesses them with some vocals on the hook here, alongside the multi-talented but oft-overlooked Butch Cassidy who is actually the lead singer here, and another connoisseur's choice in Pomona's Kokane. The producer isn't one that you might immediately expect, but in fact Hi-Tek working with MCs who are spitting material far from the Reflection Eternal sphere!
Tyler Daley : Never Look Down
The first of a run of three Manchester tracks, this is a brand new single from half of Children of Zeus, taken from his aptly-named "Son of Zeus" EP. Thematically this could have been part of Zeus' "Balance" album, with Tyler both rhyming and singing about the challenges and pressures of balancing family life and a music career, over the kind of modern soul production that is a crew trademark. Definitely get yourself a copy of this new release.
Berry Blacc, Dubbul O, & Jointhedots : The Rain
Possibly the most appropriately-named record that could come from Manchester, Jointhedots are back with their second release of the year, with longtime collaborators Dubbul O and Berry Blacc on the mic. The jazzy, chilled vibe of the instrumental is a trademark of the crew, and both MCs settle into it perfectly - not trying to dominate it, not running wild, just fitting in as two more instruments, lyrical ones of course. Grab this single and keep an eye out for future releases...🤞🏿
KinKai & Mecca:83 : Safe Don't Say
Short, but one where they leave us wanting more! A third straight local selection, this was on the mammoth "Manchester With Love" compilation that raised money after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. With over 200 tracks, it was easy for any individual track to slip under the radar, and somehow this gem did for me! Mecca:83 supplies a piano-led track with a little acoustic guitar in the back, and KinKai displays a preview of the quality he delivered on his debut LP three years later.
[DJ Quik] Suga Free : On My Way (Inst)
Playing instrumentals allows me to feature some songs which might be lyrically a bit...much - and plenty of Suga Free's material fits into that category! The vocal version is on his debut LP "Street Gospel", which is entirely produced by the man behind the boards here, Compton's own DJ Quik.
Math Hoffa : Comeback
Absolute fire - this was being trailed at the start of Math's "My Expert Opinion" podcast videos on Youtube before the full video surfaced. Still, as I said in the comments, I wasn't counting it as a release until the audio was out to stream or buy, and now it is! Wordplay and punchlines are the name of the game here, as the renowned battle rapper and podcast host starts off talking about his iced-out watch and takes it from there. GQ Beatz does a stellar job on production, taking a well-known Janet Jackson sample as the basis and filling out beautifully around it. I'm a huge fan of this single.
Paul Wall & Termanology ft. CL Smooth : It's Magic
The sound of this track is so chunky I wondered for a sec if Statik Selektah had sampled the Alex Isley cover version of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me", but it's the original, expertly augmented. Taken from last year's "Start, Finish, Repeat" album, this may have been an autumn release but it's got summer anthem (for the heads) written all over it. CL Smooth is the perfect guest star, Paul Wall is spitting heavy too, and Termanology brings it home with his rapid-fire flow. Expect to hear this on my Twitch streams and mixes this year!
Large Professor : The LP (For My People)
Classic boom-bap - which was, with a different sentiment, the feeling of Geffen Records, who didn't know what to do with "The LP" when it was completed in 1996 as they felt it was too retro. Well, it's still getting play nowadays while many of the records they expected the Queens legend to ape have long since been forgotten. Bass is thick, drums are too, and it's just that straight-up 90s Hip-Hop.
Phife ft. Dwele : God Send
While I could have played something from Tribe, I decided that the Phife tune this month would be something from his final solo LP, "Forever", which was released posthumously. Despite everything he was going through at the time, some of which he speaks of on the track, Phife is philosophical and even a touch optimistic, which says a lot about his spirit. Dwele provides some great added vocals, and the whole thing is undergirded by production from G Koop & Bobby Ozuna. RIP Mutty Ranks.
Ge-Ology : Q-Boro Bonus Break 1 (Inst)
Bonus is right - a cheeky extra beat on the 12" of Apani B-Fly Emcee's "Estragen" courtesy of Ge-Ology - a producer maybe not known to everyone, but peep this interview!
Defcee and BoatHouse ft. greenSLLIME : Close The Curtain
This has been getting an awful lot of headphone time for me this month, and I can already see it making my Spotify Wrapped come the end of the year. You need to pick up the Import Edition version of the "For All Debts Public And Private" album to get this - worth supporting as there a good number of extra tracks on top of what was already a very solid album. BoatHouse's dark beat is perfect for a weights workout, and both MCs go back and forth in classic duo fasion with skill, but the absolute highlight for me here is Defcee taking Jadakiss' famous boasts from "We Gonna Make It" and adding clever asides for an everyman, self-deprecating take! It's a really nice bit of borrowing that I like to think would make the man from The LOX smile if he hears it 🙂
Curren$y & Statik Selektah ft. Termanology : Gran Turismo
Statik and Termanology together again (as 1982), but this time supporting the New Orleans legend Curren$y on the title track from a very enjoyable, if short release from 2019. Laidback and kind of gentle, despite the solidity of the bassline and the crisp drums, it's less of a racing soundtrack and more of a sunset crusing accompaniment.
X-Ecutioners ft. Anikke and Taboo : The Turntablist Anthem
You might have missed this one, which was a smooth track from the 1997 "X-Pressions" LP. The album wasn't what I was expecting from this legendary turntablist crew, being much more expansive - with scratch tracks and routines rubbing shoulders with spoken word, straight instrumentals, and tracks like this one! With the hook inspired by "Hey DJ" by The World's Famous Supreme Team, this has an unusual structure - on top of the beat you have mostly scratching courtesy of Rob Swift, the hook coming in periodically, and then a single rhymed verse to close out. The album might not have been a big seller, but is definitely worth your time for a listen.
Terrace Martin ft. Arin Ray & Smino : This Morning
I wasn't aware of Arin Ray or Smino (MC on the second verse) until I heard this, likely as a lot of R&B and the like passes me by, but together with Terrace Martin they're a fire combination! This was on the 2021 "Drones" album and it's a sonic treat - those rolling drums, deep sub-bass lurking, and plenty of keys courtesy of Mr Martin put the pressure on the vocalists to come correct, and thy do.
The Alchemist : Break The Bank
A steady, melancholy beat that almost sounds like time counting down. Who'd have thought that half of The Whooliganz would eventually master this kind of vibe? This instrumental is on the "Rapper's Best Friend 3" compilation, but you can hear it with lyrics thanks to Schoolboy Q, on the ten year-old (already?) LP "Oxymoron".
Ice Cube ft. Deadly Threat, J Dee, Kam, King Tee, and The Maad Circle : Color Blind
Wow. I was maybe fifteen when I first heard this towards the end of Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" album, and this collection of testimonies to the realities of Los Angeles' gang violence hits me even harder all these years later. The production draws you in without demanding the spotlight, which is rightly on the MCs. Every single verse has at least one starkly memorable line, even the closing two half-length verses by King Tee and J-Dee. I wanted to play this one in full, with nothing following it, so that you can take it all in in its entirety and hear every single bar clearly. A masterpiece, in my humble opinion.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Rockin' and rollin' like the myth of Sisyphus..."
- Anthony Cruz
More than any other month in the year, February is the one where we remember some of the greats that have passed on; as such, this mix includes tracks from J Dilla, De La Soul (RIP Dave), Big L, and Big Pun. The average ruggedness level is high, and we start off with a classic sample being used on a remix you might not know...volume up!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Slum Village : We Be Dem (Atomic Dog Mix)
"Atomic Dog" is one of the most heavily-used samples in Hip-Hop, and with good reason - even in novice hands it sounds good, and with someone like J Dilla in charge, it sounds amazing! He has it twitching on the three on a beat it's impossible not to move to, and on the mics, the crew don't get too complex. It's only a short one, which I got on a white label of unreleased Slum Village cuts, but I think you can find it these days on some of the digital platforms. In my opinion, this mix wins over the original version!
The ARE : OH
You can hear the sound of a well-known Michael Jackson cut being atomised and reconfigured on this killer from the "Dem Damb Jacksons" instrumentals, which punches so hard that you realise why the track title is in upper case! The whole project, as you might guess from the name, is all MJ and Jackson 5 samples, worked to perfection by the man from Houston who you may also know as a member of K-Otix.
De La Soul ft. Yummy Bingham : Much More
A single that deserved to be so as a standout from "The Grind Date", this starts off with an uncredited guest appearance by the DJ Premier questioning the commitment of some to the the Hip-Hop culture, before passing to the late great Dave (aka Trugoy) to handle the opening verse. "Using these minutes like I value the call" is a great analogy for an MC who understood more than many how important it is to say something when you have the platform to do so. J Dilla's beat is grand and imposing, and his re-pitching of the main sample as used in the hook wrong-foots you - it was originally sung by a man, but sounds like a woman by the time he's finished with it!
Sol Uprising ft. Emanon : Feel The Sound
Somehow I'd "played past" this one over and over again, due to it sharing a slab of vinyl with the incredible "Raach Ya Sol" on the 2004 "They Don't Know" 12", but having stumbled on it while shortlisting for this month, I think I need to find more places to play it! Sol Uprising is the union of Sci the MC and the awesome Stacy Epps, who is towards the top of my list of "Musicians I Wish Had Released More Material". Alongside them here are Emanon, with Exile (who you might know better for his work with Blu) on production, and Aloe Blacc on the mic. It's the records like this, the ones that slip under the radar, the ones that you sometimes take a chance on, that really make a DJ's record collection.
L.E.G.A.C.Y : More
Legacy strides over this cut from the "Legsclusives" album with so much confidence that you can't help but love it! 9th Wonder's beat from the heyday of the Justus League initially draws you in with the short sample that repeats throughout and his swinging drum track (with a different snare/clap than you might have expected), but that sneaky low bass really anchors it.
Kid Capri ft. Big Pun and NORE : Block Party
Big Pun is regarded as one of the greats in spite of him unfortunately passing away without a huge amount of recordings - his impact was that powerful. It's always a joy to realise you have a feature by him that might not be known to many, and so we land on this collab alongside fellow Latino New Yorker Noreaga, with the legendary Kid Capri on production. "Soundtrack To The Streets", on which this appears, was Kid Capri's 1998 album where he handled things behind the boards and brought in an all-star cast on the mics - being a DJ with his kind of pedigree, there were a lot of people he could call!
Otis McDonald : One For Dilla
This could happily be played anytime, but as we're paying tribute to J Dilla this month then it's a perfect inclusion for the current episode. You can definitely hear the influence throughout, even as it builds from an initial relatively chilled loop to a more energetic second section before settling down again. This is great work from the "Summer" album.
NEMS, Uncle Murda, Dave East, Scram Jones : NY Is Killing Me
"City workers give up twenty years of they life and still can't afford to pay a mortgage in the Five Boroughs..." It's raw, it's abrasive, and it has a point! You might have missed this one from last year, but this Scram Jones-produced single has Coney Islands' NEMS and guests expressing their frustrations with life in modern day New York City. It's like a rawer, more serious version of J-Zone's "Bullshit City", which the longtime listeners will have heard back on episode 11!
DJ Muggs & Meyhem Lauren : Ready For War
There are many things I love about this track, one of the more specific being the sampled vehement assertions regarding the cost of the sound system :) Of course, the production from Muggs is dark and heavy as per usual and the man on the mic is one of my favourite MCs, Meyhem Lauren! The third in the series of Soul Assassins LPs was another star-studded affair that spawned a companion short film shot in the actual Death Valley - and that in turn spawned an original score from which this track is drawn.
Buccaneer : Bad Man Story
A dancehall classic that's been getting a lot of play from me recently, a gunman anthem on the Baddis riddim that can move any dance! This 1998 release is on "Da Opera" LP, which is well worth a listen, as well as being a big single and also popping up in the Jamaican crime film "Third World Cop".
Blak Twang : Online
Bringing it to the UK for the last tune in the segment, and one I hadn't played at all for a long time - long enough that only after recording did I catch a line that I felt more comfortable censoring. From the third Blak Twang LP "Kik Off" (following the originally-unreleased "Dettwork South East" and "19 Long Time", Tony Rotton gets busy on a Preemo-influenced Harry Love track.
Nicolay : The Specialist (Instrumental)
The Dutch master himself has blessed us via the medium of modern digital distribution with a collection of his old unreleased instrumentals, "Nice Chops - The Dutch Schultz Tapes 2004-2008", which absolutely still stand up today. You can hear his more contemporary material as a soloist and as part of The Foreign Exchange, but this is a great bit of nostalgia and part of a wider set of releases celebrating twenty years of Nicolay's music.
Method Man ft. Raekwon : Meth vs. Chef
Easily one of my favourite cuts from "Tical", Meth's debut and the first of the Wu solo albums, which somehow turns thirty this year... All the elements are here - raw beat, the infamous kung-fu samples (this time from "Ten Tigers of Kwangtung" and "Shaolin Master Killer"), and bars upon bars. Meth opens up before the bell rings to end his verse/round, and then Raekwon brings it home rough like Timberland wear, as he would himself say!
Semi Six : Silver Moon
No singing hook, no hook at all in fact on this single - just a constant lyrical onslaught by one of the finest MCs in the D. The intro is eerie, off-balance, and makes it sound off when you mix it, but as soon as it's over, the dark beat thunders in and doesn't let up until the death - props to the producer, fellow Detroit native AntBell!, for providing a suitable soundtrack for this one.
Mixmaster Mike : Bermuda Tri-Axl
The 2000 "Eye Of The Cyklops" release is so simultaneously chaotic and seamless that when I came to digitise it, the only way I could work out where each track began and ended was to look it up on Discogs and read from the track timings! The legend from Rocksteady DJs/Invisibl Skratch Piklz and also the Beastie Boys, whether on production or on the wheels, always walks that line between virtuosity and total anarchy in a way few can pull off.
O.C. ft. Big L and The Lost Boyz : Dangerous The Sequel
I cut this one a little short as O.C's next verse isn't so much to my taste! I thought sharing this slightly different version of the Big L-featured cut from the classic "Jewelz" LP would be a good way to play a track you may not know while also including some Big L - like Big Pun, he sadly didn't have a long enough time with us to build a deep catalogue. Production is done by Da Beatminerz, who take one of the all-time classic samples and put some deep bump underneath it. This on the B-side of the excellent "Can't Go Wrong" 12".
[DJ Spinna] Jigmastas : Magnetize (Instrumental)
The drums are smacking, the bass is rumbling, and the overall vibe is hectic on this instrumental from the 2016 "Resurgence" album from this much-respected Brooklyn crew. I played the vocal version of this back on episode 91, which is definitely worth a listen!
Natural Elements : This Is Not A Drill
High-wire apocalyptic Hip-Hop, courtesy of one of the finest groups of MCs you can even think about finding anywhere. Over Charlemagne's dramatic beat, A-Butta, Mr. Voodoo and Swigga all tear it down on a single that suits the extremely serious times we find ourselves in. The original plan was to start the episode with this track...but how do you follow up after this kind of demolition?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Rockin' and rollin' like the myth of Sisyphus..."
- Anthony Cruz
More than any other month in the year, February is the one where we remember some of the greats that have passed on; as such, this mix includes tracks from J Dilla, De La Soul (RIP Dave), Big L, and Big Pun. The average ruggedness level is high, and we start off with a classic sample being used on a remix you might not know...volume up!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Slum Village : We Be Dem (Atomic Dog Mix)
"Atomic Dog" is one of the most heavily-used samples in Hip-Hop, and with good reason - even in novice hands it sounds good, and with someone like J Dilla in charge, it sounds amazing! He has it twitching on the three on a beat it's impossible not to move to, and on the mics, the crew don't get too complex. It's only a short one, which I got on a white label of unreleased Slum Village cuts, but I think you can find it these days on some of the digital platforms. In my opinion, this mix wins over the original version!
The ARE : OH
You can hear the sound of a well-known Michael Jackson cut being atomised and reconfigured on this killer from the "Dem Damb Jacksons" instrumentals, which punches so hard that you realise why the track title is in upper case! The whole project, as you might guess from the name, is all MJ and Jackson 5 samples, worked to perfection by the man from Houston who you may also know as a member of K-Otix.
De La Soul ft. Yummy Bingham : Much More
A single that deserved to be so as a standout from "The Grind Date", this starts off with an uncredited guest appearance by the DJ Premier questioning the commitment of some to the the Hip-Hop culture, before passing to the late great Dave (aka Trugoy) to handle the opening verse. "Using these minutes like I value the call" is a great analogy for an MC who understood more than many how important it is to say something when you have the platform to do so. J Dilla's beat is grand and imposing, and his re-pitching of the main sample as used in the hook wrong-foots you - it was originally sung by a man, but sounds like a woman by the time he's finished with it!
Sol Uprising ft. Emanon : Feel The Sound
Somehow I'd "played past" this one over and over again, due to it sharing a slab of vinyl with the incredible "Raach Ya Sol" on the 2004 "They Don't Know" 12", but having stumbled on it while shortlisting for this month, I think I need to find more places to play it! Sol Uprising is the union of Sci the MC and the awesome Stacy Epps, who is towards the top of my list of "Musicians I Wish Had Released More Material". Alongside them here are Emanon, with Exile (who you might know better for his work with Blu) on production, and Aloe Blacc on the mic. It's the records like this, the ones that slip under the radar, the ones that you sometimes take a chance on, that really make a DJ's record collection.
L.E.G.A.C.Y : More
Legacy strides over this cut from the "Legsclusives" album with so much confidence that you can't help but love it! 9th Wonder's beat from the heyday of the Justus League initially draws you in with the short sample that repeats throughout and his swinging drum track (with a different snare/clap than you might have expected), but that sneaky low bass really anchors it.
Kid Capri ft. Big Pun and NORE : Block Party
Big Pun is regarded as one of the greats in spite of him unfortunately passing away without a huge amount of recordings - his impact was that powerful. It's always a joy to realise you have a feature by him that might not be known to many, and so we land on this collab alongside fellow Latino New Yorker Noreaga, with the legendary Kid Capri on production. "Soundtrack To The Streets", on which this appears, was Kid Capri's 1998 album where he handled things behind the boards and brought in an all-star cast on the mics - being a DJ with his kind of pedigree, there were a lot of people he could call!
Otis McDonald : One For Dilla
This could happily be played anytime, but as we're paying tribute to J Dilla this month then it's a perfect inclusion for the current episode. You can definitely hear the influence throughout, even as it builds from an initial relatively chilled loop to a more energetic second section before settling down again. This is great work from the "Summer" album.
NEMS, Uncle Murda, Dave East, Scram Jones : NY Is Killing Me
"City workers give up twenty years of they life and still can't afford to pay a mortgage in the Five Boroughs..." It's raw, it's abrasive, and it has a point! You might have missed this one from last year, but this Scram Jones-produced single has Coney Islands' NEMS and guests expressing their frustrations with life in modern day New York City. It's like a rawer, more serious version of J-Zone's "Bullshit City", which the longtime listeners will have heard back on episode 11!
DJ Muggs & Meyhem Lauren : Ready For War
There are many things I love about this track, one of the more specific being the sampled vehement assertions regarding the cost of the sound system :) Of course, the production from Muggs is dark and heavy as per usual and the man on the mic is one of my favourite MCs, Meyhem Lauren! The third in the series of Soul Assassins LPs was another star-studded affair that spawned a companion short film shot in the actual Death Valley - and that in turn spawned an original score from which this track is drawn.
Buccaneer : Bad Man Story
A dancehall classic that's been getting a lot of play from me recently, a gunman anthem on the Baddis riddim that can move any dance! This 1998 release is on "Da Opera" LP, which is well worth a listen, as well as being a big single and also popping up in the Jamaican crime film "Third World Cop".
Blak Twang : Online
Bringing it to the UK for the last tune in the segment, and one I hadn't played at all for a long time - long enough that only after recording did I catch a line that I felt more comfortable censoring. From the third Blak Twang LP "Kik Off" (following the originally-unreleased "Dettwork South East" and "19 Long Time", Tony Rotton gets busy on a Preemo-influenced Harry Love track.
Nicolay : The Specialist (Instrumental)
The Dutch master himself has blessed us via the medium of modern digital distribution with a collection of his old unreleased instrumentals, "Nice Chops - The Dutch Schultz Tapes 2004-2008", which absolutely still stand up today. You can hear his more contemporary material as a soloist and as part of The Foreign Exchange, but this is a great bit of nostalgia and part of a wider set of releases celebrating twenty years of Nicolay's music.
Method Man ft. Raekwon : Meth vs. Chef
Easily one of my favourite cuts from "Tical", Meth's debut and the first of the Wu solo albums, which somehow turns thirty this year... All the elements are here - raw beat, the infamous kung-fu samples (this time from "Ten Tigers of Kwangtung" and "Shaolin Master Killer"), and bars upon bars. Meth opens up before the bell rings to end his verse/round, and then Raekwon brings it home rough like Timberland wear, as he would himself say!
Semi Six : Silver Moon
No singing hook, no hook at all in fact on this single - just a constant lyrical onslaught by one of the finest MCs in the D. The intro is eerie, off-balance, and makes it sound off when you mix it, but as soon as it's over, the dark beat thunders in and doesn't let up until the death - props to the producer, fellow Detroit native AntBell!, for providing a suitable soundtrack for this one.
Mixmaster Mike : Bermuda Tri-Axl
The 2000 "Eye Of The Cyklops" release is so simultaneously chaotic and seamless that when I came to digitise it, the only way I could work out where each track began and ended was to look it up on Discogs and read from the track timings! The legend from Rocksteady DJs/Invisibl Skratch Piklz and also the Beastie Boys, whether on production or on the wheels, always walks that line between virtuosity and total anarchy in a way few can pull off.
O.C. ft. Big L and The Lost Boyz : Dangerous The Sequel
I cut this one a little short as O.C's next verse isn't so much to my taste! I thought sharing this slightly different version of the Big L-featured cut from the classic "Jewelz" LP would be a good way to play a track you may not know while also including some Big L - like Big Pun, he sadly didn't have a long enough time with us to build a deep catalogue. Production is done by Da Beatminerz, who take one of the all-time classic samples and put some deep bump underneath it. This on the B-side of the excellent "Can't Go Wrong" 12".
[DJ Spinna] Jigmastas : Magnetize (Instrumental)
The drums are smacking, the bass is rumbling, and the overall vibe is hectic on this instrumental from the 2016 "Resurgence" album from this much-respected Brooklyn crew. I played the vocal version of this back on episode 91, which is definitely worth a listen!
Natural Elements : This Is Not A Drill
High-wire apocalyptic Hip-Hop, courtesy of one of the finest groups of MCs you can even think about finding anywhere. Over Charlemagne's dramatic beat, A-Butta, Mr. Voodoo and Swigga all tear it down on a single that suits the extremely serious times we find ourselves in. The original plan was to start the episode with this track...but how do you follow up after this kind of demolition?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I AM"
- Chuck D
Hope you've had a good start to 2024! While it's been a bit bumpy over here, the selection on the first episode of the year is strong from start to finish. If you know every single one of these tracks already...we should probably have a chat as you clearly have an ear for the good stuff!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Organized Noize ft. Big Boi, Big Rube, Sleepy Brown, and Cee-Lo : We The Ones
A very fortunate find during a recent digging expedition, I didn't even know that the "Organized Noize EP" existed until I had it in my hands. Looking around on Discogs, it seems that it was a limited release in 2017 of 500 copies, on fiery orange vinyl and with a fantastic cover. Apparently twenty years in the making - probably because the production team behind OutKast, Goodie Mob, and more were kind of busy - it's a quality seven-song collection that you can now also get digitally! I heard a few seconds of this track at the listening post and it was the one that convinced me to buy the record, a musically-stirring and always-relevant and timely call to stand up and fight against oppression.
Orbital : Adnan's
This industrial-sounding track from the 1996 "In Sides" album was an extended version of a song they contributed to the 1995 "War Child" charity LP, and was named after a young boy who was killed by a missile during the war in the former Yugoslavia. Paul Hartnoll of Orbital broke this, and the rest of the album, down in a way only one of the creators could - so I'll link you to his own words.
Sepalot ft. Blu : Surrender
I've heard the instrumental of this many a time and had actually forgotten that there even was a vocal version! The beat went down well on the most recent #BeatsOnly show on my Twitch channel, so I thought I'd bring it out on this episode. The angular production from German producer Sepalot lurches, twitches, and squelches, with Blu fittingly being a bit more aggro lyrically than you might have expected from some of his better-known work. I have this on the B-side of a 12" headed up by "She Likes Me" with Frank Nitty, but you can also find it on the 2014 "Red Handed" LP.
Jigmastas ft. Shabaam Saadique : Too Ill
Does what it says on the tin! DJ Spinna on production on this track with the dramatic backing, courtesy of a well-known old TV show sample, while the processing on the vocals makes it sound like weak MCs are being admonished over the phone! By the way, the spelling of Shabaam's name is different than what I've seen on previous releases, but as it's written this way on this album ("Resurgence") I'm taking that as being correct unless/until I find out otherwise.
Public Enemy : Louder Than A Bomb
A classic from what is often said to be the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" (lot of text to write on a cassette label btw). Those who follow me know I'll sometimes refer to the more grimy records as "not calling for the building of a new nation or anything" but this track literally does! Chuck D will always be the first name that comes to mind when pro-Black, politically-driven Hip-Hop is mentioned, and this is just one of his outstanding vocal performances. Bomb Squad on production of course, with a hard-hitting track that would dominate most other MCs, even now. Sonically, you might notice that the sound is busy but not "thick" - if it was made nowadays, I suspect it'd be mixed with a lot more bass, not to mention built with more high-fidelity samplers. Would that have been "better"? Hard to say, but this is revolutionary in all senses regardless.
Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier : B.A.P. (Bumpy and Premier)
For those of more gentle dispositions, you may as well skip to the next track! Otherwise, this is quintessential boom-bap rawness, courtesy of DJ Premier - one of the finest exponents of the style - and fellow Gang Starr Foundation MC Bumpy Knuckles. Wicked track from the "KoleXXXion" LP, where Bumpy starts each verse with the same four bars, before raining fire on snakes, suckers, and studio gangstas over the rugged beat. No sir, Bumpy did not fall off, not even a little.
Stro Elliot : Miles Funk
I may have been late getting on the Stro Elliot train, only hearing his stuff in the last three years or so, but now I'm firmly on board and settled with a book and some snacks. The drums are cracking and merciless on this track from his 2016 eponymous LP, and they lead the way for the bassline and funky guitar to do what they do. Definitely check the album - it's really excellent work.
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : Life:Mics
A great new Manchester release to open the year! You should already know that Dubbul O is one of my favourite MCs from any coast or territory, while the excellent Jointhedots have been holding it down in fine style since most of the members were part of the best-known lineup of The Mouse Outfit. The most special feature on this track is the guitar of the much-missed Phil Ratcliffe, who sadly passed away in 2022, and whose family will continue to benefit from any posthumous releases. Coming together over the peak of the COVID restrictions, this track started when bassist/bandleader/producer Defty sent beats around Manchester for musicians to add their own touches to. As well as Phil Ratcliffe, the flautist Dr Claire Press got busy on here - you may remember her memorable work alongside Dubbul O again on "Never Get Enough" all the way back in 2012! Flavourful and polished music as always from this collective, and worthy of your support.
New Sector Movements ft. Allysha Joy : These Times
Neither of these artists were on my radar previously, so it was a big bonus when First Word Records included this cut on the "Two Syllables Volume Twenty" compilation! As it turns out, New Sector Movements is actually an alias of IG Culture, a UK stalwart respected for his work as part of Dodge City Productions, and of course he shows the deft touch of a veteran on the music here. The vocals are carried by the powerful voice of Australian songstress Allysha Joy, who started singing as a youngster in the church and you can hear the influence very much still with her! This track in full is actually about six minutes long, so if you like what you're hearing, you know what to do...
Common : The Movement
I'll have you know that I did actually mix this in bang-on, but J Dilla decided to go all the way weird with the timing and drum placement at the start, to the point I almost re-ripped the tune from the "2K6 : The Tracks" CD to be sure! This one had somehow escaped me on first listen, but it's got that electronic sound that was increasingly a feature of Dilla's late work, with that edginess contrasting with Common's smooth and familiar voice.
Actual Proof ft. TP : Show You The Way
North Carolina in the house, with Actual Proof (Enigma and Sundown) linking with guest TP (who I don't know much about) for a 9th Wonder-produced track that sounds very different than the intro might lead you to expect. Lyrically, in places it almost comes off as a rougher, less civilised take on "Mind Sex" by dead prez, blended with some of that LL Cool J - in attitude, if not in flow! Track down the 2012 "Black Boy Radio" LP for this one.
Mecca:83, Buscrates, and J Vibes : Amber Hue
Such warm vibes emanate from this 2019 composition, with Macclesfield, Pittsburgh, and Aarhus (Denmark) in collaboration. I don't know who did what, but the final result is a thing of beauty!
Tall Black Guy, Craig Mack : Flavor In Ya Ear Remix
The original beat by Easy Mo Bee is one of the greatest in Hip-Hop history in my opinion, so it takes a brave man to put his production in its place - and right here, Tall Black Guy is that man! Tough drums and a relatively simple bassline provide the structure for some spaced-out touches and soul vocal sampling to undergird TBG's take on one of the all-time great posse cuts.
1773 & Strange Soul Music : Dialed In
Manchester's Strange Soul Music is a fearsome producer, the man no-one wanted to face in last year's WORKINONIT beat battle! He's been putting in that work for years and this is from one of his latest releases, "The Strange Soul Project" a seven-track collaboration with Chicago MCs Jay Nagoma and Wisdm Uno. Themed around a method of internet access that might be unfamiliar to the younger listeners, this is a brief, but strong, opener to the project.
Clear Soul Forces : Nine 5ive
It's a shame that the 2020 "ForcesWithYou" LP is ostensibly the last from this Detroit crew - their stuff has always been energetically high-quality. Ilajide on the beat of course, while on the mic, CSF reference everything/one from Busta Rhymes to Mortal Kombat via George Washington Carver in a track that lasts well under three minutes. May the force be with them, indeed.
Heather B : Steady Rockin'
Straight-ahead Hip-Hop, with the commanding voice and bars of Heather B over the boom-bap production of DJ Premier. Vocalist Twyla adds a little sugar to the hook, but the rest of this track from 2002's "Eternal Affairs" is pretty much as stripped-down as you can get.
Khrysis : The Devil Wears Designer (Instrumental)
North Carolina representing again here, with a groove borrowing clearly from a classic soul record on this instrumental from "The Hour Of Khrysis".
DJ 2-Tone Jones ft. Prince Po, Asheru, Joe.D and yU : Not Down
I've always thought that one of the most important inflection points in the culture was when our ability to self-police was countered by the epithet "playa hater", which nowadays is more likely to take the form of "but he getting the bag tho". This call to arms from the "Contraband From India" LP features real MCs with real commitment letting us know that the leeches, the culture vultures, exploitative corporate interests of various shapes, and everyone else taking away from the culture rather than adding on need to be ejected. The production is not minimal as such, but well-spaced, with the sparse drum pattern and Indian string samples avoiding a situation where the instrumental ends up fighting the MCs for the spotlight, which is critical when what they're saying is of actual importance.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I AM"
- Chuck D
Hope you've had a good start to 2024! While it's been a bit bumpy over here, the selection on the first episode of the year is strong from start to finish. If you know every single one of these tracks already...we should probably have a chat as you clearly have an ear for the good stuff!
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Organized Noize ft. Big Boi, Big Rube, Sleepy Brown, and Cee-Lo : We The Ones
A very fortunate find during a recent digging expedition, I didn't even know that the "Organized Noize EP" existed until I had it in my hands. Looking around on Discogs, it seems that it was a limited release in 2017 of 500 copies, on fiery orange vinyl and with a fantastic cover. Apparently twenty years in the making - probably because the production team behind OutKast, Goodie Mob, and more were kind of busy - it's a quality seven-song collection that you can now also get digitally! I heard a few seconds of this track at the listening post and it was the one that convinced me to buy the record, a musically-stirring and always-relevant and timely call to stand up and fight against oppression.
Orbital : Adnan's
This industrial-sounding track from the 1996 "In Sides" album was an extended version of a song they contributed to the 1995 "War Child" charity LP, and was named after a young boy who was killed by a missile during the war in the former Yugoslavia. Paul Hartnoll of Orbital broke this, and the rest of the album, down in a way only one of the creators could - so I'll link you to his own words.
Sepalot ft. Blu : Surrender
I've heard the instrumental of this many a time and had actually forgotten that there even was a vocal version! The beat went down well on the most recent #BeatsOnly show on my Twitch channel, so I thought I'd bring it out on this episode. The angular production from German producer Sepalot lurches, twitches, and squelches, with Blu fittingly being a bit more aggro lyrically than you might have expected from some of his better-known work. I have this on the B-side of a 12" headed up by "She Likes Me" with Frank Nitty, but you can also find it on the 2014 "Red Handed" LP.
Jigmastas ft. Shabaam Saadique : Too Ill
Does what it says on the tin! DJ Spinna on production on this track with the dramatic backing, courtesy of a well-known old TV show sample, while the processing on the vocals makes it sound like weak MCs are being admonished over the phone! By the way, the spelling of Shabaam's name is different than what I've seen on previous releases, but as it's written this way on this album ("Resurgence") I'm taking that as being correct unless/until I find out otherwise.
Public Enemy : Louder Than A Bomb
A classic from what is often said to be the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" (lot of text to write on a cassette label btw). Those who follow me know I'll sometimes refer to the more grimy records as "not calling for the building of a new nation or anything" but this track literally does! Chuck D will always be the first name that comes to mind when pro-Black, politically-driven Hip-Hop is mentioned, and this is just one of his outstanding vocal performances. Bomb Squad on production of course, with a hard-hitting track that would dominate most other MCs, even now. Sonically, you might notice that the sound is busy but not "thick" - if it was made nowadays, I suspect it'd be mixed with a lot more bass, not to mention built with more high-fidelity samplers. Would that have been "better"? Hard to say, but this is revolutionary in all senses regardless.
Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier : B.A.P. (Bumpy and Premier)
For those of more gentle dispositions, you may as well skip to the next track! Otherwise, this is quintessential boom-bap rawness, courtesy of DJ Premier - one of the finest exponents of the style - and fellow Gang Starr Foundation MC Bumpy Knuckles. Wicked track from the "KoleXXXion" LP, where Bumpy starts each verse with the same four bars, before raining fire on snakes, suckers, and studio gangstas over the rugged beat. No sir, Bumpy did not fall off, not even a little.
Stro Elliot : Miles Funk
I may have been late getting on the Stro Elliot train, only hearing his stuff in the last three years or so, but now I'm firmly on board and settled with a book and some snacks. The drums are cracking and merciless on this track from his 2016 eponymous LP, and they lead the way for the bassline and funky guitar to do what they do. Definitely check the album - it's really excellent work.
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : Life:Mics
A great new Manchester release to open the year! You should already know that Dubbul O is one of my favourite MCs from any coast or territory, while the excellent Jointhedots have been holding it down in fine style since most of the members were part of the best-known lineup of The Mouse Outfit. The most special feature on this track is the guitar of the much-missed Phil Ratcliffe, who sadly passed away in 2022, and whose family will continue to benefit from any posthumous releases. Coming together over the peak of the COVID restrictions, this track started when bassist/bandleader/producer Defty sent beats around Manchester for musicians to add their own touches to. As well as Phil Ratcliffe, the flautist Dr Claire Press got busy on here - you may remember her memorable work alongside Dubbul O again on "Never Get Enough" all the way back in 2012! Flavourful and polished music as always from this collective, and worthy of your support.
New Sector Movements ft. Allysha Joy : These Times
Neither of these artists were on my radar previously, so it was a big bonus when First Word Records included this cut on the "Two Syllables Volume Twenty" compilation! As it turns out, New Sector Movements is actually an alias of IG Culture, a UK stalwart respected for his work as part of Dodge City Productions, and of course he shows the deft touch of a veteran on the music here. The vocals are carried by the powerful voice of Australian songstress Allysha Joy, who started singing as a youngster in the church and you can hear the influence very much still with her! This track in full is actually about six minutes long, so if you like what you're hearing, you know what to do...
Common : The Movement
I'll have you know that I did actually mix this in bang-on, but J Dilla decided to go all the way weird with the timing and drum placement at the start, to the point I almost re-ripped the tune from the "2K6 : The Tracks" CD to be sure! This one had somehow escaped me on first listen, but it's got that electronic sound that was increasingly a feature of Dilla's late work, with that edginess contrasting with Common's smooth and familiar voice.
Actual Proof ft. TP : Show You The Way
North Carolina in the house, with Actual Proof (Enigma and Sundown) linking with guest TP (who I don't know much about) for a 9th Wonder-produced track that sounds very different than the intro might lead you to expect. Lyrically, in places it almost comes off as a rougher, less civilised take on "Mind Sex" by dead prez, blended with some of that LL Cool J - in attitude, if not in flow! Track down the 2012 "Black Boy Radio" LP for this one.
Mecca:83, Buscrates, and J Vibes : Amber Hue
Such warm vibes emanate from this 2019 composition, with Macclesfield, Pittsburgh, and Aarhus (Denmark) in collaboration. I don't know who did what, but the final result is a thing of beauty!
Tall Black Guy, Craig Mack : Flavor In Ya Ear Remix
The original beat by Easy Mo Bee is one of the greatest in Hip-Hop history in my opinion, so it takes a brave man to put his production in its place - and right here, Tall Black Guy is that man! Tough drums and a relatively simple bassline provide the structure for some spaced-out touches and soul vocal sampling to undergird TBG's take on one of the all-time great posse cuts.
1773 & Strange Soul Music : Dialed In
Manchester's Strange Soul Music is a fearsome producer, the man no-one wanted to face in last year's WORKINONIT beat battle! He's been putting in that work for years and this is from one of his latest releases, "The Strange Soul Project" a seven-track collaboration with Chicago MCs Jay Nagoma and Wisdm Uno. Themed around a method of internet access that might be unfamiliar to the younger listeners, this is a brief, but strong, opener to the project.
Clear Soul Forces : Nine 5ive
It's a shame that the 2020 "ForcesWithYou" LP is ostensibly the last from this Detroit crew - their stuff has always been energetically high-quality. Ilajide on the beat of course, while on the mic, CSF reference everything/one from Busta Rhymes to Mortal Kombat via George Washington Carver in a track that lasts well under three minutes. May the force be with them, indeed.
Heather B : Steady Rockin'
Straight-ahead Hip-Hop, with the commanding voice and bars of Heather B over the boom-bap production of DJ Premier. Vocalist Twyla adds a little sugar to the hook, but the rest of this track from 2002's "Eternal Affairs" is pretty much as stripped-down as you can get.
Khrysis : The Devil Wears Designer (Instrumental)
North Carolina representing again here, with a groove borrowing clearly from a classic soul record on this instrumental from "The Hour Of Khrysis".
DJ 2-Tone Jones ft. Prince Po, Asheru, Joe.D and yU : Not Down
I've always thought that one of the most important inflection points in the culture was when our ability to self-police was countered by the epithet "playa hater", which nowadays is more likely to take the form of "but he getting the bag tho". This call to arms from the "Contraband From India" LP features real MCs with real commitment letting us know that the leeches, the culture vultures, exploitative corporate interests of various shapes, and everyone else taking away from the culture rather than adding on need to be ejected. The production is not minimal as such, but well-spaced, with the sparse drum pattern and Indian string samples avoiding a situation where the instrumental ends up fighting the MCs for the spotlight, which is critical when what they're saying is of actual importance.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Speaking to the people that matter, with my mind."
- Grap
While a lot of December up this way has been surprisingly mild, but there was an absolutely vicious period - was lucky that the heating in the house only died after the worst had passed. Still, it's fixed now, so I didn't freeze to death putting this episode together! As we draw towards the end of the year, the themes here might be wintery and seasonal, but the tunes are heat :)
As promised, here's the link for WORKINONIT - definitely support this collective (and the venue that hosts the monthly events!) if you want to support grassroots talent 💯
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Show/Stream Schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Median : Median Alleviates The Drama
A deep cut from the heyday of the Justus League, with 9th Wonder (of course) chopping it up on this breezy beat for his Winston-Salem, North Carolina, compatriot to get busy on. You may not know Median as he only recorded two albums, his last in 2011, but he's a grounded yet imaginative writer who is well worth your listening time. Of interest to many who do take the time to dig into his history will be "Brenda's Baby" from the 2007 "Median's Relief" LP, his sequel to 2Pac's famous "Brenda's Got A Baby".
Soul Supreme : Mood Swings
Big shout to Jim Bane of Eastern Bloc who gifted me the "Poetic Justice" LP on wax for my birthday earlier this year! Amsterdam's Soul Supreme has been giving us quality music for a long while now, but in recent times has been locked in what sounds like an awful legal dispute with a record company and another producer. Despite still being in the thick of it, he delivers his commentary in the form of instrumental music on this album, which is even clearer when you read the track titles. The interplay between the horns and his keyboard work are the highlight on this particular track, but for the full effect, sit down and listen to the whole album end-to-end.
Cookin Soul : Kamaal Xmas Time
Cookin Soul usually comes out with a special Xmas release each year, mixing up an artist you know well with seasonal sample flips. This track comes from the 2002 "A Tribe Called Xmas" collection, and takes Q-Tip's verse from "Mind Power" and adds on a few more lines I can't place before going full Christmas - but keeping that boom-bap!
Noveliss & Mega Ran : Memory Card
One of the OGs of leaning fully into video game culture in Hip-Hop alongside the Clear Soul Forces veteran and manga writer Noveliss? You know the references are going to be fire. Hir-O provides the beat, and both MCs bring it as they centre the concept of the memory card (ask your parents if you don't know) on this standout from their "Maverick Hunters" album.
Bounty Killer, A.R.P, Curly, and Tulokk : Evils Of Your Mind (Edited)
Devil on one shoulder, devil on the other? Almost like a dancehall version of Eminem's "Guilty Conscience" (especially with that second voice), this is a big single from 2001 on the "Heavyweight" riddim that also appears on the 2002 "Ghetto Dictionary : The Mystery" album as "Evils Of The Mind". 2002 was a busy time for the Warlord, who also dropped "Ghetto Dictionary : The Art Of War" that same year.
Kuartz & Vybz Kartel : Clarks (Kuartz Real Badman Remix)
If you're a DJ, especially in a city like Manchester where crowds react to big sounds, get "Hybrid Dialects" just for this monster! A local producer with worldwide rep and reach, Kuartz has done the home scene proud and on his latest release, the industrial, digital vibes come through loud and clear. The cold, wintery feel on the intro make it a perfect inclusion this dark month. Kuartz bends and effects the voice of Vybz Kartel as much as any other instrument on the track, making for a sound system killer!
Da Beatminerz & KRS-ONE : Seckle
KRS was one of the first to really bring that reggae/dancehall flavour into the Hip-Hop arena, and Da Beatminerz have had that as an element of their style since they debuted on the production for the first Black Moon album, so this is a union you know is going to come correct. Slow and low single, with the soundclash samples at the front, back, and in the hook, this loping, skipping beat allows Kris to come through clear as a bell on the mic, still, after almost forty years of recording. Continue to enjoy new artists, but support the veterans too!
NYG'z ft. Rave : Itz On
Rugged and triumphant in equal measure, this was the big opening track on the first and so far only LP from NYG'z, "Welcome 2 G-Dom" from 2007. Guest emcee Rave (sometimes credited elsewhere as R.A.V.E Roulette) features on six of the album's fifteen tracks, which definitely puts him in "honourary group member" territory! Production is handled by DJ Premier, who also released this album on his own label Year Round Records - truly backing this crew in every way possible. PS - the apostrophe setup in the artist name and song title are verbatim from the release, don't come after me :)
Paul Wall & Termanology : Talk About It
As I say, you might not think that Houston's Paul Wall and Lawrence (Massachussetts) native Termanology are the most obvious MC pairing in the world, but my goodness, they fit togther perfectly. They already gave us one excellent LP in "Start 2 Finish" and now they're back with "Start, Finish, Repeat". It might just be in my head, but it feels like they each lean towards each other - Paul Wall with slightly more wordplay in his flow, and Termanology dialling back on the trademark syllable barrages he can unleash at any time. Large Professor bases his production around a great soul sample I added to my own collection this year, spices up the hook with some cuts.
Curren$y ft. Mac Miller : Money Shot
I've always been iffy about including this one from 2014's "More Saturday Night Car Tunes" - partly because the sound quality isn't great, but also because if I'm honest, I don't think the late Mac Miller's verse on this is his finest work. That said, I know many people online disagree with me and love it! Curren$y is solid here, but for me, the real star is the production by Sap - taking a great late 70s slow jam sample, and speeding it up (which speaks to how slow the original is), layering a suitably straightforward drum track, and then trying to turn your speakers inside out in the closing seconds! I blend out during that segment, just in case...don't want any of you coming after me for damages 😄
Luxury Elite : Parkway
A bit of vaporwave for this interlude, pure 80s vibes on this slow, moody instrumental from the "World Class" album. Luxury Elite digs out some of those really obscure 80s samples for her work, and it's all about just vibing out to the loops and little change-ups.
Mega Ran, Young RJ, Erick Roberson, Abstract Orchestra, Daru Jones, Marcel P. Black : Black Is Beautiful
Apologies to Marcel P. Black - the digital file I read the artist information on at first didn't have his name, but he kills it on the third verse and rightly deserves major respect here. This is a gorgeous and poetic track about Blackness from the 2020 "2 Hands Up" album by Young RJ and Mega Ran, which is not just (or even mostly) about police violence, but a varied and well-rounded LP. Young RJ produces this one in not just the sense of getting on a beat machine, but pulling in Leeds crew Abstract Orchestra, frequent collaborators with the Detroit scene, plus the Grammy-winning drummer Daru Jones and shaping the union into this exceptional song.
Amp Fiddler : Eye To Eye
I first heard this track on a Qool DJ Marv mix, and it was years before I could tell you who the artist was! It turned out to be just one facet of the talents of the brilliant Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, who featured this track on his debut album "Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly". It's a classic piece of funky soul, which could easily have been written twenty-plus years earlier, but had all the quality and polish to stand out in the early 21st century. RIP Amp.
InI : Mind Over Matter
Classic, if relatively little-known heat from the 90s. This Mount Vernon crew had their debut "Center of Attention", from which this is taken, shelved due to friction with the label and legal issues around ownership, but it was heavily bootlegged before eventually surfacing officially in 2003. Solid rhymes here from Grap Luva, Rob-O, and Ras G, atop some vintage SP-1200 action courtesy of Pete Rock, who produced the whole project.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Invincible : Detroit Winter
After that brief trip to New York State, we close out the section by bringing it right back to Detroit, this time to the PPP duo (Waajeed and Saadiq) for a track from their debut album, 2005's "Triple P". MC Invincible of the Anomalies crew kills it on the mic with their almost monotone flow, describing the bitter coldness of Detroit in detail, making it a suitable selection for this time of year. Musically, the piano riff is the standout element, but if you listen really closely, you can also hear a famous rhythm sample in the background quietly holding it down too!
[EZ Elpee] Capone-N-Noreaga : Calm Down (Instrumental)
"Calm Down" never made it onto the classic C-N-N debut album "The War Report" due to sample clearance problems - hey, I guess Bette Midler wasn't down with the Queensbridge thug life - but you might get lucky and find it on a promo 12" somewhere. If you're really lucky though, you might find an instrumental LP of tracks from the LP, including a couple that, like this one, didn't end up on the final release. Nice beat by EZ Elpee, just a shame it didn't get the shine it deserved!
Souls Of Mischief : A Name I Call Myself
I really didn't know what to end this episode with, but settled on a track from a much-loved LP which turned thirty this year. This was a deep album cut, produced by Del The Funkee Homosapien, with some really clever sample combinations underneath the cheerfully-rhymed X-rated lyrics! It's great to see how Souls' music has continued to reflect their journeys through life, from this during their teenage years through to the present day - and by the way, they were pioneers in using the internet to promote their music.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Speaking to the people that matter, with my mind."
- Grap
While a lot of December up this way has been surprisingly mild, but there was an absolutely vicious period - was lucky that the heating in the house only died after the worst had passed. Still, it's fixed now, so I didn't freeze to death putting this episode together! As we draw towards the end of the year, the themes here might be wintery and seasonal, but the tunes are heat :)
As promised, here's the link for WORKINONIT - definitely support this collective (and the venue that hosts the monthly events!) if you want to support grassroots talent 💯
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Show/Stream Schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Median : Median Alleviates The Drama
A deep cut from the heyday of the Justus League, with 9th Wonder (of course) chopping it up on this breezy beat for his Winston-Salem, North Carolina, compatriot to get busy on. You may not know Median as he only recorded two albums, his last in 2011, but he's a grounded yet imaginative writer who is well worth your listening time. Of interest to many who do take the time to dig into his history will be "Brenda's Baby" from the 2007 "Median's Relief" LP, his sequel to 2Pac's famous "Brenda's Got A Baby".
Soul Supreme : Mood Swings
Big shout to Jim Bane of Eastern Bloc who gifted me the "Poetic Justice" LP on wax for my birthday earlier this year! Amsterdam's Soul Supreme has been giving us quality music for a long while now, but in recent times has been locked in what sounds like an awful legal dispute with a record company and another producer. Despite still being in the thick of it, he delivers his commentary in the form of instrumental music on this album, which is even clearer when you read the track titles. The interplay between the horns and his keyboard work are the highlight on this particular track, but for the full effect, sit down and listen to the whole album end-to-end.
Cookin Soul : Kamaal Xmas Time
Cookin Soul usually comes out with a special Xmas release each year, mixing up an artist you know well with seasonal sample flips. This track comes from the 2002 "A Tribe Called Xmas" collection, and takes Q-Tip's verse from "Mind Power" and adds on a few more lines I can't place before going full Christmas - but keeping that boom-bap!
Noveliss & Mega Ran : Memory Card
One of the OGs of leaning fully into video game culture in Hip-Hop alongside the Clear Soul Forces veteran and manga writer Noveliss? You know the references are going to be fire. Hir-O provides the beat, and both MCs bring it as they centre the concept of the memory card (ask your parents if you don't know) on this standout from their "Maverick Hunters" album.
Bounty Killer, A.R.P, Curly, and Tulokk : Evils Of Your Mind (Edited)
Devil on one shoulder, devil on the other? Almost like a dancehall version of Eminem's "Guilty Conscience" (especially with that second voice), this is a big single from 2001 on the "Heavyweight" riddim that also appears on the 2002 "Ghetto Dictionary : The Mystery" album as "Evils Of The Mind". 2002 was a busy time for the Warlord, who also dropped "Ghetto Dictionary : The Art Of War" that same year.
Kuartz & Vybz Kartel : Clarks (Kuartz Real Badman Remix)
If you're a DJ, especially in a city like Manchester where crowds react to big sounds, get "Hybrid Dialects" just for this monster! A local producer with worldwide rep and reach, Kuartz has done the home scene proud and on his latest release, the industrial, digital vibes come through loud and clear. The cold, wintery feel on the intro make it a perfect inclusion this dark month. Kuartz bends and effects the voice of Vybz Kartel as much as any other instrument on the track, making for a sound system killer!
Da Beatminerz & KRS-ONE : Seckle
KRS was one of the first to really bring that reggae/dancehall flavour into the Hip-Hop arena, and Da Beatminerz have had that as an element of their style since they debuted on the production for the first Black Moon album, so this is a union you know is going to come correct. Slow and low single, with the soundclash samples at the front, back, and in the hook, this loping, skipping beat allows Kris to come through clear as a bell on the mic, still, after almost forty years of recording. Continue to enjoy new artists, but support the veterans too!
NYG'z ft. Rave : Itz On
Rugged and triumphant in equal measure, this was the big opening track on the first and so far only LP from NYG'z, "Welcome 2 G-Dom" from 2007. Guest emcee Rave (sometimes credited elsewhere as R.A.V.E Roulette) features on six of the album's fifteen tracks, which definitely puts him in "honourary group member" territory! Production is handled by DJ Premier, who also released this album on his own label Year Round Records - truly backing this crew in every way possible. PS - the apostrophe setup in the artist name and song title are verbatim from the release, don't come after me :)
Paul Wall & Termanology : Talk About It
As I say, you might not think that Houston's Paul Wall and Lawrence (Massachussetts) native Termanology are the most obvious MC pairing in the world, but my goodness, they fit togther perfectly. They already gave us one excellent LP in "Start 2 Finish" and now they're back with "Start, Finish, Repeat". It might just be in my head, but it feels like they each lean towards each other - Paul Wall with slightly more wordplay in his flow, and Termanology dialling back on the trademark syllable barrages he can unleash at any time. Large Professor bases his production around a great soul sample I added to my own collection this year, spices up the hook with some cuts.
Curren$y ft. Mac Miller : Money Shot
I've always been iffy about including this one from 2014's "More Saturday Night Car Tunes" - partly because the sound quality isn't great, but also because if I'm honest, I don't think the late Mac Miller's verse on this is his finest work. That said, I know many people online disagree with me and love it! Curren$y is solid here, but for me, the real star is the production by Sap - taking a great late 70s slow jam sample, and speeding it up (which speaks to how slow the original is), layering a suitably straightforward drum track, and then trying to turn your speakers inside out in the closing seconds! I blend out during that segment, just in case...don't want any of you coming after me for damages 😄
Luxury Elite : Parkway
A bit of vaporwave for this interlude, pure 80s vibes on this slow, moody instrumental from the "World Class" album. Luxury Elite digs out some of those really obscure 80s samples for her work, and it's all about just vibing out to the loops and little change-ups.
Mega Ran, Young RJ, Erick Roberson, Abstract Orchestra, Daru Jones, Marcel P. Black : Black Is Beautiful
Apologies to Marcel P. Black - the digital file I read the artist information on at first didn't have his name, but he kills it on the third verse and rightly deserves major respect here. This is a gorgeous and poetic track about Blackness from the 2020 "2 Hands Up" album by Young RJ and Mega Ran, which is not just (or even mostly) about police violence, but a varied and well-rounded LP. Young RJ produces this one in not just the sense of getting on a beat machine, but pulling in Leeds crew Abstract Orchestra, frequent collaborators with the Detroit scene, plus the Grammy-winning drummer Daru Jones and shaping the union into this exceptional song.
Amp Fiddler : Eye To Eye
I first heard this track on a Qool DJ Marv mix, and it was years before I could tell you who the artist was! It turned out to be just one facet of the talents of the brilliant Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, who featured this track on his debut album "Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly". It's a classic piece of funky soul, which could easily have been written twenty-plus years earlier, but had all the quality and polish to stand out in the early 21st century. RIP Amp.
InI : Mind Over Matter
Classic, if relatively little-known heat from the 90s. This Mount Vernon crew had their debut "Center of Attention", from which this is taken, shelved due to friction with the label and legal issues around ownership, but it was heavily bootlegged before eventually surfacing officially in 2003. Solid rhymes here from Grap Luva, Rob-O, and Ras G, atop some vintage SP-1200 action courtesy of Pete Rock, who produced the whole project.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Invincible : Detroit Winter
After that brief trip to New York State, we close out the section by bringing it right back to Detroit, this time to the PPP duo (Waajeed and Saadiq) for a track from their debut album, 2005's "Triple P". MC Invincible of the Anomalies crew kills it on the mic with their almost monotone flow, describing the bitter coldness of Detroit in detail, making it a suitable selection for this time of year. Musically, the piano riff is the standout element, but if you listen really closely, you can also hear a famous rhythm sample in the background quietly holding it down too!
[EZ Elpee] Capone-N-Noreaga : Calm Down (Instrumental)
"Calm Down" never made it onto the classic C-N-N debut album "The War Report" due to sample clearance problems - hey, I guess Bette Midler wasn't down with the Queensbridge thug life - but you might get lucky and find it on a promo 12" somewhere. If you're really lucky though, you might find an instrumental LP of tracks from the LP, including a couple that, like this one, didn't end up on the final release. Nice beat by EZ Elpee, just a shame it didn't get the shine it deserved!
Souls Of Mischief : A Name I Call Myself
I really didn't know what to end this episode with, but settled on a track from a much-loved LP which turned thirty this year. This was a deep album cut, produced by Del The Funkee Homosapien, with some really clever sample combinations underneath the cheerfully-rhymed X-rated lyrics! It's great to see how Souls' music has continued to reflect their journeys through life, from this during their teenage years through to the present day - and by the way, they were pioneers in using the internet to promote their music.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Ain't a damn thing changed boy, protect ya neck!"
- RZA
This month marks a full thirty years since the landmark date of November 9th 1993, when two of the greatest albums of all time - in any genre - were released. I've played many of the tracks from those LPs on the podcast over the years, but both do get a nod of respect in the selection here, alongside some absolute fire new releases and old classics. This month's selection tends towards veterans of the culture, while for the most part staying in the relatively recent past. Like Nas says, keep on putting out records...we want to see and hear the art!
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Show/Stream Schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Champion Sound ft. Smif-N-Wessun : One Luv
This is a really grand-sounding track which deserves to be heard from the very first note. The piano chords and overall instrumentation bring to mind less a Hip-Hop single and more the kind of thing you might hear on the soundtrack of a Spike Lee film. I looked up the band Champion Sound and was amazed to find that they hail from Prague - a serious cross-continental collaboration for them to link up with Brooklyn's finest! Tek and Steele drop grown man street raps over the brooding, cinematic soundscape for a standout from the "Stash Box" LP that just dropped last month.
[DJ Eclipse] O.C. : Time's Up (Remix Instrumental)
Buckwild's beat for the original version of this classic single is one of the best-known and loved pieces of production in Hip-Hop history, and it would take a brave man to remix the track - enter DJ Eclipse. The former Fat Beats retail supremo and DJ for Non Phixion isn't one to shy away from a challenge, and he does an excellent job bringing a different flavour right here. While this might have once been tough to find (I'm only just hearing it for the first time myself), it's now easily available on the deluxe version of "Word...Life", which has been released digitally.
Wu-Tang Clan : 7th Chamber
In the month where we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the debut Wu album "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", I've gone for one of the deeper cuts that isn't something you'd hear at a typical gig or club night. Quintessential Wu, with RZA nailing the production (personally, I love the loop with the stabs before the main groove comes in), and seven of the Clan MCs murdering the track. Wu forever, indeed.
Kev Brown & J Scienide : Legendary Rugged
Simply a slice of raw Hip-Hop, no fancy studio gloss, just rough drums, deep bass, and a warbling main sample over which J Scienide spits that goodness. Kev Brown drops some bars himself on the second verse, showing why he clearly has to be thought of as one of the best producers on the mic of the current era. 2021s "Stray From The Pack" LP is inspired by the great duos both inside and outside of Hip-Hop, and Kev and J pay tribute in fine style.
MC Eiht ft. Xzibit : Medicate
The various battles over the years aside, I love to see how much true respect the veterans of the culture have for each other, especially when it leads to pairings you might not immediately think of! In this case, Texas-born but longtime Brooklyn resident DJ Premier, possibly the exemplar of the East Coast sound links up with one of the OGs of the scene in Compton, California, the legendary MC Eiht to executive produce his "Which Way Iz West" album, from which this is drawn. Connecting with Xzibit takes the union to an even higher level, and Austrian producer Brenk Sinatra captures just the right vibe for both MCs to get busy on.
Krumb Snatcha : Rich Man Poor Man
A heavy album track from "Respect All, Fear None" that I'd imagine passed most people by, Da Beatminerz come with some boom-bap accented by a dramatic horn sample for one of Boston's ruggest to spit over. As a man whose trials and tribulations are a matter of record (including his classic single "Closer To God"), when he gives you lyrics like this they come with the weight of someone who has experienced the realities of the world first-hand.
[Hit-Boy] Nas : 40-16 Building (instrumental)
I just picked up the instrumentals of Nas' "Magic" LP on vinyl, and this was one of my favourite beats on that album. As great as Nas is on it, I always love a chance to hear the production brought to the forefront!
Pusha T : Just So You Remember
"Livin' a lie, but die for your images."
This dark and subdued Kanye-produced track from "It's Almost Dry" absolutely drips with menace and contempt from the pen and vocal performance of Pusha T. You might recognise the sample, which was on "Six Days" by DJ Shadow, and it bubbles along with the periodic vocal interjections from the original source, in between Pusha's verses - notably, the first being longer than the other two put together. Packed with quotables, this is headphone music at its best.
Queen Omega & Little Lion Sound : No Love
You might have heard the raw, 100% from-the-soul vocals of Trinidad's Queen Omega on an IG video that was going round recently, where she recorded an absolutely fire dubplate over the beat for Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode". This is the original track it's based on, a roots reggae cut with a lyrical message that seems especially accurate right now.
Shortie No Mass : Here Goes Nothing
I only heard this recently and assumed I was just way behind the curve, only to realise it's a 2021 release! This MC famously guested with De La Soul on "Buhloone Mindstate" as well as The Roots on "Organix" before releasing a couple of singles and then falling all the way back for an extended period. After many requests from fans over the years, she's out with an LP, from which this is the appropriately-named title cut, and is talking about more after getting very positive feedback! I don't have credits for the digital release, so I can't say who produced this, but it's got the vibe of the opening track passed through a happier filter, and of course you know the lyrics are tight.
Six Figga Digga & Camp Lo : The Jig
Six Figga Digga might be known to you as Lord Digga (when he was with the INC Crew), or just Digga (certainly around the time of his work for Biggie), and he's been in the industry for years, not always in the forefront but always keeping the quality high when you do hear him. He lines up two of my favourite MCs, Camp Lo, the slang grandmasters of the Bronx very nicely here. You usually put textures together in a beat that sound like they could have come from the same place, but to blend electronic drums like these with those seventies sounds and make it work takes real skills. Catch this one on the recently-released "Person Of Interest" LP.
Agallah : Gotta Love Me (instrumental)
I've always got time for an Agallah instrumental, and this soulful groove from 2015s "PCP Instrumentals" is, despite an undeniable bump, actually a chilled beat you could add to your studying playlists :)
Temu : Temu's Talkbox Groove
I can't remember how I happened across this track this month, but I'm very glad I did! It seems that Temu is a modern day funk maestro, a devotee of all that that makes you pull the stank face, and a true "Relic Of The Mothership", as his debut LP is titled. Flying the flag for that vintage heavy electronic funk, this track references quite a few tunes you might know as he takes you on a journey, rocking the talkbox through the whole track like the great Roger Troutman would have done. If this man comes to Manchester on tour...that's a guaranteed ticket purchase from me!
Essa & Pitch 92 : Heavyweight
A brand new single from two quality artists in combination - Pitch 92 on production (alongside co-producer Viva Cee), and the young veteran Essa (formerly Yungun) on the mic. Thumping, rolling beat with Essa's assured vocals running over the top make for a heck of a preview for the forthcoming album from this duo.
Erick Sermon : Stay Real
Taking it back to the early 90s, this was the second (and final) single from Erick Sermon's solo debut, the wryly-titled "No Pressure". Everyone knew the pressure was on after the EPMD breakup, but he came out strong as a solo artist with this LP and shut down all the questions. His trademark lisp accents his bars over a tough self-produced beat highlighted by that synth-funk bassline, plus a little Roger Troutman in the hook.
Clear Soul Forces : Get Wit It
No shame if you missed this one the first time round, as it was a bonus track only on the deluxe edition of CSF's excellent "Gold PP7s" album, ten years old this year. It's what you expect from this Detroit crew - bouncy production from Ilajide (with some nice short bass stabs and an epic clap) and styles upon styles from the whole crew on the mic. It's certainly not intended to pander to the club, but if you have a pulse it probably wants to make you move nonetheless!
J Dilla : Say My Name (Instrumental)
Weirdly, when I played the vocal version of this track all the way back on episode 96, it was also following an Ilajide production! Anyway, since then I've got hold of the instrumentals that were used for the controversial "Rebirth Of Detroit" project and even if this beat was an offcut, it's better than a lot of people's best work!
Natural Elements : #TribeVibes
I almost played this last episode, until I realised the milestone we were reaching this month! One of the fiercest crews of MCs ever to form, Natural Elements and their producer Charlemagne pay homage to the great A Tribe Called Quest on this track. Beginning with and interspersed by an announcer inspired by the performance of the sadly departed Laurel Dann on "Midnight Marauders", the crew kill it over beats inspired by "Lyrics To Go", "Midnight", and "Bonita Applebum". "Midnight Marauders" is my favourite Tribe LP to this day, and this is an appropriately high-quality homage to it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Ain't a damn thing changed boy, protect ya neck!"
- RZA
This month marks a full thirty years since the landmark date of November 9th 1993, when two of the greatest albums of all time - in any genre - were released. I've played many of the tracks from those LPs on the podcast over the years, but both do get a nod of respect in the selection here, alongside some absolute fire new releases and old classics. This month's selection tends towards veterans of the culture, while for the most part staying in the relatively recent past. Like Nas says, keep on putting out records...we want to see and hear the art!
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Show/Stream Schedule : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Champion Sound ft. Smif-N-Wessun : One Luv
This is a really grand-sounding track which deserves to be heard from the very first note. The piano chords and overall instrumentation bring to mind less a Hip-Hop single and more the kind of thing you might hear on the soundtrack of a Spike Lee film. I looked up the band Champion Sound and was amazed to find that they hail from Prague - a serious cross-continental collaboration for them to link up with Brooklyn's finest! Tek and Steele drop grown man street raps over the brooding, cinematic soundscape for a standout from the "Stash Box" LP that just dropped last month.
[DJ Eclipse] O.C. : Time's Up (Remix Instrumental)
Buckwild's beat for the original version of this classic single is one of the best-known and loved pieces of production in Hip-Hop history, and it would take a brave man to remix the track - enter DJ Eclipse. The former Fat Beats retail supremo and DJ for Non Phixion isn't one to shy away from a challenge, and he does an excellent job bringing a different flavour right here. While this might have once been tough to find (I'm only just hearing it for the first time myself), it's now easily available on the deluxe version of "Word...Life", which has been released digitally.
Wu-Tang Clan : 7th Chamber
In the month where we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the debut Wu album "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", I've gone for one of the deeper cuts that isn't something you'd hear at a typical gig or club night. Quintessential Wu, with RZA nailing the production (personally, I love the loop with the stabs before the main groove comes in), and seven of the Clan MCs murdering the track. Wu forever, indeed.
Kev Brown & J Scienide : Legendary Rugged
Simply a slice of raw Hip-Hop, no fancy studio gloss, just rough drums, deep bass, and a warbling main sample over which J Scienide spits that goodness. Kev Brown drops some bars himself on the second verse, showing why he clearly has to be thought of as one of the best producers on the mic of the current era. 2021s "Stray From The Pack" LP is inspired by the great duos both inside and outside of Hip-Hop, and Kev and J pay tribute in fine style.
MC Eiht ft. Xzibit : Medicate
The various battles over the years aside, I love to see how much true respect the veterans of the culture have for each other, especially when it leads to pairings you might not immediately think of! In this case, Texas-born but longtime Brooklyn resident DJ Premier, possibly the exemplar of the East Coast sound links up with one of the OGs of the scene in Compton, California, the legendary MC Eiht to executive produce his "Which Way Iz West" album, from which this is drawn. Connecting with Xzibit takes the union to an even higher level, and Austrian producer Brenk Sinatra captures just the right vibe for both MCs to get busy on.
Krumb Snatcha : Rich Man Poor Man
A heavy album track from "Respect All, Fear None" that I'd imagine passed most people by, Da Beatminerz come with some boom-bap accented by a dramatic horn sample for one of Boston's ruggest to spit over. As a man whose trials and tribulations are a matter of record (including his classic single "Closer To God"), when he gives you lyrics like this they come with the weight of someone who has experienced the realities of the world first-hand.
[Hit-Boy] Nas : 40-16 Building (instrumental)
I just picked up the instrumentals of Nas' "Magic" LP on vinyl, and this was one of my favourite beats on that album. As great as Nas is on it, I always love a chance to hear the production brought to the forefront!
Pusha T : Just So You Remember
"Livin' a lie, but die for your images." This dark and subdued Kanye-produced track from "It's Almost Dry" absolutely drips with menace and contempt from the pen and vocal performance of Pusha T. You might recognise the sample, which was on "Six Days" by DJ Shadow, and it bubbles along with the periodic vocal interjections from the original source, in between Pusha's verses - notably, the first being longer than the other two put together. Packed with quotables, this is headphone music at its best.
Queen Omega & Little Lion Sound : No Love
You might have heard the raw, 100% from-the-soul vocals of Trinidad's Queen Omega on an IG video that was going round recently, where she recorded an absolutely fire dubplate over the beat for Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode". This is the original track it's based on, a roots reggae cut with a lyrical message that seems especially accurate right now.
Shortie No Mass : Here Goes Nothing
I only heard this recently and assumed I was just way behind the curve, only to realise it's a 2021 release! This MC famously guested with De La Soul on "Buhloone Mindstate" as well as The Roots on "Organix" before releasing a couple of singles and then falling all the way back for an extended period. After many requests from fans over the years, she's out with an LP, from which this is the appropriately-named title cut, and is talking about more after getting very positive feedback! I don't have credits for the digital release, so I can't say who produced this, but it's got the vibe of the opening track passed through a happier filter, and of course you know the lyrics are tight.
Six Figga Digga & Camp Lo : The Jig
Six Figga Digga might be known to you as Lord Digga (when he was with the INC Crew), or just Digga (certainly around the time of his work for Biggie), and he's been in the industry for years, not always in the forefront but always keeping the quality high when you do hear him. He lines up two of my favourite MCs, Camp Lo, the slang grandmasters of the Bronx very nicely here. You usually put textures together in a beat that sound like they could have come from the same place, but to blend electronic drums like these with those seventies sounds and make it work takes real skills. Catch this one on the recently-released "Person Of Interest" LP.
Agallah : Gotta Love Me (instrumental)
I've always got time for an Agallah instrumental, and this soulful groove from 2015s "PCP Instrumentals" is, despite an undeniable bump, actually a chilled beat you could add to your studying playlists :)
Temu : Temu's Talkbox Groove
I can't remember how I happened across this track this month, but I'm very glad I did! It seems that Temu is a modern day funk maestro, a devotee of all that that makes you pull the stank face, and a true "Relic Of The Mothership", as his debut LP is titled. Flying the flag for that vintage heavy electronic funk, this track references quite a few tunes you might know as he takes you on a journey, rocking the talkbox through the whole track like the great Roger Troutman would have done. If this man comes to Manchester on tour...that's a guaranteed ticket purchase from me!
Essa & Pitch 92 : Heavyweight
A brand new single from two quality artists in combination - Pitch 92 on production (alongside co-producer Viva Cee), and the young veteran Essa (formerly Yungun) on the mic. Thumping, rolling beat with Essa's assured vocals running over the top make for a heck of a preview for the forthcoming album from this duo.
Erick Sermon : Stay Real
Taking it back to the early 90s, this was the second (and final) single from Erick Sermon's solo debut, the wryly-titled "No Pressure". Everyone knew the pressure was on after the EPMD breakup, but he came out strong as a solo artist with this LP and shut down all the questions. His trademark lisp accents his bars over a tough self-produced beat highlighted by that synth-funk bassline, plus a little Roger Troutman in the hook.
Clear Soul Forces : Get Wit It
No shame if you missed this one the first time round, as it was a bonus track only on the deluxe edition of CSF's excellent "Gold PP7s" album, ten years old this year. It's what you expect from this Detroit crew - bouncy production from Ilajide (with some nice short bass stabs and an epic clap) and styles upon styles from the whole crew on the mic. It's certainly not intended to pander to the club, but if you have a pulse it probably wants to make you move nonetheless!
J Dilla : Say My Name (Instrumental)
Weirdly, when I played the vocal version of this track all the way back on episode 96, it was also following an Ilajide production! Anyway, since then I've got hold of the instrumentals that were used for the controversial "Rebirth Of Detroit" project and even if this beat was an offcut, it's better than a lot of people's best work!
Natural Elements : #TribeVibes
I almost played this last episode, until I realised the milestone we were reaching this month! One of the fiercest crews of MCs ever to form, Natural Elements and their producer Charlemagne pay homage to the great A Tribe Called Quest on this track. Beginning with and interspersed by an announcer inspired by the performance of the sadly departed Laurel Dann on "Midnight Marauders", the crew kill it over beats inspired by "Lyrics To Go", "Midnight", and "Bonita Applebum". "Midnight Marauders" is my favourite Tribe LP to this day, and this is an appropriately high-quality homage to it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...kick rocks or kick rhymes..."
- Jean Grae
The seasons are most definitely changing on this side, and the heavens have been pretty open the last couple of weeks while I've been putting the show together. Unfortunately during that time, we lost a couple of respected DJs and producers, DJ Mark the 45 King and Groove Damoast, both of whom are included in this month's mix. May they rest well.
The selections for this month span a time period of almost fifty years, from a 1975 funk classic to a brand new release from one of Manchester's finest, making stops in the 80s and the independent Hip-Hop wax era of the 90s - something for all the heads!
Don't forget - you can always get an up-to-date list of my next few upcoming streams and gigs @ events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon (because Twitter is basically on fire) : https://mastodon.me.uk/@airadam
Playlist/Notes
DJ Muggs, Roc Marciano, Meyhem Lauren, and Rome Streetz : 67 Keys
Two MCs I've seen live recently with another (Rome Streetz) I would have seen if it wasn't for work's on-call schedule, talking pure drug business over some thriller film-type production courtesy of DJ Muggs, who has constructed an amazing second act post the Cypress Hill classics that everyone knows him for. Everyone gets busy on the mic on this new single, with Meyhem killing that last verse.
David Cutter Music : Upstart
UK beat action here with this London beatmaker cooking up a quintessential boom-bap type of beat with a little of that DJ Premier flavour and heaviness - I might need to blend this with some M.O.P! Get this on the recently-released "Follow Dreams" LP.
MF DOOM : Lickupon
I went back to the "Viktor Vaughn Vaudeville Villain" LP after being gifted an amazing alternate cover for display recently, and this was a standout on my first listen in a while. The producers (Heat Sensor) work the same sample as Biggie's "Warning" but with all sorts of other stuff going on, and DOOM just goes nuts from beginning to end. Bars upon bars with no hook, purely the sounds of someone who loved to flip words every which way.
Doo Wop ft. Raekwon : Castle To Castle
You've got to be brave to hop on a track with the crime-rhyming slang master Raekwon if MCing isn't your full-time gig, but Doo Wop (one of Biggie's favourite DJs) gives a good account of himself here as well as holding down the production! A classic jazz sample is the basis for this track from "The State vs Doo Wop" which is also available on a 12" if you need the clean version and instrumental.
Little Brother ft. Rhymefest and Supastition : Do It To Death
A personal headphone favourite I could have sworn I'd already played on the podcast, but which somehow missed the selection for the last fourteen-plus years! All four MCs kill it, but my favourite is absolutely Phonte on the opening verse, with his "American Pie" reference never failing to make me smile! Focus... is on production and those drums are absolutely smacking here, making this track a highlight of "...And Justus For All".
Marley Marl : Hip-Hop History #4
Short and sweet, with a chunky and bouncing beat from the godfather of sampling as we know it today, and no rhymes - just a few words about his own history in Hip-Hop. Find this one on the 2000 "Hip Hop Dictionary" release, which I thought might be a big hard to find but is actually available digitally.
Kev Brown & Dre King : Black Champions
Tough, tough instrumental that I've had on repeat this month, taken from the seven-track "King Kev" project from these two musical masters. Dre King is, amongst other things, a sample pack producer who provides top-shelf instrumental pieces for producers to sample, and his work is used to great effect once Kev Brown gets it into his MPC. No hi-hits on this, just the kick and snare smashing through the whole beat, giving you little spaces where just the bass and keys play before the drums kick you in the head again!
Pharoahe Monch ft. Jean Grae and Royce Da 5' 9" : Assassins
An appropriately named track from the "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)" album, with all three MCs fitting perfectly into the roles of Hip-Hop assassins (check the full version to get the intro), since none of them have ever encountered a beat they couldn't kill. M-Phazes is on the beat, and it's appropriately loud and dramatic - not something that blends into a mix naturally, because so many things don't sound quite like this.
[DJ Premier] Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher : Headlines (Instrumental)
I was surprised to find I hadn't played the vocal version of this Griselda track before, but DJ Premier's instrumental provides a nice bridge here between a track with no outro and one with too little drum intro - coming in hard with the aggressive stabs before transitioning into string-led production.
Redman : Bricks Standup
A short freestyle-ish expedition from Redman's "Ill At Will Mixtape Vol.1", which sees one of the all-time greats killing it over the instrumental for Jay-Z's "What More Can I Say?". That instrumental was produced by Brooklyn duo The Buchanans, who somehow cooked this up as one of their first creations and got it placed on "The Black Album" - talk about coming in hot!
Peanut Butter Wolf ft. Rasco and DJ Q-Bert : Run The Line
Taking it back to some late 90s underground Hip-Hop that brings back memories of the tail end of my time at university in Manchester, and especially the time when turntablism was starting to break out of the preserve of only the absolutely most in-the-know to the wider Hip-Hop world and beyond. Q-Bert obliterates it on the scratch as he does literally every single time, with all kinds of flaring action that might as well have come from outer space to many of us! Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf is on production of course on this track from his debut solo LP release "My Vinyl Weighs A Ton", and the all-California lineup is completed by Rasco on the mic. Cleveland-born, but as one of the Cali Agents...he counts.
Tyler Daley : These Cards
One half of Children of Zeus and a certified triple threat, Tyler shows off his singing, rhyming (in case you forgot), and production skills on this bumping new single. And he's 100% correct...he's done alright, to say the least.
The 45 King : Meganizm
While The 45 King is best known for his 80s productions, he was also the producer of tracks like Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" and "Stan" for Eminem as well as a number of far more underground collections of beats, like 2006's "Grooves For A Quiet Storm" from which this track is drawn. A chilled head-nodder with a straightforward and clean drum track on top of some summery keys and bass, this fits just as well at a BBQ as on a mixtape!
SoulChef, Steph Pockets, and DJ Groove Damoast : When It Comes To This
RIP Groove Damoast, who passed away this month. I didn't know the full extent of his work, only knowing his name as a DJ on Twitch, but he was a well-regarded DJ and producer out of Philadelphia who is deeply missed by many. Having heard this 2021 single on one of the many tribute shows, I decided I wanted to share it here. New Zealand's SoulChef is on production, Groove Damoast is the man on the turntables cutting it up with precision, and his Philadelphia compatriot Steph Pockets controls the mic from start to end. Quality Hip-Hop.
Dynamic Syncopation ft. Mass Influence : 2 Tha Left
Early 2000s pick here that I encountered on the Ninja Tune "Xen Cuts" compilation, but was also on the 2002 "In The Red" LP by the combo of producers Loop Professor and Jonny Cuba. As much as this breezy, acoustic guitar-laced track could have been a great instrumental, they stepped it up by drafting in Mass Influence, an underground crew of MCs out of Atlanta who sound very different to what would come to most people's mind when they think of Atlanta Hip-Hop! Apparently some people know this from an advert for Adult Swim segment of Cartoon Network, so it's interesting to know that stuff like Ninja Tune had that kind of reach within the generation who are not making the decisions :)
Fred & The New JB's : (It's Not The Express) It's the J.B.'s Monaurail, Pt. 1
(Not my apostrophe placement, by the way!)
I had a bit of a play with the cue points feature on Serato to extend this live-drummed intro a little bit, just because those hi-hats are so fire. A classic funk workout from Fred Wesley and the rest of James Brown's famous band of that era (from the "James Brown's Funky People" LP), and one that has been sampled on at least three tracks I can think of - I don't know if the sample was cleared on my favourite usage, so I won't mention it here even though you might have heard me play it in the past...
EPMD : Let The Funk Flow
I'll be real - this is far from my favourite of the tracks on EPMD's classic debut "Strictly Business", but I couldn't pass up the chance to blend into it off the back of the original sample! Listening to the cuts on this makes me smile, performed by the group's original DJ K La Boss (who is still working today under the name Dj4our5ive) in his early years.
[Rashad Smith and Sean "Puffy" Combs] The Notorious B.I.G. : One More Chance (Hip-Hop Instrumental)
In a then-contemporary example of the new school calling back to their Hip-Hop inspirations, Rashad Smith and Puffy essentially lifted the monster Marley Marl beat for Craig G's "Droppin' Science (Remix)" for this drastic remix of a track that was already a remix...ok, stay with me on this. The original "One More Chance" was on "Ready To Die" and was pretty raw on the X-rated rhymes, and was then essentially re-recorded with Faith Evans on the hook with a bit of a bow tie on the production, sampling DeBarge's "Stay With Me" for radio appeal. However, the winner for many of us was taking the lyrics from this version and putting them alongside the undeniable break that Marley used seven years before!
Latee : This Cut's Got Flavor
Closing with a DJ Mark the 45 King production, a real classic for heads of a certain age that you don't hear often enough nowadays! This 1987 single has an absolutely monster drum track highlighted by those heavy kicks, and the slowed-down guitar riff is a perfect era-appropriate backing. Latee only had a few releases under his own banner, along with a decent number of guest appearances, but these to me will always be the rhymes that come to mind whenever this Flavor Unit MC is mentioned. This track just makes me want to put on a Dapper Dan suit and drive an AMG Benz somewhere. To my desk job, I suppose 😁
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...kick rocks or kick rhymes..."
- Jean Grae
The seasons are most definitely changing on this side, and the heavens have been pretty open the last couple of weeks while I've been putting the show together. Unfortunately during that time, we lost a couple of respected DJs and producers, DJ Mark the 45 King and Groove Damoast, both of whom are included in this month's mix. May they rest well. The selections for this month span a time period of almost fifty years, from a 1975 funk classic to a brand new release from one of Manchester's finest, making stops in the 80s and the independent Hip-Hop wax era of the 90s - something for all the heads!
Don't forget - you can always get an up-to-date list of my next few upcoming streams and gigs @ events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Mastodon (because Twitter is basically on fire) : https://mastodon.me.uk/@airadam
Playlist/Notes
DJ Muggs, Roc Marciano, Meyhem Lauren, and Rome Streetz : 67 Keys
Two MCs I've seen live recently with another (Rome Streetz) I would have seen if it wasn't for work's on-call schedule, talking pure drug business over some thriller film-type production courtesy of DJ Muggs, who has constructed an amazing second act post the Cypress Hill classics that everyone knows him for. Everyone gets busy on the mic on this new single, with Meyhem killing that last verse.
David Cutter Music : Upstart
UK beat action here with this London beatmaker cooking up a quintessential boom-bap type of beat with a little of that DJ Premier flavour and heaviness - I might need to blend this with some M.O.P! Get this on the recently-released "Follow Dreams" LP.
MF DOOM : Lickupon
I went back to the "Viktor Vaughn Vaudeville Villain" LP after being gifted an amazing alternate cover for display recently, and this was a standout on my first listen in a while. The producers (Heat Sensor) work the same sample as Biggie's "Warning" but with all sorts of other stuff going on, and DOOM just goes nuts from beginning to end. Bars upon bars with no hook, purely the sounds of someone who loved to flip words every which way.
Doo Wop ft. Raekwon : Castle To Castle
You've got to be brave to hop on a track with the crime-rhyming slang master Raekwon if MCing isn't your full-time gig, but Doo Wop (one of Biggie's favourite DJs) gives a good account of himself here as well as holding down the production! A classic jazz sample is the basis for this track from "The State vs Doo Wop" which is also available on a 12" if you need the clean version and instrumental.
Little Brother ft. Rhymefest and Supastition : Do It To Death
A personal headphone favourite I could have sworn I'd already played on the podcast, but which somehow missed the selection for the last fourteen-plus years! All four MCs kill it, but my favourite is absolutely Phonte on the opening verse, with his "American Pie" reference never failing to make me smile! Focus... is on production and those drums are absolutely smacking here, making this track a highlight of "...And Justus For All".
Marley Marl : Hip-Hop History #4
Short and sweet, with a chunky and bouncing beat from the godfather of sampling as we know it today, and no rhymes - just a few words about his own history in Hip-Hop. Find this one on the 2000 "Hip Hop Dictionary" release, which I thought might be a big hard to find but is actually available digitally.
Kev Brown & Dre King : Black Champions
Tough, tough instrumental that I've had on repeat this month, taken from the seven-track "King Kev" project from these two musical masters. Dre King is, amongst other things, a sample pack producer who provides top-shelf instrumental pieces for producers to sample, and his work is used to great effect once Kev Brown gets it into his MPC. No hi-hits on this, just the kick and snare smashing through the whole beat, giving you little spaces where just the bass and keys play before the drums kick you in the head again!
Pharoahe Monch ft. Jean Grae and Royce Da 5' 9" : Assassins
An appropriately named track from the "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)" album, with all three MCs fitting perfectly into the roles of Hip-Hop assassins (check the full version to get the intro), since none of them have ever encountered a beat they couldn't kill. M-Phazes is on the beat, and it's appropriately loud and dramatic - not something that blends into a mix naturally, because so many things don't sound quite like this.
[DJ Premier] Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher : Headlines (Instrumental)
I was surprised to find I hadn't played the vocal version of this Griselda track before, but DJ Premier's instrumental provides a nice bridge here between a track with no outro and one with too little drum intro - coming in hard with the aggressive stabs before transitioning into string-led production.
Redman : Bricks Standup
A short freestyle-ish expedition from Redman's "Ill At Will Mixtape Vol.1", which sees one of the all-time greats killing it over the instrumental for Jay-Z's "What More Can I Say?". That instrumental was produced by Brooklyn duo The Buchanans, who somehow cooked this up as one of their first creations and got it placed on "The Black Album" - talk about coming in hot!
Peanut Butter Wolf ft. Rasco and DJ Q-Bert : Run The Line
Taking it back to some late 90s underground Hip-Hop that brings back memories of the tail end of my time at university in Manchester, and especially the time when turntablism was starting to break out of the preserve of only the absolutely most in-the-know to the wider Hip-Hop world and beyond. Q-Bert obliterates it on the scratch as he does literally every single time, with all kinds of flaring action that might as well have come from outer space to many of us! Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf is on production of course on this track from his debut solo LP release "My Vinyl Weighs A Ton", and the all-California lineup is completed by Rasco on the mic. Cleveland-born, but as one of the Cali Agents...he counts.
Tyler Daley : These Cards
One half of Children of Zeus and a certified triple threat, Tyler shows off his singing, rhyming (in case you forgot), and production skills on this bumping new single. And he's 100% correct...he's done alright, to say the least.
The 45 King : Meganizm
While The 45 King is best known for his 80s productions, he was also the producer of tracks like Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" and "Stan" for Eminem as well as a number of far more underground collections of beats, like 2006's "Grooves For A Quiet Storm" from which this track is drawn. A chilled head-nodder with a straightforward and clean drum track on top of some summery keys and bass, this fits just as well at a BBQ as on a mixtape!
SoulChef, Steph Pockets, and DJ Groove Damoast : When It Comes To This
RIP Groove Damoast, who passed away this month. I didn't know the full extent of his work, only knowing his name as a DJ on Twitch, but he was a well-regarded DJ and producer out of Philadelphia who is deeply missed by many. Having heard this 2021 single on one of the many tribute shows, I decided I wanted to share it here. New Zealand's SoulChef is on production, Groove Damoast is the man on the turntables cutting it up with precision, and his Philadelphia compatriot Steph Pockets controls the mic from start to end. Quality Hip-Hop.
Dynamic Syncopation ft. Mass Influence : 2 Tha Left
Early 2000s pick here that I encountered on the Ninja Tune "Xen Cuts" compilation, but was also on the 2002 "In The Red" LP by the combo of producers Loop Professor and Jonny Cuba. As much as this breezy, acoustic guitar-laced track could have been a great instrumental, they stepped it up by drafting in Mass Influence, an underground crew of MCs out of Atlanta who sound very different to what would come to most people's mind when they think of Atlanta Hip-Hop! Apparently some people know this from an advert for Adult Swim segment of Cartoon Network, so it's interesting to know that stuff like Ninja Tune had that kind of reach within the generation who are not making the decisions :)
Fred & The New JB's : (It's Not The Express) It's the J.B.'s Monaurail, Pt. 1
(Not my apostrophe placement, by the way!) I had a bit of a play with the cue points feature on Serato to extend this live-drummed intro a little bit, just because those hi-hats are so fire. A classic funk workout from Fred Wesley and the rest of James Brown's famous band of that era (from the "James Brown's Funky People" LP), and one that has been sampled on at least three tracks I can think of - I don't know if the sample was cleared on my favourite usage, so I won't mention it here even though you might have heard me play it in the past...
EPMD : Let The Funk Flow
I'll be real - this is far from my favourite of the tracks on EPMD's classic debut "Strictly Business", but I couldn't pass up the chance to blend into it off the back of the original sample! Listening to the cuts on this makes me smile, performed by the group's original DJ K La Boss (who is still working today under the name Dj4our5ive) in his early years.
[Rashad Smith and Sean "Puffy" Combs] The Notorious B.I.G. : One More Chance (Hip-Hop Instrumental)
In a then-contemporary example of the new school calling back to their Hip-Hop inspirations, Rashad Smith and Puffy essentially lifted the monster Marley Marl beat for Craig G's "Droppin' Science (Remix)" for this drastic remix of a track that was already a remix...ok, stay with me on this. The original "One More Chance" was on "Ready To Die" and was pretty raw on the X-rated rhymes, and was then essentially re-recorded with Faith Evans on the hook with a bit of a bow tie on the production, sampling DeBarge's "Stay With Me" for radio appeal. However, the winner for many of us was taking the lyrics from this version and putting them alongside the undeniable break that Marley used seven years before!
Latee : This Cut's Got Flavor
Closing with a DJ Mark the 45 King production, a real classic for heads of a certain age that you don't hear often enough nowadays! This 1987 single has an absolutely monster drum track highlighted by those heavy kicks, and the slowed-down guitar riff is a perfect era-appropriate backing. Latee only had a few releases under his own banner, along with a decent number of guest appearances, but these to me will always be the rhymes that come to mind whenever this Flavor Unit MC is mentioned. This track just makes me want to put on a Dapper Dan suit and drive an AMG Benz somewhere. To my desk job, I suppose 😁
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Do you wanna be dope, or do you wanna deal it?"
- Common
All Hip-Hop at a nice steady pace - but a varied platter of vibes - for this episode, as I celebrate my birth month!
Great personal news : I'm very proud to be included in the new "Hidden Histories : Black in Manchester" resource by Parise Carmichael-Murphy - have a read!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs : GT3
From the car-themed "Members Only" 2019 collaboration between Meyhem and Cypress Hill DJ/producer DJ Muggs, this track integrates the sound of some very angry engines as an additional instrument/element of what is otherwise an extremely sparse bit of production - drums and bass only. Meyhem is laid-back and comfortable at this pace, crafting a track that even those of us without a Porsche on the driveway can appreciate - well, as long as our speakers or headphones deliver the goods!
[RZA] Raekwon : Can It All Be So Simple (Remix Instrumental)
You might detect a little sonic garbling where I was using Serato's "stems" feature to try and remove the vocal samples in the hook, but other than that here's the glorious sound of a hard-to-come-by RZA instrumental of a track from the monumental "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." LP. Rae, Ghost, and RZA took their track from the Wu-Tang debut LP which was already a classic and subtly made it a little darker, a touch rougher and a little less nostalgic. A masterful remix and rewrite.
Roc Marciano : Ridin' Around
A very different kind of rider music to the opening track, but still with an ominous bassline which helps carry the vintage crime vibes perfectly. This is a deep cut from Roc Marciano's seminal solo debut "Marcberg" album, with his gangster wordplay on full display atop a track with more drum action than on much of his later work.
Showbiz & AG : Trapped
This is one of those records which, despite being by a highly respected group, has likely slipped under your radar. The DITC production legend Showbiz is here under his original name (you can find much of his other work credited as simply "Show") alongside his day one MC AG on this late-night creep number from the 2012 "Mugshot Music" album.
Planet Asia ft. Prodigy : Stick & Move
If you love your dark, underground NYC Hip-Hop, you might have heard this sample used elsewhere, but for the current episode this is the slow, menacing, bi-coastal track that gets the nod. Fresno and Queensbridge in combination as Planet Asia and Prodigy (RIP) go back and forth over an Evidence beat on this 2005 release. Not even a hint of going for the pop audience here, just gutter from start to end. Got to respect it.
Mud Family : Itchy Town
I've been holding onto this one for absolutely years! I first heard this on a "Radio Zero" show courtesy of Dave The Ruf, and it's a dark, brooding piece of UK boom-bap from this highly-regarded north London crew. Centred around the MCs Chester P, Skinnyman, and Mongo, they released their core work in the late 90s and early 00s, with this absolute beast being on their very first wax release, 1997s "The Mud Files, Vol. 1". Production on the EP as a whole is credited to Deckwrecka, Firebomb Fritz, and Mad Money Wah - not sure who did what on this cut, but I applaud them for cooking up a track that still bangs after over twenty-five years!
DJ Premier : Dee Ell P
It's been over a decade since DJ Premier gave us a "Beats That Collected Dust" collection, but there's a good reason for that...as he correctly points out, the beats that end up included have to be given time to collect that dust! With that said, the third edition is out now, and is a good digital pickup while the (likely pricey) vinyl works it's way through distribution to the shops. As for the title of this selection from the new release, I haven't deciphered it yet. "The LP"? Was it a track meant for Large Professor, perhaps? Probably overthinking it - just enjoy the master of the MPC 60 going back into his vaults.
Mabanua ft. Kev Brown : Holdin' It Down
I had completely missed this but was introduced to it by none other than Kev Brown himself when he played it on one of his "Beats 'n' Stuff" shows on Twitch! While he drops plenty of unreleased material, he'll throw in overlooked gems from his discography like this one, a collaboration with Japanese beatmaker Mabanua. Given that Kev is on the mic all the way through, I can only assume that Mabanua did the production here - even though it has that Kev Brown feel in spades!
De La Soul ft. Common : The Bizness
An old classic from some of the greats. If you don't already have De La Soul's "Stakes Is High" album, you can now easily buy digitally or stream it, so get on that! This track has, apart from one regrettable homophobic reference from Common which the label partly censored, bars upon bars of heat on a self-produced track that you can't help but nod your head to. I can also think of at least three Hip-Hop tracks that sampled/scratched lines from this one, which is a sure sign of a piece of work that has your peers paying attention!
Blu & Exile : Berries and Juices
You can't help but bop to this, Exile's beat has an undeniable bounce and while Blu does say "beat so sweet that I ain't even gotta do s--t", he unquestionably lifts it to that next level with a couple of chilled verses. Bonus points for the "Coming To America" reference 🙂 Take heed to the title of the album this is drawn from - "Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them" - and apply that sentiment to not only this duo but all the artists you enjoy!
pH7 ft. Access Immortal and DJ Roger Rekless : New York
A long-lost track that only resurfaced for me during the Great Digitisation of 2020-2023! A trans-Atlantic collaboration with German artists pH7 (Cologne) and DJ Roger Rekless (Munich) coming together with Bed-Stuy MC Access Immortal for a jazzy number with solid boom-bap underpinnings, tight cuts, and an overall clean and refreshing sound. You can find this on the somewhat obscure "Blazing Heat" EP,
Ilajide : Ayerloom
Taking it back (ok, not that far back) to 2015 for a beat from "Latex", the first solo LP by one of my favourites, Ilajide of Clear Soul Forces. That drum beat could have come from an 80s Hip-Hop classic, as could the rest of the sounds on the track - and yet, as a whole it doesn't seem of that era. This Detroit beatsmith isn't afraid to go after a certain sonic hardness that other producers might shy away from in the modern era, and it's that banging aggression that helps set him apart.
Kuartz : Glitch In The Ghost
Local beat legend Kuartz released his new LP "Hybrid Dialects" this month, and it's a collection of bassy, techy, angular production that is well worth spending your hard-earned cash on! This was the first track I heard from it, which he debuted earlier in the year at Manchester's WORKINONIT beatmakers event - it was so raw that I had to ask him for an advance copy 😁 I've played it on Twitch a couple of times but now here it is as a taster for the album.
Grand Agent ft. Liv L'Raynge : Ooh-La-Lah
I hadn't heard this for absolutely ages until pulling it out earlier this month, which is a sign that no-one I've been listening to has been playing it either! Grand Agent collaborated with Oxnard production wizard Oh No on the "Under The Circumstances" LP which this track is drawn from, and the album has the husky-voiced MC Liv L'Raynge as the featured guest - with this track being her standout performance. She burns it down on the opening verse over Oh No's heavy beat, and really steals the whole show to be honest!
Coyote ft. Shaquille O'Neal : 3 Lokos
I first heard an excerpt of this on Instagram - not sure it was on Shaq's page, but either way it sent me to go ahead and find the full version of this new single! Coyote is the pairing of Ladies Love Guapo and Ricky Blanco, neither of whom I know already but they both spit rugged on this track, which they produced alongside Brian Lee and on which they were specifically going for a hardcore 90s feel. I know, I know...you want to know about Shaq. Well...he kills his verse. The doctorate-holding four-time NBA champion has been recording since 1993's guest appearance on "What's Up Doc?" by the Fu-Schnickens and his "Shaq Diesel" LP, and despite a long break he comes out spitting with that hunger!
K-Otix : World Renown
Classic underground Hip-Hop right here from 2000, and now available along with the rest of the "Universal" LP on Bandcamp, so no reason not to put some dough in the artists' pockets! You might hear this record and think NYC, but nope - this is a Houston record! It might have been releaed on Bronx Science record, but the skills are all Texas-raised. The incredibly memorable beat comes from the man known as The ARE, who has also done some amazing work outside the crew, and Damien and Micah take the vocal reins. Big record.
DJ Spinna : Surely (Instrumental)
As we move with the wind-down, here's a beautiful track from the studio of DJ Spinna, taken from the instrumental release of his solo debut on BBE, "Here To There". With Ovasoul7's vocals gone, the guitar of the late UK jazz guitar legend Ronny Jordan and the programming work of DJ Spinna get to take centre stage, giving the track a different dimension.
Method Man ft. Ghostface Killah : Afterparty
An appropriate record to end the show with! A dope sing-songy exchange between Meth and Ghost starts the track off, and the melodic approach pops up throughout the track in between straight up bars over a smooth beat from a producer credited simply as "Q", but better known to most as Qur'an from Da Youngstas (sorry, can't bring myself to put the incorrect apostrophe in!) Still my favourite track on "Tical 0 : The Prequel", just as it was on first listen.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Do you wanna be dope, or do you wanna deal it?"
- Common
All Hip-Hop at a nice steady pace - but a varied platter of vibes - for this episode, as I celebrate my birth month!
Great personal news : I'm very proud to be included in the new "Hidden Histories : Black in Manchester" resource by Parise Carmichael-Murphy - have a read!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs : GT3
From the car-themed "Members Only" 2019 collaboration between Meyhem and Cypress Hill DJ/producer DJ Muggs, this track integrates the sound of some very angry engines as an additional instrument/element of what is otherwise an extremely sparse bit of production - drums and bass only. Meyhem is laid-back and comfortable at this pace, crafting a track that even those of us without a Porsche on the driveway can appreciate - well, as long as our speakers or headphones deliver the goods!
[RZA] Raekwon : Can It All Be So Simple (Remix Instrumental)
You might detect a little sonic garbling where I was using Serato's "stems" feature to try and remove the vocal samples in the hook, but other than that here's the glorious sound of a hard-to-come-by RZA instrumental of a track from the monumental "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." LP. Rae, Ghost, and RZA took their track from the Wu-Tang debut LP which was already a classic and subtly made it a little darker, a touch rougher and a little less nostalgic. A masterful remix and rewrite.
Roc Marciano : Ridin' Around
A very different kind of rider music to the opening track, but still with an ominous bassline which helps carry the vintage crime vibes perfectly. This is a deep cut from Roc Marciano's seminal solo debut "Marcberg" album, with his gangster wordplay on full display atop a track with more drum action than on much of his later work.
Showbiz & AG : Trapped
This is one of those records which, despite being by a highly respected group, has likely slipped under your radar. The DITC production legend Showbiz is here under his original name (you can find much of his other work credited as simply "Show") alongside his day one MC AG on this late-night creep number from the 2012 "Mugshot Music" album.
Planet Asia ft. Prodigy : Stick & Move
If you love your dark, underground NYC Hip-Hop, you might have heard this sample used elsewhere, but for the current episode this is the slow, menacing, bi-coastal track that gets the nod. Fresno and Queensbridge in combination as Planet Asia and Prodigy (RIP) go back and forth over an Evidence beat on this 2005 release. Not even a hint of going for the pop audience here, just gutter from start to end. Got to respect it.
Mud Family : Itchy Town
I've been holding onto this one for absolutely years! I first heard this on a "Radio Zero" show courtesy of Dave The Ruf, and it's a dark, brooding piece of UK boom-bap from this highly-regarded north London crew. Centred around the MCs Chester P, Skinnyman, and Mongo, they released their core work in the late 90s and early 00s, with this absolute beast being on their very first wax release, 1997s "The Mud Files, Vol. 1". Production on the EP as a whole is credited to Deckwrecka, Firebomb Fritz, and Mad Money Wah - not sure who did what on this cut, but I applaud them for cooking up a track that still bangs after over twenty-five years!
DJ Premier : Dee Ell P
It's been over a decade since DJ Premier gave us a "Beats That Collected Dust" collection, but there's a good reason for that...as he correctly points out, the beats that end up included have to be given time to collect that dust! With that said, the third edition is out now, and is a good digital pickup while the (likely pricey) vinyl works it's way through distribution to the shops. As for the title of this selection from the new release, I haven't deciphered it yet. "The LP"? Was it a track meant for Large Professor, perhaps? Probably overthinking it - just enjoy the master of the MPC 60 going back into his vaults.
Mabanua ft. Kev Brown : Holdin' It Down
I had completely missed this but was introduced to it by none other than Kev Brown himself when he played it on one of his "Beats 'n' Stuff" shows on Twitch! While he drops plenty of unreleased material, he'll throw in overlooked gems from his discography like this one, a collaboration with Japanese beatmaker Mabanua. Given that Kev is on the mic all the way through, I can only assume that Mabanua did the production here - even though it has that Kev Brown feel in spades!
De La Soul ft. Common : The Bizness
An old classic from some of the greats. If you don't already have De La Soul's "Stakes Is High" album, you can now easily buy digitally or stream it, so get on that! This track has, apart from one regrettable homophobic reference from Common which the label partly censored, bars upon bars of heat on a self-produced track that you can't help but nod your head to. I can also think of at least three Hip-Hop tracks that sampled/scratched lines from this one, which is a sure sign of a piece of work that has your peers paying attention!
Blu & Exile : Berries and Juices
You can't help but bop to this, Exile's beat has an undeniable bounce and while Blu does say "beat so sweet that I ain't even gotta do s--t", he unquestionably lifts it to that next level with a couple of chilled verses. Bonus points for the "Coming To America" reference 🙂 Take heed to the title of the album this is drawn from - "Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them" - and apply that sentiment to not only this duo but all the artists you enjoy!
pH7 ft. Access Immortal and DJ Roger Rekless : New York
A long-lost track that only resurfaced for me during the Great Digitisation of 2020-2023! A trans-Atlantic collaboration with German artists pH7 (Cologne) and DJ Roger Rekless (Munich) coming together with Bed-Stuy MC Access Immortal for a jazzy number with solid boom-bap underpinnings, tight cuts, and an overall clean and refreshing sound. You can find this on the somewhat obscure "Blazing Heat" EP,
Ilajide : Ayerloom
Taking it back (ok, not that far back) to 2015 for a beat from "Latex", the first solo LP by one of my favourites, Ilajide of Clear Soul Forces. That drum beat could have come from an 80s Hip-Hop classic, as could the rest of the sounds on the track - and yet, as a whole it doesn't seem of that era. This Detroit beatsmith isn't afraid to go after a certain sonic hardness that other producers might shy away from in the modern era, and it's that banging aggression that helps set him apart.
Kuartz : Glitch In The Ghost
Local beat legend Kuartz released his new LP "Hybrid Dialects" this month, and it's a collection of bassy, techy, angular production that is well worth spending your hard-earned cash on! This was the first track I heard from it, which he debuted earlier in the year at Manchester's WORKINONIT beatmakers event - it was so raw that I had to ask him for an advance copy 😁 I've played it on Twitch a couple of times but now here it is as a taster for the album.
Grand Agent ft. Liv L'Raynge : Ooh-La-Lah
I hadn't heard this for absolutely ages until pulling it out earlier this month, which is a sign that no-one I've been listening to has been playing it either! Grand Agent collaborated with Oxnard production wizard Oh No on the "Under The Circumstances" LP which this track is drawn from, and the album has the husky-voiced MC Liv L'Raynge as the featured guest - with this track being her standout performance. She burns it down on the opening verse over Oh No's heavy beat, and really steals the whole show to be honest!
Coyote ft. Shaquille O'Neal : 3 Lokos
I first heard an excerpt of this on Instagram - not sure it was on Shaq's page, but either way it sent me to go ahead and find the full version of this new single! Coyote is the pairing of Ladies Love Guapo and Ricky Blanco, neither of whom I know already but they both spit rugged on this track, which they produced alongside Brian Lee and on which they were specifically going for a hardcore 90s feel. I know, I know...you want to know about Shaq. Well...he kills his verse. The doctorate-holding four-time NBA champion has been recording since 1993's guest appearance on "What's Up Doc?" by the Fu-Schnickens and his "Shaq Diesel" LP, and despite a long break he comes out spitting with that hunger!
K-Otix : World Renown
Classic underground Hip-Hop right here from 2000, and now available along with the rest of the "Universal" LP on Bandcamp, so no reason not to put some dough in the artists' pockets! You might hear this record and think NYC, but nope - this is a Houston record! It might have been releaed on Bronx Science record, but the skills are all Texas-raised. The incredibly memorable beat comes from the man known as The ARE, who has also done some amazing work outside the crew, and Damien and Micah take the vocal reins. Big record.
DJ Spinna : Surely (Instrumental)
As we move with the wind-down, here's a beautiful track from the studio of DJ Spinna, taken from the instrumental release of his solo debut on BBE, "Here To There". With Ovasoul7's vocals gone, the guitar of the late UK jazz guitar legend Ronny Jordan and the programming work of DJ Spinna get to take centre stage, giving the track a different dimension.
Method Man ft. Ghostface Killah : Afterparty
An appropriate record to end the show with! A dope sing-songy exchange between Meth and Ghost starts the track off, and the melodic approach pops up throughout the track in between straight up bars over a smooth beat from a producer credited simply as "Q", but better known to most as Qur'an from Da Youngstas (sorry, can't bring myself to put the incorrect apostrophe in!) Still my favourite track on "Tical 0 : The Prequel", just as it was on first listen.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Let me say it again, and say it with feeling..."
- Jay Dee
A big episode this month - both in importance and in number of tracks - as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Kool Herc party at 1520 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY, that arguably sparked Hip-Hop! The format is slightly different from the usual, and the episode is centred around three records which have been sampled, references, and homaged throughout Hip-Hop history - echoing through time. The influences manifest differently as they encounter each artist, so even within the set of tracks that have a common root, there are wide variations of style, subject, and sound. I think you'll enjoy the hour I've put together for you!
Twitch : @airadam13
IG: @airadam
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Westside Gunn, 緑, and Kool Herc : Kool Herc Intro
Big up to Westside Gunn for going back to the source and allowing us to hear from Kool Herc himself on this intro to "FLYGOD Is Good...All The Time".
KRS-ONE and Marley Marl : Hip Hop Lives
KRS is one of the greatest MCs of all time - and as Bomani Jones said, maybe the one person you'd pick if there was no music, no anything, and they just had to go on stage and command it. Marley Marl is often overlooked by those not necessarily in the know, but the man behind the Juice Crew (who famously battled KRS in the Bridge Wars) was a revolutionary in the field of production, with his approach to cutting up samples being the grandfather of most of what you would have heard afterwards. Together, they released a 2007 album "Hip Hop Lives", of which this is of course the title track, and a rallying cry for the culture.
[Buckwild] Meyhem Lauren : Love and Loyalty (Instrumental)
Buckwild never wavers from the path of putting in the honest effort that his talent deserves to deliver quality material. If you want popcorn, microwave beats, go elsewhere! This is a great beat from his 2014 "Silk Pyramids" project with Meyhem.
Fred Wesley & The J.B.s : Blow Your Head
A funk classic that must have sounded positively UFO-like when it was released in 1974 on the "Damn Right I Am Somebody" album, and there's a reason for that that I only just learned; the crazy synth wasn't even on the track to begin with. The original was recorded in 1973, and only after that did James Brown, playing with his newly-bought synthesizer, doodle all over the track before adding it to the album! Apparently Fred Wesley was not impressed...
The D.O.C. : Portrait Of A Master Piece
The "Blow Your Head" sample here is relatively backgrounded, definitely not the focus of the instrumental - but as good as the Dre-produced beat is, the star here is without question the MC. This track comes from his first LP "No One Can Do It Better", which had people tipping him for big things, before he was cruelly and ironically deprived of a critical attribute - his voice - when his larynx was crushed in a car accident only five months after its release. He later returned to recording with a changed voice, and has written classics for several artists, but it's a huge shame that he never got to follow his debut up on his own terms.
Hijack : Style Wars
When Brixton's legendary Hijack got a single deal with Music of Life, none of them knew how to create a record as such. The three-man inner core was made up of DJs Supreme and Undercover alongside the MC Kamanchi Sly, and it was actually the latter who suggested using the Fred Wesley sample. Supreme was unconvinced, believing that it would make their track too much of an imitation of the then-recent "Public Enemy No.1", but relented on the basis that the rhymes and cuts would be so good that they'd make up for any deficiency on the beat side. As it turned out, "Style Wars" turned out to be an absolutely classic single in its own right, and in my opinion, never came off as a bite.
Public Enemy : Public Enemy No. 1
One of the first records ever to sample "Blow Your Head", this is arguably the inspiration that all the others you might hear draw from. While it became known to most of us as a track on 1987's "Yo! Bum Rush The Show", the original demo is from all the way back in 1984, and was the track that had Def Jam chasing PE to sign with them. You can tell it wasn't produced with modern equipment, with some likely-unintentional looseness in the timing on the loops, but that in no way prevented it from being a classic.
Digable Planets ft. DJ Jazzy Joyce : 9th Wonder (Blacktolism)
The famous sample is a lot more chaotic at the very start of this cut, before settling into a near-monotone that comes in at various points throughout. Great self-produced track from the "Blowout Comb" LP, the Planets' second, with the lyrical vibes matching perfectly (Ladybug Mecca bringing it home with the best verse in my opinion), topped off by Jazzy Joyce, a veteran Bronx DJ who first played in a club at thirteen, blessing the end of the track with her cuts. I almost defy anyone not to enjoy this one.
Ta'Raach : Bea2ful
Still my favourite beat from the instrumental version of the "Re:Lacks Vol. 1: With The World" LP ("Re:Lacks Vol.1 Instrumentals") - all you can say is that it lives up to its name. Warm, inviting, beautiful indeed.
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full
A track that needs no introduction, but that would be a poor excuse for not writing anything here 🙂 The title track of the first Eric B & Rakim LP, it was somehow only the fifth single, but a classic that, as you will hear in the following tracks, has been referenced over and over again in Hip-Hop history - a true standard, arguably in the jazz sense.
Marco Polo and Torae ft. Masta Ace and Sean Price : Hold Up
You hear Rakim's voice telling of his stickup days cut up here amongst others by DJ Linx for the hectic hook of this no-pretence track from the "Double Barrel" LP, which somehow is already fourteen years old! Marco Polo's beat gives off serious 70s crime movie chase scene energy, and all the MCs lean into it. Sean P's James Earl Ray line is a little bit ouch, but throwing in the occasional extreme reference was always part of his style.
Jay Dee : The $
Raw, heavy, destructive sound from the MPC of the great Jay Dee/J Dilla from the "Ruff Draft" EP, and easily my favourite cut on there - highlighted by the quote from this month's epigram. Of course, the "Paid In Full" reference comes with the opening of the first verse, perfectly appropriate for a track all about getting that cash. It's yet another example proving that those who grouped Slum Village in with "conscious/boho" rap were simply not paying attention, backed up by beats that - played through the right car system - would simply level any coffee house!
Le$ : Paid In Full
Finally in this section, we go with a heavy tribute from Houston's Le$. From the 2014 "ACE" release, Cookin Soul is on production, giving us a drastically slowed, spaced out take on the original beat. Replaying the original bassline, the rest is synth and programmed drums, with the occasional flash of the original record being dropped in along with Rakim's voice. You half expect him to open up with "thinking of a masterplan", but he instead starts his first verse paying tribute to a classic from his own hometown, DJ DMD's "25 Lighters", another "get money" anthem.
The Alchemist : Imperius Rex
You can get this heavyweight instrumental on the "Rapper's Best Friend 5: An Instrumental Series" collection of beats, but if you want to hear someone pick up the mic and slay it, the clue is in the title. This was the beat for the title track of the late great Sean Price's posthumous album, "Imperius Rex", and sounds suitable weighty to bear the name.
Run-DMC : King Of Rock
The video for this 1985 track, the title cut from their second LP, saw Run-DMC storming the "Museum of Rock 'n' Roll" - and so it was beautifully fitting when they were eventually, and rightfully, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. The group is often taken as the defining line between the true "old skool" and everything that came after, as they broke with many of the stylistic elements that had marked Hip-Hop records up to that point. No disco sounds, no outlandish costuming, but hard-as-nails beats and an aggressive lyrical delivery that indeed aligned them with as much with rock as anything else - hence the title. This track has been sampled countless times, and interestingly, almost always for the lyrics rather than the beat. On production, Run programmed the drums, and Larry Smith took care of the rest - the group were actually not in favour of the guitars, but they worked!
Oh No ft. Roc 'C' and J Dilla : Move
It's not obvious unless you're paying attention, but it's here - check the start of the second verse, where Roc 'C' works his MC name into the Run-DMC reference! The track as a whole channels some kind of vampire film vibe more than anything, if Dracula was banging on the MPC at any rate... However, this is a rare call for outside production by Oh No, who is a beast on production in his own right but pulls in J Dilla here on this tune from his debut LP, "The Disrupt".
PRhyme ft. Schoolboy Q and Killer Mike : Underground Kings
The most recent of the tracks in this section, this one comes from the 2014 "PRhyme" LP, the debut release from the group made up of DJ Premier and Royce the 5' 9". There are actually several Run-DMC samples here, and the reference to "Kings" in the title fits not only those kings from Queens but also Pimp C (RIP) and Bun B, who made up UGK (Underground Kingz) and are both given tons of respect here. Detroit (Royce), Los Angeles (Q), and Atlanta (Killer Mike) come together here for some cross-continental mic wreckage on top of a heavy beat from the production pride of Houston/Brooklyn.
Pete Rock : 'Till I Retire
As you'll pick up on immediately, it's the first and fourth bars of "King Of Rock" that get an outing here, with a clever splicing to declare "I'm the king, 'til I retire"! Don't forget that as much as a producer, Pete Rock is a DJ, and Hip-Hop DJs absolutely hear these snippets and connections and store them upstairs for later use. The track itself isn't otherwise rock-influenced, but just a dope, straightahead canvas for Pete to rhyme on all the way through with no guests. This is a 2008 track from Pete Rock's "NY's Finest" LP - and fifteen years later, his work rate is probably even higher now than it was then!
Z-Trip : Rockstar II
The original "Rockstar" was one of the most popular tracks on the second volume of Bomb Hip-Hop's groundbreaking "Return Of The DJ" series, and so on the third volume, Phoenix's own Z-Trip came back for a second variation on the same theme. Absolutely packed with rock samples and cut-ups, you hear the "king of rock" right next to perfectly placed cutting up of "back again" from Kool G Rap & Polo's "Poison", denoting the sequel status of this track.
Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician : Automated Life Machines
If I say so myself, this was a great pick for this spot - the raw, discordant sound at the very start actually sounds a little like a continuation of "Rockstar II", before it transitions into its own thing, a great bit of boom-bap on the drums with subtle accompanying bass and chilled sounds in the midrange, leading us towards the end of the show. Cincinatti's Fat Jon released this on his "Dyslexic" instrumental EP back in 2000, another bit of wax that made it into my computer recently as part of the Great Digitising, and he's still active to this day. Oh yes - and he can rhyme too!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Bust The Facts
We finish up by going back - I was originally going to being the episode with this, but I think this works out better. This is from the 1992 "Funk Your Head Up" LP by the Ultramagnetics, and while it's nowadays an old track, even then, it was looking back to the early days of Hip-Hop - giving you a flavour of the excitement of the time, and mentioning many of the foundational artists and crews. The only diversion is a few shots thrown at Kool Moe Dee, who Kool Keith clearly had issues with, but apart from that the whole thing is an ode to a period and a vibe that could never be repeated. Our job is to preserve the culture and take it forward.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Let me say it again, and say it with feeling..."
- Jay Dee
A big episode this month - both in importance and in number of tracks - as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Kool Herc party at 1520 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY, that arguably sparked Hip-Hop! The format is slightly different from the usual, and the episode is centred around three records which have been sampled, references, and homaged throughout Hip-Hop history - echoing through time. The influences manifest differently as they encounter each artist, so even within the set of tracks that have a common root, there are wide variations of style, subject, and sound. I think you'll enjoy the hour I've put together for you!
Twitch : @airadam13
IG: @airadam
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Westside Gunn, 緑, and Kool Herc : Kool Herc Intro
Big up to Westside Gunn for going back to the source and allowing us to hear from Kool Herc himself on this intro to "FLYGOD Is Good...All The Time".
KRS-ONE and Marley Marl : Hip Hop Lives
KRS is one of the greatest MCs of all time - and as Bomani Jones said, maybe the one person you'd pick if there was no music, no anything, and they just had to go on stage and command it. Marley Marl is often overlooked by those not necessarily in the know, but the man behind the Juice Crew (who famously battled KRS in the Bridge Wars) was a revolutionary in the field of production, with his approach to cutting up samples being the grandfather of most of what you would have heard afterwards. Together, they released a 2007 album "Hip Hop Lives", of which this is of course the title track, and a rallying cry for the culture.
[Buckwild] Meyhem Lauren : Love and Loyalty (Instrumental)
Buckwild never wavers from the path of putting in the honest effort that his talent deserves to deliver quality material. If you want popcorn, microwave beats, go elsewhere! This is a great beat from his 2014 "Silk Pyramids" project with Meyhem.
Fred Wesley & The J.B.s : Blow Your Head
A funk classic that must have sounded positively UFO-like when it was released in 1974 on the "Damn Right I Am Somebody" album, and there's a reason for that that I only just learned; the crazy synth wasn't even on the track to begin with. The original was recorded in 1973, and only after that did James Brown, playing with his newly-bought synthesizer, doodle all over the track before adding it to the album! Apparently Fred Wesley was not impressed...
The D.O.C. : Portrait Of A Master Piece
The "Blow Your Head" sample here is relatively backgrounded, definitely not the focus of the instrumental - but as good as the Dre-produced beat is, the star here is without question the MC. This track comes from his first LP "No One Can Do It Better", which had people tipping him for big things, before he was cruelly and ironically deprived of a critical attribute - his voice - when his larynx was crushed in a car accident only five months after its release. He later returned to recording with a changed voice, and has written classics for several artists, but it's a huge shame that he never got to follow his debut up on his own terms.
Hijack : Style Wars
When Brixton's legendary Hijack got a single deal with Music of Life, none of them knew how to create a record as such. The three-man inner core was made up of DJs Supreme and Undercover alongside the MC Kamanchi Sly, and it was actually the latter who suggested using the Fred Wesley sample. Supreme was unconvinced, believing that it would make their track too much of an imitation of the then-recent "Public Enemy No.1", but relented on the basis that the rhymes and cuts would be so good that they'd make up for any deficiency on the beat side. As it turned out, "Style Wars" turned out to be an absolutely classic single in its own right, and in my opinion, never came off as a bite.
Public Enemy : Public Enemy No. 1
One of the first records ever to sample "Blow Your Head", this is arguably the inspiration that all the others you might hear draw from. While it became known to most of us as a track on 1987's "Yo! Bum Rush The Show", the original demo is from all the way back in 1984, and was the track that had Def Jam chasing PE to sign with them. You can tell it wasn't produced with modern equipment, with some likely-unintentional looseness in the timing on the loops, but that in no way prevented it from being a classic.
Digable Planets ft. DJ Jazzy Joyce : 9th Wonder (Blacktolism)
The famous sample is a lot more chaotic at the very start of this cut, before settling into a near-monotone that comes in at various points throughout. Great self-produced track from the "Blowout Comb" LP, the Planets' second, with the lyrical vibes matching perfectly (Ladybug Mecca bringing it home with the best verse in my opinion), topped off by Jazzy Joyce, a veteran Bronx DJ who first played in a club at thirteen, blessing the end of the track with her cuts. I almost defy anyone not to enjoy this one.
Ta'Raach : Bea2ful
Still my favourite beat from the instrumental version of the "Re:Lacks Vol. 1: With The World" LP ("Re:Lacks Vol.1 Instrumentals") - all you can say is that it lives up to its name. Warm, inviting, beautiful indeed.
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full
A track that needs no introduction, but that would be a poor excuse for not writing anything here 🙂 The title track of the first Eric B & Rakim LP, it was somehow only the fifth single, but a classic that, as you will hear in the following tracks, has been referenced over and over again in Hip-Hop history - a true standard, arguably in the jazz sense.
Marco Polo and Torae ft. Masta Ace and Sean Price : Hold Up
You hear Rakim's voice telling of his stickup days cut up here amongst others by DJ Linx for the hectic hook of this no-pretence track from the "Double Barrel" LP, which somehow is already fourteen years old! Marco Polo's beat gives off serious 70s crime movie chase scene energy, and all the MCs lean into it. Sean P's James Earl Ray line is a little bit ouch, but throwing in the occasional extreme reference was always part of his style.
Jay Dee : The $
Raw, heavy, destructive sound from the MPC of the great Jay Dee/J Dilla from the "Ruff Draft" EP, and easily my favourite cut on there - highlighted by the quote from this month's epigram. Of course, the "Paid In Full" reference comes with the opening of the first verse, perfectly appropriate for a track all about getting that cash. It's yet another example proving that those who grouped Slum Village in with "conscious/boho" rap were simply not paying attention, backed up by beats that - played through the right car system - would simply level any coffee house!
Le$ : Paid In Full
Finally in this section, we go with a heavy tribute from Houston's Le$. From the 2014 "ACE" release, Cookin Soul is on production, giving us a drastically slowed, spaced out take on the original beat. Replaying the original bassline, the rest is synth and programmed drums, with the occasional flash of the original record being dropped in along with Rakim's voice. You half expect him to open up with "thinking of a masterplan", but he instead starts his first verse paying tribute to a classic from his own hometown, DJ DMD's "25 Lighters", another "get money" anthem.
The Alchemist : Imperius Rex
You can get this heavyweight instrumental on the "Rapper's Best Friend 5: An Instrumental Series" collection of beats, but if you want to hear someone pick up the mic and slay it, the clue is in the title. This was the beat for the title track of the late great Sean Price's posthumous album, "Imperius Rex", and sounds suitable weighty to bear the name.
Run-DMC : King Of Rock
The video for this 1985 track, the title cut from their second LP, saw Run-DMC storming the "Museum of Rock 'n' Roll" - and so it was beautifully fitting when they were eventually, and rightfully, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. The group is often taken as the defining line between the true "old skool" and everything that came after, as they broke with many of the stylistic elements that had marked Hip-Hop records up to that point. No disco sounds, no outlandish costuming, but hard-as-nails beats and an aggressive lyrical delivery that indeed aligned them with as much with rock as anything else - hence the title. This track has been sampled countless times, and interestingly, almost always for the lyrics rather than the beat. On production, Run programmed the drums, and Larry Smith took care of the rest - the group were actually not in favour of the guitars, but they worked!
Oh No ft. Roc 'C' and J Dilla : Move
It's not obvious unless you're paying attention, but it's here - check the start of the second verse, where Roc 'C' works his MC name into the Run-DMC reference! The track as a whole channels some kind of vampire film vibe more than anything, if Dracula was banging on the MPC at any rate... However, this is a rare call for outside production by Oh No, who is a beast on production in his own right but pulls in J Dilla here on this tune from his debut LP, "The Disrupt".
PRhyme ft. Schoolboy Q and Killer Mike : Underground Kings
The most recent of the tracks in this section, this one comes from the 2014 "PRhyme" LP, the debut release from the group made up of DJ Premier and Royce the 5' 9". There are actually several Run-DMC samples here, and the reference to "Kings" in the title fits not only those kings from Queens but also Pimp C (RIP) and Bun B, who made up UGK (Underground Kingz) and are both given tons of respect here. Detroit (Royce), Los Angeles (Q), and Atlanta (Killer Mike) come together here for some cross-continental mic wreckage on top of a heavy beat from the production pride of Houston/Brooklyn.
Pete Rock : 'Till I Retire
As you'll pick up on immediately, it's the first and fourth bars of "King Of Rock" that get an outing here, with a clever splicing to declare "I'm the king, 'til I retire"! Don't forget that as much as a producer, Pete Rock is a DJ, and Hip-Hop DJs absolutely hear these snippets and connections and store them upstairs for later use. The track itself isn't otherwise rock-influenced, but just a dope, straightahead canvas for Pete to rhyme on all the way through with no guests. This is a 2008 track from Pete Rock's "NY's Finest" LP - and fifteen years later, his work rate is probably even higher now than it was then!
Z-Trip : Rockstar II
The original "Rockstar" was one of the most popular tracks on the second volume of Bomb Hip-Hop's groundbreaking "Return Of The DJ" series, and so on the third volume, Phoenix's own Z-Trip came back for a second variation on the same theme. Absolutely packed with rock samples and cut-ups, you hear the "king of rock" right next to perfectly placed cutting up of "back again" from Kool G Rap & Polo's "Poison", denoting the sequel status of this track.
Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician : Automated Life Machines
If I say so myself, this was a great pick for this spot - the raw, discordant sound at the very start actually sounds a little like a continuation of "Rockstar II", before it transitions into its own thing, a great bit of boom-bap on the drums with subtle accompanying bass and chilled sounds in the midrange, leading us towards the end of the show. Cincinatti's Fat Jon released this on his "Dyslexic" instrumental EP back in 2000, another bit of wax that made it into my computer recently as part of the Great Digitising, and he's still active to this day. Oh yes - and he can rhyme too!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Bust The Facts
We finish up by going back - I was originally going to being the episode with this, but I think this works out better. This is from the 1992 "Funk Your Head Up" LP by the Ultramagnetics, and while it's nowadays an old track, even then, it was looking back to the early days of Hip-Hop - giving you a flavour of the excitement of the time, and mentioning many of the foundational artists and crews. The only diversion is a few shots thrown at Kool Moe Dee, who Kool Keith clearly had issues with, but apart from that the whole thing is an ode to a period and a vibe that could never be repeated. Our job is to preserve the culture and take it forward.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Tell Nipsey I'm still running laps."
- Dave East
We're past the halfway point of 2023 and summer in the UK is...variable. Instead of trying to go seasonal in the main, I've gone with a selection which is heavy on relatively-recent releases while excavating some absolute gems from the crates. There's almost no way anyone knows all of these tracks, and as such, I'm aiming to send all of you to go and buy some of this stuff so that the artists know how much you appreciate top-quality material!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Saigon ft. Benny The Butcher : No Witness
Big New York State action on this new single, with Saigon in combination with Buffalo's Benny The Butcher (lots of alliteration there!). The beat is heavy goodness courtesy of the DITC legend Buckwild, and is exactly what you need for MCs like this. Benny continues his run of form on features, while Saigon kills it as the returning veteran, starting his first and last verses with a similar four bars before diving into his subjects. That last verse is a stark warning to the youngsters who are sending themselves to prison by documenting their questionable associations and/or illegal activities on social media and on records...
Judah : Sweet Jesus
Digging this one out of the stash was a real win - I think it's a perfect chaser for the Saigon track. Taken from an old favourite, "The Ghostface Beat Tape" by The Beat Tape Project, this instrumental by Washington D.C.'s Judah has Blaxploitation flick written all over it.
Serial Killers (Xzibit, B-Real, and Demrick) ft. Kurupt : Dickies & Bandanas
The "Serial Killers Vol.1" mixtape has been sitting in my collection for almost exactly ten years without me drawing from it, but that's part of the nature of the show - it's not about just playing the brand new cuts or the old classics, but digging deeper. Heavy west action from this union of MCs together with the still-underrated Kurupt. No details on who produced this, but there's no G-Funk, no smooth synths on the beat, instead using a hammering rhythm track and string stabs as the driving elements.
Khrysis and Geechi Suede : Delta9
Khrysis has continued to deliver quality material over the years since his early days when the Justus League were first breaking out, and this is no exception. That vocal sample in the beat sounds semi-uplifting, and semi-dark - though the latter might be the reflection off the heavy drums and tense keyboard lines. Geechi Suede comes through with a less abstract verse than you might expect from him, despite it being a track about actually getting high! The 2021 "The Hour Of Khrysis" album is the place to hear more - don't worry, not all the tracks are quite this short :)
Curren$y ft. Jim Jones and Tommy Wright III : Marcus Camby
Curren$y on an entire project channelling 80s Miami vibes? That's something I'm grabbing with both hands. The short "Vices" album came out earlier this month, with all production coming from frequent collaborator Harry Fraud, and this is one of the standouts for me. Lush with just a touch of tension, the production is absolutely on-theme. On the mic, Curren$y is in his usual lane, followed by Jim Jones of Dipset who comes with a slightly more energetic delivery while still matching the downtempo vibe. I don't know Tommy Wright III, but I think he's just on the hook here - either way, one of my favourites this month and looking like a late contender for my most played tracks of 2023!
Dave East & DJ Drama ft. Buda & Grandz : Egyptian Kings
I'm only just catching up with last year's "Book of David" mixtape, but there's some absolute heat on there, including this downtempo, almost bluesy track. I may need to search out the instrumental, because Buda, Grandz, Mike Kuz, and A-Vow knocked this one out of the park, with it being the perfect backing for Dave's choppy flow. In turn, in adopting that slow he leaves space for the beat to show through the gaps - great symbiosis.
K-Def : Anybody Got Budd?
A short, dramatic instrumental from the New Jersey production legend, taken from his 2006 "Willie Boo Boo The Fool" release - which was packed with short tracks I wish were a minute or two longer each!
Boot Camp Clik : Wotcha Call Strength
One of the strongest, most talented crews in Hip-Hop come out in force on this brand new single, their first under the combined banner in over fifteen years! Of course, the much-missed Sean Price is absent, but Ruck of Heltah Skeltah, OGC, Smif-N-Wessun, Black Moon, and longtime associate Rustee Juxx all throw down heavy on Arcitype's beat. These veterans have all got better with time, despite a tough road along the way. This is what we call strength.
Teflon ft. Benny The Butcher : Hostile Takeover
He's back! You might remember this man as a soloist coming out of First Family, M.O.P's crew, but until the recently-released "2 Sides To Every Story" LP, from which this single comes, his last release was in 2006 - and that was a mixtape! You have to go back the 1997 album "My Will" for his only full album release, but it's good to see that he's put the frustrations of the old record industry behind him for this LP. I told you Benny The Butcher was on a hot streak of guest appearances, and then you have the unmistakeable sound of DJ Premier on the production with his signature scratched, multi-sampled hook. Straight boom-bap.
Meyhem Lauren : African Pompano
In a recurring theme for this month, I could happily have had this track last a fair bit longer. Meyhem is one of the foremost representatives of all that fly ish, and he kills it once again on this Madlib beat from the Madlib/Meyhem/DJ Muggs collab album "Champage For Breakfast" - very much his style! No hook at all, just some almost entirely clean space between the two verses, and the instrumental feels somehow tighter and more focused than some other Madlib beats, which is testament to his sense as a producer of what a particular MC needs. As an aside, I had to look up what pompano is, and now I want some :) Meyhem may be this generation's champ of the food references!
Semi Six : 96
Hot of the presses, this single released just a few days ago, with the man from Detroit low-key (ok, not all that low) flossing over an AntBell! beat for the summertime. Just a dope track, with one of Semi's better hooks into the bargain!
Brand Nubian : Meaning Of The 5% (Instrumental)
I've always found the production on this track from Brand Nubian's second LP "In God We Trust" to be deeply stirring, and a perfect use of the sample it's based around. No chopping, just a loop and some relatively subtle added drums, showing that it's not just having the source material, but knowing what - and what not - to do with it.
Above The Law : Flow On (Move Me No Mountain)
I think the subtitle may have been an afterthought - on the vinyl release of "Livin' Like Hustlers" at least, it appears on the label of the actual wax but not on the back of the album cover. Coming towards the end of the album, "flow" is a perfect description - the late KMG and Cold 187 go fluidly back and forth in a playeristic fashion over a smooth 187 production based on a soul cut from which the subtitle is drawn.
Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, and Kamasi Washington : The Mighty Tree
This is major-league jazz combination, with the Hip-Hop knowledge and sensibility that all these artists have woven into it. There are actually two versions of this cut - this one, the original, from the "Dinner Party" album, and then one with guest appearances from Rapsody and Herbie Hancock that you can find on "Dinner Party : Dessert" EP. There's so much talent, experience, and feeling between all these musicians, there's not much more I can say - just listen and appreciate it!
S. Fidelity ft. NDO : Mixed Signals
Not sure where I learned about this track, but it's channeling those Dilla-influenced neo-soul vibes beautifully! NDO from Florida is the singer with just a touch of Badu in her voice, while Berlin residents S. Fidelity and Suff Daddy lay down an undeniable groove. This was the lead signal from the 2021 "Fidelity Radio Club" album, which is one I'm going to be having a deeper listen to!
Mary J. Blige and Smif-n-Wessun : I Love You (Remix)
This is a serious 90s deep cut, with the remix of this track from Mary J's "My Life" LP keeping the same Chucky Thompson (RIP) and Puffy beat, but adding Smif-N-Wessun to the opening before they give way to Mary's classic vocals. One thing you do have to give Puffy credit for is making that blend of Hip-Hop and R&B mainstream, even if he didn't invent it! Smif-N-Wessun wouldn't be the obvious choice for most producers here, but the selection was an inspired one. Check the seven-track "My Life (Remix)" EP or the deluxe version of the album for more quality.
Pete Rock : Pete's Jazz
We're four albums deep into the "Petestrumentals" series, but here we roll all the way back to the very first, landing almost exactly in the centre for an SP-1200 masterclass. You could just as well have titled this one "Pete's Funk", but the vibraphone and sax samples do put a bit of a bow tie on proceedings!
Slum Village : This Beat
I just finished reading the excellent book "Dilla Time" this month, and it's already making me appreciate some of Jay Dee's work on additional levels, with this very early SV cut being an example - his annoyance with people coming round "all unannounced" is based on at least one real incident! The beat is pure dopeness, with the high end coming from the very start of a well-known sample (listen closely to the hook for a hint), and the drum and bass combination being pure perfection. This is the style that many have tried to imitate, but there's only one originator.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Tell Nipsey I'm still running laps."
- Dave East
We're past the halfway point of 2023 and summer in the UK is...variable. Instead of trying to go seasonal in the main, I've gone with a selection which is heavy on relatively-recent releases while excavating some absolute gems from the crates. There's almost no way anyone knows all of these tracks, and as such, I'm aiming to send all of you to go and buy some of this stuff so that the artists know how much you appreciate top-quality material!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
Saigon ft. Benny The Butcher : No Witness
Big New York State action on this new single, with Saigon in combination with Buffalo's Benny The Butcher (lots of alliteration there!). The beat is heavy goodness courtesy of the DITC legend Buckwild, and is exactly what you need for MCs like this. Benny continues his run of form on features, while Saigon kills it as the returning veteran, starting his first and last verses with a similar four bars before diving into his subjects. That last verse is a stark warning to the youngsters who are sending themselves to prison by documenting their questionable associations and/or illegal activities on social media and on records...
Judah : Sweet Jesus
Digging this one out of the stash was a real win - I think it's a perfect chaser for the Saigon track. Taken from an old favourite, "The Ghostface Beat Tape" by The Beat Tape Project, this instrumental by Washington D.C.'s Judah has Blaxploitation flick written all over it.
Serial Killers (Xzibit, B-Real, and Demrick) ft. Kurupt : Dickies & Bandanas
The "Serial Killers Vol.1" mixtape has been sitting in my collection for almost exactly ten years without me drawing from it, but that's part of the nature of the show - it's not about just playing the brand new cuts or the old classics, but digging deeper. Heavy west action from this union of MCs together with the still-underrated Kurupt. No details on who produced this, but there's no G-Funk, no smooth synths on the beat, instead using a hammering rhythm track and string stabs as the driving elements.
Khrysis and Geechi Suede : Delta9
Khrysis has continued to deliver quality material over the years since his early days when the Justus League were first breaking out, and this is no exception. That vocal sample in the beat sounds semi-uplifting, and semi-dark - though the latter might be the reflection off the heavy drums and tense keyboard lines. Geechi Suede comes through with a less abstract verse than you might expect from him, despite it being a track about actually getting high! The 2021 "The Hour Of Khrysis" album is the place to hear more - don't worry, not all the tracks are quite this short :)
Curren$y ft. Jim Jones and Tommy Wright III : Marcus Camby
Curren$y on an entire project channelling 80s Miami vibes? That's something I'm grabbing with both hands. The short "Vices" album came out earlier this month, with all production coming from frequent collaborator Harry Fraud, and this is one of the standouts for me. Lush with just a touch of tension, the production is absolutely on-theme. On the mic, Curren$y is in his usual lane, followed by Jim Jones of Dipset who comes with a slightly more energetic delivery while still matching the downtempo vibe. I don't know Tommy Wright III, but I think he's just on the hook here - either way, one of my favourites this month and looking like a late contender for my most played tracks of 2023!
Dave East & DJ Drama ft. Buda & Grandz : Egyptian Kings
I'm only just catching up with last year's "Book of David" mixtape, but there's some absolute heat on there, including this downtempo, almost bluesy track. I may need to search out the instrumental, because Buda, Grandz, Mike Kuz, and A-Vow knocked this one out of the park, with it being the perfect backing for Dave's choppy flow. In turn, in adopting that slow he leaves space for the beat to show through the gaps - great symbiosis.
K-Def : Anybody Got Budd?
A short, dramatic instrumental from the New Jersey production legend, taken from his 2006 "Willie Boo Boo The Fool" release - which was packed with short tracks I wish were a minute or two longer each!
Boot Camp Clik : Wotcha Call Strength
One of the strongest, most talented crews in Hip-Hop come out in force on this brand new single, their first under the combined banner in over fifteen years! Of course, the much-missed Sean Price is absent, but Ruck of Heltah Skeltah, OGC, Smif-N-Wessun, Black Moon, and longtime associate Rustee Juxx all throw down heavy on Arcitype's beat. These veterans have all got better with time, despite a tough road along the way. This is what we call strength.
Teflon ft. Benny The Butcher : Hostile Takeover
He's back! You might remember this man as a soloist coming out of First Family, M.O.P's crew, but until the recently-released "2 Sides To Every Story" LP, from which this single comes, his last release was in 2006 - and that was a mixtape! You have to go back the 1997 album "My Will" for his only full album release, but it's good to see that he's put the frustrations of the old record industry behind him for this LP. I told you Benny The Butcher was on a hot streak of guest appearances, and then you have the unmistakeable sound of DJ Premier on the production with his signature scratched, multi-sampled hook. Straight boom-bap.
Meyhem Lauren : African Pompano
In a recurring theme for this month, I could happily have had this track last a fair bit longer. Meyhem is one of the foremost representatives of all that fly ish, and he kills it once again on this Madlib beat from the Madlib/Meyhem/DJ Muggs collab album "Champage For Breakfast" - very much his style! No hook at all, just some almost entirely clean space between the two verses, and the instrumental feels somehow tighter and more focused than some other Madlib beats, which is testament to his sense as a producer of what a particular MC needs. As an aside, I had to look up what pompano is, and now I want some :) Meyhem may be this generation's champ of the food references!
Semi Six : 96
Hot of the presses, this single released just a few days ago, with the man from Detroit low-key (ok, not all that low) flossing over an AntBell! beat for the summertime. Just a dope track, with one of Semi's better hooks into the bargain!
Brand Nubian : Meaning Of The 5% (Instrumental)
I've always found the production on this track from Brand Nubian's second LP "In God We Trust" to be deeply stirring, and a perfect use of the sample it's based around. No chopping, just a loop and some relatively subtle added drums, showing that it's not just having the source material, but knowing what - and what not - to do with it.
Above The Law : Flow On (Move Me No Mountain)
I think the subtitle may have been an afterthought - on the vinyl release of "Livin' Like Hustlers" at least, it appears on the label of the actual wax but not on the back of the album cover. Coming towards the end of the album, "flow" is a perfect description - the late KMG and Cold 187 go fluidly back and forth in a playeristic fashion over a smooth 187 production based on a soul cut from which the subtitle is drawn.
Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, and Kamasi Washington : The Mighty Tree
This is major-league jazz combination, with the Hip-Hop knowledge and sensibility that all these artists have woven into it. There are actually two versions of this cut - this one, the original, from the "Dinner Party" album, and then one with guest appearances from Rapsody and Herbie Hancock that you can find on "Dinner Party : Dessert" EP. There's so much talent, experience, and feeling between all these musicians, there's not much more I can say - just listen and appreciate it!
S. Fidelity ft. NDO : Mixed Signals
Not sure where I learned about this track, but it's channeling those Dilla-influenced neo-soul vibes beautifully! NDO from Florida is the singer with just a touch of Badu in her voice, while Berlin residents S. Fidelity and Suff Daddy lay down an undeniable groove. This was the lead signal from the 2021 "Fidelity Radio Club" album, which is one I'm going to be having a deeper listen to!
Mary J. Blige and Smif-n-Wessun : I Love You (Remix)
This is a serious 90s deep cut, with the remix of this track from Mary J's "My Life" LP keeping the same Chucky Thompson (RIP) and Puffy beat, but adding Smif-N-Wessun to the opening before they give way to Mary's classic vocals. One thing you do have to give Puffy credit for is making that blend of Hip-Hop and R&B mainstream, even if he didn't invent it! Smif-N-Wessun wouldn't be the obvious choice for most producers here, but the selection was an inspired one. Check the seven-track "My Life (Remix)" EP or the deluxe version of the album for more quality.
Pete Rock : Pete's Jazz
We're four albums deep into the "Petestrumentals" series, but here we roll all the way back to the very first, landing almost exactly in the centre for an SP-1200 masterclass. You could just as well have titled this one "Pete's Funk", but the vibraphone and sax samples do put a bit of a bow tie on proceedings!
Slum Village : This Beat
I just finished reading the excellent book "Dilla Time" this month, and it's already making me appreciate some of Jay Dee's work on additional levels, with this very early SV cut being an example - his annoyance with people coming round "all unannounced" is based on at least one real incident! The beat is pure dopeness, with the high end coming from the very start of a well-known sample (listen closely to the hook for a hint), and the drum and bass combination being pure perfection. This is the style that many have tried to imitate, but there's only one originator.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Paid my dues, now pay my fee."
- Pete Rock
Another year in the books! This is the fourteenth birthday episode of the podcast, and it's wild to look back at how different the landscape looked back in 2009 when I started it off. At least nowadays, I don't have to explain what a podcast is!
I needed a selection worthy of the milestone, and I think you'll enjoy it - Hip-Hop basically end-to-end, with some virtuoso performances on the mics, the boards, and the turntables. Turn the volume up and check the styles...
Book a ticket to see me play live in Salford with the 45 Kings and Queens on July 8th here!
Gigs & streams calendar : events.airadam.com
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Swizz Beatz ft. Jadakiss, Benny the Butcher, and Scar Lip : Take 'Em Out
Huge new single to open things up for this month, and a track I can already tell is going to make my list of top Spotify tracks this year. As part of the 50th year of Hip-Hop celebrations, Mass Appeal have released a couple of producer-led EPs with a selection of MCs, and this is of course from Swizz' contribution. It's not the production style most would think of when Swizz Beatz is mentioned, but listen for the classic "The Bridge Is Over" drums accompanied by what sounds like a pipe organ with the "evil" stop pulled all the way out - vicious. And the MCs, my goodness! LOX legend Jadakiss opens up, hands off to modern-day street rap giant Benny the Butcher, and cleanup duty is handled in fine style by the young and hungry Scar Lip. The video is great as well - chaotic, dark, monochrome, giving me just a taste of the same energy as the visuals for Ice Cube's "Wicked" back in the day. The whole package is hard like titanium.
Onyx : Throw Ya Gunz (Instrumental)
After starting the show with a track sampling the yelled into Onyx's first single, which was a big tune in its day, I decided to follow up with the instrumental as I hadn't heard it in so long. RIP to Chyskillz, the producer, who passed away in 2018.
Coach NYM : Work Ethic
One from my gym playlist for you, taken from the "Healthy Gangsta" LP. Part of the RBG movement, NYM gives a message on this track and the rest of the album that very much aligns with the innovative "Workout" LPs that stic of dead prez (their lowercasing, btw) released in 2011 and 2020. Turn this track up and get your motivation right!
Bronx Slang : Excuse Me Again
My man Jerry Beeks accurately and sadly points out that the subject of this track will continue to be relevant into the foreseeable future. Following up from the original "Excuse Me Officer" from the "Bronx Slang" LP, this is, in Beeks' distinctive style, a run-down of yet more Black people who have been murdered by the police. The producer Fake Blood gives it a soundtrack with just a hint of melancholy that still makes you nod your head thanks to his drum programming, and leaves enough space for you to hear every work clearly. Find this on the appropriately-named "Substance" album.
Blak Twang ft. Fallacy : Homegrown
I promise I didn't just try to find every track that sampled Onyx and throw them into this episode! The b-side of the incredible 1996 "Real Estate" 12", this is not only pure lyrical rawness from both MCs (Blak Twang/Taipanic/Tony Rotton and Fallacy) over a beat from V.R.S, but it's also the source of an incredible number of samples. If you go and check the excellent Blak Twang LP "19 Long Time", you'll be amazed how many times he samples himself, and from this specific cut - EPMD would be proud :)
The Musalini ft. Pete Rock and 9th Wonder : Carmel City 2
The vast majority of times, a sequel track is done by the original artist (for example, EPMD's "Jane" series, Ice Cube with the "Gangsta's Fairytale" pair), but this is an interesting exception. Pete Rock, the producer of the original "Carmel City" from his and CL Smooth's "The Main Ingredient" LP is here...but only on the mic, and even then only as the featured guest! Lead duties are taken by Bronx native The Musalini, and production is by a man who would absolutely name Pete Rock as an influence, North Carolina's 9th Wonder. This track has had a lot of rewinds in my headphones over the last month!
BusCrates : Get It Going
The brand new BusCrates LP, "Control Center" released this week, and it starts off with this serious groove, one which I had to let you get a good helping of before my voiceover! The new LP is overally lower in tempo than his "Blasting Off" album, and leans a little more in the direction of Hip-Hop while maintaining his funky and soulful style. BusCrates is an exceptionally skilled producer and DJ - as well as a thoroughly nice guy - who absolutely deserves your support.
Little Brother : Sittin Alone
This track will, depending on your age, inspire mocking laughter or wry recognition! The time comes to all of us where the thought of hitting the clubs on a Saturday night sounds...kind of tiring. If nothing else, I'm sure everyone can relate to the flyer with eight different fonts on it :) Mixing real feelings with a great bit of humour, it's just one example of the grown man rap on the "May The Lord Watch" album. As an aside - paying child support is not, of course, just a Black thing!
Kev Brown : Homework Part 1
Like most of the tracks on the "Homework" album, I wish this were a touch longer, but the man from Landover has a gift for leaving everyone wanting more! You can certainly hear his characteristic bassline action, while the high end is actually really prominent on this too, in a lo-fi fashion - almost sounds like a rough draft, but you know it's all intentional and provides a canvas for him to kick some lyrics, in case you forgot he puts in work on the mic too :)
Prodigy & Nas : Self Conscience
One of those great mixtape tracks from a previous era that you just don't hear around anymore, but absolutely deserves an airing. A concept piece lyrically, this has the late great Prodigy talking to his conscience, going back and forth, before Nas closes things out. The beat is by Infinite Arkatechz, who were basically the patron saints of sampling New Age and prog rock records (you might recognise this one). Find this somewhat forgotten classic on the "Nas & Ill Will Records Prsents...QB Finest" compilation.
dead prez : The Game Of Life (Score)
The "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack may be better known to many than the excellent film, but either way, here's the top-notch opening track, bringing a message to set the tone and frame the events of the story in a much wider context. This is actually my favourite iteration of the dead prez sound - tracks like this and "Sellin' Dope (Drugs Oppress People Everyday)" really stood out sonically from the mass of releases of the same time period. The production is provided by Da Heads - according to Discogs, only ever credited for this one song, but I'm wondering if somehow, somewhere, DJ Spinna is in the mix...
[Swizz Beatz] Nas : Salute Me (The General) (Instrumental)
Thumping, militaristic instrumental from the keyboard era. I love the opening on this before it settles down into the rhythm of the verses, which is even better on the vocal version with the opening adlibs.
Gunshot : Clear From Present Danger
RIP MC Alkaline. For those that don't know, Gunshot were truly one of the defining groups of their era, standard bearers for what became known to many as the "Britcore" style. The beats were almost always uptempo (this isn't even that fast compared to many), dramatic and dense, with a clear influence of The Bomb Squad - as time went on, this style went on to help give birth to other UK electronic music genres. The lyrics and delivery were always aggressive - as I say on the voiceover, think "action film" rather than trying to make you believe they were gangsters. This is one of the classic singles from this crew out of Leyton, East London, complete with a full lyric sheet on the back of the sleeve if you can get hold of the vinyl.
DJ Supreme ft. Son Of Noise : R.I.P.
More UK Hip-Hop royalty from the same era as Gunshot - the legendary DJ Supreme of Hijack producing for the mic-destroying Son of Noise on a 2016/7 release that shows that neither half of this combo have lost a step since they first came out. Raw, hard-edged, unapologetic British Hip-Hop on a battle tip.
Rob Swift ft. DJ Klever and Melo-D : 2-3 Break
One of the greatest DJs of all time and also a fierce defender of DJing ethics, rights, and responsibilities, Rob Swift is a man that should be held up high by all those who claim to represent Hip-Hop culture. On this 2002 cut, he pays tribute to the original "Two, Three, Break" by The B Boys (with the great Chuck Chillout on the wheels), and combines with two other turntable titans, Klever and Melo-D of Beat Junkies for a turntable workout over some classic beats and breaks. I was pleased to find that Rob's second LP "Sound Event" that this is drawn from is on streaming platforms, so don't miss out having a listen to the rest of the album.
Tobi Sunmola : Not The One
If you've heard me DJ on Twitch in the last few years, you may well have heard me play this absolute heater to great response! From Lagos to Manchester, Tobi Sunmola is a real talent with his own style, and kills it on this uptempo cut from his 2018 EP "Good Guys Don't Survive". Let's hope that this one does.
Ilajide : INDYNSUMRLUV
Faithful podcast listeners will already know how I rate this man, an incredible producer out of Detroit who hammers the funk into a sequencer like few can. The bassline is simple, but is just what's needed underneath those drums, where the hi-hats are doing the work of bringing the complexity while the kick and snare keep time. Very dope business from January's "NO SAUCEPAN TUESDAYS" album/beat tape. I'm assuming Tuesdays are for air fryers only.
Tobe Nwigwe ft. Coast Contra : DESTRUCTION
Tobe Nwigwe and his team are continuing to have success which is great to see - it's been four years since I first played him here (which is not when he started), and it's been constant elevation from there. This cut from last year's "moMINTs" album is big, booming, and as heavy as the title suggests, with Tobe, Nick Humes and Nick Baker on production. Guesting on several mics are the crew of dangerous Los Angeles MCs that is Coast Contra, who bring the heat to help close the episode in dramatic fashion. By the way, I realised how much time is flying when I realised that two members of Coast Contra are the sons of Ras Kass!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Paid my dues, now pay my fee."
- Pete Rock
Another year in the books! This is the fourteenth birthday episode of the podcast, and it's wild to look back at how different the landscape looked back in 2009 when I started it off. At least nowadays, I don't have to explain what a podcast is!
I needed a selection worthy of the milestone, and I think you'll enjoy it - Hip-Hop basically end-to-end, with some virtuoso performances on the mics, the boards, and the turntables. Turn the volume up and check the styles...
Book a ticket to see me play live in Salford with the 45 Kings and Queens on July 8th here!
Gigs & streams calendar : events.airadam.com
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Swizz Beatz ft. Jadakiss, Benny the Butcher, and Scar Lip : Take 'Em Out
Huge new single to open things up for this month, and a track I can already tell is going to make my list of top Spotify tracks this year. As part of the 50th year of Hip-Hop celebrations, Mass Appeal have released a couple of producer-led EPs with a selection of MCs, and this is of course from Swizz' contribution. It's not the production style most would think of when Swizz Beatz is mentioned, but listen for the classic "The Bridge Is Over" drums accompanied by what sounds like a pipe organ with the "evil" stop pulled all the way out - vicious. And the MCs, my goodness! LOX legend Jadakiss opens up, hands off to modern-day street rap giant Benny the Butcher, and cleanup duty is handled in fine style by the young and hungry Scar Lip. The video is great as well - chaotic, dark, monochrome, giving me just a taste of the same energy as the visuals for Ice Cube's "Wicked" back in the day. The whole package is hard like titanium.
Onyx : Throw Ya Gunz (Instrumental)
After starting the show with a track sampling the yelled into Onyx's first single, which was a big tune in its day, I decided to follow up with the instrumental as I hadn't heard it in so long. RIP to Chyskillz, the producer, who passed away in 2018.
Coach NYM : Work Ethic
One from my gym playlist for you, taken from the "Healthy Gangsta" LP. Part of the RBG movement, NYM gives a message on this track and the rest of the album that very much aligns with the innovative "Workout" LPs that stic of dead prez (their lowercasing, btw) released in 2011 and 2020. Turn this track up and get your motivation right!
Bronx Slang : Excuse Me Again
My man Jerry Beeks accurately and sadly points out that the subject of this track will continue to be relevant into the foreseeable future. Following up from the original "Excuse Me Officer" from the "Bronx Slang" LP, this is, in Beeks' distinctive style, a run-down of yet more Black people who have been murdered by the police. The producer Fake Blood gives it a soundtrack with just a hint of melancholy that still makes you nod your head thanks to his drum programming, and leaves enough space for you to hear every work clearly. Find this on the appropriately-named "Substance" album.
Blak Twang ft. Fallacy : Homegrown
I promise I didn't just try to find every track that sampled Onyx and throw them into this episode! The b-side of the incredible 1996 "Real Estate" 12", this is not only pure lyrical rawness from both MCs (Blak Twang/Taipanic/Tony Rotton and Fallacy) over a beat from V.R.S, but it's also the source of an incredible number of samples. If you go and check the excellent Blak Twang LP "19 Long Time", you'll be amazed how many times he samples himself, and from this specific cut - EPMD would be proud :)
The Musalini ft. Pete Rock and 9th Wonder : Carmel City 2
The vast majority of times, a sequel track is done by the original artist (for example, EPMD's "Jane" series, Ice Cube with the "Gangsta's Fairytale" pair), but this is an interesting exception. Pete Rock, the producer of the original "Carmel City" from his and CL Smooth's "The Main Ingredient" LP is here...but only on the mic, and even then only as the featured guest! Lead duties are taken by Bronx native The Musalini, and production is by a man who would absolutely name Pete Rock as an influence, North Carolina's 9th Wonder. This track has had a lot of rewinds in my headphones over the last month!
BusCrates : Get It Going
The brand new BusCrates LP, "Control Center" released this week, and it starts off with this serious groove, one which I had to let you get a good helping of before my voiceover! The new LP is overally lower in tempo than his "Blasting Off" album, and leans a little more in the direction of Hip-Hop while maintaining his funky and soulful style. BusCrates is an exceptionally skilled producer and DJ - as well as a thoroughly nice guy - who absolutely deserves your support.
Little Brother : Sittin Alone
This track will, depending on your age, inspire mocking laughter or wry recognition! The time comes to all of us where the thought of hitting the clubs on a Saturday night sounds...kind of tiring. If nothing else, I'm sure everyone can relate to the flyer with eight different fonts on it :) Mixing real feelings with a great bit of humour, it's just one example of the grown man rap on the "May The Lord Watch" album. As an aside - paying child support is not, of course, just a Black thing!
Kev Brown : Homework Part 1
Like most of the tracks on the "Homework" album, I wish this were a touch longer, but the man from Landover has a gift for leaving everyone wanting more! You can certainly hear his characteristic bassline action, while the high end is actually really prominent on this too, in a lo-fi fashion - almost sounds like a rough draft, but you know it's all intentional and provides a canvas for him to kick some lyrics, in case you forgot he puts in work on the mic too :)
Prodigy & Nas : Self Conscience
One of those great mixtape tracks from a previous era that you just don't hear around anymore, but absolutely deserves an airing. A concept piece lyrically, this has the late great Prodigy talking to his conscience, going back and forth, before Nas closes things out. The beat is by Infinite Arkatechz, who were basically the patron saints of sampling New Age and prog rock records (you might recognise this one). Find this somewhat forgotten classic on the "Nas & Ill Will Records Prsents...QB Finest" compilation.
dead prez : The Game Of Life (Score)
The "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack may be better known to many than the excellent film, but either way, here's the top-notch opening track, bringing a message to set the tone and frame the events of the story in a much wider context. This is actually my favourite iteration of the dead prez sound - tracks like this and "Sellin' Dope (Drugs Oppress People Everyday)" really stood out sonically from the mass of releases of the same time period. The production is provided by Da Heads - according to Discogs, only ever credited for this one song, but I'm wondering if somehow, somewhere, DJ Spinna is in the mix...
[Swizz Beatz] Nas : Salute Me (The General) (Instrumental)
Thumping, militaristic instrumental from the keyboard era. I love the opening on this before it settles down into the rhythm of the verses, which is even better on the vocal version with the opening adlibs.
Gunshot : Clear From Present Danger
RIP MC Alkaline. For those that don't know, Gunshot were truly one of the defining groups of their era, standard bearers for what became known to many as the "Britcore" style. The beats were almost always uptempo (this isn't even that fast compared to many), dramatic and dense, with a clear influence of The Bomb Squad - as time went on, this style went on to help give birth to other UK electronic music genres. The lyrics and delivery were always aggressive - as I say on the voiceover, think "action film" rather than trying to make you believe they were gangsters. This is one of the classic singles from this crew out of Leyton, East London, complete with a full lyric sheet on the back of the sleeve if you can get hold of the vinyl.
DJ Supreme ft. Son Of Noise : R.I.P.
More UK Hip-Hop royalty from the same era as Gunshot - the legendary DJ Supreme of Hijack producing for the mic-destroying Son of Noise on a 2016/7 release that shows that neither half of this combo have lost a step since they first came out. Raw, hard-edged, unapologetic British Hip-Hop on a battle tip.
Rob Swift ft. DJ Klever and Melo-D : 2-3 Break
One of the greatest DJs of all time and also a fierce defender of DJing ethics, rights, and responsibilities, Rob Swift is a man that should be held up high by all those who claim to represent Hip-Hop culture. On this 2002 cut, he pays tribute to the original "Two, Three, Break" by The B Boys (with the great Chuck Chillout on the wheels), and combines with two other turntable titans, Klever and Melo-D of Beat Junkies for a turntable workout over some classic beats and breaks. I was pleased to find that Rob's second LP "Sound Event" that this is drawn from is on streaming platforms, so don't miss out having a listen to the rest of the album.
Tobi Sunmola : Not The One
If you've heard me DJ on Twitch in the last few years, you may well have heard me play this absolute heater to great response! From Lagos to Manchester, Tobi Sunmola is a real talent with his own style, and kills it on this uptempo cut from his 2018 EP "Good Guys Don't Survive". Let's hope that this one does.
Ilajide : INDYNSUMRLUV
Faithful podcast listeners will already know how I rate this man, an incredible producer out of Detroit who hammers the funk into a sequencer like few can. The bassline is simple, but is just what's needed underneath those drums, where the hi-hats are doing the work of bringing the complexity while the kick and snare keep time. Very dope business from January's "NO SAUCEPAN TUESDAYS" album/beat tape. I'm assuming Tuesdays are for air fryers only.
Tobe Nwigwe ft. Coast Contra : DESTRUCTION
Tobe Nwigwe and his team are continuing to have success which is great to see - it's been four years since I first played him here (which is not when he started), and it's been constant elevation from there. This cut from last year's "moMINTs" album is big, booming, and as heavy as the title suggests, with Tobe, Nick Humes and Nick Baker on production. Guesting on several mics are the crew of dangerous Los Angeles MCs that is Coast Contra, who bring the heat to help close the episode in dramatic fashion. By the way, I realised how much time is flying when I realised that two members of Coast Contra are the sons of Ras Kass!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I was a seventies baby, raised in the eighties..."
- Scarface
An appropriate quote for this month's episode, in which we keep a constant speed all the way through - an unbroken chain in the low-80s BPM range! A little rugged, a little smooth, some old and some new, and hopefully something for each of you 🙂
Remember, you can always see a list of my next few upcoming streams and gigs @ events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Lupe Fiasco ft. Jay-Z : Pressure
The show starts back in 2006, with a selection from Lupe Fiasco's debut "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor", produced by Prolyfic. He came out strong on this album, representing Chicago in fine style, a city that historically hadn't been as regarded as some when it came to Hip-Hop. Being able to get Jay-Z in for a feature on your debut, even back then, was a sign that you were to be taken seriously, and Lupe has definitely justified that in retrospect.
Marco Polo : Pirate Hookers
The modern move towards independent digital releases on platforms like Bandcamp means it's easier than ever to get hold of gems like "MP On The MP ; The Beat Tape Vol. 2" - at one time they just wouldn't have come out at all, or maybe got a limited run of hard copies. It's hard to describe this track, but the quieter sections make me think of the back streets in a French detective movie, while the louder parts are much more bombastic. If you like hearing instrumentals breathe without vocalists, support releases like this and let the artists know!
Dan Greenpeace & Diamond D : Nowhere To Run To
This release was an incredibly pleasant surprise - I had no idea it was coming out until just before release, when Greenpeace posted about it on Instagram. I've had the pleasure of knowing Greenpeace since the mid 90s - he was working at a company where I had a summer job, and we bonded over a love of Hip-Hop. He was DJing on the side and was a big influence on my listening, putting me up on artists I might not have heard at the time, and he was the absolute first person I remember talking about independent Hip-Hop in the sense of the early Rawkus releases and things like that. I even remember him having the idea of a column in Hip-Hop Connection called "Independents' Day", which came to fruition some time before another well-known magazine "borrowed" that title for their column and ran with it! Anyway, around the time we met, Diamond D's first LP would not long since have been out, so it's amazing to see him producing a track for an artist that we would both have been looking up to from afar all those years ago. Chunky, dark, menacing, the beat is a suitably threatening setting for Diamond's bars, and when one of the most storied producers in Hip-Hop history allows you to produce him, you know you're doing something. Salute!
The Away Team : Steppin On Toes
A nice bit of rugged aggro with Khrysis on the boards and Sean Boog on the mic as The Away Team, a North Carolina crew that came out as part of the Justus League collective. This is on their second LP, 2007's "Training Day", which has some really solid tracks and is definitely worth a listen. While 9th Wonder was the most prominent producer from Justus League, Khrysis was putting out heat round the same period and has continued to work to the present day, with beats for everyone from Busta Rhymes to Rapsody.
Slim Thug : No No No
One of two straight tracks from Southern legends, we go to the nawf of Houston for a killer from last year's "BIGslim" (which it seems, is the name he plans to go by in the future) album. It of course features Slim's distinctive relaxed yet straightahead flow, as well as a Mr. Lee beat with some nice contrast - rapid, dead-on hi-hats alongside a main drum pattern that gets there when it gets there!
Scarface : Safe
The first full track on "The Fix" and a personal favourite from Scarface's long and storied catalogue, this is a raw record that explicitly talks about the contents of your safe while implicitly talking about the lack of safety in the street life. China Black is on production, and the pitch-bending bassline is a perfect menacing undertone.
Damu The Fudgemunk : Last Ole - 2005
It's been a while since we visited the 2008 "Spare Time" album from Washington DC's Damu, full of gritty, unapologetically sample-based beats, so why not do so as this particular beat turns eighteen? My goodness, it doesn't seem like quite that long ago...
Your Old Droog : The Groundhog
He pops up, says what he has to say eloquently, and then disappears again. On this new-ish single, Brooklyn's Your Old Droog clearly remembers the borough of a different era, before all the gentrification that make the area look as it does now - and as he points out, makes some new arrivals look at those who already lived there as the outsiders. The wisftul instrumental by Znakomi is a perfect musical accompaniment to the sentiment.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist : Slipping Into Darkness
I can't think of another track quite like this brand new release. Not only does it change beat partway through, but each beat has a different producer. Not only that, but each producer also rhymes on the track. Finally, each producer is spitting over the other's beat. Hit-Boy, on Alchemist's beat, definitely had a lot to get off his chest - I don't know how the other producers he mentions in his verse will react to it!
Groove Armada ft. Jeru The Damaja : Suntoucher
This track is over twenty years old, but it's new to me! The opening cut from the "Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)" album, it's got a super-long instrumental intro before the vocals properly come in, courtesy of the East New York representative Jeru The Damaja. The main beat is based around a classic soul sample, which I believe is cleared, so I can tell you about it - the excellent "Something For Nothing" by MFSB.
Neneh Cherry : Manchild
A childhood favourite! I've loved this track since it was a radio hit as a single drawn from Neneh's debut "Raw Like Sushi" album back in 1989. She came out raw indeed, with the B-Girl vibes from day one, which you can hear popping up on this track on the short rap verses. This was apparently the first song Neneh sat down and wrote, and she smashes it out of the park - all kinds of chord changes running through it, and a melancholy feel to the lyrics, talking to a man who needs to grow up and fix up a little to get where he needs to be.
Marco Polo : Straight Spittin 4.5
I didn't originally intend to play two Marco Polo beats this episode, but it just flowed that way while browsing through tracks when I was standing at the turntables; don't be mad when you hear quality like this! Those drums are booming and banging over this MPC workout from his edition of the Fat Beats "Baker's Dozen" series, each an instrumental album from one producer.
Heavy D & The Boyz : Yes Y'all
Some boom-bap head-nod flavour from the late Heavy D's 1993 "Blue Funk" album. If you're steeped in the music of that era, you'll recognise the piano sample and usage as identical to that on Gang Starr's "92 Interlude" from the "Daily Operation" LP - DJ Premier tells the story much better than I ever could on an episode of his "So Wassup?" YouTube series, so I'll direct you over there!
Statik Selektah, Nas, Joey Bada$$, and Gary Clark Jr. : Keep It Moving
Statik has been one of the producers continuing to carry the flag for modern, soulful Hip-Hop, respecting the traditions and refining the approach. This was a personal favourite from the 2020 album "The Balancing Act", and while everyone on the mic does their thing...this is a Nas cut as far as I'm concerned :)
Tall Black Guy Productions : Black II Soul
You pretty much can't lose if you're sampling the legendary track this one is based on - or maybe more accurately, you shouldn't touch it if you don't know what you're doing! Fortunately, the man TBG can flip pretty much anything and then enhance it with his warm, soulful musical vibes. One of the many excellent flips/remixes/homages in his catalogue, it's one you should definitely add to your collection, especially for the sunnier days.
Children of Zeus ft. Akemi Fox : Balance
One of the best groups to come out in I don't know how long, Manchester's own Children of Zeus continue to stack up wins! This was the title track from their second full LP (but don't forget "The Story So Far..." and "The Winter Tape", and was highlighted by having the only guest appearance on the whole album, fellow Manchester vocalist Akemi Fox. If you've not yet heard the album, line it up for a listen today - you won't be disappointed!
Deckwrecka : Rough Winds
Another beneficiary of my big vinyl digitisation project, this is a track - well, a whole record, to be honest - that disappeared into the depths of my collection through no fault of its own. Taken from the 1998 "Deckwrecka 4" EP, this is a piece that sounds more gentle and refined than its title, or even the name of the artist, would suggest.
Lindsey Webster ft. Norman Brown : Free To Be Me
While Lindsey Webster is an artist I stumbled on some time ago, this particular track from 2018's "Love Inside" LP is one I think I heard on Twitch - H3 or Big Stove might have played it. A breezy bit of modern jazz featuring the skills of guitar boss Norman Brown, it might not be something that would ordinarily pass your ears but I thought it was a nice uplifting track to end the episode with!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I was a seventies baby, raised in the eighties..."
- Scarface
An appropriate quote for this month's episode, in which we keep a constant speed all the way through - an unbroken chain in the low-80s BPM range! A little rugged, a little smooth, some old and some new, and hopefully something for each of you 🙂
Remember, you can always see a list of my next few upcoming streams and gigs @ events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Lupe Fiasco ft. Jay-Z : Pressure
The show starts back in 2006, with a selection from Lupe Fiasco's debut "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor", produced by Prolyfic. He came out strong on this album, representing Chicago in fine style, a city that historically hadn't been as regarded as some when it came to Hip-Hop. Being able to get Jay-Z in for a feature on your debut, even back then, was a sign that you were to be taken seriously, and Lupe has definitely justified that in retrospect.
Marco Polo : Pirate Hookers
The modern move towards independent digital releases on platforms like Bandcamp means it's easier than ever to get hold of gems like "MP On The MP ; The Beat Tape Vol. 2" - at one time they just wouldn't have come out at all, or maybe got a limited run of hard copies. It's hard to describe this track, but the quieter sections make me think of the back streets in a French detective movie, while the louder parts are much more bombastic. If you like hearing instrumentals breathe without vocalists, support releases like this and let the artists know!
Dan Greenpeace & Diamond D : Nowhere To Run To
This release was an incredibly pleasant surprise - I had no idea it was coming out until just before release, when Greenpeace posted about it on Instagram. I've had the pleasure of knowing Greenpeace since the mid 90s - he was working at a company where I had a summer job, and we bonded over a love of Hip-Hop. He was DJing on the side and was a big influence on my listening, putting me up on artists I might not have heard at the time, and he was the absolute first person I remember talking about independent Hip-Hop in the sense of the early Rawkus releases and things like that. I even remember him having the idea of a column in Hip-Hop Connection called "Independents' Day", which came to fruition some time before another well-known magazine "borrowed" that title for their column and ran with it! Anyway, around the time we met, Diamond D's first LP would not long since have been out, so it's amazing to see him producing a track for an artist that we would both have been looking up to from afar all those years ago. Chunky, dark, menacing, the beat is a suitably threatening setting for Diamond's bars, and when one of the most storied producers in Hip-Hop history allows you to produce him, you know you're doing something. Salute!
The Away Team : Steppin On Toes
A nice bit of rugged aggro with Khrysis on the boards and Sean Boog on the mic as The Away Team, a North Carolina crew that came out as part of the Justus League collective. This is on their second LP, 2007's "Training Day", which has some really solid tracks and is definitely worth a listen. While 9th Wonder was the most prominent producer from Justus League, Khrysis was putting out heat round the same period and has continued to work to the present day, with beats for everyone from Busta Rhymes to Rapsody.
Slim Thug : No No No
One of two straight tracks from Southern legends, we go to the nawf of Houston for a killer from last year's "BIGslim" (which it seems, is the name he plans to go by in the future) album. It of course features Slim's distinctive relaxed yet straightahead flow, as well as a Mr. Lee beat with some nice contrast - rapid, dead-on hi-hats alongside a main drum pattern that gets there when it gets there!
Scarface : Safe
The first full track on "The Fix" and a personal favourite from Scarface's long and storied catalogue, this is a raw record that explicitly talks about the contents of your safe while implicitly talking about the lack of safety in the street life. China Black is on production, and the pitch-bending bassline is a perfect menacing undertone.
Damu The Fudgemunk : Last Ole - 2005
It's been a while since we visited the 2008 "Spare Time" album from Washington DC's Damu, full of gritty, unapologetically sample-based beats, so why not do so as this particular beat turns eighteen? My goodness, it doesn't seem like quite that long ago...
Your Old Droog : The Groundhog
He pops up, says what he has to say eloquently, and then disappears again. On this new-ish single, Brooklyn's Your Old Droog clearly remembers the borough of a different era, before all the gentrification that make the area look as it does now - and as he points out, makes some new arrivals look at those who already lived there as the outsiders. The wisftul instrumental by Znakomi is a perfect musical accompaniment to the sentiment.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist : Slipping Into Darkness
I can't think of another track quite like this brand new release. Not only does it change beat partway through, but each beat has a different producer. Not only that, but each producer also rhymes on the track. Finally, each producer is spitting over the other's beat. Hit-Boy, on Alchemist's beat, definitely had a lot to get off his chest - I don't know how the other producers he mentions in his verse will react to it!
Groove Armada ft. Jeru The Damaja : Suntoucher
This track is over twenty years old, but it's new to me! The opening cut from the "Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)" album, it's got a super-long instrumental intro before the vocals properly come in, courtesy of the East New York representative Jeru The Damaja. The main beat is based around a classic soul sample, which I believe is cleared, so I can tell you about it - the excellent "Something For Nothing" by MFSB.
Neneh Cherry : Manchild
A childhood favourite! I've loved this track since it was a radio hit as a single drawn from Neneh's debut "Raw Like Sushi" album back in 1989. She came out raw indeed, with the B-Girl vibes from day one, which you can hear popping up on this track on the short rap verses. This was apparently the first song Neneh sat down and wrote, and she smashes it out of the park - all kinds of chord changes running through it, and a melancholy feel to the lyrics, talking to a man who needs to grow up and fix up a little to get where he needs to be.
Marco Polo : Straight Spittin 4.5
I didn't originally intend to play two Marco Polo beats this episode, but it just flowed that way while browsing through tracks when I was standing at the turntables; don't be mad when you hear quality like this! Those drums are booming and banging over this MPC workout from his edition of the Fat Beats "Baker's Dozen" series, each an instrumental album from one producer.
Heavy D & The Boyz : Yes Y'all
Some boom-bap head-nod flavour from the late Heavy D's 1993 "Blue Funk" album. If you're steeped in the music of that era, you'll recognise the piano sample and usage as identical to that on Gang Starr's "92 Interlude" from the "Daily Operation" LP - DJ Premier tells the story much better than I ever could on an episode of his "So Wassup?" YouTube series, so I'll direct you over there!
Statik Selektah, Nas, Joey Bada$$, and Gary Clark Jr. : Keep It Moving
Statik has been one of the producers continuing to carry the flag for modern, soulful Hip-Hop, respecting the traditions and refining the approach. This was a personal favourite from the 2020 album "The Balancing Act", and while everyone on the mic does their thing...this is a Nas cut as far as I'm concerned :)
Tall Black Guy Productions : Black II Soul
You pretty much can't lose if you're sampling the legendary track this one is based on - or maybe more accurately, you shouldn't touch it if you don't know what you're doing! Fortunately, the man TBG can flip pretty much anything and then enhance it with his warm, soulful musical vibes. One of the many excellent flips/remixes/homages in his catalogue, it's one you should definitely add to your collection, especially for the sunnier days.
Children of Zeus ft. Akemi Fox : Balance
One of the best groups to come out in I don't know how long, Manchester's own Children of Zeus continue to stack up wins! This was the title track from their second full LP (but don't forget "The Story So Far..." and "The Winter Tape", and was highlighted by having the only guest appearance on the whole album, fellow Manchester vocalist Akemi Fox. If you've not yet heard the album, line it up for a listen today - you won't be disappointed!
Deckwrecka : Rough Winds
Another beneficiary of my big vinyl digitisation project, this is a track - well, a whole record, to be honest - that disappeared into the depths of my collection through no fault of its own. Taken from the 1998 "Deckwrecka 4" EP, this is a piece that sounds more gentle and refined than its title, or even the name of the artist, would suggest.
Lindsey Webster ft. Norman Brown : Free To Be Me
While Lindsey Webster is an artist I stumbled on some time ago, this particular track from 2018's "Love Inside" LP is one I think I heard on Twitch - H3 or Big Stove might have played it. A breezy bit of modern jazz featuring the skills of guitar boss Norman Brown, it might not be something that would ordinarily pass your ears but I thought it was a nice uplifting track to end the episode with!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We on they mood board, though they livin' in denial."
- Solace
This month's selection came together slowly and then all at once! It's turned out to be a great combination of deep album cuts, some lesser-known bonus tracks and remixes, as well as some brand new nuggets you can and should add to your collection! Of course I had to give you some Guru, and we start the episode with a cover version of a record that samples another musical giant, the recently and sadly departed Ahmad Jamal.
Don't forget that you can get the up-to-date list of my upcoming streams and events at events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Elzhi & Will Sessions : The World Is Yours
RIP to the great Ahmad Jamal, the legendary pianist who was famously sampled on the original "The World Is Yours" on the classic Nas "Illmatic" LP. As we've already played that on the podcast, we instead turn to the excellent re-imagining of that album by the all-Detroit combination of the band Will Sessions and the gifted MC Elzhi. It's always interesting when a musician is sampled by a Hip-Hop producer, and then that production later remade by other live musicians - bringing things full circle.
The Quarter Inch Kings : I'm No Comeback
As part of the Beat Tape Project, Toronto's Quarter Inch Kings channel some soulful flavour on this instrumental from "The AZ Beat Tape" - one that I could very well hear the Brooklyn Legend on.
Masta Ace & Marco Polo : Masta Polo
I was almost going to describe Marco Polo as one of the new generation of producers, but then I realised - it's been eighteen years! Still fresh, yet a veteran, he combines with a legend from the Juice Crew, Brooklyn's Masta Ace, for some classy 21st century boom-bap. You need to find the Deluxe edition of the Polo-produced "A Breukelen Story" album to get this one, and it's well worth the effort.
Terri Walker ft. Ty : OK
One of the finest soul singers these isles have ever produced, though an underappreciated one, Terri Walker has always shown love to the home team, with this track being a great example. The Nottingham stalwart Joe Buhdha is behind the boards, and the late London don TY warms up the mic before Ms Walker strides over the instrumentation. You might know her first few LPs, but definitely check for the later stuff, such as the EP this track was release on, "Joe Buhdha Presents Breakout". RIP Ty, live long Terri Walker.
Gang Starr : 2 Deep (City Lick Mix)
This is one of my earliest Hip-Hop 12" purchases, and a version of the Gang Starr classic deep single that I had to grow into! The UK's Dodge City Productions were, in retrospect, a perfect choice to take on remix duties here, a group well-steeped in the jazz that Gang Starr had helped pioneer as part of Hip-Hop. The late great Guru is in fine form, on his grown man business over all three verses - starting closer to battle mode and then weaving in his message. Apparently a Europe-only release, this is a worthy version to stand next to the original from the "Daily Operation" LP.
Curren$y : Fortune 500
This is clearly an anthem for LLC Twitter, with one long verse about getting that cash, and the outro showing Curren$y quizzing the next generation. The brand new "For Motivational Use Only" LP is another in the set of releases where Curren$y links up with a single producer to build a cohesive whole - in this case, the veteran Jermaine Dupri. I'd be lying if I said it was a collaboration that I was thinking about, but it works!
Medline : Payé Entièrement
Sound familiar? If you didn't guess from the title, this is a wicked instrumental cover of the classic "Paid In Full" by Eric B & Rakim that just cannot be denied. You can head straight over to Bandcamp to get the digital version as a bonus cut on the "Je Sais Que Tu As De L'Âme" release (put that into Google Translate if you don't speak French) - really, an essential pickup in my opinion.
Knaladeus : Lose Or Win
Not in terms of complexity as such, but in terms of tone, does Knaladeus here remind you of Black Thought at all? Either way, self-produced dopeness with quality songwriting from this artist out of Florida, one of the early tracks on his 2018 "Letters To You" album. His heartfelt lyrics on top of that beat are already a great blend, but the cherry is provided by DJ Stranger's cuts, drawing from the lyrics of Guru - once I heard those, this track was a lock for this episode.
Onra : 1-4 TONI
If you like a track with instructions (think "Jump Around", or hell, even "The Time Warp"), then this is up your street. That said, if you weren't already nodding your head to this one, you might want to clear your ears out first! Nice beat by the man from Paris, a 2018 track that went unreleased until Valentine's Day this year.
Superbad Solace : Throwing Fits
One for the Lo heads, from one of the foremost representatives currently recording! Solace has done it again with his "Sol Controller 3" project, and this track dedicated to the art of getting fresh is a personal favourite. The references to the Ralph Lauren brand and lifestyle are numerous, but as Solace points out, "you can buy gear, but you can't buy style"! The beat by Mono en Stereo makes you feel like you need to be posing on a yacht for a catalogue somewhere :)
Panama Gat : So Lonely
This man has a spectacular MC name, though it feels a little wrong to point it out when the subject of his song on this episode is so serious. It's raw at times, but that's often how it goes when you're expressing real emotion. On the production front, the soul-sampling beat reminds you of the work of Kanye West and Just Blaze around the same era, but it's not a bite in any way. I'm not sure who put it together, but my guess is 9th Wonder, as this is part of the Justus League "Just Us, Vol. 6" mixtape.
Leavv : Within
A little of that Chillhop flavour for you, with Leavv coming from Germany but this track coming from some kind of dreamland where even the passing clouds come with a bumping drum accompaniment. Find this on the "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2017" collection, which even now is available as a "name your price" release on Bandcamp!
Ilajide : Boom Shakalak
I'd almost forgotten this track from "#0414917"! The programming of this beat by one of Detroit's finest is on a half-time vibe which makes it feel much slower than the 100bpm than it measures at, and he works that by keeping his flow on the mic downtempo too.
Tha Chill ft. Kokane : RNO
Part of the respected Compton's Most Wanted, Tha Chill missed out on featuring on two of the group's LPs due to legal troubles, but bounced back from them and not only reunited with the crew but has a solid set of solo releases to his name. This track is from the 2020 "Fohead" LP, and I think may be self-produced - the instrumental embodies his name, with it being a little dark and cold, and moderately uptempo without being hectic. On the mic he's joined by another "if you know, you know" west coast legend, Pomona's Kokane, an artist well worth exploring in his own right.
Sepalot ft. Blu : Surrender
Rough, angular, lurching electronic rawness! Heading back over to Germany (Munich, to be precise), we pick up this B-side from the 2008 "She Likes Me" 12", loaded with synths and disembodied yells. It's a challenging background for an MC, but Blu, who you might know for considerably more gentle material, handles it with no problem at all.
Erick Sermon ft. MC Lyte and Rah Digga : Tell Me (If You Don't Feel Me)
Erick Sermon is a respected MC in his own right, but part of his production greatness is in knowing when to draft in even more firepower, as he does here on the 2002 "React" album! Two different generations (in terms of career period, if not age) combine to burn up the guest features here, with Brooklynite MC Lyte and Newark's Rah Digga bringing it home over Erick's beat, which very much has the flavour of the era.
Dâm-Funk : The Flow
The "STFU II" EP is - relatively speaking - a chilled collection for the Pasadena modern funk legend. This track has clean, gliding keyboard pads, but also the right weight of drums and synth bass, plus the tempo, to allow you to dance to it if that's how you feel. Dâm-Funk has been building up a very respectable discography since his 2008 debut single - take some time to explore it if you haven't already.
DJ Quik ft. Ludacris : Spur Of The Moment / Pacific Coast Remix
This might not be the most progressive track in the world, but it sounds absolutely fantastic, still. A standout on 2005's "Trauma" album, in shows how skilled DJ Quik is not just as a producer (and MC), but also as a mixer/engineer. The sunshiney vibes pour out of this one, and Ludacris, who my Twitch crowd all seem to agree is an underrated MC, hits the mark perfectly as a guest. This track seems to have a different title depending on whether you have the CD or vinyl of the album, but the only difference between them is how you rewind it to play it again once it fades out!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We on they mood board, though they livin' in denial."
- Solace
This month's selection came together slowly and then all at once! It's turned out to be a great combination of deep album cuts, some lesser-known bonus tracks and remixes, as well as some brand new nuggets you can and should add to your collection! Of course I had to give you some Guru, and we start the episode with a cover version of a record that samples another musical giant, the recently and sadly departed Ahmad Jamal.
Don't forget that you can get the up-to-date list of my upcoming streams and events at events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Elzhi & Will Sessions : The World Is Yours
RIP to the great Ahmad Jamal, the legendary pianist who was famously sampled on the original "The World Is Yours" on the classic Nas "Illmatic" LP. As we've already played that on the podcast, we instead turn to the excellent re-imagining of that album by the all-Detroit combination of the band Will Sessions and the gifted MC Elzhi. It's always interesting when a musician is sampled by a Hip-Hop producer, and then that production later remade by other live musicians - bringing things full circle.
The Quarter Inch Kings : I'm No Comeback
As part of the Beat Tape Project, Toronto's Quarter Inch Kings channel some soulful flavour on this instrumental from "The AZ Beat Tape" - one that I could very well hear the Brooklyn Legend on.
Masta Ace & Marco Polo : Masta Polo
I was almost going to describe Marco Polo as one of the new generation of producers, but then I realised - it's been eighteen years! Still fresh, yet a veteran, he combines with a legend from the Juice Crew, Brooklyn's Masta Ace, for some classy 21st century boom-bap. You need to find the Deluxe edition of the Polo-produced "A Breukelen Story" album to get this one, and it's well worth the effort.
Terri Walker ft. Ty : OK
One of the finest soul singers these isles have ever produced, though an underappreciated one, Terri Walker has always shown love to the home team, with this track being a great example. The Nottingham stalwart Joe Buhdha is behind the boards, and the late London don TY warms up the mic before Ms Walker strides over the instrumentation. You might know her first few LPs, but definitely check for the later stuff, such as the EP this track was release on, "Joe Buhdha Presents Breakout". RIP Ty, live long Terri Walker.
Gang Starr : 2 Deep (City Lick Mix)
This is one of my earliest Hip-Hop 12" purchases, and a version of the Gang Starr classic deep single that I had to grow into! The UK's Dodge City Productions were, in retrospect, a perfect choice to take on remix duties here, a group well-steeped in the jazz that Gang Starr had helped pioneer as part of Hip-Hop. The late great Guru is in fine form, on his grown man business over all three verses - starting closer to battle mode and then weaving in his message. Apparently a Europe-only release, this is a worthy version to stand next to the original from the "Daily Operation" LP.
Curren$y : Fortune 500
This is clearly an anthem for LLC Twitter, with one long verse about getting that cash, and the outro showing Curren$y quizzing the next generation. The brand new "For Motivational Use Only" LP is another in the set of releases where Curren$y links up with a single producer to build a cohesive whole - in this case, the veteran Jermaine Dupri. I'd be lying if I said it was a collaboration that I was thinking about, but it works!
Medline : Payé Entièrement
Sound familiar? If you didn't guess from the title, this is a wicked instrumental cover of the classic "Paid In Full" by Eric B & Rakim that just cannot be denied. You can head straight over to Bandcamp to get the digital version as a bonus cut on the "Je Sais Que Tu As De L'Âme" release (put that into Google Translate if you don't speak French) - really, an essential pickup in my opinion.
Knaladeus : Lose Or Win
Not in terms of complexity as such, but in terms of tone, does Knaladeus here remind you of Black Thought at all? Either way, self-produced dopeness with quality songwriting from this artist out of Florida, one of the early tracks on his 2018 "Letters To You" album. His heartfelt lyrics on top of that beat are already a great blend, but the cherry is provided by DJ Stranger's cuts, drawing from the lyrics of Guru - once I heard those, this track was a lock for this episode.
Onra : 1-4 TONI
If you like a track with instructions (think "Jump Around", or hell, even "The Time Warp"), then this is up your street. That said, if you weren't already nodding your head to this one, you might want to clear your ears out first! Nice beat by the man from Paris, a 2018 track that went unreleased until Valentine's Day this year.
Superbad Solace : Throwing Fits
One for the Lo heads, from one of the foremost representatives currently recording! Solace has done it again with his "Sol Controller 3" project, and this track dedicated to the art of getting fresh is a personal favourite. The references to the Ralph Lauren brand and lifestyle are numerous, but as Solace points out, "you can buy gear, but you can't buy style"! The beat by Mono en Stereo makes you feel like you need to be posing on a yacht for a catalogue somewhere :)
Panama Gat : So Lonely
This man has a spectacular MC name, though it feels a little wrong to point it out when the subject of his song on this episode is so serious. It's raw at times, but that's often how it goes when you're expressing real emotion. On the production front, the soul-sampling beat reminds you of the work of Kanye West and Just Blaze around the same era, but it's not a bite in any way. I'm not sure who put it together, but my guess is 9th Wonder, as this is part of the Justus League "Just Us, Vol. 6" mixtape.
Leavv : Within
A little of that Chillhop flavour for you, with Leavv coming from Germany but this track coming from some kind of dreamland where even the passing clouds come with a bumping drum accompaniment. Find this on the "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2017" collection, which even now is available as a "name your price" release on Bandcamp!
Ilajide : Boom Shakalak
I'd almost forgotten this track from "#0414917"! The programming of this beat by one of Detroit's finest is on a half-time vibe which makes it feel much slower than the 100bpm than it measures at, and he works that by keeping his flow on the mic downtempo too.
Tha Chill ft. Kokane : RNO
Part of the respected Compton's Most Wanted, Tha Chill missed out on featuring on two of the group's LPs due to legal troubles, but bounced back from them and not only reunited with the crew but has a solid set of solo releases to his name. This track is from the 2020 "Fohead" LP, and I think may be self-produced - the instrumental embodies his name, with it being a little dark and cold, and moderately uptempo without being hectic. On the mic he's joined by another "if you know, you know" west coast legend, Pomona's Kokane, an artist well worth exploring in his own right.
Sepalot ft. Blu : Surrender
Rough, angular, lurching electronic rawness! Heading back over to Germany (Munich, to be precise), we pick up this B-side from the 2008 "She Likes Me" 12", loaded with synths and disembodied yells. It's a challenging background for an MC, but Blu, who you might know for considerably more gentle material, handles it with no problem at all.
Erick Sermon ft. MC Lyte and Rah Digga : Tell Me (If You Don't Feel Me)
Erick Sermon is a respected MC in his own right, but part of his production greatness is in knowing when to draft in even more firepower, as he does here on the 2002 "React" album! Two different generations (in terms of career period, if not age) combine to burn up the guest features here, with Brooklynite MC Lyte and Newark's Rah Digga bringing it home over Erick's beat, which very much has the flavour of the era.
Dâm-Funk : The Flow
The "STFU II" EP is - relatively speaking - a chilled collection for the Pasadena modern funk legend. This track has clean, gliding keyboard pads, but also the right weight of drums and synth bass, plus the tempo, to allow you to dance to it if that's how you feel. Dâm-Funk has been building up a very respectable discography since his 2008 debut single - take some time to explore it if you haven't already.
DJ Quik ft. Ludacris : Spur Of The Moment / Pacific Coast Remix
This might not be the most progressive track in the world, but it sounds absolutely fantastic, still. A standout on 2005's "Trauma" album, in shows how skilled DJ Quik is not just as a producer (and MC), but also as a mixer/engineer. The sunshiney vibes pour out of this one, and Ludacris, who my Twitch crowd all seem to agree is an underrated MC, hits the mark perfectly as a guest. This track seems to have a different title depending on whether you have the CD or vinyl of the album, but the only difference between them is how you rewind it to play it again once it fades out!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Godbodies behind bars, y'all see the barcode."
- Pharoahe
The month went from the ridiculous to the sublime, but as always, here we are right on time! This episode we pay homage to Phife and Biggie Smalls, and bring out some great recent releases alongside some older tracks that I think will have escaped the notice of many - after all, there's so much music out there! Almost an hour-long mix this time out, let's get to it...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
E-40 : On The Case
One of the hardest-working men in Hip-Hop, E-40 has recorded twenty-six studio albums, and still sounds as dope has when he debuted back in 1992. This is from his sixteenth, the second in the "The Block Brochure : Welcome To The Soil" trilogy, and as the prisoner quoted in the hook says, it does indeed slap! Chris "THX" Goodman gives him a dark, stomping beat which is a perfect backing for 40's flow as he gives you some free game. Whether you're facing a case or just a tough week at the work, I hope this helps!
Lsdream & Z-Trip : Space Funk
Giving exactly what it says on the tin, this tune is heavy instellar bass business. Z-Trip is better known to many of us as a turntablist and DJ, but his collaboration here with the former Brillz is a beautiful slice of bassy, floaty, vocoded production goodness!
Semi Six & Ilajide : Too Code
Going back to the "Park Orange" collab between these two Detroit natives, we have bump in abundance on this one. If one part of the track stands out, it's the fact that clearly, the roads in their neighbourhood and those in Manchester have a lot in common. Don't ride your 23" rims round here, for your own good!
Karl Hinds : Don Gramma
Twenty-two years on, some of these terms may have been superseded, but you get the point! Essentially the UK (or London, at least) version of Big L's underground hit "Ebonics", Karl runs you through a selection of the local slang, and handles the squelchy, bassy production on top of that. I'd only be half-surprised if it turns out he did the 12" cover design too...
Bumpy Knuckles ft, Sy Ari Da Kid : Word
It was a struggle to find a tune to fit into this spot, but I'm pleased with the choice - very much a deep cut from Bumpy, taken from the now ten-year-old "Mix Files, Vol.1" EP, which seems to be little hard to find nowadays. In fact, it's not even listed on his Discogs discography at present, which makes me wonder if that's just an oversight or if it was actually some kind of bootleg!
Note : Feburary 29th does come, just infrequently...
Rich The Factor & DJ.Fresh : White Party
I've been playing this one in the car so much over the last year or so, it's about time it made its way onto the show! Kansas City's incredibly prolific Rich The Factor isn't coming with particularly complex bars, just vibing to the 80s-flavoured beat from DJ.Fresh from their edition of the "The Tonite Show" series, sampling a great bit of jazz-funk to great effect.
Tavaras Jordan : Photogenic (Instrumental)
It was great to see a complete instrumental release of Le$' "E30" LP, which was produced by Tavaras Jordan, who is rapidly becoming a personal favourite. Smooth synth and drum machine action with a lot of polish. Definitely one to hear in the car!
Slum Village ft. Phife Dog : Push It Along
Marking the anniversary month of Phife's passing, I thought I'd share a track of his you may not know. The circumstances are beautifully circular - Phife, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Q-Tip make up Tribe. Q-Tip puts J Dilla on as part of The Ummah, a production unit that worked on the later Tribe albums, which ultimately gives a boost to the early career of Slum Village. Years later, Slum Village, after the passing of J Dilla, bring Phife of Tribe in for this feature - named after a track from Tribe's debut. You can find this on Slum's "Yes!" LP, with Young RJ representing lovely on production.
ILLAMAN & Pitch 92 : Sometimes Relax
Great new single out of the UK, with ILLAMAN (all caps?) of Pengshui flowing over a Pitch 92 instrumental that is built around what sounds like reversed strings, wrapped in warm bass and a suitably-relaxed drumline. As the song says, sometimes we all need reminding to take a breath. Great to hear Pitch continue to build on his early catalogue with Plato and The Mouse Outfit, consistently releasing high-quality music.
Kardinal Offishall ft. Glenn Lewis : The Naked Truth
This one from "Kardi Gras Vol. 1 : The Clash" went down well on a Twitch stream recently, so I thought I'd finally include it on the podcast for all the subscribers! It's an all-Toronto affair, with R&B vocal master Glenn Lewis adding the perfect accompaniment to Kardinal's loverman lyrics with a hook that I think really makes the track.
Chris Mazuera : Inspiration (Statik Selektah Remix)
NYC's Mazuera was already onto a winner with this track from his debut LP "Let's Take A Trip", but getting Statik Selektah to remix it lifts it to an even higher level. It's still subtle and considered though, with Statik not overwhelming the original, and making it very much a joint piece of expression.
Benny Reid & Havoc : Temperature's Rising
Tracks from this combination between the jazz musician Benny Reid and Hip-Hop production legend Havoc have been trickling out over the last couple of months, and this version was one I was especially glad to hear, with the original "Temperature's Rising" being a personal favourite from the classic Mobb Deep LP "The Infamous". An all-instrumental remake, it of course derives from "Where There Is Love" by Patrice Rushen, but works in a live version of the boom that made the Mobb track such a killer.
Alaskan Fishermen : Fire & Ice
No hook, no radio appeal, no R&B affectations, just aggro underground rawness. The MCs build the lyrical structure in extremely short four-bar blocks, taking turns in trying to spit the most killer lines before passing to the next man. The final cut on Thirstin Howl's "Brooklyn Bullet Goldcard Membership" 12", the dramatic production brings exactly the right vibe.
Will.I.Am ft. KRS-ONE : Take It
It somehow feels wrong that KRS isn't officially the headline artist on this track, but aside from the hook, he is the only one on the mic! This 12" really deserved an airing after it made it into my digitised collection, as I realised that very few people have heard it. The beat is an interesting one, with the timing/programming being a little "off" in a way that makes it hard to mix with but also gives it the hard-to-place feel, and the hardness can't be denied. "Where Is The Love?", this is not.
Ras Kass : TV Guide
Dopeness from the eventually-released "Van Gogh" album, Ras takes inspiration from tracks like GZA's "Labels" and "Publicity", folding the names of dozens of TV programmes into his verses, while simultaneously making a critique of the medium itself. There's an alternate version with very different production courtesy of Carlos "Six July" Broady on the 12" of "Tha Dopest", if you can find it!
Pharoahe Monch : YAYO
The transition here is so swift that you might miss it at first, but we hand over from Ras to Pharoahe with the quickness for a fierce cocaine-themed cut (no pun intended)... Lee Stone's guitar-laden production on this single is heavy, and it's all topped off with some exceptionally sharp cuts courtesy of Boogie Blind of the X-Ecutioners - not seventeen-click flares or anything, just absolute mastery of the fundamentals and great scratch composition.
[Le Damus & SLA] Kwest, Gauge, and Eddie Broke : 718 (Instrumental)
This isn't even my favourite cut on the "Get Large Productions" 12" (that would be the mighty "Get Large"), but the horn-laden production on this instrumental would easily cut the mustard as an A-side on another release!
The Notorious B.I.G. : Real N****z (Do Real Things)
Excuse the sound quality as I share a piece of history - a legendary entry in Biggie's unofficial catalogue that you may never have heard if you're a little younger than me! This is drawn from the "Best Of Biggie" mixtape by Mister Cee, who of course was a critical figure in Big's early career. Sadly ironic given the eventual drama that played a central role in his premature death, the soundscape is pure California, with Biggie freestyling over the instrumentals from some of the biggest West Coast classics of the era. RIP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Godbodies behind bars, y'all see the barcode."
- Pharoahe
The month went from the ridiculous to the sublime, but as always, here we are right on time! This episode we pay homage to Phife and Biggie Smalls, and bring out some great recent releases alongside some older tracks that I think will have escaped the notice of many - after all, there's so much music out there! Almost an hour-long mix this time out, let's get to it...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
E-40 : On The Case
One of the hardest-working men in Hip-Hop, E-40 has recorded twenty-six studio albums, and still sounds as dope has when he debuted back in 1992. This is from his sixteenth, the second in the "The Block Brochure : Welcome To The Soil" trilogy, and as the prisoner quoted in the hook says, it does indeed slap! Chris "THX" Goodman gives him a dark, stomping beat which is a perfect backing for 40's flow as he gives you some free game. Whether you're facing a case or just a tough week at the work, I hope this helps!
Lsdream & Z-Trip : Space Funk
Giving exactly what it says on the tin, this tune is heavy instellar bass business. Z-Trip is better known to many of us as a turntablist and DJ, but his collaboration here with the former Brillz is a beautiful slice of bassy, floaty, vocoded production goodness!
Semi Six & Ilajide : Too Code
Going back to the "Park Orange" collab between these two Detroit natives, we have bump in abundance on this one. If one part of the track stands out, it's the fact that clearly, the roads in their neighbourhood and those in Manchester have a lot in common. Don't ride your 23" rims round here, for your own good!
Karl Hinds : Don Gramma
Twenty-two years on, some of these terms may have been superseded, but you get the point! Essentially the UK (or London, at least) version of Big L's underground hit "Ebonics", Karl runs you through a selection of the local slang, and handles the squelchy, bassy production on top of that. I'd only be half-surprised if it turns out he did the 12" cover design too...
Bumpy Knuckles ft, Sy Ari Da Kid : Word
It was a struggle to find a tune to fit into this spot, but I'm pleased with the choice - very much a deep cut from Bumpy, taken from the now ten-year-old "Mix Files, Vol.1" EP, which seems to be little hard to find nowadays. In fact, it's not even listed on his Discogs discography at present, which makes me wonder if that's just an oversight or if it was actually some kind of bootleg! Note : Feburary 29th does come, just infrequently...
Rich The Factor & DJ.Fresh : White Party
I've been playing this one in the car so much over the last year or so, it's about time it made its way onto the show! Kansas City's incredibly prolific Rich The Factor isn't coming with particularly complex bars, just vibing to the 80s-flavoured beat from DJ.Fresh from their edition of the "The Tonite Show" series, sampling a great bit of jazz-funk to great effect.
Tavaras Jordan : Photogenic (Instrumental)
It was great to see a complete instrumental release of Le$' "E30" LP, which was produced by Tavaras Jordan, who is rapidly becoming a personal favourite. Smooth synth and drum machine action with a lot of polish. Definitely one to hear in the car!
Slum Village ft. Phife Dog : Push It Along
Marking the anniversary month of Phife's passing, I thought I'd share a track of his you may not know. The circumstances are beautifully circular - Phife, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Q-Tip make up Tribe. Q-Tip puts J Dilla on as part of The Ummah, a production unit that worked on the later Tribe albums, which ultimately gives a boost to the early career of Slum Village. Years later, Slum Village, after the passing of J Dilla, bring Phife of Tribe in for this feature - named after a track from Tribe's debut. You can find this on Slum's "Yes!" LP, with Young RJ representing lovely on production.
ILLAMAN & Pitch 92 : Sometimes Relax
Great new single out of the UK, with ILLAMAN (all caps?) of Pengshui flowing over a Pitch 92 instrumental that is built around what sounds like reversed strings, wrapped in warm bass and a suitably-relaxed drumline. As the song says, sometimes we all need reminding to take a breath. Great to hear Pitch continue to build on his early catalogue with Plato and The Mouse Outfit, consistently releasing high-quality music.
Kardinal Offishall ft. Glenn Lewis : The Naked Truth
This one from "Kardi Gras Vol. 1 : The Clash" went down well on a Twitch stream recently, so I thought I'd finally include it on the podcast for all the subscribers! It's an all-Toronto affair, with R&B vocal master Glenn Lewis adding the perfect accompaniment to Kardinal's loverman lyrics with a hook that I think really makes the track.
Chris Mazuera : Inspiration (Statik Selektah Remix)
NYC's Mazuera was already onto a winner with this track from his debut LP "Let's Take A Trip", but getting Statik Selektah to remix it lifts it to an even higher level. It's still subtle and considered though, with Statik not overwhelming the original, and making it very much a joint piece of expression.
Benny Reid & Havoc : Temperature's Rising
Tracks from this combination between the jazz musician Benny Reid and Hip-Hop production legend Havoc have been trickling out over the last couple of months, and this version was one I was especially glad to hear, with the original "Temperature's Rising" being a personal favourite from the classic Mobb Deep LP "The Infamous". An all-instrumental remake, it of course derives from "Where There Is Love" by Patrice Rushen, but works in a live version of the boom that made the Mobb track such a killer.
Alaskan Fishermen : Fire & Ice
No hook, no radio appeal, no R&B affectations, just aggro underground rawness. The MCs build the lyrical structure in extremely short four-bar blocks, taking turns in trying to spit the most killer lines before passing to the next man. The final cut on Thirstin Howl's "Brooklyn Bullet Goldcard Membership" 12", the dramatic production brings exactly the right vibe.
Will.I.Am ft. KRS-ONE : Take It
It somehow feels wrong that KRS isn't officially the headline artist on this track, but aside from the hook, he is the only one on the mic! This 12" really deserved an airing after it made it into my digitised collection, as I realised that very few people have heard it. The beat is an interesting one, with the timing/programming being a little "off" in a way that makes it hard to mix with but also gives it the hard-to-place feel, and the hardness can't be denied. "Where Is The Love?", this is not.
Ras Kass : TV Guide
Dopeness from the eventually-released "Van Gogh" album, Ras takes inspiration from tracks like GZA's "Labels" and "Publicity", folding the names of dozens of TV programmes into his verses, while simultaneously making a critique of the medium itself. There's an alternate version with very different production courtesy of Carlos "Six July" Broady on the 12" of "Tha Dopest", if you can find it!
Pharoahe Monch : YAYO
The transition here is so swift that you might miss it at first, but we hand over from Ras to Pharoahe with the quickness for a fierce cocaine-themed cut (no pun intended)... Lee Stone's guitar-laden production on this single is heavy, and it's all topped off with some exceptionally sharp cuts courtesy of Boogie Blind of the X-Ecutioners - not seventeen-click flares or anything, just absolute mastery of the fundamentals and great scratch composition.
[Le Damus & SLA] Kwest, Gauge, and Eddie Broke : 718 (Instrumental)
This isn't even my favourite cut on the "Get Large Productions" 12" (that would be the mighty "Get Large"), but the horn-laden production on this instrumental would easily cut the mustard as an A-side on another release!
The Notorious B.I.G. : Real N****z (Do Real Things)
Excuse the sound quality as I share a piece of history - a legendary entry in Biggie's unofficial catalogue that you may never have heard if you're a little younger than me! This is drawn from the "Best Of Biggie" mixtape by Mister Cee, who of course was a critical figure in Big's early career. Sadly ironic given the eventual drama that played a central role in his premature death, the soundscape is pure California, with Biggie freestyling over the instrumentals from some of the biggest West Coast classics of the era. RIP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Too old to rhyme? Too bad, too late."
- Dave
This month marks a huge loss for the Hip-Hop community, and the music world more widely, as Dave, aka Trugoy The Dove of De La Soul, passed away. As part of the group, he was a perfect match with Pos on the mic, and was one of those low-key people that no-one ever had anything but good to say about. De La's influence is hard to overstate; without them, we might have had no Tribe, no Pharcyde, no Souls of Mischief... They showed that you didn't have to follow the hypermasculine style of their time, and brought their own brand of humour and creativity. On top of that, they were frequent and much loved live performers, and Dave's presence as part of one of the best shows in the culture will be greatly missed. Of course, in tribute, we have several De La Soul tracks in this month's selection.
Before we get into the tracklist and notes; here's where you can donate to relief efforts in Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquake they suffered this month.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
De La Soul : Stakes Is High
Knowing that we were going to make several visits to the De La catalogue, I just had to open the episode with this one, the title track to their fourth album. The late J Dilla is on production, and there's a classic story of Posdnuous having to "Jedi mind trick" Q-Tip out of taking the beat for himself! To Pos' ears, the majesty of the beat perfectly fit the grand theme De La were going for with the lyrical theme, and he was bang on. The title actually came from Dave's late cousin Fudge, who told him "...you all better do something. The stakes is really high for you right now..." and his words live on through this work. De La take that title and use it to warn how high the stakes were for Hip-Hop at that time, with the jiggy and Mafioso era in full swing and raising real alarm for the direction of the culture.
Pete Rock : Play Yo Horn
The first instrumental of the month is a 2015 release, though whether it was actually recorded anywhere near that year, I couldn't be sure! For one, Pete Rock is a master at channeling vintage flavours, and secondly, he's been known to bring stuff out of the vaults that sounds great even today. I would love to hear MCs getting busy on this dense cut from "Petestrumentals 2".
Fat Joe and Big Pun : Best Behavior (Remix)
I love the dark, late night flavour of the original version, but Show does an equally good job on this remix (one of at least three to exist) - big horns, banging drums, and an overall stripped-back, boom-bap feel. You already know Big Pun is going to give you heavy bars, and Fat Joe holds it down on the mic too. I have this on a 12" backed by "My Life's On The Edge" by A-Bless, but I hear it's also on the 2005 "Street Talk" DITC compilation.
Big L : On The Mic
This vinyl had already been throught the wars when I got it, but I guess the surface noise lends a certain flavour! You might recognise the vocals from the track "Size 'em Up" from the posthumously-released "The Big Picture" album, but this raw Roc Raida-produced track is on the B-side of the "Flamboyant" 12" single - definitely one to pick up for the Big L fans. RIP Big L and Roc Raida.
D'Angelo : Devil's Pie
One of those happy accidents, the bassline of this track was created by DJ Premier for a track with Canibus. It didn't work out and D'Angelo happened to call the same day, and he asked to hear the unfinished product. He loved it, and they went back to the studio the next day to finish what became one of the standouts on his sophomore "Voodoo" LP!
Mad Skillz : It's Goin' Down
Arguably the first MC to really make some noise out of Virginia (hence the name of his debut LP, "From Where???"), Skillz may not have the record sales of some of the more famous MCs...but he may well have written their rhymes at some point! This track is an early J Dilla production (from when he was going by Jay Dee), and has a little of the Latin flavour that would make up a big part of one of his better known productions, "Runnin'" for The Pharcyde. Also - don't Skillz and Big L have a very similar vocal tone?
[Pete Rock] InI : Fakin' Jax (Instrumental)
You can't be mad at getting another Pete Rock instrumental! This one is vintage SP action, the instrumental for the lead track from the originally-unreleased InI LP "Center of Attention", and it's a real "if you know, you know" number.
De La Soul : U Can Do (Life)
I decided to lead this off with part of the album intro that immediately precedes it on "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump", just so you could hear where the podcast intro comes from! The LP came four years after "Stakes Is High", an eternity in Hip-Hop, and marked a departure from their norm in one way - a relatively large number of featured artists. This track, however, is the core group coming from the heart, over a chunky beat from Supa Dave West. Dave/Trugoy both opens and closes the track, with his last line being "live your live to the fullest". He did just that. 🕊
Libretto & Buscrates : Culture
With so much music being released on a daily basis nowadays, it's too easy for a killer track like this to slip through the cracks, but I've got it here for your enjoyment! Libretto is speaking on the rawness of the streets and how that ties into the Hip-Hop culture from his perspective, while Buscrates smashes it with a beat that feels part classic sample and part bass synth workout. And of course, he has the drums thumping through. An absolute jewel from the "Eternal Ridin'" LP.
Sparkz : Overload
Manchester's own Sparkz has featured on the podcast many times with his contributions to various groups, but here he is as a soloist on his first release after moving to the UK's well-respected High Focus records. This single will test your bass response, but while heavy, the beat provides plenty of space for Sparkz' to give you a full mic workout. Keep an eye out for new material from this man.
De La Soul & J Dilla : No More No Less
What a track - a reworking of "The Magic Number" concept, over an officially unreleased beat from J Dilla (which you might find online, entitled "Watching Smurfs On Shrooms"). We take this one from an EP that was originally a free release, and hopefully still findable now - "Smell The DA.I.S.Y" (Da Inner Soul of Yancey) - with even the title being a remix, a revisiting of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" idea from the beginnings of De La. The whole EP is made up along similar lines, with De La revisiting old themes over unreleased Dilla beats. The relationship between De La and Dilla was real, and there are few other crews with as much claim to put out a project like this.
Blackalicious : My Pen and Pad
That pen and pad were working overtime for this excellent lyrical display from the late Gift of Gab. Flow is as dope as you'd expect, and Chief Xcel holds down the beat as usual on a low-key funk vibe that changes up occasionally in the background without ever stealing the focus. You can find this on Blackalicious' third LP, "The Craft" - perfectly titled for such a dedicated crew.
Evil Needle & Misha : Cloud Zone
This new release is the kind of thing that will slip under most radars, but is the kind of quality I've been finding since plugging into the whole Chillhop Music movement. It's beautiful beatmaking, warm and bumping, and the vocoded quasi-background vocal additions take it over the top. The opener on the "chillhop beat tapes: Evil Needle x Misha" six-tracker, this beat is a perfect example of coming out of the gate strong when you're ordering tracks on a release.
Brelstaff ft. Fashawn : Cursive
This brand-new release is quite the trans-Atlantic combination, with Edinburgh's Brelstaff cooking up a laidback instrumental for Fashawn, representing Fresno in California. Only a very short one, but sometimes, as GZA once said, it makes for a stronger track to cut it off early.
Beanie Sigel : Look At Me Now
"Moms? Tryna lock me out. Cops? Tryna lock me in." Wow, that is some heavy business in the first verse of this quality come-up album cut, that ends happily, with Beanie looking out for the youngsters who struggle as he once did. You can find this tucked away towards the end of the 2005 LP "The B. Coming", with Buckwild providing the lush, string-laden production.
Joell Ortiz : In My Feelings
No hook, no filler, just raw - feelings, indeed. Joell speaks on the ups and downs of his career without interruption on an ill Heatmakerz beat, opening up the 2021 "Autograph" album on an intensely personal note.
Ozay Moore, Vursatyl, and Chip-Fu : Slingshot
Seattle stand up! Ozay Moore brings friends through on this selection from the "Taking L's" album. It's nice to hear Chip-Fu of the Fu-Schnickens again, and with the tempo being relatively low, you can hear every word in his signature flow as he slows it to match. 14K is on production, and the kick is kicking like the police want to come through the door, but sometime in the next couple of hours or so :) The beat is heavy, but the timing of the composition is nicely relaxed!
J-Zone : The Commandments (Instrumental)
Labelled as "The Commandments" on the "J-Zone Instrumental Box Set: The Headband Years (1999-2006)" collection, this is the instrumental of the cut styled as "The Commandment$" from the 2003 "Sick Of Bein' Rich" album. Can't believe it's been twenty years already! He may have fully moved from Hip-Hop production and MCing into drumming, but you can't front on his great catalogue of previous work.
De La Soul ft. MF DOOM : Rock Co. Cane Flow
I was shocked to find out that I hadn't played this monster from "The Grind Date" on the podcast before, though maybe that was because the (manually-done!) speed changes make it awkward to mix with. As a closer though? Perfection. Jake One's beat just smashes through like Godzilla, building to the kind of grandness and drama that would fit the climactic action sequence of a Marvel film, and all the MCs are on form for it. The late MF DOOM fits right in alongside Pos and Dave as a devastating three-mic unit, and fittingly, Dave closes the track, and this epidose, out. RIP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Too old to rhyme? Too bad, too late."
- Dave
This month marks a huge loss for the Hip-Hop community, and the music world more widely, as Dave, aka Trugoy The Dove of De La Soul, passed away. As part of the group, he was a perfect match with Pos on the mic, and was one of those low-key people that no-one ever had anything but good to say about. De La's influence is hard to overstate; without them, we might have had no Tribe, no Pharcyde, no Souls of Mischief... They showed that you didn't have to follow the hypermasculine style of their time, and brought their own brand of humour and creativity. On top of that, they were frequent and much loved live performers, and Dave's presence as part of one of the best shows in the culture will be greatly missed. Of course, in tribute, we have several De La Soul tracks in this month's selection.
Before we get into the tracklist and notes; here's where you can donate to relief efforts in Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquake they suffered this month.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Events : events.airadam.com
Playlist/Notes
De La Soul : Stakes Is High
Knowing that we were going to make several visits to the De La catalogue, I just had to open the episode with this one, the title track to their fourth album. The late J Dilla is on production, and there's a classic story of Posdnuous having to "Jedi mind trick" Q-Tip out of taking the beat for himself! To Pos' ears, the majesty of the beat perfectly fit the grand theme De La were going for with the lyrical theme, and he was bang on. The title actually came from Dave's late cousin Fudge, who told him "...you all better do something. The stakes is really high for you right now..." and his words live on through this work. De La take that title and use it to warn how high the stakes were for Hip-Hop at that time, with the jiggy and Mafioso era in full swing and raising real alarm for the direction of the culture.
Pete Rock : Play Yo Horn
The first instrumental of the month is a 2015 release, though whether it was actually recorded anywhere near that year, I couldn't be sure! For one, Pete Rock is a master at channeling vintage flavours, and secondly, he's been known to bring stuff out of the vaults that sounds great even today. I would love to hear MCs getting busy on this dense cut from "Petestrumentals 2".
Fat Joe and Big Pun : Best Behavior (Remix)
I love the dark, late night flavour of the original version, but Show does an equally good job on this remix (one of at least three to exist) - big horns, banging drums, and an overall stripped-back, boom-bap feel. You already know Big Pun is going to give you heavy bars, and Fat Joe holds it down on the mic too. I have this on a 12" backed by "My Life's On The Edge" by A-Bless, but I hear it's also on the 2005 "Street Talk" DITC compilation.
Big L : On The Mic
This vinyl had already been throught the wars when I got it, but I guess the surface noise lends a certain flavour! You might recognise the vocals from the track "Size 'em Up" from the posthumously-released "The Big Picture" album, but this raw Roc Raida-produced track is on the B-side of the "Flamboyant" 12" single - definitely one to pick up for the Big L fans. RIP Big L and Roc Raida.
D'Angelo : Devil's Pie
One of those happy accidents, the bassline of this track was created by DJ Premier for a track with Canibus. It didn't work out and D'Angelo happened to call the same day, and he asked to hear the unfinished product. He loved it, and they went back to the studio the next day to finish what became one of the standouts on his sophomore "Voodoo" LP!
Mad Skillz : It's Goin' Down
Arguably the first MC to really make some noise out of Virginia (hence the name of his debut LP, "From Where???"), Skillz may not have the record sales of some of the more famous MCs...but he may well have written their rhymes at some point! This track is an early J Dilla production (from when he was going by Jay Dee), and has a little of the Latin flavour that would make up a big part of one of his better known productions, "Runnin'" for The Pharcyde. Also - don't Skillz and Big L have a very similar vocal tone?
[Pete Rock] InI : Fakin' Jax (Instrumental)
You can't be mad at getting another Pete Rock instrumental! This one is vintage SP action, the instrumental for the lead track from the originally-unreleased InI LP "Center of Attention", and it's a real "if you know, you know" number.
De La Soul : U Can Do (Life)
I decided to lead this off with part of the album intro that immediately precedes it on "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump", just so you could hear where the podcast intro comes from! The LP came four years after "Stakes Is High", an eternity in Hip-Hop, and marked a departure from their norm in one way - a relatively large number of featured artists. This track, however, is the core group coming from the heart, over a chunky beat from Supa Dave West. Dave/Trugoy both opens and closes the track, with his last line being "live your live to the fullest". He did just that. 🕊
Libretto & Buscrates : Culture
With so much music being released on a daily basis nowadays, it's too easy for a killer track like this to slip through the cracks, but I've got it here for your enjoyment! Libretto is speaking on the rawness of the streets and how that ties into the Hip-Hop culture from his perspective, while Buscrates smashes it with a beat that feels part classic sample and part bass synth workout. And of course, he has the drums thumping through. An absolute jewel from the "Eternal Ridin'" LP.
Sparkz : Overload
Manchester's own Sparkz has featured on the podcast many times with his contributions to various groups, but here he is as a soloist on his first release after moving to the UK's well-respected High Focus records. This single will test your bass response, but while heavy, the beat provides plenty of space for Sparkz' to give you a full mic workout. Keep an eye out for new material from this man.
De La Soul & J Dilla : No More No Less
What a track - a reworking of "The Magic Number" concept, over an officially unreleased beat from J Dilla (which you might find online, entitled "Watching Smurfs On Shrooms"). We take this one from an EP that was originally a free release, and hopefully still findable now - "Smell The DA.I.S.Y" (Da Inner Soul of Yancey) - with even the title being a remix, a revisiting of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" idea from the beginnings of De La. The whole EP is made up along similar lines, with De La revisiting old themes over unreleased Dilla beats. The relationship between De La and Dilla was real, and there are few other crews with as much claim to put out a project like this.
Blackalicious : My Pen and Pad
That pen and pad were working overtime for this excellent lyrical display from the late Gift of Gab. Flow is as dope as you'd expect, and Chief Xcel holds down the beat as usual on a low-key funk vibe that changes up occasionally in the background without ever stealing the focus. You can find this on Blackalicious' third LP, "The Craft" - perfectly titled for such a dedicated crew.
Evil Needle & Misha : Cloud Zone
This new release is the kind of thing that will slip under most radars, but is the kind of quality I've been finding since plugging into the whole Chillhop Music movement. It's beautiful beatmaking, warm and bumping, and the vocoded quasi-background vocal additions take it over the top. The opener on the "chillhop beat tapes: Evil Needle x Misha" six-tracker, this beat is a perfect example of coming out of the gate strong when you're ordering tracks on a release.
Brelstaff ft. Fashawn : Cursive
This brand-new release is quite the trans-Atlantic combination, with Edinburgh's Brelstaff cooking up a laidback instrumental for Fashawn, representing Fresno in California. Only a very short one, but sometimes, as GZA once said, it makes for a stronger track to cut it off early.
Beanie Sigel : Look At Me Now
"Moms? Tryna lock me out. Cops? Tryna lock me in." Wow, that is some heavy business in the first verse of this quality come-up album cut, that ends happily, with Beanie looking out for the youngsters who struggle as he once did. You can find this tucked away towards the end of the 2005 LP "The B. Coming", with Buckwild providing the lush, string-laden production.
Joell Ortiz : In My Feelings
No hook, no filler, just raw - feelings, indeed. Joell speaks on the ups and downs of his career without interruption on an ill Heatmakerz beat, opening up the 2021 "Autograph" album on an intensely personal note.
Ozay Moore, Vursatyl, and Chip-Fu : Slingshot
Seattle stand up! Ozay Moore brings friends through on this selection from the "Taking L's" album. It's nice to hear Chip-Fu of the Fu-Schnickens again, and with the tempo being relatively low, you can hear every word in his signature flow as he slows it to match. 14K is on production, and the kick is kicking like the police want to come through the door, but sometime in the next couple of hours or so :) The beat is heavy, but the timing of the composition is nicely relaxed!
J-Zone : The Commandments (Instrumental)
Labelled as "The Commandments" on the "J-Zone Instrumental Box Set: The Headband Years (1999-2006)" collection, this is the instrumental of the cut styled as "The Commandment$" from the 2003 "Sick Of Bein' Rich" album. Can't believe it's been twenty years already! He may have fully moved from Hip-Hop production and MCing into drumming, but you can't front on his great catalogue of previous work.
De La Soul ft. MF DOOM : Rock Co. Cane Flow
I was shocked to find out that I hadn't played this monster from "The Grind Date" on the podcast before, though maybe that was because the (manually-done!) speed changes make it awkward to mix with. As a closer though? Perfection. Jake One's beat just smashes through like Godzilla, building to the kind of grandness and drama that would fit the climactic action sequence of a Marvel film, and all the MCs are on form for it. The late MF DOOM fits right in alongside Pos and Dave as a devastating three-mic unit, and fittingly, Dave closes the track, and this epidose, out. RIP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...baking soda, get it crackin' when you mix me with Kane."
- Checkmark
If you're like me, every time you write 23 this year you're thinking it! The first episode of 2023 is here, and we go mostly on the downtempo tip and mix up the genres in a big way, so there's almost sure to be something new for everyone in the mix!
RIP to Laylaw and Gangsta Boo.
As mentioned on the voiceover, you can now keep up with the schedule for all my streams (and I'll start putting my IRL shows here too) at events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Termanology ft. Raekwon : Passport Kingz
I was reminded of this track after listening to a podcast about citizenship and a shady character known as the "Passport King"! It has an ominous-sounding intro (as an aside, that pastor should be in prison), and then doesn't let up for the rest of its running time, with Raekwon and then Term going hard over Staik Selektah's production. One verse each is the perfect dosage. Find this on Termanology's 2018 "Bad Decisions" album.
[Dru Kevorkian] Smif-N-Wessun : Reloaded (Instrumental)
Just screaming mid-2000s New York, this is the instrumental for the title track of Smif-N-Wessun's third LP. I could hear this beat on the soundtrack (and too loud) for a street DVD of the era...
El Michels Affair & Black Thought : Grateful
Looks like there's a big treat coming later in the year, with the collaborative "Glorious Game" due in April. One of the best writers in Hip-Hop history in combination with one of the coldest bands in years? Yeah, that's a must. This lead single was released this month to give us all a taste and it's a great appetiser. The flute kind of hypnotises and draws you into the thick mists of the rest of the music, where Black Thought is waiting with high IQ, high-density street lyricism. Be grateful, indeed.
Shabba Ranks : Have This Woman
Coming off the back of the "Ting-A-Ling" sample woven into the "hook" of the preceding track, I thought I'd take the opportunity to move straight across into a Shabba track, and one that I just recently digitised during the task of taking on my whole reggae and dancehall 7" section! Over the "Girl A Love" riddim, Shabba's lyrics remind me that despite the gyalist/player image put forth in most of his catalogue, he's been happily married since 1992 - so he and his wife will just have celebrated their pearl wedding anniversary!
Camp Lo : Award Winning
They may never have got the level of acclaim that the title speaks of, but those who know know. Bars upon slang-filled bars on this deep album cut from "Ragtime Hightimes", with Ski on production. Play this one loud in your headphones when you need to go somewhere and let them know who you are :)
Above The Law : Another Execution
Including this one as a tribute to the recently-departed Laylaw, who was an integral part of the Above The Law story - not only did he manage them, but he has production credits on their debut "Livin' Like Hustlers", including for this track. It's a slow and low number on a classic sample, and if you want the instrumental then you can find it on the B-side of the "Murder Rap" 12". Unusually for ATL, it's Cold 187um solo on the mic, in storytelling mode with two tales of having to let that thing ring out.
People Under The Stairs : Chris Says 'Nice One' (Bonus Beat)
This short semi-interlude track from the 12" of "The Cat" is actually only 44 seconds long, so I looped part of it up to make it a suitable length to include here - just because it's a nice piece of digging/production that PUTS clearly included just for that extra flavour! RIP Double K.
Gangsta Boo ft. DJ Paul & Juicy J : Where Dem Dollas At?
I've not historically been a big follower of 3-6 Mafia, so I bought this track specifically to play it on this episode. DJ Paul and Juicy J of 3-6 are on production, but even though DJ Paul also takes the third verse, he has to play second position behind Lady Boo, which is only right. This was apparently the big hit on 1998's "Enquiring Minds", Boo's solo debut which paved the way for two more LPs over the next five years - and one which I remember being advertised in The Source back in the day. RIP Gangsta Boo.
Machinedrum : Center Your Love
Machinedrum is, amongst other things, half of the duo Dream Continuum alongside Bristol's Om Unit (formerly the turntablist 2Tall), but this is a beautiful solo exhibition of electronic composition. The drums are hectic in timing but not loud, and elements come in and out creating a soundscape around the vocal; I can't tell if that's a repeated sample or a singer brought in for this track specifically, and if I'm honest, I can't make out the words either 😆 Ten years old this year, it's taken from the "Vapor City" album which is available on Bandcamp - definitely worth checking!
Children of Zeus : Cali Dreams
California is a long way from the cold and rain of Manchester in many ways, but as they say, you can dream! I've got at least three copies of the 2021 "Balance" LP (vinyl, digital, and cassette) that this is taken from - so hopefully that gives you a prompt to go and get at least one! As much as Konny says it's "just another weed song", they elevate way past the average with their writing and execution. Their production is great too, and they bring in additional skilled musicians to crystallise their ideas - listen to this track outside of this episode to enjoy the long outro segment. Zeus!
Massive Attack ft. Liz Frazer : Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Vocal Mix)
Most of you will know the original version of this classic from the "Mezzanine" LP, and I even played the instrumental version of this remix a few years back - but today, you get the brilliant production of Mad Professor with the beautiful vocals of Liz Fraser in perfect combination. While Fraser can sound good on anything, her floating vocals are set really well here into the echoing, dubbed-out production. Apparently Madonna was the original choice of the songwriter to deliver this lead vocal - with all of the respect due to her, I don't know if it would have been as timeless as the final version turned out to be.
[Mr. Rogers?] Trae : Swang (Remix Instrumental)
While uncredited on the 12" single, I think this quality beat might be the work of Houston's Mr. Rogers, who, appropriately for this cut, is something of a car expert! You'll probably recognise the song it's borrowing from for its melodic underpinning, but it sounds to be all replayed/interpolated and so probably dodged the sample clearance issues that the original mix had...
Torii Wolf : 1st
An entirely new track to me even though it was a 2016 release, I only became aware of it when a DJ played it recently on a DJ Premier raid train on Twitch. Yes, this is a DJ Premier production, giving a sturdy backing to this New York singer/songwriter. Not only that, he apparently did another eight tracks on her 2017 LP "Flow Riiot", so it's one to check out for those wanting to hear some real deep Preemo cuts from the modern era!
The Doppelgangaz : In The Black
With their most recent album coming out just before Xmas last year being titled "Black Cloak Lifestyle" you have to give them credit for committing to that lift for real. Starting with ominous pianos, it's not long before the live-sounding boom-bap drums and bassline come in to augment them, and those rhymes of course from the self-styled "Ghastly Duo". A self-contained unit who handle their own production as well as all the MCing, they're dedicated to their craft.
Soul Supreme ft. Big Daddy Kane, Checkmark, and DJ Revolution : Come Get It
This one had been, unfairly, languising forgotten on my shelves until I digitised it recently. Big Daddy Kane is a legend, and is clearly the headliner here - it takes a brave MC to go after him, but Checkmark (of Skitzofreniks) does just that on top of production from one of Sweden's finest, Soul Supreme. Seasoning the pot beautifully, DJ Revolution contributes the cuts for this straight-up Hip-Hop gem. It's available on the 12" I'm playing it from, but also on 2003's "The Saturday Nite Agenda". Can't believe it's twenty years old already!
Sonnyjim ft. English and KoSYNE : Barcodes
This made me smile when I pulled the "Soul Trader EP" off the shelf recently, as at one time or another I've either DJed for (in cipher sessions) or produced everyone on the track! This is a fittingly-titled track, with all the MCs spitting out bars with confidence over KoSYNE's rugged beat - and the punchlines are plentiful. While you hear the main part of the track here, there's an extended ending with some ill freestyling... which you can get if you pick up the EP!
Dr. Dre : Murder Ink (Instrumental)
I've got to admit, I'll always prefer the original "The Chronic" to "2001". That said, you can't deny that Dre continued to refine his skills as a producer and engineer over time, and the sound quality of the production on his second solo LP was crisp and flawless - to my ears, at least. This track works a classic horror film sample into the mix with deadly effect.
The Lady of Rage : Necessary Roughness
To end the episode, just a high-quality track from an MC who never got her due. According to a recent interview, she was effectively punished for not jumping into the middle of someone else's beef, which is a great shame. This is the title track from her lone LP, and every bit of the mic control she displayed on "Afro Puffs" is on display here on top of a beat that reminded me of Craig Mack's "Get Down" - turns out they both were produced by the same man, Easy Mo Bee!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...baking soda, get it crackin' when you mix me with Kane."
- Checkmark
If you're like me, every time you write 23 this year you're thinking it! The first episode of 2023 is here, and we go mostly on the downtempo tip and mix up the genres in a big way, so there's almost sure to be something new for everyone in the mix!
RIP to Laylaw and Gangsta Boo.
As mentioned on the voiceover, you can now keep up with the schedule for all my streams (and I'll start putting my IRL shows here too) at events.airadam.com!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Termanology ft. Raekwon : Passport Kingz
I was reminded of this track after listening to a podcast about citizenship and a shady character known as the "Passport King"! It has an ominous-sounding intro (as an aside, that pastor should be in prison), and then doesn't let up for the rest of its running time, with Raekwon and then Term going hard over Staik Selektah's production. One verse each is the perfect dosage. Find this on Termanology's 2018 "Bad Decisions" album.
[Dru Kevorkian] Smif-N-Wessun : Reloaded (Instrumental)
Just screaming mid-2000s New York, this is the instrumental for the title track of Smif-N-Wessun's third LP. I could hear this beat on the soundtrack (and too loud) for a street DVD of the era...
El Michels Affair & Black Thought : Grateful
Looks like there's a big treat coming later in the year, with the collaborative "Glorious Game" due in April. One of the best writers in Hip-Hop history in combination with one of the coldest bands in years? Yeah, that's a must. This lead single was released this month to give us all a taste and it's a great appetiser. The flute kind of hypnotises and draws you into the thick mists of the rest of the music, where Black Thought is waiting with high IQ, high-density street lyricism. Be grateful, indeed.
Shabba Ranks : Have This Woman
Coming off the back of the "Ting-A-Ling" sample woven into the "hook" of the preceding track, I thought I'd take the opportunity to move straight across into a Shabba track, and one that I just recently digitised during the task of taking on my whole reggae and dancehall 7" section! Over the "Girl A Love" riddim, Shabba's lyrics remind me that despite the gyalist/player image put forth in most of his catalogue, he's been happily married since 1992 - so he and his wife will just have celebrated their pearl wedding anniversary!
Camp Lo : Award Winning
They may never have got the level of acclaim that the title speaks of, but those who know know. Bars upon slang-filled bars on this deep album cut from "Ragtime Hightimes", with Ski on production. Play this one loud in your headphones when you need to go somewhere and let them know who you are :)
Above The Law : Another Execution
Including this one as a tribute to the recently-departed Laylaw, who was an integral part of the Above The Law story - not only did he manage them, but he has production credits on their debut "Livin' Like Hustlers", including for this track. It's a slow and low number on a classic sample, and if you want the instrumental then you can find it on the B-side of the "Murder Rap" 12". Unusually for ATL, it's Cold 187um solo on the mic, in storytelling mode with two tales of having to let that thing ring out.
People Under The Stairs : Chris Says 'Nice One' (Bonus Beat)
This short semi-interlude track from the 12" of "The Cat" is actually only 44 seconds long, so I looped part of it up to make it a suitable length to include here - just because it's a nice piece of digging/production that PUTS clearly included just for that extra flavour! RIP Double K.
Gangsta Boo ft. DJ Paul & Juicy J : Where Dem Dollas At?
I've not historically been a big follower of 3-6 Mafia, so I bought this track specifically to play it on this episode. DJ Paul and Juicy J of 3-6 are on production, but even though DJ Paul also takes the third verse, he has to play second position behind Lady Boo, which is only right. This was apparently the big hit on 1998's "Enquiring Minds", Boo's solo debut which paved the way for two more LPs over the next five years - and one which I remember being advertised in The Source back in the day. RIP Gangsta Boo.
Machinedrum : Center Your Love
Machinedrum is, amongst other things, half of the duo Dream Continuum alongside Bristol's Om Unit (formerly the turntablist 2Tall), but this is a beautiful solo exhibition of electronic composition. The drums are hectic in timing but not loud, and elements come in and out creating a soundscape around the vocal; I can't tell if that's a repeated sample or a singer brought in for this track specifically, and if I'm honest, I can't make out the words either 😆 Ten years old this year, it's taken from the "Vapor City" album which is available on Bandcamp - definitely worth checking!
Children of Zeus : Cali Dreams
California is a long way from the cold and rain of Manchester in many ways, but as they say, you can dream! I've got at least three copies of the 2021 "Balance" LP (vinyl, digital, and cassette) that this is taken from - so hopefully that gives you a prompt to go and get at least one! As much as Konny says it's "just another weed song", they elevate way past the average with their writing and execution. Their production is great too, and they bring in additional skilled musicians to crystallise their ideas - listen to this track outside of this episode to enjoy the long outro segment. Zeus!
Massive Attack ft. Liz Frazer : Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Vocal Mix)
Most of you will know the original version of this classic from the "Mezzanine" LP, and I even played the instrumental version of this remix a few years back - but today, you get the brilliant production of Mad Professor with the beautiful vocals of Liz Fraser in perfect combination. While Fraser can sound good on anything, her floating vocals are set really well here into the echoing, dubbed-out production. Apparently Madonna was the original choice of the songwriter to deliver this lead vocal - with all of the respect due to her, I don't know if it would have been as timeless as the final version turned out to be.
[Mr. Rogers?] Trae : Swang (Remix Instrumental)
While uncredited on the 12" single, I think this quality beat might be the work of Houston's Mr. Rogers, who, appropriately for this cut, is something of a car expert! You'll probably recognise the song it's borrowing from for its melodic underpinning, but it sounds to be all replayed/interpolated and so probably dodged the sample clearance issues that the original mix had...
Torii Wolf : 1st
An entirely new track to me even though it was a 2016 release, I only became aware of it when a DJ played it recently on a DJ Premier raid train on Twitch. Yes, this is a DJ Premier production, giving a sturdy backing to this New York singer/songwriter. Not only that, he apparently did another eight tracks on her 2017 LP "Flow Riiot", so it's one to check out for those wanting to hear some real deep Preemo cuts from the modern era!
The Doppelgangaz : In The Black
With their most recent album coming out just before Xmas last year being titled "Black Cloak Lifestyle" you have to give them credit for committing to that lift for real. Starting with ominous pianos, it's not long before the live-sounding boom-bap drums and bassline come in to augment them, and those rhymes of course from the self-styled "Ghastly Duo". A self-contained unit who handle their own production as well as all the MCing, they're dedicated to their craft.
Soul Supreme ft. Big Daddy Kane, Checkmark, and DJ Revolution : Come Get It
This one had been, unfairly, languising forgotten on my shelves until I digitised it recently. Big Daddy Kane is a legend, and is clearly the headliner here - it takes a brave MC to go after him, but Checkmark (of Skitzofreniks) does just that on top of production from one of Sweden's finest, Soul Supreme. Seasoning the pot beautifully, DJ Revolution contributes the cuts for this straight-up Hip-Hop gem. It's available on the 12" I'm playing it from, but also on 2003's "The Saturday Nite Agenda". Can't believe it's twenty years old already!
Sonnyjim ft. English and KoSYNE : Barcodes
This made me smile when I pulled the "Soul Trader EP" off the shelf recently, as at one time or another I've either DJed for (in cipher sessions) or produced everyone on the track! This is a fittingly-titled track, with all the MCs spitting out bars with confidence over KoSYNE's rugged beat - and the punchlines are plentiful. While you hear the main part of the track here, there's an extended ending with some ill freestyling... which you can get if you pick up the EP!
Dr. Dre : Murder Ink (Instrumental)
I've got to admit, I'll always prefer the original "The Chronic" to "2001". That said, you can't deny that Dre continued to refine his skills as a producer and engineer over time, and the sound quality of the production on his second solo LP was crisp and flawless - to my ears, at least. This track works a classic horror film sample into the mix with deadly effect.
The Lady of Rage : Necessary Roughness
To end the episode, just a high-quality track from an MC who never got her due. According to a recent interview, she was effectively punished for not jumping into the middle of someone else's beef, which is a great shame. This is the title track from her lone LP, and every bit of the mic control she displayed on "Afro Puffs" is on display here on top of a beat that reminded me of Craig Mack's "Get Down" - turns out they both were produced by the same man, Easy Mo Bee!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...while she was waiting for her son to shine."
- Mystro
Ok - last month was a bit chilly but this one was ridiculous! As 2022 ends, we loosely have a winter/Xmas theme scattered through the selection, some brand new releases that deserve sharing, and many other gems including a Grand Daddy IU production after he passed away this month - RIP to him.
By the way - as well as all my other social media accounts, I'm now on Mastodon, since Twitter seems to be falling apart - you can follow my account on @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Shaquille O'Neal ft. Jay-Z and Lord Tariq : No Love Lost
I'd almost forgotten that this track existed until I was going through the "S" section of my wax! Shaq was certainly a competent MC, if not a standout, but he was consistently able to leverage his status into some memorable collaborations. Even in 1996 when this track was released on the "You Can't Stop The Reign" album, his third, Jay-Z was a big feature to get, and Lord Tariq was not long off dropping the enormous hit "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" with Peter Gunz. Production comes from Poke and Tone (Trackmasters), and it's a chill head-nodder that definitely brings back memories of the era. Side note: there's another version of this cut from the DJ Clue "Fall Pt.1" mixtapes that also features Nas!
Kev Brown : Myrrh
The don of the bassline dropped a surprise Xmas project last year, the sixteen-track and appropriately-named "The Kev Brown Holiday Special" and generously offered it at a discount this month. This track goes straight for the nativity angle, with those choral voices floating around the the classic eighth-note sleigh bells and the kind of solid, chunky, funky foundation that Kev has absolutely mastered. This wise man from the east (coast) delivers 🔥
Jointhedots, Dubbul O, and Berry Blacc : Right Now
Brand new flavour from Manchester! I was literally waiting for them to bless me with a copy of this track before recording this episode, so convinced was I that it'd be another in a streak of excellent singles, and it does not disappoint. Dubbul O and Berry Blacc, who are the vocalists for their live performances, combine to provide the vocals on this one, with Berry showing his versatility by singing on the haunting hook as well as spitting the second verse. JTD's production, headed up by Defty, is based around a classy bassline, and everything else falls into place perfectly around it. Another release worthy of your support!
Smif-N-Wessun : Nothin' Move But The Money
Nineties classic! This was an underground and mixtape staple shortly after it was recorded, but...it never actually got released. This track was supposed to be on "Dah Shinin'", Smif-N-Wessun's debut LP, and would even have been first single, but they couldn't clear the sample, and so it had to be dropped. Shame, as it's an absolute killer, with Da Beatminerz taking the original track and manipulating it over to the dark side like Palpatine, creating a perfect canvas for Tek and Steele to get busy, weaving in and out of each other's bars like the legendary duo they are. If you see a copy of this (which will usually involve some kind of bootleg vinyl), just grab it!
Tiny Hearts : Snow Cold
I can't even remember how I stumbled upon this cut, as I totally missed it on its 2013 release on the "Stay" EP, but this definitely felt like the right time of year to drop it, certainly if the well-below zero temperatures in this area were anything to go by! Tiny Hearts is the combo of Detroit production legend Waajeed, and the duo of producer/composer Tim K and singer Deanne Reynolds of DEDE. Reynolds' dreamy, ghostly vocals are a great compliment to the heavy synth bass and machine drums, and this is the kind of thing that could fit nicely into all kinds of headphone mixes as well as moving a big sound system - even if it's no club tune.
Cookin' Soul x A Tribe Called Quest : Butter Cookies
I thought I was the only one in my immediate circle to catch this release when it was announced, but I had multiple people either sending me clips or posting it on their own social media within the first couple of days! Cookin' Soul has been doing his thing since the mid-2000s, never being afraid to experiment and blend approaches together, and the new "A Tribe Called Xmas" tape is no exception. As you can imagine from the name, it blends Xmas influences and samples into the beats, then combines that with the songs of A Tribe Called Quest to produce an irresistible seasonal flavour! This particular song makes me smile for two reasons; firstly, as it's a reworking of "Butter", one of my favourites from "The Low End Theory", and secondly, because it's titled after the delicious Danish biscuits which are, all too often, not to be found in the tin as you might expect!
BusCrates : Early Morning
Silky synthy jazzy vibes out of Pittsburgh, taken from the "Internal Dialogue" release. Those synth sounds are so luxurious - if you follow BusCrates on Twitch, you might have seen a glimpse of his awesome collection of hardware, and he knows exactly what to do with it.
Grand Daddy IU ft. O.C., Marquee, Ximone, and Money Harm : Party & Booze
With the untimely passing of Grand Daddy IU this month, I decided not to go back too far, but instead to take a different tack and feature some of his more contemporary material. Given the season, the track selected seems somehow appropriate, and it wouldn't be a party without guests - which this track has by the houseful! IU is behind the boards on this and the rest of his 2020 project "The Essence", and it's got a nice vibe, kind of 80s but with the low-end bump that so much of that era lacked added, subtly. RIP.
DJ Mentat ft. Mystro : Waiting
Real. Just real life all over this brilliant track, which was hidden away as a B-side on the "When I Give My Heart To You" single by DJ Mentat, but is also easily available on Bandcamp as well. I don't even want to talk about Mystro's lyrics - they speak better for themselves than I ever could.
Grand Agent and Pete Rock : This Is What They Meant (Ge-ology's Fried Fish n' Cornbread Remix)
This is one of the incredibly small number of tracks where Pete Rock's mix might not be the best one! His beat has been replaced here by Ge-ology's excellent work, but you still get Pete on the mic alongside the underrated Grand Agent. This is taken from an EP which contains two different Ge-ology remixes plus the original lick - so take a listen yourself, and let me know if you agree about which the best version is!
Nas : Michael & Quincy
Another brand new track, taken from one of the most notable releases of the year, "King's Disease III". Nas pays homage to and likens himself and producer Hit-Boy to the the storied, legendary pairing of Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, most explicitly on the final verse, weaving in life events and some of the famous track titles. Hit-Boy keeps the change-ups coming through this active, dense track to great effect; I may not have been convinced (at all) when he broke out with "...Paris", but he's proven himself time and time again since.
Mark B & Blade : Use Your Head (Instrumental)
Heavy, bassy, pounding, uncompromising, and arguably the best beat on a straight B-boy level from the vinyl version of the excellent "Hitmen For Hire" EP. RIP Mark B.
Skitz ft. Estelle, Tempa, and Wildflower : Domestic Science
For those from countries with a different educational tradition and lexicon, "domestic science" was the old name for the school subject that included cooking, sewing, and other household skills. As I digitised this B-side earlier in the month, a thought popped into my head - with a male producer and an all-female MC lineup, who was it that titled the track...? Either way, it is a clever flip of the phrase in the sense of the lyrical content being straight down-to-earth Hip-Hop about surviving at home in the UK, both in life and in the music industry. This was a strong, proud track which was the first full song on Skitz' seminal 2001 "Countryman" project, and set the tone for the heat found throughout the rest of the LP.
EPMD : Can't Hear Nothing But The Music
On this podcast we like to bring out the album cuts that don't get the most shine, and this is a prime example - track three on 1992's "Business Never Personal", produced by the duo and Charlie Marotta, it's a rugged, rumbling cut perfect for the jeep sound systems of the time.
Ice-T ft. Buckshot : Eye Of The Storm
I will continue to assert that Ice-T doesn't get enough props for all he's done in Hip-Hop. Twelve years after his debut LP "Rhyme Pays" (but sixteen after 1983's "The Coldest Rap"), he's right here holding up his end of this track from "The Seventh Deadly Sin" with Black Moon's Buckshot in true OG style. The producer, Ross Avila, is a singer/songwriter with a long catalogue of beautiful love songs to his name but this...is not one of them. Dark, frenetic, with the kick drum pattern dancing all over your head, this is rawness.
Little Brother : Carolina Agents
Tucked away on the "2K6 : The Tracks" compilation from a long-ago version of NBA 2K is this LB track that would likely have escaped your notice. 9th Wonder on the beat, of course, with Phonte and Big Pooh taking the first and second verses before going back and forth on the third. It's quite an uptempo track compared to much of their output, but they handle it flawlessly, representing their home state with a heater.
[DJ Spinna] Big Twan : One Time 4 The Lyricist (Instrumental)
It was many, many episodes back that I played the vocal version of this, but the beat deserved an airing just by itself - great work by the versatile DJ Spinna on the Hip-Hop tip. Not to say that the rhymes aren't quality, but it's worth picking up this 12" just for the instrumentals!
DMC, Chuck D, Ice-T, and DJ Jazzy Jeff : Me And My Microphone
In keeping with DMC's recent moves into the comic world, this song is like one of those issues when the superheroes from many stories all combine to take down some supersized threat! Icons across the board on the mic and turntables here, with Bumpy Knuckles taking on production duties. You can't come with a soft beat for a lineup like this, and this cut has the kind of banging rock sensibility which I think could give this some appeal outside the core Hip-Hop audience. This either had to start or end the episode, but ultimately I think this was the right place to have it, allowing it to breathe and play out right to the death.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...while she was waiting for her son to shine."
- Mystro
Ok - last month was a bit chilly but this one was ridiculous! As 2022 ends, we loosely have a winter/Xmas theme scattered through the selection, some brand new releases that deserve sharing, and many other gems including a Grand Daddy IU production after he passed away this month - RIP to him.
By the way - as well as all my other social media accounts, I'm now on Mastodon, since Twitter seems to be falling apart - you can follow my account on @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Shaquille O'Neal ft. Jay-Z and Lord Tariq : No Love Lost
I'd almost forgotten that this track existed until I was going through the "S" section of my wax! Shaq was certainly a competent MC, if not a standout, but he was consistently able to leverage his status into some memorable collaborations. Even in 1996 when this track was released on the "You Can't Stop The Reign" album, his third, Jay-Z was a big feature to get, and Lord Tariq was not long off dropping the enormous hit "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" with Peter Gunz. Production comes from Poke and Tone (Trackmasters), and it's a chill head-nodder that definitely brings back memories of the era. Side note: there's another version of this cut from the DJ Clue "Fall Pt.1" mixtapes that also features Nas!
Kev Brown : Myrrh
The don of the bassline dropped a surprise Xmas project last year, the sixteen-track and appropriately-named "The Kev Brown Holiday Special" and generously offered it at a discount this month. This track goes straight for the nativity angle, with those choral voices floating around the the classic eighth-note sleigh bells and the kind of solid, chunky, funky foundation that Kev has absolutely mastered. This wise man from the east (coast) delivers 🔥
Jointhedots, Dubbul O, and Berry Blacc : Right Now
Brand new flavour from Manchester! I was literally waiting for them to bless me with a copy of this track before recording this episode, so convinced was I that it'd be another in a streak of excellent singles, and it does not disappoint. Dubbul O and Berry Blacc, who are the vocalists for their live performances, combine to provide the vocals on this one, with Berry showing his versatility by singing on the haunting hook as well as spitting the second verse. JTD's production, headed up by Defty, is based around a classy bassline, and everything else falls into place perfectly around it. Another release worthy of your support!
Smif-N-Wessun : Nothin' Move But The Money
Nineties classic! This was an underground and mixtape staple shortly after it was recorded, but...it never actually got released. This track was supposed to be on "Dah Shinin'", Smif-N-Wessun's debut LP, and would even have been first single, but they couldn't clear the sample, and so it had to be dropped. Shame, as it's an absolute killer, with Da Beatminerz taking the original track and manipulating it over to the dark side like Palpatine, creating a perfect canvas for Tek and Steele to get busy, weaving in and out of each other's bars like the legendary duo they are. If you see a copy of this (which will usually involve some kind of bootleg vinyl), just grab it!
Tiny Hearts : Snow Cold
I can't even remember how I stumbled upon this cut, as I totally missed it on its 2013 release on the "Stay" EP, but this definitely felt like the right time of year to drop it, certainly if the well-below zero temperatures in this area were anything to go by! Tiny Hearts is the combo of Detroit production legend Waajeed, and the duo of producer/composer Tim K and singer Deanne Reynolds of DEDE. Reynolds' dreamy, ghostly vocals are a great compliment to the heavy synth bass and machine drums, and this is the kind of thing that could fit nicely into all kinds of headphone mixes as well as moving a big sound system - even if it's no club tune.
Cookin' Soul x A Tribe Called Quest : Butter Cookies
I thought I was the only one in my immediate circle to catch this release when it was announced, but I had multiple people either sending me clips or posting it on their own social media within the first couple of days! Cookin' Soul has been doing his thing since the mid-2000s, never being afraid to experiment and blend approaches together, and the new "A Tribe Called Xmas" tape is no exception. As you can imagine from the name, it blends Xmas influences and samples into the beats, then combines that with the songs of A Tribe Called Quest to produce an irresistible seasonal flavour! This particular song makes me smile for two reasons; firstly, as it's a reworking of "Butter", one of my favourites from "The Low End Theory", and secondly, because it's titled after the delicious Danish biscuits which are, all too often, not to be found in the tin as you might expect!
BusCrates : Early Morning
Silky synthy jazzy vibes out of Pittsburgh, taken from the "Internal Dialogue" release. Those synth sounds are so luxurious - if you follow BusCrates on Twitch, you might have seen a glimpse of his awesome collection of hardware, and he knows exactly what to do with it.
Grand Daddy IU ft. O.C., Marquee, Ximone, and Money Harm : Party & Booze
With the untimely passing of Grand Daddy IU this month, I decided not to go back too far, but instead to take a different tack and feature some of his more contemporary material. Given the season, the track selected seems somehow appropriate, and it wouldn't be a party without guests - which this track has by the houseful! IU is behind the boards on this and the rest of his 2020 project "The Essence", and it's got a nice vibe, kind of 80s but with the low-end bump that so much of that era lacked added, subtly. RIP.
DJ Mentat ft. Mystro : Waiting
Real. Just real life all over this brilliant track, which was hidden away as a B-side on the "When I Give My Heart To You" single by DJ Mentat, but is also easily available on Bandcamp as well. I don't even want to talk about Mystro's lyrics - they speak better for themselves than I ever could.
Grand Agent and Pete Rock : This Is What They Meant (Ge-ology's Fried Fish n' Cornbread Remix)
This is one of the incredibly small number of tracks where Pete Rock's mix might not be the best one! His beat has been replaced here by Ge-ology's excellent work, but you still get Pete on the mic alongside the underrated Grand Agent. This is taken from an EP which contains two different Ge-ology remixes plus the original lick - so take a listen yourself, and let me know if you agree about which the best version is!
Nas : Michael & Quincy
Another brand new track, taken from one of the most notable releases of the year, "King's Disease III". Nas pays homage to and likens himself and producer Hit-Boy to the the storied, legendary pairing of Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, most explicitly on the final verse, weaving in life events and some of the famous track titles. Hit-Boy keeps the change-ups coming through this active, dense track to great effect; I may not have been convinced (at all) when he broke out with "...Paris", but he's proven himself time and time again since.
Mark B & Blade : Use Your Head (Instrumental)
Heavy, bassy, pounding, uncompromising, and arguably the best beat on a straight B-boy level from the vinyl version of the excellent "Hitmen For Hire" EP. RIP Mark B.
Skitz ft. Estelle, Tempa, and Wildflower : Domestic Science
For those from countries with a different educational tradition and lexicon, "domestic science" was the old name for the school subject that included cooking, sewing, and other household skills. As I digitised this B-side earlier in the month, a thought popped into my head - with a male producer and an all-female MC lineup, who was it that titled the track...? Either way, it is a clever flip of the phrase in the sense of the lyrical content being straight down-to-earth Hip-Hop about surviving at home in the UK, both in life and in the music industry. This was a strong, proud track which was the first full song on Skitz' seminal 2001 "Countryman" project, and set the tone for the heat found throughout the rest of the LP.
EPMD : Can't Hear Nothing But The Music
On this podcast we like to bring out the album cuts that don't get the most shine, and this is a prime example - track three on 1992's "Business Never Personal", produced by the duo and Charlie Marotta, it's a rugged, rumbling cut perfect for the jeep sound systems of the time.
Ice-T ft. Buckshot : Eye Of The Storm
I will continue to assert that Ice-T doesn't get enough props for all he's done in Hip-Hop. Twelve years after his debut LP "Rhyme Pays" (but sixteen after 1983's "The Coldest Rap"), he's right here holding up his end of this track from "The Seventh Deadly Sin" with Black Moon's Buckshot in true OG style. The producer, Ross Avila, is a singer/songwriter with a long catalogue of beautiful love songs to his name but this...is not one of them. Dark, frenetic, with the kick drum pattern dancing all over your head, this is rawness.
Little Brother : Carolina Agents
Tucked away on the "2K6 : The Tracks" compilation from a long-ago version of NBA 2K is this LB track that would likely have escaped your notice. 9th Wonder on the beat, of course, with Phonte and Big Pooh taking the first and second verses before going back and forth on the third. It's quite an uptempo track compared to much of their output, but they handle it flawlessly, representing their home state with a heater.
[DJ Spinna] Big Twan : One Time 4 The Lyricist (Instrumental)
It was many, many episodes back that I played the vocal version of this, but the beat deserved an airing just by itself - great work by the versatile DJ Spinna on the Hip-Hop tip. Not to say that the rhymes aren't quality, but it's worth picking up this 12" just for the instrumentals!
DMC, Chuck D, Ice-T, and DJ Jazzy Jeff : Me And My Microphone
In keeping with DMC's recent moves into the comic world, this song is like one of those issues when the superheroes from many stories all combine to take down some supersized threat! Icons across the board on the mic and turntables here, with Bumpy Knuckles taking on production duties. You can't come with a soft beat for a lineup like this, and this cut has the kind of banging rock sensibility which I think could give this some appeal outside the core Hip-Hop audience. This either had to start or end the episode, but ultimately I think this was the right place to have it, allowing it to breathe and play out right to the death.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"This might be God speaking, it's just my mouth is moving."
- Ka
The weather might be cooling, but there is some heat on this one. We pay respects to two Hip-Hop stalwarts who sadly and unexpectedly left us this month - Tame One of The Artifacts, and Hurricane G. We include music from both in the mix, along with some material from their contemporaries, and some newer stuff that might have escaped your notice. Listen, enjoy, buy the releases from the artists you like - let's please give them their flowers while they're here.
As well as the socials below, you can also now find me on Mastodon - @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : LSD
One of those tracks I've wanted to play for ages - but something always gets in the way! Unrelenting, banging, squelching, militant sonics to go with the always-fierce lyrics of Chuck D make this a perfect episode opener. Released in 1999 as part of the "There's a Poison Goin On" album, you can kind of place it in time thanks to the specifics of the critiques Chuck is making of the music industry of the era. That said, some of the shadiness is, sadly, timeless...
[Non Slick] Genesis Elijah : Jah Bless (Instrumental)
This was a big UK single when it dropped - that heavy bass that always goes down well here, with layers of synth and FX that are so forward that the drum track doesn't have to do too much! According to Neil Craig on Youtube who actually engineered and mixed this tune, Non Slick's beat almost went to Rodney P but they met Genesis Elijah and ended up giving him the beat instead. I'd argue this is still his best single, so that union was a blessing indeed.
Clear Soul Forces : Don't Stop
A good friend gifted me the 2019 "Still" LP on wax this month, which was a perfect present for someone who rates CSF as highly as I do! As always, the MCs absolutely explode with lyrical energy, and Ilajide brings his trademark heavy bass and knocking, slightly off-balance kick drum programming to the dance. Here's the kicker - this only the first half of the track. If you want to hear the rest, go ahead and support with a purchase!
Ozay Moore & 14KT : Record Store Day
Recently I was speaking to a young workman who loves music, but doesn't actually own any - he listens strictly on streaming services. They have their place, but the magic of the record shop is something that can't be duplicated, and that's the subject of this beautiful memoir. As he says, there are still shops out there so let's support them - not just on Record Store Day, but year-round! Production on this, along with the rest of the "Taking L'$" album is by 14KT - nicely done, kind of sunny-sounding with lots of changeups and decorations through the track.
A Tribe Called Quest : Against The World
As I say on the voiceover, I was actually going to play something else here originally, but just picked it out of the library on the fly after the mention of Dilla beats on the preceding track. This was from his work on Tribe's "The Love Movement", which like many others I really didn't like much at the time of release, but it's been long enough that it might need a revisiting!
The15 : Still Here
A bit of soul for you, coming out of a city you might not readily associate with such - Las Vegas! This duo (so far as I can tell) don't have an album out as yet, but this 2020 single is pure vibes. If there's something going off in your head as you listen, you might be recognising a vocal motif from Common's "The Light". By the way - when did you last hear scratching like this on an R&B track?
Packo : Photon Freefall
I'm not sure where I first stumbled upon this one, but I love it. Hawaiian DJ and producer Packo has a long series of "The Pocketbook Collection" singles, but he came out of the gate blazing with this as track one on the first! The rhythm bumps along with some flavoursome loose timing, while the soundscape of synths is warm and draws you in. Then the strings hit, and the piano shortly after - this is a spectacularly dope piece of production.
Cocoa Brovaz ft. Hurricane G : Spanish Harlem
The late, great Hurricane G, like a real storm, was someone I heard about long before she fully arrived on the scene with her trademark bilingual rhyme style. While she, on theme, incorporates Spanish words into a mostly English guest verse here, she has in her career rhymed with great skill in both languages separately. This track is taken from "The Rude Awakening", the second Smif-N-Wessun LP - during the period when legal action from the gun manufacturer forced them to change their name. Mr Walt of Da Beatminerz supplies the low, sparse beat for this late 90s underground gem, and Los Hermanos Chocolates hold it down on this and the rest of an underappreciated album.
Cesar Comanche and Poe Mack : Happy Talk
Cesar Comanche has been dropping heat since the days when he came out as a charter member of North Carolina's Justus League, and he gives you that old flavour but with his new advancements on the "A Promise Not To Sting" album from last year, alongside Poe Mack. J Rawls is on production here, going as far away from the modern trap/synth sound as you can imagine, with a perfect soundtrack for Cesar to talk about, as he tells it himself; "being thankful for my life experiences plus being alive because of and despite them." Wise words indeed.
O.C. : Point of Viewz
Apologies for the sound quality on this one - it seems that all the digital services/stores have a bit of a weird-sounding version of the audio. If you see his debut "Word...Life" LP, from which this is taken, on physical media, you'd do well to grab it as it's a 90s classic. O.C. was a perfect fit for the DITC crew, and sounded like a seasoned veteran from day one. The beat uses the live version of a classic jazz sample and is topped by a chunky boom-bap drum track - just tough. Buckwild and Prestige handled production, and the combo of them and this young, gifted MC gave us tracks like this that will always sound great. Oh, and I went to the dictionary - "interpretate" is actually a real word, but an archaic one :)
Artifacts : Return To Da Wrongside
We pay respect to the memory of Tame One with a track that encapsulates the elements he was so known for - MCing and graffiti. Telling stories drawn (no pun intended) from or at least inspired by his graf exploits, which I'm sure all the writers among you will appreciate, Tame represents himself for eternity on this one. El Da Sensei of course is also on the mic, and the jazzy boom-bap beat comes from the fingers of Shawn J. Period. A worthy sequel to the classic "Wrong Side Of Da Tracks", this is a favourite from the Artifacts' sophomore LP "That's Them". RIP Tame One.
Henry Keen : Digging In Detroit
From another record I was gifted this month, we have an excellent instrumental from this London-based producer, a personal highlight for me from his latest LP, "Freedom In Movement". Beautifully chilled, with some occasional, but brief, tempo changes appearing as we move through the track.
Ka : Vessel
Ka is truly one of the great writers of our culture - a man who truly sweats and agonises over every word of every bar. If you haven't already and have the time, check out this long interview where he speak to Jeff Mao; everything about his approach and his passion is admirable. As an MC who also self-produces much of his material (including the whole of the album this track is taken from, "Grief Pedigree"), he's able to bring both parts of the whole together like few others. The instrumental is almost hypnotic, and draw you in to focus on his gritty, heartfelt, and intelligent lyrics about coming up in Brownsville. You may or may not catch all the double meanings or links straight away, but to listen carefully is to be rewarded.
Defcee ft. Kipp Stone : Ragnarok
I won't lie - I don't think I was up on any of the personnel on this track, but if this is the level of quality to expect then that's something I need to rectify with the quickness! "Descendent of demigods, the hammer chose me"? Come on, that's a bar right there. Over a dark, downtempo soundscape from skilled Chicago producer BoatHouse, it's a Midwest affair with fellow Chicagoan Defcee teaming up with Kipp Stone out of Cleveland to spit raw lyricism over two strong verses. This has been getting repeat play from me all month and it's made the "For All Debts Public And Private" a must-listen.
Le$ : Bucket
This man is approaching Curren$y levels of productivity! It feels like every time I turn round, he has new material out - which I certainly have no complaints about. The new "Tune Up EP" sees him link up again with the incredibly talented Tavares Jordan, who gives him this clean, gliding beat to underscore his confident bars. While he's the unquestioned king of BMW references, if he stays on his current trajectory he may well be not too far off that Bentley Arnage!
Teflon ft. M.O.P : Rawness
The relative smoothness of the instrumental (although those drums do bang hard) courtesy of M.O.P and Laze leaves plenty of room for all the titular rawness to come on the mic! Serious Brooklyn business with Teflon and M.O.P combining for this B-side (from the "Get Mine" single), which was a standout from the 1997 "My Will" LP.
Large Pro : Saturday Night Soul
Just a short beat from one of the greats, which you can find on this year's "Beatz Vol.3" release - one you'll certainly be hearing more from from me on my #BeatsOnly show!
Children Of Zeus : Hoodman2Manhood
We finish the month by going back to the first (if you don't count the excellent "The Story So Far" collection) CoZ album, "Travel Light" for some stripped-back soul courtesy of these modern Manchester legends. Tyler Daley - formerly known as Hoodman - takes on vocal duties solo to tell his story, and combines with Konny Kon on production for a soulful, funky gem.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"This might be God speaking, it's just my mouth is moving."
- Ka
The weather might be cooling, but there is some heat on this one. We pay respects to two Hip-Hop stalwarts who sadly and unexpectedly left us this month - Tame One of The Artifacts, and Hurricane G. We include music from both in the mix, along with some material from their contemporaries, and some newer stuff that might have escaped your notice. Listen, enjoy, buy the releases from the artists you like - let's please give them their flowers while they're here.
As well as the socials below, you can also now find me on Mastodon - @airadam@mastodon.me.uk
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : LSD
One of those tracks I've wanted to play for ages - but something always gets in the way! Unrelenting, banging, squelching, militant sonics to go with the always-fierce lyrics of Chuck D make this a perfect episode opener. Released in 1999 as part of the "There's a Poison Goin On" album, you can kind of place it in time thanks to the specifics of the critiques Chuck is making of the music industry of the era. That said, some of the shadiness is, sadly, timeless...
[Non Slick] Genesis Elijah : Jah Bless (Instrumental)
This was a big UK single when it dropped - that heavy bass that always goes down well here, with layers of synth and FX that are so forward that the drum track doesn't have to do too much! According to Neil Craig on Youtube who actually engineered and mixed this tune, Non Slick's beat almost went to Rodney P but they met Genesis Elijah and ended up giving him the beat instead. I'd argue this is still his best single, so that union was a blessing indeed.
Clear Soul Forces : Don't Stop
A good friend gifted me the 2019 "Still" LP on wax this month, which was a perfect present for someone who rates CSF as highly as I do! As always, the MCs absolutely explode with lyrical energy, and Ilajide brings his trademark heavy bass and knocking, slightly off-balance kick drum programming to the dance. Here's the kicker - this only the first half of the track. If you want to hear the rest, go ahead and support with a purchase!
Ozay Moore & 14KT : Record Store Day
Recently I was speaking to a young workman who loves music, but doesn't actually own any - he listens strictly on streaming services. They have their place, but the magic of the record shop is something that can't be duplicated, and that's the subject of this beautiful memoir. As he says, there are still shops out there so let's support them - not just on Record Store Day, but year-round! Production on this, along with the rest of the "Taking L'$" album is by 14KT - nicely done, kind of sunny-sounding with lots of changeups and decorations through the track.
A Tribe Called Quest : Against The World
As I say on the voiceover, I was actually going to play something else here originally, but just picked it out of the library on the fly after the mention of Dilla beats on the preceding track. This was from his work on Tribe's "The Love Movement", which like many others I really didn't like much at the time of release, but it's been long enough that it might need a revisiting!
The15 : Still Here
A bit of soul for you, coming out of a city you might not readily associate with such - Las Vegas! This duo (so far as I can tell) don't have an album out as yet, but this 2020 single is pure vibes. If there's something going off in your head as you listen, you might be recognising a vocal motif from Common's "The Light". By the way - when did you last hear scratching like this on an R&B track?
Packo : Photon Freefall
I'm not sure where I first stumbled upon this one, but I love it. Hawaiian DJ and producer Packo has a long series of "The Pocketbook Collection" singles, but he came out of the gate blazing with this as track one on the first! The rhythm bumps along with some flavoursome loose timing, while the soundscape of synths is warm and draws you in. Then the strings hit, and the piano shortly after - this is a spectacularly dope piece of production.
Cocoa Brovaz ft. Hurricane G : Spanish Harlem
The late, great Hurricane G, like a real storm, was someone I heard about long before she fully arrived on the scene with her trademark bilingual rhyme style. While she, on theme, incorporates Spanish words into a mostly English guest verse here, she has in her career rhymed with great skill in both languages separately. This track is taken from "The Rude Awakening", the second Smif-N-Wessun LP - during the period when legal action from the gun manufacturer forced them to change their name. Mr Walt of Da Beatminerz supplies the low, sparse beat for this late 90s underground gem, and Los Hermanos Chocolates hold it down on this and the rest of an underappreciated album.
Cesar Comanche and Poe Mack : Happy Talk
Cesar Comanche has been dropping heat since the days when he came out as a charter member of North Carolina's Justus League, and he gives you that old flavour but with his new advancements on the "A Promise Not To Sting" album from last year, alongside Poe Mack. J Rawls is on production here, going as far away from the modern trap/synth sound as you can imagine, with a perfect soundtrack for Cesar to talk about, as he tells it himself; "being thankful for my life experiences plus being alive because of and despite them." Wise words indeed.
O.C. : Point of Viewz
Apologies for the sound quality on this one - it seems that all the digital services/stores have a bit of a weird-sounding version of the audio. If you see his debut "Word...Life" LP, from which this is taken, on physical media, you'd do well to grab it as it's a 90s classic. O.C. was a perfect fit for the DITC crew, and sounded like a seasoned veteran from day one. The beat uses the live version of a classic jazz sample and is topped by a chunky boom-bap drum track - just tough. Buckwild and Prestige handled production, and the combo of them and this young, gifted MC gave us tracks like this that will always sound great. Oh, and I went to the dictionary - "interpretate" is actually a real word, but an archaic one :)
Artifacts : Return To Da Wrongside
We pay respect to the memory of Tame One with a track that encapsulates the elements he was so known for - MCing and graffiti. Telling stories drawn (no pun intended) from or at least inspired by his graf exploits, which I'm sure all the writers among you will appreciate, Tame represents himself for eternity on this one. El Da Sensei of course is also on the mic, and the jazzy boom-bap beat comes from the fingers of Shawn J. Period. A worthy sequel to the classic "Wrong Side Of Da Tracks", this is a favourite from the Artifacts' sophomore LP "That's Them". RIP Tame One.
Henry Keen : Digging In Detroit
From another record I was gifted this month, we have an excellent instrumental from this London-based producer, a personal highlight for me from his latest LP, "Freedom In Movement". Beautifully chilled, with some occasional, but brief, tempo changes appearing as we move through the track.
Ka : Vessel
Ka is truly one of the great writers of our culture - a man who truly sweats and agonises over every word of every bar. If you haven't already and have the time, check out this long interview where he speak to Jeff Mao; everything about his approach and his passion is admirable. As an MC who also self-produces much of his material (including the whole of the album this track is taken from, "Grief Pedigree"), he's able to bring both parts of the whole together like few others. The instrumental is almost hypnotic, and draw you in to focus on his gritty, heartfelt, and intelligent lyrics about coming up in Brownsville. You may or may not catch all the double meanings or links straight away, but to listen carefully is to be rewarded.
Defcee ft. Kipp Stone : Ragnarok
I won't lie - I don't think I was up on any of the personnel on this track, but if this is the level of quality to expect then that's something I need to rectify with the quickness! "Descendent of demigods, the hammer chose me"? Come on, that's a bar right there. Over a dark, downtempo soundscape from skilled Chicago producer BoatHouse, it's a Midwest affair with fellow Chicagoan Defcee teaming up with Kipp Stone out of Cleveland to spit raw lyricism over two strong verses. This has been getting repeat play from me all month and it's made the "For All Debts Public And Private" a must-listen.
Le$ : Bucket
This man is approaching Curren$y levels of productivity! It feels like every time I turn round, he has new material out - which I certainly have no complaints about. The new "Tune Up EP" sees him link up again with the incredibly talented Tavares Jordan, who gives him this clean, gliding beat to underscore his confident bars. While he's the unquestioned king of BMW references, if he stays on his current trajectory he may well be not too far off that Bentley Arnage!
Teflon ft. M.O.P : Rawness
The relative smoothness of the instrumental (although those drums do bang hard) courtesy of M.O.P and Laze leaves plenty of room for all the titular rawness to come on the mic! Serious Brooklyn business with Teflon and M.O.P combining for this B-side (from the "Get Mine" single), which was a standout from the 1997 "My Will" LP.
Large Pro : Saturday Night Soul
Just a short beat from one of the greats, which you can find on this year's "Beatz Vol.3" release - one you'll certainly be hearing more from from me on my #BeatsOnly show!
Children Of Zeus : Hoodman2Manhood
We finish the month by going back to the first (if you don't count the excellent "The Story So Far" collection) CoZ album, "Travel Light" for some stripped-back soul courtesy of these modern Manchester legends. Tyler Daley - formerly known as Hoodman - takes on vocal duties solo to tell his story, and combines with Konny Kon on production for a soulful, funky gem.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Great Britain is a myth right now..."
- Strategy
Two different occasions combine for this month's episode; it's Halloween, and (0)161 is the Manchester area code, and so we lean towards the dark, sinister, and eerie, as well as including a good chunk of Manchester music in the mix. In several cases, we manage to find both aspects in the same track! The episode title fits the combination...as well as having some literal truth. The nights are closing in, and the temperature is falling...this is your seasonal soundtrack.
If you'd like to watch my recent appearance on the "All Back To Mine" show, you can catch the replay on Youtube!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T : Midnight
It's a long track, but deserved to be heard in full to get to that ending, which will be appreciated by anyone familiar with Ice-T's catalogue. He's one of the master storytellers in Hip-Hop, and this work of his pen lets you know that there are realistic settings that can be as perilous as any horror film. Taken from probably Ice's best album "O.G. Original Gangster", these four verses play out over a dark instrumental with a classing banging drum sample, courtesy of Shafiq Husayn and the legendary DJ Aladdin.
A-Trak : Don't Fool With The Dips (Instrumental)
Turntablist supreme A-Trak and Dipset weren't an obvious combination, but this 2006 single was a great combination - while the double-timed hi-hats are reminiscent of some of the Heatmakerz production that the Dips were often heard on, the chopping, angular harshness of the rest of the track is something else entirely. Take a close listen and you'll hear that it sounds like a lot of the sounds are scratched in on a turntable - they probably were! It's worth getting this single if you see it, just don't expect any complex socio-political lyrics :)
Regents (Cartridge and Strategy) : Greengate Adhesive
The 70/140 BPM might be popular now but it was definitely a UK creation from back in the days, and the kind of ideas that started off in jungle found their way to the originators of grime. That kind of aesthetic has always been part of the Manchester scene from its inception, and Cartridge's production on this cut from last year's "Shegry" EP would fit a damp, dark night in the city perfectly. Strategy, an absolute mainstay of the Manchester and Salford scene, burns down the mic on this one, dropping classic local references in amongst the rest of his bars, and the way the vocals are laid at times makes it sound like there's two of him piling over each other to get all those words out. Fire.
LEVELZ : Look Who It Is
Manchester again, as we take the opening track from the debut "LVL 11" mixtape from this powerhouse collective. Metrodome and Biome handle production, with the skittering hi-hat pattern dancing across the heavy low end that takes up most of the space in the instrumental, and heavy, distorted bass tones like that have always been very popular here. This is quite a long tune so I did mix out with some verses still remaining, so pick up "LVL 11" online to hear every MC get busy!
Kosheen : Cruelty
The Bristol area has given us a number of excellent groups who fuse interesting, beat-heavy production techniques with quality vocals, and Kosheen are no exception. This is a selection from their 2013 "Resist" LP that has just the right feel for this episode, with a lumbering, thudding undergirding to the creepy keys and Sian Evans' vocals. Just the kind of record that can fit perfectly into a listening, rather than a dancefloor set.
PRGz : WoodGrain
I have had this record from "Fear and Loathing in HuntsVegas" on my hard drive for absolute years, and always thought a Halloween-time episode would be the best time to bring it out! DJ Benzi and Diplo pull the creepy sing-song melody from the soundtrack of a famous horror film, and the strings, while not quite so dark, certainly add to that feel. Add the 808-based drum track, and you have a certified southern banger! The title, for those that don't know, refers to the expensive (if not exactly safety-enhancing) wooden steering wheels favoured on "slab" cars, and all the MCs work with the theme comfortably. Notice the unusual post-production of the vocals, with lots of weird manipulation of the pitches of the voices and re-triggering of some of the words - on a track like this, it's definitely a fitting addition.
[Luke Vibert] Asylum : Gemini Twins (Instrumental)
Before I pulled this 1997 UK 12" off my shelves for digitisation, I probably hadn't heard it for over twenty years. The vocal version is an extremely dark tale, and you can tell by the sound of Luke Vibert's production that you'll never hear this in any kind of celebratory setting, but it does reflect a prominent strain of domestic underground Hip-Hop of the time.
Brian J ft. Suga Free : Level Up
I only came across this thanks to a Spotify recommendation, likely based on the amount of Suga Free I've listened to over the years! Brian J and Free hail from the same town, which also provides the seed of the title of the album this is taken from : "Pomona Virus". It's not super-complex lyrically or anything like that, with Brian J making sure there's no mistaking the message he's trying to get across. Suga Free's guest verse is an autobiographical one looking back on his early years, which hopefully are well in the rear view mirror as he approaches his announced retirement and enters marriage! Production is handled by Sparaza from Inland Empire, who provides a suitably contemplative, yet motivating instrumental - I know I've been playing this one in the gym a lot recently.
Children Of Zeus ft. HMD : 10 Toes
Manchester's own Children Of Zeus feature another locally-based vocalist, HMD, on this sparse track where you still seem to notice something new on the first few listens - it's a subtle piece of production from this skilled duo. If you somehow missed "The Winter Tape", where this first appeared, definitely go back and give it a listen, as there are some great tracks on there. You can also get this track on the excellent "Excess Baggage" EP, which is also a worthy addition to any collection.
Dubbul O & Pro P : Misty River
Previous podcast guest Dubbul O is one of the best MCs around, and he hails from this fine city! This pounding Pro P-produced (wow, alliteration!) track from the 2014 "Omega" LP has quite a dark vibe, as does the rest of the album, which is very cohesive in that respect. The beat is rugged boom-bap and Dubbul O just comes straight down the lane on the mic, which was exactly the right approach to take with it.
Black Josh : Killidoscope
One more Manchester track before the instrumental break. I was about to call Black Josh one of the new generation of Manchester MCs, until I remembered that even this track is nine years old! Along with the rest of the "Blick Flair's Ape Mountain" project, the lyrics and beats are a bit trippy, with Metrodome borrowing from a smooth 80s soul single and layering it with a rhythm that feels kind of (intentionally) jumpy and askew for something pretty unique.
Focus... : fIRE&iCE
Starts off pretty dark, brightens up a little over halfway through before coming back down towards the end - a great instrumental from Focus... (yes, the dots are part of his name) from the first in his "Analog In A Digital World" series.
Mobb Deep : Quiet Storm
"I put my lifetime in between the paper's lines". That killer opening is one of the most iconic lines of Prodigy's career, and instantly locks you into this classic single from "Murda Muzik", the fourth Mobb Deep album. Havoc masterfully shows how re-contextualising a sample can give you a totally different feel, taking the bassline from Melle Mel's "White Lines" and making it sound less like a club record and more the kind of thing that fits the album title. Prodigy describes in his book "My Infamous Life" how Noyd was originally writing a verse to this track, but when Havoc and Noyd went out to meet some women, Prodigy took control and over the course of three hours wrote and recorded a full set of solo verses to it. It was a great move - as excellent as Noyd and Havoc are as MCs, this song gives you some of Prodigy's best work.
Mobb Deep ft. Lil Kim : Quiet Storm (Remix)
The third verse of the original track is dope, but I thought I'd switch it up and blend into the second verse of the remix, a classic performance by the great Lil Kim. There have been pretenders to her position, but her skills and history are undeniable.
Bugzy Malone : Skeletons
When you talk about someone who's had their ups and downs, as well as someone who's been on the grind for many, many years, Manchester's Bugzy Malone fits the bill. His material is definitely in the grime lane, and darkness is a persistent feature - even when the tracks aren't titled as blatantly as this one. He's a man not shy to put his real life into his lyrics, which I think is one of the things that really draws people to him, and here, despite the occasional bar of flash, it's a journey into the darkness of the streets of Manchester and where they too often lead. Blinkie, who has plenty of happier-sounding music in his repertoire, absolutely slays the production here, going half-time with the pace, and going with an ominous, subdued drum track and dramatic keys. This 2021 cut from "The Resurrection" could easily fit in on a thriller or horror soundtrack.
Gang Starr : Code Of The Streets
While DJ Premier produced the overwhelming majority of Gang Starr material solo, the late great Guru was at least partly responsible for this killer from "Hard To Earn". The main sample gives a really dismal feel, and provides a perfect setting for the first couple of verses, telling the story of youth without hope. The cuts between the verses are, fittingly, remembered just as much as any other part of the track, with Preemo showing that you don't have to do anything super-technical to produce something with flavour - common techniques done flawlessly and with feeling will do just fine.
GZA ft. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and U-God : Investigative Reports
A deep album cut that was always one of my favourites on GZA's second LP (though first in the Wu era) "Liquid Swords", the sound of the woman describing the historic location of a battle in the American Revolutionary War almost brings the ghosts of the fallen combatants out over the gloomy track. RZA is, of course, the producer, and GZA settles in for the middle of the track between U-God on the hooks, and the dynamic duo of Rae and Ghost, who take the opening and closing verses. Quality street bars, with Ghost's wild, slang-laden style, that would get a full-length outing on "Ironman" a year later, already well-formed here. On a production/engineering note - notice how during the hooks, RZA pans the kick drums over to one side, and U-God's voice to the other.
Pro P : Intoxicated
Pro P on the beat again, and this one has all the bass. My goodness, this one will test your system's low end! It's on the 2015 "Street Life Beat Tape", which was a welcome release from the Manchester beatsmith.
Waajeed ft. Monica Blaire : Knives Out
We close with a creepy track I've been meaning to play you for the longest. "Exit Music (Songs With Radio Heads)" was a 2006 tribute album to Radiohead featuring a whole bunch of covers, and this track featured both there and on "Exit Music EP 2". I can't say I've ever been a Radiohead listener, so I went to check the original version of this song (from 2001's "Amnesiac"), and while it was a decent listen, I have to say...my vote goes to Waajeed and Monica Blaire! Maybe it's the bias of having heard the cover first, but the throbbing bass on the hook here makes it sound really claustrophobic, which builds on the unpleasantness of the lyrics - well conveyed by Blaire. Waajeed is a skilled practitioner of timing/swing control within a beat, in that great Detroit tradition, and that drum track is overlaid with keys upon keys to produce the fleshed-out final product.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Great Britain is a myth right now..."
- Strategy
Two different occasions combine for this month's episode; it's Halloween, and (0)161 is the Manchester area code, and so we lean towards the dark, sinister, and eerie, as well as including a good chunk of Manchester music in the mix. In several cases, we manage to find both aspects in the same track! The episode title fits the combination...as well as having some literal truth. The nights are closing in, and the temperature is falling...this is your seasonal soundtrack.
If you'd like to watch my recent appearance on the "All Back To Mine" show, you can catch the replay on Youtube!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T : Midnight
It's a long track, but deserved to be heard in full to get to that ending, which will be appreciated by anyone familiar with Ice-T's catalogue. He's one of the master storytellers in Hip-Hop, and this work of his pen lets you know that there are realistic settings that can be as perilous as any horror film. Taken from probably Ice's best album "O.G. Original Gangster", these four verses play out over a dark instrumental with a classing banging drum sample, courtesy of Shafiq Husayn and the legendary DJ Aladdin.
A-Trak : Don't Fool With The Dips (Instrumental)
Turntablist supreme A-Trak and Dipset weren't an obvious combination, but this 2006 single was a great combination - while the double-timed hi-hats are reminiscent of some of the Heatmakerz production that the Dips were often heard on, the chopping, angular harshness of the rest of the track is something else entirely. Take a close listen and you'll hear that it sounds like a lot of the sounds are scratched in on a turntable - they probably were! It's worth getting this single if you see it, just don't expect any complex socio-political lyrics :)
Regents (Cartridge and Strategy) : Greengate Adhesive
The 70/140 BPM might be popular now but it was definitely a UK creation from back in the days, and the kind of ideas that started off in jungle found their way to the originators of grime. That kind of aesthetic has always been part of the Manchester scene from its inception, and Cartridge's production on this cut from last year's "Shegry" EP would fit a damp, dark night in the city perfectly. Strategy, an absolute mainstay of the Manchester and Salford scene, burns down the mic on this one, dropping classic local references in amongst the rest of his bars, and the way the vocals are laid at times makes it sound like there's two of him piling over each other to get all those words out. Fire.
LEVELZ : Look Who It Is
Manchester again, as we take the opening track from the debut "LVL 11" mixtape from this powerhouse collective. Metrodome and Biome handle production, with the skittering hi-hat pattern dancing across the heavy low end that takes up most of the space in the instrumental, and heavy, distorted bass tones like that have always been very popular here. This is quite a long tune so I did mix out with some verses still remaining, so pick up "LVL 11" online to hear every MC get busy!
Kosheen : Cruelty
The Bristol area has given us a number of excellent groups who fuse interesting, beat-heavy production techniques with quality vocals, and Kosheen are no exception. This is a selection from their 2013 "Resist" LP that has just the right feel for this episode, with a lumbering, thudding undergirding to the creepy keys and Sian Evans' vocals. Just the kind of record that can fit perfectly into a listening, rather than a dancefloor set.
PRGz : WoodGrain
I have had this record from "Fear and Loathing in HuntsVegas" on my hard drive for absolute years, and always thought a Halloween-time episode would be the best time to bring it out! DJ Benzi and Diplo pull the creepy sing-song melody from the soundtrack of a famous horror film, and the strings, while not quite so dark, certainly add to that feel. Add the 808-based drum track, and you have a certified southern banger! The title, for those that don't know, refers to the expensive (if not exactly safety-enhancing) wooden steering wheels favoured on "slab" cars, and all the MCs work with the theme comfortably. Notice the unusual post-production of the vocals, with lots of weird manipulation of the pitches of the voices and re-triggering of some of the words - on a track like this, it's definitely a fitting addition.
[Luke Vibert] Asylum : Gemini Twins (Instrumental)
Before I pulled this 1997 UK 12" off my shelves for digitisation, I probably hadn't heard it for over twenty years. The vocal version is an extremely dark tale, and you can tell by the sound of Luke Vibert's production that you'll never hear this in any kind of celebratory setting, but it does reflect a prominent strain of domestic underground Hip-Hop of the time.
Brian J ft. Suga Free : Level Up
I only came across this thanks to a Spotify recommendation, likely based on the amount of Suga Free I've listened to over the years! Brian J and Free hail from the same town, which also provides the seed of the title of the album this is taken from : "Pomona Virus". It's not super-complex lyrically or anything like that, with Brian J making sure there's no mistaking the message he's trying to get across. Suga Free's guest verse is an autobiographical one looking back on his early years, which hopefully are well in the rear view mirror as he approaches his announced retirement and enters marriage! Production is handled by Sparaza from Inland Empire, who provides a suitably contemplative, yet motivating instrumental - I know I've been playing this one in the gym a lot recently.
Children Of Zeus ft. HMD : 10 Toes
Manchester's own Children Of Zeus feature another locally-based vocalist, HMD, on this sparse track where you still seem to notice something new on the first few listens - it's a subtle piece of production from this skilled duo. If you somehow missed "The Winter Tape", where this first appeared, definitely go back and give it a listen, as there are some great tracks on there. You can also get this track on the excellent "Excess Baggage" EP, which is also a worthy addition to any collection.
Dubbul O & Pro P : Misty River
Previous podcast guest Dubbul O is one of the best MCs around, and he hails from this fine city! This pounding Pro P-produced (wow, alliteration!) track from the 2014 "Omega" LP has quite a dark vibe, as does the rest of the album, which is very cohesive in that respect. The beat is rugged boom-bap and Dubbul O just comes straight down the lane on the mic, which was exactly the right approach to take with it.
Black Josh : Killidoscope
One more Manchester track before the instrumental break. I was about to call Black Josh one of the new generation of Manchester MCs, until I remembered that even this track is nine years old! Along with the rest of the "Blick Flair's Ape Mountain" project, the lyrics and beats are a bit trippy, with Metrodome borrowing from a smooth 80s soul single and layering it with a rhythm that feels kind of (intentionally) jumpy and askew for something pretty unique.
Focus... : fIRE&iCE
Starts off pretty dark, brightens up a little over halfway through before coming back down towards the end - a great instrumental from Focus... (yes, the dots are part of his name) from the first in his "Analog In A Digital World" series.
Mobb Deep : Quiet Storm
"I put my lifetime in between the paper's lines". That killer opening is one of the most iconic lines of Prodigy's career, and instantly locks you into this classic single from "Murda Muzik", the fourth Mobb Deep album. Havoc masterfully shows how re-contextualising a sample can give you a totally different feel, taking the bassline from Melle Mel's "White Lines" and making it sound less like a club record and more the kind of thing that fits the album title. Prodigy describes in his book "My Infamous Life" how Noyd was originally writing a verse to this track, but when Havoc and Noyd went out to meet some women, Prodigy took control and over the course of three hours wrote and recorded a full set of solo verses to it. It was a great move - as excellent as Noyd and Havoc are as MCs, this song gives you some of Prodigy's best work.
Mobb Deep ft. Lil Kim : Quiet Storm (Remix)
The third verse of the original track is dope, but I thought I'd switch it up and blend into the second verse of the remix, a classic performance by the great Lil Kim. There have been pretenders to her position, but her skills and history are undeniable.
Bugzy Malone : Skeletons
When you talk about someone who's had their ups and downs, as well as someone who's been on the grind for many, many years, Manchester's Bugzy Malone fits the bill. His material is definitely in the grime lane, and darkness is a persistent feature - even when the tracks aren't titled as blatantly as this one. He's a man not shy to put his real life into his lyrics, which I think is one of the things that really draws people to him, and here, despite the occasional bar of flash, it's a journey into the darkness of the streets of Manchester and where they too often lead. Blinkie, who has plenty of happier-sounding music in his repertoire, absolutely slays the production here, going half-time with the pace, and going with an ominous, subdued drum track and dramatic keys. This 2021 cut from "The Resurrection" could easily fit in on a thriller or horror soundtrack.
Gang Starr : Code Of The Streets
While DJ Premier produced the overwhelming majority of Gang Starr material solo, the late great Guru was at least partly responsible for this killer from "Hard To Earn". The main sample gives a really dismal feel, and provides a perfect setting for the first couple of verses, telling the story of youth without hope. The cuts between the verses are, fittingly, remembered just as much as any other part of the track, with Preemo showing that you don't have to do anything super-technical to produce something with flavour - common techniques done flawlessly and with feeling will do just fine.
GZA ft. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and U-God : Investigative Reports
A deep album cut that was always one of my favourites on GZA's second LP (though first in the Wu era) "Liquid Swords", the sound of the woman describing the historic location of a battle in the American Revolutionary War almost brings the ghosts of the fallen combatants out over the gloomy track. RZA is, of course, the producer, and GZA settles in for the middle of the track between U-God on the hooks, and the dynamic duo of Rae and Ghost, who take the opening and closing verses. Quality street bars, with Ghost's wild, slang-laden style, that would get a full-length outing on "Ironman" a year later, already well-formed here. On a production/engineering note - notice how during the hooks, RZA pans the kick drums over to one side, and U-God's voice to the other.
Pro P : Intoxicated
Pro P on the beat again, and this one has all the bass. My goodness, this one will test your system's low end! It's on the 2015 "Street Life Beat Tape", which was a welcome release from the Manchester beatsmith.
Waajeed ft. Monica Blaire : Knives Out
We close with a creepy track I've been meaning to play you for the longest. "Exit Music (Songs With Radio Heads)" was a 2006 tribute album to Radiohead featuring a whole bunch of covers, and this track featured both there and on "Exit Music EP 2". I can't say I've ever been a Radiohead listener, so I went to check the original version of this song (from 2001's "Amnesiac"), and while it was a decent listen, I have to say...my vote goes to Waajeed and Monica Blaire! Maybe it's the bias of having heard the cover first, but the throbbing bass on the hook here makes it sound really claustrophobic, which builds on the unpleasantness of the lyrics - well conveyed by Blaire. Waajeed is a skilled practitioner of timing/swing control within a beat, in that great Detroit tradition, and that drum track is overlaid with keys upon keys to produce the fleshed-out final product.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Whose ways are strange when it's time to survive?"
- DOOM
My birth month comes around once again, but times are getting rougher out there, so this is a pretty rugged selection on the whole - which, to be fair, fits the changing of the season too. Looks like I'm going to be pulling the hoodies and boots out...
RIP Coolio, who passed away just after the music recording was completed for this episode. Never heard a bad word said about the man even once. I'd love to see our legends grow old.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
L.E.G.A.C.Y : 7-3-71
For all these years, I had no idea what the track title was referring to, but I decided to try and find out while writing these notes. There weren't too many notable events that seemed to fit, but one looked possible - the death of Jim Morrison. On this track, L.E.G.A.C.Y mentions being "the Jim Morrison of this"...the mystery might just be solved! 9th Wonder is on the beat, which shuffles along nicely with a bassline-driven rhythm while L.E.G.A.C.Y spits two freewheeling verses. The "Legsclusives" album from 2003 is now available on Bandcamp, so you can get this and put some money directly into the man's pocket.
Statik Selektah : Nobody Move
As much as the vocal version with Raekwon and Royce from the "8" LP is a winner, it's actually nice to hear this dramatic number on the instrumental version of the LP without the vocals. The drum track brings to mind the famous "Amen" break, but I don't think it's a sample, and the horns are a great accompaniment.
Black Moon : Stay Real
If the sample sounds familiar, your ears aren't deceiving you! While you might recognise it from Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement", it was the Beatminerz who cooked it up for this track first (and actually, Buckwild touched it even before them). It's a noisy, dark backing for Buckshot's slithering Brooklyn flow, while 5ft comes with a more animated mic style. This single was a standout from the "Total Eclipse" LP, which was a worthy addition to the Black Moon catalogue. They're truly a group who never, ever switched it up for commercial appeal.
Prodigy & DJ Premier : Walk Out
The welcome surprise of the month is this dark single, just released by the estate of the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep. With DJ Premier, who backed Mobb Deep early on, on production, P just goes in with his legendary icy-cold delivery. For more, check the any-day-now release of the first posthumous Prodigy album, "The Hegelian Dialectic 2: The Book of Heroine". Rest in peace P.
Meyhem Lauren, Daringer, and Hologram : Raspberry Crush
Meyhem is one of my favourite on the mic, so I was excited to see he had a new release out, entirely produced by Daringer from the Griselda crew. "Black Vladimir" is a 15-track platter of fuzzy, dusty, mostly downtempo street production for an MC who knows exactly what to do with that kind of material. On this tune Meyhem's fellow Outdoorsman Hologram comes along for the ride, and he does his thing - though there was one adlib I had to be rid of - but Meyhem will pretty much always be the best MC on any track you hear him on.
Roc Marciano & The Alchemist : Zig Zag Zig
If you like the kind of dark, downtempo crime records that have been in vogue over the last few years, understand that Roc Marciano was a pioneer of that style. Combine him with the genius behind the boards that is The Alchemist, leave to cook, and you get something like the new "The Elephant Man's Bones: Pimpire Edition" album, from which this is drawn. The drums are more prominent here than on many Roc tracks, but still somewhat subdued, and he kicks his trademarked slick talk, street corner, word association lyrics over a long verse before Alchemist brings it home with a changeup on the beat. If you've ever heard me talk about "headphone music", this is a prime example.
Jay Dee : Kamaal
A little something to nod your head to, taken from Jay Dee's 2003 "Vintage" release. The tracks themselves are from the mid to late 90s, but even several years later they stand up, and there's no mistaking the producer - this was the era of his work that arguably spawned the most disciples and imitators.
Zo! and Tall Black Guy ft. Sy Smith, Black Milk, and Elzhi : The Ride
Last year's "Abstractions" album is a compact, beautiful collaboration between these two talented producers, and one which the R&B fans should definitely have a listen to. Here, it's an all-Detroit affair on the mic with Black Milk and Elzhi coming with short, laidback verses over an instrumental I'd call smooth as silk if it wasn't also giving the woofers a bit of a workout too. Sy Smith rounds things off with a staccato, breathy hook, and a little bit of talkbox action on backing vocals is the perfect accent.
Snoop Dogg : The Way Life Used To Be
West West! Something told me I needed a DJ Battlecat production in this spot, so here's one from the 2011 "Doggumentary" album - and Snoop was trying to go even further back that that! Reflecting on the old days and the wisdom of family elders, this actually leads well into the following cut...
2Pac : Nothing But Love
This September marks twenty-six years since 2Pac's passing, so I thought I'd go to a B-side (well, co-A-side at least) from my collection, as I've recently been back on my digitisation project. This is on the "I Get Around" 12", and has Pac talking about the streets and lessons learned over a beat he co-produced with Tony Pizzaro.
Stro Elliot & James Brown : Coal Sweat
Vintage funk with a 21st century kick (literally) as the highly talented producer and multi-instrumentalist Stro Elliot puts some grade A knock into this version of James Brown's pivotal funk classic "Cold Sweat". This is just one of the heaters on his excellent release "Black & Loud : James Brown Reimagined by Stro Elliot" from earlier this year. If any track on this episode deserves your volume turning to 11, it's this one.
Otis McDonald : We Go Hard
Otis McDonald is the alter ego of producer Joe Bagale, and since finding out about him this year, I haven't heard a bad beat yet! A lot of his music has actually been released as copyright free, which is definitely an unusual move. As great as this new single from the "Fall" LP would be with a top-tier lyricist rhyming on it, it simply doesn't need it, and effortlessly lives up to its title.
The Basement Khemist : Everybody (L.I.F.E.)
This B-side slipped by me for many a year, as the excellent "Vibrate" was always a favourite, but I gave the other side a spin recently and thought it'd be a good one to share! While the act name implies a single person, their name has varied over different releases and this is in fact a group. Produced by crew member Joc Max, there's a lot to like lyrically here, with the MCs alternating between a prayer and lamenting the temptations of the streets.
Elzhi ft. Ayah : The Leak
Elzhi again, why not? This time he takes centre stage though, on the first full track from his 2008 LP "The Preface". Black Milk's beat is burly, with the kick-bass combo filling the low end nicely, and all the other (sampled?) instrumentation falling into place around it. Of course, it's all about the bars when it comes to an Elzhi cut and he gives us the quality verses we've come to expect. For the streaming fans, this LP currently is on Tidal but not Spotify, but personally I'd recomment buying it - especially with the excellent "Hands Up" also being included.
Nym Lo, Dave East, Statik Selektah : I Love The Game
The final tune chosen for this month's mix, this one leapt into the selection before I'd even got to the end of the first verse! Harlem representative Nym Lo drops a wicked single, but it's guest Dave East who more effectively emphasises the message from the hook - the streets don't love you. Statik Selektah's beat has plenty of low-end knock on a 2022 boom-bap tip. Definitely a release to add to your collection!
Madvillain : Strange Ways
"Now, who's the real thugs, killers, and gangsters?" Who indeed? Probably my favourite track from the classic "Madvillainy" LP - while I confess to not being as big a Madlib fan as some, this beat of his is a perfect canvas for the late MF DOOM to spit a compact two verses on the violence of the world.
Pete Rock : Mind Frame (Instrumental)
Winding it back over twenty years, we have this bumping, brash Pete Rock beat that you might well know from the updated release of the "Petestrumentals" album; pretty much any modern-day purchase will include this, with Freddie Foxxx coming extra-rugged on the vocals. This instrumental did come out as part of the "Mind Frame/Back On The Block" single though, as well as the compilation "The Beat Generation 10th Anniversary Single Collection" - both well worth having.
Wu-Tang Clan : Protect Ya Neck (Radio Version)
As I say on the voiceover, Wu-Tang came to mind when I reached this episode number, and this track in particular. Rather than play the album version, I decided to go with the radio edit from the original 12" single - this was the way I heard this track for the first time, and to this day I still prefer it! Absolute rawness that still hits almost thirty years after its original release, and a near-perfect introduction to the Clan; Masta Killa and Cappadonna, who at various times have been listed as members, don't appear, but everyone else does and they burn it down. You had to be there in '93 to appreciate what a rebellion this was against the dominant sounds, but just know that it changed the game.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Whose ways are strange when it's time to survive?"
- DOOM
My birth month comes around once again, but times are getting rougher out there, so this is a pretty rugged selection on the whole - which, to be fair, fits the changing of the season too. Looks like I'm going to be pulling the hoodies and boots out...
RIP Coolio, who passed away just after the music recording was completed for this episode. Never heard a bad word said about the man even once. I'd love to see our legends grow old.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
L.E.G.A.C.Y : 7-3-71
For all these years, I had no idea what the track title was referring to, but I decided to try and find out while writing these notes. There weren't too many notable events that seemed to fit, but one looked possible - the death of Jim Morrison. On this track, L.E.G.A.C.Y mentions being "the Jim Morrison of this"...the mystery might just be solved! 9th Wonder is on the beat, which shuffles along nicely with a bassline-driven rhythm while L.E.G.A.C.Y spits two freewheeling verses. The "Legsclusives" album from 2003 is now available on Bandcamp, so you can get this and put some money directly into the man's pocket.
Statik Selektah : Nobody Move
As much as the vocal version with Raekwon and Royce from the "8" LP is a winner, it's actually nice to hear this dramatic number on the instrumental version of the LP without the vocals. The drum track brings to mind the famous "Amen" break, but I don't think it's a sample, and the horns are a great accompaniment.
Black Moon : Stay Real
If the sample sounds familiar, your ears aren't deceiving you! While you might recognise it from Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement", it was the Beatminerz who cooked it up for this track first (and actually, Buckwild touched it even before them). It's a noisy, dark backing for Buckshot's slithering Brooklyn flow, while 5ft comes with a more animated mic style. This single was a standout from the "Total Eclipse" LP, which was a worthy addition to the Black Moon catalogue. They're truly a group who never, ever switched it up for commercial appeal.
Prodigy & DJ Premier : Walk Out
The welcome surprise of the month is this dark single, just released by the estate of the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep. With DJ Premier, who backed Mobb Deep early on, on production, P just goes in with his legendary icy-cold delivery. For more, check the any-day-now release of the first posthumous Prodigy album, "The Hegelian Dialectic 2: The Book of Heroine". Rest in peace P.
Meyhem Lauren, Daringer, and Hologram : Raspberry Crush
Meyhem is one of my favourite on the mic, so I was excited to see he had a new release out, entirely produced by Daringer from the Griselda crew. "Black Vladimir" is a 15-track platter of fuzzy, dusty, mostly downtempo street production for an MC who knows exactly what to do with that kind of material. On this tune Meyhem's fellow Outdoorsman Hologram comes along for the ride, and he does his thing - though there was one adlib I had to be rid of - but Meyhem will pretty much always be the best MC on any track you hear him on.
Roc Marciano & The Alchemist : Zig Zag Zig
If you like the kind of dark, downtempo crime records that have been in vogue over the last few years, understand that Roc Marciano was a pioneer of that style. Combine him with the genius behind the boards that is The Alchemist, leave to cook, and you get something like the new "The Elephant Man's Bones: Pimpire Edition" album, from which this is drawn. The drums are more prominent here than on many Roc tracks, but still somewhat subdued, and he kicks his trademarked slick talk, street corner, word association lyrics over a long verse before Alchemist brings it home with a changeup on the beat. If you've ever heard me talk about "headphone music", this is a prime example.
Jay Dee : Kamaal
A little something to nod your head to, taken from Jay Dee's 2003 "Vintage" release. The tracks themselves are from the mid to late 90s, but even several years later they stand up, and there's no mistaking the producer - this was the era of his work that arguably spawned the most disciples and imitators.
Zo! and Tall Black Guy ft. Sy Smith, Black Milk, and Elzhi : The Ride
Last year's "Abstractions" album is a compact, beautiful collaboration between these two talented producers, and one which the R&B fans should definitely have a listen to. Here, it's an all-Detroit affair on the mic with Black Milk and Elzhi coming with short, laidback verses over an instrumental I'd call smooth as silk if it wasn't also giving the woofers a bit of a workout too. Sy Smith rounds things off with a staccato, breathy hook, and a little bit of talkbox action on backing vocals is the perfect accent.
Snoop Dogg : The Way Life Used To Be
West West! Something told me I needed a DJ Battlecat production in this spot, so here's one from the 2011 "Doggumentary" album - and Snoop was trying to go even further back that that! Reflecting on the old days and the wisdom of family elders, this actually leads well into the following cut...
2Pac : Nothing But Love
This September marks twenty-six years since 2Pac's passing, so I thought I'd go to a B-side (well, co-A-side at least) from my collection, as I've recently been back on my digitisation project. This is on the "I Get Around" 12", and has Pac talking about the streets and lessons learned over a beat he co-produced with Tony Pizzaro.
Stro Elliot & James Brown : Coal Sweat
Vintage funk with a 21st century kick (literally) as the highly talented producer and multi-instrumentalist Stro Elliot puts some grade A knock into this version of James Brown's pivotal funk classic "Cold Sweat". This is just one of the heaters on his excellent release "Black & Loud : James Brown Reimagined by Stro Elliot" from earlier this year. If any track on this episode deserves your volume turning to 11, it's this one.
Otis McDonald : We Go Hard
Otis McDonald is the alter ego of producer Joe Bagale, and since finding out about him this year, I haven't heard a bad beat yet! A lot of his music has actually been released as copyright free, which is definitely an unusual move. As great as this new single from the "Fall" LP would be with a top-tier lyricist rhyming on it, it simply doesn't need it, and effortlessly lives up to its title.
The Basement Khemist : Everybody (L.I.F.E.)
This B-side slipped by me for many a year, as the excellent "Vibrate" was always a favourite, but I gave the other side a spin recently and thought it'd be a good one to share! While the act name implies a single person, their name has varied over different releases and this is in fact a group. Produced by crew member Joc Max, there's a lot to like lyrically here, with the MCs alternating between a prayer and lamenting the temptations of the streets.
Elzhi ft. Ayah : The Leak
Elzhi again, why not? This time he takes centre stage though, on the first full track from his 2008 LP "The Preface". Black Milk's beat is burly, with the kick-bass combo filling the low end nicely, and all the other (sampled?) instrumentation falling into place around it. Of course, it's all about the bars when it comes to an Elzhi cut and he gives us the quality verses we've come to expect. For the streaming fans, this LP currently is on Tidal but not Spotify, but personally I'd recomment buying it - especially with the excellent "Hands Up" also being included.
Nym Lo, Dave East, Statik Selektah : I Love The Game
The final tune chosen for this month's mix, this one leapt into the selection before I'd even got to the end of the first verse! Harlem representative Nym Lo drops a wicked single, but it's guest Dave East who more effectively emphasises the message from the hook - the streets don't love you. Statik Selektah's beat has plenty of low-end knock on a 2022 boom-bap tip. Definitely a release to add to your collection!
Madvillain : Strange Ways
"Now, who's the real thugs, killers, and gangsters?" Who indeed? Probably my favourite track from the classic "Madvillainy" LP - while I confess to not being as big a Madlib fan as some, this beat of his is a perfect canvas for the late MF DOOM to spit a compact two verses on the violence of the world.
Pete Rock : Mind Frame (Instrumental)
Winding it back over twenty years, we have this bumping, brash Pete Rock beat that you might well know from the updated release of the "Petestrumentals" album; pretty much any modern-day purchase will include this, with Freddie Foxxx coming extra-rugged on the vocals. This instrumental did come out as part of the "Mind Frame/Back On The Block" single though, as well as the compilation "The Beat Generation 10th Anniversary Single Collection" - both well worth having.
Wu-Tang Clan : Protect Ya Neck (Radio Version)
As I say on the voiceover, Wu-Tang came to mind when I reached this episode number, and this track in particular. Rather than play the album version, I decided to go with the radio edit from the original 12" single - this was the way I heard this track for the first time, and to this day I still prefer it! Absolute rawness that still hits almost thirty years after its original release, and a near-perfect introduction to the Clan; Masta Killa and Cappadonna, who at various times have been listed as members, don't appear, but everyone else does and they burn it down. You had to be there in '93 to appreciate what a rebellion this was against the dominant sounds, but just know that it changed the game.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...today, we choose violence..."
- Da-Neek
Last month we had a nice, chilled, downtempo selection, gliding through several different genres. This month, we're flipping the script and rooting ourselves in pure beats, rhymes, and cuts!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic
I was originally going to start the episode with the second track you'll hear, but a) I figured there'd be some listeners who wouldn't grab the reference it was making, and b) I'm always up for a bit of Public Enemy! This is an album cut from the seminal "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back", and a bit of a signal of the era; how many groups nowadays would do a track about their DJ? In fact, how many of them even have DJs?
The LOX : Terminator LOX
And now, we slide into a brand new release that has lovers of the real nodding in approval! Yonkers' own LOX come out swinging with this rugged single based around the preceding PE track. Great to see skilled veterans of the artform paying homage to those who came before them.
J-Zone : I'm Fuckin' Up The Money (Instrumental)
J-Zone is now a highly-accomplished drummer, but he was a beast on the MPC - even if the lyrics were humourous, the skills were no joke. The vocal version of this cut from "Pimps Don't Pay Taxes" actually has H.U.G soloing on the mic with a fine performance, but you'll need to grab the "Live From Pimp Palace East" single for this instrumental.
Neelam (ft. Da-Neek and Goalden Child) : We Got Em Like
I rarely use emojis in my write-ups, but 🔥🔥🔥🔥! If I recall correctly, I heard a snippet of this posted on Instagram by Pete Rock, and immediately went to chase it down. The video clip was immediately attention-grabbing, with women in militant garb doing drill manoeuvres around the MC, who's crystal-clear flow cut through the ominous, militaristic beat. Neelam and the guest MC on this cut are all representing the Nation of Islam, and each is from a different part of the country - in order, California, New York, and Chicago. All of them have skills, but Neelam is an absolute standout. This is a killer from the "Anomalous" EP, with Marquis Henri Scott and Vinson Alaz Muhammad providing the instrumental backing for three verses of the type you rarely hear these days.
Royce Da 5'9" : Soldier's Story
I decided to follow up with another military-inspired track, even if it's not coming from the same place message-wise! This Reef-produced 2000 track from Royce was on the B-side of the "Boom" single, and if I'm honest, I've always preferred it!
Red Astaire : Ghetto Hell
RIP to Red Astaire, who sadly and unexpectedly passed away in June this year. The Swedish beatsmith put out some incredibly high-quality work over the years, and this 2004 12" - now available as a digital release - is just one example. It takes a brave person to consider ripping out DJ Premier's production on D'Angelo's "Devil's Pie", but Red does it. Stripping things all the way back to a straight rhythm at first and then adding synths along the way, he crafts a beat that is a worthy remix - and then tops it off by throwing a sample of a speech on economics and exploitation on at the close! Red Astaire may no longer be with us, but his 12"s will be in the crates of many DJs for a long time to come.
[Charlemagne] Natural Elements : 2Tons (TV Track)
One of the few TV Tracks that isn't marred by a load of vocals! The drum action on this beat is serious, courtesy of the real Charlemagne, who was the man behind the board for almost all of Natural Elements' earlier material. Definitely seek out the vocal version of this cut, as what NE are known for, more than anything, is their incredible MC skill.
Tek : Hip-Hop
A bite-sized heater from the 2006 "It Is What It Is" album which also spawned the monster "#1 Sound". Tek works in perfect sync with the production here, leaving space for the various vocal samples and wrapping them into the verses themselves.
Pete Rock : One Time (Strap Yourself Down)
All these years and still going strong, Pete Rock continues to give us that work and evolve his sound; not to say that anything needed to change, but he's not afraid to throw in sonic elements that aren't obvious signatures. The drums on this selection from "PeteStrumentals 4" could easily have come from The Basement back in the 90s though...dopeness.
Omniscence : Raw Factor
Speaking of the 90s, we go back to that storied decade for this tune, the title track of the debut album from North Carolina's Omniscence. The LP was actually shelved at the time due to label politics and didn't see the light of day until 2014, when it finally got a release on Bandcamp! Produced by Fanatic, this sounds incredibly of its era in the best way - you can imagine this on a mixtape with Mic Geronimo, Nine, and plenty of others, slotting in seamlessly.
Sean Price and Small Professor (ft. Illa Ghee, Rock, and DJ Revolution) : Think About It
In August I always like to make sure I play some Sean Price, and we dip into one of his posthumous releases, the "86 Witness" LP with Small Professor. He slays the first verse, Illa Ghee does his thing on the second, and then Rock - Sean's partner in Heltah Skeltah - brings it home heavy. Small Professor's beat is dark, and accented by the sharp, angular cuts of DJ Revolution. The stereo panning on those cuts are a nice touch too!
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : 100 Degree
Brand new single release from one of my favourite MCs alongside the skilled musicianship of Jointhedots, showing the level of talent coming out of Manchester. We did actually reach 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) fairly recently, which is a bit worrying, but I digress...this meeting of the minds hasn't missed with any of their releases - whether lyrics or production is your thing, they have what you need.
Da Bush Babees : Gravity
The title track of the second LP from this Flatbush, Native Tongues-affiliated crew (yep, I thought it was the debut myself), this just has that down-to-earth bump that you can't help but groove to, alongside solid lyricism with the underlying flavour of the Caribbean, from which all the members hail (Jamaica and Trinidad). The Ummah are on production, meaning any combination of J Dilla, Q-Tip, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Da Bush Babees a crew that should have got more shine in their original form!
Statik Selektah : You Win (Instrumental)
This just fit nicely! Statik Selektah is one of those producers who quietly, consistently has worked his way into being one of the true heavyweights in today's scene. This particular track is from the "Mahalo (The Hawaii Instrumentals)" album, which as the title suggests, was entirely recorded in Honolulu.
Black Soprano Family (Benny The Butcher, Heem B$F, Rick Hyde) and DJ Premier : Times Is Rough
Different generations of ruggedness combine across the mic/board boundary for this ill new single. DJ Premier cooks up a signature beat and seasons it with another great scratch hook, while the BSF crew, headed up by Benny The Butcher, drop fire 2020s street bars from start to finish.
Bumpy Knuckles : The Flow Is Classic HipHop
That track title passes the Ronseal test! If there's a list of MCs who will never sell out for commercial appeal, Bumpy Knuckles' name would be a sure inclusion. Classic boom-bap here, self-produced, from the 2013 "Mix Files, Vol.1" EP. You'll only find a couple of tracks on Spotify, so you'll need to make a purchase - if you can find somewhere still selling it - to hear the release in its entirety.
Little Brother & Chaundon : The Honorable
Ok, kind of interesting labelling on this one. Originally credited/titled as "Untitled (Hot)" by Phonte and Chaundon on the "Just Us, Volume 7" Justus League mixtape, this eventually surfaced again as "The Honorable" on LB's "The Chittlin' Circuit 1.5 (Deluxe Edition)" release. 9th Wonder on the incredible beat of course, with a very dope scratch chorus might I add, and all the MCs representing strong. Chaundon's guest verse is a gem, and his line about tossing "your Microsoft ass out of 98 windows" marks the time period when this was recorded!
dead prez : Way Of Life
An anthem for the martial artist, this is from a crew who walk it like they talk it. Produced by Stic, this one draws you in with the reversed sounds and the bass and guitar work, then keeps you there with the repetitious, almost meditative flow. Find this on the "RBG (Revolutionary But Gangsta)" LP.
Repeat : Repeat To Fade
This one just got pulled out of the deepest corners of my stash, a compilation where I wouldn't have expected for a second to find something to mix in here - "Life...Style : Summer Sessions", which is primarily a dance-oriented three-CD compilation. As you can imagine, trying to Google for info on an artist and song with these names is pretty brutal, but I think this Repeat was an Italian act - that's the extent of what I can find! This cut could fit into a Bristol bass/trip-hop mix, with a crashing drum break or two working against atmospheric pads and an insistent bassline.
Sean Price & Agallah : Telemundo
We close the episode with one more for Sean Price, a single from that period after Heltah Skeltah's hiatus, and before Sean's second act had gained the momentum it later would. Agallah appreciated the talent even when others somehow slept, and this Brooklyn union has always made me smile. Ag is on the beat as well as on the mic, but Sean still makes this his track with skill, wit, and humour :) R.I...P!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...today, we choose violence..."
- Da-Neek
Last month we had a nice, chilled, downtempo selection, gliding through several different genres. This month, we're flipping the script and rooting ourselves in pure beats, rhymes, and cuts!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic
I was originally going to start the episode with the second track you'll hear, but a) I figured there'd be some listeners who wouldn't grab the reference it was making, and b) I'm always up for a bit of Public Enemy! This is an album cut from the seminal "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back", and a bit of a signal of the era; how many groups nowadays would do a track about their DJ? In fact, how many of them even have DJs?
The LOX : Terminator LOX
And now, we slide into a brand new release that has lovers of the real nodding in approval! Yonkers' own LOX come out swinging with this rugged single based around the preceding PE track. Great to see skilled veterans of the artform paying homage to those who came before them.
J-Zone : I'm Fuckin' Up The Money (Instrumental)
J-Zone is now a highly-accomplished drummer, but he was a beast on the MPC - even if the lyrics were humourous, the skills were no joke. The vocal version of this cut from "Pimps Don't Pay Taxes" actually has H.U.G soloing on the mic with a fine performance, but you'll need to grab the "Live From Pimp Palace East" single for this instrumental.
Neelam (ft. Da-Neek and Goalden Child) : We Got Em Like
I rarely use emojis in my write-ups, but 🔥🔥🔥🔥! If I recall correctly, I heard a snippet of this posted on Instagram by Pete Rock, and immediately went to chase it down. The video clip was immediately attention-grabbing, with women in militant garb doing drill manoeuvres around the MC, who's crystal-clear flow cut through the ominous, militaristic beat. Neelam and the guest MC on this cut are all representing the Nation of Islam, and each is from a different part of the country - in order, California, New York, and Chicago. All of them have skills, but Neelam is an absolute standout. This is a killer from the "Anomalous" EP, with Marquis Henri Scott and Vinson Alaz Muhammad providing the instrumental backing for three verses of the type you rarely hear these days.
Royce Da 5'9" : Soldier's Story
I decided to follow up with another military-inspired track, even if it's not coming from the same place message-wise! This Reef-produced 2000 track from Royce was on the B-side of the "Boom" single, and if I'm honest, I've always preferred it!
Red Astaire : Ghetto Hell
RIP to Red Astaire, who sadly and unexpectedly passed away in June this year. The Swedish beatsmith put out some incredibly high-quality work over the years, and this 2004 12" - now available as a digital release - is just one example. It takes a brave person to consider ripping out DJ Premier's production on D'Angelo's "Devil's Pie", but Red does it. Stripping things all the way back to a straight rhythm at first and then adding synths along the way, he crafts a beat that is a worthy remix - and then tops it off by throwing a sample of a speech on economics and exploitation on at the close! Red Astaire may no longer be with us, but his 12"s will be in the crates of many DJs for a long time to come.
[Charlemagne] Natural Elements : 2Tons (TV Track)
One of the few TV Tracks that isn't marred by a load of vocals! The drum action on this beat is serious, courtesy of the real Charlemagne, who was the man behind the board for almost all of Natural Elements' earlier material. Definitely seek out the vocal version of this cut, as what NE are known for, more than anything, is their incredible MC skill.
Tek : Hip-Hop
A bite-sized heater from the 2006 "It Is What It Is" album which also spawned the monster "#1 Sound". Tek works in perfect sync with the production here, leaving space for the various vocal samples and wrapping them into the verses themselves.
Pete Rock : One Time (Strap Yourself Down)
All these years and still going strong, Pete Rock continues to give us that work and evolve his sound; not to say that anything needed to change, but he's not afraid to throw in sonic elements that aren't obvious signatures. The drums on this selection from "PeteStrumentals 4" could easily have come from The Basement back in the 90s though...dopeness.
Omniscence : Raw Factor
Speaking of the 90s, we go back to that storied decade for this tune, the title track of the debut album from North Carolina's Omniscence. The LP was actually shelved at the time due to label politics and didn't see the light of day until 2014, when it finally got a release on Bandcamp! Produced by Fanatic, this sounds incredibly of its era in the best way - you can imagine this on a mixtape with Mic Geronimo, Nine, and plenty of others, slotting in seamlessly.
Sean Price and Small Professor (ft. Illa Ghee, Rock, and DJ Revolution) : Think About It
In August I always like to make sure I play some Sean Price, and we dip into one of his posthumous releases, the "86 Witness" LP with Small Professor. He slays the first verse, Illa Ghee does his thing on the second, and then Rock - Sean's partner in Heltah Skeltah - brings it home heavy. Small Professor's beat is dark, and accented by the sharp, angular cuts of DJ Revolution. The stereo panning on those cuts are a nice touch too!
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : 100 Degree
Brand new single release from one of my favourite MCs alongside the skilled musicianship of Jointhedots, showing the level of talent coming out of Manchester. We did actually reach 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) fairly recently, which is a bit worrying, but I digress...this meeting of the minds hasn't missed with any of their releases - whether lyrics or production is your thing, they have what you need.
Da Bush Babees : Gravity
The title track of the second LP from this Flatbush, Native Tongues-affiliated crew (yep, I thought it was the debut myself), this just has that down-to-earth bump that you can't help but groove to, alongside solid lyricism with the underlying flavour of the Caribbean, from which all the members hail (Jamaica and Trinidad). The Ummah are on production, meaning any combination of J Dilla, Q-Tip, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Da Bush Babees a crew that should have got more shine in their original form!
Statik Selektah : You Win (Instrumental)
This just fit nicely! Statik Selektah is one of those producers who quietly, consistently has worked his way into being one of the true heavyweights in today's scene. This particular track is from the "Mahalo (The Hawaii Instrumentals)" album, which as the title suggests, was entirely recorded in Honolulu.
Black Soprano Family (Benny The Butcher, Heem B$F, Rick Hyde) and DJ Premier : Times Is Rough
Different generations of ruggedness combine across the mic/board boundary for this ill new single. DJ Premier cooks up a signature beat and seasons it with another great scratch hook, while the BSF crew, headed up by Benny The Butcher, drop fire 2020s street bars from start to finish.
Bumpy Knuckles : The Flow Is Classic HipHop
That track title passes the Ronseal test! If there's a list of MCs who will never sell out for commercial appeal, Bumpy Knuckles' name would be a sure inclusion. Classic boom-bap here, self-produced, from the 2013 "Mix Files, Vol.1" EP. You'll only find a couple of tracks on Spotify, so you'll need to make a purchase - if you can find somewhere still selling it - to hear the release in its entirety.
Little Brother & Chaundon : The Honorable
Ok, kind of interesting labelling on this one. Originally credited/titled as "Untitled (Hot)" by Phonte and Chaundon on the "Just Us, Volume 7" Justus League mixtape, this eventually surfaced again as "The Honorable" on LB's "The Chittlin' Circuit 1.5 (Deluxe Edition)" release. 9th Wonder on the incredible beat of course, with a very dope scratch chorus might I add, and all the MCs representing strong. Chaundon's guest verse is a gem, and his line about tossing "your Microsoft ass out of 98 windows" marks the time period when this was recorded!
dead prez : Way Of Life
An anthem for the martial artist, this is from a crew who walk it like they talk it. Produced by Stic, this one draws you in with the reversed sounds and the bass and guitar work, then keeps you there with the repetitious, almost meditative flow. Find this on the "RBG (Revolutionary But Gangsta)" LP.
Repeat : Repeat To Fade
This one just got pulled out of the deepest corners of my stash, a compilation where I wouldn't have expected for a second to find something to mix in here - "Life...Style : Summer Sessions", which is primarily a dance-oriented three-CD compilation. As you can imagine, trying to Google for info on an artist and song with these names is pretty brutal, but I think this Repeat was an Italian act - that's the extent of what I can find! This cut could fit into a Bristol bass/trip-hop mix, with a crashing drum break or two working against atmospheric pads and an insistent bassline.
Sean Price & Agallah : Telemundo
We close the episode with one more for Sean Price, a single from that period after Heltah Skeltah's hiatus, and before Sean's second act had gained the momentum it later would. Agallah appreciated the talent even when others somehow slept, and this Brooklyn union has always made me smile. Ag is on the beat as well as on the mic, but Sean still makes this his track with skill, wit, and humour :) R.I...P!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"If you move, I'll fall."
- Traditional
I've been away for most of the month dealing with a family emergency, but I've just about managed to get an episode together with the few days of the month I've been in Manchester. I spent a few of the days away trying to do my day job in some absolutely punishing heat, and so ended up listening to a lot of laid-back tunes to fit the temperature - as such, I thought I'd shape the month's selection in the same manner! Some old classics (including one for KMG, RIP) and more recent cuts, moving through a few different genres - enjoy!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
India Shawn ft. Anderson .Paak : Movin' On
We start the episode on the modern soul tip with a killer from Los Angeles native India Shawn, who you'll have heard on the podcast before. As much as Anderson .Paak comes through with a great guest appearance, it's absolutely still her song. It's sunny, fresh, and a good song to wake up to as much as anything! With her message of moving out of a bad situation to something better, India Shawn creates an uplifting cut alongside producer D'Mile, which you can find on the short "Before We Go" album.
Tavaras Jordan : The Player's Ball
The more I catch up on his back catalogue, the more this man becomes one of my favourite musicians and producers. This instrumental is from his "SouthernPlayalistic" beat tape, and it's a sunny, refined track which, while you could imagine being topped with an R&B singer quite easily, is perfect just as it is.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity : Everybody Loves The Sunshine
One of the timeless, foundation, unimpeachable summer anthems - already forty-six years old and it still gets plenty of play. That's not even getting into how many times it's been covered, remixed, sampled, it's just a cultural staple. If you don't know, Roy Ayers is a jazz/soul/funk artist, writer, and producer, who has been putting out work since the early Sixties - and who is still performing live today! This is the title track from one of the albums under the name "Roy Ayers Ubiquity", and while the whole LP is good, this will always be the standout.
Lisa Shaw : Better Days
The opening track from Lisa Shaw's second LP, "Free", this is a light and airy, beautifully-engineered track that puts Shaw front and centre, at a slow and leisurely pace to warm you up for the more uptempo material that makes up the majority of the album. Still waiting on a third LP from this incredibly talented artist though...
Le$ : Campaign
Late night Houston rider music! The "Le$ Is More" EP was another quality release from the man with maybe the biggest contrast between his work ethic and how energetic he sounds on the mic (that said, Snoop also exists), and after playing this quite a few times this month I thought it was the track to include in the mix. Those gliding keyboards open things up and acclimatise you and then when the drum track drops, you're fully locked in.
UGK : It's Supposed To Bubble
If you don't know UGK's work, I'd recommend giving them a listen - Pimp C (RIP) and Bun B came out of Port Arthur, Texas, with their own highly-musical brand of Hip-Hop that stands up against anyone you can name. What often sounds like samples in their work is often built up with live, replayed versions of famous licks played by Pimp and guests, and then they bring their southern flavour to the mic. This track comes from their second LP, 1994's "Super Tight", and they're celebrating with a little champagne. It does, indeed, be like that sometimes.
MF DOOM : Red And Gold (Original 12" Instrumental)
No matter what, "Operation Doomsday" will always be my favourite MF DOOM (RIP) release - at that time, it hit like nothing else, sounding like someone with a stack of 80s records, a drum machine, and a mic, holed up in a bedroom and going for it. I'm not going to mention the sample, but it's not hidden at all - and you likely recognise it from some other uses!
Prodigy : Stronger
The late, great Prodigy on a slow and low number from the "The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP" and later the "Bumpy Johnson" LP, spitting rawness with that legendary voice. King Benny borrows from the 1966 Nina Simone classic "Four Women", and the specific words he takes and manipulates makes me wonder if it's a specific reference to P's strength in enduring sickle-cell anaemia for so long.
Brand New Heavies : Mind Trips (Durham Remix)
If you want a different take on BNH material, definitely seek out the "Elephantitis" remix collection - it's two CDs (or digital, I guess), one being funk-based and the other all house remixes. As you can hear, this is the former, reworked by the Hip-Hop producer Bob Durham, who gives this a classy, laid-back vibe. As well as being on that remix collection, this was on the original "Mind Trips" single from 1995, along with a Def Jef version - so worth looking out for!
Geto Boys : Leanin' On You
When the Geto Boys first came out with this lineup for their legendarily brutal 1990 debut "The Geto Boys", you could never have imagined that one day, Bushwick Bill (RIP) would be spitting Christian bars, which just goes to show you never know what the future holds! Bill's lyrics on this track from "The Foundation" were actually written by Willie D, who also delivers the opening verse himself. Mr. Mixx of 2 Live Crew builds the track around a 70s soul sample, borrowing the hook entirely to set the theme for all the MCs to rhyme about loss, pain, and those times when we all falter.
Ann Peebles : I Can't Stand The Rain
Even if you don't know it, you'll recognise it - a true giant of a track. Inspired by an actual comment from Peebles when a rainstorm started as she and friends were due to head to a concert, songwriter Don Bryant and DJ Bernie Miller wrote the foundation and then brought it to Willie Mitchell, who cooked up the raindrop riff. From there, it just needed a strong vocal to make it a classic and Ann Peebles delivers in spades, a classic performance where she lets it all out. It's been covered by Tina Turner, and sampled by Missy Elliott, but sometimes you need that original lick. More heat on the LP of the same name!
Khruangbin : August 10
We return to Texas for this beautiful instrumental number from this Houston funk powerhouse. The "Con Todo El Mundo" LP is one that really deserves a front-to-back listen on a hot day with a quality pair of headphones or a sound system, and this track gives you a great appetiser. The first song the group wrote together was "August 12", and this track is actually that song reversed, with some added flavour into the bargain. Genius!
Shaun Escoffery : Give Everything (DJ Spinna Remix)
I had a download (sssh) back in the day of the "Soulonica" remix LP claiming that this is a DJ Cam remix, but I bought it recently and it's labelled as a DJ Spinna remix, so that's what we're going with! It's a Brooklyn-UK connection, with Spinna on the beat leaving loads of space for Shaun Escoffery's vocals, stripping away the acoustic guitars and other flourishes from the original. Speaking of the original, it's on the 2002 "Shaun Escoffery" album, which contains some absolute fire - if you only dip in for one other track, I recommend "Conversations Of The Heart".
Above The Law : Encore
Many groups struggle to put together a great three-album run, but Above The Law reached that mark and surpassed it - for me, their HoF run is at least four, and possibly five albums long (ending with "Legends"). This is from their fourth LP, "Time Will Reveal", which is one you should definitely try to find if you've never heard it - in my opinion, it really hasn't aged and remains a great listen to this day. This track was the first on the vinyl (second on CD), and is a perfect opener. The late great KMG takes the first verse, telling the story of the group's come-up in his laid-back style, with Cold 187um delivering his verse with a more hype approach. Production is also handled by Cold 187um, showing absolute mastery of his evolution of the G-Funk sound.
Janelle Monáe : It's Code
You should know the deal by now when one of the modern greats blesses us with an album. "The Electric Lady" is already nine years old, but still stands up and I went back to that LP for this track, another chapter in her long-running musical narrative telling the story of the android Cindi Mayweather. If you weren't listening closely or hadn't read the title, you might think this song was titled "It's Cold", but Janelle flips it in keeping with the overall tech theme.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
"I ain't gotta sell another record in my life", he says - and while he might have been right, he shifted a fair few after this was recorded! This was labelled as "People Are Talking" on the white label 12" I have it on, but this is much more easily available as a bonus track on the Jay-Z "Unplugged" album. Lyrically you can tell that this comes from the period when Jay seemed to have beef with everyone - Nas, Mobb Deep, some guy selling burgers on the corner...anyway, he's sharp with it as always! Ski Beatz is on production, with his own take on the sped-up soul samples that were so popular around this time.
Agallah : Living Love (Instrumental)
Just what I needed for this spot, coming from the "PCP Instrumentals" by one of East New York's finest. This drumless track that is simultaneously vocal-sampling and yet basically an instrumental - skilfully done.
Trae Tha Truth : Rollin'
Correction here: I said it was an 80s sample, but in fact it was from a 1979 record. Saying no more though!
I play this one so much for myself, I was amazed to find it hadn't been on the podcast yet! Trae is not only a veteran MC, with solo album releases going back nearly twenty years (and collabs before that), but a noted and self-driven philanthropist who has tirelessly put work into his community. He's so beloved in his hometown of Houston that the city honoured him by declaring July 22nd "Trae Day", and the love is well-earned. He's still pumping out the music today, but we go back ten years to the 2012 "Tha Blackprint" release to close this episode. It's a favourite topic of the region - how ill his car is, how good he looks riding in it - and he executes it well over a reworking of a classic soul sample by Platinum Hands. As with many tracks from the South, I maintain that if you don't like it, you're probably listening to it in the wrong setting; play it on a good car or club system, and you'll understand...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"If you move, I'll fall."
- Traditional
I've been away for most of the month dealing with a family emergency, but I've just about managed to get an episode together with the few days of the month I've been in Manchester. I spent a few of the days away trying to do my day job in some absolutely punishing heat, and so ended up listening to a lot of laid-back tunes to fit the temperature - as such, I thought I'd shape the month's selection in the same manner! Some old classics (including one for KMG, RIP) and more recent cuts, moving through a few different genres - enjoy!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
India Shawn ft. Anderson .Paak : Movin' On
We start the episode on the modern soul tip with a killer from Los Angeles native India Shawn, who you'll have heard on the podcast before. As much as Anderson .Paak comes through with a great guest appearance, it's absolutely still her song. It's sunny, fresh, and a good song to wake up to as much as anything! With her message of moving out of a bad situation to something better, India Shawn creates an uplifting cut alongside producer D'Mile, which you can find on the short "Before We Go" album.
Tavaras Jordan : The Player's Ball
The more I catch up on his back catalogue, the more this man becomes one of my favourite musicians and producers. This instrumental is from his "SouthernPlayalistic" beat tape, and it's a sunny, refined track which, while you could imagine being topped with an R&B singer quite easily, is perfect just as it is.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity : Everybody Loves The Sunshine
One of the timeless, foundation, unimpeachable summer anthems - already forty-six years old and it still gets plenty of play. That's not even getting into how many times it's been covered, remixed, sampled, it's just a cultural staple. If you don't know, Roy Ayers is a jazz/soul/funk artist, writer, and producer, who has been putting out work since the early Sixties - and who is still performing live today! This is the title track from one of the albums under the name "Roy Ayers Ubiquity", and while the whole LP is good, this will always be the standout.
Lisa Shaw : Better Days
The opening track from Lisa Shaw's second LP, "Free", this is a light and airy, beautifully-engineered track that puts Shaw front and centre, at a slow and leisurely pace to warm you up for the more uptempo material that makes up the majority of the album. Still waiting on a third LP from this incredibly talented artist though...
Le$ : Campaign
Late night Houston rider music! The "Le$ Is More" EP was another quality release from the man with maybe the biggest contrast between his work ethic and how energetic he sounds on the mic (that said, Snoop also exists), and after playing this quite a few times this month I thought it was the track to include in the mix. Those gliding keyboards open things up and acclimatise you and then when the drum track drops, you're fully locked in.
UGK : It's Supposed To Bubble
If you don't know UGK's work, I'd recommend giving them a listen - Pimp C (RIP) and Bun B came out of Port Arthur, Texas, with their own highly-musical brand of Hip-Hop that stands up against anyone you can name. What often sounds like samples in their work is often built up with live, replayed versions of famous licks played by Pimp and guests, and then they bring their southern flavour to the mic. This track comes from their second LP, 1994's "Super Tight", and they're celebrating with a little champagne. It does, indeed, be like that sometimes.
MF DOOM : Red And Gold (Original 12" Instrumental)
No matter what, "Operation Doomsday" will always be my favourite MF DOOM (RIP) release - at that time, it hit like nothing else, sounding like someone with a stack of 80s records, a drum machine, and a mic, holed up in a bedroom and going for it. I'm not going to mention the sample, but it's not hidden at all - and you likely recognise it from some other uses!
Prodigy : Stronger
The late, great Prodigy on a slow and low number from the "The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP" and later the "Bumpy Johnson" LP, spitting rawness with that legendary voice. King Benny borrows from the 1966 Nina Simone classic "Four Women", and the specific words he takes and manipulates makes me wonder if it's a specific reference to P's strength in enduring sickle-cell anaemia for so long.
Brand New Heavies : Mind Trips (Durham Remix)
If you want a different take on BNH material, definitely seek out the "Elephantitis" remix collection - it's two CDs (or digital, I guess), one being funk-based and the other all house remixes. As you can hear, this is the former, reworked by the Hip-Hop producer Bob Durham, who gives this a classy, laid-back vibe. As well as being on that remix collection, this was on the original "Mind Trips" single from 1995, along with a Def Jef version - so worth looking out for!
Geto Boys : Leanin' On You
When the Geto Boys first came out with this lineup for their legendarily brutal 1990 debut "The Geto Boys", you could never have imagined that one day, Bushwick Bill (RIP) would be spitting Christian bars, which just goes to show you never know what the future holds! Bill's lyrics on this track from "The Foundation" were actually written by Willie D, who also delivers the opening verse himself. Mr. Mixx of 2 Live Crew builds the track around a 70s soul sample, borrowing the hook entirely to set the theme for all the MCs to rhyme about loss, pain, and those times when we all falter.
Ann Peebles : I Can't Stand The Rain
Even if you don't know it, you'll recognise it - a true giant of a track. Inspired by an actual comment from Peebles when a rainstorm started as she and friends were due to head to a concert, songwriter Don Bryant and DJ Bernie Miller wrote the foundation and then brought it to Willie Mitchell, who cooked up the raindrop riff. From there, it just needed a strong vocal to make it a classic and Ann Peebles delivers in spades, a classic performance where she lets it all out. It's been covered by Tina Turner, and sampled by Missy Elliott, but sometimes you need that original lick. More heat on the LP of the same name!
Khruangbin : August 10
We return to Texas for this beautiful instrumental number from this Houston funk powerhouse. The "Con Todo El Mundo" LP is one that really deserves a front-to-back listen on a hot day with a quality pair of headphones or a sound system, and this track gives you a great appetiser. The first song the group wrote together was "August 12", and this track is actually that song reversed, with some added flavour into the bargain. Genius!
Shaun Escoffery : Give Everything (DJ Spinna Remix)
I had a download (sssh) back in the day of the "Soulonica" remix LP claiming that this is a DJ Cam remix, but I bought it recently and it's labelled as a DJ Spinna remix, so that's what we're going with! It's a Brooklyn-UK connection, with Spinna on the beat leaving loads of space for Shaun Escoffery's vocals, stripping away the acoustic guitars and other flourishes from the original. Speaking of the original, it's on the 2002 "Shaun Escoffery" album, which contains some absolute fire - if you only dip in for one other track, I recommend "Conversations Of The Heart".
Above The Law : Encore
Many groups struggle to put together a great three-album run, but Above The Law reached that mark and surpassed it - for me, their HoF run is at least four, and possibly five albums long (ending with "Legends"). This is from their fourth LP, "Time Will Reveal", which is one you should definitely try to find if you've never heard it - in my opinion, it really hasn't aged and remains a great listen to this day. This track was the first on the vinyl (second on CD), and is a perfect opener. The late great KMG takes the first verse, telling the story of the group's come-up in his laid-back style, with Cold 187um delivering his verse with a more hype approach. Production is also handled by Cold 187um, showing absolute mastery of his evolution of the G-Funk sound.
Janelle Monáe : It's Code
You should know the deal by now when one of the modern greats blesses us with an album. "The Electric Lady" is already nine years old, but still stands up and I went back to that LP for this track, another chapter in her long-running musical narrative telling the story of the android Cindi Mayweather. If you weren't listening closely or hadn't read the title, you might think this song was titled "It's Cold", but Janelle flips it in keeping with the overall tech theme.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
"I ain't gotta sell another record in my life", he says - and while he might have been right, he shifted a fair few after this was recorded! This was labelled as "People Are Talking" on the white label 12" I have it on, but this is much more easily available as a bonus track on the Jay-Z "Unplugged" album. Lyrically you can tell that this comes from the period when Jay seemed to have beef with everyone - Nas, Mobb Deep, some guy selling burgers on the corner...anyway, he's sharp with it as always! Ski Beatz is on production, with his own take on the sped-up soul samples that were so popular around this time.
Agallah : Living Love (Instrumental)
Just what I needed for this spot, coming from the "PCP Instrumentals" by one of East New York's finest. This drumless track that is simultaneously vocal-sampling and yet basically an instrumental - skilfully done.
Trae Tha Truth : Rollin'
Correction here: I said it was an 80s sample, but in fact it was from a 1979 record. Saying no more though! I play this one so much for myself, I was amazed to find it hadn't been on the podcast yet! Trae is not only a veteran MC, with solo album releases going back nearly twenty years (and collabs before that), but a noted and self-driven philanthropist who has tirelessly put work into his community. He's so beloved in his hometown of Houston that the city honoured him by declaring July 22nd "Trae Day", and the love is well-earned. He's still pumping out the music today, but we go back ten years to the 2012 "Tha Blackprint" release to close this episode. It's a favourite topic of the region - how ill his car is, how good he looks riding in it - and he executes it well over a reworking of a classic soul sample by Platinum Hands. As with many tracks from the South, I maintain that if you don't like it, you're probably listening to it in the wrong setting; play it on a good car or club system, and you'll understand...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I only ride with the MFers that I used to walk with."
- Suga Free
Another milestone passed - this is the thirteenth birthday episode! Thank you all for staying with me over the long road travelled since that first pilot show. For this month's episode, we once again visit the old and the new, starting with a brand new release from one of my favourite MCs and ending with some storied veterans coming back to burn like T La Rock!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Matterflow ft. Raekwon : Gray Space
We open the episode with a brand new cross-Atlantic combination - the Parisian producer Matterflow alongside the Staten Island Wu-Tang legend Raekwon. It's a reflective single with a downbeat sound, as Rae talks about moving from the "gray space" he inhabited in his young days to a very different life now. As some of us were recently discussing on a Twitch stream, nowadays in the age of digital releases it's so easy for a single like this to come out and quietly slip by the people who'd want to hear it, so I'm glad I didn't miss this one.
King I Divine : Reflections
I first heard King I Divine's production a good few years back when someone sent me his work, but then he dropped off my radar completely - which would mostly have been my fault! It was a pleasant surprise to hear him popping up on the Chillhop label, whose releases are quickly becoming a go-to for soundtracking tough programming sessions. This is a beautiful little single, not long, but with a relaxed piano line running through, finding its way through all the drums, percussion, and bass.
Mobb Deep : Back At You
RIP Prodigy. There's a good chance that this track might have slipped past you - the very similarly named "Right Back At You" featured on "The Infamous", but this slower, more measured cut was on the "Sunset Park" soundtrack. It also apparently got a single release, which I might chase down just to get the excellent Havoc instrumental.
People Under The Stairs : Carried Away
RIP Double K, another artist gone too soon. I was surprised not to have played the title track to the PUTS "Carried Away" album, their seventh, before, but the vibe is perfect for this time of year. The beat is so crispy and airy that Thes and K give us a twenty-bar intro before the lyrics start to just enjoy it, and a similarly lengthy outro - which also makes it great for DJs!
Marco Polo ft. Oddisee, Kev Brown, Kenn Starr, Kaimbr, and Cy Young : Low Budget Allstars
The DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) is in full effect here! Marco Polo is on production, as this is taken from his first LP "Port Authority", but I think it's fair to say that he clearly shows a Kev Brown influence on this beat. I wouldn't be surprised if these two MPC masters collaborated to cook up this track, before Kev and crew got on the mic to top it with bars upon bars. If you like a good posse cut, then this is going to make you smile from ear-to-ear - while nodding your head!
Camp Lo ft. Trugoy The Dove : B-Side To Hollywood
The Lo and De La together on this deep album cut from Camp Lo's debut "Uptown Saturday Night" make for a flavourful combination. Interestingly, this is the only song on the LP not produced by Ski - Trugoy gets behind the boards himself, and you could easily imagine this track, with the hook and all, being on a De La album.
[Tonedeff] PackFM : Stomp (Instrumental)
The Bhangra vibes are heavy on this one! Tonedeff channels the kind of sounds I remember hearing in my neighbourhood as a kid into a banger for Brooklyn's PackFM. There are plenty of interesting things going on in this beat, from the periodic drum rolls/flourishes to the section where the programming suddenly changes and starts racing along in double time - it's a nice piece of work!
Visioneers : Rollin' For The Ride
I'd somehow almost forgotten about this track, until I gave the "Dirty Old Hip-Hop" LP a spin recently. A great mostly-instrumental groove, it could easily have been used as a bed between mixes but here it gets chance to breathe! Visioneers is a project headed up by Marc Mac (of 4Hero), Hopper, and Somatik, and they've put some serious releases out over the years. This breezy groove is perfect for the summer months, and should hopefully prod you into listening to the whole album.
Zapp : Brand New Player
This isn't the sound most people would associate with Zapp, but take away the talkboxes and heavy synths and they still get busy with traditional vocals and instrumentation! As well as the late great Roger Troutman and the rest of the crew, this track features production from the legendary bassist Bootsy Collins of Parliament/Funkadelic fame, and the combination is magic. This oft-overlooked gem is on the debut Zapp LP, which is one to absolutely grab on vinyl if you ever see it - it's an important one to have in your collection.
DJ Quik ft. 2nd II None and Peter Gunz : So Many Wayz
An aside; between this, "Deja Vu", and his guest appearance on "Rock Steady Pt. II", Peter Gunz has pretty much set his stall out as the king of dirty macking, perhaps only second to LL Cool J. Anyway, his appearance on DJ Quik's "Rhythm-al-ism" album wasn't necessarily an expected one but he holds it down for his town alongside Quik protoges 2nd II None and Mr. Blake himself. This tune has a cool intro but try as I might, I couldn't get it to blend how I wanted to, so go and peep the whole album to hear it for yourself - it's an excellent listen, and an LP which is widely regarded as one of Quik's best.
Z-Ro : We Ride
This one has been getting a lot of in-car play lately, so I was pleased to find a spot for it here. As is often the case with Houston's Z-Ro, there's a marked contrast between the cheerfulness of the production and the darkness of some of what he says, but you certainly can't deny his talent. He's a highly-skilled MC who can switch it up and sing, or do both at once as he does here, and at no time will it sound forced. This track is from the 2011 "Meth" album, but is really kind of ageless - it could have come out last week. Beanz & Kornbread handle the production and cook up a personal classic.
B. Bravo : Da Essence
This artist was played on the show just last month, but this track earned him a rapid return! A skilled practitioner of the electronic funk, he cooks up this track to open the new "Vizionz" LP, so take this free sample and then check out the main course...
The Gap Band : Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
This lament of an abandoned man is a funk classic which I'm sure quite a few of you will know - and if you don't, you might well recognise that screeching tyre sample, which has been borrowed over and over again! This absolute monster was on the 1980 release "Gap Band III" from Tulsa's finest, and has been an influence on more musicians than you'd think. Dave Grohl said fairly recently that the drum pattern for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was pretty much a direct lift of the drum intro from this track!
Ilajide ft. Clear Soul Forces : Vol 69
Big Detroit flavour from the recently-released "Pocket Jams" album. Ilajide brings in the rest of the CSF members on this track, which timing-wise feels like it's ready to trip over itself at any moment - it's got a beautiful kind of instability to its funkiness, only enhanced by the firehose delivery of the verses. The vibes here are just undeniable.
Buscrates ft. Laura Benack : You Got Me (Extended)
Having recently got up on some of the work of Pittsburgh's funk maestro Buscrates, I've been digging back for tunes that I would have previously missed, and this is a stunner. You could imagine this one moving a sophisticated dancefloor, with the clear and precise keyboard bassline being the highlight of the beat, and the the production overall leaving plenty of space for Laura Benack's vocals to shine. You can find this on the "Luxury Soul 2019" compilation, but it's also available as a single - digital release, if nothing else.
Suga Free and Kokane : SugaKane
This combination definitely needs to be heard over the length of an entire album. For now, we have this Cutty Dre-produced single, on which two highly influential - if not necessarily widely-known - West Coast vocalists give you a sample of their styles. Suga Free basically turns motivational speaker on this one - if you're not used to him, you might have to rewind a few times to catch some of the jewels!
[Evil Dee] Black Moon : Fuck It Up (Rugged and Ruff Instrumental)
B-side action from the flip of the "Who Got The Props?" 12", with Evil Dee going in with a nice bit of jazz style.
Son Of Noise ft. DJ Stylewarz : Adrenaline
Have you ever seen one of those viral videos where some young and cocky idiot tries to bring it to an older man, only to find himself thoroughly outmatched? Well, Son Of Noise certainly aren't as old as all that, but this absolute flamethrower proves that there's no subsitute for experience - which new jacks are bringing it like this? Son Of Noise were born out of the breakup of the pioneering UK crew Hardnoise, who were responsible for tracks like the legendary "Untitled" and "Mice In The Presence Of The Lion" (which you'll hear cut up here). Despite suffering personal losses and record company drama over the years, they've stayed active and true, and you absolutely have to respect them. Taken from last year's "The Resurrection" EP, this is a great channeling of the classic sound sometimes referred to as "Britcore", which was arguably the most prominent vein of late 80s-early 90s UK Hip-Hop. Think of those records as like action films on wax, and this is a high-quality modern example - the beat by OG Bulldog is pure drama, the bars are packed with skills and aggression, and the cuts? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 This could only close the episode, as there's no way to follow it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I only ride with the MFers that I used to walk with."
- Suga Free
Another milestone passed - this is the thirteenth birthday episode! Thank you all for staying with me over the long road travelled since that first pilot show. For this month's episode, we once again visit the old and the new, starting with a brand new release from one of my favourite MCs and ending with some storied veterans coming back to burn like T La Rock!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Matterflow ft. Raekwon : Gray Space
We open the episode with a brand new cross-Atlantic combination - the Parisian producer Matterflow alongside the Staten Island Wu-Tang legend Raekwon. It's a reflective single with a downbeat sound, as Rae talks about moving from the "gray space" he inhabited in his young days to a very different life now. As some of us were recently discussing on a Twitch stream, nowadays in the age of digital releases it's so easy for a single like this to come out and quietly slip by the people who'd want to hear it, so I'm glad I didn't miss this one.
King I Divine : Reflections
I first heard King I Divine's production a good few years back when someone sent me his work, but then he dropped off my radar completely - which would mostly have been my fault! It was a pleasant surprise to hear him popping up on the Chillhop label, whose releases are quickly becoming a go-to for soundtracking tough programming sessions. This is a beautiful little single, not long, but with a relaxed piano line running through, finding its way through all the drums, percussion, and bass.
Mobb Deep : Back At You
RIP Prodigy. There's a good chance that this track might have slipped past you - the very similarly named "Right Back At You" featured on "The Infamous", but this slower, more measured cut was on the "Sunset Park" soundtrack. It also apparently got a single release, which I might chase down just to get the excellent Havoc instrumental.
People Under The Stairs : Carried Away
RIP Double K, another artist gone too soon. I was surprised not to have played the title track to the PUTS "Carried Away" album, their seventh, before, but the vibe is perfect for this time of year. The beat is so crispy and airy that Thes and K give us a twenty-bar intro before the lyrics start to just enjoy it, and a similarly lengthy outro - which also makes it great for DJs!
Marco Polo ft. Oddisee, Kev Brown, Kenn Starr, Kaimbr, and Cy Young : Low Budget Allstars
The DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) is in full effect here! Marco Polo is on production, as this is taken from his first LP "Port Authority", but I think it's fair to say that he clearly shows a Kev Brown influence on this beat. I wouldn't be surprised if these two MPC masters collaborated to cook up this track, before Kev and crew got on the mic to top it with bars upon bars. If you like a good posse cut, then this is going to make you smile from ear-to-ear - while nodding your head!
Camp Lo ft. Trugoy The Dove : B-Side To Hollywood
The Lo and De La together on this deep album cut from Camp Lo's debut "Uptown Saturday Night" make for a flavourful combination. Interestingly, this is the only song on the LP not produced by Ski - Trugoy gets behind the boards himself, and you could easily imagine this track, with the hook and all, being on a De La album.
[Tonedeff] PackFM : Stomp (Instrumental)
The Bhangra vibes are heavy on this one! Tonedeff channels the kind of sounds I remember hearing in my neighbourhood as a kid into a banger for Brooklyn's PackFM. There are plenty of interesting things going on in this beat, from the periodic drum rolls/flourishes to the section where the programming suddenly changes and starts racing along in double time - it's a nice piece of work!
Visioneers : Rollin' For The Ride
I'd somehow almost forgotten about this track, until I gave the "Dirty Old Hip-Hop" LP a spin recently. A great mostly-instrumental groove, it could easily have been used as a bed between mixes but here it gets chance to breathe! Visioneers is a project headed up by Marc Mac (of 4Hero), Hopper, and Somatik, and they've put some serious releases out over the years. This breezy groove is perfect for the summer months, and should hopefully prod you into listening to the whole album.
Zapp : Brand New Player
This isn't the sound most people would associate with Zapp, but take away the talkboxes and heavy synths and they still get busy with traditional vocals and instrumentation! As well as the late great Roger Troutman and the rest of the crew, this track features production from the legendary bassist Bootsy Collins of Parliament/Funkadelic fame, and the combination is magic. This oft-overlooked gem is on the debut Zapp LP, which is one to absolutely grab on vinyl if you ever see it - it's an important one to have in your collection.
DJ Quik ft. 2nd II None and Peter Gunz : So Many Wayz
An aside; between this, "Deja Vu", and his guest appearance on "Rock Steady Pt. II", Peter Gunz has pretty much set his stall out as the king of dirty macking, perhaps only second to LL Cool J. Anyway, his appearance on DJ Quik's "Rhythm-al-ism" album wasn't necessarily an expected one but he holds it down for his town alongside Quik protoges 2nd II None and Mr. Blake himself. This tune has a cool intro but try as I might, I couldn't get it to blend how I wanted to, so go and peep the whole album to hear it for yourself - it's an excellent listen, and an LP which is widely regarded as one of Quik's best.
Z-Ro : We Ride
This one has been getting a lot of in-car play lately, so I was pleased to find a spot for it here. As is often the case with Houston's Z-Ro, there's a marked contrast between the cheerfulness of the production and the darkness of some of what he says, but you certainly can't deny his talent. He's a highly-skilled MC who can switch it up and sing, or do both at once as he does here, and at no time will it sound forced. This track is from the 2011 "Meth" album, but is really kind of ageless - it could have come out last week. Beanz & Kornbread handle the production and cook up a personal classic.
B. Bravo : Da Essence
This artist was played on the show just last month, but this track earned him a rapid return! A skilled practitioner of the electronic funk, he cooks up this track to open the new "Vizionz" LP, so take this free sample and then check out the main course...
The Gap Band : Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
This lament of an abandoned man is a funk classic which I'm sure quite a few of you will know - and if you don't, you might well recognise that screeching tyre sample, which has been borrowed over and over again! This absolute monster was on the 1980 release "Gap Band III" from Tulsa's finest, and has been an influence on more musicians than you'd think. Dave Grohl said fairly recently that the drum pattern for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was pretty much a direct lift of the drum intro from this track!
Ilajide ft. Clear Soul Forces : Vol 69
Big Detroit flavour from the recently-released "Pocket Jams" album. Ilajide brings in the rest of the CSF members on this track, which timing-wise feels like it's ready to trip over itself at any moment - it's got a beautiful kind of instability to its funkiness, only enhanced by the firehose delivery of the verses. The vibes here are just undeniable.
Buscrates ft. Laura Benack : You Got Me (Extended)
Having recently got up on some of the work of Pittsburgh's funk maestro Buscrates, I've been digging back for tunes that I would have previously missed, and this is a stunner. You could imagine this one moving a sophisticated dancefloor, with the clear and precise keyboard bassline being the highlight of the beat, and the the production overall leaving plenty of space for Laura Benack's vocals to shine. You can find this on the "Luxury Soul 2019" compilation, but it's also available as a single - digital release, if nothing else.
Suga Free and Kokane : SugaKane
This combination definitely needs to be heard over the length of an entire album. For now, we have this Cutty Dre-produced single, on which two highly influential - if not necessarily widely-known - West Coast vocalists give you a sample of their styles. Suga Free basically turns motivational speaker on this one - if you're not used to him, you might have to rewind a few times to catch some of the jewels!
[Evil Dee] Black Moon : Fuck It Up (Rugged and Ruff Instrumental)
B-side action from the flip of the "Who Got The Props?" 12", with Evil Dee going in with a nice bit of jazz style.
Son Of Noise ft. DJ Stylewarz : Adrenaline
Have you ever seen one of those viral videos where some young and cocky idiot tries to bring it to an older man, only to find himself thoroughly outmatched? Well, Son Of Noise certainly aren't as old as all that, but this absolute flamethrower proves that there's no subsitute for experience - which new jacks are bringing it like this? Son Of Noise were born out of the breakup of the pioneering UK crew Hardnoise, who were responsible for tracks like the legendary "Untitled" and "Mice In The Presence Of The Lion" (which you'll hear cut up here). Despite suffering personal losses and record company drama over the years, they've stayed active and true, and you absolutely have to respect them. Taken from last year's "The Resurrection" EP, this is a great channeling of the classic sound sometimes referred to as "Britcore", which was arguably the most prominent vein of late 80s-early 90s UK Hip-Hop. Think of those records as like action films on wax, and this is a high-quality modern example - the beat by OG Bulldog is pure drama, the bars are packed with skills and aggression, and the cuts? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 This could only close the episode, as there's no way to follow it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...'cos it's the right thing to do."
- Sensei Of Soul
With no particular theme I wanted to integrate this month, there were all kinds of directions available to go in! I've gone with a selection that has some stellar remakes, one or two old and overlooked gems, and an overall pacing that starts you off storming the barricades and ends at deep concentration.
As mentioned at the end of the show - I know it's seriously a hard time for a lot of people with the rising cost of living, but if you're one of those doing better, I can't see the point of having money in your pocket instead of going to see Rakim!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy ft. Nas, Black Thought, Rapsody, YG, Jahi, and Questlove : Fight The Power 2020
Now that is a serious guest lineup! Everyone invited had to be incredibly honoured to get the nod from Public Enemy to appear on the remix of their classic 1989 protest anthem. Sadly, it's as relevant as ever, and the new verses include the names of more victims of white supremacy - let's hope that we're not here for another version in 2051.
[Kut Masta Kurt] PMD : Straight From Da Heart (Instrumental)
Simultaneously angular and a straight-ahead groove as so many of Kurt's beats are, this was a great backing for Parrish Smith of EPMD on this single from the "The Awakening" solo LP, during the period in which EPMD was disbanded.
Robert Glasper ft. Yasiin Bey : Black Radio
If you like "Umi Says" Mos Def, then this vocal performance will likely be right up your street. This was the title track of the first Robert Glasper Experiment LP "Black Radio" (Glasper's fifth overall), where he mixes his jazz foundation with Hip-Hop and a lot besides. With the third edition released this year, do yourself a favour and listen to the complete set!
Tiombe Lockhart : O'Bloody Days, O'Starry Nights On The Bowery
Of all the tracks on Waajeed's "The War LP", this may not be the one that grabs you instantly, but after repeated listens the quality will draw you in. The Detroit electronic sound and humanised drum timing are in full effect on a dense, sweeping piece of production, while Lockhart's vocals are haunting.
De La Soul : The Return of DST
A short but excellent track which I first heard on "unkut.com presents: The 40 Oz." It channels a vibe just straddling the end of the old skool and the start of the new (for those that don't know, RUN DMC's revolutionary debut is arguably the dividing line), and pays homage to Grandmixer DXT, who was originally known as D.St, and famously was the featured artist on "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock.
Starship Connection : Heartbreaker
I think I first heard this on Twitch, where the sheer number of quality DJs you can view on any given day really makes you want to stay on top of your game! Made up of B.Bravo out of Los Angeles and San Fran's Teeko, Starship Connection fly the flag for the classic electro-funk sound, and this single is a sterling example. Bravo takes command of the talkbox and Teeko on production as the duo cover the classic Zapp track "Heartbreaker". The rhythm is, in modern style, a bit more on the edge, and they punctuate the tracks with extra breakdowns and flourishes compared to the original. This was a brave one to take on, but they do it proud!
Jan Hammer : Transformers
Jan Hammer will always be one of my favourite musicians, and this track from the 1992 soundtrack to the surreal, computer-generated film "Beyond The Mind's Eye" could just have easily slotted into the "Miami Vice" or "Cocaine Cowboys" scores. He's known for being able to do some amazing things with pure synths, including soaring guitar lines like the one we have here - he could much more easily call in a guitarist, but that wouldn't be as much fun!
Maro Music, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah : Throwback Boogie
Of all the combinations of Wu MCs, Rae and Ghost is almost certainly the most iconic and influential, so the producer Maro Music pulled a blinder getting them both to take the mic over his beat on this new single. The beat is just raw crunching thump, and the bars are criminology - exactly how we like it.
Meyhem Lauren : Hate
Somehow I'd forgotten all about this one from the "Piatto D'Oro" album, but was reminded when the video popped up in my Youtube recommendations! This one just grinds sonically, with Icerocks bringing pure ruggedness on the production. Meyhem has fun with it, not going crazy complex but still with some wordplay gems, and the whole attitude is just defiant flossing.
Mega Ran ft. Del Tha Funky Homosapien : Box and One
As DJ A-Up and Bedos might have said, this is that NouGold! Mega Ran's star has deservedly continued to ascend, and to hear him connect with one of the great MCs I remember debuting in the 90s is wonderful. All-star pen game all over this DJ DN3-produced track, which is titled after a basketball defensive technique sometimes used to stifle one dominant offensive player, and seen as a mark of respect for/fear of their skills. The "Live 95" LP is definitely one worth your time, and one that explores possibly the crossover of my interests growing up - Hip-Hop, basketball, and video games!
Herma Puma ft. Sensei Of Soul : Disposable Rappers (BusCrates Remix)
Heavy futuristic-tinged business here with Pittsburgh's Buscrates crafting a remix of this Herma Puma track reminiscent of DJ Spinna, and Sensei of Soul encouraging us to clean house - not in a sniffy purist, "you may only sound like this" way, but in the sense of quality control and the welfare of the art as a whole. Sometimes a reminder is needed that declining standards don't have to be accepted! This track escaped my full notice for a while, but it's available on 2011's "Two Syllables Volume Six" for a bargain sum :)
Le$ : Do You Feel Me? (Instrumental)
While Le$ might have had some of his most memorable on-mic moments on the production of guys like DJ Mr. Rogers and Tavaras Jordan, he can get busy on the boards himself. This beat from "Original Player Sounds" takes a nice 80s sample and just puts a little extra on it.
Dwele ft. Slum Village : Keep On
This is that blend where R&B/neo-soul brings Hip-Hop into the mix, and this time it's all in the family. Detroit's Dwele is part of the extended Slum Village family (you may know him from tracks like Slum's "Tainted"), and here he borrows a taste from Soulquarian Common's Dilla-produced "Dooinit" to sidle up to an unnamed lady. With J Dilla on production again here, and Slum Village appearing as guests on the mic, it's all love.
Snoop ft. October London : Touch Away
Another 80s soul sample re-animated here on this new Snoop single - not from the recently-released "BODR" album, but apparently from an upcoming release "Death Row Summer". This isn't the first time this groove has appeared on a Hip-Hop track, and it's not even disguised - not too much cut on it, as it were. Some accenting bass and drums is all it takes to give it that 2022 wash and wax. Top-down music all the way with October London providing a little soulful accent.
DJ Spinna ft. Apani B & Jean Grae : Hold
I had to flick back into the archives because I was absolutely convinced that I'd already played you this one, but somehow it seems to have escaped the monthly selections! Jean Grae and Apani B are raw on the mic, a perfect combination on top of the production of DJ Spinna. This particular cut is from "Here To There", Spinna's first contribution to BBE's "Beat Generation" series, where a number of top producers were given free reign to turn in any kind of album they liked. Spinna showed his versatility throughout, but this is just straight-ahead Hip-Hop, interpolating a famous soul bassline, building around that, and letting the MCs loose!
Method Man, Jadakiss, Eddie I, 5th PXWER : Switch Sides
The lead two artists will be known to most, but the latter two probably less so. Eddie I was someone I struggled to find info on (no Google, I don't mean Eddie Izzard), but 5th PXWER is the now-emerging son of Method Man. He's got a long way to go to compete with his famous father, but then so do most MCs. P.Version crafts a rugged instrumental, and this track from "Meth Lab Season 3 : The Rehab" speaks to a universal truth - you can't trust a turncoat.
Pete Rock : Time For Learning
A beat that grabbed me from the very first listen, this is my clear favourite from the new "Petestrumentals 4" collection from Mount Vernon's finest. With only two years since the third edition, the pace between releases seems to be quickening - which is great for us :) Don't sleep on the expanding catalogue of1 one of the greatest ever to touch a drum sampler!
Eric B & Rakim : As The Rhyme Goes On
With the prospect of Rakim making his long-awaited return to Manchester, I decided to end the episode with a track from "Paid In Full" that isn't necessarily the most played from the Eric B & Rakim canon. Replaying a classic soul number for the bassline, it kicks off with the drumline audio being reversed (remember kids, no digital editing yet!) before it switches to the normal direction after Rakim's opening four bars. This has a deep meditation vibe, broken up only by the "pump it up homeboy" samples, which are kind of all over the place timing-wise - I'd have preferred less, but who am I to argue with legends?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...'cos it's the right thing to do."
- Sensei Of Soul
With no particular theme I wanted to integrate this month, there were all kinds of directions available to go in! I've gone with a selection that has some stellar remakes, one or two old and overlooked gems, and an overall pacing that starts you off storming the barricades and ends at deep concentration.
As mentioned at the end of the show - I know it's seriously a hard time for a lot of people with the rising cost of living, but if you're one of those doing better, I can't see the point of having money in your pocket instead of going to see Rakim!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy ft. Nas, Black Thought, Rapsody, YG, Jahi, and Questlove : Fight The Power 2020
Now that is a serious guest lineup! Everyone invited had to be incredibly honoured to get the nod from Public Enemy to appear on the remix of their classic 1989 protest anthem. Sadly, it's as relevant as ever, and the new verses include the names of more victims of white supremacy - let's hope that we're not here for another version in 2051.
[Kut Masta Kurt] PMD : Straight From Da Heart (Instrumental)
Simultaneously angular and a straight-ahead groove as so many of Kurt's beats are, this was a great backing for Parrish Smith of EPMD on this single from the "The Awakening" solo LP, during the period in which EPMD was disbanded.
Robert Glasper ft. Yasiin Bey : Black Radio
If you like "Umi Says" Mos Def, then this vocal performance will likely be right up your street. This was the title track of the first Robert Glasper Experiment LP "Black Radio" (Glasper's fifth overall), where he mixes his jazz foundation with Hip-Hop and a lot besides. With the third edition released this year, do yourself a favour and listen to the complete set!
Tiombe Lockhart : O'Bloody Days, O'Starry Nights On The Bowery
Of all the tracks on Waajeed's "The War LP", this may not be the one that grabs you instantly, but after repeated listens the quality will draw you in. The Detroit electronic sound and humanised drum timing are in full effect on a dense, sweeping piece of production, while Lockhart's vocals are haunting.
De La Soul : The Return of DST
A short but excellent track which I first heard on "unkut.com presents: The 40 Oz." It channels a vibe just straddling the end of the old skool and the start of the new (for those that don't know, RUN DMC's revolutionary debut is arguably the dividing line), and pays homage to Grandmixer DXT, who was originally known as D.St, and famously was the featured artist on "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock.
Starship Connection : Heartbreaker
I think I first heard this on Twitch, where the sheer number of quality DJs you can view on any given day really makes you want to stay on top of your game! Made up of B.Bravo out of Los Angeles and San Fran's Teeko, Starship Connection fly the flag for the classic electro-funk sound, and this single is a sterling example. Bravo takes command of the talkbox and Teeko on production as the duo cover the classic Zapp track "Heartbreaker". The rhythm is, in modern style, a bit more on the edge, and they punctuate the tracks with extra breakdowns and flourishes compared to the original. This was a brave one to take on, but they do it proud!
Jan Hammer : Transformers
Jan Hammer will always be one of my favourite musicians, and this track from the 1992 soundtrack to the surreal, computer-generated film "Beyond The Mind's Eye" could just have easily slotted into the "Miami Vice" or "Cocaine Cowboys" scores. He's known for being able to do some amazing things with pure synths, including soaring guitar lines like the one we have here - he could much more easily call in a guitarist, but that wouldn't be as much fun!
Maro Music, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah : Throwback Boogie
Of all the combinations of Wu MCs, Rae and Ghost is almost certainly the most iconic and influential, so the producer Maro Music pulled a blinder getting them both to take the mic over his beat on this new single. The beat is just raw crunching thump, and the bars are criminology - exactly how we like it.
Meyhem Lauren : Hate
Somehow I'd forgotten all about this one from the "Piatto D'Oro" album, but was reminded when the video popped up in my Youtube recommendations! This one just grinds sonically, with Icerocks bringing pure ruggedness on the production. Meyhem has fun with it, not going crazy complex but still with some wordplay gems, and the whole attitude is just defiant flossing.
Mega Ran ft. Del Tha Funky Homosapien : Box and One
As DJ A-Up and Bedos might have said, this is that NouGold! Mega Ran's star has deservedly continued to ascend, and to hear him connect with one of the great MCs I remember debuting in the 90s is wonderful. All-star pen game all over this DJ DN3-produced track, which is titled after a basketball defensive technique sometimes used to stifle one dominant offensive player, and seen as a mark of respect for/fear of their skills. The "Live 95" LP is definitely one worth your time, and one that explores possibly the crossover of my interests growing up - Hip-Hop, basketball, and video games!
Herma Puma ft. Sensei Of Soul : Disposable Rappers (BusCrates Remix)
Heavy futuristic-tinged business here with Pittsburgh's Buscrates crafting a remix of this Herma Puma track reminiscent of DJ Spinna, and Sensei of Soul encouraging us to clean house - not in a sniffy purist, "you may only sound like this" way, but in the sense of quality control and the welfare of the art as a whole. Sometimes a reminder is needed that declining standards don't have to be accepted! This track escaped my full notice for a while, but it's available on 2011's "Two Syllables Volume Six" for a bargain sum :)
Le$ : Do You Feel Me? (Instrumental)
While Le$ might have had some of his most memorable on-mic moments on the production of guys like DJ Mr. Rogers and Tavaras Jordan, he can get busy on the boards himself. This beat from "Original Player Sounds" takes a nice 80s sample and just puts a little extra on it.
Dwele ft. Slum Village : Keep On
This is that blend where R&B/neo-soul brings Hip-Hop into the mix, and this time it's all in the family. Detroit's Dwele is part of the extended Slum Village family (you may know him from tracks like Slum's "Tainted"), and here he borrows a taste from Soulquarian Common's Dilla-produced "Dooinit" to sidle up to an unnamed lady. With J Dilla on production again here, and Slum Village appearing as guests on the mic, it's all love.
Snoop ft. October London : Touch Away
Another 80s soul sample re-animated here on this new Snoop single - not from the recently-released "BODR" album, but apparently from an upcoming release "Death Row Summer". This isn't the first time this groove has appeared on a Hip-Hop track, and it's not even disguised - not too much cut on it, as it were. Some accenting bass and drums is all it takes to give it that 2022 wash and wax. Top-down music all the way with October London providing a little soulful accent.
DJ Spinna ft. Apani B & Jean Grae : Hold
I had to flick back into the archives because I was absolutely convinced that I'd already played you this one, but somehow it seems to have escaped the monthly selections! Jean Grae and Apani B are raw on the mic, a perfect combination on top of the production of DJ Spinna. This particular cut is from "Here To There", Spinna's first contribution to BBE's "Beat Generation" series, where a number of top producers were given free reign to turn in any kind of album they liked. Spinna showed his versatility throughout, but this is just straight-ahead Hip-Hop, interpolating a famous soul bassline, building around that, and letting the MCs loose!
Method Man, Jadakiss, Eddie I, 5th PXWER : Switch Sides
The lead two artists will be known to most, but the latter two probably less so. Eddie I was someone I struggled to find info on (no Google, I don't mean Eddie Izzard), but 5th PXWER is the now-emerging son of Method Man. He's got a long way to go to compete with his famous father, but then so do most MCs. P.Version crafts a rugged instrumental, and this track from "Meth Lab Season 3 : The Rehab" speaks to a universal truth - you can't trust a turncoat.
Pete Rock : Time For Learning
A beat that grabbed me from the very first listen, this is my clear favourite from the new "Petestrumentals 4" collection from Mount Vernon's finest. With only two years since the third edition, the pace between releases seems to be quickening - which is great for us :) Don't sleep on the expanding catalogue of1 one of the greatest ever to touch a drum sampler!
Eric B & Rakim : As The Rhyme Goes On
With the prospect of Rakim making his long-awaited return to Manchester, I decided to end the episode with a track from "Paid In Full" that isn't necessarily the most played from the Eric B & Rakim canon. Replaying a classic soul number for the bassline, it kicks off with the drumline audio being reversed (remember kids, no digital editing yet!) before it switches to the normal direction after Rakim's opening four bars. This has a deep meditation vibe, broken up only by the "pump it up homeboy" samples, which are kind of all over the place timing-wise - I'd have preferred less, but who am I to argue with legends?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...you can rally troops, but I play the awesome defence..."
- Guru
155 brought to mind the famous Rucker Park on 155th St and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, which is the home borough of a recently departed legend - DJ Kay Slay, aka Dez, aka The Drama King (aka Slap Your Favourite DJ. But don't, please). Closer to home, we wish a peaceful journey to Phil Ratcliffe of The Mouse Outfit/Tungusku/Extra Love, who also sadly left us this month. His guitar playing closes the episode, which overall starts off hectic and decelerates towards the contemplative at the end. I hope he'd have approved.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
PM Dawn : The Nocturnal Is In The House
RIP Prince Be. I'd be lying if I said I was really playing PM Dawn back in the day, but when I heard this tune on the "CB4" soundtrack...couldn't deny it! According to Wikipedia, the soundtrack release slightly preceded the "The Bliss Album..." which this is also on. The spoken intro is dope (not sure if it's a sample?), and then that heavy bassline and cuts come in, and finally, those banging drums. Prince Be might have been the bane of other crate diggers at the record conventions in his heyday, but you have to give it up for a track like this!
[Pete Rock] Da Youngstas : Pass Da Mic (Remix Instrumental)
This is some real vintage 90s SP-1200 instrumental action, with Pete Rock creating the definitive version of this 1992 single. I remember when this came out, the kids in the group would have been about my age and so didn't seem that young...now, they look so tiny! If you don't already know it, check the vocal version for the sample that famously appeared as the hook for Gang Starr's "Mass Appeal".
Heavy D : Truthful
Mount Vernon again with the late great Heavy D, letting you know who the real overweight lover is on this cut from the "Blue Funk" LP. Tony Dofat is on the beat, and the guest vocalist might sound familiar even if you can't place the voice - Terri Robinson of Terri & Monica, and a backing singer for some absolute legends!
Gang Starr : Now You're Mine
RIP to Guru, gone for twelve years already. I seem to remember this track being one that Hip-Hop Connection didn't rate when it first came out on the "White Men Can't Jump" soundtrack, but they got that wrong - this is a classic! DJ Premier brings the jazzy vibes on production, but interestingly, Guru's basketball-themed battle lyrics are actually directed at him, since Guru was annoyed about something at the time. While most people missed this on the soundtrack, it later emerged on the must-own "Hard To Earn" LP.
Camp Lo & Teck Zilla : Disco Lo
Big diaspora connection here (Black Connection, as it were) with Nigerian producer and DJ Teck Zilla combining with Camp Lo out of the Bronx on this new single. Tidal recommended me this, so it must be getting to know what I like! Trademark slang-heavy outing from the Lo on the mic, and the production is hectic - a lot going on in this beat. It's got some retro styles with the horns and some of the samples, but you can hear touches of more recent styles folded in too. Excellent release!
E-40 : They Might Be Taping
I'm no expert, but I have to believe the police have figured out Pig Latin... regardless, this big tune out of Vallejo has been a headphone and car staple since the release of "My Ghetto Report Card" back in 2006. Rick Rock provides the slapping beat and E-40 the rapid-fire bars. If you only got up on E-40 after his Verzuz with Too $hort, do yourself a favour and check his incredibly deep back catalogue.
[Part 2] New Flesh : Stick & Move (Instrumental)
This electronic-basslined track is one of Part 2's best, representing for Yorkshire in fine style! This instrumental is on the 12" single, which is a good one to have in the stash if you're a DJ - on a decent sound system, this one moves.
Styles P & Havoc : Pay Me In Cash
The first of three straight tracks featuring members of The LOX as guests, this comes from last year's collaborative "Wreckage Manner" LP, with these two greats coming together for some raw street business. This is definitely a sentiment I can get behind - later for that funny money, give me that real currency! Those lows are absolutely brutal and there's an eerie background feel fading in and out that is vintage Havoc, while Hav and Styles provide a welcome balance to the oft-encountered sugary vocal styles you might hear on the radio.
Freddie Gibbs & Jadakiss : Black Illuminati
Sonically we move into full-on darkness with the second cut, with the team of Fortune, Arianna Reid, and Bizness Boi turning out a beautifully noir piece of production on this 2021 single. The lyrics give no respite either, with both MCs going deep into the street life, Freddie in particular with the brutal "I don't rap about dead opps, I let his name die." Ouuuch.
Curren$y ft. Sheek Louch : Alert
Pretty much every song that uses the sample this is based around is a killer - it's simply a can't-miss. Ski Beatz puts some heavy lows below the classic 80s soul snatch on the lead single from "Pilot Talk 3" (also on "Pilot Talk: Trilogy"), and despite the tempo being pretty low, you can hear the animation in Sheek's delivery compared to the much more laidback flow of Curren$y. I was almost going to save this for a future episode but I think I've already got strong candidates there, so enjoy it early :)
DMX ft. Faith Evans : I Miss You
We end our Yonkers mix with the late DMX, who passed this month last year, alongside Faith Evans with his own tribute to those who passed on before him. This Kidd Kold-produced track from the album "The Great Depression", which was mixed overall, was one of those that showed the emotional side that X fans always loved him for.
Leavv : Voyage (Original Mix)
Leavv is a German producer who has a style perfect for the Chillhop label, and the "Mind Garden" album this track comes from was actually their first LP release. The kick drum in particular feels really loose, reminding you of J Dilla's famous "quantize off" approach to drum programming, and the whole thing can't fail to make you nod your head!
KinKai ft. Saffron Grace : Plantain & Champagne
The definition of being so laid-back, it's horizontal - just listen to KinKai on the mic! A relatable love song from Manchester's KinKai and London vocalist and instrumentalist Saffron Grace, this was a favourite from 2020's "A Pennies Worth", with Blue Lab Beats contributing a neo-soul-ish instrumental with timing as relaxed as the lead vocal.
InI : KrossRoads
A tale of star-crossed love on the Hip-Hop tip, taken from the "Center Of Attention" LP by InI, which was shelved after recording and then heavily bootlegged before eventually seeing a release on BBE. Pete Rock is on production (as he is for the whole album), and Rob-O goes solo on the mic for this 90s gem.
Ill Camille ft. Terrace Martin : Circles
It's a shame that Terrace Martin may no longer work with Hip-Hop artists, because his skills always elevate whatever he touches. It's an all-California affair here, with Ill Camille bringing the rhymes about how she was trying to build her career in the early days around the "Pre-Write" album. Terrace Martin is on fine vocoder form, and the coming together of these two talents is a blessing.
Massive Attack ft. Tracey Thorn : Better Things
A great UK tune, edging toward thirty years old but still sounding fantastic. Massive Attack sent just that killer bassline over to Tracey Thorn (of Everything But The Girl) to write to, and her vocal performance on the finished product is majestic. The 1994 "Protection" album is one that deserves to be in everyone's collection.
[Organized Noize] Goodie Mob : Cell Therapy?(Instrumental)
One of the all-time classic instrumentals, and the world's introduction to the Goodie Mob out of Atlanta, before it was as respected a Hip-Hop city as it is now. Obviously you remember that piano line, the drums, and maybe the sub-bass - but listen without the lyrics at all the other little sounds folded into this one as accents. Find the vocal version on the "Soul Food" LP, and enjoy the listen if it's your first time!
Tungusku : Embers
It's only right that we close this episode with a demonstration of the amazing guitar skills of the recently-departed Phil Ratcliffe. Tungusku was a collaboration between him and former Mouse Outfit bassist and bandleader Defty, based around bringing global influences in and building top-notch grooves, and this second single is an absolute winner. It starts off very chill and floaty, but at around the tw-thirds mark a funk vibe kicks in - almost like the part of the "Enter The Dragon" theme where Williams is introduced - and the guitar excursion just builds from there before calming down for the final few bars. RIP Phil - you and your work will be remembered.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...you can rally troops, but I play the awesome defence..."
- Guru
155 brought to mind the famous Rucker Park on 155th St and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, which is the home borough of a recently departed legend - DJ Kay Slay, aka Dez, aka The Drama King (aka Slap Your Favourite DJ. But don't, please). Closer to home, we wish a peaceful journey to Phil Ratcliffe of The Mouse Outfit/Tungusku/Extra Love, who also sadly left us this month. His guitar playing closes the episode, which overall starts off hectic and decelerates towards the contemplative at the end. I hope he'd have approved.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
PM Dawn : The Nocturnal Is In The House
RIP Prince Be. I'd be lying if I said I was really playing PM Dawn back in the day, but when I heard this tune on the "CB4" soundtrack...couldn't deny it! According to Wikipedia, the soundtrack release slightly preceded the "The Bliss Album..." which this is also on. The spoken intro is dope (not sure if it's a sample?), and then that heavy bassline and cuts come in, and finally, those banging drums. Prince Be might have been the bane of other crate diggers at the record conventions in his heyday, but you have to give it up for a track like this!
[Pete Rock] Da Youngstas : Pass Da Mic (Remix Instrumental)
This is some real vintage 90s SP-1200 instrumental action, with Pete Rock creating the definitive version of this 1992 single. I remember when this came out, the kids in the group would have been about my age and so didn't seem that young...now, they look so tiny! If you don't already know it, check the vocal version for the sample that famously appeared as the hook for Gang Starr's "Mass Appeal".
Heavy D : Truthful
Mount Vernon again with the late great Heavy D, letting you know who the real overweight lover is on this cut from the "Blue Funk" LP. Tony Dofat is on the beat, and the guest vocalist might sound familiar even if you can't place the voice - Terri Robinson of Terri & Monica, and a backing singer for some absolute legends!
Gang Starr : Now You're Mine
RIP to Guru, gone for twelve years already. I seem to remember this track being one that Hip-Hop Connection didn't rate when it first came out on the "White Men Can't Jump" soundtrack, but they got that wrong - this is a classic! DJ Premier brings the jazzy vibes on production, but interestingly, Guru's basketball-themed battle lyrics are actually directed at him, since Guru was annoyed about something at the time. While most people missed this on the soundtrack, it later emerged on the must-own "Hard To Earn" LP.
Camp Lo & Teck Zilla : Disco Lo
Big diaspora connection here (Black Connection, as it were) with Nigerian producer and DJ Teck Zilla combining with Camp Lo out of the Bronx on this new single. Tidal recommended me this, so it must be getting to know what I like! Trademark slang-heavy outing from the Lo on the mic, and the production is hectic - a lot going on in this beat. It's got some retro styles with the horns and some of the samples, but you can hear touches of more recent styles folded in too. Excellent release!
E-40 : They Might Be Taping
I'm no expert, but I have to believe the police have figured out Pig Latin... regardless, this big tune out of Vallejo has been a headphone and car staple since the release of "My Ghetto Report Card" back in 2006. Rick Rock provides the slapping beat and E-40 the rapid-fire bars. If you only got up on E-40 after his Verzuz with Too $hort, do yourself a favour and check his incredibly deep back catalogue.
[Part 2] New Flesh : Stick & Move (Instrumental)
This electronic-basslined track is one of Part 2's best, representing for Yorkshire in fine style! This instrumental is on the 12" single, which is a good one to have in the stash if you're a DJ - on a decent sound system, this one moves.
Styles P & Havoc : Pay Me In Cash
The first of three straight tracks featuring members of The LOX as guests, this comes from last year's collaborative "Wreckage Manner" LP, with these two greats coming together for some raw street business. This is definitely a sentiment I can get behind - later for that funny money, give me that real currency! Those lows are absolutely brutal and there's an eerie background feel fading in and out that is vintage Havoc, while Hav and Styles provide a welcome balance to the oft-encountered sugary vocal styles you might hear on the radio.
Freddie Gibbs & Jadakiss : Black Illuminati
Sonically we move into full-on darkness with the second cut, with the team of Fortune, Arianna Reid, and Bizness Boi turning out a beautifully noir piece of production on this 2021 single. The lyrics give no respite either, with both MCs going deep into the street life, Freddie in particular with the brutal "I don't rap about dead opps, I let his name die." Ouuuch.
Curren$y ft. Sheek Louch : Alert
Pretty much every song that uses the sample this is based around is a killer - it's simply a can't-miss. Ski Beatz puts some heavy lows below the classic 80s soul snatch on the lead single from "Pilot Talk 3" (also on "Pilot Talk: Trilogy"), and despite the tempo being pretty low, you can hear the animation in Sheek's delivery compared to the much more laidback flow of Curren$y. I was almost going to save this for a future episode but I think I've already got strong candidates there, so enjoy it early :)
DMX ft. Faith Evans : I Miss You
We end our Yonkers mix with the late DMX, who passed this month last year, alongside Faith Evans with his own tribute to those who passed on before him. This Kidd Kold-produced track from the album "The Great Depression", which was mixed overall, was one of those that showed the emotional side that X fans always loved him for.
Leavv : Voyage (Original Mix)
Leavv is a German producer who has a style perfect for the Chillhop label, and the "Mind Garden" album this track comes from was actually their first LP release. The kick drum in particular feels really loose, reminding you of J Dilla's famous "quantize off" approach to drum programming, and the whole thing can't fail to make you nod your head!
KinKai ft. Saffron Grace : Plantain & Champagne
The definition of being so laid-back, it's horizontal - just listen to KinKai on the mic! A relatable love song from Manchester's KinKai and London vocalist and instrumentalist Saffron Grace, this was a favourite from 2020's "A Pennies Worth", with Blue Lab Beats contributing a neo-soul-ish instrumental with timing as relaxed as the lead vocal.
InI : KrossRoads
A tale of star-crossed love on the Hip-Hop tip, taken from the "Center Of Attention" LP by InI, which was shelved after recording and then heavily bootlegged before eventually seeing a release on BBE. Pete Rock is on production (as he is for the whole album), and Rob-O goes solo on the mic for this 90s gem.
Ill Camille ft. Terrace Martin : Circles
It's a shame that Terrace Martin may no longer work with Hip-Hop artists, because his skills always elevate whatever he touches. It's an all-California affair here, with Ill Camille bringing the rhymes about how she was trying to build her career in the early days around the "Pre-Write" album. Terrace Martin is on fine vocoder form, and the coming together of these two talents is a blessing.
Massive Attack ft. Tracey Thorn : Better Things
A great UK tune, edging toward thirty years old but still sounding fantastic. Massive Attack sent just that killer bassline over to Tracey Thorn (of Everything But The Girl) to write to, and her vocal performance on the finished product is majestic. The 1994 "Protection" album is one that deserves to be in everyone's collection.
[Organized Noize] Goodie Mob : Cell Therapy?(Instrumental)
One of the all-time classic instrumentals, and the world's introduction to the Goodie Mob out of Atlanta, before it was as respected a Hip-Hop city as it is now. Obviously you remember that piano line, the drums, and maybe the sub-bass - but listen without the lyrics at all the other little sounds folded into this one as accents. Find the vocal version on the "Soul Food" LP, and enjoy the listen if it's your first time!
Tungusku : Embers
It's only right that we close this episode with a demonstration of the amazing guitar skills of the recently-departed Phil Ratcliffe. Tungusku was a collaboration between him and former Mouse Outfit bassist and bandleader Defty, based around bringing global influences in and building top-notch grooves, and this second single is an absolute winner. It starts off very chill and floaty, but at around the tw-thirds mark a funk vibe kicks in - almost like the part of the "Enter The Dragon" theme where Williams is introduced - and the guitar excursion just builds from there before calming down for the final few bars. RIP Phil - you and your work will be remembered.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Where the venom corrodes the street..."
- Large Professor
We have a great mix of the old and new this episode, and I all but guarantee that everyone will hear one new track, and hopefully one that will send you to the shop to add to your collection! Some of the tracks were fitting together as though it was meant to be, so I hope you enjoy the flow.
As well as picks from some of the best artists working today, this month's selection contains several jewels left to us fromour departed greats - including a track from Phife's recently-released final LP, flaming Sean Price and Nate Dogg features, and a track from and a story about the late Biggie Smalls. I can't believe it's been twenty-five years already.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Armani Caesar ft. Benny The Butcher : Simply Done
Short(ish), but not a thing sweet about this one! It's an all-Griselda affair on the mic, with Armani Caesar bringing it alongside guest Benny The Butcher...and then there's that beat. It's exactly what you want from a DJ Premier beat, right down to the trademark multi-sampled scratched hook. You can find this as well as Armani's other styles (no pun intended!) on 2020's "The Liz".
Lone Apostrophe : Come Back
In this city, you don't have to go far to find talent, and Lone Apostrophe is just one example. A veteran on the boards as well as one of the brains behind the WORKINONIT beatmaking events (get down there!), he blesses us with a gentle groove here that was the opener on last year's "Webs" album.
Paul Wall & Termanology : Recognize My Car
Surprise (to me, at least) collaboration of the month, but one I'm pleased to hear! Houston and Lawrence, MA come together to answer the call from Pete Rock for this import of the slab life to the East Coast. Pete Rock is in fine SP-1200 fashion (though I know he could easily be doing this style on a more modern machine), and the whole blend just makes me smile. The upcoming Paul and Termanology album "Start 2 Finish" is going to be a good one!
Rakim : How I Get Down
This is one of those tracks that was buried in my collection, but popped up as exactly the right record to be here and now! DJ Mark The 45 King is on production, giving us two contemporaries who rank among the greats combining for this selection from 1999's "The Master". Even a relatively-overlooked* Rakim LP still gives you bars that will bury most people's favourite MCs, please believe it. The beat is raw boom-bap, with enough space that you catch every single word Ra spits.
* I will concede that the cover art is pretty awful though.
Statik Selektah, Thirstin Howl III, and Sean Price : Ralph Lauren's Closet
Part Hip-Hop, part opera, the haunting feel to this low-slung track, courtesy of Statik Selektah, is a winner. The Lo-Life general Thirstin Howl III has represented the Ralph Lauren lifestyle in Hip-Hop from the jump, and the late Sean Price has been known to be fresh with it also - and both have that classic NYC style woven into their mic skills. This is definitely one of the standouts from "The Balancing Act" LP.
Sir Michael Rocks ft. Trademark Da Skydiver : Livin' It Up
This tune makes you feel like you should be on a yacht somewhere, even if your budget doesn't even stretch to lilo! 2011's "The Rocks Report" sees Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids in full floss mode, and he's celebrating with New Orleans' Trademark with the high-dollar sound of the great Ski Beatz soundtracking the whole regatta.
Sadat X : Notorious B.I.G. Story (Interlude)
A little interlude from Sadat's "Never Left" LP which I thought was perfect to include as we commemorate B.I.G.'s passing twenty-five years ago this month. I believe Sadat's story here of witnessing Biggie's legendary "writing without writing" style describes the recording session for the original "Come On", later remixed for the posthumous "Born Again" album.
Tavaras Jordan : G.S. 400
I only found out about this North Carolina heatmaker when he produced the excellent recent "E30" LP by Le$, but if you just want to nod your head to some incredible beats, he's got you covered there too. His "(Still) Stuck In The 90s" instrumental collection is a joyous 25-minute listen, and the work of someone who clearly knows and loves music. Keep your ears open for more from this man!
Main Source : Snake Eyes
An old favourite to many, but might well be new to quite a few of you! This top-quality cut opened up the classic "Breaking Atoms" album from 1991, with Large Professor taking the mic to tell tales of treachery, hopping in and out of the metaphor of a craps game (where two ones, or "snake eyes" is the worst roll). Some of his turns of phrase are absolute gems - "the cash curfew" and "nine times out of every ten crimes" are just two of my favourites. He's of course also behind the production, with absolutely blazing SP-1200 work like you hear on this track all over the LP. If you've never heard it, make that your homework for the month 🙂
James Brown : Blind Man Can See It
Classic, classic funk. To hear Fred Wesley tell it, James Brown first approached film scoring from the viewpoint of just taking appropriate-sounding songs from his catalogue and putting them with scenes, but once he grasped the possibilities...we got a masterpiece like "Black Caesar". This particular track has been sampled a good few times, and while I could have followed up with one of the more well-known usages, I decided to come with...
Punch & Words : Da Cipher
...this! A low-key favourite of mine from the "Lyricist Lounge, Volume One" LP, this has Curt Gowdy with a different chop of the sample to most, and a pounding boom-bap rhythm along with it, the perfect era-appropriate setting for these MCs to get busy. Punchline & Wordsworth might be better known to you as two of the original members of eMC (along Masta Ace and Stricklin), and while Punch eventually left, all are still ripping mics to this day.
Phife Dawg ft. Q-Tip : Dear Dilla (Reprise)
"Forever", the posthumous - and I presume final - LP by the late Phife is finally available, and it's nice to hear the man's voice on new material one more time. However, these specific lyrics you've heard before; the original "Dear Dilla" was released in 2014 when while Phife was still alive. Now, both Dilla and Phife have passed on, but the verses have been reworked into a new version of the track, with Phife's Tribe partner Q-Tip on the hook and DJ Rasta Root swapping out the instrumental. Long live those who are still with us, and the memories of Phife and Dilla continue to be blessings.
The Mouse Outfit : Chillout Vibes 8
A nice recent pickup, with the production team of Chini and Metrodome providing exactly what they say on the tin with the lastest in the "Chillout Vibes" series of cuts. The gentle keys, the bass, subtle guitar licks are all set off with a drum track that doesn't dominate, but does exactly what it needs to. The tune is less than two minutes long, but just long enough to induce a nice, relaxed state!
A Tribe Called Quest : Hot Sex
One of my favourites from the Tribe catalogue, even if it's not the track that many people would think of! This was originally on the "Boomerang" OST, which it was very on-theme for (unlike lots of soundtrack cuts from that era), before showing up on the UK release of "Midnight Marauders" and again as a bonus cut on "The Love Movement". It's got an aggressive edge to it sonically, confirmed when Heltah Skeltah borrowed the beat for "I Ain't Havin' That", and stands up just as well today as it did in 1992. Trivia for you - Q-Tip wears a mask in the video to supposedly cover up the effects of a fight with Wreckx-N-Effect back in the day...
The Notorious B.I.G. : Going Back To Cali
Easy Mo Bee recently posted a video of him running through some of the sounds he sampled to make this, so I took that as a sign to play it this month! It's centred around a sample of one of my favourite records of all time, Zapp's mighty "More Bounce To The Ounce", and Biggie flows in a suitably upbeat style all over it - it's just a shame how darkly ironic the theme is, in retrospect.
Snoop Dogg ft. Nate Dogg : Outside The Box
The "B.O.D.R" (Bacc On Death Row) album is a hell of a homecoming for Snoop Dogg, who now owns the label where he first made his name all those years ago. As if that wasn't enough, we get a feature on this track from the much-missed Nate Dogg - there can't be many more of these hooks in the vaults, so enjoy it while you can. Snoop brings a positive message, and DJ Battlecat handles the production for these two mic legends.
BusCrates ft. JP Patterson : Take A Ride
Pittsburgh represent! If you don't already follow the work (and the Twitch stream) of BusCrates, then do - I heard him play some of the most incredible remixes I ever heard in my life a few weeks ago, all his own work. His "Blasting Off" LP contains plenty of boogie flavour like this - great music, and truly fun.
[D-Dot and Amen-Ra] Tracey Lee : The Theme (Instrumental)
This was a huge single when it came out back in 1997; the talented Tracey Lee didn't make the longer-term impact that might have been hoped for, but this record can't be denied!
NWA : If It Ain't Ruff
One of the two MC Ren solo tracks on "Straight Outta Compton", this is a tour de force from a lyricist who is too often overlooked in the mainstream when this group comes up for discussion. It's by now well-known that Ice Cube wrote for Eazy-E (RIP) and Dre, but no-one was going to write for Ren. The beat is quality as well, definitely a treat in the headphones - check out those reversed kick drums panned to the left and right extremes to add a little extra interest. You know the big tunes from this LP, but go back and check some of the deeper cuts - still great listens!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Where the venom corrodes the street..."
- Large Professor
We have a great mix of the old and new this episode, and I all but guarantee that everyone will hear one new track, and hopefully one that will send you to the shop to add to your collection! Some of the tracks were fitting together as though it was meant to be, so I hope you enjoy the flow.
As well as picks from some of the best artists working today, this month's selection contains several jewels left to us fromour departed greats - including a track from Phife's recently-released final LP, flaming Sean Price and Nate Dogg features, and a track from and a story about the late Biggie Smalls. I can't believe it's been twenty-five years already.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Armani Caesar ft. Benny The Butcher : Simply Done
Short(ish), but not a thing sweet about this one! It's an all-Griselda affair on the mic, with Armani Caesar bringing it alongside guest Benny The Butcher...and then there's that beat. It's exactly what you want from a DJ Premier beat, right down to the trademark multi-sampled scratched hook. You can find this as well as Armani's other styles (no pun intended!) on 2020's "The Liz".
Lone Apostrophe : Come Back
In this city, you don't have to go far to find talent, and Lone Apostrophe is just one example. A veteran on the boards as well as one of the brains behind the WORKINONIT beatmaking events (get down there!), he blesses us with a gentle groove here that was the opener on last year's "Webs" album.
Paul Wall & Termanology : Recognize My Car
Surprise (to me, at least) collaboration of the month, but one I'm pleased to hear! Houston and Lawrence, MA come together to answer the call from Pete Rock for this import of the slab life to the East Coast. Pete Rock is in fine SP-1200 fashion (though I know he could easily be doing this style on a more modern machine), and the whole blend just makes me smile. The upcoming Paul and Termanology album "Start 2 Finish" is going to be a good one!
Rakim : How I Get Down
This is one of those tracks that was buried in my collection, but popped up as exactly the right record to be here and now! DJ Mark The 45 King is on production, giving us two contemporaries who rank among the greats combining for this selection from 1999's "The Master". Even a relatively-overlooked* Rakim LP still gives you bars that will bury most people's favourite MCs, please believe it. The beat is raw boom-bap, with enough space that you catch every single word Ra spits. * I will concede that the cover art is pretty awful though.
Statik Selektah, Thirstin Howl III, and Sean Price : Ralph Lauren's Closet
Part Hip-Hop, part opera, the haunting feel to this low-slung track, courtesy of Statik Selektah, is a winner. The Lo-Life general Thirstin Howl III has represented the Ralph Lauren lifestyle in Hip-Hop from the jump, and the late Sean Price has been known to be fresh with it also - and both have that classic NYC style woven into their mic skills. This is definitely one of the standouts from "The Balancing Act" LP.
Sir Michael Rocks ft. Trademark Da Skydiver : Livin' It Up
This tune makes you feel like you should be on a yacht somewhere, even if your budget doesn't even stretch to lilo! 2011's "The Rocks Report" sees Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids in full floss mode, and he's celebrating with New Orleans' Trademark with the high-dollar sound of the great Ski Beatz soundtracking the whole regatta.
Sadat X : Notorious B.I.G. Story (Interlude)
A little interlude from Sadat's "Never Left" LP which I thought was perfect to include as we commemorate B.I.G.'s passing twenty-five years ago this month. I believe Sadat's story here of witnessing Biggie's legendary "writing without writing" style describes the recording session for the original "Come On", later remixed for the posthumous "Born Again" album.
Tavaras Jordan : G.S. 400
I only found out about this North Carolina heatmaker when he produced the excellent recent "E30" LP by Le$, but if you just want to nod your head to some incredible beats, he's got you covered there too. His "(Still) Stuck In The 90s" instrumental collection is a joyous 25-minute listen, and the work of someone who clearly knows and loves music. Keep your ears open for more from this man!
Main Source : Snake Eyes
An old favourite to many, but might well be new to quite a few of you! This top-quality cut opened up the classic "Breaking Atoms" album from 1991, with Large Professor taking the mic to tell tales of treachery, hopping in and out of the metaphor of a craps game (where two ones, or "snake eyes" is the worst roll). Some of his turns of phrase are absolute gems - "the cash curfew" and "nine times out of every ten crimes" are just two of my favourites. He's of course also behind the production, with absolutely blazing SP-1200 work like you hear on this track all over the LP. If you've never heard it, make that your homework for the month 🙂
James Brown : Blind Man Can See It
Classic, classic funk. To hear Fred Wesley tell it, James Brown first approached film scoring from the viewpoint of just taking appropriate-sounding songs from his catalogue and putting them with scenes, but once he grasped the possibilities...we got a masterpiece like "Black Caesar". This particular track has been sampled a good few times, and while I could have followed up with one of the more well-known usages, I decided to come with...
Punch & Words : Da Cipher
...this! A low-key favourite of mine from the "Lyricist Lounge, Volume One" LP, this has Curt Gowdy with a different chop of the sample to most, and a pounding boom-bap rhythm along with it, the perfect era-appropriate setting for these MCs to get busy. Punchline & Wordsworth might be better known to you as two of the original members of eMC (along Masta Ace and Stricklin), and while Punch eventually left, all are still ripping mics to this day.
Phife Dawg ft. Q-Tip : Dear Dilla (Reprise)
"Forever", the posthumous - and I presume final - LP by the late Phife is finally available, and it's nice to hear the man's voice on new material one more time. However, these specific lyrics you've heard before; the original "Dear Dilla" was released in 2014 when while Phife was still alive. Now, both Dilla and Phife have passed on, but the verses have been reworked into a new version of the track, with Phife's Tribe partner Q-Tip on the hook and DJ Rasta Root swapping out the instrumental. Long live those who are still with us, and the memories of Phife and Dilla continue to be blessings.
The Mouse Outfit : Chillout Vibes 8
A nice recent pickup, with the production team of Chini and Metrodome providing exactly what they say on the tin with the lastest in the "Chillout Vibes" series of cuts. The gentle keys, the bass, subtle guitar licks are all set off with a drum track that doesn't dominate, but does exactly what it needs to. The tune is less than two minutes long, but just long enough to induce a nice, relaxed state!
A Tribe Called Quest : Hot Sex
One of my favourites from the Tribe catalogue, even if it's not the track that many people would think of! This was originally on the "Boomerang" OST, which it was very on-theme for (unlike lots of soundtrack cuts from that era), before showing up on the UK release of "Midnight Marauders" and again as a bonus cut on "The Love Movement". It's got an aggressive edge to it sonically, confirmed when Heltah Skeltah borrowed the beat for "I Ain't Havin' That", and stands up just as well today as it did in 1992. Trivia for you - Q-Tip wears a mask in the video to supposedly cover up the effects of a fight with Wreckx-N-Effect back in the day...
The Notorious B.I.G. : Going Back To Cali
Easy Mo Bee recently posted a video of him running through some of the sounds he sampled to make this, so I took that as a sign to play it this month! It's centred around a sample of one of my favourite records of all time, Zapp's mighty "More Bounce To The Ounce", and Biggie flows in a suitably upbeat style all over it - it's just a shame how darkly ironic the theme is, in retrospect.
Snoop Dogg ft. Nate Dogg : Outside The Box
The "B.O.D.R" (Bacc On Death Row) album is a hell of a homecoming for Snoop Dogg, who now owns the label where he first made his name all those years ago. As if that wasn't enough, we get a feature on this track from the much-missed Nate Dogg - there can't be many more of these hooks in the vaults, so enjoy it while you can. Snoop brings a positive message, and DJ Battlecat handles the production for these two mic legends.
BusCrates ft. JP Patterson : Take A Ride
Pittsburgh represent! If you don't already follow the work (and the Twitch stream) of BusCrates, then do - I heard him play some of the most incredible remixes I ever heard in my life a few weeks ago, all his own work. His "Blasting Off" LP contains plenty of boogie flavour like this - great music, and truly fun.
[D-Dot and Amen-Ra] Tracey Lee : The Theme (Instrumental)
This was a huge single when it came out back in 1997; the talented Tracey Lee didn't make the longer-term impact that might have been hoped for, but this record can't be denied!
NWA : If It Ain't Ruff
One of the two MC Ren solo tracks on "Straight Outta Compton", this is a tour de force from a lyricist who is too often overlooked in the mainstream when this group comes up for discussion. It's by now well-known that Ice Cube wrote for Eazy-E (RIP) and Dre, but no-one was going to write for Ren. The beat is quality as well, definitely a treat in the headphones - check out those reversed kick drums panned to the left and right extremes to add a little extra interest. You know the big tunes from this LP, but go back and check some of the deeper cuts - still great listens!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Seasoning drippin' off of my style, I dress tastefully..."
- Meyhem Lauren
It's Feburary once again, and so we dig into the catalogues of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L as we mark the anniversaries of their passings. Alongside those gems. we have some excellent brand new releases and some rarities from the vaults. You should definitely have some tunes to add to your shopping list after listening to this one!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Semi Six : It's On
I would have called this the brand new single, but Semi Six dropped another straight after this with the quickness! Just heavy business from this Detroit booth incinerator, with the hook and the sample incorporated into it coming from Biggie's classic "Who Shot Ya?" Tuamie, who did the production on the recent "Assorted Fries" EP, comes with the heat again - a modern boom-bap sound with some nice extra touches. And you know that "LOX vs Dipset" line he spit is facts!
Jay Dee : Dreamy
Here we have the more chilled side to the late Jay Dee's style, taken from his "Vintage" EP - which is now available on Bandcamp, and an essential for those who appreciate this kind of vibe.
Big Pun : That's How We Roll
Apologies for the sound quality - I know it's pretty rough! This is a white label I picked up from somewhere, and while it shares the same lyrics as the track of the same name from the "Endangered Species" album, the beat is completely different. I'm not going to mention the sample, but you probably recognise it, and I can only imagine that they couldn't clear the sample. Anyway, I definitely prefer this version, and I've always found it interesting how an MC as rugged and raw as Pun could sound absolutely at home on such relatively gentle instrumentals.
De La Soul : Goes With The Word
One of the landmark Dilla beats was the monster he delivered for De La Soul's "Stakes Is High", and so they'll always be tightly associated; had he lived, I'm sure they'd have produced many more classics. Sadly, it wasn't to be, but De La remix their "D.A.I.S.Y" as "Da Inner Sound Of Yancey" on this mixtape, combining re-interpretations of their own lyrics with J Dilla beats from the vaults. In this case, the beat entitled "Don't Say A Word" is repurposed underneath a version of De La's "Potholes In My Lawn".
Devin Morrison : No
As well as being a great artist in his own right, Onra clearly knows how to spot talent, signing the Orlando native Devin Morrison to his own label and then letting him do his thing on the way to the release of the 2019 "Bussin'" album. This is the lead single, and is pretty much impossible not to like! Somewhat reminiscent of what is often called neo-soul, this definitely isn't stuck in the past and and Devin's production and tastefully-processed vocals sound up to date with a classic feel. Just dopeness.
J Dilla ft. Amp Fiddler : Let's Pray Together
You're not imagining things if you think you recognise the beat - this was previously used by Common on "Dooinit", but it gets a welcome re-airing on this track from the "Rebirth Of Detroit" album. Amp Fiddler is a Detroit legend who preceded J Dilla, and in fact mentored him and gave him his first MPC!
[Tall Black Guy] Essa : The Middle Man (Remix Instrumental)
It's been a long while since I played the vocal version of this track on the podcast, so I thought I'd break out Tall Black Guy's instrumental. The vinyl is sold out I believe, but you can still buy this excellent single in digital form.
Big L : Casualties Of A Dice Game (9th Wonder Remix)
People in the know tell us that we were yet to see Big L reach the height of his powers before he was tragically taken from the world. That's quite something when you hear the skill level he'd already attained, as demonstrated here on one of his classic street storytelling rhymes. You might know the lyrics from his posthumously released "The Big Picture", but on "The DITC Remix Project" the tense Ron Browz beat is removed in favour of an instrumental by 9th Wonder with a kind of mournful feel - both versions are appropriate, given how the story ends.
Waajeed ft. Invincible : The Place Where We Dwell
This is an interesting record, with the original "The Place Where We Dwell" as recorded by Gang Starr to big up their home of Brooklyn being reinterpreted with a Detroit-based remake. There are some sonic similarities, as Waajeed works the same base sample, but puts his own twist on it. Invincible does their adopted home proud with her bars - as Guru was with Brooklyn, Invincible was a transplant to Detroit. Solid cut from "The War LP".
A Tribe Called Quest : Same Ol' Thing
This is a Tribe cut that might have passed you by - an Ummah production (you'll hear the J Dilla in it) which didn't appear on any Tribe records until "Hits, Rarities & Remixes" but was a highlight of the "Men In Black" soundtrack. The bump and low end is immaculate, and concentrating the beat in that range leaves plenty of space for Q-Tip's comparatively higher tone to cut through as he goes solo on the mic.
Black Moon ft. Tek : Roll Wit Me
As I say on the voiceover, I'd recommend giving "Rise Of Da Moon" album a listen if you haven't already if you're a fan of the golden 90s. Banging boom-bap for the 21st century...they have it! Buckshot and Tek on the mic give you that consistent BCC connection on the mic, and Da Beatminerz are sounding as solid as ever.
J Dilla : Dillatronic 09
I would love to have heard MCs tearing up some of these beats, but they were just offcuts to J Dilla in his time. In contrast to "Dreamy" as heard earlier, this is the grimy and electronic side to his style, which you can hear more of on the "Dillatronic" collection - most of the tracks are very short, but still interesting to hear.
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud : Steamed Monkfish (Remix)
The "Glass 2.0" project was a worthy follow-up to the first project from the Queens MC/amateur chef/fashion collector, and this standout track made my pick for the "Groovement 10" a little while back. Meyhem is always one for a good food reference or a completely off-the-wall intro (as heard here) or adlib, and the rhymes are always top-notch. This remix (both versions were produced by Harry Fraud) definitely outdoes the original in my opinion, with an elegant ruggedness playing the banging drums off against generous helpings of strings.
Kaytranada ft. BADBADNOTGOOD : Weight Off
Even though I predominantly play instrumentals on the podcast as beds between segments, I was enjoying a listen to this and thought it would be a nice one to hear breathe! If you haven't already got the "99.9%" album, you're missing out - Kaytranada is an excellent producer/composer, and this collab with Toronto's BADBADNOTGOOD is just one example.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : Seven Seas (Miami Nights Mix)
We head to the "Bonus Footage" EP for more of Curren$y's patented rhyme style in combination with the production of recurring collaborator Harry Fraud. The low boom adds some gravity to the gliding synths and skittering hi-hat pattern, which is a similar construction to the original from "The OutRunners" but with different sounds - you'll get where I'm coming from if you listen to both back-to-back.
Benny The Butcher ft. J Cole : Johnny P's Caddy
I think this is an absolutely outstanding track, and it's a new release I put my money down on immediately even though I'll likely buy the upcoming "Tana Talk 4" as well. Alchemist supplies a brooding instrumental as Benny puts his lifetime in between the paper's lines (RIP Prodigy) on the opening verse, before J Cole - who might not strike you as an obvious choice of guest star - kills it on the second. As I often insist - those who say no good new Hip-Hop is coming out nowadays simply isn't paying attention.
[Harry Fraud] Eddie B : Nike Slogans (Instrumental)
The "The Johnny Utah Story" project by Eddie B and Harry Fraud is one we've visited a few times, and the fact that it came with all the instrumentals as well is great for the DJs among us! I needed something with just a touch of darkness to lead into the final track, and this one fit the bill...
Method Man ft. Iron Mic : Last 2 Minutes
The only appropriate place to play this track is at the very end! An absolutely fire new single by Method Man alongside the battle rapper Iron Mic, if this is indicative of the quality of the upcoming "Meth Lab 3 : The Rehab" then it'll be a must-purchase! The rhymes are razor-sharp and the production fits like a glove, courtesy of Chris Wellz and Genius On The Beat. Definitely nothing to play after this!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Seasoning drippin' off of my style, I dress tastefully..."
- Meyhem Lauren
It's Feburary once again, and so we dig into the catalogues of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L as we mark the anniversaries of their passings. Alongside those gems. we have some excellent brand new releases and some rarities from the vaults. You should definitely have some tunes to add to your shopping list after listening to this one!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Semi Six : It's On
I would have called this the brand new single, but Semi Six dropped another straight after this with the quickness! Just heavy business from this Detroit booth incinerator, with the hook and the sample incorporated into it coming from Biggie's classic "Who Shot Ya?" Tuamie, who did the production on the recent "Assorted Fries" EP, comes with the heat again - a modern boom-bap sound with some nice extra touches. And you know that "LOX vs Dipset" line he spit is facts!
Jay Dee : Dreamy
Here we have the more chilled side to the late Jay Dee's style, taken from his "Vintage" EP - which is now available on Bandcamp, and an essential for those who appreciate this kind of vibe.
Big Pun : That's How We Roll
Apologies for the sound quality - I know it's pretty rough! This is a white label I picked up from somewhere, and while it shares the same lyrics as the track of the same name from the "Endangered Species" album, the beat is completely different. I'm not going to mention the sample, but you probably recognise it, and I can only imagine that they couldn't clear the sample. Anyway, I definitely prefer this version, and I've always found it interesting how an MC as rugged and raw as Pun could sound absolutely at home on such relatively gentle instrumentals.
De La Soul : Goes With The Word
One of the landmark Dilla beats was the monster he delivered for De La Soul's "Stakes Is High", and so they'll always be tightly associated; had he lived, I'm sure they'd have produced many more classics. Sadly, it wasn't to be, but De La remix their "D.A.I.S.Y" as "Da Inner Sound Of Yancey" on this mixtape, combining re-interpretations of their own lyrics with J Dilla beats from the vaults. In this case, the beat entitled "Don't Say A Word" is repurposed underneath a version of De La's "Potholes In My Lawn".
Devin Morrison : No
As well as being a great artist in his own right, Onra clearly knows how to spot talent, signing the Orlando native Devin Morrison to his own label and then letting him do his thing on the way to the release of the 2019 "Bussin'" album. This is the lead single, and is pretty much impossible not to like! Somewhat reminiscent of what is often called neo-soul, this definitely isn't stuck in the past and and Devin's production and tastefully-processed vocals sound up to date with a classic feel. Just dopeness.
J Dilla ft. Amp Fiddler : Let's Pray Together
You're not imagining things if you think you recognise the beat - this was previously used by Common on "Dooinit", but it gets a welcome re-airing on this track from the "Rebirth Of Detroit" album. Amp Fiddler is a Detroit legend who preceded J Dilla, and in fact mentored him and gave him his first MPC!
[Tall Black Guy] Essa : The Middle Man (Remix Instrumental)
It's been a long while since I played the vocal version of this track on the podcast, so I thought I'd break out Tall Black Guy's instrumental. The vinyl is sold out I believe, but you can still buy this excellent single in digital form.
Big L : Casualties Of A Dice Game (9th Wonder Remix)
People in the know tell us that we were yet to see Big L reach the height of his powers before he was tragically taken from the world. That's quite something when you hear the skill level he'd already attained, as demonstrated here on one of his classic street storytelling rhymes. You might know the lyrics from his posthumously released "The Big Picture", but on "The DITC Remix Project" the tense Ron Browz beat is removed in favour of an instrumental by 9th Wonder with a kind of mournful feel - both versions are appropriate, given how the story ends.
Waajeed ft. Invincible : The Place Where We Dwell
This is an interesting record, with the original "The Place Where We Dwell" as recorded by Gang Starr to big up their home of Brooklyn being reinterpreted with a Detroit-based remake. There are some sonic similarities, as Waajeed works the same base sample, but puts his own twist on it. Invincible does their adopted home proud with her bars - as Guru was with Brooklyn, Invincible was a transplant to Detroit. Solid cut from "The War LP".
A Tribe Called Quest : Same Ol' Thing
This is a Tribe cut that might have passed you by - an Ummah production (you'll hear the J Dilla in it) which didn't appear on any Tribe records until "Hits, Rarities & Remixes" but was a highlight of the "Men In Black" soundtrack. The bump and low end is immaculate, and concentrating the beat in that range leaves plenty of space for Q-Tip's comparatively higher tone to cut through as he goes solo on the mic.
Black Moon ft. Tek : Roll Wit Me
As I say on the voiceover, I'd recommend giving "Rise Of Da Moon" album a listen if you haven't already if you're a fan of the golden 90s. Banging boom-bap for the 21st century...they have it! Buckshot and Tek on the mic give you that consistent BCC connection on the mic, and Da Beatminerz are sounding as solid as ever.
J Dilla : Dillatronic 09
I would love to have heard MCs tearing up some of these beats, but they were just offcuts to J Dilla in his time. In contrast to "Dreamy" as heard earlier, this is the grimy and electronic side to his style, which you can hear more of on the "Dillatronic" collection - most of the tracks are very short, but still interesting to hear.
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud : Steamed Monkfish (Remix)
The "Glass 2.0" project was a worthy follow-up to the first project from the Queens MC/amateur chef/fashion collector, and this standout track made my pick for the "Groovement 10" a little while back. Meyhem is always one for a good food reference or a completely off-the-wall intro (as heard here) or adlib, and the rhymes are always top-notch. This remix (both versions were produced by Harry Fraud) definitely outdoes the original in my opinion, with an elegant ruggedness playing the banging drums off against generous helpings of strings.
Kaytranada ft. BADBADNOTGOOD : Weight Off
Even though I predominantly play instrumentals on the podcast as beds between segments, I was enjoying a listen to this and thought it would be a nice one to hear breathe! If you haven't already got the "99.9%" album, you're missing out - Kaytranada is an excellent producer/composer, and this collab with Toronto's BADBADNOTGOOD is just one example.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : Seven Seas (Miami Nights Mix)
We head to the "Bonus Footage" EP for more of Curren$y's patented rhyme style in combination with the production of recurring collaborator Harry Fraud. The low boom adds some gravity to the gliding synths and skittering hi-hat pattern, which is a similar construction to the original from "The OutRunners" but with different sounds - you'll get where I'm coming from if you listen to both back-to-back.
Benny The Butcher ft. J Cole : Johnny P's Caddy
I think this is an absolutely outstanding track, and it's a new release I put my money down on immediately even though I'll likely buy the upcoming "Tana Talk 4" as well. Alchemist supplies a brooding instrumental as Benny puts his lifetime in between the paper's lines (RIP Prodigy) on the opening verse, before J Cole - who might not strike you as an obvious choice of guest star - kills it on the second. As I often insist - those who say no good new Hip-Hop is coming out nowadays simply isn't paying attention.
[Harry Fraud] Eddie B : Nike Slogans (Instrumental)
The "The Johnny Utah Story" project by Eddie B and Harry Fraud is one we've visited a few times, and the fact that it came with all the instrumentals as well is great for the DJs among us! I needed something with just a touch of darkness to lead into the final track, and this one fit the bill...
Method Man ft. Iron Mic : Last 2 Minutes
The only appropriate place to play this track is at the very end! An absolutely fire new single by Method Man alongside the battle rapper Iron Mic, if this is indicative of the quality of the upcoming "Meth Lab 3 : The Rehab" then it'll be a must-purchase! The rhymes are razor-sharp and the production fits like a glove, courtesy of Chris Wellz and Genius On The Beat. Definitely nothing to play after this!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...and if they don't understand, then they ain't fam, simple as that." - Nature
This month's episode is dedicated to the memory of a great friend who also happened to be a serious DJ - Obelix of Too Many Cooks (second from right in the photo), who tragically and suddenly passed away this month. He was known to many as part of the crew that organised the Family Gathering parties in the mid-late 2000s, and when you weren't dancing to his selections, you were probably chatting to him and hearing his famously loud laugh! He was a regular listener of this podcast and I hope he would have enjoyed this episode. RIP to a real one.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Russ ft. Snoop Dogg and Big K.R.I.T. : Free
Atlanta's Russ wasn't an artist who'd been on my radar at all until this point, but he pulls together a heavyweight lineup for this DJ Premier-produced selection from his "Chomp 2" album. K.R.I.T might have had the most dextrous verse, but Snoop's verse is the perfect closer, and his low tone is exactly what was needed.
Superior Thought : Oddessy
Sorry about the spelling, that's on the original! This subdued, mournful instrumental from South London's Thought, taken from "The S'strumentals - SkyisthelimitLP" was just the right mood for this month's opening announcements.
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : Stay Shippin'
New Manchester flavour here, with a brand new single starring Dubbul O, a true MC who can burn any cipher down or slide along with a groove like this. Jointhedots is the new project headed up by bassist/producer/bandleader Defty, and the stuff I'm hearing makes you wish for a full-length project sometime this year!
Common : Testify
Common is in full storytelling mode here, setting a scene worthy of a big-screen courtroom drama - in fact, this single did get an extended-length video with serious actors playing the roles! The "Be" album was a bit of a return to the good graces of many (including me, truth be told) after he kind of went heavily off-piste on "Electric Circus"; Kanye West produced most of it, including this track, and hearing this reminds you how good he was at picking out and working with those soul samples.
Darkhouse Family ft. Tyler Daley and Kaidi Tatham : All The Way
UK talent blazing all over this one, with Cardiff's Darkhouse Family bringing in some of their First Word labelmates. The multi-instrumental don Kaidi Tatham comes in alongside legend in the making Tyler Daley, best known as half of Children of Zeus, and the result is heavy. A weighty low end and banging drum line are complemented by some gentle piano, beautiful horns and flutes, and Tyler's always-great vocals.
Khrysis, Rapsody, and Sa-Roc : The Disrespect
When you have two serious MCs ready to go, just give them a good beat, hit "record", and get out of the way! It's great to hear Khrysis still bringing it all these years after first hearing him as part of the Justus League, and last year's "The Hour Of Khrysis" (appropriate) is another solid entry in his catalogue. Rapsody, his fellow Soul Council member, puts work in on the first verse with quite a relaxed, smooth flow, before Sa-Roc comes in slightly more amped up on the second.
Havoc & The Alchemist : Throw In The Towel (Instrumental)
Two of the masters of the dark combined on "The Silent Partner", and this gives you a good sample of the flavour throughout! The Alchemist is in sole charge of production here - the fact that such an expert producer as Havoc trusts him in that position is testament to his skill.
Superbad Solace : Sundaze
A very short and sweet cut from "Sol Controller 2", Mono En Stereo clearly dug in the crates to construct this layered soul soundtrack for Solace of the Queens duo Timeless Truth to get busy on. Not every track needs to be a lengthy epic to be satisfying!
Nature ft. Nas : The Ultimate High
Not everyone picks up on the vibe of this one. I remember playing it at a random house party once and hearing someone very much not into Hip-Hop complain "that's a pretty boring beat", but then fairly recently decided to try it in a Twitch set and it got a good response! I had assumed for the longest that this was a Trackmasters beat, but it's actually the sample master Ski who did the honours here, driving straight ahead with a dope library record find and a heavy foot on the kick drum. It's an all-Queensbridge affair on the mic, with Nas taking the first half of the second verse, but Nature handling the major part nicely. You can find this on "For All Seasons", Nature's debut, but I decided to go with the clean version of this from the 12" - just made the hook a little less jarring.
Mega Ran : Flight 2.0
I can definitely relate to that opening verse - I might not have been getting all the nice kicks when I was a kid, but adult me makes up for that now! Mega Ran goes deeper on this track from his excellent new LP "Live '95" (totally on board with the theme/branding BTW), expanding on the politics and significance of the not-so-humble sneaker and the surrounding culture. DJ DN3 needed to come with a heavy beat to keep the energy balanced, and it's just what was needed - some gliding, floaty highs complementing the bass-heavy, slightly glitchy foundation. Flavour!
Nine : Whutcha Want? (Radio Remix)
I understand how it goes, Nine had to do the dance for the media, it's just that I remember him debuting as "9 Double M" on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die" :) Anyway, many of you will know the original version of this hit single from "Nine Livez", but this remix wasn't played anything like as much - understandable I suppose, but it's dope in its own right!
[Godfather Don] Hostyle : Guilty (Instrumental)
Finally got round to picking up a copy of the original break for this on vinyl - it's a classic, and Godfather Don wisely doesn't chop it around, just adds some nice extra seasoning on top of the strong source material. The scratches laid in even on the instrumental version are a nice accent on top of the main loop. Stumbling upon this single in the average record shop might not be that likely, but you should be able to source a used copy online.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Make It Happen
We open up the section of early-mid 90s gems with this gem of a single - not as well-known as it should be. I believe this was the promo/lead single from the "Funk Your Head Up" LP and its heavy and dense production is the kind of thing you could imaging coming out of the Public Enemy camp. Ced Gee is dope as always, but as is so often the case, Kool Keith is the man on this cut. One personal note - I didn't realise until writing these notes that there was actually a video for this track!
Above The Law : Menace To Society
If you've been around me for any length of time, you know how highly I rate Above The Law, and their 1990 debut "Livin' Like Hustlers" is an album that everyone should check. This track closed the first side of the vinyl, and is thus arguably the deepest cut on the LP. Interestingly, Discogs lists this track as having had some lyrics written by Go Mack and Total K-Oss, the DJs. For a group with Cold 187um and KMG (RIP) on the mic, it seems unlikely that they would let anyone else write a single bar for them - but I'd love to know whether Discogs is just wrong, or if there's a story there!
Brand Nubian : Brand Nubian Rock The Set
The kind of album track that you don't hear often but which this podcast is all about, this is just plain Hip-Hop dopeness. As with the rest of this segment, this is at a pace you don't often hear these days, with the group self-producing and the then-duo of Sadat X (love his opening two bars) and Lord Jamar bringing it on the mic. A lot of people thought the group was on borrowed time when Grand Puba left, but the "In God We Trust" album showed how mistaken that assumption was.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : Good Life (Group Home Mix)
Not produced by the famous duo Group Home, just the title of the mix! Taken from the 1991 "All Souled Out" EP, the duo's debut, Pete Rock's genius allows him to swap out pretty much every element of the original and yet still preserve a very similar vibe. On the mic, he steps back to give C.L. the space to control the mic solo. They were so young, and yet so incredible from the off!
People Under The Stairs : Live At The Fishbucket (Part 2) (Instrumental)
I don't know how many copies the 12" of "The Cat" would have sold, but I'm glad I picked it up on release as it's great from front to back, and this instrumental has always been a funky favourite. RIP Double K.
Too Many Cooks and English : Live and Direct
There was absolutely no way I was ending the episode with any other piece of wax than this one. TMC (Obelix & Leeroy) decided in 2006, in a time way before Bandcamp or any of that, that they wanted to put some vinyl out, and as I look back, there's really something to be said for creating a physical artifact of your talent. They combined their production and scratch skills with the bars of English, a London MC who was living in Manchester and slaying it at open mic sessions (and then with us at Family Gathering) to create the "Live and Direct" 12", from which we take the title track here. With all the respect they had for that vintage, golden era sound, they channel it here to great effect. The instrumental of this cut was digitised and played at the opening of Obelix's funeral, and it was fitting that his music was shared right to the very end. Rest peacefully, Obelix.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>- Nature
This month's episode is dedicated to the memory of a great friend who also happened to be a serious DJ - Obelix of Too Many Cooks (second from right in the photo), who tragically and suddenly passed away this month. He was known to many as part of the crew that organised the Family Gathering parties in the mid-late 2000s, and when you weren't dancing to his selections, you were probably chatting to him and hearing his famously loud laugh! He was a regular listener of this podcast and I hope he would have enjoyed this episode. RIP to a real one.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Russ ft. Snoop Dogg and Big K.R.I.T. : Free
Atlanta's Russ wasn't an artist who'd been on my radar at all until this point, but he pulls together a heavyweight lineup for this DJ Premier-produced selection from his "Chomp 2" album. K.R.I.T might have had the most dextrous verse, but Snoop's verse is the perfect closer, and his low tone is exactly what was needed.
Superior Thought : Oddessy
Sorry about the spelling, that's on the original! This subdued, mournful instrumental from South London's Thought, taken from "The S'strumentals - SkyisthelimitLP" was just the right mood for this month's opening announcements.
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : Stay Shippin'
New Manchester flavour here, with a brand new single starring Dubbul O, a true MC who can burn any cipher down or slide along with a groove like this. Jointhedots is the new project headed up by bassist/producer/bandleader Defty, and the stuff I'm hearing makes you wish for a full-length project sometime this year!
Common : Testify
Common is in full storytelling mode here, setting a scene worthy of a big-screen courtroom drama - in fact, this single did get an extended-length video with serious actors playing the roles! The "Be" album was a bit of a return to the good graces of many (including me, truth be told) after he kind of went heavily off-piste on "Electric Circus"; Kanye West produced most of it, including this track, and hearing this reminds you how good he was at picking out and working with those soul samples.
Darkhouse Family ft. Tyler Daley and Kaidi Tatham : All The Way
UK talent blazing all over this one, with Cardiff's Darkhouse Family bringing in some of their First Word labelmates. The multi-instrumental don Kaidi Tatham comes in alongside legend in the making Tyler Daley, best known as half of Children of Zeus, and the result is heavy. A weighty low end and banging drum line are complemented by some gentle piano, beautiful horns and flutes, and Tyler's always-great vocals.
Khrysis, Rapsody, and Sa-Roc : The Disrespect
When you have two serious MCs ready to go, just give them a good beat, hit "record", and get out of the way! It's great to hear Khrysis still bringing it all these years after first hearing him as part of the Justus League, and last year's "The Hour Of Khrysis" (appropriate) is another solid entry in his catalogue. Rapsody, his fellow Soul Council member, puts work in on the first verse with quite a relaxed, smooth flow, before Sa-Roc comes in slightly more amped up on the second.
Havoc & The Alchemist : Throw In The Towel (Instrumental)
Two of the masters of the dark combined on "The Silent Partner", and this gives you a good sample of the flavour throughout! The Alchemist is in sole charge of production here - the fact that such an expert producer as Havoc trusts him in that position is testament to his skill.
Superbad Solace : Sundaze
A very short and sweet cut from "Sol Controller 2", Mono En Stereo clearly dug in the crates to construct this layered soul soundtrack for Solace of the Queens duo Timeless Truth to get busy on. Not every track needs to be a lengthy epic to be satisfying!
Nature ft. Nas : The Ultimate High
Not everyone picks up on the vibe of this one. I remember playing it at a random house party once and hearing someone very much not into Hip-Hop complain "that's a pretty boring beat", but then fairly recently decided to try it in a Twitch set and it got a good response! I had assumed for the longest that this was a Trackmasters beat, but it's actually the sample master Ski who did the honours here, driving straight ahead with a dope library record find and a heavy foot on the kick drum. It's an all-Queensbridge affair on the mic, with Nas taking the first half of the second verse, but Nature handling the major part nicely. You can find this on "For All Seasons", Nature's debut, but I decided to go with the clean version of this from the 12" - just made the hook a little less jarring.
Mega Ran : Flight 2.0
I can definitely relate to that opening verse - I might not have been getting all the nice kicks when I was a kid, but adult me makes up for that now! Mega Ran goes deeper on this track from his excellent new LP "Live '95" (totally on board with the theme/branding BTW), expanding on the politics and significance of the not-so-humble sneaker and the surrounding culture. DJ DN3 needed to come with a heavy beat to keep the energy balanced, and it's just what was needed - some gliding, floaty highs complementing the bass-heavy, slightly glitchy foundation. Flavour!
Nine : Whutcha Want? (Radio Remix)
I understand how it goes, Nine had to do the dance for the media, it's just that I remember him debuting as "9 Double M" on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die" :) Anyway, many of you will know the original version of this hit single from "Nine Livez", but this remix wasn't played anything like as much - understandable I suppose, but it's dope in its own right!
[Godfather Don] Hostyle : Guilty (Instrumental)
Finally got round to picking up a copy of the original break for this on vinyl - it's a classic, and Godfather Don wisely doesn't chop it around, just adds some nice extra seasoning on top of the strong source material. The scratches laid in even on the instrumental version are a nice accent on top of the main loop. Stumbling upon this single in the average record shop might not be that likely, but you should be able to source a used copy online.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Make It Happen
We open up the section of early-mid 90s gems with this gem of a single - not as well-known as it should be. I believe this was the promo/lead single from the "Funk Your Head Up" LP and its heavy and dense production is the kind of thing you could imaging coming out of the Public Enemy camp. Ced Gee is dope as always, but as is so often the case, Kool Keith is the man on this cut. One personal note - I didn't realise until writing these notes that there was actually a video for this track!
Above The Law : Menace To Society
If you've been around me for any length of time, you know how highly I rate Above The Law, and their 1990 debut "Livin' Like Hustlers" is an album that everyone should check. This track closed the first side of the vinyl, and is thus arguably the deepest cut on the LP. Interestingly, Discogs lists this track as having had some lyrics written by Go Mack and Total K-Oss, the DJs. For a group with Cold 187um and KMG (RIP) on the mic, it seems unlikely that they would let anyone else write a single bar for them - but I'd love to know whether Discogs is just wrong, or if there's a story there!
Brand Nubian : Brand Nubian Rock The Set
The kind of album track that you don't hear often but which this podcast is all about, this is just plain Hip-Hop dopeness. As with the rest of this segment, this is at a pace you don't often hear these days, with the group self-producing and the then-duo of Sadat X (love his opening two bars) and Lord Jamar bringing it on the mic. A lot of people thought the group was on borrowed time when Grand Puba left, but the "In God We Trust" album showed how mistaken that assumption was.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : Good Life (Group Home Mix)
Not produced by the famous duo Group Home, just the title of the mix! Taken from the 1991 "All Souled Out" EP, the duo's debut, Pete Rock's genius allows him to swap out pretty much every element of the original and yet still preserve a very similar vibe. On the mic, he steps back to give C.L. the space to control the mic solo. They were so young, and yet so incredible from the off!
People Under The Stairs : Live At The Fishbucket (Part 2) (Instrumental)
I don't know how many copies the 12" of "The Cat" would have sold, but I'm glad I picked it up on release as it's great from front to back, and this instrumental has always been a funky favourite. RIP Double K.
Too Many Cooks and English : Live and Direct
There was absolutely no way I was ending the episode with any other piece of wax than this one. TMC (Obelix & Leeroy) decided in 2006, in a time way before Bandcamp or any of that, that they wanted to put some vinyl out, and as I look back, there's really something to be said for creating a physical artifact of your talent. They combined their production and scratch skills with the bars of English, a London MC who was living in Manchester and slaying it at open mic sessions (and then with us at Family Gathering) to create the "Live and Direct" 12", from which we take the title track here. With all the respect they had for that vintage, golden era sound, they channel it here to great effect. The instrumental of this cut was digitised and played at the opening of Obelix's funeral, and it was fitting that his music was shared right to the very end. Rest peacefully, Obelix.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Don't quit now, you're just a heartbeat away..."
- Spitta
No copy-paste, back of the store cupboard mix business, this show always aims to give you an episode crafted around recent listening (which doesn't necessarily mean recent releases), events, and ongoing conversations. The work level is real! This month's episode includes a classic track from The Roots (RIP Hub), some recently-suggested Verzuz competitors, and some of the best tracks of 2021 alongside some pulls from the vaults. I think you'll enjoy it!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Outerspace : 151°
I've been planning to play this song on this episode for at least the last four or five years - I couldn't pass up the opportunity! This has early 2000s underground Hip-Hop written all over it, from 7Ls production to the super-aggressive lyrics from Crypt and Planetary. Not one for the club, this is headphone music all the way!
[Vance Wright] Slick Rick : It's A Boy (Instrumental)
I play the remix of this track a fair bit, but this is the beat for the original as heard on "The Ruler's Back" - to get this instrumental, you'll need to pick up the 12" single, which is now thirty (!) years old, but still findable.
The Mouse Outfit ft. AyiTe and FLISS : Don't Stop
Manchester and London in combination here, as Chini and Metrodome of The Mouse Outfit cook up a nice midtempo beat on this single from earlier this year. AyiTe on the lead delivers a confident two-verse performance, while FLISS provides backing vocals for that extra sparkle that completes the track.
The Roots : No Alibi
One of the things I appreciated about Hub's style was that his bass playing always exactly what was needed - no self-centred showing off, always doing what made the sum of the parts work. You hear him here ably filling in the low end on this album cut from the absolute classic "Illadelph Halflife", which has a lovely chilled vibe despite not actually being particularly downtempo. The late Malik B can be heard putting it down on the opening verse, with Black Thought taking the latter two.
J-Live : Audio Visual
A great track you may have missed from one of the hardest-working guys in the culture. He came out of the gate with incredible bars and this track from his third album is just one example. He produced most of "The Hear After", but calls in Georgia's Floyd The Locsmif for this beautifully dark beat.
Phi Life Cypher : Verbal Wars
Bars upon bars upon bars. That's what you get on literally every Phi Life Cypher track, with Luton's Si Phili and Life being two of the most skilful MCs you'll ever hear. Nappa takes an interesting approach with the production here, making it virtually drumless and engineering the whole thing with a haunting feel centred around the main loop and vocals that sound like they're coming over some kind of military radio handsets. Mix in the interference and squealing tuning noises, and this track from "Millenium Metaphors" is a bleak masterpiece.
[Redman] Mother Superia : Most Of All (Instrumental)
He doesn't only get busy on the mic! This is some real 90s MPC funk from Brick City's own Reggie Noble, who does his thing on the production of the debut single from an MC who sadly didn't get the shine she deserved.
Lyric Jones ft. Little Brother : Cruisin'
Lyric Jones is one of those special artists with an array of skills - a drummer, keyboardist, singer/songwriter and a serious MC to boot. The Boston native's "Closer Than They Appear" LP was executive produced by Phonte of Little Brother, and that group blesses the album with a guest appearance here. Each MC kicks off their verse setting the scene, each writing as though cruising down a different freeway (85, 405, 95), then spitting with ease over a fitting soundtrack courtesy of Focus...
Nas : 40-16 Building
The new Nas LP "Magic" was released in the last few days, and while the very short album has a bunch of strong tracks, this one just had the edge as something to fit into the selection this month. Hit-Boy is on the beat, with a third straight album of Nas production credits establishing him firmly into the catalogue of this legendary MC, and Nas commands the mic as he always has.
The Carters : 713
From Queens over to Brooklyn and Houston, we take a track from "Everything Is Love", the first joint album from Jay-Z and Beyonce. Houston takes the lead (the track title comes from one of the city's area codes), as Jay and Bey talk about their relationship - one that it seems like everyone else has opinions on. The beat has more than its fair share of low-end boom, courtesy of 808-Ray and Cool N Dre, alongside the star couple.
Clear Soul Forces : Unlimited Bounce
These guys ooze dopeness on every track they create - even if there's one you don't like, you can't front on the skill levels. We go back to the 2013 "Gold PP7s" album for a track that provides exactly what it promised in the title - big up Nameless for the bouncy production. When it comes to lyrics, all the MCs come with the kind of flavour that would stand out in a cipher pretty much anywhere. If you want that old feeling with a 21st century energy, check this crew out.
Dibia$e : One4Jax
This is the kind of heat you get when you give a producer the green light and get out of the way. Lovely bump from California's Dibia$e, taken from his entry in Fat Beats' "Baker's Dozen" series. There may have been only 250 vinyl copies that contained all thirteen tracks (with another 250 having twelve), but you can get the uncut raw over at Bandcamp.
Blak Twang : '96
Appropriately for the "Speaking From Xperience" album, here Tony Rotton reminisces on the year 1996 - when he was picking up momentum at the start of his career. As an older, more seasoned person, it's interesting to hear him reflect on the experiences that shaped him as an artist and as a man. As with so many of his other great tracks, this reggae-influenced beat was self-produced.
7th Floor Freeze and Planet Asia : Succe$$
For the rest of this section, we switch back to 2021 releases and kick those off with this vintage-sampling heater. Ohio's Freeze describes himself as an "artrepreneur", and as well as running his own clothing label he finds time here to go toe-to-toe with one of the great underground MCs, Planet Asia out of Fresno. Just straightforward dopeness.
Tall Black Guy and Ozay Moore ft. KUMBAYA : Viberite
TBG has quietly been building a really strong catalogue, and his latest LP "Of Process And Progression" (in collaboration with Ozay Moore) is up to his usual high standards. The beat combines his trademark bumping drums and command of the bassline, yet could just as easily be a canvas for a singer - as demonstrated by KUMBAYA - as one for an MC like Ozay. It's a vibe, indeed.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : Purchasing Power
I can already tell that this track from the recently-released "Regatta" album is going to be on next year's Spotify roundup for me because I have been rinsing it! That sample makes me feel like I should have a tux on and be doing a two-step in an 80s soul video, and Curren$y weaves visions of Los Muchachos and motivational speak into his trademark lifestyle bars. These two are always a winning combination and their particular evocation of the "Cocaine Cowboys" era over a series of releases has been producing some really quality music.
Stan Forebee, Josh Jacobson, The Field Tapes, Kennebec : Snowland Sunset
The Chillhop label puts out an amazing amount of chilled, often lo-fi material that's perfect for when you don't want to focus on lyrics but just need to nod your head to something. This seasonally-appropriate beat from last year's "Chillhop Essentials Winter 2020" is headed up my Melbourne's Stan Forebee, who has done some of my favourite tracks on the label. Definitely look up more to soundtrack your WFH days!
Terri Walker : This Is My Time
You might not know this track, but pretty much everyone knows the beat! Produced by Cutfather & Joe, this one heavily re-uses the same sample as Ski's beat for "Luchini" by Camp Lo, but with some extra instrumentation and a bridge as we move through the track. It's a perfect soundscape for Terri Walker's triumphant vocals on the opening track of her "L.O.V.E" album. Somehow this was never released as a single - it was supposed to be, but it was ultimately cancelled. Can't help but think the record label might have dropped the ball there!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Don't quit now, you're just a heartbeat away..."
- Spitta
No copy-paste, back of the store cupboard mix business, this show always aims to give you an episode crafted around recent listening (which doesn't necessarily mean recent releases), events, and ongoing conversations. The work level is real! This month's episode includes a classic track from The Roots (RIP Hub), some recently-suggested Verzuz competitors, and some of the best tracks of 2021 alongside some pulls from the vaults. I think you'll enjoy it!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Outerspace : 151°
I've been planning to play this song on this episode for at least the last four or five years - I couldn't pass up the opportunity! This has early 2000s underground Hip-Hop written all over it, from 7Ls production to the super-aggressive lyrics from Crypt and Planetary. Not one for the club, this is headphone music all the way!
[Vance Wright] Slick Rick : It's A Boy (Instrumental)
I play the remix of this track a fair bit, but this is the beat for the original as heard on "The Ruler's Back" - to get this instrumental, you'll need to pick up the 12" single, which is now thirty (!) years old, but still findable.
The Mouse Outfit ft. AyiTe and FLISS : Don't Stop
Manchester and London in combination here, as Chini and Metrodome of The Mouse Outfit cook up a nice midtempo beat on this single from earlier this year. AyiTe on the lead delivers a confident two-verse performance, while FLISS provides backing vocals for that extra sparkle that completes the track.
The Roots : No Alibi
One of the things I appreciated about Hub's style was that his bass playing always exactly what was needed - no self-centred showing off, always doing what made the sum of the parts work. You hear him here ably filling in the low end on this album cut from the absolute classic "Illadelph Halflife", which has a lovely chilled vibe despite not actually being particularly downtempo. The late Malik B can be heard putting it down on the opening verse, with Black Thought taking the latter two.
J-Live : Audio Visual
A great track you may have missed from one of the hardest-working guys in the culture. He came out of the gate with incredible bars and this track from his third album is just one example. He produced most of "The Hear After", but calls in Georgia's Floyd The Locsmif for this beautifully dark beat.
Phi Life Cypher : Verbal Wars
Bars upon bars upon bars. That's what you get on literally every Phi Life Cypher track, with Luton's Si Phili and Life being two of the most skilful MCs you'll ever hear. Nappa takes an interesting approach with the production here, making it virtually drumless and engineering the whole thing with a haunting feel centred around the main loop and vocals that sound like they're coming over some kind of military radio handsets. Mix in the interference and squealing tuning noises, and this track from "Millenium Metaphors" is a bleak masterpiece.
[Redman] Mother Superia : Most Of All (Instrumental)
He doesn't only get busy on the mic! This is some real 90s MPC funk from Brick City's own Reggie Noble, who does his thing on the production of the debut single from an MC who sadly didn't get the shine she deserved.
Lyric Jones ft. Little Brother : Cruisin'
Lyric Jones is one of those special artists with an array of skills - a drummer, keyboardist, singer/songwriter and a serious MC to boot. The Boston native's "Closer Than They Appear" LP was executive produced by Phonte of Little Brother, and that group blesses the album with a guest appearance here. Each MC kicks off their verse setting the scene, each writing as though cruising down a different freeway (85, 405, 95), then spitting with ease over a fitting soundtrack courtesy of Focus...
Nas : 40-16 Building
The new Nas LP "Magic" was released in the last few days, and while the very short album has a bunch of strong tracks, this one just had the edge as something to fit into the selection this month. Hit-Boy is on the beat, with a third straight album of Nas production credits establishing him firmly into the catalogue of this legendary MC, and Nas commands the mic as he always has.
The Carters : 713
From Queens over to Brooklyn and Houston, we take a track from "Everything Is Love", the first joint album from Jay-Z and Beyonce. Houston takes the lead (the track title comes from one of the city's area codes), as Jay and Bey talk about their relationship - one that it seems like everyone else has opinions on. The beat has more than its fair share of low-end boom, courtesy of 808-Ray and Cool N Dre, alongside the star couple.
Clear Soul Forces : Unlimited Bounce
These guys ooze dopeness on every track they create - even if there's one you don't like, you can't front on the skill levels. We go back to the 2013 "Gold PP7s" album for a track that provides exactly what it promised in the title - big up Nameless for the bouncy production. When it comes to lyrics, all the MCs come with the kind of flavour that would stand out in a cipher pretty much anywhere. If you want that old feeling with a 21st century energy, check this crew out.
Dibia$e : One4Jax
This is the kind of heat you get when you give a producer the green light and get out of the way. Lovely bump from California's Dibia$e, taken from his entry in Fat Beats' "Baker's Dozen" series. There may have been only 250 vinyl copies that contained all thirteen tracks (with another 250 having twelve), but you can get the uncut raw over at Bandcamp.
Blak Twang : '96
Appropriately for the "Speaking From Xperience" album, here Tony Rotton reminisces on the year 1996 - when he was picking up momentum at the start of his career. As an older, more seasoned person, it's interesting to hear him reflect on the experiences that shaped him as an artist and as a man. As with so many of his other great tracks, this reggae-influenced beat was self-produced.
7th Floor Freeze and Planet Asia : Succe$$
For the rest of this section, we switch back to 2021 releases and kick those off with this vintage-sampling heater. Ohio's Freeze describes himself as an "artrepreneur", and as well as running his own clothing label he finds time here to go toe-to-toe with one of the great underground MCs, Planet Asia out of Fresno. Just straightforward dopeness.
Tall Black Guy and Ozay Moore ft. KUMBAYA : Viberite
TBG has quietly been building a really strong catalogue, and his latest LP "Of Process And Progression" (in collaboration with Ozay Moore) is up to his usual high standards. The beat combines his trademark bumping drums and command of the bassline, yet could just as easily be a canvas for a singer - as demonstrated by KUMBAYA - as one for an MC like Ozay. It's a vibe, indeed.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : Purchasing Power
I can already tell that this track from the recently-released "Regatta" album is going to be on next year's Spotify roundup for me because I have been rinsing it! That sample makes me feel like I should have a tux on and be doing a two-step in an 80s soul video, and Curren$y weaves visions of Los Muchachos and motivational speak into his trademark lifestyle bars. These two are always a winning combination and their particular evocation of the "Cocaine Cowboys" era over a series of releases has been producing some really quality music.
Stan Forebee, Josh Jacobson, The Field Tapes, Kennebec : Snowland Sunset
The Chillhop label puts out an amazing amount of chilled, often lo-fi material that's perfect for when you don't want to focus on lyrics but just need to nod your head to something. This seasonally-appropriate beat from last year's "Chillhop Essentials Winter 2020" is headed up my Melbourne's Stan Forebee, who has done some of my favourite tracks on the label. Definitely look up more to soundtrack your WFH days!
Terri Walker : This Is My Time
You might not know this track, but pretty much everyone knows the beat! Produced by Cutfather & Joe, this one heavily re-uses the same sample as Ski's beat for "Luchini" by Camp Lo, but with some extra instrumentation and a bridge as we move through the track. It's a perfect soundscape for Terri Walker's triumphant vocals on the opening track of her "L.O.V.E" album. Somehow this was never released as a single - it was supposed to be, but it was ultimately cancelled. Can't help but think the record label might have dropped the ball there!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"It's the song for those who've finished singing."
- Talib Kweli
One of those nice round-ish numbers on the episode count this month, so I've broken out a couple of numerically-appropriate selections along with a segment I've had on my mind for ages! On top of that, I've included some tracks by two artists I somehow ended up DJing for this month - Ras Kass and Big Noyd! It's a pretty rugged selection as the winter continues to draw in, so lace up your boots, throw a hood over your headphones, and let's go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Buc Fifty : Metal's Advocate
An ignorant gem from the vaults, just raw disrespectful music. This MC gives off heavy NYC vibes, but apparently comes out of California, and had a run of street records from 1998 to 2004, including this 12" from 1999 This dark and claustrophobic number is an early Alchemist production, liberally sprinkled with quotes (and playing on the title of) the 1997 Pacino/Keanu film. Buc comes through super grimy on the mic, with "...never say 'I' and 'think' in the same sentence" being a particular standout.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Scam (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago - a little-known unreleased track from the Mobb catalogue. Havoc shows his mastery here, with an extremely sparse track that only an expert could pull off.
Oh No ft. Wildchild : WTF
"Ohh noooo!" That's the highlight of the hook as well as the lead vocalist. A real family affair, this is not actually not produced by Oh No (who does have a deep catalogue on the boards), but his brother Madlib, and features Wildchild - putting two-thirds of Lootpack on the track. This is a stomping track from the early 2000s banger "The Disrupt".
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib : Massage Seats
A little reggae flavour mixed into this one with Madlib, no stranger to the genre, on the boards for a characteristically raw-sounding track from the "Bandana" LP. Freddie Gibbs cannonballs through the chaos with his own brand of gangsta wordplay. The second Gibbs and Madlib album is absolutely as worthy of your listening time as the first. (Oh, and as an aside, I would totally drive that "auntie Benz" 😆 Put a decent sound system in it, yes please)
Stic : Stay Ready
If you're just getting back to working on your fitness after so much time inside, the "Workout II" album should be finding a spot in your gym playlist. This two-album series is an innovative concept, and the vibes cover all manner of workouts. I'd love to be able to tell you who the guest vocalist is (thanks, digital-only releases), but he's a great compliment to Stic on this ode to discipline.
Semi Six : NWA In This NWO
An absolute killer track from this Detroit MC who you should be getting to know from some of the tracks I've been playing here and the releases I've been pointing you to! Taken from his debut "He Who Ascends" LP, this tune has Semi dropping serious bars with a confident flow, all over a knocking beat by Ashton Woods. This is exactly the kind of track that puts paid to the oft-stated complaint that there's no good new Hip-Hop coming out - you just have to know where to look!
Black Milk : Shut It Down (Instrumental)
Keeping it Detroit for a second straight cut! The vocal version of this was on 2007's "Popular Demand" LP, with this instrumental version being included on the 12" single.
Ghostface Killah ft. Method Man, Cappadonna, and Redman : Buck 50
This is the second selection for the month that was inspired by the episode number. Taken from the 2000 "Supreme Clientele" LP, many people's pick for the best from Ghostface's catalogue, it says a lot that with all these great MCs on one cut, Ghost absolutely slays everything on his closing verse! Everyone else does themselves proud though, with Redman's verse being another standout for someone who doesn't get enough mention in the "greatest MCs" conversation. RZA's beat is suitably rugged, working a well-known old soul sample that chugs along on the low end and gives you the feeling of a perilous tightrope walk on the highs.
Nicole Bus : With You
This Dutch singer throws a whole lot into the pot on this track from the "Kairos" LP - lyrical stylings from Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner", a classic drum break which you'll recognise from a hall-of-fame level Hip-Hop cut, and a main sample which Black Moon also rocked on "Buck 'Em Down". The result is a glorious whole with all the influences lifting each other up. With Roc Nation now backing her, she's got a good chance of getting the attention her talent rightly deserves. Also check out the similarly-titled "You" if you want more soul with a heavy Hip-Hop underpinning.
Mobb Deep ft. Big Noyd : Double Shots
I was going to go with the Noyd-headlined "Air It Out", but as well as that being maybe too obvious a pick, I ultimately just felt like including this single which I often like to break out at live shows. Unusually for Mobb Deep, Havoc steps back from production in favour of S.C., and instead is first up to bat on the mic. Prodigy does his thing on the middle verse before Noyd comes through amped up to slay the closing. S.C.'s production somehow fits, and despite the fact that this crew are most at home on dark and threatening beats, this bassy disco-ish track doesn't break their stride at all.
Camp Lo : Soul Fever
This is far from my favourite cut on "Black Hollywood" (it's maybe in fourth position), so the fact that this soulful Ski-produced track is as dope as it is should give you an idea of the overall quality level! This 2007 release saw Cheeba and Geechi continue to catapult the 70s into the 21st century - maybe not as slang-dense as some of their other stuff, but still unmistakably Lo.
Ronnie Laws : Love Is Here
This dopeness from the 1978 "Flame" album has an opening that sounds more like a track that should be closer to the end of the mix, but then the funk groove kicks in and ultimately merges lovely with his jazz stylings. If you see a copy of this LP for a decent price, don't hesitate to pick it up.
Royal Flush : Movin' On Your Weak Productions
The first track I ever heard from Royal Flush, a Queens MC who was making his debut on the "Ghetto Millionaire" LP, which still stands up twenty-five years later. Da Beatminerz supply a nice bit of boom-bap production, with a sample that's pure vibes and a snare drum that could slap you through a brick wall. For the hook, they sample and cut two classic Hip-Hop tracks - one being a Nas feature on a Mobb Deep cut, and the other you'll hear later on...
Erick Sermon ft. Redman and Keith Murray : Open Fire
The sample that places this record into this section only appears in the intro, but it sticks in your head. There's also a subtle Zapp sample that weaves in, a signature of the great Erick Sermon who unquestionably was one of the first to bring their sound to Hip-Hop. A full Def Squad appearance on this track from the "Double Or Nothing" album, which is worth seeking out if it escaped your notice the first time round.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : The Main Ingredient
The title track to the second Pete Rock and C.L. LP doesn't get as much play as it deserves - it's an absolute sonic monster. Despite the sheer size of the beat, C.L. doesn't need to raise his voice or do anything else different to cut straight through with quality bars from beginning to end. The production blends an amazing breadth of samples, all unified into a coherent whole - I won't give any of them away here, but this is expert-level beatmaking and mixing.
KRS-ONE : Sound Of Da Police
Of course, you knew we were going to end up here! We played the original track that used this beat waaaay back on episode 17 in 2010, but now you hear Buckwild's beat in the home most people know it from. This is an unimpeachable Hip-Hop classic from the "Return Of The Boom Bap" LP, one on the highest level of the pantheon of anti-police brutality records.
Jake One : Crowning (Three Kings Instrumental)
One of those instrumentals I needed to loop up a bit to make it long enough for this spot, which is to everyone's benefit because it's a great beat! Coming from the studio of Jake One, a versatile producer of Seattle, this gospel-flavoured beat from "#Prayerhandsemoji" was the instrumental to the track "Three Kings" by a rapper I don't include in my sets...
Ras Kass, Talib Kweli, MK Asante, Bishop Lamont : Gods N The Hood
You don't put a record like this in the middle of a mix - it's grand enough to cement its place at the closing of proceedings. A showstopper from Ras' 2013 "Barmageddon" LP, it opens with an excellent NGE-influenced verse from Bishop Lamont and builds from there, with Ras' verse describing his family's move in the Second Great Migration - and what they found on the other side - and then MK Asante and Talib Kweli bringing it home. The Canadian producer Chris Noxx had to knock it out of the park for this track to have the necessary weight, and he does.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"It's the song for those who've finished singing."
- Talib Kweli
One of those nice round-ish numbers on the episode count this month, so I've broken out a couple of numerically-appropriate selections along with a segment I've had on my mind for ages! On top of that, I've included some tracks by two artists I somehow ended up DJing for this month - Ras Kass and Big Noyd! It's a pretty rugged selection as the winter continues to draw in, so lace up your boots, throw a hood over your headphones, and let's go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Buc Fifty : Metal's Advocate
An ignorant gem from the vaults, just raw disrespectful music. This MC gives off heavy NYC vibes, but apparently comes out of California, and had a run of street records from 1998 to 2004, including this 12" from 1999 This dark and claustrophobic number is an early Alchemist production, liberally sprinkled with quotes (and playing on the title of) the 1997 Pacino/Keanu film. Buc comes through super grimy on the mic, with "...never say 'I' and 'think' in the same sentence" being a particular standout.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Scam (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago - a little-known unreleased track from the Mobb catalogue. Havoc shows his mastery here, with an extremely sparse track that only an expert could pull off.
Oh No ft. Wildchild : WTF
"Ohh noooo!" That's the highlight of the hook as well as the lead vocalist. A real family affair, this is not actually not produced by Oh No (who does have a deep catalogue on the boards), but his brother Madlib, and features Wildchild - putting two-thirds of Lootpack on the track. This is a stomping track from the early 2000s banger "The Disrupt".
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib : Massage Seats
A little reggae flavour mixed into this one with Madlib, no stranger to the genre, on the boards for a characteristically raw-sounding track from the "Bandana" LP. Freddie Gibbs cannonballs through the chaos with his own brand of gangsta wordplay. The second Gibbs and Madlib album is absolutely as worthy of your listening time as the first. (Oh, and as an aside, I would totally drive that "auntie Benz" 😆 Put a decent sound system in it, yes please)
Stic : Stay Ready
If you're just getting back to working on your fitness after so much time inside, the "Workout II" album should be finding a spot in your gym playlist. This two-album series is an innovative concept, and the vibes cover all manner of workouts. I'd love to be able to tell you who the guest vocalist is (thanks, digital-only releases), but he's a great compliment to Stic on this ode to discipline.
Semi Six : NWA In This NWO
An absolute killer track from this Detroit MC who you should be getting to know from some of the tracks I've been playing here and the releases I've been pointing you to! Taken from his debut "He Who Ascends" LP, this tune has Semi dropping serious bars with a confident flow, all over a knocking beat by Ashton Woods. This is exactly the kind of track that puts paid to the oft-stated complaint that there's no good new Hip-Hop coming out - you just have to know where to look!
Black Milk : Shut It Down (Instrumental)
Keeping it Detroit for a second straight cut! The vocal version of this was on 2007's "Popular Demand" LP, with this instrumental version being included on the 12" single.
Ghostface Killah ft. Method Man, Cappadonna, and Redman : Buck 50
This is the second selection for the month that was inspired by the episode number. Taken from the 2000 "Supreme Clientele" LP, many people's pick for the best from Ghostface's catalogue, it says a lot that with all these great MCs on one cut, Ghost absolutely slays everything on his closing verse! Everyone else does themselves proud though, with Redman's verse being another standout for someone who doesn't get enough mention in the "greatest MCs" conversation. RZA's beat is suitably rugged, working a well-known old soul sample that chugs along on the low end and gives you the feeling of a perilous tightrope walk on the highs.
Nicole Bus : With You
This Dutch singer throws a whole lot into the pot on this track from the "Kairos" LP - lyrical stylings from Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner", a classic drum break which you'll recognise from a hall-of-fame level Hip-Hop cut, and a main sample which Black Moon also rocked on "Buck 'Em Down". The result is a glorious whole with all the influences lifting each other up. With Roc Nation now backing her, she's got a good chance of getting the attention her talent rightly deserves. Also check out the similarly-titled "You" if you want more soul with a heavy Hip-Hop underpinning.
Mobb Deep ft. Big Noyd : Double Shots
I was going to go with the Noyd-headlined "Air It Out", but as well as that being maybe too obvious a pick, I ultimately just felt like including this single which I often like to break out at live shows. Unusually for Mobb Deep, Havoc steps back from production in favour of S.C., and instead is first up to bat on the mic. Prodigy does his thing on the middle verse before Noyd comes through amped up to slay the closing. S.C.'s production somehow fits, and despite the fact that this crew are most at home on dark and threatening beats, this bassy disco-ish track doesn't break their stride at all.
Camp Lo : Soul Fever
This is far from my favourite cut on "Black Hollywood" (it's maybe in fourth position), so the fact that this soulful Ski-produced track is as dope as it is should give you an idea of the overall quality level! This 2007 release saw Cheeba and Geechi continue to catapult the 70s into the 21st century - maybe not as slang-dense as some of their other stuff, but still unmistakably Lo.
Ronnie Laws : Love Is Here
This dopeness from the 1978 "Flame" album has an opening that sounds more like a track that should be closer to the end of the mix, but then the funk groove kicks in and ultimately merges lovely with his jazz stylings. If you see a copy of this LP for a decent price, don't hesitate to pick it up.
Royal Flush : Movin' On Your Weak Productions
The first track I ever heard from Royal Flush, a Queens MC who was making his debut on the "Ghetto Millionaire" LP, which still stands up twenty-five years later. Da Beatminerz supply a nice bit of boom-bap production, with a sample that's pure vibes and a snare drum that could slap you through a brick wall. For the hook, they sample and cut two classic Hip-Hop tracks - one being a Nas feature on a Mobb Deep cut, and the other you'll hear later on...
Erick Sermon ft. Redman and Keith Murray : Open Fire
The sample that places this record into this section only appears in the intro, but it sticks in your head. There's also a subtle Zapp sample that weaves in, a signature of the great Erick Sermon who unquestionably was one of the first to bring their sound to Hip-Hop. A full Def Squad appearance on this track from the "Double Or Nothing" album, which is worth seeking out if it escaped your notice the first time round.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : The Main Ingredient
The title track to the second Pete Rock and C.L. LP doesn't get as much play as it deserves - it's an absolute sonic monster. Despite the sheer size of the beat, C.L. doesn't need to raise his voice or do anything else different to cut straight through with quality bars from beginning to end. The production blends an amazing breadth of samples, all unified into a coherent whole - I won't give any of them away here, but this is expert-level beatmaking and mixing.
KRS-ONE : Sound Of Da Police
Of course, you knew we were going to end up here! We played the original track that used this beat waaaay back on episode 17 in 2010, but now you hear Buckwild's beat in the home most people know it from. This is an unimpeachable Hip-Hop classic from the "Return Of The Boom Bap" LP, one on the highest level of the pantheon of anti-police brutality records.
Jake One : Crowning (Three Kings Instrumental)
One of those instrumentals I needed to loop up a bit to make it long enough for this spot, which is to everyone's benefit because it's a great beat! Coming from the studio of Jake One, a versatile producer of Seattle, this gospel-flavoured beat from "#Prayerhandsemoji" was the instrumental to the track "Three Kings" by a rapper I don't include in my sets...
Ras Kass, Talib Kweli, MK Asante, Bishop Lamont : Gods N The Hood
You don't put a record like this in the middle of a mix - it's grand enough to cement its place at the closing of proceedings. A showstopper from Ras' 2013 "Barmageddon" LP, it opens with an excellent NGE-influenced verse from Bishop Lamont and builds from there, with Ras' verse describing his family's move in the Second Great Migration - and what they found on the other side - and then MK Asante and Talib Kweli bringing it home. The Canadian producer Chris Noxx had to knock it out of the park for this track to have the necessary weight, and he does.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We set out on our travels, we do the best we can..."
- Mos
The autumn is firmly with us here in the UK, but spending even more time in the house means more time to dig through interesting picks for the show! This month we've got some serious old classics alongside a good chunk of new Manchester music, and a flow that takes some unexpected turns but should have you fully mellow by the end of the hour. Hook up your sound system of choice and enjoy the ride...
As promised, here's the link to buy one of the last few tickets to see Ras Kass and Big Noyd on November 19th, where I'll be spinning some tunes myself on the warmup!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Freak L ft. Tray Bag MC : Line For Line
This is an MC I'm light on facts for - he released two 12" singles in 87/88, and that seems to be the end of his recorded output. However, it's about quality and not quantity and the "Line For Line/When The Pen Hits The Paper" single is a great one to have for lovers of the first golden era. Vandy C is on production with the mix handled by the late great Paul C, and Freak L kicks rhymes in a vintage but polished style.
DJ Spinna : Urgent
Tucked away on the B-side of the "DJ Song" 12" with Ticklah, this is a jazzy instrumental I thought was worth sharing - and one that goes to show that Spinna, who is well known for the squelchy basslines as well as excellent house production, can flip pretty much any style you want.
N.O.R.E ft. Bumpy Knuckles : Thiz Iz Hip Hop
We start the section off with the aggression on 10, with a selection from the appropriately named "Crack On Steroids" mixtape - one which I think passed quite a few people by! You can't front on this track though, with a killer three-borough combination - Noreaga from Queens and Bumpy from Long Island bringing the straight gutter lyrics, and DJ Premier repping Brooklyn on production with his patented boom-bap style.
J-Live : Get Live
If you've been lucky enough to see this man live (there's that word again), you may have seen him MCing and DJing at the same time, a rare skill. This isn't that, but he does self-produce this cut alongside the rest of the "Always Will Be" EP - all I need now is to find out he did the cover art as well!
Ill Camille ft. Brevi : All I Know
Inland Empire's Ill Camille comes through with the heavy co-sign from a certified Cali legend, Battlecat on the beat! She takes an autobiographical approach on this tune from "The Pre-Write", which is somehow already ten years old, describing her quest to rock mics - mission accomplished. Brevi does a good job with the hook and additional vocals, giving you an uplifting breather between Cam's verses.
Mos Def : Habitat
I hadn't heard this for ages and completely forgot how much I've always loved this track! "Black on Both Sides" is an album I actually don't play very often, but this was an early standout for me the first time I heard it back in 1999. Everyone has a story of the place they come from, and while Mos specifically describes his upbringing in Brooklyn, this is really a song for everyone and the place you might call home - either because that's where you come from, or because you've made it one. DJ Etch A Sketch only has a few production credits, but absolutely knocked this one out of the park - bumping and cheerful in a way that's difficult for many to execute.
The Detroit Experiment : Highest
The 2003 eponymous album by this group is a real meeting of the minds, all great Detroit musicians - Carl Craig, Bennie Maupin, Marcus Belgrave, Regina Carter, and the late Geri Allen. It's a mix of jazz and electronic styles that's well worth checking out, and this track shows just one face; a cool, late-night bump that builds with element after element before taking you down easy at the end. Carl Craig and Karriem Riggins did their thing on this cut.
Organized Konfusion : Late Night Action
The "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack on Loud had quite the collection of great tracks - not all of which actually appeared in the film - and this is one well worth a re-visit. OK (Pharaohe Monch and Prince Po) produce this one as well as lacing the mic, and the guests Boku Rule and Cairo work hard to keep up their end of the workload!
Gang Starr ft. G-Dep and Shiggy Sha : The Mall
This is one of those tracks it feels like most people just do not like - but I've always enjoyed it since the first listen! A guest-heavy outing from the "Moment Of Truth" LP, it's not until the final verse that Guru touches the mic - but all the MCs have fun with their rhymes around hitting the shops and getting fly. DJ Premier is of course on production, and caps things off with a deft cut-in of a lyric you may recognise during the hook...
Omas : Eat To The Beat
It's been a very long time coming, but we finally have the first full-length solo project from Manchester's Omas, better known to many as DJ and producer for The Natural Curriculum, or as 1/3 of the At Large crew. He's a man who digs in the crates heavy and is always working on something, whether on the MPC or on the wheels, and it's great to hear a whole LP of his uncut ideas. "Plying Trade" has only recently been released, so if you're quick you might be able to get one of the remaining vinyl copies!
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : What Ya Missin'
Manchester for a second straight track; this is probably the release I've enjoyed the most in the past month, with artists who have consistently delivered the goods coming through once again! Episode 118 guest Dubbul O, one of my favourite MCs, comes together with Jointhedots, a new band headed up by producer/bassist/bandleader Defty, whose name you should recognise from his Mouse Outfit work. The energy on this one is laid-back, with all elements from the MC through to each instrument having enough space to breathe and be appreciated. Keep your fingers crossed and ears open for more from this crew!
Loop Schrauber, TRIBEZ : Cruisin
A beautiful little beat on the Chillhop label, released last year as part of "Chillhop Essentials Winter 2020", this has a laid-back funk to it and the kind of sonic polish that makes you want to crank the volume all the way up! Loop Schrauber is a producer out of Regensburg in Germany, who clearly is as comfortable with a bass in his hands as on a drum machine, and this debut single with Tribez is a great bit of head-nod groove.
Pusha T : If You Know, You Know
This was the brash opening track from the "DAYTONA" LP. Kanye's production is loud, kind of on the edge, but Pusha T's clarity can cut through just about anything! On this cut, he casually dismisses those who spit drug game lyrics without the background to make them convincing. By the way; just because I was clearly having a quiet day, I once decided to answer Pusha's question...
Le$ : Purple Heart
"Let me take the long way home" was very nearly the epigram for this episode - that pitched-down vocal sample on the hook (later heard at normal pitch) is dope as anything. An absolute killer from the 2015 "Steak X Shrimp 2" mixtape, Happy Perez goes in on the production and gives Houston's Le$ a perfect setting to flow in his characteristic relaxed fashion. He's one of the hardest working artists out, with a seemingly endless flow of releases, and is definitely worthy of your listening time if you enjoy this style.
Big Hutch ft. Bam : Just Another Day
Not even my favourite track on the solo"Executive Decisions" LP from the Above The Law producer and MC, but this bonus track has exactly the kind of breezy vibe to fit into this spot, hidden right underneath the proto-trap-ish drum patterns. With most of the album being straight-up MCing, this track takes a diversion into a mostly subdued singing performance, with featured artist Bam doing a solid job making the switch work.
Children of Zeus : What I'm Seeing
One more Manchester tune as we come towards the close of the show, a selection from the fire new Zeus LP "Balance", which they're currently touring to packed houses! A nice bit of double bass underpins this one, with Tyler's vocals at the start given space by not crowding the mix with loads of extra instruments. Then the subtle rhythm track comes in and things get even better, with all elements finally coming together when Konny Kon touches the mic at the halfway point. These guys have worked incredibly hard to build the skills and the sound that people are waking up and taking notice of - attention that is extremely well-deserved.
DJ Quik : Quik's Groove II (for U 2Rip2)
Getting you ready for the final wind down (shout out DJ A-Up), we go back to the "Way 2 Fonky" LP by one of the greatest ever to work the boards, Compton's own DJ Quik. Even nowadays, an chill instrumental workout like this would be notable on a Hip-Hop LP, but back in 1992, this was absolutely unique. Quik is truly an amazing musician/producer/engineer - get to know the catalogue.
Silje Nergaard : Be Still My Heart
This may not be to everyone's taste, but I've always loved this tune and it brings us down to full relaxation at the end of the show! Quite a few years ago a friend got me a CD from some MCs hustling their wares in the pub we were drinking in. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but one of the tracks opened with a sped up sample of "my heart is not lonely or broken, it's not of ice or of gold..." and I thought "I need to find where they got this sample from!" A bit of web searching let me to the Norwegian jazz single Silje Nergaard, and her 2001 album "At First Light", from which this is taken. There's not much I can say, just listen and enjoy as we wind down for another month!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We set out on our travels, we do the best we can..."
- Mos
The autumn is firmly with us here in the UK, but spending even more time in the house means more time to dig through interesting picks for the show! This month we've got some serious old classics alongside a good chunk of new Manchester music, and a flow that takes some unexpected turns but should have you fully mellow by the end of the hour. Hook up your sound system of choice and enjoy the ride...
As promised, here's the link to buy one of the last few tickets to see Ras Kass and Big Noyd on November 19th, where I'll be spinning some tunes myself on the warmup!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Freak L ft. Tray Bag MC : Line For Line
This is an MC I'm light on facts for - he released two 12" singles in 87/88, and that seems to be the end of his recorded output. However, it's about quality and not quantity and the "Line For Line/When The Pen Hits The Paper" single is a great one to have for lovers of the first golden era. Vandy C is on production with the mix handled by the late great Paul C, and Freak L kicks rhymes in a vintage but polished style.
DJ Spinna : Urgent
Tucked away on the B-side of the "DJ Song" 12" with Ticklah, this is a jazzy instrumental I thought was worth sharing - and one that goes to show that Spinna, who is well known for the squelchy basslines as well as excellent house production, can flip pretty much any style you want.
N.O.R.E ft. Bumpy Knuckles : Thiz Iz Hip Hop
We start the section off with the aggression on 10, with a selection from the appropriately named "Crack On Steroids" mixtape - one which I think passed quite a few people by! You can't front on this track though, with a killer three-borough combination - Noreaga from Queens and Bumpy from Long Island bringing the straight gutter lyrics, and DJ Premier repping Brooklyn on production with his patented boom-bap style.
J-Live : Get Live
If you've been lucky enough to see this man live (there's that word again), you may have seen him MCing and DJing at the same time, a rare skill. This isn't that, but he does self-produce this cut alongside the rest of the "Always Will Be" EP - all I need now is to find out he did the cover art as well!
Ill Camille ft. Brevi : All I Know
Inland Empire's Ill Camille comes through with the heavy co-sign from a certified Cali legend, Battlecat on the beat! She takes an autobiographical approach on this tune from "The Pre-Write", which is somehow already ten years old, describing her quest to rock mics - mission accomplished. Brevi does a good job with the hook and additional vocals, giving you an uplifting breather between Cam's verses.
Mos Def : Habitat
I hadn't heard this for ages and completely forgot how much I've always loved this track! "Black on Both Sides" is an album I actually don't play very often, but this was an early standout for me the first time I heard it back in 1999. Everyone has a story of the place they come from, and while Mos specifically describes his upbringing in Brooklyn, this is really a song for everyone and the place you might call home - either because that's where you come from, or because you've made it one. DJ Etch A Sketch only has a few production credits, but absolutely knocked this one out of the park - bumping and cheerful in a way that's difficult for many to execute.
The Detroit Experiment : Highest
The 2003 eponymous album by this group is a real meeting of the minds, all great Detroit musicians - Carl Craig, Bennie Maupin, Marcus Belgrave, Regina Carter, and the late Geri Allen. It's a mix of jazz and electronic styles that's well worth checking out, and this track shows just one face; a cool, late-night bump that builds with element after element before taking you down easy at the end. Carl Craig and Karriem Riggins did their thing on this cut.
Organized Konfusion : Late Night Action
The "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack on Loud had quite the collection of great tracks - not all of which actually appeared in the film - and this is one well worth a re-visit. OK (Pharaohe Monch and Prince Po) produce this one as well as lacing the mic, and the guests Boku Rule and Cairo work hard to keep up their end of the workload!
Gang Starr ft. G-Dep and Shiggy Sha : The Mall
This is one of those tracks it feels like most people just do not like - but I've always enjoyed it since the first listen! A guest-heavy outing from the "Moment Of Truth" LP, it's not until the final verse that Guru touches the mic - but all the MCs have fun with their rhymes around hitting the shops and getting fly. DJ Premier is of course on production, and caps things off with a deft cut-in of a lyric you may recognise during the hook...
Omas : Eat To The Beat
It's been a very long time coming, but we finally have the first full-length solo project from Manchester's Omas, better known to many as DJ and producer for The Natural Curriculum, or as 1/3 of the At Large crew. He's a man who digs in the crates heavy and is always working on something, whether on the MPC or on the wheels, and it's great to hear a whole LP of his uncut ideas. "Plying Trade" has only recently been released, so if you're quick you might be able to get one of the remaining vinyl copies!
Dubbul O & Jointhedots : What Ya Missin'
Manchester for a second straight track; this is probably the release I've enjoyed the most in the past month, with artists who have consistently delivered the goods coming through once again! Episode 118 guest Dubbul O, one of my favourite MCs, comes together with Jointhedots, a new band headed up by producer/bassist/bandleader Defty, whose name you should recognise from his Mouse Outfit work. The energy on this one is laid-back, with all elements from the MC through to each instrument having enough space to breathe and be appreciated. Keep your fingers crossed and ears open for more from this crew!
Loop Schrauber, TRIBEZ : Cruisin
A beautiful little beat on the Chillhop label, released last year as part of "Chillhop Essentials Winter 2020", this has a laid-back funk to it and the kind of sonic polish that makes you want to crank the volume all the way up! Loop Schrauber is a producer out of Regensburg in Germany, who clearly is as comfortable with a bass in his hands as on a drum machine, and this debut single with Tribez is a great bit of head-nod groove.
Pusha T : If You Know, You Know
This was the brash opening track from the "DAYTONA" LP. Kanye's production is loud, kind of on the edge, but Pusha T's clarity can cut through just about anything! On this cut, he casually dismisses those who spit drug game lyrics without the background to make them convincing. By the way; just because I was clearly having a quiet day, I once decided to answer Pusha's question...
Le$ : Purple Heart
"Let me take the long way home" was very nearly the epigram for this episode - that pitched-down vocal sample on the hook (later heard at normal pitch) is dope as anything. An absolute killer from the 2015 "Steak X Shrimp 2" mixtape, Happy Perez goes in on the production and gives Houston's Le$ a perfect setting to flow in his characteristic relaxed fashion. He's one of the hardest working artists out, with a seemingly endless flow of releases, and is definitely worthy of your listening time if you enjoy this style.
Big Hutch ft. Bam : Just Another Day
Not even my favourite track on the solo"Executive Decisions" LP from the Above The Law producer and MC, but this bonus track has exactly the kind of breezy vibe to fit into this spot, hidden right underneath the proto-trap-ish drum patterns. With most of the album being straight-up MCing, this track takes a diversion into a mostly subdued singing performance, with featured artist Bam doing a solid job making the switch work.
Children of Zeus : What I'm Seeing
One more Manchester tune as we come towards the close of the show, a selection from the fire new Zeus LP "Balance", which they're currently touring to packed houses! A nice bit of double bass underpins this one, with Tyler's vocals at the start given space by not crowding the mix with loads of extra instruments. Then the subtle rhythm track comes in and things get even better, with all elements finally coming together when Konny Kon touches the mic at the halfway point. These guys have worked incredibly hard to build the skills and the sound that people are waking up and taking notice of - attention that is extremely well-deserved.
DJ Quik : Quik's Groove II (for U 2Rip2)
Getting you ready for the final wind down (shout out DJ A-Up), we go back to the "Way 2 Fonky" LP by one of the greatest ever to work the boards, Compton's own DJ Quik. Even nowadays, an chill instrumental workout like this would be notable on a Hip-Hop LP, but back in 1992, this was absolutely unique. Quik is truly an amazing musician/producer/engineer - get to know the catalogue.
Silje Nergaard : Be Still My Heart
This may not be to everyone's taste, but I've always loved this tune and it brings us down to full relaxation at the end of the show! Quite a few years ago a friend got me a CD from some MCs hustling their wares in the pub we were drinking in. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but one of the tracks opened with a sped up sample of "my heart is not lonely or broken, it's not of ice or of gold..." and I thought "I need to find where they got this sample from!" A bit of web searching let me to the Norwegian jazz single Silje Nergaard, and her 2001 album "At First Light", from which this is taken. There's not much I can say, just listen and enjoy as we wind down for another month!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Tryna make it from the bottom, pull everybody up."
- Ka
Finally, all the parts of my DJ setup are fully operational, and so I get to use the new mixer and freshly-serviced turntables for the first time on my birth month episode! There are some old classics in the selection alongside some lesser-known modern underground material, and I think the mix will make for a great listen! Here we go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Everybody Up
Ka has always been an MC I've respected highly but going back to watch his interview at the Red Bull Music Academy took my respect for him to a whole different level. He's someone with the deepest regard for the craft of writing, and he's building a body of work that those in the know will look back upon and study. His brand new LP, "A Martyr's Reward" is another top-quality release, and this track is an early favourite for me. It's a little quicker and has more prominent drums than the average Ka cut, but not in the standard boom-bap sense - just a muffled but relentless kick driving the track on. Lyrically, it's a masterclass as always.
Kuartz : Feels Like Forever
When I included Kuartz as part of my "Manchester Marauders" piece, featuring 49 people I'd met in my journeys through Hip-Hop in Manchester, a lot of people had no idea who he was. A relatively new beatmaker on the scene at the time, he has paid dues and worked tirelessly to elevate his skills and the whole package around his music, and it's been great to see. The recent re-pressing of his "Koishiteru" LP gave me another chance to get that project on wax for the archives, and if you like the sounds of this beat then I strongly recommend giving the whole album a listen for yourself!
Skyzoo : Humble Brag
Our second visit to this album - I had the digital already but had to get this album on CD, and thought this was a nice track you may not yet have heard. Coincidentally, the name "Strike Dunham" jumped out after I rewatched "Clockers" this month for the first time in years! The "All The Brilliant Things" album could be referring to itself with that title - masterful writing by Skyzoo and polished production throughout (MarcNfinit on the beat on this cut) make this a recommended purchase.
Flex (ft. Ellis Meade) : Eternal Sunshine
A quality track from a few years back from the "Soul Food" EP on Room 2 records, with Flex and Ellis Meade representing for Manchester very nicely. A good one to play, even if the sunshine seems to have left us for another year!
Haile Supreme : Danjahrous
I first heard this vocalist on the track "It's On You" by 1982 (played here back on episode 115) and thought he was someone worth looking into more. Coming out of Washington DC, Haile Supreme brings an uplifting reggae vibe to the mic and this tune from "Earth Tones" is pure sunlight. Big Wave's production is just the right vibe to back this vocal performance, and this is a track that will stick in your head in the best way!
Phife Dawg, Redman, Illa J : French Kiss Trois
It wasn't so long ago that we played another collab between Phife and Redman, but here they combine with Illa J for a suitably French follow up to "French Kiss Deux"! Vancouver production duo Potatohead People come through with a soulful little bump for the MCs to show love to the city of Montreal. Hopefully this will make the cut for "Forever", the posthumous Phife LP.
Nicolay : The Chase
From the days of the Okayplayer boards to now, this is a producer who has not just grown but absolutely flowered over the years. If you like tracks that can only be describes as beautiful you should give him a listen, and this night-driving anthem from "City Lights Vol.3 : Soweto" is a great example.
Curren$y : Yacht Master
The original Yacht Master? Yes please, if you're rich and offering :) YM II? Not my taste! Curren$y comes through with the horological references on this track taken from the new album (it feels like he always has a new album out), "Matching Rolexes". Kino Beats handles production over the whole project, and the booming kick and rapid hi-hat action here are accented by some wistful piano that deserved to be played loud on a quality system!
Fred The Godson : Ribbon In The Sky
RIP to yet another MC who left us way before his time - in this case, due to the pandemic that has touched all of our lives in one way or another. We go back to his HeatMakerz-produced 2013 "Contraband" LP for this track, where the production crew who made their name with what was often called "chipmunk soul" give him a beat very much in that lineage. (Slightly) Sped-up Stevie Wonder combined with a drum track including nice sub-surface percussion and the occasional double-time flash is a great soundtrack for Fred's lyricism.
DJ Woody : Feel Alright
Short and sweet track from a proud son of the North West who tore up battles and showcases for years before dropping his debut LP "Point Of Contact" in 2016 - in fact, almost exactly 5 years ago at the time of this podcast release! You get a sample of his production style and a bit of an exhibition of his turntable precision into the bargain, as he cuts up the conversation between the patient and the doctor.
2Pac : No More Pain
He passed twenty-four years ago this month - it doesn't feel like so long, but I've met adults who listen to his music and weren't even born until he died. This track totally dropped out of my memory - partly because I'm not the biggest fan of post-"Me Against The World" Pac, but it's an absolute beast. On the mic, you get what you expect, alongside an interpolation of Method Man's opening lines from "Bring The Pain", but the beat is the star here. DeVante Swing of Jodeci was a little ahead of his time with this one, with some trap-ish elements mixed in, the drums thumping hard and a killer wah-wah guitar sample dropping every couple of bars.
BoomBaptist (ft. Keeper) : Slamma Jamma
A whole album (apologies, called this the "Shattered Backboard" LP on the voiceover!) based around "NBA Jam"? Sounds like a great idea for those of us who were in the arcades when that title smashed the game in the early 90s. BoomBaptist, coming out of Austin, Texas, has a deep catalogue on Bandcamp for those who appreciate a quality beat tape. He goes kind of spacey and tripped-out on this one, which gives him a chance to show how he can play with drum patterns and mixing in effects.
Nas : Rare
I wanted to play this anyway and it's convenient that the change-ups allows a chance to transition the mix from one tempo range to another! Hit-Boy starts it off slow, with Nas very capably spitting double-time, then the track eventually moves up to the midtempo where Nas' flow settles into more familiar territory. The years have flown by and this is a single from Nas' fourteenth studio LP, "King's Disease II" - and with his skills remaining sharp, you have to think we've got yet more music to expect.
Masta Ace : Born To Roll
That switch-up at the end of the Nas track put this one in my mind immediately and I had to go and dig it out! This is a track which at the time of release, along with the rest of the "Sittin' On Chrome" LP, was not universally welcomed. Masta Ace had travelled a bit, visited California, got into the car culture, and tried to bring some of those vibes to his work. Unfortunately, there were some purists who just couldn't get with it, but hopefully can appreciate the actual quality of the music in retrospect.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Jean Grae : Supa Jean
I needed something in this position that was just raw Hip-Hop, and as always, Jean Grae has what you need. Nice track from DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" compilation, with classic samples all over the place, bringing to mind an updated version of "Ego Trippin'" by the Ultramagnetic MCs. With Jean's characteristic skills and wit all over the mic, this is a track that pays tribute to an earlier era with full skill level upgrades in an excellent way.
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : 80 Blocks From Tiffany's
This low-key cut is a hidden gem in the catalogues of both PR and the Lo, and is essentially the title track on the "80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part 2" mixtape, and the union of one of my favourite producer with two of my favourite MCs is a pure winner. The choice of drum sounds is muted enough to match the noir-ish vibe of the main samples, and the slang level is on 100 as always!
The Mouse Outfit : Every Single Time (Instrumental)
Taking it back to the "Escape Music" LP era, the release of the instrumentals was a gift for DJs like me, who sometimes just want to play the production for people who might have overlooked it, especially for a crew like this who consistently brought in excellent MCs. Dr Syntax is on the original version, but on this instrumental you can hear the crispness of the instrumentation without adornment.
A Tribe Called Quest : Butter
I'd be surprised if many people listening don't already know this one, so there's probably not much I can add on to your knowledge! The late great Phife goes solo on the mic on this track from "The Low End Theory", which turned thirty years old this month. Even if you don't agree with chunks of his opinion, he speaks his mind with the skill that most didn't realise he had until this LP dropped. The production lives up to the album title, thumping along on the low end and then blending that with some classy jazz on the hook, where Q-Tip lends a hand vocally. Buttery, indeed.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Tryna make it from the bottom, pull everybody up."
- Ka
Finally, all the parts of my DJ setup are fully operational, and so I get to use the new mixer and freshly-serviced turntables for the first time on my birth month episode! There are some old classics in the selection alongside some lesser-known modern underground material, and I think the mix will make for a great listen! Here we go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Everybody Up
Ka has always been an MC I've respected highly but going back to watch his interview at the Red Bull Music Academy took my respect for him to a whole different level. He's someone with the deepest regard for the craft of writing, and he's building a body of work that those in the know will look back upon and study. His brand new LP, "A Martyr's Reward" is another top-quality release, and this track is an early favourite for me. It's a little quicker and has more prominent drums than the average Ka cut, but not in the standard boom-bap sense - just a muffled but relentless kick driving the track on. Lyrically, it's a masterclass as always.
Kuartz : Feels Like Forever
When I included Kuartz as part of my "Manchester Marauders" piece, featuring 49 people I'd met in my journeys through Hip-Hop in Manchester, a lot of people had no idea who he was. A relatively new beatmaker on the scene at the time, he has paid dues and worked tirelessly to elevate his skills and the whole package around his music, and it's been great to see. The recent re-pressing of his "Koishiteru" LP gave me another chance to get that project on wax for the archives, and if you like the sounds of this beat then I strongly recommend giving the whole album a listen for yourself!
Skyzoo : Humble Brag
Our second visit to this album - I had the digital already but had to get this album on CD, and thought this was a nice track you may not yet have heard. Coincidentally, the name "Strike Dunham" jumped out after I rewatched "Clockers" this month for the first time in years! The "All The Brilliant Things" album could be referring to itself with that title - masterful writing by Skyzoo and polished production throughout (MarcNfinit on the beat on this cut) make this a recommended purchase.
Flex (ft. Ellis Meade) : Eternal Sunshine
A quality track from a few years back from the "Soul Food" EP on Room 2 records, with Flex and Ellis Meade representing for Manchester very nicely. A good one to play, even if the sunshine seems to have left us for another year!
Haile Supreme : Danjahrous
I first heard this vocalist on the track "It's On You" by 1982 (played here back on episode 115) and thought he was someone worth looking into more. Coming out of Washington DC, Haile Supreme brings an uplifting reggae vibe to the mic and this tune from "Earth Tones" is pure sunlight. Big Wave's production is just the right vibe to back this vocal performance, and this is a track that will stick in your head in the best way!
Phife Dawg, Redman, Illa J : French Kiss Trois
It wasn't so long ago that we played another collab between Phife and Redman, but here they combine with Illa J for a suitably French follow up to "French Kiss Deux"! Vancouver production duo Potatohead People come through with a soulful little bump for the MCs to show love to the city of Montreal. Hopefully this will make the cut for "Forever", the posthumous Phife LP.
Nicolay : The Chase
From the days of the Okayplayer boards to now, this is a producer who has not just grown but absolutely flowered over the years. If you like tracks that can only be describes as beautiful you should give him a listen, and this night-driving anthem from "City Lights Vol.3 : Soweto" is a great example.
Curren$y : Yacht Master
The original Yacht Master? Yes please, if you're rich and offering :) YM II? Not my taste! Curren$y comes through with the horological references on this track taken from the new album (it feels like he always has a new album out), "Matching Rolexes". Kino Beats handles production over the whole project, and the booming kick and rapid hi-hat action here are accented by some wistful piano that deserved to be played loud on a quality system!
Fred The Godson : Ribbon In The Sky
RIP to yet another MC who left us way before his time - in this case, due to the pandemic that has touched all of our lives in one way or another. We go back to his HeatMakerz-produced 2013 "Contraband" LP for this track, where the production crew who made their name with what was often called "chipmunk soul" give him a beat very much in that lineage. (Slightly) Sped-up Stevie Wonder combined with a drum track including nice sub-surface percussion and the occasional double-time flash is a great soundtrack for Fred's lyricism.
DJ Woody : Feel Alright
Short and sweet track from a proud son of the North West who tore up battles and showcases for years before dropping his debut LP "Point Of Contact" in 2016 - in fact, almost exactly 5 years ago at the time of this podcast release! You get a sample of his production style and a bit of an exhibition of his turntable precision into the bargain, as he cuts up the conversation between the patient and the doctor.
2Pac : No More Pain
He passed twenty-four years ago this month - it doesn't feel like so long, but I've met adults who listen to his music and weren't even born until he died. This track totally dropped out of my memory - partly because I'm not the biggest fan of post-"Me Against The World" Pac, but it's an absolute beast. On the mic, you get what you expect, alongside an interpolation of Method Man's opening lines from "Bring The Pain", but the beat is the star here. DeVante Swing of Jodeci was a little ahead of his time with this one, with some trap-ish elements mixed in, the drums thumping hard and a killer wah-wah guitar sample dropping every couple of bars.
BoomBaptist (ft. Keeper) : Slamma Jamma
A whole album (apologies, called this the "Shattered Backboard" LP on the voiceover!) based around "NBA Jam"? Sounds like a great idea for those of us who were in the arcades when that title smashed the game in the early 90s. BoomBaptist, coming out of Austin, Texas, has a deep catalogue on Bandcamp for those who appreciate a quality beat tape. He goes kind of spacey and tripped-out on this one, which gives him a chance to show how he can play with drum patterns and mixing in effects.
Nas : Rare
I wanted to play this anyway and it's convenient that the change-ups allows a chance to transition the mix from one tempo range to another! Hit-Boy starts it off slow, with Nas very capably spitting double-time, then the track eventually moves up to the midtempo where Nas' flow settles into more familiar territory. The years have flown by and this is a single from Nas' fourteenth studio LP, "King's Disease II" - and with his skills remaining sharp, you have to think we've got yet more music to expect.
Masta Ace : Born To Roll
That switch-up at the end of the Nas track put this one in my mind immediately and I had to go and dig it out! This is a track which at the time of release, along with the rest of the "Sittin' On Chrome" LP, was not universally welcomed. Masta Ace had travelled a bit, visited California, got into the car culture, and tried to bring some of those vibes to his work. Unfortunately, there were some purists who just couldn't get with it, but hopefully can appreciate the actual quality of the music in retrospect.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Jean Grae : Supa Jean
I needed something in this position that was just raw Hip-Hop, and as always, Jean Grae has what you need. Nice track from DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" compilation, with classic samples all over the place, bringing to mind an updated version of "Ego Trippin'" by the Ultramagnetic MCs. With Jean's characteristic skills and wit all over the mic, this is a track that pays tribute to an earlier era with full skill level upgrades in an excellent way.
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : 80 Blocks From Tiffany's
This low-key cut is a hidden gem in the catalogues of both PR and the Lo, and is essentially the title track on the "80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part 2" mixtape, and the union of one of my favourite producer with two of my favourite MCs is a pure winner. The choice of drum sounds is muted enough to match the noir-ish vibe of the main samples, and the slang level is on 100 as always!
The Mouse Outfit : Every Single Time (Instrumental)
Taking it back to the "Escape Music" LP era, the release of the instrumentals was a gift for DJs like me, who sometimes just want to play the production for people who might have overlooked it, especially for a crew like this who consistently brought in excellent MCs. Dr Syntax is on the original version, but on this instrumental you can hear the crispness of the instrumentation without adornment.
A Tribe Called Quest : Butter
I'd be surprised if many people listening don't already know this one, so there's probably not much I can add on to your knowledge! The late great Phife goes solo on the mic on this track from "The Low End Theory", which turned thirty years old this month. Even if you don't agree with chunks of his opinion, he speaks his mind with the skill that most didn't realise he had until this LP dropped. The production lives up to the album title, thumping along on the low end and then blending that with some classy jazz on the hook, where Q-Tip lends a hand vocally. Buttery, indeed.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Reminiscing 'bout my style, before it was yours..."
- Snoop Dogg
First things first - RIP to Zumbi of Zion I, who passed away unexpectedly this month. He penned some incredible music in his too-brief lifetime, and he will be missed by all who knew him in the Hip-Hop family.
This episode was tough to put together - it seemed like some of the most crucial parts of my DJ setup all decided to stop working at once. Still, with a crucial turntable loan courtesy of past guest Danny Drive Thru and pressing an old laptop into service, we're back on time once again. Enjoy the show, I think there are some A1 picks here!
Also: I'll be DJing live on Saturday September 4th as part of the charity "Flyest & Friends" show in Manchester - get your tickets here.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Zion I : Luv
One for Zumbi to open the episode. On the 2005 "True & Livin'" album, Zumbi and Amp Live were continuing to develop their sound , but this track is one of the more straightforward sonically you'd find in their catalogue. Amp Live's production lays back to leave plenty of room for Zumbi's words and message to be heard clearly, and both play off each other perfectly - even leaving space for a bridge featuring some appropriate cuts before the final eight-bar verse.
[Cold 187um] Above The Law : What Cha Can Prove (Instrumental)
Based around one of the most used drum breaks of all time, this is the instrumental to the remix of what is for me, the clear standout on the "Livin' Like Hustlers" album - "Untouchable". The vibe is very different, but both versions are excellent in their own ways.
Snoop Dogg ft. WC : This Life
I've been waiting to play this one for years, mostly because that cold, dismissive, rightfully-condescending line from Snoop deserved to be the quote for the episode! As far as I know, there isn't any version without DJ Crazy Toones drops and effects over it, but it's nice to hear the late DJ's name. Produced by Quazedelic, who keeps the bass squelching, I first heard a shortened version on one compilation, but you can get this little-known track in a surprising place - the compilation "50 Hip-Hop Classics".
The Roots : Don't Say Nuthin'
I will never not be amused by the story of this track, as mentioned in the podcast voiceover! The hook as heard was apparently supposed to be a placeholder, something to be erased and written properly later on, but on listening back, it was left as is - with him literally saying nothing! Scott Storch is on production, with crisp and clean synth work throughout. You can find this one on "The Tipping Point".
E-40 ft. Doonie Baby and Turf Talk : Gasoline
It's been a long time since I've played this one out - absolutely love it, but it's not the kind of thing that most DJs over here would play even back then! Rick Rock soundtracks this cut from the highly-entertaining "Breakin' News" LP, E-40's eighth, with a beat based around a ton of percussion, a subtle "breathing" sound effect bringing to mind pistons working and some dope keyboard work. Lyrically, 40 is working his usual microphone magic, with a ton of slang and humourous turns of phrase. Don't deny yourself quality tracks like this!
Redman : So Ruff
"Whut? Thee Album" is an absolute favourite, and while this track was never a single or even one that attracts much mention, I think it's a standout. A safe sex anthem of sorts, covered in absolute buckets of funk, production is handled by both Redman himself and Erick Sermon, with flawless cuts by DJ Scratch. If you don't yet know this LP, I strongly recommend you having a listen!
Focus... : Moonwalk In Water
Just so you know - that drag/slowdown as I mix this in is part of the track itself! This haunted-sounding instrumental will give your system's low-end a serious status check. Short but sweet, you can find this on "aNALOG iN a dIGITAL wORLD 5" (no, I didn't get my Caps Lock wrong there), which apparently will be the last in that series. The son of Chic's Bernard Edwards continues to do the family name proud.
DJ 2-Tone Jones ft. Uptown X.O., LetTheDirtSayAmen, and Kenilworth Katrina : The Curry Out
I only recently stumbled across the "Contraband From India" album, from which this is taken, but let me tell you there is some heat on there! This track features a slate of talent from Washington D.C. - not always a place that gets a mention when it comes to Hip-Hop, but maybe releases like this can change that. The Drew Dave-produced beat is bassy and bumping and the mic goes back and forth like a lyrical game of pass-the-parcel. Definitely names to watch!
Sean Price ft. Rock : P-Body
It's the reunion of Heltah Skeltah on this stormer from Sean Price's second solo LP, "Jesus Price Supastar". Both MCs go crazy with the alliteration, and the heavy beat courtesy of 9th Wonder is a great canvas.
Bronx Slang : Another Night In New York
It's great to see Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs continue to garner respect from people who didn't know them before, and the new "Substance" LP is already getting excellent reviews. This track does give you that feel of stomping around the big city after hours, with the MCs having the confidence of people who've seen it all. With no hook, as though to say "I said what I said" after each verse, Jadell takes the eight bars each time to drop a little organ section. Quality material once again from this crew.
AZ ft. Jaheim : The Wheel
The brand new single from AZ signals good things from the upcoming "Doe or Die 2" album. Covering both the lavish and hazardous sides of life, AZ's verses are punctuated by Jaheim's hook, and the production from Eric Hall and Naughty By Nature's Kay Gee wouldn't have been out of place on the original LP.
Lord Finesse : Galactic Soul (Makes The World Go Round)
The legendary D.I.T.C producer with some vintage-styled magic from "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening", a 2015 collection of glorious 12-bit material.
3rd Bass : 3 Strikes 5000
The second and final album from 3rd Bass, "Derelicts of Dialect" doesn't get nearly enough props, or even mention, in my opinion. I still remember the time when our local pirate radio station had to leave the studio unmanned for a while and just left this LP on loop! There are plenty of tracks I want to play you from this one, but for now this is the choice - 3rd Bass and SD50s on production, MC Serch and Pete Nice on the mic, and DJ Richie Rich cutting it up on the wheels. Just quality early-90s break-driven Hip-Hop.
Khruangbin : Evan Finds The Third Room
I learned about this band when Bomani Jones mentioned them on his podcast, and I'm glad I was paying attention! This Houston trio bear down on a classically-styled funk groove on this cut from "Con Todo El Mundo", and while the title is a bit of a mystery, the quality is plain to hear.
Rob "Fonksta" Bacon ft. P-Funk Horns and Amp Fiddler : Cause & E-Funk
We go all the way in with some P-Funk here, with the longtime DJ Quik collaborator breaking out on this excellent 2016 single. The Parliafunkadelic horn section bless him with top notch brass work, and you can hear clear pieces of the collective's influence in the keys/piano - have a listen to something like "Aqua Boogie" and you'll hear what I mean.
Sounds of Blackness : Optimistic
A stone classic to end the section, this inspirational anthem will always be relevant. The Twin Cities' Sounds of Blackness managed to give us this iconic track on their debut LP, "The Evolution of Gospel", in 1991. They were part of a long bloodline that started with The Macalester College Black Voices back in 1969, and after many years of performing excellence, their recorded material had all the polish you'd expect. The song itself was written and produced by Gary Hines alongside the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and it hasn't aged a day since they released it.
[J Dilla] Illa J : We Here (Instrumental)
This gives me slight vibes of J Dilla's previous beat for Phat Kat's "Don't Nobody Care About Us" - but this time, the MCs is his own younger brother. The 12" of this is worth having in your collection, and a must for Dilla completists.
Zion I : Believe
It seemed only right to not only open but close the episode with an inspirational track from Zion I. This selection from the "The Labyrinth" album is from a period where the group in its original form had split, with Amp Live leaving to explore other avenues and Zumbi remaining and collaboration with different producers. This bassy, warped, half-time beat very much exemplifies the kind of non-traditional production Zumbi was always willing to tackle as an MC, and he builds on it with an exhortation to have self-belief in trying times. RIP to a real one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Reminiscing 'bout my style, before it was yours..."
- Snoop Dogg
First things first - RIP to Zumbi of Zion I, who passed away unexpectedly this month. He penned some incredible music in his too-brief lifetime, and he will be missed by all who knew him in the Hip-Hop family.
This episode was tough to put together - it seemed like some of the most crucial parts of my DJ setup all decided to stop working at once. Still, with a crucial turntable loan courtesy of past guest Danny Drive Thru and pressing an old laptop into service, we're back on time once again. Enjoy the show, I think there are some A1 picks here!
Also: I'll be DJing live on Saturday September 4th as part of the charity "Flyest & Friends" show in Manchester - get your tickets here.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Zion I : Luv
One for Zumbi to open the episode. On the 2005 "True & Livin'" album, Zumbi and Amp Live were continuing to develop their sound , but this track is one of the more straightforward sonically you'd find in their catalogue. Amp Live's production lays back to leave plenty of room for Zumbi's words and message to be heard clearly, and both play off each other perfectly - even leaving space for a bridge featuring some appropriate cuts before the final eight-bar verse.
[Cold 187um] Above The Law : What Cha Can Prove (Instrumental)
Based around one of the most used drum breaks of all time, this is the instrumental to the remix of what is for me, the clear standout on the "Livin' Like Hustlers" album - "Untouchable". The vibe is very different, but both versions are excellent in their own ways.
Snoop Dogg ft. WC : This Life
I've been waiting to play this one for years, mostly because that cold, dismissive, rightfully-condescending line from Snoop deserved to be the quote for the episode! As far as I know, there isn't any version without DJ Crazy Toones drops and effects over it, but it's nice to hear the late DJ's name. Produced by Quazedelic, who keeps the bass squelching, I first heard a shortened version on one compilation, but you can get this little-known track in a surprising place - the compilation "50 Hip-Hop Classics".
The Roots : Don't Say Nuthin'
I will never not be amused by the story of this track, as mentioned in the podcast voiceover! The hook as heard was apparently supposed to be a placeholder, something to be erased and written properly later on, but on listening back, it was left as is - with him literally saying nothing! Scott Storch is on production, with crisp and clean synth work throughout. You can find this one on "The Tipping Point".
E-40 ft. Doonie Baby and Turf Talk : Gasoline
It's been a long time since I've played this one out - absolutely love it, but it's not the kind of thing that most DJs over here would play even back then! Rick Rock soundtracks this cut from the highly-entertaining "Breakin' News" LP, E-40's eighth, with a beat based around a ton of percussion, a subtle "breathing" sound effect bringing to mind pistons working and some dope keyboard work. Lyrically, 40 is working his usual microphone magic, with a ton of slang and humourous turns of phrase. Don't deny yourself quality tracks like this!
Redman : So Ruff
"Whut? Thee Album" is an absolute favourite, and while this track was never a single or even one that attracts much mention, I think it's a standout. A safe sex anthem of sorts, covered in absolute buckets of funk, production is handled by both Redman himself and Erick Sermon, with flawless cuts by DJ Scratch. If you don't yet know this LP, I strongly recommend you having a listen!
Focus... : Moonwalk In Water
Just so you know - that drag/slowdown as I mix this in is part of the track itself! This haunted-sounding instrumental will give your system's low-end a serious status check. Short but sweet, you can find this on "aNALOG iN a dIGITAL wORLD 5" (no, I didn't get my Caps Lock wrong there), which apparently will be the last in that series. The son of Chic's Bernard Edwards continues to do the family name proud.
DJ 2-Tone Jones ft. Uptown X.O., LetTheDirtSayAmen, and Kenilworth Katrina : The Curry Out
I only recently stumbled across the "Contraband From India" album, from which this is taken, but let me tell you there is some heat on there! This track features a slate of talent from Washington D.C. - not always a place that gets a mention when it comes to Hip-Hop, but maybe releases like this can change that. The Drew Dave-produced beat is bassy and bumping and the mic goes back and forth like a lyrical game of pass-the-parcel. Definitely names to watch!
Sean Price ft. Rock : P-Body
It's the reunion of Heltah Skeltah on this stormer from Sean Price's second solo LP, "Jesus Price Supastar". Both MCs go crazy with the alliteration, and the heavy beat courtesy of 9th Wonder is a great canvas.
Bronx Slang : Another Night In New York
It's great to see Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs continue to garner respect from people who didn't know them before, and the new "Substance" LP is already getting excellent reviews. This track does give you that feel of stomping around the big city after hours, with the MCs having the confidence of people who've seen it all. With no hook, as though to say "I said what I said" after each verse, Jadell takes the eight bars each time to drop a little organ section. Quality material once again from this crew.
AZ ft. Jaheim : The Wheel
The brand new single from AZ signals good things from the upcoming "Doe or Die 2" album. Covering both the lavish and hazardous sides of life, AZ's verses are punctuated by Jaheim's hook, and the production from Eric Hall and Naughty By Nature's Kay Gee wouldn't have been out of place on the original LP.
Lord Finesse : Galactic Soul (Makes The World Go Round)
The legendary D.I.T.C producer with some vintage-styled magic from "The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening", a 2015 collection of glorious 12-bit material.
3rd Bass : 3 Strikes 5000
The second and final album from 3rd Bass, "Derelicts of Dialect" doesn't get nearly enough props, or even mention, in my opinion. I still remember the time when our local pirate radio station had to leave the studio unmanned for a while and just left this LP on loop! There are plenty of tracks I want to play you from this one, but for now this is the choice - 3rd Bass and SD50s on production, MC Serch and Pete Nice on the mic, and DJ Richie Rich cutting it up on the wheels. Just quality early-90s break-driven Hip-Hop.
Khruangbin : Evan Finds The Third Room
I learned about this band when Bomani Jones mentioned them on his podcast, and I'm glad I was paying attention! This Houston trio bear down on a classically-styled funk groove on this cut from "Con Todo El Mundo", and while the title is a bit of a mystery, the quality is plain to hear.
Rob "Fonksta" Bacon ft. P-Funk Horns and Amp Fiddler : Cause & E-Funk
We go all the way in with some P-Funk here, with the longtime DJ Quik collaborator breaking out on this excellent 2016 single. The Parliafunkadelic horn section bless him with top notch brass work, and you can hear clear pieces of the collective's influence in the keys/piano - have a listen to something like "Aqua Boogie" and you'll hear what I mean.
Sounds of Blackness : Optimistic
A stone classic to end the section, this inspirational anthem will always be relevant. The Twin Cities' Sounds of Blackness managed to give us this iconic track on their debut LP, "The Evolution of Gospel", in 1991. They were part of a long bloodline that started with The Macalester College Black Voices back in 1969, and after many years of performing excellence, their recorded material had all the polish you'd expect. The song itself was written and produced by Gary Hines alongside the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and it hasn't aged a day since they released it.
[J Dilla] Illa J : We Here (Instrumental)
This gives me slight vibes of J Dilla's previous beat for Phat Kat's "Don't Nobody Care About Us" - but this time, the MCs is his own younger brother. The 12" of this is worth having in your collection, and a must for Dilla completists.
Zion I : Believe
It seemed only right to not only open but close the episode with an inspirational track from Zion I. This selection from the "The Labyrinth" album is from a period where the group in its original form had split, with Amp Live leaving to explore other avenues and Zumbi remaining and collaboration with different producers. This bassy, warped, half-time beat very much exemplifies the kind of non-traditional production Zumbi was always willing to tackle as an MC, and he builds on it with an exhortation to have self-belief in trying times. RIP to a real one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Put on the wings of the morning and fly."
- Capleton
It somehow feels like an awful long time since the last episode - the new job has been keeping me extra-busy and the speed of world events just seems to keep accelerating. Sadly, one of those events was the passing of Biz Markie - another legend lost too soon. I've selected one of his most famous tracks to close the episode, but I hope you enjoy the fifty or so minutes before that as well.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : 100 Spokes
Air Adam trivia : I own four copies of this on 12"! I had a beat-juggle routine with one of the remixes, and in the old days, you couldn't just hit "instant doubles" on Serato - plus the records do wear out! The original is the better track for a straight listen though, with Cold 187um handling the production and the first verse, with the late great KMG bringing his trademark low-key style to the second. This is more easily available on the excellent "Time Will Reveal" album - which I actually have twice on vinyl, and once on CD...
The Rattler Proxy : Death Machine (Jokers of the Scene Remix)
I don't know if this will be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a track I've been playing heavily since I first heard it on one of Victoria Rawlins' Twitch sets. If you've got great headphones, or big speakers, you'll be amazed at how the low end comes in and envelops you after the long ambient intro. The Rattler Proxy were a Greek duo who broke up last year, but this remix of one of their 2014 releases feels like a lasting classic to me.
Semi Six ft. Tha Essence & 5'4 : Heaterz
Fellow Polo enthusiast and Detroit native Semi Six is back with a new EP "Assorted Fries", and brings a couple of spitters along for the ride on this single. Atlanta's Tuamie provides the crispy-clean instrumental, and the whole track is no hook, pure bars.
Elzhi : Light One, Write One
Last year saw the release of Elzhi's third solo LP "Seven Times Down Eight Times Up", which follows the old-school tradition of having the same production personnel from beginning to end - in this case, JR Swiftz out of Brooklyn. Always a skilled writer, El gets busy over the nice soulful jazz/vocal sample and classic boom-bap drums.
* as an aside - you only have to get up as many times as you fall down...
Capleton ft. Method Man : Wings Of The Morning
I remember having to look up the meaning of the title; it's shared with a 30s film, but originally from the Book of Psalms. This is a winner from the era when US artists began to collaborate with reggae and dancehall stars - with results of varying quality, it has to be said! It shows how well it really can be done, with Capleton's Rastafari lyrics and deejay style meshing with the characteristic grittiness of the sound of Wu-Tang's Method Man. The piano sample will be familiar to many, hooked up by Stuart Brown, and the drums are rugged enough to do justice to the vocalists. The 1995 "Prophecy" album was a strong release, and this was one of the best cuts from it.
Lone Apostrophe : Take Me
Manchester's own Lone Apostrophe is a true student of beatmaking, and his new "Webs" collection is a great pickup for anyone with an attachment to the golden age of the boom-bap. Those echoed/delayed horns take you back to mixtapes in 1993...a mood.
1982 ft. Skyzoo and Jared Evan : Summer In New York
If ever there was a track that announced the title before you hear it, it might well be this one! The combination of Statik Selektah and Termanology is also known as 1982, and their compact new release "The Summer EP" is headed up by this sunny track, which is definitely lifted by Jared Evan's hook .
Nas ft. Cordae and Freddie Gibbs : Life Is Like A Dice Game
"When I finish this shit, sure to be a hit..."
I was extremely surprised to see this one pop up recently! Many years ago, there was an unreleased Nas track with the same title, ropey sound quality but as dope as you'd expect. It was recorded around the time of "Illmatic", and leaked on the underground but never made an official release. Apparently, Spotify recently asked Nas if he'd resurrect it and so the production was re-done (by Hit-Boy) and he brought in Freddie Gibbs and Cordae to join him for a memorable recording. This deserves to be the hit Nas predicted it would be over twenty-five years ago.
Sadat X ft. Jigmastas : Don't Get It Twisted (PUTS Remix)
One of those great independent 12" releases that illustrate why the streaming services aren't (at least yet) in a position to replace a collection built over years. This remix by People Under the Stairs was on the B-side of the "Plan X" single, and pairs up Sadat X with Kriminul of Jigmastas - as you'd expect, the original was produced by DJ Spinna.
Tanya Morgan ft. Kooley High : So Good
Sonically, seasonally appropriate once again - this 80s soul club-sounding cut has summer written all over it. Tanya Morgan (Donwill and Von Pea, if you didn't know) will be releasing their fifth LP "Don and Von" in August, from which this is the second single. The North Carolina crew Kooley High come along to deepen the MC roster for this one, which whets the appetite for the album perfectly.
Buckwild : Mad Ammo (Instrumental)
A vintage SP-1200 beat from the disk boxes of DITC's Buckwild, as originally heard when it was dug out and rhymed over by Celph Titled on the "Nineteen Ninety Now" LP.
REMI ft. Konny Kon : Good Mates
I'm glad Michelle Grace Hunder put me up on the latest (and final) album by this crew out of Melbourne, not least since I happened upon a Konny Kon guest appearance I might otherwise have missed! "PTSD in the hood runs undiagnosed" - isn't that just the truth? Remi and Konny spit raw reality on their verses, with Sensible J on production. Definitely peep the "Fried" LP.
Pete Rock ft. Pharoahe Monch : Just Do It
We go back to the "Soul Survivor 2" collection for this track - not quite up to the mark of the first, but still an excellent LP. Only great producers can make a beat as sparse as this and make it sound complete, not unfinished. The spaced-out keys on the hook are an added bonus, a nice bit of additional polish. Pharaohe Monch can sound good on pretty much anything, so when he gets quality material like this then it's an easy win.
Roots Manuva ft. Ricky Rankin : Bashment Boogie
I've been meaning to play this one for years - originally thought it would be one to open a show with, but I think it works well enough here! One of the early tracks on Roots' critically-acclaimed second LP "Run Come Save Me", this one bumps along with a digital flavour (Lotek on the beat) as he tells the story of getting ready to go out of town for a jam. One of the great artists ever to come out of the UK scene, Roots drops plenty of references that the home crowd will get, and it still stands up twenty years after release.
Khadejia ft. Product : Here We Go
A slightly obscure track, despite all the personnel involved! This was on Funkmaster Flex's "60 Minutes of Funk - The Mix Tape Volume III" release, and he produced it along with Wyclef and Jerry Wonder. I believe this is Khadejia's only headline release, but she's got a fair few features in her discography, including "Can't Help It" by Royal Flush which I love. Accompanying her are the duo The Product, whose releases I must say passed me by at the time! They borrow a classic Boogie Down Productions lyric and build around it for a nice little jam.
Flamingosis : Jet Skis & Hennessy
Flamingosis just has that knack of cooking up instrumentals that make you feel great. This selection from "Flight Fantastic" is no exception, and perfect for a summer's evening.
Biz Markie : Nobody Beats The Biz
What can I say that hasn't been said about this certified classic from a recently-departed giant? Well, maybe I can give you some trivia gems you may not have been aware of - it's got to be one of the most-sampled Hip-Hop tracks of all time, the title/hook is based on commercials from an 80s electronics chain in NYC, and Biz bought every copy of the Lafayette Afro Rock Band record containing "Hihache" (used for the drums here) from one shop to replace Marley Marl's scratched-up copy! A legendary track from the "Goin' Off" LP, which will be played as long as this culture lives.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Put on the wings of the morning and fly."
- Capleton
It somehow feels like an awful long time since the last episode - the new job has been keeping me extra-busy and the speed of world events just seems to keep accelerating. Sadly, one of those events was the passing of Biz Markie - another legend lost too soon. I've selected one of his most famous tracks to close the episode, but I hope you enjoy the fifty or so minutes before that as well.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : 100 Spokes
Air Adam trivia : I own four copies of this on 12"! I had a beat-juggle routine with one of the remixes, and in the old days, you couldn't just hit "instant doubles" on Serato - plus the records do wear out! The original is the better track for a straight listen though, with Cold 187um handling the production and the first verse, with the late great KMG bringing his trademark low-key style to the second. This is more easily available on the excellent "Time Will Reveal" album - which I actually have twice on vinyl, and once on CD...
The Rattler Proxy : Death Machine (Jokers of the Scene Remix)
I don't know if this will be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a track I've been playing heavily since I first heard it on one of Victoria Rawlins' Twitch sets. If you've got great headphones, or big speakers, you'll be amazed at how the low end comes in and envelops you after the long ambient intro. The Rattler Proxy were a Greek duo who broke up last year, but this remix of one of their 2014 releases feels like a lasting classic to me.
Semi Six ft. Tha Essence & 5'4 : Heaterz
Fellow Polo enthusiast and Detroit native Semi Six is back with a new EP "Assorted Fries", and brings a couple of spitters along for the ride on this single. Atlanta's Tuamie provides the crispy-clean instrumental, and the whole track is no hook, pure bars.
Elzhi : Light One, Write One
Last year saw the release of Elzhi's third solo LP "Seven Times Down Eight Times Up", which follows the old-school tradition of having the same production personnel from beginning to end - in this case, JR Swiftz out of Brooklyn. Always a skilled writer, El gets busy over the nice soulful jazz/vocal sample and classic boom-bap drums.
* as an aside - you only have to get up as many times as you fall down...
Capleton ft. Method Man : Wings Of The Morning
I remember having to look up the meaning of the title; it's shared with a 30s film, but originally from the Book of Psalms. This is a winner from the era when US artists began to collaborate with reggae and dancehall stars - with results of varying quality, it has to be said! It shows how well it really can be done, with Capleton's Rastafari lyrics and deejay style meshing with the characteristic grittiness of the sound of Wu-Tang's Method Man. The piano sample will be familiar to many, hooked up by Stuart Brown, and the drums are rugged enough to do justice to the vocalists. The 1995 "Prophecy" album was a strong release, and this was one of the best cuts from it.
Lone Apostrophe : Take Me
Manchester's own Lone Apostrophe is a true student of beatmaking, and his new "Webs" collection is a great pickup for anyone with an attachment to the golden age of the boom-bap. Those echoed/delayed horns take you back to mixtapes in 1993...a mood.
1982 ft. Skyzoo and Jared Evan : Summer In New York
If ever there was a track that announced the title before you hear it, it might well be this one! The combination of Statik Selektah and Termanology is also known as 1982, and their compact new release "The Summer EP" is headed up by this sunny track, which is definitely lifted by Jared Evan's hook .
Nas ft. Cordae and Freddie Gibbs : Life Is Like A Dice Game
"When I finish this shit, sure to be a hit..." I was extremely surprised to see this one pop up recently! Many years ago, there was an unreleased Nas track with the same title, ropey sound quality but as dope as you'd expect. It was recorded around the time of "Illmatic", and leaked on the underground but never made an official release. Apparently, Spotify recently asked Nas if he'd resurrect it and so the production was re-done (by Hit-Boy) and he brought in Freddie Gibbs and Cordae to join him for a memorable recording. This deserves to be the hit Nas predicted it would be over twenty-five years ago.
Sadat X ft. Jigmastas : Don't Get It Twisted (PUTS Remix)
One of those great independent 12" releases that illustrate why the streaming services aren't (at least yet) in a position to replace a collection built over years. This remix by People Under the Stairs was on the B-side of the "Plan X" single, and pairs up Sadat X with Kriminul of Jigmastas - as you'd expect, the original was produced by DJ Spinna.
Tanya Morgan ft. Kooley High : So Good
Sonically, seasonally appropriate once again - this 80s soul club-sounding cut has summer written all over it. Tanya Morgan (Donwill and Von Pea, if you didn't know) will be releasing their fifth LP "Don and Von" in August, from which this is the second single. The North Carolina crew Kooley High come along to deepen the MC roster for this one, which whets the appetite for the album perfectly.
Buckwild : Mad Ammo (Instrumental)
A vintage SP-1200 beat from the disk boxes of DITC's Buckwild, as originally heard when it was dug out and rhymed over by Celph Titled on the "Nineteen Ninety Now" LP.
REMI ft. Konny Kon : Good Mates
I'm glad Michelle Grace Hunder put me up on the latest (and final) album by this crew out of Melbourne, not least since I happened upon a Konny Kon guest appearance I might otherwise have missed! "PTSD in the hood runs undiagnosed" - isn't that just the truth? Remi and Konny spit raw reality on their verses, with Sensible J on production. Definitely peep the "Fried" LP.
Pete Rock ft. Pharoahe Monch : Just Do It
We go back to the "Soul Survivor 2" collection for this track - not quite up to the mark of the first, but still an excellent LP. Only great producers can make a beat as sparse as this and make it sound complete, not unfinished. The spaced-out keys on the hook are an added bonus, a nice bit of additional polish. Pharaohe Monch can sound good on pretty much anything, so when he gets quality material like this then it's an easy win.
Roots Manuva ft. Ricky Rankin : Bashment Boogie
I've been meaning to play this one for years - originally thought it would be one to open a show with, but I think it works well enough here! One of the early tracks on Roots' critically-acclaimed second LP "Run Come Save Me", this one bumps along with a digital flavour (Lotek on the beat) as he tells the story of getting ready to go out of town for a jam. One of the great artists ever to come out of the UK scene, Roots drops plenty of references that the home crowd will get, and it still stands up twenty years after release.
Khadejia ft. Product : Here We Go
A slightly obscure track, despite all the personnel involved! This was on Funkmaster Flex's "60 Minutes of Funk - The Mix Tape Volume III" release, and he produced it along with Wyclef and Jerry Wonder. I believe this is Khadejia's only headline release, but she's got a fair few features in her discography, including "Can't Help It" by Royal Flush which I love. Accompanying her are the duo The Product, whose releases I must say passed me by at the time! They borrow a classic Boogie Down Productions lyric and build around it for a nice little jam.
Flamingosis : Jet Skis & Hennessy
Flamingosis just has that knack of cooking up instrumentals that make you feel great. This selection from "Flight Fantastic" is no exception, and perfect for a summer's evening.
Biz Markie : Nobody Beats The Biz
What can I say that hasn't been said about this certified classic from a recently-departed giant? Well, maybe I can give you some trivia gems you may not have been aware of - it's got to be one of the most-sampled Hip-Hop tracks of all time, the title/hook is based on commercials from an 80s electronics chain in NYC, and Biz bought every copy of the Lafayette Afro Rock Band record containing "Hihache" (used for the drums here) from one shop to replace Marley Marl's scratched-up copy! A legendary track from the "Goin' Off" LP, which will be played as long as this culture lives.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Appetite for construction..."
- Swigga
We celebrate another birthday for the podcast this month, marking twelve full years since that inaugural experimental episode! This month's mix includes new tracks from artists who are setting themselves new standards, as well as some deep album cuts, B-sides, and unreleased gems. Sadly, we also mark the passing of Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, who left us just a few days ago. We include just one of his tracks this month, but he's an MC who left a deep body of work behind for us to continue to celebrate.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Children of Zeus : I Need You
Manchester's finest are back with their brand new album "Balance" and this was an early favourite of mine. Not uptempo, but much more so than "I Want You", with lots of bump, Tyler and Konny gave themselves a perfect canvas to get busy on the vocals. Go get that album!
Ilajide : Please Set Me At Ease
If Ilajide punches as hard as his beats are, a lot of heavyweights could be in trouble. Always bringing the heat, he shows his literal chops right here on this beat from the "Latex" LP.
Cocoa Brovaz : Get Up
For those that never knew or had forgotten, there was a period of almost ten years when due to the threat of legal action from the firearm manufacturer of similar name, Smif-N-Wessun had to change their name to Cocoa Brovaz. During this time you could hear the Brooklyn legends popping up on all kinds of quality records, and this was no exception - the B-side to the Mos Def/Pharoahe/Nate Dogg "Oh No" single, and a worthy inclusion on the "Lyricist Lounge 2" collection. Hi-Tek's beat on this was unconventional back in 2000 and still stands out as unusual today.
Special Teamz ft. Sean Price : Boston To Bucktown
Special Teamz was a Boston supergroup made up of Edo G, Jaysaun, and Slaine, who dropped the "Stereotypez" album in 2007. As signees to Duck Down Records, it was a natural move to tap them up for a guest appearance - and here, the late great Sean Price joins them on this Pete Rock-produced cut.
LL Cool J : Summer Luv
The B-Side to "Loungin'" and an inclusion on the deluxe edition of "Mr. Smith", this is a track I just don't hear enough! LL isn't showing love to the weak MCs he takes out on this one, and Rashad Smith's beat is a punchy and relatively sparse bit of 90s boom-bap crispiness.
Rakim : Last Resort
I think this one may have slipped past a lot of listeners - I got it on one of those random bootleg 12"s - entitled "Unreleased Jewels", released in 2003. According to Discogs, Da Beatminerz provided the beat, and it's an overall solid track. The hook is borrowed from a line from one of my favourite Rakim records, "Teach The Children" from the "Don't Sweat The Technique" LP.
Moods, Yasper : Vibe Vibe
From the "Endless Sunday Vol.1" album, these two Dutch producers on the Chillhop label do indeed bring the vibe. This would do the job for cruising with the top down, BBQing in the backyard, relaxing in the park - it's a pure summery feel-good track!
Swigga : Pendulum
1/3 of the great Natural Elements crew here, from his brand new LP "Sunset Mindset (Swigga SZN)". I can't quite describe the sound - it's dramatic, with a little rock edge to it - almost like a stadium track. Swigga (who some of you will have known as L-Swift) matches the vibe without going head-to-head in loudness, and keeps the flow accessible on the surface - but check the multisyllabic rhymes.
Blackalicious ft. Lyrics Born : Do This My Way
RIP Gift of Gab. He may have been in less than ideal health for some time, but his passing still hit the community hard. On this track from the Blackalicious debut LP "Nia", Lyrics Born of Latryx produces as well as supplying his half-sung, half-rapped vocals as the special guest, but without Gab, it wouldn't have been the tune that it is. He holds down his side of the lyrics with the skill and insight that made him a favourite for those that knew throughout his whole career.
The Mouse Outfit : Sunrise (Shift Ops Remix)
We switch into a little D&B mode here with a remix of a fairly recent track by The Mouse Outfit - in fact, I played it here on episode 132 when it came out! You still get the vocals of One Only, but Chini and Metrodome's production has to move over a little for the work of fellow Mancunian Shift Ops, with sharp drums and plenty of low end.
Lenzman & Konny Kon : Food
Staying with the vibe for one more track, the Metalheadz veteran combines with Manchester's own Konny Kon - no stranger to D&B by a long shot - who flows at half time over this extra-clean track from the 2019 "Bobby" LP.
[Charlemagne] Natural Elements : Paper Chase (Instrumental)
A dope 80s sample for those in the know, with the added bass and slow-walking boom-bap drums on the top make this a personal favourite. 100% check the vocal version of this track by the incredibly underappreciated Natural Elements - I played it a while back, pick up a copy if you can!
Mobb Deep : All Mines
"...where the people do murder for money" is a hell of a half-bar at the kick-off of the second verse, the kind of classic Prodigy line that would have been scratched and sampled in the late 90s for sure. Not much info on this track, which was on a 2005 bootleg release, so I don't know if Havoc produced it or not, but that menacing beat with that muted trumpet accent running through it is dopeness for sure.
Skyzoo & Aaria : St. James Liquors
Brooklyn bars from Skyzoo, from his new "All The Brilliant Things" album, which is themed around the gentrification of his home borough. Kenny Keys' beat is a bass-heavy gem, and Detroit vocalist Aaria adds a little sparkle on the hook.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : What's Next On The Menu?
Classic Pete Rock and C.L! This was banging heavy on the pirates and mixtapes when it dropped back in 1993 - it was on the soundtrack to the Hip-Hop cameo-packed "Who's The Man?" as well as the apparently unofficial "Never Coming Out" EP (banned from Discogs). Pete Rock blends three huge staple samples on this one but still has ir sounding fresh, and C.L. glides on the jeep-rocking beat. Straight winner.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Jay Dee : Act Like You Know
Heavy, nasty, grinding. Perfect. The late great Jay Dee/J Dilla features on this track produced by Waajeed, one of his protoges. Waajeed and Saadiq made up PPP, whose debut "Triple P" definitely worth having in your collection - a mix of Hip-Hop and soul with a kind of jazzy sensibility in places.
Marco Polo : Ps and Qs (Remix Instrumental)
Just a nice instrumental from Marco's "Baker's Dozen" compilation. I had to loop this up a little bit to stretch it out, as he kept it very short and sweet. MP on the MP strikes once again!
Nipsey Hussle and Jay-Z : What It Feels Like
A cross-continental meeting of the lyrics, if not the minds, as the late Nipsey Hussle combines with Jay on this selection from the "Judas and the Black Messiah : The Inspired Album", taking its spark from the film about the assassination of Black Panther Fred Hampton. Nipsey recorded this verse eight years ago, and didn't like the song at the time. It was developed in stages over years, with more and more instrumentation and arrangement, plus Jay's verse rougly a year ago. The final product is bombastic and epic-sounding, with the production headed up by Mike & Keys, and there are a stack of guests in the background - for me, highlighted by the distinctive vocals of James Fauntleroy. It was clearly worth the wait,
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Appetite for construction..."
- Swigga
We celebrate another birthday for the podcast this month, marking twelve full years since that inaugural experimental episode! This month's mix includes new tracks from artists who are setting themselves new standards, as well as some deep album cuts, B-sides, and unreleased gems. Sadly, we also mark the passing of Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, who left us just a few days ago. We include just one of his tracks this month, but he's an MC who left a deep body of work behind for us to continue to celebrate.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Children of Zeus : I Need You
Manchester's finest are back with their brand new album "Balance" and this was an early favourite of mine. Not uptempo, but much more so than "I Want You", with lots of bump, Tyler and Konny gave themselves a perfect canvas to get busy on the vocals. Go get that album!
Ilajide : Please Set Me At Ease
If Ilajide punches as hard as his beats are, a lot of heavyweights could be in trouble. Always bringing the heat, he shows his literal chops right here on this beat from the "Latex" LP.
Cocoa Brovaz : Get Up
For those that never knew or had forgotten, there was a period of almost ten years when due to the threat of legal action from the firearm manufacturer of similar name, Smif-N-Wessun had to change their name to Cocoa Brovaz. During this time you could hear the Brooklyn legends popping up on all kinds of quality records, and this was no exception - the B-side to the Mos Def/Pharoahe/Nate Dogg "Oh No" single, and a worthy inclusion on the "Lyricist Lounge 2" collection. Hi-Tek's beat on this was unconventional back in 2000 and still stands out as unusual today.
Special Teamz ft. Sean Price : Boston To Bucktown
Special Teamz was a Boston supergroup made up of Edo G, Jaysaun, and Slaine, who dropped the "Stereotypez" album in 2007. As signees to Duck Down Records, it was a natural move to tap them up for a guest appearance - and here, the late great Sean Price joins them on this Pete Rock-produced cut.
LL Cool J : Summer Luv
The B-Side to "Loungin'" and an inclusion on the deluxe edition of "Mr. Smith", this is a track I just don't hear enough! LL isn't showing love to the weak MCs he takes out on this one, and Rashad Smith's beat is a punchy and relatively sparse bit of 90s boom-bap crispiness.
Rakim : Last Resort
I think this one may have slipped past a lot of listeners - I got it on one of those random bootleg 12"s - entitled "Unreleased Jewels", released in 2003. According to Discogs, Da Beatminerz provided the beat, and it's an overall solid track. The hook is borrowed from a line from one of my favourite Rakim records, "Teach The Children" from the "Don't Sweat The Technique" LP.
Moods, Yasper : Vibe Vibe
From the "Endless Sunday Vol.1" album, these two Dutch producers on the Chillhop label do indeed bring the vibe. This would do the job for cruising with the top down, BBQing in the backyard, relaxing in the park - it's a pure summery feel-good track!
Swigga : Pendulum
1/3 of the great Natural Elements crew here, from his brand new LP "Sunset Mindset (Swigga SZN)". I can't quite describe the sound - it's dramatic, with a little rock edge to it - almost like a stadium track. Swigga (who some of you will have known as L-Swift) matches the vibe without going head-to-head in loudness, and keeps the flow accessible on the surface - but check the multisyllabic rhymes.
Blackalicious ft. Lyrics Born : Do This My Way
RIP Gift of Gab. He may have been in less than ideal health for some time, but his passing still hit the community hard. On this track from the Blackalicious debut LP "Nia", Lyrics Born of Latryx produces as well as supplying his half-sung, half-rapped vocals as the special guest, but without Gab, it wouldn't have been the tune that it is. He holds down his side of the lyrics with the skill and insight that made him a favourite for those that knew throughout his whole career.
The Mouse Outfit : Sunrise (Shift Ops Remix)
We switch into a little D&B mode here with a remix of a fairly recent track by The Mouse Outfit - in fact, I played it here on episode 132 when it came out! You still get the vocals of One Only, but Chini and Metrodome's production has to move over a little for the work of fellow Mancunian Shift Ops, with sharp drums and plenty of low end.
Lenzman & Konny Kon : Food
Staying with the vibe for one more track, the Metalheadz veteran combines with Manchester's own Konny Kon - no stranger to D&B by a long shot - who flows at half time over this extra-clean track from the 2019 "Bobby" LP.
[Charlemagne] Natural Elements : Paper Chase (Instrumental)
A dope 80s sample for those in the know, with the added bass and slow-walking boom-bap drums on the top make this a personal favourite. 100% check the vocal version of this track by the incredibly underappreciated Natural Elements - I played it a while back, pick up a copy if you can!
Mobb Deep : All Mines
"...where the people do murder for money" is a hell of a half-bar at the kick-off of the second verse, the kind of classic Prodigy line that would have been scratched and sampled in the late 90s for sure. Not much info on this track, which was on a 2005 bootleg release, so I don't know if Havoc produced it or not, but that menacing beat with that muted trumpet accent running through it is dopeness for sure.
Skyzoo & Aaria : St. James Liquors
Brooklyn bars from Skyzoo, from his new "All The Brilliant Things" album, which is themed around the gentrification of his home borough. Kenny Keys' beat is a bass-heavy gem, and Detroit vocalist Aaria adds a little sparkle on the hook.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth : What's Next On The Menu?
Classic Pete Rock and C.L! This was banging heavy on the pirates and mixtapes when it dropped back in 1993 - it was on the soundtrack to the Hip-Hop cameo-packed "Who's The Man?" as well as the apparently unofficial "Never Coming Out" EP (banned from Discogs). Pete Rock blends three huge staple samples on this one but still has ir sounding fresh, and C.L. glides on the jeep-rocking beat. Straight winner.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Jay Dee : Act Like You Know
Heavy, nasty, grinding. Perfect. The late great Jay Dee/J Dilla features on this track produced by Waajeed, one of his protoges. Waajeed and Saadiq made up PPP, whose debut "Triple P" definitely worth having in your collection - a mix of Hip-Hop and soul with a kind of jazzy sensibility in places.
Marco Polo : Ps and Qs (Remix Instrumental)
Just a nice instrumental from Marco's "Baker's Dozen" compilation. I had to loop this up a little bit to stretch it out, as he kept it very short and sweet. MP on the MP strikes once again!
Nipsey Hussle and Jay-Z : What It Feels Like
A cross-continental meeting of the lyrics, if not the minds, as the late Nipsey Hussle combines with Jay on this selection from the "Judas and the Black Messiah : The Inspired Album", taking its spark from the film about the assassination of Black Panther Fred Hampton. Nipsey recorded this verse eight years ago, and didn't like the song at the time. It was developed in stages over years, with more and more instrumentation and arrangement, plus Jay's verse rougly a year ago. The final product is bombastic and epic-sounding, with the production headed up by Mike & Keys, and there are a stack of guests in the background - for me, highlighted by the distinctive vocals of James Fauntleroy. It was clearly worth the wait,
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"It ain't f-ing sensible."
- Strategy
I ended up completely changing the selection this month when, taking the lead from a few tracks I was considering, I decided to go with an all-downtempo selection - a continuous unbroken mix once the first lyric hits. That said, there's a serious mix of genres so you get a bunch of variety inside the hour-long show! Get yourself plugged in...
RIP to the legendary Chi Modu - the man responsible for some of the most iconic images in the culture.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Duett : Video
An extremely short track to open things, just for the flavour! Duett, is a UK synthwave artist (only one person, despite the name) who has released some amazing records channeling that electronic 80s vibe. This one is drawn from the "O U T L I N E S" mini-album from last year - all tracks that were done in a day each - and is a bite-size motif that you could imagine as the sonic logo for a film company or TV station from the VHS era.
Meyhem Lauren ft. Hologram & Big Body Bes : Lexus In The Lobby
I was originally saving this for a future mix, but even though it would have fit perfectly thematically, it's so much slower than pretty much everything else that it may not have ultimately made the cut. This is an absolute gem from the original "Glass" EP, with Harry Fraud on production building an absolute vibe with a quality sample that may be familiar to German listeners and some heavy 808 action. Meyhem Lauren is of course the best MC on the cut but Hologram on the first verse definitely kicks a memorable opening quatrain!
Mikhail Chekalin : As If It Was Not From Here
Going super left-field early for this instrumental bed! Chekalin was a radically-innovative composer from Russia who was not embraced by the Soviet government - they felt his work was too "Western" and while his music was heard by some plugged-in people in the outside world, he wasn't able to tour internationally or release his music outside the USSR. Thankfully for music lovers, times have changed and the "ГАР001: Михаил Чекалин «Экзальтированная Колыбельная 1979 – 1987»" collection (don't even think about asking me to pronounce that) is now available on Bandcamp, and is a great collection of his electronic work - his own take on what could be done with the synths of the time. His sound is a worthy companion to the other greats who were also experimenting at the time, from Jan Hammer to Jean Michel Jarre.
TY ft. Rootz & Deborah Jordan : Eyes Open
It's been a year this month since TY passed and I was glad to find one of his tracks fitting into this pace perfectly, one from his excellent final LP "A Work Of Heart". He was always an excellent MC from the first to the last, and he does himself proud here, spitting thoughtful lyrics with a rapid sharp flow. OG Rootz (formerly Durrty Goodz) is a solid complement, and Deborah Jordan adds a vocal decoration that puts the whole self-produced track over the top. I do like the unexpected switch to French for the hook later in the song too, just *chef's kiss*.
Bumpy Knuckles : Step Up
If you're a real Hip-Hop geek, the highlight on this track might just be the brilliant cuts by DJ Rukas on the hook, not only sharp but incorporating a very clever manipulation of a line from the stone-cold classic "Top Billin'" by Audio Two. Bumpy Knuckles goes in with a quasi-double-time flow in typically rugged fashion over the production of BeatBanga, who gets his only Discogs credit in fine style. You can find this on the "Konexion" album, which is well worth having.
Flatbush Zombies : Laker Paper
It might not be the most conscious track in the world, but it does have the exact type of sonic energy to fit into this spot! Despite the production style (courtesy of Erick Arc Elliott) and the track title, the clue is in the name - this is a trio from Brooklyn who released this cut on their debut mixtape "D.R.U.G.S". They don't try to dazzle with a quick flow on this beat, they stick to their style and settle into it at its native speed.
Samantha James : Come Through
Even for those who might not be into a record like this most of the time, I thought that bassline and the underlying lazy drum break might draw you in! This track was one of the highlights of the 2007 "Rise" LP from LA-based Samantha James. If you like a varied electronic music album, it's one you should check out - a little house, a little broken beat, some singer-songwriter vibes, a showcase for a singer comfortable with working with different production types.
Jake One : Evelen Gravest
We bridge the first and second mixes with a beat from the man Jake One, taken from his free gospel-themed "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape. It'd be worth a purchase, but for zero dinero it's a must-have!
Kano : Ps & Qs
Coming out of East Ham, London, this is one of the early breakthrough grime tracks from a pioneer of the scene. This 2004 debut 12" release was a bit hit on the underground and helped Kano build momentum into the release of his "Home Sweet Home" album. DaVinche's big bombastic beat is an iconic one - a perfect underscoring for Kano, and can still mash up a dance even today.
DJ Quik ft. Hi-C and James DeBarge : Ev'ryday
One of my favourite cuts from Quik's 2002 "Under Tha Influence" LP (which, being a relentless perfectionist, he probably hated the minute he finished it). At the time there really wasn't much, if anything, out that sounded like this, and it was interesting to hear a musician and engineer of his skill level bring that to that double-time style. That stuttering bass and the skipping drum pattern work together brilliantly, and James DeBarge coming through with that hook might just be the vocal highlight.
Strategy : LengBreak
Time flies, and it's already been ten years since the release of the "Pre-Season Training" mixtape from Salford's Strategy, who continued to build his skills in fine style. "Bleep Test" and "Kill 'Em" were the standout tracks for me, and this one kind of passed me - maybe it was my personal taste in beats, maybe it was that I just didn't smoke! I gave it another listen this month and very much deserves a proper airing. One question for those of you who partake - all these years later, how do those prices sound? 🙂
Tobe Nwigwe ft. Royce Da 5'9" and Black Thought : Father Figure
Easily one of the best and most unique MCs to emerge in years, you'll have heard Tobe on this podcast a few times before and his collective have continued to impress and to elevate their profile. This killer is from last year's "Cincoriginals" album, and it's a meeting of heavyweight MCs. The fact that Tobe holds his own against both Royce and Thought, who is widely regarded as the MC's MC, while maintaining his own style, shows that he deserves all the praise he's been getting and more. Nell on production, as always, with the heavy low end for your system.
9th Wonder : Black Album Rejects, Track 15
One more of the instrumentals that 9th Wonder brought to Jay-Z for "The Black Album" that was ditched in favour of the brand-new "Threats" beat that launched him into the consciousness of many. The "rejects" were still dope as anything though.
Children of Zeus : No Love Song
Brand new Zeus! If you know what's good for you you'll be going to place a pre-order for the upcoming "Balance" album, but we've got this as an appetiser for now. Beat Butcha provides the laid-back soulful groove on which Tyler and Konny emphatically don't give you the love song that most other artists would given the same production. If you've been following this podcast, you would have first heard CoZ in the SoundCloud days, and it's been amazing to see this Manchester crew continue to produce great music - and the rest of the world catch up!
Corinne Bailey Rae : Walk On
Representing the city of Leeds lovely, Corinne Bailey Rae is a fine musician who brings the quality every time out. Her third LP, "The Heart Speaks In Whispers", was a worthy follow up to "The Sea", and saw her pairing with Steve Brown on production. This starts with a jazz club reserve and builds from there as she offers inspiration to keep on pushing through difficult circumstances - a message certainly relevant to the current time.
Rae & Christian ft. Lisa Shaw : Should Have Known
I'd somehow forgetten I even had this one! Lisa Shaw is best known for her deep house career, but her sublime voice is a versatile one and she's also on some soulful/downtempo stuff like this Manchester production from the Grand Central Records founding duo. The "Central Heating 2" compilation might be worth owning for this alone.
Zero 7 : Spinning
We finish a coincidentally all-UK segment with a track that didn't make the cut for the original UK release of the "Simple Things" album (twenty years ago!), but I believe was on the US version (plus the recent special edition release) as well as on the B-side of the "I Have Seen" 12". Sophie Barker takes the vocal reins, and it's a beautiful song.
L'indécis x sad toï : Dog Days
For the final instrumental break, we go to the Chillhop label, which specialises in releasing this kind of material - in this case, on the "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2018" compilation. This track is an all-French connection, with sad toï (sic) alongside Grenoble's L'indécis for a relaxed and partly-acoustic beat that suits a lazy summer day just as much as the autumn.
Scritti Politti : Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder
"The day began to decline" - I think many of us can relate to that feeling! One more UK track to close the episode, and this is the one that I think will divide listeners the most. Personally, I love this. It's one of those tunes where no-one seems to agree on the exact meaning of the lyrics, but when Green sings "...some keys they found there"...well, that could be read multiple ways! This was a great close to the "Anomie & Bonhomie" album, with a long instrumental outro to cool us all the way out at the very end of the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"It ain't f-ing sensible."
- Strategy
I ended up completely changing the selection this month when, taking the lead from a few tracks I was considering, I decided to go with an all-downtempo selection - a continuous unbroken mix once the first lyric hits. That said, there's a serious mix of genres so you get a bunch of variety inside the hour-long show! Get yourself plugged in...
RIP to the legendary Chi Modu - the man responsible for some of the most iconic images in the culture.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Duett : Video
An extremely short track to open things, just for the flavour! Duett, is a UK synthwave artist (only one person, despite the name) who has released some amazing records channeling that electronic 80s vibe. This one is drawn from the "O U T L I N E S" mini-album from last year - all tracks that were done in a day each - and is a bite-size motif that you could imagine as the sonic logo for a film company or TV station from the VHS era.
Meyhem Lauren ft. Hologram & Big Body Bes : Lexus In The Lobby
I was originally saving this for a future mix, but even though it would have fit perfectly thematically, it's so much slower than pretty much everything else that it may not have ultimately made the cut. This is an absolute gem from the original "Glass" EP, with Harry Fraud on production building an absolute vibe with a quality sample that may be familiar to German listeners and some heavy 808 action. Meyhem Lauren is of course the best MC on the cut but Hologram on the first verse definitely kicks a memorable opening quatrain!
Mikhail Chekalin : As If It Was Not From Here
Going super left-field early for this instrumental bed! Chekalin was a radically-innovative composer from Russia who was not embraced by the Soviet government - they felt his work was too "Western" and while his music was heard by some plugged-in people in the outside world, he wasn't able to tour internationally or release his music outside the USSR. Thankfully for music lovers, times have changed and the "ГАР001: Михаил Чекалин «Экзальтированная Колыбельная 1979 – 1987»" collection (don't even think about asking me to pronounce that) is now available on Bandcamp, and is a great collection of his electronic work - his own take on what could be done with the synths of the time. His sound is a worthy companion to the other greats who were also experimenting at the time, from Jan Hammer to Jean Michel Jarre.
TY ft. Rootz & Deborah Jordan : Eyes Open
It's been a year this month since TY passed and I was glad to find one of his tracks fitting into this pace perfectly, one from his excellent final LP "A Work Of Heart". He was always an excellent MC from the first to the last, and he does himself proud here, spitting thoughtful lyrics with a rapid sharp flow. OG Rootz (formerly Durrty Goodz) is a solid complement, and Deborah Jordan adds a vocal decoration that puts the whole self-produced track over the top. I do like the unexpected switch to French for the hook later in the song too, just *chef's kiss*.
Bumpy Knuckles : Step Up
If you're a real Hip-Hop geek, the highlight on this track might just be the brilliant cuts by DJ Rukas on the hook, not only sharp but incorporating a very clever manipulation of a line from the stone-cold classic "Top Billin'" by Audio Two. Bumpy Knuckles goes in with a quasi-double-time flow in typically rugged fashion over the production of BeatBanga, who gets his only Discogs credit in fine style. You can find this on the "Konexion" album, which is well worth having.
Flatbush Zombies : Laker Paper
It might not be the most conscious track in the world, but it does have the exact type of sonic energy to fit into this spot! Despite the production style (courtesy of Erick Arc Elliott) and the track title, the clue is in the name - this is a trio from Brooklyn who released this cut on their debut mixtape "D.R.U.G.S". They don't try to dazzle with a quick flow on this beat, they stick to their style and settle into it at its native speed.
Samantha James : Come Through
Even for those who might not be into a record like this most of the time, I thought that bassline and the underlying lazy drum break might draw you in! This track was one of the highlights of the 2007 "Rise" LP from LA-based Samantha James. If you like a varied electronic music album, it's one you should check out - a little house, a little broken beat, some singer-songwriter vibes, a showcase for a singer comfortable with working with different production types.
Jake One : Evelen Gravest
We bridge the first and second mixes with a beat from the man Jake One, taken from his free gospel-themed "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape. It'd be worth a purchase, but for zero dinero it's a must-have!
Kano : Ps & Qs
Coming out of East Ham, London, this is one of the early breakthrough grime tracks from a pioneer of the scene. This 2004 debut 12" release was a bit hit on the underground and helped Kano build momentum into the release of his "Home Sweet Home" album. DaVinche's big bombastic beat is an iconic one - a perfect underscoring for Kano, and can still mash up a dance even today.
DJ Quik ft. Hi-C and James DeBarge : Ev'ryday
One of my favourite cuts from Quik's 2002 "Under Tha Influence" LP (which, being a relentless perfectionist, he probably hated the minute he finished it). At the time there really wasn't much, if anything, out that sounded like this, and it was interesting to hear a musician and engineer of his skill level bring that to that double-time style. That stuttering bass and the skipping drum pattern work together brilliantly, and James DeBarge coming through with that hook might just be the vocal highlight.
Strategy : LengBreak
Time flies, and it's already been ten years since the release of the "Pre-Season Training" mixtape from Salford's Strategy, who continued to build his skills in fine style. "Bleep Test" and "Kill 'Em" were the standout tracks for me, and this one kind of passed me - maybe it was my personal taste in beats, maybe it was that I just didn't smoke! I gave it another listen this month and very much deserves a proper airing. One question for those of you who partake - all these years later, how do those prices sound? 🙂
Tobe Nwigwe ft. Royce Da 5'9" and Black Thought : Father Figure
Easily one of the best and most unique MCs to emerge in years, you'll have heard Tobe on this podcast a few times before and his collective have continued to impress and to elevate their profile. This killer is from last year's "Cincoriginals" album, and it's a meeting of heavyweight MCs. The fact that Tobe holds his own against both Royce and Thought, who is widely regarded as the MC's MC, while maintaining his own style, shows that he deserves all the praise he's been getting and more. Nell on production, as always, with the heavy low end for your system.
9th Wonder : Black Album Rejects, Track 15
One more of the instrumentals that 9th Wonder brought to Jay-Z for "The Black Album" that was ditched in favour of the brand-new "Threats" beat that launched him into the consciousness of many. The "rejects" were still dope as anything though.
Children of Zeus : No Love Song
Brand new Zeus! If you know what's good for you you'll be going to place a pre-order for the upcoming "Balance" album, but we've got this as an appetiser for now. Beat Butcha provides the laid-back soulful groove on which Tyler and Konny emphatically don't give you the love song that most other artists would given the same production. If you've been following this podcast, you would have first heard CoZ in the SoundCloud days, and it's been amazing to see this Manchester crew continue to produce great music - and the rest of the world catch up!
Corinne Bailey Rae : Walk On
Representing the city of Leeds lovely, Corinne Bailey Rae is a fine musician who brings the quality every time out. Her third LP, "The Heart Speaks In Whispers", was a worthy follow up to "The Sea", and saw her pairing with Steve Brown on production. This starts with a jazz club reserve and builds from there as she offers inspiration to keep on pushing through difficult circumstances - a message certainly relevant to the current time.
Rae & Christian ft. Lisa Shaw : Should Have Known
I'd somehow forgetten I even had this one! Lisa Shaw is best known for her deep house career, but her sublime voice is a versatile one and she's also on some soulful/downtempo stuff like this Manchester production from the Grand Central Records founding duo. The "Central Heating 2" compilation might be worth owning for this alone.
Zero 7 : Spinning
We finish a coincidentally all-UK segment with a track that didn't make the cut for the original UK release of the "Simple Things" album (twenty years ago!), but I believe was on the US version (plus the recent special edition release) as well as on the B-side of the "I Have Seen" 12". Sophie Barker takes the vocal reins, and it's a beautiful song.
L'indécis x sad toï : Dog Days
For the final instrumental break, we go to the Chillhop label, which specialises in releasing this kind of material - in this case, on the "Chillhop Essentials - Fall 2018" compilation. This track is an all-French connection, with sad toï (sic) alongside Grenoble's L'indécis for a relaxed and partly-acoustic beat that suits a lazy summer day just as much as the autumn.
Scritti Politti : Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder
"The day began to decline" - I think many of us can relate to that feeling! One more UK track to close the episode, and this is the one that I think will divide listeners the most. Personally, I love this. It's one of those tunes where no-one seems to agree on the exact meaning of the lyrics, but when Green sings "...some keys they found there"...well, that could be read multiple ways! This was a great close to the "Anomie & Bonhomie" album, with a long instrumental outro to cool us all the way out at the very end of the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...you will remember my name."
- DMX
It's been a grinder of a month. It shook the world when DMX passed away at 52, only for his former contemporary Black Rob, who himself had recorded his best wishes for X towards the end of his life, to pass only a week later. With everyone still wrapping their mind around those losses, the sudden death of Digital Underground founder Shock G was the icing on a very bitter cake. Of course, you'll hear a little of all three in the selection this month.
On a personal note, I was scrambling towards the end of this month as my airadam.com internet presence was hacked - affecting my homepage, podcast materials, and more. I have regained control, but it might be a little while until the warnings from Google go away, if you try to visit anything - hopefully, that will be straightened out soon.
The set I did for 45 Day is here, and you can also visit the 45 Day Mixcloud account, which will repost all 45 of the mixes!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mase ft. The Lox, Black Rob, and DMX : 24 Hrs To Live
For two of the artists on this track to have passed away within a week of each other is just unbelievable. Easily one of the best tracks to come out of the Bad Boy camp, this Myrick/D-Dot/6 July-produced album cut was a strikingly serious highlight from Mase's generally commercial/party-oriented debut LP "Harlem World". Black Rob can be heard as the third MC, and DMX as the memorable closer. Of course, neither of them spent their last few hours as described, which is a reminder that we often don't have any control as we near our ends - but both will have their names remembered, as DMX declares. RIP.
Frankie Bleu : Moses Theme
I only recently heard this record in full, so thought I'd get a copy for you to hear! It's from the soundtrack to a bizarre-sounding 70s film starring Dr.J entitled "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh", which I've never got sound to seeing! The soundtrack was on Philadelphia International Records and was packed with the orchestral, string-heavy soul that made up the famous Philly sound. I was going to play just a snippet, but it deserved to breathe a little more :)
Pete Rock : Shine On Me (Instrumental)
The "Shine On Me/Climax" 12" on Fat Beats sounded a little different to a lot of the Pete Rock production that had come before, but one thing that brought that old feeling back was the sound of CL Smooth on the mic, and the union of both means that this is a release you should definitely try to have in your collection!
Anthony David ft. Algebra : 4 Evermore
If you didn't want a classic slow jam, this could be a great first wedding dance song! New to me, but actually a 2011 release on the "As Above So Below" LP. DJ Kemit (probably best known for his work as part of Arrested Development) provides a smooth groove with some nice drums to give the bump. Both singers on the track come out of the Atlanta scene, and the lyrics and vocals are top-notch. A beautiful modern love song.
Nas ft. RaVaughn : Royalty
For me, the highlight is actually the hook, courtesy of RaVaughn - a bit patriarchal for my taste in part, but otherwise I love it! This was a standout for me on Nas' "Lost Tapes 2", and was produced by Hit-Boy - the same producer he paired with for the recently Grammy-winning "King's Disease" LP.
Camp Lo : Sky High (Trackstar Blend)
We go back to the original "80 Blocks From Tiffany's" mix for this one, the track that closed the tape. I'm a little confused on the credits for this - it's labelled as a Trackstar blend, but I believe Pete Rock did the beat. Either way, I do prefer it to the original "Sky High" from "Stone and Rob Caught on Tape". This tape on the whole is worth checking but it's the second instalment that gives you the major heat!
Parliament : One Of Those Funky Thangs
If you know your East Coast Hip-Hop, you might recognise a big break on this one! One of the best tracks on the 1978 "Motor Booty Affair" album, this is classic P-Funk which gives you that good feeling every time.
[Trackmasters] Nature : Talking That Shit (Instrumental)
I'm not sure if it's the hi-hats, the percussion, or the little vocal effect embedded in there, but this track definitely gives its origins away - a Trackmasters beat for Nature out of Queensbridge, from his solo debut "For All Seasons".
DMX ft. Sheek : Get At Me Dog
The first time I heard this, my reaction was "who is this guy ripping the beat off 'Get The Bozack'?" Turned out it was DMX, being played on the Radio 1 rap show for the first time, with his second single (1993's "Born Loser" was his oft-forgotten debut), taken from his debut LP. Dame Grease provides the re-animation of this NYC funk break and X growls, barks, and threatens from end-to-end, with Sheek providing just the right tone for the hook.
Krumb Snatcha ft. Gang Starr : Incredible
This is possibly the most distilled essence, the quintessential example of what a DJ Premier beat of this era is! On top of that classic boom-bap and between occurrences of that multi-sample scratched hook, the Boston (know your history) duo of Krumb Snatcha and Guru go back and forth on this track from "Respect All, Fear None".
Group Home ft. Guru : Legacy
Guru feature again, DJ Premier production once more, with a crew who got their break featuring on Gang Starr records themselves. "Livin' Proof" is the big classic Group Home LP, but don't sleep on "A Tear From The Ghetto", from which this is taken - there are some solid cuts on there. Guru goes in on the opening verse, and comes back later alongside Lil Dap. Melachi The Nutcracker only gets the hook on this one.
Black Moon : Act Like U Want It
Fierce B-side cut (arguably even better than the flip, "How Many Emcees"), which I appears on the CD version of the classic "Enta Da Stage", but definitely isn't on my original import vinyl. Da Beatminerz (Mr. Walt and Evil Dee) are on production, though those repeated horns in the hook are definitely reminiscent of Pete Rock of the era! Buckshot and 5ft Accelerator share mic duties on this most Brooklyn of Brooklyn tracks.
Nu Vintage : Grynd
Using the same sample as Cappadonna's "97 Mentality", this is a nice bit of beat tape gold out of the Bay Area, from the "Beats & Dreams" collection.
Roshin ft. Sean Price : Same Damn 'Lo Sweater
Brand new track I had to play this month! Roshin is a Toronto MC who actually recorded this song with Sean P back in 2010, but finally released it this month after getting the official blessing from Bernadette Price, Sean's wife. FMLSS' beat just grinds like an angry bass spirit is present, and both MCs build from Raekwon's famous line from Wu-Tang's anthem "C.R.E.A.M". Besides generally phenomenal mic skill, Sean P can always be relied on to inject some humour when it's needed, as shows here! Oh, and for those that don't know about the high place Polo Ralph Lauren holds in the culture, peep the free "Horse Power" documentary - you're welcome :)
Termanology ft. Evidence : Low IQ
I'd forgotten all about this B-side, tucked on the other side of the "So Amazing" 12", but Evidence comes through to guest on the mic and the boards and brings that midnight creep vibe. This track is only available on the 12" - you won't find it on the "Politics As Usual" album, so buy both.
Snoop Dogg (ft. Larry June) : Get Yo Bread Up
Not my favourite track from the new "From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites" LP by any means (currently, that's "CEO"), but the bassline from The Mekanix made me want to use this for some blends! Snoop unsurprisingly takes the crown on this track - if I'm honest, San Francisco's Larry June comes off just a little pedestrian on this one. Snoop has been putting out records longer than some listeners here have even been alive, and he's not stopping!
Clara Hill : Maybe Now
The voice of many great Jazzanova record has carved out a strong solo career in her own right, with six albums at last count. This track from the Berlin-born songstress is taken from "Best of Three", and it's beautiful - if a little short!
Kev Brown : Threat
Remember all those remix versions of Jay-Z's "The Black Album" when the acapellas were circulating? Well, you could do a lot worse than have Kev Brown remixing whatever it was you did. Even better the instrumentals Kev did eventually got released too, so here you can enjoy the bassline king's haunting re-imagining of the already-excellent "Threat".
Digital Underground : Same Song
After everything else this month, to lose the funk genius Shock G as well was a stunning blow to the community. He was the visionary who brought not just some of the P-Funk sound but the attitude, personality, imagination and just pure fun across to Hip-Hop. He took a winding road (sometimes literally) in his early life before becoming one of the founders of Bay legends Digital Underground, but all his experiences produced that one-off personality. We close the episode with this track from the "This Is An EP Release" EP (!), also on the "Nothing But Trouble" soundtrack, which not only features Shock G/Humpty Hump on several verses, but also 2Pac making his first on-record appearance on the final verse. RIP to both.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...you will remember my name."
- DMX
It's been a grinder of a month. It shook the world when DMX passed away at 52, only for his former contemporary Black Rob, who himself had recorded his best wishes for X towards the end of his life, to pass only a week later. With everyone still wrapping their mind around those losses, the sudden death of Digital Underground founder Shock G was the icing on a very bitter cake. Of course, you'll hear a little of all three in the selection this month.
On a personal note, I was scrambling towards the end of this month as my airadam.com internet presence was hacked - affecting my homepage, podcast materials, and more. I have regained control, but it might be a little while until the warnings from Google go away, if you try to visit anything - hopefully, that will be straightened out soon.
The set I did for 45 Day is here, and you can also visit the 45 Day Mixcloud account, which will repost all 45 of the mixes!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mase ft. The Lox, Black Rob, and DMX : 24 Hrs To Live
For two of the artists on this track to have passed away within a week of each other is just unbelievable. Easily one of the best tracks to come out of the Bad Boy camp, this Myrick/D-Dot/6 July-produced album cut was a strikingly serious highlight from Mase's generally commercial/party-oriented debut LP "Harlem World". Black Rob can be heard as the third MC, and DMX as the memorable closer. Of course, neither of them spent their last few hours as described, which is a reminder that we often don't have any control as we near our ends - but both will have their names remembered, as DMX declares. RIP.
Frankie Bleu : Moses Theme
I only recently heard this record in full, so thought I'd get a copy for you to hear! It's from the soundtrack to a bizarre-sounding 70s film starring Dr.J entitled "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh", which I've never got sound to seeing! The soundtrack was on Philadelphia International Records and was packed with the orchestral, string-heavy soul that made up the famous Philly sound. I was going to play just a snippet, but it deserved to breathe a little more :)
Pete Rock : Shine On Me (Instrumental)
The "Shine On Me/Climax" 12" on Fat Beats sounded a little different to a lot of the Pete Rock production that had come before, but one thing that brought that old feeling back was the sound of CL Smooth on the mic, and the union of both means that this is a release you should definitely try to have in your collection!
Anthony David ft. Algebra : 4 Evermore
If you didn't want a classic slow jam, this could be a great first wedding dance song! New to me, but actually a 2011 release on the "As Above So Below" LP. DJ Kemit (probably best known for his work as part of Arrested Development) provides a smooth groove with some nice drums to give the bump. Both singers on the track come out of the Atlanta scene, and the lyrics and vocals are top-notch. A beautiful modern love song.
Nas ft. RaVaughn : Royalty
For me, the highlight is actually the hook, courtesy of RaVaughn - a bit patriarchal for my taste in part, but otherwise I love it! This was a standout for me on Nas' "Lost Tapes 2", and was produced by Hit-Boy - the same producer he paired with for the recently Grammy-winning "King's Disease" LP.
Camp Lo : Sky High (Trackstar Blend)
We go back to the original "80 Blocks From Tiffany's" mix for this one, the track that closed the tape. I'm a little confused on the credits for this - it's labelled as a Trackstar blend, but I believe Pete Rock did the beat. Either way, I do prefer it to the original "Sky High" from "Stone and Rob Caught on Tape". This tape on the whole is worth checking but it's the second instalment that gives you the major heat!
Parliament : One Of Those Funky Thangs
If you know your East Coast Hip-Hop, you might recognise a big break on this one! One of the best tracks on the 1978 "Motor Booty Affair" album, this is classic P-Funk which gives you that good feeling every time.
[Trackmasters] Nature : Talking That Shit (Instrumental)
I'm not sure if it's the hi-hats, the percussion, or the little vocal effect embedded in there, but this track definitely gives its origins away - a Trackmasters beat for Nature out of Queensbridge, from his solo debut "For All Seasons".
DMX ft. Sheek : Get At Me Dog
The first time I heard this, my reaction was "who is this guy ripping the beat off 'Get The Bozack'?" Turned out it was DMX, being played on the Radio 1 rap show for the first time, with his second single (1993's "Born Loser" was his oft-forgotten debut), taken from his debut LP. Dame Grease provides the re-animation of this NYC funk break and X growls, barks, and threatens from end-to-end, with Sheek providing just the right tone for the hook.
Krumb Snatcha ft. Gang Starr : Incredible
This is possibly the most distilled essence, the quintessential example of what a DJ Premier beat of this era is! On top of that classic boom-bap and between occurrences of that multi-sample scratched hook, the Boston (know your history) duo of Krumb Snatcha and Guru go back and forth on this track from "Respect All, Fear None".
Group Home ft. Guru : Legacy
Guru feature again, DJ Premier production once more, with a crew who got their break featuring on Gang Starr records themselves. "Livin' Proof" is the big classic Group Home LP, but don't sleep on "A Tear From The Ghetto", from which this is taken - there are some solid cuts on there. Guru goes in on the opening verse, and comes back later alongside Lil Dap. Melachi The Nutcracker only gets the hook on this one.
Black Moon : Act Like U Want It
Fierce B-side cut (arguably even better than the flip, "How Many Emcees"), which I appears on the CD version of the classic "Enta Da Stage", but definitely isn't on my original import vinyl. Da Beatminerz (Mr. Walt and Evil Dee) are on production, though those repeated horns in the hook are definitely reminiscent of Pete Rock of the era! Buckshot and 5ft Accelerator share mic duties on this most Brooklyn of Brooklyn tracks.
Nu Vintage : Grynd
Using the same sample as Cappadonna's "97 Mentality", this is a nice bit of beat tape gold out of the Bay Area, from the "Beats & Dreams" collection.
Roshin ft. Sean Price : Same Damn 'Lo Sweater
Brand new track I had to play this month! Roshin is a Toronto MC who actually recorded this song with Sean P back in 2010, but finally released it this month after getting the official blessing from Bernadette Price, Sean's wife. FMLSS' beat just grinds like an angry bass spirit is present, and both MCs build from Raekwon's famous line from Wu-Tang's anthem "C.R.E.A.M". Besides generally phenomenal mic skill, Sean P can always be relied on to inject some humour when it's needed, as shows here! Oh, and for those that don't know about the high place Polo Ralph Lauren holds in the culture, peep the free "Horse Power" documentary - you're welcome :)
Termanology ft. Evidence : Low IQ
I'd forgotten all about this B-side, tucked on the other side of the "So Amazing" 12", but Evidence comes through to guest on the mic and the boards and brings that midnight creep vibe. This track is only available on the 12" - you won't find it on the "Politics As Usual" album, so buy both.
Snoop Dogg (ft. Larry June) : Get Yo Bread Up
Not my favourite track from the new "From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites" LP by any means (currently, that's "CEO"), but the bassline from The Mekanix made me want to use this for some blends! Snoop unsurprisingly takes the crown on this track - if I'm honest, San Francisco's Larry June comes off just a little pedestrian on this one. Snoop has been putting out records longer than some listeners here have even been alive, and he's not stopping!
Clara Hill : Maybe Now
The voice of many great Jazzanova record has carved out a strong solo career in her own right, with six albums at last count. This track from the Berlin-born songstress is taken from "Best of Three", and it's beautiful - if a little short!
Kev Brown : Threat
Remember all those remix versions of Jay-Z's "The Black Album" when the acapellas were circulating? Well, you could do a lot worse than have Kev Brown remixing whatever it was you did. Even better the instrumentals Kev did eventually got released too, so here you can enjoy the bassline king's haunting re-imagining of the already-excellent "Threat".
Digital Underground : Same Song
After everything else this month, to lose the funk genius Shock G as well was a stunning blow to the community. He was the visionary who brought not just some of the P-Funk sound but the attitude, personality, imagination and just pure fun across to Hip-Hop. He took a winding road (sometimes literally) in his early life before becoming one of the founders of Bay legends Digital Underground, but all his experiences produced that one-off personality. We close the episode with this track from the "This Is An EP Release" EP (!), also on the "Nothing But Trouble" soundtrack, which not only features Shock G/Humpty Hump on several verses, but also 2Pac making his first on-record appearance on the final verse. RIP to both.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We all need...some fresh air."
- Tobe
This month has been pretty exhausting, but I did have some good ideas for this episode, and once I hit stride with the recording I decided to try and keep the pace up and get it released on a weekend day! The selection has turned out to be heavy on artists who are no longer with us, but left us some great music to remember them by. Get yourself comfortable and press "play"...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Evidence ft. Raekwon and Ras Kass : The Red Carpet
How is this track ten years old already? Time has flown since the 2011 release of "Cats & Dogs", the second solo Evidence album after four LPs as part of Dilated Peoples. While Evidence is an excellent producer in his own right, the reins here are taken by his future partner in The Step Brothers, The Alchemist. He further shows his confidence by bringing in California's Ras Kass and Raekwon from the Wu to guest, both legendary MCs, and holds his own next to both. A great collection of talent to kick off the show!
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : What's Real? (Instrumental)
I just had to go back to "One Of The Best Yet" for another Preemo beat! Definitely get the instrumental release if you can, especially as you get the previously-unreleased "Glowing Mic" as a bonus cut.
The Notorious B.I.G ft. DMC : My Downfall
As I say on the voiceover, it feels weird playing a good chunk of Biggie's catalogue given how he ultimately died. This track from "Life After Death" is a perfect example, and feels like a mix of the creative writing he was famed for and maybe a realisation of exactly how much negativity swirled around him even after he had made the transition from the streets to the music industry. The legendary DMC of RUN DMC guests, only on the hook - but he does it well.
Agallah : Slaughter
Just a few bars, just a taste, as I needed something to bridge a track with no instrumental outro and the other with no open bars on the intro! Big respect to Agallah though, who has been putting in work since the mid-90s and will probably have yet another new project out by the time I finish typing this sentence. Find this beat on "Propain Campain Presents Agalllah - The Instrumental Vol. 1".
Sean Price and Small Professor (ft. Rock and DJ Revolution) : Refrigerator P
Heavy business! Ruck (Sean Price) and Rock, formerly the duo Heltah Skeltah, reunite on this killer from the "86 Witness" LP. Small Professor makes the beat dramatic, and DJ Revolution seasons the mix with his trademark super-sharp cuts.
Fred The Godson : Presidents
The Bronx-born-and-bred MC Fred The Godson sadly passed away last April at just 35 - one of the relatively early US casualties of COVID-19. During his lifetime, his catalogue consisted of some highly-rated mixtapes, but only after his death do we finally hear his debut album, "Ascension". This track of course is built (by Hesami) around the same sample as Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents" as Fred expounds on the drug game.
Broke 'n' English : Tryin' (Calibre Mix)
"Tryin'" was one of the standouts on the 2007 debut LP "Subject 2 Status" from this respected Manchester crew. Both Strategy and DRS have a long-standing history in the drum & bass scene, and so it made sense that the remix of this track would be handled by someone like Calibre. Sharp, crisp drum action and a smooth bassline drive this one along, with DRS' vocals being woven in as a refrain. You can hear in this one track how DRS then went on to make several excellent D&B albums - his vocal versatility allows him to shine on any production.
Marco Polo : Cindy
The "MP On The MP" (see what he did there?) beat tape is inspired by a Youtube series he was doing, and features a host of new and unreleased beats. Marco Polo is one keeping this style of production alive, which I'm thankful for. I still think of him as a "new" producer, but he's a veteran with over fifteen years in the industry!
Le$ : Out To Cali
Le$ is a great MC to go to if you want lyrics about just living life and having fun - almost like a Curren$y, but without the extreme high-end references. Right here, he's going to Cali, buying some weed, riding around, and enjoying the view - sometimes it doesn't need to be more lofty than that. Mr.Rogers goes to a familiar sample as a basis for the beat, and if you want more, the whole "Summer Madness" will give you these vibes - and exercise your speakers in the process.
O.C. : What I Need (Keelay Remix)
The "Smoke & Mirrors" LP is a bit of a forgotten one for many, but I really enjoyed it, and when acapellas became available, it was expertly remixed by the Sole Vibe crew out of San Francisco. The classic soul sample (which you may recognise from tracks like "Deeper" by Bo$$) is the foundation, with a heavy kick and skipping hi-hats providing the rhythm. O.C. never lost a step from his first LP, and he's never afraid to put his feelings out there on wax.
Sadat X : Stages & Lights
This is one of those tracks I was stunned to realised I hadn't already played on the podcast, so here it is at last! This Showbiz-produced cut from the 1996 "Wild Cowboys" LP, Sadat's solo debut, was also a B-side on the "Hang 'Em High" single - but definitely stole the show. If you ever find the original sample, you'll be amazed at how Show plucked that one small piece for this beat!
Phife Dawg : Thought U Wuz Nice
Killer B-side action from Phife Dawg, on the flip of the Superrappin "Bend Ova" 12", with J Dilla on the bouncy production. Still can't quite believe that both of these icons are no longer with us.
Saib : Beyond Clouds
The Chillhop label seems to put out endless amounts of beats from producers specialising in sounds inspired by greats like J Dilla and Nujabes, but with their own spin. This one comes from the "Chillhop Essentials Fall 2020" compilation, one of any number that are perfect for soundtracking study, work, or just a lazy day!
213 : Run On Up
That beat by Tha Chill and the delivery of "Shut the f********ck up and ruuuu-uuu-uuuun" by the late great Nate Dogg is enough to make this an absolute classic in my ears, but the full picture is even better. Way before "Doggystyle", "The Chronic", or even "Deep Cover", 213 was the group formed in Long Beach by Nate Dogg, Warren G, and Snoop, before any of them had got their big breaks. Years later, after all of them had become stars in their own rights, it was heart-warming to see them reform for the "The Hard Way" LP, from which this is taken.
Sporty Thievz : Angel
The Sporty Thievz deserve to be remembered for more than "No Pigeons", as much as we enjoyed the whole thing at the time. The "Street Cinema" album may not have quite lived up to the name, but there were some solid cuts on there, and this was one. Produced by King Kirk of the group alongside Ski, this track has all the foreboding, and while the singing on the hook may not be Marvin Gaye level, it absolutely works here.
Jean Grae : My Crew
One of the great underrated MCs - not because her skills are in question, but simply because not enough people know her! She's in fine early 2000s form on this cut from the "Bootleg of the Bootleg EP", produced by China Black. Straight boom-bap, and she cuts through with clarity and dexterity. Jean Grae raps, sings, produces, acts...one of the true talent of the culture.
Bronx Slang : Just Say No
New single from Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs, who have really been on a hot streak the last couple of years. It's nice to hear some protest music in an era that really calls for it, and if this is a marker of how good the upcoming second album is going to be, then you need to reserve a space in your crates right now! Jadell on production brings an appropriate heaviness to the track, no lightness on the beat!
[Ron Browz] Big L : The Heist (Instrumental)
All these years and I'd never looked to see who produced this beat from Big L's posthumously-released LP "The Big Picture" - come to find out it's one of Ron Browz' first credits. He's much better known for "Ether" by Nas, which came in 2001. The vocal version of this track is what the name suggests, a robbery tale, and you can hear the sound effects that punctuate the narrative still here in the instrumental.
Tobe Nwigwe : Fresh Air
Tobe Nwigwe and his collective (including his wife Fat and his producer Nell) have been quietly on the rise for a while, but in very recent times their profile has elevated noticeably. "The Pandemic Project" is a short six-track album from last year, and another quality addition to the catalogue. This man is an amazing MC, and Nell's often-unconventional beats are the perfect canvas. Don't sleep!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We all need...some fresh air."
- Tobe
This month has been pretty exhausting, but I did have some good ideas for this episode, and once I hit stride with the recording I decided to try and keep the pace up and get it released on a weekend day! The selection has turned out to be heavy on artists who are no longer with us, but left us some great music to remember them by. Get yourself comfortable and press "play"...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Evidence ft. Raekwon and Ras Kass : The Red Carpet
How is this track ten years old already? Time has flown since the 2011 release of "Cats & Dogs", the second solo Evidence album after four LPs as part of Dilated Peoples. While Evidence is an excellent producer in his own right, the reins here are taken by his future partner in The Step Brothers, The Alchemist. He further shows his confidence by bringing in California's Ras Kass and Raekwon from the Wu to guest, both legendary MCs, and holds his own next to both. A great collection of talent to kick off the show!
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : What's Real? (Instrumental)
I just had to go back to "One Of The Best Yet" for another Preemo beat! Definitely get the instrumental release if you can, especially as you get the previously-unreleased "Glowing Mic" as a bonus cut.
The Notorious B.I.G ft. DMC : My Downfall
As I say on the voiceover, it feels weird playing a good chunk of Biggie's catalogue given how he ultimately died. This track from "Life After Death" is a perfect example, and feels like a mix of the creative writing he was famed for and maybe a realisation of exactly how much negativity swirled around him even after he had made the transition from the streets to the music industry. The legendary DMC of RUN DMC guests, only on the hook - but he does it well.
Agallah : Slaughter
Just a few bars, just a taste, as I needed something to bridge a track with no instrumental outro and the other with no open bars on the intro! Big respect to Agallah though, who has been putting in work since the mid-90s and will probably have yet another new project out by the time I finish typing this sentence. Find this beat on "Propain Campain Presents Agalllah - The Instrumental Vol. 1".
Sean Price and Small Professor (ft. Rock and DJ Revolution) : Refrigerator P
Heavy business! Ruck (Sean Price) and Rock, formerly the duo Heltah Skeltah, reunite on this killer from the "86 Witness" LP. Small Professor makes the beat dramatic, and DJ Revolution seasons the mix with his trademark super-sharp cuts.
Fred The Godson : Presidents
The Bronx-born-and-bred MC Fred The Godson sadly passed away last April at just 35 - one of the relatively early US casualties of COVID-19. During his lifetime, his catalogue consisted of some highly-rated mixtapes, but only after his death do we finally hear his debut album, "Ascension". This track of course is built (by Hesami) around the same sample as Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents" as Fred expounds on the drug game.
Broke 'n' English : Tryin' (Calibre Mix)
"Tryin'" was one of the standouts on the 2007 debut LP "Subject 2 Status" from this respected Manchester crew. Both Strategy and DRS have a long-standing history in the drum & bass scene, and so it made sense that the remix of this track would be handled by someone like Calibre. Sharp, crisp drum action and a smooth bassline drive this one along, with DRS' vocals being woven in as a refrain. You can hear in this one track how DRS then went on to make several excellent D&B albums - his vocal versatility allows him to shine on any production.
Marco Polo : Cindy
The "MP On The MP" (see what he did there?) beat tape is inspired by a Youtube series he was doing, and features a host of new and unreleased beats. Marco Polo is one keeping this style of production alive, which I'm thankful for. I still think of him as a "new" producer, but he's a veteran with over fifteen years in the industry!
Le$ : Out To Cali
Le$ is a great MC to go to if you want lyrics about just living life and having fun - almost like a Curren$y, but without the extreme high-end references. Right here, he's going to Cali, buying some weed, riding around, and enjoying the view - sometimes it doesn't need to be more lofty than that. Mr.Rogers goes to a familiar sample as a basis for the beat, and if you want more, the whole "Summer Madness" will give you these vibes - and exercise your speakers in the process.
O.C. : What I Need (Keelay Remix)
The "Smoke & Mirrors" LP is a bit of a forgotten one for many, but I really enjoyed it, and when acapellas became available, it was expertly remixed by the Sole Vibe crew out of San Francisco. The classic soul sample (which you may recognise from tracks like "Deeper" by Bo$$) is the foundation, with a heavy kick and skipping hi-hats providing the rhythm. O.C. never lost a step from his first LP, and he's never afraid to put his feelings out there on wax.
Sadat X : Stages & Lights
This is one of those tracks I was stunned to realised I hadn't already played on the podcast, so here it is at last! This Showbiz-produced cut from the 1996 "Wild Cowboys" LP, Sadat's solo debut, was also a B-side on the "Hang 'Em High" single - but definitely stole the show. If you ever find the original sample, you'll be amazed at how Show plucked that one small piece for this beat!
Phife Dawg : Thought U Wuz Nice
Killer B-side action from Phife Dawg, on the flip of the Superrappin "Bend Ova" 12", with J Dilla on the bouncy production. Still can't quite believe that both of these icons are no longer with us.
Saib : Beyond Clouds
The Chillhop label seems to put out endless amounts of beats from producers specialising in sounds inspired by greats like J Dilla and Nujabes, but with their own spin. This one comes from the "Chillhop Essentials Fall 2020" compilation, one of any number that are perfect for soundtracking study, work, or just a lazy day!
213 : Run On Up
That beat by Tha Chill and the delivery of "Shut the f********ck up and ruuuu-uuu-uuuun" by the late great Nate Dogg is enough to make this an absolute classic in my ears, but the full picture is even better. Way before "Doggystyle", "The Chronic", or even "Deep Cover", 213 was the group formed in Long Beach by Nate Dogg, Warren G, and Snoop, before any of them had got their big breaks. Years later, after all of them had become stars in their own rights, it was heart-warming to see them reform for the "The Hard Way" LP, from which this is taken.
Sporty Thievz : Angel
The Sporty Thievz deserve to be remembered for more than "No Pigeons", as much as we enjoyed the whole thing at the time. The "Street Cinema" album may not have quite lived up to the name, but there were some solid cuts on there, and this was one. Produced by King Kirk of the group alongside Ski, this track has all the foreboding, and while the singing on the hook may not be Marvin Gaye level, it absolutely works here.
Jean Grae : My Crew
One of the great underrated MCs - not because her skills are in question, but simply because not enough people know her! She's in fine early 2000s form on this cut from the "Bootleg of the Bootleg EP", produced by China Black. Straight boom-bap, and she cuts through with clarity and dexterity. Jean Grae raps, sings, produces, acts...one of the true talent of the culture.
Bronx Slang : Just Say No
New single from Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs, who have really been on a hot streak the last couple of years. It's nice to hear some protest music in an era that really calls for it, and if this is a marker of how good the upcoming second album is going to be, then you need to reserve a space in your crates right now! Jadell on production brings an appropriate heaviness to the track, no lightness on the beat!
[Ron Browz] Big L : The Heist (Instrumental)
All these years and I'd never looked to see who produced this beat from Big L's posthumously-released LP "The Big Picture" - come to find out it's one of Ron Browz' first credits. He's much better known for "Ether" by Nas, which came in 2001. The vocal version of this track is what the name suggests, a robbery tale, and you can hear the sound effects that punctuate the narrative still here in the instrumental.
Tobe Nwigwe : Fresh Air
Tobe Nwigwe and his collective (including his wife Fat and his producer Nell) have been quietly on the rise for a while, but in very recent times their profile has elevated noticeably. "The Pandemic Project" is a short six-track album from last year, and another quality addition to the catalogue. This man is an amazing MC, and Nell's often-unconventional beats are the perfect canvas. Don't sleep!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Go buy me a drink if you didn't buy the CD."
- Double K
February rolls around once again, and so we pay tribute to Big L, Big Pun, and J Dilla in the selection, as well as the recently-departed Double K from Los Angeles' People Under The Stairs. There are some very well known tracks in the mix as well as some new and somewhat obscure ones, combined lovingly for maximum flavour!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Busta Rhymes : Still Shining
The technical levels on this track are still stunning, even twenty-five years on from its release on "The Coming". J Dilla used to give Busta Rhymes beat tapes of the most awkward, left-field, off-the-wall material - the beats no other MCs could do anything with! The programming on this track is constantly shifting, moving from one drum and sample pattern to another, and Busta matches the changes with alterations to his flow and lyrical layout all the way through. The display of skill would go straight over the heads of non-heads (as it were), but if you can appreciate it, you have to nod and salute this track.
J Dilla : Detroit Madness (Instrumental)
The "Rebirth of Detroit" album is one definitely worth adding to your collection if you're a fan of the great J Dilla. It was a massive added bonus when an instrumental version was also released, so I can blend in gems like this :)
Diamond D ft. Big L, Lord Finesse, A.G., and Fat Joe : 5 Fingas of Death
Pure darkness here, nothing pretty about it - in fact, there were a few things in there I had to reverse myself, and it's still as rough as anything. Big L leads off the lineup of five MCs from the DITC crew as they spit gutter rhymes on this cut towards the end of Diamond's "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" album. For the longest I'd just assumed that he produced it himself, but this boom-bap killer is actually the work of Kid Capri, very much not in happy party mode!
Big Pun : You Ain't A Killer
I mean, I would assume that most of you are not? One of the signature Pun singles, with him pulling the cards of fake gangstas everywhere, including through the headphones! Younglord provides the beat on one of his first placements - he was still in high school when this was recorded. This was on the "Soul In The Hole" OST, but was no soundtrack filler - it also made it onto Pun's full-length debut "Capital Punishment".
Dubbul O : Life
New single from one of Manchester's finest, with Clay on the boards. If this is what he's been cooking up while we've all been stuck inside, I want an album! The Voodoo Black and Mothership Connection MC never slips when it comes to the rhymes, so definitely support his releases.
Phife Dawg ft. Busta Rhymes and Redman : Nutshell Pt.2
It was a nice surprise to hear this new single - the late great Phife alongside Busta and the Funk Doctor Spock for a taste of the posthumous solo album to come. My only criticism is that maybe the hook could have done a little more! Tidal credits the production to DJ Rasta Root, but the beat is from the original "Nutshell", which was a J Dilla production - so a little confusion there.
[Pete Rock] J Dilla : The Ex (Instrumental)
This is a selection from the instrumental version of "The Diary", the Dilla album that was originally entitled "Pay Jay" and intended for release in 2002 - but held up due to record company shenanigans. While you'd think he'd handle all the production himself, more than half the tracks were done by outsiders, with Dilla concentrating on the MCing. It's beautiful that this particular beat was done by his production hero, Pete Rock.
Beatsy Collins : Bobby's Body (Beatsy Collins Remix)
Killer cut! Sam Tweaks on Twitch put me up on this one when he played it on 45, and even though I don't buy many modern 45 releases (way too expensive), I absolutely had to have this. Beatsy Collins is a UK-based remixer/re-editor who is clearly doing great things when it comes to freaking old tracks! That said, he started with great source material, "Thinkin' About Your Body" by the acapella master Bobby McFerrin, which is worth checking in its own right. When that bass drops...
Sunni Colón : Little Things
This is the kind of record it feels like it's impossible to dislike! Sunni Colón is a singer/songwriter and self-taught producer originally out of Los Angeles, who by all accounts is one of those people who just bleeds creativity. This bumping Kaytranada-produced soul number was a single-only release from 2017 which is well worth adding to your collection, with its extremely casual drum timing, bouncing bassline, and vocals that are just the right fit.
Clear Soul Forces : Runnin'
This is a classy piece of Detroit music, with Ilajide taking the same sample that J Dilla used for Busta Rhymes' "Show Me What You Got", but flipping it in his own way with some banging drums. Even on their first full album, from which this is drawn ("Detroit Revolution(s)"), their skills were highly developed, as you can hear on this one, with the MCs indeed keeping pace with the beat with flavour.
A Tribe Called Quest : Crew
I was sitting for a good few hours trying to remember what the drums on the preceding track reminded me of, and eventually I realised it was this! This is a short track from the "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" LP, with Q-Tip going solo on the mic in storytelling mode. The Ummah (Tip, J Dilla, Ali Shaheed Muhammad) on production, as on the rest of the LP.
[M-Phazes] Sean Price : Dump In The Gut (Instrumental)
This one swaggers along headed by the horns, only to be periodically punctuated by the sound of the hammer! A quality instrumental from the "Land of the Crooks" EP.
Camp Lo : Double Doors
A super-obscure Camp Lo cut, which I don't think actually got commercial release, but was made available on the "Passion of the Weiss" blog back in 2010. Lyrically the Lo come through with the slang-heavy diamond crook business I love them for, over a 70s-styled beat courtesy of a producer called Reality. Check the video for some accompanying b-boy styles!
Little Brother : Good Clothes
If you can relate, then I'm right there with you! Classic track from "Getback" about trying to be fresh on a limited budget, with Illmind on the beat soundtracking it perfectly.
People Under The Stairs : Listen
Possibly the best track from "Carried Away", the seventh PUTS LP. The struggles of the everyman Hip-Hop artist are well-described, and anyone who's either been an underground performer - or been on the scene as a fan for long enough - will be able to hear what they're saying! I can't even describe the vibe of the beat, it's just really well-assembled and engineered with crispy drums, sneaky bass, and even finished off with some turntable work after the two verses. RIP Double K.
Curren$y ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA : Skybourne
Cruising music from the king of lifestyle! This is an old cut now, from 2010's "Pilot Talk", and Ski Beatz laced Curren$y with a laid-back floater which still has a solid groove on the low end. New Orleans, Meridian (Mississippi), and NYC combine on this one for pure vibes.
Str8Beatz : Freek In You
Dug this one out from a quiet corner of my digital crates, from a collection by The Beat Tape Project - "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape". Washington D.C.'s Str8Beatz gets busy.
Nicolay ft. Phonte : Lights In The Sky
We close the episode with an uptempo, uplifting song courtesy of longtime collaborators Nicolay (on the music) and Phonte (on vocals). This is the title track of the "Lights In The Sky" EP, and the double-time drumming and bright keyboards do indeed take you on an astral trip, with the multi-talented Phonte leading the way with his vocals.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Go buy me a drink if you didn't buy the CD."
- Double K
February rolls around once again, and so we pay tribute to Big L, Big Pun, and J Dilla in the selection, as well as the recently-departed Double K from Los Angeles' People Under The Stairs. There are some very well known tracks in the mix as well as some new and somewhat obscure ones, combined lovingly for maximum flavour!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Busta Rhymes : Still Shining
The technical levels on this track are still stunning, even twenty-five years on from its release on "The Coming". J Dilla used to give Busta Rhymes beat tapes of the most awkward, left-field, off-the-wall material - the beats no other MCs could do anything with! The programming on this track is constantly shifting, moving from one drum and sample pattern to another, and Busta matches the changes with alterations to his flow and lyrical layout all the way through. The display of skill would go straight over the heads of non-heads (as it were), but if you can appreciate it, you have to nod and salute this track.
J Dilla : Detroit Madness (Instrumental)
The "Rebirth of Detroit" album is one definitely worth adding to your collection if you're a fan of the great J Dilla. It was a massive added bonus when an instrumental version was also released, so I can blend in gems like this :)
Diamond D ft. Big L, Lord Finesse, A.G., and Fat Joe : 5 Fingas of Death
Pure darkness here, nothing pretty about it - in fact, there were a few things in there I had to reverse myself, and it's still as rough as anything. Big L leads off the lineup of five MCs from the DITC crew as they spit gutter rhymes on this cut towards the end of Diamond's "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" album. For the longest I'd just assumed that he produced it himself, but this boom-bap killer is actually the work of Kid Capri, very much not in happy party mode!
Big Pun : You Ain't A Killer
I mean, I would assume that most of you are not? One of the signature Pun singles, with him pulling the cards of fake gangstas everywhere, including through the headphones! Younglord provides the beat on one of his first placements - he was still in high school when this was recorded. This was on the "Soul In The Hole" OST, but was no soundtrack filler - it also made it onto Pun's full-length debut "Capital Punishment".
Dubbul O : Life
New single from one of Manchester's finest, with Clay on the boards. If this is what he's been cooking up while we've all been stuck inside, I want an album! The Voodoo Black and Mothership Connection MC never slips when it comes to the rhymes, so definitely support his releases.
Phife Dawg ft. Busta Rhymes and Redman : Nutshell Pt.2
It was a nice surprise to hear this new single - the late great Phife alongside Busta and the Funk Doctor Spock for a taste of the posthumous solo album to come. My only criticism is that maybe the hook could have done a little more! Tidal credits the production to DJ Rasta Root, but the beat is from the original "Nutshell", which was a J Dilla production - so a little confusion there.
[Pete Rock] J Dilla : The Ex (Instrumental)
This is a selection from the instrumental version of "The Diary", the Dilla album that was originally entitled "Pay Jay" and intended for release in 2002 - but held up due to record company shenanigans. While you'd think he'd handle all the production himself, more than half the tracks were done by outsiders, with Dilla concentrating on the MCing. It's beautiful that this particular beat was done by his production hero, Pete Rock.
Beatsy Collins : Bobby's Body (Beatsy Collins Remix)
Killer cut! Sam Tweaks on Twitch put me up on this one when he played it on 45, and even though I don't buy many modern 45 releases (way too expensive), I absolutely had to have this. Beatsy Collins is a UK-based remixer/re-editor who is clearly doing great things when it comes to freaking old tracks! That said, he started with great source material, "Thinkin' About Your Body" by the acapella master Bobby McFerrin, which is worth checking in its own right. When that bass drops...
Sunni Colón : Little Things
This is the kind of record it feels like it's impossible to dislike! Sunni Colón is a singer/songwriter and self-taught producer originally out of Los Angeles, who by all accounts is one of those people who just bleeds creativity. This bumping Kaytranada-produced soul number was a single-only release from 2017 which is well worth adding to your collection, with its extremely casual drum timing, bouncing bassline, and vocals that are just the right fit.
Clear Soul Forces : Runnin'
This is a classy piece of Detroit music, with Ilajide taking the same sample that J Dilla used for Busta Rhymes' "Show Me What You Got", but flipping it in his own way with some banging drums. Even on their first full album, from which this is drawn ("Detroit Revolution(s)"), their skills were highly developed, as you can hear on this one, with the MCs indeed keeping pace with the beat with flavour.
A Tribe Called Quest : Crew
I was sitting for a good few hours trying to remember what the drums on the preceding track reminded me of, and eventually I realised it was this! This is a short track from the "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" LP, with Q-Tip going solo on the mic in storytelling mode. The Ummah (Tip, J Dilla, Ali Shaheed Muhammad) on production, as on the rest of the LP.
[M-Phazes] Sean Price : Dump In The Gut (Instrumental)
This one swaggers along headed by the horns, only to be periodically punctuated by the sound of the hammer! A quality instrumental from the "Land of the Crooks" EP.
Camp Lo : Double Doors
A super-obscure Camp Lo cut, which I don't think actually got commercial release, but was made available on the "Passion of the Weiss" blog back in 2010. Lyrically the Lo come through with the slang-heavy diamond crook business I love them for, over a 70s-styled beat courtesy of a producer called Reality. Check the video for some accompanying b-boy styles!
Little Brother : Good Clothes
If you can relate, then I'm right there with you! Classic track from "Getback" about trying to be fresh on a limited budget, with Illmind on the beat soundtracking it perfectly.
People Under The Stairs : Listen
Possibly the best track from "Carried Away", the seventh PUTS LP. The struggles of the everyman Hip-Hop artist are well-described, and anyone who's either been an underground performer - or been on the scene as a fan for long enough - will be able to hear what they're saying! I can't even describe the vibe of the beat, it's just really well-assembled and engineered with crispy drums, sneaky bass, and even finished off with some turntable work after the two verses. RIP Double K.
Curren$y ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA : Skybourne
Cruising music from the king of lifestyle! This is an old cut now, from 2010's "Pilot Talk", and Ski Beatz laced Curren$y with a laid-back floater which still has a solid groove on the low end. New Orleans, Meridian (Mississippi), and NYC combine on this one for pure vibes.
Str8Beatz : Freek In You
Dug this one out from a quiet corner of my digital crates, from a collection by The Beat Tape Project - "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape". Washington D.C.'s Str8Beatz gets busy.
Nicolay ft. Phonte : Lights In The Sky
We close the episode with an uptempo, uplifting song courtesy of longtime collaborators Nicolay (on the music) and Phonte (on vocals). This is the title track of the "Lights In The Sky" EP, and the double-time drumming and bright keyboards do indeed take you on an astral trip, with the multi-talented Phonte leading the way with his vocals.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Either unmarked or engraved - hey, who's to say?"
- MF DOOM
Wow, January has been a long year (!)
On the very last day of 2020, the Hip-Hop world was stunned to hear of the passing of Daniel Dumile, later known as Zev Love X, and eventually as the legendary MF DOOM. It had actually happened some time before but his family wanted to maintain some privacy, which is absolutely to be respected. In his memory, we play some tracks from the DOOM catalogue, plus some throwback favourites and a few recent releases. The bulk of the show is pretty uptempo, so one for the runners out there!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
MF DOOM ft. Pebbles : Doomsday
We start things off with the smoothness, the first full track on DOOM's debut LP "Operation : Doomsday" - which is still my favourite. A chunk of the album sounds like he just went right to the 80s soul crate and loaded the whole thing into the sampler, and this sets it off right. It certainly hits you differently now hearing him speak about his grave, and reuniting with his brother, the much missed DJ Subroc. This track gives you a window into some of the path DOOM walked on the way back to the industry after a traumatic set of personal circumstances, and is packed with references if you understand what you're hearing.
Dela : Dizzy
Quality production from "The Robert Glasper Beat Tape", doing great work with a piano sample and really changing the vibe. Check how he reinforces it with that fuzzy bass that plays along with parts of the main riff.
Tall Black Guy & Ozay Moore ft. Ohmega Watts : Har Hanz
A celebration of Hip-Hop here, with Ozay Moore and Ohmega Watts taking the mic atop the production skills of Tall Black Guy that is still getting regular headphone time from me three months after release. The sample at the start is discussing the late Latin jazz percussionist "Hard Hands" Ray Barretto, and is taken from the essential Hip-Hop documentary "Style Wars". Essential.
Edgar Allen Floe : State Of The Art
Taking it back to the early days of 9th Wonder and the Justus League crew, we have a track from the "WJLR Radio, Volume 2" mixtape, which you'll be lucky to find these days. EAF is a very skilled MC and, very characteristically of the time this was recorded, the topic here is the state of Hip-Hop and respect for artistry.
Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip : Don't Go
Bringing it back to a recent release, the new "Extinction Level Event 2 : The Wrath Of God" from the tail end of 2020 - unlike the first "ELE" release in 1998, the title seems to fit the age this time around... Anyway, this is a highlight, with the classic pairing of Busta and Q-Tip over a great Focus beat. The bar layout is a bit unusual, so it made the mixes on either side a little weird, but worth it to share this track.
Doc Ish ft. Joe Budden, Talib Kweli, Sean Price, and Angelica C : Is It A Dream
Dallas stand up! Texas producer Doc Ish brings in a trailerload of vocal talent to grace this beat, one that bumps along and still envelops you. I can't find any info on Angelica C, who does the business on the hook and outro, but she comes correct, and while all the MCs put in solid verses, Sean P is - as almost always - the star. Get this one on the 2010 "The First Treatment" album.
Grap Luva : Rocking With Elegance (One For Damu)
Hitting the SP-1200 here with a nice beat from Mount Vernon's Grap Luva from the "Neva Done" release. Drums and piano on a nice head-nod vibe with some little accents to make the beat complete - it's a great demonstration of not overdoing things when you have a groove that works!
Whodini : Five Minutes Of Funk
Not the whole track, so roughly three minutes and fourteen seconds of this specific funk. I wasn't able to get any Whodini onto the last episode, so it's this month that we pay tribute to the late John "Ecstasy" Fletcher. This track is taken from their sophomore album "Escape", and Ecstasy and Jalil kick their vintage-styled rhymes over the familiar instrumental courtesy of Larry Smith. You may recognise the beat as the theme for Ralph McDaniels' "Video Music Box", or any number of break/turntablist tapes! RIP Ecstasy.
KMD ft. Brand Nubian : Nitty Gritty
When I realised I could work this transition, it had to be done! This was the first KMD track I ever heard, and possibly the first Brand Nubian as well, after it was played on Pete Tong's Rap Selection show on Radio 1 back in the day. The lead MC of KMD was Daniel Dumile, then going by Zev Love X, and later becoming MF DOOM. All the MCs are dropping references from their respective religious organisations on this one, and this self-produced track from the debut KMD album "Mr Hood" is an absolute winner thirty years after its release!
Eric B & Rakim : Pass The Hand Grenade
This is one of my favourite cuts from the excellent 1992 "Don't Sweat The Technique" album, the final release from Eric B & Rakim as a duo. As per usual, it's a microphone clinic from Rakim, with the density of the lyrics smoothed out by his vocal control and easily keeping up with the break-driven production.
Ice-T : New Jack Hustler
Never mind all the swing on the soundtrack for "New Jack City", this was the highlight, which also stood up strongly next to anything else on Ice-T's crowning "OG : Original Gangster" LP, on which this also appears. An encapsulation of the speed, violence, and chaos of the streets as they were then, and as always with Ice, an acknowledgement that it all comes to a sticky end. The hectic production from Ice and legendary LA turntablist DJ Aladdin creates the perfect dense high-octane menace to go along with the iconic lyrics.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Bless The Mic (Instrumental)
At the tail end of last year we got an instrumental release of the "One Of The Best Yet", which itself was the surprise release of 2019. I didn't realise how much I missed the combination of Guru and Preemo, but the beats even stand as good listens by themselves!
Jeep Beat Collective : The Bomb Drops
A gem here from mid-nineties Manchester, and the brainchild of scene veteran Dave the Ruf, who you might know from JBC, Mindbomb, or if you're local, the Scratch Jam sessions he and DJ Rasp put together! This is uptempo, sample-packed, and topped with very serious cuts, which made it a worth inclusion on Bomb Records' original "Return Of The DJ" album.
Donald D : Rage Of The Rap Renegade
Staying with the 90s vibe, we wind it back to 1991 and the second album ("Let The Horns Blow") from Donald D out of the Rhyme Syndicate crew. No frills, just skills, with the Syndicate Sniper busting off lyrical shots over Bilal Bashir's heavy drums and sampling of a well-known bassline.
Motion Man : Come On Y'all
This track from "Clearing The Field" is an excellent tribute to/take on "My Part Of Town" by Philadelphia's Tuff Crew. KutMasta Kurt on production creates a 2002 version of the beat for Motion to get busy on. Definitely check the video - it's definitely one of the more original ones I've ever seen!
Mega Ran & Storyville : React
Teacher, MC, and now published author Mega Ran is definitely a man to check in at least one of his chosen disciplines! While he may be in Phoenix now, he's a Philadelphia native who combines here with his hometown compadre Storyville - both of them were former members of the RAHM Nation crew. The "Soul Veggies" album from 2015 is just solid, nourishing quality (part of the reason for the title), and so I thought we'd come back to it - I last dropped a track from this four years ago! Uptempo double bass action drives this one, the mic work is on point as always, and the cuts in the hook season it up lovely.
DJ Spinna : Rock
There have been many versions of this track, but this is the original from the Brooklyn don Spinna! You can find this one on 12" with "Watch Dees" (not the DJ!) on the flip.
MF DOOM : I Hear Voices
The last full track on "Operation : Doomsday" is the last track for this month's show as well, and it's one of my personal favourites from the album. It's just flavour, pure MC talent and writing skills, no hook, and a beat that isn't weird, but is somehow pretty unique. I could maybe have heard Ghostface doing something with a track like this, but DOOM stamps this one indelibly.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Either unmarked or engraved - hey, who's to say?"
- MF DOOM
Wow, January has been a long year (!)
On the very last day of 2020, the Hip-Hop world was stunned to hear of the passing of Daniel Dumile, later known as Zev Love X, and eventually as the legendary MF DOOM. It had actually happened some time before but his family wanted to maintain some privacy, which is absolutely to be respected. In his memory, we play some tracks from the DOOM catalogue, plus some throwback favourites and a few recent releases. The bulk of the show is pretty uptempo, so one for the runners out there!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
MF DOOM ft. Pebbles : Doomsday
We start things off with the smoothness, the first full track on DOOM's debut LP "Operation : Doomsday" - which is still my favourite. A chunk of the album sounds like he just went right to the 80s soul crate and loaded the whole thing into the sampler, and this sets it off right. It certainly hits you differently now hearing him speak about his grave, and reuniting with his brother, the much missed DJ Subroc. This track gives you a window into some of the path DOOM walked on the way back to the industry after a traumatic set of personal circumstances, and is packed with references if you understand what you're hearing.
Dela : Dizzy
Quality production from "The Robert Glasper Beat Tape", doing great work with a piano sample and really changing the vibe. Check how he reinforces it with that fuzzy bass that plays along with parts of the main riff.
Tall Black Guy & Ozay Moore ft. Ohmega Watts : Har Hanz
A celebration of Hip-Hop here, with Ozay Moore and Ohmega Watts taking the mic atop the production skills of Tall Black Guy that is still getting regular headphone time from me three months after release. The sample at the start is discussing the late Latin jazz percussionist "Hard Hands" Ray Barretto, and is taken from the essential Hip-Hop documentary "Style Wars". Essential.
Edgar Allen Floe : State Of The Art
Taking it back to the early days of 9th Wonder and the Justus League crew, we have a track from the "WJLR Radio, Volume 2" mixtape, which you'll be lucky to find these days. EAF is a very skilled MC and, very characteristically of the time this was recorded, the topic here is the state of Hip-Hop and respect for artistry.
Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip : Don't Go
Bringing it back to a recent release, the new "Extinction Level Event 2 : The Wrath Of God" from the tail end of 2020 - unlike the first "ELE" release in 1998, the title seems to fit the age this time around... Anyway, this is a highlight, with the classic pairing of Busta and Q-Tip over a great Focus beat. The bar layout is a bit unusual, so it made the mixes on either side a little weird, but worth it to share this track.
Doc Ish ft. Joe Budden, Talib Kweli, Sean Price, and Angelica C : Is It A Dream
Dallas stand up! Texas producer Doc Ish brings in a trailerload of vocal talent to grace this beat, one that bumps along and still envelops you. I can't find any info on Angelica C, who does the business on the hook and outro, but she comes correct, and while all the MCs put in solid verses, Sean P is - as almost always - the star. Get this one on the 2010 "The First Treatment" album.
Grap Luva : Rocking With Elegance (One For Damu)
Hitting the SP-1200 here with a nice beat from Mount Vernon's Grap Luva from the "Neva Done" release. Drums and piano on a nice head-nod vibe with some little accents to make the beat complete - it's a great demonstration of not overdoing things when you have a groove that works!
Whodini : Five Minutes Of Funk
Not the whole track, so roughly three minutes and fourteen seconds of this specific funk. I wasn't able to get any Whodini onto the last episode, so it's this month that we pay tribute to the late John "Ecstasy" Fletcher. This track is taken from their sophomore album "Escape", and Ecstasy and Jalil kick their vintage-styled rhymes over the familiar instrumental courtesy of Larry Smith. You may recognise the beat as the theme for Ralph McDaniels' "Video Music Box", or any number of break/turntablist tapes! RIP Ecstasy.
KMD ft. Brand Nubian : Nitty Gritty
When I realised I could work this transition, it had to be done! This was the first KMD track I ever heard, and possibly the first Brand Nubian as well, after it was played on Pete Tong's Rap Selection show on Radio 1 back in the day. The lead MC of KMD was Daniel Dumile, then going by Zev Love X, and later becoming MF DOOM. All the MCs are dropping references from their respective religious organisations on this one, and this self-produced track from the debut KMD album "Mr Hood" is an absolute winner thirty years after its release!
Eric B & Rakim : Pass The Hand Grenade
This is one of my favourite cuts from the excellent 1992 "Don't Sweat The Technique" album, the final release from Eric B & Rakim as a duo. As per usual, it's a microphone clinic from Rakim, with the density of the lyrics smoothed out by his vocal control and easily keeping up with the break-driven production.
Ice-T : New Jack Hustler
Never mind all the swing on the soundtrack for "New Jack City", this was the highlight, which also stood up strongly next to anything else on Ice-T's crowning "OG : Original Gangster" LP, on which this also appears. An encapsulation of the speed, violence, and chaos of the streets as they were then, and as always with Ice, an acknowledgement that it all comes to a sticky end. The hectic production from Ice and legendary LA turntablist DJ Aladdin creates the perfect dense high-octane menace to go along with the iconic lyrics.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Bless The Mic (Instrumental)
At the tail end of last year we got an instrumental release of the "One Of The Best Yet", which itself was the surprise release of 2019. I didn't realise how much I missed the combination of Guru and Preemo, but the beats even stand as good listens by themselves!
Jeep Beat Collective : The Bomb Drops
A gem here from mid-nineties Manchester, and the brainchild of scene veteran Dave the Ruf, who you might know from JBC, Mindbomb, or if you're local, the Scratch Jam sessions he and DJ Rasp put together! This is uptempo, sample-packed, and topped with very serious cuts, which made it a worth inclusion on Bomb Records' original "Return Of The DJ" album.
Donald D : Rage Of The Rap Renegade
Staying with the 90s vibe, we wind it back to 1991 and the second album ("Let The Horns Blow") from Donald D out of the Rhyme Syndicate crew. No frills, just skills, with the Syndicate Sniper busting off lyrical shots over Bilal Bashir's heavy drums and sampling of a well-known bassline.
Motion Man : Come On Y'all
This track from "Clearing The Field" is an excellent tribute to/take on "My Part Of Town" by Philadelphia's Tuff Crew. KutMasta Kurt on production creates a 2002 version of the beat for Motion to get busy on. Definitely check the video - it's definitely one of the more original ones I've ever seen!
Mega Ran & Storyville : React
Teacher, MC, and now published author Mega Ran is definitely a man to check in at least one of his chosen disciplines! While he may be in Phoenix now, he's a Philadelphia native who combines here with his hometown compadre Storyville - both of them were former members of the RAHM Nation crew. The "Soul Veggies" album from 2015 is just solid, nourishing quality (part of the reason for the title), and so I thought we'd come back to it - I last dropped a track from this four years ago! Uptempo double bass action drives this one, the mic work is on point as always, and the cuts in the hook season it up lovely.
DJ Spinna : Rock
There have been many versions of this track, but this is the original from the Brooklyn don Spinna! You can find this one on 12" with "Watch Dees" (not the DJ!) on the flip.
MF DOOM : I Hear Voices
The last full track on "Operation : Doomsday" is the last track for this month's show as well, and it's one of my personal favourites from the album. It's just flavour, pure MC talent and writing skills, no hook, and a beat that isn't weird, but is somehow pretty unique. I could maybe have heard Ghostface doing something with a track like this, but DOOM stamps this one indelibly.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Give your mama enough money to bury ya."
- E-40
We've just about dragged ourselves to the end of the year whose name shall not be spoken, and we're not out of the woods just yet. The winter is drawing in, and so we have not a festive selection, but one which in many parts sonically fits the season. There are some deep album cuts, B-sides, and mixtape tracks here, making it one of those months where pretty much everyone is going to learn at least one new tune! Get those headphones connected and let's go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
E-40 : I'ma Teach Ya How To Sell Dope
The title of this track from "Revenue Retrievin' : Day Shift" wrong-foots you, because this is A-grade "B-side of the game" material, as Ice-T would say. If you ever thought the drug game was glamourous, E-40 lets you know that it's a dangerous, paranoid, and depressing dead-end - even for the few who live long enough to make a bit of money.
The Cool Kids : Tires (Instrumental)
This had just the right slow pace, boom, and space to form a bridge between the tracks on either side. The vocal version appropriately comes from the 2009 "Merry Christmas" EP and features Boldy James, but this instrumental is available as part of the "Gone Fishing : Instrumentals" mixtape (despite not being on the "Gone Fishing" album, so far as I'm aware!)
Jane Child : Loot$ville
Take the rhythm section alone and you could imagine someone like Above The Law or The Dogg Pound getting busy on this track. It's been a very long time since the release of the "Surge" LP, the last from Jane Child, but it still stands up! Child's production and playing skills, alongside those of Cat Gray have this instrumental growling along at the low end, and then her vocal elevates the whole package into a quality song.
Jay-Z : Where I'm From
A clear standout from "In My Lifetime, Vol.1", this is one of the tracks for the streets, and a stark contrast to the many songs on the album that were obviously aiming for mass appeal. Jay lays down the facts of life in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects over a menacing beat from D-Dot and Amen-Ra, with DJ Premier contributing the cuts.
Scarface : The Fix / Fixed
I decided to blend the opening and closing tracks from Scarface's "The Fix" LP here, since both are excellent, but also very short. Scarface and Mike Dean handle the production, and it would surprise many to know that Scarface is also the singer here! This musical motif was re-used by the great Pimp C for UGK's "Still Ridin' Dirty", which also featured Scarface - another track to check out.
Sean Price ft. Buckshot and General Steele : Apartheid
This tune from "Imperius Rex" is the exact kind of darkness and coldness that matches the current season, especially in a year like this. Crummie Beats provides the score, and Sean is accompanied by two of the absolute foundation BCC members to go all the way grimy with it. Check the video - as well as all the artist guests, Sean's wife Bernadette and daughter Shaun both make appearances.
Mad Cobra ft. The Geto Boys : Dead End Street (Instrumental)
From the early 90s, when all sorts of Hip-Hop groups were trying to add a little Jamaican flavour (to wildly varying effect), there were a few artists from JA with the budget to cross over the other way. This 12" had multiple versions of the GB-featuring gun tune headed by dancehall don Cobra, and this is the thumping instrumental to the main mix.
Bronx Slang : Copy That
Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs are back with a new single, which just had to be shared here. Beeks has been doing his thing for a long time and continues to tweak and refine his approach - his flow here is alternately conversational and then more dense, and shows a real level of comfort expounding on serious subject matter on the mic. Grab this either as a single or on the "Bronx Kill" mixtape!
Ghostface Killah ft. Trife : Be Easy
The horns on "Copy That" brought this track to mind, and it's a worthy follow-up. One of the big singles from "Fishscale", it's a triumphant Pete Rock blast flipping "Stay Away From Me" by The Sylvers (this info is already out there), and Ghost leading the charge over the top with an assist from Trife in the hypeman role.
Phat Kat ft. T3 and Black Milk : Danger
All the Detroit on this cut, which has appeared in a few places - Phat Kat's "Carte Blanche" LP, Black Milk's "Sound Of The City", and even the "Saint's Row" soundtrack. As "SOTC" was released two years before the Phat Kat album came out in 2007, I guess that kind of makes it Black Milk's track and may explain why he's on the first verse - although Phat Kat is a beast on the third verse cleanup. Black Milk is on the beat, of course.
Dilated Peoples : Clockwork
I'd somehow forgotten that DJ Premier had done this beat for Dilated, but it's a great bi-coastal collaboration between him and this LA crew! The "Expansion Team" LP, their second, is full of heavyweight production, with Alchemist, Da Beatminerz, and JuJu from The Beatnuts among the boardsmen on the project. This track bumps but has a kind of thriller film soundtrack energy at the same time, and Rakaa and Evidence do it justice on the mic.
Fingathing : You Fly Me
The pairing of bassist Sneaky and world-class turntablist DJ Peter Parker was not the kind of thing that was at all common when they started out, but their original concept went from sensational live performances to quality recorded output. This number comes from the first full album, "The Main Event" (which was preceded by the "2 Player EP"), and is a glorious mix of bass and strings with some jazzy drumming action.
Zo! ft. Phonte : Everything She Wants
Now this is how you do a cover version! The last track recorded for "...just visiting three", this was a left-field idea from Zo that Phonte loved, as he'd always loved the original Wham track and wanted to remake it himself! It's much slower than the original, and as Zo points out, it helps to maintain the focus on the lyrics, which were some of George Michael's best from that era. The multi-talented Phonte kills it on the lead vocal (as well as some choice ad-libs), and Zo has the beat sliding and slumping, with a great switch-up at the end if you go and get the full version...
Freeway & Jake One : The Product
I hadn't played "The Stimulus Package" for ages, but it's still really good. When this was released, it seemed like an idea from a bygone era to pair one MC with one producer for a whole album, but one that was very welcome. Philadelphia's Freeway's addiction-themed lyrics are pretty much timeless, and as is usually the case, Jake One's beat nods to tradition while not being bound by it.
Sadat X & El Da Sensei ft. Bumpy Knuckles : 3 Rounds To Spar
Wall-to-wall rugged MCs right here, with the pairing of Sadat and El joined by the king of the third verse, Bumpy Knuckles for a pure mic workout over some heavy boom-bap (which is never a perjorative round here) by Divine Drummah - a producer I could only find this one credit for, but who definitely cooked up a track with the appropriate weight for the MCs on it. If you check the full version from the "XL" album, you can enjoy the intro where you hear the main sample in a more open form before the chops and drums come in.
Boot Camp Clik ft. Twanie Ranks : Smile In Heaven
This one probably snuck past most of you, as it was buried on the end of the Black Moon "Rush" 12" and didn't appear anywhere else except the "Collect Dis Edition" compilation in 2003. It turned up when I was digitising vinyl and I thought it was a fitting one to play mood-wise, with the contemplative street lyrics and the sombre vibes of the Beatminerz' instrumental underscoring it all. Twanie Ranks adds to the whole with his reggae-styled vocals at the end of the hook sections.
K-Def : The Final Thrill
One of those guys you could describe as a producer's producer, New Jersey's K-Def quietly has an amazing discography! I went back to his "Willie Boo Boo" album for this one, which is so short I had to loop it up a bit to make it long enough to work here - that said, there's no downside to hearing a beat like this for a little longer :)
Tribeca : Charlie Hustle (Pony Express)
With a sample that almost everyone will recognise, even if you can't name it, Tribeca does double duty as MC and producer on this 2003 12". On the mic, he takes on the persona/viewpoint of the former baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from the major leagues for gambling, and as such is also excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame (the "Cooperstown" you hear mentioned). When it comes to the production, he pounds the MPC in his characteristic fashion to supply the low end to complement the piano track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Give your mama enough money to bury ya."
- E-40
We've just about dragged ourselves to the end of the year whose name shall not be spoken, and we're not out of the woods just yet. The winter is drawing in, and so we have not a festive selection, but one which in many parts sonically fits the season. There are some deep album cuts, B-sides, and mixtape tracks here, making it one of those months where pretty much everyone is going to learn at least one new tune! Get those headphones connected and let's go...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
E-40 : I'ma Teach Ya How To Sell Dope
The title of this track from "Revenue Retrievin' : Day Shift" wrong-foots you, because this is A-grade "B-side of the game" material, as Ice-T would say. If you ever thought the drug game was glamourous, E-40 lets you know that it's a dangerous, paranoid, and depressing dead-end - even for the few who live long enough to make a bit of money.
The Cool Kids : Tires (Instrumental)
This had just the right slow pace, boom, and space to form a bridge between the tracks on either side. The vocal version appropriately comes from the 2009 "Merry Christmas" EP and features Boldy James, but this instrumental is available as part of the "Gone Fishing : Instrumentals" mixtape (despite not being on the "Gone Fishing" album, so far as I'm aware!)
Jane Child : Loot$ville
Take the rhythm section alone and you could imagine someone like Above The Law or The Dogg Pound getting busy on this track. It's been a very long time since the release of the "Surge" LP, the last from Jane Child, but it still stands up! Child's production and playing skills, alongside those of Cat Gray have this instrumental growling along at the low end, and then her vocal elevates the whole package into a quality song.
Jay-Z : Where I'm From
A clear standout from "In My Lifetime, Vol.1", this is one of the tracks for the streets, and a stark contrast to the many songs on the album that were obviously aiming for mass appeal. Jay lays down the facts of life in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects over a menacing beat from D-Dot and Amen-Ra, with DJ Premier contributing the cuts.
Scarface : The Fix / Fixed
I decided to blend the opening and closing tracks from Scarface's "The Fix" LP here, since both are excellent, but also very short. Scarface and Mike Dean handle the production, and it would surprise many to know that Scarface is also the singer here! This musical motif was re-used by the great Pimp C for UGK's "Still Ridin' Dirty", which also featured Scarface - another track to check out.
Sean Price ft. Buckshot and General Steele : Apartheid
This tune from "Imperius Rex" is the exact kind of darkness and coldness that matches the current season, especially in a year like this. Crummie Beats provides the score, and Sean is accompanied by two of the absolute foundation BCC members to go all the way grimy with it. Check the video - as well as all the artist guests, Sean's wife Bernadette and daughter Shaun both make appearances.
Mad Cobra ft. The Geto Boys : Dead End Street (Instrumental)
From the early 90s, when all sorts of Hip-Hop groups were trying to add a little Jamaican flavour (to wildly varying effect), there were a few artists from JA with the budget to cross over the other way. This 12" had multiple versions of the GB-featuring gun tune headed by dancehall don Cobra, and this is the thumping instrumental to the main mix.
Bronx Slang : Copy That
Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs are back with a new single, which just had to be shared here. Beeks has been doing his thing for a long time and continues to tweak and refine his approach - his flow here is alternately conversational and then more dense, and shows a real level of comfort expounding on serious subject matter on the mic. Grab this either as a single or on the "Bronx Kill" mixtape!
Ghostface Killah ft. Trife : Be Easy
The horns on "Copy That" brought this track to mind, and it's a worthy follow-up. One of the big singles from "Fishscale", it's a triumphant Pete Rock blast flipping "Stay Away From Me" by The Sylvers (this info is already out there), and Ghost leading the charge over the top with an assist from Trife in the hypeman role.
Phat Kat ft. T3 and Black Milk : Danger
All the Detroit on this cut, which has appeared in a few places - Phat Kat's "Carte Blanche" LP, Black Milk's "Sound Of The City", and even the "Saint's Row" soundtrack. As "SOTC" was released two years before the Phat Kat album came out in 2007, I guess that kind of makes it Black Milk's track and may explain why he's on the first verse - although Phat Kat is a beast on the third verse cleanup. Black Milk is on the beat, of course.
Dilated Peoples : Clockwork
I'd somehow forgotten that DJ Premier had done this beat for Dilated, but it's a great bi-coastal collaboration between him and this LA crew! The "Expansion Team" LP, their second, is full of heavyweight production, with Alchemist, Da Beatminerz, and JuJu from The Beatnuts among the boardsmen on the project. This track bumps but has a kind of thriller film soundtrack energy at the same time, and Rakaa and Evidence do it justice on the mic.
Fingathing : You Fly Me
The pairing of bassist Sneaky and world-class turntablist DJ Peter Parker was not the kind of thing that was at all common when they started out, but their original concept went from sensational live performances to quality recorded output. This number comes from the first full album, "The Main Event" (which was preceded by the "2 Player EP"), and is a glorious mix of bass and strings with some jazzy drumming action.
Zo! ft. Phonte : Everything She Wants
Now this is how you do a cover version! The last track recorded for "...just visiting three", this was a left-field idea from Zo that Phonte loved, as he'd always loved the original Wham track and wanted to remake it himself! It's much slower than the original, and as Zo points out, it helps to maintain the focus on the lyrics, which were some of George Michael's best from that era. The multi-talented Phonte kills it on the lead vocal (as well as some choice ad-libs), and Zo has the beat sliding and slumping, with a great switch-up at the end if you go and get the full version...
Freeway & Jake One : The Product
I hadn't played "The Stimulus Package" for ages, but it's still really good. When this was released, it seemed like an idea from a bygone era to pair one MC with one producer for a whole album, but one that was very welcome. Philadelphia's Freeway's addiction-themed lyrics are pretty much timeless, and as is usually the case, Jake One's beat nods to tradition while not being bound by it.
Sadat X & El Da Sensei ft. Bumpy Knuckles : 3 Rounds To Spar
Wall-to-wall rugged MCs right here, with the pairing of Sadat and El joined by the king of the third verse, Bumpy Knuckles for a pure mic workout over some heavy boom-bap (which is never a perjorative round here) by Divine Drummah - a producer I could only find this one credit for, but who definitely cooked up a track with the appropriate weight for the MCs on it. If you check the full version from the "XL" album, you can enjoy the intro where you hear the main sample in a more open form before the chops and drums come in.
Boot Camp Clik ft. Twanie Ranks : Smile In Heaven
This one probably snuck past most of you, as it was buried on the end of the Black Moon "Rush" 12" and didn't appear anywhere else except the "Collect Dis Edition" compilation in 2003. It turned up when I was digitising vinyl and I thought it was a fitting one to play mood-wise, with the contemplative street lyrics and the sombre vibes of the Beatminerz' instrumental underscoring it all. Twanie Ranks adds to the whole with his reggae-styled vocals at the end of the hook sections.
K-Def : The Final Thrill
One of those guys you could describe as a producer's producer, New Jersey's K-Def quietly has an amazing discography! I went back to his "Willie Boo Boo" album for this one, which is so short I had to loop it up a bit to make it long enough to work here - that said, there's no downside to hearing a beat like this for a little longer :)
Tribeca : Charlie Hustle (Pony Express)
With a sample that almost everyone will recognise, even if you can't name it, Tribeca does double duty as MC and producer on this 2003 12". On the mic, he takes on the persona/viewpoint of the former baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from the major leagues for gambling, and as such is also excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame (the "Cooperstown" you hear mentioned). When it comes to the production, he pounds the MPC in his characteristic fashion to supply the low end to complement the piano track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
Very sadly, my father passed away at the start of this month, after suffering with a serious illness for some time. While I'm devastated to see him leave, I feel lucky to have had him as long as I did. The show this month is a departure from the normal format, and after a short intro you'll get an uninterrupted selection of records that I either learned about from him and his collection, that he played in the car, or that I'd put him up on in a couple of cases. I hope you enjoy it.
Peace, Dad.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Tracy Chapman : Mountains o' Things
This 1988 album was on loop in the car when my dad had it on cassette! Nowadays, I don't know if it's one where everyone just knows the singles, or the kind of album that everyone else knows front-to-back too. I could have chosen pretty much any track to start the show, but this one is as good as any and sets a nice tempo for some of the other important records I wanted to include.
Pharcyde : Runnin'
This was on a compilation tape - I don't know which - but you'll know it best as part of the "Labcabincalifornia" album. The beat is of course an early-career classic from the great J Dilla.
Mariah Carey : Long Ago
Dad was a big Mariah Carey fan - as am I - and this was definitely his favourite track from the "Daydream" album, which was in very heavy rotation when it came out! She produced this one alongside Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal.
Busta Rhymes : Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check
One time I tried to slide the radio edit of Tim Dog's "F*ck Compton" by in the car, after taping it off the radio. It did not go well. I would never have categorised my father as a Hip-Hop fan, and he wasn't, but when he came to pick me up at the end of the first year of university and this (granted, as part of a compilation) was playing on the tape deck? Colour me surprised :) "The Coming" was one heavy solo debut, and gave us this undeniably classic track.
Platinum Pied Pipers : Fever
Detroit flavour right here. I did one of my Fathers' Day mixtapes in 2007 and had to include this 2005 cut from the "Triple P" album, which you should definitely check out if it passed you by. Waajeed and Saadiq are the producers in charge, with Zeno taking the lead vocal.
Terri Walker ft. Mos Def : Guess You Didn't Love Me
Another track that I introduced to him on a Fathers' Day mixtape, it was a then-new track with the smoothness and sophistication of soul singers a decade preceding. A great track from Ms. Walker's debut "Untitled" album, which was just the start of her highly-respected career.
The Modulations : Rough Out Here
I used to see this album cover as a kid and think their outfits were kind of funny - but then, they were from a different place and era, and I now know that those flares and big lapels were no indicator of any kind of sucker-dom! It took me a long time to get round to actually listening to and appreciating the "It's Rough Out Here" LP, but I have to say that they killed it with this opening track.
Rasputin Stash : Middle Man
The cartoon-style front cover of this album, with the names of many of the tracks incorporated into the artwork, always used to draw me in, and the name of the band was a curious one too. Coming out of Chicago, this band had a hard road but still put out great music, such as 1974's "Devil Made Me Do It" which this track is drawn from.
Chic : (Funny) Bone
The "C'est Chic" album, which I remember well from the crates in the house, contains the famous "Le Freak", of course, but the whole LP is well worth listening through. Tucked away at the very end of side B is this mostly-instrumental groove workout, which fit perfectly here.
Assagai : Telephone Girl
I used to see this LP in the house and be amazed at just how raw and in-your-face the front cover was - a man dressed like a Southern African warrior, with arms raised in triumph, and text so bold it looked like it was about to jump right off the sleeve. I didn't actually hear the album for many years, but when I did, I discovered that this London-based group of African expats had the heat!
Stevie Wonder : Boogie On Reggae Woman
I can 100% remember the first time I heard this record, with my dad playing it in my childhood bedroom on a music centre (bet you haven't heard that term in a while!) which transformed out of a suitcase! I don't hear it as much as some of the other Stevie dancefloor tunes, but while this track from "Fulfillingness' First Finale" might not be a favourite for everyone, it'll always be special to me.
B.T. Express : Once You Get It
When I found this LP in the house and started playing it as a teen, I was amazed at how much of it I recognised - it must be one of the most heavily sampled albums of all time! The "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" LP from this Brooklyn band is an absolute must-own for all lovers of the funk.
James Brown : Ain't It Funky Now (Part 1)
I didn't realise for ages that my dad actually had two copies of this, which was a surprise since as far as I know, he didn't invent beat-juggling back in the 70s :) The actual vinyl is the compilation "James Brown Soul Classics Volume 3", which, because it was one of the only things around that we had two of, was actually the record I learned to loop doubles of when I started the road of learning to DJ!
Harry J Allstars : Reach For The Sky
This instrumental reggae album ("Liquidator") is a classic - I think I pulled it out from my dad's stuff because of the front cover with a young woman having just shot someone down with a Tommy gun, but had no idea what to expect musically. Amongst other things, there's a Stevie Wonder cover, a track sampled by the UK artist Rebel MC (now Congo Natty), and this great tune. I always loved it, right down to the way it ends - and so, I thought I'd play it all the way through as the closer to the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>Very sadly, my father passed away at the start of this month, after suffering with a serious illness for some time. While I'm devastated to see him leave, I feel lucky to have had him as long as I did. The show this month is a departure from the normal format, and after a short intro you'll get an uninterrupted selection of records that I either learned about from him and his collection, that he played in the car, or that I'd put him up on in a couple of cases. I hope you enjoy it.
Peace, Dad.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Tracy Chapman : Mountains o' Things
This 1988 album was on loop in the car when my dad had it on cassette! Nowadays, I don't know if it's one where everyone just knows the singles, or the kind of album that everyone else knows front-to-back too. I could have chosen pretty much any track to start the show, but this one is as good as any and sets a nice tempo for some of the other important records I wanted to include.
Pharcyde : Runnin'
This was on a compilation tape - I don't know which - but you'll know it best as part of the "Labcabincalifornia" album. The beat is of course an early-career classic from the great J Dilla.
Mariah Carey : Long Ago
Dad was a big Mariah Carey fan - as am I - and this was definitely his favourite track from the "Daydream" album, which was in very heavy rotation when it came out! She produced this one alongside Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal.
Busta Rhymes : Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check
One time I tried to slide the radio edit of Tim Dog's "F*ck Compton" by in the car, after taping it off the radio. It did not go well. I would never have categorised my father as a Hip-Hop fan, and he wasn't, but when he came to pick me up at the end of the first year of university and this (granted, as part of a compilation) was playing on the tape deck? Colour me surprised :) "The Coming" was one heavy solo debut, and gave us this undeniably classic track.
Platinum Pied Pipers : Fever
Detroit flavour right here. I did one of my Fathers' Day mixtapes in 2007 and had to include this 2005 cut from the "Triple P" album, which you should definitely check out if it passed you by. Waajeed and Saadiq are the producers in charge, with Zeno taking the lead vocal.
Terri Walker ft. Mos Def : Guess You Didn't Love Me
Another track that I introduced to him on a Fathers' Day mixtape, it was a then-new track with the smoothness and sophistication of soul singers a decade preceding. A great track from Ms. Walker's debut "Untitled" album, which was just the start of her highly-respected career.
The Modulations : Rough Out Here
I used to see this album cover as a kid and think their outfits were kind of funny - but then, they were from a different place and era, and I now know that those flares and big lapels were no indicator of any kind of sucker-dom! It took me a long time to get round to actually listening to and appreciating the "It's Rough Out Here" LP, but I have to say that they killed it with this opening track.
Rasputin Stash : Middle Man
The cartoon-style front cover of this album, with the names of many of the tracks incorporated into the artwork, always used to draw me in, and the name of the band was a curious one too. Coming out of Chicago, this band had a hard road but still put out great music, such as 1974's "Devil Made Me Do It" which this track is drawn from.
Chic : (Funny) Bone
The "C'est Chic" album, which I remember well from the crates in the house, contains the famous "Le Freak", of course, but the whole LP is well worth listening through. Tucked away at the very end of side B is this mostly-instrumental groove workout, which fit perfectly here.
Assagai : Telephone Girl
I used to see this LP in the house and be amazed at just how raw and in-your-face the front cover was - a man dressed like a Southern African warrior, with arms raised in triumph, and text so bold it looked like it was about to jump right off the sleeve. I didn't actually hear the album for many years, but when I did, I discovered that this London-based group of African expats had the heat!
Stevie Wonder : Boogie On Reggae Woman
I can 100% remember the first time I heard this record, with my dad playing it in my childhood bedroom on a music centre (bet you haven't heard that term in a while!) which transformed out of a suitcase! I don't hear it as much as some of the other Stevie dancefloor tunes, but while this track from "Fulfillingness' First Finale" might not be a favourite for everyone, it'll always be special to me.
B.T. Express : Once You Get It
When I found this LP in the house and started playing it as a teen, I was amazed at how much of it I recognised - it must be one of the most heavily sampled albums of all time! The "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" LP from this Brooklyn band is an absolute must-own for all lovers of the funk.
James Brown : Ain't It Funky Now (Part 1)
I didn't realise for ages that my dad actually had two copies of this, which was a surprise since as far as I know, he didn't invent beat-juggling back in the 70s :) The actual vinyl is the compilation "James Brown Soul Classics Volume 3", which, because it was one of the only things around that we had two of, was actually the record I learned to loop doubles of when I started the road of learning to DJ!
Harry J Allstars : Reach For The Sky
This instrumental reggae album ("Liquidator") is a classic - I think I pulled it out from my dad's stuff because of the front cover with a young woman having just shot someone down with a Tommy gun, but had no idea what to expect musically. Amongst other things, there's a Stevie Wonder cover, a track sampled by the UK artist Rebel MC (now Congo Natty), and this great tune. I always loved it, right down to the way it ends - and so, I thought I'd play it all the way through as the closer to the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm like when we turn the clocks back in October..."
- Sha
The autumn is here, but given that we're still mostly shut up in the house, it's a pretty academic point. Still, it means that musically we start looking in the hoodies and Timbs direction, and some of that cold weather flavour makes its way into this month's selection...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : 1 Luv (Roll The Credits)
Curren$y is so prolific, it feels like every time I log onto Spotify he's got something new out. This is the outro for the 2020 "The Director's Cut" mixtape, but works just as well as a low-key intro. I'd definitely recommend giving the whole release a spin.
Bagnon Titi : Love And Time
We've been to the "Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" a few times, but inexplicably not for this track until now! I personally might have preferred the mix/EQ to be a bit different on this one (more prominence to the bassline maybe), but the flipping of this well-known sample is excellent.
Nas : N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II
"Mama should have cuffed me to the radiator" is one of the starkest, rawest lines ever, and the sad story of nine friends reduced to three is told with more efficiency than you could imagine possible. Sequels often disappoint compared to the originals, but this is a worthy successor to the first "NY State Of Mind", with Nas and DJ Premier coming back together on "I Am..." for an underrated classic.
Shyne : More Or Less
Shyne was well into his prison term for the 1999 Club New York shooting incident when "Godfather Buried Alive", his second album, was released in 2004 - understandably not on Bad Boy, but by Def Jam. The vocals were mostly pre-prison recordings with a few things recorded over the phone, and as such, it's not as coherent as you might like - but this was a great cut. A quality bit of sampling from the early days of Kanye West drives this one along, and Shyne comes with the rawness on the mic. "Hip-Hop's not responsible for violence in America / America's responsible for violence in America"? Can't argue with that.
Chemical Brothers ft. Beth Orton : Alive Alone
I remember playing this one in the headphones on many a dark, rainy night after "Exit Planet Dust" was released, so I thought it'd be a good one to include this month. Dark, slow, moody, with Beth Orton's gentle vocals over the top - perfection.
Mayhem Lauren : Peace Dad
Back over to Queens for some flavour (pun partially intended) from one of the biggest culinary fans in the Hip-Hop game. A short and sweet two verses over Tommy Mas production from the "Respect The Fly Shit" mixtape.
[Pete Rock] Edo G : Just Call My Name (Instrumental)
It was great that the most recent release of the "My Own Worst Enemy" LP by Edo G and Pete Rock contained instrumentals of all the tracks - really makes it an essential purchase for fans of these two legendary veterans. I don't know if the bass and horn samples come from the same place, but the interplay is expertly done!
Nas, Remy Ma, Ghostface Killah, Dave East, Styles P, RadhaMUS Prime : The Mecca
Brand new heat! From the soundtrack to the new film "The 40-Year-Old Version" comes a wicked NYC collaboration that features contributions from all the five boroughs (with Brooklyn represented by Da Beatminerz on production). This one should earn a few rewinds, as all the veterans get busy.
Shabaam Sahdeeq : Pendilum
We take it back to the heyday of the underground 12s for this A3-side - it may not be an example of Chuck's Law (the main track is a killer), but it's still quality. Shabaam is all Brooklyn lyricism on the mic and Dr.Sato (on what looks to be his only production credit) uses what sounds like a sitar sample as the centre of the beat.
LMNO & Kev Brown : Who's That?
LMNO is one of the least subtle MCs I can think of, but he does his job well enough here alongside the bassline king Kev Brown on the "Selective Hearing" LP. That said, the bass is pretty sparse outside of the hook and leaves plenty of space for LMNO to take centre stage.
Torae ft. Sha Stimuli and Kel Spencer : Save The Day
I've been waiting to play this song specifically in October just for the line that I used for this month's epigram :) Khrysis is on the boards with the heat, and the trio of MCs coming with the goods on this cut from the 2008 "Daily Conversation" LP. If you haven't heard it, it's a solid release, definitely worth checking out.
Da Beatminerz : Take That (Instrumental)
This beat may be almost 20 years old (originally from 2001's "Brace 4 Impak"), but it smacks strongly even today - a testament to the quality of the production and the engineering.
Oh No ft. Buckshot : Gets Mine
"Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" is one of the first LPs I can think of that was based around samples from one artist only - in this case, the late multi-talented composer Galt McDermot. This track has a cross between that midnight creep sound and some majestic piano business, and while Oh No has a quality verse, bringing in Buckshot as the feature was inspired - perfect choice.
Timeless Truth : What A Life
Straight no chaser from the 2013 debut by TT, "Rock-It Science" (great title). R.Thentic chops the pianos in a serious fashion over a boom-bap beat, and despite this being on a group LP, Solace goes solo end-to-end on the mic.
Rapsody ft. King Mez and Laws : Top Five
I can't quite believe that "Thank H.E.R. Now" is almost ten years old already, but it's an entry in Rapsody's catalogue that is definitely worth going back to explore if you missed it the first time round. "Top Five" is a nice all-southern mic workout with Rapsody and Mez repping North Carolina, and Laws coming out of Florida. Production comes from Amp of The Soul Council, and if I dare say it, sounds reminiscent of mid-2000s Preemo style.
Redman ft. E3 : Ride
This track is the month's rediscovery thanks to my vinyl digitisation project - I hadn't dug it out for years! It's drawn from the soundtrack of a 2003 film called "Biker Boyz" which, from the critical reception, I probably won't ever get around to watching, but I got this on a promo 12". Production and vocal duties are both shared between Redman and E3, and it's really well-executed within the style frame it inhabits - polished, nicely engineered, but with the funk on the low end.
Ilajide : Number One
To my ears, this man is lining himself up as ones of the kings of the bassline - not when it comes to complexity, but just the sheer sonic impact. This instrumental from "3" bangs along with a low end that will give any system a workout.
Boot Camp Clik : And So
When it comes to hoodie and boot weather, you have to include the Boot Camp Clik in any musical discussion. You'd also usually be talking about Da Beatminerz in the same breath, but this cut from 2002's "The Chosen Few" was produced by Curt Cazal, best known for his work as part of JVC Force. On the mic, the late Sean Price, Tek and Steele, Top Dog, and Buckshot of Black Moon kick it straight Brooklyn style, and it sounds very much like they may have had an issue with a certain mixtape DJ...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm like when we turn the clocks back in October..."
- Sha
The autumn is here, but given that we're still mostly shut up in the house, it's a pretty academic point. Still, it means that musically we start looking in the hoodies and Timbs direction, and some of that cold weather flavour makes its way into this month's selection...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Curren$y & Harry Fraud : 1 Luv (Roll The Credits)
Curren$y is so prolific, it feels like every time I log onto Spotify he's got something new out. This is the outro for the 2020 "The Director's Cut" mixtape, but works just as well as a low-key intro. I'd definitely recommend giving the whole release a spin.
Bagnon Titi : Love And Time
We've been to the "Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" a few times, but inexplicably not for this track until now! I personally might have preferred the mix/EQ to be a bit different on this one (more prominence to the bassline maybe), but the flipping of this well-known sample is excellent.
Nas : N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II
"Mama should have cuffed me to the radiator" is one of the starkest, rawest lines ever, and the sad story of nine friends reduced to three is told with more efficiency than you could imagine possible. Sequels often disappoint compared to the originals, but this is a worthy successor to the first "NY State Of Mind", with Nas and DJ Premier coming back together on "I Am..." for an underrated classic.
Shyne : More Or Less
Shyne was well into his prison term for the 1999 Club New York shooting incident when "Godfather Buried Alive", his second album, was released in 2004 - understandably not on Bad Boy, but by Def Jam. The vocals were mostly pre-prison recordings with a few things recorded over the phone, and as such, it's not as coherent as you might like - but this was a great cut. A quality bit of sampling from the early days of Kanye West drives this one along, and Shyne comes with the rawness on the mic. "Hip-Hop's not responsible for violence in America / America's responsible for violence in America"? Can't argue with that.
Chemical Brothers ft. Beth Orton : Alive Alone
I remember playing this one in the headphones on many a dark, rainy night after "Exit Planet Dust" was released, so I thought it'd be a good one to include this month. Dark, slow, moody, with Beth Orton's gentle vocals over the top - perfection.
Mayhem Lauren : Peace Dad
Back over to Queens for some flavour (pun partially intended) from one of the biggest culinary fans in the Hip-Hop game. A short and sweet two verses over Tommy Mas production from the "Respect The Fly Shit" mixtape.
[Pete Rock] Edo G : Just Call My Name (Instrumental)
It was great that the most recent release of the "My Own Worst Enemy" LP by Edo G and Pete Rock contained instrumentals of all the tracks - really makes it an essential purchase for fans of these two legendary veterans. I don't know if the bass and horn samples come from the same place, but the interplay is expertly done!
Nas, Remy Ma, Ghostface Killah, Dave East, Styles P, RadhaMUS Prime : The Mecca
Brand new heat! From the soundtrack to the new film "The 40-Year-Old Version" comes a wicked NYC collaboration that features contributions from all the five boroughs (with Brooklyn represented by Da Beatminerz on production). This one should earn a few rewinds, as all the veterans get busy.
Shabaam Sahdeeq : Pendilum
We take it back to the heyday of the underground 12s for this A3-side - it may not be an example of Chuck's Law (the main track is a killer), but it's still quality. Shabaam is all Brooklyn lyricism on the mic and Dr.Sato (on what looks to be his only production credit) uses what sounds like a sitar sample as the centre of the beat.
LMNO & Kev Brown : Who's That?
LMNO is one of the least subtle MCs I can think of, but he does his job well enough here alongside the bassline king Kev Brown on the "Selective Hearing" LP. That said, the bass is pretty sparse outside of the hook and leaves plenty of space for LMNO to take centre stage.
Torae ft. Sha Stimuli and Kel Spencer : Save The Day
I've been waiting to play this song specifically in October just for the line that I used for this month's epigram :) Khrysis is on the boards with the heat, and the trio of MCs coming with the goods on this cut from the 2008 "Daily Conversation" LP. If you haven't heard it, it's a solid release, definitely worth checking out.
Da Beatminerz : Take That (Instrumental)
This beat may be almost 20 years old (originally from 2001's "Brace 4 Impak"), but it smacks strongly even today - a testament to the quality of the production and the engineering.
Oh No ft. Buckshot : Gets Mine
"Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" is one of the first LPs I can think of that was based around samples from one artist only - in this case, the late multi-talented composer Galt McDermot. This track has a cross between that midnight creep sound and some majestic piano business, and while Oh No has a quality verse, bringing in Buckshot as the feature was inspired - perfect choice.
Timeless Truth : What A Life
Straight no chaser from the 2013 debut by TT, "Rock-It Science" (great title). R.Thentic chops the pianos in a serious fashion over a boom-bap beat, and despite this being on a group LP, Solace goes solo end-to-end on the mic.
Rapsody ft. King Mez and Laws : Top Five
I can't quite believe that "Thank H.E.R. Now" is almost ten years old already, but it's an entry in Rapsody's catalogue that is definitely worth going back to explore if you missed it the first time round. "Top Five" is a nice all-southern mic workout with Rapsody and Mez repping North Carolina, and Laws coming out of Florida. Production comes from Amp of The Soul Council, and if I dare say it, sounds reminiscent of mid-2000s Preemo style.
Redman ft. E3 : Ride
This track is the month's rediscovery thanks to my vinyl digitisation project - I hadn't dug it out for years! It's drawn from the soundtrack of a 2003 film called "Biker Boyz" which, from the critical reception, I probably won't ever get around to watching, but I got this on a promo 12". Production and vocal duties are both shared between Redman and E3, and it's really well-executed within the style frame it inhabits - polished, nicely engineered, but with the funk on the low end.
Ilajide : Number One
To my ears, this man is lining himself up as ones of the kings of the bassline - not when it comes to complexity, but just the sheer sonic impact. This instrumental from "3" bangs along with a low end that will give any system a workout.
Boot Camp Clik : And So
When it comes to hoodie and boot weather, you have to include the Boot Camp Clik in any musical discussion. You'd also usually be talking about Da Beatminerz in the same breath, but this cut from 2002's "The Chosen Few" was produced by Curt Cazal, best known for his work as part of JVC Force. On the mic, the late Sean Price, Tek and Steele, Top Dog, and Buckshot of Black Moon kick it straight Brooklyn style, and it sounds very much like they may have had an issue with a certain mixtape DJ...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm a walking heart attack, looking for somebody to happen..."
- Boogieman
Still shut up in the house for the most part, which at least gives me a chance to really dig through my crates, vinyl and otherwise! This month's selection has some great recent records, some older underground favourites, and a mix segment I've been wanting to do for ages - figured this episode was as good a time as any!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mac Ayres : Shadows
If nothing else, this enforced time spent in the house has yielded some great musical discoveries. I heard this cut on a DJ Jazzy Jeff Twitch session, and bought it immediately as soon as I found out what it was! Mac Ayers is a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist from Long Island, and if he's already turning out material like this in his early 20s, I can only imagine what it'll be with more experience. This is a highlight on last year's "Juicebox" album, and one that those who enjoy the modern soul sound will almost certainly enjoy!
[DJ Premier] Prhyme : My Calling (Instrumental)
This beat from "Prhyme 2" is so, so good. DJ Premier continues to turn out fresh creations over thirty years since his debut, with more different styles than he's often given credit for. The pianos sound like falling rain, the low end is the solid ground, and everything else fits perfectly around them.
Ski Beatz & Stalley : Gentlemen's Quarterly
Smooth from the lyrics to Ski Beatz' sophisticated production, this is a cut I'd managed to forget about until I rediscovered it in my collection recently. Find it on the "Ski Beatz 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight" (snappy!) LP, if you can find a reasonably-priced copy!
LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown : I Shot Ya (Remix)
A classic from the mid-90s. LL brought in some of the hottest MCs of the time alongside a young Foxy Brown making her on-record debut for a Trackmasters-produced street banger. The "Mr. Smith" album is the source for this often-sampled gem.
O.C. & Organized Konfusion : You Won't Go Far
Unapologetic boom-bap from this all-NYC combination, taken from the second volume of the "New Jersey Drive" soundtrack. Of all the tracks on that release, it's the one that hews closest to the plot of the film itself, which itself makes it a standout in the world of 90s Hip-Hop/R&B soundtracks! OK self-produced this one, and rather than give each MC a verse each, they split each verse between the three of them for more of a tag-team feel.
Rise : Make Sure That We Win
Note: I got this wrong on the voiceover - this is a Beatminerz beat, not DJ Spinna. Spinna produced the excellent "Part of the Game" on the same EP.
Rise is an MC out of Brooklyn and the Demigodz crew, who has a knack for punchlines and quotables within a laid back style - he just seems puzzled by wack MCs most of the time! The Beatminerz provide the beat with the fuzzbox guitars moving all over the soundscape and the classic boom-bap drum style and some sub bass to give it the heft. DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz rounds things out with his cuts for the hook. Grab this and a couple of other great tracks on the 2003 "The Intro..." EP.
Pete Rock : Air Smoove
"Petestrumentals 2" may not become the low-key icon that the first instalment did, but don't sleep on it - it's still Pete Rock on the beats, after all. I keep going back to it and finding myself enjoying tracks more and more, with this being a prime example.
Above The Law ft. 2Pac and Money B : Call It What U Want
I once nearly got into a fight (the other guy was heated) when I off-handedly mentioned that I remembered when 2Pac had been a dancer for Digital Underground - but it was true, and there was never any shame in it! Anyway, it was also with that crew that he made initial strides onto the mic, and after going solo himself, this was one of his first features, alongside Money B from DU. Above The Law's "Black Mafia Life", from which this is taken, is one of the most overlooked albums that could claim the accolade of "classic" when you listen to how it sounded and how early it was made - I strongly recommend that every listener seeks it out for an end-to-end hearing. It's striking to realise that of the four MCs on this cut, only two are still with us today - RIP 2Pac and KMG.
DJ Quik ft. Pharoahe Monch & K.K. : Murda 1 Case
An absolute stomper from Compton's finest, leading with the piano, keeping the drums hard but simple (kicks on 1 and 3 only, snares on 2 and 4), and three MCs going at it. On this clear standout on 2002's "Under Tha Influence", the underrated Quik holds his own against one of the best to pick up a mic, and shows the confidence and intelligence as a producer to know that this was the man to bring in for the closing verse.
De La Soul : Verbal Clap
Many years after their debut, De La remind you that they can get busy on a state-of-the-art thumping beat with no problem - in this case, a masterful creation by J Dilla, one of two on 2004's "The Grind Date". Dave's rhyme style here is extra raw and he dominates by sheer brute force, standing out even on an album where De La sound highly-motivated overall. If you don't yet know it, it's well worth your while to search it out and have a proper listen.
Mr. Scruff ft. Broke 'n' English : Listen Up
Manchester all the way on this track, with the DJ and producer Mr Scruff getting the drumline mad active with a nice bassline, and Strategy and DRS of Broke 'n' English bringing all the local flavour on the mic. This great cut is on the flip of the also-excellent "Nice Up The Function" 12", which is now available digitally - so no difficulty in finding a copy!
[The Neptunes] Busta Rhymes : Pass The Courvoisier, Part II (Instrumental)
A great party beat, one to get people moving even without Busta and Pharrell's vocals!
AZ : Take Care Of Me
From his very first LP, AZ was flowing over soul/R&B samples, so it wasn't a reach for him to make a track like this for "Aziatic", his fourth. Precision soundtracks it with a "no samples" approach which for the non-Bad Boy producers tended to be the move for the club/radio tracks, and it's aged fairly well. AZ's lyrics are definitely reflective of the time - cellphones are so unremarkable in 2020!
Krumb Snatcha ft. Boogieman : Oxygen
Krumb Snatcha is pretty much as rugged as it gets, but here he shows that while he can give you an underground street classic like "Closer To God", there's still time to have fun! This track from his second LP "Respect All, Fear None" isn't what you might expect from KS but I think he did a solid job here. Nottz' beat bumps and burbles with a solid low end, and the guest MC Boogieman, who's already collaborated with him previously, steals the show with a casually disrespectful closing verse - not a particularly technical one, but entertaining!
Mic Geronimo : Nothin' Move But The Money
This record was hated when it came out, of all the tracks in this section, it was the most blatant pander to the pop audience - after all, Puffy (now Diddy) was the producer! This was amplified by the fact that Queens' own Mic Geronimo was a darling of the underground scene after his excellent debut LP "The Natural", and this is a million miles away stylistically. "Vendetta" was a big change, and arguably a bit of a career killer because of it. Have a look at the video - every so often, Mic actually looks pretty uncomfortable!
Goodie Mob ft. Big Boi and Backbone : Get Rich To This
This was the next most derided track when it was released - if someone else had recorded it, it may have been received for what it was, but again, this was a serious sonic whiplash for anyone who had heard "Soul Food" or "Still Standing". It was still Organized Noize on production, still the same MCs (plus guests), but definitely not what people were expecting, by and large. I can't front though - I kind of liked it even then! The "World Party" LP is the source for this one.
[Kenny Dope] L Swift : Ride This (Instrumental)
Crispy clean drums and a nice guitar line are the highlights of this beat from a 2000 12" by one of the MCs from the incredible Natural Elements (now reformed, with L Swift as Swigga). The vocal version features A Butta from NE and the B-side is produced by Spinna, so well worth picking up if you see it!
Toots & The Maytals : Funky Kingston
We close the episode with the title track of the 1973 album by the reggae legend "Toots" Hibbert, who passed away this month at the age of 77, and his band. The throatiness of his delivery on this classic cut does bring to mind the American funk godfather James Brown, but the message and the groove is pure yard. It may be almost fifty years old now, but still moves a dancefloor with ease!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm a walking heart attack, looking for somebody to happen..."
- Boogieman
Still shut up in the house for the most part, which at least gives me a chance to really dig through my crates, vinyl and otherwise! This month's selection has some great recent records, some older underground favourites, and a mix segment I've been wanting to do for ages - figured this episode was as good a time as any!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mac Ayres : Shadows
If nothing else, this enforced time spent in the house has yielded some great musical discoveries. I heard this cut on a DJ Jazzy Jeff Twitch session, and bought it immediately as soon as I found out what it was! Mac Ayers is a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist from Long Island, and if he's already turning out material like this in his early 20s, I can only imagine what it'll be with more experience. This is a highlight on last year's "Juicebox" album, and one that those who enjoy the modern soul sound will almost certainly enjoy!
[DJ Premier] Prhyme : My Calling (Instrumental)
This beat from "Prhyme 2" is so, so good. DJ Premier continues to turn out fresh creations over thirty years since his debut, with more different styles than he's often given credit for. The pianos sound like falling rain, the low end is the solid ground, and everything else fits perfectly around them.
Ski Beatz & Stalley : Gentlemen's Quarterly
Smooth from the lyrics to Ski Beatz' sophisticated production, this is a cut I'd managed to forget about until I rediscovered it in my collection recently. Find it on the "Ski Beatz 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight" (snappy!) LP, if you can find a reasonably-priced copy!
LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown : I Shot Ya (Remix)
A classic from the mid-90s. LL brought in some of the hottest MCs of the time alongside a young Foxy Brown making her on-record debut for a Trackmasters-produced street banger. The "Mr. Smith" album is the source for this often-sampled gem.
O.C. & Organized Konfusion : You Won't Go Far
Unapologetic boom-bap from this all-NYC combination, taken from the second volume of the "New Jersey Drive" soundtrack. Of all the tracks on that release, it's the one that hews closest to the plot of the film itself, which itself makes it a standout in the world of 90s Hip-Hop/R&B soundtracks! OK self-produced this one, and rather than give each MC a verse each, they split each verse between the three of them for more of a tag-team feel.
Rise : Make Sure That We Win
Note: I got this wrong on the voiceover - this is a Beatminerz beat, not DJ Spinna. Spinna produced the excellent "Part of the Game" on the same EP.
Rise is an MC out of Brooklyn and the Demigodz crew, who has a knack for punchlines and quotables within a laid back style - he just seems puzzled by wack MCs most of the time! The Beatminerz provide the beat with the fuzzbox guitars moving all over the soundscape and the classic boom-bap drum style and some sub bass to give it the heft. DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz rounds things out with his cuts for the hook. Grab this and a couple of other great tracks on the 2003 "The Intro..." EP.
Pete Rock : Air Smoove
"Petestrumentals 2" may not become the low-key icon that the first instalment did, but don't sleep on it - it's still Pete Rock on the beats, after all. I keep going back to it and finding myself enjoying tracks more and more, with this being a prime example.
Above The Law ft. 2Pac and Money B : Call It What U Want
I once nearly got into a fight (the other guy was heated) when I off-handedly mentioned that I remembered when 2Pac had been a dancer for Digital Underground - but it was true, and there was never any shame in it! Anyway, it was also with that crew that he made initial strides onto the mic, and after going solo himself, this was one of his first features, alongside Money B from DU. Above The Law's "Black Mafia Life", from which this is taken, is one of the most overlooked albums that could claim the accolade of "classic" when you listen to how it sounded and how early it was made - I strongly recommend that every listener seeks it out for an end-to-end hearing. It's striking to realise that of the four MCs on this cut, only two are still with us today - RIP 2Pac and KMG.
DJ Quik ft. Pharoahe Monch & K.K. : Murda 1 Case
An absolute stomper from Compton's finest, leading with the piano, keeping the drums hard but simple (kicks on 1 and 3 only, snares on 2 and 4), and three MCs going at it. On this clear standout on 2002's "Under Tha Influence", the underrated Quik holds his own against one of the best to pick up a mic, and shows the confidence and intelligence as a producer to know that this was the man to bring in for the closing verse.
De La Soul : Verbal Clap
Many years after their debut, De La remind you that they can get busy on a state-of-the-art thumping beat with no problem - in this case, a masterful creation by J Dilla, one of two on 2004's "The Grind Date". Dave's rhyme style here is extra raw and he dominates by sheer brute force, standing out even on an album where De La sound highly-motivated overall. If you don't yet know it, it's well worth your while to search it out and have a proper listen.
Mr. Scruff ft. Broke 'n' English : Listen Up
Manchester all the way on this track, with the DJ and producer Mr Scruff getting the drumline mad active with a nice bassline, and Strategy and DRS of Broke 'n' English bringing all the local flavour on the mic. This great cut is on the flip of the also-excellent "Nice Up The Function" 12", which is now available digitally - so no difficulty in finding a copy!
[The Neptunes] Busta Rhymes : Pass The Courvoisier, Part II (Instrumental)
A great party beat, one to get people moving even without Busta and Pharrell's vocals!
AZ : Take Care Of Me
From his very first LP, AZ was flowing over soul/R&B samples, so it wasn't a reach for him to make a track like this for "Aziatic", his fourth. Precision soundtracks it with a "no samples" approach which for the non-Bad Boy producers tended to be the move for the club/radio tracks, and it's aged fairly well. AZ's lyrics are definitely reflective of the time - cellphones are so unremarkable in 2020!
Krumb Snatcha ft. Boogieman : Oxygen
Krumb Snatcha is pretty much as rugged as it gets, but here he shows that while he can give you an underground street classic like "Closer To God", there's still time to have fun! This track from his second LP "Respect All, Fear None" isn't what you might expect from KS but I think he did a solid job here. Nottz' beat bumps and burbles with a solid low end, and the guest MC Boogieman, who's already collaborated with him previously, steals the show with a casually disrespectful closing verse - not a particularly technical one, but entertaining!
Mic Geronimo : Nothin' Move But The Money
This record was hated when it came out, of all the tracks in this section, it was the most blatant pander to the pop audience - after all, Puffy (now Diddy) was the producer! This was amplified by the fact that Queens' own Mic Geronimo was a darling of the underground scene after his excellent debut LP "The Natural", and this is a million miles away stylistically. "Vendetta" was a big change, and arguably a bit of a career killer because of it. Have a look at the video - every so often, Mic actually looks pretty uncomfortable!
Goodie Mob ft. Big Boi and Backbone : Get Rich To This
This was the next most derided track when it was released - if someone else had recorded it, it may have been received for what it was, but again, this was a serious sonic whiplash for anyone who had heard "Soul Food" or "Still Standing". It was still Organized Noize on production, still the same MCs (plus guests), but definitely not what people were expecting, by and large. I can't front though - I kind of liked it even then! The "World Party" LP is the source for this one.
[Kenny Dope] L Swift : Ride This (Instrumental)
Crispy clean drums and a nice guitar line are the highlights of this beat from a 2000 12" by one of the MCs from the incredible Natural Elements (now reformed, with L Swift as Swigga). The vocal version features A Butta from NE and the B-side is produced by Spinna, so well worth picking up if you see it!
Toots & The Maytals : Funky Kingston
We close the episode with the title track of the 1973 album by the reggae legend "Toots" Hibbert, who passed away this month at the age of 77, and his band. The throatiness of his delivery on this classic cut does bring to mind the American funk godfather James Brown, but the message and the groove is pure yard. It may be almost fifty years old now, but still moves a dancefloor with ease!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"How it took you thirty years just to sound aiiight?"
- Rustee Juxx
2020 continues...feels like all you can say! I didn't get chance to include any Malik B (RIP) last month, but have fixed it this time with a couple of his best verses, alongside other late greats like Sean P and Aaliyah, plus remembering some truly classic albums. Light on the new releases this time, we dig back into the crates...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
JoJo Pellegrino ft. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon : 3 Kings
Coming out of the gate strong on this single, with Ghostface owning the Yountie Tha Noize-produced track in the first few bars! That said, everyone does an excellent job on the mic, including Pellegrino, an MC from the same general area of Staten Island as many of the Wu-Tang - Ghost and Rae included. No pause for a hook, just lyrics on lyrics on lyrics.
[Alchemist] Twin & Alchemist : Different Worlds (Instrumental)
Ah, the early days of Alchemist! One of the most respected in the game, and one who has been associated with two highly significant crews from opposite sides of the country - the Soul Assassins from LA, and the Mobb Deep family in NYC. This is some of his fairly early work with the latter, a 12" from 2001; this beat is dope, but "Big T.W.I.N.S" on the flip is even better!
The Roots ft. Dice Raw, M.A.R.S, and Co-Op : Clones
One time for Malik B! This is a classic single from The Roots' "Illadelph Halflife" album, packed with quotables from all the MCs, and backed by a stripped-down but ferocious beat. The verses are separated by a chilled-out jazz sample, right before the drums, piano, and bars come crashing right back in. Greatness.
Exile ft. Co$$ : Pay The Co$$
I always rated the cutting up of the Malik B line from the final verse of "Clones" for the chorus here, and this is the perfect position to play it. Cashus King (AKA Co$$) is an MC out of Leimert Park in LA, and this track on the 2006 "Dirty Science" producer project looks like one of his first appearances, if not the very first. I'd have to imagine this isn't an easy beat to work with, as the Exile-produced rhythm lurches and twitches, with a somewhat cursory relationship with the beats in each bar. You've got to be good to make this work, on either side of the mixing desk!
Chuck D as Mistachuck ft. Jahi : freedBLACK
Chuck D was comparatively old as an MC when he first hit the scene, and showed how that was nothing but an advantage as he could take a different perspective to the late-teenagers on the mic elsewhere. That has continued throughout his career, where he brings his experience to bear on every verse - including here, on the "Celebration Of Ignorance" album. There's actually a piece at the start of the track I missed off as it wouldn't have mixed well, but that should be encouragement to buy the whole thing! C-Doc and ID cook up a beat rugged enough for the Hard Rhymer and Jahi, his compatriot in PE2.0.
Nine : Any Emcee
This gravel-voiced MC from The Bronx was first heard on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die" as Nine Double M before tweaking his name, and eventually putting out a solid debut album of his own. "Nine Livez" is definitely worth a listen, if very much of its time, and this was the second single. Tony Stoute is on production - a forgotten name, who to be fair really did his work within the span of 1995. This is quality work though, putting some boom into a classic soul sample and then topping it off with the Rakim sample for the hook.
Brand Nubian : Allah U Akbar
Actually really proud of how much I nailed the mix into this one 😂 The call is very slightly off the nearest beat, but in the context of the production as a whole it totally works. This was a great track to open the second Brand Nubian album, "In God We Trust". Before it was released, a lot of people thought Brand Nu were done after the departure of Grand Puba Maxwell, but those doubts were swiftly dispelled. Sadat (formerly Derek) X and Lord Jamar were more than capable of carrying the load on the mic, and together with DJ Sincere, the production too.
[Kev Brown] MindsOne & Kev Brown : Nightstalkers (Instrumental)
Anyone who's been doing their homework should be able to recognise that Kev Brown bassline style! Great MPC work as usual out of Landover, Maryland from Brown's production on the collaborative "Pillars" LP.
Raekwon : Spot Rusherz
The monumental "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." was released twenty-five years ago this month, and with it being one of my top two Hip-Hop LPs of all time, I couldn't let it pass without including a track. This one is buried late in the album, but would be the best song on any number of lesser releases! It's one of the few Raekwon-only tracks on the LP, and he goes into storytelling mode, with a highly-detailed account of a robbery of a rival dealer. RZA's beat is one of the many, many killers on that album, which might be his best end-to-end body of work ever.
The Roots : 100% Dundee
Needed a little more Malik B, so dipped into what is definitely my favourite Roots LP, "Things Fall Apart". Malik and Thought are locked in friendly mic competition on this cut, on one of the last tracks they'd work jointly on for some time. The beat is heavy on the low end with beatboxer Rahzel doing drums and bass at the same time, and sparkles at the high thanks to the added keyboard contributions of Scott Storch on an early appearance.
Phat Kat : Don't Nobody Care About Us
Detroit all day for this selection from "Carte Blanche". Phat Kat is rawness on the mic, which we were lucky enough to witness when he visited Manchester, and J Dilla backs him with a beat that bangs in a way that the original sample could never have dreamed of! DJ Dez rounds things out with the cuts on the outro.
Black Rob ft. Lil' Kim & G-Dep : Espacio
An anthem for our time, recorded twenty years ago for the "Life Story" album, the first from Black Rob. He was one of the more rugged personalities on Bad Boy Records at that time, which you can probably pick up from the rawness of his opening verse. Personally, Li'l Kim's verse is my favourite, and the beat by Joe Hooker and Mario Winans underscores her well. Also, possibly the only music video involving stunting on mopeds.
Marco Polo : RIP KALIBMA GOD
(sic) - I'm wondering if it should have been "kalimba", but I just work with the track title in front of me! The Toronto native working out of NYC gets much respect in the production world, and his selection for one of the Fat Beats "Baker's Dozen" projects, from which this is drawn, speaks volumes.
Sean Price ft. Cousin Reeks and Rustee Juxx : One Question
An ignorant classic for sure, and a mixtape cut that might have passed you by if you aren't a diehard Sean P fan. A standout on "Master P", where each MC takes a verse to talk smack and increase the crime rate over DJ Babu's production, playing off the vocal sample. Absolutely loaded with disrespectful quotables, at least one of which has to make you laugh!
Aaliyah : Hot Like Fire
It's nineteen years this month (already?) since Aaliyah passed away. This track so good, I was sure I'd played it before on the podcast - but no, so you get to enjoy it this month! This is from the "One In A Million" album, her second, where the combination of Timbaland's adventurous beats, Missy Elliott's writing, and Aaliyah's ability to work with both formed a winning combination. A slow burner with lots of bump.
Clipse ft. Pharrell : I'm Good
"Hell Hath No Fury" is still the best Clipse album in my opinion, but "Til The Casket Drops" was a solid release too. This was the lead single, and The Neptunes give the track a triumphant feel, appropriate for its summer release.
Massive Attack : Safe From Harm
An old classic from the very first Massive Attack album, "Blue Lines". Masterful sampling (no, I'm not revealing all the samples, just in case) by the crew to concoct a solid groove, and Shara Nelson with the iconic lead vocal. This was the perfect track to open their now-legendary debut with.
The Cool Kids : As We Breeze (Instrumental)
Nothing much to say here - just a dope beat from this Chicago duo, taken from the "Gone Fishing" instrumentals!
The X-Ecutioners ft. Halex The Armageddon : Poetry In Motion
A track very much of its era, when turntablism was picking up traction behind legendary crews like the X-Ecutioners and ISP, and spoken word was having a moment in the sun! The "X-Pressions" LP was not the end-to-end scratchfest that we might have expected, but a varied collection showcasing many different aspects of turntablism, production, and vocals from guest artists. The late great Roc Raida is on production, while poet Halex (who has many versions of her name on different credits) orates on the subject of Hip-Hop as a culture. Certainly no dancefloor track, but a podcast where you listen closely is just the place for it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"How it took you thirty years just to sound aiiight?"
- Rustee Juxx
2020 continues...feels like all you can say! I didn't get chance to include any Malik B (RIP) last month, but have fixed it this time with a couple of his best verses, alongside other late greats like Sean P and Aaliyah, plus remembering some truly classic albums. Light on the new releases this time, we dig back into the crates...
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
JoJo Pellegrino ft. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon : 3 Kings
Coming out of the gate strong on this single, with Ghostface owning the Yountie Tha Noize-produced track in the first few bars! That said, everyone does an excellent job on the mic, including Pellegrino, an MC from the same general area of Staten Island as many of the Wu-Tang - Ghost and Rae included. No pause for a hook, just lyrics on lyrics on lyrics.
[Alchemist] Twin & Alchemist : Different Worlds (Instrumental)
Ah, the early days of Alchemist! One of the most respected in the game, and one who has been associated with two highly significant crews from opposite sides of the country - the Soul Assassins from LA, and the Mobb Deep family in NYC. This is some of his fairly early work with the latter, a 12" from 2001; this beat is dope, but "Big T.W.I.N.S" on the flip is even better!
The Roots ft. Dice Raw, M.A.R.S, and Co-Op : Clones
One time for Malik B! This is a classic single from The Roots' "Illadelph Halflife" album, packed with quotables from all the MCs, and backed by a stripped-down but ferocious beat. The verses are separated by a chilled-out jazz sample, right before the drums, piano, and bars come crashing right back in. Greatness.
Exile ft. Co$$ : Pay The Co$$
I always rated the cutting up of the Malik B line from the final verse of "Clones" for the chorus here, and this is the perfect position to play it. Cashus King (AKA Co$$) is an MC out of Leimert Park in LA, and this track on the 2006 "Dirty Science" producer project looks like one of his first appearances, if not the very first. I'd have to imagine this isn't an easy beat to work with, as the Exile-produced rhythm lurches and twitches, with a somewhat cursory relationship with the beats in each bar. You've got to be good to make this work, on either side of the mixing desk!
Chuck D as Mistachuck ft. Jahi : freedBLACK
Chuck D was comparatively old as an MC when he first hit the scene, and showed how that was nothing but an advantage as he could take a different perspective to the late-teenagers on the mic elsewhere. That has continued throughout his career, where he brings his experience to bear on every verse - including here, on the "Celebration Of Ignorance" album. There's actually a piece at the start of the track I missed off as it wouldn't have mixed well, but that should be encouragement to buy the whole thing! C-Doc and ID cook up a beat rugged enough for the Hard Rhymer and Jahi, his compatriot in PE2.0.
Nine : Any Emcee
This gravel-voiced MC from The Bronx was first heard on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die" as Nine Double M before tweaking his name, and eventually putting out a solid debut album of his own. "Nine Livez" is definitely worth a listen, if very much of its time, and this was the second single. Tony Stoute is on production - a forgotten name, who to be fair really did his work within the span of 1995. This is quality work though, putting some boom into a classic soul sample and then topping it off with the Rakim sample for the hook.
Brand Nubian : Allah U Akbar
Actually really proud of how much I nailed the mix into this one 😂 The call is very slightly off the nearest beat, but in the context of the production as a whole it totally works. This was a great track to open the second Brand Nubian album, "In God We Trust". Before it was released, a lot of people thought Brand Nu were done after the departure of Grand Puba Maxwell, but those doubts were swiftly dispelled. Sadat (formerly Derek) X and Lord Jamar were more than capable of carrying the load on the mic, and together with DJ Sincere, the production too.
[Kev Brown] MindsOne & Kev Brown : Nightstalkers (Instrumental)
Anyone who's been doing their homework should be able to recognise that Kev Brown bassline style! Great MPC work as usual out of Landover, Maryland from Brown's production on the collaborative "Pillars" LP.
Raekwon : Spot Rusherz
The monumental "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." was released twenty-five years ago this month, and with it being one of my top two Hip-Hop LPs of all time, I couldn't let it pass without including a track. This one is buried late in the album, but would be the best song on any number of lesser releases! It's one of the few Raekwon-only tracks on the LP, and he goes into storytelling mode, with a highly-detailed account of a robbery of a rival dealer. RZA's beat is one of the many, many killers on that album, which might be his best end-to-end body of work ever.
The Roots : 100% Dundee
Needed a little more Malik B, so dipped into what is definitely my favourite Roots LP, "Things Fall Apart". Malik and Thought are locked in friendly mic competition on this cut, on one of the last tracks they'd work jointly on for some time. The beat is heavy on the low end with beatboxer Rahzel doing drums and bass at the same time, and sparkles at the high thanks to the added keyboard contributions of Scott Storch on an early appearance.
Phat Kat : Don't Nobody Care About Us
Detroit all day for this selection from "Carte Blanche". Phat Kat is rawness on the mic, which we were lucky enough to witness when he visited Manchester, and J Dilla backs him with a beat that bangs in a way that the original sample could never have dreamed of! DJ Dez rounds things out with the cuts on the outro.
Black Rob ft. Lil' Kim & G-Dep : Espacio
An anthem for our time, recorded twenty years ago for the "Life Story" album, the first from Black Rob. He was one of the more rugged personalities on Bad Boy Records at that time, which you can probably pick up from the rawness of his opening verse. Personally, Li'l Kim's verse is my favourite, and the beat by Joe Hooker and Mario Winans underscores her well. Also, possibly the only music video involving stunting on mopeds.
Marco Polo : RIP KALIBMA GOD
(sic) - I'm wondering if it should have been "kalimba", but I just work with the track title in front of me! The Toronto native working out of NYC gets much respect in the production world, and his selection for one of the Fat Beats "Baker's Dozen" projects, from which this is drawn, speaks volumes.
Sean Price ft. Cousin Reeks and Rustee Juxx : One Question
An ignorant classic for sure, and a mixtape cut that might have passed you by if you aren't a diehard Sean P fan. A standout on "Master P", where each MC takes a verse to talk smack and increase the crime rate over DJ Babu's production, playing off the vocal sample. Absolutely loaded with disrespectful quotables, at least one of which has to make you laugh!
Aaliyah : Hot Like Fire
It's nineteen years this month (already?) since Aaliyah passed away. This track so good, I was sure I'd played it before on the podcast - but no, so you get to enjoy it this month! This is from the "One In A Million" album, her second, where the combination of Timbaland's adventurous beats, Missy Elliott's writing, and Aaliyah's ability to work with both formed a winning combination. A slow burner with lots of bump.
Clipse ft. Pharrell : I'm Good
"Hell Hath No Fury" is still the best Clipse album in my opinion, but "Til The Casket Drops" was a solid release too. This was the lead single, and The Neptunes give the track a triumphant feel, appropriate for its summer release.
Massive Attack : Safe From Harm
An old classic from the very first Massive Attack album, "Blue Lines". Masterful sampling (no, I'm not revealing all the samples, just in case) by the crew to concoct a solid groove, and Shara Nelson with the iconic lead vocal. This was the perfect track to open their now-legendary debut with.
The Cool Kids : As We Breeze (Instrumental)
Nothing much to say here - just a dope beat from this Chicago duo, taken from the "Gone Fishing" instrumentals!
The X-Ecutioners ft. Halex The Armageddon : Poetry In Motion
A track very much of its era, when turntablism was picking up traction behind legendary crews like the X-Ecutioners and ISP, and spoken word was having a moment in the sun! The "X-Pressions" LP was not the end-to-end scratchfest that we might have expected, but a varied collection showcasing many different aspects of turntablism, production, and vocals from guest artists. The late great Roc Raida is on production, while poet Halex (who has many versions of her name on different credits) orates on the subject of Hip-Hop as a culture. Certainly no dancefloor track, but a podcast where you listen closely is just the place for it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"If you not at the table, then you on the menu."
- Jahi
This is not the summer we thought we were getting, but I'm going to at least partially overlook that and put some tracks in the mix that are perfect rolling music...even if we're only going to pick up essentials at the supermarket! There's some old(ish), some brand new, and plenty in-between. Oh yes - if your system has the bass turned up, turn it back down, or the third track up is going to destroy it...
The sad news came in after the music was already recorded, but Rest In Power to Malik B, best known for his work as a founding member of The Roots.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mistah F.A.B ft. Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, & Z-Ro : Commin' Down
From Oakland to Houston! The Bay Area veteran reaches down south for this driving anthem from "Son Of A Pimp, Part 2", and the respect is returned in spades. For me, Z-Ro steals the show right out of the gate on that first verse, with his trademark combination of humourous imagery, vocal range, and casual misanthropy! I expected the production to have come from a southern beatsmith too, but S.E. Trill is from Wichita in Kansas, firmly in the midwest.
Sitting Duck, otaam : Nights At The Beach
Bandcamp must have been reading my mind when it put "Chillhop Essentials Summer 2020" in my face, so I put a few quid in figuring that I'd like at least a few of the 25 tracks. That was definitely true, and this was one, produced by a duo that I've not yet found much info about...but I'll keep looking!
Le$ : Duckin'
Big tune out of Houston, with some of the most ridiculous bass I've heard in a while! Mr Rogers rolls together a classic R&B sample and as much low-end as he could find into a heavy backing for Le$ to work with. Not exactly a romantic anthem, but he does it well! The "Summer Madness" LP is well worth having a good listen to, it's almost like the more down-to-earth version of Curren$y's lifestyle content.
Beyonce ft. Jack White : Don't Hurt Yourself
Until trying to mix this, it wasn't obvious to me that the tempo wanders a little bit! It's low-speed but has sections highlighted by stripped-down double-time drums, followed by those heavy rocked-out segments - not the kind of sound many would associate with Beyonce, but she's always been versatile. The "Lemonade" LP is a great demonstration, with stuff ranging from this to straight R&B, to country! This is a great track with her clearly not here for the nonsense, taking her vocals to a really raw place.
Run The Jewels ft. Danny Brown : Hey Kids (Bumaye)
If you're looking for rappers to be jumping out there defending Elon Musk and the likes, you'd better look elsewhere! Killer Mike goes at the billionaire class in the first verse, and every MC keeps the intensity level up regardless of the specifics of their content. El-P on the beat, of course, on this selection from "Run The Jewels 3".
Mega Ran ft. Richie Branson & Storyville : O.P.
Mega Ran's career continues to grow, which is a testament to his skills and a karmic reward for how nice he is to everyone! That said, this track from 2015's "RNDM" has him and his crew going at the haters in fine style. His second verse is definitely the best of the three, and features one of the best breaks of the fourth wall I can remember in I don't know how long! Ran's longtime musical partner Lost Perception contributes the banging video game-inspired beat with crazy low end.
Agallah : Power Boats
Kind of grimy, despite the title making you think of open waters! Brooklyn's own Agallah produces the vast majority of the stuff you hear him rapping on (with good reason), and this particular beat is on "Propain Campaign Presents Agallah - The Instrumentals Vol.1".
OutKast ft. Cool Breeze and Big Gipp : Decatur Psalm
Taking it to what is still my favourite OutKast LP, "ATLiens", with the only track not to include Andre. Bracketing Big Boi's verse are two other members of the Dungeon Family, telling tales of the streets of the ATL. Organized Noize on production, of course.
State Property : It's Not Right
It's been a long time since the breakout days of Just Blaze and Kanye at Roc-A-Fella, and this track definitely brings back memories of that era. Just Blaze did a great job conjuring up the right level of melancholy for this track from the self-titled LP/soundtrack from this Philadelphia-centred crew. On the mic are Freeway, Young Chris, and Sparks, with Beanie Sigel bringing it home.
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud ft. $bags : Brunch At The Breakers
The 2018 "Glass" EP had some great tracks on it, but left me wanting to hear more - clearly, they were holding out on us a little, because the recent "Glass 2.0" is built from tracks that didn't make the initial release! It was a tough choice between this and "Steamed Monkfish (Remix)" to see what made it onto the episode, but the gliding sample and overall feel of the beat ended up being the decider. I won't give away the sample, but as familiar as it seemed on listening here...I don't think I've ever heard the record before.
Above The Law : My World
The 1996 "Time Will Reveal" album was the fourth straight gem from Above The Law, and this track is one of my favourites. The late KMG takes the first verse, and Cold 187um the second, as well as showing out on the production in a major way. The female vocal on the hook is uncredited, but definitely adds onto the flavour. This is a track to roll slow to.
Massive Attack : Weather Storm
This nice instrumental cut from "Protection" is not one often talked about, but it's so good. Taking a great sample, letting it breathe, and working around it just enough is an art and one that this Bristol crew definitely mastered.
Matteo Getz & Termanology : Summer In The City
Massachusetts connection here with the producer and Lo-head Matteo Getz cooking up a beat for Lawrence's Termanology, an MC I feel is often underrated. This is taken from last year's release "The Getz Collection", which I think might have to be a pickup based on this.
Gang Starr ft. Jeru The Damaja : From A Distance
Still can't believe we got another Gang Starr LP last year, and to have Jeru as a guest takes it back to the "Daily Operation" days! Like most tracks on the album, this is fairly short, but both Guru and Jeru get the job done over a signature Preemo beat - check the contrast on alternating bars between the lush strings and the almost white-noise stabs.
Timeless Truth : Wavelength
Nothing but the raw boom-bap on this! Large Professor is responsible for the beat (the very sharp-eared would have picked that up without me even saying anything), while Solace and OPrime39 share mic duties, culminating in splitting the final verse down the middle. "Cold Wave" is an album for those who want the uncut.
Enemy Radio : 2020
If you hadn't heard, Enemy Radio is the stripped-down, sound system version of Public Enemy, with Chuck D joined on the mic by Jahi and long-time PE DJ Lord Aswod on the turntables. Their new LP "Loud Is Not Enough" is out in parallel with material from their original lineup, but allows a different emphasis. This year has often felt like the world is ending, and Chuck D is the #1 MC for that time! Notice how short the actual verses from he and Jahi are on this C-Doc-produced track - they not only paint a picture of the darkness of 2020 but do so with incredible lyrical efficiency.
[Kev Brown] DJ Jazzy Jeff : Da Rebirth (Instrumental)
It's been a long time (almost 100 episodes) since I played the vocal version, so here's the instrumental in case you forgot how ill the beat is :) Fairly early work by Kev Brown, in his days collaborating with the A Touch of Jazz camp - this is on "The Magnificent EP".
KinKai ft. Children of Zeus : Top Down
There hasn't been as much road trip time as we'd like in the COVID reality, but Mancunians are nothing if not appreciative of good weather when it comes! KinKai's new LP "A Few Pennies Worth" is a great release for the season, and this single was a hell of a way to precede it - bringing in Manchester's own Children of Zeus for a summer anthem produced beautifully by Paya.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"If you not at the table, then you on the menu."
- Jahi
This is not the summer we thought we were getting, but I'm going to at least partially overlook that and put some tracks in the mix that are perfect rolling music...even if we're only going to pick up essentials at the supermarket! There's some old(ish), some brand new, and plenty in-between. Oh yes - if your system has the bass turned up, turn it back down, or the third track up is going to destroy it...
The sad news came in after the music was already recorded, but Rest In Power to Malik B, best known for his work as a founding member of The Roots.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Mistah F.A.B ft. Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, & Z-Ro : Commin' Down
From Oakland to Houston! The Bay Area veteran reaches down south for this driving anthem from "Son Of A Pimp, Part 2", and the respect is returned in spades. For me, Z-Ro steals the show right out of the gate on that first verse, with his trademark combination of humourous imagery, vocal range, and casual misanthropy! I expected the production to have come from a southern beatsmith too, but S.E. Trill is from Wichita in Kansas, firmly in the midwest.
Sitting Duck, otaam : Nights At The Beach
Bandcamp must have been reading my mind when it put "Chillhop Essentials Summer 2020" in my face, so I put a few quid in figuring that I'd like at least a few of the 25 tracks. That was definitely true, and this was one, produced by a duo that I've not yet found much info about...but I'll keep looking!
Le$ : Duckin'
Big tune out of Houston, with some of the most ridiculous bass I've heard in a while! Mr Rogers rolls together a classic R&B sample and as much low-end as he could find into a heavy backing for Le$ to work with. Not exactly a romantic anthem, but he does it well! The "Summer Madness" LP is well worth having a good listen to, it's almost like the more down-to-earth version of Curren$y's lifestyle content.
Beyonce ft. Jack White : Don't Hurt Yourself
Until trying to mix this, it wasn't obvious to me that the tempo wanders a little bit! It's low-speed but has sections highlighted by stripped-down double-time drums, followed by those heavy rocked-out segments - not the kind of sound many would associate with Beyonce, but she's always been versatile. The "Lemonade" LP is a great demonstration, with stuff ranging from this to straight R&B, to country! This is a great track with her clearly not here for the nonsense, taking her vocals to a really raw place.
Run The Jewels ft. Danny Brown : Hey Kids (Bumaye)
If you're looking for rappers to be jumping out there defending Elon Musk and the likes, you'd better look elsewhere! Killer Mike goes at the billionaire class in the first verse, and every MC keeps the intensity level up regardless of the specifics of their content. El-P on the beat, of course, on this selection from "Run The Jewels 3".
Mega Ran ft. Richie Branson & Storyville : O.P.
Mega Ran's career continues to grow, which is a testament to his skills and a karmic reward for how nice he is to everyone! That said, this track from 2015's "RNDM" has him and his crew going at the haters in fine style. His second verse is definitely the best of the three, and features one of the best breaks of the fourth wall I can remember in I don't know how long! Ran's longtime musical partner Lost Perception contributes the banging video game-inspired beat with crazy low end.
Agallah : Power Boats
Kind of grimy, despite the title making you think of open waters! Brooklyn's own Agallah produces the vast majority of the stuff you hear him rapping on (with good reason), and this particular beat is on "Propain Campaign Presents Agallah - The Instrumentals Vol.1".
OutKast ft. Cool Breeze and Big Gipp : Decatur Psalm
Taking it to what is still my favourite OutKast LP, "ATLiens", with the only track not to include Andre. Bracketing Big Boi's verse are two other members of the Dungeon Family, telling tales of the streets of the ATL. Organized Noize on production, of course.
State Property : It's Not Right
It's been a long time since the breakout days of Just Blaze and Kanye at Roc-A-Fella, and this track definitely brings back memories of that era. Just Blaze did a great job conjuring up the right level of melancholy for this track from the self-titled LP/soundtrack from this Philadelphia-centred crew. On the mic are Freeway, Young Chris, and Sparks, with Beanie Sigel bringing it home.
Meyhem Lauren & Harry Fraud ft. $bags : Brunch At The Breakers
The 2018 "Glass" EP had some great tracks on it, but left me wanting to hear more - clearly, they were holding out on us a little, because the recent "Glass 2.0" is built from tracks that didn't make the initial release! It was a tough choice between this and "Steamed Monkfish (Remix)" to see what made it onto the episode, but the gliding sample and overall feel of the beat ended up being the decider. I won't give away the sample, but as familiar as it seemed on listening here...I don't think I've ever heard the record before.
Above The Law : My World
The 1996 "Time Will Reveal" album was the fourth straight gem from Above The Law, and this track is one of my favourites. The late KMG takes the first verse, and Cold 187um the second, as well as showing out on the production in a major way. The female vocal on the hook is uncredited, but definitely adds onto the flavour. This is a track to roll slow to.
Massive Attack : Weather Storm
This nice instrumental cut from "Protection" is not one often talked about, but it's so good. Taking a great sample, letting it breathe, and working around it just enough is an art and one that this Bristol crew definitely mastered.
Matteo Getz & Termanology : Summer In The City
Massachusetts connection here with the producer and Lo-head Matteo Getz cooking up a beat for Lawrence's Termanology, an MC I feel is often underrated. This is taken from last year's release "The Getz Collection", which I think might have to be a pickup based on this.
Gang Starr ft. Jeru The Damaja : From A Distance
Still can't believe we got another Gang Starr LP last year, and to have Jeru as a guest takes it back to the "Daily Operation" days! Like most tracks on the album, this is fairly short, but both Guru and Jeru get the job done over a signature Preemo beat - check the contrast on alternating bars between the lush strings and the almost white-noise stabs.
Timeless Truth : Wavelength
Nothing but the raw boom-bap on this! Large Professor is responsible for the beat (the very sharp-eared would have picked that up without me even saying anything), while Solace and OPrime39 share mic duties, culminating in splitting the final verse down the middle. "Cold Wave" is an album for those who want the uncut.
Enemy Radio : 2020
If you hadn't heard, Enemy Radio is the stripped-down, sound system version of Public Enemy, with Chuck D joined on the mic by Jahi and long-time PE DJ Lord Aswod on the turntables. Their new LP "Loud Is Not Enough" is out in parallel with material from their original lineup, but allows a different emphasis. This year has often felt like the world is ending, and Chuck D is the #1 MC for that time! Notice how short the actual verses from he and Jahi are on this C-Doc-produced track - they not only paint a picture of the darkness of 2020 but do so with incredible lyrical efficiency.
[Kev Brown] DJ Jazzy Jeff : Da Rebirth (Instrumental)
It's been a long time (almost 100 episodes) since I played the vocal version, so here's the instrumental in case you forgot how ill the beat is :) Fairly early work by Kev Brown, in his days collaborating with the A Touch of Jazz camp - this is on "The Magnificent EP".
KinKai ft. Children of Zeus : Top Down
There hasn't been as much road trip time as we'd like in the COVID reality, but Mancunians are nothing if not appreciative of good weather when it comes! KinKai's new LP "A Few Pennies Worth" is a great release for the season, and this single was a hell of a way to precede it - bringing in Manchester's own Children of Zeus for a summer anthem produced beautifully by Paya.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Why you think Bobby and Huey P were heat holding?"
- Toki Wright
It's been a very up and down month, which I imagine isn't at all a unique experience. This episode reflects some of that, marking the eleventh birthday of the podcast while also recognising the incredible Black Lives Matter street protests that have been taking place over the last few weeks. The selection takes that as the main theme, and I think it's a solid mix that you'll enjoy - and one where almost everyone will learn one new track at least.
By the way, today would be a good day to arrest the murderers who killed Breonna Taylor.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Cappadonna : Splish Splash
I'd been thinking about doing that little doubles manipulation and scratch on a mixtape for about twenty years - no exaggeration! Cappadonna blew everyone away with his debut on Ghostface's "Winter Warz", and his debut LP "The Pillage" was highly anticipated by Wu fans. I think it's reasonable to say it maybe didn't live up to the outsized expectations, but there were a few standouts and for me, this was one of them. Only a short track, but Tru Master's beat is solid and Cappa knows what to do with it.
Jay Dee : Fuck The Police (Instrumental)
Love this beat, Dilla had these drums banging right through the speakers. This 2001 single-only release is a classic in Dilla's catalogue, written after suffering one of many incidents of police harassment in his hometown of Detroit. It was slated for the long-shelved "The Diary" album, but MCA records didn't want the heat and so it got the release as a 12" on Up Above Records. A must-have, in my opinion!
N.W.A : Fuck Tha Police
The iconic anthem. This is the track that got a group of young (Eazy-E, at 25, was the oldest) Black men from Compton and Los Angeles onto the radar of the FBI, and into an indelible place in music history. I've only played Ice Cube's verse here, as I wanted to blend into the next cut which carries on in the same sonic vein. I figure every listener already knows this track well, or should be putting "listen to Straight Outta Compton" on their homework lists immediately!
B.Dolan ft. Toki Wright, Jasiri X, and Sage Francis : Film The Police
I only stumbled upon this one this month, and it's so perfectly fitting that there's no way it was getting left out of the selection. Just because of the length (it's around six minutes long, as is the NWA track before), I omitted Jasiri X's verse, but of course it's on the full version on the "House of Bees, Vol. 2" album. Dolan is an MC out of Rhode Island, while Toki Wright is from Minneapolis - home of the late George Floyd. This is a great re-working of "Fuck The Police" in an era-appropriate way; while almost all of us walk around with pocket video cameras today, the Rodney King tape was notable not for the violence, but the fact it was recorded.
EPMD : Give The People (Remix)
The original version of this track as heard on "Business As Usual" lifts the groove from the O'Jays "Give The People What They Want" heavily, but this version de-emphasises it and piles in enough other samples to give a lawyer a heart attack! I personally prefer this mix, which is a bit less obvious (and harder to find). Lyrically, the track is primarily about the difficulties Hip-Hop had finding acceptance in the era in which it was recorded, but with a sprinkling of the wider politics in there, and the perfect title, I thought it was a good one to go with.
The P Brothers : Across The Planet (Instrumental)
This track turned up for me while undertaking my vinyl digitisation project, and with The P Brothers, the quality is always going to be there. The veteran Nottingham crew are responsible for some of the most uncompromising material ever to emerge from these shores, and this track is no exception. The vocal version on the 12" single features Imam T.H.U.G on the mic, with a heavy Cappo track on the flip. The Akala sample I laid over the top came from his brilliant two-part IG Live session which you can find here and here.
Above The Law : Freedom Of Speech
The 1990 "Livin' Like Hustlers" LP is arguably one of the greatest "gangsta" albums of the era, and some of that was because they comfortably covered different topics and sounds without it ever sounding forced. Uptempo here - by modern standards - Cold 187um and KMG (RIP) ride a classic Myra Barnes sample (it's out there, I'm not snitching) and talk about the atmosphere of censorship that was around Hip-Hop, as well as the role of parents. Definitely check the album if you don't already know it.
Saigon : Shok TV
Dug this DJ Shok-produced cut out from its place on "The Best of Saigon, Pt. 2" to take a position in this month's selection, "Hill Street Blues" sample and all! Saigon has always had a social/political streak in his content, coming from a very street perspective, which I think comes across in this very short track. A 2003 recording, this preceded his long-awaited debut LP by eight years - when you listen to both, you can hear how he refined his style without drastically changing it.
Apple Juice Kid : Protest
A fitting pick from an album about a very different revolution, in Egypt in 2011 - seems an age ago already. The "Beats of a Revolution" album is still available on Bandcamp, and as a free download you really can't go wrong.
Anderson .Paak : Lockdown
Big new single that captures so much of what's been going on this year. The Black Lives Matter protests and the violent reply of the state would have been incredibly significant on their own, but at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic...your grandchildren will be asking you about what it was like to survive these times. This timely track is one where it's worth seeing the video as well.
Mobb Deep : U.S.A. (Aiight Then)
It's been three years since Prodigy passed so I totally wanted to drop one of his records here - my first thought was "Real Power Is People", but in the end this quasi-unity track from "Murda Muzik" was a better sonic fit. It's actually got a little bit of a club feel to it without pandering, and was definitely a welcome inclusion on the LP. This was also a single release with "Spread Love" on the flip, which is pretty much the other end of the goodwill spectrum, don't be fooled by the title...
Sampa The Great : Final Form
"The Return" is a wicked album with an array of styles, but this was the first track many would have heard - Sampa stamping her authority on a beat based around the same break as Ghostface's "Be Easy". Silentjay is on production, taking that sample as a base but building out from there, and Sampa gets very busy with it.
X-Vandals : A Poem For Black Boys
I happened across the "The War of Art" album when I got it from one of the crew in Spanish Harlem at a Tools of War park jam a good few years back! It's taken me a while to find just the right spot for one of their tracks, but this is perfect. The production is courtesy of Johnny "Juice" Rosado (who did scratches for Public Enemy for many years), and the bulk of the vocal is a sample he laid in - the voice and words of the poet Nikki Giovanni, with a dark and sardonic poem of resistance.
Ta'Raach : Yeah! (Instrumental)
It's been a long, long time since I played the vocal version on the show, so I think it's fair enough to drop Ta'Raach's ill instrumental here! If you see a copy of the 12", definitely pick it up.
Public Enemy : State Of The Union (STFU)
Unless I'm very much mistaken, this new single is the first beat DJ Premier has ever done for Public Enemy - two iconic forces combining at last! It should be obvious for anyone who knows about PE at all that conscious and rebel music has been their lane from the very start, and so this is very much in keeping with their long and storied history. Chuck D may be very much an elder statesman but that voice and that message are as raw as ever! You don't need to go to the usual download sites to get this one - go straight to the Public Enemy website for the real.
Waajeed ft. Tiombe Lockhart : The Overtaking
Detroit comes to the selection a second time (after Ta'Raach) with the ominous opening track from the excellent "The War LP". It grinds along with almost a slow dark metal vibe, and Tiombe Lockhart creeps in and out as the voice of the people.
DJ Vadim ft. Phi-Life Cypher : Ghetto Rebels
I had completely forgotten about this one, and I don't know how, because this is killer. The basslines (there are several, at different points) will have your system under pressure, then Phi-Life just drown you in a lyrical tidal wave. It's unusual to hear Hip-Hop coming from a Rasta perspective, but you can definitely hear it in their words. DJ Vadim's "U.S.S.R. The Art of Listening" features some very serious production, and is available used for a very reasonable price either as a download or on the used market on CD.
Gang Starr : Riot Akt
Tucked away on the back half of "The Ownerz", the last Gang Starr LP to be released during Guru's lifetime, we find this dose of reality. Guru's message of focusing on the real threats and drawing together to protect the community may have been written in 2003, but is 100% on the nose right now. Everything down to the militarised police, tear gas, and corruption are the things that have been the case for years, but in the last few months we've seen them in HD and on social media.
Enes Suleman : Lo Quiero Todo (Instrumental)
From the instrumental version of the "StreetSoul", the Spanish producer out of France comes with a banging beat - check the original LP release to hear it with the featured MC Drako on the track.
The Impressions : We're A Winner
An uplifting, motivational song to close the month, and one which was an anthem of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This pre-dates tracks like James Brown's "Say It Loud", and was a trailblazer in being as straightforward a statement of Black pride and the righteousness of the struggle as it is. Curtis Mayfield, the frontman of The Impressions, wrote this track after the concept came to him in a dream. When it came time to record, the group brought a live audience into the studio to give it extra flavour - I think you'll agree, it really adds something. This was a big single that was also the title track to the first of two 1968 albums by The Impressions, and deserves to be heard in full here.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Why you think Bobby and Huey P were heat holding?"
- Toki Wright
It's been a very up and down month, which I imagine isn't at all a unique experience. This episode reflects some of that, marking the eleventh birthday of the podcast while also recognising the incredible Black Lives Matter street protests that have been taking place over the last few weeks. The selection takes that as the main theme, and I think it's a solid mix that you'll enjoy - and one where almost everyone will learn one new track at least.
By the way, today would be a good day to arrest the murderers who killed Breonna Taylor.
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Cappadonna : Splish Splash
I'd been thinking about doing that little doubles manipulation and scratch on a mixtape for about twenty years - no exaggeration! Cappadonna blew everyone away with his debut on Ghostface's "Winter Warz", and his debut LP "The Pillage" was highly anticipated by Wu fans. I think it's reasonable to say it maybe didn't live up to the outsized expectations, but there were a few standouts and for me, this was one of them. Only a short track, but Tru Master's beat is solid and Cappa knows what to do with it.
Jay Dee : Fuck The Police (Instrumental)
Love this beat, Dilla had these drums banging right through the speakers. This 2001 single-only release is a classic in Dilla's catalogue, written after suffering one of many incidents of police harassment in his hometown of Detroit. It was slated for the long-shelved "The Diary" album, but MCA records didn't want the heat and so it got the release as a 12" on Up Above Records. A must-have, in my opinion!
N.W.A : Fuck Tha Police
The iconic anthem. This is the track that got a group of young (Eazy-E, at 25, was the oldest) Black men from Compton and Los Angeles onto the radar of the FBI, and into an indelible place in music history. I've only played Ice Cube's verse here, as I wanted to blend into the next cut which carries on in the same sonic vein. I figure every listener already knows this track well, or should be putting "listen to Straight Outta Compton" on their homework lists immediately!
B.Dolan ft. Toki Wright, Jasiri X, and Sage Francis : Film The Police
I only stumbled upon this one this month, and it's so perfectly fitting that there's no way it was getting left out of the selection. Just because of the length (it's around six minutes long, as is the NWA track before), I omitted Jasiri X's verse, but of course it's on the full version on the "House of Bees, Vol. 2" album. Dolan is an MC out of Rhode Island, while Toki Wright is from Minneapolis - home of the late George Floyd. This is a great re-working of "Fuck The Police" in an era-appropriate way; while almost all of us walk around with pocket video cameras today, the Rodney King tape was notable not for the violence, but the fact it was recorded.
EPMD : Give The People (Remix)
The original version of this track as heard on "Business As Usual" lifts the groove from the O'Jays "Give The People What They Want" heavily, but this version de-emphasises it and piles in enough other samples to give a lawyer a heart attack! I personally prefer this mix, which is a bit less obvious (and harder to find). Lyrically, the track is primarily about the difficulties Hip-Hop had finding acceptance in the era in which it was recorded, but with a sprinkling of the wider politics in there, and the perfect title, I thought it was a good one to go with.
The P Brothers : Across The Planet (Instrumental)
This track turned up for me while undertaking my vinyl digitisation project, and with The P Brothers, the quality is always going to be there. The veteran Nottingham crew are responsible for some of the most uncompromising material ever to emerge from these shores, and this track is no exception. The vocal version on the 12" single features Imam T.H.U.G on the mic, with a heavy Cappo track on the flip. The Akala sample I laid over the top came from his brilliant two-part IG Live session which you can find here and here.
Above The Law : Freedom Of Speech
The 1990 "Livin' Like Hustlers" LP is arguably one of the greatest "gangsta" albums of the era, and some of that was because they comfortably covered different topics and sounds without it ever sounding forced. Uptempo here - by modern standards - Cold 187um and KMG (RIP) ride a classic Myra Barnes sample (it's out there, I'm not snitching) and talk about the atmosphere of censorship that was around Hip-Hop, as well as the role of parents. Definitely check the album if you don't already know it.
Saigon : Shok TV
Dug this DJ Shok-produced cut out from its place on "The Best of Saigon, Pt. 2" to take a position in this month's selection, "Hill Street Blues" sample and all! Saigon has always had a social/political streak in his content, coming from a very street perspective, which I think comes across in this very short track. A 2003 recording, this preceded his long-awaited debut LP by eight years - when you listen to both, you can hear how he refined his style without drastically changing it.
Apple Juice Kid : Protest
A fitting pick from an album about a very different revolution, in Egypt in 2011 - seems an age ago already. The "Beats of a Revolution" album is still available on Bandcamp, and as a free download you really can't go wrong.
Anderson .Paak : Lockdown
Big new single that captures so much of what's been going on this year. The Black Lives Matter protests and the violent reply of the state would have been incredibly significant on their own, but at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic...your grandchildren will be asking you about what it was like to survive these times. This timely track is one where it's worth seeing the video as well.
Mobb Deep : U.S.A. (Aiight Then)
It's been three years since Prodigy passed so I totally wanted to drop one of his records here - my first thought was "Real Power Is People", but in the end this quasi-unity track from "Murda Muzik" was a better sonic fit. It's actually got a little bit of a club feel to it without pandering, and was definitely a welcome inclusion on the LP. This was also a single release with "Spread Love" on the flip, which is pretty much the other end of the goodwill spectrum, don't be fooled by the title...
Sampa The Great : Final Form
"The Return" is a wicked album with an array of styles, but this was the first track many would have heard - Sampa stamping her authority on a beat based around the same break as Ghostface's "Be Easy". Silentjay is on production, taking that sample as a base but building out from there, and Sampa gets very busy with it.
X-Vandals : A Poem For Black Boys
I happened across the "The War of Art" album when I got it from one of the crew in Spanish Harlem at a Tools of War park jam a good few years back! It's taken me a while to find just the right spot for one of their tracks, but this is perfect. The production is courtesy of Johnny "Juice" Rosado (who did scratches for Public Enemy for many years), and the bulk of the vocal is a sample he laid in - the voice and words of the poet Nikki Giovanni, with a dark and sardonic poem of resistance.
Ta'Raach : Yeah! (Instrumental)
It's been a long, long time since I played the vocal version on the show, so I think it's fair enough to drop Ta'Raach's ill instrumental here! If you see a copy of the 12", definitely pick it up.
Public Enemy : State Of The Union (STFU)
Unless I'm very much mistaken, this new single is the first beat DJ Premier has ever done for Public Enemy - two iconic forces combining at last! It should be obvious for anyone who knows about PE at all that conscious and rebel music has been their lane from the very start, and so this is very much in keeping with their long and storied history. Chuck D may be very much an elder statesman but that voice and that message are as raw as ever! You don't need to go to the usual download sites to get this one - go straight to the Public Enemy website for the real.
Waajeed ft. Tiombe Lockhart : The Overtaking
Detroit comes to the selection a second time (after Ta'Raach) with the ominous opening track from the excellent "The War LP". It grinds along with almost a slow dark metal vibe, and Tiombe Lockhart creeps in and out as the voice of the people.
DJ Vadim ft. Phi-Life Cypher : Ghetto Rebels
I had completely forgotten about this one, and I don't know how, because this is killer. The basslines (there are several, at different points) will have your system under pressure, then Phi-Life just drown you in a lyrical tidal wave. It's unusual to hear Hip-Hop coming from a Rasta perspective, but you can definitely hear it in their words. DJ Vadim's "U.S.S.R. The Art of Listening" features some very serious production, and is available used for a very reasonable price either as a download or on the used market on CD.
Gang Starr : Riot Akt
Tucked away on the back half of "The Ownerz", the last Gang Starr LP to be released during Guru's lifetime, we find this dose of reality. Guru's message of focusing on the real threats and drawing together to protect the community may have been written in 2003, but is 100% on the nose right now. Everything down to the militarised police, tear gas, and corruption are the things that have been the case for years, but in the last few months we've seen them in HD and on social media.
Enes Suleman : Lo Quiero Todo (Instrumental)
From the instrumental version of the "StreetSoul", the Spanish producer out of France comes with a banging beat - check the original LP release to hear it with the featured MC Drako on the track.
The Impressions : We're A Winner
An uplifting, motivational song to close the month, and one which was an anthem of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This pre-dates tracks like James Brown's "Say It Loud", and was a trailblazer in being as straightforward a statement of Black pride and the righteousness of the struggle as it is. Curtis Mayfield, the frontman of The Impressions, wrote this track after the concept came to him in a dream. When it came time to record, the group brought a live audience into the studio to give it extra flavour - I think you'll agree, it really adds something. This was a big single that was also the title track to the first of two 1968 albums by The Impressions, and deserves to be heard in full here.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"They don't never see the work, only results of it."
- Rapper Big Pooh
Another month inside, and one that has been tinged with sadness; we say Rest In Power to Ty, Andre Harrell, and the soul legend Betty Wright. The month's selection starts with a favourite of mine from Ty's catalogue, and though the styles change, we keep a steady pace all the way through - I know some of you are running to try and stay in shape during this time, so I hope it helps!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ty ft. Kwadjo and Michelle Escoffery : Ha Ha
"Feeling like my left toe's equal to Pele" - always loved that line, I think it's the delivery! We start off with a track from Ty's second studio album ("Upwards"), which was also on the B-side of the "Groovement" 12". From the off, he was an artist who never pretended to be anything other than who he was and represented his life with skill and humour, which is well-demonstrated here! The beat is kind of staccato, with no hi-hat between drum beats and the synth bass stabbing in hard. Wicked tune from one of our greats who will be sadly missed.
[Dante Ross] Casual : Turf Dirt (Instrumental)
The 2001 "VIP" single was dope, but the headline track was definitely an example of an artist trying to step into the unfamiliar sonic territory of the club lane! "Turf Dirt" was the last track of three, and the B-side has instrumentals of everything - in this case, Dante Ross with a stomper.
J-Live : Harder
I'd almost forgotten about this one until it turned up as part of the vinyl digitisation project! A 2005 single release from "The Hear After", this is a loud and proud statement of intent from one of the hardest-working artists in the business. The beat is courtesy of the five-headed production team "The Fire Dept", who also did some work for GZA the same year and have also performed as his live band.
Conway the Machine : Be Proud Of Me
Buffalo's Conway is an artist who knows of the life that he speaks, and this is a really personal track. He's clawed his way up to a career as a respected MC, but as you can hear, not everyone with him was really with him as he tried to make it. Khrysis is on production, giving this real-life story an appropriately downbeat backing, on the penultimate cut on "EIF 2 : Eat What U Kill".
Big Twan ft. Big Kwam : The Hellgate Rebel
This track has some of my favourite scratches on a rap record of all time, with Tony Vegas of the Scratch Perverts flaring out in an ill fashion! The deep listeners might know Big Twan from his debut professional appearance, a verse on Big L's "8 Iz Enuff", but the "One Time 4 The Lyricist" 12" is his sole vinyl release as a soloist. The main track is heavy, and having this on there as well makes the vinyl a great addition to your library. It's a meeting of the Bigs, with Twan sharing mic time with the UK MC Big Kwam over a killer beat from The Creators - the horns and bass might be the drivers, but check the plucked guitar-type sounds all over the verses too.
Genaside II ft. Eek-A-Mouse : Just As Rough
The UK's Genaside II were a really unique crew who had Hip-Hop, rave, jungle, and more in their stylistic blend. In various combinations and configurations since the 90s, they've been a low-key influence on quite a few big names, despite being unknown to many! This track is from their debut "New Life 4 The Hunted", and features the legendary reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse on vocals, telling a story of a hard life on the streets. If you've got the ear for something a bit different - especially if you like D&B or breakbeat - then the album is well worth picking up if you see it.
Blue Stone : Lost Sun
This is probably a bit "New Age"-y and ambient for some if heard in isolation, but I think it fits well here! It's got a little bit of a north African/Arab vibe to the drums at the start, and builds up from a gentle start to a thundering peak before easing back down. It's one of the many well-produced tracks on the 2007 "Worlds Apart" LP.
The Mouse Outfit ft. One Only : Sunrise
Brand new single, and perfect for the season! An all-Manchester affair with One Only showing versatility on the mic, and Chini and Metrodome taking the production reins. A welcome return, no doubt.
Pitch 92 ft. Tyler Daley : Confused
Chilled again, Manchester again, this time from the "3rd Culture" album from last year. Pitch 92 showed the talent from early in his career, and the release of his producer project was great to see. If you're looking for top-shelf local mic expertise, Tyler Daley should be one of the first names on the list, and you get him switching effortlessly between the bars many don't recognise him for and the singing voice that they do.
Black Star ft. Black Thought : Respiration (Pete Rock Remix)
No doubt, the original "Respiration" from the "Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star" LP is a great track. But how do you make it better? First off, bring in Black Thought, one of those who could be described as "your favourite MC's favourite MC". That kicks things up a notch. Not enough? Ok, why not bring Pete Rock in to remix it? This should be illegal. Brilliant re-working of the 1998 classic, which I'm pulling from the "4 Pete Sake" (bootleg?) remix compilation, but which is also on the B-side of the main single.
Camp Lo : Life I Love
I absolutely loved the "Ragtime Hightimes" album, and while there are many tracks that are more of an immediate sonic hit, this one is a quiet killer. This is a group who need to be called in to score a heist movie, as they drop slang-heavy, super-dense rhymes about a glamourised crime life all over a Ski beat that's as cool as the other side of the pillow.
[Prince Kaysaan] Royal Flush : Can't Help It (Instrumental)
Kaysaan's run may "only" have been a few releases between 1997 and 1998, but he forever gets props for this one from "Ghetto Millionaire" alone. The combo of an 80s R&B sample with the filter coming in and out together with crispy jazz-sourced drums made this a late 90s winner that I'm happy to throw on a mixtape anytime.
Kris Kross ft. Da Brat, Aaliyah, Jermaine Dupri, and Mr Black: Live and Die for Hip-Hop (DJ Clark Kent Mix)
RIP Chris Kelly, gone seven years as of this month. Most people don't even realise that Kris Kross continued to record after their "Jump" and "I Missed The Bus" days, but they did indeed, and this is a remix of a track from their third and final album, 1996's "Young, Rich, & Dangerous". Laid back, cooled out, but in a different and even better-done fashion to the LP version - that bass flavour is definitely working.
Little Brother : Work Through Me
The return of Little Brother last year was much-welcomed by those who've been with them since the beginning, and they are standouts when it comes to bringing the changes in their lives into the music. This is a track about not just their own music career, but getting up every day and doing your best - which is pretty appropriate right now. Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh have continued to improve with age, and while 9th Wonder didn't join them this time, Focus and BlaaqGold slay this bumping and soulful beat.
Reks : Due Diligence
The "Revolution Cocktail" album by Reks seems to have all but disappeared - you won't find it on Spotify, and I can't find it on Amazon or other download sites either. It's a shame, as I think he had some high-quality tracks on there. I don't have a producer credit for this, but the beat was what drew me in first. You can almost hear Reks warming up on the first few bars before he hits his stride and brings it home. The Massachusetts native is incredibly slept on, even after twelve albums - but I appreciate the grind.
Boyz II Men ft. Erick Sermon, Redman, Keith Murray, and 2 Ta Da Head : Vibin' (Kenny Smoove Remix)
As @DragonflyJonez recently suggested, you might not be able to think of any gatherings where it was demanded that Boyz II Men be put on, but this might be an exception! Kenny Smoove was part of the Untouchables collective that also included Eddie F, Dave "Jam" Hall, and one Pete Rock, and he did his thing on this remix. Granted, I'm not exactly Mr R&B, but this slaughters the original, not least because he brings in heavy artillery - the whole Def Squad, headed up by Erick Sermon. There's a whole 12" of remixes that this is drawn from, should you want to hear some alternative takes!
Ilajide : Mothership Connection 1-2
Detroit in the house, with the trademark bump of Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide, from his killer 2015 "Latex" LP.
Bronx Slang : Excuse Me Officer
We close with a great track from 2019's debut LP from the link up of Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs - Bronx Slang. If you're very eagle-eared, you'll recognise a couple of these bars from the track I did with Jerry Beeks ("I'm A Cop"), which is on episode 86 of the podcast! Sadly, as this topic continues to be relevant, new names enter the roll of the fallen, and Beeks expands still further on police violence.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"They don't never see the work, only results of it."
- Rapper Big Pooh
Another month inside, and one that has been tinged with sadness; we say Rest In Power to Ty, Andre Harrell, and the soul legend Betty Wright. The month's selection starts with a favourite of mine from Ty's catalogue, and though the styles change, we keep a steady pace all the way through - I know some of you are running to try and stay in shape during this time, so I hope it helps!
Twitter : @airadam13
Twitch : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ty ft. Kwadjo and Michelle Escoffery : Ha Ha
"Feeling like my left toe's equal to Pele" - always loved that line, I think it's the delivery! We start off with a track from Ty's second studio album ("Upwards"), which was also on the B-side of the "Groovement" 12". From the off, he was an artist who never pretended to be anything other than who he was and represented his life with skill and humour, which is well-demonstrated here! The beat is kind of staccato, with no hi-hat between drum beats and the synth bass stabbing in hard. Wicked tune from one of our greats who will be sadly missed.
[Dante Ross] Casual : Turf Dirt (Instrumental)
The 2001 "VIP" single was dope, but the headline track was definitely an example of an artist trying to step into the unfamiliar sonic territory of the club lane! "Turf Dirt" was the last track of three, and the B-side has instrumentals of everything - in this case, Dante Ross with a stomper.
J-Live : Harder
I'd almost forgotten about this one until it turned up as part of the vinyl digitisation project! A 2005 single release from "The Hear After", this is a loud and proud statement of intent from one of the hardest-working artists in the business. The beat is courtesy of the five-headed production team "The Fire Dept", who also did some work for GZA the same year and have also performed as his live band.
Conway the Machine : Be Proud Of Me
Buffalo's Conway is an artist who knows of the life that he speaks, and this is a really personal track. He's clawed his way up to a career as a respected MC, but as you can hear, not everyone with him was really with him as he tried to make it. Khrysis is on production, giving this real-life story an appropriately downbeat backing, on the penultimate cut on "EIF 2 : Eat What U Kill".
Big Twan ft. Big Kwam : The Hellgate Rebel
This track has some of my favourite scratches on a rap record of all time, with Tony Vegas of the Scratch Perverts flaring out in an ill fashion! The deep listeners might know Big Twan from his debut professional appearance, a verse on Big L's "8 Iz Enuff", but the "One Time 4 The Lyricist" 12" is his sole vinyl release as a soloist. The main track is heavy, and having this on there as well makes the vinyl a great addition to your library. It's a meeting of the Bigs, with Twan sharing mic time with the UK MC Big Kwam over a killer beat from The Creators - the horns and bass might be the drivers, but check the plucked guitar-type sounds all over the verses too.
Genaside II ft. Eek-A-Mouse : Just As Rough
The UK's Genaside II were a really unique crew who had Hip-Hop, rave, jungle, and more in their stylistic blend. In various combinations and configurations since the 90s, they've been a low-key influence on quite a few big names, despite being unknown to many! This track is from their debut "New Life 4 The Hunted", and features the legendary reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse on vocals, telling a story of a hard life on the streets. If you've got the ear for something a bit different - especially if you like D&B or breakbeat - then the album is well worth picking up if you see it.
Blue Stone : Lost Sun
This is probably a bit "New Age"-y and ambient for some if heard in isolation, but I think it fits well here! It's got a little bit of a north African/Arab vibe to the drums at the start, and builds up from a gentle start to a thundering peak before easing back down. It's one of the many well-produced tracks on the 2007 "Worlds Apart" LP.
The Mouse Outfit ft. One Only : Sunrise
Brand new single, and perfect for the season! An all-Manchester affair with One Only showing versatility on the mic, and Chini and Metrodome taking the production reins. A welcome return, no doubt.
Pitch 92 ft. Tyler Daley : Confused
Chilled again, Manchester again, this time from the "3rd Culture" album from last year. Pitch 92 showed the talent from early in his career, and the release of his producer project was great to see. If you're looking for top-shelf local mic expertise, Tyler Daley should be one of the first names on the list, and you get him switching effortlessly between the bars many don't recognise him for and the singing voice that they do.
Black Star ft. Black Thought : Respiration (Pete Rock Remix)
No doubt, the original "Respiration" from the "Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star" LP is a great track. But how do you make it better? First off, bring in Black Thought, one of those who could be described as "your favourite MC's favourite MC". That kicks things up a notch. Not enough? Ok, why not bring Pete Rock in to remix it? This should be illegal. Brilliant re-working of the 1998 classic, which I'm pulling from the "4 Pete Sake" (bootleg?) remix compilation, but which is also on the B-side of the main single.
Camp Lo : Life I Love
I absolutely loved the "Ragtime Hightimes" album, and while there are many tracks that are more of an immediate sonic hit, this one is a quiet killer. This is a group who need to be called in to score a heist movie, as they drop slang-heavy, super-dense rhymes about a glamourised crime life all over a Ski beat that's as cool as the other side of the pillow.
[Prince Kaysaan] Royal Flush : Can't Help It (Instrumental)
Kaysaan's run may "only" have been a few releases between 1997 and 1998, but he forever gets props for this one from "Ghetto Millionaire" alone. The combo of an 80s R&B sample with the filter coming in and out together with crispy jazz-sourced drums made this a late 90s winner that I'm happy to throw on a mixtape anytime.
Kris Kross ft. Da Brat, Aaliyah, Jermaine Dupri, and Mr Black: Live and Die for Hip-Hop (DJ Clark Kent Mix)
RIP Chris Kelly, gone seven years as of this month. Most people don't even realise that Kris Kross continued to record after their "Jump" and "I Missed The Bus" days, but they did indeed, and this is a remix of a track from their third and final album, 1996's "Young, Rich, & Dangerous". Laid back, cooled out, but in a different and even better-done fashion to the LP version - that bass flavour is definitely working.
Little Brother : Work Through Me
The return of Little Brother last year was much-welcomed by those who've been with them since the beginning, and they are standouts when it comes to bringing the changes in their lives into the music. This is a track about not just their own music career, but getting up every day and doing your best - which is pretty appropriate right now. Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh have continued to improve with age, and while 9th Wonder didn't join them this time, Focus and BlaaqGold slay this bumping and soulful beat.
Reks : Due Diligence
The "Revolution Cocktail" album by Reks seems to have all but disappeared - you won't find it on Spotify, and I can't find it on Amazon or other download sites either. It's a shame, as I think he had some high-quality tracks on there. I don't have a producer credit for this, but the beat was what drew me in first. You can almost hear Reks warming up on the first few bars before he hits his stride and brings it home. The Massachusetts native is incredibly slept on, even after twelve albums - but I appreciate the grind.
Boyz II Men ft. Erick Sermon, Redman, Keith Murray, and 2 Ta Da Head : Vibin' (Kenny Smoove Remix)
As @DragonflyJonez recently suggested, you might not be able to think of any gatherings where it was demanded that Boyz II Men be put on, but this might be an exception! Kenny Smoove was part of the Untouchables collective that also included Eddie F, Dave "Jam" Hall, and one Pete Rock, and he did his thing on this remix. Granted, I'm not exactly Mr R&B, but this slaughters the original, not least because he brings in heavy artillery - the whole Def Squad, headed up by Erick Sermon. There's a whole 12" of remixes that this is drawn from, should you want to hear some alternative takes!
Ilajide : Mothership Connection 1-2
Detroit in the house, with the trademark bump of Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide, from his killer 2015 "Latex" LP.
Bronx Slang : Excuse Me Officer
We close with a great track from 2019's debut LP from the link up of Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs - Bronx Slang. If you're very eagle-eared, you'll recognise a couple of these bars from the track I did with Jerry Beeks ("I'm A Cop"), which is on episode 86 of the podcast! Sadly, as this topic continues to be relevant, new names enter the roll of the fallen, and Beeks expands still further on police violence.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"History repeats what you refuse to learn about."
- Planet Asia
Another month inside, which I'm sure is a test of patience for many. It's been an odd one, which feels like it hasn't been any less busy than normal, and so the rhythm of podcast production has pretty much been as usual. The selection ranges from some of my earliest, brokest vinyl purchases to the latest releases of the digital age - hope you all find something in there that makes you rewind (and then buy an album)!
Rest In Power to Arch Stanton of Mothership Connection, Bill Withers, Ebow of Foreign Beggars, Fred the Godson, and Stezo...
As mentioned in the show, I'm now on Twitch : twitch.tv/airadam13
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kam ft. Xzibit and Maskerade : Nowhere
I was looking for Kam's debut album "Neva Again" on Spotify and had no joy, but this turned up and has been getting a lot of play since then! 2016s "Mutual Respect" clearly needs an end-to-end listen if this is the standard - a quality song, dark and brooding, castigating the fairweather friends who gas young men up into committing all kinds of crimes but then abandon them to a life in the system. The production from Jmyth and Tariqbeats - who as far as I know, have no credits anywhere else at all - is perfect for the theme.
Jake One : Dawkinss
It's hard to find good instrumentals in this speed range that aren't heavy synth/trap-based (which is sometimes what you want, but not in this spot), but Jake One's free "#prayerhandsemoji" has come through a few times on that score!
UGK : Use Me Up
The first of the month's Bill Withers inclusions, Pimp C shows that he knows not to mess with a good thing as he lifts the groove of the 1972 hit single "Use Me" from the "Still Bill" LP, as well as the theme! C was always a producer with a deep love and appreciation for soul and funk, who wasn't afraid to bring in live instruments when he needed to, and he adds a little guitar and organ flavour to this tune from their 1992 debut "Too Hard To Swallow".
GQ : Rated Oakland
Low and slow (J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and 8 Bars on the beat), no hook, no wasted time. No-gimmick emceeing from a no-nonsense city, as GQ says what he has to say in barely two minutes on the title track from his debut album. The title track is often the big centrepiece, so it shows a lot of confidence to keep it so brief and concentrated.
Kid Frost : No Sunshine
This is a track from my early vinyl buying days, when I was pretty broke and if I saw something in the bargain bins from someone that had been mentioned in Hip-Hop Connection, I picked it up! Kid Frost (now Frost) was already ten years deep into his career at the time 1992s "East Side Story", from which this is drawn, was released, and he represented hard for his Mexican heritage at a time when Latino rappers were rare. This track reflects a side of the gang culture that is such a significant part of LA life for many, participants or otherwise; the other side of an explosion of anger is more often than not a lifetime of regret.
RZA : My Lovin' Is Digi
The Wu's takes on love songs are always a little different! The "RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo" LP is 22 years old this year, but this is the first time we've gone to it on the podcast; it won't be the last, though. Classic 70s soul sampling on this one, self-produced by RZA as you'd expect.
DJ Quik : Quik's Groove II
Every album, DJ Quik gifts us an instrumental number that shows off his level of musicality - this one was released all the way back in 1992, as part of his second LP "Way 2 Fonky".
Brand New Heavies ft. Gang Starr : It's Gettin' Hectic
We step outside the Gang Starr catalogue for a track that may have passed you by if you didn't happen to be listening deeply in the early 90s. The 1992 "Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol.1" album saw BNH, the London acid jazz and funk group who were getting big respect after their debut, slightly alter course and collaborate with Hip-Hop crews for their sophomore release. This was a pioneering album, which even preceded Guru's "Jazzmatazz" series. He's the perfect MC for this collaboration, and sounds more than comfortable doing his thing over a live band!
Voodoo Black ft. Leaf Dog : Fall Back
Played them last month, but had to give you one more taste of Voodoo Black in case you hadn't got the "Sitting At The Table" album yet! The mic killers from Manchester bring in Leaf Dog from The Four Owls, who complements them well on some straight Hip-Hop business. I love how DJ Cutterz has the kick drum and bassline working on this track, and the scratch work is polished too. Big ups!
Prince Po : Mecheti Lightspeed
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I'd never included the vocal version of this before! Madlib is on the beat, giving this often-overlooked half of Organized Konfusion some smooth heat. This is from the B-side of the "Holla" 12", but both tracks are also on the 2006 "Prettyblack" album.
Maffew Ragazino, Action Bronson, and Torae : Avatar
Pete Cannon on the beat! Blackpool may not be the first place you'd expect a fierce Hip-Hop producer to emerge from, but he's been doing his thing for years and has worked with some highly respected artists. This 2014 single from "Brownsville's Jesus" is wall-to-wall NYC on the mic - and for my money, Torae was the right choice to bring it home on that third verse.
BoomBaptist : Razzle Dazzle
Agent J of Groovement put me up on this Texas-based producer when he announced his "Boom Shakalaka" LP, all about the beloved video game "NBA Jam" - I certainly remember emptying my shallow pockets into that one as a teen :) BoomBaptist lives up to his name with the vibes, so if you like good beats and/or remember the 90s well, check the album!
Levelz : LVL09
If you're not used to hearing some of the MC styles on this record, prepare to have your face blown back! This Manchester crew is made up of a ton of artists who are stars in their own right, and the combination over the Metrodome-produced beat here is devastating. When the rapid spitting happens, what should strike you is the clarity - you can hear every word, every syllable even. Get this as a "name your price" on Bandcamp, and don't be shy to put a little something in!
Curren$y : Empire Monopoly
Short, but a better track in my opinion than Max B's "We Got Doe", which was the source for the Dame Grease-produced beat. It runs at a perfect pace for Curren$y, who spits a mix of his trademark lifestyle rap, street business, and Boardwalk Empire references on this standout from the "Return To The Winner's Circle" mixtape.
Ty ft. Mpho : Brixton Baby
Get well soon Ty! I thought I'd dip into his most recent album "A Work Of Heart" for this episode, and we have a ode to his place of birth as well as the adopted home of Mpho, the guest vocalist. Ty also built the foundation of the beat, then built on by Drew Horley, Akwasi Mensah and Julien Siegel. The combination of all the artists give the neighbourhood the love it deserves!
Planet Asia & 38 Spesh : God Degree
I can't even remember what lead me to this one via Spotify, but it's always good to hear new Planet Asia. The new "Trust The Chain" album is completely produced by 38 Spesh, and I love his beat here, regal dopeness that gives Asia's conscious rhymes a fitting backdrop.
Leavv : Valley (Original Mix)
Germany's Leavv is no joke when it comes to the "chill-hop" vibes that have become popular on long streaming Youtube mixes over the last few years. His work is crisp, clean, and refreshing as a nice tonic water on this track from the 2018 "Mind Garden" album!
Bill Withers : Grandma's Hands
Some of you will know this song very well, while others will have had a flash of realisation from the very first bar! Yes, this was famously sampled for Blackstreet's "No Diggity", but it's a truly great record in its own right. A single from 1971's "Just As I Am", this is just raw soul, and a record many of us can relate to - if not about grandparents, perhaps other elders who are no longer with us.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"History repeats what you refuse to learn about."
- Planet Asia
Another month inside, which I'm sure is a test of patience for many. It's been an odd one, which feels like it hasn't been any less busy than normal, and so the rhythm of podcast production has pretty much been as usual. The selection ranges from some of my earliest, brokest vinyl purchases to the latest releases of the digital age - hope you all find something in there that makes you rewind (and then buy an album)!
Rest In Power to Arch Stanton of Mothership Connection, Bill Withers, Ebow of Foreign Beggars, Fred the Godson, and Stezo...
As mentioned in the show, I'm now on Twitch : twitch.tv/airadam13
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kam ft. Xzibit and Maskerade : Nowhere
I was looking for Kam's debut album "Neva Again" on Spotify and had no joy, but this turned up and has been getting a lot of play since then! 2016s "Mutual Respect" clearly needs an end-to-end listen if this is the standard - a quality song, dark and brooding, castigating the fairweather friends who gas young men up into committing all kinds of crimes but then abandon them to a life in the system. The production from Jmyth and Tariqbeats - who as far as I know, have no credits anywhere else at all - is perfect for the theme.
Jake One : Dawkinss
It's hard to find good instrumentals in this speed range that aren't heavy synth/trap-based (which is sometimes what you want, but not in this spot), but Jake One's free "#prayerhandsemoji" has come through a few times on that score!
UGK : Use Me Up
The first of the month's Bill Withers inclusions, Pimp C shows that he knows not to mess with a good thing as he lifts the groove of the 1972 hit single "Use Me" from the "Still Bill" LP, as well as the theme! C was always a producer with a deep love and appreciation for soul and funk, who wasn't afraid to bring in live instruments when he needed to, and he adds a little guitar and organ flavour to this tune from their 1992 debut "Too Hard To Swallow".
GQ : Rated Oakland
Low and slow (J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and 8 Bars on the beat), no hook, no wasted time. No-gimmick emceeing from a no-nonsense city, as GQ says what he has to say in barely two minutes on the title track from his debut album. The title track is often the big centrepiece, so it shows a lot of confidence to keep it so brief and concentrated.
Kid Frost : No Sunshine
This is a track from my early vinyl buying days, when I was pretty broke and if I saw something in the bargain bins from someone that had been mentioned in Hip-Hop Connection, I picked it up! Kid Frost (now Frost) was already ten years deep into his career at the time 1992s "East Side Story", from which this is drawn, was released, and he represented hard for his Mexican heritage at a time when Latino rappers were rare. This track reflects a side of the gang culture that is such a significant part of LA life for many, participants or otherwise; the other side of an explosion of anger is more often than not a lifetime of regret.
RZA : My Lovin' Is Digi
The Wu's takes on love songs are always a little different! The "RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo" LP is 22 years old this year, but this is the first time we've gone to it on the podcast; it won't be the last, though. Classic 70s soul sampling on this one, self-produced by RZA as you'd expect.
DJ Quik : Quik's Groove II
Every album, DJ Quik gifts us an instrumental number that shows off his level of musicality - this one was released all the way back in 1992, as part of his second LP "Way 2 Fonky".
Brand New Heavies ft. Gang Starr : It's Gettin' Hectic
We step outside the Gang Starr catalogue for a track that may have passed you by if you didn't happen to be listening deeply in the early 90s. The 1992 "Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol.1" album saw BNH, the London acid jazz and funk group who were getting big respect after their debut, slightly alter course and collaborate with Hip-Hop crews for their sophomore release. This was a pioneering album, which even preceded Guru's "Jazzmatazz" series. He's the perfect MC for this collaboration, and sounds more than comfortable doing his thing over a live band!
Voodoo Black ft. Leaf Dog : Fall Back
Played them last month, but had to give you one more taste of Voodoo Black in case you hadn't got the "Sitting At The Table" album yet! The mic killers from Manchester bring in Leaf Dog from The Four Owls, who complements them well on some straight Hip-Hop business. I love how DJ Cutterz has the kick drum and bassline working on this track, and the scratch work is polished too. Big ups!
Prince Po : Mecheti Lightspeed
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I'd never included the vocal version of this before! Madlib is on the beat, giving this often-overlooked half of Organized Konfusion some smooth heat. This is from the B-side of the "Holla" 12", but both tracks are also on the 2006 "Prettyblack" album.
Maffew Ragazino, Action Bronson, and Torae : Avatar
Pete Cannon on the beat! Blackpool may not be the first place you'd expect a fierce Hip-Hop producer to emerge from, but he's been doing his thing for years and has worked with some highly respected artists. This 2014 single from "Brownsville's Jesus" is wall-to-wall NYC on the mic - and for my money, Torae was the right choice to bring it home on that third verse.
BoomBaptist : Razzle Dazzle
Agent J of Groovement put me up on this Texas-based producer when he announced his "Boom Shakalaka" LP, all about the beloved video game "NBA Jam" - I certainly remember emptying my shallow pockets into that one as a teen :) BoomBaptist lives up to his name with the vibes, so if you like good beats and/or remember the 90s well, check the album!
Levelz : LVL09
If you're not used to hearing some of the MC styles on this record, prepare to have your face blown back! This Manchester crew is made up of a ton of artists who are stars in their own right, and the combination over the Metrodome-produced beat here is devastating. When the rapid spitting happens, what should strike you is the clarity - you can hear every word, every syllable even. Get this as a "name your price" on Bandcamp, and don't be shy to put a little something in!
Curren$y : Empire Monopoly
Short, but a better track in my opinion than Max B's "We Got Doe", which was the source for the Dame Grease-produced beat. It runs at a perfect pace for Curren$y, who spits a mix of his trademark lifestyle rap, street business, and Boardwalk Empire references on this standout from the "Return To The Winner's Circle" mixtape.
Ty ft. Mpho : Brixton Baby
Get well soon Ty! I thought I'd dip into his most recent album "A Work Of Heart" for this episode, and we have a ode to his place of birth as well as the adopted home of Mpho, the guest vocalist. Ty also built the foundation of the beat, then built on by Drew Horley, Akwasi Mensah and Julien Siegel. The combination of all the artists give the neighbourhood the love it deserves!
Planet Asia & 38 Spesh : God Degree
I can't even remember what lead me to this one via Spotify, but it's always good to hear new Planet Asia. The new "Trust The Chain" album is completely produced by 38 Spesh, and I love his beat here, regal dopeness that gives Asia's conscious rhymes a fitting backdrop.
Leavv : Valley (Original Mix)
Germany's Leavv is no joke when it comes to the "chill-hop" vibes that have become popular on long streaming Youtube mixes over the last few years. His work is crisp, clean, and refreshing as a nice tonic water on this track from the 2018 "Mind Garden" album!
Bill Withers : Grandma's Hands
Some of you will know this song very well, while others will have had a flash of realisation from the very first bar! Yes, this was famously sampled for Blackstreet's "No Diggity", but it's a truly great record in its own right. A single from 1971's "Just As I Am", this is just raw soul, and a record many of us can relate to - if not about grandparents, perhaps other elders who are no longer with us.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We'll get the drums goin' so y'all can dance again, don't worry..."
- "Old Man" Ebro
I think it's fair to say that this has been a month like no other, certainly in the UK, where the restrictions on movement that other places in the world were ahead of us on finally came down. These are strange times where we're all trying to get used to new ways of living, but I hope this month's show has some tunes that can lift your mood a little!
As mentioned in the show, Hip-Hop Chip Shop are selling gift vouchers which you can cash in when the restaurant opens back up - and crucially, for every one bought, they'll donate a meal to someone in need!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Heltah Skeltah : Operation Lock Down
The sampler 12" for the "Nocturnal" LP made its way onto my turntables this month, and this old 90s favourite wormed its way into my head as a possible inclusion for this episode. I umm-ed and ahh-ed but a chat with someone whose opinion I respect convinced me to go with it. Actually referring to Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik's goal to lock down the industry, it was a big statement of intent for the Ruck (Sean Price) and Rock, two MCs making their entry to the game. The skills are on display without question though, and this track is notable for being a reach outside their camp for production - E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks is on the boards for the woozy, dreamlike thump. Big tune then, and unexpectedly fitting now.
Abstract Orchestra : Eyes Up
Great version of a solid Slum Village beat. Abstract Orchestra have been touring and recording for a while with their takes on J Dilla material, and along with the current lineup of Slum Village, they've finally released "Fantastic 2020", a version of the classic "Fantastic, Volume 2" with instrumental and vocal tracks. By the way - make sure to buy the two-disc CD version for all the content!
Voodoo Black ft. LayFullStop : In The Mood
Voodoo Black have been getting ratings here since the start - and it was an honour to have Dubbul O, one of the MCs, here as a guest last year - and so it's with great pleasure that we can talk about their debut LP! "Sitting At The Table" will have just been released as you read this, and it's a lean ten-track collection that does Manchester proud. Ellis Meade, Sparkz, and Dubbul O are joined on this particular number by adopted Manchester daughter LayFullStop, who really does set the mood on top of the DJ Cutterz beat. It's always great to see sustained effort come out on top!
Kombo ft. Vinia Mojica : Sands Of Time
I played the wicked B-side to this back on episode 2 (!), then filed the vinyl back on the shelf from where it occasionally made outings - but only as part of the recent effort to digitise my collection has the A-side really got the deep listening it deserved. Ge-ology on the chilled beat perfectly scores Kombo's love rhymes, and Vinia Mojica keeps it subtle with her vocal contribution.
Little Brother : Altitudes (Flyin' High)
Another great B-side that may have escaped your notice! Back in 2002, Little Brother were making noise on the underground as a promising crew on the rise - one of the first to blow up primarily on the internet - and their single "Whatever You Say" was a mixshow/mixtape staple of the time. Tucked away at the very end of the B-side was this little gem that didn't make the album (but was later heard on "The Chittlin Circuit 1.5"), themed around aviation and featuring classic 9th Wonder production underneath confident rhymes from Phonte and Big Pooh.
Consequence ft. Phife Dawg : No Place Like Home
One of the last tracks Phife ever recorded, this was a great release from last year. These two real-life cousins who both made their different contributions to A Tribe Called Quest over the years come together in an ode to their home of Queens over a smooth beat by Cons and Mike Cash, with Alex Isley on the hook. Yes, that "Isley" does in fact link directly to the famous Isley Brothers - the songwriting and multi-instrumentalist legend Ernie is her father!
Superior Thought : Sky
I was amazed I hadn't played this already - quality sample-heavy beat by a producer and engineer out of London, a 2011 release that feels like it was only out a few weeks ago! Pick this one up on the "S'strumentals" LP along with twenty-three other beats, and all for free!
Clear Soul Forces : Kraken
Always here for some CSF. Ilajide brings the bump as always, and on the mic, all the MCs are representing lovely. This was available on the Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation from last year, but CSF have a brand new LP out which is well worth checking!
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. Anderson .Paak : Giannis
Anderson does his thing here for sure, but Gibbs is unquestionably the star turn on the mic here. Waka Flocka Flame recently admitted being a "wack rapper" but said "my realness overcame my wackness". Freddie Gibbs has the realness and the skills. This is one of the big tunes from his second LP with Madlib, "Bandana", which is definitely worth your time for a listen. The quick line that gives the track its title ("real Gs move in silence like Giannis") might not be the first time someone has referenced a silent "G" in that way, but then Gibbs builds off it immediately afterwards like the elite MC that he is.
The Cool Kids ft. Louis The Child : Super Smash Bros
Tim Dog's "Fuck Compton" was an angry diss. Pusha T dripped with disgust at Drake's conduct on "The Story of Adidon". This? This is... disdainful. Dismissive. The Cool Kids sound like they're just annoyed they had to take time out of their day to address people who aren't coming up to standard. It's also kind of amusing to me that here's a group I remember as the new young artists - now, several years down the line, they are older heads disappointed about how the new generation of youngsters are doing it! Wicked single, with fellow Illinois natives Louis The Child providing the booming beat. Full marks for the inspired sampling of Ebro's rant for the break after the first verse; if you didn't know (and I didn't at first), you'd think this was recorded specifically for this track!
Stic : Motivated
It is so time for a second album of motivational music by Stic of dead prez! The original "The Workout" was an original and welcome release for those in the know, and hopefully the sequel can gather even more of a following. Here, his dramatic production comes through with "Eye of the Tiger" vibes filtered through a Hip-Hop mentality, with a positive lyrical message of pushing forward to victory!
DJ Bombjack : From The Depths Of The Soul
Another one that popped up in my vinyl conversion mission, this is a nice instrumental from a UK DJ and producer from the 1999 "The Brothers Grim" EP.
De La Soul : The Future
Supa Dave West made this one thump! This is the opener on "The Grind Date", and the sampled hook points to an mix of optimism about the future and a determination to shape it. The solid two verses speak on the unquestionably strong legacy De La have carved out over the years - and they're not done yet.
Lisa Shaw : I'm Okay
This was a track from the 2009 "Free" album that I overlooked for a long time in favour of some of the others, but have grown to appreciate. Lisa's voice has the kind of cool clarity that points to the influence of Sade, and Dave Warrin keeps the production low-key to give her space to breathe.
Jazzanova : No Use
A personal headphone favourite which somehow hadn't been played on the show yet! Jazzy (as you'd expect), continental, breezy production from the German production collective, with the kind of delicate balancing of elements that so many fail to master. Clara Hill's lead vocals fit in perfectly, making this a really satisfying listen. The "In Between" album is almost twenty years old, but hasn't really aged at all.
Pete Rock ft. Carl McIntosh & Jane Eugene : Take Your Time
If you've never heard Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor" LP, it's a must-own - he takes an imaginative selection of excellent guests and knocks it out of the park with his stellar production. This is a prime example, where he shows his appreciation for talent that wasn't necessarily "current" at the time, bringing in McIntosh and Eugene of the seminal UK group Loose Ends to lend their soulful vibes. The beat is a relaxed head-nodder supreme, and Pete gets it done on the mic too - not breaking your head open with crazy bars, just staying in the pocket, which is what the track needs.
MindsOne & Kev Brown : Manipulated (Instrumental)
Kev Brown really is one of the best when it comes to those basslines. My god. Serious beat from the 2014 "Pillars" EP.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Hypnotize
A huge tune to finish, one which can't fail to put a smile on your face! I first heard this one in a club, likely just before its official release, and the reaction it got was something special. The first single from "Life After Death", and the last Biggie record to be released before his death, this was a perfect combination of elements. Biggie's rhymes had skills for the streets but still appealed to the club and radio, The Hitmen took the Herb Alpert "Rise" sample and gave it new energy, and Total's Pamela Long nailed the infectious, sing-along hook. Fittingly for our current times, that hook is almost exactly twenty seconds long, making it a perfect timer for thorough hand-washing. So fresh, so clean.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We'll get the drums goin' so y'all can dance again, don't worry..."
- "Old Man" Ebro
I think it's fair to say that this has been a month like no other, certainly in the UK, where the restrictions on movement that other places in the world were ahead of us on finally came down. These are strange times where we're all trying to get used to new ways of living, but I hope this month's show has some tunes that can lift your mood a little!
As mentioned in the show, Hip-Hop Chip Shop are selling gift vouchers which you can cash in when the restaurant opens back up - and crucially, for every one bought, they'll donate a meal to someone in need!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Heltah Skeltah : Operation Lock Down
The sampler 12" for the "Nocturnal" LP made its way onto my turntables this month, and this old 90s favourite wormed its way into my head as a possible inclusion for this episode. I umm-ed and ahh-ed but a chat with someone whose opinion I respect convinced me to go with it. Actually referring to Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik's goal to lock down the industry, it was a big statement of intent for the Ruck (Sean Price) and Rock, two MCs making their entry to the game. The skills are on display without question though, and this track is notable for being a reach outside their camp for production - E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks is on the boards for the woozy, dreamlike thump. Big tune then, and unexpectedly fitting now.
Abstract Orchestra : Eyes Up
Great version of a solid Slum Village beat. Abstract Orchestra have been touring and recording for a while with their takes on J Dilla material, and along with the current lineup of Slum Village, they've finally released "Fantastic 2020", a version of the classic "Fantastic, Volume 2" with instrumental and vocal tracks. By the way - make sure to buy the two-disc CD version for all the content!
Voodoo Black ft. LayFullStop : In The Mood
Voodoo Black have been getting ratings here since the start - and it was an honour to have Dubbul O, one of the MCs, here as a guest last year - and so it's with great pleasure that we can talk about their debut LP! "Sitting At The Table" will have just been released as you read this, and it's a lean ten-track collection that does Manchester proud. Ellis Meade, Sparkz, and Dubbul O are joined on this particular number by adopted Manchester daughter LayFullStop, who really does set the mood on top of the DJ Cutterz beat. It's always great to see sustained effort come out on top!
Kombo ft. Vinia Mojica : Sands Of Time
I played the wicked B-side to this back on episode 2 (!), then filed the vinyl back on the shelf from where it occasionally made outings - but only as part of the recent effort to digitise my collection has the A-side really got the deep listening it deserved. Ge-ology on the chilled beat perfectly scores Kombo's love rhymes, and Vinia Mojica keeps it subtle with her vocal contribution.
Little Brother : Altitudes (Flyin' High)
Another great B-side that may have escaped your notice! Back in 2002, Little Brother were making noise on the underground as a promising crew on the rise - one of the first to blow up primarily on the internet - and their single "Whatever You Say" was a mixshow/mixtape staple of the time. Tucked away at the very end of the B-side was this little gem that didn't make the album (but was later heard on "The Chittlin Circuit 1.5"), themed around aviation and featuring classic 9th Wonder production underneath confident rhymes from Phonte and Big Pooh.
Consequence ft. Phife Dawg : No Place Like Home
One of the last tracks Phife ever recorded, this was a great release from last year. These two real-life cousins who both made their different contributions to A Tribe Called Quest over the years come together in an ode to their home of Queens over a smooth beat by Cons and Mike Cash, with Alex Isley on the hook. Yes, that "Isley" does in fact link directly to the famous Isley Brothers - the songwriting and multi-instrumentalist legend Ernie is her father!
Superior Thought : Sky
I was amazed I hadn't played this already - quality sample-heavy beat by a producer and engineer out of London, a 2011 release that feels like it was only out a few weeks ago! Pick this one up on the "S'strumentals" LP along with twenty-three other beats, and all for free!
Clear Soul Forces : Kraken
Always here for some CSF. Ilajide brings the bump as always, and on the mic, all the MCs are representing lovely. This was available on the Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation from last year, but CSF have a brand new LP out which is well worth checking!
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. Anderson .Paak : Giannis
Anderson does his thing here for sure, but Gibbs is unquestionably the star turn on the mic here. Waka Flocka Flame recently admitted being a "wack rapper" but said "my realness overcame my wackness". Freddie Gibbs has the realness and the skills. This is one of the big tunes from his second LP with Madlib, "Bandana", which is definitely worth your time for a listen. The quick line that gives the track its title ("real Gs move in silence like Giannis") might not be the first time someone has referenced a silent "G" in that way, but then Gibbs builds off it immediately afterwards like the elite MC that he is.
The Cool Kids ft. Louis The Child : Super Smash Bros
Tim Dog's "Fuck Compton" was an angry diss. Pusha T dripped with disgust at Drake's conduct on "The Story of Adidon". This? This is... disdainful. Dismissive. The Cool Kids sound like they're just annoyed they had to take time out of their day to address people who aren't coming up to standard. It's also kind of amusing to me that here's a group I remember as the new young artists - now, several years down the line, they are older heads disappointed about how the new generation of youngsters are doing it! Wicked single, with fellow Illinois natives Louis The Child providing the booming beat. Full marks for the inspired sampling of Ebro's rant for the break after the first verse; if you didn't know (and I didn't at first), you'd think this was recorded specifically for this track!
Stic : Motivated
It is so time for a second album of motivational music by Stic of dead prez! The original "The Workout" was an original and welcome release for those in the know, and hopefully the sequel can gather even more of a following. Here, his dramatic production comes through with "Eye of the Tiger" vibes filtered through a Hip-Hop mentality, with a positive lyrical message of pushing forward to victory!
DJ Bombjack : From The Depths Of The Soul
Another one that popped up in my vinyl conversion mission, this is a nice instrumental from a UK DJ and producer from the 1999 "The Brothers Grim" EP.
De La Soul : The Future
Supa Dave West made this one thump! This is the opener on "The Grind Date", and the sampled hook points to an mix of optimism about the future and a determination to shape it. The solid two verses speak on the unquestionably strong legacy De La have carved out over the years - and they're not done yet.
Lisa Shaw : I'm Okay
This was a track from the 2009 "Free" album that I overlooked for a long time in favour of some of the others, but have grown to appreciate. Lisa's voice has the kind of cool clarity that points to the influence of Sade, and Dave Warrin keeps the production low-key to give her space to breathe.
Jazzanova : No Use
A personal headphone favourite which somehow hadn't been played on the show yet! Jazzy (as you'd expect), continental, breezy production from the German production collective, with the kind of delicate balancing of elements that so many fail to master. Clara Hill's lead vocals fit in perfectly, making this a really satisfying listen. The "In Between" album is almost twenty years old, but hasn't really aged at all.
Pete Rock ft. Carl McIntosh & Jane Eugene : Take Your Time
If you've never heard Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor" LP, it's a must-own - he takes an imaginative selection of excellent guests and knocks it out of the park with his stellar production. This is a prime example, where he shows his appreciation for talent that wasn't necessarily "current" at the time, bringing in McIntosh and Eugene of the seminal UK group Loose Ends to lend their soulful vibes. The beat is a relaxed head-nodder supreme, and Pete gets it done on the mic too - not breaking your head open with crazy bars, just staying in the pocket, which is what the track needs.
MindsOne & Kev Brown : Manipulated (Instrumental)
Kev Brown really is one of the best when it comes to those basslines. My god. Serious beat from the 2014 "Pillars" EP.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Hypnotize
A huge tune to finish, one which can't fail to put a smile on your face! I first heard this one in a club, likely just before its official release, and the reaction it got was something special. The first single from "Life After Death", and the last Biggie record to be released before his death, this was a perfect combination of elements. Biggie's rhymes had skills for the streets but still appealed to the club and radio, The Hitmen took the Herb Alpert "Rise" sample and gave it new energy, and Total's Pamela Long nailed the infectious, sing-along hook. Fittingly for our current times, that hook is almost exactly twenty seconds long, making it a perfect timer for thorough hand-washing. So fresh, so clean.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I don't wanna be a playa...I just coach the team."
- Lord Finesse
I had a new experience recording this episode - making an error which meant I had to re-record the whole thing again! Still got it out on time, and so we have our annual tributes to the catalogues of J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun - alongside some other heavyweight picks. We open proceedings with something fairly topical...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice Cube : Chase Down The Bully
The recent march in Washington DC by masked white supremacists (with a police escort, at that) put me in mind of the Charlottesville rally in 2017, which is sampled in the intro to this track from "Everythang's Corrupt", and made this a fitting opener for the month. Ice Cube may be running a basketball league and making family films now, but he can still bring the righteous fire on the mic whenever he chooses. Beau James' beat has the kind of heft needed to match, although I think the little breakdown on the second half of each verse could have been swapped for more of that heavy main loop!
J Dilla : Jay Dee 37
I don't think I've played this one before - with so many Dilla beat compilations created over the years, filled with tracks with no real titles, it's easy to make a mistake! This is taken from the 2016 "The King of Beats" release, and it's a neck-snapper for real - doing the most with just bass, a simple drum pattern, and a few keys.
Jay Dee ft. Frank N Dank : Pause
If you're a fan of the man's work to any substantial degree, you'll know this one - a favourite at every tribute night and on mixtapes for sure. Frank N Dank grab the mics and swagger all over this one with the kind of lyrics that make the whole crowd join in! This banger was a clear standout on his solo LP "Welcome 2 Detroit", which was the first of the "Beat Generation" releases on BBE. There's a specific reason why that LP was first - many of the other producers signed up were so intimidated by the total free rein they were given, they let Dilla go first to see what he'd do!
D.I.T.C. : Stand Strong
If the lyrics sound familiar to some of you, that's likely because this is basically a remix of the Show & AG track "Dignified Soldiers" (as you can hear in the hook), done for the crew's self-titled LP. I think the original does have the edge, but I wanted to play this for those that may have missed it, and of course for everyone who wants to hear lyrics from the late Big L!
Marco Polo ft. Supastition : Heat
I somehow overlooked this one for quite a while, despite the fact that pretty much any Marco Polo beat is worth your attention, and Supastition is never one to bring a weak verse. Don't sleep - make sure you give "Port Authority" from 2007 a few good end-to-end listens for some straight-up Hip-Hop.
Big Pun : Leatherface
The title may be a reference to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", but the sample on the hook and outro tie this one firmly into the infamous motel scene in "Scarface" (actually, doesn't show as much as you remember). This version is from a white label 12", but you can easily find the uncut raw on Pun's second LP "Yeeeah Baby", with the same production by Arkatech Beatz (known elsewhere as Infinite Archatechz).
Mix Master Mike : Rebel Enforcer
The "Anti-Theft Device" album by one of the founders of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz probably had more straight-up beats (rather than cuts and juggles) than many would have expected before hearing it, and it certainly set out that Mike has a well-rounded skill set. This was a nice inclusion with a few samples heads will immediately recognise alongside others that aren't obvious at all!
Sean Price & Lil Fame : Center Stage
Given the aggression of the lyrics you can actually hear, I can't even imagine what the censored material was! "Price Of Fame" (genius!) is a major Brooklyn team-up of the late great Sean P and Lil Fame of M.O.P, who not only contributes the hook here but also produced the raw beat. His use of the "Brownsville" vocal sample is a perfect, inspired addition! Great video too - worth watching just for the puppet version of Jill Scott :)
DJ Shadow : Walkie Talkie
A producer I know was commenting recently how different DJ Shadow's catalogue has been since "Endtroducing", which is the work that brought him to prominence. That's definitely true, but this track from "The Private Press" has a touch of the energy of something like "The Number Song", as Shadow pieces together pieces of vocal to go braggadocious in his own way over an abrasive beat.
Inspektah Deck : City High
Dug this one out on a mixtape and realised I didn't have a good copy, so digital purchase came to the rescue as I grabbed it from the "The Movement" album. Deck is in solid form describing the grind of trying to come up in NYC - though it's a tale that could fit many other places. Production is by Phantom of the Beats (aka Haas G), whose catalogue has tracks as varied as "Apollo Kids" and "Magic Stick"! This one is soul-sampling crispness from the era when producers were leaving the vocals in and letting them run through the verses; notably in this one, the sample isn't actually saying "city high", but I'll leave you to find it...
Busta Rhymes : Show Me What You Got
One of my favourite Dilla beats gets an outing here, highlighting the fact that the work he did with Busta Rhymes is still probably the most weirdly-overlooked part of his overall production catalogue. The drums lazily skip over a late 90s sample - bearing in mind that this is from the 2000 "Anarchy" album, so this was an unusually contemporaneous sample source - that is guaranteed to move your neck or shoulders!
14KT : Down The Street From Peace
Skills to pay the bills...for everyone on the street. The Michigan native coming out of LA with the ill jazz styles is an absolute wizard on Maschine and this track gives you just a taste. This track is a great example of the work on the "For My Sanity" album, which often throws tradition structure and bar counts out of the window, and embraces freedom and experimentation.
Away Team ft. Nervous Reck : Look
It's been a very long time since we visited the "Training Day" album from the heyday of the extended Justus League crew out of North Carolina, but it's never too late to go back. Khrysis is on the boards with the heat ;) and Sean Boog joined by Fayetteville's Reck, who strides along next to the beat just daring it to say something!
Black Moon : Look At Them
Only partially chosen as a thematic companion to the preceding track, this was from a strangely overlooked LP from last year, the long-awaited return of Black Moon on "Rise Of Da Moon". With Buckshot's slithering flow, 5 Ft giving contrast, and Evil Dee on the turntables and the beats, how could you go wrong? If you've not heard the album yet, do give it a shot.
J.Chambers ft. Koro Fyah : Escape The Kingdom
New single from a Manchester MC who continues to grind on the underground and work on his craft. With the recent resumption of deportations of British Black people to Jamaica, this reggae-fused track is right on time. The Rastafari vocalist Koro Fyah is the perfect addition on the hook for this short and pointed piece.
Gang Starr : Beyond Comprehension
This isn't the first track that comes to mind when I think of the "Step In The Arena" LP, but it's a low-key smoker. Guru's ability to use his monotone style at slow tempos was solidifying in this period , and Premier's scratching fits the beat perfectly.
4Hero : Les Fleur
This is a beautiful cover version of the classic 1970 song by the legendary Minnie Riperton - not an easy act to follow by any stretch! Nonetheless, Carina Andersson does a praiseworthy job vocally over the production from Marc Mac and Dego on a song just made for the springtime. The 2001 "Creating Patterns" LP is the source for this one, an album which has aged very well.
Royce Da 5'9" ft. Cee-Lo Green : Politics
We finish the month with a great track from the time after Royce had build something of an underground audience, but long before much of the wider world had caught on to what he was bringing. This standout from the 2005 "Independent's Day" album is a great collaboration - Nottz' beat is gritty, but is shepherded into a bluesy feel courtesy of Cee-Lo's voice and re-interpretation of an old Spooky Tooth lyric for the hook. Perhaps despite the curses, this track for me definitely fits into the category of "Tracks That Could Play At The End Of A Series Of 'The Wire'"!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I don't wanna be a playa...I just coach the team."
- Lord Finesse
I had a new experience recording this episode - making an error which meant I had to re-record the whole thing again! Still got it out on time, and so we have our annual tributes to the catalogues of J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun - alongside some other heavyweight picks. We open proceedings with something fairly topical...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice Cube : Chase Down The Bully
The recent march in Washington DC by masked white supremacists (with a police escort, at that) put me in mind of the Charlottesville rally in 2017, which is sampled in the intro to this track from "Everythang's Corrupt", and made this a fitting opener for the month. Ice Cube may be running a basketball league and making family films now, but he can still bring the righteous fire on the mic whenever he chooses. Beau James' beat has the kind of heft needed to match, although I think the little breakdown on the second half of each verse could have been swapped for more of that heavy main loop!
J Dilla : Jay Dee 37
I don't think I've played this one before - with so many Dilla beat compilations created over the years, filled with tracks with no real titles, it's easy to make a mistake! This is taken from the 2016 "The King of Beats" release, and it's a neck-snapper for real - doing the most with just bass, a simple drum pattern, and a few keys.
Jay Dee ft. Frank N Dank : Pause
If you're a fan of the man's work to any substantial degree, you'll know this one - a favourite at every tribute night and on mixtapes for sure. Frank N Dank grab the mics and swagger all over this one with the kind of lyrics that make the whole crowd join in! This banger was a clear standout on his solo LP "Welcome 2 Detroit", which was the first of the "Beat Generation" releases on BBE. There's a specific reason why that LP was first - many of the other producers signed up were so intimidated by the total free rein they were given, they let Dilla go first to see what he'd do!
D.I.T.C. : Stand Strong
If the lyrics sound familiar to some of you, that's likely because this is basically a remix of the Show & AG track "Dignified Soldiers" (as you can hear in the hook), done for the crew's self-titled LP. I think the original does have the edge, but I wanted to play this for those that may have missed it, and of course for everyone who wants to hear lyrics from the late Big L!
Marco Polo ft. Supastition : Heat
I somehow overlooked this one for quite a while, despite the fact that pretty much any Marco Polo beat is worth your attention, and Supastition is never one to bring a weak verse. Don't sleep - make sure you give "Port Authority" from 2007 a few good end-to-end listens for some straight-up Hip-Hop.
Big Pun : Leatherface
The title may be a reference to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", but the sample on the hook and outro tie this one firmly into the infamous motel scene in "Scarface" (actually, doesn't show as much as you remember). This version is from a white label 12", but you can easily find the uncut raw on Pun's second LP "Yeeeah Baby", with the same production by Arkatech Beatz (known elsewhere as Infinite Archatechz).
Mix Master Mike : Rebel Enforcer
The "Anti-Theft Device" album by one of the founders of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz probably had more straight-up beats (rather than cuts and juggles) than many would have expected before hearing it, and it certainly set out that Mike has a well-rounded skill set. This was a nice inclusion with a few samples heads will immediately recognise alongside others that aren't obvious at all!
Sean Price & Lil Fame : Center Stage
Given the aggression of the lyrics you can actually hear, I can't even imagine what the censored material was! "Price Of Fame" (genius!) is a major Brooklyn team-up of the late great Sean P and Lil Fame of M.O.P, who not only contributes the hook here but also produced the raw beat. His use of the "Brownsville" vocal sample is a perfect, inspired addition! Great video too - worth watching just for the puppet version of Jill Scott :)
DJ Shadow : Walkie Talkie
A producer I know was commenting recently how different DJ Shadow's catalogue has been since "Endtroducing", which is the work that brought him to prominence. That's definitely true, but this track from "The Private Press" has a touch of the energy of something like "The Number Song", as Shadow pieces together pieces of vocal to go braggadocious in his own way over an abrasive beat.
Inspektah Deck : City High
Dug this one out on a mixtape and realised I didn't have a good copy, so digital purchase came to the rescue as I grabbed it from the "The Movement" album. Deck is in solid form describing the grind of trying to come up in NYC - though it's a tale that could fit many other places. Production is by Phantom of the Beats (aka Haas G), whose catalogue has tracks as varied as "Apollo Kids" and "Magic Stick"! This one is soul-sampling crispness from the era when producers were leaving the vocals in and letting them run through the verses; notably in this one, the sample isn't actually saying "city high", but I'll leave you to find it...
Busta Rhymes : Show Me What You Got
One of my favourite Dilla beats gets an outing here, highlighting the fact that the work he did with Busta Rhymes is still probably the most weirdly-overlooked part of his overall production catalogue. The drums lazily skip over a late 90s sample - bearing in mind that this is from the 2000 "Anarchy" album, so this was an unusually contemporaneous sample source - that is guaranteed to move your neck or shoulders!
14KT : Down The Street From Peace
Skills to pay the bills...for everyone on the street. The Michigan native coming out of LA with the ill jazz styles is an absolute wizard on Maschine and this track gives you just a taste. This track is a great example of the work on the "For My Sanity" album, which often throws tradition structure and bar counts out of the window, and embraces freedom and experimentation.
Away Team ft. Nervous Reck : Look
It's been a very long time since we visited the "Training Day" album from the heyday of the extended Justus League crew out of North Carolina, but it's never too late to go back. Khrysis is on the boards with the heat ;) and Sean Boog joined by Fayetteville's Reck, who strides along next to the beat just daring it to say something!
Black Moon : Look At Them
Only partially chosen as a thematic companion to the preceding track, this was from a strangely overlooked LP from last year, the long-awaited return of Black Moon on "Rise Of Da Moon". With Buckshot's slithering flow, 5 Ft giving contrast, and Evil Dee on the turntables and the beats, how could you go wrong? If you've not heard the album yet, do give it a shot.
J.Chambers ft. Koro Fyah : Escape The Kingdom
New single from a Manchester MC who continues to grind on the underground and work on his craft. With the recent resumption of deportations of British Black people to Jamaica, this reggae-fused track is right on time. The Rastafari vocalist Koro Fyah is the perfect addition on the hook for this short and pointed piece.
Gang Starr : Beyond Comprehension
This isn't the first track that comes to mind when I think of the "Step In The Arena" LP, but it's a low-key smoker. Guru's ability to use his monotone style at slow tempos was solidifying in this period , and Premier's scratching fits the beat perfectly.
4Hero : Les Fleur
This is a beautiful cover version of the classic 1970 song by the legendary Minnie Riperton - not an easy act to follow by any stretch! Nonetheless, Carina Andersson does a praiseworthy job vocally over the production from Marc Mac and Dego on a song just made for the springtime. The 2001 "Creating Patterns" LP is the source for this one, an album which has aged very well.
Royce Da 5'9" ft. Cee-Lo Green : Politics
We finish the month with a great track from the time after Royce had build something of an underground audience, but long before much of the wider world had caught on to what he was bringing. This standout from the 2005 "Independent's Day" album is a great collaboration - Nottz' beat is gritty, but is shepherded into a bluesy feel courtesy of Cee-Lo's voice and re-interpretation of an old Spooky Tooth lyric for the hook. Perhaps despite the curses, this track for me definitely fits into the category of "Tracks That Could Play At The End Of A Series Of 'The Wire'"!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...as long as I'm alive, I will make it."
- Kim Stephens
It's been a subdued start to the year in the main, and my equipment may have conspired against me, but nothing was getting in the way of the first podcast episode of the decade! There are definitely some popular classics in the selection, right next to brand new releases, and some slightly older tracks which deserve a second - or even first - chance in your headphones.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Roc Marciano : Richard Gear
Roc is the absolute master of this style, and he's back with a new LP release, "Marcielago". If you like this vibe, then you're in for a treat as he carries it over the whole project. It's easy to forget that he's not just penning all those rhymes, but producing the beats as well. He's self-taught and beautifully individual in approach - a leader, not a follower.
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep : The Realest (Instrumental)
One of the most straightforward beats in Al's career - a two-bar loop with nothing added. It was originally going to be an interlude on the Defari "Focused Daily" album, but eventually became a standout on Mobb Deep's "Murda Muzik". This exact instrumental version is on the now-deleted "Gangster Theme Music" collection, but you could pretty much just loop up the start of the Mobb track :)
Trae Tha Truth : Even Tho Its Hard (sic)
A fairly recent release from Trae, taken from his eleventh album, "Exhale". This is a real struggle anthem, voiced by a man whose mic skills are too often overlooked. This is bell-clear rhyming, where you can pick out every single word - aided by the production not fighting him too much for focus. (Once again, this is a case where my digital purchase doesn't contain the credits to enable me to shout out the producer. Fix it, record companies!)
O.C. : The Chosen One
It's been a little while - well over four years - since we visited the "Jewelz" album, so it's about time we came back. Buckwild brings together the jazz and soul to craft the beat on this one, and O.C. strides over it like a king surveying his subjects. The whole album was criminally underrated when it came out, with many just expecting a re-tread of the "Time's Up" sound. A lot went into making it, and it took many listeners a while to catch up - but they did!
Flamingosis : You Were Meant For Me
A nice little piece from a New Jersey producer whose catalogue has a certain sunniness that you just have to listen to understand! Pick up the "Flight Fantastic" album and keep it in the stash until warmer weather arrives...
Statik Selektah & Termanology ft. Mtume : Never Let My City Down
Yes, Mtume of "Juicy Fruit" fame! The "Still 1982" LP from Statik and Term contained this little gem, where I'm not sure exactly who did what apart from the rhymes, but it works. Termanology's flow glides over this with confidence, and even the way the track winds down is expertly done.
9th Wonder : SuperChopFunk!!!!
Yes, all those exclamation points are part of the actual track title... Anyway, the beat is signature 9th Wonder material, drawn from his mostly-instrumental "Zion III" mixtape. With forty-two tracks in total, you can't say he didn't give you value for money!
Krumbsnatcha : Start Writing
I found this while having a flick through Spotify, and was glad I did! The "Iron Will Ninja Shinobi" album came out about a year ago, and it's good to see Krumb out there and still recording. The beat here is dark and menacing, sounding like a Hip-Hop contribution to the "The Terminator" soundtrack, and KS has no trouble matching that vibe on the mic.
David Bars ft. DJ Premier : Beat The Odds
If you don't know him already, it feels like you will pretty soon! Bronx native Bars getting co-signs from some of the best producers to ever do it - DITC, Beatminerz, and DJ Premier, who gave him this beat to rip! "The Bar Code" EP is the release to check to get a fuller picture of what Bars is bringing.
Meyhem Lauren ft. Big Body Bes : Badmon Ting
That "¡Caballito!" adlib will never fail to be amusing! Meyhem is not so much underrated as not well-enough known in my opinion, but he's a beast of an MC. "Gucci kicks got me looking like a pointsettia"? Come on now. Find this DJ Farhot produced track on the 2017 "Piatto D'Oro" album, named after a now-closed NYC restaurant - Meyhem does love the kitchen!
Natural Elements : N.E. Definitely
One of the great crews for the connoisseurs, NE were true kings of the underground right off the bat. Charlemagne provided the beats and L-Swift, A-Butta, and Mr.Voodoo brought bars by the trailerload! Many of the tracks from that era have been collected on the recently-released "1999 : 20 Year Anniversary" collection, of which this is one. Definite recommendation for those who like that real.
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad] Faith Evans : You Used To Love Me (Remix Instrumental)
I was happy to realise I hadn't already used this instrumental on a past episode! This neo-souled-out beat gave Faith's voice more space than the original from her debut album, which was dope in its own right.
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Brandy : What Are We Doing?
One of the best tracks on the excellent "Black Radio 2", easily. The drummer pushes this one forward constantly, playing a little ahead of the beat as though not completely under control, and the bass and keys fill in a track that would tear down any after-hours spot. And those vocals...you might just write Brandy off as some pop artist because you know her radio singles, but you'd be very wrong. This is a track with the space to expose anyone lacking skills, and she slays it. Recognise!
Children of Zeus : Get What's Yours
New release from Manchester's own Children of Zeus, who are on a flawless run right now. A soulful motivational cut that opens up with the vocals of Tyler Daley before he goes back and forth with Konny Kon on the rhymes. The closing vocals and piano (if you go and hear the full version) round it off exquisitely. Get this on the "Two Syllables, Volume Sixteen" compilation.
Lauryn Hill : Lost Ones
The drums of the Zeus track reminded me of this, so I figured there was probably no better time for me to play it! For me, it's a battle between this and "Everything Is Everything" for best track on the only real Lauryn solo LP, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" - a monster seller for sure. By all accounts firing shots at Wyclef, you can feel the focused anger in this one.
Kool G Rap : My Life
This was a pretty big single from the Rawkus Records part of G Rap's career, which made noise on the 2002 Hip-Hop charts as well as being a mixtape staple of the time. V.I.C (from the original Beatnuts producer crew) brings the beat, and an artist called G-Wise shows out on the talkbox. The official release of "The Giancana Story" album contains this one, as well as an alternate version featuring Capone-N-Noreaga.
Pete Rock : Stop Dat (Instrumental)
Sparse mastery from Soul Brother #1. The most recent release of the 2004 Edo G and Pete Rock LP "My Own Worst Enemy" helpfully contains all the instrumentals for when you want some unfiltered PR, and so is a recommended pickup for DJs at a minimum.
Raekwon ft. Kim Stephens : Jury
Allegedly, this track is actually supposed to be called "Jewelry", but for a typo in the tracklisting! We close the episode with a second track taken from a poorly-received sophomore album, 1999's "Immobilarity". Infinite Arkatechz, who handled the vast majority of the production, clearly picked up a Chris Spheeris compilation and ran wild with it, but this was definitely the track where that choice made the most impact. "Andalu" has nowhere near the cold, pensive feel of this song, which is classic Raekwon for me, as he tells the story of the start of the Wu from his perspective. This month's epigraph could have been any number of the lyrics from here, which paint pictures and describe feelings that I expect many besides me will relate to. On top of all that, Kim Stephens does a great job on the hook, on what may be her only ever recorded appearance. This isn't a track you put in the middle of a mix, you either start with it or end with it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...as long as I'm alive, I will make it."
- Kim Stephens
It's been a subdued start to the year in the main, and my equipment may have conspired against me, but nothing was getting in the way of the first podcast episode of the decade! There are definitely some popular classics in the selection, right next to brand new releases, and some slightly older tracks which deserve a second - or even first - chance in your headphones.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Roc Marciano : Richard Gear
Roc is the absolute master of this style, and he's back with a new LP release, "Marcielago". If you like this vibe, then you're in for a treat as he carries it over the whole project. It's easy to forget that he's not just penning all those rhymes, but producing the beats as well. He's self-taught and beautifully individual in approach - a leader, not a follower.
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep : The Realest (Instrumental)
One of the most straightforward beats in Al's career - a two-bar loop with nothing added. It was originally going to be an interlude on the Defari "Focused Daily" album, but eventually became a standout on Mobb Deep's "Murda Muzik". This exact instrumental version is on the now-deleted "Gangster Theme Music" collection, but you could pretty much just loop up the start of the Mobb track :)
Trae Tha Truth : Even Tho Its Hard (sic)
A fairly recent release from Trae, taken from his eleventh album, "Exhale". This is a real struggle anthem, voiced by a man whose mic skills are too often overlooked. This is bell-clear rhyming, where you can pick out every single word - aided by the production not fighting him too much for focus. (Once again, this is a case where my digital purchase doesn't contain the credits to enable me to shout out the producer. Fix it, record companies!)
O.C. : The Chosen One
It's been a little while - well over four years - since we visited the "Jewelz" album, so it's about time we came back. Buckwild brings together the jazz and soul to craft the beat on this one, and O.C. strides over it like a king surveying his subjects. The whole album was criminally underrated when it came out, with many just expecting a re-tread of the "Time's Up" sound. A lot went into making it, and it took many listeners a while to catch up - but they did!
Flamingosis : You Were Meant For Me
A nice little piece from a New Jersey producer whose catalogue has a certain sunniness that you just have to listen to understand! Pick up the "Flight Fantastic" album and keep it in the stash until warmer weather arrives...
Statik Selektah & Termanology ft. Mtume : Never Let My City Down
Yes, Mtume of "Juicy Fruit" fame! The "Still 1982" LP from Statik and Term contained this little gem, where I'm not sure exactly who did what apart from the rhymes, but it works. Termanology's flow glides over this with confidence, and even the way the track winds down is expertly done.
9th Wonder : SuperChopFunk!!!!
Yes, all those exclamation points are part of the actual track title... Anyway, the beat is signature 9th Wonder material, drawn from his mostly-instrumental "Zion III" mixtape. With forty-two tracks in total, you can't say he didn't give you value for money!
Krumbsnatcha : Start Writing
I found this while having a flick through Spotify, and was glad I did! The "Iron Will Ninja Shinobi" album came out about a year ago, and it's good to see Krumb out there and still recording. The beat here is dark and menacing, sounding like a Hip-Hop contribution to the "The Terminator" soundtrack, and KS has no trouble matching that vibe on the mic.
David Bars ft. DJ Premier : Beat The Odds
If you don't know him already, it feels like you will pretty soon! Bronx native Bars getting co-signs from some of the best producers to ever do it - DITC, Beatminerz, and DJ Premier, who gave him this beat to rip! "The Bar Code" EP is the release to check to get a fuller picture of what Bars is bringing.
Meyhem Lauren ft. Big Body Bes : Badmon Ting
That "¡Caballito!" adlib will never fail to be amusing! Meyhem is not so much underrated as not well-enough known in my opinion, but he's a beast of an MC. "Gucci kicks got me looking like a pointsettia"? Come on now. Find this DJ Farhot produced track on the 2017 "Piatto D'Oro" album, named after a now-closed NYC restaurant - Meyhem does love the kitchen!
Natural Elements : N.E. Definitely
One of the great crews for the connoisseurs, NE were true kings of the underground right off the bat. Charlemagne provided the beats and L-Swift, A-Butta, and Mr.Voodoo brought bars by the trailerload! Many of the tracks from that era have been collected on the recently-released "1999 : 20 Year Anniversary" collection, of which this is one. Definite recommendation for those who like that real.
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad] Faith Evans : You Used To Love Me (Remix Instrumental)
I was happy to realise I hadn't already used this instrumental on a past episode! This neo-souled-out beat gave Faith's voice more space than the original from her debut album, which was dope in its own right.
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Brandy : What Are We Doing?
One of the best tracks on the excellent "Black Radio 2", easily. The drummer pushes this one forward constantly, playing a little ahead of the beat as though not completely under control, and the bass and keys fill in a track that would tear down any after-hours spot. And those vocals...you might just write Brandy off as some pop artist because you know her radio singles, but you'd be very wrong. This is a track with the space to expose anyone lacking skills, and she slays it. Recognise!
Children of Zeus : Get What's Yours
New release from Manchester's own Children of Zeus, who are on a flawless run right now. A soulful motivational cut that opens up with the vocals of Tyler Daley before he goes back and forth with Konny Kon on the rhymes. The closing vocals and piano (if you go and hear the full version) round it off exquisitely. Get this on the "Two Syllables, Volume Sixteen" compilation.
Lauryn Hill : Lost Ones
The drums of the Zeus track reminded me of this, so I figured there was probably no better time for me to play it! For me, it's a battle between this and "Everything Is Everything" for best track on the only real Lauryn solo LP, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" - a monster seller for sure. By all accounts firing shots at Wyclef, you can feel the focused anger in this one.
Kool G Rap : My Life
This was a pretty big single from the Rawkus Records part of G Rap's career, which made noise on the 2002 Hip-Hop charts as well as being a mixtape staple of the time. V.I.C (from the original Beatnuts producer crew) brings the beat, and an artist called G-Wise shows out on the talkbox. The official release of "The Giancana Story" album contains this one, as well as an alternate version featuring Capone-N-Noreaga.
Pete Rock : Stop Dat (Instrumental)
Sparse mastery from Soul Brother #1. The most recent release of the 2004 Edo G and Pete Rock LP "My Own Worst Enemy" helpfully contains all the instrumentals for when you want some unfiltered PR, and so is a recommended pickup for DJs at a minimum.
Raekwon ft. Kim Stephens : Jury
Allegedly, this track is actually supposed to be called "Jewelry", but for a typo in the tracklisting! We close the episode with a second track taken from a poorly-received sophomore album, 1999's "Immobilarity". Infinite Arkatechz, who handled the vast majority of the production, clearly picked up a Chris Spheeris compilation and ran wild with it, but this was definitely the track where that choice made the most impact. "Andalu" has nowhere near the cold, pensive feel of this song, which is classic Raekwon for me, as he tells the story of the start of the Wu from his perspective. This month's epigraph could have been any number of the lyrics from here, which paint pictures and describe feelings that I expect many besides me will relate to. On top of all that, Kim Stephens does a great job on the hook, on what may be her only ever recorded appearance. This isn't a track you put in the middle of a mix, you either start with it or end with it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...so instead, you prefer to be lied to."
- Hutch
This feels very much like the stance needed at the end of a rough year on many fronts. Still, we're here on the cusp of a new decade, but we play out this one with a (mostly) wintry selection from both sides of the Atlantic which will take you into 2020 in fine style. Thanks for your continued support - I hope to continue bringing you quality material!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bugzy Malone : December
Thought I'd take the opportunity to play this new track while it's still this month! Manchester's Bugzy Malone is primarily associated with the grime scene, but this single leans into contemporary straightforward Hip-Hop as much as anything else. When you hear his voice there's no mistaking where he's from, and this new release has him reflecting on how things have worked out for him after years of work as an independent artist. The heavy beat by Krunchie and Zdot sounds like the darkest timeline of a Xmas advert - good work!
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Twin Hype Back (Instrumental)
I only picked up the instrumental version of the first Run The Jewels LP this month, but it's worth having for the DJs, and would probably make a solid contribution to a gym playlist as well!
Dr. Yen Lo : Day 70
It's been well over 30 episodes since we last played anything this LP, so I thought it was due a revisit. Ka on the mic and Preservation on the low-key production is perfect for this time of year, cold and wintry. Take time to listen properly to Ka's lyrics - always an absolute treat.
DJ Jazzy Jeff : The Government's Dead
Jazzy Jeff's "M3" LP definitely seems to have passed most people by, but it's definitely worth checking - a very different vibe to his previous albums, but still very well done. The band recruited and produced by Jeff cook up a jazzy groove which starts off sparse and light and then builds into a crashing wave. Lyrics come from "The Trinity" - Rhymefest (an early writer for Kanye), Uhmeer (Jeff's son), and Dayne Jordan - in multiple forms, from spoken word to rhyme to song.
Phonte : Euphorium (Back To The Light)
Little Brother's return this year with "May The Lord Watch" is an essential, but so was the most recent Phonte solo, "No News Is Good News". This was a beautiful closing track to the album, with Phonte starting off displaying a little of his singing skill before switching up to spit some bars - very much a reflection of him feeling free to be his whole self, as he says. Abjo out of San Diego provides the production, which feels faster than the 70-ish BPM it is while also having a lighter feel than much of the 140 BPM stuff that we hear now.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud ft. Styles P : W.O.H.
This sample usage by Harry Fraud is an absolute gem. Kind of in keeping with the original track, it's the soundtrack to a mental image of someone who needs to get out of town in a hurry. Curren$y stunts on everyone in his trademark fashion, but also brings in Styles from The LOX for a little extra flavour on the closing verse. Definitely my favourite track from the "Cigarette Boats" EP, and 100% perfect nighttime driving music.
Jan Hammer : Airport Swap
This track and the previous one almost got saved for a future planned podcast, but hey...there are always more records! Taken from the "Miami Vice" TV series soundtrack (the episode "No Exit"), this is classic 80s Jan Hammer. Production trivia - those electric guitar sounds are all synthesized, no strings in sight.
Gang Starr ft. Q-Tip : Hit Man
I was making some mad faces the first time I heard this track - DJ Premier absolutely put his whole foot into this beat. Straight gangster (appropriate) material from the biggest surprise release of the decade, "One of the Best Yet". Guru's monotone is so clean on here, on something not a million miles away from "Sabotage" on "The Ownerz", and the hook is provided by none other than Q-Tip from Tribe, doing his best gun sounds!
Blak Twang : 19 Long Time
The title track of the first Blak Twang album to get a proper release (the long-lost "Dettwork SouthEast" didn't surface until 2014 for most of us), this 1998 cut is undeniable. Tony Rotton looks back at all the Hip-Hop experiences that brought him to that point, with references that UK heads of a certain age can relate to. The beat is quality, well-mixed with plenty of bump for your speakers. Random trivia : it's odd to think that since this was released, both of the veteran travel agents mentioned in the third verse have gone out of business...
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/A-93125-1088694579.gif.jpg){kind=link}
Raekwon ft. Havoc : King of Kings
I guess the title makes it seasonal? Anyway, this is one of the gems on the somewhat patchy third album from Raekwon, "The Lex Diamond Story". I'd assumed that Havoc had done the production here, but on checking the credits I find it's actually Crummie Beats, who's worked with Illa Ghee and Sean P amongst others. Havoc and Rae are experts in delivering that dark NYC street vibe, so there's no surprises when it comes to the bars.
MED, Blu, and Madlib ft. Dâm-Funk and DJ Romes : Peroxide
I only got up on this one recently - a defining aspect of the past decade for me has been such a deluge of music releases that it's common for great records to pass you by for years at a time! 2015's "Bad Neighbor" LP is a collaboration with the widely-popular Madlib on production and MED and Blu on the mic, but this particular track features original Lootpack member DJ Romes on the cuts and the LA retro god Dâm-Funk giving the tune some electronic flavour.
Ilajide : Breakin (Instrumental)
This one kind of crept up, a quiet banger from the "Five Week Heet IV" release. If you're a regular listener then you're probably well up on the brilliant producer from Clear Soul Forces, but if not - search out his stuff!
The Coup ft. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien : The Repo Man Sings For You
I feel like there's a replayed melody here during the verse and sung on the hook that I should recognise, but just can't put my finger on! It sounds like something that would be on the soundtrack for a Hip-Hop retelling of "A Christmas Carol", with the repo man (played by Del) heartlessly and gleefully confiscating goods from a debtor, and Boots (also the producer) playing the put-upon poor worker who is his victim. This is a highlight on the excellent "Steal This Album" which is also an appropriate track to play at a time when Black people are often omitted in the discussion of who is "working class".
Big Hutch : True Lies
Very apt in our seemingly post-truth world... This is a pick from the first solo album by Hutch (aka Cold 187um of Above The Law), 1999's "Executive Decisions". Self-produced as you'd expect from the man who arguably invented G-Funk, it's an ominous one which in my opinion would just have been elevated by slightly better mastering.
Tobi Sunmola : Good Guys Don't Survive
Tobi is a Nigerian-born, Manchester-based MC I learned about from Dubbul O (who gives him a shout here). This man is getting a lot of respect from those in the know, so get yourself up to speed with the title track from his 2018 EP. The drum track that underpins the beat is perfection, and Tobi's voice slices through with ease, allowing us to appreciate his writing.
Frameworks ft. Rioghnach Connolly : Calm The Still Night
Rioghnach is an incredibly talented musician, and someone I came across early in my time on the Manchester music circuit, with both of us at the same open mic/jam sessions. She's gone from strength to strength since then, and she combines here with another star of the local scene, producer Frameworks. This is a lovely chilled-out song, deftly constructed, which was released both as a single from the "Tides" LP and also on one of the First Word Records compilations.
Mudstone : The Tourist
Another quality beat from the "Return of the Tec" beat tape, courtesy of The Beat Tape Project. I couldn't dig up much (no pun intended) in the way of background on Mudstone, but s/he does their thing here.
The Honey Drippers : Impeach The President
I couldn't not play this, with only the third ever impeachment of a US president underway! As you'd almost certainly twig from the sound, this funk classic was released during the Watergate scandal - when Nixon, of course, managed to avoid actual impeachment by resigning first. Roy C of "Shotgun Wedding" fame is the man on the lead vocal, with his lyrics being timeless enough to fit the current indictee perfectly. One of the most often sampled records in all of Hip-Hop, this track gives us some of the best drums ever to enter an SP or an MPC! Not bad work for a band of high school students from Queens :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...so instead, you prefer to be lied to."
- Hutch
This feels very much like the stance needed at the end of a rough year on many fronts. Still, we're here on the cusp of a new decade, but we play out this one with a (mostly) wintry selection from both sides of the Atlantic which will take you into 2020 in fine style. Thanks for your continued support - I hope to continue bringing you quality material!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Bugzy Malone : December
Thought I'd take the opportunity to play this new track while it's still this month! Manchester's Bugzy Malone is primarily associated with the grime scene, but this single leans into contemporary straightforward Hip-Hop as much as anything else. When you hear his voice there's no mistaking where he's from, and this new release has him reflecting on how things have worked out for him after years of work as an independent artist. The heavy beat by Krunchie and Zdot sounds like the darkest timeline of a Xmas advert - good work!
[El-P] Run The Jewels : Twin Hype Back (Instrumental)
I only picked up the instrumental version of the first Run The Jewels LP this month, but it's worth having for the DJs, and would probably make a solid contribution to a gym playlist as well!
Dr. Yen Lo : Day 70
It's been well over 30 episodes since we last played anything this LP, so I thought it was due a revisit. Ka on the mic and Preservation on the low-key production is perfect for this time of year, cold and wintry. Take time to listen properly to Ka's lyrics - always an absolute treat.
DJ Jazzy Jeff : The Government's Dead
Jazzy Jeff's "M3" LP definitely seems to have passed most people by, but it's definitely worth checking - a very different vibe to his previous albums, but still very well done. The band recruited and produced by Jeff cook up a jazzy groove which starts off sparse and light and then builds into a crashing wave. Lyrics come from "The Trinity" - Rhymefest (an early writer for Kanye), Uhmeer (Jeff's son), and Dayne Jordan - in multiple forms, from spoken word to rhyme to song.
Phonte : Euphorium (Back To The Light)
Little Brother's return this year with "May The Lord Watch" is an essential, but so was the most recent Phonte solo, "No News Is Good News". This was a beautiful closing track to the album, with Phonte starting off displaying a little of his singing skill before switching up to spit some bars - very much a reflection of him feeling free to be his whole self, as he says. Abjo out of San Diego provides the production, which feels faster than the 70-ish BPM it is while also having a lighter feel than much of the 140 BPM stuff that we hear now.
Curren$y & Harry Fraud ft. Styles P : W.O.H.
This sample usage by Harry Fraud is an absolute gem. Kind of in keeping with the original track, it's the soundtrack to a mental image of someone who needs to get out of town in a hurry. Curren$y stunts on everyone in his trademark fashion, but also brings in Styles from The LOX for a little extra flavour on the closing verse. Definitely my favourite track from the "Cigarette Boats" EP, and 100% perfect nighttime driving music.
Jan Hammer : Airport Swap
This track and the previous one almost got saved for a future planned podcast, but hey...there are always more records! Taken from the "Miami Vice" TV series soundtrack (the episode "No Exit"), this is classic 80s Jan Hammer. Production trivia - those electric guitar sounds are all synthesized, no strings in sight.
Gang Starr ft. Q-Tip : Hit Man
I was making some mad faces the first time I heard this track - DJ Premier absolutely put his whole foot into this beat. Straight gangster (appropriate) material from the biggest surprise release of the decade, "One of the Best Yet". Guru's monotone is so clean on here, on something not a million miles away from "Sabotage" on "The Ownerz", and the hook is provided by none other than Q-Tip from Tribe, doing his best gun sounds!
Blak Twang : 19 Long Time
The title track of the first Blak Twang album to get a proper release (the long-lost "Dettwork SouthEast" didn't surface until 2014 for most of us), this 1998 cut is undeniable. Tony Rotton looks back at all the Hip-Hop experiences that brought him to that point, with references that UK heads of a certain age can relate to. The beat is quality, well-mixed with plenty of bump for your speakers. Random trivia : it's odd to think that since this was released, both of the veteran travel agents mentioned in the third verse have gone out of business...
Raekwon ft. Havoc : King of Kings
I guess the title makes it seasonal? Anyway, this is one of the gems on the somewhat patchy third album from Raekwon, "The Lex Diamond Story". I'd assumed that Havoc had done the production here, but on checking the credits I find it's actually Crummie Beats, who's worked with Illa Ghee and Sean P amongst others. Havoc and Rae are experts in delivering that dark NYC street vibe, so there's no surprises when it comes to the bars.
MED, Blu, and Madlib ft. Dâm-Funk and DJ Romes : Peroxide
I only got up on this one recently - a defining aspect of the past decade for me has been such a deluge of music releases that it's common for great records to pass you by for years at a time! 2015's "Bad Neighbor" LP is a collaboration with the widely-popular Madlib on production and MED and Blu on the mic, but this particular track features original Lootpack member DJ Romes on the cuts and the LA retro god Dâm-Funk giving the tune some electronic flavour.
Ilajide : Breakin (Instrumental)
This one kind of crept up, a quiet banger from the "Five Week Heet IV" release. If you're a regular listener then you're probably well up on the brilliant producer from Clear Soul Forces, but if not - search out his stuff!
The Coup ft. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien : The Repo Man Sings For You
I feel like there's a replayed melody here during the verse and sung on the hook that I should recognise, but just can't put my finger on! It sounds like something that would be on the soundtrack for a Hip-Hop retelling of "A Christmas Carol", with the repo man (played by Del) heartlessly and gleefully confiscating goods from a debtor, and Boots (also the producer) playing the put-upon poor worker who is his victim. This is a highlight on the excellent "Steal This Album" which is also an appropriate track to play at a time when Black people are often omitted in the discussion of who is "working class".
Big Hutch : True Lies
Very apt in our seemingly post-truth world... This is a pick from the first solo album by Hutch (aka Cold 187um of Above The Law), 1999's "Executive Decisions". Self-produced as you'd expect from the man who arguably invented G-Funk, it's an ominous one which in my opinion would just have been elevated by slightly better mastering.
Tobi Sunmola : Good Guys Don't Survive
Tobi is a Nigerian-born, Manchester-based MC I learned about from Dubbul O (who gives him a shout here). This man is getting a lot of respect from those in the know, so get yourself up to speed with the title track from his 2018 EP. The drum track that underpins the beat is perfection, and Tobi's voice slices through with ease, allowing us to appreciate his writing.
Frameworks ft. Rioghnach Connolly : Calm The Still Night
Rioghnach is an incredibly talented musician, and someone I came across early in my time on the Manchester music circuit, with both of us at the same open mic/jam sessions. She's gone from strength to strength since then, and she combines here with another star of the local scene, producer Frameworks. This is a lovely chilled-out song, deftly constructed, which was released both as a single from the "Tides" LP and also on one of the First Word Records compilations.
Mudstone : The Tourist
Another quality beat from the "Return of the Tec" beat tape, courtesy of The Beat Tape Project. I couldn't dig up much (no pun intended) in the way of background on Mudstone, but s/he does their thing here.
The Honey Drippers : Impeach The President
I couldn't not play this, with only the third ever impeachment of a US president underway! As you'd almost certainly twig from the sound, this funk classic was released during the Watergate scandal - when Nixon, of course, managed to avoid actual impeachment by resigning first. Roy C of "Shotgun Wedding" fame is the man on the lead vocal, with his lyrics being timeless enough to fit the current indictee perfectly. One of the most often sampled records in all of Hip-Hop, this track gives us some of the best drums ever to enter an SP or an MPC! Not bad work for a band of high school students from Queens :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"These evil streets don't sleep..."
- Pharoahe
Here's an idea I've been holding for a while - an episode showcasing Hip-Hop tracks that took a rock sample or influence! I thought it'd be an interesting one to select and mix without reaching for the most obvious standby picks, and we've got tracks spanning almost thirty years at the extreme ends. Don't worry, the guitars come along with plenty of bars and beats!
Links for the month...
Michelle Grace Hunder - wicked music photographer!
The Flyest Xmas party on Dec 20th, featuring The Soul Twins
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T ft. Jello Biafra : Shut Up, Be Happy
One of those tracks that seems more relevant now than ever, this was the opener on Ice-T's underrated 1989 album "The Iceberg". A great marrying of elements, as Jello Biafra of the punk band Dead Kennedys delivers a totalitarian announcement (based on his own "Message From Our Sponsor" over a Black Sabbath loop. I couldn't put this anywhere but as the intro to the episode!
Camp Lo : 82 Afros
Kicking the pace up a touch, we move straight into a killer Camp Lo cut from the "Black Hollywood" LP, with Ski cooking up a banging rock-based beat. The kick and snare are straight boom-bap, but the toms add an unexpected extra element on top of the distorted guitar and vocal sample. Cheeba and Geechi might be known for their smooth styles, but this is just one demonstration of the fact that they can get busy over any kind of beat.
J-Zone : Moonwalk / Gel N' Weave Remix (Instrumental)
I was struggling to find just the right instrumental for this spot, but went back to "The Headband Years" to find this beat from a producer who could make a beat our of almost anything. He's full-time on his funk drumming now, but has a great catalogue of Hip-Hop that can't be fronted on.
Kobaine : Ko.Bain
This is an artist I know very little about, as as far as I'm aware this is his only release to date, a nice little contribution to the 2002 "Subway Series Vol.1" compilation on Major League Entertainment. I got this on digital release which had no credits included, so I'm not sure who produced it - I can imagine it being a Nick Wiz or Tribeca track though.
Agallah : Ag Season
Brownsville's Agallah has often channelled the rockstar vibes in his career, and this woozy-guitared track from "Bo : The Legend of the Water Dragon" sounds entirely natural for him. Self-produced as always, it's short, rock solid, and to the point.
Fabolous : Breathe
Fifteen years old, already? This was a huge single for Fabolous, taken from his "Real Talk" album, and is one of his best-known tracks even after all these years. Just Blaze laced him with a beat based around Supertramp's "Crime of the Century", and got a surprise when Fab told him he'd written his lyrics around the "breathe" vocal sample on the track...because that's not what it said! However, on hearing the bars, Just went back and made some changes to align the audio with what Fab thought he heard!
Ras Kass ft. Killah Priest : Milli Vanilli
Ras Kass' "Quarterly" was collection of tracks he released once a week, finally brought together in late 2009 - and there are some great cuts in there. Here's one, with Veterano's beat sounding like a cybernetic heavy metal group trying to destroy the speaker stack! Ras cuts through it regardless, and special guest Killah Priest (fellow member of THE HRSMN) matches him bar for bar as always. The hook of course channels the then-recent Lil Wayne track "A Milli", which was a heavily-used beat for freestyles around this time.
Body Count : C-Note
This was one of the shorter and gentler tracks on the debut Body Count album, but was always one of my favourites - Ernie C makes that guitar cry for real. Ice-T's metal project was waved off by some doubters in the beginning, but the music was solid from their first appearance on the "OG: Original Gangster" album and they're still killing it to this day.
Bumpy Knuckles : Swazzee
This one is so aggro, you have to love it. Seriously, you'd better. Bumpy Knuckles is in fine form on this guaranteed weight-training motivational track from "Konexion", taking out sucker MCs, snitches, haters, and pretty much everyone else. The hook is reminiscent of an old Sly Stone cut, and Knockout's beat is ferocious - precise, measured drums with the harsh guitar over the top. Bumpy might be the king of the third verse but a track like this lets you know he can handle the first two just fine!
Public Enemy : Go Cat Go
The "He Got Game" soundtrack was unfairly overlooked by too many heads, but is an absolutely worthy entry in Public Enemy's long and storied discography. Chuck D's political awareness and love of sports (he actually wanted to be a sportscaster at one point) combined for a really interesting listen. Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto and Danny Saber of Black Grape cover this one in heavy guitars which would drown out most MCs, but not Chuck! As the album subtitle says, this one is about the game behind the game...
Boogie Down Productions : Ya Slippin
It's hard to think now of BDP being a crew with a future in doubt, but this is how it was back in 1988 as "By All Means Necessary" was released, not long after the murder of founding DJ Scott La Rock. KRS might be young here but he rhymes with the confidence of someone who left home as a child to become an MC, survived homelessness, and achieved his goal. He scolds weak MCs like "The Teacha" he is, and gets down on the production too - the rock heads will recognise this guitar sample a mile off!
Pharoahe Monch : Got You
Shout out to Vicky T for reminding me of this tune! The lead single from the "Training Day" soundtrack is one where I think the radio version (as heard here) surpasses the original. Monch perfectly encapsulates the essence of Denzel Washington's character, who is one of the classic movie villains of modern times - and strikingly, is based on real police.
[J-Zone] Boss Hog Barbarians : Celph Destruction (Instrumental)
Zone again, and while it one didn't come to mind immediately, the aggressive sonics of this instrumental get it the nod here. The Boss Hog Barbarians (J-Zone and Celph Titled) album is an absolute tribute to ignorance (intentionally), but if you can deal with that then it's an excellent addition to your collection.
LL Cool J : Go Cut Creator Go
Another 80s classic hard rocking track, from LL's "Bigger And Deffer" album. It's the kind of track we don't get now - the MC just bigging up the DJ. DJ Cut Creator was with LL from the very beginning, and was the one who actually helped him to get him name known, so it's nice to hear the appreciation. The scratches still stand up today and cut through even the loudest of the guitar samples on the track!
Sly Boogy : Fatal Mistake
Sly may not have put anything out for a while, but the San Bernadino native did drop a few nice tracks in the early 2000s. This one has him totally disregarding the common standards of Hip-Hop song structure, opening up with a thirty-two bar first verse just to show he's not playing. DJ Revolution provides the cuts, and production is courtesy of a then-emerging Jake One. This actually doesn't have a rock influence, but is here because of how well it goes with the next instrumental...
[Rick Rubin] Jay-Z : 99 Problems (Instrumental)
The combination of this and "Fatal Mistake" is one I discovered while doing a mix years and years ago, and wanted to bring out again when the opportunity arose! You probably all know the vocal version of this track, which appeared on Jay-Z's "The Black Album". While working with the legendary Def Jam co-founder and producer Rubin, Jay said he wanted something like the flavour he used to give to the Beastie Boys and this was the result - a meshing of several ideas that came together perfectly.
Public Enemy : She Watch Channel Zero?!
Let's be real - the sexism is heavy on this track! It'd be entirely reasonable to argue that spending all day watching sports on TV isn't any better than soap operas, but that's just my opinion :) 1988's "...Nation of Millions..." yields this song which had an interesting connection - sampling the group Slayer, who were produced by Def Jam founder and major PE supporter Rick Rubin.
Lacuna Coil : The Game
Going pure rock on this selection from this veteran Milanese gothic metal band! I actually learned about this group from "Guitar Hero" of all places, and "Our Truth" led me to the 2006 "Karmacode" album that included this track. It always reminded me a little of "Channel Zero", and while the guitar riffs are definitely fire and the drums bang, it's the combined and contrasting vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro that can't fail to grab your ear.
RJD2 : Exotic Talk
Prog rock meets Hip-Hop sensibilities as RJD2 twists and turns, chilling things out in parts before bringing the thunder crashing back in. Definite standout from 2004's "Since We Last Spoke".
Z-Trip : Rockstar
We close with a standout track from the "Return of the DJ, Volume II" compilation, with Phoenix's Z-Trip putting together a masterpiece of DJ/producer song construction. The sample list is long, and since I don't know what was and wasn't cleared, I won't give anything away here!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"These evil streets don't sleep..."
- Pharoahe
Here's an idea I've been holding for a while - an episode showcasing Hip-Hop tracks that took a rock sample or influence! I thought it'd be an interesting one to select and mix without reaching for the most obvious standby picks, and we've got tracks spanning almost thirty years at the extreme ends. Don't worry, the guitars come along with plenty of bars and beats!
Links for the month... Michelle Grace Hunder - wicked music photographer!
The Flyest Xmas party on Dec 20th, featuring The Soul Twins
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T ft. Jello Biafra : Shut Up, Be Happy
One of those tracks that seems more relevant now than ever, this was the opener on Ice-T's underrated 1989 album "The Iceberg". A great marrying of elements, as Jello Biafra of the punk band Dead Kennedys delivers a totalitarian announcement (based on his own "Message From Our Sponsor" over a Black Sabbath loop. I couldn't put this anywhere but as the intro to the episode!
Camp Lo : 82 Afros
Kicking the pace up a touch, we move straight into a killer Camp Lo cut from the "Black Hollywood" LP, with Ski cooking up a banging rock-based beat. The kick and snare are straight boom-bap, but the toms add an unexpected extra element on top of the distorted guitar and vocal sample. Cheeba and Geechi might be known for their smooth styles, but this is just one demonstration of the fact that they can get busy over any kind of beat.
J-Zone : Moonwalk / Gel N' Weave Remix (Instrumental)
I was struggling to find just the right instrumental for this spot, but went back to "The Headband Years" to find this beat from a producer who could make a beat our of almost anything. He's full-time on his funk drumming now, but has a great catalogue of Hip-Hop that can't be fronted on.
Kobaine : Ko.Bain
This is an artist I know very little about, as as far as I'm aware this is his only release to date, a nice little contribution to the 2002 "Subway Series Vol.1" compilation on Major League Entertainment. I got this on digital release which had no credits included, so I'm not sure who produced it - I can imagine it being a Nick Wiz or Tribeca track though.
Agallah : Ag Season
Brownsville's Agallah has often channelled the rockstar vibes in his career, and this woozy-guitared track from "Bo : The Legend of the Water Dragon" sounds entirely natural for him. Self-produced as always, it's short, rock solid, and to the point.
Fabolous : Breathe
Fifteen years old, already? This was a huge single for Fabolous, taken from his "Real Talk" album, and is one of his best-known tracks even after all these years. Just Blaze laced him with a beat based around Supertramp's "Crime of the Century", and got a surprise when Fab told him he'd written his lyrics around the "breathe" vocal sample on the track...because that's not what it said! However, on hearing the bars, Just went back and made some changes to align the audio with what Fab thought he heard!
Ras Kass ft. Killah Priest : Milli Vanilli
Ras Kass' "Quarterly" was collection of tracks he released once a week, finally brought together in late 2009 - and there are some great cuts in there. Here's one, with Veterano's beat sounding like a cybernetic heavy metal group trying to destroy the speaker stack! Ras cuts through it regardless, and special guest Killah Priest (fellow member of THE HRSMN) matches him bar for bar as always. The hook of course channels the then-recent Lil Wayne track "A Milli", which was a heavily-used beat for freestyles around this time.
Body Count : C-Note
This was one of the shorter and gentler tracks on the debut Body Count album, but was always one of my favourites - Ernie C makes that guitar cry for real. Ice-T's metal project was waved off by some doubters in the beginning, but the music was solid from their first appearance on the "OG: Original Gangster" album and they're still killing it to this day.
Bumpy Knuckles : Swazzee
This one is so aggro, you have to love it. Seriously, you'd better. Bumpy Knuckles is in fine form on this guaranteed weight-training motivational track from "Konexion", taking out sucker MCs, snitches, haters, and pretty much everyone else. The hook is reminiscent of an old Sly Stone cut, and Knockout's beat is ferocious - precise, measured drums with the harsh guitar over the top. Bumpy might be the king of the third verse but a track like this lets you know he can handle the first two just fine!
Public Enemy : Go Cat Go
The "He Got Game" soundtrack was unfairly overlooked by too many heads, but is an absolutely worthy entry in Public Enemy's long and storied discography. Chuck D's political awareness and love of sports (he actually wanted to be a sportscaster at one point) combined for a really interesting listen. Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto and Danny Saber of Black Grape cover this one in heavy guitars which would drown out most MCs, but not Chuck! As the album subtitle says, this one is about the game behind the game...
Boogie Down Productions : Ya Slippin
It's hard to think now of BDP being a crew with a future in doubt, but this is how it was back in 1988 as "By All Means Necessary" was released, not long after the murder of founding DJ Scott La Rock. KRS might be young here but he rhymes with the confidence of someone who left home as a child to become an MC, survived homelessness, and achieved his goal. He scolds weak MCs like "The Teacha" he is, and gets down on the production too - the rock heads will recognise this guitar sample a mile off!
Pharoahe Monch : Got You
Shout out to Vicky T for reminding me of this tune! The lead single from the "Training Day" soundtrack is one where I think the radio version (as heard here) surpasses the original. Monch perfectly encapsulates the essence of Denzel Washington's character, who is one of the classic movie villains of modern times - and strikingly, is based on real police.
[J-Zone] Boss Hog Barbarians : Celph Destruction (Instrumental)
Zone again, and while it one didn't come to mind immediately, the aggressive sonics of this instrumental get it the nod here. The Boss Hog Barbarians (J-Zone and Celph Titled) album is an absolute tribute to ignorance (intentionally), but if you can deal with that then it's an excellent addition to your collection.
LL Cool J : Go Cut Creator Go
Another 80s classic hard rocking track, from LL's "Bigger And Deffer" album. It's the kind of track we don't get now - the MC just bigging up the DJ. DJ Cut Creator was with LL from the very beginning, and was the one who actually helped him to get him name known, so it's nice to hear the appreciation. The scratches still stand up today and cut through even the loudest of the guitar samples on the track!
Sly Boogy : Fatal Mistake
Sly may not have put anything out for a while, but the San Bernadino native did drop a few nice tracks in the early 2000s. This one has him totally disregarding the common standards of Hip-Hop song structure, opening up with a thirty-two bar first verse just to show he's not playing. DJ Revolution provides the cuts, and production is courtesy of a then-emerging Jake One. This actually doesn't have a rock influence, but is here because of how well it goes with the next instrumental...
[Rick Rubin] Jay-Z : 99 Problems (Instrumental)
The combination of this and "Fatal Mistake" is one I discovered while doing a mix years and years ago, and wanted to bring out again when the opportunity arose! You probably all know the vocal version of this track, which appeared on Jay-Z's "The Black Album". While working with the legendary Def Jam co-founder and producer Rubin, Jay said he wanted something like the flavour he used to give to the Beastie Boys and this was the result - a meshing of several ideas that came together perfectly.
Public Enemy : She Watch Channel Zero?!
Let's be real - the sexism is heavy on this track! It'd be entirely reasonable to argue that spending all day watching sports on TV isn't any better than soap operas, but that's just my opinion :) 1988's "...Nation of Millions..." yields this song which had an interesting connection - sampling the group Slayer, who were produced by Def Jam founder and major PE supporter Rick Rubin.
Lacuna Coil : The Game
Going pure rock on this selection from this veteran Milanese gothic metal band! I actually learned about this group from "Guitar Hero" of all places, and "Our Truth" led me to the 2006 "Karmacode" album that included this track. It always reminded me a little of "Channel Zero", and while the guitar riffs are definitely fire and the drums bang, it's the combined and contrasting vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro that can't fail to grab your ear.
RJD2 : Exotic Talk
Prog rock meets Hip-Hop sensibilities as RJD2 twists and turns, chilling things out in parts before bringing the thunder crashing back in. Definite standout from 2004's "Since We Last Spoke".
Z-Trip : Rockstar
We close with a standout track from the "Return of the DJ, Volume II" compilation, with Phoenix's Z-Trip putting together a masterpiece of DJ/producer song construction. The sample list is long, and since I don't know what was and wasn't cleared, I won't give anything away here!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"In the land of the free, the slaves are still here."
- Jerry Beeks
The grind continues, and as the autumn starts to really draw in, the selection gets you prepared for full hoodie and boot season with some rugged sounds from the old to the new!
A couple of events for you...
The Flyest @ Klondyke Club, Manchester, November 15th - guest starring me on the turntables!
Artifacts ft. DJ Mr.Len @ Joshua Brooks, November 30th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Royal Flush : Life Is Hard
Royal Flush is known to most for his debut "Ghetto Millionaire" album, but he definitely has had some other solid tracks over the years. While this is on the 2019 release "The Governor", it was first heard on the 2005 "Street Boss" album. The production (don't have credits for this one) is top-notch, with the eerie and dramatic instrumental sounding very noir - a perfect backdrop for Flush's grim Queens thug braggadocio. Note: Flush claims to be "50% straight crook", which the late great Prodigy told us is not a thing ;)
[Maxmillion] Panda One : Elaborate (Touch You) (Instrumental)
There's another track on this 2002 12" that has been the favourite for me for a long time, but on a re-visit this month I had to give this beat a little bit of light! The sample it's based around has been used before, but not quite like this - good job by Maxmillion.
Phi Life Cypher : Earth Rulers
One of my favourite rhyme duos with a killer single! DJ Beware put me up on this one back in the day, but I only recently got my own vinyl copy. Si Phili and Life just firehose lyrics right down the DJ Nappa-produced track, in a way any fan of bars has to appreciate. The finishing touches are provided by the dancehall samples, which I think come from recordings of the veteran Earth Ruler sound system - the little one-bar sample that drops in in place of a hook is absolute fire!
Redlight Boogie ft. DJ Chainsaw : Hands Down
Amsterdam's Redlight Boogie yells, snarls, and spits his way through this cut from the "Dirty Money, Clean Hands" album - abrasive like a sack of Brillo pads. DJ Chainsaw drops in for some cuts at the close, which end up blending over the scratches from...
Gang Starr : Bad Name
Huge new single which the heavy Hip-Hop listeners will surely have had on repeat the last few weeks! Easily the biggest musical surprise of the last few years has been the news that a new Gang Starr album release is imminent, and that there have been unreleased Guru vocals in the vault all these years. The "Family & Loyalty" single stunned everyone, and this follow-up will keep the buzz going until the LP drops. DJ Premier on production, the late great Guru on the mic - it's what we've been missing.
Bronx Slang : More Grief
It's been great to see Bronx Slang getting momentum up this year off the back of their excellent debut album, and it just so happens that this track that I was planning to play anyway turns out to be their new single! Jerry Beeks gets busy on the mic with the kind of consciousness that a lot of people swear doesn't exist in music these days, while Jadell packs in the funk to complete the soulful stew. Don't sleep!
Jay Dee : Jay Dee #17
Big shout to Iain and Teresa for hooking up a release I needed in my collection - "King of the Beats" by J Dilla! Lots of unreleased beats on this one, as well as a few the hardcore listeners might know. This particular beat bounces along with that characteristic Dilla swing, focusing on the low end for a pleasing groove.
Skyzoo & Pete Rock : Ten Days
If you like Pete Rock beats, you want to get the new "Retropolitan" album - 100% Soul Brother #1, with Brooklyn's Skyzoo helming mic proceedings throughout. This isn't the kind of beat that you automatically associate with Rock, but it just goes to show he can be versatile with it. Skyzoo is on that "get money" talk here, with a hook that conjures up this scene from "Paid In Full".
As an aside - I totally forgot that the closing track on this album shares the podcast title, which I've wanted to use with the cover photo for a while!
Black Moon : A Haaa
My goodness, what a wait - sixteen years since the "Total Eclipse" album (2006's "Alter the Chemistry" was dope, but essentially a remix project), but at last Black Moon are back in full effect on "Rise of da Moon"! One of the original Timbs and hoodies crews, this episode wouldn't have been right without them. This tune is short but a banger, with a heavy digital bassline anchoring things while Buckshot showcases the flow and flavour that made him famous. Also check that heavy boom that kicks in between the 1 and 2 beats of each bar!
Black Thought ft. Styles P : Making A Murderer
Devastation from last year's "Streams of Thought, Volume 1" EP. More bars than HMP, more bars than Temple Bar. Black Thought is one of the world's best MCs, who needs no hook and offers no reprieve on his fire first verse. It's a brave man who would get on the mic after him, but Styles P takes the challenge and does himself proud - rising to the occasion. 9th Wonder's instrumental beats you into submission in the best way with the heaviness of the drum track, but it's Thought that holds the murder weapon here.
Children of Zeus : Ghost
CoZ maintained their hot streak of great music with "The Winter Tape", and it's just about the season for those tunes to get a re-airing. Tyler Daly takes sole charge of the vocals for this haunting tale of lost love.
Vanilla : Sweet Talk
The title track from the last of the soul-inspired beat tape trilogy by this UK producer is a smooth one. Vanilla works a melancholy 70s soul sample, and the drums are suitably subtle so as not to overpower it.
Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples : The Verdict
This is the first of two tracks from albums that opened up the nineties, just as we start to look towards a new decade. Professor Griff's solo debut album "Pawns in the Game" came during his initial suspension/expulsion, and found him on unfamiliar ground as he was not a rhyme writer by trade. Still, he delivered the rhymes with conviction (no pun intended) on a song that opens with a take on Louis Farrakhan's short play "The Trial", and the rest of the L.A.D come through too. Beat Master Clay D provides the beat, based on a familiar break that never gets old but packed with other samples in a way that is unaffordable in terms of clearance fees these days...
Master Ace : I Got Ta
When the Juice Crew veteran's name was still spelled this way, the year was 1990, haircuts were angular, and Ace was making his solo debut on the highly regarded "Take A Look Around", from which this track is taken! Mister Cee takes a classic James Brown sample and keeps the Godfather's voice in for Master Ace to work around lyrically as he states his intentions.
Joell Ortiz ft. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P : Put Some Money On It
Second straight tune working a vocal sample into the lyrics - this time, from the 2011 "Free Agent" mixtape with The LOX making a great guest appearance. Straight street bars all the way through, and Sean C and LV with the uptempo soul/funk production for a big win.
Sampa The Great ft. Krown : Time's Up
Massive thanks to Agent J for gifting me this LP! From Zambia via Botswana and Australia comes Sampa, whose new LP "The Return" jumps around stylistically but never lets you forget that this is an MC of quality. She and the featured guest Krown take the machinations of the record industry to task on this one and announce that the clock has run out on their BS. Silentjay's beat starts off centred around those stick hits to remind you of a clock, then brings those lows in to drive it forward. Definitely an album worth a listen!
Boogie Down Productions : Duck Down (Instrumental)
Early 90s ruggedness on this 12" release from the "Sex & Violence" LP. KRS and Pal Joey smack the beat into the drum sampler here, and right at the end you hear the sound effect that plays under one of Hip-Hop's best-remembered calls for a rewind!
Edgar Allen Floe : Arrest The President (Cypher God)
We played the original version of this track to open episode 90, almost three years ago, but I only recently learned that there was a remake! Edgar Allen Floe of the Justus League does a solid job with this, covering similar themes as the original and even borrowing some of the rhyme scheme while switching up the words themselves. The dope beat is pretty much the exact same as the Marley Marl-produced original, bringing that hectic 80s urgency and just begging to be cut up every time. Check out more of Floe's work on the rest of the album, "The Streetwise LP".
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"In the land of the free, the slaves are still here."
- Jerry Beeks
The grind continues, and as the autumn starts to really draw in, the selection gets you prepared for full hoodie and boot season with some rugged sounds from the old to the new!
A couple of events for you...
The Flyest @ Klondyke Club, Manchester, November 15th - guest starring me on the turntables!
Artifacts ft. DJ Mr.Len @ Joshua Brooks, November 30th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Royal Flush : Life Is Hard
Royal Flush is known to most for his debut "Ghetto Millionaire" album, but he definitely has had some other solid tracks over the years. While this is on the 2019 release "The Governor", it was first heard on the 2005 "Street Boss" album. The production (don't have credits for this one) is top-notch, with the eerie and dramatic instrumental sounding very noir - a perfect backdrop for Flush's grim Queens thug braggadocio. Note: Flush claims to be "50% straight crook", which the late great Prodigy told us is not a thing ;)
[Maxmillion] Panda One : Elaborate (Touch You) (Instrumental)
There's another track on this 2002 12" that has been the favourite for me for a long time, but on a re-visit this month I had to give this beat a little bit of light! The sample it's based around has been used before, but not quite like this - good job by Maxmillion.
Phi Life Cypher : Earth Rulers
One of my favourite rhyme duos with a killer single! DJ Beware put me up on this one back in the day, but I only recently got my own vinyl copy. Si Phili and Life just firehose lyrics right down the DJ Nappa-produced track, in a way any fan of bars has to appreciate. The finishing touches are provided by the dancehall samples, which I think come from recordings of the veteran Earth Ruler sound system - the little one-bar sample that drops in in place of a hook is absolute fire!
Redlight Boogie ft. DJ Chainsaw : Hands Down
Amsterdam's Redlight Boogie yells, snarls, and spits his way through this cut from the "Dirty Money, Clean Hands" album - abrasive like a sack of Brillo pads. DJ Chainsaw drops in for some cuts at the close, which end up blending over the scratches from...
Gang Starr : Bad Name
Huge new single which the heavy Hip-Hop listeners will surely have had on repeat the last few weeks! Easily the biggest musical surprise of the last few years has been the news that a new Gang Starr album release is imminent, and that there have been unreleased Guru vocals in the vault all these years. The "Family & Loyalty" single stunned everyone, and this follow-up will keep the buzz going until the LP drops. DJ Premier on production, the late great Guru on the mic - it's what we've been missing.
Bronx Slang : More Grief
It's been great to see Bronx Slang getting momentum up this year off the back of their excellent debut album, and it just so happens that this track that I was planning to play anyway turns out to be their new single! Jerry Beeks gets busy on the mic with the kind of consciousness that a lot of people swear doesn't exist in music these days, while Jadell packs in the funk to complete the soulful stew. Don't sleep!
Jay Dee : Jay Dee #17
Big shout to Iain and Teresa for hooking up a release I needed in my collection - "King of the Beats" by J Dilla! Lots of unreleased beats on this one, as well as a few the hardcore listeners might know. This particular beat bounces along with that characteristic Dilla swing, focusing on the low end for a pleasing groove.
Skyzoo & Pete Rock : Ten Days
If you like Pete Rock beats, you want to get the new "Retropolitan" album - 100% Soul Brother #1, with Brooklyn's Skyzoo helming mic proceedings throughout. This isn't the kind of beat that you automatically associate with Rock, but it just goes to show he can be versatile with it. Skyzoo is on that "get money" talk here, with a hook that conjures up this scene from "Paid In Full". As an aside - I totally forgot that the closing track on this album shares the podcast title, which I've wanted to use with the cover photo for a while!
Black Moon : A Haaa
My goodness, what a wait - sixteen years since the "Total Eclipse" album (2006's "Alter the Chemistry" was dope, but essentially a remix project), but at last Black Moon are back in full effect on "Rise of da Moon"! One of the original Timbs and hoodies crews, this episode wouldn't have been right without them. This tune is short but a banger, with a heavy digital bassline anchoring things while Buckshot showcases the flow and flavour that made him famous. Also check that heavy boom that kicks in between the 1 and 2 beats of each bar!
Black Thought ft. Styles P : Making A Murderer
Devastation from last year's "Streams of Thought, Volume 1" EP. More bars than HMP, more bars than Temple Bar. Black Thought is one of the world's best MCs, who needs no hook and offers no reprieve on his fire first verse. It's a brave man who would get on the mic after him, but Styles P takes the challenge and does himself proud - rising to the occasion. 9th Wonder's instrumental beats you into submission in the best way with the heaviness of the drum track, but it's Thought that holds the murder weapon here.
Children of Zeus : Ghost
CoZ maintained their hot streak of great music with "The Winter Tape", and it's just about the season for those tunes to get a re-airing. Tyler Daly takes sole charge of the vocals for this haunting tale of lost love.
Vanilla : Sweet Talk
The title track from the last of the soul-inspired beat tape trilogy by this UK producer is a smooth one. Vanilla works a melancholy 70s soul sample, and the drums are suitably subtle so as not to overpower it.
Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples : The Verdict
This is the first of two tracks from albums that opened up the nineties, just as we start to look towards a new decade. Professor Griff's solo debut album "Pawns in the Game" came during his initial suspension/expulsion, and found him on unfamiliar ground as he was not a rhyme writer by trade. Still, he delivered the rhymes with conviction (no pun intended) on a song that opens with a take on Louis Farrakhan's short play "The Trial", and the rest of the L.A.D come through too. Beat Master Clay D provides the beat, based on a familiar break that never gets old but packed with other samples in a way that is unaffordable in terms of clearance fees these days...
Master Ace : I Got Ta
When the Juice Crew veteran's name was still spelled this way, the year was 1990, haircuts were angular, and Ace was making his solo debut on the highly regarded "Take A Look Around", from which this track is taken! Mister Cee takes a classic James Brown sample and keeps the Godfather's voice in for Master Ace to work around lyrically as he states his intentions.
Joell Ortiz ft. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P : Put Some Money On It
Second straight tune working a vocal sample into the lyrics - this time, from the 2011 "Free Agent" mixtape with The LOX making a great guest appearance. Straight street bars all the way through, and Sean C and LV with the uptempo soul/funk production for a big win.
Sampa The Great ft. Krown : Time's Up
Massive thanks to Agent J for gifting me this LP! From Zambia via Botswana and Australia comes Sampa, whose new LP "The Return" jumps around stylistically but never lets you forget that this is an MC of quality. She and the featured guest Krown take the machinations of the record industry to task on this one and announce that the clock has run out on their BS. Silentjay's beat starts off centred around those stick hits to remind you of a clock, then brings those lows in to drive it forward. Definitely an album worth a listen!
Boogie Down Productions : Duck Down (Instrumental)
Early 90s ruggedness on this 12" release from the "Sex & Violence" LP. KRS and Pal Joey smack the beat into the drum sampler here, and right at the end you hear the sound effect that plays under one of Hip-Hop's best-remembered calls for a rewind!
Edgar Allen Floe : Arrest The President (Cypher God)
We played the original version of this track to open episode 90, almost three years ago, but I only recently learned that there was a remake! Edgar Allen Floe of the Justus League does a solid job with this, covering similar themes as the original and even borrowing some of the rhyme scheme while switching up the words themselves. The dope beat is pretty much the exact same as the Marley Marl-produced original, bringing that hectic 80s urgency and just begging to be cut up every time. Check out more of Floe's work on the rest of the album, "The Streetwise LP".
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I will not lose."
- Jay-Z
Back on the road after an unscheduled absence, and now with a fully operational battle station (see my IG stories for more). This month's selection starts with a few tracks to test your audio installation, remembers 2Pac twenty-three years after he passed, and is pretty much guaranteed to hit you with at least one track you didn't already know! Let's begin...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Federation ft. Daz Dillinger : We Ride
I've been banging this one hard for months, and it seemed like an appropriate one to start the episode with! That little pre-chorus amuses and entertains in equal measure, and gives a breather each time before Rick Rock's stomping beat comes crashing back in. This is a great tune from Federation's 2004 eponymous first album, and they rep Fairfield hard on the mic while also bringing in Daz from Tha Dogg Pound for a cosign from a veteran. One to crank your car system to, for sure!
DJ Quik : Ladies & Thugs (Instrumental)
This is far from my favourite track on the excellent "Trauma" album, but the beat fit really well here - and DJ Quik was generous enough to release an instrumental version of this album for us to hear his wicked beats taking centre stage.
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Static Major : Change The Game
Keeping it west coast on the production, Rick Rock is on the boards once again with what was arguably his national break-out tune. Jay-Z scooped up some of that Bay Area mob music vibe on this one, and featured two of the foremost MCs of the Roc-A-Fella roster of the time. The hook was provided by the sadly departed Static Major, and it fits perfectly. This was a big single from "The Dynasty : Roc La Familia", but didn't make anywhere near as much noise on the charts as the track that followed it on the LP - "I Just Wanna Love U".
80s Babies ft. Chaka B : Technology
This crew is made up of Tall Black Guy on the beats and Dee Jackson AKA Shogun on the mic, and their "Sonic Music" album is somehow almost ten years old already. "Technology" and the track that follow just happen to fit together nicely, with no deliberate plan to have a tech critique theme in this section! The lyrics lament the state of the modern world when it comes to our reliance on technological solutions, with some maybe being more useful than others. TBG is dope on the beat as always, and if you pay attention you may hear a little callback to a track from his hometown of Detroit...
OutKast ft. George Clinton : Synthesizer
George Clinton was a big feature to get when this came out on "Aquemini", and I'm sure he was drawn to OutKast's outer space vibes. This was released in 1998, pre-social media and in what was almost another technological age - despite this, the themes discussed have held up surprisingly well for a track over twenty years old. As much as anything, maybe OutKast were just rapping ahead of their time!
2Pac ft. Dogg Pound, Method Man, and Redman : Got My Mind Made Up
This is one of my favourites from the over-long "All Eyez On Me" album, but the background to this one is weird. There's about half a bar of background vocal from Inspektah Deck right at the end - he actually recorded a whole verse (as did Lady of Rage) which was omitted from the final version after a mix-up when tapes were being transferred. Daz Dillinger did the production as well as rhyming on the track with his Dogg Pound compatriot Kurupt, but Dr Dre allegedly claimed it at one point. Meth and Red somehow didn't get any publishing or plaques from this track, despite being major artists at the time who contributed typically dope verses. Industry rule #4080...
[K-Murdock] & Mega Ran : Player Two (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this from "Forever Famicom" is well worth hearing, but for now you get to hear just K-Murdock's quality beat. It works in groups of three bars, so catches you a little off-balance at first!
Blu & Oh No ft. Definite, Ca$hus King, and M.E.D : Boogie To Flex
From "A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night", we have tales of when the party goes all the way wrong and the gangsta business sets off! Oh No's beat is somehow bright and dark at once, bringing the tension, and every single guest MC brings it to the point that Blu only needs to come in with the perfectly-done hook.
Royce Da 5'9" ft. Tre Little, Cha Cha, Cut Throat, Jah 5'9", and Billie Nix : D-Elite, Pt. II
Both parts of this mini-series to the B-side of the pretty so-so "You Can't Touch Me" once again proves Chuck D right! I actually prefer the first one overall, but it's very short and tonally wouldn't fit here. Part II is no slouch, with Alchemist on production and a host of guest MCs - the D-Elite of the title, who Royce cedes the floor to.
Reks : Forrest Gump
I'm wondering if the 2013 "Revolution Cocktail" album has been deleted - I can't find it on Amazon, Spotify, or even Bandcamp! Listen to it if you get chance because there is some serious heat on there from the Lawrence, MA veteran.
Curren$y : Billy Ocean
When the going gets tough, the tough get blunted. New Orleans' own Curren$y is on some paid rapper lifestyle business on this selection from "The Spring Collection" mixtape. Cardo and Sledgren provide the midtempo but chilled beat.
Luxury Elite : Upscale
A little vaporwave instrumental break courtesy of West Virginia's Luxury Elite, from her "World Class" album. So eighties, so good.
Tobe Nwigwe : Mo City Don Freestyle
I'm going to keep telling you how ill this Houston MC is until you believe me for real! Pure bars on this track that pays homage to the legendary Z-Ro's "Mo City Don" freestyle from his "Let The Truth Be Told" LP - which itself pays respect to the great Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full". Don't ever believe that real Hip-Hop isn't still alive and well in our era.
Zion I ft. Pep Love : Warrior's Dance
Back to the "Deep Water Slang v2.0" LP for a track that's motivational and bouncing at the same time - nothing less than you'd expect of this crew from Oakland, home of the Black Panthers! Fellow Oakland MC Pep Love of the Hieroglyphics family guests on here, taking half of each verse as well as the very last rhymes of the final verse. This is a salute to freedom fighters over a solid Amp Live beat.
Large Professor : Live In Stereo
This is very distinctly new-era (well, 2002) Large Pro, with the more electronic sound he started developing after the SP-1200 days that first made his name. The "1st Class" LP is Large Pro's second album, but the first to actually be released after "The LP" was shelved by Geffen and subsequently heavily bootlegged - finally surfacing in 2009.
Wretch 32 and Avelino ft. Bobii Lewis and Super N£ro : Nothing Will
This is such heat, and may well have slipped past the radar of many. Wretch 32 and Avelino are MCs who represent Tottenham heavy - at the time of this recording, Wretch being a relative veteran and Avelino the up-and-comer. A standout on the 2015 "Young Fire, Old Flame" mixtape, this tune has all MCs dropping deep quotables all over the DJ Smasherelly track, and Bobii Lewis with a great performance on the hook too.
Pete Rock : Heaven & Earth
A gentle head-nodder from a man who has been bringing us classic production for almost thirty years now! If you like this, be sure to get the "Petestrumentals 2" album.
Nas : We Will Survive
After watching the episodes of the latest "Hip-Hop Evolution" series on the tragic beef between Death Row and Bad Boy, this track stood out for me while listening to Nas' third album "I Am". It's definitely one of the best on the LP in my opinion, with Nas speaking on his relationships with the late 2Pac and Biggie Smalls. The beat is a reflective number by Trackmasters and Jamal Edgerton, working a (cleared!) Kenny Loggins sample. This was a fitting song to end the episode with.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I will not lose."
- Jay-Z
Back on the road after an unscheduled absence, and now with a fully operational battle station (see my IG stories for more). This month's selection starts with a few tracks to test your audio installation, remembers 2Pac twenty-three years after he passed, and is pretty much guaranteed to hit you with at least one track you didn't already know! Let's begin...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Federation ft. Daz Dillinger : We Ride
I've been banging this one hard for months, and it seemed like an appropriate one to start the episode with! That little pre-chorus amuses and entertains in equal measure, and gives a breather each time before Rick Rock's stomping beat comes crashing back in. This is a great tune from Federation's 2004 eponymous first album, and they rep Fairfield hard on the mic while also bringing in Daz from Tha Dogg Pound for a cosign from a veteran. One to crank your car system to, for sure!
DJ Quik : Ladies & Thugs (Instrumental)
This is far from my favourite track on the excellent "Trauma" album, but the beat fit really well here - and DJ Quik was generous enough to release an instrumental version of this album for us to hear his wicked beats taking centre stage.
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Static Major : Change The Game
Keeping it west coast on the production, Rick Rock is on the boards once again with what was arguably his national break-out tune. Jay-Z scooped up some of that Bay Area mob music vibe on this one, and featured two of the foremost MCs of the Roc-A-Fella roster of the time. The hook was provided by the sadly departed Static Major, and it fits perfectly. This was a big single from "The Dynasty : Roc La Familia", but didn't make anywhere near as much noise on the charts as the track that followed it on the LP - "I Just Wanna Love U".
80s Babies ft. Chaka B : Technology
This crew is made up of Tall Black Guy on the beats and Dee Jackson AKA Shogun on the mic, and their "Sonic Music" album is somehow almost ten years old already. "Technology" and the track that follow just happen to fit together nicely, with no deliberate plan to have a tech critique theme in this section! The lyrics lament the state of the modern world when it comes to our reliance on technological solutions, with some maybe being more useful than others. TBG is dope on the beat as always, and if you pay attention you may hear a little callback to a track from his hometown of Detroit...
OutKast ft. George Clinton : Synthesizer
George Clinton was a big feature to get when this came out on "Aquemini", and I'm sure he was drawn to OutKast's outer space vibes. This was released in 1998, pre-social media and in what was almost another technological age - despite this, the themes discussed have held up surprisingly well for a track over twenty years old. As much as anything, maybe OutKast were just rapping ahead of their time!
2Pac ft. Dogg Pound, Method Man, and Redman : Got My Mind Made Up
This is one of my favourites from the over-long "All Eyez On Me" album, but the background to this one is weird. There's about half a bar of background vocal from Inspektah Deck right at the end - he actually recorded a whole verse (as did Lady of Rage) which was omitted from the final version after a mix-up when tapes were being transferred. Daz Dillinger did the production as well as rhyming on the track with his Dogg Pound compatriot Kurupt, but Dr Dre allegedly claimed it at one point. Meth and Red somehow didn't get any publishing or plaques from this track, despite being major artists at the time who contributed typically dope verses. Industry rule #4080...
[K-Murdock] & Mega Ran : Player Two (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this from "Forever Famicom" is well worth hearing, but for now you get to hear just K-Murdock's quality beat. It works in groups of three bars, so catches you a little off-balance at first!
Blu & Oh No ft. Definite, Ca$hus King, and M.E.D : Boogie To Flex
From "A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night", we have tales of when the party goes all the way wrong and the gangsta business sets off! Oh No's beat is somehow bright and dark at once, bringing the tension, and every single guest MC brings it to the point that Blu only needs to come in with the perfectly-done hook.
Royce Da 5'9" ft. Tre Little, Cha Cha, Cut Throat, Jah 5'9", and Billie Nix : D-Elite, Pt. II
Both parts of this mini-series to the B-side of the pretty so-so "You Can't Touch Me" once again proves Chuck D right! I actually prefer the first one overall, but it's very short and tonally wouldn't fit here. Part II is no slouch, with Alchemist on production and a host of guest MCs - the D-Elite of the title, who Royce cedes the floor to.
Reks : Forrest Gump
I'm wondering if the 2013 "Revolution Cocktail" album has been deleted - I can't find it on Amazon, Spotify, or even Bandcamp! Listen to it if you get chance because there is some serious heat on there from the Lawrence, MA veteran.
Curren$y : Billy Ocean
When the going gets tough, the tough get blunted. New Orleans' own Curren$y is on some paid rapper lifestyle business on this selection from "The Spring Collection" mixtape. Cardo and Sledgren provide the midtempo but chilled beat.
Luxury Elite : Upscale
A little vaporwave instrumental break courtesy of West Virginia's Luxury Elite, from her "World Class" album. So eighties, so good.
Tobe Nwigwe : Mo City Don Freestyle
I'm going to keep telling you how ill this Houston MC is until you believe me for real! Pure bars on this track that pays homage to the legendary Z-Ro's "Mo City Don" freestyle from his "Let The Truth Be Told" LP - which itself pays respect to the great Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full". Don't ever believe that real Hip-Hop isn't still alive and well in our era.
Zion I ft. Pep Love : Warrior's Dance
Back to the "Deep Water Slang v2.0" LP for a track that's motivational and bouncing at the same time - nothing less than you'd expect of this crew from Oakland, home of the Black Panthers! Fellow Oakland MC Pep Love of the Hieroglyphics family guests on here, taking half of each verse as well as the very last rhymes of the final verse. This is a salute to freedom fighters over a solid Amp Live beat.
Large Professor : Live In Stereo
This is very distinctly new-era (well, 2002) Large Pro, with the more electronic sound he started developing after the SP-1200 days that first made his name. The "1st Class" LP is Large Pro's second album, but the first to actually be released after "The LP" was shelved by Geffen and subsequently heavily bootlegged - finally surfacing in 2009.
Wretch 32 and Avelino ft. Bobii Lewis and Super N£ro : Nothing Will
This is such heat, and may well have slipped past the radar of many. Wretch 32 and Avelino are MCs who represent Tottenham heavy - at the time of this recording, Wretch being a relative veteran and Avelino the up-and-comer. A standout on the 2015 "Young Fire, Old Flame" mixtape, this tune has all MCs dropping deep quotables all over the DJ Smasherelly track, and Bobii Lewis with a great performance on the hook too.
Pete Rock : Heaven & Earth
A gentle head-nodder from a man who has been bringing us classic production for almost thirty years now! If you like this, be sure to get the "Petestrumentals 2" album.
Nas : We Will Survive
After watching the episodes of the latest "Hip-Hop Evolution" series on the tragic beef between Death Row and Bad Boy, this track stood out for me while listening to Nas' third album "I Am". It's definitely one of the best on the LP in my opinion, with Nas speaking on his relationships with the late 2Pac and Biggie Smalls. The beat is a reflective number by Trackmasters and Jamal Edgerton, working a (cleared!) Kenny Loggins sample. This was a fitting song to end the episode with.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...we see people as numbers and we make 'em check a box."
- Invincible
I couldn't not acknowledge the numerical sequence in this month's episode number! The episode title ties into that, but also the consistency I pride myself on when it comes to getting the show completed; on time, every time. As far as the tunes this time out, there are a few that play on the theme, plus we remember the great Sean Price on the 4th anniversary of his passing, as well as a bunch of other interesting tracks both old and new. 1, 2, 3, let's go!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Geto Boys : 1, 2, the 3
I'm opening with this track just on principle, but only including Scarface's opening verse - if you want the whole thing, look up "The Foundation" album. That Tone Capone (who gave us the classic "I Got 5 On It") groove is wicked though...
[Pete Rock] Ed O.G. : Right Now! (Instrumental)
It's always good to hear a Pete Rock beat, and the re-issue of "My Own Worst Enemy", his album with Boston legend Edo G, has a full set of instrumentals 👍
Sean Price ft. St.Maffew : Weed & Hoes
Disrespectful on multiple levels - but so good. Not sure who produced this, but that's a brilliant bit of sample manipulation to turn gospel vocals into the hook for this thugged-out track. Sean's verse is definitely the one, but Maffew Ragazino (performing under an (in)appropriate alias) does his thing here too. If you can find it, this track is on the "Kimbo Price" mixtape. I can't believe this is ten years old already!
Heather B : All Glocks Down
A classic anti-gun record from the mid-90s, with this BDP affiliate taking no kinds of shorts on the mic at all! In fact, she would say she was "Takin' Mine", as her debut LP was titled. Kenny Parker works an old soul classic for the beat.
Termanology ft. Bun B : How We Rock
I don't know why I haven't played this one until now - it's been a headphone favourite for a long time, as you can tell by the reference to "Obama '08"! Lawrence, MA and Port Arthur, TX in combination here as Termanology brings in the legend Bun B of UGK to add his gravitas and gravelly flow to this DJ Premier-produced track. "Politics As Usual" is definitely worth a listen if you don't know it, and a re-listen if you do - there are a good number of quality tracks on it.
Papoose : Numerical Slaughter
Every time I think of Papoose, I now think of the late Combat Jack (RIP) - that said, I'd like to think even he couldn't deny this one! In a thematic blend between "Alphabetical Slaughter" and something like Emanon's "Count Your Blessings", 2019 Papoose runs through the numbers one to nine over a dramatic DJ Premier beat. Bars like this show that the title of his new LP ("Underrated") is an accurate one.
Jel : Loop/Truncate
We take a break from the rhymes to hear some pure SP1200 wizardry from Anticon's Jel, taken from the appropriately-titled "10 Seconds" album. That drum programming clearly took some serious work - those who've ever tried it will understand the difficulty level of some of those fills!
Bumpy Knuckles ft. Big Gov, V Stylez, and Kuye Mason : In Love With The Game
The "Pop Duke, Vol.1" LP is a heavy collaboration with the producer Nottz which is a recommended pickup if you love that boom-bap sound. While there are some big guests on the album, this track features some less well-known artists - Big Gov and V Stylez from Detroit, plus NYC's Kuye Mason on the hook. The beat grinds along like a drunk and grimier version of EPMD's "Headbanger", and after all the guests have eaten, Bumpy Knuckles comes in at the end to do what he does best - clean up like a pro.
Freddie Gibbs : Fuckin' Up The Count
Dark drug business from Gangsta Gibbs' "Shadow of a Doubt" LP. If you were a fan of "The Wire", you might recognise the intro voiceover, bridge, and the outro (if you can hear it) from some classic scenes taken from that monumental series. Speakerbomb, Frank Dukes, and Boi-1da merge some melancholy piano and bass which match the theme with some clean trap drums for that speaker shake.
Portishead : Numb
The classic "Dummy" album, Portishead's debut, is twenty-five years old this month! This was the lead single, and one hell of an introduction to this Bristol trio. Hip-Hop heads would immediately be able to detect the presence of kindred spirits in method and influence, if not direct style. A track like this wouldn't be the same without Geoff Barrow's scratching filling in the breaks between Beth Gibbons' killer vocals. If you don't know this album, sit in on an evening and give it a front-to-back listen.
Marco Polo ft. Sean P & Rock : I'm So High (Remix)
It was completely coincidental I ended up choosing two weed-themed Sean P tracks this month! This one is new to me, but is a winner - reuniting Heltah Skeltah on a fire Marco Polo beat. The original version of this track, minus Rock, is at least seven years old, so it's not a posthumous piece as such - Marco and Sean definitely worked together on this. "The Green" mini-album compilation is a whole project of ganja business, which I can at least appreciate on a music level even if it's not my experience :)
MFSB : Something For Nothing
Even if you don't know this song, it'll be familiar to quite a number of you because it's been sampled so many times! I'm playing this from an old dusty 7", but that's just a single release from the 1973 self-titled debut album from the house band of the mighty Philadelphia International Records.
The Left ft. Invincible : Statistics
I believe it was Vicky T's "Rhyme & Reason" show that introduced me to this track. The Left is a Detroit crew made up of Journalist 103 on the mic, Apollo Brown on production, and DJ Soko with the cuts. Local mic flamethrower Invincible is the featured artist on this selection from the 2010 "Gas Mask" album, and both MCs paint pictures (one first-person, one not) of hard lives in the face of an uncaring, bureaucratic system.
Rapsody ft. GZA and D'Angelo : Ibtihaj
Now this is what you call a big co-sign - Rapsody rhyming over a tweaked version of the "Liquid Swords" beat, and getting GZA himself to contribute a guest verse! If that wasn't enough, the notoriously reclusive D'Angelo comes in to perform the hook. That kind of weight lets you know that this MC is the truth. She commands the mic with strength and confidence, and it feels like the start of a coming-out party. The new "Eve" album is a sixteen-song collection where every track is names after a woman Rapsody admires - in this case, the American Muslim hijabi fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. Enjoy listening here, but the striking video is definitely worth a watch too!
Camp Lo : Superfly
This Camp Lo demo is dope as-is, but one that I wouldn't have minded hearing done again for the "Uptown Saturday Night" LP. As it is, this is a track that was unknown to most of us until the release of "On The Way Uptown", which collected together a lot of the demos and sketches from that era. Boom-bap, sparkle, and slang in abundance.
DRS ft. Enei : Count To Ten
Last episode you heard DRS in Hip-Hop mode from his most recent LP, but here we go D&B as we wind it all the way back to his debut LP, "I Don't Usually Like MCs But..." DRS delivers his lines with a measured aggression and is never hurried by the track - like an MC version of the T-101. For the instrumental, Russian producer Enei keeps things stark and dark.
Kev Brown : Victorious
Beat-heads will enjoy Kev Brown's short concept beat tape "Delve Into Classical Moog" from which this is taken; not only does he make heavy use of the sounds of the synth of the same name, but also samples the words of the great Robert Moog himself. I've extended this track a bit to make it more suitable for the show outro voiceover, and it was one well worth playing right to the end.
Redman : Da Countdown (Saga Continues)
This might have been a more appropriate pick for episode 321, but if I'm lucky and energetic enough to get that far, that's over sixteen years away - which would make this track officially an oldie! As it is, this is the highlight of the 2004 "Ill At Will" mixtape by Redman, coming out on his then-new label, Gilla House. The beat is bombastic, and Red is not coming meek and mild with it either! The sample on the hook should sound familiar to those who've been listening since the 90s - it's from the final NWA album. Ironic that the saga did not continue in the way they might have expected...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...we see people as numbers and we make 'em check a box."
- Invincible
I couldn't not acknowledge the numerical sequence in this month's episode number! The episode title ties into that, but also the consistency I pride myself on when it comes to getting the show completed; on time, every time. As far as the tunes this time out, there are a few that play on the theme, plus we remember the great Sean Price on the 4th anniversary of his passing, as well as a bunch of other interesting tracks both old and new. 1, 2, 3, let's go!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Geto Boys : 1, 2, the 3
I'm opening with this track just on principle, but only including Scarface's opening verse - if you want the whole thing, look up "The Foundation" album. That Tone Capone (who gave us the classic "I Got 5 On It") groove is wicked though...
[Pete Rock] Ed O.G. : Right Now! (Instrumental)
It's always good to hear a Pete Rock beat, and the re-issue of "My Own Worst Enemy", his album with Boston legend Edo G, has a full set of instrumentals 👍
Sean Price ft. St.Maffew : Weed & Hoes
Disrespectful on multiple levels - but so good. Not sure who produced this, but that's a brilliant bit of sample manipulation to turn gospel vocals into the hook for this thugged-out track. Sean's verse is definitely the one, but Maffew Ragazino (performing under an (in)appropriate alias) does his thing here too. If you can find it, this track is on the "Kimbo Price" mixtape. I can't believe this is ten years old already!
Heather B : All Glocks Down
A classic anti-gun record from the mid-90s, with this BDP affiliate taking no kinds of shorts on the mic at all! In fact, she would say she was "Takin' Mine", as her debut LP was titled. Kenny Parker works an old soul classic for the beat.
Termanology ft. Bun B : How We Rock
I don't know why I haven't played this one until now - it's been a headphone favourite for a long time, as you can tell by the reference to "Obama '08"! Lawrence, MA and Port Arthur, TX in combination here as Termanology brings in the legend Bun B of UGK to add his gravitas and gravelly flow to this DJ Premier-produced track. "Politics As Usual" is definitely worth a listen if you don't know it, and a re-listen if you do - there are a good number of quality tracks on it.
Papoose : Numerical Slaughter
Every time I think of Papoose, I now think of the late Combat Jack (RIP) - that said, I'd like to think even he couldn't deny this one! In a thematic blend between "Alphabetical Slaughter" and something like Emanon's "Count Your Blessings", 2019 Papoose runs through the numbers one to nine over a dramatic DJ Premier beat. Bars like this show that the title of his new LP ("Underrated") is an accurate one.
Jel : Loop/Truncate
We take a break from the rhymes to hear some pure SP1200 wizardry from Anticon's Jel, taken from the appropriately-titled "10 Seconds" album. That drum programming clearly took some serious work - those who've ever tried it will understand the difficulty level of some of those fills!
Bumpy Knuckles ft. Big Gov, V Stylez, and Kuye Mason : In Love With The Game
The "Pop Duke, Vol.1" LP is a heavy collaboration with the producer Nottz which is a recommended pickup if you love that boom-bap sound. While there are some big guests on the album, this track features some less well-known artists - Big Gov and V Stylez from Detroit, plus NYC's Kuye Mason on the hook. The beat grinds along like a drunk and grimier version of EPMD's "Headbanger", and after all the guests have eaten, Bumpy Knuckles comes in at the end to do what he does best - clean up like a pro.
Freddie Gibbs : Fuckin' Up The Count
Dark drug business from Gangsta Gibbs' "Shadow of a Doubt" LP. If you were a fan of "The Wire", you might recognise the intro voiceover, bridge, and the outro (if you can hear it) from some classic scenes taken from that monumental series. Speakerbomb, Frank Dukes, and Boi-1da merge some melancholy piano and bass which match the theme with some clean trap drums for that speaker shake.
Portishead : Numb
The classic "Dummy" album, Portishead's debut, is twenty-five years old this month! This was the lead single, and one hell of an introduction to this Bristol trio. Hip-Hop heads would immediately be able to detect the presence of kindred spirits in method and influence, if not direct style. A track like this wouldn't be the same without Geoff Barrow's scratching filling in the breaks between Beth Gibbons' killer vocals. If you don't know this album, sit in on an evening and give it a front-to-back listen.
Marco Polo ft. Sean P & Rock : I'm So High (Remix)
It was completely coincidental I ended up choosing two weed-themed Sean P tracks this month! This one is new to me, but is a winner - reuniting Heltah Skeltah on a fire Marco Polo beat. The original version of this track, minus Rock, is at least seven years old, so it's not a posthumous piece as such - Marco and Sean definitely worked together on this. "The Green" mini-album compilation is a whole project of ganja business, which I can at least appreciate on a music level even if it's not my experience :)
MFSB : Something For Nothing
Even if you don't know this song, it'll be familiar to quite a number of you because it's been sampled so many times! I'm playing this from an old dusty 7", but that's just a single release from the 1973 self-titled debut album from the house band of the mighty Philadelphia International Records.
The Left ft. Invincible : Statistics
I believe it was Vicky T's "Rhyme & Reason" show that introduced me to this track. The Left is a Detroit crew made up of Journalist 103 on the mic, Apollo Brown on production, and DJ Soko with the cuts. Local mic flamethrower Invincible is the featured artist on this selection from the 2010 "Gas Mask" album, and both MCs paint pictures (one first-person, one not) of hard lives in the face of an uncaring, bureaucratic system.
Rapsody ft. GZA and D'Angelo : Ibtihaj
Now this is what you call a big co-sign - Rapsody rhyming over a tweaked version of the "Liquid Swords" beat, and getting GZA himself to contribute a guest verse! If that wasn't enough, the notoriously reclusive D'Angelo comes in to perform the hook. That kind of weight lets you know that this MC is the truth. She commands the mic with strength and confidence, and it feels like the start of a coming-out party. The new "Eve" album is a sixteen-song collection where every track is names after a woman Rapsody admires - in this case, the American Muslim hijabi fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. Enjoy listening here, but the striking video is definitely worth a watch too!
Camp Lo : Superfly
This Camp Lo demo is dope as-is, but one that I wouldn't have minded hearing done again for the "Uptown Saturday Night" LP. As it is, this is a track that was unknown to most of us until the release of "On The Way Uptown", which collected together a lot of the demos and sketches from that era. Boom-bap, sparkle, and slang in abundance.
DRS ft. Enei : Count To Ten
Last episode you heard DRS in Hip-Hop mode from his most recent LP, but here we go D&B as we wind it all the way back to his debut LP, "I Don't Usually Like MCs But..." DRS delivers his lines with a measured aggression and is never hurried by the track - like an MC version of the T-101. For the instrumental, Russian producer Enei keeps things stark and dark.
Kev Brown : Victorious
Beat-heads will enjoy Kev Brown's short concept beat tape "Delve Into Classical Moog" from which this is taken; not only does he make heavy use of the sounds of the synth of the same name, but also samples the words of the great Robert Moog himself. I've extended this track a bit to make it more suitable for the show outro voiceover, and it was one well worth playing right to the end.
Redman : Da Countdown (Saga Continues)
This might have been a more appropriate pick for episode 321, but if I'm lucky and energetic enough to get that far, that's over sixteen years away - which would make this track officially an oldie! As it is, this is the highlight of the 2004 "Ill At Will" mixtape by Redman, coming out on his then-new label, Gilla House. The beat is bombastic, and Red is not coming meek and mild with it either! The sample on the hook should sound familiar to those who've been listening since the 90s - it's from the final NWA album. Ironic that the saga did not continue in the way they might have expected...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Scripture tell me no one excluded when rain drippin'..."
- Tobe Nwigwe
This month has been a rough one, but here we are once again with a brand new selection for your headphones and speakers! We remember the great KMG, and then sprinkle the selection with some strong UK tracks, overlook gems, rapid genre jumping, and one absolutely amazing remix. While individually there aren't many obscurities in the mix, I'll be impressed if anyone already knows every track on here...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : V.S.O.P (Remix)
Been waiting a long time to play this one - it was quite a few years of looking to find a decent 12" copy (thanks Discogs!), and then it was one I was determined to save for an anniversary of KMG's passing. The original from the excellent "Black Mafia Life" is proto-G-Funk, but this version puts a just a touch of extra chaos (and bass) into the mix, courtesy of Cold 187um on both occasions. An ode to late-night partying and cognac, but still bringing the battle edge to the second verse, this has KMG handling the hook solo but going back and forth with Cold 187um on the mic. A much underrated tag team from the west!
Jigmastas : Too Ill (Instrumental)
I love the fact that the "Resurgence" album came with a complete set of instrumentals, just so you can get that DJ Spinna flavour undiluted - here's just a taste!
Tobe Nwigwe ft. FAT : PEEP GAME
Another #GetTwistedSundays killer! I'm bringing this Texan back for a second appearance in the last four months, with a track I think a lot of you will really enjoy. The producer Nell brings a fresh style, with some great change-ups in the beat - and the other half of the bargain is held up with skills galore. Tobe absolutely crams meaning (and syllables) into his devastating monotone flow, and his wife FAT provides a great spoken-word-like breakdown in an efficient eight-bar appearance. This is a trio of brilliant artists (along with their video crew) doing amazing things.
BADBADNOTGOOD ft. Kaytranada & Snoop Dogg: Lavender (Nightfall Remix)
Canada's BBNG first released the original version of this track on their "IV" album, but Snoop Dogg heard it and somehow knew it could benefit from his own unique enhancement! This version ended up as an inclusion on his 2017 "Neva Left" album; his added verse addressing police brutality, in addition to the controversial video, thrust it into the consciousness of a much larger audience.
DRS : All Time High
I was reminded of this track from the new "From The Deep" LP when DRS performed it live at a Manchester International Festival event recently. He's one of the most important artists the Manchester scene has ever had, with his influence spreading far and wide - whether fully acknowledged or not. While he's now mostly known for his drum & bass work, he was of course one-third of Broke 'n' English (alongside Strategy and Konny Kon) and this album has him displaying his Hip-Hop skills over the production of Pitch 92.
Lowkey : Hand On Your Gun
If you like politics in your Hip-Hop, then Lowkey is someone you should definitely be checking for - a British MC of Iraqi descent, he brings his worldview to the mic with strength every time. His second album, "Soundtrack To The Struggle" gives us this stinging condemnation of some of the big players in the global arms trade, with ShowNProve providing the Wild West-themed track.
Kaytranada ft. Karriem Riggins and River Tiber : Bus Ride
A nice instrumental from the "99.9%" album. The guest star Karriem Riggins gets busy on the drums in a subtle way through most of the track before showing out right at the end with a little double-time flair!
Children of Zeus : Respect Mine
"Travel Light" is now a year old and it's still getting just as much play as it did on release! Juga-Naut on production, Mr.Thing on the sharp cuts, and Tyler and Konny Kon putting it down on the mic make up a major league quartet.
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Norah Jones : Let It Ride
As strong as this track is, it's not even one of my top three from "Black Radio 2", which speaks to just how good that album is! Mark Colenburg earns his money on the double-time drumming that you'd think had to be a programmed drum machine, setting a furious pace that the rest of the groove languidly follows. The bass and piano are low-key and do their thing without upstaging Norah Jones on the vocal of this classy cut.
Janelle Monáe : Cold War
This is an absolutely furious cut. The video is definitely worth a watch - similar to the one for Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U", it stays focused on her face for the entire running length and is packed with emotion, as are the lyrics. Clearly one of the standouts on "The ArchAndroid", with the themes of isolation and struggle articulated by one of the best artists of this era.
OutKast : B.O.B
I've been wanting to do the blend from "Cold War" to this for ages! One of my favourite tracks from this duo, this pretty much made my brain explode when I first heard it back in 2000. I was surprised to find out recently that this wasn't a big hit even on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, but they were actively trying to go against the grain and a lot of the audience probably just wasn't ready. To me, this is Andre and Big Boi at the peak of their lyrical games, keeping up with a track that really would fit the name "organised noize" - but was actually produced by the group themselves alongside Mr.DJ. That's a real gospel choir you're hearing on the hook and the outro, a really serious guitarist letting loose all over the track, and a real MPC being beaten into submission for those drums. Stone classic from the "Stankonia" LP. Oh, and "got a son on the way by the name of Bamboo"? Well, time flies...
[The Alchemist] Cam'ron : Wet Wipes (Instrumental)
This fit the bill here as something electronic-sounding that was also half the speed of the frenetic OutKast track, allowing us to come back down to earth a bit. The Alchemist cooked up a thudding, menacing beat for what was a typically disrespectful Cam'ron track from 2006's "Killa Season". This was actually Alchemist's first MPC beat (he was a devotee of the ASR-10 up to this point) and has the chopping and aggression that is very reminiscent of a track he did years later, Raekwon's "Surgical Gloves".
The Lady of Rage : Raw Deal
I finally sat down to listen to the "Necessary Roughness" album from front to back for the first time recently, and I can confirm that it was indeed slept-on. This was probably a consequence of it being pushed further and further back by Death Row, until it finally got a very quiet release in 1997. If you'd forgotten about the skills that made her a people's favourite, here's a reminder over a Daz Dillinger and Tyrone Wrice beat, laid-back enough to give her the space to get busy.
Glenn Lewis : Don't You Forget It (Curtis Lynch Remix)
FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! The original Glenn Lewis cut from "World Outside My Window") has always been a favourite of mine, and it's one you don't want to mess up with a clumsy remix - for example, the Desert Storm attempt with the most "missing the point" guest rap verse in music history. I can't remember how I found this one, but it stunned me - the re-interpretation is perfect. Lewis is from Trinidadian and Jamaican roots, and the move to connect with someone like London's Curtis Lynch for this remix was a natural but also an inspired move. It sounds like this one has been re-voiced rather than just swapping instrumentals, and it's a rootsy dancehall masterpiece with the drums, bass, and every single accent on point. Turn this one all the way up!
London Grammar : Non Believer
I'm not even sure what genre you'd count this as - Wikipedia claims "indie pop", but even that doesn't quite hit the mark. For me there are definite vibes of what they used to call "trip-hop" - I can imagine previous eras of Portishead or Massive Attack doing a tune like this. This track from "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing" is itself a melancholic beautiful thing, with Hannah Reid's crystal-clear vocals soaring over the moody beat.
Sean Price & Illa Ghee : 2Pac by the Locker
If you know "Juice", you know what this title is all about! I'd describe the track as "short and sweet", if there was anything remotely street about it. Sean P and Illa Ghee come through like a pair of brass knuckles as they do on every other cut on the "Metal Detectors" EP - just beasting.
Jake One : Gangsta Boy (Instrumental)
Coming through slamming like a new take on Dre's "Lyrical Gangbang", this is a monster of a beat from Jake One's "White Van Music Instrumentals". It had to be, since the MCs on the vocal version are the rugged neva smoove M.O.P.
Raekwon : Canal Street
Raekwon is one of the greatest picture painters in Hip-Hop history and this is an absolute art masterclass. From the first lines "All of our fathers is bank robbers, holding TECs/Eights of hero'n, shooting in the steps" he grabs your mind's eye and never lets it go until the track ends. Flawless street imagery all the way from "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.II" to such an extent that the video actually takes away from it! Icewater Productions bring a fairly well-used sample in that brings the crime-flick menace the lyrical content demands. One nice touch on the production side - the sudden turn up of the volume in a matter of a beat or two in the transition from the intro to the first verse - definitely makes it hit you in the chest.
EDIT : This is the second time ever I've accidentally re-used a track on the podcast! If ever there was one to play twice though...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Scripture tell me no one excluded when rain drippin'..."
- Tobe Nwigwe
This month has been a rough one, but here we are once again with a brand new selection for your headphones and speakers! We remember the great KMG, and then sprinkle the selection with some strong UK tracks, overlook gems, rapid genre jumping, and one absolutely amazing remix. While individually there aren't many obscurities in the mix, I'll be impressed if anyone already knows every track on here...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : V.S.O.P (Remix)
Been waiting a long time to play this one - it was quite a few years of looking to find a decent 12" copy (thanks Discogs!), and then it was one I was determined to save for an anniversary of KMG's passing. The original from the excellent "Black Mafia Life" is proto-G-Funk, but this version puts a just a touch of extra chaos (and bass) into the mix, courtesy of Cold 187um on both occasions. An ode to late-night partying and cognac, but still bringing the battle edge to the second verse, this has KMG handling the hook solo but going back and forth with Cold 187um on the mic. A much underrated tag team from the west!
Jigmastas : Too Ill (Instrumental)
I love the fact that the "Resurgence" album came with a complete set of instrumentals, just so you can get that DJ Spinna flavour undiluted - here's just a taste!
Tobe Nwigwe ft. FAT : PEEP GAME
Another #GetTwistedSundays killer! I'm bringing this Texan back for a second appearance in the last four months, with a track I think a lot of you will really enjoy. The producer Nell brings a fresh style, with some great change-ups in the beat - and the other half of the bargain is held up with skills galore. Tobe absolutely crams meaning (and syllables) into his devastating monotone flow, and his wife FAT provides a great spoken-word-like breakdown in an efficient eight-bar appearance. This is a trio of brilliant artists (along with their video crew) doing amazing things.
BADBADNOTGOOD ft. Kaytranada & Snoop Dogg: Lavender (Nightfall Remix)
Canada's BBNG first released the original version of this track on their "IV" album, but Snoop Dogg heard it and somehow knew it could benefit from his own unique enhancement! This version ended up as an inclusion on his 2017 "Neva Left" album; his added verse addressing police brutality, in addition to the controversial video, thrust it into the consciousness of a much larger audience.
DRS : All Time High
I was reminded of this track from the new "From The Deep" LP when DRS performed it live at a Manchester International Festival event recently. He's one of the most important artists the Manchester scene has ever had, with his influence spreading far and wide - whether fully acknowledged or not. While he's now mostly known for his drum & bass work, he was of course one-third of Broke 'n' English (alongside Strategy and Konny Kon) and this album has him displaying his Hip-Hop skills over the production of Pitch 92.
Lowkey : Hand On Your Gun
If you like politics in your Hip-Hop, then Lowkey is someone you should definitely be checking for - a British MC of Iraqi descent, he brings his worldview to the mic with strength every time. His second album, "Soundtrack To The Struggle" gives us this stinging condemnation of some of the big players in the global arms trade, with ShowNProve providing the Wild West-themed track.
Kaytranada ft. Karriem Riggins and River Tiber : Bus Ride
A nice instrumental from the "99.9%" album. The guest star Karriem Riggins gets busy on the drums in a subtle way through most of the track before showing out right at the end with a little double-time flair!
Children of Zeus : Respect Mine
"Travel Light" is now a year old and it's still getting just as much play as it did on release! Juga-Naut on production, Mr.Thing on the sharp cuts, and Tyler and Konny Kon putting it down on the mic make up a major league quartet.
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Norah Jones : Let It Ride
As strong as this track is, it's not even one of my top three from "Black Radio 2", which speaks to just how good that album is! Mark Colenburg earns his money on the double-time drumming that you'd think had to be a programmed drum machine, setting a furious pace that the rest of the groove languidly follows. The bass and piano are low-key and do their thing without upstaging Norah Jones on the vocal of this classy cut.
Janelle Monáe : Cold War
This is an absolutely furious cut. The video is definitely worth a watch - similar to the one for Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U", it stays focused on her face for the entire running length and is packed with emotion, as are the lyrics. Clearly one of the standouts on "The ArchAndroid", with the themes of isolation and struggle articulated by one of the best artists of this era.
OutKast : B.O.B
I've been wanting to do the blend from "Cold War" to this for ages! One of my favourite tracks from this duo, this pretty much made my brain explode when I first heard it back in 2000. I was surprised to find out recently that this wasn't a big hit even on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, but they were actively trying to go against the grain and a lot of the audience probably just wasn't ready. To me, this is Andre and Big Boi at the peak of their lyrical games, keeping up with a track that really would fit the name "organised noize" - but was actually produced by the group themselves alongside Mr.DJ. That's a real gospel choir you're hearing on the hook and the outro, a really serious guitarist letting loose all over the track, and a real MPC being beaten into submission for those drums. Stone classic from the "Stankonia" LP. Oh, and "got a son on the way by the name of Bamboo"? Well, time flies...
[The Alchemist] Cam'ron : Wet Wipes (Instrumental)
This fit the bill here as something electronic-sounding that was also half the speed of the frenetic OutKast track, allowing us to come back down to earth a bit. The Alchemist cooked up a thudding, menacing beat for what was a typically disrespectful Cam'ron track from 2006's "Killa Season". This was actually Alchemist's first MPC beat (he was a devotee of the ASR-10 up to this point) and has the chopping and aggression that is very reminiscent of a track he did years later, Raekwon's "Surgical Gloves".
The Lady of Rage : Raw Deal
I finally sat down to listen to the "Necessary Roughness" album from front to back for the first time recently, and I can confirm that it was indeed slept-on. This was probably a consequence of it being pushed further and further back by Death Row, until it finally got a very quiet release in 1997. If you'd forgotten about the skills that made her a people's favourite, here's a reminder over a Daz Dillinger and Tyrone Wrice beat, laid-back enough to give her the space to get busy.
Glenn Lewis : Don't You Forget It (Curtis Lynch Remix)
FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! The original Glenn Lewis cut from "World Outside My Window") has always been a favourite of mine, and it's one you don't want to mess up with a clumsy remix - for example, the Desert Storm attempt with the most "missing the point" guest rap verse in music history. I can't remember how I found this one, but it stunned me - the re-interpretation is perfect. Lewis is from Trinidadian and Jamaican roots, and the move to connect with someone like London's Curtis Lynch for this remix was a natural but also an inspired move. It sounds like this one has been re-voiced rather than just swapping instrumentals, and it's a rootsy dancehall masterpiece with the drums, bass, and every single accent on point. Turn this one all the way up!
London Grammar : Non Believer
I'm not even sure what genre you'd count this as - Wikipedia claims "indie pop", but even that doesn't quite hit the mark. For me there are definite vibes of what they used to call "trip-hop" - I can imagine previous eras of Portishead or Massive Attack doing a tune like this. This track from "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing" is itself a melancholic beautiful thing, with Hannah Reid's crystal-clear vocals soaring over the moody beat.
Sean Price & Illa Ghee : 2Pac by the Locker
If you know "Juice", you know what this title is all about! I'd describe the track as "short and sweet", if there was anything remotely street about it. Sean P and Illa Ghee come through like a pair of brass knuckles as they do on every other cut on the "Metal Detectors" EP - just beasting.
Jake One : Gangsta Boy (Instrumental)
Coming through slamming like a new take on Dre's "Lyrical Gangbang", this is a monster of a beat from Jake One's "White Van Music Instrumentals". It had to be, since the MCs on the vocal version are the rugged neva smoove M.O.P.
Raekwon : Canal Street
Raekwon is one of the greatest picture painters in Hip-Hop history and this is an absolute art masterclass. From the first lines "All of our fathers is bank robbers, holding TECs/Eights of hero'n, shooting in the steps" he grabs your mind's eye and never lets it go until the track ends. Flawless street imagery all the way from "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.II" to such an extent that the video actually takes away from it! Icewater Productions bring a fairly well-used sample in that brings the crime-flick menace the lyrical content demands. One nice touch on the production side - the sudden turn up of the volume in a matter of a beat or two in the transition from the intro to the first verse - definitely makes it hit you in the chest.
EDIT : This is the second time ever I've accidentally re-used a track on the podcast! If ever there was one to play twice though...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...celebrate like a crooked capitalist..."
- Mr. Voodoo
The podcast reaches a huge landmark this month - the tenth birthday! Thank you to all of you for your support along the way. It's not easy to put together a show month after month, but when I hear from people how much they enjoy listening (especially when they've gone out and bought some of the records), it makes it all worth it.
I hope you enjoy this month's show - there are some rarities, some obscurities, and a bit of an extra-special treat! I've dipped into the vaults for some real personal favourites, so hopefully they're loved outside of the confines of my headphones!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Run-DMC : For 10 Years
Only a short one, from their comeback "Down With The King" LP - when else was I going to have a chance to play it? :)
Natural Elements : Live It Up
Big 12" from my university days, a period when Natural Elements were already making themselves one of my all-time favourite crews. This track from the soundtrack to the not-particularly-notable film "Black Mask" was also on the B-side to the also-excellent "2 Tons", and that's a vinyl you should be able to pick up very cheaply nowadays on the used market. Charlemagne (the real one) is on the beat, and as with all NE tracks, lyrical quality is guaranteed and delivered.
[Nick Wiz] Shabaam Sahdeeq ft. Cocoa Brovaz : Every Rhyme I Write (Instrumental)
I was almost going to include the vocal version of this track (known to most from the "Soundbombing 2" mixtape), until it twigged how well the beat mixed with the NE track before it. Nick Wiz of that era was a master of blending those staccato electronic sounds with more traditional Hip-Hop drums and bass, and he's still doing his thing today.
As an aside, I think me and my man Pascal may be the only two people ever to blast the "Soundbombing 2" tape while barrelling through the Budapest area in an old Trabant. True story.
Mobb Deep : Rare Species (Modus Operandi)
It's already been two years this month since Prodigy passed. For this special episode, I thought it was worth pulling out a lesser-known track which also contains one of my favourite verses of his. Those of you who know this already will be aware that it came out on the soundtrack for "Soul in the Hole" (in the fine tradition of 90s soundtrack records that barely relate to the film), but it's actually a remix to an unreleased tune called "Reach". Classic Mobb dunn business all over, but the start of that second P verse...just too good. Havoc definitely kills it on the beat, with snapping drums over the top of some subtly clever sample work.
Black Moon : Freestyle
I'd forgotten quite how aggro this was! Buckshot is solo on the mic here with that real 90s grittiness over a flawless beat from Da Beatminerz. The "War Zone" LP was very different to "Enta Da Stage" - not as jazzy, definitely a different sound - but is not one to be overlooked.
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Consequence : Mind Power
The first two tracks in this section have been pretty gully, so for the second half we keep the flow sonically but take the lyrical aggression down a few notches. "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" is an LP that had to grow on me, but this track was always up there. The lyrical quality is there, drums are crispy as you like, and it's got a jazzy feel that could easily have fit onto either of their previous two albums.
DJ Honda & De La Soul : Trouble In The Water
Chilling things all the way out as we come to the end of this section, this is a really good De La track that may have passed some people by. From the second DJ Honda album comes this reflective song, which for me is absolutely made by that first verse, reminiscing on growing up.
Oddisee : After Thoughts
One of the many great instrumentals on Oddisee's "The Beauty In All" album. I didn't realise until doing some research that this is unbelievably popular on Spotify, which is pleasantly surprising. It's always good to find out that people appreciate quality music that the industry isn't pushing upon them!
Mary J. Blige : Good Woman Down
I only heard this 9th Wonder-produced track recently thanks to an article from the man Gino Sorcinelli, the man behind the excellent Micro-Chop blog. Mary is someone I firmly believe will one day have a film made of her life, and she gives just a small window here on this great song from "The Breakthrough". She's been through a lot, and thank goodness, she's still here and still on her game.
Agallah : Don't Wanna Be The Last
From around the period when Agallah was doing a lot of work with PCP/Dipset, this has been a drivetime favourite for me for the last three cars I've had! A hard one to find for quite a while, Agallah's 2004 "Doomsday" mixtape is the source for this one. Like the track that follows, if you enjoy hearing the kick drum get busy then this should be right up your street.
Camp Lo : Cookers
Chuck D tried to tell you - B-side wins again! From the quiet period between their storming debut "Uptown Saturday Night" and their underrated sophomore release "Let's Do It Again", the "Troubleman/Cookers" 12" let the world know that the Lo were still on it! Geechi and Cheeba go back and forth with ease over Ski's beat, one that clearly drew on the EEC kick drum mountain to smack harder than most.
Fat Joe ft. Armageddon : Find Out
Is that DJ Premier on the beat? Diamond D? Buckwild, perhaps? Nope, the legend Marley Marl reminding you that he fathered sampling/beat making in the way that many other great producers would do it today. That delicate acoustic guitar loop withstands an absolute battering from the heavy drums and bass Marley puts on, and Fat Joe has no problem slicing right through the middle or it all. This is from a white label 12", but you really want to pick up the "Don Cartagena" album for this and other gems.
Roni Size/Reprazent : Out Of The Game
Bristol, stand up! Even in the period when I really didn't mess with much drum & bass, I couldn't deny the "In The Møde" album. This hectic track was one of my favourites, largely off that moody, crime-thriller guitar riff. Smashing along at almost 180bpm, it still sounds masterfully under control.
8 Gold Rings & In The Loop MCs : Tribe Cipher
Here's a special treat for you - big thanks to Agent J and 8 Gold Rings for making it possible to include this month! The much-missed Manchester Hip-Hop club In The Loop was known not just for the great selections from DJ A-Up and Agent J, or the flavoursome hosting of Bedos, but for the monthly ciphers in which local MCs could step up and showcase their skills - ciphers from which a lot of great local MCs have emerged. Around the time of my "Manchester Marauders" exhibition, In The Loop connected with the then-nascent band that came to be known as 8 Gold Rings, and got them to soundtrack the month's cipher with a set of live renditions of A Tribe Called Quest instrumentals. Here we have just over 20 minutes of that absolutely fire session, with 8GR playing like a live mixtape while the vocalists battle for the month's crown.
Air Adam : Walk
An old beat I found while having a look through my archives - I couldn't hear an MC on it, but I found it's one I kept listening to so it's perfect for an instrumental bed here!
Geto Boys : Fuck A War
RIP Bushwick Bill. He had one of the more unique career paths, from dancer with the original Ghetto Boys, to MC with the reconstituted Geto Boys, solo releases, and eventually becoming a born-again Christian in a complete 180 to much of his old lyrical content. Right here, we're on the Geto Boys' second LP, "We Can't Be Stopped" (the one with the infamous album cover of Bill after he had shot himself in the eye [content warning]), and he goes solo on the mic putting the first George Bush and the Gulf War on full blast. The third verse goes a little off-piste with the message compared to the rest, and with the hook also being too short to really mix with, I did a little edit to just contain the first two verses and an instrumental outro for a nice blend.
E-40 ft. Keak da Sneak : Tell Me When To Go
"Jesus Christ had dreads, so shake 'em..." Bay Area classic material! For those of us outside the area, this was an anthem for the Hyphy movement, as E-40 and Keak lay down a little of the lifestyle - also illustrated in the wicked video. The first single from "My Ghetto Report Card" is just a certified banger, and guaranteed to make you move something. Surprisingly, the production was actually courtesy of an Atlanta native (crunk heavyweight Lil Jon), and it's almost entirely drums and percussion, with enough energy to make you want to throw something out of the window!
Zapp : Get Up Off The Wall
After the death of the great Roger Troutman, Zapp could have been forgiven for just packing up the whole thing for good. Fortunately for us, they're made of rare stuff, and after a few years off they returned. While they now are primarily concentrated on their live work, at which they are absolute masters, there have also been a couple of albums. "Zapp VI : Back By Popular Demand" gives us this track, with the air of classics like "Dance Floor". The CD is hard to find and incredibly expensive, so there's no shame in just going for a digital purchase here!
Ilajide : Don't Fake
If you haven't got "Heet Tape" yet, you're really missing out. Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide puts all the bump into reworking a classic 80s sample (which you may recognise, but which I won't name in case it's not cleared) and shows his rhyme skills into the bargain. It's just a genuinely fun track, and the video is in the same vein :)
The Chemical Brothers : Piku
The Chemical Brothers are one of a handful of groups I actually learned about from the old PlayStation game "Wipeout", and who coincidentally started DJing in the same student halls where I started to learn the craft! "Exit Planet Dust" is still my favourite LP from their catalogue, but "Dig Your Own Hole" definitely had tracks as well. This one I'd never paid that much attention to, but after a recent listen - and on realising the classic Motown sample they snuck in there - I was pleased to gain a new appreciation for it and find a spot for it here.
Ice-T & Ice Cube : Looters
Apologies for the sound quality, but here's a real rarity here for you! This was the unreleased title track for the soundtrack of the 1992 film that was eventually titled "Trespass" - until the L.A. Uprising happened. Ice-T and Ice Cube go hard on the mic over a beat that sounds like a Sir Jinx production, though I can't be sure. More so than the final title track (which I'm a big fan of), this one explicitly covers a lot of the plot of the actual film, so if you're trying to be efficient with your time... :) I chanced across this in a London used records shop, but your best chance of getting one of the few white label bootlegs is to hit Discogs.
Ry Cooder & Jim Keltner : King Of The Street
Finally, we close with the final track on the officially-released "Trespass" soundtrack album, a rock/blues (mostly) instrumental number that was a favourite of mine from the first listen! California's Ry Cooder plays many instruments, but on this track he shows his guitar chops alongside the skills of the legendary session drummer Jim Keltner. Aggressive, dramatic, pure flames.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...celebrate like a crooked capitalist..."
- Mr. Voodoo
The podcast reaches a huge landmark this month - the tenth birthday! Thank you to all of you for your support along the way. It's not easy to put together a show month after month, but when I hear from people how much they enjoy listening (especially when they've gone out and bought some of the records), it makes it all worth it.
I hope you enjoy this month's show - there are some rarities, some obscurities, and a bit of an extra-special treat! I've dipped into the vaults for some real personal favourites, so hopefully they're loved outside of the confines of my headphones!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Run-DMC : For 10 Years
Only a short one, from their comeback "Down With The King" LP - when else was I going to have a chance to play it? :)
Natural Elements : Live It Up
Big 12" from my university days, a period when Natural Elements were already making themselves one of my all-time favourite crews. This track from the soundtrack to the not-particularly-notable film "Black Mask" was also on the B-side to the also-excellent "2 Tons", and that's a vinyl you should be able to pick up very cheaply nowadays on the used market. Charlemagne (the real one) is on the beat, and as with all NE tracks, lyrical quality is guaranteed and delivered.
[Nick Wiz] Shabaam Sahdeeq ft. Cocoa Brovaz : Every Rhyme I Write (Instrumental)
I was almost going to include the vocal version of this track (known to most from the "Soundbombing 2" mixtape), until it twigged how well the beat mixed with the NE track before it. Nick Wiz of that era was a master of blending those staccato electronic sounds with more traditional Hip-Hop drums and bass, and he's still doing his thing today. As an aside, I think me and my man Pascal may be the only two people ever to blast the "Soundbombing 2" tape while barrelling through the Budapest area in an old Trabant. True story.
Mobb Deep : Rare Species (Modus Operandi)
It's already been two years this month since Prodigy passed. For this special episode, I thought it was worth pulling out a lesser-known track which also contains one of my favourite verses of his. Those of you who know this already will be aware that it came out on the soundtrack for "Soul in the Hole" (in the fine tradition of 90s soundtrack records that barely relate to the film), but it's actually a remix to an unreleased tune called "Reach". Classic Mobb dunn business all over, but the start of that second P verse...just too good. Havoc definitely kills it on the beat, with snapping drums over the top of some subtly clever sample work.
Black Moon : Freestyle
I'd forgotten quite how aggro this was! Buckshot is solo on the mic here with that real 90s grittiness over a flawless beat from Da Beatminerz. The "War Zone" LP was very different to "Enta Da Stage" - not as jazzy, definitely a different sound - but is not one to be overlooked.
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Consequence : Mind Power
The first two tracks in this section have been pretty gully, so for the second half we keep the flow sonically but take the lyrical aggression down a few notches. "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" is an LP that had to grow on me, but this track was always up there. The lyrical quality is there, drums are crispy as you like, and it's got a jazzy feel that could easily have fit onto either of their previous two albums.
DJ Honda & De La Soul : Trouble In The Water
Chilling things all the way out as we come to the end of this section, this is a really good De La track that may have passed some people by. From the second DJ Honda album comes this reflective song, which for me is absolutely made by that first verse, reminiscing on growing up.
Oddisee : After Thoughts
One of the many great instrumentals on Oddisee's "The Beauty In All" album. I didn't realise until doing some research that this is unbelievably popular on Spotify, which is pleasantly surprising. It's always good to find out that people appreciate quality music that the industry isn't pushing upon them!
Mary J. Blige : Good Woman Down
I only heard this 9th Wonder-produced track recently thanks to an article from the man Gino Sorcinelli, the man behind the excellent Micro-Chop blog. Mary is someone I firmly believe will one day have a film made of her life, and she gives just a small window here on this great song from "The Breakthrough". She's been through a lot, and thank goodness, she's still here and still on her game.
Agallah : Don't Wanna Be The Last
From around the period when Agallah was doing a lot of work with PCP/Dipset, this has been a drivetime favourite for me for the last three cars I've had! A hard one to find for quite a while, Agallah's 2004 "Doomsday" mixtape is the source for this one. Like the track that follows, if you enjoy hearing the kick drum get busy then this should be right up your street.
Camp Lo : Cookers
Chuck D tried to tell you - B-side wins again! From the quiet period between their storming debut "Uptown Saturday Night" and their underrated sophomore release "Let's Do It Again", the "Troubleman/Cookers" 12" let the world know that the Lo were still on it! Geechi and Cheeba go back and forth with ease over Ski's beat, one that clearly drew on the EEC kick drum mountain to smack harder than most.
Fat Joe ft. Armageddon : Find Out
Is that DJ Premier on the beat? Diamond D? Buckwild, perhaps? Nope, the legend Marley Marl reminding you that he fathered sampling/beat making in the way that many other great producers would do it today. That delicate acoustic guitar loop withstands an absolute battering from the heavy drums and bass Marley puts on, and Fat Joe has no problem slicing right through the middle or it all. This is from a white label 12", but you really want to pick up the "Don Cartagena" album for this and other gems.
Roni Size/Reprazent : Out Of The Game
Bristol, stand up! Even in the period when I really didn't mess with much drum & bass, I couldn't deny the "In The Møde" album. This hectic track was one of my favourites, largely off that moody, crime-thriller guitar riff. Smashing along at almost 180bpm, it still sounds masterfully under control.
8 Gold Rings & In The Loop MCs : Tribe Cipher
Here's a special treat for you - big thanks to Agent J and 8 Gold Rings for making it possible to include this month! The much-missed Manchester Hip-Hop club In The Loop was known not just for the great selections from DJ A-Up and Agent J, or the flavoursome hosting of Bedos, but for the monthly ciphers in which local MCs could step up and showcase their skills - ciphers from which a lot of great local MCs have emerged. Around the time of my "Manchester Marauders" exhibition, In The Loop connected with the then-nascent band that came to be known as 8 Gold Rings, and got them to soundtrack the month's cipher with a set of live renditions of A Tribe Called Quest instrumentals. Here we have just over 20 minutes of that absolutely fire session, with 8GR playing like a live mixtape while the vocalists battle for the month's crown.
Air Adam : Walk
An old beat I found while having a look through my archives - I couldn't hear an MC on it, but I found it's one I kept listening to so it's perfect for an instrumental bed here!
Geto Boys : Fuck A War
RIP Bushwick Bill. He had one of the more unique career paths, from dancer with the original Ghetto Boys, to MC with the reconstituted Geto Boys, solo releases, and eventually becoming a born-again Christian in a complete 180 to much of his old lyrical content. Right here, we're on the Geto Boys' second LP, "We Can't Be Stopped" (the one with the infamous album cover of Bill after he had shot himself in the eye [content warning]), and he goes solo on the mic putting the first George Bush and the Gulf War on full blast. The third verse goes a little off-piste with the message compared to the rest, and with the hook also being too short to really mix with, I did a little edit to just contain the first two verses and an instrumental outro for a nice blend.
E-40 ft. Keak da Sneak : Tell Me When To Go
"Jesus Christ had dreads, so shake 'em..." Bay Area classic material! For those of us outside the area, this was an anthem for the Hyphy movement, as E-40 and Keak lay down a little of the lifestyle - also illustrated in the wicked video. The first single from "My Ghetto Report Card" is just a certified banger, and guaranteed to make you move something. Surprisingly, the production was actually courtesy of an Atlanta native (crunk heavyweight Lil Jon), and it's almost entirely drums and percussion, with enough energy to make you want to throw something out of the window!
Zapp : Get Up Off The Wall
After the death of the great Roger Troutman, Zapp could have been forgiven for just packing up the whole thing for good. Fortunately for us, they're made of rare stuff, and after a few years off they returned. While they now are primarily concentrated on their live work, at which they are absolute masters, there have also been a couple of albums. "Zapp VI : Back By Popular Demand" gives us this track, with the air of classics like "Dance Floor". The CD is hard to find and incredibly expensive, so there's no shame in just going for a digital purchase here!
Ilajide : Don't Fake
If you haven't got "Heet Tape" yet, you're really missing out. Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide puts all the bump into reworking a classic 80s sample (which you may recognise, but which I won't name in case it's not cleared) and shows his rhyme skills into the bargain. It's just a genuinely fun track, and the video is in the same vein :)
The Chemical Brothers : Piku
The Chemical Brothers are one of a handful of groups I actually learned about from the old PlayStation game "Wipeout", and who coincidentally started DJing in the same student halls where I started to learn the craft! "Exit Planet Dust" is still my favourite LP from their catalogue, but "Dig Your Own Hole" definitely had tracks as well. This one I'd never paid that much attention to, but after a recent listen - and on realising the classic Motown sample they snuck in there - I was pleased to gain a new appreciation for it and find a spot for it here.
Ice-T & Ice Cube : Looters
Apologies for the sound quality, but here's a real rarity here for you! This was the unreleased title track for the soundtrack of the 1992 film that was eventually titled "Trespass" - until the L.A. Uprising happened. Ice-T and Ice Cube go hard on the mic over a beat that sounds like a Sir Jinx production, though I can't be sure. More so than the final title track (which I'm a big fan of), this one explicitly covers a lot of the plot of the actual film, so if you're trying to be efficient with your time... :) I chanced across this in a London used records shop, but your best chance of getting one of the few white label bootlegs is to hit Discogs.
Ry Cooder & Jim Keltner : King Of The Street
Finally, we close with the final track on the officially-released "Trespass" soundtrack album, a rock/blues (mostly) instrumental number that was a favourite of mine from the first listen! California's Ry Cooder plays many instruments, but on this track he shows his guitar chops alongside the skills of the legendary session drummer Jim Keltner. Aggressive, dramatic, pure flames.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...educate yourself. Don't depend on your school for help."
- Charlie Brown
Coming to the end of the tenth year, we have an episode this month with the selected tracks centred around the theme of education - either by title, or by content. We cover a span of over thirty years of Hip-Hop, many styles, with everything from multiple MCs on a track to none at all! Do the knowledge.
Upcoming events worthy of your attention...
Gang Starr Foundation - Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug @ Gorilla (Manchester), June 7th
Hip-Hop Psych @ University of Manchester, July 15th
Smif-N-Wessun @ Band On The Wall, August 22nd
And one more link...
Agent J's review of the Manchester Gods of Rap gig, featuring my photography!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Smif N Wessun : The A.L.L.
The number of times I've played this since it was released, it's sure to be in my top Spotify tracks of the year. Brilliant title track from the new Smif N Wessun album, their first in a little while, this is concentrated dopeness. Nothing hidden, just Tek and Steele putting their hearts out there on the mics with 9th Wonder providing a somewhat ominous beat. It's got a little skip to the drum track, and a perfect use of the vocal and choir-like samples. Could not have been done any better.
Lil Will Productionz : Another Day, Another Dollar
The Beat Tape Project released the 36-track "Common : The Beat Tape Project" back in 2014, but it's one of their projects I only recently picked up. Lil Will comes with the crunchy drums right here.
Slum Village : Multiply
This was the easiest of the four operators to find, since this track still gets regular play on the iPod! Slum flip an old prog-rock sample (but only a tiny piece!) to spit some pure sex talk. Find this one on their self-titled fifth album.
Show & A.G. ft. Lord Finesse and D-Flow : Add On
Absolutely signature boom-bap from the 1995 "Goodfellas" album (second disk of my copy is still mysteriously missing...), with the beat magic coming from the SP and S950 of the legendary Show. The lyrics absolutely match up, with Lord Finesse opening up, D-Flow from the Ghetto Dwellas on the second, and A.G. bringing it home.
Soul Position : Share This
Not something that was in my collection before this month, but I bought it as it represented "division" in this section of the show. This is very much from the early 2000s alternative Hip-Hop scene, the strain that was a little left-field even for the underground. Soul Position brought together RJD2 on the beats and Blueprint on the mic, and this is from their debut release, "8 Million Stories". If you like Anticon-type stuff, this will be right up your street!
Wiz Khalifa : Take Away
It was much tougher than I thought to get a track that would fit the "subtraction" theme! Eventually, Wiz' sophomore album "Deal Or No Deal" turned up the goods. Big Jerm has this one sounding big and bold, and Wiz comes off raw as he expresses the feelings that came from his then-newfound success.
Eric B & Rakim : Chinese Arithmetic
When I was a kid and heard this track, I knew nothing about DJing and just imagined being able to scratch like Eric B does here - I'd say that nowadays I definitely could! An instrumental track from the debut "Paid In Full", this is pure 80s business.
Cut Chemist : Lesson 4 - The Radio
"Return of the DJ, Volume 1" was an absolute groundbreaker of a compilation. After years of the DJ being pushed to the back, and the demise of DJ tracks on Hip-Hop albums, Bomb Records had the great idea of doing an all-DJ album. The whole thing is an essential, but this particular track is significant not just because of how good it sounds, but because of the lineage it asserts. With the title "Lesson 4", it plants itself as the latest in the series of "Lesson" sample/break mixes as originally constructed by Double Dee and Steinski between 1983 and 1985. You might only know Cut Chemist as part of Jurassic 5, but he definitely holds it down on his own.
The Roots : Table of Contents (Part 1)
A short track - in fact, only half of the track as it's presented on the must-own "Things Fall Apart" album. This one is The Roots' take on/homage to "Kibbles and Bits" by Alliance - now that is digging in the crates!
Gang Starr : As I Read My S-A
Not the first song mentioned when the classic "Step In The Arena" is mentioned, but excellent just like all the rest. The young Guru (not to be confused with Young Guru) is fresh as ever on the mic, and DJ Premier is on production as well as cutting up fiercely on the turntables!
Cut Chemist : Lesson 6
Appropriately for his name, this track from "Deep Concentration" works in a bunch of chemistry samples that might just take you back to high school. The sheer volume of samples and the way they come in and out on this cut is quite something - and if you want some really deep background, check out this tape of his sketched-out ideas and sounds!
Mark B & Blade : 24 Hours (Everyday) (Instrumental)
There's always love for Mark B (RIP), but why this beat from the B-side of the "Ya Don't See The Signs" 12" in particular? Well, to follow up on the close of the Cut Chemist track, what is four times six? ;)
MF Grimm : Teacher
I love a good martial arts film, and Grimm channels that feeling on this pick from the "American Hunger" triple album. JL on the production while Grimm works everything from pressure point techniques to "Fist of Legend" and "Karate Kid" into one long verse.
Kev Brown : Homework Part 2
"No substitutes, but y'all students." It's a real shame that Kev Brown is retiring, because his records are so good. This isn't even him at full power but the quality is there to hear on this short track from the "Homework" LP, his long-awaited follow-up to the also mighty "I Do What I Do". Plenty of school references in this one, especially in the first part of the first verse.
Poor Righteous Teachers : Each One Teach One
Wise Intelligent has been on the podcast a couple of times, but this is the first inclusion of the whole PRT crew. Coming out of Trenton, New Jersey, this group hit the scene back in 1989 with conscious lyrics heavily influenced by the 5% (plenty of references in this track if you listen), and are highly respected by those in the know. This cut produced by the late Tony D from their sophomore LP "Pure Poverty" blends some reggae flavour into the mix, while Wise and Culture Freedom give us some words to live by!
Lord Jamar ft. Sadat X and Queen Tahera Earth : Study Ya Lessons
Unabashed Gods & Earths content here, from Lord Jamar's lone solo release, "The 5% Album". Sadat X is of course Jamar's bandmate from Brand Nubian with an incredibly deep catalogue of his own, but Queen Tahera Earth, the extra guest on here, makes her mark on her only on-wax appearance to date. Lord Jamar does a solid job on the production here too, it should be noted!
Kev Brown & LMNO : We Got This (Instrumental)
Went back to the "Selective Hearing" album for this beat, nice and low-key to follow the production on the Lord Jamar track without being jarring.
Leaders of the New School : Teachers, Don't Teach Us Nonsense
Long Island's Leaders were still young when their debut "A Future Without A Past" was released, and they may well have been writing from extremely recent experience here! As it happens, they were also influenced by a song from the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti, who years before recorded "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense". While Busta Rhymes closes things here and ultimately became the big breakout star of the crew, I personally think Charlie Brown had a better verse on this particular track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...educate yourself. Don't depend on your school for help."
- Charlie Brown
Coming to the end of the tenth year, we have an episode this month with the selected tracks centred around the theme of education - either by title, or by content. We cover a span of over thirty years of Hip-Hop, many styles, with everything from multiple MCs on a track to none at all! Do the knowledge.
Upcoming events worthy of your attention...
Gang Starr Foundation - Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug @ Gorilla (Manchester), June 7th
Hip-Hop Psych @ University of Manchester, July 15th
Smif-N-Wessun @ Band On The Wall, August 22nd
And one more link...
Agent J's review of the Manchester Gods of Rap gig, featuring my photography!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Smif N Wessun : The A.L.L.
The number of times I've played this since it was released, it's sure to be in my top Spotify tracks of the year. Brilliant title track from the new Smif N Wessun album, their first in a little while, this is concentrated dopeness. Nothing hidden, just Tek and Steele putting their hearts out there on the mics with 9th Wonder providing a somewhat ominous beat. It's got a little skip to the drum track, and a perfect use of the vocal and choir-like samples. Could not have been done any better.
Lil Will Productionz : Another Day, Another Dollar
The Beat Tape Project released the 36-track "Common : The Beat Tape Project" back in 2014, but it's one of their projects I only recently picked up. Lil Will comes with the crunchy drums right here.
Slum Village : Multiply
This was the easiest of the four operators to find, since this track still gets regular play on the iPod! Slum flip an old prog-rock sample (but only a tiny piece!) to spit some pure sex talk. Find this one on their self-titled fifth album.
Show & A.G. ft. Lord Finesse and D-Flow : Add On
Absolutely signature boom-bap from the 1995 "Goodfellas" album (second disk of my copy is still mysteriously missing...), with the beat magic coming from the SP and S950 of the legendary Show. The lyrics absolutely match up, with Lord Finesse opening up, D-Flow from the Ghetto Dwellas on the second, and A.G. bringing it home.
Soul Position : Share This
Not something that was in my collection before this month, but I bought it as it represented "division" in this section of the show. This is very much from the early 2000s alternative Hip-Hop scene, the strain that was a little left-field even for the underground. Soul Position brought together RJD2 on the beats and Blueprint on the mic, and this is from their debut release, "8 Million Stories". If you like Anticon-type stuff, this will be right up your street!
Wiz Khalifa : Take Away
It was much tougher than I thought to get a track that would fit the "subtraction" theme! Eventually, Wiz' sophomore album "Deal Or No Deal" turned up the goods. Big Jerm has this one sounding big and bold, and Wiz comes off raw as he expresses the feelings that came from his then-newfound success.
Eric B & Rakim : Chinese Arithmetic
When I was a kid and heard this track, I knew nothing about DJing and just imagined being able to scratch like Eric B does here - I'd say that nowadays I definitely could! An instrumental track from the debut "Paid In Full", this is pure 80s business.
Cut Chemist : Lesson 4 - The Radio
"Return of the DJ, Volume 1" was an absolute groundbreaker of a compilation. After years of the DJ being pushed to the back, and the demise of DJ tracks on Hip-Hop albums, Bomb Records had the great idea of doing an all-DJ album. The whole thing is an essential, but this particular track is significant not just because of how good it sounds, but because of the lineage it asserts. With the title "Lesson 4", it plants itself as the latest in the series of "Lesson" sample/break mixes as originally constructed by Double Dee and Steinski between 1983 and 1985. You might only know Cut Chemist as part of Jurassic 5, but he definitely holds it down on his own.
The Roots : Table of Contents (Part 1)
A short track - in fact, only half of the track as it's presented on the must-own "Things Fall Apart" album. This one is The Roots' take on/homage to "Kibbles and Bits" by Alliance - now that is digging in the crates!
Gang Starr : As I Read My S-A
Not the first song mentioned when the classic "Step In The Arena" is mentioned, but excellent just like all the rest. The young Guru (not to be confused with Young Guru) is fresh as ever on the mic, and DJ Premier is on production as well as cutting up fiercely on the turntables!
Cut Chemist : Lesson 6
Appropriately for his name, this track from "Deep Concentration" works in a bunch of chemistry samples that might just take you back to high school. The sheer volume of samples and the way they come in and out on this cut is quite something - and if you want some really deep background, check out this tape of his sketched-out ideas and sounds!
Mark B & Blade : 24 Hours (Everyday) (Instrumental)
There's always love for Mark B (RIP), but why this beat from the B-side of the "Ya Don't See The Signs" 12" in particular? Well, to follow up on the close of the Cut Chemist track, what is four times six? ;)
MF Grimm : Teacher
I love a good martial arts film, and Grimm channels that feeling on this pick from the "American Hunger" triple album. JL on the production while Grimm works everything from pressure point techniques to "Fist of Legend" and "Karate Kid" into one long verse.
Kev Brown : Homework Part 2
"No substitutes, but y'all students." It's a real shame that Kev Brown is retiring, because his records are so good. This isn't even him at full power but the quality is there to hear on this short track from the "Homework" LP, his long-awaited follow-up to the also mighty "I Do What I Do". Plenty of school references in this one, especially in the first part of the first verse.
Poor Righteous Teachers : Each One Teach One
Wise Intelligent has been on the podcast a couple of times, but this is the first inclusion of the whole PRT crew. Coming out of Trenton, New Jersey, this group hit the scene back in 1989 with conscious lyrics heavily influenced by the 5% (plenty of references in this track if you listen), and are highly respected by those in the know. This cut produced by the late Tony D from their sophomore LP "Pure Poverty" blends some reggae flavour into the mix, while Wise and Culture Freedom give us some words to live by!
Lord Jamar ft. Sadat X and Queen Tahera Earth : Study Ya Lessons
Unabashed Gods & Earths content here, from Lord Jamar's lone solo release, "The 5% Album". Sadat X is of course Jamar's bandmate from Brand Nubian with an incredibly deep catalogue of his own, but Queen Tahera Earth, the extra guest on here, makes her mark on her only on-wax appearance to date. Lord Jamar does a solid job on the production here too, it should be noted!
Kev Brown & LMNO : We Got This (Instrumental)
Went back to the "Selective Hearing" album for this beat, nice and low-key to follow the production on the Lord Jamar track without being jarring.
Leaders of the New School : Teachers, Don't Teach Us Nonsense
Long Island's Leaders were still young when their debut "A Future Without A Past" was released, and they may well have been writing from extremely recent experience here! As it happens, they were also influenced by a song from the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti, who years before recorded "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense". While Busta Rhymes closes things here and ultimately became the big breakout star of the crew, I personally think Charlie Brown had a better verse on this particular track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Your mind's not ready and your heart's not open."
- Gibbs
Back in the studio solo this month, with a bag of Hip-Hop, reggae, and more for the mix. Sadly, this month we also wave goodbye to and salute Nipsey Hussle, who was taken from us this month at just 33. A community activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur as well an an MC, he leaves a baton for the rest of us to pick up to continue the relay.
Events coming up...
Gang Starr Foundation - Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug @ Gorilla (Manchester), June 7th
Hip-Hop Psych @ University of Manchester, July 15th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Nipsey Hussle : Dreamin'
I thought it was only proper to open the episode with a track from Nipsey. I was almost going to start the episode with some of the track this sampled, but thought that might throw people off a bit too much! From his 2010 mixtape "The Marathon", things are looking up for him on this tune and he wants to share that feeling.
8-Off : Neighbourhood Hoe (Instrumental)
Dipped deep into my vinyl archives for this one, the instrumental of the B-side from the first single of the man now known as Agallah. From the very beginning, he's shown himself to be a double threat as an MC and producer.
Havoc & Alchemist : Seize Power
This has been waiting around to be played on the show for ages. The Alchemist has been part of the Mobb family for a long time, and while he's contributed to many a Mobb Deep album and mixtape, 2016's "The Silent Partner" is his first LP working with Havoc exclusively. As you'd expect, the results are dark and sinister and this brooding tune is a great example - you could imagine this on a film soundtrack for sure.
Ghostly Kisses : Touch
I heard this one in passing and after playing it in my headphones x amount of times, realised it would fit in great here. Ghostly Kisses is the performing name of Margaux Sauvé, and this track from the "The City Holds My Heart" EP leans in the direction of 90s Portishead or Massive Attack with the subtle programmed drums and swelling strings.
Freddie Gibbs : 20 Karat Jesus
This is some heat for sure. Gibbs kicks his trademark gangsta styles, then adds a church tinge after the beat changes to a gospel groove. Don't sleep on that first half though, that beat is outrageous. Blair Norf, ESVYBE, Speakerbomb, and Pops are credited with soundtracking this two-piece killer from the "You Only Live 2wice" album - only eight tracks, but worth checking.
Nipsey Hussle : Right Hand 2 God
One more from Nipsey, from his final album "Victory Lap". After his death, it sounds more melancholy than it may have originally been intended, but it was a fitting track to play at his funeral. Axl Folie, IAMNOBODI, Teddy Walton, and Rance all collaborate on the production but Nipsey's lyrics are the star turn here.
Cashous Clay : Jesus Is Waiting
A little dig around on Datpiff led me to the "Uncleared Instrumentals" beat tape of this producer out of Miami, and this specific beat did fit sonically as well as completing an unintentional three-song streak of religiously-themed cuts! Trap-ish (not to be confused with Trappist) drums and aggressive sample re-triggering all the way here.
Linton Kwesi Johnson : Sonny's Lettah
It was a real privilege to hear this moving piece performed live by the great poet himself earlier this month. A standout track from the 1979 "Forces of Victory" album, this was written as a protest to the "Sus" law that operated in the UK until the early 80s - a 19th century piece of legislation dragged out and dusted off to allow the police free rein to harass young Black people. The law may have gone in its old form, but this is still the lens through which we view new calls for the expansion of stop and search powers.
Children of Zeus : The HeartBeat, Part 2
The soulful "The Heart Beat" from the "Travel Light" LP featured both Konny Kon and Tyler on vocals, but this new take from last December's "The Winter Tape" leans minimal. The instrumental is replaced by a deep lovers' rock groove, and Tyler goes solo on the mic for a track that will work late night, at a BBQ, in the car, wherever!
Natural-Ites & The Realistics : Picture on the Wall
Somehow, despite having so much reggae around while growing up, I only heard this song properly for the first time last year when it was performed live in Leeds. It's one that just grabs you from the first listen and sticks in your head, in the best possible way. Nottingham's vocal trio Natural-Ites struck gold back in 1983 with this, their very first single, alongside the backing band The Realistics. It paints a mental image of the inside of a house of a Rasta, the picture of Haile Selassie I that is on the wall, and what he means to them. Straight classic.
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Jahdan Blakkamore : Shots in the Dark
"Born and Raised" is described by Tek and Steele themselves as a reggae album, so I'll go with it even though the Hip-Hop flavour is still undeniable! They link with their fellow Brooklynite Jahdan on this cry for the strugglers, and it's a winning combination as always. Beatnick and K-Salaam provide the yard flavour on the riddim.
Pete Rock : Live from the Basement
I only had one thing on my want list for Record Store Day 2019 (shout out Eastern Bloc), and it was this vinyl release of Pete Rock's "Return of the SP-1200", a collection of unused and unreleased beats from the 90s. I actually remember hearing this beat once before back in the day, in this little clip on "Yo! MTV Raps", with CL Smooth rhyming over it while holding his baby!
Guru : Where's Our Money?
Guru had recorded three volumes of the Jazzmatazz series, plus six Gang Starr albums, before we heard him on a pure solo Hip-Hop LP. To be accurate, "Baldhead Slick & da Click" did have an absolute stack of guest MCs and producers (he likes to share the wealth), but this is one of the four tracks where he goes solo on the mic, with Biggest Gord on the string-underscored beat.
Gang Starr : Full Clip
Those of you who are regular Hip-Hop listeners will all know this - for everyone else, hope you enjoy it as much as we do! The title track from Gang Starr's ten-year greatest hits collection, this was one of a handful of new tracks and definitely the one that made the biggest impact. From the second "Big L, rest in peace" drops, the crowd knows what's coming. In the internet era, there is so much music that lots of stuff can pass you by, but this is from one of the last generation of Hip-Hop tracks where everyone knows it.
Keith Lawrence ft. Seanie T, Karl Hinds, Spoonface, and Pesci : Let It Be Known
I always thought that in terms of the beat, this track was pretty much the British "Full Clip", and so had been waiting to combine these two tracks in a mix! Huge track from the "Goin' True EP", with the longtime DJ and producer Keith Lawrence giving a heavy backing for solid vocalists to get busy on - Seanie T and Karl Hinds likely being the best-known to most. Lawrence's deep reggae influence comes through strongly, and this is an EP well worth having in your collection.
GZA : Gold
This is a too-often overlooked track from "Liquid Swords" in my opinion - GZA bringing his heavyweight lyrical talent to this hustling anthem. RZA's beat is angular, harsh, and banging in equal measure. One piece of trivia, with credit to Wax Poetics' interview with GZA on the making of the album - the hook is inspired by the Diana Ross & The Supremes classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"!
J Dilla : Dilla Beats '05 #3 - 34
One of those unreleased/leaked beats from the depths of the hard drive. Dilla has throwaway beats that bury a lot of other producers' best work!
Nas & The National Symphony Orchestra : The World Is Yours
It's amazing to think it's been 25 years since the launch of "Illmatic"! Easily one of the best Hip-Hop albums of all time, it had a special tribute on it's 20th anniversary when The National Symphony Orchestra performed it from end-to-end along with Nas. The Kennedy Centre show was an extraordinary event that a nineteen-year old Nasir Jones could never have dreamed of when he wrote all those legendary lines in the Queensbridge projects. Pretty much any piece from the performance could have gone here, but I decided to choose the motivational anthem which is the favourite of many. Pete Rock's beat, crafted on his trusty SP-1200, is re-imagined here with a full orchestral arrangement and to have the original MC on the mic right there? Magical. The vinyl of this is expensive, but the digital release is an essential addition to your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Your mind's not ready and your heart's not open."
- Gibbs
Back in the studio solo this month, with a bag of Hip-Hop, reggae, and more for the mix. Sadly, this month we also wave goodbye to and salute Nipsey Hussle, who was taken from us this month at just 33. A community activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur as well an an MC, he leaves a baton for the rest of us to pick up to continue the relay.
Events coming up...
Gang Starr Foundation - Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug @ Gorilla (Manchester), June 7th
Hip-Hop Psych @ University of Manchester, July 15th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Nipsey Hussle : Dreamin'
I thought it was only proper to open the episode with a track from Nipsey. I was almost going to start the episode with some of the track this sampled, but thought that might throw people off a bit too much! From his 2010 mixtape "The Marathon", things are looking up for him on this tune and he wants to share that feeling.
8-Off : Neighbourhood Hoe (Instrumental)
Dipped deep into my vinyl archives for this one, the instrumental of the B-side from the first single of the man now known as Agallah. From the very beginning, he's shown himself to be a double threat as an MC and producer.
Havoc & Alchemist : Seize Power
This has been waiting around to be played on the show for ages. The Alchemist has been part of the Mobb family for a long time, and while he's contributed to many a Mobb Deep album and mixtape, 2016's "The Silent Partner" is his first LP working with Havoc exclusively. As you'd expect, the results are dark and sinister and this brooding tune is a great example - you could imagine this on a film soundtrack for sure.
Ghostly Kisses : Touch
I heard this one in passing and after playing it in my headphones x amount of times, realised it would fit in great here. Ghostly Kisses is the performing name of Margaux Sauvé, and this track from the "The City Holds My Heart" EP leans in the direction of 90s Portishead or Massive Attack with the subtle programmed drums and swelling strings.
Freddie Gibbs : 20 Karat Jesus
This is some heat for sure. Gibbs kicks his trademark gangsta styles, then adds a church tinge after the beat changes to a gospel groove. Don't sleep on that first half though, that beat is outrageous. Blair Norf, ESVYBE, Speakerbomb, and Pops are credited with soundtracking this two-piece killer from the "You Only Live 2wice" album - only eight tracks, but worth checking.
Nipsey Hussle : Right Hand 2 God
One more from Nipsey, from his final album "Victory Lap". After his death, it sounds more melancholy than it may have originally been intended, but it was a fitting track to play at his funeral. Axl Folie, IAMNOBODI, Teddy Walton, and Rance all collaborate on the production but Nipsey's lyrics are the star turn here.
Cashous Clay : Jesus Is Waiting
A little dig around on Datpiff led me to the "Uncleared Instrumentals" beat tape of this producer out of Miami, and this specific beat did fit sonically as well as completing an unintentional three-song streak of religiously-themed cuts! Trap-ish (not to be confused with Trappist) drums and aggressive sample re-triggering all the way here.
Linton Kwesi Johnson : Sonny's Lettah
It was a real privilege to hear this moving piece performed live by the great poet himself earlier this month. A standout track from the 1979 "Forces of Victory" album, this was written as a protest to the "Sus" law that operated in the UK until the early 80s - a 19th century piece of legislation dragged out and dusted off to allow the police free rein to harass young Black people. The law may have gone in its old form, but this is still the lens through which we view new calls for the expansion of stop and search powers.
Children of Zeus : The HeartBeat, Part 2
The soulful "The Heart Beat" from the "Travel Light" LP featured both Konny Kon and Tyler on vocals, but this new take from last December's "The Winter Tape" leans minimal. The instrumental is replaced by a deep lovers' rock groove, and Tyler goes solo on the mic for a track that will work late night, at a BBQ, in the car, wherever!
Natural-Ites & The Realistics : Picture on the Wall
Somehow, despite having so much reggae around while growing up, I only heard this song properly for the first time last year when it was performed live in Leeds. It's one that just grabs you from the first listen and sticks in your head, in the best possible way. Nottingham's vocal trio Natural-Ites struck gold back in 1983 with this, their very first single, alongside the backing band The Realistics. It paints a mental image of the inside of a house of a Rasta, the picture of Haile Selassie I that is on the wall, and what he means to them. Straight classic.
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Jahdan Blakkamore : Shots in the Dark
"Born and Raised" is described by Tek and Steele themselves as a reggae album, so I'll go with it even though the Hip-Hop flavour is still undeniable! They link with their fellow Brooklynite Jahdan on this cry for the strugglers, and it's a winning combination as always. Beatnick and K-Salaam provide the yard flavour on the riddim.
Pete Rock : Live from the Basement
I only had one thing on my want list for Record Store Day 2019 (shout out Eastern Bloc), and it was this vinyl release of Pete Rock's "Return of the SP-1200", a collection of unused and unreleased beats from the 90s. I actually remember hearing this beat once before back in the day, in this little clip on "Yo! MTV Raps", with CL Smooth rhyming over it while holding his baby!
Guru : Where's Our Money?
Guru had recorded three volumes of the Jazzmatazz series, plus six Gang Starr albums, before we heard him on a pure solo Hip-Hop LP. To be accurate, "Baldhead Slick & da Click" did have an absolute stack of guest MCs and producers (he likes to share the wealth), but this is one of the four tracks where he goes solo on the mic, with Biggest Gord on the string-underscored beat.
Gang Starr : Full Clip
Those of you who are regular Hip-Hop listeners will all know this - for everyone else, hope you enjoy it as much as we do! The title track from Gang Starr's ten-year greatest hits collection, this was one of a handful of new tracks and definitely the one that made the biggest impact. From the second "Big L, rest in peace" drops, the crowd knows what's coming. In the internet era, there is so much music that lots of stuff can pass you by, but this is from one of the last generation of Hip-Hop tracks where everyone knows it.
Keith Lawrence ft. Seanie T, Karl Hinds, Spoonface, and Pesci : Let It Be Known
I always thought that in terms of the beat, this track was pretty much the British "Full Clip", and so had been waiting to combine these two tracks in a mix! Huge track from the "Goin' True EP", with the longtime DJ and producer Keith Lawrence giving a heavy backing for solid vocalists to get busy on - Seanie T and Karl Hinds likely being the best-known to most. Lawrence's deep reggae influence comes through strongly, and this is an EP well worth having in your collection.
GZA : Gold
This is a too-often overlooked track from "Liquid Swords" in my opinion - GZA bringing his heavyweight lyrical talent to this hustling anthem. RZA's beat is angular, harsh, and banging in equal measure. One piece of trivia, with credit to Wax Poetics' interview with GZA on the making of the album - the hook is inspired by the Diana Ross & The Supremes classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"!
J Dilla : Dilla Beats '05 #3 - 34
One of those unreleased/leaked beats from the depths of the hard drive. Dilla has throwaway beats that bury a lot of other producers' best work!
Nas & The National Symphony Orchestra : The World Is Yours
It's amazing to think it's been 25 years since the launch of "Illmatic"! Easily one of the best Hip-Hop albums of all time, it had a special tribute on it's 20th anniversary when The National Symphony Orchestra performed it from end-to-end along with Nas. The Kennedy Centre show was an extraordinary event that a nineteen-year old Nasir Jones could never have dreamed of when he wrote all those legendary lines in the Queensbridge projects. Pretty much any piece from the performance could have gone here, but I decided to choose the motivational anthem which is the favourite of many. Pete Rock's beat, crafted on his trusty SP-1200, is re-imagined here with a full orchestral arrangement and to have the original MC on the mic right there? Magical. The vinyl of this is expensive, but the digital release is an essential addition to your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Burning it to the ground, from the ashes see what might rise..."
- Dubbul O
It's been a while, but with a reworked studio setup we welcome the second-ever guest to the show - the syllable-spraying Dubbul O! You'll certainly have heard him on here before, whether it's been with The Mouse Outfit, Voodoo Black, Mothership Connection, or one of his other projects. This month, he came through for a chat about his approach to MCing and with a bunch of tracks for us to hear (including an exclusive), which the selection for the episode is centered around. With it being March, we also include some Phife and Biggie in the mix, and it's Brooklyn's Finest who kicks things off...
Check out Dubbul O's Bandcamp, Twitter, and Spotify too! You can also buy his work on iTunes if that's your shop of choice, and find everything from him and the rest of the label at room2records.com.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G. : Playa Hater
Funnily enough, I know a lot of people hate this song, but for some reason it just tickles me! Biggie and Puffy give their armed robbery rewrite of an old Delfonics number on this album track from "Life After Death". B.I.G's love of old soul and a dark sense of humour combine for what is definitely a Marmite track from his catalogue!
$lowbeats. : Madness
Out of Guadalajara, Mexico, comes an artist whose name simply describes what s/he does! This booming, ominous beat comes from the "Burn Slow" beat tape, the only release from this producer, and fit in really nicely to allow us to keep a continuous groove going.
dead prez : W-4
Double-time drums but with a counter of acoustic guitar and bass, stic crafts a great track on which dead prez lament the stress of the poor working life. For the non-US listeners, the W-4 form referenced is the form workers submit to their employers detailing their tax situation, which then tells them how much tax to withhold from pay. This track from the "RBG" LP is as relevant now as it ever was - in fact, in an era when mentions of the "working class" often implicitly ignore Black people, maybe more pertinent in the present day.
Voodoo Black : Gettin' Dum
The latest single from this Room 2 crew reps Manchester proudly - this month's guest leads off, then passes the ball to Sparkz, and finally Ellis Meade takes it all the way to the end. This track has the kind of pace and space that enables all the MCs to play around with their patterns; even without actually hearing the words, there's flavour in the flows. DJ Cutterz with the production on this one.
Swell ft. Shiloh Dynasty : I'm Sorry
Swell is an Australian producer who isn't even twenty years old yet but clearly has talent to keep an eye on, and Shiloh Dynasty is such a mysterious vocalist that I don't have the first clue which pronoun to use! At such a slow tempo, I don't know if "head nodder" is the right phrase to use, but I love this beat from the "There's Still Us" EP.
Dubbul O : Smoka-Motive
The title track from Dubbul O's most recent EP, with Mankub bringing some Yard flavour into proceedings, along with eerie strings, guitar, and vocal samples, a real low-tempo soup over which Dubbul O speed-races with his double-time flow.
Jake One : Eli
Heading back to the "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape, which has been a great source of quality low-tempo instrumentals. Production fans should definitely grab this one.
Tobe Nwigwe : HËÂT RŌČK.
I first heard Tobe mentioned by Bomani Jones, and his gushing praise let me know that this was an MC I needed to check out - and I was not disappointed! Coming out of Houston, he's got a unique combination of flow and voice, and packs substance into his bars while being absolutely crystal-clear the whole time. You owe it to yourself to check out the "The Originals" collection, and there are videos for many of the tracks on Youtube!
Voodoo Black : Run Along
Solid single from the start of last year, with the DJ Cutterz-produced beat cockily ambling down the street while the crew dismiss weak challengers with a wave of the hand. This track is just one example of Dubbul O killing the final verse in that Busta/Freddie Foxxx tradition of flawless clean-up men :)
Polyrhythm Addicts : Motion 2000
One of those classic independent records - very well known to those into the scene at the time, but one I have to remind myself isn't universally known even among dedicated heads. Polyrhythm Addicts was something of an underground supergroup, comprising DJ Spinna, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mr Complex, and Apani B (later replaced by Tiye Phoenix), and their debut "Rhyme Related" featured this Spinna-produced single. That bassline is immediately distinctive, and with just the drums added to it (and a little guitar in the hook), there's plenty of space for all the MCs to get busy.
Bronx Slang : Married To The Game
Jerry Beeks is a friend and big supporter of what I'm doing over here, and the feeling is mutual. It's great to see the release of the new "Bronx Slang" LP, where he and Ollie Miggs show over the twelve tracks that contrary to popular opinion, real Hip-Hop never went anywhere! Beeks kills the mic over this piano-driven beat, and needs no hook to pull you in.
Dubbul O freestyle / [J-Zone] : As It Ever Was (Instrumental)
Dubbul O was up for giving us some lyrics from his rhyme book that haven't been heard before, and so we went through some instrumentals - didn't get far before he picked this one out. This is just raw MC business, straight through with no edits, no punching-in, exactly how it should be done.
The Quarter Inch Kings : I'm No Comeback
Decided to slide another instrumental in here, and went to The Beat Tape Project's "The AZ Beat Tape" for this track from a Toronto-based production unit who bring a soulful vibe. Got to love the humming woman sample that would have fit right in around 1996 - right around the time AZ's debut LP came out!
Dubbul O : Mussbemental
Vintage double-time syllable distribution here from Dubbul O on another Mankub-produced tune from "Smoka-Motive"! Dubbul O has talked about how he tries to become another instrument on the track, and he jumps all over the place like a jazz saxophonist on a solo here.
Natural Elements : For The Culture
Natural Elements are back with another three-song selection in their #DeathComesIn3s series, the "3 Kings" EP, and this was the tune that jumped out for me on the first listen. Great bars as always with this crew, and GxBxT provides the beat.
Pitch 92 ft. The Four Owls and DJ Jazz T : Swoop
I've been following Pitch from his first days and he's one of those people where the talent was immediately evident. His skills were a huge contribution to The Mouse Outfit during his time with them, and now we have his first full producer solo album to hear his latest work. The "3rd Culture" LP is one of those producer-helmed projects with a host of artists coming in to help realise the vision, and there are plenty of heavyweights - on this track, the respected High Focus crew The Four Owls and battle champion DJ Jazz T on the cuts. For the bargain price being charged on Bandcamp, this is a no-brainer purchase!
Phife Dawg ft. Rodney Hampton : Game Day
The "NFL Jams" compilation was, in 90s soundtrack-era weird idea style, a combination of NFL players and established Hip-Hop performers on each track on the album. Results were...mixed. The late great Phife Dawg certainly holds down his end of the deal on this early Jay Dee-produced cut, but Rodney Hampton really just gets credit for trying!
Damu The Fudgemunk : Randi
Just some good drums, bass, and piano, arranged in the MPC2000 of Damu on his "Spare Time" album. I don't have any deep knowledge on this one, but it's one to enjoy for what it is!
Dubbul O : Step Into The Circle
An exclusive to close out the show! Dubbul O brought this track for a first airing, previewing the EP he's got coming later this year with Clay of Room 2 Records. Dubbul O's flow is as laid-back as it goes, matching the vibe of Clay's clean and breezy, crisply-drummed track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Burning it to the ground, from the ashes see what might rise..."
- Dubbul O
It's been a while, but with a reworked studio setup we welcome the second-ever guest to the show - the syllable-spraying Dubbul O! You'll certainly have heard him on here before, whether it's been with The Mouse Outfit, Voodoo Black, Mothership Connection, or one of his other projects. This month, he came through for a chat about his approach to MCing and with a bunch of tracks for us to hear (including an exclusive), which the selection for the episode is centered around. With it being March, we also include some Phife and Biggie in the mix, and it's Brooklyn's Finest who kicks things off...
Check out Dubbul O's Bandcamp, Twitter, and Spotify too! You can also buy his work on iTunes if that's your shop of choice, and find everything from him and the rest of the label at room2records.com.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G. : Playa Hater
Funnily enough, I know a lot of people hate this song, but for some reason it just tickles me! Biggie and Puffy give their armed robbery rewrite of an old Delfonics number on this album track from "Life After Death". B.I.G's love of old soul and a dark sense of humour combine for what is definitely a Marmite track from his catalogue!
$lowbeats. : Madness
Out of Guadalajara, Mexico, comes an artist whose name simply describes what s/he does! This booming, ominous beat comes from the "Burn Slow" beat tape, the only release from this producer, and fit in really nicely to allow us to keep a continuous groove going.
dead prez : W-4
Double-time drums but with a counter of acoustic guitar and bass, stic crafts a great track on which dead prez lament the stress of the poor working life. For the non-US listeners, the W-4 form referenced is the form workers submit to their employers detailing their tax situation, which then tells them how much tax to withhold from pay. This track from the "RBG" LP is as relevant now as it ever was - in fact, in an era when mentions of the "working class" often implicitly ignore Black people, maybe more pertinent in the present day.
Voodoo Black : Gettin' Dum
The latest single from this Room 2 crew reps Manchester proudly - this month's guest leads off, then passes the ball to Sparkz, and finally Ellis Meade takes it all the way to the end. This track has the kind of pace and space that enables all the MCs to play around with their patterns; even without actually hearing the words, there's flavour in the flows. DJ Cutterz with the production on this one.
Swell ft. Shiloh Dynasty : I'm Sorry
Swell is an Australian producer who isn't even twenty years old yet but clearly has talent to keep an eye on, and Shiloh Dynasty is such a mysterious vocalist that I don't have the first clue which pronoun to use! At such a slow tempo, I don't know if "head nodder" is the right phrase to use, but I love this beat from the "There's Still Us" EP.
Dubbul O : Smoka-Motive
The title track from Dubbul O's most recent EP, with Mankub bringing some Yard flavour into proceedings, along with eerie strings, guitar, and vocal samples, a real low-tempo soup over which Dubbul O speed-races with his double-time flow.
Jake One : Eli
Heading back to the "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape, which has been a great source of quality low-tempo instrumentals. Production fans should definitely grab this one.
Tobe Nwigwe : HËÂT RŌČK.
I first heard Tobe mentioned by Bomani Jones, and his gushing praise let me know that this was an MC I needed to check out - and I was not disappointed! Coming out of Houston, he's got a unique combination of flow and voice, and packs substance into his bars while being absolutely crystal-clear the whole time. You owe it to yourself to check out the "The Originals" collection, and there are videos for many of the tracks on Youtube!
Voodoo Black : Run Along
Solid single from the start of last year, with the DJ Cutterz-produced beat cockily ambling down the street while the crew dismiss weak challengers with a wave of the hand. This track is just one example of Dubbul O killing the final verse in that Busta/Freddie Foxxx tradition of flawless clean-up men :)
Polyrhythm Addicts : Motion 2000
One of those classic independent records - very well known to those into the scene at the time, but one I have to remind myself isn't universally known even among dedicated heads. Polyrhythm Addicts was something of an underground supergroup, comprising DJ Spinna, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mr Complex, and Apani B (later replaced by Tiye Phoenix), and their debut "Rhyme Related" featured this Spinna-produced single. That bassline is immediately distinctive, and with just the drums added to it (and a little guitar in the hook), there's plenty of space for all the MCs to get busy.
Bronx Slang : Married To The Game
Jerry Beeks is a friend and big supporter of what I'm doing over here, and the feeling is mutual. It's great to see the release of the new "Bronx Slang" LP, where he and Ollie Miggs show over the twelve tracks that contrary to popular opinion, real Hip-Hop never went anywhere! Beeks kills the mic over this piano-driven beat, and needs no hook to pull you in.
Dubbul O freestyle / [J-Zone] : As It Ever Was (Instrumental)
Dubbul O was up for giving us some lyrics from his rhyme book that haven't been heard before, and so we went through some instrumentals - didn't get far before he picked this one out. This is just raw MC business, straight through with no edits, no punching-in, exactly how it should be done.
The Quarter Inch Kings : I'm No Comeback
Decided to slide another instrumental in here, and went to The Beat Tape Project's "The AZ Beat Tape" for this track from a Toronto-based production unit who bring a soulful vibe. Got to love the humming woman sample that would have fit right in around 1996 - right around the time AZ's debut LP came out!
Dubbul O : Mussbemental
Vintage double-time syllable distribution here from Dubbul O on another Mankub-produced tune from "Smoka-Motive"! Dubbul O has talked about how he tries to become another instrument on the track, and he jumps all over the place like a jazz saxophonist on a solo here.
Natural Elements : For The Culture
Natural Elements are back with another three-song selection in their #DeathComesIn3s series, the "3 Kings" EP, and this was the tune that jumped out for me on the first listen. Great bars as always with this crew, and GxBxT provides the beat.
Pitch 92 ft. The Four Owls and DJ Jazz T : Swoop
I've been following Pitch from his first days and he's one of those people where the talent was immediately evident. His skills were a huge contribution to The Mouse Outfit during his time with them, and now we have his first full producer solo album to hear his latest work. The "3rd Culture" LP is one of those producer-helmed projects with a host of artists coming in to help realise the vision, and there are plenty of heavyweights - on this track, the respected High Focus crew The Four Owls and battle champion DJ Jazz T on the cuts. For the bargain price being charged on Bandcamp, this is a no-brainer purchase!
Phife Dawg ft. Rodney Hampton : Game Day
The "NFL Jams" compilation was, in 90s soundtrack-era weird idea style, a combination of NFL players and established Hip-Hop performers on each track on the album. Results were...mixed. The late great Phife Dawg certainly holds down his end of the deal on this early Jay Dee-produced cut, but Rodney Hampton really just gets credit for trying!
Damu The Fudgemunk : Randi
Just some good drums, bass, and piano, arranged in the MPC2000 of Damu on his "Spare Time" album. I don't have any deep knowledge on this one, but it's one to enjoy for what it is!
Dubbul O : Step Into The Circle
An exclusive to close out the show! Dubbul O brought this track for a first airing, previewing the EP he's got coming later this year with Clay of Room 2 Records. Dubbul O's flow is as laid-back as it goes, matching the vibe of Clay's clean and breezy, crisply-drummed track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...and though the flag been tattered and beaten..."
- General Steele
The short month of the year puts a little pressure on the recording schedule, but the show is here on time for you as always. Once again, we feature the sounds of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L, alongside plenty of other great stuff - and we keep the same speed going all the way through the mix!
Shows coming up;
Sadat X & El Da Sensei @ Joshua Brooks, March 20th
GZA @ Gorilla, Manchester, April 9th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
EPMD ft. KRS-ONE : Run It
We start the episode with an all-NYC, all-uppercase collaboration from the "We Mean Business" LP, the seventh in EPMD's industrially-titled discography. A nod to LL on the hook, stick-up business over an Erick Sermon beat (of course), with KRS playing clean-up man flawlessly. Favourite part of the verse - real 'G's do indeed want to stay at home and read the paper.
Jay Dee : Another Batch - 11
One of a bunch of late-90s Dilla beats that got leaked onto the internet back in the day, this one smacks along with a bassline that comes through like a funky duck! I don't know if anyone ever rhymed on this, but I can imagine someone like De La doing great things with it.
Chuck D ft. Jahi : BOT
I don't know if it was intentional, but this track seems to call back to two tracks from the legendary "...Nation of Millions..." album; "She Watch Channel Zero?" ("she looking at the screen more than talking to me") and also "Night of the Living Baseheads" ("battery on low, look like fiends with a Jones"). Chuck D might have been one of the very first in Hip-Hop to catch onto the Internet, but the elder statesman sees the BS it's brought us as well! He combines here with the lead MC in the group known as "PE 2.0" to get it all off his chest, and he's got plenty more to say on the new "Celebration Of Ignorance" album.
Black Thought : 9th vs. Thought
No-one can accuse Black Thought of not being a team player, with it taking until 2018 before we saw a solo release from him, the "Streams of Thought Vol.1" EP. 9th Wonder was the producer for the project, and on this track he gets headline billing. Fans of top-flight lyricism are in for a treat here, as the MC of choice for many MCs shows his skill level in a major way.
Boot Camp Clik : World Wide
Serious track from the Brooklyn stalwarts, uniting on 2006's "The Last Stand". I absolutely love General Steele's opening verse, from which this month's epigram is taken, and then it's followed with the late, great Sean P just thugging it all the way out on the second verse! They go out of the immediate crew for production, tapping up Large Professor for a head-nodding beat that easily could have made for a fire single. Not the best-known tune maybe, but a tune that is big by nature!
Big L : Don't Front (Freestyle)
Short and powerful like a shot of rum, this is a concise taste of Big L's legendary freestyle aggression over a smooth 90s beat from Diamond's "You Can't Front".
Slum Village : Go Ladies (Instrumental)
One of my favourite Dilla beats easily, as heard on the "Fantastic, Vol.2" album, flipping a well-known 80s soul sample and somehow making it even better than you could have imagined. It's only when you listen back to what else was coming out around that time you can hear how much of a shock to the system a laid-back groove like this was.
Donnie : Cloud 9 (Spinna Mix)
If you enjoy soulful music, Donnie's 2002 debut "The Colored Section" should definitely be in your collection. "Cloud 9" was one of the standouts, and DJ Spinna puts some extra bump into it on this remix, which is on a nice 12" release. His bass style is so distinctive, and with so much of the beat being in the lower frequency range, it leaves plenty of room for Donnie's masterful vocals!
Foreign Exchange : Hustle, Hustle
There are plenty of great tracks on "Connected", the debut Foreign Exchange album, and I was sure I'd already played this - glad to find out I hadn't, as it was the perfect fit for this slot! Nicolay's beat is smooth on that kind of early-2000s, neo-soulish vibe, and then you have lyrical treats coming from every angle. Quartermaine and C.A.L.I.B.E.R spit bars about trying to get ahead in the world, and Phonte comes in beautifully on the hook, in a fairly early demonstration of his singing talent. I don't blame you if you find yourself humming this one on the way to work.
Kev Brown : Hold Fast
One of the great bassline masters in Hip-Hop, Kev Brown certainly put Landover (MD) on the map with his top-quality "I Do What I Do" album. He's just as solid on the mic, and takes the reins alone on this track from the second half of the LP. Scratches are credited to DJ PMD, who is not Parrish Smith, but in fact Peter Rosenberg (who hails from the same area) under his original DJ name!
Jermaine Dupri ft. Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and R.O.C : Protectors of 1472
Unless there's some other, non-publicised significance to the number 1472, the "Life In 1472" album has one of the most contrived titles of all time! I don't actually have the album, but this DJ Premier-produced cut is on a compilation of his rarer/lesser-known cuts. I cut this one fairly short, as I think you get the best of it in a compact dose - the last verse is by far the longest, but Snoop towards the front is the clear headliner.
J Dilla : Won't Do (Instrumental)
Classic Dilla from towards the end, based around the "Footsteps In The Dark" drums, with fragments of the vocal yelling out for help along the way. The vocal version is on "The Shining" LP, but for this instrumental, you may need to pick up the 7" boxset of the album (or the MP3 version), which contains instrumentals for every track!
Sadat X ft. Timmy Hunter : Neva
The three-bar loop makes mixing a bit tricky, but I really wanted to play this one! Sadat looks back over his life and career, and celebrates his own effort and self-belief - justifiably so. Diamond D provides the beat, as he does all the way through the "Sum Of A Man" album. It's been a long road since that first LP with Brand Nubian, but Sadat is still travelling it, and for that we should be thankful :)
Dabrye ft. Jay Dee and Phat Kat : Game Over
That beat will definitely do things on a big sound system. Sparse, menacing, insistent. Ann Arbor's Dabrye takes no prisoners on the production, and then pulls in his fellow Michiganders Jay Dee and Phat Kat, who just spit raw Detroit flames in the space the beat leaves! The 2006 "Two/Three" album is one for anyone who likes the more angular, awkward, and aggressive style of production.
Clear Soul Forces : Continue?
I've been saving the combination of this and "Game Over" for ages :) CSF's 2013 "Gold PP7s" is an essential album for anyone who thinks they don't make MCs like they used to - it should give you faith for the future! I can't even keep up with all the gaming, comic, and anime references that they just firehose you with, but the spirit is undeniable. Ilajide's videogame-styled beat bumps hard, and overall this is just one of those tracks I can't see any reason for anyone not to love!
C2C ft. Tigerstyle, Netik, Rafik, Vajra, Kentaro : Le Banquet
Here we have an all-star lineup of scratch DJs, liquefying their crossfaders one after another as the featured instrumentalists on this track from the "Tetra" album. If you listen closely, there are actually some quotes from "Game Over" in the mix - they sound like vocoded re-records, but they could well be heavily-manipulated samples...
J Dilla : Dillatronic 09
One more Dilla instrumental as we come towards the end, this time taken from the "Dillatronic" collection of beats, a posthumous collection of 41 pieces - many very short - from the MPC of the man himself.
Noreaga ft. Nature, Big Pun, Cam'ron, Jadakiss, and Styles P : Banned From TV
Late 90s thug styles, and the kind of triumphant sound that either had to start or finish the episode. Nature was the original guest on here, but while almost everyone else was invited on, Big Pun bullied his way onto the track! While everybody comes off, the true gems on this tune are towards the front - Nature's memorable opening line, and Pun's devastating verse. The Swizz Beatz production is a perfect snapshot of the keyboard-based beats of the era - the "horns" should be corny, but somehow they work in context, and the kick/basstone combo bangs! Classic Berra-ism from Nore on the last verse too - if it's with tomato juice, then it can't be Hennessy straight...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...and though the flag been tattered and beaten..."
- General Steele
The short month of the year puts a little pressure on the recording schedule, but the show is here on time for you as always. Once again, we feature the sounds of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L, alongside plenty of other great stuff - and we keep the same speed going all the way through the mix!
Shows coming up;
Sadat X & El Da Sensei @ Joshua Brooks, March 20th
GZA @ Gorilla, Manchester, April 9th
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
EPMD ft. KRS-ONE : Run It
We start the episode with an all-NYC, all-uppercase collaboration from the "We Mean Business" LP, the seventh in EPMD's industrially-titled discography. A nod to LL on the hook, stick-up business over an Erick Sermon beat (of course), with KRS playing clean-up man flawlessly. Favourite part of the verse - real 'G's do indeed want to stay at home and read the paper.
Jay Dee : Another Batch - 11
One of a bunch of late-90s Dilla beats that got leaked onto the internet back in the day, this one smacks along with a bassline that comes through like a funky duck! I don't know if anyone ever rhymed on this, but I can imagine someone like De La doing great things with it.
Chuck D ft. Jahi : BOT
I don't know if it was intentional, but this track seems to call back to two tracks from the legendary "...Nation of Millions..." album; "She Watch Channel Zero?" ("she looking at the screen more than talking to me") and also "Night of the Living Baseheads" ("battery on low, look like fiends with a Jones"). Chuck D might have been one of the very first in Hip-Hop to catch onto the Internet, but the elder statesman sees the BS it's brought us as well! He combines here with the lead MC in the group known as "PE 2.0" to get it all off his chest, and he's got plenty more to say on the new "Celebration Of Ignorance" album.
Black Thought : 9th vs. Thought
No-one can accuse Black Thought of not being a team player, with it taking until 2018 before we saw a solo release from him, the "Streams of Thought Vol.1" EP. 9th Wonder was the producer for the project, and on this track he gets headline billing. Fans of top-flight lyricism are in for a treat here, as the MC of choice for many MCs shows his skill level in a major way.
Boot Camp Clik : World Wide
Serious track from the Brooklyn stalwarts, uniting on 2006's "The Last Stand". I absolutely love General Steele's opening verse, from which this month's epigram is taken, and then it's followed with the late, great Sean P just thugging it all the way out on the second verse! They go out of the immediate crew for production, tapping up Large Professor for a head-nodding beat that easily could have made for a fire single. Not the best-known tune maybe, but a tune that is big by nature!
Big L : Don't Front (Freestyle)
Short and powerful like a shot of rum, this is a concise taste of Big L's legendary freestyle aggression over a smooth 90s beat from Diamond's "You Can't Front".
Slum Village : Go Ladies (Instrumental)
One of my favourite Dilla beats easily, as heard on the "Fantastic, Vol.2" album, flipping a well-known 80s soul sample and somehow making it even better than you could have imagined. It's only when you listen back to what else was coming out around that time you can hear how much of a shock to the system a laid-back groove like this was.
Donnie : Cloud 9 (Spinna Mix)
If you enjoy soulful music, Donnie's 2002 debut "The Colored Section" should definitely be in your collection. "Cloud 9" was one of the standouts, and DJ Spinna puts some extra bump into it on this remix, which is on a nice 12" release. His bass style is so distinctive, and with so much of the beat being in the lower frequency range, it leaves plenty of room for Donnie's masterful vocals!
Foreign Exchange : Hustle, Hustle
There are plenty of great tracks on "Connected", the debut Foreign Exchange album, and I was sure I'd already played this - glad to find out I hadn't, as it was the perfect fit for this slot! Nicolay's beat is smooth on that kind of early-2000s, neo-soulish vibe, and then you have lyrical treats coming from every angle. Quartermaine and C.A.L.I.B.E.R spit bars about trying to get ahead in the world, and Phonte comes in beautifully on the hook, in a fairly early demonstration of his singing talent. I don't blame you if you find yourself humming this one on the way to work.
Kev Brown : Hold Fast
One of the great bassline masters in Hip-Hop, Kev Brown certainly put Landover (MD) on the map with his top-quality "I Do What I Do" album. He's just as solid on the mic, and takes the reins alone on this track from the second half of the LP. Scratches are credited to DJ PMD, who is not Parrish Smith, but in fact Peter Rosenberg (who hails from the same area) under his original DJ name!
Jermaine Dupri ft. Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and R.O.C : Protectors of 1472
Unless there's some other, non-publicised significance to the number 1472, the "Life In 1472" album has one of the most contrived titles of all time! I don't actually have the album, but this DJ Premier-produced cut is on a compilation of his rarer/lesser-known cuts. I cut this one fairly short, as I think you get the best of it in a compact dose - the last verse is by far the longest, but Snoop towards the front is the clear headliner.
J Dilla : Won't Do (Instrumental)
Classic Dilla from towards the end, based around the "Footsteps In The Dark" drums, with fragments of the vocal yelling out for help along the way. The vocal version is on "The Shining" LP, but for this instrumental, you may need to pick up the 7" boxset of the album (or the MP3 version), which contains instrumentals for every track!
Sadat X ft. Timmy Hunter : Neva
The three-bar loop makes mixing a bit tricky, but I really wanted to play this one! Sadat looks back over his life and career, and celebrates his own effort and self-belief - justifiably so. Diamond D provides the beat, as he does all the way through the "Sum Of A Man" album. It's been a long road since that first LP with Brand Nubian, but Sadat is still travelling it, and for that we should be thankful :)
Dabrye ft. Jay Dee and Phat Kat : Game Over
That beat will definitely do things on a big sound system. Sparse, menacing, insistent. Ann Arbor's Dabrye takes no prisoners on the production, and then pulls in his fellow Michiganders Jay Dee and Phat Kat, who just spit raw Detroit flames in the space the beat leaves! The 2006 "Two/Three" album is one for anyone who likes the more angular, awkward, and aggressive style of production.
Clear Soul Forces : Continue?
I've been saving the combination of this and "Game Over" for ages :) CSF's 2013 "Gold PP7s" is an essential album for anyone who thinks they don't make MCs like they used to - it should give you faith for the future! I can't even keep up with all the gaming, comic, and anime references that they just firehose you with, but the spirit is undeniable. Ilajide's videogame-styled beat bumps hard, and overall this is just one of those tracks I can't see any reason for anyone not to love!
C2C ft. Tigerstyle, Netik, Rafik, Vajra, Kentaro : Le Banquet
Here we have an all-star lineup of scratch DJs, liquefying their crossfaders one after another as the featured instrumentalists on this track from the "Tetra" album. If you listen closely, there are actually some quotes from "Game Over" in the mix - they sound like vocoded re-records, but they could well be heavily-manipulated samples...
J Dilla : Dillatronic 09
One more Dilla instrumental as we come towards the end, this time taken from the "Dillatronic" collection of beats, a posthumous collection of 41 pieces - many very short - from the MPC of the man himself.
Noreaga ft. Nature, Big Pun, Cam'ron, Jadakiss, and Styles P : Banned From TV
Late 90s thug styles, and the kind of triumphant sound that either had to start or finish the episode. Nature was the original guest on here, but while almost everyone else was invited on, Big Pun bullied his way onto the track! While everybody comes off, the true gems on this tune are towards the front - Nature's memorable opening line, and Pun's devastating verse. The Swizz Beatz production is a perfect snapshot of the keyboard-based beats of the era - the "horns" should be corny, but somehow they work in context, and the kick/basstone combo bangs! Classic Berra-ism from Nore on the last verse too - if it's with tomato juice, then it can't be Hennessy straight...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...but we worship the dollar, so what we gon' do for jihad?"
- Styles P
Happy New Year! If I say so myself, I think this is a great mix - plenty to match the colder weather we're having, and opportunities for some enjoyable-to-mix transitions between tracks. Press "play" and get ready for end-to-end quality...
Tickets for Homeboy Sandman and Edan in Manchester on Feb 7th - don't miss out!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Alchemist ft. MidaZ : Don Seymour's Theme
One thing you might not notice on first listen - this tune has hardly any drums! Alchemist makes a fresh beat regardless on this short and sweet track from his "Russian Roulette" album, an unusual producer-centred project that draws most of its sonic source material from old Soviet-era music. The lyrics are all American though, with Orlando's MidaZ just streaming bars out with no hook to stop the onslaught.
Exile : Love To The World
Fat Beats' "Baker's Dozen" series gives producers thirteen tracks each to show what they can do, and Exile's contribution is a fine one from a true master of the MPC. Not naming the sample, but if you know the Group Home "Livin' Proof" album, it should sound familiar - here though, it's flipped in a very different way.
Hyenas In The Desert : Wild Dogs
Long Island's Hyenas were one of the first acts signed to Chuck D's Slam Jamz label back in the mid-90s. Kendu is the only named MC, with the others being masked and uncredited. They had a bit of a weird vibe, maybe not quite "horrorcore" as I've seen them described, but not entirely out of keeping with a lot of other material of the era. Gary G-Wiz on the production here with a beat anchored around some tight drums. Find this one on the "Die Laughing" release - patchy, but a few good tracks on there.
Jean Grae : The Jam
One of the most flavourful MCs out there, and one who has probably never recorded a bad verse! I bought the "2K6 (The Tracks)" compilation to get a different tune which will appear on the show at some point, but this little heater has jumped the queue in the meantime. Even at a modest 92BPM, Khrysis cooks up a beat that can make you want to at least dance in your chair :)
Heltah Skeltah : Undastand
I was convinced I must have played this on a past episode but was glad to find I hadn't! Smooth but with those strong Beatminerz drums driving it along, this album track has Ruck (b.k.a Sean Price, RIP), and Rock (who at the time, was getting most of the shine) going back and forth in fine 90s style.
Lovebirds ft. Galliano and 80s Babies : Icarus (TBG Remix)
Tall Black Guy on the remix on this gem from Record Store Day 2017 - the original is dope, but when I flipped it to hear this version on the B-side I could barely hand over the cash fast enough! Jazzy, but with a nice bump on the drums, you can just relax for a few minutes to this one.
Dibia$e : Luv Suite
A second pick from the "Baker's Dozen" series, this time from the mind of Watts' Diba$e. Listen closely and you'll hear several different flips of the same classic 80s soul record - a true suite in the classical musical sense.
Children Of Zeus : Head To The Sky
When the surprise release "The Winter Tape" dropped just before the Xmas break, this tune was my clear favourite and that opinion hasn't changed. The beat is an absolutely fire, fierce reworking of a spiritual anthem, but the words are what will stay with you. Konny and Tyler's lyrics about coping with stress and depression will strike a chord with many, and make this one a tune that deserves the widest possible airing.
AZ : Rather Unique
The 90s heads will nod in recognition of this one! "Sugar Hill" was the huge first single from "Doe Or Die", but this cheeky Pete Rock production was the B-side with more of a rugged edge. The master of the SP-1200 also lays plenty of cuts into the mix but leaves room in the verses for the man who broke out big on Nas' "Life's A Bitch" to shine. He certainly lived up to the track title.
Talib Kweli & Styles P ft. Rapsody and Chris Rivers : Let It Burn
I think I may have once sampled the same track as Khrysis did here, so I can appreciate how well he freaked it here! This is from the 2017 EP "The Seven", and while all the MCs do the business, I think Styles P slayed it on the opening verse, if not just his opening two bars.
Viceversah ft. Kool G Rap : Legends Of The Game
I only heard this for the first time recently but it's a 2008 track from the "James And The Giant Beats" album by this Boston-based MC. Vice puts in a decent performance, but I came for Kool G Rap and he predictably steals the show! The Arcitype handles production, incorporating a bunch of snare rolls into a gloomy, forbidding beat.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Bloodsport (Instrumental)
This just mixes so nicely with the Viceversah track, it had to be done. Havoc on the beat with one of the less-mentioned album tracks from the incredibly dark and well-executed "Hell On Earth" LP.
Scarface ft. Rush Davis : Steer
From the opening vocals, you can't get much gloomier than this one. Scarface has explored the darker side of things since his very first recordings, and is one of the best if not the best at it. This track from "Deeply Rooted" hits hard from the very first listen, with Face in storytelling mode and Luke Walker (no way did other kids not call him Luke Skywalker) with the kind of beat you can't just stumble into. It's atmospheric, angular, hostile, and somehow soulful all at once, and one that plenty of MCs wouldn't be able to do anything with. This is also a track where the video is well worth a watch.
The Cool Kids : Black Mags Pt.II
"...went to jail and he left me his bike." Pure Weapon of Bass Destruction business here! The first "Black Mags" from 2008 was a killer (that I played all the way back on episode 5), but this amps up the bass even more as Chuck and Mikey look over their BMX days. This is a single that was one of my most welcome surprises of last year, and one that shows that you can, in fact, go home again.
Raekwon : Going At The Face (Freestyle)
One of the great MCs with a freestyle over one of the great instrumentals of all time, in my opinion - Salih Williams' monster "Sittin' Sidewayz" beat for Paul Wall. I could have done with it being a little longer, but that's the way it goes; it's just one of many short tracks from the Raekwon and DJ Thoro mixtape "Heroin Only".
Showbiz & AG ft. Jeffery Nortey : Beautiful Lies
I wanted to play this song from "Mugshot Music" a few months back but couldn't make the speed fit - here, it's perfect. It's the melancholy story of a relationship gone sour, and the early instrumental reminds you of any number of love songs...then those drums smash through to underscore the lyrics. This 2012 release might have slipped under your radar but it's definitely worth going back to check for it.
[Kanye West] Common : The Corner (Instrumental)
Kanye might be on one right now, but I can't deny this beat. I still can't believe this single wasn't bigger than it was, this track is great.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo : The Flyest Essence
This is a track that either needed to open or close an episode, purely because of the shape of the start and ending. A deep album cut from "The Easy Truth", the leisurely pace of the beat allows Skyzoo to confidently flow around it, like a lyrical river.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...but we worship the dollar, so what we gon' do for jihad?"
- Styles P
Happy New Year! If I say so myself, I think this is a great mix - plenty to match the colder weather we're having, and opportunities for some enjoyable-to-mix transitions between tracks. Press "play" and get ready for end-to-end quality...
Tickets for Homeboy Sandman and Edan in Manchester on Feb 7th - don't miss out!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Alchemist ft. MidaZ : Don Seymour's Theme
One thing you might not notice on first listen - this tune has hardly any drums! Alchemist makes a fresh beat regardless on this short and sweet track from his "Russian Roulette" album, an unusual producer-centred project that draws most of its sonic source material from old Soviet-era music. The lyrics are all American though, with Orlando's MidaZ just streaming bars out with no hook to stop the onslaught.
Exile : Love To The World
Fat Beats' "Baker's Dozen" series gives producers thirteen tracks each to show what they can do, and Exile's contribution is a fine one from a true master of the MPC. Not naming the sample, but if you know the Group Home "Livin' Proof" album, it should sound familiar - here though, it's flipped in a very different way.
Hyenas In The Desert : Wild Dogs
Long Island's Hyenas were one of the first acts signed to Chuck D's Slam Jamz label back in the mid-90s. Kendu is the only named MC, with the others being masked and uncredited. They had a bit of a weird vibe, maybe not quite "horrorcore" as I've seen them described, but not entirely out of keeping with a lot of other material of the era. Gary G-Wiz on the production here with a beat anchored around some tight drums. Find this one on the "Die Laughing" release - patchy, but a few good tracks on there.
Jean Grae : The Jam
One of the most flavourful MCs out there, and one who has probably never recorded a bad verse! I bought the "2K6 (The Tracks)" compilation to get a different tune which will appear on the show at some point, but this little heater has jumped the queue in the meantime. Even at a modest 92BPM, Khrysis cooks up a beat that can make you want to at least dance in your chair :)
Heltah Skeltah : Undastand
I was convinced I must have played this on a past episode but was glad to find I hadn't! Smooth but with those strong Beatminerz drums driving it along, this album track has Ruck (b.k.a Sean Price, RIP), and Rock (who at the time, was getting most of the shine) going back and forth in fine 90s style.
Lovebirds ft. Galliano and 80s Babies : Icarus (TBG Remix)
Tall Black Guy on the remix on this gem from Record Store Day 2017 - the original is dope, but when I flipped it to hear this version on the B-side I could barely hand over the cash fast enough! Jazzy, but with a nice bump on the drums, you can just relax for a few minutes to this one.
Dibia$e : Luv Suite
A second pick from the "Baker's Dozen" series, this time from the mind of Watts' Diba$e. Listen closely and you'll hear several different flips of the same classic 80s soul record - a true suite in the classical musical sense.
Children Of Zeus : Head To The Sky
When the surprise release "The Winter Tape" dropped just before the Xmas break, this tune was my clear favourite and that opinion hasn't changed. The beat is an absolutely fire, fierce reworking of a spiritual anthem, but the words are what will stay with you. Konny and Tyler's lyrics about coping with stress and depression will strike a chord with many, and make this one a tune that deserves the widest possible airing.
AZ : Rather Unique
The 90s heads will nod in recognition of this one! "Sugar Hill" was the huge first single from "Doe Or Die", but this cheeky Pete Rock production was the B-side with more of a rugged edge. The master of the SP-1200 also lays plenty of cuts into the mix but leaves room in the verses for the man who broke out big on Nas' "Life's A Bitch" to shine. He certainly lived up to the track title.
Talib Kweli & Styles P ft. Rapsody and Chris Rivers : Let It Burn
I think I may have once sampled the same track as Khrysis did here, so I can appreciate how well he freaked it here! This is from the 2017 EP "The Seven", and while all the MCs do the business, I think Styles P slayed it on the opening verse, if not just his opening two bars.
Viceversah ft. Kool G Rap : Legends Of The Game
I only heard this for the first time recently but it's a 2008 track from the "James And The Giant Beats" album by this Boston-based MC. Vice puts in a decent performance, but I came for Kool G Rap and he predictably steals the show! The Arcitype handles production, incorporating a bunch of snare rolls into a gloomy, forbidding beat.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Bloodsport (Instrumental)
This just mixes so nicely with the Viceversah track, it had to be done. Havoc on the beat with one of the less-mentioned album tracks from the incredibly dark and well-executed "Hell On Earth" LP.
Scarface ft. Rush Davis : Steer
From the opening vocals, you can't get much gloomier than this one. Scarface has explored the darker side of things since his very first recordings, and is one of the best if not the best at it. This track from "Deeply Rooted" hits hard from the very first listen, with Face in storytelling mode and Luke Walker (no way did other kids not call him Luke Skywalker) with the kind of beat you can't just stumble into. It's atmospheric, angular, hostile, and somehow soulful all at once, and one that plenty of MCs wouldn't be able to do anything with. This is also a track where the video is well worth a watch.
The Cool Kids : Black Mags Pt.II
"...went to jail and he left me his bike." Pure Weapon of Bass Destruction business here! The first "Black Mags" from 2008 was a killer (that I played all the way back on episode 5), but this amps up the bass even more as Chuck and Mikey look over their BMX days. This is a single that was one of my most welcome surprises of last year, and one that shows that you can, in fact, go home again.
Raekwon : Going At The Face (Freestyle)
One of the great MCs with a freestyle over one of the great instrumentals of all time, in my opinion - Salih Williams' monster "Sittin' Sidewayz" beat for Paul Wall. I could have done with it being a little longer, but that's the way it goes; it's just one of many short tracks from the Raekwon and DJ Thoro mixtape "Heroin Only".
Showbiz & AG ft. Jeffery Nortey : Beautiful Lies
I wanted to play this song from "Mugshot Music" a few months back but couldn't make the speed fit - here, it's perfect. It's the melancholy story of a relationship gone sour, and the early instrumental reminds you of any number of love songs...then those drums smash through to underscore the lyrics. This 2012 release might have slipped under your radar but it's definitely worth going back to check for it.
[Kanye West] Common : The Corner (Instrumental)
Kanye might be on one right now, but I can't deny this beat. I still can't believe this single wasn't bigger than it was, this track is great.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo : The Flyest Essence
This is a track that either needed to open or close an episode, purely because of the shape of the start and ending. A deep album cut from "The Easy Truth", the leisurely pace of the beat allows Skyzoo to confidently flow around it, like a lyrical river.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Watch the roads before crossing."
- Tyler
Beating the deadline, coming in a few hours before the New Year, giving you time to play this on the way out - or if you're staying in! This month's mix has some of my favourite tracks of 2018, as well as some choice selections from deeper in the crates. Enjoy the listen, and spread the word!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Mouse Outfit : Late Night Doors
One of Manchester's finest crews blessed us with the acclaimed "Jagged Tooth Crook" album this year and they continue to bring the quality every time out. New collaborator Berry Blacc takes his place on the mic alongside old hands Dubbul O and Ellis Meade for some quality low-tempo flavour, with the beat being an absolute gem. The drums, bass, and piano are all played without flash and to absolutely perfect combined effect - the mark of musicians who know exactly what they're doing!
Maes & Fybre : This One
Pure Manchester again, with these two dub producers almost outlawing everything that isn't bass on this one! One of the many (seriously, many) great tracks on the "From Manchester With Love" compilation.
Curren$y : Drone Footage
I pretty much planned this segment in reverse, and this was the last tune to fall into place. 70-ish BPM is a tricky speed for Hip-Hop, unless it's got trap-type production like this - which ironically was so slow I had to boost it up a bit! Not much to say about this succinct track - a bite-sized portion of Curren$y's signature lifestyle rap over an 808-heavy beat. Pick it up on this year's "Parking Lot Music" EP.
Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed as Magic & Bird : Kidz
I think I found this album on a random Spotify search and was drawn in by the "Magic & Bird" theme - as it turns out, it gave me a great tune for my gym playlist! Andy Mineo isn't someone I've heard before but he's a Christian Hip-Hop artist (well, that would explain the sudden prayer right before the last hook!) out of NYC who's been recording for the last five years or so. Apparently the lyrical theme for this one came from the producer Beam, who, when Mineo complained on hearing the beat that he wanted to get away from the trap sound, told him "just do one for the kids!" Mineo and Wordsplayed ride the beat ably and prove him dead right :)
Z-Ro : Like A Rocket
With the recent release of the "Sadism" album, and last year's "Codeine", it looks like the retirement is off! I'm always here for Ro's half-sung, half-rapped delivery style, and it fits perfectly over Risko Funk's 80s ballad-sampled track. The original flavour isn't overwhelmed by the drums or extra bass, but there are lots of nice touches along the way - heavy filters sweeping in, extreme pitch shifting on the drums towards the end, and a general tendency to make you want to replay the tune :) I don't know if the track title is taken from K-Rino's quote from a Houston Chronicle article a couple of years back, but if so then it's a great connection! Oh yes - didn't realise I bought the clean version of this until I put it in the mix :)
Zero 7 ft. Hidden : Mono
After a long hiatus, Zero 7 are back and I'm always interested to hear what they're bringing. This single starts off with pure spacey vibes before the solid drum line comes in, followed by the vocals of Hidden - soulful, and also restrained.
Kaytranada : Nevalie
A very old one from the man out of Montreal, first posted on his Soundcloud about six years ago. Took a while to find a good track to follow the Zero 7, but EQing this one down to just the snare and trappy hi-hats initially opened up a really good opportunity for a mix!
Children of Zeus x Black Milk : Won't End Well
Manchester and Detroit combination! When this was released at the start of December I thought it was a one-off single, only to be completely surprised on Xmas Eve with the release of "The Winter Tape", an essential and completely free album! This track featured appropriately bleak and sparse production from Black Milk while Konny and Tyler describe the lack of happy endings in the street game - as your parents certainly did if they're anything like mine. 2018 has absolutely been the year of Zeus and they're carrying big momentum into 2019.
1982 ft. Lil' Fame and Haile Supreme : It's On You
The union of Termanology and Statik Selektah has finally returned for their second full LP "Still 1982" - and not before time. The hi-hat-less drums and occasional chimes in this beat made it mix smoothly with "Won't End Well" and got it the nod over another cut that we'll definitely play here in the future. Haile Supreme is new to me but the soul he puts into the hook certainly grabs your attention, and M.O.P's Lil' Fame steals the show on the rhyme side, though Termanology is absolutely solid as always.
Marco Polo ft. Invincible : Drunken Sleuth
It's always good to hear Invincible, who is always one to come with high-quality bars. In the guise of an overlooked drunk, she takes on corruption, homelessness, and the lack of democracy in her home city of Detroit on this ambitious and well-executed track. This is one where it's well worth reading her own annotated lyrics to get more background on the specifics. Beat-wise, Marco Polo is one of the finest in recent years and his work here and on the rest of the "PA2 : The Director's Cut" album is a great example of modern production that is inspired by a classic sensibility.
Cormega ft. Chantelle Nandi : More
The Queensbridge veteran brings a positive, uplifting message on this selection from the 2014 "Mega Philosophy" album, with the vocalist Chantelle Nandi making her debut appearance. As the album title suggests, the 30-minute collection is centred around this kind of theme, so it's definitely worth taking a short while to hear the whole thing!
Doo Wop : Castle To Castle (Instrumental)
I was torn in planning over whether to play the vocal version or just this beat, but the direction the mix went in meant that we'll save the Raekwon bars for another episode. This is the A-side to a vinyl that features the Rahzel-voiced "Ten Tape Commandments" on the flip, with both of course produced by one of the undisputed legends of the mixtape game.
Pusha T : Numbers On The Boards
Stomping, aggressive tune from Pusha's first solo album "My Name Is My Name" with Don Cannon, Kanye, and 88 Keys all combining to provide the production. No matter how good the beat though, you come to Pusha T for lyrical ability and he brings it as per usual - double-meanings aplenty as he dresses down any and all challengers. Michael Kors also catches a stray on the second verse!
The Step Brothers : Step Masters
I hadn't played this album for a while and am not sure how the illness of this cut slid managed to be forgotten by me for so long! Evidence and Alchemist are both underrated on the mic, and Alchemist must get the biggest "WTF?" laugh for "flippin'... like things that flip" :) The energy in this track is much more than you'd think possible given that it's only about 91 BPM, which is a credit to the production from these two heavyweights. Oh yes - do have a genuine laugh at the video!
Alchemist & Prodigy : We Got This
I was sure that one of the samples from the previous track had been used by Alchemist before, and I was right! This version is from the "Chemistry Files" mixtape, but for the full version you'll need to find the bootleg 12" single that includes it.
Camp Lo : Love Is Love
Just the right tech-sounding track to fit this space in the mix! This wasn't even my favourite track on 2017's "The Get Down Brothers" but it's a great example of how Sonny and Geechi aren't afraid to jump on different kinds of beats and lace them with their trademark slang waterfall.
K-Murdock : New Religion
A friend of the show who is an endlessly creative beatsmith, and his "Soundscapes Vol.2" is a mix of video game-inspired beats and instrumentals from his work with MCs. I had this one playing in the house and found a good home for it here :)
9th Wonder ft. Skyzoo and Ness : Let It Bang
Closing with pure slick-talking battle rap here from the "The Dream Merchant 2" compilation, all produced by 9th Wonder, then only about five years into his career. The drums and bass definitely have the classic flavour of early 9th, as well as the great chop/re-purposing of a nice soul sample. It's all east on the mic, with Brooklyn's Skyzoo and Ness from Philadelphia (you may know him from Da Band) trading bars and telling us to play this until you break the tape - which I suppose gives away the age of the track...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Watch the roads before crossing."
- Tyler
Beating the deadline, coming in a few hours before the New Year, giving you time to play this on the way out - or if you're staying in! This month's mix has some of my favourite tracks of 2018, as well as some choice selections from deeper in the crates. Enjoy the listen, and spread the word!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
The Mouse Outfit : Late Night Doors
One of Manchester's finest crews blessed us with the acclaimed "Jagged Tooth Crook" album this year and they continue to bring the quality every time out. New collaborator Berry Blacc takes his place on the mic alongside old hands Dubbul O and Ellis Meade for some quality low-tempo flavour, with the beat being an absolute gem. The drums, bass, and piano are all played without flash and to absolutely perfect combined effect - the mark of musicians who know exactly what they're doing!
Maes & Fybre : This One
Pure Manchester again, with these two dub producers almost outlawing everything that isn't bass on this one! One of the many (seriously, many) great tracks on the "From Manchester With Love" compilation.
Curren$y : Drone Footage
I pretty much planned this segment in reverse, and this was the last tune to fall into place. 70-ish BPM is a tricky speed for Hip-Hop, unless it's got trap-type production like this - which ironically was so slow I had to boost it up a bit! Not much to say about this succinct track - a bite-sized portion of Curren$y's signature lifestyle rap over an 808-heavy beat. Pick it up on this year's "Parking Lot Music" EP.
Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed as Magic & Bird : Kidz
I think I found this album on a random Spotify search and was drawn in by the "Magic & Bird" theme - as it turns out, it gave me a great tune for my gym playlist! Andy Mineo isn't someone I've heard before but he's a Christian Hip-Hop artist (well, that would explain the sudden prayer right before the last hook!) out of NYC who's been recording for the last five years or so. Apparently the lyrical theme for this one came from the producer Beam, who, when Mineo complained on hearing the beat that he wanted to get away from the trap sound, told him "just do one for the kids!" Mineo and Wordsplayed ride the beat ably and prove him dead right :)
Z-Ro : Like A Rocket
With the recent release of the "Sadism" album, and last year's "Codeine", it looks like the retirement is off! I'm always here for Ro's half-sung, half-rapped delivery style, and it fits perfectly over Risko Funk's 80s ballad-sampled track. The original flavour isn't overwhelmed by the drums or extra bass, but there are lots of nice touches along the way - heavy filters sweeping in, extreme pitch shifting on the drums towards the end, and a general tendency to make you want to replay the tune :) I don't know if the track title is taken from K-Rino's quote from a Houston Chronicle article a couple of years back, but if so then it's a great connection! Oh yes - didn't realise I bought the clean version of this until I put it in the mix :)
Zero 7 ft. Hidden : Mono
After a long hiatus, Zero 7 are back and I'm always interested to hear what they're bringing. This single starts off with pure spacey vibes before the solid drum line comes in, followed by the vocals of Hidden - soulful, and also restrained.
Kaytranada : Nevalie
A very old one from the man out of Montreal, first posted on his Soundcloud about six years ago. Took a while to find a good track to follow the Zero 7, but EQing this one down to just the snare and trappy hi-hats initially opened up a really good opportunity for a mix!
Children of Zeus x Black Milk : Won't End Well
Manchester and Detroit combination! When this was released at the start of December I thought it was a one-off single, only to be completely surprised on Xmas Eve with the release of "The Winter Tape", an essential and completely free album! This track featured appropriately bleak and sparse production from Black Milk while Konny and Tyler describe the lack of happy endings in the street game - as your parents certainly did if they're anything like mine. 2018 has absolutely been the year of Zeus and they're carrying big momentum into 2019.
1982 ft. Lil' Fame and Haile Supreme : It's On You
The union of Termanology and Statik Selektah has finally returned for their second full LP "Still 1982" - and not before time. The hi-hat-less drums and occasional chimes in this beat made it mix smoothly with "Won't End Well" and got it the nod over another cut that we'll definitely play here in the future. Haile Supreme is new to me but the soul he puts into the hook certainly grabs your attention, and M.O.P's Lil' Fame steals the show on the rhyme side, though Termanology is absolutely solid as always.
Marco Polo ft. Invincible : Drunken Sleuth
It's always good to hear Invincible, who is always one to come with high-quality bars. In the guise of an overlooked drunk, she takes on corruption, homelessness, and the lack of democracy in her home city of Detroit on this ambitious and well-executed track. This is one where it's well worth reading her own annotated lyrics to get more background on the specifics. Beat-wise, Marco Polo is one of the finest in recent years and his work here and on the rest of the "PA2 : The Director's Cut" album is a great example of modern production that is inspired by a classic sensibility.
Cormega ft. Chantelle Nandi : More
The Queensbridge veteran brings a positive, uplifting message on this selection from the 2014 "Mega Philosophy" album, with the vocalist Chantelle Nandi making her debut appearance. As the album title suggests, the 30-minute collection is centred around this kind of theme, so it's definitely worth taking a short while to hear the whole thing!
Doo Wop : Castle To Castle (Instrumental)
I was torn in planning over whether to play the vocal version or just this beat, but the direction the mix went in meant that we'll save the Raekwon bars for another episode. This is the A-side to a vinyl that features the Rahzel-voiced "Ten Tape Commandments" on the flip, with both of course produced by one of the undisputed legends of the mixtape game.
Pusha T : Numbers On The Boards
Stomping, aggressive tune from Pusha's first solo album "My Name Is My Name" with Don Cannon, Kanye, and 88 Keys all combining to provide the production. No matter how good the beat though, you come to Pusha T for lyrical ability and he brings it as per usual - double-meanings aplenty as he dresses down any and all challengers. Michael Kors also catches a stray on the second verse!
The Step Brothers : Step Masters
I hadn't played this album for a while and am not sure how the illness of this cut slid managed to be forgotten by me for so long! Evidence and Alchemist are both underrated on the mic, and Alchemist must get the biggest "WTF?" laugh for "flippin'... like things that flip" :) The energy in this track is much more than you'd think possible given that it's only about 91 BPM, which is a credit to the production from these two heavyweights. Oh yes - do have a genuine laugh at the video!
Alchemist & Prodigy : We Got This
I was sure that one of the samples from the previous track had been used by Alchemist before, and I was right! This version is from the "Chemistry Files" mixtape, but for the full version you'll need to find the bootleg 12" single that includes it.
Camp Lo : Love Is Love
Just the right tech-sounding track to fit this space in the mix! This wasn't even my favourite track on 2017's "The Get Down Brothers" but it's a great example of how Sonny and Geechi aren't afraid to jump on different kinds of beats and lace them with their trademark slang waterfall.
K-Murdock : New Religion
A friend of the show who is an endlessly creative beatsmith, and his "Soundscapes Vol.2" is a mix of video game-inspired beats and instrumentals from his work with MCs. I had this one playing in the house and found a good home for it here :)
9th Wonder ft. Skyzoo and Ness : Let It Bang
Closing with pure slick-talking battle rap here from the "The Dream Merchant 2" compilation, all produced by 9th Wonder, then only about five years into his career. The drums and bass definitely have the classic flavour of early 9th, as well as the great chop/re-purposing of a nice soul sample. It's all east on the mic, with Brooklyn's Skyzoo and Ness from Philadelphia (you may know him from Da Band) trading bars and telling us to play this until you break the tape - which I suppose gives away the age of the track...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...we fighting back - sorry Martin."
- Erick Sermon
This month marks twenty-five years (!) since the release of two monumental albums - "Midnight Marauders" by A Tribe Called Quest, and the Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". I still remember going to buy each of these albums which have had a huge influence on me over the years, and I thought that this episode would be a good time to feature them both. We have a mix of original tracks, alternate versions, covers, and original samples, alongside plenty of other tunes to keep your head bobbing!
There are still a few tickets left for Schoolly D and DJ Code Money on December 15th in Manchester - but you might want to be quick!
The Mouse Outfit are playing an Xmas special at Band on the Wall on December 18th - a few advance tickets left for that one too.
See Children of Zeus on tour!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Minnie Riperton : Inside My Love
An excerpt of a soul classic from one of our departed greats. Minnie Riperton was well capable of singing well into the whistle register, and demonstrates that to spectacular effect at the end of this track from the essential "Adventures In Paradise" album, which I first encountered as part of "Lyrics To Go"...
A Tribe Called Quest : Lyrics To Go
This sample use was absolute genius. When I first heard this as a teenager I didn't have a clue that the high tone running through the whole track was actually a singer and not a keyboard, and it still stuns you the same way twenty-five years after release. Perfect production, together with Q-Tip and Phife (RIP) on the mic, make this album cut from "Midnight Marauders" every inch of a classic.
Funky DL : Midnight
London's Funky DL first came to popular notice as an MC, but clearly also has major skills as a producer, arranger, and keyboardist! His "Marauding At Midnight" album is a tribute to "Midnight Marauders", with instrumental versions of every track played with no sampled breaks/loops - just instrumentation, as well as backing vocals. "Midnight" was one of my low-key favourites on the original LP, so it's great to hear his take on it here. I couldn't resist the opportunity to cut a few samples over the top :)
Wu-Tang Clan : Clan In Da Front
On my first listen to "Enter The Wu-Tang", this was the track that made me know for sure that the album was a classic. The Wu members regularly battled to see who would get to be on any particular RZA beat, and you can hear for yourself how undeniable GZA was on this one - one of only two tracks on the album to feature just one MC.
The ARE : Clap Ya Hands
The "Manipulated Marauders" project is much older when I look at the release date (2007) than it feels, but still gets solid play from me on a regular basis. The ARE tears up the classic Bob James "Nautilus" sample amongst others to bring some freshness to the familiarity of the Tribe "Clap Ya Hands" track from "Midnight Marauders".
Rockwilder ft. Erick Sermon, Method Man, and Redman : Clutch Reloaded
I missed the original version of this track, but this remix is absolute fire! This might be the most aggro I've ever heard Erick Sermon, and I can't be the only one struck by the combination of "bunch a n****s walking down the block like it's Selma" and the lyric that gave us this month's epigraph. Following Erick, the match made in blunt smoke, Meth & Red, continues the lyrical assault, and Rockwilder's beat is a banger that reminds you of a classic sample atomised. A must-purchase!
Ice Cube : Arrest The President
The man who brought us "I Wanna Kill Sam" back in the 90s is back to burn and has absolutely no problem going in on Mango Mussolini! Atlanta's Shawn Ski provides a stomping, horn-laden beat while Cube calls out Agent Orange for being an asset of Russian intelligence, and his general devilish behaviour. This tune definitely puts you on notice for the upcoming "Everythang's Corrupt" album.
[DJ Quik] Nate Dogg ft. Eve : Get Up (Instrumental)
One of those singles I somehow picked up a couple of a while back and still barely play! The first single from Nate Dogg's third album, it's not crazy but does have that Quik flavour and the beat a good bridge between the bombast of the Cube track and something a little more subdued...
Public Enemy : See Something, Say Something
I was looking for something funky in this spot and this fit the bill perfectly. Chuck D is from the right kind of era to know what to do with a groove like this, and has the experience and intelligence to drop wisdom all over it. Gary G-Wiz is on production on this lyrically clever flip of the Department of Homeland Security slogan, an overlooked track from "How Do You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Lost Their Soul?"
El Michels Affair : C.R.E.A.M
Much harder to mix with than I thought, but that's often the case with live bands - tempos are much more likely to shift within the track than with electronically sequenced music! Anyway, this is just one of the many great Wu instrumental cover versions from El Michels Affair, who gave us this tribute to the 36 Chambers classic on "Enter The 37th Chamber". It's always interesting when a band is sampled by a Hip-Hop producer as part of a composition, and then another band interprets that new version.
A Tribe Called Quest & Busta Rhymes : God Lives Through
The original "God Lives Through" included the voice of Busta via a sample from Tribe's own "Oh My God" on the same album, but he wasn't actually on the track. As he says, he always wanted to rhyme on it and here he gets his chance! This version is from the Q-Tip and Busta mixtape "The Abstract and the Dragon", and here I've just gone with the Busta verse and then Phife's - which is the same as the original, hopefully you own it by now :)
Black Milk ft. Fat Ray and Elzhi : Sound Of The City
Detroit time! Black Milk covers the low end lovely with well-engineered kicks and bass driving this track along. The title track to his first solo LP is a worth headliner, and I always laugh at the shade thrown at Mike Jones at the end of the second verse!
Hall & Oates : Method Of Modern Love
A new one to me, but after reading recently that this was the song that inspired the hook to "Method Man", I took a listen and thought I'd play a snippet here. You hear the first eight bars looped up for a couple of minutes, then we let it go so you can hear the introduction of the chorus - then stop the track and merge into...
Wu-Tang Clan : Method Man (Home Grown Version)
...the tune that drew from it! This isn't even the version from "Enter The Wu-Tang", but an alternate version that was on the 12", and is even more raw and lo-fi than anything on the album. It sounds like it was recorded in a basement and probably was, and I'd bet that this was the original, later re-done for the LP. For the turntablist heads, this is the version Mista Sinista used for his killer juggle - solved a mystery for me!
Cypress Hill : How I Could Just Kill A Man
Classic Cypress! Back in the pre-internet days, some New Yorkers thought this crew were locals from the Cypress Hills housing project, but in fact they were from all the way over in Los Angeles. The first album is still my favourite after all these years, and this track was fierce - a hit without even an attempt to soften up for the radio. DJ Muggs layers up legendary breaks for the beat and even has a few bars on the mic at the start of the second verse, while B-Real spits memorable bars on the kill-or-be-killed lifestyle, and Sen Dog jumps in for the hook. Early 90s heat.
Slum Village (ft. Young RJ) : Nitro
Detroit in the mix again, with the 2009/10 lineup in full effect, along with family member Young RJ on the boards and rhyming as well. The beat actually has a lot of RZA feel to it, and I could easily have imagined this on one of the early Wu albums. No slacking on the mic either, everyone represents and make this a tune worth tracking down - I got it on the "Villa Manifesto" LP, but it's not on all versions so look out for that when buying.
Inspectah Deck : R.E.C. Room
I'd forgotten that it wasn't until six years after the release of "Enter The Wu-Tang" that we finally got a solo album from Inspectah Deck, but "Uncontrolled Substance" did eventually arrive - maybe it needed that incredible verse from the start of "Triumph" to create the momentum! I believe this was the lead single, a tribute to the rec room parties from the Wu's youthful days, with a characteristically Wu-Tang beat courtesy of True Master, who cooked up some great tracks over the years.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Just To Get A Rep (Instrumental)
One of those tunes everyone either knows or really should! I think the 12" will have an instrumental on it, but this is taken from a white label instrumental version of the whole "Step In The Arena" LP.
Air Adam : 13th Chamber
I wondered if this was worth including, but if not now, then when? I recorded this maybe 10-15 years ago, and while some of the plain movie samples were just layered over the top from my DVD collection, everything else comes from the turntables! The bassline is a plain tone being modified with the 33/45 button and pitch slider, the drumming is all done with scratches, and then the kung-fu samples that were available on battle tool vinyl (no Serato back then!) were scratched over the top. This was my tribute to/version of Wu's "Wu-Tang : 7th Chamber - Part 2" from the first album, derived from a battle routine I once developed, and was on my "Sleight of Hand" mixtape - a few of you might still have it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...we fighting back - sorry Martin."
- Erick Sermon
This month marks twenty-five years (!) since the release of two monumental albums - "Midnight Marauders" by A Tribe Called Quest, and the Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". I still remember going to buy each of these albums which have had a huge influence on me over the years, and I thought that this episode would be a good time to feature them both. We have a mix of original tracks, alternate versions, covers, and original samples, alongside plenty of other tunes to keep your head bobbing!
There are still a few tickets left for Schoolly D and DJ Code Money on December 15th in Manchester - but you might want to be quick!
The Mouse Outfit are playing an Xmas special at Band on the Wall on December 18th - a few advance tickets left for that one too.
See Children of Zeus on tour!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Minnie Riperton : Inside My Love
An excerpt of a soul classic from one of our departed greats. Minnie Riperton was well capable of singing well into the whistle register, and demonstrates that to spectacular effect at the end of this track from the essential "Adventures In Paradise" album, which I first encountered as part of "Lyrics To Go"...
A Tribe Called Quest : Lyrics To Go
This sample use was absolute genius. When I first heard this as a teenager I didn't have a clue that the high tone running through the whole track was actually a singer and not a keyboard, and it still stuns you the same way twenty-five years after release. Perfect production, together with Q-Tip and Phife (RIP) on the mic, make this album cut from "Midnight Marauders" every inch of a classic.
Funky DL : Midnight
London's Funky DL first came to popular notice as an MC, but clearly also has major skills as a producer, arranger, and keyboardist! His "Marauding At Midnight" album is a tribute to "Midnight Marauders", with instrumental versions of every track played with no sampled breaks/loops - just instrumentation, as well as backing vocals. "Midnight" was one of my low-key favourites on the original LP, so it's great to hear his take on it here. I couldn't resist the opportunity to cut a few samples over the top :)
Wu-Tang Clan : Clan In Da Front
On my first listen to "Enter The Wu-Tang", this was the track that made me know for sure that the album was a classic. The Wu members regularly battled to see who would get to be on any particular RZA beat, and you can hear for yourself how undeniable GZA was on this one - one of only two tracks on the album to feature just one MC.
The ARE : Clap Ya Hands
The "Manipulated Marauders" project is much older when I look at the release date (2007) than it feels, but still gets solid play from me on a regular basis. The ARE tears up the classic Bob James "Nautilus" sample amongst others to bring some freshness to the familiarity of the Tribe "Clap Ya Hands" track from "Midnight Marauders".
Rockwilder ft. Erick Sermon, Method Man, and Redman : Clutch Reloaded
I missed the original version of this track, but this remix is absolute fire! This might be the most aggro I've ever heard Erick Sermon, and I can't be the only one struck by the combination of "bunch a n****s walking down the block like it's Selma" and the lyric that gave us this month's epigraph. Following Erick, the match made in blunt smoke, Meth & Red, continues the lyrical assault, and Rockwilder's beat is a banger that reminds you of a classic sample atomised. A must-purchase!
Ice Cube : Arrest The President
The man who brought us "I Wanna Kill Sam" back in the 90s is back to burn and has absolutely no problem going in on Mango Mussolini! Atlanta's Shawn Ski provides a stomping, horn-laden beat while Cube calls out Agent Orange for being an asset of Russian intelligence, and his general devilish behaviour. This tune definitely puts you on notice for the upcoming "Everythang's Corrupt" album.
[DJ Quik] Nate Dogg ft. Eve : Get Up (Instrumental)
One of those singles I somehow picked up a couple of a while back and still barely play! The first single from Nate Dogg's third album, it's not crazy but does have that Quik flavour and the beat a good bridge between the bombast of the Cube track and something a little more subdued...
Public Enemy : See Something, Say Something
I was looking for something funky in this spot and this fit the bill perfectly. Chuck D is from the right kind of era to know what to do with a groove like this, and has the experience and intelligence to drop wisdom all over it. Gary G-Wiz is on production on this lyrically clever flip of the Department of Homeland Security slogan, an overlooked track from "How Do You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Lost Their Soul?"
El Michels Affair : C.R.E.A.M
Much harder to mix with than I thought, but that's often the case with live bands - tempos are much more likely to shift within the track than with electronically sequenced music! Anyway, this is just one of the many great Wu instrumental cover versions from El Michels Affair, who gave us this tribute to the 36 Chambers classic on "Enter The 37th Chamber". It's always interesting when a band is sampled by a Hip-Hop producer as part of a composition, and then another band interprets that new version.
A Tribe Called Quest & Busta Rhymes : God Lives Through
The original "God Lives Through" included the voice of Busta via a sample from Tribe's own "Oh My God" on the same album, but he wasn't actually on the track. As he says, he always wanted to rhyme on it and here he gets his chance! This version is from the Q-Tip and Busta mixtape "The Abstract and the Dragon", and here I've just gone with the Busta verse and then Phife's - which is the same as the original, hopefully you own it by now :)
Black Milk ft. Fat Ray and Elzhi : Sound Of The City
Detroit time! Black Milk covers the low end lovely with well-engineered kicks and bass driving this track along. The title track to his first solo LP is a worth headliner, and I always laugh at the shade thrown at Mike Jones at the end of the second verse!
Hall & Oates : Method Of Modern Love
A new one to me, but after reading recently that this was the song that inspired the hook to "Method Man", I took a listen and thought I'd play a snippet here. You hear the first eight bars looped up for a couple of minutes, then we let it go so you can hear the introduction of the chorus - then stop the track and merge into...
Wu-Tang Clan : Method Man (Home Grown Version)
...the tune that drew from it! This isn't even the version from "Enter The Wu-Tang", but an alternate version that was on the 12", and is even more raw and lo-fi than anything on the album. It sounds like it was recorded in a basement and probably was, and I'd bet that this was the original, later re-done for the LP. For the turntablist heads, this is the version Mista Sinista used for his killer juggle - solved a mystery for me!
Cypress Hill : How I Could Just Kill A Man
Classic Cypress! Back in the pre-internet days, some New Yorkers thought this crew were locals from the Cypress Hills housing project, but in fact they were from all the way over in Los Angeles. The first album is still my favourite after all these years, and this track was fierce - a hit without even an attempt to soften up for the radio. DJ Muggs layers up legendary breaks for the beat and even has a few bars on the mic at the start of the second verse, while B-Real spits memorable bars on the kill-or-be-killed lifestyle, and Sen Dog jumps in for the hook. Early 90s heat.
Slum Village (ft. Young RJ) : Nitro
Detroit in the mix again, with the 2009/10 lineup in full effect, along with family member Young RJ on the boards and rhyming as well. The beat actually has a lot of RZA feel to it, and I could easily have imagined this on one of the early Wu albums. No slacking on the mic either, everyone represents and make this a tune worth tracking down - I got it on the "Villa Manifesto" LP, but it's not on all versions so look out for that when buying.
Inspectah Deck : R.E.C. Room
I'd forgotten that it wasn't until six years after the release of "Enter The Wu-Tang" that we finally got a solo album from Inspectah Deck, but "Uncontrolled Substance" did eventually arrive - maybe it needed that incredible verse from the start of "Triumph" to create the momentum! I believe this was the lead single, a tribute to the rec room parties from the Wu's youthful days, with a characteristically Wu-Tang beat courtesy of True Master, who cooked up some great tracks over the years.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Just To Get A Rep (Instrumental)
One of those tunes everyone either knows or really should! I think the 12" will have an instrumental on it, but this is taken from a white label instrumental version of the whole "Step In The Arena" LP.
Air Adam : 13th Chamber
I wondered if this was worth including, but if not now, then when? I recorded this maybe 10-15 years ago, and while some of the plain movie samples were just layered over the top from my DVD collection, everything else comes from the turntables! The bassline is a plain tone being modified with the 33/45 button and pitch slider, the drumming is all done with scratches, and then the kung-fu samples that were available on battle tool vinyl (no Serato back then!) were scratched over the top. This was my tribute to/version of Wu's "Wu-Tang : 7th Chamber - Part 2" from the first album, derived from a battle routine I once developed, and was on my "Sleight of Hand" mixtape - a few of you might still have it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...whispered from a watery grave 'you are our only hope'..."
- Bishop Lamont
(0)113 is the area code for Leeds, so it's a perfect month to include a good number of tracks from my home city! The selection also has some excellent new/recent tracks, and a couple of really serious reaches into my vinyl archive.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kardinall Offishall : Kill Bloodclott Bill (Bang Bang)
A big tune I used to enjoy playing back in the mid-2000s. The 2004 "Kill Bloodclott Bill" mixtape from Kardinal, released the year after the "Kill Bill" film, had plenty of bangers on it and is one to grab if you can find it. This particular track has him taking the industry ("Bill") to task over a self-produced beat with plenty of low-end and that Nancy Sinatra sample for the hook. I imagine quite a few people are hearing this for the first time, so I hope it hits you like it did me when it came out!
[DJ Premier] Blaq Poet : Poet Has Come (Instrumental)
DJ Premier just has endless great beats. This one came off the 12" for "Poet Has Come", but I had to loop it up as it's a "TV Track". I don't know why anyone ever created those - DJs don't want the hook and adlibs!
DJ Agent M ft. B.T.I : Reveal
A meeting of the generations here, with B.T.I (formerly/fully Breaking The Illusion), a Leeds cornerstone, taking the mic on a production from DJ Agent M, a younger producer who has clearly been picking up tips from those who came before him. This track from the "Uncanny EP" is just on that straight-up Hip-Hop vibe and after playing you just a bit of an Agent M track recently, I wanted to give you a proper listen to some of his stuff right here.
Apathy : The Order
Apathy isn't a MC I keep up with generally, but I got recommended this DJ Premier-produced track and I've been trying to find a place for it on the show for the last three episodes! On wax since 2004, you may well know him from his contributions to the Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs crews - he's certainly got a long discography. His latest is "The Widow's Son" album, from which this is taken, and the signature Primo beat complete with Kool G Rap samples is a perfect setting for Ap to get spit heavy bars over.
Semi Six & Ilajide : Do My Thang
If this doesn't make you move, a pulse check needs to be done! This track by Detroit's Semi Six from his "Park Orange" LP, produced by Ilajide, is just an absolute winner. Ilajide makes skilful use of the open hi-hat along with the bass notes hitting between count to get your neck and shoulders moving like a prizefighter, while Six flows confidently over the track. He states his aim for this release was to showcase his skills as an MC and to provide an example for younger rappers coming up - I'd say he's more than done that.
Homecut ft. Corinne Bailey Rae and Soweto Kinch : I Don't Even Know (DJ Vadim Remix)
"Homecut" is a pseudonym of the MC, beatboxer, educator, and general all-rounder Testament, who has made Leeds his home after being born in London and brought up in Manchester. His one-man theatre show "Woke" is excellent, by the way! This track of his got the nod over other worthy selections from his catalogue partly due to it featuring one of Leeds' most outstanding artists in any genre, Corinne Bailey Rae. The also world-renowned saxophonist Soweto Kinch is also features, and DJ Vadim puts his own twist on the original version of this track (from "No Freedom Without Sacrifice") and brings in plenty of extra bass. You can get this and the rest of the "Homecut Remixed, Vol.1" album on Bandcamp.
AMP : The World
A 2009 beat I'm only just getting up on! This comes from the album "DJ BattleCat Presents G's & Sexy Vol.1", but this specific track is credited to AMP - I'm not sure if it's a collaboration with the longtime California production wizard or a solo beat, but it's great music with that West Coast mix of sun and bass.
Ghostface Killah ft. Killah Priest and Bishop Lamont : Constant Struggle
A good few years ago, many of us in the online Hip-Hop community were amused by the hilarious (but also on-point) words of a man under the name Big Ghost, writing in the style of the speech of Ghostface Killah. Fast-forward to the present day, and Big Ghost Ltd is a producer whose style is all business, with no hint of a nod to crossing over to a pop audience. The huge news this year that he was actually going to produce an album for Ghostface himself was a total blindside hit, and the LP does not disappoint! This track was an early standout for me, with all three MCs expounding on their own concepts of freedom, but Bishop Lamont absolutely shutting it down with his brilliant third verse. All those great lyrics would be slightly wasted with the wrong backdrop, but Big Ghost's gospel-driven beat takes it to church in fine style!
Bumpy Knuckles : Ol Morning
I can definitely relate to needing a bit of time to get up to speed first thing in the morning nowadays! Bumpy, through a description of his daily routine, reflects on a long and respected career in Hip-Hop, one that hopefully still has more miles yet to travel. Nottz on the beat on this pick from the "Pop Duke, Vol.1" LP.
Natural Elements : NEon Lights
One of the great unsung groups surprised me this month coming out with some new material I wasn't expecting! The new "Death Comes In 3s" release is, as the title implies, a three-song collection produced by Charlemagne (the original, not the Breakfast Club one) and J.Armz that I'm really enjoying. As always, all three MCs are on point with the bars and flows, making this a must-check!
Invisible Orchestra ft. J Bravo : Therapy
Nottingham's Invisible Orchestra are a well-respected group of experienced musicians, and they've always shown love to Hip-Hop. J Bravo is one of the foremost MCs from Leeds, and this track is a quality northern connection! Find this on the 2010 "Two Syllables" compilation from First Word Records.
Abstract Orchestra : Fantastic
Another orchestra, why not? Now Abstract Orchestra are straight Leeds and centred around a big-band Hip-Hop aesthetic. Their debut LP release "Dilla" was, as you'd expect, their own versions of classic J Dilla productions, and this is one of my favourites both in the original and replayed form.
Braintax : Monsoon Funk
Braintax started in Leeds as a duo, before DJ Test left and Joe Christie (also the founder of Low Life Records) carried on the name and eventually relocated to London. He retired in 2008, but we still have that old material to look back on. This killer cut somehow was going to be left off the "Panorama" album, but luckily it made the grade and so we get to hear him declare that he's "Yorkshire to the bone" over one of his own quality beats.
MAIDM : B-Boy Shit
Two artists here who might not be from Manchester, but have absolutely carved their names into the city scene with tons of great work over the years. Aim released three highly respected albums on Grand Central (plus more besides with different labels), and Mikey D.O.N is part of the great Krispy, and a DJ/selector with the championship hardware to prove it! They combine here on the B-side to the "Tun Up Di Heat (Party Banger)" single for some pure...well, B-boy shit! Mikey brings energy on the mic as he pays tribute to the culture over an uptempo beat that sounds just as good in the headphones as on a big system.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Kool Keith Model Android #406
Always loved this obscure Ultramagnetics track, but my goodness, the sound quality on the pressing is *awful*. This is on the 1997 "The B-Sides Companion", but I haven't as yet been able to find which, if any, Ultra single this is on the flip of - there are some new tracks on the collection, despite the title. It's definitely got the vibe of the "Critical Beatdown" era, though, with Keith on the mic and Ced Gee working his usual magic behind the boards.
Snowgoons ft. El Da Sensei : Show Love
From 2007's "German Lugers" album, we have 50% of The Artifacts on the mic on a typically dramatic beat from Germany's Snowgoons! The sample grabs your ears straight away, but the drums are definitely doing a lot on this track, with snare rolls scattered over it and the kick being pretty prominent in driving the beat forward as well.
Ilajide : To The Moon (Instrumental)
Another bit of Detroit flavour, taken from the "Five Week Heet III" three-song set, part of the lead-up to the "Heet Tape" album.
Lovebug Starski : Amityville (The House On The Hill)
I promised you this a few months back when Starski passed away, so here it is in the most appropriate month! I remember this 1986 single from childhood, but only in the last year or so managed to add a vinyl copy to the collection. Starski was there in The Bronx at the very beginning of Hip-Hop, and as well as his records is also well known for working at The Rooftop in Harlem in the 80s alongside Brucie B. This track, produced by Kurtis Blow, has Starski coming off the theme of the Amityville Horror in his own irreverent style! RIP to one of the originals.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...whispered from a watery grave 'you are our only hope'..."
- Bishop Lamont
(0)113 is the area code for Leeds, so it's a perfect month to include a good number of tracks from my home city! The selection also has some excellent new/recent tracks, and a couple of really serious reaches into my vinyl archive.
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kardinall Offishall : Kill Bloodclott Bill (Bang Bang)
A big tune I used to enjoy playing back in the mid-2000s. The 2004 "Kill Bloodclott Bill" mixtape from Kardinal, released the year after the "Kill Bill" film, had plenty of bangers on it and is one to grab if you can find it. This particular track has him taking the industry ("Bill") to task over a self-produced beat with plenty of low-end and that Nancy Sinatra sample for the hook. I imagine quite a few people are hearing this for the first time, so I hope it hits you like it did me when it came out!
[DJ Premier] Blaq Poet : Poet Has Come (Instrumental)
DJ Premier just has endless great beats. This one came off the 12" for "Poet Has Come", but I had to loop it up as it's a "TV Track". I don't know why anyone ever created those - DJs don't want the hook and adlibs!
DJ Agent M ft. B.T.I : Reveal
A meeting of the generations here, with B.T.I (formerly/fully Breaking The Illusion), a Leeds cornerstone, taking the mic on a production from DJ Agent M, a younger producer who has clearly been picking up tips from those who came before him. This track from the "Uncanny EP" is just on that straight-up Hip-Hop vibe and after playing you just a bit of an Agent M track recently, I wanted to give you a proper listen to some of his stuff right here.
Apathy : The Order
Apathy isn't a MC I keep up with generally, but I got recommended this DJ Premier-produced track and I've been trying to find a place for it on the show for the last three episodes! On wax since 2004, you may well know him from his contributions to the Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs crews - he's certainly got a long discography. His latest is "The Widow's Son" album, from which this is taken, and the signature Primo beat complete with Kool G Rap samples is a perfect setting for Ap to get spit heavy bars over.
Semi Six & Ilajide : Do My Thang
If this doesn't make you move, a pulse check needs to be done! This track by Detroit's Semi Six from his "Park Orange" LP, produced by Ilajide, is just an absolute winner. Ilajide makes skilful use of the open hi-hat along with the bass notes hitting between count to get your neck and shoulders moving like a prizefighter, while Six flows confidently over the track. He states his aim for this release was to showcase his skills as an MC and to provide an example for younger rappers coming up - I'd say he's more than done that.
Homecut ft. Corinne Bailey Rae and Soweto Kinch : I Don't Even Know (DJ Vadim Remix)
"Homecut" is a pseudonym of the MC, beatboxer, educator, and general all-rounder Testament, who has made Leeds his home after being born in London and brought up in Manchester. His one-man theatre show "Woke" is excellent, by the way! This track of his got the nod over other worthy selections from his catalogue partly due to it featuring one of Leeds' most outstanding artists in any genre, Corinne Bailey Rae. The also world-renowned saxophonist Soweto Kinch is also features, and DJ Vadim puts his own twist on the original version of this track (from "No Freedom Without Sacrifice") and brings in plenty of extra bass. You can get this and the rest of the "Homecut Remixed, Vol.1" album on Bandcamp.
AMP : The World
A 2009 beat I'm only just getting up on! This comes from the album "DJ BattleCat Presents G's & Sexy Vol.1", but this specific track is credited to AMP - I'm not sure if it's a collaboration with the longtime California production wizard or a solo beat, but it's great music with that West Coast mix of sun and bass.
Ghostface Killah ft. Killah Priest and Bishop Lamont : Constant Struggle
A good few years ago, many of us in the online Hip-Hop community were amused by the hilarious (but also on-point) words of a man under the name Big Ghost, writing in the style of the speech of Ghostface Killah. Fast-forward to the present day, and Big Ghost Ltd is a producer whose style is all business, with no hint of a nod to crossing over to a pop audience. The huge news this year that he was actually going to produce an album for Ghostface himself was a total blindside hit, and the LP does not disappoint! This track was an early standout for me, with all three MCs expounding on their own concepts of freedom, but Bishop Lamont absolutely shutting it down with his brilliant third verse. All those great lyrics would be slightly wasted with the wrong backdrop, but Big Ghost's gospel-driven beat takes it to church in fine style!
Bumpy Knuckles : Ol Morning
I can definitely relate to needing a bit of time to get up to speed first thing in the morning nowadays! Bumpy, through a description of his daily routine, reflects on a long and respected career in Hip-Hop, one that hopefully still has more miles yet to travel. Nottz on the beat on this pick from the "Pop Duke, Vol.1" LP.
Natural Elements : NEon Lights
One of the great unsung groups surprised me this month coming out with some new material I wasn't expecting! The new "Death Comes In 3s" release is, as the title implies, a three-song collection produced by Charlemagne (the original, not the Breakfast Club one) and J.Armz that I'm really enjoying. As always, all three MCs are on point with the bars and flows, making this a must-check!
Invisible Orchestra ft. J Bravo : Therapy
Nottingham's Invisible Orchestra are a well-respected group of experienced musicians, and they've always shown love to Hip-Hop. J Bravo is one of the foremost MCs from Leeds, and this track is a quality northern connection! Find this on the 2010 "Two Syllables" compilation from First Word Records.
Abstract Orchestra : Fantastic
Another orchestra, why not? Now Abstract Orchestra are straight Leeds and centred around a big-band Hip-Hop aesthetic. Their debut LP release "Dilla" was, as you'd expect, their own versions of classic J Dilla productions, and this is one of my favourites both in the original and replayed form.
Braintax : Monsoon Funk
Braintax started in Leeds as a duo, before DJ Test left and Joe Christie (also the founder of Low Life Records) carried on the name and eventually relocated to London. He retired in 2008, but we still have that old material to look back on. This killer cut somehow was going to be left off the "Panorama" album, but luckily it made the grade and so we get to hear him declare that he's "Yorkshire to the bone" over one of his own quality beats.
MAIDM : B-Boy Shit
Two artists here who might not be from Manchester, but have absolutely carved their names into the city scene with tons of great work over the years. Aim released three highly respected albums on Grand Central (plus more besides with different labels), and Mikey D.O.N is part of the great Krispy, and a DJ/selector with the championship hardware to prove it! They combine here on the B-side to the "Tun Up Di Heat (Party Banger)" single for some pure...well, B-boy shit! Mikey brings energy on the mic as he pays tribute to the culture over an uptempo beat that sounds just as good in the headphones as on a big system.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Kool Keith Model Android #406
Always loved this obscure Ultramagnetics track, but my goodness, the sound quality on the pressing is *awful*. This is on the 1997 "The B-Sides Companion", but I haven't as yet been able to find which, if any, Ultra single this is on the flip of - there are some new tracks on the collection, despite the title. It's definitely got the vibe of the "Critical Beatdown" era, though, with Keith on the mic and Ced Gee working his usual magic behind the boards.
Snowgoons ft. El Da Sensei : Show Love
From 2007's "German Lugers" album, we have 50% of The Artifacts on the mic on a typically dramatic beat from Germany's Snowgoons! The sample grabs your ears straight away, but the drums are definitely doing a lot on this track, with snare rolls scattered over it and the kick being pretty prominent in driving the beat forward as well.
Ilajide : To The Moon (Instrumental)
Another bit of Detroit flavour, taken from the "Five Week Heet III" three-song set, part of the lead-up to the "Heet Tape" album.
Lovebug Starski : Amityville (The House On The Hill)
I promised you this a few months back when Starski passed away, so here it is in the most appropriate month! I remember this 1986 single from childhood, but only in the last year or so managed to add a vinyl copy to the collection. Starski was there in The Bronx at the very beginning of Hip-Hop, and as well as his records is also well known for working at The Rooftop in Harlem in the 80s alongside Brucie B. This track, produced by Kurtis Blow, has Starski coming off the theme of the Amityville Horror in his own irreverent style! RIP to one of the originals.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"... that 'Cuban Linx' was the bible..."
- Tyler Daly
Squeezing this one in right before the deadline, I'm glad I can now rest my voice! This month's show starts off at a low tempo and gradually warms you up right through to the conclusion, with tracks old and new from the US and UK, from the 80s to just a few weeks ago. Turn it up!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Z-Ro : Kneel Down
With the outrage pointed at Colin Kaepernick and Nike this month, it was a good time to play this single, which has been in my speakers plenty over the last few months. You can absolutely hear the anger all the way through, and his actual voice is one of the more under-appreciated in the artform. I'd also recommend watching the video for this track - it's powerful (TW: violence).
[Harry Fraud] Action Bronson : Muslim Wedding (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version a long while back, then remembered I had the instrumental too, which was just perfect for this blend!
Children Of Zeus : Kintsugi
People are waking up to the incredible talent of Children Of Zeus, with the new "Travel Light" album getting props and play in all kinds of places. It's always a good time to get involved, and let this track be an example why. Konny Kon and Tyler Daly go deep lyrically, and Beat Butcha does a great job on one of his two beats on the LP - the slight changes towards the end of Tyler's verse are a winner. Don't sleep!
Styles P : Shadows
It's worth searching out the original sample this track is based around - it's a sad but beautiful song. DJ Green Lantern layers the strings and vocal sample from that song along with thumping drums reminiscent of early Kanye while Styles P comes through with the rhymes of a haunted man. Absolute standout from "The Green Ghost Project".
Showbiz & AG ft. Jeffery Nortey : Visions
There was another track from the 2012 "Mugshot Music" album I really wanted to play, but it didn't fit the selection - whereas this one found a place much more easily. Still a great pick though, with Show in reflective mode on a beat that thumps but is a little haunting at the same time.
Timeless Truth : Cold Wave
Banging, crashing, dramatic New York business from this ill Queens duo. This is the title track to their 2016 sophomore album, and if you like raw Hip-Hop then this is absolutely for you. Oprime39's wicked opening verse is followed by a possibly even better one from Solace, and they ride the DJ Skizz track like snowmobiles over the frozen tundra. Which reminds me - the video is basically just them rhyming in some pretty vicious cold weather while rocking some appropriate cold-weather gear. Big coat crew stand up!
[Showbiz] Molecules : Hardcore (Instrumental)
A bit more Showbiz, why not? Molecules of The Legion linked up with Show for the "A Bronx Tale" EP last year, which very helpfully includes the instrumentals for all tracks - great for the DJs.
Marsha Ambrosius : Luh Ya
A beautiful tune made even more fitting for the podcast by the classic drum break that drives it. Liverpool gave us a great one in this songstress, and her connection with producer Harmony Samuels here creates a strong track, which was a single a little while ago but is also on the just-released album NYLA.
Mobb Deep : It's Over
After the great show this month, I knew there had to be some Mobb in the episode. Havoc's beat is so nice and laid-back, you think it could be some love business but noooooo. The late great Prodigy and Havoc go pure street on it -it's what they do. Can't believe this is already fifteen years old, it hasn't dated at all. You can not only get this on the B-side (just saying) of the "Solidified" 12", but also on the "Mobb Deep Free Agents" album/mixtape which is a recommended purchase for any Mobb Deep fans who don't already have it.
Kill Miami ft. OneDa : Since Day One (Mouse Outfit Remix)
An all-Manchester collaboration! The producer Kill Miami hands remix duties of his original track to The Mouse Outfit, with Chini and Metrodome heading up the crew's work on the boards. The instrumental is great enough as it is, but with rising MC OneDa on the mic as well, you have a track which will make you think of summer all the way through the cold months to come...
Natural Resource : Heavy Loungin'
Blending from "wavier than oceans" to an MC actually called Ocean :) From that mid-late 90s underground Hip-Hop scene came Brooklyn's Natural Resource - MCs What?What? (now Jean Grae) and Ocean, with DJ Aggie behind the wheels. I ripped this track a while ago and have mislaid the CD - so I might need to come back here to fill in more details!
[DJ Premier] The LOX : Recognize
Unmistakable Premo right here from a 2000 single release, taken from the "We Are The Streets" album. Terrible album cover though.
Missin' Linx : Sametime
RIP Mark B. The late UK producer got the call to contribute a beat to this NYC crew, and it's just the right vibe for these MCs who are darting in and out of each other's lines the whole track. The group is made up of Al Tariq (formerly Fashion of The Beatnuts), Black Attack, and Problemz, and had a few singles out between 1998 and 2000 - including this one, but also the big V.I.C-produced "M.I.A" which is better known.
Brand Nubian ft. Diamond D : Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix)
I'm not sure how well known this version is compared to the big single that everyone knows (and which is superior to the album version), but I first heard this right around release time thanks to our local pirate radio station! This was a fairly early example of a "remix" where not only was the beat completely different, but also all of the lyrics. Diamond D provides the instrumental, as he did on both other versions, and also contributes a solid verse. Lord Jamar opened his verse with a line I always thought would sound good with a bit of extra scratching, and Sadat X's dope-as-usual lyrics are almost certainly best remembered as part of a big Beatnuts tune :)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right
Not one of the most-discussed cuts from "Mecca and the Soul Brother", but yet another great one. Dope beats, dope rhymes...just the essentials. You only get two of the three CL Smooth verses here, but really you know you're supposed to have this album by now!
JVC Force : Strong Island
The veteran Hip-Hop heads will have named that tune in one, the younger audience or those who aren't as well versed (no pun intended) might be hearing it for the first time. This is one of the all-time classic singles, and a perfect debut release from this Long Island crew - Curt Cazal on the beat, AJ Rok and B Luv on the mic. All the way back in 1987, this tune exploded and still gets play more than thirty years later. You can find it on the "Doin' Damage" LP, but there are plenty of 12" and compilation releases too - no excuse not to buy this one if you like it.
Large Professor : 7 Train P
I wanted something where the drums were prominent/banging enough to mix from "Strong Island", and finally found it on Large Pro's "Beatz Volume 1" collection. If you didn't know, the 7 train serves Flushing, Queens - the man himself's home neighbourhood.
Beatnuts ft. Method Man : Se Acabo (Remix)
Finishing off with a little Latin flavour - the world famous Beatnuts connecting with Method Man from the Wu for an alternative version of a track from the "A Musical Massacre" album. The original is all in Spanish, but this remix from "Take It Or Squeeze It" brings the heat for the English-only speakers! Yo hablo un poco Español. Un poco.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"... that 'Cuban Linx' was the bible..."
- Tyler Daly
Squeezing this one in right before the deadline, I'm glad I can now rest my voice! This month's show starts off at a low tempo and gradually warms you up right through to the conclusion, with tracks old and new from the US and UK, from the 80s to just a few weeks ago. Turn it up!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Z-Ro : Kneel Down
With the outrage pointed at Colin Kaepernick and Nike this month, it was a good time to play this single, which has been in my speakers plenty over the last few months. You can absolutely hear the anger all the way through, and his actual voice is one of the more under-appreciated in the artform. I'd also recommend watching the video for this track - it's powerful (TW: violence).
[Harry Fraud] Action Bronson : Muslim Wedding (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version a long while back, then remembered I had the instrumental too, which was just perfect for this blend!
Children Of Zeus : Kintsugi
People are waking up to the incredible talent of Children Of Zeus, with the new "Travel Light" album getting props and play in all kinds of places. It's always a good time to get involved, and let this track be an example why. Konny Kon and Tyler Daly go deep lyrically, and Beat Butcha does a great job on one of his two beats on the LP - the slight changes towards the end of Tyler's verse are a winner. Don't sleep!
Styles P : Shadows
It's worth searching out the original sample this track is based around - it's a sad but beautiful song. DJ Green Lantern layers the strings and vocal sample from that song along with thumping drums reminiscent of early Kanye while Styles P comes through with the rhymes of a haunted man. Absolute standout from "The Green Ghost Project".
Showbiz & AG ft. Jeffery Nortey : Visions
There was another track from the 2012 "Mugshot Music" album I really wanted to play, but it didn't fit the selection - whereas this one found a place much more easily. Still a great pick though, with Show in reflective mode on a beat that thumps but is a little haunting at the same time.
Timeless Truth : Cold Wave
Banging, crashing, dramatic New York business from this ill Queens duo. This is the title track to their 2016 sophomore album, and if you like raw Hip-Hop then this is absolutely for you. Oprime39's wicked opening verse is followed by a possibly even better one from Solace, and they ride the DJ Skizz track like snowmobiles over the frozen tundra. Which reminds me - the video is basically just them rhyming in some pretty vicious cold weather while rocking some appropriate cold-weather gear. Big coat crew stand up!
[Showbiz] Molecules : Hardcore (Instrumental)
A bit more Showbiz, why not? Molecules of The Legion linked up with Show for the "A Bronx Tale" EP last year, which very helpfully includes the instrumentals for all tracks - great for the DJs.
Marsha Ambrosius : Luh Ya
A beautiful tune made even more fitting for the podcast by the classic drum break that drives it. Liverpool gave us a great one in this songstress, and her connection with producer Harmony Samuels here creates a strong track, which was a single a little while ago but is also on the just-released album NYLA.
Mobb Deep : It's Over
After the great show this month, I knew there had to be some Mobb in the episode. Havoc's beat is so nice and laid-back, you think it could be some love business but noooooo. The late great Prodigy and Havoc go pure street on it -it's what they do. Can't believe this is already fifteen years old, it hasn't dated at all. You can not only get this on the B-side (just saying) of the "Solidified" 12", but also on the "Mobb Deep Free Agents" album/mixtape which is a recommended purchase for any Mobb Deep fans who don't already have it.
Kill Miami ft. OneDa : Since Day One (Mouse Outfit Remix)
An all-Manchester collaboration! The producer Kill Miami hands remix duties of his original track to The Mouse Outfit, with Chini and Metrodome heading up the crew's work on the boards. The instrumental is great enough as it is, but with rising MC OneDa on the mic as well, you have a track which will make you think of summer all the way through the cold months to come...
Natural Resource : Heavy Loungin'
Blending from "wavier than oceans" to an MC actually called Ocean :) From that mid-late 90s underground Hip-Hop scene came Brooklyn's Natural Resource - MCs What?What? (now Jean Grae) and Ocean, with DJ Aggie behind the wheels. I ripped this track a while ago and have mislaid the CD - so I might need to come back here to fill in more details!
[DJ Premier] The LOX : Recognize
Unmistakable Premo right here from a 2000 single release, taken from the "We Are The Streets" album. Terrible album cover though.
Missin' Linx : Sametime
RIP Mark B. The late UK producer got the call to contribute a beat to this NYC crew, and it's just the right vibe for these MCs who are darting in and out of each other's lines the whole track. The group is made up of Al Tariq (formerly Fashion of The Beatnuts), Black Attack, and Problemz, and had a few singles out between 1998 and 2000 - including this one, but also the big V.I.C-produced "M.I.A" which is better known.
Brand Nubian ft. Diamond D : Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix)
I'm not sure how well known this version is compared to the big single that everyone knows (and which is superior to the album version), but I first heard this right around release time thanks to our local pirate radio station! This was a fairly early example of a "remix" where not only was the beat completely different, but also all of the lyrics. Diamond D provides the instrumental, as he did on both other versions, and also contributes a solid verse. Lord Jamar opened his verse with a line I always thought would sound good with a bit of extra scratching, and Sadat X's dope-as-usual lyrics are almost certainly best remembered as part of a big Beatnuts tune :)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right
Not one of the most-discussed cuts from "Mecca and the Soul Brother", but yet another great one. Dope beats, dope rhymes...just the essentials. You only get two of the three CL Smooth verses here, but really you know you're supposed to have this album by now!
JVC Force : Strong Island
The veteran Hip-Hop heads will have named that tune in one, the younger audience or those who aren't as well versed (no pun intended) might be hearing it for the first time. This is one of the all-time classic singles, and a perfect debut release from this Long Island crew - Curt Cazal on the beat, AJ Rok and B Luv on the mic. All the way back in 1987, this tune exploded and still gets play more than thirty years later. You can find it on the "Doin' Damage" LP, but there are plenty of 12" and compilation releases too - no excuse not to buy this one if you like it.
Large Professor : 7 Train P
I wanted something where the drums were prominent/banging enough to mix from "Strong Island", and finally found it on Large Pro's "Beatz Volume 1" collection. If you didn't know, the 7 train serves Flushing, Queens - the man himself's home neighbourhood.
Beatnuts ft. Method Man : Se Acabo (Remix)
Finishing off with a little Latin flavour - the world famous Beatnuts connecting with Method Man from the Wu for an alternative version of a track from the "A Musical Massacre" album. The original is all in Spanish, but this remix from "Take It Or Squeeze It" brings the heat for the English-only speakers! Yo hablo un poco Español. Un poco.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Classical soul, I got the nastiest flow"
- Sean Price
We had to open the show with an Aretha Franklin track to mark her sad passing this month, and you'll hear her essence at various points throughout the episode. I'm just about beating the buzzer to get this one out on time, but I'm sure you'll agree it was worth the effort!
Manchester shows for the month;
Beatnuts, The Bluntskins, Didjit, Air Adam | September 19th, Whiskey Jar
Havoc, Big Noyd, DJ L.E.S, Seven Spherez | September 24th, Joshua Brooks
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Aretha Franklin : Rock Steady
We had to start things off with a classic from the Queen. This 1971 single from the "Young, Gifted, and Black" album isn't short on legends, with Donny Hathaway on electric piano and organ, and Bernard Purdie doing the business on the drums. A much covered and much sampled record, all trying to get just a hint of the flavour of the original.
Pete Rock : Aretha
A perfect instrumental for me to come across this month, drawn from the golden period in which Pete Rock was on production for InI's unreleased (but heavily bootlegged) debut album. This beat wasn't used, but it comes to us courtesy of the 2017 "Lost Sessions" release alongside nine other previously-unreleased instrumentals.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : 92 Interlude
I just had to include this - an interlude beat from the "Daily Operation" LP that built around just a tiny incidental piece of a famous Aretha Franklin track and put other producers on notice when it comes to how Primo picks gold!
JR & PH7 ft. Chuuwee : Meadowview Morning
Thank you Spotify for dropping this one into one of my playlists! The German producers JR and PH7 have made a brief appearance on the show previously, but their work on this track from "The South Sac Mack" is really something. They come up with a jazzy but sombre instrumental which perfectly fits the trio of Sacramento MCs telling tales of life in their corner of the world.
Hieroglyphics : Oakland Blackouts
Keeping it over on the West Coast, the Hiero crew have always been reliable as a source of bars upon bars. The "3rd Eye Vision" album is creeping towards twenty years old, but is still an excellent listen! Opio of Souls of Mischief is on production for this one.
Termanology : Are You Sure?
We don't hear Erick Sermon's name brought up enough when it comes to some of the greatest producers, so I'm glad Termanology linked up with him for this head-nod groove on his latest album "Bad Decisions". This is almost Term's version of Gang Starr's "The Planet", with him telling the story of coming to New York from Massachusetts and having to work to establish and hold his position. I won't give away the hook sample in case it's uncleared, but it's also a quality record :)
Sean Price : Director's Cut
This one has an unusual structure - a series of short two-bar "scenes" separated by two-bar sections of commentary. It's raw street business with a dash of humour as you'd expect from Sean P, gracing the Khrysis beat with some classic jewels. If you like this track, then the "Jesus Price Supastar" LP is a must in your collection.
DJ Agent M : Keeping Me In The Dark
Agent M is a producer and DJ from Leeds whose 2018 beat tape "Closure" is the sound of him working through a period of loss. This track is based around a classic sample, which is not just flipped for the sonics but also for the title.
Kev Brown : Voltron
It's been an extremely long wait for a proper follow-up to Kev Brown's 2005 debut LP "I Do What I Do", but finally he returns with "Homework" - twenty-nine tracks for a grateful audience! It's a partly vocal and partly instrumental album, with many tracks clocking in at under two minutes long. This was an initial standout for me, and while it's tickling my head as though there's a familiar sample, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that everything was played from scratch - Kev certainly has the capability.
The Game ft. Faith Evans : Don't Need Your Love
I've got to be honest - the lead-up to the release of The Game's debut album, "The Documentary" felt like one of the first times I felt as though the industry was really trying to force-feed an artist into the scene. He'd only been rapping for a relatively short time (for that era) before this LP came out, and has to be credited for building his skills in such a short time, but the Dr. Dre co-sign and G-Unit affiliation was of course what put him over the top. He's still active nowadays though, and has absolutely earned his place. Anyway, the first album had two tracks I really enjoyed - "Put You On The Game" and this, a track straight from the heart with Faith Evans blessing the hook. Havoc of Mobb Deep is on production with a beat that isn't what you might expect from him in terms of sound, but is right there at the standard of quality that he'd set.
DJ Cam ft. Cameo : Love Junkee (Dilla Remix)
You may or may not know it, but you cannot deny that this is a serious tune! The original was cool, in a relaxed and organic way, with Cameo an extremely welcome guest to proceedings, but Dilla turned it into a banger. Incredibly minimal on the surface, but packed with lots of little subtleties if you listen closely enough. If you can hear past that thumping low end! Get yourself a digital copy of both versions, and thank me later.
Zapp : Computer Love
I've said it before, but Zapp were something like fifteen years ahead of the advent of internet dating! This is a stone classic record, sampled and flipped countless times, and one which I'm glad to have enjoyed as a new track when it was released back in 1985! Shirley Murdock features as half of the lead vocal duet alongside Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, and the great Roger Troutman (RIP), who also wrote the song, comes in on the talkbox. Apparently Charlie Wilson's record label thought this wasn't going to be a hit...I assume much crow has been eaten since! You can find this as a single, on the "The New Zapp IV U" album, and on many compilations.
Onra : Wait A Minute
This needed a bit of additional looping to be long enough to fit here, but it fit so well in terms of sound that it had to be done. It's taken from the new "Nobody Has To Know" album, the instrumental story of a secret relationship.
Sean Price : 60 Bar Dash
Sean P again with a stream of the disrespectful lines we love him for, on a record from relatively early in his solo career - you can find this on the B-side of the "Boom Bye Yeah" 12" single. PF Cuttin is on production, working a break you might know from the first Diamond D album.
De La Soul : The Art Of Getting Jumped
I always enjoyed this one and the 80s Aretha sample that makes up the hook! Underrated but big tune from the "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump" album, all about those times when the pack strikes and isn't concerned with fighting fair...
Eric B & Rakim : Set 'Em Straight
If you don't have the "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em" album, then you probably don't know this track - it wasn't a single, it's not a club track, but my goodness, it's dope. The title is perfect, as Rakim takes the time to primarily put other MCs in check, but also correct one or two false rumours of the time, including that that he was supposedly locked up on Rikers Island for selling drugs. Pure heat from the very early 90s.
Blade : Rough It Up
Long before his union with Mark B (RIP) that many of you will know him for, Blade was an MC who absolutely personified the grind and the real DIY attitude. His first LP, "The Lion Goes From Strength To Strength", was in my opinion the original crowd-funded album, and the determined and defiant nature required to undertake such a task in 1991 is evident on this early 12"! He's talking about his real life right down to washing dishes to pay the bills, over a soup of funk cooked up by his own hand alongside the underground legendary engineer/producer "No Sleep" Nigel. I learned about this record when Pete Tong played it as a brand new tune on Radio 1, and it made me a Blade fan for life.
K-Def : Get A Clue
I needed something funky for this spot, and with the help of a bit of looping to make it a suitable length, I found it on K-Def's "Willie Boo Boo" collection, which is one that the beat heads should definitely have in their collections.
Aretha Franklin : Young, Gifted, and Black
What can you say? I thought this soaring anthem would be a great record to end the episode on. Nina Simone was the original writer (with Weldon Irvine) and performer of this song, back in 1969, but just three years later Aretha released this incredible version as the title track of her eighteenth (!) studio album. I certainly remember hearing many versions of this track as a child, and this is the perfect time to bring it out for all of you. Turn up the volume and take in the mastery.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Classical soul, I got the nastiest flow"
- Sean Price
We had to open the show with an Aretha Franklin track to mark her sad passing this month, and you'll hear her essence at various points throughout the episode. I'm just about beating the buzzer to get this one out on time, but I'm sure you'll agree it was worth the effort!
Manchester shows for the month;
Beatnuts, The Bluntskins, Didjit, Air Adam | September 19th, Whiskey Jar
Havoc, Big Noyd, DJ L.E.S, Seven Spherez | September 24th, Joshua Brooks
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Aretha Franklin : Rock Steady
We had to start things off with a classic from the Queen. This 1971 single from the "Young, Gifted, and Black" album isn't short on legends, with Donny Hathaway on electric piano and organ, and Bernard Purdie doing the business on the drums. A much covered and much sampled record, all trying to get just a hint of the flavour of the original.
Pete Rock : Aretha
A perfect instrumental for me to come across this month, drawn from the golden period in which Pete Rock was on production for InI's unreleased (but heavily bootlegged) debut album. This beat wasn't used, but it comes to us courtesy of the 2017 "Lost Sessions" release alongside nine other previously-unreleased instrumentals.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : 92 Interlude
I just had to include this - an interlude beat from the "Daily Operation" LP that built around just a tiny incidental piece of a famous Aretha Franklin track and put other producers on notice when it comes to how Primo picks gold!
JR & PH7 ft. Chuuwee : Meadowview Morning
Thank you Spotify for dropping this one into one of my playlists! The German producers JR and PH7 have made a brief appearance on the show previously, but their work on this track from "The South Sac Mack" is really something. They come up with a jazzy but sombre instrumental which perfectly fits the trio of Sacramento MCs telling tales of life in their corner of the world.
Hieroglyphics : Oakland Blackouts
Keeping it over on the West Coast, the Hiero crew have always been reliable as a source of bars upon bars. The "3rd Eye Vision" album is creeping towards twenty years old, but is still an excellent listen! Opio of Souls of Mischief is on production for this one.
Termanology : Are You Sure?
We don't hear Erick Sermon's name brought up enough when it comes to some of the greatest producers, so I'm glad Termanology linked up with him for this head-nod groove on his latest album "Bad Decisions". This is almost Term's version of Gang Starr's "The Planet", with him telling the story of coming to New York from Massachusetts and having to work to establish and hold his position. I won't give away the hook sample in case it's uncleared, but it's also a quality record :)
Sean Price : Director's Cut
This one has an unusual structure - a series of short two-bar "scenes" separated by two-bar sections of commentary. It's raw street business with a dash of humour as you'd expect from Sean P, gracing the Khrysis beat with some classic jewels. If you like this track, then the "Jesus Price Supastar" LP is a must in your collection.
DJ Agent M : Keeping Me In The Dark
Agent M is a producer and DJ from Leeds whose 2018 beat tape "Closure" is the sound of him working through a period of loss. This track is based around a classic sample, which is not just flipped for the sonics but also for the title.
Kev Brown : Voltron
It's been an extremely long wait for a proper follow-up to Kev Brown's 2005 debut LP "I Do What I Do", but finally he returns with "Homework" - twenty-nine tracks for a grateful audience! It's a partly vocal and partly instrumental album, with many tracks clocking in at under two minutes long. This was an initial standout for me, and while it's tickling my head as though there's a familiar sample, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that everything was played from scratch - Kev certainly has the capability.
The Game ft. Faith Evans : Don't Need Your Love
I've got to be honest - the lead-up to the release of The Game's debut album, "The Documentary" felt like one of the first times I felt as though the industry was really trying to force-feed an artist into the scene. He'd only been rapping for a relatively short time (for that era) before this LP came out, and has to be credited for building his skills in such a short time, but the Dr. Dre co-sign and G-Unit affiliation was of course what put him over the top. He's still active nowadays though, and has absolutely earned his place. Anyway, the first album had two tracks I really enjoyed - "Put You On The Game" and this, a track straight from the heart with Faith Evans blessing the hook. Havoc of Mobb Deep is on production with a beat that isn't what you might expect from him in terms of sound, but is right there at the standard of quality that he'd set.
DJ Cam ft. Cameo : Love Junkee (Dilla Remix)
You may or may not know it, but you cannot deny that this is a serious tune! The original was cool, in a relaxed and organic way, with Cameo an extremely welcome guest to proceedings, but Dilla turned it into a banger. Incredibly minimal on the surface, but packed with lots of little subtleties if you listen closely enough. If you can hear past that thumping low end! Get yourself a digital copy of both versions, and thank me later.
Zapp : Computer Love
I've said it before, but Zapp were something like fifteen years ahead of the advent of internet dating! This is a stone classic record, sampled and flipped countless times, and one which I'm glad to have enjoyed as a new track when it was released back in 1985! Shirley Murdock features as half of the lead vocal duet alongside Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, and the great Roger Troutman (RIP), who also wrote the song, comes in on the talkbox. Apparently Charlie Wilson's record label thought this wasn't going to be a hit...I assume much crow has been eaten since! You can find this as a single, on the "The New Zapp IV U" album, and on many compilations.
Onra : Wait A Minute
This needed a bit of additional looping to be long enough to fit here, but it fit so well in terms of sound that it had to be done. It's taken from the new "Nobody Has To Know" album, the instrumental story of a secret relationship.
Sean Price : 60 Bar Dash
Sean P again with a stream of the disrespectful lines we love him for, on a record from relatively early in his solo career - you can find this on the B-side of the "Boom Bye Yeah" 12" single. PF Cuttin is on production, working a break you might know from the first Diamond D album.
De La Soul : The Art Of Getting Jumped
I always enjoyed this one and the 80s Aretha sample that makes up the hook! Underrated but big tune from the "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump" album, all about those times when the pack strikes and isn't concerned with fighting fair...
Eric B & Rakim : Set 'Em Straight
If you don't have the "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em" album, then you probably don't know this track - it wasn't a single, it's not a club track, but my goodness, it's dope. The title is perfect, as Rakim takes the time to primarily put other MCs in check, but also correct one or two false rumours of the time, including that that he was supposedly locked up on Rikers Island for selling drugs. Pure heat from the very early 90s.
Blade : Rough It Up
Long before his union with Mark B (RIP) that many of you will know him for, Blade was an MC who absolutely personified the grind and the real DIY attitude. His first LP, "The Lion Goes From Strength To Strength", was in my opinion the original crowd-funded album, and the determined and defiant nature required to undertake such a task in 1991 is evident on this early 12"! He's talking about his real life right down to washing dishes to pay the bills, over a soup of funk cooked up by his own hand alongside the underground legendary engineer/producer "No Sleep" Nigel. I learned about this record when Pete Tong played it as a brand new tune on Radio 1, and it made me a Blade fan for life.
K-Def : Get A Clue
I needed something funky for this spot, and with the help of a bit of looping to make it a suitable length, I found it on K-Def's "Willie Boo Boo" collection, which is one that the beat heads should definitely have in their collections.
Aretha Franklin : Young, Gifted, and Black
What can you say? I thought this soaring anthem would be a great record to end the episode on. Nina Simone was the original writer (with Weldon Irvine) and performer of this song, back in 1969, but just three years later Aretha released this incredible version as the title track of her eighteenth (!) studio album. I certainly remember hearing many versions of this track as a child, and this is the perfect time to bring it out for all of you. Turn up the volume and take in the mastery.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Climbing out the mud 'til we see the grass."
- Superbad Solace
A great month for Manchester music on multiple fronts has made it a busy time, and it's been great to see people coming out and supporting the scene. This episode's selection includes a couple of fire new tracks out of the city, and while the bulk of the mix is Hip-Hop, we find time for some modern soul and even some blues to round thing off!
Dates for your diary;
GZA @ Joshua Brooks, Sept 2nd
Beatnuts @ The Whiskey Jar, Sept 19th
Children of Zeus, Band On The Wall, Nov 23rd
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Phonte : Expensive Genes
A short and poignant number from the "No News Is Good News" album. As a Black man entering middle age (I can relate), Phonte considers how a combination of genetics, environment, and dietary choices will affect the upcoming years of life. I don't think I've ever heard this being tackled half as well, and certainly not so succinctly.
Takuya Kuroda : R.S.B.D (TBG Rise And Fall Remix)
This Japanese jazzman released his debut, "Bitter and High" on CD Baby back in 2010, and he's already five albums in with his own brand of trumpet wizardry. Tall Black Guy turns his hand here to remixing the opener from Kuroda's 2016 "Zigzagger" LP, putting in the bump that is so much a trademark of his.
Children of Zeus : 360°
"*****, you clap when the plane lands!" will never not be funny :) At long last, the debut Children of Zeus album, "Travel Light" has arrived; the buzz is crazy, and with good reason. A tightly-crafted soulful collection, it's my strong purchase recommendation for this month! This track sees the lyrical pairing of Tyler and Konny talking relationship drama over a slightly warped beat from Sebb Bash which, like the rest of the LP, sounds great on a good system.
Amerie : Talkin' To Me (Mark Ronson Sunshine Remix)
A longtime favourite, this remix works a classic soul sample to great effect, Mark Ronson chopping it up nicely. Amerie released the original on her 2002 "All I Have" album (with Rich Harrison on production), but this remix is available on 12".
Superbad Solace : Patina
As a Hip-Hop head and a watch enthusiast, I 100% co-sign this song. Building from a different part of the song sampled in the Amerie track, this is my favourite cut from the seven-song album "Sol Controller". You may know Solace as half of the Queens duo Timeless Truth, and he blesses the beat from fellow NY native Mono En Stereo with pure city flavour.
Noveliss : Above The Rim
Clear Soul Forces member Noveliss spitting a classic 90s film reference (amongst other things) over a knocking Ilajide beat. These guys can be relied on for quality! You can hear this one in context as the closing track on the anime-influenced 2016 "Mic Swordz" EP.
[J-Zone] Sadat X : X Is A Machine (Instrumental)
Not every MC had the skills or sense of experimentation to ride a J-Zone beat, but some of the greats did and Sadat X did the business on the "Black October" album. Thanks to the release of Zone's "The Headband Years" instrumental compilation, we can now enjoy this and other tracks without MCs, to really appreciate his skills!
Ilajide : Heatin' Up
I rate this tune from "Heet Tape" so much, especially as an original-era fan of the game from which the samples are drawn! Ilajide's beat slaps like it's putting proper hip rotation into the move, and the cutting up of the "heating up" voice clip makes me glad that things like Serato exist.
Voodoo Black : Clap Click
It's surprisingly hard to make an all-percussion/drum track interesting, but Manchester's Voodoo Black certainly do that with their new single. Sparkz, Ellis Meade, and Dubbul O (shutting it down at the end) take a verse each over the Sparkz and Ellis Meade beat-only beat :) Also - make sure you check the video!
Above The Law ft. Ha Ha L.O.C : Be About Yo Bizniz
RIP KMG - still stuns me there'll never be any more of his gravelly tones on wax. I decided to dig for an album track that I don't often play myself, and came up with this one from the "Legends" album - also available as the B-side of "The Streets" 12". KMG takes the first (and best) verse over a Cold 187um beat.
Large Pro : Sewin' Love
No longer looking at the front door, Large Professor comes with a song for the special person in his life. It was hard to find a good sonic match for the preceding record but when I heard this again while giving the "Main Source" album a run, it jumped out as a good pick.
[Rob Lewis] Nine : Lyin' King (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago on the podcast - use the search function to go back and find the episode :) I got this on a promo 12", but there is an official release, and you can always cop the "Cloud 9" album to get the vocal.
Diamond D ft. John Dough : Flowin'
The first full track on Diamond's sophomore release "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" has been a longtime favourite. I do wish there was one more count before the beat comes in though - should have just edited/juggled one in! Classic boom-bap drums over a beautiful light sample I never would have stumbled on. This album is definitely due for a couple more visits on the show :)
Black Thought ft. Rapsody : Dostoyevsky
"Streams of Thought, Vol.1" is an essential new release for anyone who studies pure bars, and the first solo project from an MC who has been on the scene since 1993. Thought has been one of the best in the artform for a long time, and those who slept were woken up by his dazzling freestyle on Funkmaster Flex' show last year. After Barry Michael Cooper once told him during an interview he was the "hip-hop Dostoyevsky", Thought decided to try and bring some of the wisdom of the famed philosopher to a track! 9th Wonder has the drums cracking all over this one as Thought weaves his lyrical magic alongside the ice-cold Rapsody, who fans of the podcast should absolutely be getting to know by now.
Redman : Ya!
"New Redman single" are three words that should amp up any Hip-Hop fan! Mike & Keys from Futuristikz supply a banging beat for Redman to remind you who he is and how he gets down, just so you can be warmed up for the release of "Muddy Waters Too" next year :)
Supastition ft. Seven : Blood Brothers
Supastition was one of the artists who came out in the early-2000s emergence of the North Carolina Hip-Hop scene, spearheaded by Little Brother. His debut LP, "Chain Letters" features production from some of the best producers who debuted at the time, like M-Phazes, Jake One, and Illmind - who produced this cut. It's a wicked beat, and Supastition plus his guest Seven (who I can't find much info about) are in full sucker MC slaying mode, with punchlines galore over the length of the track. If you like it, the album is definitely worth checking.
[Alchemist] Curren$y : Ventilation (Instrumental)
Just something a little laid back towards the end of the show, from the instrumentals to Curren$y and Alchemist's "Covert Coup"
Eric Bibb : What's He Gonna Say Today?
I was first introduced to Eric Bibb's music when I heard him playing support for Michael McDonald in Manchester recently. No band, no machines, no tricks, just him in the spotlight with his voice and a guitar, killing it. I picked up the "Migration Blues" album the same night and have been checking him out on Spotify too - which had the happy effect of Spotify then recommending this new single to me! It's a great description of the despair/exasperation that #45/Dirty Don/Baby Hands engenders with his general poor conduct...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Climbing out the mud 'til we see the grass."
- Superbad Solace
A great month for Manchester music on multiple fronts has made it a busy time, and it's been great to see people coming out and supporting the scene. This episode's selection includes a couple of fire new tracks out of the city, and while the bulk of the mix is Hip-Hop, we find time for some modern soul and even some blues to round thing off!
Dates for your diary;
GZA @ Joshua Brooks, Sept 2nd
Beatnuts @ The Whiskey Jar, Sept 19th
Children of Zeus, Band On The Wall, Nov 23rd
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Phonte : Expensive Genes
A short and poignant number from the "No News Is Good News" album. As a Black man entering middle age (I can relate), Phonte considers how a combination of genetics, environment, and dietary choices will affect the upcoming years of life. I don't think I've ever heard this being tackled half as well, and certainly not so succinctly.
Takuya Kuroda : R.S.B.D (TBG Rise And Fall Remix)
This Japanese jazzman released his debut, "Bitter and High" on CD Baby back in 2010, and he's already five albums in with his own brand of trumpet wizardry. Tall Black Guy turns his hand here to remixing the opener from Kuroda's 2016 "Zigzagger" LP, putting in the bump that is so much a trademark of his.
Children of Zeus : 360°
"*****, you clap when the plane lands!" will never not be funny :) At long last, the debut Children of Zeus album, "Travel Light" has arrived; the buzz is crazy, and with good reason. A tightly-crafted soulful collection, it's my strong purchase recommendation for this month! This track sees the lyrical pairing of Tyler and Konny talking relationship drama over a slightly warped beat from Sebb Bash which, like the rest of the LP, sounds great on a good system.
Amerie : Talkin' To Me (Mark Ronson Sunshine Remix)
A longtime favourite, this remix works a classic soul sample to great effect, Mark Ronson chopping it up nicely. Amerie released the original on her 2002 "All I Have" album (with Rich Harrison on production), but this remix is available on 12".
Superbad Solace : Patina
As a Hip-Hop head and a watch enthusiast, I 100% co-sign this song. Building from a different part of the song sampled in the Amerie track, this is my favourite cut from the seven-song album "Sol Controller". You may know Solace as half of the Queens duo Timeless Truth, and he blesses the beat from fellow NY native Mono En Stereo with pure city flavour.
Noveliss : Above The Rim
Clear Soul Forces member Noveliss spitting a classic 90s film reference (amongst other things) over a knocking Ilajide beat. These guys can be relied on for quality! You can hear this one in context as the closing track on the anime-influenced 2016 "Mic Swordz" EP.
[J-Zone] Sadat X : X Is A Machine (Instrumental)
Not every MC had the skills or sense of experimentation to ride a J-Zone beat, but some of the greats did and Sadat X did the business on the "Black October" album. Thanks to the release of Zone's "The Headband Years" instrumental compilation, we can now enjoy this and other tracks without MCs, to really appreciate his skills!
Ilajide : Heatin' Up
I rate this tune from "Heet Tape" so much, especially as an original-era fan of the game from which the samples are drawn! Ilajide's beat slaps like it's putting proper hip rotation into the move, and the cutting up of the "heating up" voice clip makes me glad that things like Serato exist.
Voodoo Black : Clap Click
It's surprisingly hard to make an all-percussion/drum track interesting, but Manchester's Voodoo Black certainly do that with their new single. Sparkz, Ellis Meade, and Dubbul O (shutting it down at the end) take a verse each over the Sparkz and Ellis Meade beat-only beat :) Also - make sure you check the video!
Above The Law ft. Ha Ha L.O.C : Be About Yo Bizniz
RIP KMG - still stuns me there'll never be any more of his gravelly tones on wax. I decided to dig for an album track that I don't often play myself, and came up with this one from the "Legends" album - also available as the B-side of "The Streets" 12". KMG takes the first (and best) verse over a Cold 187um beat.
Large Pro : Sewin' Love
No longer looking at the front door, Large Professor comes with a song for the special person in his life. It was hard to find a good sonic match for the preceding record but when I heard this again while giving the "Main Source" album a run, it jumped out as a good pick.
[Rob Lewis] Nine : Lyin' King (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago on the podcast - use the search function to go back and find the episode :) I got this on a promo 12", but there is an official release, and you can always cop the "Cloud 9" album to get the vocal.
Diamond D ft. John Dough : Flowin'
The first full track on Diamond's sophomore release "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" has been a longtime favourite. I do wish there was one more count before the beat comes in though - should have just edited/juggled one in! Classic boom-bap drums over a beautiful light sample I never would have stumbled on. This album is definitely due for a couple more visits on the show :)
Black Thought ft. Rapsody : Dostoyevsky
"Streams of Thought, Vol.1" is an essential new release for anyone who studies pure bars, and the first solo project from an MC who has been on the scene since 1993. Thought has been one of the best in the artform for a long time, and those who slept were woken up by his dazzling freestyle on Funkmaster Flex' show last year. After Barry Michael Cooper once told him during an interview he was the "hip-hop Dostoyevsky", Thought decided to try and bring some of the wisdom of the famed philosopher to a track! 9th Wonder has the drums cracking all over this one as Thought weaves his lyrical magic alongside the ice-cold Rapsody, who fans of the podcast should absolutely be getting to know by now.
Redman : Ya!
"New Redman single" are three words that should amp up any Hip-Hop fan! Mike & Keys from Futuristikz supply a banging beat for Redman to remind you who he is and how he gets down, just so you can be warmed up for the release of "Muddy Waters Too" next year :)
Supastition ft. Seven : Blood Brothers
Supastition was one of the artists who came out in the early-2000s emergence of the North Carolina Hip-Hop scene, spearheaded by Little Brother. His debut LP, "Chain Letters" features production from some of the best producers who debuted at the time, like M-Phazes, Jake One, and Illmind - who produced this cut. It's a wicked beat, and Supastition plus his guest Seven (who I can't find much info about) are in full sucker MC slaying mode, with punchlines galore over the length of the track. If you like it, the album is definitely worth checking.
[Alchemist] Curren$y : Ventilation (Instrumental)
Just something a little laid back towards the end of the show, from the instrumentals to Curren$y and Alchemist's "Covert Coup"
Eric Bibb : What's He Gonna Say Today?
I was first introduced to Eric Bibb's music when I heard him playing support for Michael McDonald in Manchester recently. No band, no machines, no tricks, just him in the spotlight with his voice and a guitar, killing it. I picked up the "Migration Blues" album the same night and have been checking him out on Spotify too - which had the happy effect of Spotify then recommending this new single to me! It's a great description of the despair/exasperation that #45/Dirty Don/Baby Hands engenders with his general poor conduct...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"If you mad, take it up with God, it's how he designed me"
- Havoc
My goodness, it was tough to get this episode completed - but here we are, celebrating the ninth birthday of the podcast! Thank you all for your continued support; it's knowing that you're waiting for the show every month that keeps it going :)
As mentioned on the show; RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) could make very good use of donations right now.
Beatnuts show, September 19th, Whiskey Jar, Manchester - catch me on the wheels in the early going!
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Nas ft. The-Dream & Kanye West : everything
It seems that seven-track albums are the style right now. I still need to give "NASIR" some more listens, but this song stood out by a mile to me on the first hearing. I'm not here for Kanye West right now but he and his team do nail the production on this one, and he and The-Dream knock the sung vocals out of the park. Nas' mostly solid rhymes, with some gems in there (especially the third verse), are somehow my third favourite thing on this song, which is at least partially due to the seeming anti-vaccine sentiment in the second verse. He's either wrong, or just dropped some clumsy lines - you be the judge.
Power Glove : E-240
Power Glove are an Australian who the gamers amongst you may know their work from the soundtrack of "Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon". They're mostly known for 80s-style synthwave, but this has more of a chilled 90s vibe, which I think they execute really well. You can get this on their "EP II".
Agallah : Don't Wanna Be The Last
I think this was the track that made me go back and check the catalogue of the group who were sampled by Agallah for this beat! This is taken from his "Doomsday" mixtape and has been a favourite of mine ever since I was bumping it in a red Corolla like the Puerto Rican driver in Masta Ace's "Born To Roll" and the "J.A.N" re-record :)
Rapsody : Special Way
Going with another repurposed 80s ballad on this one, with Khrysis on production. A song of love, delivered in Rapsody's flawless style, this is yet another great track from "She Got Game". Have you got yourself a copy yet?
Rakim : Remember That
I really didn't appreciate "The 18th Letter" enough when it first came out, but I keep going back to it and finding tracks I unjustly overlooked. This particular one finds Rakim reminiscing over his early experiences of Hip-Hop and the NYC club scene of his youth, with DJ Clark Kent supplying the beat.
Devin The Dude : Gotta Be Me
I can't say I can relate to the smoking experience, but this is a tune I enjoy nonetheless! This is the title track of his seventh album, with Cozmo basing the instrumental on a classic soul number, and Devin's lyrics making the whole thing a great summertime tune.
The Mouse Outfit : Children Of The Stars (Instrumental)
Just the beat from one of my favourite tracks on the "Escape Music" album - gorgeous production work. Do pick up that album if you don't already have it, along with their latest release "Jagged Tooth Crook".
Jasiri X : The Whitest House
You can always rely on Jasiri X to be the man with the take on current events, and this is a heavy one. It opens with a sample of the author and educator Ta-Nehisi Coates before the beat drops in and Jasiri tackles the evils of the Trump regime. As usual, the best place to get his singles is on his Bandcamp page.
The Alchemist ft. Mobb Deep : Carved In Stone
A longtime favourite of mine from the excellent "Insomnia" compilation, with raw Mobb rhymes (including this month's epigraph), and Alchemist killing it on the beat - I don't know where he got the sample, but it's a great one. Listen closely and you'll hear it's an example of a no hi-hit drum part, with kicks and handclaps along with some low tom-type rolls making up the entirety of the drum programming. Rhyme-wise, the late great Prodigy opens things up but I think Havoc absolutely shines here!
Smoke DZA & Pete Rock : Last Name
Given the names of the two artists who created the album, "Don't Smoke Rock" is just the best possible name. Apparently a new album is on the way, but for now have a sample of the first collaboration. The beat isn't one that immediately makes you think of Pete Rock but obviously has the quality, and it suits the MCing perfectly. Smoke DZA does have a kind of smoked-out vibe, but is right on top of things at the same time here.
Blu & Nottz ft. Exile : The Man
I don't know if it's just me, but the first verse sounds very different to the other two - and is clearly the best! Blu & Nottz' "Gods In The Spirit, Titans In The Flesh" is a new release but essentially a merge of two separate EPs that the pair had previously released, with this track originally being on "Titans In The Flesh". Nottz, though mostly known as a producer, gets on the mic here to close the track and definitely shows he belongs, but Blu just kills that first verse.
A Kid Called Roots : Hip-Hop
He may not be a household name, but A Kid Called Roots (I presume it's like A Tribe Called Quest or A Pimp Named Slickback, you say the whole thing) has quietly produced for quite an array of artists, from Canibus to Xzibit. This beat is from the 1997 "Hydra Beats Volume XIII" collection, with ten tracks from this producer - all named after a producer or executive, except this one, it seems!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. The Trinity: Wide Awake
The third instalment of the "Magnificent" series seems to have quietly snuck out, but it's an album well worth checking out! Rhymefest, Dayne Jordan, and Uhmeer make up the on-mic crew for this track, with crystal-clear rhymes over lush production. A nice extra touch is Jeff's scratching with a famous sound much beloved by the turntablists of the world!
The Foreign Exchange : June
It's somehow unfair that Phonte is such an amazing MC and got that singing voice, but we're the beneficiaries when he gives us stuff like this! Phonte and Nicolay's joint project has gone from strength to strength, with this new single being another gem in their catalogue. The low notes give us the high point of the production, with Nicolay killing it on the synth bass!
Children of Zeus : All Night
Last month we had the A-side of this single, but I just couldn't resist that "You're A Customer" sample after all! Konny Kon and Tyler Daly each shine at what they're best known for on this cut, with the overall result feeling like (in my opinion) a super-upgraded version of what some of the R&B/rap combination tracks were trying to do in the late 90s/early 00s. Big tune, and one which sets the table for the release of the long-awaited debut album "Travel Light" in July!
Smith Brothers : Real Live
Nothing conscious or pretty here, just pure gangster business from Smoothe Da Hustler and Trigger Da Gambler as The Smith Brothers (they actually are the Smith brothers in real life) on this 2000 single. I thought the beat here was a good one to blend to from the CoZ track, with the staccato synth line and tough drums. I only have this as a promo 12", which unfortunately doesn't have a production credit printed, but DR Period might be a reasonable guess.
DJ Spinna : Let It Speak
It's always a good time to play some Spinna, and with him being under the weather recently, right now it's doubly so. Dope beat from the "Unpicked Treats Vol 1" compilation.
Mobb Deep : Play
This may be one of the only ever completely radio-friendly Mobb Deep tracks! I don't think this is a well-known one, but I originally heard about it on the Juan Epstein podcast. From the soundtrack of the Keanu Reeves film "Hardball", this one sees Prodigy and Havoc doing it for the kids but absolutely maintaining their own rugged style. If you ever stumble upon the original sample, I think you'll enjoy that track too.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"If you mad, take it up with God, it's how he designed me"
- Havoc
My goodness, it was tough to get this episode completed - but here we are, celebrating the ninth birthday of the podcast! Thank you all for your continued support; it's knowing that you're waiting for the show every month that keeps it going :)
As mentioned on the show; RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) could make very good use of donations right now.
Beatnuts show, September 19th, Whiskey Jar, Manchester - catch me on the wheels in the early going!
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Nas ft. The-Dream & Kanye West : everything
It seems that seven-track albums are the style right now. I still need to give "NASIR" some more listens, but this song stood out by a mile to me on the first hearing. I'm not here for Kanye West right now but he and his team do nail the production on this one, and he and The-Dream knock the sung vocals out of the park. Nas' mostly solid rhymes, with some gems in there (especially the third verse), are somehow my third favourite thing on this song, which is at least partially due to the seeming anti-vaccine sentiment in the second verse. He's either wrong, or just dropped some clumsy lines - you be the judge.
Power Glove : E-240
Power Glove are an Australian who the gamers amongst you may know their work from the soundtrack of "Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon". They're mostly known for 80s-style synthwave, but this has more of a chilled 90s vibe, which I think they execute really well. You can get this on their "EP II".
Agallah : Don't Wanna Be The Last
I think this was the track that made me go back and check the catalogue of the group who were sampled by Agallah for this beat! This is taken from his "Doomsday" mixtape and has been a favourite of mine ever since I was bumping it in a red Corolla like the Puerto Rican driver in Masta Ace's "Born To Roll" and the "J.A.N" re-record :)
Rapsody : Special Way
Going with another repurposed 80s ballad on this one, with Khrysis on production. A song of love, delivered in Rapsody's flawless style, this is yet another great track from "She Got Game". Have you got yourself a copy yet?
Rakim : Remember That
I really didn't appreciate "The 18th Letter" enough when it first came out, but I keep going back to it and finding tracks I unjustly overlooked. This particular one finds Rakim reminiscing over his early experiences of Hip-Hop and the NYC club scene of his youth, with DJ Clark Kent supplying the beat.
Devin The Dude : Gotta Be Me
I can't say I can relate to the smoking experience, but this is a tune I enjoy nonetheless! This is the title track of his seventh album, with Cozmo basing the instrumental on a classic soul number, and Devin's lyrics making the whole thing a great summertime tune.
The Mouse Outfit : Children Of The Stars (Instrumental)
Just the beat from one of my favourite tracks on the "Escape Music" album - gorgeous production work. Do pick up that album if you don't already have it, along with their latest release "Jagged Tooth Crook".
Jasiri X : The Whitest House
You can always rely on Jasiri X to be the man with the take on current events, and this is a heavy one. It opens with a sample of the author and educator Ta-Nehisi Coates before the beat drops in and Jasiri tackles the evils of the Trump regime. As usual, the best place to get his singles is on his Bandcamp page.
The Alchemist ft. Mobb Deep : Carved In Stone
A longtime favourite of mine from the excellent "Insomnia" compilation, with raw Mobb rhymes (including this month's epigraph), and Alchemist killing it on the beat - I don't know where he got the sample, but it's a great one. Listen closely and you'll hear it's an example of a no hi-hit drum part, with kicks and handclaps along with some low tom-type rolls making up the entirety of the drum programming. Rhyme-wise, the late great Prodigy opens things up but I think Havoc absolutely shines here!
Smoke DZA & Pete Rock : Last Name
Given the names of the two artists who created the album, "Don't Smoke Rock" is just the best possible name. Apparently a new album is on the way, but for now have a sample of the first collaboration. The beat isn't one that immediately makes you think of Pete Rock but obviously has the quality, and it suits the MCing perfectly. Smoke DZA does have a kind of smoked-out vibe, but is right on top of things at the same time here.
Blu & Nottz ft. Exile : The Man
I don't know if it's just me, but the first verse sounds very different to the other two - and is clearly the best! Blu & Nottz' "Gods In The Spirit, Titans In The Flesh" is a new release but essentially a merge of two separate EPs that the pair had previously released, with this track originally being on "Titans In The Flesh". Nottz, though mostly known as a producer, gets on the mic here to close the track and definitely shows he belongs, but Blu just kills that first verse.
A Kid Called Roots : Hip-Hop
He may not be a household name, but A Kid Called Roots (I presume it's like A Tribe Called Quest or A Pimp Named Slickback, you say the whole thing) has quietly produced for quite an array of artists, from Canibus to Xzibit. This beat is from the 1997 "Hydra Beats Volume XIII" collection, with ten tracks from this producer - all named after a producer or executive, except this one, it seems!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. The Trinity: Wide Awake
The third instalment of the "Magnificent" series seems to have quietly snuck out, but it's an album well worth checking out! Rhymefest, Dayne Jordan, and Uhmeer make up the on-mic crew for this track, with crystal-clear rhymes over lush production. A nice extra touch is Jeff's scratching with a famous sound much beloved by the turntablists of the world!
The Foreign Exchange : June
It's somehow unfair that Phonte is such an amazing MC and got that singing voice, but we're the beneficiaries when he gives us stuff like this! Phonte and Nicolay's joint project has gone from strength to strength, with this new single being another gem in their catalogue. The low notes give us the high point of the production, with Nicolay killing it on the synth bass!
Children of Zeus : All Night
Last month we had the A-side of this single, but I just couldn't resist that "You're A Customer" sample after all! Konny Kon and Tyler Daly each shine at what they're best known for on this cut, with the overall result feeling like (in my opinion) a super-upgraded version of what some of the R&B/rap combination tracks were trying to do in the late 90s/early 00s. Big tune, and one which sets the table for the release of the long-awaited debut album "Travel Light" in July!
Smith Brothers : Real Live
Nothing conscious or pretty here, just pure gangster business from Smoothe Da Hustler and Trigger Da Gambler as The Smith Brothers (they actually are the Smith brothers in real life) on this 2000 single. I thought the beat here was a good one to blend to from the CoZ track, with the staccato synth line and tough drums. I only have this as a promo 12", which unfortunately doesn't have a production credit printed, but DR Period might be a reasonable guess.
DJ Spinna : Let It Speak
It's always a good time to play some Spinna, and with him being under the weather recently, right now it's doubly so. Dope beat from the "Unpicked Treats Vol 1" compilation.
Mobb Deep : Play
This may be one of the only ever completely radio-friendly Mobb Deep tracks! I don't think this is a well-known one, but I originally heard about it on the Juan Epstein podcast. From the soundtrack of the Keanu Reeves film "Hardball", this one sees Prodigy and Havoc doing it for the kids but absolutely maintaining their own rugged style. If you ever stumble upon the original sample, I think you'll enjoy that track too.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Leave the pills alone, realise you a drug yo'self"
- Z-Ro
The end of the ninth year of the podcast is upon us, along with a rebuild of the website (podcast.airadam.com) - hope you enjoy it. This month's selection starts off slow in pace, and picks up as we go until we reach full-on dancefloor funk! Tunes are new and old and come from Manchester, Houston, NYC, and points in-between. Let's get to it...
One more thing - Beatnuts tickets for the September 19th show in Manchester!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Z-Ro : From The Other Side
We start the episode with a pick from "No Love Boulevard", a low-slung banger from one of the more underrated artists in Hip-Hop (he claims to now be retired, but hopefully not). Z-Ro has never been one to suffer fools lightly, or even to be much enamoured of people in general, and here he's expressing his frustration with hangers-on who want to be spoon-fed instead of taking initiative. His sometimes sung, sometimes rapped style reminds me a little of Nate Dogg with a little 2Pac mixed in. He'll never have the mainstream popularity as either - he's far too raw for many - but he's certainly put himself and Mo City on the map over the years.
Luxury Elite : Cool
A little vaporwave flavour from the "World Class" album by Kentucky's Luxury Elite. Taking an old 80s sample, looping and editing it, and applying some effects sounds simple enough but I've been checking out quite a bit and it's easy to do badly! No such problems here, and I'll definitely keep an ear out for more from Luxury.
Children of Zeus : Slow Down
It's hopefully not too long until CoZ release their debut album, but we have this single to hold us over for a bit. It was almost a guarantee that I was going to play "All Night", the other side of the single, here (I love that "You're A Customer" break), but this one finally got the nod. The track lives up to the title, a nice relaxed piece with plenty of room for Konny and Tyler to shine. Tyler opens up with the singing voice he's known for, before he and Konny both spit raw bars after the drums come in.
Ilajide : Ten Fo
Rapidly becoming one of my favourite producers and MCs, Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide returns this month with the "#0414917" LP. The theme of the release is past issues with the law, and the sonics are absolutely thumping. This particular track sounds somewhat chaotic, with the beat elements and his vocals all tumbling after one another, but when you break it down it's more organised than it first appears!
The Mouse Outfit ft. Ellis Meade and Dubbul O : Trigger The Wave
The "Jagged Tooth Crook" LP is with us and it's another quality outing for the Outfit. Metrodome, a talented producer and DJ from Manchester worked heavily with them on this album, and he takes the reins here alongside core member and keyboardist Chini for a clean, spacey number. On the mic, we have two longtime members of the Mouse Outfit fam who are also busy artists in their own right, Ellis Meade and Dubbul O, demonstrating yet another beat style they can handle with aplomb.
Michael Trapson : Neverland Dungeon
Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I find this guy immensely entertaining! I was giving this plenty of play even before the "This Is Lit" album was released, so no reason to stop now :) One piece of trivia for this track - the "brrrr-rat-tat-tat" in the hook isn't just a reference to gunfire, but in fact to a very specific ad-lib in Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time"! There are a ton of MJ references and dead-on vocal stylings in this tune, but even if you don't know enough to pick up on them I still think it's heavy.
The Alchemist : G-Type
From the "Rapper's Best Friend" instrumental compilation, this was also the beat for "G-Type" by Scarface and The Product.
DJ Premier ft. A$AP Ferg : Our Streets
Premo keeps on turning out those tracks in his signature style, and on this meeting of the generations, A$AP Ferg is the beneficiary of his drum machine generosity. This is a top single that marks the relaunch of the Payday Records label; they're certainly starting off strong.
Bumpy Knuckles : Flow Temperament
The king of the third verse (and a strong contender on any others) is back with a new project, "Pop Duke, Volume 1", entirely produced by Nottz. Great to hear Bumpy back with new material, and if this is anything to go by, we need to hope for more volumes in this series! Gutter beat and hard rhymes, one for the real heads.
Pusha T : Infrared
I decided to play this track from the "Daytona" (named after the watch, not the racetrack!) album on the day it came out, before the whole beef with Drake fully ignited! The mostly snareless beat from Kanye (who at least managed to get this right) provides ample space for Pusha to throw shade on Drake and his ghostwriters, Trump and the election conspiracy, and plenty more. That line about "I don't tap dance for the crackers and sing 'Mammy'" has a truckload of context now...
TRIBECA-GRAND : Take A Knee
With the NFL's new national anthem rules being introduced recently to polarising effect, this seemed like a good time to pull out this single. Tribeca and Grand Agent come out strongly in favour of the right to protest and in opposition to police violence over a Tribeca-produced beat that once again sounds like he beat the MPC into submission :) This single came out a while back, but now the "Sport Of The Gods" LP, including this song, is available too.
[The Alchemist] Mr. Voodoo : Lyrical Tactics Pt.II (Instrumental)
Total coincidence to go with another Alchemist beat, but he's just got so many good ones! This is from relatively early in his career, with Natural Elements' Mr. Voodoo (aka Agu) clearly one with an ear for talent.
Public Enemy : Cold Lampin' With Flavor
Arguably the breakout Flavor Flav solo joint (eclipsing "Too Much Posse" from "Yo! Bum Rush The Show"), this is one of my favourites from the monumental "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back". Starting off with a sample of Mr.Magic (RIP) dissing PE on his radio show, this is just a hectic track with Flav going free-association from start to finish.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Feelin' It (Remix)
Classic 80s flavour, heavy Bronx as The P Brothers would say! From the must-hear "Critical Beatdown" album, Kool Keith and Ced Gee are on the mic with styles that, while bearing traces of the old school, clearly shows signs of the MCs yet to come. The beats on the LP were done by Ced Gee, Moe Love, and the late great Paul C, and this is a signature example.
Brand Nubian : Dedication
A deep album cut from Brand Nubian's debut "One For All", with Grand Puba going solo on the mic and showing some love to those who paved the way.
Parliament : The Big Bang Theory
This huge funk track is long enough that I picked it to be the fourth song in this mix and then realised I may as well keep it running as the instrumental bed for the last voiceover! This is one of the best-known tracks by George Clinton and the crew, and as well as on many compilations, you can get this on the "Gloryhallastoopid" album.
Gap Band : Disrespect
The last song of the episode is one of my favourite Gap Band tracks but maybe not one of their best known. The synth bass, the double handclaps, the bell ringing, and the fire hook come together to make this diss track to Prince (!) a funk monster. Do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy of "Gap Band VI" if you see one at a reasonable price! You do get three different versions of "The Sun Don't Shine Everyday", but there are enough other things included for it to be worth having in your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Leave the pills alone, realise you a drug yo'self"
- Z-Ro
The end of the ninth year of the podcast is upon us, along with a rebuild of the website (podcast.airadam.com) - hope you enjoy it. This month's selection starts off slow in pace, and picks up as we go until we reach full-on dancefloor funk! Tunes are new and old and come from Manchester, Houston, NYC, and points in-between. Let's get to it...
One more thing - Beatnuts tickets for the September 19th show in Manchester!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Z-Ro : From The Other Side
We start the episode with a pick from "No Love Boulevard", a low-slung banger from one of the more underrated artists in Hip-Hop (he claims to now be retired, but hopefully not). Z-Ro has never been one to suffer fools lightly, or even to be much enamoured of people in general, and here he's expressing his frustration with hangers-on who want to be spoon-fed instead of taking initiative. His sometimes sung, sometimes rapped style reminds me a little of Nate Dogg with a little 2Pac mixed in. He'll never have the mainstream popularity as either - he's far too raw for many - but he's certainly put himself and Mo City on the map over the years.
Luxury Elite : Cool
A little vaporwave flavour from the "World Class" album by Kentucky's Luxury Elite. Taking an old 80s sample, looping and editing it, and applying some effects sounds simple enough but I've been checking out quite a bit and it's easy to do badly! No such problems here, and I'll definitely keep an ear out for more from Luxury.
Children of Zeus : Slow Down
It's hopefully not too long until CoZ release their debut album, but we have this single to hold us over for a bit. It was almost a guarantee that I was going to play "All Night", the other side of the single, here (I love that "You're A Customer" break), but this one finally got the nod. The track lives up to the title, a nice relaxed piece with plenty of room for Konny and Tyler to shine. Tyler opens up with the singing voice he's known for, before he and Konny both spit raw bars after the drums come in.
Ilajide : Ten Fo
Rapidly becoming one of my favourite producers and MCs, Clear Soul Forces' Ilajide returns this month with the "#0414917" LP. The theme of the release is past issues with the law, and the sonics are absolutely thumping. This particular track sounds somewhat chaotic, with the beat elements and his vocals all tumbling after one another, but when you break it down it's more organised than it first appears!
The Mouse Outfit ft. Ellis Meade and Dubbul O : Trigger The Wave
The "Jagged Tooth Crook" LP is with us and it's another quality outing for the Outfit. Metrodome, a talented producer and DJ from Manchester worked heavily with them on this album, and he takes the reins here alongside core member and keyboardist Chini for a clean, spacey number. On the mic, we have two longtime members of the Mouse Outfit fam who are also busy artists in their own right, Ellis Meade and Dubbul O, demonstrating yet another beat style they can handle with aplomb.
Michael Trapson : Neverland Dungeon
Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I find this guy immensely entertaining! I was giving this plenty of play even before the "This Is Lit" album was released, so no reason to stop now :) One piece of trivia for this track - the "brrrr-rat-tat-tat" in the hook isn't just a reference to gunfire, but in fact to a very specific ad-lib in Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time"! There are a ton of MJ references and dead-on vocal stylings in this tune, but even if you don't know enough to pick up on them I still think it's heavy.
The Alchemist : G-Type
From the "Rapper's Best Friend" instrumental compilation, this was also the beat for "G-Type" by Scarface and The Product.
DJ Premier ft. A$AP Ferg : Our Streets
Premo keeps on turning out those tracks in his signature style, and on this meeting of the generations, A$AP Ferg is the beneficiary of his drum machine generosity. This is a top single that marks the relaunch of the Payday Records label; they're certainly starting off strong.
Bumpy Knuckles : Flow Temperament
The king of the third verse (and a strong contender on any others) is back with a new project, "Pop Duke, Volume 1", entirely produced by Nottz. Great to hear Bumpy back with new material, and if this is anything to go by, we need to hope for more volumes in this series! Gutter beat and hard rhymes, one for the real heads.
Pusha T : Infrared
I decided to play this track from the "Daytona" (named after the watch, not the racetrack!) album on the day it came out, before the whole beef with Drake fully ignited! The mostly snareless beat from Kanye (who at least managed to get this right) provides ample space for Pusha to throw shade on Drake and his ghostwriters, Trump and the election conspiracy, and plenty more. That line about "I don't tap dance for the crackers and sing 'Mammy'" has a truckload of context now...
TRIBECA-GRAND : Take A Knee
With the NFL's new national anthem rules being introduced recently to polarising effect, this seemed like a good time to pull out this single. Tribeca and Grand Agent come out strongly in favour of the right to protest and in opposition to police violence over a Tribeca-produced beat that once again sounds like he beat the MPC into submission :) This single came out a while back, but now the "Sport Of The Gods" LP, including this song, is available too.
[The Alchemist] Mr. Voodoo : Lyrical Tactics Pt.II (Instrumental)
Total coincidence to go with another Alchemist beat, but he's just got so many good ones! This is from relatively early in his career, with Natural Elements' Mr. Voodoo (aka Agu) clearly one with an ear for talent.
Public Enemy : Cold Lampin' With Flavor
Arguably the breakout Flavor Flav solo joint (eclipsing "Too Much Posse" from "Yo! Bum Rush The Show"), this is one of my favourites from the monumental "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back". Starting off with a sample of Mr.Magic (RIP) dissing PE on his radio show, this is just a hectic track with Flav going free-association from start to finish.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Feelin' It (Remix)
Classic 80s flavour, heavy Bronx as The P Brothers would say! From the must-hear "Critical Beatdown" album, Kool Keith and Ced Gee are on the mic with styles that, while bearing traces of the old school, clearly shows signs of the MCs yet to come. The beats on the LP were done by Ced Gee, Moe Love, and the late great Paul C, and this is a signature example.
Brand Nubian : Dedication
A deep album cut from Brand Nubian's debut "One For All", with Grand Puba going solo on the mic and showing some love to those who paved the way.
Parliament : The Big Bang Theory
This huge funk track is long enough that I picked it to be the fourth song in this mix and then realised I may as well keep it running as the instrumental bed for the last voiceover! This is one of the best-known tracks by George Clinton and the crew, and as well as on many compilations, you can get this on the "Gloryhallastoopid" album.
Gap Band : Disrespect
The last song of the episode is one of my favourite Gap Band tracks but maybe not one of their best known. The synth bass, the double handclaps, the bell ringing, and the fire hook come together to make this diss track to Prince (!) a funk monster. Do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy of "Gap Band VI" if you see one at a reasonable price! You do get three different versions of "The Sun Don't Shine Everyday", but there are enough other things included for it to be worth having in your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Tried to be a citizen...they wouldn't let her."
- Kermit
I had a trip to Italy this month, and when I was in Pisa an album cover popped into my head! With this month being the eighth anniversary (already?) of the passing of Guru, I was glad to be able to get my own version done in time for this episode's cover art. Thanks to Lisa for the original photo (yes, I really was in front of the tower for this shot), Damian for font advice and Sabrina for the translation!
This month, the show of course includes something from Guru, as well as selections influenced by the disgusting treatment of the Windrush generation (help however you can), some new releases and a few old gems, as always.
The Mouse Outfit are playing in Manchester on May 18th - tickets here!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ruthless Rap Assassins : And It Wasn't A Dream
With everything that's been in the news over the last month - but which has been going on for a very long time - this is a perfect record to pull out of the archives. Manchester's Ruthless Rap Assassins emerged from the pioneering Broken Glass crew, and released their debut LP "The Killer Album" is 1990. This track was a single from that album, and sounds very much of its era - but even twenty-eight years down the line, the subject matter cuts just as sharply.
Ludwig Göransson : Killmonger
Easily my favourite track from the "Black Panther" score, which starts off gently and then builds along the way until it bangs out into full trap mode, reflecting the violence of the character. Great work from Göransson and the African musicians he worked with on this.
Ocean Wisdom ft. Method Man : Ting Dun
I didn't know about Camden's Ocean Wisdom until my man Didjit told me to check him out, so I went to have a listen to the "Wizville" album. This track stood out as an immediate favourite, and to my mind Ocean absolutely dominates the track, despite the presence of a legendary MC who has known to slay guest appearances in his time. Meth does do a nice turn in tilting his vocal style towards Ocean's, and together they put in a great vocal performance over the Basquiat beat.
Prhyme : Streets At Night
As I said last month, "Prhyme 2" is definitely an album to pick up, and this is one of the best tracks on it. May not be the obvious Premo style, but he delivers 21st century boom-bap off the back of an Antman Wonder sample (don't worry, it's all cleared!)
Termanology ft. Lil Fame and Ea$y Money : Welcome To The Machine (Remix)
Dug this one from out of the corners of my hard drive, and was surprised I hadn't played it yet. I got this one from the old Spine Magazine site (RIP), but you may be able to find it if you have a hunt around. Artisin is the producer, and the Pink Floyd sample he uses starts in the intro but then winds its way into the main part of the track. Lyrically, Termanology's verse is kind of like his own version of GZA's "Labels", though the audible highlighting of the names of each one was a little heavy-handed. Lil Fame of MOP contributes a solid verse as well, and the third verse is really the only let-down.
Blak Twang : Fearless (Original & 19 Long Time version)
It made sense to share both versions here, with the original coming from the originally unreleased "Dettwork SouthEast" and the refresh being part of the brilliant "19 Long Time" LP, with V-Essence on the hook. A perfect song to play this month, with Tony Rotton addressing the far right, the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and the horror of the Black Holocaust.
[Supreme] Sunz Of Man : No Love Without Hate (Instrumental)
A great example of the work of the man responsible for Sunz Of Man's early production, with some straight boom-bap around a classic soul sample. I've got two copies of the 12", but I'll leave the rest out there for you :)
The Mouse Outfit ft. IAMDDB and KinKai : Feeling High
May 4th will see the release of The Mouse Outfit's third studio LP, "Jagged Tooth Crook", and they were kind enough to send through a preview copy so you could hear a track a little early :) The vocals come courtesy of two standouts from the new generation of Manchester artists, IAMDDB and KinKai, both of whom are getting respect from those in the know, perfectly complementing the vibe of the beat. Production is by Chini and Defty, founder members of the crew, along with Metrodome - a longtime Manchester artist despite his young age. Chilled, polished, quality. Get that album!
Meyhem Lauren ft. Conway the Machine : Venetian Loafers
That new age vintage New York street talk from Laurenovich! This is Queens flavour from his new "Glass" EP, solely produced by Harry Fraud - definitely one to check out, and one I think we'll be returning to for a future episode. Right here, Meyhem and Conway from up in Buffalo, NY give you uncompromising, unapologetic rawness.
Sean Price & Illa Ghee : Metal Detectors
The title track from the newly-released EP from the late Sean P and Illa Ghee from the Mobb Deep family, and it's a killer. The opening verse is definitely one of Illa's best, in my opinion, and it's always great to hear Sean's voice. I've not been able to find out who produced it yet (damn digital releases), but it's darkly beautiful.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
One that might have passed you by, after it was apparently dropped from the "Blueprint" album. Jay claimed this Ski Beatz track which was originally for someone else, and the finished product finally got a release on the "MTV Unplugged" album as a bonus track - although I'm playing it here from a white label. Always liked this one, right down to the annoyed mumble near the end about Jay never having to sell another record in his life!
T_One : Lot Of Cats Hate My Guts
From the Beatfonics Crew's "Beatxploitation" tape, T_One throws all kinds of samples into the stew for this one!
Geechi Suede : Limozini
This one cried out for a little light juggling before letting it run - not least since it's only a short track anyway. Produced by Nytelife (and taken from the "0.9 Nytelife FM" album), the track is based around a fairly modern sample from one of the greats and provides a bouncy background for Geechi to get busy on.
Black Milk : Could It Be
The new album FEVER is somehow Black Milk's sixth, and he continues to deliver his own interpretations of styles from Detroit and beyond. On this track he brings in a guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist, then plays producer in the traditional sense, guiding them into a cohesive unit playing an irresistible groove.
Gang Starr : Much Too Much (Mack A Mil)
Always one of my favourites from the must-own "Daily Operation" album - the third in Gang Starr's faultless run. Listening to this reminds me how much we miss Guru.
Rottin Razkals : Oh Yeah
Rottin Razkals came up under the wing of Naughty By Nature, with one of the MCs (Diesel) actually being Treach's younger brother. They only released one album, 1995's "Rottin Ta Da Core", from which we have this big single. NBN wrote and produced it, but you can't take away from the energy of the performance by the group themselves!
[DJ Spinna] Jigmastas : Too Ill (Instrumental)
I was definitely a fan of the fact that the "Resurgence" album came with the instrumentals included - it allows me to share gems like this :)
Zion I ft. Pep Love : Warriors' Dance
The "Deep Water Slang v2.0" album may not be one that everyone knows, but it really is quality all around and is well worth seeking out. This track, featuring Pep Love of Hieroglyphics, is somehow both bouncy and a revolutionary anthem. Zion and Pep are a great combination, and Amp Live's production is always inventive and well-done.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Tried to be a citizen...they wouldn't let her."
- Kermit
I had a trip to Italy this month, and when I was in Pisa an album cover popped into my head! With this month being the eighth anniversary (already?) of the passing of Guru, I was glad to be able to get my own version done in time for this episode's cover art. Thanks to Lisa for the original photo (yes, I really was in front of the tower for this shot), Damian for font advice and Sabrina for the translation!
This month, the show of course includes something from Guru, as well as selections influenced by the disgusting treatment of the Windrush generation (help however you can), some new releases and a few old gems, as always.
The Mouse Outfit are playing in Manchester on May 18th - tickets here!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ruthless Rap Assassins : And It Wasn't A Dream
With everything that's been in the news over the last month - but which has been going on for a very long time - this is a perfect record to pull out of the archives. Manchester's Ruthless Rap Assassins emerged from the pioneering Broken Glass crew, and released their debut LP "The Killer Album" is 1990. This track was a single from that album, and sounds very much of its era - but even twenty-eight years down the line, the subject matter cuts just as sharply.
Ludwig Göransson : Killmonger
Easily my favourite track from the "Black Panther" score, which starts off gently and then builds along the way until it bangs out into full trap mode, reflecting the violence of the character. Great work from Göransson and the African musicians he worked with on this.
Ocean Wisdom ft. Method Man : Ting Dun
I didn't know about Camden's Ocean Wisdom until my man Didjit told me to check him out, so I went to have a listen to the "Wizville" album. This track stood out as an immediate favourite, and to my mind Ocean absolutely dominates the track, despite the presence of a legendary MC who has known to slay guest appearances in his time. Meth does do a nice turn in tilting his vocal style towards Ocean's, and together they put in a great vocal performance over the Basquiat beat.
Prhyme : Streets At Night
As I said last month, "Prhyme 2" is definitely an album to pick up, and this is one of the best tracks on it. May not be the obvious Premo style, but he delivers 21st century boom-bap off the back of an Antman Wonder sample (don't worry, it's all cleared!)
Termanology ft. Lil Fame and Ea$y Money : Welcome To The Machine (Remix)
Dug this one from out of the corners of my hard drive, and was surprised I hadn't played it yet. I got this one from the old Spine Magazine site (RIP), but you may be able to find it if you have a hunt around. Artisin is the producer, and the Pink Floyd sample he uses starts in the intro but then winds its way into the main part of the track. Lyrically, Termanology's verse is kind of like his own version of GZA's "Labels", though the audible highlighting of the names of each one was a little heavy-handed. Lil Fame of MOP contributes a solid verse as well, and the third verse is really the only let-down.
Blak Twang : Fearless (Original & 19 Long Time version)
It made sense to share both versions here, with the original coming from the originally unreleased "Dettwork SouthEast" and the refresh being part of the brilliant "19 Long Time" LP, with V-Essence on the hook. A perfect song to play this month, with Tony Rotton addressing the far right, the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and the horror of the Black Holocaust.
[Supreme] Sunz Of Man : No Love Without Hate (Instrumental)
A great example of the work of the man responsible for Sunz Of Man's early production, with some straight boom-bap around a classic soul sample. I've got two copies of the 12", but I'll leave the rest out there for you :)
The Mouse Outfit ft. IAMDDB and KinKai : Feeling High
May 4th will see the release of The Mouse Outfit's third studio LP, "Jagged Tooth Crook", and they were kind enough to send through a preview copy so you could hear a track a little early :) The vocals come courtesy of two standouts from the new generation of Manchester artists, IAMDDB and KinKai, both of whom are getting respect from those in the know, perfectly complementing the vibe of the beat. Production is by Chini and Defty, founder members of the crew, along with Metrodome - a longtime Manchester artist despite his young age. Chilled, polished, quality. Get that album!
Meyhem Lauren ft. Conway the Machine : Venetian Loafers
That new age vintage New York street talk from Laurenovich! This is Queens flavour from his new "Glass" EP, solely produced by Harry Fraud - definitely one to check out, and one I think we'll be returning to for a future episode. Right here, Meyhem and Conway from up in Buffalo, NY give you uncompromising, unapologetic rawness.
Sean Price & Illa Ghee : Metal Detectors
The title track from the newly-released EP from the late Sean P and Illa Ghee from the Mobb Deep family, and it's a killer. The opening verse is definitely one of Illa's best, in my opinion, and it's always great to hear Sean's voice. I've not been able to find out who produced it yet (damn digital releases), but it's darkly beautiful.
Jay-Z : People Talkin'
One that might have passed you by, after it was apparently dropped from the "Blueprint" album. Jay claimed this Ski Beatz track which was originally for someone else, and the finished product finally got a release on the "MTV Unplugged" album as a bonus track - although I'm playing it here from a white label. Always liked this one, right down to the annoyed mumble near the end about Jay never having to sell another record in his life!
T_One : Lot Of Cats Hate My Guts
From the Beatfonics Crew's "Beatxploitation" tape, T_One throws all kinds of samples into the stew for this one!
Geechi Suede : Limozini
This one cried out for a little light juggling before letting it run - not least since it's only a short track anyway. Produced by Nytelife (and taken from the "0.9 Nytelife FM" album), the track is based around a fairly modern sample from one of the greats and provides a bouncy background for Geechi to get busy on.
Black Milk : Could It Be
The new album FEVER is somehow Black Milk's sixth, and he continues to deliver his own interpretations of styles from Detroit and beyond. On this track he brings in a guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist, then plays producer in the traditional sense, guiding them into a cohesive unit playing an irresistible groove.
Gang Starr : Much Too Much (Mack A Mil)
Always one of my favourites from the must-own "Daily Operation" album - the third in Gang Starr's faultless run. Listening to this reminds me how much we miss Guru.
Rottin Razkals : Oh Yeah
Rottin Razkals came up under the wing of Naughty By Nature, with one of the MCs (Diesel) actually being Treach's younger brother. They only released one album, 1995's "Rottin Ta Da Core", from which we have this big single. NBN wrote and produced it, but you can't take away from the energy of the performance by the group themselves!
[DJ Spinna] Jigmastas : Too Ill (Instrumental)
I was definitely a fan of the fact that the "Resurgence" album came with the instrumentals included - it allows me to share gems like this :)
Zion I ft. Pep Love : Warriors' Dance
The "Deep Water Slang v2.0" album may not be one that everyone knows, but it really is quality all around and is well worth seeking out. This track, featuring Pep Love of Hieroglyphics, is somehow both bouncy and a revolutionary anthem. Zion and Pep are a great combination, and Amp Live's production is always inventive and well-done.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...I can't listen to it, 'cos all I hear is mistakes."
- Phonte
Ok, it's not the actual globe from the cover of "Flava In Ya Ear", but it's the closest thing I've ever shot - it reminded me of the man Craig Mack himself, who sadly passed away this month. That means that this month we pay homage to the twin pillars of Bad Boy Records (Craig and Biggie), as well as Phife and Eazy-E, while also showcasing some outstanding new releases and finishing with some soul classics.
Get yourself down to the Lords of the Underground show in April!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Pudgee ft. The Notorious B.I.G and Lord Tariq : Think B.I.G.
Only the first - and best - verse for you right here, but despite this track not getting an official release due to sample clearance problems, it shouldn't be too hard to find if you do a little digging. Biggie just blasts out pure disrespect in his inimitable style over a beat by Minnesota. I had to rewind this when I remembered playing this on a mixtape with DJ Mathmatics - the first line hadn't even finished before he was calling for the pull-up!
The Lox : New York City
I don't know if the bassline here is a sample or a replay, but either way it did get an official release! This 2014 single from the stalwart Yonkers crew also samples the hook from "Think B.I.G" directly, so it was a great opportunity to bring it in here.
[K-Def] Theodore Unit : Wicked With Lead (Instrumental)
I'm not sure what's up with some of the kick drums here sounding like there was an issue splicing the track together, but I promise you this is how the uncredited K-Def instrumental came off the vinyl!
Craig Mack : Get Down
RIP Craig! This was the second single from his debut "Project: Funk Da World" LP (following "Flava In Ya Ear"), and once again it was Easy Mo Bee doing the business on the beat - you can hear his style for sure. Craig commands the track ably, and you can tell why he was such a solid foundation stone for Bad Boy.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Pressure
Great tune from "Beats, Rhymes, and Life". I don't remember Tribe ever doing a DJ track but the section of this before Q-Tip comes in might be the closest - lots of cuts and scratches, much of which came from their own records! Phife goes off on the second verse, continuing the rampage that kicked off back on "The Low End Theory".
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz : No Wonder (Tall Black Guy Remix)
I don't know how I've managed not to play you this one already! From the very nicely-priced "Mouse Outfit Remixed" collection, this is a shoulder-mover where Sparkz kicks Manchester rhymes over TBG's trademark boom-blap.
Phonte : Such Is Life
One of the best MCs in the artform, and one who has let us into his life from the beginning of his career. The "No News Is Good News" album comes seven years after Phonte's last solo release, and it's a powerful, concentrated album which is packed with real life experiences that we will all face. This particular track, produced by DJ Cozmos, is a standout on my strong purchase recommendation for the month!
Focus... : Beautiful & Beastly
I must have convinced you to pick up "Analog In A Digital World" by now? So many great beats on that project...
Simtraks ft. Camp Lo : Eternity Window
In a more reflective mode than many will know them for, Camp Lo take the mics for a deep cut in all senses of the phrase. This was a standout on the "Sputnik Sweetheart" album by Houston's Simtraks, and the samples of the astronomer Carl Sagan add to the cosmic vibe of the track. Not a well-known track, but an excellent one - if I could change just one thing though, it'd be that snare...
Guilty Simpson ft. Meyhem Lauren and Starving B : CO-OP
I'm not familiar with Cuns and Sine One, but they did a top job on the production here. Great new single from Detroit's Guilty Simpson alongside two Queens MCs, conjouring up images of the New Day Co-Op in "The Wire".
Tanya Morgan : Just Not True
AKA the Trump theme tune...a pick from the 2009 "Brooklynati" album that I hadn't heard in a while. Brick Beats on production, allowing the group to use all their energy on the mic.
PRhyme : Rock It
The second PRhyme album came out this month and I think it may well have surpassed the original! This single gave us the first peep at what to expect, and it's just a great beat, classic Premo cuts, and killer rhymes - not all of which you'll catch at first. Definitely some rewind lines on this one, and take some time to appreciate how DJ Premier breaks down the main hook/bridge phrase on the turntables - masterful.
J-Zone : The Art of Shit Talkin' (Instrumental)
I somehow don't have the vocal version of this (yet) but it's the expected excellent level of production from J-Zone - you can get this beat as part of his instrumentals collection on Bandcamp. Peep the technique.
G-Dep ft. Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray, and Craig Mack : Special Delivery (Remix)
A sparse, uptempo number from the Bad Boy camp, and a solid single for the currently-incarcerated G-Dep back in 2001. Every MC drops quotables, from the always-fire Ghostface through to the surprise appearance of Craig Mack, who'd last released a record four years previously and stepped back from the industry. In a kind of tribute to the incredible "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" video, this one was also shot in B&W but with a pace to match the EZ Elpee-produced beat. This MC lineup was just the thing needed to elevate the original track from "Child Of The Ghetto".
Camp Lo : Retro
Back to that slang-dense Lo flavour! One of the best tracks from their latest album ("The Get Down Brothers"), they channel some old-school flavour but keep a modern feel at the same time. I bought the digital release of this LP, so I'm still trying to find out who produced this cut!
Eazy-E : Eazy-er Said Than Dunn
It's been twenty-three years since the NWA founder's death, and he's too often forgotten. For this selection, we go back to his 1988 "Eazy-Duz-It" solo album for the only track clean enough for radio play - and intentionally written as such. Dr.Dre and Yella produced it, and Dre is also credited as the writer - which is interesting, as in later years he would be known as someone who would employ writers for his own lyrics! This song was tributed eleven years after its release by fellow Compton native DJ Quik on his "Quikker Said Than Dunn".
Black Moon : Who Got The Props?
The first time I heard this on the pirate station Supreme back in Leeds in the early 90s, they didn't announce the artist or the track title, which was frustrating - because I thought that this was one of the best records I had ever heard! Eventually I found out what it was and emptied my pockets to buy the import 12" single. A straight classic of Brooklyn rhymes over a jazz sample and some kicking drums, which gave us a preview of the quality to expect from the "Enta Da Stage" album.
[Hangmen 3] Benzino : Bang Ta Dis
Back in the days of the SOHH message boards, this beat was a popular one when it came out! Benzino's not the most heavyweight lyricist in the world, so searching out the vocal of this isn't a must necessarily, but he along with Johnny Bananas and Jeff Two Times kill it on the production here.
The Doobie Brothers : You Belong To Me
My assumption is that this is supposed to be a love song. However, it can't be just me that think it sounds a little...pimpish? This song was written in the late 70s by the Doobies' Michael McDonald and Carly Simon, who herself recorded a more popular version than this, one which got a Grammy nomination. Anita Baker, J-Lo, and others have recorded it as well, but this, the first recorded version (from "Livin' On The Fault Line") is my personal favourite. McDonald is one of the most unmistakable voices in music, and he does a top-notch job with this song.
Marvin Gaye : After The Dance (Instrumental)
An early track from Marvin Gaye's 1976 "I Want You" album, some of you will know this as the ending credit music on "American Pimp". While the vocal version is clearly a love ballad, the Gaye and Leon Ware-produced instrumental seems to take on a sadder character without Marvin's voice over the top. I love it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...I can't listen to it, 'cos all I hear is mistakes."
- Phonte
Ok, it's not the actual globe from the cover of "Flava In Ya Ear", but it's the closest thing I've ever shot - it reminded me of the man Craig Mack himself, who sadly passed away this month. That means that this month we pay homage to the twin pillars of Bad Boy Records (Craig and Biggie), as well as Phife and Eazy-E, while also showcasing some outstanding new releases and finishing with some soul classics.
Get yourself down to the Lords of the Underground show in April!
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Pudgee ft. The Notorious B.I.G and Lord Tariq : Think B.I.G.
Only the first - and best - verse for you right here, but despite this track not getting an official release due to sample clearance problems, it shouldn't be too hard to find if you do a little digging. Biggie just blasts out pure disrespect in his inimitable style over a beat by Minnesota. I had to rewind this when I remembered playing this on a mixtape with DJ Mathmatics - the first line hadn't even finished before he was calling for the pull-up!
The Lox : New York City
I don't know if the bassline here is a sample or a replay, but either way it did get an official release! This 2014 single from the stalwart Yonkers crew also samples the hook from "Think B.I.G" directly, so it was a great opportunity to bring it in here.
[K-Def] Theodore Unit : Wicked With Lead (Instrumental)
I'm not sure what's up with some of the kick drums here sounding like there was an issue splicing the track together, but I promise you this is how the uncredited K-Def instrumental came off the vinyl!
Craig Mack : Get Down
RIP Craig! This was the second single from his debut "Project: Funk Da World" LP (following "Flava In Ya Ear"), and once again it was Easy Mo Bee doing the business on the beat - you can hear his style for sure. Craig commands the track ably, and you can tell why he was such a solid foundation stone for Bad Boy.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Pressure
Great tune from "Beats, Rhymes, and Life". I don't remember Tribe ever doing a DJ track but the section of this before Q-Tip comes in might be the closest - lots of cuts and scratches, much of which came from their own records! Phife goes off on the second verse, continuing the rampage that kicked off back on "The Low End Theory".
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz : No Wonder (Tall Black Guy Remix)
I don't know how I've managed not to play you this one already! From the very nicely-priced "Mouse Outfit Remixed" collection, this is a shoulder-mover where Sparkz kicks Manchester rhymes over TBG's trademark boom-blap.
Phonte : Such Is Life
One of the best MCs in the artform, and one who has let us into his life from the beginning of his career. The "No News Is Good News" album comes seven years after Phonte's last solo release, and it's a powerful, concentrated album which is packed with real life experiences that we will all face. This particular track, produced by DJ Cozmos, is a standout on my strong purchase recommendation for the month!
Focus... : Beautiful & Beastly
I must have convinced you to pick up "Analog In A Digital World" by now? So many great beats on that project...
Simtraks ft. Camp Lo : Eternity Window
In a more reflective mode than many will know them for, Camp Lo take the mics for a deep cut in all senses of the phrase. This was a standout on the "Sputnik Sweetheart" album by Houston's Simtraks, and the samples of the astronomer Carl Sagan add to the cosmic vibe of the track. Not a well-known track, but an excellent one - if I could change just one thing though, it'd be that snare...
Guilty Simpson ft. Meyhem Lauren and Starving B : CO-OP
I'm not familiar with Cuns and Sine One, but they did a top job on the production here. Great new single from Detroit's Guilty Simpson alongside two Queens MCs, conjouring up images of the New Day Co-Op in "The Wire".
Tanya Morgan : Just Not True
AKA the Trump theme tune...a pick from the 2009 "Brooklynati" album that I hadn't heard in a while. Brick Beats on production, allowing the group to use all their energy on the mic.
PRhyme : Rock It
The second PRhyme album came out this month and I think it may well have surpassed the original! This single gave us the first peep at what to expect, and it's just a great beat, classic Premo cuts, and killer rhymes - not all of which you'll catch at first. Definitely some rewind lines on this one, and take some time to appreciate how DJ Premier breaks down the main hook/bridge phrase on the turntables - masterful.
J-Zone : The Art of Shit Talkin' (Instrumental)
I somehow don't have the vocal version of this (yet) but it's the expected excellent level of production from J-Zone - you can get this beat as part of his instrumentals collection on Bandcamp. Peep the technique.
G-Dep ft. Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray, and Craig Mack : Special Delivery (Remix)
A sparse, uptempo number from the Bad Boy camp, and a solid single for the currently-incarcerated G-Dep back in 2001. Every MC drops quotables, from the always-fire Ghostface through to the surprise appearance of Craig Mack, who'd last released a record four years previously and stepped back from the industry. In a kind of tribute to the incredible "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" video, this one was also shot in B&W but with a pace to match the EZ Elpee-produced beat. This MC lineup was just the thing needed to elevate the original track from "Child Of The Ghetto".
Camp Lo : Retro
Back to that slang-dense Lo flavour! One of the best tracks from their latest album ("The Get Down Brothers"), they channel some old-school flavour but keep a modern feel at the same time. I bought the digital release of this LP, so I'm still trying to find out who produced this cut!
Eazy-E : Eazy-er Said Than Dunn
It's been twenty-three years since the NWA founder's death, and he's too often forgotten. For this selection, we go back to his 1988 "Eazy-Duz-It" solo album for the only track clean enough for radio play - and intentionally written as such. Dr.Dre and Yella produced it, and Dre is also credited as the writer - which is interesting, as in later years he would be known as someone who would employ writers for his own lyrics! This song was tributed eleven years after its release by fellow Compton native DJ Quik on his "Quikker Said Than Dunn".
Black Moon : Who Got The Props?
The first time I heard this on the pirate station Supreme back in Leeds in the early 90s, they didn't announce the artist or the track title, which was frustrating - because I thought that this was one of the best records I had ever heard! Eventually I found out what it was and emptied my pockets to buy the import 12" single. A straight classic of Brooklyn rhymes over a jazz sample and some kicking drums, which gave us a preview of the quality to expect from the "Enta Da Stage" album.
[Hangmen 3] Benzino : Bang Ta Dis
Back in the days of the SOHH message boards, this beat was a popular one when it came out! Benzino's not the most heavyweight lyricist in the world, so searching out the vocal of this isn't a must necessarily, but he along with Johnny Bananas and Jeff Two Times kill it on the production here.
The Doobie Brothers : You Belong To Me
My assumption is that this is supposed to be a love song. However, it can't be just me that think it sounds a little...pimpish? This song was written in the late 70s by the Doobies' Michael McDonald and Carly Simon, who herself recorded a more popular version than this, one which got a Grammy nomination. Anita Baker, J-Lo, and others have recorded it as well, but this, the first recorded version (from "Livin' On The Fault Line") is my personal favourite. McDonald is one of the most unmistakable voices in music, and he does a top-notch job with this song.
Marvin Gaye : After The Dance (Instrumental)
An early track from Marvin Gaye's 1976 "I Want You" album, some of you will know this as the ending credit music on "American Pimp". While the vocal version is clearly a love ballad, the Gaye and Leon Ware-produced instrumental seems to take on a sadder character without Marvin's voice over the top. I love it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I maul y'all like a shopping centre..."
- Guilty Simpson
This month's title? Well, that is the overarching message of the podcast as a whole :) It's February once again, and as such we remember J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L in the selection. We've got some brand new stuff, and some old classics. Turn the volume up for this one...
Hope to see you all at the Camp Lo show in Manchester on March 17th - get tickets here!
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
J Dilla ft. Guilty Simpson : Jungle Love
Big tune from "The Shining" to open up the month, ! Pure drums from the MPC of Dilla with Guilty Simpson spitting hard over the top - and I love that homonym in that "shopping centre" line :)
J Dilla : The Anthem (Instrumental)
The B-side to the "Trucks" single (remember that from Episode 1?), with both tracks taken from the album that was originally known as "Pay Jay" and finally released fourteen years late as "The Diary"
Slum Village : Go Ladies
It always used to amuse me when people would mention Slum Village under the banner of "conscious" rap. They clearly could not have been listening! Here's an example of a track that isn't deep and doesn't need to be, it's all about the vibe. The beat is amazing, and I can't believe it took me so long to realise what the main sample is - but then, it's not as blatant in the mix as it might be. "Fantastic, Volume II" is a must-own, especially if you want to really understand J Dilla's earlier production.
Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett : Don't Look Any Further (12" mix)
A truly great record, one that you almost certainly recognise, whether you know it or not. This was a 1984 release by the former Temptations lead singer which also gave Siedah Garrett a big shot. The bassline is a classic, and the video...well, let's just say it was "of its time"! :)
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full
I just had to take the opportunity to link up the re-played bassline with the previous track! A stone classic from the album of the same name.
Krispy ft. Roots Manuva and Real Deal : Trade Study
A big tune out of the north-west I hadn't heard anywhere else in quite a while! Krispy were a pioneering crew out of the Lancashire town of Chorley who turned out consistently excellent music including the "From The Country" album, from which this is drawn. Roots Manuva and Salford's Real Deal (now Strategy) put in solid guest appearances and Mikey D.O.N brings it home on the final verse!
[Kankick] Declaime : Exclaim The Name (Instrumental)
I just felt like hearing some Kankick, and came across this one on Bandcamp - taken from the instrumental version of the 2001 "Andsoitisaid" album. Wicked beat but the timing on the drums is all over the place!
Big Pun : Beware
The first proper track on Pun's debut "Capital Punishment", this dark and forbidding number is a perfect opener. The Prodigy (RIP) sample is cold, and JuJu of The Beatnuts brings the swelling strings and all the rest for Pun to just shine on.
Oh No & Tristate ft. Planet Asia : Wind Chime Wizardry
"...the culture is free, but when it comes to MCing, my power has no refinement." 🔥🔥🔥 Spotify recommended this one to me based on previous listening and it's a good one! Los Angeles' TriState linked up with Oh No out of Oxnard for the "3 Dimensional Prescriptions" album last year, and they bring in the West Coast underground stalwart Planet Asia to help lace this track.
Big L : 139
Nice little freestyle over the classic DJ Premier beat for Biggie's "Ten Crack Commandments". It's quite sobering that Big L is shouting out fallen friends on the track, and now he - and Biggie - are no more.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. CL Smooth : All I Know
I was amazed to find I hadn't yet played this on the podcast up to now! A good no-nonsense tune from Jeff's 2007 "Return of the Magnificent" EP, showing that CL hadn't lost a single step since his run with Pete Rock. Still hasn't.
J Dilla : Jay Dee 42 (Instrumental)
Just a few bars here from one of the many posthumous Dilla beat tape releases - this one, "The King Of The Beats, Vol 2: Lost Scrolls". To me, this one sounds like it has a strong Pete Rock influence - I can imagine this being on "Petestrumentals"!
Blue Stone : Lost Sun
Florida's Blue Stone bring that ethereal, new-age type of electronic music that can really work well in a headphone-oriented mixtape. The percussion on this short track from the "Worlds Apart" album has a Middle Eastern sound and the rest of the instrumentation, for me, sounds mid-way between Arabic music and Gregorian. It's an interesting one :)
Snoop Dogg ft. Ras Kass : I Wanna Rock (Remix)
You definitely know the original version of this track, so this "remix" will be familiar; the second verse is Snoop's first verse on the original, and the beat by Scoop DeVille is the same. What you do get as a bonus here is Ras Kass opening proceedings, starting his own verse by invoking various "rock" users, if you will!
Evidence : 10,000 Hours
This tune made me make that "ate a whole lemon" face. Raw. Big new track from the Dilated Peoples MC/producer who hands the beat reins over to DJ Premier for this banger from the new "Weather Or Not" LP. Evidence looks back over his career, and the time and work he's put in to get to this point - alluding to Malcolm Gladwell's (likely debunked) "10,000 hours" theory.
Flex : Spaceship
Portugal-born, Manchester-resident MC Flex does his thing on the "Soul Food" EP, and this track in particular sees him team up with Maverick Soul on the beat. Gliding highs and bumping lows, some nice guitar licks, and a solid drumline make this a winner.
Statik Selektah ft. Ab-Soul, Jon Connor, and Logic : Alarm Clock
A good one from 2014's "What Goes Around" - and Statik Selektah sat down to talk about it, so let me just direct you to the horse's mouth :)
DJ Spinna : Black Out
Put on a DJ Spinna beat, it's going to get your neck moving. Standard. Take this one from the "Unpicked Treats Vol. One" collection as a perfect example.
Little Brother : Speed
I was reminded by a Dart Adams tweet that this month marks fifteen years (already?) since the release of Little Brother's debut album "The Listening". It was hugely anticipated by those in the know after hearing the North Carolina crew come up on the net in the pre-social media era, and lauded by fans, critics, and legends after its release. This wasn't my favourite track on first listening, but it grew on me over time. Phonte and Big Pooh deliver rhymes about that real working life, and 9th's beat features his trademark drums and plenty of bass.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I maul y'all like a shopping centre..."
- Guilty Simpson
This month's title? Well, that is the overarching message of the podcast as a whole :) It's February once again, and as such we remember J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L in the selection. We've got some brand new stuff, and some old classics. Turn the volume up for this one...
Hope to see you all at the Camp Lo show in Manchester on March 17th - get tickets here!
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
J Dilla ft. Guilty Simpson : Jungle Love
Big tune from "The Shining" to open up the month, ! Pure drums from the MPC of Dilla with Guilty Simpson spitting hard over the top - and I love that homonym in that "shopping centre" line :)
J Dilla : The Anthem (Instrumental)
The B-side to the "Trucks" single (remember that from Episode 1?), with both tracks taken from the album that was originally known as "Pay Jay" and finally released fourteen years late as "The Diary"
Slum Village : Go Ladies
It always used to amuse me when people would mention Slum Village under the banner of "conscious" rap. They clearly could not have been listening! Here's an example of a track that isn't deep and doesn't need to be, it's all about the vibe. The beat is amazing, and I can't believe it took me so long to realise what the main sample is - but then, it's not as blatant in the mix as it might be. "Fantastic, Volume II" is a must-own, especially if you want to really understand J Dilla's earlier production.
Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett : Don't Look Any Further (12" mix)
A truly great record, one that you almost certainly recognise, whether you know it or not. This was a 1984 release by the former Temptations lead singer which also gave Siedah Garrett a big shot. The bassline is a classic, and the video...well, let's just say it was "of its time"! :)
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full
I just had to take the opportunity to link up the re-played bassline with the previous track! A stone classic from the album of the same name.
Krispy ft. Roots Manuva and Real Deal : Trade Study
A big tune out of the north-west I hadn't heard anywhere else in quite a while! Krispy were a pioneering crew out of the Lancashire town of Chorley who turned out consistently excellent music including the "From The Country" album, from which this is drawn. Roots Manuva and Salford's Real Deal (now Strategy) put in solid guest appearances and Mikey D.O.N brings it home on the final verse!
[Kankick] Declaime : Exclaim The Name (Instrumental)
I just felt like hearing some Kankick, and came across this one on Bandcamp - taken from the instrumental version of the 2001 "Andsoitisaid" album. Wicked beat but the timing on the drums is all over the place!
Big Pun : Beware
The first proper track on Pun's debut "Capital Punishment", this dark and forbidding number is a perfect opener. The Prodigy (RIP) sample is cold, and JuJu of The Beatnuts brings the swelling strings and all the rest for Pun to just shine on.
Oh No & Tristate ft. Planet Asia : Wind Chime Wizardry
"...the culture is free, but when it comes to MCing, my power has no refinement." 🔥🔥🔥 Spotify recommended this one to me based on previous listening and it's a good one! Los Angeles' TriState linked up with Oh No out of Oxnard for the "3 Dimensional Prescriptions" album last year, and they bring in the West Coast underground stalwart Planet Asia to help lace this track.
Big L : 139
Nice little freestyle over the classic DJ Premier beat for Biggie's "Ten Crack Commandments". It's quite sobering that Big L is shouting out fallen friends on the track, and now he - and Biggie - are no more.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. CL Smooth : All I Know
I was amazed to find I hadn't yet played this on the podcast up to now! A good no-nonsense tune from Jeff's 2007 "Return of the Magnificent" EP, showing that CL hadn't lost a single step since his run with Pete Rock. Still hasn't.
J Dilla : Jay Dee 42 (Instrumental)
Just a few bars here from one of the many posthumous Dilla beat tape releases - this one, "The King Of The Beats, Vol 2: Lost Scrolls". To me, this one sounds like it has a strong Pete Rock influence - I can imagine this being on "Petestrumentals"!
Blue Stone : Lost Sun
Florida's Blue Stone bring that ethereal, new-age type of electronic music that can really work well in a headphone-oriented mixtape. The percussion on this short track from the "Worlds Apart" album has a Middle Eastern sound and the rest of the instrumentation, for me, sounds mid-way between Arabic music and Gregorian. It's an interesting one :)
Snoop Dogg ft. Ras Kass : I Wanna Rock (Remix)
You definitely know the original version of this track, so this "remix" will be familiar; the second verse is Snoop's first verse on the original, and the beat by Scoop DeVille is the same. What you do get as a bonus here is Ras Kass opening proceedings, starting his own verse by invoking various "rock" users, if you will!
Evidence : 10,000 Hours
This tune made me make that "ate a whole lemon" face. Raw. Big new track from the Dilated Peoples MC/producer who hands the beat reins over to DJ Premier for this banger from the new "Weather Or Not" LP. Evidence looks back over his career, and the time and work he's put in to get to this point - alluding to Malcolm Gladwell's (likely debunked) "10,000 hours" theory.
Flex : Spaceship
Portugal-born, Manchester-resident MC Flex does his thing on the "Soul Food" EP, and this track in particular sees him team up with Maverick Soul on the beat. Gliding highs and bumping lows, some nice guitar licks, and a solid drumline make this a winner.
Statik Selektah ft. Ab-Soul, Jon Connor, and Logic : Alarm Clock
A good one from 2014's "What Goes Around" - and Statik Selektah sat down to talk about it, so let me just direct you to the horse's mouth :)
DJ Spinna : Black Out
Put on a DJ Spinna beat, it's going to get your neck moving. Standard. Take this one from the "Unpicked Treats Vol. One" collection as a perfect example.
Little Brother : Speed
I was reminded by a Dart Adams tweet that this month marks fifteen years (already?) since the release of Little Brother's debut album "The Listening". It was hugely anticipated by those in the know after hearing the North Carolina crew come up on the net in the pre-social media era, and lauded by fans, critics, and legends after its release. This wasn't my favourite track on first listening, but it grew on me over time. Phonte and Big Pooh deliver rhymes about that real working life, and 9th's beat features his trademark drums and plenty of bass.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Making the most of the moment 'mong the living."
- Glenn Lewis
Apparently, it's not just me that feels like it's been a very long January indeed. That said, it didn't feel long while I was trying to decide what tracks to play!
Here's the upcoming J Dilla tribute night in Manchester - February 22nd, hope to see you there!
If you want one of the limited run of "Manchester Marauders" t-shirts, check out Eastern Bloc Records in Manchester
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Run The Jewels ft. Zack De La Rocha : Kill Your Masters
The second movement in the two-part track "A Report To The Shareholders/Kill Your Masters", this is a heavy-duty number to end the "Run The Jewels 3" album - straight revolution music. With that in mind, the Rage Against The Machine frontman is a fitting choice to come in and guest.
Agallah : Morgue Music
Brownsville's Agallah is always working on something. For a selection of his MPC work sans vocals, check this 2014 mixtape of his instrumentals.
Camp Lo : It's Cold
It is indeed. Anyway, this is a headphone and car system favourite with a real midnight creep vibe thanks to the beat from Ski. Cheeba and Geechi are on their usual slang-heavy verbal manipulation all over this one, with the only break being the hook, which is maybe a little spare. The "Ragtime Hightimes" album is somehow almost three years old already, but still gets play regularly over here.
Maffew Ragazino : Snowing In Jerusalem
I came across this one a week or so ago and when the bass hit at the start of the first verse I was sold right there! New York street talk courtesy of Ragazino with production by Switzerland's Sebb Bash on this 2016 single release. I did have to smile at the expression "gee willikers" on the hook, given that there's no restriction on being profane elsewhere on the cut! :)
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo ft. Stalley : Payout
"The Easy Truth" album was a solid release from Apollo and Skyzoo, tunes to contemplate with the headphones on. The struggle and the quest for just a little more is a topic many MCs can draw on, and Skyzoo does so with skill here alongside Stalley.
O.C. : Going Nowhere
O.C. came into the game calling out shallow, image-driven nonsense, and on his fifth album ("Smoke and Mirrors") he's not done by a long chalk. Mike Loe's soulful beat is the perfect backdrop for O.C. to contrast himself against the fake and make a call for higher standards; as relevant now as back in 2005.
1983FILM : セクシーな溝市
Ok, this one is just weird, but the low end does hit decently! This is an example of "vaporwave", a genre best described by someone else in more detail than I could here. Some I like, some I just can't deal with at all - but I do enjoy the 80s influence and samples!
3rd Bass : Steppin' To The A.M.
At the very tail end of the 80s, 3rd Bass released their "The Cactus Al/bum" (or "Cee/D" or "Cass/ette", depending on the format you bought) on Def Jam, and this is our first visit to an LP that was among the first in my collection. The Bomb Squad (the Shocklee brothers, Chuck D, Eric Sadler, Terminator X, and co.) produced this one, which should rouse anyone who's physically able to bust a few moves :) Trivia note: pay close attention and you'll notice that they refer to themselves at one point by their group's original name, "Three The Hard Way". Also, if you play this podcast at precisely 23:38 and 27 seconds, the bells will come on at midnight...
Ilajide : Do It Again
One of the best young artists out there, the primary producer behind Clear Soul Forces (and a skilled MC to boot) gets busy with a short but infectious number based around a classic funk break. His debut solo album "Heet Tape" is well worth adding to your collection.
Showbiz & A.G. : Soul Clap
Coming back with that same break again, we go with a classic tune that brought it to the attention of many. The title track from the debut Showbiz & A.G. EP (with an edited version on the "Runaway Slave" album is an early-90s monster, with A.G. taking the reins on the mic and Showbiz co-producing with Diamond D. This is a great piece of work from the Diggin' In The Crates crew in the early days.
Styles P : Soul Clap
Ah, another kind of clap. Styles P of The Lox/D-Block thugs it all the way out on DJ Shok's "Soul Vibrations"-sampling beat, complete with firearm accompaniment on the hook. I don't know if this tune from "A Gangster and a Gentleman" was big in The Tunnel, but it sounds like it should have been!
[Nick Fury] Jigmastas : Stones (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this was on the podcast all the way back on episode 16, so I thought it was a long enough break before coming back for us to hear Nick Fury's killer beat again!
Sadat X : The Bass Player
This has been a rewind favourite over the last month, though it's not a track that's just been released. It's great to see that an artist who was getting his start when I was in my early high school years is still recording and putting out quality albums to the present day. 2016's "Agua" is the source of this Beatminerz-produced heater.
De La Soul ft. Glenn Lewis : Am I Worth You?
I just realised how much the bassline here is reminiscent of "U Can Do (Life)" from the "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump" album, the intro to which is the source for this podcast's own intro! Given the topic, and the fact that Supa Dave West produced both, the similarity may very well be intentional. There's another track on "AOI : Bionix" which we'll definitely play in the future, but this is a great sample of the work on there.
Tall Black Guy Productions : The_Time (I Need)
Went back to the "Mini Therapy Chops" series for this one, the signature low-end bump combined with a little spaciness over the top.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dubbul O and Sparkz : Slicker Than Average
A single-only release from a few years ago, with two excellent Manchester MCs on a track that manages to be laid-back and fairly uptempo at the same time, thanks to the production skills of The Mouse Outfit and the guest instrumentalists Andy Byrne and Ashley Henry.
Grap Luva : West Side Highway
From the "Neva Done" EP, Grap displays some of that Phillips family talent, with a beat that definitely has a dash of Pete Rock influence but is still distinct in style.
Phi Life Cypher ft. Skit Slam : The Three
It's a real shame that Phi Life Cypher are no longer together - Si Phili and Life are a ferocious rhyming combination. It takes a brave man to step on the track with them, but Skit Slam does so here, as on the rest of the collaborative "Higher Forces" album. Battering bars from start to finish (and I do like the finish) on DJ Nappa's instrumental.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Making the most of the moment 'mong the living."
- Glenn Lewis
Apparently, it's not just me that feels like it's been a very long January indeed. That said, it didn't feel long while I was trying to decide what tracks to play!
Here's the upcoming J Dilla tribute night in Manchester - February 22nd, hope to see you there!
If you want one of the limited run of "Manchester Marauders" t-shirts, check out Eastern Bloc Records in Manchester
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Run The Jewels ft. Zack De La Rocha : Kill Your Masters
The second movement in the two-part track "A Report To The Shareholders/Kill Your Masters", this is a heavy-duty number to end the "Run The Jewels 3" album - straight revolution music. With that in mind, the Rage Against The Machine frontman is a fitting choice to come in and guest.
Agallah : Morgue Music
Brownsville's Agallah is always working on something. For a selection of his MPC work sans vocals, check this 2014 mixtape of his instrumentals.
Camp Lo : It's Cold
It is indeed. Anyway, this is a headphone and car system favourite with a real midnight creep vibe thanks to the beat from Ski. Cheeba and Geechi are on their usual slang-heavy verbal manipulation all over this one, with the only break being the hook, which is maybe a little spare. The "Ragtime Hightimes" album is somehow almost three years old already, but still gets play regularly over here.
Maffew Ragazino : Snowing In Jerusalem
I came across this one a week or so ago and when the bass hit at the start of the first verse I was sold right there! New York street talk courtesy of Ragazino with production by Switzerland's Sebb Bash on this 2016 single release. I did have to smile at the expression "gee willikers" on the hook, given that there's no restriction on being profane elsewhere on the cut! :)
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo ft. Stalley : Payout
"The Easy Truth" album was a solid release from Apollo and Skyzoo, tunes to contemplate with the headphones on. The struggle and the quest for just a little more is a topic many MCs can draw on, and Skyzoo does so with skill here alongside Stalley.
O.C. : Going Nowhere
O.C. came into the game calling out shallow, image-driven nonsense, and on his fifth album ("Smoke and Mirrors") he's not done by a long chalk. Mike Loe's soulful beat is the perfect backdrop for O.C. to contrast himself against the fake and make a call for higher standards; as relevant now as back in 2005.
1983FILM : セクシーな溝市
Ok, this one is just weird, but the low end does hit decently! This is an example of "vaporwave", a genre best described by someone else in more detail than I could here. Some I like, some I just can't deal with at all - but I do enjoy the 80s influence and samples!
3rd Bass : Steppin' To The A.M.
At the very tail end of the 80s, 3rd Bass released their "The Cactus Al/bum" (or "Cee/D" or "Cass/ette", depending on the format you bought) on Def Jam, and this is our first visit to an LP that was among the first in my collection. The Bomb Squad (the Shocklee brothers, Chuck D, Eric Sadler, Terminator X, and co.) produced this one, which should rouse anyone who's physically able to bust a few moves :) Trivia note: pay close attention and you'll notice that they refer to themselves at one point by their group's original name, "Three The Hard Way". Also, if you play this podcast at precisely 23:38 and 27 seconds, the bells will come on at midnight...
Ilajide : Do It Again
One of the best young artists out there, the primary producer behind Clear Soul Forces (and a skilled MC to boot) gets busy with a short but infectious number based around a classic funk break. His debut solo album "Heet Tape" is well worth adding to your collection.
Showbiz & A.G. : Soul Clap
Coming back with that same break again, we go with a classic tune that brought it to the attention of many. The title track from the debut Showbiz & A.G. EP (with an edited version on the "Runaway Slave" album is an early-90s monster, with A.G. taking the reins on the mic and Showbiz co-producing with Diamond D. This is a great piece of work from the Diggin' In The Crates crew in the early days.
Styles P : Soul Clap
Ah, another kind of clap. Styles P of The Lox/D-Block thugs it all the way out on DJ Shok's "Soul Vibrations"-sampling beat, complete with firearm accompaniment on the hook. I don't know if this tune from "A Gangster and a Gentleman" was big in The Tunnel, but it sounds like it should have been!
[Nick Fury] Jigmastas : Stones (Instrumental)
The vocal version of this was on the podcast all the way back on episode 16, so I thought it was a long enough break before coming back for us to hear Nick Fury's killer beat again!
Sadat X : The Bass Player
This has been a rewind favourite over the last month, though it's not a track that's just been released. It's great to see that an artist who was getting his start when I was in my early high school years is still recording and putting out quality albums to the present day. 2016's "Agua" is the source of this Beatminerz-produced heater.
De La Soul ft. Glenn Lewis : Am I Worth You?
I just realised how much the bassline here is reminiscent of "U Can Do (Life)" from the "Art Official Intelligence : Mosaic Thump" album, the intro to which is the source for this podcast's own intro! Given the topic, and the fact that Supa Dave West produced both, the similarity may very well be intentional. There's another track on "AOI : Bionix" which we'll definitely play in the future, but this is a great sample of the work on there.
Tall Black Guy Productions : The_Time (I Need)
Went back to the "Mini Therapy Chops" series for this one, the signature low-end bump combined with a little spaciness over the top.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dubbul O and Sparkz : Slicker Than Average
A single-only release from a few years ago, with two excellent Manchester MCs on a track that manages to be laid-back and fairly uptempo at the same time, thanks to the production skills of The Mouse Outfit and the guest instrumentalists Andy Byrne and Ashley Henry.
Grap Luva : West Side Highway
From the "Neva Done" EP, Grap displays some of that Phillips family talent, with a beat that definitely has a dash of Pete Rock influence but is still distinct in style.
Phi Life Cypher ft. Skit Slam : The Three
It's a real shame that Phi Life Cypher are no longer together - Si Phili and Life are a ferocious rhyming combination. It takes a brave man to step on the track with them, but Skit Slam does so here, as on the rest of the collaborative "Higher Forces" album. Battering bars from start to finish (and I do like the finish) on DJ Nappa's instrumental.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"So many thoughts in my mind, making it very hard to unwind..."
- Abbey Smith
As we come to the end of what has certainly an eventful year, to put it mildly, the Hip-Hop world lost two people who really committed to the culture; Combat Jack, and DJ Pam The Funkstress. They won't be with us going into 2018, so we need to keep pushing on on their behalf...let's get to it.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass : Mike Jack
A little something from Ras' 2009 "Quarterly" mixtape, with him ripping the mic over both direct Michael Jackson samples and the beats from other Hip-Hop tracks that sample MJ. Having recently been to DJ Spinna's brilliant "Forever Michael" party in Manchester, I thought this'd be a good one to open with.
The Mouse Outfit : Escape Music (Instrumental)
The Outfit is continuing to put out strong product with a third album looking to be on the horizon, but here we go back to their first LP - this is the instrumental of the title track. Wonderfully polished production.
Dubbul O ft. Tyler Daley : Do What You Can
Two of my favourite artists on the Manchester scene - certified mic-melter Dubbul O from Mothership Connection alongside half of the brilliant Children of Zeus! Dubbul O's new "Smoka-Motive" EP has a much brighter sound than you might know him for, but it's a style he absolutely nails. Mankub supplies the production for this standout which will be getting even more play when the weather improves!
A Tribe Called Quest : Melatonin
Stress, anxiety, and insomnia are three close companions which can be a lot to bear, and Q-Tip takes it all on in this great song from the final Tribe LP "We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service". Marsha Ambrosius (formerly of Floetry) and Arkansas' Abbey Smith also contribute vocals that really elevate the track to the next level. That snap on each bar between the second and third beats does make it sound like I'm messing up the mix at first :), but it's a nicely jarring little element of the track.
Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard : Keep Ya Coat On
Got this one on a white label, but it's taken from Pudgee's 1993 "Give 'Em The Finger" album. He's probably best known by most for the track "Think Big" with Biggie and Lord Tariq, but he does his thing here, speaking on various people who need to get up out the paint immediately! Tony Dofat is on production with a beat that is very much of its time sonically.
Heavy D : Blue Funk
I can't even front, I wasn't really into this one when it came out but I've come to appreciate it in hindsight! The late, great Heavy D shows his charismatic mic skills on the title track to his fourth and penultimate LP over a beat from his little cousin Pete Rock, complete with some cuts to season the stew.
[Thes One] People Under The Stairs : Youth Explosion (Instrumental)
A 12" from way back in 2000, which I've just found is also available as a digital release if you're interested!
Sugar Bear : Don't Scandalize Mine
Sugar Bear The Powerful Powerlord (not one for subtlety) might qualify for one-hit wonder status within Hip-Hop, but what a hit! He struck gold with his braggadocious rhymes over a classic 80s beat, sampling Talking Heads' "Once In A Lifetime". Bonus - the video finally surfaced this year, and is worth a watch for some period flavour!
Zion I : Revolution (B-Boy Anthem)
All the way back to the first full track on the debut Zion I album right here; they had a very unique sound for an American group, with a lot of influence from D&B and other electronic forms. This one, true to the title, is like a late-century take on electro courtesy of Amp Live, with Zumbi on the mic and DJ Vinroc putting in a guest appearance on the turntables.
Miguel Migs : Getaway
To be strictly accurate, this closing track from the "Outside The Skyline" album features the vocalist George Levin, but this is just the intro to the track. I think that swirling, almost wah-wah synth pattern combined with that bassline is a winner :)
Michael Trapson : Startin' Somethin'
It's been about a year and a half since I last played something by this guy on the podcast, but he's a regular in the headphones! You can tell by the way he portrays MJ that he's a fan, and his impersonation is pretty on-point. This is a digital-only single release which was well worth the quid I paid. When you have a track that's funny but also well-executed, it's a pleasant surprise!
Photek : Quadrant
If this wasn't so fast, it'd be a perfect one to mix with Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" - the kick drum pattern/tone change is pretty much identical! A clear favourite from the "KU:PALM" album.
Talib Kweli ft. Anderson .Paak : Traveling Light
I remember when Talib was one of the new guard coming up on the underground, and all these years later he's nothing short of a fixture in the scene. "Radio Silence", released last month, is his eighth solo album, and this cut from it is fire. Kaytranada on production and Anderson guesting bring things bang up-to-date. The hidden highlight for me? That weird, distorted, vocoded scream in the hook!
Killer Mike ft. Emily Panic : Anywhere But Here
Another year, and sadly, this 2012 track from "R.A.P. Music" is as relevant as ever. Mike speaks on police violence, first in New York, and moves to Atlanta to find things no better. The grinding beat by El-P fits the heaviness of the subject matter, and as I've said before, you can see how Run The Jewels ended up coming together. I had to look up Emily Panic, who contributes the hook and outro - she's a comic and a musician, but no joke here, all business.
Samantha James : Find A Way
Maybe not everyone's speed, but I love this tune. Samantha James has one of those incredibly clear singing voices - not overpoweringly loud, just clean and precise. The production of Sebastian Arocha Morton keeps her in the forefront of this solidly midtempo track from her sophomore album "Subconscious", which is well worth getting if you like this!
Children of Zeus : This Christmas
Rounding off a great year for them, Children of Zeus re-release some seasonal love vibes, with Tyler Daly taking the lead vocally. Get your own copy ready for next year either from Soundcloud or as part of the "Two Syllables Volume 14" compilation!
JS aka The Best : Love Affair
Seriously though, I want to know if people really do just call JS "The Best" as a matter of course. Anyway, he does a good job here on his contribution to "The Ghostface Beat Tape" from Washington's The Beat Tape Project :)
The Coup : Tight
We close proceedings this month with what has long since become a rarity (a DJ track on a Hip-Hop album), from a recently departed member of the Hip-Hop family. The late DJ Pam The Funkstress gets to take centre stage with her turntables and show a few of the skills that made her respected.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"So many thoughts in my mind, making it very hard to unwind..."
- Abbey Smith
As we come to the end of what has certainly an eventful year, to put it mildly, the Hip-Hop world lost two people who really committed to the culture; Combat Jack, and DJ Pam The Funkstress. They won't be with us going into 2018, so we need to keep pushing on on their behalf...let's get to it.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass : Mike Jack
A little something from Ras' 2009 "Quarterly" mixtape, with him ripping the mic over both direct Michael Jackson samples and the beats from other Hip-Hop tracks that sample MJ. Having recently been to DJ Spinna's brilliant "Forever Michael" party in Manchester, I thought this'd be a good one to open with.
The Mouse Outfit : Escape Music (Instrumental)
The Outfit is continuing to put out strong product with a third album looking to be on the horizon, but here we go back to their first LP - this is the instrumental of the title track. Wonderfully polished production.
Dubbul O ft. Tyler Daley : Do What You Can
Two of my favourite artists on the Manchester scene - certified mic-melter Dubbul O from Mothership Connection alongside half of the brilliant Children of Zeus! Dubbul O's new "Smoka-Motive" EP has a much brighter sound than you might know him for, but it's a style he absolutely nails. Mankub supplies the production for this standout which will be getting even more play when the weather improves!
A Tribe Called Quest : Melatonin
Stress, anxiety, and insomnia are three close companions which can be a lot to bear, and Q-Tip takes it all on in this great song from the final Tribe LP "We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service". Marsha Ambrosius (formerly of Floetry) and Arkansas' Abbey Smith also contribute vocals that really elevate the track to the next level. That snap on each bar between the second and third beats does make it sound like I'm messing up the mix at first :), but it's a nicely jarring little element of the track.
Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard : Keep Ya Coat On
Got this one on a white label, but it's taken from Pudgee's 1993 "Give 'Em The Finger" album. He's probably best known by most for the track "Think Big" with Biggie and Lord Tariq, but he does his thing here, speaking on various people who need to get up out the paint immediately! Tony Dofat is on production with a beat that is very much of its time sonically.
Heavy D : Blue Funk
I can't even front, I wasn't really into this one when it came out but I've come to appreciate it in hindsight! The late, great Heavy D shows his charismatic mic skills on the title track to his fourth and penultimate LP over a beat from his little cousin Pete Rock, complete with some cuts to season the stew.
[Thes One] People Under The Stairs : Youth Explosion (Instrumental)
A 12" from way back in 2000, which I've just found is also available as a digital release if you're interested!
Sugar Bear : Don't Scandalize Mine
Sugar Bear The Powerful Powerlord (not one for subtlety) might qualify for one-hit wonder status within Hip-Hop, but what a hit! He struck gold with his braggadocious rhymes over a classic 80s beat, sampling Talking Heads' "Once In A Lifetime". Bonus - the video finally surfaced this year, and is worth a watch for some period flavour!
Zion I : Revolution (B-Boy Anthem)
All the way back to the first full track on the debut Zion I album right here; they had a very unique sound for an American group, with a lot of influence from D&B and other electronic forms. This one, true to the title, is like a late-century take on electro courtesy of Amp Live, with Zumbi on the mic and DJ Vinroc putting in a guest appearance on the turntables.
Miguel Migs : Getaway
To be strictly accurate, this closing track from the "Outside The Skyline" album features the vocalist George Levin, but this is just the intro to the track. I think that swirling, almost wah-wah synth pattern combined with that bassline is a winner :)
Michael Trapson : Startin' Somethin'
It's been about a year and a half since I last played something by this guy on the podcast, but he's a regular in the headphones! You can tell by the way he portrays MJ that he's a fan, and his impersonation is pretty on-point. This is a digital-only single release which was well worth the quid I paid. When you have a track that's funny but also well-executed, it's a pleasant surprise!
Photek : Quadrant
If this wasn't so fast, it'd be a perfect one to mix with Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" - the kick drum pattern/tone change is pretty much identical! A clear favourite from the "KU:PALM" album.
Talib Kweli ft. Anderson .Paak : Traveling Light
I remember when Talib was one of the new guard coming up on the underground, and all these years later he's nothing short of a fixture in the scene. "Radio Silence", released last month, is his eighth solo album, and this cut from it is fire. Kaytranada on production and Anderson guesting bring things bang up-to-date. The hidden highlight for me? That weird, distorted, vocoded scream in the hook!
Killer Mike ft. Emily Panic : Anywhere But Here
Another year, and sadly, this 2012 track from "R.A.P. Music" is as relevant as ever. Mike speaks on police violence, first in New York, and moves to Atlanta to find things no better. The grinding beat by El-P fits the heaviness of the subject matter, and as I've said before, you can see how Run The Jewels ended up coming together. I had to look up Emily Panic, who contributes the hook and outro - she's a comic and a musician, but no joke here, all business.
Samantha James : Find A Way
Maybe not everyone's speed, but I love this tune. Samantha James has one of those incredibly clear singing voices - not overpoweringly loud, just clean and precise. The production of Sebastian Arocha Morton keeps her in the forefront of this solidly midtempo track from her sophomore album "Subconscious", which is well worth getting if you like this!
Children of Zeus : This Christmas
Rounding off a great year for them, Children of Zeus re-release some seasonal love vibes, with Tyler Daly taking the lead vocally. Get your own copy ready for next year either from Soundcloud or as part of the "Two Syllables Volume 14" compilation!
JS aka The Best : Love Affair
Seriously though, I want to know if people really do just call JS "The Best" as a matter of course. Anyway, he does a good job here on his contribution to "The Ghostface Beat Tape" from Washington's The Beat Tape Project :)
The Coup : Tight
We close proceedings this month with what has long since become a rarity (a DJ track on a Hip-Hop album), from a recently departed member of the Hip-Hop family. The late DJ Pam The Funkstress gets to take centre stage with her turntables and show a few of the skills that made her respected.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Give me a minute, I'll give you my spirit."
- Konny Kon
Another month, another mix to keep your ears nourished! Listen out for Juice Crew appearances and connections throughout the selection, after Manchester witnessed them tear up the stage this month. We've got some soulful numbers, turntable wizardry, and quotables for days. Let's get it started...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Cesar Comanche : A-Game
With the intro and all that, this is a track that needs to be at the start of a mix, and as such I've been saving it for quite a long time. One of my favourites from the original days of the Justus League, this track is from Cesar's second album "Paper Gods", and is a great ode to working hard in music and not being a hanger-on or a daydreamer; as the title suggests, bring your A-game. 9th Wonder is on the beat, slapping that snare as always!
Kev Brown : The Beat Tape (Instro)
One of the instrumentals from the "Selective Hearing" LP; nothing super complex, just a good example of doing something funky with a handful of elements. The insertion of that "yeah" sample is worth the price of admission!
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Letters
Another one I've had in the "to play" list for ages, it's a straight mic workout for G Rap taken from his final album in collaboration with DJ Polo, "Live and Let Die". As an aside, I didn't realise that the album was shelved some time after initial release because of the controversial cover art! Luckily, it got a re-release so you should be able to find it - there are some excellent tracks on there. As with most of the rest of the album, Sir Jinx, best known for his work with Ice Cube, handles the production; a nice funky soul sample forms the basis of the track.
Wordsworth : Feel Me
Hadn't given "The Picture Album" a listen in a long time and had totally forgotten about this Ill Poetic-produced track - I was looking to include something featuring Masta Ace but this got the nod instead, as it were. "Feel me internally"? Hold that thought, we're coming back to it later in the show...
Bumpy Knuckles : Lazy
One of those tunes you can drop on a mixtape or in a club night full of real heads. DJ Premier on the beat with a meat-and-potatoes drum pattern underpinning a disjointed string sample, and Bumpy going in on the mic straight line style. Bonus points for him impression of crying MCs in the intro :) We will definitely return to the "Konexion" album again!
Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, ODB : Show & Prove
The full version of this tune from the 1994 "Daddy's Home" album is long! Coming off a loop of the DJ Premier beat, I actually missed off the first three verses (Scoob, Sauce Money, and Shyheim) and jumped in at Kane's appearance. A then mostly-unknown Jay-Z can be heard here with his old style, and ODB shuts it down on the final verse, overwhelming the track with sheer force of personality! Three Brooklyn kings, no question. The sharp-eared amongst you will find the last word on the tune very familiar...
[Pete Rock] All City : Priceless (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago on episode 12, and Pete Rock's beat fits brilliantly here - a bridge between the explosion that ends the previous cut, and the tempo of the one that follows...
Top Rawmen : Symphony 3000
I'm amongst friends here, so I can admit it - at least partly due to cultural differences, I didn't realise for years that this turntablist crew's name is a pun! Yeroc, Nando, Nomad, Mike c, and Jay Slim brilliantly execute the concept of a turntable version of the Juice Crew classic "The Symphony" on this selection from "Return of the DJ, Volume IV". The beats are sampled/cut/reworked from that 1988 record, and several quotes from the track get sliced and diced here too.
Camp Lo : Cookers
This Ski-produced B-side (you know the deal) from the "Trouble Man" single bangs hard in a specific way that often makes it tough to fit into mixes, but I think this is a good spot for it! There's a detail worth noting on this one - check how Sonny and Geechi start each two-bar phrase of the first verse with their syllables landing dead on each hit of the kick drum.
Diamond D ft. Kurupt and The Alkaholiks : We Are The People Of The World
Diamond just keeps on going - with a record collection and a mind like his, the beats will hopefully keep on coming for a long time yet! His 2014 album "The Diam Piece" is a producer-centred project where he brings in a star-studded roster of guests to bless his beats; on this cut, we get veteran West Coast lyricism from the 'Liks and Kurupt, keeping it positive. I do need to stop giving myself these awkward bar counts to mix with though...
J-Zone ft. Has-Lo : Caddy Coupe
I love seeing people win, so this track works on two levels; firstly, it comes from "Fish 'n' Grits", an excellent album from the latter phase of J-Zone's musical career, and secondly because of the story. I can totally get behind a real-life tale of a man treating himself to a bit of luxury after a hard working life; it's just a genuinely nice story. Philadephia's Has-Lo takes the second verse to expand the theme a little more, and Zone's production (in all senses of the word) is excellent and inventive as always.
Trifeckta : First Time (Janet Jackson Flip)
I wanted to bridge here with something having a bit of 80s style and also some soul, and finally found the right beat on the Producers I Know compilation "The 80s Beat Tape" - which I'm sure we'll visit again. St.Louis'/NYC's Trifeckta dices up some Janet Jackson and tops it off with some skilled drum machine work.
John Legend and The Roots : Hang On In There
Somehow the "Wake Up!" collaborative project slipped by me until recently, despite being years old! It's mostly made up of covers of old soul records, and they're done well. Here's one example, their take on the low-key 1972 classic "Hang On In There" by Mike James Kirkland, with a beautiful groove and a solid message.
Children of Zeus : Rock You Internally
Yet another great cut from Konny Kon and Tyler Daly, both of whom are in fine rhyming style right here - classic tag team vocal styles. No slouches on the boards either, they cook up a quality beat from a classic soul sample. "The Story So Far..." is an essential purchase...and that's just a collection of their past work. The album, when it comes, is really going to be something.
Ill Camille : Take A Ride
Ill Camille is an artist coming out of Los Angeles who gets much respect from those in the know. While her latest LP "Heirloom" is getting rave reviews, here we go all the way back to 2011's "The Pre-Write" for a track which I think features the sadly late Alori Joh ; they collaborated on a version of this track I've seen titled as "Take That Ride". Camille handles her business here lyrically, and the hook is very nicely done as a bonus. I've not got any credits indicating who produced it, but I do like the beat - incidentally, all that EQ/filtering going on towards the end is part of the track itself!
KING : The Greatest
I don't know how many times I've played this track this year, but it's a lot. Paris Strother kills it on this production (as she does on the whole "We Are KING" album), and on the mic along with the other two members for this ethereal and grooving tribute to the great Muhammad Ali. If you're hearing it for the first time, it deserves an immediate rewind - alternatively, watch the excellent 8-bit-styled video :)
Tall Black Guy : Sade's Taboo (Sweetest Taboo Blap-Up)
The brother from another mother (and father) once again shows you how he flips well-known samples into his own head-nodding, shoulder-slumping style!
Craig G : W.F.W.T (What's Fuckin With That)
Ending things on an up note, we take a track from the amazingly titled "I Rap and Go Home" album. The Juice Crew veteran gives you a small window into his life as a live performer..and he loves it! Again, I like to see people win and so it's nice to know that Craig's working life is pretty awesome. Vaporworldz isn't an artist I've heard of before, but this beat is on-point; a light, cheerful head-nodder with a little reggae seasoning in there. I hope Craig G and the rest of the crew left Manchester with happy memories - although we couldn't help much with the weather, sadly.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Give me a minute, I'll give you my spirit."
- Konny Kon
Another month, another mix to keep your ears nourished! Listen out for Juice Crew appearances and connections throughout the selection, after Manchester witnessed them tear up the stage this month. We've got some soulful numbers, turntable wizardry, and quotables for days. Let's get it started...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Cesar Comanche : A-Game
With the intro and all that, this is a track that needs to be at the start of a mix, and as such I've been saving it for quite a long time. One of my favourites from the original days of the Justus League, this track is from Cesar's second album "Paper Gods", and is a great ode to working hard in music and not being a hanger-on or a daydreamer; as the title suggests, bring your A-game. 9th Wonder is on the beat, slapping that snare as always!
Kev Brown : The Beat Tape (Instro)
One of the instrumentals from the "Selective Hearing" LP; nothing super complex, just a good example of doing something funky with a handful of elements. The insertion of that "yeah" sample is worth the price of admission!
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Letters
Another one I've had in the "to play" list for ages, it's a straight mic workout for G Rap taken from his final album in collaboration with DJ Polo, "Live and Let Die". As an aside, I didn't realise that the album was shelved some time after initial release because of the controversial cover art! Luckily, it got a re-release so you should be able to find it - there are some excellent tracks on there. As with most of the rest of the album, Sir Jinx, best known for his work with Ice Cube, handles the production; a nice funky soul sample forms the basis of the track.
Wordsworth : Feel Me
Hadn't given "The Picture Album" a listen in a long time and had totally forgotten about this Ill Poetic-produced track - I was looking to include something featuring Masta Ace but this got the nod instead, as it were. "Feel me internally"? Hold that thought, we're coming back to it later in the show...
Bumpy Knuckles : Lazy
One of those tunes you can drop on a mixtape or in a club night full of real heads. DJ Premier on the beat with a meat-and-potatoes drum pattern underpinning a disjointed string sample, and Bumpy going in on the mic straight line style. Bonus points for him impression of crying MCs in the intro :) We will definitely return to the "Konexion" album again!
Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, ODB : Show & Prove
The full version of this tune from the 1994 "Daddy's Home" album is long! Coming off a loop of the DJ Premier beat, I actually missed off the first three verses (Scoob, Sauce Money, and Shyheim) and jumped in at Kane's appearance. A then mostly-unknown Jay-Z can be heard here with his old style, and ODB shuts it down on the final verse, overwhelming the track with sheer force of personality! Three Brooklyn kings, no question. The sharp-eared amongst you will find the last word on the tune very familiar...
[Pete Rock] All City : Priceless (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this many moons ago on episode 12, and Pete Rock's beat fits brilliantly here - a bridge between the explosion that ends the previous cut, and the tempo of the one that follows...
Top Rawmen : Symphony 3000
I'm amongst friends here, so I can admit it - at least partly due to cultural differences, I didn't realise for years that this turntablist crew's name is a pun! Yeroc, Nando, Nomad, Mike c, and Jay Slim brilliantly execute the concept of a turntable version of the Juice Crew classic "The Symphony" on this selection from "Return of the DJ, Volume IV". The beats are sampled/cut/reworked from that 1988 record, and several quotes from the track get sliced and diced here too.
Camp Lo : Cookers
This Ski-produced B-side (you know the deal) from the "Trouble Man" single bangs hard in a specific way that often makes it tough to fit into mixes, but I think this is a good spot for it! There's a detail worth noting on this one - check how Sonny and Geechi start each two-bar phrase of the first verse with their syllables landing dead on each hit of the kick drum.
Diamond D ft. Kurupt and The Alkaholiks : We Are The People Of The World
Diamond just keeps on going - with a record collection and a mind like his, the beats will hopefully keep on coming for a long time yet! His 2014 album "The Diam Piece" is a producer-centred project where he brings in a star-studded roster of guests to bless his beats; on this cut, we get veteran West Coast lyricism from the 'Liks and Kurupt, keeping it positive. I do need to stop giving myself these awkward bar counts to mix with though...
J-Zone ft. Has-Lo : Caddy Coupe
I love seeing people win, so this track works on two levels; firstly, it comes from "Fish 'n' Grits", an excellent album from the latter phase of J-Zone's musical career, and secondly because of the story. I can totally get behind a real-life tale of a man treating himself to a bit of luxury after a hard working life; it's just a genuinely nice story. Philadephia's Has-Lo takes the second verse to expand the theme a little more, and Zone's production (in all senses of the word) is excellent and inventive as always.
Trifeckta : First Time (Janet Jackson Flip)
I wanted to bridge here with something having a bit of 80s style and also some soul, and finally found the right beat on the Producers I Know compilation "The 80s Beat Tape" - which I'm sure we'll visit again. St.Louis'/NYC's Trifeckta dices up some Janet Jackson and tops it off with some skilled drum machine work.
John Legend and The Roots : Hang On In There
Somehow the "Wake Up!" collaborative project slipped by me until recently, despite being years old! It's mostly made up of covers of old soul records, and they're done well. Here's one example, their take on the low-key 1972 classic "Hang On In There" by Mike James Kirkland, with a beautiful groove and a solid message.
Children of Zeus : Rock You Internally
Yet another great cut from Konny Kon and Tyler Daly, both of whom are in fine rhyming style right here - classic tag team vocal styles. No slouches on the boards either, they cook up a quality beat from a classic soul sample. "The Story So Far..." is an essential purchase...and that's just a collection of their past work. The album, when it comes, is really going to be something.
Ill Camille : Take A Ride
Ill Camille is an artist coming out of Los Angeles who gets much respect from those in the know. While her latest LP "Heirloom" is getting rave reviews, here we go all the way back to 2011's "The Pre-Write" for a track which I think features the sadly late Alori Joh ; they collaborated on a version of this track I've seen titled as "Take That Ride". Camille handles her business here lyrically, and the hook is very nicely done as a bonus. I've not got any credits indicating who produced it, but I do like the beat - incidentally, all that EQ/filtering going on towards the end is part of the track itself!
KING : The Greatest
I don't know how many times I've played this track this year, but it's a lot. Paris Strother kills it on this production (as she does on the whole "We Are KING" album), and on the mic along with the other two members for this ethereal and grooving tribute to the great Muhammad Ali. If you're hearing it for the first time, it deserves an immediate rewind - alternatively, watch the excellent 8-bit-styled video :)
Tall Black Guy : Sade's Taboo (Sweetest Taboo Blap-Up)
The brother from another mother (and father) once again shows you how he flips well-known samples into his own head-nodding, shoulder-slumping style!
Craig G : W.F.W.T (What's Fuckin With That)
Ending things on an up note, we take a track from the amazingly titled "I Rap and Go Home" album. The Juice Crew veteran gives you a small window into his life as a live performer..and he loves it! Again, I like to see people win and so it's nice to know that Craig's working life is pretty awesome. Vaporworldz isn't an artist I've heard of before, but this beat is on-point; a light, cheerful head-nodder with a little reggae seasoning in there. I hope Craig G and the rest of the crew left Manchester with happy memories - although we couldn't help much with the weather, sadly.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Gotta risk a life just in order to make a living."
- Le$
This month, we keep things at a moderate-to-low tempo, allowing you to conserve some energy as autumn draws in; all you need to do is keep that head bobbing!
If you're anywhere near Manchester, don't miss out on the Juice Crew on November 13th.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Redman : The Saga Continues (Da Countdown)
Apologies for the sound quality - the vinyl I have sounds pretty grungy to begin with! This (from "Ill At Will Vol.1") was the first track I think I heard Redman talking about his Gilla House label on, and he is seriously hyped up! Killer beat too, and great use of the Dre sample for the opening and the hook.
Alchemist : Stuck To You
A nice beat from Alchemist's "Rapper's Best Friend" beat compilation, later used on the similarly named "Stuck On You" by Prodigy on his excellent "Return Of The Mac" mixtape.
Natural Elements : DroNEs
A new release from one of my favourite crews! Natural Elements spit lyrics about government surveillance over the beat from the classic "Clones" by The Roots. The call-and-response motif on the piano is a killer, and the beat as a whole is spare enough to avoid overpowering any MCs - as though that would ever be a concern with these three...
Raekwon : Nothing
One of those tracks where the radio version definitely has the edge over the uncensored album one! Raekwon stays bringing that low-key gangster talk on this cut from his latest LP, "The Wild". Production is by Frank G, who cooks up a nasty beat - slowing down a classic soul drum break and topping it all off with that vocal sample that forms the foundation of the hook.
Jay-Z ft. Frank Ocean : Caught Their Eyes
The vibe on this selection from "4:44" fits in pretty well here I think. Jay is in scalding form, talking about surviving the world around him on the first verse and then talking raw about the administrators of Prince's estate on the second. Production is by No I.D, who also gets points for finishing the track with the sample of Joseph Welch asking of Senator McCarthy "at long last, have you left no sense of decency?" - I wonder if we'll reach a political moment like that in the near future...
Count Bass D ft. Snoop Dogg : Too Much Pressure
Brand new 2017 release from two veterans in the art. Count Bass D comes through with some low-speed synth funk that perfectly suits the mellow Snoop vocals.
Terrace Martin presents The Pollyseeds : Chef Dubble E
The Pollyseeds are Terrace Martin's band, and they are seriously skilled musicians - those who caught them at Band on the Wall will have experienced that first-hand. Their new album "Sounds of Crenshaw Vol.1" is kind of jazzy, kind of groovy, definitely genuine and absolutely worth your time for a listen. I just love the low end on this one, bending along with the motif set by the rest of the musicians and forcing you to feel it as you turn the volume up!
Scram Jones ft. Saigon : No Surprise
Nice little track from the "Dead Giveaway" free EP - released exactly four years ago on Halloween 2013. Scram and Saigon tell their own stories of their introductions to Hip-Hop and how they came to work together on a chilled, guitar-led instrumental.
M-Dot ft. Method Man and Dominique Larue : Shine
I've only just found out that this record was released as a single, and that was all the way back in 2014! My first hearing of this was as part of the new "Ego And The Enemy" LP from Boston's M-Dot. If you think you hear an Eminem-ish tone on the closing verse, you're not the only one - I had to double-check the credits! Columbus MC Dominique Larue of the group Heresy is someone I hadn't heard before but will definitely be checking based on her bars here, and a feature from Meth just puts the icing on things. Soulplusmind provides the production - the change-up for the hook is what does it for me on this beat.
Dubbul O x Clay : Commence
Quality from the Room 2 camp out of Manchester. Dubbul O always heats up the mic and Clay gives him a solid beat to get busy on. Available as a "name your price" release on Bandcamp and once again...this B-side wins.
Ras Kass : Eyes Don't Lie
This is one of my headphone regulars finally finding its way onto the podcast! It's slightly awkward to mix with the "eyes don't lie" refrain being three bars rather than an even number, but that's just a concern for us DJs :) Ski produces this tune from Ras' "Institutionalized Vol. 2" mixtape, and Ras is excellent on the mic as per usual.
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Get On The Mic (Instrumental)
Both of the Pete & CL albums are 100% must-owns for any Hip-Hop fan, and when I saw an instrumental version of "The Main Ingredient" on vinyl a while back, it had to be grabbed. Just enjoy Pete Rock's SP-1200 mastery on this one.
Dilated Peoples : Let Your Thoughts Fly Away
Big shout out to my man Gez, who bought me the excellent "Directors of Photography" album for my birthday a few years back! This is my favourite track on there, but at around 73bpm, a tough one to find other records to go with; I'd been saving it and found a great spot for it here. Diamond D kills it with this beat, another one with a slightly unusual bar count, putting some bump on a wicked jazz-rock sample. Rakaa Iriscience and Evidence go back and forth with short six-bar verses, coming through crystal clear at this laid-back speed.
Hus Kingpin ft. Milano Constantine and DJ Q-Bert : Serotonin High
When I heard that Big Ghost Ltd had produced an album, I had to get it - someone with such a well-documented high bar for what he considers to be hard enough (and a relentless disregard for the weak) would surely come through with the goods. He takes the helm for the "Cocaine Beach" project by NY-raised, L.A-resident MC Hus Kingpin (aka Lord Wavy), which is on that experimental street vibe that fans of someone like Roc Marciano will appreciate. This cut bangs along with the gravelly vibes of Hus and guest Milano Constantine of DITC painting street brushstroke over the top. The absolute capper, though, is the appearance of legendary turntablist DJ Q-Bert, who shows stunning control on his patterns here. Definitely an album to check - though a short one, at around 38 minutes.
Ken Dawg : Playa In Me
I picked up the "Mo Thugs Family Scriptures" album way back in 1996 for one reason - it was a bargain. I wasn't even into the Bone Thugs sound, but found a few gems on there that I enjoyed, and this was one of them. This was Ken Dawg's first release, and he was featured on projects as late as 2003. He may not have a deep catalogue or the most dazzling wordplay, but all the same he made a good record here!
Children Of Zeus : I Can't Wait
Konny Kon and Tyler Daly are continuing to build momentum towards the completion and release of their debut album, but for now they're feeding the people something to hold us over. The "The Story So Far..." compilation brings together all the tracks they've had out on Soundcloud and Bandcamp up to now (some of which you'll have heard on the podcast), and is an absolutely essential purchase. Soulful as always, this track is one of their latest releases, still bringing some sunshine as we approach the winter months!
The Cool Kids : Popcorn (Instrumental)
Found this one on the "Gone Fishing : Instrumentals" collection - truthfully, not even my favourite beat on there, but not only does the speed come in right where I need it to, but the vocal samples form a counterpoint to the Children of Zeus track that comes before!
Le$ : 45 South
I think Spotify Radio brought this one to my attention after a playlist of mine ran out, but it grabbed me on the first listen. Le$ is an MC out of Houston (but born in New Orleans) who's been associated with the Boss Hogg Outlawz and Curren$y's Jet Life click, and really seems to represent a new wave of talent coming from the city. He gives you some of what you might expect lyrically but definitely drops some other gems in amongst it all, weaving politics and street/industry politics into the mix. On the beat here is DJ Mr Rogers, with a slow track very much in the Houston tradition and perfect for a SLAB. I definitely need to sit down with the "Midnight Club" album off the back of this one!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Gotta risk a life just in order to make a living."
- Le$
This month, we keep things at a moderate-to-low tempo, allowing you to conserve some energy as autumn draws in; all you need to do is keep that head bobbing!
If you're anywhere near Manchester, don't miss out on the Juice Crew on November 13th.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Redman : The Saga Continues (Da Countdown)
Apologies for the sound quality - the vinyl I have sounds pretty grungy to begin with! This (from "Ill At Will Vol.1") was the first track I think I heard Redman talking about his Gilla House label on, and he is seriously hyped up! Killer beat too, and great use of the Dre sample for the opening and the hook.
Alchemist : Stuck To You
A nice beat from Alchemist's "Rapper's Best Friend" beat compilation, later used on the similarly named "Stuck On You" by Prodigy on his excellent "Return Of The Mac" mixtape.
Natural Elements : DroNEs
A new release from one of my favourite crews! Natural Elements spit lyrics about government surveillance over the beat from the classic "Clones" by The Roots. The call-and-response motif on the piano is a killer, and the beat as a whole is spare enough to avoid overpowering any MCs - as though that would ever be a concern with these three...
Raekwon : Nothing
One of those tracks where the radio version definitely has the edge over the uncensored album one! Raekwon stays bringing that low-key gangster talk on this cut from his latest LP, "The Wild". Production is by Frank G, who cooks up a nasty beat - slowing down a classic soul drum break and topping it all off with that vocal sample that forms the foundation of the hook.
Jay-Z ft. Frank Ocean : Caught Their Eyes
The vibe on this selection from "4:44" fits in pretty well here I think. Jay is in scalding form, talking about surviving the world around him on the first verse and then talking raw about the administrators of Prince's estate on the second. Production is by No I.D, who also gets points for finishing the track with the sample of Joseph Welch asking of Senator McCarthy "at long last, have you left no sense of decency?" - I wonder if we'll reach a political moment like that in the near future...
Count Bass D ft. Snoop Dogg : Too Much Pressure
Brand new 2017 release from two veterans in the art. Count Bass D comes through with some low-speed synth funk that perfectly suits the mellow Snoop vocals.
Terrace Martin presents The Pollyseeds : Chef Dubble E
The Pollyseeds are Terrace Martin's band, and they are seriously skilled musicians - those who caught them at Band on the Wall will have experienced that first-hand. Their new album "Sounds of Crenshaw Vol.1" is kind of jazzy, kind of groovy, definitely genuine and absolutely worth your time for a listen. I just love the low end on this one, bending along with the motif set by the rest of the musicians and forcing you to feel it as you turn the volume up!
Scram Jones ft. Saigon : No Surprise
Nice little track from the "Dead Giveaway" free EP - released exactly four years ago on Halloween 2013. Scram and Saigon tell their own stories of their introductions to Hip-Hop and how they came to work together on a chilled, guitar-led instrumental.
M-Dot ft. Method Man and Dominique Larue : Shine
I've only just found out that this record was released as a single, and that was all the way back in 2014! My first hearing of this was as part of the new "Ego And The Enemy" LP from Boston's M-Dot. If you think you hear an Eminem-ish tone on the closing verse, you're not the only one - I had to double-check the credits! Columbus MC Dominique Larue of the group Heresy is someone I hadn't heard before but will definitely be checking based on her bars here, and a feature from Meth just puts the icing on things. Soulplusmind provides the production - the change-up for the hook is what does it for me on this beat.
Dubbul O x Clay : Commence
Quality from the Room 2 camp out of Manchester. Dubbul O always heats up the mic and Clay gives him a solid beat to get busy on. Available as a "name your price" release on Bandcamp and once again...this B-side wins.
Ras Kass : Eyes Don't Lie
This is one of my headphone regulars finally finding its way onto the podcast! It's slightly awkward to mix with the "eyes don't lie" refrain being three bars rather than an even number, but that's just a concern for us DJs :) Ski produces this tune from Ras' "Institutionalized Vol. 2" mixtape, and Ras is excellent on the mic as per usual.
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Get On The Mic (Instrumental)
Both of the Pete & CL albums are 100% must-owns for any Hip-Hop fan, and when I saw an instrumental version of "The Main Ingredient" on vinyl a while back, it had to be grabbed. Just enjoy Pete Rock's SP-1200 mastery on this one.
Dilated Peoples : Let Your Thoughts Fly Away
Big shout out to my man Gez, who bought me the excellent "Directors of Photography" album for my birthday a few years back! This is my favourite track on there, but at around 73bpm, a tough one to find other records to go with; I'd been saving it and found a great spot for it here. Diamond D kills it with this beat, another one with a slightly unusual bar count, putting some bump on a wicked jazz-rock sample. Rakaa Iriscience and Evidence go back and forth with short six-bar verses, coming through crystal clear at this laid-back speed.
Hus Kingpin ft. Milano Constantine and DJ Q-Bert : Serotonin High
When I heard that Big Ghost Ltd had produced an album, I had to get it - someone with such a well-documented high bar for what he considers to be hard enough (and a relentless disregard for the weak) would surely come through with the goods. He takes the helm for the "Cocaine Beach" project by NY-raised, L.A-resident MC Hus Kingpin (aka Lord Wavy), which is on that experimental street vibe that fans of someone like Roc Marciano will appreciate. This cut bangs along with the gravelly vibes of Hus and guest Milano Constantine of DITC painting street brushstroke over the top. The absolute capper, though, is the appearance of legendary turntablist DJ Q-Bert, who shows stunning control on his patterns here. Definitely an album to check - though a short one, at around 38 minutes.
Ken Dawg : Playa In Me
I picked up the "Mo Thugs Family Scriptures" album way back in 1996 for one reason - it was a bargain. I wasn't even into the Bone Thugs sound, but found a few gems on there that I enjoyed, and this was one of them. This was Ken Dawg's first release, and he was featured on projects as late as 2003. He may not have a deep catalogue or the most dazzling wordplay, but all the same he made a good record here!
Children Of Zeus : I Can't Wait
Konny Kon and Tyler Daly are continuing to build momentum towards the completion and release of their debut album, but for now they're feeding the people something to hold us over. The "The Story So Far..." compilation brings together all the tracks they've had out on Soundcloud and Bandcamp up to now (some of which you'll have heard on the podcast), and is an absolutely essential purchase. Soulful as always, this track is one of their latest releases, still bringing some sunshine as we approach the winter months!
The Cool Kids : Popcorn (Instrumental)
Found this one on the "Gone Fishing : Instrumentals" collection - truthfully, not even my favourite beat on there, but not only does the speed come in right where I need it to, but the vocal samples form a counterpoint to the Children of Zeus track that comes before!
Le$ : 45 South
I think Spotify Radio brought this one to my attention after a playlist of mine ran out, but it grabbed me on the first listen. Le$ is an MC out of Houston (but born in New Orleans) who's been associated with the Boss Hogg Outlawz and Curren$y's Jet Life click, and really seems to represent a new wave of talent coming from the city. He gives you some of what you might expect lyrically but definitely drops some other gems in amongst it all, weaving politics and street/industry politics into the mix. On the beat here is DJ Mr Rogers, with a slow track very much in the Houston tradition and perfect for a SLAB. I definitely need to sit down with the "Midnight Club" album off the back of this one!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"One hundred on the percentage, I don't talk split..."
- Q-Ball
Wow, what a milestone! In the early days of the show I didn't know we'd still be here after this long, but focusing on just producing one show at a time has paid off. Every month I feel like I must have run out of tunes, but one hundred months in....not quite yet ;)
Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to listen. Please spread this one far and wide!
Twitter : @airadam13
For this month's charity draw (check the end of the show for details), the website to donate to is MSF, entries close on the 21/10/2017.
Playlist/Notes
Air Adam & Mega Ran : Pacman
Hitting you with a special right out of the gate! This is one of my own beats, done many moons ago when my man Kev 80s asked if I could make something out of sounds from the "Pacman" arcade machine. I sampled some audio out of an arcade emulator into the MPC and got busy; when I played it for Kev over the phone, he went out of his mind! I knew I had something, and I got this beat pressed onto a dubplate which some of you will have heard me pull out and play occasionally over the years. I've always thought it deserved some lyrics, and I was honoured to have Mega Ran bless it for a 100th episode special. Not only is he an ill MC, but one who knows his video games and has been a real pioneer in flipping gaming sounds and themes to devastating effect! No hook, just straight bars for you - I really hope you enjoy this one as much as I do every time I hear it :)
Visioneers : Apache (Battle Dub)
My man Bane pointed me in the direction of the Hipology 7" set by Marc Mac's Visioneers, and it's a nice five-disc, ten-track set paying respect to Hip-Hop's influence in his life. There's a mixtape of it on Bandcamp, but it's worth getting the full release! To start off a mini-theme in this part of the show, we go with their take on the classic track "Apache", a true foundation break of Hip-Hop. If you want a bit more background on it, check the film "Sample This"!
Ilajide : Apache 2
This man is one of my favourite producers of the last few years, and here he kills it with a great flip of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five version of "Apache"(you can just hear him letting it play as I blend the track in). Slowed, chopped, and with some added ODB flavour, it's a monster that on its own makes a purchase of "Five Week Heet IV" worth it!
Nas : Made You Look
A lot of people like to talk down on Nas' beat selection, but in my opinion you have to give him this; whenever he needs to drop that one big street single, he can. "Nas Is Like"? "Get Down"? "The Don"? That's just three off the top of my head, and this one could well go ahead of all of them. Salaam Remi flips that "Apache" breakbeat but making it slower and more menacing and Nas is on top form setting out his stall on this first verse. When this track dropped it got everyone open for "God's Son", and you can guarantee crowd response in a Hip-Hop club when the hook hits. Just one verse here, then blending during the hook into a killer remix...
Nas ft. Styles P and Ludacris : Made You Look (Remix)
Eleven synonyms for "gun" in just the first three bars of his verse is what stands out for me on Nas' closer right here. You have to bring it when you get a verse like Ludacris' preceding lyrics, and while you don't hear it on this episode, Styles P also got it done. This remix was killing the net and mixtapes when it came out but to the best of my knowledge, it never got an official release - if you know otherwise, get at me!
Aim & QNC ft. Grand Puba and Sean Price : We Don't Play (Curt Cazal Remix)
A great union of Grand Central-connected acts, along with some big guests! The original from the "The Habit of a Lifetime (And How to Kick It)" LP with Aim's production is dark, but Curt Cazal takes the darkness in a completely different direction for this remix. Treat yourself with a bit of extra volume for this cut because even with just two bass notes every couple of bars, it definitely bumps! Lyrically, all the verses are solid but as usual, I think Sean P takes it. Also check the homage being paid to EPMD, first with the opening bars, and on the hook too!
Seanie T, Karl Hinds, Jeff3, and Skeme : Had E-Nuff
I can't count the times I wanted to play this on the show but just wasn't happy with the mix! From Seanie T's Western-themed "The Blacknificent 7" superteam (just four on this track) we have this thumping AA-side with all MCs sounding seriously vex over a Karl Hinds beat. The Guru sample for the hook is just the icing on the cake!
DJ Spinna : Fancy Pants
Always here for a DJ Spinna beat, and this is an old one which has only just become available. The "Unpicked Treats Volume 1" collection on Bandcamp is made up of unreleased beats from 2005 to the present, and if you're a fan it's definitely one to check. This track has that trademark squelchy keyboard low end he does so well.
Redman : Tonight's Da Night
From Red's debut "Whut? Thee Album", we take the start of the jazzy third single, which has a lyrical switchup after the first few bars, and then do a little switch of our own...
Royal Flush : Best Type Of Rapper
...into this - I did this transition once live and the crowd went mad calling for the rewind! Big tune from the 2005 "Street Boss" album by Queens' Royal Flush. I haven't been able to find a producer credit for this one, but it's an energetic, horn-laden track over a classic break with Flush's staple street braggadocio delivered with what is still a low-key flow.
Naughty By Nature : Craziest
In a time when Hip-Hop was much more localised (and NY-centric) than it is now, the all-area respect theme of this track was a rarity; the video does a great job conveying it too. A fantastic but in my opinion, under-appreciated single from the "Poverty's Paradise" LP. NBN self-produce the track, and the particular combination of sounds like little else while also being very comfortable/familiar somehow. Treach and Vinny then proceed to get amped on the verses (did Treach ever get his money from Jermaine?), and the hook is straight classic. I'd love to hear a Leeds, Manchester, or just a UK version of this one!
DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango
I think this is an amazing tune, and I love to find opportunities to play it when I DJ. The first full track on the "Trauma" LP, it's just big sounding and driving, with the horns taking centre stage and reminding you of an HBCU marching band - if you can't get live to this one, you should seek medical attention!
DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango (Live at the House of Blues)
There aren't that many live Hip-Hop albums so being able to do a mix like this is rare, but taking the opportunity to catch that crowd energy is a winner. This is from the "Greatest Hits : Live at the House of Blues" album, which was recorded in February 2006 and is a release absolutely worth having in your collection! B-Real's killer second verse gets the crowd hype here and Quik brings it home strong, while the band do an excellent rendition of Quik's original production.
Showbiz & A.G. : Silence Of The Lambs (Remix)
Claaassic Diggin In The Crates product right here. The original cut on "Runaway Slave" is dope, but this remix is just incredible. Those blaring, almost discordant horns scream to be heard over Showbiz' wicked drum sampler programming, before settling down into the groove of the verses. This is the time when both members were getting on the mic, before Showbiz (now just Show) decided to focus on his work behind the boards. He could easily have carried on, but given that he's responsible for beats like "Sound Of Da Police", he can be forgiven for rationing his time. One aside - check the low, distorted evil laugh during the hook!
Chemical Brothers : Chico's Groove
The Chemical Brothers' "Exit Planet Dust" was a huge debut release, which came to the attention of me and mine via the use of several tracks on Channel 4's NBA coverage back in the day :) While they're primarily a dance act, there were some more laid back cuts on the album, and this was a standout for me - the feel of the first part of the track before the bass section comes in is just gorgeous.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Black Josh and TrueMendous : It's Like That
New track from a Manchester crew who continue to go from strength to strength - if this is any indication of what their next album will sound like, they're onto another winner! Chini's beat is chilled but the drums snap, and as always the right MCs are drafted in to grace the track. Black Josh has been working with The Mouse Outfit for a while and delivers some solid lyrics, but is at least matched by the dextrous TrueMendous out of Birmingham, who shines on this one!
Camp Lo ft. Mecca : Sky Box
The closing track on Camp Lo's second album, the appropriately-named "Let's Do It Again", this gentle Jocko-produced track is a tribute to loved ones Sonny and Geechi have lost along the way. One of the rare five-star tracks on my iPods.
Tall Black Guy : Broken Lies
A little something from the "Mini Therapy Chops 3" single by TBG, laid back but very tech with the drum programming, throwing in some great rolls and cymbal work!
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Rainy Dayz
Ok - I don't know if this is definitely my favourite Hip-Hop song, but is absolutely my favourite song on my favourite Hip-Hop album, the mighty and must-own "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...". A beautiful, dark, twisted beat from RZA in his golden period is the perfect setting to hear Rae and Ghost talk about being stuck in the drug business, with Blue Raspberry killing the vocals as the woman left at home worrying about her man. RZA cites it as one of his favourites, and with good reason. As far as my own relationship with this track; a) I played this once a day minimum for at least six months after buying the album, and b) that part where the audio seems to disappear towards end is the cue burn I put on this vinyl learning how to rock doubles on some highly unsuitable turntables!
Jan Hammer : It's Over
A short instrumental from the "Cocaine Cowboys" soundtrack. An amusing story about that OST is that the producers of the film were nervous about asking Jan Hammer to do something in the vein of "Miami Vice", in case he took offence and declared he'd moved past all that; as it tuned out, he had all the old synths upstairs ready to get busy!
Rakim : Bring It On
Very little available info on this one. It appears to be a remix of a 1995 track produced by Dominic Owen, but neither version was ever released. The sound quality on the white label compilation I have is pretty awful, but I tried to add a little top end to the EQ to counteract the worst of the muddiness. Rakim is in aggressive mode over a hard beat that definitely could have gone down well at the time, when the rugged East Coast sound was popular. This is the kind of relative rarity I love to share with you all!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"One hundred on the percentage, I don't talk split..."
- Q-Ball
Wow, what a milestone! In the early days of the show I didn't know we'd still be here after this long, but focusing on just producing one show at a time has paid off. Every month I feel like I must have run out of tunes, but one hundred months in....not quite yet ;)
Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to listen. Please spread this one far and wide!
Twitter : @airadam13
For this month's charity draw (check the end of the show for details), the website to donate to is MSF, entries close on the 21/10/2017.
Playlist/Notes
Air Adam & Mega Ran : Pacman
Hitting you with a special right out of the gate! This is one of my own beats, done many moons ago when my man Kev 80s asked if I could make something out of sounds from the "Pacman" arcade machine. I sampled some audio out of an arcade emulator into the MPC and got busy; when I played it for Kev over the phone, he went out of his mind! I knew I had something, and I got this beat pressed onto a dubplate which some of you will have heard me pull out and play occasionally over the years. I've always thought it deserved some lyrics, and I was honoured to have Mega Ran bless it for a 100th episode special. Not only is he an ill MC, but one who knows his video games and has been a real pioneer in flipping gaming sounds and themes to devastating effect! No hook, just straight bars for you - I really hope you enjoy this one as much as I do every time I hear it :)
Visioneers : Apache (Battle Dub)
My man Bane pointed me in the direction of the Hipology 7" set by Marc Mac's Visioneers, and it's a nice five-disc, ten-track set paying respect to Hip-Hop's influence in his life. There's a mixtape of it on Bandcamp, but it's worth getting the full release! To start off a mini-theme in this part of the show, we go with their take on the classic track "Apache", a true foundation break of Hip-Hop. If you want a bit more background on it, check the film "Sample This"!
Ilajide : Apache 2
This man is one of my favourite producers of the last few years, and here he kills it with a great flip of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five version of "Apache"(you can just hear him letting it play as I blend the track in). Slowed, chopped, and with some added ODB flavour, it's a monster that on its own makes a purchase of "Five Week Heet IV" worth it!
Nas : Made You Look
A lot of people like to talk down on Nas' beat selection, but in my opinion you have to give him this; whenever he needs to drop that one big street single, he can. "Nas Is Like"? "Get Down"? "The Don"? That's just three off the top of my head, and this one could well go ahead of all of them. Salaam Remi flips that "Apache" breakbeat but making it slower and more menacing and Nas is on top form setting out his stall on this first verse. When this track dropped it got everyone open for "God's Son", and you can guarantee crowd response in a Hip-Hop club when the hook hits. Just one verse here, then blending during the hook into a killer remix...
Nas ft. Styles P and Ludacris : Made You Look (Remix)
Eleven synonyms for "gun" in just the first three bars of his verse is what stands out for me on Nas' closer right here. You have to bring it when you get a verse like Ludacris' preceding lyrics, and while you don't hear it on this episode, Styles P also got it done. This remix was killing the net and mixtapes when it came out but to the best of my knowledge, it never got an official release - if you know otherwise, get at me!
Aim & QNC ft. Grand Puba and Sean Price : We Don't Play (Curt Cazal Remix)
A great union of Grand Central-connected acts, along with some big guests! The original from the "The Habit of a Lifetime (And How to Kick It)" LP with Aim's production is dark, but Curt Cazal takes the darkness in a completely different direction for this remix. Treat yourself with a bit of extra volume for this cut because even with just two bass notes every couple of bars, it definitely bumps! Lyrically, all the verses are solid but as usual, I think Sean P takes it. Also check the homage being paid to EPMD, first with the opening bars, and on the hook too!
Seanie T, Karl Hinds, Jeff3, and Skeme : Had E-Nuff
I can't count the times I wanted to play this on the show but just wasn't happy with the mix! From Seanie T's Western-themed "The Blacknificent 7" superteam (just four on this track) we have this thumping AA-side with all MCs sounding seriously vex over a Karl Hinds beat. The Guru sample for the hook is just the icing on the cake!
DJ Spinna : Fancy Pants
Always here for a DJ Spinna beat, and this is an old one which has only just become available. The "Unpicked Treats Volume 1" collection on Bandcamp is made up of unreleased beats from 2005 to the present, and if you're a fan it's definitely one to check. This track has that trademark squelchy keyboard low end he does so well.
Redman : Tonight's Da Night
From Red's debut "Whut? Thee Album", we take the start of the jazzy third single, which has a lyrical switchup after the first few bars, and then do a little switch of our own...
Royal Flush : Best Type Of Rapper
...into this - I did this transition once live and the crowd went mad calling for the rewind! Big tune from the 2005 "Street Boss" album by Queens' Royal Flush. I haven't been able to find a producer credit for this one, but it's an energetic, horn-laden track over a classic break with Flush's staple street braggadocio delivered with what is still a low-key flow.
Naughty By Nature : Craziest
In a time when Hip-Hop was much more localised (and NY-centric) than it is now, the all-area respect theme of this track was a rarity; the video does a great job conveying it too. A fantastic but in my opinion, under-appreciated single from the "Poverty's Paradise" LP. NBN self-produce the track, and the particular combination of sounds like little else while also being very comfortable/familiar somehow. Treach and Vinny then proceed to get amped on the verses (did Treach ever get his money from Jermaine?), and the hook is straight classic. I'd love to hear a Leeds, Manchester, or just a UK version of this one!
DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango
I think this is an amazing tune, and I love to find opportunities to play it when I DJ. The first full track on the "Trauma" LP, it's just big sounding and driving, with the horns taking centre stage and reminding you of an HBCU marching band - if you can't get live to this one, you should seek medical attention!
DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango (Live at the House of Blues)
There aren't that many live Hip-Hop albums so being able to do a mix like this is rare, but taking the opportunity to catch that crowd energy is a winner. This is from the "Greatest Hits : Live at the House of Blues" album, which was recorded in February 2006 and is a release absolutely worth having in your collection! B-Real's killer second verse gets the crowd hype here and Quik brings it home strong, while the band do an excellent rendition of Quik's original production.
Showbiz & A.G. : Silence Of The Lambs (Remix)
Claaassic Diggin In The Crates product right here. The original cut on "Runaway Slave" is dope, but this remix is just incredible. Those blaring, almost discordant horns scream to be heard over Showbiz' wicked drum sampler programming, before settling down into the groove of the verses. This is the time when both members were getting on the mic, before Showbiz (now just Show) decided to focus on his work behind the boards. He could easily have carried on, but given that he's responsible for beats like "Sound Of Da Police", he can be forgiven for rationing his time. One aside - check the low, distorted evil laugh during the hook!
Chemical Brothers : Chico's Groove
The Chemical Brothers' "Exit Planet Dust" was a huge debut release, which came to the attention of me and mine via the use of several tracks on Channel 4's NBA coverage back in the day :) While they're primarily a dance act, there were some more laid back cuts on the album, and this was a standout for me - the feel of the first part of the track before the bass section comes in is just gorgeous.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Black Josh and TrueMendous : It's Like That
New track from a Manchester crew who continue to go from strength to strength - if this is any indication of what their next album will sound like, they're onto another winner! Chini's beat is chilled but the drums snap, and as always the right MCs are drafted in to grace the track. Black Josh has been working with The Mouse Outfit for a while and delivers some solid lyrics, but is at least matched by the dextrous TrueMendous out of Birmingham, who shines on this one!
Camp Lo ft. Mecca : Sky Box
The closing track on Camp Lo's second album, the appropriately-named "Let's Do It Again", this gentle Jocko-produced track is a tribute to loved ones Sonny and Geechi have lost along the way. One of the rare five-star tracks on my iPods.
Tall Black Guy : Broken Lies
A little something from the "Mini Therapy Chops 3" single by TBG, laid back but very tech with the drum programming, throwing in some great rolls and cymbal work!
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Rainy Dayz
Ok - I don't know if this is definitely my favourite Hip-Hop song, but is absolutely my favourite song on my favourite Hip-Hop album, the mighty and must-own "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...". A beautiful, dark, twisted beat from RZA in his golden period is the perfect setting to hear Rae and Ghost talk about being stuck in the drug business, with Blue Raspberry killing the vocals as the woman left at home worrying about her man. RZA cites it as one of his favourites, and with good reason. As far as my own relationship with this track; a) I played this once a day minimum for at least six months after buying the album, and b) that part where the audio seems to disappear towards end is the cue burn I put on this vinyl learning how to rock doubles on some highly unsuitable turntables!
Jan Hammer : It's Over
A short instrumental from the "Cocaine Cowboys" soundtrack. An amusing story about that OST is that the producers of the film were nervous about asking Jan Hammer to do something in the vein of "Miami Vice", in case he took offence and declared he'd moved past all that; as it tuned out, he had all the old synths upstairs ready to get busy!
Rakim : Bring It On
Very little available info on this one. It appears to be a remix of a 1995 track produced by Dominic Owen, but neither version was ever released. The sound quality on the white label compilation I have is pretty awful, but I tried to add a little top end to the EQ to counteract the worst of the muddiness. Rakim is in aggressive mode over a hard beat that definitely could have gone down well at the time, when the rugged East Coast sound was popular. This is the kind of relative rarity I love to share with you all!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Acknowledge the scholarship."
- Sean Price
One of the more challenging episodes I've released in the history of the show, thanks to an unexpected illness and subsequent surgery. I'm out now and on the mend, but the sound quality of the voiceover I recorded while in the hospital is somewhat rough, so apologies; will be back at podcast HQ for the 100th show!
PS - it seriously was the sixth ward...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price ft. Illa Ghee and Head I.C.E. : Go Rambo
I don't know what that sample is, but I like it! I've been saving this track for this episode, one that Roc Marciano produced (got this wrong on the voiceover) for the "Songs In The Key Of Price" mixtape, but also put out on PF Cuttin's own Soundcloud. Unsurprisingly, Sean drops the best verse of the three!
Apollo Brown : The Answer
For a relatively low-key opening to the show, I needed an instrumental which achieved quality without being too bombastic - mission accomplished by this piece from Apollo's "Thirty Eight" album.
Ka : I'm Ready
I might have to experiment trying to put together the kind of beat that Brownsville's Ka can take to this kind of level. As it is though, he does a fantastic job self-producing with skill and subtlety. Barely any drums there, just enough to to keep a rhythm under the atmospheric backing. One of my favourite wordsmiths, Ka is the thinking person's MC and his clear, steady delivery allows you to catch every word. "The Night's Gambit", his third solo LP, was another triumph.
Roc Marciano : Better Know
A great artist to play next to Ka - both men have a very distinct aesthetic and a mutual respect that has led them to work together to great effect. It's been a bit of a wait for Roc's "Rosebudd's Revenge" LP, but we finally have it and it has that vintage crime feel we know him for in spades, not least on this track.
Boldy James ft. Vince Staples : Give Me A Reason
Nothing uplifting and edifying here, just unrelenting darkness from the two MCs on this pick from the "My First Chemistry Set" album. Alchemist's beat sounds halfway between crime thriller and 70s prog-rock, and fits perfectly.
Beres Hammond : No Disturb Sign (SD50s Remix)
Going with a reggae flex going into the break, we have an artist who specialises in the Lover's Rock subgenre, which will be especially familiar to my Black British listeners of a certain age :) Beres started his career in the seventies, but this cut is a remix of a track from his 1994 album "In Control". The SD50s come through with a relaxed boom-bap backing for this tune about staying in bed for some romantic time!
Apple Juice Kid : Sacrifice
Once more, we return to the "Beats of a Revolution" instrumental album for this gentle but percussive number, which is just the right pace to transition into the next section.
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations : Late Nights & Heartbreak
This may sound familiar to many of you, thanks to No I.D. sampling it as the musical basis for Jay-Z's "4:44" - given the lyrical themes of each track, it's a very appropriate usage. Lovely bit of soul from Winchester's Hannah Williams and her band, which is the title track from their 2016 LP. The production on the Jay-Z record makes use of the actual session recordings as well as some custom re-records, but you can hear the foundations right here.
Facemob : The Other Side
Facemob was a multi-regional group assembled by Scarface of the Geto Boys, made up of 350 (Ohio), DMG (Minnesota), Devin (Florida), Chi-Ray (Illinois), and Smit-D (Texas), at a time when many of those regions weren't getting the respect. This is essentially the title track from their 1996 debut "The Other Side Of The Law". Scarface produced most of the album, but on this particular track Michael Poye and Uncle Eddie lay down some slow funk. It's not a powerhouse of a cut lyrically, but I would say Devin had the best verse.
Bronx Slang : Well, Well, Well
The bluesy-soul of this cut blends really well into this spot, courtesy of friend of the show Jerry Beeks and rhyme partner Ollie Miggs! Both MCs go back and forth dreaming of various superlatives over a beat from East London's Jadell.
MC Eiht ft. The Lady Of Rage : Heart Cold
Welcome back Lady of Rage! If you were around in the era of "The Chronic", you thought Rage was going to blow up huge after "Afro Puffs", but it didn't quite turn out that way. Nonetheless, she carried on working both on the mic and in front of the cameras as an actress, and it's great to hear her here alongside fellow West Coast legend MC Eiht on the DJ Premier-executive produced LP "Which Way Iz West". Austria's Brenk Sinatra is on the dark and dramatic beat, with fitting scratch work over the top.
Ulrich Schnauss : Thoughtless Motion
I was going to save this for a future selection I'm curating, but it was just a little too slow and so I thought I'd bring it here. The London-based, German-born Schnauss has a nice catalogue of synth-based music, and this track from "No Further Ahead Than Today" has a feel reminiscent of an 80s thriller soundtrack.
The Doppelgangaz ft. Tnava : Roll Flee
The "Dopp Hopp" LP is likely well worth checking if this big tune is anything to go by. The cloak-wearing duo out of Orange County (New York) harness something of a West Coast sound on this one, with bonus points for the vocoder!
Soopafly : I Feel
Trivia note: Soopafly played keyboards on "Natural Born Killaz" - I only just learned that this week! He's a West Coast veteran who has been putting in work behind the boards and on the mic since the mid-nineties, and we go here to his third album, the 2011 release "Best Kept Secret". This song reminds me very much of Common's "I Used To Love H.E.R", with Soopafly speaking about music in general and Hip-Hop in particular as though it were a woman, and describing a relationship. Excellent track with great production.
Oh No (ft. Roc C and Aloe Blacc) : Keep Tryin'
One of those tracks I do rather like but had forgotten about for a long while. Oh No's "Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" LP was an album completely built around samples from Galt MacDermot - a concept which is exceedingly rare, since it generally requires the green light to go through the archives of the sampled artist! Definitely worth a listen, and then heading back to find some of the original sources.
Sean Price : Rap Professor
This was first released a few months ago, but is most readily available on the posthumous Sean Price album "Imperius Rex". A compact two bars of boastful, humourous, disrespectful rhyming from a real specialist over a DJ Skizz beat. By the way, do try mofongo if you get the chance, recommended.
Soul Supreme : Beat 16
Dug this up off the hard drive from Soul Supreme's "Instrumentals 4 the Mind, Body, and Soul" collection. Sadly, this looks to have been deleted but will hopefully show up as a digital release at some point.
Invisible Circle : Crazy In Leeds
The 12" I got this on doesn't have as much credit information as I might like, but this killer B-side is a huge Leeds posse cut over the then-current "Crazy In Love" beat. Unapologetic Yorkshire Hip-Hop heads throwing down in fine style to close this month's show!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Acknowledge the scholarship."
- Sean Price
One of the more challenging episodes I've released in the history of the show, thanks to an unexpected illness and subsequent surgery. I'm out now and on the mend, but the sound quality of the voiceover I recorded while in the hospital is somewhat rough, so apologies; will be back at podcast HQ for the 100th show!
PS - it seriously was the sixth ward...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price ft. Illa Ghee and Head I.C.E. : Go Rambo
I don't know what that sample is, but I like it! I've been saving this track for this episode, one that Roc Marciano produced (got this wrong on the voiceover) for the "Songs In The Key Of Price" mixtape, but also put out on PF Cuttin's own Soundcloud. Unsurprisingly, Sean drops the best verse of the three!
Apollo Brown : The Answer
For a relatively low-key opening to the show, I needed an instrumental which achieved quality without being too bombastic - mission accomplished by this piece from Apollo's "Thirty Eight" album.
Ka : I'm Ready
I might have to experiment trying to put together the kind of beat that Brownsville's Ka can take to this kind of level. As it is though, he does a fantastic job self-producing with skill and subtlety. Barely any drums there, just enough to to keep a rhythm under the atmospheric backing. One of my favourite wordsmiths, Ka is the thinking person's MC and his clear, steady delivery allows you to catch every word. "The Night's Gambit", his third solo LP, was another triumph.
Roc Marciano : Better Know
A great artist to play next to Ka - both men have a very distinct aesthetic and a mutual respect that has led them to work together to great effect. It's been a bit of a wait for Roc's "Rosebudd's Revenge" LP, but we finally have it and it has that vintage crime feel we know him for in spades, not least on this track.
Boldy James ft. Vince Staples : Give Me A Reason
Nothing uplifting and edifying here, just unrelenting darkness from the two MCs on this pick from the "My First Chemistry Set" album. Alchemist's beat sounds halfway between crime thriller and 70s prog-rock, and fits perfectly.
Beres Hammond : No Disturb Sign (SD50s Remix)
Going with a reggae flex going into the break, we have an artist who specialises in the Lover's Rock subgenre, which will be especially familiar to my Black British listeners of a certain age :) Beres started his career in the seventies, but this cut is a remix of a track from his 1994 album "In Control". The SD50s come through with a relaxed boom-bap backing for this tune about staying in bed for some romantic time!
Apple Juice Kid : Sacrifice
Once more, we return to the "Beats of a Revolution" instrumental album for this gentle but percussive number, which is just the right pace to transition into the next section.
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations : Late Nights & Heartbreak
This may sound familiar to many of you, thanks to No I.D. sampling it as the musical basis for Jay-Z's "4:44" - given the lyrical themes of each track, it's a very appropriate usage. Lovely bit of soul from Winchester's Hannah Williams and her band, which is the title track from their 2016 LP. The production on the Jay-Z record makes use of the actual session recordings as well as some custom re-records, but you can hear the foundations right here.
Facemob : The Other Side
Facemob was a multi-regional group assembled by Scarface of the Geto Boys, made up of 350 (Ohio), DMG (Minnesota), Devin (Florida), Chi-Ray (Illinois), and Smit-D (Texas), at a time when many of those regions weren't getting the respect. This is essentially the title track from their 1996 debut "The Other Side Of The Law". Scarface produced most of the album, but on this particular track Michael Poye and Uncle Eddie lay down some slow funk. It's not a powerhouse of a cut lyrically, but I would say Devin had the best verse.
Bronx Slang : Well, Well, Well
The bluesy-soul of this cut blends really well into this spot, courtesy of friend of the show Jerry Beeks and rhyme partner Ollie Miggs! Both MCs go back and forth dreaming of various superlatives over a beat from East London's Jadell.
MC Eiht ft. The Lady Of Rage : Heart Cold
Welcome back Lady of Rage! If you were around in the era of "The Chronic", you thought Rage was going to blow up huge after "Afro Puffs", but it didn't quite turn out that way. Nonetheless, she carried on working both on the mic and in front of the cameras as an actress, and it's great to hear her here alongside fellow West Coast legend MC Eiht on the DJ Premier-executive produced LP "Which Way Iz West". Austria's Brenk Sinatra is on the dark and dramatic beat, with fitting scratch work over the top.
Ulrich Schnauss : Thoughtless Motion
I was going to save this for a future selection I'm curating, but it was just a little too slow and so I thought I'd bring it here. The London-based, German-born Schnauss has a nice catalogue of synth-based music, and this track from "No Further Ahead Than Today" has a feel reminiscent of an 80s thriller soundtrack.
The Doppelgangaz ft. Tnava : Roll Flee
The "Dopp Hopp" LP is likely well worth checking if this big tune is anything to go by. The cloak-wearing duo out of Orange County (New York) harness something of a West Coast sound on this one, with bonus points for the vocoder!
Soopafly : I Feel
Trivia note: Soopafly played keyboards on "Natural Born Killaz" - I only just learned that this week! He's a West Coast veteran who has been putting in work behind the boards and on the mic since the mid-nineties, and we go here to his third album, the 2011 release "Best Kept Secret". This song reminds me very much of Common's "I Used To Love H.E.R", with Soopafly speaking about music in general and Hip-Hop in particular as though it were a woman, and describing a relationship. Excellent track with great production.
Oh No (ft. Roc C and Aloe Blacc) : Keep Tryin'
One of those tracks I do rather like but had forgotten about for a long while. Oh No's "Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" LP was an album completely built around samples from Galt MacDermot - a concept which is exceedingly rare, since it generally requires the green light to go through the archives of the sampled artist! Definitely worth a listen, and then heading back to find some of the original sources.
Sean Price : Rap Professor
This was first released a few months ago, but is most readily available on the posthumous Sean Price album "Imperius Rex". A compact two bars of boastful, humourous, disrespectful rhyming from a real specialist over a DJ Skizz beat. By the way, do try mofongo if you get the chance, recommended.
Soul Supreme : Beat 16
Dug this up off the hard drive from Soul Supreme's "Instrumentals 4 the Mind, Body, and Soul" collection. Sadly, this looks to have been deleted but will hopefully show up as a digital release at some point.
Invisible Circle : Crazy In Leeds
The 12" I got this on doesn't have as much credit information as I might like, but this killer B-side is a huge Leeds posse cut over the then-current "Crazy In Love" beat. Unapologetic Yorkshire Hip-Hop heads throwing down in fine style to close this month's show!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm at the back of the wake, fe' re', selling my tape"
- Rodney P
Managed to pull myself through a busy, somewhat trying month to bring you another selection! We have one new release, some 80s soul picks, a Mobb Deep feature, and a bunch more - I'd be surprised if anyone, even the DJs, knew every single record. Let's get into it...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Skitz ft. Rodney P and Supanatchlus : The Killing
A very downbeat few bars to begin the episode, with Skitz basing this track from "Countryman" around what sounds like a version of Chopin's famous "Funeral March". Rodney P was settling into his solo career right around this time and he gives us some of his trademark style here, mixing the London with the Caribbean, elevated even further with Supanatchlus on the intro and hook. As far as I can tell, this is Supanatchlus' only credited recording, but it's a good one!
Hexsagon : La Buena Memoria
Big shout out to Hexsagon, friend of the show, for giving us gems like this beat from the "Beat Flip Tuesdays Volume 4" tape!
Rah Digga ft. Mobb Deep : High Speed Chasin'
Super dark cut from Dirty Harriet herself, which I got on a white label 12" but is now available through the magic of digital distribution, on the formerly unreleased album "Everything Is A Story". Tone Mason's crackly, low, insistent beat is actually very reminiscent of something Havoc might have done, but here he stays on mic duty for the closing verse. Rah slays the second verse, and of course, the familiar voice of the late Prodigy opens proceedings.
Above The Law : L.A. Vibe
Love this, a personal favourite from the "Legends" album. It's a very minimal beat from Cold 187um, but not as minimal as you think at first. Listen carefully and hear a number of different keyboard and pad touches come in over that spare, gritty bass and unpretentious drum pattern. It's always nice to hear the voice of the late KMG, and his low-key style as displayed on the first verse suits the track down to the ground.
Kankick : Say
Another one of those respected producers out of Oxnard, California (think Madlib and Oh No), Kankick has been quietly working away for years. This is an all too short track from his second LP, "Acid Massive Musical" which can't help to hook you in with the backwards lead sounds and neck snapping drum and bass combination.
Ty : Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Remix)
Great combination. On the third release in Ty's "Kick Snare And An Idea" series, he spits with his usual clarity and intelligence and this track is no exception. DJ Spinna remixes the cut with some classic Beyond Real flourishes, bringing synths and keys in from all angles underneath a solid kick-snare foundation. Appropriately.
Fat Jack : Try Ta Test
Dug this one out this month, going back to the "Beatology Vol. 2" compilation; Fat Jack is a producer from the underground Los Angeles scene who you might have heard working with heads like Volume 10, Aceyalone, and Abstract Rude, and getting respect across the board. This cut has a nice little wobble in the bottom end, nothing drastic, just enough to add that extra something.
Kev Brown & LMNO : The Cause
I've only just discovered this 2008 track this month, which speaks to how much material gets released nowadays and how easy it is to miss quality needles in the musical haystack. Kev Brown always brings the funk, and this is no exception - classic boom-bap with his own particular aura. It's easy to forget he's an MC too, and his more natural tone is my preference over LMNO's flow - but they both get it done. This is from the "Selective Hearing" album, which also has a follow-up which I'll have to check too!
Method Man & Redman : 1, 2, 1, 2
One of those combinations that seems obvious in retrospect but seismic when it happened, Method Man and Redman's coming together has been a source of joy in the artform. Their debut "Blackout!" had a number of big tunes, but this is probably one of the less-played ones. DJ Scratch gives the MCs a nice funky beat with some bounce for them to swap bars over. There's always room for a track like this.
7L & Esoteric ft. Inspektah Deck : Speaking Real Words
I wigged out the first time I heard this, and it's one of those tracks I have two copies of on vinyl - in fact, that's why you may just detect a dip in volume near the start, it's that dreaded cue burn! Big tune out of Boston from that late 90s independent scene, with Deck from the Wu of course stealing the show lyrically. 7L is usually responsible for their production but on this track he hands the reins to fellow Bostonians Vinyl Reanimators, who do a bang-up job. The horns make me think of a choppy, Hip-Hop version of "Sledgehammer"!
Rakim : When I B On Tha Mic
Apologies for the audio glitch in this one! While "The Master" LP might not have made as much noise as other Rakim releases, this single was pretty universally lauded. A trademark DJ Premier beat right here! It's not Rakim's most complex writing, but still a cut above most and for a track like this, pitched just right. I do love his tribute to the DJ in the second verse, along with matching turntable manipulation - an inspired bit of post-production.
[Madlib] Madlib & Freddie Gibbs : Real (Instrumental)
I'm not actually much of a Madlib fan but he turns it out on both parts of this beat from the "Piñata" LP!
Geechi Suede : Mahogany Mami
Clearly on a burst of creativity right now, Geechi Suede follows "Fishnet Skyscrapers" with the "Purple Suede" mixtape, made up of tracks sampling Prince. The groove for "Kiss", as used here, is always one to give you that energy.
Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame : 15 Rounds
Very much of its time, we have here a track from the former Slave frontman's 1984 "Positive Power" LP. Not especially subtle lyrically, but not putting it all the way out there either! The growling, stereo-spread keyboard bass on this is a beast.
Midnight Express : Danger Zone (Extended Version)
Apparently this style is now referred to as "boogie" - for me, this is just what soul records sounded like when I was a kid :) This is an absolute bomb out of Rock Island, Illinois, originally released in 1983. The video very much gives the impression of the guys in the edit suite just pressing every button available, which makes it worth the watch at least once :)
Ronnie Hudson : West Coast Pop Lockin'
Rounding out the run of 80s heat, we have a 100% classic that is likely to give some of you a sudden gasp of recognition! Yes, this 1982 track is the origin of the hook of 2Pac & Dre's "California Love", which came out fourteen years later. It also incorporates musical and lyrical elements from Zapp's "So Ruff, So Tuff", which was a big record at the time. (Actually, it is easily one of the greatest records of all time). Ronnie Hudson was a singer and bassist out of Washington D.C. who moved to Los Angeles and met some pretty rugged characters while doing the research for this track! This is a real California anthem.
Miguel Migs : Do It For You (Bump The Tech Dub)
Hip-Hop is rarely up around this speed, so I had a dig into my house crate to come up with this remix. The original vocal version of this cut, featuring Li'Sha (aka Lisa Shaw) is well worth picking up if this is a style you enjoy!
Little Shawn : That Girl
I got "The Voice In The Mirror" a year or so back purely to get this song, which up to that point I'd heard only once - when I was about 14. It didn't sound quite like I remembered, but that Madonna sample being played up and down the keyboard (I thought they were pitch-bending it somehow) had stuck in my head for all those years! Little Shawn (later Shawn Pen) is on that light flow here as he is on most of the album, which is interesting because for those that know...nothing lightweight about him! Hitman Howie Tee is on production and it sounds very much like something targeted toward the radio of the time. It's not like this is my favourite record or anything, but it is one I was glad to find and am happy to share.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm at the back of the wake, fe' re', selling my tape"
- Rodney P
Managed to pull myself through a busy, somewhat trying month to bring you another selection! We have one new release, some 80s soul picks, a Mobb Deep feature, and a bunch more - I'd be surprised if anyone, even the DJs, knew every single record. Let's get into it...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Skitz ft. Rodney P and Supanatchlus : The Killing
A very downbeat few bars to begin the episode, with Skitz basing this track from "Countryman" around what sounds like a version of Chopin's famous "Funeral March". Rodney P was settling into his solo career right around this time and he gives us some of his trademark style here, mixing the London with the Caribbean, elevated even further with Supanatchlus on the intro and hook. As far as I can tell, this is Supanatchlus' only credited recording, but it's a good one!
Hexsagon : La Buena Memoria
Big shout out to Hexsagon, friend of the show, for giving us gems like this beat from the "Beat Flip Tuesdays Volume 4" tape!
Rah Digga ft. Mobb Deep : High Speed Chasin'
Super dark cut from Dirty Harriet herself, which I got on a white label 12" but is now available through the magic of digital distribution, on the formerly unreleased album "Everything Is A Story". Tone Mason's crackly, low, insistent beat is actually very reminiscent of something Havoc might have done, but here he stays on mic duty for the closing verse. Rah slays the second verse, and of course, the familiar voice of the late Prodigy opens proceedings.
Above The Law : L.A. Vibe
Love this, a personal favourite from the "Legends" album. It's a very minimal beat from Cold 187um, but not as minimal as you think at first. Listen carefully and hear a number of different keyboard and pad touches come in over that spare, gritty bass and unpretentious drum pattern. It's always nice to hear the voice of the late KMG, and his low-key style as displayed on the first verse suits the track down to the ground.
Kankick : Say
Another one of those respected producers out of Oxnard, California (think Madlib and Oh No), Kankick has been quietly working away for years. This is an all too short track from his second LP, "Acid Massive Musical" which can't help to hook you in with the backwards lead sounds and neck snapping drum and bass combination.
Ty : Knock Knock (DJ Spinna Remix)
Great combination. On the third release in Ty's "Kick Snare And An Idea" series, he spits with his usual clarity and intelligence and this track is no exception. DJ Spinna remixes the cut with some classic Beyond Real flourishes, bringing synths and keys in from all angles underneath a solid kick-snare foundation. Appropriately.
Fat Jack : Try Ta Test
Dug this one out this month, going back to the "Beatology Vol. 2" compilation; Fat Jack is a producer from the underground Los Angeles scene who you might have heard working with heads like Volume 10, Aceyalone, and Abstract Rude, and getting respect across the board. This cut has a nice little wobble in the bottom end, nothing drastic, just enough to add that extra something.
Kev Brown & LMNO : The Cause
I've only just discovered this 2008 track this month, which speaks to how much material gets released nowadays and how easy it is to miss quality needles in the musical haystack. Kev Brown always brings the funk, and this is no exception - classic boom-bap with his own particular aura. It's easy to forget he's an MC too, and his more natural tone is my preference over LMNO's flow - but they both get it done. This is from the "Selective Hearing" album, which also has a follow-up which I'll have to check too!
Method Man & Redman : 1, 2, 1, 2
One of those combinations that seems obvious in retrospect but seismic when it happened, Method Man and Redman's coming together has been a source of joy in the artform. Their debut "Blackout!" had a number of big tunes, but this is probably one of the less-played ones. DJ Scratch gives the MCs a nice funky beat with some bounce for them to swap bars over. There's always room for a track like this.
7L & Esoteric ft. Inspektah Deck : Speaking Real Words
I wigged out the first time I heard this, and it's one of those tracks I have two copies of on vinyl - in fact, that's why you may just detect a dip in volume near the start, it's that dreaded cue burn! Big tune out of Boston from that late 90s independent scene, with Deck from the Wu of course stealing the show lyrically. 7L is usually responsible for their production but on this track he hands the reins to fellow Bostonians Vinyl Reanimators, who do a bang-up job. The horns make me think of a choppy, Hip-Hop version of "Sledgehammer"!
Rakim : When I B On Tha Mic
Apologies for the audio glitch in this one! While "The Master" LP might not have made as much noise as other Rakim releases, this single was pretty universally lauded. A trademark DJ Premier beat right here! It's not Rakim's most complex writing, but still a cut above most and for a track like this, pitched just right. I do love his tribute to the DJ in the second verse, along with matching turntable manipulation - an inspired bit of post-production.
[Madlib] Madlib & Freddie Gibbs : Real (Instrumental)
I'm not actually much of a Madlib fan but he turns it out on both parts of this beat from the "Piñata" LP!
Geechi Suede : Mahogany Mami
Clearly on a burst of creativity right now, Geechi Suede follows "Fishnet Skyscrapers" with the "Purple Suede" mixtape, made up of tracks sampling Prince. The groove for "Kiss", as used here, is always one to give you that energy.
Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame : 15 Rounds
Very much of its time, we have here a track from the former Slave frontman's 1984 "Positive Power" LP. Not especially subtle lyrically, but not putting it all the way out there either! The growling, stereo-spread keyboard bass on this is a beast.
Midnight Express : Danger Zone (Extended Version)
Apparently this style is now referred to as "boogie" - for me, this is just what soul records sounded like when I was a kid :) This is an absolute bomb out of Rock Island, Illinois, originally released in 1983. The video very much gives the impression of the guys in the edit suite just pressing every button available, which makes it worth the watch at least once :)
Ronnie Hudson : West Coast Pop Lockin'
Rounding out the run of 80s heat, we have a 100% classic that is likely to give some of you a sudden gasp of recognition! Yes, this 1982 track is the origin of the hook of 2Pac & Dre's "California Love", which came out fourteen years later. It also incorporates musical and lyrical elements from Zapp's "So Ruff, So Tuff", which was a big record at the time. (Actually, it is easily one of the greatest records of all time). Ronnie Hudson was a singer and bassist out of Washington D.C. who moved to Los Angeles and met some pretty rugged characters while doing the research for this track! This is a real California anthem.
Miguel Migs : Do It For You (Bump The Tech Dub)
Hip-Hop is rarely up around this speed, so I had a dig into my house crate to come up with this remix. The original vocal version of this cut, featuring Li'Sha (aka Lisa Shaw) is well worth picking up if this is a style you enjoy!
Little Shawn : That Girl
I got "The Voice In The Mirror" a year or so back purely to get this song, which up to that point I'd heard only once - when I was about 14. It didn't sound quite like I remembered, but that Madonna sample being played up and down the keyboard (I thought they were pitch-bending it somehow) had stuck in my head for all those years! Little Shawn (later Shawn Pen) is on that light flow here as he is on most of the album, which is interesting because for those that know...nothing lightweight about him! Hitman Howie Tee is on production and it sounds very much like something targeted toward the radio of the time. It's not like this is my favourite record or anything, but it is one I was glad to find and am happy to share.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Permanent. Physical. Suffering."
- Prodigy
The eighth birthday of the podcast, but a rough month in the world. A last-minute change to the selection for this episode opened up the inclusion of some verses by Prodigy of Mobb Deep, who passed away just a few days ago. On top of the musical tribute, the title and artwork of this episode are inspired by Prodigy quotes from two different cuts - "G.O.D Pt. III" and "Mac 10 Handle" respectively. As always with a birthday episode, I like to break some favourites out, and I think that there are some classic mixes to be heard this month. Let me know what you think!
PS - If you got a copy of the podcast last month (ep.96) with the repeated "pull it up selector" sample before the first voiceover, it got fixed within the first few hours, so if you re-download it's gone. Maybe the broken version is a virtual collector's item? ;)
Playlist/Notes
Nas : The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
One of the all-time great remixes, and one of a track which was a classic to begin with! Q-Tip comes through with a stripped down beat headlined by absolutely perfect boom-bap drums, and Nas slightly changes the lyrics from the original version heard on "Illmatic". While we're here - everyone who listens to this podcast should have heard "Illmatic" at least once. It's an unmissable landmark.
Non Phixion : 5 Boros (Remix 'Instrumental')
Ok, let me get this out of the way - we DJs don't want your "TV Track". Just give us a plain instrumental, without adlibs and hooks, and we're good. This beat is a prime example of one I'd like a clean copy of - DR Period with an absolute monster which is streets ahead of the Necro-produced original. The vocal version appeared on the show all the way back on episode 13, and it's well worth going back for a listen!
IAM ft. Sunz of Man : La Saga
I think this is one that most people won't know, and understandably so. I came across this on "Yo! MTV Raps" many moons ago and was surprised by two things; firstly, that this French crew had got a Wu-Fam feature at a time when that was a rare thing, and secondly - how amazingly extravagant the video production was! The episode 68 notes alluded to this one, which I was saving for a special occasion. I got this on the "Le Flow" compilation of French Hip-Hop, but it's originally from the album "L'ecole Du Micro L'argent".
Group Home : Up Against The Wall (Getaway Car Mix)
Another classic 90s remix, appearing on one of DJ Premier's finest projects, the debut Group Home album "Livin' Proof". Those drums, that piano - perfection. Group Home might not have been the greatest MCs in the world (although I do think Lil' Dap is generally underrated), this album got the most out of them.
Royal Flush : Can't Help It
A great tune from the "Ghetto Millionaire" album. Prince Kaysaan on the beat bringing some 80s soul flavour to the beat, filtering down to the bassline during the verses in that early-mid 90s style with the slapping drums to match! On the mic, Royal Flush is kind of laid back in the style of a Mic Geronimo, and Khadejia reworks Michael Jackson on the hook. Here for it.
Prodigy : You Can Never Feel My Pain
I almost played this on the show a couple of times this year, but it just didn't fit the mixes. With the passing of Prodigy this month, I asked a few people if they thought it'd be appropriate to include it this episode, and everyone agreed. A great closer to P's first solo album, "H.N.I.C", this is an extraordinary track where he goes in depth about his lifelong battle with Sickle-Cell Anaemia, a blood disease primarily found in Black and other tropic-originating people. The lyrics feature what could be regarded as some shots at 2Pac, which likely stemmed from Pac's entirely unwarranted mocking of Prodigy's illness on "Hit 'Em Up". Ric Rude's production is a great backdrop for an intensely personal song.
Mobb Deep : Temperature's Rising
For most people, it's "Shook Ones, Pt. 2", but this is my personal favourite track on the second (yes, second) Mobb Deep album "The Infamous". Lyrically it's as dark as you'd expect from the Queensbridge duo - based on the true story of Havoc's now late brother, who had been on the run for murder - but musically, it's so smooth. This was Q-Tip at for me, the height of his producing powers, alongside the Mobb. The drums bang hard and then the beautiful Patrice Rushen sample comes in, and Crystal Johnson's hook tops it all off. Prodigy, Havoc, Q-Tip and Crystal created a classic.
Yadava : For Peace
Time to chill things out for a little while! Yadava, resident and co-founder of the Manchester night "So Flute" cooks up something fresh and clean for the "Manchester With Love" compilation, a mammoth gathering of music from the city which is raising money for the Red Cross "We Love Manchester" emergency fund. With a cause like that, and a package of 226 tracks for a minimum donation of £10, I can't recommend highly enough that you get a copy!
Chaka Khan : I Feel For You
Trivia for you - the repeated triggering of Melle Mel saying "Chaka Khan" at the start was a mistake that sounded good, so they stayed with it! This is an absolute monster of a record, with star quality at every turn. For one, Chaka Khan was already a legendary singer at this point, primarily for fronting the funk group Rufus. Featuring in the band, you had some guy called Stevie playing the harmonica (you may have heard of him), and David Frank of The System on the synths. That's not even counting Melle Mel's opening bars. Finally, this song was written by Prince, and actually recorded by him on his second album. Rebbie Jackson and The Pointer Sisters also recorded versions, but which is the one that gets the play? This. Fire.
Suga Free : Hello, Hello, Hello
Sorry Lionel and Adele, but this is in fact the best song with only the word "Hello" in the title ;) "Hello, hello, hello" could easily have been the epigraph for an episode just because of how fly Free's delivery is! Typically outrageous in both ways on the mic, he just slays this old-school flavoured beat from Casino on the "Sunday School" LP.
Clipse ft. Keri Hilson : All Eyes On Me
I cannot work out why this song from "Til The Casket Drops" never got a single release with a video. The Neptunes on production cooked up a beat here which could easily have done well in the clubs, and has been used on many a dance routine! One of the high points of this track is the first line of the hook; I'm not sure if it's intentional, but Keri Hilson delivers it kind of void of emotion - and it works. Maybe it's just me?
Run The Jewels : Call Ticketron
This cut from "RTJ3" has been powering me through skipping (or "jump rope", as some call it) workouts at the gym over the last few months. Crazy hectic, full of energy - if they ever did play at MSG, the place would go nuts over this one!
Miguel Migs ft. Aya : The Distance (Balcazar & Sordo Remix)
The original version of "The Distance" from "Outside The Skyline" is a beauty, and almost got included here, but when I remembered this remix and tried the blend out...it had to be the choice. I do wish they'd used "into the distance" from the original hook here, but that's my only complaint. Aya's vocals are always smooth as silk, and is a great accompaniment to the cold (in a good way), electronic instrumental. Definitely worth checking the remixes release if this kind of thing is your bag!
Trae The Truth : Open Up Tha Trunk
Slow, dark, unnecessarily menacing? Sign me up! Freestyle from the "Another 48 Hours" project by Trae which, as the title suggests, was apparently completed in just two days. Moxiii and Watson The Great come through with an insanely gloomy beat, with the slowed vocal sample for the hook making it sound even more claustrophobic. Teenage me had never heard beats like this, but was trying to make them - would have loved this!
Curren$y : Take You Higher
Cool & Dre go to town with the sample warping and filter tricks right here for the opener of the "Andretti 11/30" mixtape! Curren$y goes with a common theme of his - smoking up and getting lifted. Nothing complicated lyrically, and he cedes control of the track after just one verse to let the producers show off, which is a smart decision. When you've said all there is to say, why not step back?
Corinne Bailey Rae : Taken By Dreams
Leeds! It's been special to see Corinne Bailey Rae's career continue to build, and her latest album, "The Heart Speaks In Whispers" is a worthy addition to her catalogue. I love the way this track opens as a quite acoustic number, then brings in a wave of other elements before settling back into stillness at the end; great production by Corinne and Steven Brown. And if you ever get chance to see her perform live, do.
Wretch 32 ft.Varren Wade, Bobii Lewis & Avelino : Open Conversation & Mark Duggan
The man Mr Mari put me up on Wretch 32 a few months back and after doing a little listening, this went into headphone rotation and I was searching for a way to work it into the show. Wretch 32 started his career in the grime scene before transitioning over to more of a Hip-Hop sensibility, and his "Growing Over Life" album is a considered piece of work. This track, as he describes it, starts as very much like pages from his diary, with feelings and details that many will be able to relate to. When he starts talking about Mark Duggan, bear in mind that this is someone from his area, someone he actually went to school with - not just a person on the news. The track runs slightly short here, but it's definitely worth hearing the whole thing.
Beyoncé : Sorry (Instrumental)
Had to do a little looping and chopping to get enough of an instrumental bed to fit here, just using the intro which I think is killer. Wynter Gordon, Melo-X, Beyonce, Hit-Boy, and Stuart White are all credited with the production of this cut from the "Lemonade" album.
Oddisee : Like Really
Sometimes, you look at the madness out here, that's your reaction. Taken from Oddisee's latest album "The Iceberg", this was a track I first heard live and very much benefits from the input of live instrumentalists. Oddisee has always been a quality artist since his days working with people like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Foreign Exchange, but I never saw him expanding as much as he has done; it's a testament to hard work and commitment to the art, not the fame.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Permanent. Physical. Suffering."
- Prodigy
The eighth birthday of the podcast, but a rough month in the world. A last-minute change to the selection for this episode opened up the inclusion of some verses by Prodigy of Mobb Deep, who passed away just a few days ago. On top of the musical tribute, the title and artwork of this episode are inspired by Prodigy quotes from two different cuts - "G.O.D Pt. III" and "Mac 10 Handle" respectively. As always with a birthday episode, I like to break some favourites out, and I think that there are some classic mixes to be heard this month. Let me know what you think!
PS - If you got a copy of the podcast last month (ep.96) with the repeated "pull it up selector" sample before the first voiceover, it got fixed within the first few hours, so if you re-download it's gone. Maybe the broken version is a virtual collector's item? ;)
Playlist/Notes
Nas : The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
One of the all-time great remixes, and one of a track which was a classic to begin with! Q-Tip comes through with a stripped down beat headlined by absolutely perfect boom-bap drums, and Nas slightly changes the lyrics from the original version heard on "Illmatic". While we're here - everyone who listens to this podcast should have heard "Illmatic" at least once. It's an unmissable landmark.
Non Phixion : 5 Boros (Remix 'Instrumental')
Ok, let me get this out of the way - we DJs don't want your "TV Track". Just give us a plain instrumental, without adlibs and hooks, and we're good. This beat is a prime example of one I'd like a clean copy of - DR Period with an absolute monster which is streets ahead of the Necro-produced original. The vocal version appeared on the show all the way back on episode 13, and it's well worth going back for a listen!
IAM ft. Sunz of Man : La Saga
I think this is one that most people won't know, and understandably so. I came across this on "Yo! MTV Raps" many moons ago and was surprised by two things; firstly, that this French crew had got a Wu-Fam feature at a time when that was a rare thing, and secondly - how amazingly extravagant the video production was! The episode 68 notes alluded to this one, which I was saving for a special occasion. I got this on the "Le Flow" compilation of French Hip-Hop, but it's originally from the album "L'ecole Du Micro L'argent".
Group Home : Up Against The Wall (Getaway Car Mix)
Another classic 90s remix, appearing on one of DJ Premier's finest projects, the debut Group Home album "Livin' Proof". Those drums, that piano - perfection. Group Home might not have been the greatest MCs in the world (although I do think Lil' Dap is generally underrated), this album got the most out of them.
Royal Flush : Can't Help It
A great tune from the "Ghetto Millionaire" album. Prince Kaysaan on the beat bringing some 80s soul flavour to the beat, filtering down to the bassline during the verses in that early-mid 90s style with the slapping drums to match! On the mic, Royal Flush is kind of laid back in the style of a Mic Geronimo, and Khadejia reworks Michael Jackson on the hook. Here for it.
Prodigy : You Can Never Feel My Pain
I almost played this on the show a couple of times this year, but it just didn't fit the mixes. With the passing of Prodigy this month, I asked a few people if they thought it'd be appropriate to include it this episode, and everyone agreed. A great closer to P's first solo album, "H.N.I.C", this is an extraordinary track where he goes in depth about his lifelong battle with Sickle-Cell Anaemia, a blood disease primarily found in Black and other tropic-originating people. The lyrics feature what could be regarded as some shots at 2Pac, which likely stemmed from Pac's entirely unwarranted mocking of Prodigy's illness on "Hit 'Em Up". Ric Rude's production is a great backdrop for an intensely personal song.
Mobb Deep : Temperature's Rising
For most people, it's "Shook Ones, Pt. 2", but this is my personal favourite track on the second (yes, second) Mobb Deep album "The Infamous". Lyrically it's as dark as you'd expect from the Queensbridge duo - based on the true story of Havoc's now late brother, who had been on the run for murder - but musically, it's so smooth. This was Q-Tip at for me, the height of his producing powers, alongside the Mobb. The drums bang hard and then the beautiful Patrice Rushen sample comes in, and Crystal Johnson's hook tops it all off. Prodigy, Havoc, Q-Tip and Crystal created a classic.
Yadava : For Peace
Time to chill things out for a little while! Yadava, resident and co-founder of the Manchester night "So Flute" cooks up something fresh and clean for the "Manchester With Love" compilation, a mammoth gathering of music from the city which is raising money for the Red Cross "We Love Manchester" emergency fund. With a cause like that, and a package of 226 tracks for a minimum donation of £10, I can't recommend highly enough that you get a copy!
Chaka Khan : I Feel For You
Trivia for you - the repeated triggering of Melle Mel saying "Chaka Khan" at the start was a mistake that sounded good, so they stayed with it! This is an absolute monster of a record, with star quality at every turn. For one, Chaka Khan was already a legendary singer at this point, primarily for fronting the funk group Rufus. Featuring in the band, you had some guy called Stevie playing the harmonica (you may have heard of him), and David Frank of The System on the synths. That's not even counting Melle Mel's opening bars. Finally, this song was written by Prince, and actually recorded by him on his second album. Rebbie Jackson and The Pointer Sisters also recorded versions, but which is the one that gets the play? This. Fire.
Suga Free : Hello, Hello, Hello
Sorry Lionel and Adele, but this is in fact the best song with only the word "Hello" in the title ;) "Hello, hello, hello" could easily have been the epigraph for an episode just because of how fly Free's delivery is! Typically outrageous in both ways on the mic, he just slays this old-school flavoured beat from Casino on the "Sunday School" LP.
Clipse ft. Keri Hilson : All Eyes On Me
I cannot work out why this song from "Til The Casket Drops" never got a single release with a video. The Neptunes on production cooked up a beat here which could easily have done well in the clubs, and has been used on many a dance routine! One of the high points of this track is the first line of the hook; I'm not sure if it's intentional, but Keri Hilson delivers it kind of void of emotion - and it works. Maybe it's just me?
Run The Jewels : Call Ticketron
This cut from "RTJ3" has been powering me through skipping (or "jump rope", as some call it) workouts at the gym over the last few months. Crazy hectic, full of energy - if they ever did play at MSG, the place would go nuts over this one!
Miguel Migs ft. Aya : The Distance (Balcazar & Sordo Remix)
The original version of "The Distance" from "Outside The Skyline" is a beauty, and almost got included here, but when I remembered this remix and tried the blend out...it had to be the choice. I do wish they'd used "into the distance" from the original hook here, but that's my only complaint. Aya's vocals are always smooth as silk, and is a great accompaniment to the cold (in a good way), electronic instrumental. Definitely worth checking the remixes release if this kind of thing is your bag!
Trae The Truth : Open Up Tha Trunk
Slow, dark, unnecessarily menacing? Sign me up! Freestyle from the "Another 48 Hours" project by Trae which, as the title suggests, was apparently completed in just two days. Moxiii and Watson The Great come through with an insanely gloomy beat, with the slowed vocal sample for the hook making it sound even more claustrophobic. Teenage me had never heard beats like this, but was trying to make them - would have loved this!
Curren$y : Take You Higher
Cool & Dre go to town with the sample warping and filter tricks right here for the opener of the "Andretti 11/30" mixtape! Curren$y goes with a common theme of his - smoking up and getting lifted. Nothing complicated lyrically, and he cedes control of the track after just one verse to let the producers show off, which is a smart decision. When you've said all there is to say, why not step back?
Corinne Bailey Rae : Taken By Dreams
Leeds! It's been special to see Corinne Bailey Rae's career continue to build, and her latest album, "The Heart Speaks In Whispers" is a worthy addition to her catalogue. I love the way this track opens as a quite acoustic number, then brings in a wave of other elements before settling back into stillness at the end; great production by Corinne and Steven Brown. And if you ever get chance to see her perform live, do.
Wretch 32 ft.Varren Wade, Bobii Lewis & Avelino : Open Conversation & Mark Duggan
The man Mr Mari put me up on Wretch 32 a few months back and after doing a little listening, this went into headphone rotation and I was searching for a way to work it into the show. Wretch 32 started his career in the grime scene before transitioning over to more of a Hip-Hop sensibility, and his "Growing Over Life" album is a considered piece of work. This track, as he describes it, starts as very much like pages from his diary, with feelings and details that many will be able to relate to. When he starts talking about Mark Duggan, bear in mind that this is someone from his area, someone he actually went to school with - not just a person on the news. The track runs slightly short here, but it's definitely worth hearing the whole thing.
Beyoncé : Sorry (Instrumental)
Had to do a little looping and chopping to get enough of an instrumental bed to fit here, just using the intro which I think is killer. Wynter Gordon, Melo-X, Beyonce, Hit-Boy, and Stuart White are all credited with the production of this cut from the "Lemonade" album.
Oddisee : Like Really
Sometimes, you look at the madness out here, that's your reaction. Taken from Oddisee's latest album "The Iceberg", this was a track I first heard live and very much benefits from the input of live instrumentalists. Oddisee has always been a quality artist since his days working with people like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Foreign Exchange, but I never saw him expanding as much as he has done; it's a testament to hard work and commitment to the art, not the fame.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"It's not the world, it's the people in it..."
- LaPeace
What a month it has ended up being. Manchester suffered a terrible blow, and the figurative reverberations will be felt for a long time to come. It has been something to see how people have come together in the wake of the attack, and hopefully that spirit is something that can be carried forward.
While I wasn't able to completely re-do this month's show, I hope it's a pleasant listen for anyone who has the time to give it an ear. Amongst this episode's tracks we have a couple of Manchester tunes, some beautiful instrumentals, and an uplifting ending. Enjoy.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kendrick Lamar : DNA
"I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA". Absolute fire. The Mike Will Made-It beat is dark and banging and from the very first line, Kendrick is on point. A beast of a track from the new, appropriately-titled album "DAMN." Definitely worth checking the video starring Don Cheadle too!
[Lex Luger] Kid Ink : Blackout (Instrumental)
I was struggling to find an instrumental in my library to fit in here but then thought about which producers might have something to fit, and Lex Luger, Mr."Hard In Da Paint", was my first idea. To be honest, I went to go and have a listen to the Kid Ink track and...I didn't rate it. All about the beat here, thanks to a mixtape of instrumentals on Datpiff!
Devin The Dude : Acoustic Levitation
Devin is a bit of a southern legend, starting off with Odd Squad and Facemob before commencing a long solo career. He's noted for bringing his sense of humour to his music, but that's not the vibe on this cut, the title track from his ninth solo LP. It's a fairly serious number with Devin in reflective mood about the world over a beat produced by his old Odd Squad running mate Rob Quest, who cooks up a solid 808 groove.
Children of Zeus : I Want You
The first time I heard this, I stomped over to DJ Chris E and demanded (ok, not like that ;) ) he tell me what it was immediately! It had only just been released on the CoZ Soundcloud account, and I got my download as soon as I got back home. This is a bodywork-rattling, baby-making slow jam out of Manchester that deserves all the listens. Vocally, it's a Tyler Daly solo, and as much as I love the lead vocal I think his backing styles on the hook put this one over the top.
Dr Dre ft. Jill Scott, Jon Connor, and Anderson .Paak : For The Love Of Money
One of my highlights from Dr Dre's "Compton" LP, a piece inspired by "Foe Tha Love Of Money" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. This has some of the foremost soul vocalists of recent-ish times taking a starring role, with Jill Scott bringing the gentleness and Anderson contributing a rougher tone. The origins of the track are that it was the first beat made by New Jersey native Cardiak when he moved to Los Angeles, and Jon Connor heard it and wrote his lyrics to it - it was only after that that it found its way to Dre for it to become what you hear now.
MC Eiht : Just Lean
This Compton veteran has carved out a long career, and it's amazing to think that "Affiliated" is his eleventh solo album. Add that to the Compton's Most Wanted LPs, and you have someone who deserves a ton of respect. He's not talking about anything super complex on this weed anthem, but he does definitely slip in some clever references - Ice Cube and UGK, to name but two. The longtime CMW producer Tha Chill collaborates with the D&B producer DJ Subflo for an eerie, creeping track with those echoing snares adding to the dissociative feel.
UNKLE : 24 Frames (Redux)
I can't remember how I exactly found this one - I hadn't been up-to-date with UNKLE's output after the "Psyence Fiction" album, but heard this orchestral killer on Spotify and have been dying to find a place to slot it into the show for months!
Count Bass D : Subwoofer (Dumile)
Somewhere right now, Count Bass D is making a beat. Crafting. Refining. He's sixteen solo albums in, not to mention EPs and compilations, but right here were back to his third, 2002's "Dwight Spitz", now available via Bandcamp. A tribute to the fallen DJ Subroc of KMD and also paying homage to Hip-Hop luminaries of times past, this is almost certainly my favourite tune on the LP. For a little listening detail, check how the drum pattern changes up on the approach to the hook, doubling up on the kicks and snares - very nicely done.
Mothership Connection : Space Junkin'
Manchester's Mothership Connection have been doing a stack of live appearances over the past few years, but as they're a collective of solo artists and member of other groups, it's taken a while for them to release their own product. we finally have their debut EP, "This Train Goes To Junkleberry Junction". All tracks are produced by Mankub, and this one is on a bit of an Apollo 13 vibe while the crew of MCs spill lyrics all over the equipment!
Ilajide ft. Propaine : In The House
The man behind the beats for Clear Soul Forces stays producing quality material. This particular piece is on the "Five Week Heet III" Bandcamp release, and after the quiet intro groove (hard to hear on the mix in/out, actually) it just thumps along. I definitely need to hear this man doing extra work outside the camp. Actually, how about Ilajide and Camp Lo...?
J Dilla ft. LaPeace, Moe Dirdee, & Seven The General : Say My Name
One of those songs that pops into my head fairly regularly but which I don't play even for myself as much as it deserves. Nothing esoteric here, just dope rhymes over an old Dilla beat - that's enough. Catch this on the "Rebirth Of Detroit" album.
The ARE : Midnight (Instrumental)
It's been a while since our last visit, but we return to The ARE's reworking of samples used by A Tribe Called Quest on the "Midnight Marauders" LP. This one is a re-imagining of one of my favourites, but crashing along with a vibe of its own :)
Ka : Up Against Goliath
I was having a listen to Ka's brilliant "Grief Pedigree" this month and found myself rewinding this track. It may at one level be a song about the street game, it could be an anthem for anyone up against the odds. DJs, for full thematic effect you could follow this with UGK's "Pocket Full Of Stones", which is also pretty close speed wise too. #yourewelcome
Damian Marley & Nas : Friends
It's been a while since "Distant Relatives" was released, and every so often a song gets shortlisted for the podcast before getting dropped at the last minute. This time though, it makes the cut. It's not often that Nas doesn't put in the best lyrical performance of all the vocalists on a track he appears on, but I think Damian's performance is superior here! Damian also handles the production, which is well-done, except that the periodic sloppiness on the two and four beats makes it sound like yours truly is making mixing mistakes :)
Yusef Rumperfield : Sparklin
From the Tall Black Guy Productions label come the instrumental stylings of Yusef Rumperfield on his "Jazz In Motion" album. I picked this chilled-out number because sometimes, there's no room for words.
Portishead : It Could Be Sweet
An old favourite from Portishead's debut "Dummy". Beth Gibbons' heartfelt scratchy-throated vocals go nicely on top of the drum machine beat and some subtle keyboards.
Air : High Point
The B-side to the "Once Upon A Time" single, and once again proving Chuck D right about the flip side, this is a beautiful instrumental.
Thundercat ft. Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald : Show You The Way
A great song to end on, and one I've been playing over and over since I bought Thundercat's "Drunk" album. This bassist, producer, and singer is a really unique gem, and as is somehow befitting of a man who's worked with artists as different as Suicidal Tendencies and Kendrick Lamar, he's a lover of the R&B-infused jazz fusion styles of the 70s and 80s. When Kenny Loggins called him up to say that he and Michael McDonald would be interested in collaborating, he rightly flipped out! The combination on this uplifting cut is a straight classic to me, and I think with the pain of the last month, this is a fitting place to close the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"It's not the world, it's the people in it..."
- LaPeace
What a month it has ended up being. Manchester suffered a terrible blow, and the figurative reverberations will be felt for a long time to come. It has been something to see how people have come together in the wake of the attack, and hopefully that spirit is something that can be carried forward.
While I wasn't able to completely re-do this month's show, I hope it's a pleasant listen for anyone who has the time to give it an ear. Amongst this episode's tracks we have a couple of Manchester tunes, some beautiful instrumentals, and an uplifting ending. Enjoy.
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Kendrick Lamar : DNA
"I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA". Absolute fire. The Mike Will Made-It beat is dark and banging and from the very first line, Kendrick is on point. A beast of a track from the new, appropriately-titled album "DAMN." Definitely worth checking the video starring Don Cheadle too!
[Lex Luger] Kid Ink : Blackout (Instrumental)
I was struggling to find an instrumental in my library to fit in here but then thought about which producers might have something to fit, and Lex Luger, Mr."Hard In Da Paint", was my first idea. To be honest, I went to go and have a listen to the Kid Ink track and...I didn't rate it. All about the beat here, thanks to a mixtape of instrumentals on Datpiff!
Devin The Dude : Acoustic Levitation
Devin is a bit of a southern legend, starting off with Odd Squad and Facemob before commencing a long solo career. He's noted for bringing his sense of humour to his music, but that's not the vibe on this cut, the title track from his ninth solo LP. It's a fairly serious number with Devin in reflective mood about the world over a beat produced by his old Odd Squad running mate Rob Quest, who cooks up a solid 808 groove.
Children of Zeus : I Want You
The first time I heard this, I stomped over to DJ Chris E and demanded (ok, not like that ;) ) he tell me what it was immediately! It had only just been released on the CoZ Soundcloud account, and I got my download as soon as I got back home. This is a bodywork-rattling, baby-making slow jam out of Manchester that deserves all the listens. Vocally, it's a Tyler Daly solo, and as much as I love the lead vocal I think his backing styles on the hook put this one over the top.
Dr Dre ft. Jill Scott, Jon Connor, and Anderson .Paak : For The Love Of Money
One of my highlights from Dr Dre's "Compton" LP, a piece inspired by "Foe Tha Love Of Money" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. This has some of the foremost soul vocalists of recent-ish times taking a starring role, with Jill Scott bringing the gentleness and Anderson contributing a rougher tone. The origins of the track are that it was the first beat made by New Jersey native Cardiak when he moved to Los Angeles, and Jon Connor heard it and wrote his lyrics to it - it was only after that that it found its way to Dre for it to become what you hear now.
MC Eiht : Just Lean
This Compton veteran has carved out a long career, and it's amazing to think that "Affiliated" is his eleventh solo album. Add that to the Compton's Most Wanted LPs, and you have someone who deserves a ton of respect. He's not talking about anything super complex on this weed anthem, but he does definitely slip in some clever references - Ice Cube and UGK, to name but two. The longtime CMW producer Tha Chill collaborates with the D&B producer DJ Subflo for an eerie, creeping track with those echoing snares adding to the dissociative feel.
UNKLE : 24 Frames (Redux)
I can't remember how I exactly found this one - I hadn't been up-to-date with UNKLE's output after the "Psyence Fiction" album, but heard this orchestral killer on Spotify and have been dying to find a place to slot it into the show for months!
Count Bass D : Subwoofer (Dumile)
Somewhere right now, Count Bass D is making a beat. Crafting. Refining. He's sixteen solo albums in, not to mention EPs and compilations, but right here were back to his third, 2002's "Dwight Spitz", now available via Bandcamp. A tribute to the fallen DJ Subroc of KMD and also paying homage to Hip-Hop luminaries of times past, this is almost certainly my favourite tune on the LP. For a little listening detail, check how the drum pattern changes up on the approach to the hook, doubling up on the kicks and snares - very nicely done.
Mothership Connection : Space Junkin'
Manchester's Mothership Connection have been doing a stack of live appearances over the past few years, but as they're a collective of solo artists and member of other groups, it's taken a while for them to release their own product. we finally have their debut EP, "This Train Goes To Junkleberry Junction". All tracks are produced by Mankub, and this one is on a bit of an Apollo 13 vibe while the crew of MCs spill lyrics all over the equipment!
Ilajide ft. Propaine : In The House
The man behind the beats for Clear Soul Forces stays producing quality material. This particular piece is on the "Five Week Heet III" Bandcamp release, and after the quiet intro groove (hard to hear on the mix in/out, actually) it just thumps along. I definitely need to hear this man doing extra work outside the camp. Actually, how about Ilajide and Camp Lo...?
J Dilla ft. LaPeace, Moe Dirdee, & Seven The General : Say My Name
One of those songs that pops into my head fairly regularly but which I don't play even for myself as much as it deserves. Nothing esoteric here, just dope rhymes over an old Dilla beat - that's enough. Catch this on the "Rebirth Of Detroit" album.
The ARE : Midnight (Instrumental)
It's been a while since our last visit, but we return to The ARE's reworking of samples used by A Tribe Called Quest on the "Midnight Marauders" LP. This one is a re-imagining of one of my favourites, but crashing along with a vibe of its own :)
Ka : Up Against Goliath
I was having a listen to Ka's brilliant "Grief Pedigree" this month and found myself rewinding this track. It may at one level be a song about the street game, it could be an anthem for anyone up against the odds. DJs, for full thematic effect you could follow this with UGK's "Pocket Full Of Stones", which is also pretty close speed wise too. #yourewelcome
Damian Marley & Nas : Friends
It's been a while since "Distant Relatives" was released, and every so often a song gets shortlisted for the podcast before getting dropped at the last minute. This time though, it makes the cut. It's not often that Nas doesn't put in the best lyrical performance of all the vocalists on a track he appears on, but I think Damian's performance is superior here! Damian also handles the production, which is well-done, except that the periodic sloppiness on the two and four beats makes it sound like yours truly is making mixing mistakes :)
Yusef Rumperfield : Sparklin
From the Tall Black Guy Productions label come the instrumental stylings of Yusef Rumperfield on his "Jazz In Motion" album. I picked this chilled-out number because sometimes, there's no room for words.
Portishead : It Could Be Sweet
An old favourite from Portishead's debut "Dummy". Beth Gibbons' heartfelt scratchy-throated vocals go nicely on top of the drum machine beat and some subtle keyboards.
Air : High Point
The B-side to the "Once Upon A Time" single, and once again proving Chuck D right about the flip side, this is a beautiful instrumental.
Thundercat ft. Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald : Show You The Way
A great song to end on, and one I've been playing over and over since I bought Thundercat's "Drunk" album. This bassist, producer, and singer is a really unique gem, and as is somehow befitting of a man who's worked with artists as different as Suicidal Tendencies and Kendrick Lamar, he's a lover of the R&B-infused jazz fusion styles of the 70s and 80s. When Kenny Loggins called him up to say that he and Michael McDonald would be interested in collaborating, he rightly flipped out! The combination on this uplifting cut is a straight classic to me, and I think with the pain of the last month, this is a fitting place to close the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Studying my sickness like the Tuskegee Experiment." - Ilajide
In a world with all kinds of options for DJs, there's a lot to be said for just two turntables, a mixer, and some crates!
This month's show has more new releases than the average episode, including some local heat. We also have a track from the late Guru (RIP always), and one or two of my headphone favourites finally coming out into the light!
Upcoming Manchester shows mentioned;
London Posse @ Rebellion, May 23rd
Kool G Rap @ Sound Control, June 21st
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price : Definition Of God
It's a shame to think that all the Sean Price tracks we'll ever hear are already out in the world somewhere. On this posthumously-released single from this March, Sean blasts the Stu Bangas instrumental with his trademark mixture of rapping dexterity and casual, disrespectful brutality. I know I'm not alone in looking forward to the "Imperius Rex" LP - this is is right up my alley!
Ilajide : Dance Of The Psudo
Ilajide is the man behind the boards for the brilliant Clear Soul Forces, but he's also putting out some very good solo material that's definitely worth your attention! This is a burner from "Five Week Heet III", one of the lead-ups to the "Heet Tape" album release.
Tribeca : Wheel Of Fortune
A favourite of mine for years which I finally got a legit copy of (from the "Subway Series Vol.1" compilation) thanks to the modern convenience of digital purchase! Self-produced as always, the Bronx MC and MPC-batterer tells a tale of a dice game gone very wrong over a fitting 70s sample and some punching drums & bass. I won't give the sample away - to be fair, it's not a hard one to discern - but I do like the way it's been used. Using a three-bar segment for the title breakdown is awkward for a DJ, but it does sound good :)
Rapsody : Kingship
Making a return visit to Rapsody's "She Got Game" mixtape for a short and sweet cut with the legendary DJ Premier. Rapsody has one of those bell-clear voices that works so well for an MC, and lyrics to go along with it. Apparently Premo once tried to give this beat to Ludacris, but it was a little too experimental for him to do anything with!
KING : Red Eye (DJ Spinna Blissed-Out Remix)
My man Agent J from Groovement was up on this three-woman group out of Los Angeles very early, but I'm just getting up to speed on their 2016 debut "We Are King" now. It's a high-quality, ambient-flavoured R&B album with its own kind of flavour, and hopefully it's just a taste of the things yet to come! The great DJ Spinna is on the remix here and gives them some extra bass and head-nod drums to take the original "Red Eye" to new heights.
A.D. Carson : Dissertation (Part I The Introduction)
This project has something of a unique origin, which alone was enough to catch my interest. A.D. Carson was a Ph.D candidate at Clemson University who turned in his dissertation for the Rhetoric, Communication, and Information Design program in an unusual form - a full album. "Owning My Masters : The Rhetoric of Rhymes and Revolutions" is worth a listen on both its musical and academic merits, especially as a "name your price" Bandcamp release. Give a student a few dollars though! This track is a solid opener from the album, and A.D. makes excellent and appropriate use of a sample from "Malcolm X" after the hook.
Pro P : Concrete Jungle
Almost pure drums here from one of Manchester's busiest beatmakers, on this track from the first "Concrete Jungle" beat tape.
Ran Reed ft. Sadat X : The God's Power
Hailing from New Jersey, Ran Reed was one of those guys who put in mad independent work in the mid-90s, with underground 12" releases, guest appearances, and mixtape cuts. Only this year has he finally released his debut album, and while longtime collaborator Nick Wiz contributed several beats, Ran also self-produces many, including this one. A Sadat X guest appearance is always a win, and he provides a nicely contrasting vocal tone.
Children of Zeus : Don't Say A Word
They just keep on killing it. This is the B-side of the "I Can't Wait" 7" and it knocks! Konny Kon and Tyler have a great album in them, and I am 100% here for it whenever it arrives; in the meantime, just follow them and be ahead of the curve.
Raekwon : This Is What It Comes Too (sic)
I couldn't have you thinking that I didn't know which "to" to use :) This is the lead single from Rae's new album "The Wild" (big up Dan Lish on the cover art), the first to have no features from any Wu members whatsoever! Xtreme on the beat, working a classic old-school drum break, and the rhyming is prototypical Raekwon street talk.
Guru ft. Branford Marsalis : Transit Ride
RIP Guru! I definitely wanted to play some Guru this month and was pleased to find a track of his with the same drum break as the preceding cut. He was a pioneer in making links between the Hip-Hop nation and the world of jazz, and the first "Jazzmatazz" was a landmark. Here's another link - Guru and Premier actually lived in Branford Marsalis' house for a while back in the day! That sounds like it could have made for an amazing TV programme :)
Focus : (Entry no.3) CisumovneZ
Georgia's Focus is a beast on the boards. I could happily have played any number of tracks from the "aNALOG iN a dIGITAL wORLD 2" album, but went for this one. I love the manipulation and warping of the beat as the track progresses, with all kinds of stutters and stops - almost like a modern-day, digital version of the Latin Rascals.
Geechi Suede : London Luton
A number clearly inspired by the globetrotting adventures of Camp Lo's Geechi Suede, from the "Fishnet Skyscrapers" mixtape. This one was so long in coming after the release of the single "Ask About Me", I figured it had been shelved altogether - but it finally came out this month. This actual track was recorded/released in 2016 via the Brapp TV platform, and features the production of NYTELIFE, Rexx, and SaL GuoD (all the casing styles there). It's a suitably spacey background for Geechi's abstract freestyling!
Clear Soul Forces : Fan-Ta-Sa-Ro
So talented, it's a bit ridiculous. Detroit's Clear Soul Forces channel the spirit of their hometown heroes Slum Village on this track, as Slum listeners will recognise from the title and the hook. Ilajide supplies the beat, and this tune from their debut "Detroit Revolution(s)" gave just a taste of the great work to come.
J Chambers : Thought From New Mount Street 2
A brand new freestyle from a Manchester artist on the rise as he prepares to release his "Moment of Silence II : The Road to Perdition" mini-album. Gorgeous beat, dope rhymes - what more do you need?
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Ledisi : Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)
Needed something with a certain kind of flavour to follow up the J Chambers cut and I think I found it with this beautiful piece from Robert Glasper's first "Black Radio" album. Top-notch instrumentation as you might have expected, undergirding the vocals of the exceptionally talented singer/songwriter Ledisi. Oh yeah, she acts too :) This track got a Grammy nomination, and rightly so. The meaning of "F.T.B." is "off the record", according to Glasper, so take your own guess - but it was also the title of the song this is based on, from The Robert Glasper Trio's "In My Element" album.
Beatnuts : Gonna Fly (Inst)
From the old "Hydra Beats 5" collection of instrumentals (one of fourteen), just a head-nodder courtesy of Queens' own Beatnuts, some of the most dedicated diggers in the game.
Nas & DJ Shadow : Systematic
I did not see this collaboration coming! One of the greatest ever to pick up a mic, in combination with a legendary producer...on the soundtrack to the "Silicon Valley" TV series? You could have got great odds on that. The beat is funky at the core with the odd glitchy interjection and some synth bass and FX giving it a contemporary feel. Nas can be counted on to come through with the lyrics, and this track is no exception.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>- Ilajide
In a world with all kinds of options for DJs, there's a lot to be said for just two turntables, a mixer, and some crates!
This month's show has more new releases than the average episode, including some local heat. We also have a track from the late Guru (RIP always), and one or two of my headphone favourites finally coming out into the light!
Upcoming Manchester shows mentioned;
London Posse @ Rebellion, May 23rd
Kool G Rap @ Sound Control, June 21st
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price : Definition Of God
It's a shame to think that all the Sean Price tracks we'll ever hear are already out in the world somewhere. On this posthumously-released single from this March, Sean blasts the Stu Bangas instrumental with his trademark mixture of rapping dexterity and casual, disrespectful brutality. I know I'm not alone in looking forward to the "Imperius Rex" LP - this is is right up my alley!
Ilajide : Dance Of The Psudo
Ilajide is the man behind the boards for the brilliant Clear Soul Forces, but he's also putting out some very good solo material that's definitely worth your attention! This is a burner from "Five Week Heet III", one of the lead-ups to the "Heet Tape" album release.
Tribeca : Wheel Of Fortune
A favourite of mine for years which I finally got a legit copy of (from the "Subway Series Vol.1" compilation) thanks to the modern convenience of digital purchase! Self-produced as always, the Bronx MC and MPC-batterer tells a tale of a dice game gone very wrong over a fitting 70s sample and some punching drums & bass. I won't give the sample away - to be fair, it's not a hard one to discern - but I do like the way it's been used. Using a three-bar segment for the title breakdown is awkward for a DJ, but it does sound good :)
Rapsody : Kingship
Making a return visit to Rapsody's "She Got Game" mixtape for a short and sweet cut with the legendary DJ Premier. Rapsody has one of those bell-clear voices that works so well for an MC, and lyrics to go along with it. Apparently Premo once tried to give this beat to Ludacris, but it was a little too experimental for him to do anything with!
KING : Red Eye (DJ Spinna Blissed-Out Remix)
My man Agent J from Groovement was up on this three-woman group out of Los Angeles very early, but I'm just getting up to speed on their 2016 debut "We Are King" now. It's a high-quality, ambient-flavoured R&B album with its own kind of flavour, and hopefully it's just a taste of the things yet to come! The great DJ Spinna is on the remix here and gives them some extra bass and head-nod drums to take the original "Red Eye" to new heights.
A.D. Carson : Dissertation (Part I The Introduction)
This project has something of a unique origin, which alone was enough to catch my interest. A.D. Carson was a Ph.D candidate at Clemson University who turned in his dissertation for the Rhetoric, Communication, and Information Design program in an unusual form - a full album. "Owning My Masters : The Rhetoric of Rhymes and Revolutions" is worth a listen on both its musical and academic merits, especially as a "name your price" Bandcamp release. Give a student a few dollars though! This track is a solid opener from the album, and A.D. makes excellent and appropriate use of a sample from "Malcolm X" after the hook.
Pro P : Concrete Jungle
Almost pure drums here from one of Manchester's busiest beatmakers, on this track from the first "Concrete Jungle" beat tape.
Ran Reed ft. Sadat X : The God's Power
Hailing from New Jersey, Ran Reed was one of those guys who put in mad independent work in the mid-90s, with underground 12" releases, guest appearances, and mixtape cuts. Only this year has he finally released his debut album, and while longtime collaborator Nick Wiz contributed several beats, Ran also self-produces many, including this one. A Sadat X guest appearance is always a win, and he provides a nicely contrasting vocal tone.
Children of Zeus : Don't Say A Word
They just keep on killing it. This is the B-side of the "I Can't Wait" 7" and it knocks! Konny Kon and Tyler have a great album in them, and I am 100% here for it whenever it arrives; in the meantime, just follow them and be ahead of the curve.
Raekwon : This Is What It Comes Too (sic)
I couldn't have you thinking that I didn't know which "to" to use :) This is the lead single from Rae's new album "The Wild" (big up Dan Lish on the cover art), the first to have no features from any Wu members whatsoever! Xtreme on the beat, working a classic old-school drum break, and the rhyming is prototypical Raekwon street talk.
Guru ft. Branford Marsalis : Transit Ride
RIP Guru! I definitely wanted to play some Guru this month and was pleased to find a track of his with the same drum break as the preceding cut. He was a pioneer in making links between the Hip-Hop nation and the world of jazz, and the first "Jazzmatazz" was a landmark. Here's another link - Guru and Premier actually lived in Branford Marsalis' house for a while back in the day! That sounds like it could have made for an amazing TV programme :)
Focus : (Entry no.3) CisumovneZ
Georgia's Focus is a beast on the boards. I could happily have played any number of tracks from the "aNALOG iN a dIGITAL wORLD 2" album, but went for this one. I love the manipulation and warping of the beat as the track progresses, with all kinds of stutters and stops - almost like a modern-day, digital version of the Latin Rascals.
Geechi Suede : London Luton
A number clearly inspired by the globetrotting adventures of Camp Lo's Geechi Suede, from the "Fishnet Skyscrapers" mixtape. This one was so long in coming after the release of the single "Ask About Me", I figured it had been shelved altogether - but it finally came out this month. This actual track was recorded/released in 2016 via the Brapp TV platform, and features the production of NYTELIFE, Rexx, and SaL GuoD (all the casing styles there). It's a suitably spacey background for Geechi's abstract freestyling!
Clear Soul Forces : Fan-Ta-Sa-Ro
So talented, it's a bit ridiculous. Detroit's Clear Soul Forces channel the spirit of their hometown heroes Slum Village on this track, as Slum listeners will recognise from the title and the hook. Ilajide supplies the beat, and this tune from their debut "Detroit Revolution(s)" gave just a taste of the great work to come.
J Chambers : Thought From New Mount Street 2
A brand new freestyle from a Manchester artist on the rise as he prepares to release his "Moment of Silence II : The Road to Perdition" mini-album. Gorgeous beat, dope rhymes - what more do you need?
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Ledisi : Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)
Needed something with a certain kind of flavour to follow up the J Chambers cut and I think I found it with this beautiful piece from Robert Glasper's first "Black Radio" album. Top-notch instrumentation as you might have expected, undergirding the vocals of the exceptionally talented singer/songwriter Ledisi. Oh yeah, she acts too :) This track got a Grammy nomination, and rightly so. The meaning of "F.T.B." is "off the record", according to Glasper, so take your own guess - but it was also the title of the song this is based on, from The Robert Glasper Trio's "In My Element" album.
Beatnuts : Gonna Fly (Inst)
From the old "Hydra Beats 5" collection of instrumentals (one of fourteen), just a head-nodder courtesy of Queens' own Beatnuts, some of the most dedicated diggers in the game.
Nas & DJ Shadow : Systematic
I did not see this collaboration coming! One of the greatest ever to pick up a mic, in combination with a legendary producer...on the soundtrack to the "Silicon Valley" TV series? You could have got great odds on that. The beat is funky at the core with the odd glitchy interjection and some synth bass and FX giving it a contemporary feel. Nas can be counted on to come through with the lyrics, and this track is no exception.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...yo' ass lie like the president!"
- Ice Cube
This month marks twenty years since the death of Biggie Smalls - and yet it somehow doesn't feel like that long ago. The B.I.G man's influence still looms large over the culture and this show is no exception. Several Biggie tracks and others inspired by him dot the episode, alongside choices from the discographies of the late Phife and Nate Dogg. Besides those, a few classics and some fairly modern gems you may have missed!
Catch me DJing at Eastern Bloc Records on April 22nd for Record Store Day and then stay out for their big party in the evening! Just over a week later, check DJ Andy Smith at Whiskey Jar for a Sunday night session :)
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice Cube ft. Chris Rock : You Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)
The way things are right now, I should do a whole mixtape strictly on the subject of lying! Chris Rock was an inspired choice to guest on this track from "War & Peace Vol.2 (The Peace Disc)" for the adlibs, while Cube just goes in with venom on an assortment of unnamed dishonest people. Production comes from Chucky Thompson of The Hitmen, and it does have a little of that Bad Boy flavour - you could imagine someone like The Lox on this beat back in the day.
Da Beatminerz : Bentleys & Bitches (Instrumental)
Tough beat right here from instrumental version the "Brace 4 Impak" LP (can't believe it's 16 years old this year!) - definitely an album to have in the collection if the ruggedness is what you seek.
ODB : Hippa To Da Hoppa
Two short verses of battle rhymes in Dirty's own truly inimitable style :) I don't play much ODB here somehow, but he was an MC unlike any other. This isn't one of the most often heard tracks from "Return To The 36 Chambers : The Dirty Version", but it popped into my head as one to bring out this month. The beat was one that RZA had in his archives and that Dirty had mentally bookmarked for himself when the time was right.
Lords Of The Underground : Chief Rocka
I was well pleased to be able to cut this in and have it rhyme with the hook of the preceding track! A classic Hip-Hop single out of Newark, New Jersey, with K-Def on production. This is the video version, taken from the 12" single, with the original of course being available on the "Here Come The Lords" LP. This tune is quality all the way through, but we don't quite make it to the end of the third verse, because it made sense to loop up a notable Mr.Funkee line and then come in with...
The Notorious B.I.G. : Machine Gun Funk
...a track which happens to use it as a hook! The 1-2-3 combo on "Ready To Die" of "Things Done Changed", "Gimme The Loot", and "Machine Gun Funk" is phenomenal, but this is still an underrated cut in my opinion. Easy Mo Bee contributed an absolutely cracking beat, and Biggie's rhymes are enough for his son to rate this as maybe his favourite from the catalogue. Pure fire.
Mary J. Blige ft. The Notorious B.I.G. : Real Love (Remix)
If you weren't around at the time, it's hard to communicate how revolutionary this was. Hip-Hop and R&B were very separate things back then, and it was people like the Harlem DJ Ron G with his innovative and influential blend tapes who showed the possibilities of combining the two. When Puff Daddy (now P.Diddy) went to Uptown Records, he masterminded producing that kind of combination to the studio, and the "What's The 411? (Remix)" album is one of the most well-known examples. Ron G is actually on the intro to this track (just before the part I start playing from), but Puffy and Daddy-O (of Stetsasonic) are credited with the Hip-Hop-heavy production, blending several classic samples together to give Mary a fitting backing - which also works brilliantly for Biggie, when he comes in.
[Buckwild] Sadat X : The Lump Lump (Instrumental)
Classic boom-bap from 1996, Buckwild's bumping instrumental for the Sadat X track discussing... adventures about town. This was a quality single from the "Wild Cowboys" LP - remember when a tune like this could be a club banger?
Curren$y ft. Nate Dogg & Nijay Sincere : Let's Get It Crackin'
This has one of those hooks that just sticks in your head - Nate Dogg can do that to you. Just know that you cannot sing like him :) Anyway, this is kind of an interesting one; you may be familiar with Curren$y's recent career, the "lifestyle rap" and the sonic flavours that come with it, but this 2010 single sounds more like a move for the clubs and the radio - not necessarily a bad thing at all. He's firmly midtempo here over the DJ Taylormade beat with Nate supplying a hook that may not be catchy, but one that works for sure.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Donald
RIP Phife Dawg...aka Don Juice, apparently! Dancehall-accented tune with some nice turntable work (courtesy of DJ Scratch) for the sureshot combination of Tribe and Busta Rhymes on this closer from "We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service", the final ATCQ LP. One of the only things I've heard in months that involves the name "Donald" and doesn't make me want to be sick!
Lexxus : Stress
I'm kind of mad I had to buy the "Mr.Lex" album a second time (on CD) because so many tracks aren't on the vinyl. Still, big tune here with Bobby Konders on the digital production! Lexxus only has two albums, but his singles discography is deep if you like what you hear.
Large Pro : Off Yo Azz On Yo Feet
(Note: I've just realised that this was also included on episode 76. First repeated track in the history of the show! #oops)
The live guy with glasses just keeps on going. His latest LP, 2015's "Re:Living" was a concise eleven tracks, with this being one that just stuck in my head. Self-produced, of course, with the snare smacking away relentlessly in the mix. Lyrically - I guess it's motivational music, after a fashion? The hook certainly leaves no doubt about the message :)
The Alchemist : The Thirst
Thinking about it recently, I realised that in this post-anthem world with an explosion of music availability, Alchemist has quietly worked his way into the pantheon of greatest all-time producers. A nice dark beat from the first "Rapper's Best Friend" beat compilation.
Mega Ran : 10 Gamer Commandments
Random aka Mega Ran is best known for his skill at blending of video game culture and Hip-Hop, and he gives just a piece of it on this cut from his "Notorious R.A.N - Ready To Live" tribute album. Twenty years after the passing of Biggie, Mega Ran reworks some of his tracks in tribute, and this bonus track is of course his flip of "Ten Crack Commandments"; a step-by-step booklet on how to conduct yourself in the gaming world ;)
Kaytranada ft. Craig David : Got It Good
A year ago we heard a Ras Kass track based on this instrumental, but I thought it was worth giving you the original! Coming strong for the crown of best producer to come out of Haiti, the Canadian-raised Kaytranada made some serious noise among those who know last year with the "99.9%" album, and this was a standout cut for me. The highly underrated Craig David supplies a smooth vocal performance at the high end while the beat bumps along at the bottom - great blend.
Omniscence : Golden
North Carolina coming through! The likes of Bandcamp is a godsend for allowing independent releases to be easily obtainable by the fans, and after putting out stuff like the previously-unreleased "The Raw Factor" digitally, Omniscence then moved on to bringing new material onto the platform. This piece from "The God Hour" has some bump but the gentle keyboard work is a fitting backing to Omni's two contemplative verses.
Geto Boys : Leanin' On You
A group often missed when we discuss Hip-Hop legends, Houston's Geto Boys went through lineup changes early in their life, then settled for a while before changing again, and finally coming back together with what most consider the canonical MC lineup - Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill. Here, we take a reflective track from their seventh LP, "The Foundation", with each MC taking a turn to describe a missed person or a struggle in their own lives. The production comes from someone you may not associate with this style, and also may not have thought about in a while - Mr.Mixx of 2 Live Crew, a pioneer of the Miami Bass sound. This certainly has some heft in the mix but rather than the accelerated beats that he made his name with, this sample re-work is slow and somewhat solemn, perfectly matching the lyrics.
Oddisee : Brixton
A bit of an old one (2010) from Oddisee's "Traveling Man" instrumental album; I don't know if he made this beat in Brixton or just took inspiration from there, but it's quality as usual. I'll likely play you something from his new album "The Iceberg" in the coming months.
Willie Evans Jr. : Nerd English
Finally, we come all the way back to the theme from the episode opener! A very amusing but sincere track about keeping it all the way real, staying in your lane...however you want to put it :) It reminds us that trying to be something we're not is stressful, hard work, potentially trouble, and just generally undignified. A solid tune from the "Introducin'" LP that always makes me smile.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...yo' ass lie like the president!"
- Ice Cube
This month marks twenty years since the death of Biggie Smalls - and yet it somehow doesn't feel like that long ago. The B.I.G man's influence still looms large over the culture and this show is no exception. Several Biggie tracks and others inspired by him dot the episode, alongside choices from the discographies of the late Phife and Nate Dogg. Besides those, a few classics and some fairly modern gems you may have missed!
Catch me DJing at Eastern Bloc Records on April 22nd for Record Store Day and then stay out for their big party in the evening! Just over a week later, check DJ Andy Smith at Whiskey Jar for a Sunday night session :)
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Ice Cube ft. Chris Rock : You Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)
The way things are right now, I should do a whole mixtape strictly on the subject of lying! Chris Rock was an inspired choice to guest on this track from "War & Peace Vol.2 (The Peace Disc)" for the adlibs, while Cube just goes in with venom on an assortment of unnamed dishonest people. Production comes from Chucky Thompson of The Hitmen, and it does have a little of that Bad Boy flavour - you could imagine someone like The Lox on this beat back in the day.
Da Beatminerz : Bentleys & Bitches (Instrumental)
Tough beat right here from instrumental version the "Brace 4 Impak" LP (can't believe it's 16 years old this year!) - definitely an album to have in the collection if the ruggedness is what you seek.
ODB : Hippa To Da Hoppa
Two short verses of battle rhymes in Dirty's own truly inimitable style :) I don't play much ODB here somehow, but he was an MC unlike any other. This isn't one of the most often heard tracks from "Return To The 36 Chambers : The Dirty Version", but it popped into my head as one to bring out this month. The beat was one that RZA had in his archives and that Dirty had mentally bookmarked for himself when the time was right.
Lords Of The Underground : Chief Rocka
I was well pleased to be able to cut this in and have it rhyme with the hook of the preceding track! A classic Hip-Hop single out of Newark, New Jersey, with K-Def on production. This is the video version, taken from the 12" single, with the original of course being available on the "Here Come The Lords" LP. This tune is quality all the way through, but we don't quite make it to the end of the third verse, because it made sense to loop up a notable Mr.Funkee line and then come in with...
The Notorious B.I.G. : Machine Gun Funk
...a track which happens to use it as a hook! The 1-2-3 combo on "Ready To Die" of "Things Done Changed", "Gimme The Loot", and "Machine Gun Funk" is phenomenal, but this is still an underrated cut in my opinion. Easy Mo Bee contributed an absolutely cracking beat, and Biggie's rhymes are enough for his son to rate this as maybe his favourite from the catalogue. Pure fire.
Mary J. Blige ft. The Notorious B.I.G. : Real Love (Remix)
If you weren't around at the time, it's hard to communicate how revolutionary this was. Hip-Hop and R&B were very separate things back then, and it was people like the Harlem DJ Ron G with his innovative and influential blend tapes who showed the possibilities of combining the two. When Puff Daddy (now P.Diddy) went to Uptown Records, he masterminded producing that kind of combination to the studio, and the "What's The 411? (Remix)" album is one of the most well-known examples. Ron G is actually on the intro to this track (just before the part I start playing from), but Puffy and Daddy-O (of Stetsasonic) are credited with the Hip-Hop-heavy production, blending several classic samples together to give Mary a fitting backing - which also works brilliantly for Biggie, when he comes in.
[Buckwild] Sadat X : The Lump Lump (Instrumental)
Classic boom-bap from 1996, Buckwild's bumping instrumental for the Sadat X track discussing... adventures about town. This was a quality single from the "Wild Cowboys" LP - remember when a tune like this could be a club banger?
Curren$y ft. Nate Dogg & Nijay Sincere : Let's Get It Crackin'
This has one of those hooks that just sticks in your head - Nate Dogg can do that to you. Just know that you cannot sing like him :) Anyway, this is kind of an interesting one; you may be familiar with Curren$y's recent career, the "lifestyle rap" and the sonic flavours that come with it, but this 2010 single sounds more like a move for the clubs and the radio - not necessarily a bad thing at all. He's firmly midtempo here over the DJ Taylormade beat with Nate supplying a hook that may not be catchy, but one that works for sure.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Donald
RIP Phife Dawg...aka Don Juice, apparently! Dancehall-accented tune with some nice turntable work (courtesy of DJ Scratch) for the sureshot combination of Tribe and Busta Rhymes on this closer from "We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service", the final ATCQ LP. One of the only things I've heard in months that involves the name "Donald" and doesn't make me want to be sick!
Lexxus : Stress
I'm kind of mad I had to buy the "Mr.Lex" album a second time (on CD) because so many tracks aren't on the vinyl. Still, big tune here with Bobby Konders on the digital production! Lexxus only has two albums, but his singles discography is deep if you like what you hear.
Large Pro : Off Yo Azz On Yo Feet
(Note: I've just realised that this was also included on episode 76. First repeated track in the history of the show! #oops)
The live guy with glasses just keeps on going. His latest LP, 2015's "Re:Living" was a concise eleven tracks, with this being one that just stuck in my head. Self-produced, of course, with the snare smacking away relentlessly in the mix. Lyrically - I guess it's motivational music, after a fashion? The hook certainly leaves no doubt about the message :)
The Alchemist : The Thirst
Thinking about it recently, I realised that in this post-anthem world with an explosion of music availability, Alchemist has quietly worked his way into the pantheon of greatest all-time producers. A nice dark beat from the first "Rapper's Best Friend" beat compilation.
Mega Ran : 10 Gamer Commandments
Random aka Mega Ran is best known for his skill at blending of video game culture and Hip-Hop, and he gives just a piece of it on this cut from his "Notorious R.A.N - Ready To Live" tribute album. Twenty years after the passing of Biggie, Mega Ran reworks some of his tracks in tribute, and this bonus track is of course his flip of "Ten Crack Commandments"; a step-by-step booklet on how to conduct yourself in the gaming world ;)
Kaytranada ft. Craig David : Got It Good
A year ago we heard a Ras Kass track based on this instrumental, but I thought it was worth giving you the original! Coming strong for the crown of best producer to come out of Haiti, the Canadian-raised Kaytranada made some serious noise among those who know last year with the "99.9%" album, and this was a standout cut for me. The highly underrated Craig David supplies a smooth vocal performance at the high end while the beat bumps along at the bottom - great blend.
Omniscence : Golden
North Carolina coming through! The likes of Bandcamp is a godsend for allowing independent releases to be easily obtainable by the fans, and after putting out stuff like the previously-unreleased "The Raw Factor" digitally, Omniscence then moved on to bringing new material onto the platform. This piece from "The God Hour" has some bump but the gentle keyboard work is a fitting backing to Omni's two contemplative verses.
Geto Boys : Leanin' On You
A group often missed when we discuss Hip-Hop legends, Houston's Geto Boys went through lineup changes early in their life, then settled for a while before changing again, and finally coming back together with what most consider the canonical MC lineup - Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill. Here, we take a reflective track from their seventh LP, "The Foundation", with each MC taking a turn to describe a missed person or a struggle in their own lives. The production comes from someone you may not associate with this style, and also may not have thought about in a while - Mr.Mixx of 2 Live Crew, a pioneer of the Miami Bass sound. This certainly has some heft in the mix but rather than the accelerated beats that he made his name with, this sample re-work is slow and somewhat solemn, perfectly matching the lyrics.
Oddisee : Brixton
A bit of an old one (2010) from Oddisee's "Traveling Man" instrumental album; I don't know if he made this beat in Brixton or just took inspiration from there, but it's quality as usual. I'll likely play you something from his new album "The Iceberg" in the coming months.
Willie Evans Jr. : Nerd English
Finally, we come all the way back to the theme from the episode opener! A very amusing but sincere track about keeping it all the way real, staying in your lane...however you want to put it :) It reminds us that trying to be something we're not is stressful, hard work, potentially trouble, and just generally undignified. A solid tune from the "Introducin'" LP that always makes me smile.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"All that happy, 'let's be friends' shit? Yo, this is the opposite."
- Konny Kon
As usual, we pay tribute to J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun this month, but also two giants from a previous generation who both made a massive impact on Hip-Hop; Clyde Stubblefield and David Axelrod, who both passed in the last few weeks. Besides that, we have some great recent tracks from Manchester, some US classics and a few tracks that may have passed you by! Let's get it going...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
D.I.T.C. : Best Behavior (Showbiz Remix #2)
From "The Remix Project", we go heavy in multiple ways right from the jump. Big Pun may not have been a charter member of D.I.T.C, but Fat Joe certainly is, and it's via Joe that we end up with this connection to one of the fiercest MCs of all time. One verse each over this Showbiz beat which somehow manages to be even darker than the excellent Amed-produced original.
David McCallum : The Edge
I'd imagine a good number of you thought this was about to be an entirely different record :) This track from the "Music: A Bit More Of Me" album is definitely the most famous track by the actor/musician David McCallum, and one of the most well-recognised by the producer, the brilliant David Axelrod, who passed away this month. That intro is just a monster.
Big L & Jay-Z : Freestyle
Given the origin and the content, I hope you can excuse the sound quality! This is one of the great freestyle sessions of all time, with the then-rising Big L and Jay-Z trading serious bars over the beat for Miilkbone's "Keep It Real"; as it turns out, they'd already battled off-mic earlier the same night! While that clash is lost to folklore, it's good to have this back-and-forth preserved for posterity, thanks to Stretch & Bobbito.
Ras Kass : Soul On Ice (Remix)
Diamond D remixes the title track from Ras' debut, blessing Ras with a David Axelrod-sampling instrumental that is probably better known than the original. Ras is in the political lyrical mode many people would associate him with here, but as always managed to blend that with just vicious battle lines. "The waterproof MC, you ain't wettin' me/You need to stop rapping and start robbing banks like Steady B"? *Ouch*...
SoundSci : The Remedy (Jonny Cuba Remix)
This one has just missed the cut a few times but it fit nicely here! Super relaxed vibe all the way through on this closing track from the "Dig For Victory" EP.
James Brown : Funky Drummer (Parts 1 & 2)
We join this track about a minute and a half in - the full track is seven minutes long. At 19:25 though, one of the most famous, sampled, re-used, re-formulated pieces of audio of all time appears to grace our eardrums. Clyde Stubblefield claimed to not particularly like this song as a whole all that much, but these few seconds of solo drumming when he was given his shine have immortalised it - and him.
[Jay Dee] Slum Village : Climax (Instrumental)
Easily one of my favourite Dilla beats, from the "Fantastic, Vol.2" album - a fantastic blend of samples and that clap on the two and four are perfectly crisp and clean.
Busta Rhymes : Genesis
Busta was one of those MCs who caught on to J Dilla relatively early and the two artists combined for some excellent tracks over the years. On "Genesis", Busta's fifth album, Dilla contributed this title track and "Make It Hurt", which sounds like it was done by a completely different producer, which just goes to show his versatility.
Gang Starr : Mass Appeal
It just seemed to go well with the Busta record, and it's a great single, taken from the "Hard To Earn" LP. What you might not know about it is that DJ Premier essentially put the beat together as a bit of a mickey take! The track is supposed to sound like catchy elevator music, in keeping with the lyrical theme of rappers simplifying their material for a popular audience - but it just sounds so good!
Souls of Mischief : 93 Til Infinity (Remix)
Do I prefer this to the original? Absolutely not - however, that doesn't mean it's not a quality track in its own right. If you listen carefully, you'll hear that it's an actual re-record, with the lyrics being very slighly different and the delivery also tweaked to better fit this alternative beat by A-Plus. The easiest place to find this is on the original 12" single, though it has been released by itself as well.
Masta Ace Incorporated : Saturday Night Live (L.A. Jay Remix)
Staying in '93 for a remix of a track from the "SlaughtaHouse" album - an LP notable for largely being a parody which a lot of people either took literally or assumed wasn't about them! This particular track has its own dark humour, showing about how live a Saturday night can actually get, and feaures Uneek, Eyce, and Lord Digga on the mic. L.A. Jay from the Pharcyde crew rocks the same sample heard on Gang Starr's "Jazz Music" for a beat that manages to surpass the album version!
Pete Rock : Dilla Bounce (R.I.P)
A fitting instrumental to include this month. Dilla came up idolising the work of Pete Rock, so it's poetic that after his passing (as in life), Pete pays respect to him in return. I feel that "Petestrumentals 2" may follow the same path as its predecessor - underrated on release, and retrospectively hailed as a classic.
Run The Jewels ft. Joi : Down
The "RTJ3" album came out on Christmas Day and ensured that we all got at least one present :) This was the opener and a worthy one - a look back at Killer Mike and El-P's pasts, and a look forward to where they plan to go. There's a kind of warmness to the beat which isn't a word I'd usually use to describe an El-P track, but it envelops your ears and draws you in to focus on the lyrics.
Ellis Meade : Kings & Queens
Ellis was kind enough to send me a copy of this a few months back and I finally found a good place to showcase it in a mix. The flow is crazy over a double-timed, almost southern-style Pro P beat. Another win for the Room 2 Records crew!
Chamillionaire : You Gotta Love Me
"Mayn, let the truth free". That shout-out to the then-incarcerated Pimp C firmly dates this one, a longtime headphone favourite for me finally making it onto the show! From the DJ Whoo Kid (hence the annoying adlibs) collaboration mixtape "The Truth", Cham focuses his anger on Mike Jones ("who?", you may now ask?) - that beef lasted for several years. I haven't been able to find out who produced this but that sped-up vocal sample is a serious earworm!
Don Jagwarr : The Cure
I've had this one hanging around for a long while, not sure it's everyone's speed but it fit tempo-wise into this selection and I think was a reasonable follow-up to the soul sample in the previous track. Don Jagwarr is almost certainly best known to most as the guest on Ice Cube's "Wicked", but he did have his old LP, "Faded", from which this track is drawn. The beat and hook are based around a replay of Diana Ross' "Love Hangover", which is a chilled backing for Jagwarr to spin his tale over.
Jake One : Oh Lord
We go back to the gospel-themed "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape for this instrumental, a perfect warm-up for this month's closer...
Children of Zeus : Crown
An anthem already (wow, alliteration)! Tyler Daly goes straight rhymes alongside the always-ready Konny Kon over a no-drums track based around a stirring gospel sample; both MCs turn it out in fine style! Absolutely huge track from the "Two Syllables, Volume Thirteen" compilation and one that deserves as much shine as possible - on top of everything else, it also has one of the best videos I've seen in ages, so no excuse not to share and share again!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"All that happy, 'let's be friends' shit? Yo, this is the opposite."
- Konny Kon
As usual, we pay tribute to J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun this month, but also two giants from a previous generation who both made a massive impact on Hip-Hop; Clyde Stubblefield and David Axelrod, who both passed in the last few weeks. Besides that, we have some great recent tracks from Manchester, some US classics and a few tracks that may have passed you by! Let's get it going...
Twitter : @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
D.I.T.C. : Best Behavior (Showbiz Remix #2)
From "The Remix Project", we go heavy in multiple ways right from the jump. Big Pun may not have been a charter member of D.I.T.C, but Fat Joe certainly is, and it's via Joe that we end up with this connection to one of the fiercest MCs of all time. One verse each over this Showbiz beat which somehow manages to be even darker than the excellent Amed-produced original.
David McCallum : The Edge
I'd imagine a good number of you thought this was about to be an entirely different record :) This track from the "Music: A Bit More Of Me" album is definitely the most famous track by the actor/musician David McCallum, and one of the most well-recognised by the producer, the brilliant David Axelrod, who passed away this month. That intro is just a monster.
Big L & Jay-Z : Freestyle
Given the origin and the content, I hope you can excuse the sound quality! This is one of the great freestyle sessions of all time, with the then-rising Big L and Jay-Z trading serious bars over the beat for Miilkbone's "Keep It Real"; as it turns out, they'd already battled off-mic earlier the same night! While that clash is lost to folklore, it's good to have this back-and-forth preserved for posterity, thanks to Stretch & Bobbito.
Ras Kass : Soul On Ice (Remix)
Diamond D remixes the title track from Ras' debut, blessing Ras with a David Axelrod-sampling instrumental that is probably better known than the original. Ras is in the political lyrical mode many people would associate him with here, but as always managed to blend that with just vicious battle lines. "The waterproof MC, you ain't wettin' me/You need to stop rapping and start robbing banks like Steady B"? *Ouch*...
SoundSci : The Remedy (Jonny Cuba Remix)
This one has just missed the cut a few times but it fit nicely here! Super relaxed vibe all the way through on this closing track from the "Dig For Victory" EP.
James Brown : Funky Drummer (Parts 1 & 2)
We join this track about a minute and a half in - the full track is seven minutes long. At 19:25 though, one of the most famous, sampled, re-used, re-formulated pieces of audio of all time appears to grace our eardrums. Clyde Stubblefield claimed to not particularly like this song as a whole all that much, but these few seconds of solo drumming when he was given his shine have immortalised it - and him.
[Jay Dee] Slum Village : Climax (Instrumental)
Easily one of my favourite Dilla beats, from the "Fantastic, Vol.2" album - a fantastic blend of samples and that clap on the two and four are perfectly crisp and clean.
Busta Rhymes : Genesis
Busta was one of those MCs who caught on to J Dilla relatively early and the two artists combined for some excellent tracks over the years. On "Genesis", Busta's fifth album, Dilla contributed this title track and "Make It Hurt", which sounds like it was done by a completely different producer, which just goes to show his versatility.
Gang Starr : Mass Appeal
It just seemed to go well with the Busta record, and it's a great single, taken from the "Hard To Earn" LP. What you might not know about it is that DJ Premier essentially put the beat together as a bit of a mickey take! The track is supposed to sound like catchy elevator music, in keeping with the lyrical theme of rappers simplifying their material for a popular audience - but it just sounds so good!
Souls of Mischief : 93 Til Infinity (Remix)
Do I prefer this to the original? Absolutely not - however, that doesn't mean it's not a quality track in its own right. If you listen carefully, you'll hear that it's an actual re-record, with the lyrics being very slighly different and the delivery also tweaked to better fit this alternative beat by A-Plus. The easiest place to find this is on the original 12" single, though it has been released by itself as well.
Masta Ace Incorporated : Saturday Night Live (L.A. Jay Remix)
Staying in '93 for a remix of a track from the "SlaughtaHouse" album - an LP notable for largely being a parody which a lot of people either took literally or assumed wasn't about them! This particular track has its own dark humour, showing about how live a Saturday night can actually get, and feaures Uneek, Eyce, and Lord Digga on the mic. L.A. Jay from the Pharcyde crew rocks the same sample heard on Gang Starr's "Jazz Music" for a beat that manages to surpass the album version!
Pete Rock : Dilla Bounce (R.I.P)
A fitting instrumental to include this month. Dilla came up idolising the work of Pete Rock, so it's poetic that after his passing (as in life), Pete pays respect to him in return. I feel that "Petestrumentals 2" may follow the same path as its predecessor - underrated on release, and retrospectively hailed as a classic.
Run The Jewels ft. Joi : Down
The "RTJ3" album came out on Christmas Day and ensured that we all got at least one present :) This was the opener and a worthy one - a look back at Killer Mike and El-P's pasts, and a look forward to where they plan to go. There's a kind of warmness to the beat which isn't a word I'd usually use to describe an El-P track, but it envelops your ears and draws you in to focus on the lyrics.
Ellis Meade : Kings & Queens
Ellis was kind enough to send me a copy of this a few months back and I finally found a good place to showcase it in a mix. The flow is crazy over a double-timed, almost southern-style Pro P beat. Another win for the Room 2 Records crew!
Chamillionaire : You Gotta Love Me
"Mayn, let the truth free". That shout-out to the then-incarcerated Pimp C firmly dates this one, a longtime headphone favourite for me finally making it onto the show! From the DJ Whoo Kid (hence the annoying adlibs) collaboration mixtape "The Truth", Cham focuses his anger on Mike Jones ("who?", you may now ask?) - that beef lasted for several years. I haven't been able to find out who produced this but that sped-up vocal sample is a serious earworm!
Don Jagwarr : The Cure
I've had this one hanging around for a long while, not sure it's everyone's speed but it fit tempo-wise into this selection and I think was a reasonable follow-up to the soul sample in the previous track. Don Jagwarr is almost certainly best known to most as the guest on Ice Cube's "Wicked", but he did have his old LP, "Faded", from which this track is drawn. The beat and hook are based around a replay of Diana Ross' "Love Hangover", which is a chilled backing for Jagwarr to spin his tale over.
Jake One : Oh Lord
We go back to the gospel-themed "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape for this instrumental, a perfect warm-up for this month's closer...
Children of Zeus : Crown
An anthem already (wow, alliteration)! Tyler Daly goes straight rhymes alongside the always-ready Konny Kon over a no-drums track based around a stirring gospel sample; both MCs turn it out in fine style! Absolutely huge track from the "Two Syllables, Volume Thirteen" compilation and one that deserves as much shine as possible - on top of everything else, it also has one of the best videos I've seen in ages, so no excuse not to share and share again!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...make you feel as if the Bill of Rights was counterfeit."
- Cuban Link
This month has just been hitting us over the head with "WTF?" moments on a daily basis, but in between I managed to put the show together - as you can tell, the finishing touches only made it in close to the end-of-month buzzer! While this is an all-Hip-Hop episode, I feel fairly confident that there won't be many people who know every track, so there'll be at least one new gem here for everyone. Let's run down this month's crate excavations...
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Fat Joe ft. The Terror Squad : The Hidden Hand
It's bleak, but it's life. The whole Terror Squad weigh in on this cinematic cut (produced by Spunk Bigga) from the "Don Cartagena" album. Packed with cautionary tales, observations on the state of society, and ending with a touch of advice, this very much has the air of the person that's been through a lot trying to stop someone else going down the same road. In my opinion, this is a very much underrated deep album cut.
Oddisee : No Rules For Kings (Inst)
From the "The Beauty In All" album we get this lovely instrumental, heavy on the cymbals and drum fills.
3rd Bass : Gladiator
I've just realised that I've only played 3rd Bass once before on the podcast, so there are some great tracks in their small catalogue still for me to share with you. Here's one I think you probably won't know - their contribution to the soundtrack of the 1992 boxing-themed film "Gladiator". DJ Daddy Rich makes the beat boom, and whoever it is on the hook is battling me in the low voice stakes :)
J-Live : Worlds Apart
"The white man's burden still the brown man's backache"? That's just fire. The amount of clever, insightful quotes on this track is just unbelievable. It's well worth sitting and listening carefully to this one a few times - nothing but facts right here from J-Live on this Oddisee-produced piece from his "Around The Sun" album.
Melanin 9 ft. Roc Marciano : White Russian
Melanin 9 is a UK MC who had somehow escaped my notice up to now but I stumbled upon this track with Long Island's street rhyme specialist Roc Marciano and knew I had to include it! The production by Anatomy channels the feel of the SP1200/S950 90s golden age; I love it, apart from the awkward 5-bar intro ;) Melanin and Roc go stream-of-consciousness in fine style on this one, taken from the "Magna Carta" LP.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo ft. Joell Ortiz : A Couple Dollars
"The Easy Truth" was one of the picks of 2016 and the combination of Skyzoo, a real lyric fan's choice, and Apollo Brown's soulful production is a match made in Hip-Hop heaven. Adding Joell Ortiz to this story of the lure of money when you start off broke just takes the track over the top. The album is definitely worth checking!
Kappah : Supafly
Kappah from the Beatfonics crew flips some Curtis Mayfield inside out right here and adds some solid bass underneath for a highlight from the "Beatxploitation" beat tape. Heavy business as usual coming out of Italy.
Nas : Thief's Theme
A dark favourite, and an appropriate one as we see the dawn of a new kleptocracy! This was a great single from the "Street's Disciple" album - there might have been a radio mix, but you couldn't call this a radio record. Salaam Remi harnesses the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" sample (as played by the Incredible Bongo Band) while Nas goes full crime rhyme for three verses - and on the hook, re-using some of his own famous lines from "The World Is Yours". The video for this one is well worth a watch too!
Camp Lo : A Piece Of The Action
The recently released "On The Way Uptown" is the demo album Camp Lo recorded that got them their record deal and paved the way for the classic "Uptown Saturday Night". Well worth picking up if you're a fan, as you can hear early versions of some tracks that made the official album as well as others that were borrowed from or reworked. There's also a scattering of "lost tracks", and what later became B-sides. This tune, I believe, has been out on white label but is a tough one to get so I was very happy to find it included. Geechi and Sonny Cheeba showcase their back-and-forth skills on a great foreshadowing of killer records to come, while Ski gives us some boom-bap drums over a cleverly-chopped, sneaky sampling of a jazz classic. Heavyweight.
Talib Kweli : Gutter Rainbows
I think the world "lush" would fit this one when it comes to the production! M-Phazes brings a dramatic 70s flair to the title track to Talib's 2011 album, and Talib sounds thoroughly amped to be on it. You've all seen a gutter rainbow in the literal sense - the colours formed when oil spills onto the street, and while Kweli does point to that in the lyrics he also gives a more poetic alternative definition.
Pete Rock ft. Little Brother and Joe Scudda : Bring Y'all Back
"...catch a fist and a elbow"...Richard Spencer, come on down! Three very dope verses from LB and Joe Scudda over a Pete Rock beat; I think Phonte's is my favourite, but you can't go wrong with any of the three. Check this one on Pete Rock's third producer-driven compilation, "NY's Finest".
[Context] Maylay Sparks : Legacy (Inst)
One of those random independent 12"s that makes a DJs vinyl collection individual, rather than just an "essential hits" compilation! Context of the Danish crew "Nobody Beats The Beats" provides a quintessentially early-2000s instrumental.
WC & The MAAD Circle : Ghetto Serenade
RIP DJ Crazy Toones. This is a beat I've always loved since I heard it on MTV back in the day, and as Toones had his hands in the production (alongside Sir Jinx and Chilly Chill), I thought this was a good time to play the track. This is played from the 12" single which is itself taken from the 1991 "Ain't A Damn Thang Changed" album. You may not find the story as told by WC to your taste, but you can't deny that funk!
Main Source : Atom
Taking it back to '89, we have one of the first recordings from the Main Source crew. This is the B-side of the "Think" single and for me, a perfect case of "B Side Wins Again"! The mixing and engineering was done by the legendary Paul C, who sadly would be killed before Main Source released their debut "Breaking Atoms" album; his influence lived on, and not just in the name of Large Professor's publishing company.
Mega Ran & Storyville ft. Wise Intelligent : I Know Who I Am
It's been great over the last couple of years to see Mega Ran's profile climbing. He's an extremely talented artist and on the "Soul Veggies" album he reunited with long-time friend Storyville, who both took the mic and produced on the project. For this knowledge-packed track, it was only right that both of them connected with Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers; in fact, it was actually him who got on the DJ Seedless track first and then brought them in! The production is funky, jazzy, African...the whole pot, a perfect home for some excellent rhymes.
DJ Quik ft. Mausberg and James DeBarge : Change Da Game
The "Balance & Options" album from the legendary Compton DJ/MC is a must-own for me, with some absolute killers on it - this one being the opening, a statement of intent from Quik and the late Mausberg. The timing and dynamics on the rhythm part of the track gives it a certain bounce that is harder to duplicate than your average beatmaker might think, and as always with Quik, the musicianship is right there for you to appreciate.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Skills (Instrumental)
You could do a mix of just DJ Premier instrumentals and it'd be a satisfying hour! This is from the 12", one of the four singles from "The Ownerz", the final Gang Starr album. Check the full version if you don't already know it - personally, I'm really missing that trademark Guru monotone style.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Starang Wondah & Doc Holiday : I Ain't Havin' That
I decided to finish the episode on a seriously energetic note, with this banging track getting a well-deserved outing. The Boot Camp crew rip the beat from A Tribe Called Quest's "Hot Sex" and you can almost hear them falling all over each other to get their rhymes in - the session in D&D Studios must have been insane! Topping it off with the Redman sample from "Pick It Up" just seals the deal. This is a 12" well worth having but you can also find the track on the "Magnum Force" album.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...make you feel as if the Bill of Rights was counterfeit."
- Cuban Link
This month has just been hitting us over the head with "WTF?" moments on a daily basis, but in between I managed to put the show together - as you can tell, the finishing touches only made it in close to the end-of-month buzzer! While this is an all-Hip-Hop episode, I feel fairly confident that there won't be many people who know every track, so there'll be at least one new gem here for everyone. Let's run down this month's crate excavations...
Twitter: @airadam13
Playlist/Notes
Fat Joe ft. The Terror Squad : The Hidden Hand
It's bleak, but it's life. The whole Terror Squad weigh in on this cinematic cut (produced by Spunk Bigga) from the "Don Cartagena" album. Packed with cautionary tales, observations on the state of society, and ending with a touch of advice, this very much has the air of the person that's been through a lot trying to stop someone else going down the same road. In my opinion, this is a very much underrated deep album cut.
Oddisee : No Rules For Kings (Inst)
From the "The Beauty In All" album we get this lovely instrumental, heavy on the cymbals and drum fills.
3rd Bass : Gladiator
I've just realised that I've only played 3rd Bass once before on the podcast, so there are some great tracks in their small catalogue still for me to share with you. Here's one I think you probably won't know - their contribution to the soundtrack of the 1992 boxing-themed film "Gladiator". DJ Daddy Rich makes the beat boom, and whoever it is on the hook is battling me in the low voice stakes :)
J-Live : Worlds Apart
"The white man's burden still the brown man's backache"? That's just fire. The amount of clever, insightful quotes on this track is just unbelievable. It's well worth sitting and listening carefully to this one a few times - nothing but facts right here from J-Live on this Oddisee-produced piece from his "Around The Sun" album.
Melanin 9 ft. Roc Marciano : White Russian
Melanin 9 is a UK MC who had somehow escaped my notice up to now but I stumbled upon this track with Long Island's street rhyme specialist Roc Marciano and knew I had to include it! The production by Anatomy channels the feel of the SP1200/S950 90s golden age; I love it, apart from the awkward 5-bar intro ;) Melanin and Roc go stream-of-consciousness in fine style on this one, taken from the "Magna Carta" LP.
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo ft. Joell Ortiz : A Couple Dollars
"The Easy Truth" was one of the picks of 2016 and the combination of Skyzoo, a real lyric fan's choice, and Apollo Brown's soulful production is a match made in Hip-Hop heaven. Adding Joell Ortiz to this story of the lure of money when you start off broke just takes the track over the top. The album is definitely worth checking!
Kappah : Supafly
Kappah from the Beatfonics crew flips some Curtis Mayfield inside out right here and adds some solid bass underneath for a highlight from the "Beatxploitation" beat tape. Heavy business as usual coming out of Italy.
Nas : Thief's Theme
A dark favourite, and an appropriate one as we see the dawn of a new kleptocracy! This was a great single from the "Street's Disciple" album - there might have been a radio mix, but you couldn't call this a radio record. Salaam Remi harnesses the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" sample (as played by the Incredible Bongo Band) while Nas goes full crime rhyme for three verses - and on the hook, re-using some of his own famous lines from "The World Is Yours". The video for this one is well worth a watch too!
Camp Lo : A Piece Of The Action
The recently released "On The Way Uptown" is the demo album Camp Lo recorded that got them their record deal and paved the way for the classic "Uptown Saturday Night". Well worth picking up if you're a fan, as you can hear early versions of some tracks that made the official album as well as others that were borrowed from or reworked. There's also a scattering of "lost tracks", and what later became B-sides. This tune, I believe, has been out on white label but is a tough one to get so I was very happy to find it included. Geechi and Sonny Cheeba showcase their back-and-forth skills on a great foreshadowing of killer records to come, while Ski gives us some boom-bap drums over a cleverly-chopped, sneaky sampling of a jazz classic. Heavyweight.
Talib Kweli : Gutter Rainbows
I think the world "lush" would fit this one when it comes to the production! M-Phazes brings a dramatic 70s flair to the title track to Talib's 2011 album, and Talib sounds thoroughly amped to be on it. You've all seen a gutter rainbow in the literal sense - the colours formed when oil spills onto the street, and while Kweli does point to that in the lyrics he also gives a more poetic alternative definition.
Pete Rock ft. Little Brother and Joe Scudda : Bring Y'all Back
"...catch a fist and a elbow"...Richard Spencer, come on down! Three very dope verses from LB and Joe Scudda over a Pete Rock beat; I think Phonte's is my favourite, but you can't go wrong with any of the three. Check this one on Pete Rock's third producer-driven compilation, "NY's Finest".
[Context] Maylay Sparks : Legacy (Inst)
One of those random independent 12"s that makes a DJs vinyl collection individual, rather than just an "essential hits" compilation! Context of the Danish crew "Nobody Beats The Beats" provides a quintessentially early-2000s instrumental.
WC & The MAAD Circle : Ghetto Serenade
RIP DJ Crazy Toones. This is a beat I've always loved since I heard it on MTV back in the day, and as Toones had his hands in the production (alongside Sir Jinx and Chilly Chill), I thought this was a good time to play the track. This is played from the 12" single which is itself taken from the 1991 "Ain't A Damn Thang Changed" album. You may not find the story as told by WC to your taste, but you can't deny that funk!
Main Source : Atom
Taking it back to '89, we have one of the first recordings from the Main Source crew. This is the B-side of the "Think" single and for me, a perfect case of "B Side Wins Again"! The mixing and engineering was done by the legendary Paul C, who sadly would be killed before Main Source released their debut "Breaking Atoms" album; his influence lived on, and not just in the name of Large Professor's publishing company.
Mega Ran & Storyville ft. Wise Intelligent : I Know Who I Am
It's been great over the last couple of years to see Mega Ran's profile climbing. He's an extremely talented artist and on the "Soul Veggies" album he reunited with long-time friend Storyville, who both took the mic and produced on the project. For this knowledge-packed track, it was only right that both of them connected with Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers; in fact, it was actually him who got on the DJ Seedless track first and then brought them in! The production is funky, jazzy, African...the whole pot, a perfect home for some excellent rhymes.
DJ Quik ft. Mausberg and James DeBarge : Change Da Game
The "Balance & Options" album from the legendary Compton DJ/MC is a must-own for me, with some absolute killers on it - this one being the opening, a statement of intent from Quik and the late Mausberg. The timing and dynamics on the rhythm part of the track gives it a certain bounce that is harder to duplicate than your average beatmaker might think, and as always with Quik, the musicianship is right there for you to appreciate.
[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Skills (Instrumental)
You could do a mix of just DJ Premier instrumentals and it'd be a satisfying hour! This is from the 12", one of the four singles from "The Ownerz", the final Gang Starr album. Check the full version if you don't already know it - personally, I'm really missing that trademark Guru monotone style.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Starang Wondah & Doc Holiday : I Ain't Havin' That
I decided to finish the episode on a seriously energetic note, with this banging track getting a well-deserved outing. The Boot Camp crew rip the beat from A Tribe Called Quest's "Hot Sex" and you can almost hear them falling all over each other to get their rhymes in - the session in D&D Studios must have been insane! Topping it off with the Redman sample from "Pick It Up" just seals the deal. This is a 12" well worth having but you can also find the track on the "Magnum Force" album.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Children of a lesser god when your melanin's got a tint."
- Pusha
I don't think I'm alone in being glad to see 2016 out of the door. We close out the year with some of the best tracks of the last twelve months mixed in with a bunch of older heat from the collection. Let's hope 2017 has some better days in store for us...
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass ft. Sean Price and General Steele : Paypal The Feature
From the recent "Intellectual Property" release comes this stomping tune (big up Felony on production) perfect for opening the episode, with the clever sampling of the late great Sean P's XXL "Show 'n' Off" freestyle for the extended hook. As Ras points out, they actually had done tracks together previously, but it did make for a funny line :) Ras has a solid verse here but I think Steele steals the show (no pun intended) with a ferocious sixteen.
Fakts One : Lost & Found
Went back to Fakts' "The Chop Shop" tape for a fitting instrumental, one I hope you enjoy as much as me. I had to do a little chopping myself to extend it long enough to speak over, so I hope the man himself doesn't mind!
HUG ft. Diversion Tactics : My Sound System
Surrey's Diversion Tactics do a fine job on the "Complexity Kills" EP of combining with HUG (who you may know from his work with J-Zone) to give us some no-frills Hip-Hop. I'd forgotten about this one until I took a browse through my vinyls in the new studio and was glad to have it turn up!
Black Moon : Pressure Iz Tight
"Total Eclipse" is the much-underappreciated third LP from Brooklyn's Black Moon, and there are a stack of quality cuts on there, including this one, a mainstay of my gym playlist :) Buckshot and 5ft are on a pure street flex on the mics here while Da Beatminerz add some low end to a classic Dramatics sample for the instrumental. One interesting production touch worth mentioning - check how the actual vocals are periodically scratched into place on the track. To do that, they'd have to take the accapella vocal recording, load it into Serato or something and then scratch and mix it over the instrumental in the correct locations; it's extra work, and it adds a certain extra energy that couldn't have been got any other way.
Akrobatik : Step It Up
Stomping tune from the "Absolute Value" LP - thanks to DJ A-Up for putting me up on this hyped-up banger from one of Boston's greatest MCs. Hezekiah's beat brings to mind a full-scale riot at an opera but never overpowers Ak, who is in full battle gear on this track. The cuts from DJ Jayceeoh just seal the deal.
Jigmastas : Magnetize
DJ Spinna with another ridiculous beat! Jigmastas returned this year after a long absence with the "Resurgence" album and they have not missed a beat. Kriminul buries it on both verses over the banging drums and trembling bassline, all topped off by the Rakim sample on the hook. Big tune!
J-Zone : Chemical (Remix Instrumental)
No-one but Zone has beats that sound quite like this. The keys, the bending bass, the bubbling background effects, and all the other elements come together unexpectedly but perfectly. For this track and many more classic heaters, you need to check the "The Headband Years" instrumental collection and just marvel at the creativity.
Camp Lo : Black Jesus
Can I count this as a Christmas record? This opening track from the "Ragtime Hightimes" LP is vintage Lo, with Geechi Suede and Sonny Cheeba trading fly slang over Ski's beat; sounds almost like a sample from a musical or something on the intro.
Tall Black Guy ft. Ozay Moore : Things Deeper Than My Skin
Tall Black Guy is back with his sophomore album "Let's Take A Trip" and it's a more than worthy follow-up to "8 Miles to Moenart". I've got a few favourites on there but for this episode I've picked the collaboration with Ozay Moore (the same pairing that produced the excellent "Mon Amie De'Troit"), where Ozay goes in-depth about race from his own perspective over TBGs spacey re-interpretation of Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out".
Children of Zeus ft. Caron Wheeler : U Alone (Remix)
Slowly but surely, Manchester's own Konny Kon and Tyler Daly are getting the respect they deserve and this track sees them link up with one of the greats from our own shores, Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul. The swinging, lazily-timed drum pattern underpins the feel-good beat that gives plenty of space for all the vocalists to get busy with their individual expressions of devotion. Get the download while you can!
Flex : Vibes da Vida
Flex is a young Portuguese MC currently making his home in Manchester and he's made a smart move early hooking up with the Room 2 Records crew. I picked up his "Soul Food" EP from the tail end of this summer and it's definitely worth a listen! He links with New Haven's Maverick Soul on this one, who blesses him with some shoulder-slumping neo-soul-ish production.
Focus : Begin&End
You last heard Focus here on episode 85, but I really wanted to revisit the "Analog In A Digital World" album and bring out one of my favourite tracks. It starts off well, but it's the switch at 32:38 which lifts it up to an even higher level.
Pharaohe Monch ft. Erykah Badu : Hold On
Pharoahe Monch is one of our great writers and certainly when I consider male MCs, someone who I would think adept enough to handle this topic. Three well-crafted verses on misogynoir with the focus on one woman in particular, plus Erykah Badu giving us the intro, outro and the choruses. Ten years old in a few days, the "Desire" album is definitely one for the collection of true followers of the art of rhyme.
Paul Wall : Swangin In The Rain
Still doing at all these years after "Get Ya Mind Correct", plus his breakout work on "Still Tippin'" and his own "Sittin' Sidewayz", Paul Wall may have created another Houston classic with this opener from 2015's "slab god" album. Nothing groundbreaking thematically, but that's not what you come to him for - the car talk and flossing is what it's all about. Scoop DeVille (Kid Frost's son, which makes me feel hella old) uses some old Shalamar for the beat, and makes liberal use of the filters to take out top and bottom end along the way. Check how choppy and glitchy some of the sample triggering and playback is too - intentional I'm sure, and just keeps you that bit off-balance.
Pusha T and Jay Z : Drug Dealers Anonymous
Two coke rap mavens combine to spit drug bars on this June single release. For me, Pusha definitely has the better verse, but this track also stands out in a major way for its sampling and (in Jay's verse) baiting of the awful conservative "commentator" Tomi Lahren. For context, that quote was taken from a tirade against Beyonce's Superbowl 50 performance; not sure what her husband's past has to do with that, but there we go. Production comes from DJ Dahi, keeping it slow and low.
Cold 187um : Alive & Free
I can't work out whether this is one of those records that just I like, or if it's one that more people will catch onto! Very different to any of the Cold 187um/Big Hutch material we might have heard in the past, this tune is the closer on his "The Only Solution" concept album, and sees him going with a completely sung delivery over the instrumental of "Last Chance" by ABK. For what it's worth, I think this track is much better - I'd be interested to know how you all feel about it!
Jake One : Fie
Jake One is one of those artists with his own modern take on golden era production values, and his "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape has him going with a single concept (gospel sampling) and running with it over twenty-four serious tracks. I love the ominous feel of this one with the vocal sample occasionally swelling up from the background, and the periodic double-speed hi-hat programming is a nice accent.
Terrace Martin : God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
I've been meaning to play this for a long while - at least a year, but actually I think it may be two! It's a great take on a staple English Christmas carol, with a sax lead and allsorts going on with the synth bassline. You can get more jazzy Xmas flavour from Crenshaw's finest on his "Times" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Children of a lesser god when your melanin's got a tint."
- Pusha
I don't think I'm alone in being glad to see 2016 out of the door. We close out the year with some of the best tracks of the last twelve months mixed in with a bunch of older heat from the collection. Let's hope 2017 has some better days in store for us...
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass ft. Sean Price and General Steele : Paypal The Feature
From the recent "Intellectual Property" release comes this stomping tune (big up Felony on production) perfect for opening the episode, with the clever sampling of the late great Sean P's XXL "Show 'n' Off" freestyle for the extended hook. As Ras points out, they actually had done tracks together previously, but it did make for a funny line :) Ras has a solid verse here but I think Steele steals the show (no pun intended) with a ferocious sixteen.
Fakts One : Lost & Found
Went back to Fakts' "The Chop Shop" tape for a fitting instrumental, one I hope you enjoy as much as me. I had to do a little chopping myself to extend it long enough to speak over, so I hope the man himself doesn't mind!
HUG ft. Diversion Tactics : My Sound System
Surrey's Diversion Tactics do a fine job on the "Complexity Kills" EP of combining with HUG (who you may know from his work with J-Zone) to give us some no-frills Hip-Hop. I'd forgotten about this one until I took a browse through my vinyls in the new studio and was glad to have it turn up!
Black Moon : Pressure Iz Tight
"Total Eclipse" is the much-underappreciated third LP from Brooklyn's Black Moon, and there are a stack of quality cuts on there, including this one, a mainstay of my gym playlist :) Buckshot and 5ft are on a pure street flex on the mics here while Da Beatminerz add some low end to a classic Dramatics sample for the instrumental. One interesting production touch worth mentioning - check how the actual vocals are periodically scratched into place on the track. To do that, they'd have to take the accapella vocal recording, load it into Serato or something and then scratch and mix it over the instrumental in the correct locations; it's extra work, and it adds a certain extra energy that couldn't have been got any other way.
Akrobatik : Step It Up
Stomping tune from the "Absolute Value" LP - thanks to DJ A-Up for putting me up on this hyped-up banger from one of Boston's greatest MCs. Hezekiah's beat brings to mind a full-scale riot at an opera but never overpowers Ak, who is in full battle gear on this track. The cuts from DJ Jayceeoh just seal the deal.
Jigmastas : Magnetize
DJ Spinna with another ridiculous beat! Jigmastas returned this year after a long absence with the "Resurgence" album and they have not missed a beat. Kriminul buries it on both verses over the banging drums and trembling bassline, all topped off by the Rakim sample on the hook. Big tune!
J-Zone : Chemical (Remix Instrumental)
No-one but Zone has beats that sound quite like this. The keys, the bending bass, the bubbling background effects, and all the other elements come together unexpectedly but perfectly. For this track and many more classic heaters, you need to check the "The Headband Years" instrumental collection and just marvel at the creativity.
Camp Lo : Black Jesus
Can I count this as a Christmas record? This opening track from the "Ragtime Hightimes" LP is vintage Lo, with Geechi Suede and Sonny Cheeba trading fly slang over Ski's beat; sounds almost like a sample from a musical or something on the intro.
Tall Black Guy ft. Ozay Moore : Things Deeper Than My Skin
Tall Black Guy is back with his sophomore album "Let's Take A Trip" and it's a more than worthy follow-up to "8 Miles to Moenart". I've got a few favourites on there but for this episode I've picked the collaboration with Ozay Moore (the same pairing that produced the excellent "Mon Amie De'Troit"), where Ozay goes in-depth about race from his own perspective over TBGs spacey re-interpretation of Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out".
Children of Zeus ft. Caron Wheeler : U Alone (Remix)
Slowly but surely, Manchester's own Konny Kon and Tyler Daly are getting the respect they deserve and this track sees them link up with one of the greats from our own shores, Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul. The swinging, lazily-timed drum pattern underpins the feel-good beat that gives plenty of space for all the vocalists to get busy with their individual expressions of devotion. Get the download while you can!
Flex : Vibes da Vida
Flex is a young Portuguese MC currently making his home in Manchester and he's made a smart move early hooking up with the Room 2 Records crew. I picked up his "Soul Food" EP from the tail end of this summer and it's definitely worth a listen! He links with New Haven's Maverick Soul on this one, who blesses him with some shoulder-slumping neo-soul-ish production.
Focus : Begin&End
You last heard Focus here on episode 85, but I really wanted to revisit the "Analog In A Digital World" album and bring out one of my favourite tracks. It starts off well, but it's the switch at 32:38 which lifts it up to an even higher level.
Pharaohe Monch ft. Erykah Badu : Hold On
Pharoahe Monch is one of our great writers and certainly when I consider male MCs, someone who I would think adept enough to handle this topic. Three well-crafted verses on misogynoir with the focus on one woman in particular, plus Erykah Badu giving us the intro, outro and the choruses. Ten years old in a few days, the "Desire" album is definitely one for the collection of true followers of the art of rhyme.
Paul Wall : Swangin In The Rain
Still doing at all these years after "Get Ya Mind Correct", plus his breakout work on "Still Tippin'" and his own "Sittin' Sidewayz", Paul Wall may have created another Houston classic with this opener from 2015's "slab god" album. Nothing groundbreaking thematically, but that's not what you come to him for - the car talk and flossing is what it's all about. Scoop DeVille (Kid Frost's son, which makes me feel hella old) uses some old Shalamar for the beat, and makes liberal use of the filters to take out top and bottom end along the way. Check how choppy and glitchy some of the sample triggering and playback is too - intentional I'm sure, and just keeps you that bit off-balance.
Pusha T and Jay Z : Drug Dealers Anonymous
Two coke rap mavens combine to spit drug bars on this June single release. For me, Pusha definitely has the better verse, but this track also stands out in a major way for its sampling and (in Jay's verse) baiting of the awful conservative "commentator" Tomi Lahren. For context, that quote was taken from a tirade against Beyonce's Superbowl 50 performance; not sure what her husband's past has to do with that, but there we go. Production comes from DJ Dahi, keeping it slow and low.
Cold 187um : Alive & Free
I can't work out whether this is one of those records that just I like, or if it's one that more people will catch onto! Very different to any of the Cold 187um/Big Hutch material we might have heard in the past, this tune is the closer on his "The Only Solution" concept album, and sees him going with a completely sung delivery over the instrumental of "Last Chance" by ABK. For what it's worth, I think this track is much better - I'd be interested to know how you all feel about it!
Jake One : Fie
Jake One is one of those artists with his own modern take on golden era production values, and his "#PrayerHandsEmoji" beat tape has him going with a single concept (gospel sampling) and running with it over twenty-four serious tracks. I love the ominous feel of this one with the vocal sample occasionally swelling up from the background, and the periodic double-speed hi-hat programming is a nice accent.
Terrace Martin : God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
I've been meaning to play this for a long while - at least a year, but actually I think it may be two! It's a great take on a staple English Christmas carol, with a sax lead and allsorts going on with the synth bassline. You can get more jazzy Xmas flavour from Crenshaw's finest on his "Times" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I've seen the streets... you're walking down."
- Tyler
"Power to the people and the beats"
- Chuck D
What a month. The result of the US Presidential election has the world in turmoil, and legions of hateful people now feel emboldened to act out in public - it feels like the Brexit result turned up way past 10. On a personal note, I had to relocate the whole podcast studio and music library, but committed to getting an episode out on time and have just about managed it; this month of all months, I couldn't let things go by without a musical comment.
RIP Sharon Jones and David Mancuso... all love.
Playlist/Notes
Intelligent Hoodlum : Arrest The President
You didn't think I was going to let the events of this month go by without comment, did you? Taking it all the way back to 1990 for this hyped-up anthem from Intelligent Hoodlum's eponymous debut album. Marley Marl provides the uptempo soundtrack for the young Queensbridge native (just 19) to spray over. His own life was rough and you can easily feel that the content of the lyrics could come from witnessing these situations first-hand.
Strange Angel : La Chanteuse
A little number from a local group who've since gone on to do other things, most notably as the KJs - a lovely moody instrumental with atmospheric vocal accents from the artist now known as Vieka.
Brand Nubian : Concerto In X Minor
Another 1990 album for this cut, the Brand Nubian debut "One For All". Derek X (now Sadat X) comes to the fore to man the mic solo for this one; sadly, the content is as relevant today as it was back them. The names may change, but the shame remains the same. On the sonic side, listen for DJ Alamo's occasional scratched contributions during the verses, completing Derek's phrases or adding a co-sign - more of that would be welcome in the present day!
Janelle Monae : Locked Inside
If you just let this one drift by you, you might confuse it for a standard love song, but listen carefully to the lyrics and you'll appreciate how well it fits into the theme for the month. Musicially, I love the change-up that you first hear twenty-four bars in and then later on in the track. Get this one on the "The ArchAndroid" album.
Clear Soul Forces : Solar Heat
Rarely do you hear MCs flowing at these kinds of speeds nowadays, but these Detroit boys are up to the challenge! I had to give it up and buy the "Gold PP7s" album after hearing this, because the skills are just undeniable. Ilajide has you thinking at first you're getting some jazzy lounge music before hitting you in the face repeatedly with the kick drum that drives the beat below the ridiculous verses. If you think there's no good Hip-Hop these days, you aren't paying attention :)
Twenty One Pilots : Fairly Local
The lead single from the 2015 album "Blurryface", my first experience with this track was a few seconds played on Bomani Jones' "The Right Time" podcast coming back from an ad break. I can't remember if I searched the lyrics or used Soundhound, but I just had to find out what it was! Ohio's Twenty One Pilots are a duo who are pretty fluid genre-wise but definitely have some Hip-Hop influence. The lead vocalist, Tyler Joseph, has an interesting tone and I think it's the combination of that on the hook and the cold, angular beat that makes for a winning combination.
Zero 7 : All Of Us
Probably the last time we go to the "Yeah Ghost" album, this was just an instrumental I realised lined up really well with the previous track; the slow build makes for a nice long blend - despite the differing time signatures.
A Tribe Called Quest : Dis Generation
After eighteen years, A Tribe Called Quest return with a new LP "We got it drom Here...Thank You 4 Your service" - and sadly, their last, with Phife passing away before this was completed. This album is no poor relation though, and it's absolutely one of the releases of the year. I could have chosen any number of tracks to be included here, but this was my early favourite so I decided to stay with it. It features all the original members of Tribe, including Jarobi, and features Busta Rhymes, who broke out all those years ago on "Scenario" and comes back with fire in the belly on this album. Extra points for the sample of Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie" for the hook!
Common ft. Bilal : Letter To The Free
I actually wanted to play this last month, as it's played at the end of Ava DuVernay's masterful documentary "13th", but I just couldn't find a copy anywhere. As it turns out, it's on Common's new "Black America Again" album, and with the events of the last month I think it's just as apt here; Trump and his campaign slogan get an explicit mention in the second verse. Bilal contributes vocals to the chorus, and the piano work on the Karriem Riggins production is courtesy of Robert Glasper. The whole team did a great live performance of this at The White House - worth listening to. I did notice that not only did they have to take out the one curse, but also the names of an ex-president and the one to come...
Robert Glasper Experiment : This Is Not Fear
This song from the excellent new "ArtScience" album starts off with a high-energy jazz workout, so we join in about halfway through to bridge to the next track; I love the head-nod vibe though, so it's worth playing in its own right even though it's so short.
A Tribe Called Quest : Can I Kick It?
With some of the new Tribe on this month's show, I thought it might be worth playing the track that most of us first heard them on! This was actually the third single from their debut "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm", but it was the first to break out on the charts to such an extent that I heard it on UK radio. That bassline sample from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" is the most recognisable element of the track, but also the one responsible for Tribe not seeing a penny from it to this day!
Jay-Z : 22 Twos
Let me just get this out of the way; it should really be "22 Toos". Actually, I think there was a "to" in there, so "21 Toos and a To".
I couldn't pass up the chance to blend the start of this track into the end of "Can I Kick It?" :) We go all the way back to Jay-Z's debut "Reasonable Doubt" for a street lyrical workout over a beat from Ski.
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Bars N Hooks, & Don Alon : More Like Us (Instrumental)
Disco flavour on this Queensbridge 12" - you could probably get away with playing this Alchemist instrumental as a dance or bar with no-one having an inkling of the street origin of the main record. I may or may not have done this :)
Slick Rick : I Own America (Part 1)
I somehow managed to forget about this one even though it was a favourite when "The Art Of Storytelling" was released! DJ Clark Kent and Ty Fyffe keep it basic and still danceable on the beat and Rick is 100% on his "The Ruler" persona with the lyrics - so much so, that if you look closely at the album cover, you can see that the words he's writing are some of those from this track. "Even your kids tell you that you ain't sh!t to Slick Rick"? Oooh... One thing he hopefully won't have to worry about is deportation - after years of legal trouble, he finally got his US citizenship this year!
Public Enemy : Hazy Shade Of Criminal
"Take a piece of America back, but who had it first?" Just one of the on-point lines from Chuck D on this under-appreciated but quality single from "Greatest Misses" (Chuck didn't want to do a "greatest hits" collection, as he felt it signalled falling off/retirement)! This is a solid and still-relevant piece on how wealth and race can be the deciding factors on whether your conduct is considered to be criminal, and it's pleasantly close in sound to their sample-heavy heyday, with the Ultramagnetic-sampling beat being the kind of thing only Chuck could dominate.
Wu-Tang Clan : Uzi (Pinky Ring)
I remember when this came out ahead of the "Iron Flag" album, some critics had negative stuff to say. Those people were wrong. The Wu go back to basics with everyone (except ODB) jumping on this banging track, and as it was in the beginning (on "Protect Ya Neck"), GZA comes in at the end to clean up.
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings : What Have You Done For Me Lately?
It would be very easy to lead you wrong here for the laughs, but I'll do no such thing :) This classic-sounding funky soul record is in fact a relatively recent recording from Sharon Jones' 2002 debut "Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings", and as such is actually a cover of Janet Jackson's track of the same name! Sharon Jones, who sadly passed away this month at just 60, spent years working at hard jobs and doing session vocals on the side until finally getting her break and releasing her first solo record at the age of 40. She was an electric performer who some of us in Manchester were lucky enough to see grace the city with one of her legendary shows - she threw down like the soul greats of many years before her! May she rest peacefully.
J-Zone : Clubba Lang (Instrumental)
From J's "Fish-N-Grits" LP, you get an instrumental towards the end that speaks to both his recorded origins as a sampling wizard (and bassist) and his later work as a man that can get busy on the drums in a major way. It's great to see him recording again.
Earth, Wind, & Fire : That's The Way Of The World
Entering the three-song selection for David Mancuso with the title track from EWF's sixth album (and in fact, the soundtrack to a film of the same name which they were in!) Despite this, it's probably not one of their best-known tracks but it's a nice laid-back number to start things off.
Stevie Wonder : As
One of the classic Stevie songs, an ode to everlasting love, from one of the greatest albums of all time, "Songs In The Key Of Life". That's a record you absolutely must have in your collection; the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress agree with me on that one!
Ashford & Simpson : Stay Free
We finish with a record that was not just big at The Loft but also at the legendary Paradise Garage club (the one from which the term "garage music" comes). Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson were red-hot songwriters for Motown who wrote classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need To Get By" and many more before striking out as artists themselves (oh, and marrying). This 1979 album title track has some of the disco vibe to it, but in the good way, the soulful way. A beautiful track and message to end the month.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I've seen the streets... you're walking down."
- Tyler
"Power to the people and the beats"
- Chuck D
What a month. The result of the US Presidential election has the world in turmoil, and legions of hateful people now feel emboldened to act out in public - it feels like the Brexit result turned up way past 10. On a personal note, I had to relocate the whole podcast studio and music library, but committed to getting an episode out on time and have just about managed it; this month of all months, I couldn't let things go by without a musical comment.
RIP Sharon Jones and David Mancuso... all love.
Playlist/Notes
Intelligent Hoodlum : Arrest The President
You didn't think I was going to let the events of this month go by without comment, did you? Taking it all the way back to 1990 for this hyped-up anthem from Intelligent Hoodlum's eponymous debut album. Marley Marl provides the uptempo soundtrack for the young Queensbridge native (just 19) to spray over. His own life was rough and you can easily feel that the content of the lyrics could come from witnessing these situations first-hand.
Strange Angel : La Chanteuse
A little number from a local group who've since gone on to do other things, most notably as the KJs - a lovely moody instrumental with atmospheric vocal accents from the artist now known as Vieka.
Brand Nubian : Concerto In X Minor
Another 1990 album for this cut, the Brand Nubian debut "One For All". Derek X (now Sadat X) comes to the fore to man the mic solo for this one; sadly, the content is as relevant today as it was back them. The names may change, but the shame remains the same. On the sonic side, listen for DJ Alamo's occasional scratched contributions during the verses, completing Derek's phrases or adding a co-sign - more of that would be welcome in the present day!
Janelle Monae : Locked Inside
If you just let this one drift by you, you might confuse it for a standard love song, but listen carefully to the lyrics and you'll appreciate how well it fits into the theme for the month. Musicially, I love the change-up that you first hear twenty-four bars in and then later on in the track. Get this one on the "The ArchAndroid" album.
Clear Soul Forces : Solar Heat
Rarely do you hear MCs flowing at these kinds of speeds nowadays, but these Detroit boys are up to the challenge! I had to give it up and buy the "Gold PP7s" album after hearing this, because the skills are just undeniable. Ilajide has you thinking at first you're getting some jazzy lounge music before hitting you in the face repeatedly with the kick drum that drives the beat below the ridiculous verses. If you think there's no good Hip-Hop these days, you aren't paying attention :)
Twenty One Pilots : Fairly Local
The lead single from the 2015 album "Blurryface", my first experience with this track was a few seconds played on Bomani Jones' "The Right Time" podcast coming back from an ad break. I can't remember if I searched the lyrics or used Soundhound, but I just had to find out what it was! Ohio's Twenty One Pilots are a duo who are pretty fluid genre-wise but definitely have some Hip-Hop influence. The lead vocalist, Tyler Joseph, has an interesting tone and I think it's the combination of that on the hook and the cold, angular beat that makes for a winning combination.
Zero 7 : All Of Us
Probably the last time we go to the "Yeah Ghost" album, this was just an instrumental I realised lined up really well with the previous track; the slow build makes for a nice long blend - despite the differing time signatures.
A Tribe Called Quest : Dis Generation
After eighteen years, A Tribe Called Quest return with a new LP "We got it drom Here...Thank You 4 Your service" - and sadly, their last, with Phife passing away before this was completed. This album is no poor relation though, and it's absolutely one of the releases of the year. I could have chosen any number of tracks to be included here, but this was my early favourite so I decided to stay with it. It features all the original members of Tribe, including Jarobi, and features Busta Rhymes, who broke out all those years ago on "Scenario" and comes back with fire in the belly on this album. Extra points for the sample of Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie" for the hook!
Common ft. Bilal : Letter To The Free
I actually wanted to play this last month, as it's played at the end of Ava DuVernay's masterful documentary "13th", but I just couldn't find a copy anywhere. As it turns out, it's on Common's new "Black America Again" album, and with the events of the last month I think it's just as apt here; Trump and his campaign slogan get an explicit mention in the second verse. Bilal contributes vocals to the chorus, and the piano work on the Karriem Riggins production is courtesy of Robert Glasper. The whole team did a great live performance of this at The White House - worth listening to. I did notice that not only did they have to take out the one curse, but also the names of an ex-president and the one to come...
Robert Glasper Experiment : This Is Not Fear
This song from the excellent new "ArtScience" album starts off with a high-energy jazz workout, so we join in about halfway through to bridge to the next track; I love the head-nod vibe though, so it's worth playing in its own right even though it's so short.
A Tribe Called Quest : Can I Kick It?
With some of the new Tribe on this month's show, I thought it might be worth playing the track that most of us first heard them on! This was actually the third single from their debut "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm", but it was the first to break out on the charts to such an extent that I heard it on UK radio. That bassline sample from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" is the most recognisable element of the track, but also the one responsible for Tribe not seeing a penny from it to this day!
Jay-Z : 22 Twos
Let me just get this out of the way; it should really be "22 Toos". Actually, I think there was a "to" in there, so "21 Toos and a To".
I couldn't pass up the chance to blend the start of this track into the end of "Can I Kick It?" :) We go all the way back to Jay-Z's debut "Reasonable Doubt" for a street lyrical workout over a beat from Ski.
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Bars N Hooks, & Don Alon : More Like Us (Instrumental)
Disco flavour on this Queensbridge 12" - you could probably get away with playing this Alchemist instrumental as a dance or bar with no-one having an inkling of the street origin of the main record. I may or may not have done this :)
Slick Rick : I Own America (Part 1)
I somehow managed to forget about this one even though it was a favourite when "The Art Of Storytelling" was released! DJ Clark Kent and Ty Fyffe keep it basic and still danceable on the beat and Rick is 100% on his "The Ruler" persona with the lyrics - so much so, that if you look closely at the album cover, you can see that the words he's writing are some of those from this track. "Even your kids tell you that you ain't sh!t to Slick Rick"? Oooh... One thing he hopefully won't have to worry about is deportation - after years of legal trouble, he finally got his US citizenship this year!
Public Enemy : Hazy Shade Of Criminal
"Take a piece of America back, but who had it first?" Just one of the on-point lines from Chuck D on this under-appreciated but quality single from "Greatest Misses" (Chuck didn't want to do a "greatest hits" collection, as he felt it signalled falling off/retirement)! This is a solid and still-relevant piece on how wealth and race can be the deciding factors on whether your conduct is considered to be criminal, and it's pleasantly close in sound to their sample-heavy heyday, with the Ultramagnetic-sampling beat being the kind of thing only Chuck could dominate.
Wu-Tang Clan : Uzi (Pinky Ring)
I remember when this came out ahead of the "Iron Flag" album, some critics had negative stuff to say. Those people were wrong. The Wu go back to basics with everyone (except ODB) jumping on this banging track, and as it was in the beginning (on "Protect Ya Neck"), GZA comes in at the end to clean up.
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings : What Have You Done For Me Lately?
It would be very easy to lead you wrong here for the laughs, but I'll do no such thing :) This classic-sounding funky soul record is in fact a relatively recent recording from Sharon Jones' 2002 debut "Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings", and as such is actually a cover of Janet Jackson's track of the same name! Sharon Jones, who sadly passed away this month at just 60, spent years working at hard jobs and doing session vocals on the side until finally getting her break and releasing her first solo record at the age of 40. She was an electric performer who some of us in Manchester were lucky enough to see grace the city with one of her legendary shows - she threw down like the soul greats of many years before her! May she rest peacefully.
J-Zone : Clubba Lang (Instrumental)
From J's "Fish-N-Grits" LP, you get an instrumental towards the end that speaks to both his recorded origins as a sampling wizard (and bassist) and his later work as a man that can get busy on the drums in a major way. It's great to see him recording again.
Earth, Wind, & Fire : That's The Way Of The World
Entering the three-song selection for David Mancuso with the title track from EWF's sixth album (and in fact, the soundtrack to a film of the same name which they were in!) Despite this, it's probably not one of their best-known tracks but it's a nice laid-back number to start things off.
Stevie Wonder : As
One of the classic Stevie songs, an ode to everlasting love, from one of the greatest albums of all time, "Songs In The Key Of Life". That's a record you absolutely must have in your collection; the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress agree with me on that one!
Ashford & Simpson : Stay Free
We finish with a record that was not just big at The Loft but also at the legendary Paradise Garage club (the one from which the term "garage music" comes). Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson were red-hot songwriters for Motown who wrote classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need To Get By" and many more before striking out as artists themselves (oh, and marrying). This 1979 album title track has some of the disco vibe to it, but in the good way, the soulful way. A beautiful track and message to end the month.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Penitentiary's the plan to plant the new plantation."
- Treach
I'm currently getting ready to relocate the podcast studio but still got this episode out on time. Round of applause? As the autumn begins, the feel starts to get a little darker - not a full-on Halloween episode, but touching on everything from zombies to the upcoming US election (well, kind of) and finishing with a track from a long-time supporter of the show!
As promised, here are some charities helping Hurricane Matthew victims;
Shows to make this month;
Large Pro & Diamond D, November 10th
Playlist/Notes
Flatbush Zombies : Thug Waffle
Suitably Halloween-themed first artist? The man you hear on the intro, Agent J was the man who introduced me to this one! As you'd expect from their name, the Zombies hail from the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, and have been releasing music since 2012. No strangers to psychedelics, their debut mixtape was entitled "D.R.U.G.S", and "Thug Waffle" was their debut video. Lyrically, it's on some straight drug business - from the consumer end - and Erick Arc Elliot's production is bassy, dark and trippy in terms of sonics but tightly-timed. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's just one that grabbed my ears!
Kuartz : Night Train
This man just keeps pumping out the beats! March this year saw the release of his "The Tormented Revenge of Slick Jnr" instrumentals on which this track appears, worth checking out over on Bandcamp. This guy must have disk after disk of unheard material...may have to ask for a crafty listen!
Agallah : Propain Campaign Election
There isn't ever going to be another month in the future where this song will fit any better. I do like this record, it's a strange one - it's like they just crowbarred as many political references (accurate or not) as possible into a street record! Released just as Bush's presidency ended and Obama's began, the "Agobama" mixtape is politically-tinged all the way through, and on this cut Agallah's production fits perfectly, coming off like a Hip-Hop version of a news theme. I'd like to credit all the MCs here, but the copy I have of this tape doesn't have full credits and even searching the web isn't turning up much. Oh, one last thing; yes - Agallah called President Obama that several years before Larry Wilmore, but I dare say considerably after many Republicans would have done the same in an entirely less affectionate fashion...
Curren$y & Alchemist : 500 Pounds Of Gas
Just a short number, but I love the feeling. Alchemist digs down to give Spitta Andretti something sinister on this selection from the "Carrolton Heist" mixtape, something like if John Carpenter met Lord Finesse!
Travis Barker ft. The Cool Kids : Jump Down
Big up DJ A-Up for putting me up on this one a while back! For those who don't know, Travis Barker is the drummer from Blink-182, and while they may be on the punk vibe Travis is known to dabble in the Hip-Hop world. His "Give The Drummer Some" (good title!) debut solo LP sees him collaborating with a wide range of Hip-Hop artists, and right here he lays his drums down behind the Midwest's BMX bandits The Cool Kids. On the rest of the production, he manages to craft a track that fits them perfectly without actually biting their style - nice job.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Fox : Wrap Another Zoot (remix)
With their new remix album hitting the streets, I thought I'd play a Mouse Outfit cut which has been re-imagined by some solid guys on the Manchester scene, Band and Nymad. Jim Bane is a D&B DJ and producer who has been putting in work for years, and he got the green light from Chini to put together a new version of this cut from the "Step Steadier" LP. He and Nymad have crafted a track that you might have described as laid back if it weren't for the highly complex drum programming, blending electronic and acoustic sounds deftly. Also, being a DJ, I need to make sure the scratching gets recognised - like a chef with the salt, Jesterman adds just the right amount! Fox is a highly-versatile vocalist who does his thing over all kinds of beats, and this is a winning combination.
Jel : Special
If you are or have been a fan of the Anticon side of things, you might be familiar with Jel as a producer - he's done tracks for Atmosphere, Sole, and Sage Francis amongst others. He debuted as a solo artist with the "10 Seconds" album, a love letter to the SP-1200 drum sampler, back in 2001. The title itself refers to the total sample time on the machine, and each track is named after a control or function on it. This one happens to have a most fitting title as it's a clear standout, with Jel showing off his drum programming over a reggae-rooted groove.
Dr. Dre : Deep Cover (Instrumental)
This is one of the all-time great beats, thought I'd go do a little Halloween scratching on it before letting the whole track go!
Dr. Dre introducing Snoop Doggy Dogg : Deep Cover
Here we go with the full version, a hugely important single - Dre's first after leaving NWA, and the title track to the soundtrack for the Fishburne/Goldblum film of the same name. Few knew what to expect beforehand but from those first bass notes on the intro crackling into my room via the pirate radio, I knew it was a killer. This was Snoop's first on-record appearance, and in an era before Youtube - or even widespread MTV - we had no idea what this mysterious new MC looked like. As it turns out, he was about a foot taller than I imagined :) The voice he came with was quite unlike anyone we'd heard before, and as good as he was, there was little clue that the guest MC on the record would reach the heights he has! Apparently this was going to be on "The Chronic", but with the then-controversy around Body Count's "Cop Killer", I guess a track with a hook of "1-8-7 on an undercover cop" was considered a little too much...
Clear Soul Forces ft. Brogainz : Won Too
This one has missed the cut for a few episodes in a row but finally it finds a sonically-fitting place here. A one-off bonus cut available on Bandcamp, the Ilajide-produced beat bumps along really nicely and the on the mic...these Detroit MCs are showing off their skills for real.
Naughty By Nature : Chain Remains
This has always been a favourite of mine from the "Poverty's Paradise" album, essentially a Treach solo track where laments how many Black people are in prison and draws an explicit connection from slavery to modern-day incarceration. An extra-poignant note is added by having the voices of actual inmates played on the track between the verses; whenever I hear it, I always wonder what ended up happening to them.
dead prez : Behind Enemy Lines
Keeping the theme going from the previous track, we head to dead prez' 2000 debut "Let's Get Free". The strong opening verse makes specific reference to the jailed son of the Black Panther Fred Hampton, who was himself killed by the police & FBI (the recent film "13th" goes into some of the detail). As a whole, the track offers DPs perspective on the prison-industrial complex in general, an example of how someone with few options might find themselves there, and the impact on families. I think this is the perfect month to give this an airing.
Gaelle : Haiti (Interlude)
A gentle little instrumental from the very enjoyable "Transient" album, with Eddie "Ede" Wright taking the starring position on the guitar.
MC Trouble : Blackline
For all the enormous contributions Motown have made to Black music, they've never been a big player when it comes to Hip-Hop. They found a promising artist in the young MC Trouble, who released her debut and only album "Gotta Get A Grip" in 1990, only for us to lose her tragically only a year later at just 21 after an epileptic seizure triggered a fatal heart attack. This was easily my favourite cut from her album, conscious lyrics with an effective take on the "news interview" style. RIP Trouble.
Michael Jackson : Rock With You
One of Rod Temperton's many classics, and putting it into the hands of Michael Jackson allowed the song to be taken to the heights it needed to be at. Not much I can say about this that hasn't been said before, but make sure you have the "Off The Wall" album in your collection!
Patti Austin : Oh No Margarita
Rod Temperton did do some writing on this album, but not this track - however, I came up with the transition from "Rock With You" to this a long while back and the opportunity came up to do it for you! Patti Austin is a truly great artist who has turned her skills to soul/R&B, pop, and jazz over a career that started in the late 1960s. She has worked extensively with Quincy Jones and he's the man helming the production on this 1981 album, "Every Home Should Have One" - if we're talking about copies of the record, I agree wholeheartedly! This track was written by Patti Austin with Michael Boddicker and it's kind of an R&B-jazz fusion, with the jazz element most explicit when the track breaks down to a crazy rhythm part way through. I forgot about that when I played this in a bar once :)
Big Daddy Kane : I Get The Job Done
Always a pain when the snare drums on the track are double-hitting and make it sound like your mixing is off! Anyway, we keep it 80s with this cut from the second BDK album, "It's A Big Daddy Thing" where the topic is a staple for Kane - how he gets down with the ladies. Production comes courtesy of the New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley; I would have said originator, but let's not forget Jam & Lewis' work a few years before that really fed into the sound. You can certainly hear his signature all over this one, and even though I was never much of an NJS fan I do love this track.
[Sean C & LV] Busta Rhymes : Don't Touch Me (Instrumental)
Drum madness all over this one! Originally recorded for Busta Rhymes' "Back On My B.S." album, it was for some reason omitted from the final release - a shame, as it was making some decent noise when people first heard it, and it's an obvious single. I picked this up on 12" and it should still be available fairly inexpensively. I may play the vocal version for you sometime in the future!
DJ Woody : Ready For War
It's been a long time coming, but the highly-respected turntablist and no-fader scratch legend DJ Woody has finally released his debut LP, "The Point Of Contact". I jumped on it early to get one of the limited number of vinyls, but the digital download version is an absolute bargain. The link I just posted has a way better write-up of the production process than I could give you, but it's been a process of going back and forth with other instrumentalists to create the final product, and it works really well. This particular track is fittingly kind of hectic with a real ominousness to it, and perfectly-chosen samples are scratched as expertly as you'd expect. Big up Woody!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Penitentiary's the plan to plant the new plantation."
- Treach
I'm currently getting ready to relocate the podcast studio but still got this episode out on time. Round of applause? As the autumn begins, the feel starts to get a little darker - not a full-on Halloween episode, but touching on everything from zombies to the upcoming US election (well, kind of) and finishing with a track from a long-time supporter of the show!
As promised, here are some charities helping Hurricane Matthew victims;
Shows to make this month;
Large Pro & Diamond D, November 10th
Playlist/Notes
Flatbush Zombies : Thug Waffle
Suitably Halloween-themed first artist? The man you hear on the intro, Agent J was the man who introduced me to this one! As you'd expect from their name, the Zombies hail from the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, and have been releasing music since 2012. No strangers to psychedelics, their debut mixtape was entitled "D.R.U.G.S", and "Thug Waffle" was their debut video. Lyrically, it's on some straight drug business - from the consumer end - and Erick Arc Elliot's production is bassy, dark and trippy in terms of sonics but tightly-timed. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's just one that grabbed my ears!
Kuartz : Night Train
This man just keeps pumping out the beats! March this year saw the release of his "The Tormented Revenge of Slick Jnr" instrumentals on which this track appears, worth checking out over on Bandcamp. This guy must have disk after disk of unheard material...may have to ask for a crafty listen!
Agallah : Propain Campaign Election
There isn't ever going to be another month in the future where this song will fit any better. I do like this record, it's a strange one - it's like they just crowbarred as many political references (accurate or not) as possible into a street record! Released just as Bush's presidency ended and Obama's began, the "Agobama" mixtape is politically-tinged all the way through, and on this cut Agallah's production fits perfectly, coming off like a Hip-Hop version of a news theme. I'd like to credit all the MCs here, but the copy I have of this tape doesn't have full credits and even searching the web isn't turning up much. Oh, one last thing; yes - Agallah called President Obama that several years before Larry Wilmore, but I dare say considerably after many Republicans would have done the same in an entirely less affectionate fashion...
Curren$y & Alchemist : 500 Pounds Of Gas
Just a short number, but I love the feeling. Alchemist digs down to give Spitta Andretti something sinister on this selection from the "Carrolton Heist" mixtape, something like if John Carpenter met Lord Finesse!
Travis Barker ft. The Cool Kids : Jump Down
Big up DJ A-Up for putting me up on this one a while back! For those who don't know, Travis Barker is the drummer from Blink-182, and while they may be on the punk vibe Travis is known to dabble in the Hip-Hop world. His "Give The Drummer Some" (good title!) debut solo LP sees him collaborating with a wide range of Hip-Hop artists, and right here he lays his drums down behind the Midwest's BMX bandits The Cool Kids. On the rest of the production, he manages to craft a track that fits them perfectly without actually biting their style - nice job.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Fox : Wrap Another Zoot (remix)
With their new remix album hitting the streets, I thought I'd play a Mouse Outfit cut which has been re-imagined by some solid guys on the Manchester scene, Band and Nymad. Jim Bane is a D&B DJ and producer who has been putting in work for years, and he got the green light from Chini to put together a new version of this cut from the "Step Steadier" LP. He and Nymad have crafted a track that you might have described as laid back if it weren't for the highly complex drum programming, blending electronic and acoustic sounds deftly. Also, being a DJ, I need to make sure the scratching gets recognised - like a chef with the salt, Jesterman adds just the right amount! Fox is a highly-versatile vocalist who does his thing over all kinds of beats, and this is a winning combination.
Jel : Special
If you are or have been a fan of the Anticon side of things, you might be familiar with Jel as a producer - he's done tracks for Atmosphere, Sole, and Sage Francis amongst others. He debuted as a solo artist with the "10 Seconds" album, a love letter to the SP-1200 drum sampler, back in 2001. The title itself refers to the total sample time on the machine, and each track is named after a control or function on it. This one happens to have a most fitting title as it's a clear standout, with Jel showing off his drum programming over a reggae-rooted groove.
Dr. Dre : Deep Cover (Instrumental)
This is one of the all-time great beats, thought I'd go do a little Halloween scratching on it before letting the whole track go!
Dr. Dre introducing Snoop Doggy Dogg : Deep Cover
Here we go with the full version, a hugely important single - Dre's first after leaving NWA, and the title track to the soundtrack for the Fishburne/Goldblum film of the same name. Few knew what to expect beforehand but from those first bass notes on the intro crackling into my room via the pirate radio, I knew it was a killer. This was Snoop's first on-record appearance, and in an era before Youtube - or even widespread MTV - we had no idea what this mysterious new MC looked like. As it turns out, he was about a foot taller than I imagined :) The voice he came with was quite unlike anyone we'd heard before, and as good as he was, there was little clue that the guest MC on the record would reach the heights he has! Apparently this was going to be on "The Chronic", but with the then-controversy around Body Count's "Cop Killer", I guess a track with a hook of "1-8-7 on an undercover cop" was considered a little too much...
Clear Soul Forces ft. Brogainz : Won Too
This one has missed the cut for a few episodes in a row but finally it finds a sonically-fitting place here. A one-off bonus cut available on Bandcamp, the Ilajide-produced beat bumps along really nicely and the on the mic...these Detroit MCs are showing off their skills for real.
Naughty By Nature : Chain Remains
This has always been a favourite of mine from the "Poverty's Paradise" album, essentially a Treach solo track where laments how many Black people are in prison and draws an explicit connection from slavery to modern-day incarceration. An extra-poignant note is added by having the voices of actual inmates played on the track between the verses; whenever I hear it, I always wonder what ended up happening to them.
dead prez : Behind Enemy Lines
Keeping the theme going from the previous track, we head to dead prez' 2000 debut "Let's Get Free". The strong opening verse makes specific reference to the jailed son of the Black Panther Fred Hampton, who was himself killed by the police & FBI (the recent film "13th" goes into some of the detail). As a whole, the track offers DPs perspective on the prison-industrial complex in general, an example of how someone with few options might find themselves there, and the impact on families. I think this is the perfect month to give this an airing.
Gaelle : Haiti (Interlude)
A gentle little instrumental from the very enjoyable "Transient" album, with Eddie "Ede" Wright taking the starring position on the guitar.
MC Trouble : Blackline
For all the enormous contributions Motown have made to Black music, they've never been a big player when it comes to Hip-Hop. They found a promising artist in the young MC Trouble, who released her debut and only album "Gotta Get A Grip" in 1990, only for us to lose her tragically only a year later at just 21 after an epileptic seizure triggered a fatal heart attack. This was easily my favourite cut from her album, conscious lyrics with an effective take on the "news interview" style. RIP Trouble.
Michael Jackson : Rock With You
One of Rod Temperton's many classics, and putting it into the hands of Michael Jackson allowed the song to be taken to the heights it needed to be at. Not much I can say about this that hasn't been said before, but make sure you have the "Off The Wall" album in your collection!
Patti Austin : Oh No Margarita
Rod Temperton did do some writing on this album, but not this track - however, I came up with the transition from "Rock With You" to this a long while back and the opportunity came up to do it for you! Patti Austin is a truly great artist who has turned her skills to soul/R&B, pop, and jazz over a career that started in the late 1960s. She has worked extensively with Quincy Jones and he's the man helming the production on this 1981 album, "Every Home Should Have One" - if we're talking about copies of the record, I agree wholeheartedly! This track was written by Patti Austin with Michael Boddicker and it's kind of an R&B-jazz fusion, with the jazz element most explicit when the track breaks down to a crazy rhythm part way through. I forgot about that when I played this in a bar once :)
Big Daddy Kane : I Get The Job Done
Always a pain when the snare drums on the track are double-hitting and make it sound like your mixing is off! Anyway, we keep it 80s with this cut from the second BDK album, "It's A Big Daddy Thing" where the topic is a staple for Kane - how he gets down with the ladies. Production comes courtesy of the New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley; I would have said originator, but let's not forget Jam & Lewis' work a few years before that really fed into the sound. You can certainly hear his signature all over this one, and even though I was never much of an NJS fan I do love this track.
[Sean C & LV] Busta Rhymes : Don't Touch Me (Instrumental)
Drum madness all over this one! Originally recorded for Busta Rhymes' "Back On My B.S." album, it was for some reason omitted from the final release - a shame, as it was making some decent noise when people first heard it, and it's an obvious single. I picked this up on 12" and it should still be available fairly inexpensively. I may play the vocal version for you sometime in the future!
DJ Woody : Ready For War
It's been a long time coming, but the highly-respected turntablist and no-fader scratch legend DJ Woody has finally released his debut LP, "The Point Of Contact". I jumped on it early to get one of the limited number of vinyls, but the digital download version is an absolute bargain. The link I just posted has a way better write-up of the production process than I could give you, but it's been a process of going back and forth with other instrumentalists to create the final product, and it works really well. This particular track is fittingly kind of hectic with a real ominousness to it, and perfectly-chosen samples are scratched as expertly as you'd expect. Big up Woody!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We're an ice machine."
- Grace Jones
A combination of the tail end of summer and the recent upgrade of my car audio has prompted me to put together something I've been wanting to do for a long while - a low-tempo mix to ride slow to! The obvious thing would have been to go heavy on the Houston, Screwed Up Click style, but there's actually only one tune here that really fits that description; overall it's a very varied selection which will hopefully keep you entertained and impressed all the way through!
(I don't have the car in the cover art anymore, but I just had to use this photo. Check that colour coordination.)
Playlist/Notes
Ski & Camp Lo : Back Uptown
It's always good to open up strong and this just bangs. Ski disrespects your speakers early with this seriously aggressive production and then laces it with the Bronx slick talk legends Camp Lo, who handle it as adeptly as any of the smoother tracks you might know them for. Ski's "24 Hour Karate School" has this and plenty more for you.
Alchemist : Smoke Break (Instrumental)
We've had the vocal version of this "Covert Coup" track with Curren$y on the show (Episode 29) but I just love the beat and after playing about with various things getting ready for this episode, this turned out to be a great fit. Alchemist does a top job with a well-known drum sample, which I didn't spot right away - but you might!
Slim Thug, Z-Ro, and Paul Wall : Pokin Out
I've been saving this one for ages, knowing I wanted to do an episode like this! The interpolation of the old Joe Jackson "Steppin' Out" sample by Scoop DeVille has an amazingly triumphant, celebratory feel, amplified by the (maybe just slightly?) off-key chorus. This is just a straight-out balling track about rolling on deluxe wheels with no apology - all the verses are solid, but I think Z-Ro on the second absolutely steals the show.
GQ : Think Of Me
Going back to GQ's debut album, "Rated Oakland", we catch him as he skips his flow over the Madonna-sampled beat by Eric G, letting you know that negative opinions - or any, in fact - don't concern him. He did record a whole song about it, mind, but the point is taken ;)
Oddisee : Wouldn't Be Surprised
Only short, but a perfect bridge here as we revisit the "AlWasta" EP, just talking about staying focused on the money in his professional life. One verse says it all.
Grace Jones : Nightclubbing
A vintage piece I only really got up on recently, immediately recognising that it was used to great effect on Shyne's "Bad Boyz". It's the title track to her fifth album, the outcome of her work with masters like Sly & Robbie at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. Very much going with her Jamaican roots, the reggae influence is heavy and just sounds great. Another interesting point is that this is a cover version - Iggy Pop did the original, in collaboration with David Bowie. This version just destroys it though :)
Dr. Yen Lo : Day 811
Mysterious, no? I completely missed this album when it came out last year, but once I heard the first three songs this month I bought the whole thing. Dr Yen Lo (named for the character in "The Manchurian Candidate") is a project by the expert pensman and emcee Ka from Brownsville, and the producer Preservation (of Sonic Sum, and also Yasiin Bey's tour DJ), and the "Days With Dr. Yen Lo" LP is made up of twelve tracks, all named for a particular numbered day. Preservation nails the low-key production throughout, with a vibe that will be familiar to those who've checked for Ka albums like the capsule masterpiece "Grief Pedigree" - but when he does go a little louder, like the second part here, he makes it work.
Cutterz : Flip It In, Turn It Out
From Manchester's Taste The Diff'rence crew, Cutterz has been doing his thing on the turntables for a good while - now, we hear how he gets down on the beats. He sent this beat through a few months ago for me to hear and I knew that this would be the episode to save it for! The timing is so relaxed it barely made it onto the track, and it slumps along nicely with some deep bass buried in there.
Boldy James ft. Peechie Green : 50 Foot Razor Blade
Going more than a little dark here, as Detroit's Boldy James gives you a one-verse treatment on pain, before letting his man Peechie get on the second verse. Boldy is unquestionably stronger on this track, and he fits the vibe of the Harry Fraud-produced beat.
Ernie Gaines : When The Gun Gets Drawn
From the extremely hard-to-buy (thanks to T.S. Jones from Moonchyld's Entertainment blog for sourcing this one!) Prodigy-helmed soundtrack from "A Talent For Trouble" comes this bluesily-sung track with a very interesting mix of textures on the production side. Notice how that even though the track is essentially an acoustic number lead by the guitar, the electronic drums with those little rolls are a total contrast. That hi-hat on the hook is spitting like hot grease too. Ernie Gaines is a man not afraid to mix styles, which makes for an interesting listen. Check his new "Lost In Time" album to hear how he's built from 2009 to now.
Tall Black Guy : The Motor Is Running
Another one I'd been saving for this episode! Gorgeous instrumental from TBG, with his Rhodes work and warm bass notes mixing with backwards keyboards and some crisp drums which periodically break out into some very busy programming - then he brings a load more seasoning to the party. Top notch selection from the "8 Miles To Moenart" album.
The System : Don't Disturb This Groove (Redux)
Only discovered this remix this month, and after the third rewind I knew a home had to be found for it here. The System are one of those acts you probably won't know unless you were around at the time; previously working with Kleeer as keyboardist and road manager, they got their own recording deal around 1983. The original version of this cut was a #1 hit and title track from their fourth album, but this mix is taken from their 2013 "System Overload" project, bringing the sound bang up-to-date with a bassy and spacey vibe.
Onra : Tape This
All the way into the word of warping and distortion with this number from Onra's heavily 80s-influenced "Long Distance" LP. I really need to convert my vinyl of this to MP3, since Spotify don't have it at all...
Freddie Old Soul : Shopping In My Mind
Coming out of Chicago, this MC shows her very solid pen game on this lullaby-with-boom beat. Right now Soundcloud is the place to go to check out her work, but with any luck we'll get an album!
Sophie Barker : Say Goodbye (The Beauty Room Remix)
You may know Sophie Barker as one of the writers and vocalists who worked with Zero 7 on their first two albums, whether it be on the hook of the brilliant single "Destiny" or the beautiful "Passing By" to name but two appearances. She also has her own career separate from the group, and this remix is on a single released from her "Seagull" LP. The electronic vibe and (much) heavier drums and bass here are provided by The Beauty Room, a combination of the techno producer Kirk Degiorgio and the vocalist Jinadu. The original is very nice, but for my listening taste this is a great interpretation.
PJ : I'm Good
Anyone who says there isn't good music coming out these days just isn't paying attention. North Carolina's PJ is a singer-songwriter whose soulful new album "Rare" is definitely worth checking, and this tune is a great illustration of why. She mixes her rhyming and singing side nicely and the production sways between just dreamlike and low-key D&B. While PJ may not have wanted to be an artist at first, she shows here that it was just meant to be.
Unkle : U.N.K.L.E. Main Title Theme
This has been a four-star pick on my iPods for a long time, and this is finally the perfect place to include it! Unkle (sometimes U.N.K.L.E) is a project which has had many personnel changes over the years, but which has always been headed up by James Lavelle of Mo' Wax. At the time of the "Psyence Fiction" album on which this track appears, DJ Shadow was the lead collaborator and you can absolutely hear it all the way through here. Can't get enough of that lead guitar line!
Harry Fraud : Phoenix (Instrumental)
This is something I could imagine The Diplomats on! However, this is a beat Harry Fraud did for the New Jersey MC Eddie B's "The Johnny Utah Story" mixtape. Definitely worth listening to the vocal version - Eddie takes on the beat by following the hi-hat pattern for a rapid-fire flow with great control on the opening verse.
Natural Elements : Turning Tables
It's nice to hear some love for the DJs! The highly-respected NE crew take some time to respect the foundation on this track from their "NEp", with Charlemagne slowing things down on the piano-based, bass-augmented beat. I was wondering who they had singing on the hook, and then realised it was a sample that I wouldn't have expected - some of you might know it, but I'm saying nothing else ;)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We're an ice machine."
- Grace Jones
A combination of the tail end of summer and the recent upgrade of my car audio has prompted me to put together something I've been wanting to do for a long while - a low-tempo mix to ride slow to! The obvious thing would have been to go heavy on the Houston, Screwed Up Click style, but there's actually only one tune here that really fits that description; overall it's a very varied selection which will hopefully keep you entertained and impressed all the way through!
(I don't have the car in the cover art anymore, but I just had to use this photo. Check that colour coordination.)
Playlist/Notes
Ski & Camp Lo : Back Uptown
It's always good to open up strong and this just bangs. Ski disrespects your speakers early with this seriously aggressive production and then laces it with the Bronx slick talk legends Camp Lo, who handle it as adeptly as any of the smoother tracks you might know them for. Ski's "24 Hour Karate School" has this and plenty more for you.
Alchemist : Smoke Break (Instrumental)
We've had the vocal version of this "Covert Coup" track with Curren$y on the show (Episode 29) but I just love the beat and after playing about with various things getting ready for this episode, this turned out to be a great fit. Alchemist does a top job with a well-known drum sample, which I didn't spot right away - but you might!
Slim Thug, Z-Ro, and Paul Wall : Pokin Out
I've been saving this one for ages, knowing I wanted to do an episode like this! The interpolation of the old Joe Jackson "Steppin' Out" sample by Scoop DeVille has an amazingly triumphant, celebratory feel, amplified by the (maybe just slightly?) off-key chorus. This is just a straight-out balling track about rolling on deluxe wheels with no apology - all the verses are solid, but I think Z-Ro on the second absolutely steals the show.
GQ : Think Of Me
Going back to GQ's debut album, "Rated Oakland", we catch him as he skips his flow over the Madonna-sampled beat by Eric G, letting you know that negative opinions - or any, in fact - don't concern him. He did record a whole song about it, mind, but the point is taken ;)
Oddisee : Wouldn't Be Surprised
Only short, but a perfect bridge here as we revisit the "AlWasta" EP, just talking about staying focused on the money in his professional life. One verse says it all.
Grace Jones : Nightclubbing
A vintage piece I only really got up on recently, immediately recognising that it was used to great effect on Shyne's "Bad Boyz". It's the title track to her fifth album, the outcome of her work with masters like Sly & Robbie at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. Very much going with her Jamaican roots, the reggae influence is heavy and just sounds great. Another interesting point is that this is a cover version - Iggy Pop did the original, in collaboration with David Bowie. This version just destroys it though :)
Dr. Yen Lo : Day 811
Mysterious, no? I completely missed this album when it came out last year, but once I heard the first three songs this month I bought the whole thing. Dr Yen Lo (named for the character in "The Manchurian Candidate") is a project by the expert pensman and emcee Ka from Brownsville, and the producer Preservation (of Sonic Sum, and also Yasiin Bey's tour DJ), and the "Days With Dr. Yen Lo" LP is made up of twelve tracks, all named for a particular numbered day. Preservation nails the low-key production throughout, with a vibe that will be familiar to those who've checked for Ka albums like the capsule masterpiece "Grief Pedigree" - but when he does go a little louder, like the second part here, he makes it work.
Cutterz : Flip It In, Turn It Out
From Manchester's Taste The Diff'rence crew, Cutterz has been doing his thing on the turntables for a good while - now, we hear how he gets down on the beats. He sent this beat through a few months ago for me to hear and I knew that this would be the episode to save it for! The timing is so relaxed it barely made it onto the track, and it slumps along nicely with some deep bass buried in there.
Boldy James ft. Peechie Green : 50 Foot Razor Blade
Going more than a little dark here, as Detroit's Boldy James gives you a one-verse treatment on pain, before letting his man Peechie get on the second verse. Boldy is unquestionably stronger on this track, and he fits the vibe of the Harry Fraud-produced beat.
Ernie Gaines : When The Gun Gets Drawn
From the extremely hard-to-buy (thanks to T.S. Jones from Moonchyld's Entertainment blog for sourcing this one!) Prodigy-helmed soundtrack from "A Talent For Trouble" comes this bluesily-sung track with a very interesting mix of textures on the production side. Notice how that even though the track is essentially an acoustic number lead by the guitar, the electronic drums with those little rolls are a total contrast. That hi-hat on the hook is spitting like hot grease too. Ernie Gaines is a man not afraid to mix styles, which makes for an interesting listen. Check his new "Lost In Time" album to hear how he's built from 2009 to now.
Tall Black Guy : The Motor Is Running
Another one I'd been saving for this episode! Gorgeous instrumental from TBG, with his Rhodes work and warm bass notes mixing with backwards keyboards and some crisp drums which periodically break out into some very busy programming - then he brings a load more seasoning to the party. Top notch selection from the "8 Miles To Moenart" album.
The System : Don't Disturb This Groove (Redux)
Only discovered this remix this month, and after the third rewind I knew a home had to be found for it here. The System are one of those acts you probably won't know unless you were around at the time; previously working with Kleeer as keyboardist and road manager, they got their own recording deal around 1983. The original version of this cut was a #1 hit and title track from their fourth album, but this mix is taken from their 2013 "System Overload" project, bringing the sound bang up-to-date with a bassy and spacey vibe.
Onra : Tape This
All the way into the word of warping and distortion with this number from Onra's heavily 80s-influenced "Long Distance" LP. I really need to convert my vinyl of this to MP3, since Spotify don't have it at all...
Freddie Old Soul : Shopping In My Mind
Coming out of Chicago, this MC shows her very solid pen game on this lullaby-with-boom beat. Right now Soundcloud is the place to go to check out her work, but with any luck we'll get an album!
Sophie Barker : Say Goodbye (The Beauty Room Remix)
You may know Sophie Barker as one of the writers and vocalists who worked with Zero 7 on their first two albums, whether it be on the hook of the brilliant single "Destiny" or the beautiful "Passing By" to name but two appearances. She also has her own career separate from the group, and this remix is on a single released from her "Seagull" LP. The electronic vibe and (much) heavier drums and bass here are provided by The Beauty Room, a combination of the techno producer Kirk Degiorgio and the vocalist Jinadu. The original is very nice, but for my listening taste this is a great interpretation.
PJ : I'm Good
Anyone who says there isn't good music coming out these days just isn't paying attention. North Carolina's PJ is a singer-songwriter whose soulful new album "Rare" is definitely worth checking, and this tune is a great illustration of why. She mixes her rhyming and singing side nicely and the production sways between just dreamlike and low-key D&B. While PJ may not have wanted to be an artist at first, she shows here that it was just meant to be.
Unkle : U.N.K.L.E. Main Title Theme
This has been a four-star pick on my iPods for a long time, and this is finally the perfect place to include it! Unkle (sometimes U.N.K.L.E) is a project which has had many personnel changes over the years, but which has always been headed up by James Lavelle of Mo' Wax. At the time of the "Psyence Fiction" album on which this track appears, DJ Shadow was the lead collaborator and you can absolutely hear it all the way through here. Can't get enough of that lead guitar line!
Harry Fraud : Phoenix (Instrumental)
This is something I could imagine The Diplomats on! However, this is a beat Harry Fraud did for the New Jersey MC Eddie B's "The Johnny Utah Story" mixtape. Definitely worth listening to the vocal version - Eddie takes on the beat by following the hi-hat pattern for a rapid-fire flow with great control on the opening verse.
Natural Elements : Turning Tables
It's nice to hear some love for the DJs! The highly-respected NE crew take some time to respect the foundation on this track from their "NEp", with Charlemagne slowing things down on the piano-based, bass-augmented beat. I was wondering who they had singing on the hook, and then realised it was a sample that I wouldn't have expected - some of you might know it, but I'm saying nothing else ;)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You get that, money?"
- Sean Price
Back with another episode, fresh off a trip to the Mecca of Hip-Hop, New York City! I didn't pick up any new vinyl on the trip but I did get a bunch of inspiration for the selection this month - I think you'll enjoy it. As promised, here are some of my photos from NYC, and here is a full album just of the Tools Of War Diggers Delight jam - it deserved its own extended coverage!
Playlist/Notes
Cam'ron ft. Jay-Z and Juelz Santana: Welcome To New York City
Well, when else was I going to get the chance to start an episode with this? :) Big track from the "Come Home With Me" album, with a triumphant and defiant tone, especially in the wake of the World Trade Center attack that happened less than a year before. Just Blaze, then in his early days with Roc-A-Fella, absolutely kills the production on this, giving it a tone like something from a bombastic sportscast theme. And that 80s hair metal singer on the hook? That's him too.
Pro P : Cops and Robbers
One of the foremost Manchester producers for that boom-bap sound, Pro P brought it once again on his "Street Life Beat Tape". He stays knocking out the work - you'll have heard earlier work on past episodes.
Sean Price ft. Starang Wonder and Steele : Shakedown
Unapologetic roughness from the late, great Sean P's solo debut, "Monkey Barz", with three Boot Camp Clik MCs dropping some straight street talk. One bit of trivia for you; I've heard this same verse used on a separate guest appearance (recorded previously, I assume), and the sound of prison bars closing in the first verse is actually the censoring out of the name of a prominent industry figure...I think you can guess who if you think about it! Star.com and Justice are on production, basing their beat around those plucked strings and slow, pounding drums. Listen out for the bass as well; it's barely a bassline, just a low drone that gets turned up on the second beat of each two-bar phrase - but it's the perfect menacing undertone.
M.O.P. ft. Mr Probz : Hustle
Been playing this track a fair bit this month and it just so happened to fit well into this spot. Lil Fame and Billy Danze are kind of reflective here, but they never take that energy out of their deliveries! They definitely elevate the Beat Butcha instrumental, and while it may not be to everyone's taste, I think the slightly-autotuned hook by Mr Probz absolutely works here. This is the second time we've visited the "Street Certified" album, and there are a good few more solid tracks to find on that release.
Stephen Marley ft. Rakim and Kardinal Offishall : So Unjust
A recent release I thought you'd appreciate; a rare Rakim appearance on the new Marley album "Revelation Pt.II : The Fruit Of Life", speaking righteousness alongside Toronto's Kardinal Offishall, a man who excels at the nexus of reggae and Hip-Hop. This track apparently started with more of a Hip-Hop lean but was reworked into the shape you hear here; maybe in the future we'll hear it as a remix?
Sister Nancy : Bam Bam
One of the all-time classic reggae singles! Sister Nancy was one of the first, if not the first dancehall DJs (MC, to you) to emerge, and one who has worked with some of the great producers and sound systems. This track has been so ever-present, I was really surprised to find it was only released in 1982! It rides on the late Winston Riley's classic "Stalag Riddim", which has been so heavily recorded on and sampled that I bet most listeners will recognise it, and Nancy's voice cuts through on the high end - you might recognise that too.
Gladiator : Run To Me
Another trip to the "Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" by The Beat Tape project; I don't have much info on Gladiator, but s/he did a good job here!
DJ Spinna ft. Phonte : Intergalactic Soul
I was scratching my head trying to work out what the following track reminded me of, and this was my closest pick. The sound of it fits the title perfectly, and it's the title track from DJ Spinna's second solo album (don't forget his Jigmastas work). The bar count is a little unusual for Hip-Hop, but Phonte handles it with no problem, and he's gone on to show he can rhyme on pretty much anything. A lot of the album is more uptempo, but this is a tasty headnodder.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Truthos Mufasa and Black Josh : Sit Back (Sivey Remix)
The Mouse Outfit have a remix LP coming out in October and they kindly gave me an advance listen and permission to share a little something with you! Manchester's Sivey works a little magic on a cut from the "Escape Music" LP, spacing it out and giving it even more of an explicitly live feel. The full remix project is one to grab - you heard that here first :)
Scritti Politti : Die Alone
From the "Anomie & Bonhomie" LP, which was laden with Hip-Hop influences and artists, we carry on that live feel but with more of a straightforward head-nod rhythm driving things. The album credits don't say who's on each track, so I'm not sure who's rhyming, but they mesh well with Green Gartside's vocal interjections. He's got one of the most unique voices in music, and if he was to collaborate with more people, I wouldn't mind at all...
Slum Village ft. J.Isaac and Kurupt : It'z Your World
This is a track that's always been a personal favourite but which I've never heard outside my own selection! This is on the "Prequel To A Classic" LP, and is a real standout on there. Production is by J Dilla and Young RJ, bridging the original lineup and the changes that came after Dilla's passing, and it's just...so dope. J.Isaac is from Minneapolis and released just one LP, 2002's "Marriage Material" - so you could be forgiven for not being familiar. He's kind of animated vocally but I think it's a nice offset to the track, which isn't particularly busy. Kurupt puts in a short guest appearance, with Slum bringing him back after his verse on "Forth & Back" from "Fantastic, Vol.2".
Charlie : Mr Trustmaker
Taking it to Italy with this nice piece from Charlie of the Beatfonics Crew - this particular project based around the work of Bobby Hutcherson, who sadly passed away this month. At only one Euro for the whole thing, it's well worth picking up!
Masters Of Illusion ft. Kool Keith : The Bay-Bronx Bridge
Modern(ish) retro stylings here, from the 2000 "Masters Of Illusion" LP. Kutmasta Kurt cooks up a beat that could easily been on the Ultramagnetic MCs' 1988 "Critical Beatdown", and Motion Man's verse is very much a homage to Kool Keith; in fact, one part is a rework of a piece from "Ease Back". Keith himself comes in for the second verse and is definitely in fine form!
Future Troubles and Merciless : Man A Thug
Big dancehall favourite for me! I first heard this in the early 2000s, blended with the instrumental of Missy Elliott's "She's A Bitch", which sounded incredible - but I can't be a biter and do the same blend here! The late E.J. Robinson puts down a heavy riddim for the tag team to get busy on, and they do it justice. Picked this up this year on 7" and had to share it with you.
Eric B & Rakim : Lyrics Of Fury
Probably the most sampled drum break in Hip-Hop history combined with some furious guitars from Funkadelic on this microphone throwdown from the god MC. If you're new-ish to Hip-Hop you may be hearing this for the first time - in which case, do yourself a favour and check the whole "Follow The Leader" album.
Hijack : Brother Versus Brother
Hijack are apparently releasing a new album within the next year, roughly 25 years on from the much-respected "The Horns Of Jericho" LP, from which we take this selection. Kamanchi Sly just brims over with indignance and frustration on this one, over a suitably urgent backing. A vintage bit of UK Hip-Hop!
Kwanzaa Posse : Wicked Funk
I don't know anything about this act unfortunately, but this is a nice bit of sample stew I first heard on a Martin Brew mixtape! Even the casual diggers amongst you will recognise some bits...
Marvin Gaye : Trouble Man
A classic bit of Marvin, the title track from the soundtrack of the Robert Hooks-starring 1972 Blaxploitation film. It's one of the vocal numbers which focuses on the main character, but the soundtrack is largely instrumental, with Marvin playing more instruments than many would expect! There's a whole backstory to the recording here that's well worth reading.
Has-Lo : Hindsight (Apollo Brown Mix)
I think that one of Spotify's recommendation playlists brought this track to my attention, so apologies if it was actually one of you! Short in the way that frustrates you, this is just fantastic. An Apollo Brown-remixed version (from the "Conversation B" album) of "Limit" from Has-Lo's "In Case I Don't Make It", it starts off with a long uninterrupted sample from Marvin Gaye's classic "Trouble Man" before looping it up perfectly under some heavy-yet-understated drums and on top of a nice bit of sub-bass. Philadelphia Hip-Hop is often overlooked (except perhaps for The Roots), but Has-Lo represents for his city here with some low-key quality MCing.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You get that, money?"
- Sean Price
Back with another episode, fresh off a trip to the Mecca of Hip-Hop, New York City! I didn't pick up any new vinyl on the trip but I did get a bunch of inspiration for the selection this month - I think you'll enjoy it. As promised, here are some of my photos from NYC, and here is a full album just of the Tools Of War Diggers Delight jam - it deserved its own extended coverage!
Playlist/Notes
Cam'ron ft. Jay-Z and Juelz Santana: Welcome To New York City
Well, when else was I going to get the chance to start an episode with this? :) Big track from the "Come Home With Me" album, with a triumphant and defiant tone, especially in the wake of the World Trade Center attack that happened less than a year before. Just Blaze, then in his early days with Roc-A-Fella, absolutely kills the production on this, giving it a tone like something from a bombastic sportscast theme. And that 80s hair metal singer on the hook? That's him too.
Pro P : Cops and Robbers
One of the foremost Manchester producers for that boom-bap sound, Pro P brought it once again on his "Street Life Beat Tape". He stays knocking out the work - you'll have heard earlier work on past episodes.
Sean Price ft. Starang Wonder and Steele : Shakedown
Unapologetic roughness from the late, great Sean P's solo debut, "Monkey Barz", with three Boot Camp Clik MCs dropping some straight street talk. One bit of trivia for you; I've heard this same verse used on a separate guest appearance (recorded previously, I assume), and the sound of prison bars closing in the first verse is actually the censoring out of the name of a prominent industry figure...I think you can guess who if you think about it! Star.com and Justice are on production, basing their beat around those plucked strings and slow, pounding drums. Listen out for the bass as well; it's barely a bassline, just a low drone that gets turned up on the second beat of each two-bar phrase - but it's the perfect menacing undertone.
M.O.P. ft. Mr Probz : Hustle
Been playing this track a fair bit this month and it just so happened to fit well into this spot. Lil Fame and Billy Danze are kind of reflective here, but they never take that energy out of their deliveries! They definitely elevate the Beat Butcha instrumental, and while it may not be to everyone's taste, I think the slightly-autotuned hook by Mr Probz absolutely works here. This is the second time we've visited the "Street Certified" album, and there are a good few more solid tracks to find on that release.
Stephen Marley ft. Rakim and Kardinal Offishall : So Unjust
A recent release I thought you'd appreciate; a rare Rakim appearance on the new Marley album "Revelation Pt.II : The Fruit Of Life", speaking righteousness alongside Toronto's Kardinal Offishall, a man who excels at the nexus of reggae and Hip-Hop. This track apparently started with more of a Hip-Hop lean but was reworked into the shape you hear here; maybe in the future we'll hear it as a remix?
Sister Nancy : Bam Bam
One of the all-time classic reggae singles! Sister Nancy was one of the first, if not the first dancehall DJs (MC, to you) to emerge, and one who has worked with some of the great producers and sound systems. This track has been so ever-present, I was really surprised to find it was only released in 1982! It rides on the late Winston Riley's classic "Stalag Riddim", which has been so heavily recorded on and sampled that I bet most listeners will recognise it, and Nancy's voice cuts through on the high end - you might recognise that too.
Gladiator : Run To Me
Another trip to the "Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" by The Beat Tape project; I don't have much info on Gladiator, but s/he did a good job here!
DJ Spinna ft. Phonte : Intergalactic Soul
I was scratching my head trying to work out what the following track reminded me of, and this was my closest pick. The sound of it fits the title perfectly, and it's the title track from DJ Spinna's second solo album (don't forget his Jigmastas work). The bar count is a little unusual for Hip-Hop, but Phonte handles it with no problem, and he's gone on to show he can rhyme on pretty much anything. A lot of the album is more uptempo, but this is a tasty headnodder.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Truthos Mufasa and Black Josh : Sit Back (Sivey Remix)
The Mouse Outfit have a remix LP coming out in October and they kindly gave me an advance listen and permission to share a little something with you! Manchester's Sivey works a little magic on a cut from the "Escape Music" LP, spacing it out and giving it even more of an explicitly live feel. The full remix project is one to grab - you heard that here first :)
Scritti Politti : Die Alone
From the "Anomie & Bonhomie" LP, which was laden with Hip-Hop influences and artists, we carry on that live feel but with more of a straightforward head-nod rhythm driving things. The album credits don't say who's on each track, so I'm not sure who's rhyming, but they mesh well with Green Gartside's vocal interjections. He's got one of the most unique voices in music, and if he was to collaborate with more people, I wouldn't mind at all...
Slum Village ft. J.Isaac and Kurupt : It'z Your World
This is a track that's always been a personal favourite but which I've never heard outside my own selection! This is on the "Prequel To A Classic" LP, and is a real standout on there. Production is by J Dilla and Young RJ, bridging the original lineup and the changes that came after Dilla's passing, and it's just...so dope. J.Isaac is from Minneapolis and released just one LP, 2002's "Marriage Material" - so you could be forgiven for not being familiar. He's kind of animated vocally but I think it's a nice offset to the track, which isn't particularly busy. Kurupt puts in a short guest appearance, with Slum bringing him back after his verse on "Forth & Back" from "Fantastic, Vol.2".
Charlie : Mr Trustmaker
Taking it to Italy with this nice piece from Charlie of the Beatfonics Crew - this particular project based around the work of Bobby Hutcherson, who sadly passed away this month. At only one Euro for the whole thing, it's well worth picking up!
Masters Of Illusion ft. Kool Keith : The Bay-Bronx Bridge
Modern(ish) retro stylings here, from the 2000 "Masters Of Illusion" LP. Kutmasta Kurt cooks up a beat that could easily been on the Ultramagnetic MCs' 1988 "Critical Beatdown", and Motion Man's verse is very much a homage to Kool Keith; in fact, one part is a rework of a piece from "Ease Back". Keith himself comes in for the second verse and is definitely in fine form!
Future Troubles and Merciless : Man A Thug
Big dancehall favourite for me! I first heard this in the early 2000s, blended with the instrumental of Missy Elliott's "She's A Bitch", which sounded incredible - but I can't be a biter and do the same blend here! The late E.J. Robinson puts down a heavy riddim for the tag team to get busy on, and they do it justice. Picked this up this year on 7" and had to share it with you.
Eric B & Rakim : Lyrics Of Fury
Probably the most sampled drum break in Hip-Hop history combined with some furious guitars from Funkadelic on this microphone throwdown from the god MC. If you're new-ish to Hip-Hop you may be hearing this for the first time - in which case, do yourself a favour and check the whole "Follow The Leader" album.
Hijack : Brother Versus Brother
Hijack are apparently releasing a new album within the next year, roughly 25 years on from the much-respected "The Horns Of Jericho" LP, from which we take this selection. Kamanchi Sly just brims over with indignance and frustration on this one, over a suitably urgent backing. A vintage bit of UK Hip-Hop!
Kwanzaa Posse : Wicked Funk
I don't know anything about this act unfortunately, but this is a nice bit of sample stew I first heard on a Martin Brew mixtape! Even the casual diggers amongst you will recognise some bits...
Marvin Gaye : Trouble Man
A classic bit of Marvin, the title track from the soundtrack of the Robert Hooks-starring 1972 Blaxploitation film. It's one of the vocal numbers which focuses on the main character, but the soundtrack is largely instrumental, with Marvin playing more instruments than many would expect! There's a whole backstory to the recording here that's well worth reading.
Has-Lo : Hindsight (Apollo Brown Mix)
I think that one of Spotify's recommendation playlists brought this track to my attention, so apologies if it was actually one of you! Short in the way that frustrates you, this is just fantastic. An Apollo Brown-remixed version (from the "Conversation B" album) of "Limit" from Has-Lo's "In Case I Don't Make It", it starts off with a long uninterrupted sample from Marvin Gaye's classic "Trouble Man" before looping it up perfectly under some heavy-yet-understated drums and on top of a nice bit of sub-bass. Philadelphia Hip-Hop is often overlooked (except perhaps for The Roots), but Has-Lo represents for his city here with some low-key quality MCing.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I speak to your soul, and that's above money..."
- Pusha T
A rough month out there. With yet more killings of unarmed Black people by police hitting the news and galvanising protests worldwide, the issue feeds into some of this month's selection. Overall, I've got a couple of good local tracks, one song almost everyone will know...and a stack of stuff you probably don't! It's certainly not an exclusively human rights/political selection, so hopefully I'm not out of line with this month's cover art.
Don't forget to get your ticket for Pete Rock & CL Smooth in Manchester in September!
Playlist/Notes
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Junior Reid : Solid Ground
The first time I heard this, Smif-N-Wessun were performing live at The Roadhouse (RIP) and the second time, they were at Band On The Wall. Now I have my own copy of the "Born & Raised" project and I can play it at home as much as I like :) Great Beatnick & K-Salaam-produced track with the reggae influence that has marked so much of their work, highlighted by the featuring of the titan Junior Reid from Black Uhuru.
Sven van Hees : Flute Salad
Can't even remember how I first found out about this one, but it's a nice relaxed number from the Flemish chill-out master's "Gemini" album - good Sunday morning track.
Freebass 808 ft. Janelle Monae : Many Moons
Freebass 808 is a side project by Geechi Suede of Camp Lo and the group's sometime producer Apple Juice Kid, and for their first inclusion on the podcast we go to their 2008 debut release, the "MoonBass EP". At the time, I didn't really know who Janelle Monae was, but it was a great move of them to bring her in on this one - she fits the experimental vibe to a tee.
Pusha T : Crutches, Crosses, Caskets
Pusha is an incredibly adept MC, and what comes across in his bars here is an air of utter contempt towards anyone who thinks they can compete with him. The beat is apparently a Diddy production, and while I don't know if he was actually the man on the MPC or whatever, this is some quality work. Those muted horns work really well underneath the loosely-timed hats and tight kick drums, and where the barely-there hook comes in, you get some keyboard bass too. Straight fire from the "King Push - Darkest Before Dawn : The Prelude" LP.
dead prez : Hip-Hop
One of the classic Hip-Hop singles - I think most of you will know this one, or at a push, recognise the beat from a recent car advert in the UK! Truthfully - having first heard dead prez on tracks like "Selling D.O.P.E" and "The Rain & The Sun", I absolutely couldn't get my head round why this record sounded this way when it came out, and wasn't much of a fan. In fact, I passed on buying the 12" and got this on "let's get free" when that came out. Over time, this self-produced bomb grew on me, in no small part because the lyrics were always on point!
Levelz : LVL 07
Big crew coming out of Manchester, both in terms of their work and just sheer numbers - there are at least fourteen heads that make up this versatile collective. You'll have heard some of them on the podcast in the past, and this is pure "forms like Voltron" business, the first release from their "LVL 11" mixtape. On the mic here, we have T-Man, Sparkz, Skittles, Fox, Truthos Mufasa, Chimpo, Chunky, and Black Josh with a dizzying array of flows exploding all over the place! The production of the distinctly British-sounding, booming electronic track is headed by Biome, with Metrodome, Skittles, Zed Bias and Rich Reason all getting their oars in too. It might be a bit much to call this a modern Manchester "Protect Ya Neck", but you can't deny it's a hell of a first statement. And the video? Insanity...
Moxiii Double Dee : Hurt
Needed something around 80bpm here that was also kind of technological and after enjoying the production on Trae's recent "Another 48 Hours" mixtape, I sought out the men behind the beats to see if they had any instrumental projects, eventually finding the "Hurt" EP/mini-album. Not all my speed, but the Sade sample in the background on this one pulled me in!
Joyner Lucas : BakWords
Shout out to my man Black Robb for putting me up on this track! Interesting idea; each verse is made up of eight bars of lyrics, followed by another eight bars of (mostly) the same lyrics backwards. A kind of palindromic structure, in rhyme form! It's not perfect, but the difficulty involved in writing this way is something hard to comprehend for a non-lyricist. I've heard this likened to Nas' "Rewind", but that really is something different - a story told with time running in reverse. He's generously offered this one up free on Soundcloud, so get yourself a copy there.
Killer Mike : Don't Die
Many of you will primarily know Killer Mike as half of Run The Jewels, but this tale of an illegal police raid comes from "R.A.P Music", his most recent solo release - preceding the RTJ catalogue. This album was the genesis of the El-P/Mike combination, and the heavy, aggressive production of El-P matches the vocal performance perfectly. Oh, and just so you know - he really is the son of a cop.
Aceyalone : Takeoff
Originally coming out as part of the LA group Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone is a highly creative MC who's appreciated by the connoisseurs of lyricism. The 2003 "Love & Hate" album, his fourth solo release, isn't afraid to go left-field, and right here RJD2 gives him a backdrop derived from Jean Michel Jarre's "Equinoxe 4" to rhyme and rhyme over. No hook, just an absolute torrent of lyrics.
Above The Law : 1996
One of my (many) favourites from the outstanding "Time Will Reveal" album, I thought that for this year's commemoration of the passing of KMG that we'd go with this selection that of course is twenty years old this autumn. Cold 187um and KMG split each verse down the middle, going back-to-back over 187's ridiculously dope, dark instrumental work - once again showing he's one of the unsung heroes of the artform. This track makes me sad there'll be no more ATL releases...those contrasting vocal styles over those beats...classic.
[Ayatollah] Cash Brown : Last Man Standing (Instrumental)
Of the people who do recognise this instrumental, I think most will know it as the beat from Styles P and Pharaohe Monch's "The Life", but it originally came from this Major League 12", on the B-side of "Clubber Lang". I'm not sure how it came to be re-used at a time when such things were pretty uncommon, but it clearly made an impression on all three MCs.
Above The Law : One Time Too Meny
Back with just a piece of another ATL track which fit perfectly here, this time from the "Uncle Sam's Curse" LP, which is an expensive one to buy these days - wish I'd bought two when it came out! The creep on this beat is mean, and Cold 187 kicks a tale that some of us know all too well; being stopped by the police for no good reason. The second verse, while still a good one, kind of strays from the topic so I decided to cut it short - but it's still worth getting the full version, and the whole album if you can afford it!
R.C. : Let The Maddness Begin
I've seen this labelled as a Dr.Dre unreleased track, a Sam Sneed track, and as listed above - whatever it is, I picked it up in the dark, wild west days of the early 21st century internet, and as far as I know it hasn't had a commercial release, so here it is for you! It takes the same sample as Heltah Skeltah's "Letha Brainz Blo" as well as centring the "let the madness begin" lyric they use on that track. The vocalist R.C. (aka Ruben Cruz) released an album "Rubenaughty" that was so under the radar that Discogs have missed it from his discography!
Chalk : The Ghost
Now we come to an MC and producer from Manchester who's been honing his craft for many years! We performed together with me on the beats in his younger days, and he rose to the next level with his work with The Natural Curriculum before spreading his wings as a soloist. His first album, "One For Being Me", from which this is drawn, was as true a picture of the man and his outlook as you could imagine - one to check.
Termanology : Sorry I Lied To You
Going back to Termanology's first studio album "Politics As Usual" (following on from the "Hood Politics" mixtape series) for a reflective cut produced by the legendary Large Professor. Along with the low speed, check how the groups of three hi-hats - with the "fourth" missing - affects the pace. That bassline is the star of the beat though, expertly done.
Kay & Luke of The Foundation : The Moon Sings To Me
Glorious instrumental from the free "Laura Mvula Chopped" project, a tribute to Birmingham's own songstress! As with the rest of the tracks on it, they chop up a tune from her live performance of her "Sing To The Moon" and then add layers of extra flavour. This is a beat project that every appreciator of the artform should make time to go and download.
Jerry Beeks : I'm A Cop (NYPD)
Recorded in 2007, but thought this was a fairly fitting month to break this out. Jerry Beeks of Bronx Slang is a personal friend and friend of the show, and when I was more in the flow of making beats, we had a little routine of me sending him a few things, him picking from there and writing/recording his lyrics, and then me assembling everything back over this side. As I recall, I wasn't necessarily expecting him to pick this beat, which I cooked up while on a family trip with whatever records were immediately to hand - but he made it work, as always! Great lyrical approach, personifying the dirty cop and referencing real-life incidents from Eleanor Bumpurs to Amadou Diallo to the NYPD officers who acted as hitmen for the Mob (yes, really).
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I speak to your soul, and that's above money..."
- Pusha T
A rough month out there. With yet more killings of unarmed Black people by police hitting the news and galvanising protests worldwide, the issue feeds into some of this month's selection. Overall, I've got a couple of good local tracks, one song almost everyone will know...and a stack of stuff you probably don't! It's certainly not an exclusively human rights/political selection, so hopefully I'm not out of line with this month's cover art.
Don't forget to get your ticket for Pete Rock & CL Smooth in Manchester in September!
Playlist/Notes
Smif-N-Wessun ft. Junior Reid : Solid Ground
The first time I heard this, Smif-N-Wessun were performing live at The Roadhouse (RIP) and the second time, they were at Band On The Wall. Now I have my own copy of the "Born & Raised" project and I can play it at home as much as I like :) Great Beatnick & K-Salaam-produced track with the reggae influence that has marked so much of their work, highlighted by the featuring of the titan Junior Reid from Black Uhuru.
Sven van Hees : Flute Salad
Can't even remember how I first found out about this one, but it's a nice relaxed number from the Flemish chill-out master's "Gemini" album - good Sunday morning track.
Freebass 808 ft. Janelle Monae : Many Moons
Freebass 808 is a side project by Geechi Suede of Camp Lo and the group's sometime producer Apple Juice Kid, and for their first inclusion on the podcast we go to their 2008 debut release, the "MoonBass EP". At the time, I didn't really know who Janelle Monae was, but it was a great move of them to bring her in on this one - she fits the experimental vibe to a tee.
Pusha T : Crutches, Crosses, Caskets
Pusha is an incredibly adept MC, and what comes across in his bars here is an air of utter contempt towards anyone who thinks they can compete with him. The beat is apparently a Diddy production, and while I don't know if he was actually the man on the MPC or whatever, this is some quality work. Those muted horns work really well underneath the loosely-timed hats and tight kick drums, and where the barely-there hook comes in, you get some keyboard bass too. Straight fire from the "King Push - Darkest Before Dawn : The Prelude" LP.
dead prez : Hip-Hop
One of the classic Hip-Hop singles - I think most of you will know this one, or at a push, recognise the beat from a recent car advert in the UK! Truthfully - having first heard dead prez on tracks like "Selling D.O.P.E" and "The Rain & The Sun", I absolutely couldn't get my head round why this record sounded this way when it came out, and wasn't much of a fan. In fact, I passed on buying the 12" and got this on "let's get free" when that came out. Over time, this self-produced bomb grew on me, in no small part because the lyrics were always on point!
Levelz : LVL 07
Big crew coming out of Manchester, both in terms of their work and just sheer numbers - there are at least fourteen heads that make up this versatile collective. You'll have heard some of them on the podcast in the past, and this is pure "forms like Voltron" business, the first release from their "LVL 11" mixtape. On the mic here, we have T-Man, Sparkz, Skittles, Fox, Truthos Mufasa, Chimpo, Chunky, and Black Josh with a dizzying array of flows exploding all over the place! The production of the distinctly British-sounding, booming electronic track is headed by Biome, with Metrodome, Skittles, Zed Bias and Rich Reason all getting their oars in too. It might be a bit much to call this a modern Manchester "Protect Ya Neck", but you can't deny it's a hell of a first statement. And the video? Insanity...
Moxiii Double Dee : Hurt
Needed something around 80bpm here that was also kind of technological and after enjoying the production on Trae's recent "Another 48 Hours" mixtape, I sought out the men behind the beats to see if they had any instrumental projects, eventually finding the "Hurt" EP/mini-album. Not all my speed, but the Sade sample in the background on this one pulled me in!
Joyner Lucas : BakWords
Shout out to my man Black Robb for putting me up on this track! Interesting idea; each verse is made up of eight bars of lyrics, followed by another eight bars of (mostly) the same lyrics backwards. A kind of palindromic structure, in rhyme form! It's not perfect, but the difficulty involved in writing this way is something hard to comprehend for a non-lyricist. I've heard this likened to Nas' "Rewind", but that really is something different - a story told with time running in reverse. He's generously offered this one up free on Soundcloud, so get yourself a copy there.
Killer Mike : Don't Die
Many of you will primarily know Killer Mike as half of Run The Jewels, but this tale of an illegal police raid comes from "R.A.P Music", his most recent solo release - preceding the RTJ catalogue. This album was the genesis of the El-P/Mike combination, and the heavy, aggressive production of El-P matches the vocal performance perfectly. Oh, and just so you know - he really is the son of a cop.
Aceyalone : Takeoff
Originally coming out as part of the LA group Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone is a highly creative MC who's appreciated by the connoisseurs of lyricism. The 2003 "Love & Hate" album, his fourth solo release, isn't afraid to go left-field, and right here RJD2 gives him a backdrop derived from Jean Michel Jarre's "Equinoxe 4" to rhyme and rhyme over. No hook, just an absolute torrent of lyrics.
Above The Law : 1996
One of my (many) favourites from the outstanding "Time Will Reveal" album, I thought that for this year's commemoration of the passing of KMG that we'd go with this selection that of course is twenty years old this autumn. Cold 187um and KMG split each verse down the middle, going back-to-back over 187's ridiculously dope, dark instrumental work - once again showing he's one of the unsung heroes of the artform. This track makes me sad there'll be no more ATL releases...those contrasting vocal styles over those beats...classic.
[Ayatollah] Cash Brown : Last Man Standing (Instrumental)
Of the people who do recognise this instrumental, I think most will know it as the beat from Styles P and Pharaohe Monch's "The Life", but it originally came from this Major League 12", on the B-side of "Clubber Lang". I'm not sure how it came to be re-used at a time when such things were pretty uncommon, but it clearly made an impression on all three MCs.
Above The Law : One Time Too Meny
Back with just a piece of another ATL track which fit perfectly here, this time from the "Uncle Sam's Curse" LP, which is an expensive one to buy these days - wish I'd bought two when it came out! The creep on this beat is mean, and Cold 187 kicks a tale that some of us know all too well; being stopped by the police for no good reason. The second verse, while still a good one, kind of strays from the topic so I decided to cut it short - but it's still worth getting the full version, and the whole album if you can afford it!
R.C. : Let The Maddness Begin
I've seen this labelled as a Dr.Dre unreleased track, a Sam Sneed track, and as listed above - whatever it is, I picked it up in the dark, wild west days of the early 21st century internet, and as far as I know it hasn't had a commercial release, so here it is for you! It takes the same sample as Heltah Skeltah's "Letha Brainz Blo" as well as centring the "let the madness begin" lyric they use on that track. The vocalist R.C. (aka Ruben Cruz) released an album "Rubenaughty" that was so under the radar that Discogs have missed it from his discography!
Chalk : The Ghost
Now we come to an MC and producer from Manchester who's been honing his craft for many years! We performed together with me on the beats in his younger days, and he rose to the next level with his work with The Natural Curriculum before spreading his wings as a soloist. His first album, "One For Being Me", from which this is drawn, was as true a picture of the man and his outlook as you could imagine - one to check.
Termanology : Sorry I Lied To You
Going back to Termanology's first studio album "Politics As Usual" (following on from the "Hood Politics" mixtape series) for a reflective cut produced by the legendary Large Professor. Along with the low speed, check how the groups of three hi-hats - with the "fourth" missing - affects the pace. That bassline is the star of the beat though, expertly done.
Kay & Luke of The Foundation : The Moon Sings To Me
Glorious instrumental from the free "Laura Mvula Chopped" project, a tribute to Birmingham's own songstress! As with the rest of the tracks on it, they chop up a tune from her live performance of her "Sing To The Moon" and then add layers of extra flavour. This is a beat project that every appreciator of the artform should make time to go and download.
Jerry Beeks : I'm A Cop (NYPD)
Recorded in 2007, but thought this was a fairly fitting month to break this out. Jerry Beeks of Bronx Slang is a personal friend and friend of the show, and when I was more in the flow of making beats, we had a little routine of me sending him a few things, him picking from there and writing/recording his lyrics, and then me assembling everything back over this side. As I recall, I wasn't necessarily expecting him to pick this beat, which I cooked up while on a family trip with whatever records were immediately to hand - but he made it work, as always! Great lyrical approach, personifying the dirty cop and referencing real-life incidents from Eleanor Bumpurs to Amadou Diallo to the NYPD officers who acted as hitmen for the Mob (yes, really).
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Bombs in the city centre and we rebuilt it."
- Strategy
Wow, here we are at the seventh birthday episode! I had this title in mind way back, long before I knew if it'd be realistic to record for so long, but we got here :) Thanks to you all for your support, and please do introduce anyone whose listening game needs a step up!
A couple of links, as mentioned during the show;
"Put It In The Air", Oddest, July 30th
Pete Rock & CL Smooth in Manchester, September 3rd
Playlist/Notes
Pep Love : Act Phenom
Pulled out one of my old beat juggle routines to start off this special show! If you were a beatmaker on the net many moons ago you might have seen the video of Domino putting this beat together - definitely an interesting watch. This Domino (not the one from Long Beach) and Pep Love both represent the Hieroglyphics crew heavy, and this cut appears on Pep's debut album under their umbrella, "Ascension". It's got a great bounce to it and I like it enough that I have three copies on 12" :)
Easy Mo Bee : Sunstroke (Instrumental)
I wasn't grabbed by Sauce Money's rhymes on the vocal version of this track from "Now Or Never : Odyssey 2000", but this instrumental from the 12" version fit here perfectly - one of those great opportunities to dig up an overlooked piece.
Dhark Citi : Petrified
If you're only ever going to release one track, make it something like this. This crew got their sole shot on the "Game Over" compilation of video game sampling/inspired tracks; I know DJ Rob and Domingo produced it, but I wish I could tell you more about the MCs - because all of them get the job done right here. If you only listen in the background and only catch the hook, you might think it's a typical street record - but give it a little closer listen.
Trife Da God : Drugz
I was quite surprised to find I hadn't played this one before! Trife from Ghostface's Theodore Unit solos this one from the "Put It On The Line" album, and I think his delivery really communicates the exasperation and anger appropriate for the situation he's describing. Dirty Dean harnesses an oft-sampled old soul classic for the backing; I don't know who the singer on the track is as there's no credited guest, but maybe someone else does?
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Blind Photography
"Short Eyes" was one of those unexplained Japan-only releases that artists put out sometimes, and I had an MP3 copy for a long time before I could locate a brand-new CD copy of this 2001 EP last year - as a big-time Lo fan, I had to get one. Pure slang density alongside their sometime collaborator Jungle Brown, killing it on the mic despite the sound quality of the vocal recording being a bit questionable! I can only find five credits for the producer, Portiay, who s/he cooks up a nice beat here - nothing complex outside of the drums/percussion, but just the thing to get my neck and shoulders going :)
J-Live ft. Asheru and El Da Sensei : 3 Out Of 7
I was reminded of this great track just this past weekend and decided to shift things around to include it. The 2002 "All Of The Above" album was a refined piece of work by J-Live, and this cut brought along two of the excellent independent MCs of the time as guests, alongside the mighty DJ Spinna on production - check out his signature keyboard work adding extra flavour to those crispy drums and the guitar.
[Dr. Dre] Ice Cube : Hello
An unexpectedly great mix with the J-Live, featuring more crisp drums and keyboard low end from the West Coast master of the style. The vocal version, reuniting Cube with his NWA rhyme partner MC Ren and Dre on production is on the "War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)", second of the pair released in 2000.
A.G. : Gigantic
You probably know this Diggin' In The Crates MC best as half of Show & A.G, the creators of gems such as "Fat Pockets" and "The Next Level", but he also recorded a solo album, "Get Dirty Radio" which featured an array of different producers, many of which we'd not heard him work with before. Right here you have Oh No out of Oxnard lacing him with a slightly hectic beat which he handles with veteran know-how.
E-40 ft The Clipse : Quarterbackin'
This joint from the "Breakin' News" album just bangs. A track I've been saving for ages and one of my favourites from E-40, E-A-Ski & CMT cook up a thumper for the slang maestro to spit his street experiences over, which he does with quality as always alongside coke rhyme specialists The Clipse. This sonically isn't a million miles away from the kind of stripped-down harshness they made their name with on "Grindin'", and they do a great job here. If you get the chance, peep the video, which I've always loved - I think it's the stepping crew that make it for me!
Focus : eAST & wEST
No I didn't mess up with Caps Lock, that's how the title appears :) Atlanta's Focus, son of the late great Bernard Edwards of Chic is a beast of a producer who's worked with everyone from Chino XL to Christina Aguilera. I heard an interview where he referred to this release, the "Analog In A Digital World" album, with some really tasty instrumentals on it. Peep how this track starts with a bassy digital re-interpretation of the Bob James "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" break before switching up to something with even more grit and grind at the low end.
DJ Kemit ft. Carl McIntosh : Digital Love
A former member of Arrested Development, Atlanta's DJ Kemit has been a highly-respected DJ in his city for going on twenty years, and on his 2012 "Everlasting" project he shows his quality as a producer. This soulful electronic number features Carl McIntosh, who was the guitarist and male vocalist for the influential and much-loved UK soul group Loose Ends, demonstrating he's still bringing it! I've been wondering for a while how I was going to fit this one in, but this seems like a good spot.
Tall Black Guy : Drift Away (To Where I Don't Care)
Just another great piece of music from top-grade producer and friend of the show, Tall Black Guy. It's always interesting to hear how he has his own signature sound/feel but at the same time is not a formulaic beatmaker. This is the A-side to the "Mini Therapy Chops 2" 7"/digital release - for £2 a download, well worth picking up.
EPMD : Get The Bozack
The essential second EPMD album, "Unfinished Business", opens up with the classic "So Watcha Sayin?", follows it up with the still-dope "Total Kaos", but then? This underappreciated killer, which blew my head off when I first heard it. No hook to speak of, just Erick and Parrish going back to back with battle bars. They were also great self-producers, and here they loop up a wicked BT Express sample - which the slightly younger listeners may have heard first on DMX's "Get At Me Dog". The first time I heard that, I wondered who this guy was biting (no pun intended) EPMD!
Brady Watt ft. J-Essential, Pleasure Pete, Ski Beatz, and Statik Selektah : Deeper
Not a name I'd heard before - shout out to Vicky of Rhyme & Reason for putting me up on this track! Brady Watt is an experienced bassist who's worked with some great producers in his career, but on his "Lifetronics" album he grabs the reins for himself and digs into his address book to put together his own project. Collaborating with Ski Beatz on the production for this track, he brings the funk in a way that makes me think the rest of the album is worth investigating!
De La Soul ft. Snoop Dogg : Pain
New track from the forthcoming "And The Anonymous Nobody..." LP, with a guest you may not have expected but who's always welcome! Grab the album when it's released in August.
The Brand New Heavies ft. Ski : You Can Do It (Roc A Bloc Remix)
One for the dancefloor in a major way. I heard this on the "Elephantitis" remix compilation (well worth having), and after tweeting at Ski to tell him how ill this was, he reminisced about how long ago he'd done it! The original (from the US version of the "Shelter" album) is very nice, but not as sonically heavy as this version which hits you with more low end and stuttering hits, and generally bears the hallmarks of the sampler/drum machine work it is.
Broke 'n' English : Manchester Shit
Busta Rhymes put on for his city on the "original" version of this, "New York S***", and in true dubplate fashion (this was a special done for DJ Semtex on 1Xtra) Manchester's own Broke 'n' English flipped it for this dedication to their home city. Strategy and DRS are making all kinds of moves right now, but it's still nice to go back to their earlier material!
[Pete Rock] Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Check It Out (Instrumental)
The no-vocal version of a track from Pete & CL's second LP, the must-own "The Main Ingredient". I needed something organic-sounding to follow up the break from the last track, and there are few better for smoothly harnessing those classic sounds than Pete Rock.
Parliament : Aqua Boogie
In memory of the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic keyboard player Bernie Worrell, who passed away this month, we have one of their most well-known and frequently-sampled tracks, taken from the 1978 "Motor-Booty Affair" album. If you listened to any amount of Hip-Hop between maybe 1991 and 1996, I'm sure you'll recognise a little bit somewhere! This is just classic P-Funk, with some of the best known members of the family - Worrell, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins - all throwing down like the legends they are. The character Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk makes an appearance, initially refusing to dance or swim, but eventually he can't fight the feeling...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Bombs in the city centre and we rebuilt it."
- Strategy
Wow, here we are at the seventh birthday episode! I had this title in mind way back, long before I knew if it'd be realistic to record for so long, but we got here :) Thanks to you all for your support, and please do introduce anyone whose listening game needs a step up!
A couple of links, as mentioned during the show;
"Put It In The Air", Oddest, July 30th
Pete Rock & CL Smooth in Manchester, September 3rd
Playlist/Notes
Pep Love : Act Phenom
Pulled out one of my old beat juggle routines to start off this special show! If you were a beatmaker on the net many moons ago you might have seen the video of Domino putting this beat together - definitely an interesting watch. This Domino (not the one from Long Beach) and Pep Love both represent the Hieroglyphics crew heavy, and this cut appears on Pep's debut album under their umbrella, "Ascension". It's got a great bounce to it and I like it enough that I have three copies on 12" :)
Easy Mo Bee : Sunstroke (Instrumental)
I wasn't grabbed by Sauce Money's rhymes on the vocal version of this track from "Now Or Never : Odyssey 2000", but this instrumental from the 12" version fit here perfectly - one of those great opportunities to dig up an overlooked piece.
Dhark Citi : Petrified
If you're only ever going to release one track, make it something like this. This crew got their sole shot on the "Game Over" compilation of video game sampling/inspired tracks; I know DJ Rob and Domingo produced it, but I wish I could tell you more about the MCs - because all of them get the job done right here. If you only listen in the background and only catch the hook, you might think it's a typical street record - but give it a little closer listen.
Trife Da God : Drugz
I was quite surprised to find I hadn't played this one before! Trife from Ghostface's Theodore Unit solos this one from the "Put It On The Line" album, and I think his delivery really communicates the exasperation and anger appropriate for the situation he's describing. Dirty Dean harnesses an oft-sampled old soul classic for the backing; I don't know who the singer on the track is as there's no credited guest, but maybe someone else does?
Camp Lo ft. Jungle Brown : Blind Photography
"Short Eyes" was one of those unexplained Japan-only releases that artists put out sometimes, and I had an MP3 copy for a long time before I could locate a brand-new CD copy of this 2001 EP last year - as a big-time Lo fan, I had to get one. Pure slang density alongside their sometime collaborator Jungle Brown, killing it on the mic despite the sound quality of the vocal recording being a bit questionable! I can only find five credits for the producer, Portiay, who s/he cooks up a nice beat here - nothing complex outside of the drums/percussion, but just the thing to get my neck and shoulders going :)
J-Live ft. Asheru and El Da Sensei : 3 Out Of 7
I was reminded of this great track just this past weekend and decided to shift things around to include it. The 2002 "All Of The Above" album was a refined piece of work by J-Live, and this cut brought along two of the excellent independent MCs of the time as guests, alongside the mighty DJ Spinna on production - check out his signature keyboard work adding extra flavour to those crispy drums and the guitar.
[Dr. Dre] Ice Cube : Hello
An unexpectedly great mix with the J-Live, featuring more crisp drums and keyboard low end from the West Coast master of the style. The vocal version, reuniting Cube with his NWA rhyme partner MC Ren and Dre on production is on the "War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)", second of the pair released in 2000.
A.G. : Gigantic
You probably know this Diggin' In The Crates MC best as half of Show & A.G, the creators of gems such as "Fat Pockets" and "The Next Level", but he also recorded a solo album, "Get Dirty Radio" which featured an array of different producers, many of which we'd not heard him work with before. Right here you have Oh No out of Oxnard lacing him with a slightly hectic beat which he handles with veteran know-how.
E-40 ft The Clipse : Quarterbackin'
This joint from the "Breakin' News" album just bangs. A track I've been saving for ages and one of my favourites from E-40, E-A-Ski & CMT cook up a thumper for the slang maestro to spit his street experiences over, which he does with quality as always alongside coke rhyme specialists The Clipse. This sonically isn't a million miles away from the kind of stripped-down harshness they made their name with on "Grindin'", and they do a great job here. If you get the chance, peep the video, which I've always loved - I think it's the stepping crew that make it for me!
Focus : eAST & wEST
No I didn't mess up with Caps Lock, that's how the title appears :) Atlanta's Focus, son of the late great Bernard Edwards of Chic is a beast of a producer who's worked with everyone from Chino XL to Christina Aguilera. I heard an interview where he referred to this release, the "Analog In A Digital World" album, with some really tasty instrumentals on it. Peep how this track starts with a bassy digital re-interpretation of the Bob James "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" break before switching up to something with even more grit and grind at the low end.
DJ Kemit ft. Carl McIntosh : Digital Love
A former member of Arrested Development, Atlanta's DJ Kemit has been a highly-respected DJ in his city for going on twenty years, and on his 2012 "Everlasting" project he shows his quality as a producer. This soulful electronic number features Carl McIntosh, who was the guitarist and male vocalist for the influential and much-loved UK soul group Loose Ends, demonstrating he's still bringing it! I've been wondering for a while how I was going to fit this one in, but this seems like a good spot.
Tall Black Guy : Drift Away (To Where I Don't Care)
Just another great piece of music from top-grade producer and friend of the show, Tall Black Guy. It's always interesting to hear how he has his own signature sound/feel but at the same time is not a formulaic beatmaker. This is the A-side to the "Mini Therapy Chops 2" 7"/digital release - for £2 a download, well worth picking up.
EPMD : Get The Bozack
The essential second EPMD album, "Unfinished Business", opens up with the classic "So Watcha Sayin?", follows it up with the still-dope "Total Kaos", but then? This underappreciated killer, which blew my head off when I first heard it. No hook to speak of, just Erick and Parrish going back to back with battle bars. They were also great self-producers, and here they loop up a wicked BT Express sample - which the slightly younger listeners may have heard first on DMX's "Get At Me Dog". The first time I heard that, I wondered who this guy was biting (no pun intended) EPMD!
Brady Watt ft. J-Essential, Pleasure Pete, Ski Beatz, and Statik Selektah : Deeper
Not a name I'd heard before - shout out to Vicky of Rhyme & Reason for putting me up on this track! Brady Watt is an experienced bassist who's worked with some great producers in his career, but on his "Lifetronics" album he grabs the reins for himself and digs into his address book to put together his own project. Collaborating with Ski Beatz on the production for this track, he brings the funk in a way that makes me think the rest of the album is worth investigating!
De La Soul ft. Snoop Dogg : Pain
New track from the forthcoming "And The Anonymous Nobody..." LP, with a guest you may not have expected but who's always welcome! Grab the album when it's released in August.
The Brand New Heavies ft. Ski : You Can Do It (Roc A Bloc Remix)
One for the dancefloor in a major way. I heard this on the "Elephantitis" remix compilation (well worth having), and after tweeting at Ski to tell him how ill this was, he reminisced about how long ago he'd done it! The original (from the US version of the "Shelter" album) is very nice, but not as sonically heavy as this version which hits you with more low end and stuttering hits, and generally bears the hallmarks of the sampler/drum machine work it is.
Broke 'n' English : Manchester Shit
Busta Rhymes put on for his city on the "original" version of this, "New York S***", and in true dubplate fashion (this was a special done for DJ Semtex on 1Xtra) Manchester's own Broke 'n' English flipped it for this dedication to their home city. Strategy and DRS are making all kinds of moves right now, but it's still nice to go back to their earlier material!
[Pete Rock] Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Check It Out (Instrumental)
The no-vocal version of a track from Pete & CL's second LP, the must-own "The Main Ingredient". I needed something organic-sounding to follow up the break from the last track, and there are few better for smoothly harnessing those classic sounds than Pete Rock.
Parliament : Aqua Boogie
In memory of the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic keyboard player Bernie Worrell, who passed away this month, we have one of their most well-known and frequently-sampled tracks, taken from the 1978 "Motor-Booty Affair" album. If you listened to any amount of Hip-Hop between maybe 1991 and 1996, I'm sure you'll recognise a little bit somewhere! This is just classic P-Funk, with some of the best known members of the family - Worrell, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins - all throwing down like the legends they are. The character Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk makes an appearance, initially refusing to dance or swim, but eventually he can't fight the feeling...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"A cloudy brain, train tracks but there's no train..."
- Rasco
This month's episode slotted together really nicely I think, and I managed to get a couple of tracks in that I'd been saving or struggling to fit in in previous months, so I'm really interested to get your feedback!
As mentioned in the show, don't miss out on the chance to see EPMD live in Manchester on June 7th - tickets here! Also, do check out the Rhyme & Reason site, group, and podcast, good work over there!
Playlist/Notes
EPMD : Chill
With the brothers from Brentwood, Long Island getting ready to visit Manchester, there were a bunch of well-known classics I could have chosen from, but I decided to go with a deep album cut from the 1992 "Business Never Personal" album, working an 80s rock B-side sample. EPMD have a history of finding the funk in that kind of material going all the way back to the ZZ Top and Steve Miller Band replays and samples on "You're A Customer" from their debut album.
[Alchemist] Curren$y : Scottie Pippen (Instrumental)
As always, Alchemist digs deep in the crates for the source material that makes up this instrumental version of the Freddie Gibbs-featuring cut from Curren$y and Alchemist's "Covert Coup" project. Youngsters, pay attention - sampling dodgy Youtube uploads isn't the way! :)
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon : The Watch
A classic bit of unreleased Ghost, which didn't see the light of day properly due to a problem with clearing the Barry White sample which provides the material for the beat. Thank goodness for white labels! Ghost is one of the more imaginative MCs out there, and here you have him having an argument with his watch (played by Raekwon), and his watch criticising his then-recent career moves. Crazy concept, but they make it work.
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Missing Watch
Switching things around, now we get Rae taking the lead, and a track about a watch! Raekwon's 2003 "The Lex Diamond Story" LP was patchy but had a few cuts I really enjoyed, and this was one. Mizza takes a well-used sample and keeps it pretty basic to allow the MCs to flex their street storytelling muscles - shout out to the supposedly wheelchair-bound man in the club who gets up and runs when the gun goes off :)
Rasco : The Unassisted
Decided to keep a little chain going, by playing a song using the same sample as "Missing Watch" but chopped in a different way. Taking it back all the way to 1998 here, this 1998 track from Rasco's debut "Time Waits For No Man" is produced by Fanatik and features the legendary scratch DJ D-Styles on the turntables. A solid pick from an era of very strong independent Hip-Hop.
Grand Agent & Pete Rock : This Is What They Meant (Ge-ology's Hot Sauce 'n' Grits Remix)
Truth be told, I was looking for another remix of this track, but just couldn't find a legal copy for purchase! On the other hand, this one probably fits a little better in this spot. The "This Is What They Meant EP" gives you a few versions of this cut and the instrumentals, so with the availability of digital downloads you can pick and choose to get the variants you want.
Tom Caruana : Wanderlust (Instrumental)
Bringing proceedings over to the UK, we have here a nice beat from the prolific producer/remixer (and Dr Syntax collaborator) Tom Caruana, taken from his "Instrumentals Vol. 4" release. I remember meeting Tom when he played at a "Go Dumb!" party a few years back, and it's always good to hear quality work from him.
Lay. : YinYang
Layfullstop is an extremely promising artist on the Manchester scene (originally coming from Birmingham) who is part of the up-and-coming group Cul De Sac as well as a gifted soloist. She's one of the rare examples of someone who can sing and rhyme equally well, and this soulfully-produced track gives her the chance to do both! Definitely someone to keep a keen eye on.
Kev Brown ft. Ken Starr and Quartermaine : Say Sumthin
Subtle but deep bassline, crispy drums - Kev Brown trademarks! The "I Do What I Do" album has it in spades, not least on this track featuring fellow Low Budget artists Ken Starr (no, not the lawyer/prosecutor) and Quartermaine (no, not the civil engineer). Add to that the little pieces of piano and guitar, and you get an overall jazzy feel. One thing that stands out on a modern re-listening - given the way production tools have ended up going, I wonder if the sentiment of "computer programs that don't slam" is still there?
Grap Luva : Neva Done
Kev Brown on the beat again, with those squelching noises reminding me just a little bit of DJ Spinna. It's no small matter to get the nod to produce for Grap Luva, who is a highly-talented producer himself and of course, also the brother of Pete Rock. Despite Grap's long history in the game, it was 2011 before his first solo project, the "Neva Done" EP was released, and at only $7 on Bandcamp it's a worthy pickup.
Jay-Z : Blue Magic (K-Def Remix)
K-Def is one of those producers whose name and catalogue are only familiar to the heads that dig deep into Hip-Hop (despite being responsible for tracks like "Chief Rocka"), and he's highly respected in production circles. That's what this podcast is for though - now you know about him too :) With the use of the accapellas of Jay-Z's "American Gangster" soundtrack, K-Def flexed his beatmaking muscles to give us the "Real Live Gangster" remix album, from which we draw this excellent bit of work. If you pay close attention to one element in the track, make it the guitar - it's actually a very famous funk sample...backwards.
[Agallah] Purple City : It Ain't Easy (Instrumental)
The vocal version is an anti-social tour-de-force, and with it being a track I wasn't sure I'd ever get round to playing in full, the opportunity to at least drop the instrumental had to be grabbed - in planning, I was working backwards from my chosen closing track and this ended up being a good choice to precede the third segment. Agallah goes full on rock here, taking some big samples and then beefing them up heavy on the low end, plus adding some solid drum programming of course. Get the original cut on the "Road To The Riche$" mixtape - it's one we'll probably revisit in future.
Genaside II ft. Sharon Williams : Come To The Fools
One group no-one could ever accuse of biting - I truly thought their "New Life 4 The Hunted" album, from which this is taken, sounded unlike anything else. The processing on Sharon Williams' lead vocal slots it in masterfully with the amazingly varied palette of instruments in this slow and low number.
Harry Fraud : How U Feel
I heard this instrumental from Brooklyn's Harry Fraud on his "Blue/Green" EP, and thought it was a great piece; I didn't realise until much later that he'd previously given this track to someone to rhyme on. Truthfully...this version without the lyrics is a mile better.
Oddisee : Lifting Shadows
March's "Alwasta" (very loosely translated: "the hookup") is apparently the first of three planned releases this year for Oddisee, and it's a promising start! On this, my favourite track from the EP, he covers the struggles as a member of the Somalian diaspora sending money home to people who need it and the post-9/11 climate of suspicion against people who almost without exception are going about their business contributing to the country where they live. When you consider that he self-produced this as well as writing and rhyming it, you have to give Oddisee all the respect.
Trae : Comin Thru
Lullaby for a swanger? The low speed and gentle keyboard sounds give it that end-of-the-night feel, but the banging bottom end reminds you that this is Texas, after all. Platinum Hands cooks up the beat for one of Houston's rhyme veterans, Trae, for this track from the "Undisputed" mixtape.
Photek : Halogen
I realised when doing some looking over the archive that this is the second time I've blended Trae with Photek - the first time being on Episode 49, one of the classics if I do say so myself! This cut from Photek's sophomore "Solaris" LP has the feel of living in the 70bpm rather than the 140bpm world, and is just a broody, booming killer piece of production.
Michael Trapson : Billie Jean & I Dab
I saw a video posted on Facebook (I think) recently titled "If Michael Jackson Made Trap Music (Part 2)" and it had me rewinding and laughing hysterically! The video was low-budget and very much in the style of a lot of trap videos, as was the beat, and the song was hilarious. As I rewatched, I realised that...this guy was kind of nailing the MJ impersonation - as much as a mortal can, of course. The vocal style, the adlibs, the dance moves and physical tells were all being done really well, and I found myself wanting a full-length version. It turned out one was on the way and I got the free download, followed by a commercial version on iTunes. The full release got a new video which was more polished than the original...but I still prefer the first version :) As for the premise - if MJ was still with us, it could have happened! He did rock on "Thriller", New Jack Swing on "Dangerous", and had a Biggie verse on his final album while living. Who knows?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"A cloudy brain, train tracks but there's no train..."
- Rasco
This month's episode slotted together really nicely I think, and I managed to get a couple of tracks in that I'd been saving or struggling to fit in in previous months, so I'm really interested to get your feedback!
As mentioned in the show, don't miss out on the chance to see EPMD live in Manchester on June 7th - tickets here! Also, do check out the Rhyme & Reason site, group, and podcast, good work over there!
Playlist/Notes
EPMD : Chill
With the brothers from Brentwood, Long Island getting ready to visit Manchester, there were a bunch of well-known classics I could have chosen from, but I decided to go with a deep album cut from the 1992 "Business Never Personal" album, working an 80s rock B-side sample. EPMD have a history of finding the funk in that kind of material going all the way back to the ZZ Top and Steve Miller Band replays and samples on "You're A Customer" from their debut album.
[Alchemist] Curren$y : Scottie Pippen (Instrumental)
As always, Alchemist digs deep in the crates for the source material that makes up this instrumental version of the Freddie Gibbs-featuring cut from Curren$y and Alchemist's "Covert Coup" project. Youngsters, pay attention - sampling dodgy Youtube uploads isn't the way! :)
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon : The Watch
A classic bit of unreleased Ghost, which didn't see the light of day properly due to a problem with clearing the Barry White sample which provides the material for the beat. Thank goodness for white labels! Ghost is one of the more imaginative MCs out there, and here you have him having an argument with his watch (played by Raekwon), and his watch criticising his then-recent career moves. Crazy concept, but they make it work.
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Missing Watch
Switching things around, now we get Rae taking the lead, and a track about a watch! Raekwon's 2003 "The Lex Diamond Story" LP was patchy but had a few cuts I really enjoyed, and this was one. Mizza takes a well-used sample and keeps it pretty basic to allow the MCs to flex their street storytelling muscles - shout out to the supposedly wheelchair-bound man in the club who gets up and runs when the gun goes off :)
Rasco : The Unassisted
Decided to keep a little chain going, by playing a song using the same sample as "Missing Watch" but chopped in a different way. Taking it back all the way to 1998 here, this 1998 track from Rasco's debut "Time Waits For No Man" is produced by Fanatik and features the legendary scratch DJ D-Styles on the turntables. A solid pick from an era of very strong independent Hip-Hop.
Grand Agent & Pete Rock : This Is What They Meant (Ge-ology's Hot Sauce 'n' Grits Remix)
Truth be told, I was looking for another remix of this track, but just couldn't find a legal copy for purchase! On the other hand, this one probably fits a little better in this spot. The "This Is What They Meant EP" gives you a few versions of this cut and the instrumentals, so with the availability of digital downloads you can pick and choose to get the variants you want.
Tom Caruana : Wanderlust (Instrumental)
Bringing proceedings over to the UK, we have here a nice beat from the prolific producer/remixer (and Dr Syntax collaborator) Tom Caruana, taken from his "Instrumentals Vol. 4" release. I remember meeting Tom when he played at a "Go Dumb!" party a few years back, and it's always good to hear quality work from him.
Lay. : YinYang
Layfullstop is an extremely promising artist on the Manchester scene (originally coming from Birmingham) who is part of the up-and-coming group Cul De Sac as well as a gifted soloist. She's one of the rare examples of someone who can sing and rhyme equally well, and this soulfully-produced track gives her the chance to do both! Definitely someone to keep a keen eye on.
Kev Brown ft. Ken Starr and Quartermaine : Say Sumthin
Subtle but deep bassline, crispy drums - Kev Brown trademarks! The "I Do What I Do" album has it in spades, not least on this track featuring fellow Low Budget artists Ken Starr (no, not the lawyer/prosecutor) and Quartermaine (no, not the civil engineer). Add to that the little pieces of piano and guitar, and you get an overall jazzy feel. One thing that stands out on a modern re-listening - given the way production tools have ended up going, I wonder if the sentiment of "computer programs that don't slam" is still there?
Grap Luva : Neva Done
Kev Brown on the beat again, with those squelching noises reminding me just a little bit of DJ Spinna. It's no small matter to get the nod to produce for Grap Luva, who is a highly-talented producer himself and of course, also the brother of Pete Rock. Despite Grap's long history in the game, it was 2011 before his first solo project, the "Neva Done" EP was released, and at only $7 on Bandcamp it's a worthy pickup.
Jay-Z : Blue Magic (K-Def Remix)
K-Def is one of those producers whose name and catalogue are only familiar to the heads that dig deep into Hip-Hop (despite being responsible for tracks like "Chief Rocka"), and he's highly respected in production circles. That's what this podcast is for though - now you know about him too :) With the use of the accapellas of Jay-Z's "American Gangster" soundtrack, K-Def flexed his beatmaking muscles to give us the "Real Live Gangster" remix album, from which we draw this excellent bit of work. If you pay close attention to one element in the track, make it the guitar - it's actually a very famous funk sample...backwards.
[Agallah] Purple City : It Ain't Easy (Instrumental)
The vocal version is an anti-social tour-de-force, and with it being a track I wasn't sure I'd ever get round to playing in full, the opportunity to at least drop the instrumental had to be grabbed - in planning, I was working backwards from my chosen closing track and this ended up being a good choice to precede the third segment. Agallah goes full on rock here, taking some big samples and then beefing them up heavy on the low end, plus adding some solid drum programming of course. Get the original cut on the "Road To The Riche$" mixtape - it's one we'll probably revisit in future.
Genaside II ft. Sharon Williams : Come To The Fools
One group no-one could ever accuse of biting - I truly thought their "New Life 4 The Hunted" album, from which this is taken, sounded unlike anything else. The processing on Sharon Williams' lead vocal slots it in masterfully with the amazingly varied palette of instruments in this slow and low number.
Harry Fraud : How U Feel
I heard this instrumental from Brooklyn's Harry Fraud on his "Blue/Green" EP, and thought it was a great piece; I didn't realise until much later that he'd previously given this track to someone to rhyme on. Truthfully...this version without the lyrics is a mile better.
Oddisee : Lifting Shadows
March's "Alwasta" (very loosely translated: "the hookup") is apparently the first of three planned releases this year for Oddisee, and it's a promising start! On this, my favourite track from the EP, he covers the struggles as a member of the Somalian diaspora sending money home to people who need it and the post-9/11 climate of suspicion against people who almost without exception are going about their business contributing to the country where they live. When you consider that he self-produced this as well as writing and rhyming it, you have to give Oddisee all the respect.
Trae : Comin Thru
Lullaby for a swanger? The low speed and gentle keyboard sounds give it that end-of-the-night feel, but the banging bottom end reminds you that this is Texas, after all. Platinum Hands cooks up the beat for one of Houston's rhyme veterans, Trae, for this track from the "Undisputed" mixtape.
Photek : Halogen
I realised when doing some looking over the archive that this is the second time I've blended Trae with Photek - the first time being on Episode 49, one of the classics if I do say so myself! This cut from Photek's sophomore "Solaris" LP has the feel of living in the 70bpm rather than the 140bpm world, and is just a broody, booming killer piece of production.
Michael Trapson : Billie Jean & I Dab
I saw a video posted on Facebook (I think) recently titled "If Michael Jackson Made Trap Music (Part 2)" and it had me rewinding and laughing hysterically! The video was low-budget and very much in the style of a lot of trap videos, as was the beat, and the song was hilarious. As I rewatched, I realised that...this guy was kind of nailing the MJ impersonation - as much as a mortal can, of course. The vocal style, the adlibs, the dance moves and physical tells were all being done really well, and I found myself wanting a full-length version. It turned out one was on the way and I got the free download, followed by a commercial version on iTunes. The full release got a new video which was more polished than the original...but I still prefer the first version :) As for the premise - if MJ was still with us, it could have happened! He did rock on "Thriller", New Jack Swing on "Dangerous", and had a Biggie verse on his final album while living. Who knows?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Across the seas and deserts, through the trees and grass..."
- Guru
In the month when we remember the life of Guru, we also say goodbye to not just a legend, but a true musical genius - Prince. I've blended some of his work into this episode's selection, along with various eras of Guru, some solid Hip-Hop picks and a little weaving in and out of different genres along the way. In the next hour, you're pretty much guaranteed to hear something for the first time!
Playlist/Notes
Kardinal Offishall : Ill Eagle Alien
I'd be willing to bet that many people who've heard Kardinal don't really appreciate just how nice he is on the mic. He absolutely slays it right here - just check that second verse where he uses all those abstract nouns ("-ility") in a row to end his lines. On top of that, he passes Guru's "Mostly Tha Voice" test with flying colours! This was my favourite track on his "Not 4 Sale" album, and the beat is nothing to sneeze at either - Nottz with a speaker-thumper for real.
Da Beatminerz : Take That (Instrumental)
"Brace 4 Impak" was an excellent producer album in my opinion, and still gets fairly regular play from me fifteen years after release! This low-end killer comes courtesy of Mr.Walt, and is a masterclass in simplicity. Check the drumline - kicks only on 1 and 3, snares only on 2 and 4, and the hats are just on the 8th notes; it just keeps the time for the other sounds (and the MCs) to work within.
Doujah Raze ft. A.G. & Sean Price : Fahrenheit
Dug this one out for a listen and was struck by how brave the Alexandria, Virginia MC was to invite both A.G. and Sean Price along - as competent as he is, the others are big names with long histories of ripping tracks. This is the B-side of the 2006 "Little More Time" 12", slightly obscure but not expensive even now. Arythmetic supplies the boom-bap beat, and if you had to pick the best verse - got to be Sean P!
The Roots ft. Maimouna Youseff : Don't Feel Right
The "Game Theory" album is a bargain right now, so it's the perfect time to get yourself a copy! This was the first single from that album and Black Thought speaks on all the things he sees in the world that just aren't...right. I don't know if you'd call him an underrated MC or just an oft-forgotten one, but people in the know respect his skills immensely; check the technique right here. The combination of the Roots crew and singer/songwriter Maimouna Youseff got them a Grammy nomination - one occasion when they actually made a decent call.
The Mouse Outfit : Sip A Little Bit Of Rum
I was considering including this, and then the next day checked Facebook to find it had just had a new video released! Must be a sign ;) Anyway, this fine Manchester crew return once again with this beautiful head-nodder from the "Step Steadier" album, their trademark polished production undergirding the lyrics of local mic specialists Sparkz and Fox. Remember folks, drink responsibly.
Clear Soul Forces : Mars On Life
Strange to think that for years Detroit wasn't thought of as a Hip-Hop city, considering the outrageous amount of talent that has come out of the city in the last fifteen years or so! This crew represent well for the D, not least on this track from last year's "Fab Five" album (nice Michigan reference there), almost falling over each other to drop lyrics over a beat by producer Nameless. Never let it be said there's nothing good coming out these days...
Loose Ends : A Little Spice (Gang Starr Remix)
I managed to accidentally buy the "Tighten Up, Vol.1" compilation twice in the last month, a clear sign that I may need some rest. Anyway, Loose Ends were a tremendously influential UK soul group who made some noise in the US market and are highly respected - you may know them best for "Hangin' On A String", an 80s classic. "A Little Spice" is the title track from their 1984 debut LP, has been sampled at least once to great effect, but here it gets a little of that adopted Brooklyn flavour with Guru and Premier on the remix. Expect me to play more from this group in the future!
Prince : Let's Go Crazy
I had to think about it to be sure, but I think this is my favourite Prince track - and as it happens, heavily quoted in the last few days due to the first words in the intro. The opener on "Purple Rain", this is just a beast of a cut. You probably think of the guitars when this song comes to mind, but the drums are worthy of note too, making use of the Linn LM-1, which was the first drum machine to contain actual samples of drum sounds. Whatever it took to get the right sound...Prince was about that.
Leaders Of The New School : What's Next?
L.O.N.S are often only referred to these days when talking about Busta Rhymes' origins, but never forget that they put out some very good records during their short run! This was the Dinco-produced lead single from their second and final album, "T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye)" and did very well when it came out - I remember seeing the video a few times in an era where you couldn't just click on what you wanted to see! Big shout to my man DJ Omas for hooking me up with this vinyl :)
Gang Starr : Comin For Datazz
An absolutely underrated track from the "Hard To Earn" LP; at best, it gets glossed over, at worst, I've heard it described in very unflattering terms. Personally, I've always enjoyed it and thought it was a good closer. Guru's monotone flow gives plenty of low-key quotables that I don't think would have worked from anyone else, and Premier's fly and uncomplicated beat bumps along at a fairly high tempo for the era. It doesn't even have much of a hook - just an instrumental break and the odd cut (Run DMC - that one escaped me for ages when I was a kid). Makes me sad to know we won't be getting any more of this.
Ras Kass ft. Aaron G West : Pop Life
If it wasn't for Ras' lyrics, this would be pretty much a straight cover version of the song of the same name from Prince's 1985 "Around The World In A Day" album. It's a little more smoothed out and less stark than the original, and of course Aaron G West's vocal has a different character to Prince's, but I think this cut from the "Quarterly" mixtape was very well done.
[Cold 187um] Above The Law : Call It What U Want (Instrumental)
I'll definitely play the vocal version of this "Black Mafia Life" track for you sometime; not only is it quality Above The Law material, it's also one of the earliest 2Pac guest appearances - people just weren't checking for him that heavily at the time. In the meantime, enjoy the pure funk from Cold 187um aka Big Hutch - the true father of the G-Funk...
India Shawn & James Fauntleroy : Let Me Show You
This has been racking up an impressive amount of headphone time for me this month. Soulful, seriously uptempo, with a little electronic edge, this is absolute fire. An experienced singer and songwriter, India combined with Cocaine 80s frontman James Fauntleroy for the "Outer Limits EP", which doesn't sound like anything else I'm listening to at the moment. You can hear the whole thing on Soundcloud, so if you like it then make sure to buy a copy and support!
DJ Spinna ft. Heavy : We Can Change This World
We'll definitely revisit Spinna's "Intergalactic Soul" project in the future, but this track makes it on as a great tempo and thematic follow-up to the India Shawn cut. It's got a bit of a broken beat vibe, and the album as a whole swerves from this to Hip-Hop to soul and house, always maintaining his individual spark. Well worth picking up for those of you with eclectic taste!
Pure Pimp : Can't Fade The Funk
This is vintage, origin story stuff right here. If you recognise the voice, you might even have heard it on past episodes...this is none other than the man now known as Suga Free! Under that name, he dropped his debut LP in 1997, but 1992 saw him release a four-track project entitled "Pimp Of The Year" on Gueno Recordings. Solely produced by Lee Bo, who brings the West Coast funk to the underpinnings of this cut, it likely didn't sell many copies but this track and one more were included on the CD of Free's "Sunday School" album as bonus tracks. Even at this early stage, you can tell that Free (who also went by the name Royal Rock at the time) is a highly talented MC, who could have ripped many of the rappers of the era a new one! So what happened between 1992 and 1997? Hey, the game is to be sold, not told...
Gang Starr : 2 Steps Ahead
Taking it allll the way back here - back to "No More Mr. Nice Guy", the first Gang Starr album. Is it just me, or does Guru have a very Ultramagnetic-era Kool Keith flow on this cut?
Taxi Driver : We Don't Care (We're Gonna Do It Mix)
I don't know much about this one, truth be told - Discogs has it in the "House" and "Future Jazz" categories, but I got it on a "Beach Bar" collection. The drum track definitely has a House blueprint but the bassline is a little more live than most, and combined with the woodwind action you end up with a great little groove.
The Time : Cool
There was a future episode I might have otherwise saved this for, but I thought with the passing of Prince it was a good one to end on - you can't help but smile when you hear it! Despite being credited to The Time, a group formed by Prince to allow him to have an outlet for this kind of sound, he actually wrote this track (with Dez Dickerson) and then played every single instrument! The vocal lead is taken by Morris Day, who faultlessly plays the rich playboy image he cultivated. I'll just give you a taste here - the album is very affordable, and I recommend lovers of the funk grab a copy!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Across the seas and deserts, through the trees and grass..."
- Guru
In the month when we remember the life of Guru, we also say goodbye to not just a legend, but a true musical genius - Prince. I've blended some of his work into this episode's selection, along with various eras of Guru, some solid Hip-Hop picks and a little weaving in and out of different genres along the way. In the next hour, you're pretty much guaranteed to hear something for the first time!
Playlist/Notes
Kardinal Offishall : Ill Eagle Alien
I'd be willing to bet that many people who've heard Kardinal don't really appreciate just how nice he is on the mic. He absolutely slays it right here - just check that second verse where he uses all those abstract nouns ("-ility") in a row to end his lines. On top of that, he passes Guru's "Mostly Tha Voice" test with flying colours! This was my favourite track on his "Not 4 Sale" album, and the beat is nothing to sneeze at either - Nottz with a speaker-thumper for real.
Da Beatminerz : Take That (Instrumental)
"Brace 4 Impak" was an excellent producer album in my opinion, and still gets fairly regular play from me fifteen years after release! This low-end killer comes courtesy of Mr.Walt, and is a masterclass in simplicity. Check the drumline - kicks only on 1 and 3, snares only on 2 and 4, and the hats are just on the 8th notes; it just keeps the time for the other sounds (and the MCs) to work within.
Doujah Raze ft. A.G. & Sean Price : Fahrenheit
Dug this one out for a listen and was struck by how brave the Alexandria, Virginia MC was to invite both A.G. and Sean Price along - as competent as he is, the others are big names with long histories of ripping tracks. This is the B-side of the 2006 "Little More Time" 12", slightly obscure but not expensive even now. Arythmetic supplies the boom-bap beat, and if you had to pick the best verse - got to be Sean P!
The Roots ft. Maimouna Youseff : Don't Feel Right
The "Game Theory" album is a bargain right now, so it's the perfect time to get yourself a copy! This was the first single from that album and Black Thought speaks on all the things he sees in the world that just aren't...right. I don't know if you'd call him an underrated MC or just an oft-forgotten one, but people in the know respect his skills immensely; check the technique right here. The combination of the Roots crew and singer/songwriter Maimouna Youseff got them a Grammy nomination - one occasion when they actually made a decent call.
The Mouse Outfit : Sip A Little Bit Of Rum
I was considering including this, and then the next day checked Facebook to find it had just had a new video released! Must be a sign ;) Anyway, this fine Manchester crew return once again with this beautiful head-nodder from the "Step Steadier" album, their trademark polished production undergirding the lyrics of local mic specialists Sparkz and Fox. Remember folks, drink responsibly.
Clear Soul Forces : Mars On Life
Strange to think that for years Detroit wasn't thought of as a Hip-Hop city, considering the outrageous amount of talent that has come out of the city in the last fifteen years or so! This crew represent well for the D, not least on this track from last year's "Fab Five" album (nice Michigan reference there), almost falling over each other to drop lyrics over a beat by producer Nameless. Never let it be said there's nothing good coming out these days...
Loose Ends : A Little Spice (Gang Starr Remix)
I managed to accidentally buy the "Tighten Up, Vol.1" compilation twice in the last month, a clear sign that I may need some rest. Anyway, Loose Ends were a tremendously influential UK soul group who made some noise in the US market and are highly respected - you may know them best for "Hangin' On A String", an 80s classic. "A Little Spice" is the title track from their 1984 debut LP, has been sampled at least once to great effect, but here it gets a little of that adopted Brooklyn flavour with Guru and Premier on the remix. Expect me to play more from this group in the future!
Prince : Let's Go Crazy
I had to think about it to be sure, but I think this is my favourite Prince track - and as it happens, heavily quoted in the last few days due to the first words in the intro. The opener on "Purple Rain", this is just a beast of a cut. You probably think of the guitars when this song comes to mind, but the drums are worthy of note too, making use of the Linn LM-1, which was the first drum machine to contain actual samples of drum sounds. Whatever it took to get the right sound...Prince was about that.
Leaders Of The New School : What's Next?
L.O.N.S are often only referred to these days when talking about Busta Rhymes' origins, but never forget that they put out some very good records during their short run! This was the Dinco-produced lead single from their second and final album, "T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye)" and did very well when it came out - I remember seeing the video a few times in an era where you couldn't just click on what you wanted to see! Big shout to my man DJ Omas for hooking me up with this vinyl :)
Gang Starr : Comin For Datazz
An absolutely underrated track from the "Hard To Earn" LP; at best, it gets glossed over, at worst, I've heard it described in very unflattering terms. Personally, I've always enjoyed it and thought it was a good closer. Guru's monotone flow gives plenty of low-key quotables that I don't think would have worked from anyone else, and Premier's fly and uncomplicated beat bumps along at a fairly high tempo for the era. It doesn't even have much of a hook - just an instrumental break and the odd cut (Run DMC - that one escaped me for ages when I was a kid). Makes me sad to know we won't be getting any more of this.
Ras Kass ft. Aaron G West : Pop Life
If it wasn't for Ras' lyrics, this would be pretty much a straight cover version of the song of the same name from Prince's 1985 "Around The World In A Day" album. It's a little more smoothed out and less stark than the original, and of course Aaron G West's vocal has a different character to Prince's, but I think this cut from the "Quarterly" mixtape was very well done.
[Cold 187um] Above The Law : Call It What U Want (Instrumental)
I'll definitely play the vocal version of this "Black Mafia Life" track for you sometime; not only is it quality Above The Law material, it's also one of the earliest 2Pac guest appearances - people just weren't checking for him that heavily at the time. In the meantime, enjoy the pure funk from Cold 187um aka Big Hutch - the true father of the G-Funk...
India Shawn & James Fauntleroy : Let Me Show You
This has been racking up an impressive amount of headphone time for me this month. Soulful, seriously uptempo, with a little electronic edge, this is absolute fire. An experienced singer and songwriter, India combined with Cocaine 80s frontman James Fauntleroy for the "Outer Limits EP", which doesn't sound like anything else I'm listening to at the moment. You can hear the whole thing on Soundcloud, so if you like it then make sure to buy a copy and support!
DJ Spinna ft. Heavy : We Can Change This World
We'll definitely revisit Spinna's "Intergalactic Soul" project in the future, but this track makes it on as a great tempo and thematic follow-up to the India Shawn cut. It's got a bit of a broken beat vibe, and the album as a whole swerves from this to Hip-Hop to soul and house, always maintaining his individual spark. Well worth picking up for those of you with eclectic taste!
Pure Pimp : Can't Fade The Funk
This is vintage, origin story stuff right here. If you recognise the voice, you might even have heard it on past episodes...this is none other than the man now known as Suga Free! Under that name, he dropped his debut LP in 1997, but 1992 saw him release a four-track project entitled "Pimp Of The Year" on Gueno Recordings. Solely produced by Lee Bo, who brings the West Coast funk to the underpinnings of this cut, it likely didn't sell many copies but this track and one more were included on the CD of Free's "Sunday School" album as bonus tracks. Even at this early stage, you can tell that Free (who also went by the name Royal Rock at the time) is a highly talented MC, who could have ripped many of the rappers of the era a new one! So what happened between 1992 and 1997? Hey, the game is to be sold, not told...
Gang Starr : 2 Steps Ahead
Taking it allll the way back here - back to "No More Mr. Nice Guy", the first Gang Starr album. Is it just me, or does Guru have a very Ultramagnetic-era Kool Keith flow on this cut?
Taxi Driver : We Don't Care (We're Gonna Do It Mix)
I don't know much about this one, truth be told - Discogs has it in the "House" and "Future Jazz" categories, but I got it on a "Beach Bar" collection. The drum track definitely has a House blueprint but the bassline is a little more live than most, and combined with the woodwind action you end up with a great little groove.
The Time : Cool
There was a future episode I might have otherwise saved this for, but I thought with the passing of Prince it was a good one to end on - you can't help but smile when you hear it! Despite being credited to The Time, a group formed by Prince to allow him to have an outlet for this kind of sound, he actually wrote this track (with Dez Dickerson) and then played every single instrument! The vocal lead is taken by Morris Day, who faultlessly plays the rich playboy image he cultivated. I'll just give you a taste here - the album is very affordable, and I recommend lovers of the funk grab a copy!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Money, please, I get loose off a orange juice!"
- Phife
That's my first iPod in the cover art, which was laser-engraved with "Beats, rhymes, and life" - so you get just some idea of how important A Tribe Called Quest's music is to me. The passing of Malik Taylor aka Phife Dawg this month at the age of just 45 was a huge shock to the entire Hip-Hop nation and the tributes have been absolutely pouring out. With him very much in mine, I did a late re-plan of the episode to make sure some of his fantastic work with Tribe could be included; it was only right. RIP Mutty Ranks!
As well as taking you down memory lane with those tracks, we also honour Biggie, Nate Dogg, and Sean Price (who's birthday would have been this month), and give you plenty more besides. A lot of work went in, and I hope you enjoy it.
One podcast recommendation this month, as mentioned on the show - The Light Podcast, and especially the track-by-track breakdown of Biggie's "Ready To Die".
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Shut 'Em Down
When I first picked up the "Apocalypse 91" album, I wasn't really into this track much, but it definitely grew on me over time. I'd imagine most people these days know it more for the famous Pete Rock remix, but here's just a taste of the original - you should absolutely go and hear the whole thing.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Ten Crack Commandments
As much as I love this tune, you can see why Chuck D sued the record label over the use of his voice! This infamous instructional guide for the street-level dealer (and apparently, other kinds of entrepreneur) from "Life After Death" has quite an interesting origin story; DJ Premier originally produced the beat for Jeru The Damaja, but was then used for Angie Martinez' "Top 5 At 9" radio show. Long story short, Biggie & Puffy convinced Premo and Jeru to let them use it, and with the additional voice sample for the "ten", the basis was there. Incidentally, that main sample for the track is absolutely tiny, and it was a work of genius - my understanding is that it would have totally slipped under the radar but someone snitched (you see how often I don't reveal samples here?) and Premo ended up getting sued...
Tall Black Guy : Slow It Down
I've said it and I'll say it again, TBG is one of the top producers out there right now and there's a lot of material for you to catch up on! This is a 2009 cut from the original "Hollyweird" album, kicking off with a classic soul sample before spiralling off into its own solid, thumping thing. Don't sleep!
A Tribe Called Quest : His Name Is Mutty Ranks
I freely admit to being one of those people who generally didn't enjoy "The Love Movement" all that much, but there were a few good picks - with that much talent, how could there not be? Coming in at under two minutes long, this track features Phife going solo on the Caribbean flex, which was just part of the flavour he brought to the group.
Smif-N-Wessun : Hustler's Prayer
I was thinking of going all the way back to "Dah Shinin'", but decided to give you something from 2005's "Reloaded" album. Man, eleven years already? Anyway, Tek and Steele put their souls into this street anthem while longtime production partners Da Beatminerz do the honours on the beat. Smif-N-Wessun have always had that reggae influence from Brooklyn in their music and this is no exception, working a classic roots reggae sample for the groove and hook.
Mos Def & Talib Kweli : Definition
One that I think most of you will know! Decided to keep the reggae influence going for another track, going all the way back to the lead single from the seminal Black Star album. Flipping the hook from Boogie Down Productions' "Remix For P Is Free", both the young and hungry MCs give their own take on "Stop The Violence" over a quality Hi-Tek beat.
Tall Black Guy : Sweet Europe
Giving you a taste of another one of the big man's dope beats, this time putting a little bump under some beautiful guitar strumming. Cop this one on the "Mini Therapy Chops" single!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Large Professor : Keep It Rollin'
So incredible, and one of my favourites from "Midnight Marauders". Tribe brought in fellow Queens native Large Professor to produce and guest on this track and he did not disappoint, giving them a laid-back slice of Roy Ayers-driven gorgeousness. Phife starts proceedings off, and as per usual he shows how to make an entrance on a track!
The ARE : Keep It Rollin'
The "Manipulated Marauders" beat tape takes some of the original samples that made up each track of the "Midnight Marauders" album and flips them a different way, so it made sense to follow up the Tribe cut with this one. Definitely a project to get hold of.
Sadat X ft. Cormega & Lanelle Tyler : On Fire
Some of the bar counts around the intro and hook are a big strange-sounding to me, but it's a solid song regardless. It's great to see Sadat X continue to record, and on this selection from 2015's "Never Left" LP, he links with fellow veteran Cormega to build on their legacies. The NYC vocal triangle is completed by Brooklyn's Lanelle Tyler, and the classy production is provided by a new name to me, North Carolina's Real McKoy.
Curren$y : Rain Stunts
I love this kind of subtle, reflective beat when it's done with polish as Cool & Dre have here. Curren$y's "The Owner's Manual" mixtape came out hot on the heels of his "Canal Street Confidential" album, and if you like his style then you'll want to pick up both. It's only a short track, where he laments how his success changed those around him, but I guess he said all he had to say in those few bars.
Ras Kass : The Chase
I love the face that modern distribution channels mean that someone like Ras, who suffered from all kinds of label drama early in his career, can get his material out to us fans with speed and efficiency. January's free "Lyrical Hip-Hop Is Dead" EP takes a selection of beats from the "Instrumental Hip-Hop Is Dead" project by the Montreal producer Kaytranada and reworks them into his own tracks. This one in particular was my favourite - definitely in terms of the beat, and Ras has more than enough experience to say how futile the quest for fame can be.
Sean Price : Remember Me
It would have been Sean's 44th birthday this month, and I thought this track was a perfect one to include. It's not that long - a mixtape cut from Scram Jones' "Loose Cannons" but it's got the trademark lyrical dexterity and self-depreciation that really epitomise the second half of his career. Mix that with a brooding beat and the scratched hook, and you have a quality piece of work.
[F. Graham] Channel Live : Mr.President (Instrumental)
One of those "flicking through the shelves" inclusions - I had long forgotten what this sounded like! Since the vocal version is about George W. Bush and we're getting ready for the first post-Obama election ( :( ), I figured I may never get round to playing it and instead went with the F.Graham-produced instrumental.
Nate Dogg : No Matter Where I Go
Nate Dogg is probably the most notable and respected hook man in Hip-Hop history, and while his long list of features are celebrated, his solo material is much less well known. To be fair, label/legal problems at Death Row meant that the "G-Funk Classics, Vol.1 & 2" double album didn't see the light of day until 1998 on Breakaway, and so didn't get the promotional push that would have been expected. I found this track a few years back on a compilation, just after he passed I think, browsing around Spotify. Nate not-so-subtly takes his shots at his former label on this one, and his 213 partner Warren G gives him a smooth track that may be too gentle for some but works for me! Of course, the hook is on point. What did you expect? :)
Cormega : Journey
I got this from the first disc of Cormega's "Raw Forever" LP, but it originally appeared on his "Born and Raised" album. Large Professor blesses Cormega with a quality beat for him to reflect on his path through life, which he does with aplomb as always. "Raw Forever" is definitely worth adding to your collection; a compilation of past work on the first disc, and a full album of new material backed by the Brooklyn live band The Revelations.
Eighties Babies : Man's World
When this is your track title, it's logical to want to sample the James Brown classic, and if you want to flip a classic then the man you want on the job is Tall Black Guy, who smashes it down on this track from the "Sonic Music" album. The MC, Shogun, is a new name to me but definitely holds up his end of proceedings on the mic. There's plenty more quality on the album, so it's well worth checking!
Kidz In The Hall : Day By Day
The 2006 "School Was My Hustle" album was a very solid debut from this pair of Ivy League-graduate artists, and here's one of my personal standouts. Double-O's beat is is definitely centred around the drums and percussion (in fact, all the low-end comes from the kick drum) and Naledge holds down all three verses with class. I had to let this one play all the way through to the end, just because I thought the spoken parts at the close were very much worth including for everyone to hear.
Jay Dee : Pause (Instrumental)
Classic Hip-Hop instrumental, from the 12" of a track from Dilla's "Welcome To Detroit". Any crowd that know anything about Hip-Hop will respond to this banger.
A Tribe Called Quest : Buggin' Out
You may not realise this, but Phife wasn't on the first Tribe album much, and his skills were far below the level he eventually developed; apparently, he wasn't super focused on being an MC and almost saw himself as a kind of hypeman. Q-Tip helped convince him to take rhyming more seriously, and this classic cut from "The Low End Theory" really served as a coming out party. Many people from the average head to the now-legends of the artform will tell you how they reacted to him setting it off with "Yo! Microphone check, one two, what is this? The five foot assassin with the ruffneck business"! Couldn't leave this one off.
A Tribe Called Quest : Phoney Rappers
"...then I came back and just FUCKED UP his head!" Now that is what is known as a Precision F-Strike, and while any other month that could have been the epigraph for the show, Q-Tip's line has to take a backseat to Phife's bars. I think what I really love about this opening track from "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" is that they've managed to make it sound less like a song and more like an actual conversation about street battling experiences; it's the little asides and interaction between the MCs that makes it work so well. Phife's verse here is one of my favourites, and it's a perfect way to end the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Money, please, I get loose off a orange juice!"
- Phife
That's my first iPod in the cover art, which was laser-engraved with "Beats, rhymes, and life" - so you get just some idea of how important A Tribe Called Quest's music is to me. The passing of Malik Taylor aka Phife Dawg this month at the age of just 45 was a huge shock to the entire Hip-Hop nation and the tributes have been absolutely pouring out. With him very much in mine, I did a late re-plan of the episode to make sure some of his fantastic work with Tribe could be included; it was only right. RIP Mutty Ranks!
As well as taking you down memory lane with those tracks, we also honour Biggie, Nate Dogg, and Sean Price (who's birthday would have been this month), and give you plenty more besides. A lot of work went in, and I hope you enjoy it.
One podcast recommendation this month, as mentioned on the show - The Light Podcast, and especially the track-by-track breakdown of Biggie's "Ready To Die".
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Shut 'Em Down
When I first picked up the "Apocalypse 91" album, I wasn't really into this track much, but it definitely grew on me over time. I'd imagine most people these days know it more for the famous Pete Rock remix, but here's just a taste of the original - you should absolutely go and hear the whole thing.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Ten Crack Commandments
As much as I love this tune, you can see why Chuck D sued the record label over the use of his voice! This infamous instructional guide for the street-level dealer (and apparently, other kinds of entrepreneur) from "Life After Death" has quite an interesting origin story; DJ Premier originally produced the beat for Jeru The Damaja, but was then used for Angie Martinez' "Top 5 At 9" radio show. Long story short, Biggie & Puffy convinced Premo and Jeru to let them use it, and with the additional voice sample for the "ten", the basis was there. Incidentally, that main sample for the track is absolutely tiny, and it was a work of genius - my understanding is that it would have totally slipped under the radar but someone snitched (you see how often I don't reveal samples here?) and Premo ended up getting sued...
Tall Black Guy : Slow It Down
I've said it and I'll say it again, TBG is one of the top producers out there right now and there's a lot of material for you to catch up on! This is a 2009 cut from the original "Hollyweird" album, kicking off with a classic soul sample before spiralling off into its own solid, thumping thing. Don't sleep!
A Tribe Called Quest : His Name Is Mutty Ranks
I freely admit to being one of those people who generally didn't enjoy "The Love Movement" all that much, but there were a few good picks - with that much talent, how could there not be? Coming in at under two minutes long, this track features Phife going solo on the Caribbean flex, which was just part of the flavour he brought to the group.
Smif-N-Wessun : Hustler's Prayer
I was thinking of going all the way back to "Dah Shinin'", but decided to give you something from 2005's "Reloaded" album. Man, eleven years already? Anyway, Tek and Steele put their souls into this street anthem while longtime production partners Da Beatminerz do the honours on the beat. Smif-N-Wessun have always had that reggae influence from Brooklyn in their music and this is no exception, working a classic roots reggae sample for the groove and hook.
Mos Def & Talib Kweli : Definition
One that I think most of you will know! Decided to keep the reggae influence going for another track, going all the way back to the lead single from the seminal Black Star album. Flipping the hook from Boogie Down Productions' "Remix For P Is Free", both the young and hungry MCs give their own take on "Stop The Violence" over a quality Hi-Tek beat.
Tall Black Guy : Sweet Europe
Giving you a taste of another one of the big man's dope beats, this time putting a little bump under some beautiful guitar strumming. Cop this one on the "Mini Therapy Chops" single!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Large Professor : Keep It Rollin'
So incredible, and one of my favourites from "Midnight Marauders". Tribe brought in fellow Queens native Large Professor to produce and guest on this track and he did not disappoint, giving them a laid-back slice of Roy Ayers-driven gorgeousness. Phife starts proceedings off, and as per usual he shows how to make an entrance on a track!
The ARE : Keep It Rollin'
The "Manipulated Marauders" beat tape takes some of the original samples that made up each track of the "Midnight Marauders" album and flips them a different way, so it made sense to follow up the Tribe cut with this one. Definitely a project to get hold of.
Sadat X ft. Cormega & Lanelle Tyler : On Fire
Some of the bar counts around the intro and hook are a big strange-sounding to me, but it's a solid song regardless. It's great to see Sadat X continue to record, and on this selection from 2015's "Never Left" LP, he links with fellow veteran Cormega to build on their legacies. The NYC vocal triangle is completed by Brooklyn's Lanelle Tyler, and the classy production is provided by a new name to me, North Carolina's Real McKoy.
Curren$y : Rain Stunts
I love this kind of subtle, reflective beat when it's done with polish as Cool & Dre have here. Curren$y's "The Owner's Manual" mixtape came out hot on the heels of his "Canal Street Confidential" album, and if you like his style then you'll want to pick up both. It's only a short track, where he laments how his success changed those around him, but I guess he said all he had to say in those few bars.
Ras Kass : The Chase
I love the face that modern distribution channels mean that someone like Ras, who suffered from all kinds of label drama early in his career, can get his material out to us fans with speed and efficiency. January's free "Lyrical Hip-Hop Is Dead" EP takes a selection of beats from the "Instrumental Hip-Hop Is Dead" project by the Montreal producer Kaytranada and reworks them into his own tracks. This one in particular was my favourite - definitely in terms of the beat, and Ras has more than enough experience to say how futile the quest for fame can be.
Sean Price : Remember Me
It would have been Sean's 44th birthday this month, and I thought this track was a perfect one to include. It's not that long - a mixtape cut from Scram Jones' "Loose Cannons" but it's got the trademark lyrical dexterity and self-depreciation that really epitomise the second half of his career. Mix that with a brooding beat and the scratched hook, and you have a quality piece of work.
[F. Graham] Channel Live : Mr.President (Instrumental)
One of those "flicking through the shelves" inclusions - I had long forgotten what this sounded like! Since the vocal version is about George W. Bush and we're getting ready for the first post-Obama election ( :( ), I figured I may never get round to playing it and instead went with the F.Graham-produced instrumental.
Nate Dogg : No Matter Where I Go
Nate Dogg is probably the most notable and respected hook man in Hip-Hop history, and while his long list of features are celebrated, his solo material is much less well known. To be fair, label/legal problems at Death Row meant that the "G-Funk Classics, Vol.1 & 2" double album didn't see the light of day until 1998 on Breakaway, and so didn't get the promotional push that would have been expected. I found this track a few years back on a compilation, just after he passed I think, browsing around Spotify. Nate not-so-subtly takes his shots at his former label on this one, and his 213 partner Warren G gives him a smooth track that may be too gentle for some but works for me! Of course, the hook is on point. What did you expect? :)
Cormega : Journey
I got this from the first disc of Cormega's "Raw Forever" LP, but it originally appeared on his "Born and Raised" album. Large Professor blesses Cormega with a quality beat for him to reflect on his path through life, which he does with aplomb as always. "Raw Forever" is definitely worth adding to your collection; a compilation of past work on the first disc, and a full album of new material backed by the Brooklyn live band The Revelations.
Eighties Babies : Man's World
When this is your track title, it's logical to want to sample the James Brown classic, and if you want to flip a classic then the man you want on the job is Tall Black Guy, who smashes it down on this track from the "Sonic Music" album. The MC, Shogun, is a new name to me but definitely holds up his end of proceedings on the mic. There's plenty more quality on the album, so it's well worth checking!
Kidz In The Hall : Day By Day
The 2006 "School Was My Hustle" album was a very solid debut from this pair of Ivy League-graduate artists, and here's one of my personal standouts. Double-O's beat is is definitely centred around the drums and percussion (in fact, all the low-end comes from the kick drum) and Naledge holds down all three verses with class. I had to let this one play all the way through to the end, just because I thought the spoken parts at the close were very much worth including for everyone to hear.
Jay Dee : Pause (Instrumental)
Classic Hip-Hop instrumental, from the 12" of a track from Dilla's "Welcome To Detroit". Any crowd that know anything about Hip-Hop will respond to this banger.
A Tribe Called Quest : Buggin' Out
You may not realise this, but Phife wasn't on the first Tribe album much, and his skills were far below the level he eventually developed; apparently, he wasn't super focused on being an MC and almost saw himself as a kind of hypeman. Q-Tip helped convince him to take rhyming more seriously, and this classic cut from "The Low End Theory" really served as a coming out party. Many people from the average head to the now-legends of the artform will tell you how they reacted to him setting it off with "Yo! Microphone check, one two, what is this? The five foot assassin with the ruffneck business"! Couldn't leave this one off.
A Tribe Called Quest : Phoney Rappers
"...then I came back and just FUCKED UP his head!" Now that is what is known as a Precision F-Strike, and while any other month that could have been the epigraph for the show, Q-Tip's line has to take a backseat to Phife's bars. I think what I really love about this opening track from "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" is that they've managed to make it sound less like a song and more like an actual conversation about street battling experiences; it's the little asides and interaction between the MCs that makes it work so well. Phife's verse here is one of my favourites, and it's a perfect way to end the episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Now let me say it again, and say it with feeling."
- Jay Dee
Ten years since the passing of J Dilla. Feels odd just thinking about it being that long. As always on the show, we pay tribute to him with a solid selection of his work, and the title of the episode; in reference to his refusal to be boxed in by the orthodoxy of any particular style, I thought it was fitting. We also give respect this episode to the late greats Big L, Big Pun, and Maurice White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, who left us this month, and I hope this mix does them all justice.
Playlist/Notes
Jay Dee : The $
Some months I like to start with something gentle and refined. This is not one of those months. Big time slammer from the "Ruff Draft" EP, exemplifying the rawness he speaks of on the intro! Oh yes, if you know the track well and notice a difference - yes, I did sneak in a couple of extra sounds at one specific point, just for emphasis ;)
J Dilla : Go Get 'Em
From the recent "Lost Tapes, Reels + More" collection, I believe this is based around the same sample as KMD's "Nitty Gritty (Remix)", and bumps along nicely with the added keyboard and harder drums.
Q-Tip : Go Hard
The "Amplified" album, by and large, did not get much love when it came out back in 1999, going gold at a time when platinum sales were definitely achievable for Hip-Hop releases. The singles "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop" made a little commercial noise, on the underground tip "Let's Ride" is a popular one at J Dilla tributes, but this track never seems to get any shine! The beat is upbeat but kind of austere, with Jay Dee channelling some late-70s synth sounds and adding some sharp drums.
E-40 : The Slap
Always been a fan of this track, and it's been sitting here for the longest waiting to be played - finally, it makes the cut once I realised how perfectly it blended with the Q-Tip track! Living up to the title, this Rick Rock produced beat slaps crazy while E-40 goes into unrestrained Vallejo game spitting mode. This is on a 12" with "7 Much" on the flip, but you can also find this on the 2002 "Grit & Grind" album.
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : 99 Bottles
Not the longest track, but the kind of quality you'd expect from the union of Camp Lo and one of the greatest producers ever to do it! It's got that 70s cop show vibe to it, and while the samples sound familiar, I can't place them exactly; either way, Lo ride the instrumental impeccably on this gem from the second "80 Blocks From Tiffany's" free mixtape.
The X-Ecutioners ft. Kool G Rap & Big Pun : Dramacyde
An interesting combination of personnel on this one, with a legendary battle DJ crew hooking up with Big Pun and one of his biggest influences, an MC he called "Master" whenever they met. The production matches up to the title and gives a worthy setting for the MCs to go straight crime rhyme all over it, but the DJs absolutely get their shine here, with plenty of space to feature the cuts. The "Built From Scratch" album is definitely worth having for the varied track styles and collaborations throughout - we could do with more such experimentation!
Dela : Jay Electropietricus
It's not been that long since we visited the "Translation Lost" album, but when I heard this track while kicking back and relaxing I thought it might be time for a return! Nice boom-bap drums on top of some lush keyboard work, straight from Toronto.
Big L : Flamboyant 1
A little something from the all-too-short Big L catalogue, a freestyle which you can catch on the "Harlem's Finest" compilation, if you can find a copy! These lyrics eventually made their way onto the officially-released version of the track "Flamboyant" from "The Big Picture" LP. As for the beat, see below...
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz : We Will Ball
I could have saved this for another month, but with the recording quality of the previous track being pretty ropey, I thought I may as well draw on the original beat in all its shiny glory! When I first heard this on Westwood's show, I recorded one verse (not sure why) and didn't even hear what it was called, so it was a mystery to me for a long while. Eventually some lyric googling turned up a result, and I picked this up as a used 12". Lyrically, they're celebrating their success, going back and forth over a thumping, piano-seasoned Dave Atkinson track with flossy finesse. The 12" I have doesn't mention the guest MC on the third verse, and I can't even find her name on Discogs; you may see the correct credit given on the "Make It Reign" LP.
Panda One : The Essence
Even if this tune hadn't been fire, I might have been tempted to play it purely because of the artist's name :) Excellent 2002 underground release with Chops of the Mountain Brothers on the beat; solid drums, the bass backing the low horn sounds and some nice flute riding on the top! Panda himself was formely owner of Good Vibe recordings, but stepped out from behind the desk to the mic for three solo 12"s - he's not Rakim, but he's certainly competent and makes this a pleasure to listen to.
Janet Jackson : Together Again (DJ Premier 100 In A 50 Remix)
This was a big C'mon Feet record and I was lucky enough to be gifted my own copy of this vinyl! You already know about the quality of Janet Jackson's catalogue (or you should), and she has the nous to call in Hip-Hop royalty to remix this track from "The Velvet Rope". Premier has this one absolutely bumping, and spare enough to allow Janet's voice to breathe. On the same 12", there's an even more stripped-back remix with the non-drum/bass instruments removed - good enough that I had a hard decision working out which one to play :)
[Waajeed] Onra : The One (Waajeed Remix Instrumental)
When a noted producer hands the reins to another practitioner of the craft, it shows a huge level of respect; in this case, that respect is well earned. The original was dope, and the remix? Might be better. Both are available on Bandcamp, at a very reasonable price.
Slum Village ft. 5 Elementz : 5 Ela (Remix)
From the very early days of Slum Village comes this incredible flip of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me", just a great example of how chopping up a sample (actually, two different ones from the same track) gives a beatmaker a lot more versatility with the composition than a straight loop would ever allow. The trademark relaxed drum timing and handclaps are in effect even at this early stage, prefiguring a lot of the work that was to come later. Depending on which version of "Fan-tas-tic Vol.1" you see, this may be labelled as "Slow Up", but it looks like on the now-official version that the title here stands. As far as the lyrics...kind of up and down throughout the cut really. 5 Elementz is another crew from Detroit, and they take their place on here alongside the regular Slum MCs to administer a vicious verbal beatdown to some unknown antagonist...glad that wasn't me they were talking about!
Termanology ft. Big Pooh, Chaundon, and Joe Scudda : Pay Jay
My favourite cut from Termanology's "If Heaven Was A Mile Away" tribute mixtape. Taking the Michael Jackson-sampling "Inhuman Nature", one of my favourite unreleased Jay Dee beats as a basis, you get Termanology and a contingent from the Justus League paying homage and weaving Dilla-related song titles and other references into their flows. On the cuts, DJ Statik Selektah does the business to add a little extra flavour. The overall sound quality is kind of trash, but I included it despite that, just because the track is so ill!
Nas : It Ain't Hard To Tell (J.Period Meets Spinna Remix)
The original track from "Illmatic" is primarily based around the intro piece of "Human Nature", but this remix by J.Period and DJ Spinna from their "Man Or The Music 2" project takes the groove from the verse instead, which makes for a very different feel despite it being the exact same record! If you're an MJ fan at all, be sure to download this top-notch mixtape.
Tall Black Guy : Nature's Miracle
Again. He kills it again. This time, "Human Nature" gets the treatment from TBG on his 2010 "Tall Black Guy vs Michael Jackson" remix suite - he just atomises it and turns all the pieces into his own personal sonic puppets. Recommendation for the month - if you don't know his catalogue, get to know!
Rapsody ft. Heather Victoria : Black Girl Jedi
Five years old already but only just coming to my notice, the "Thank H.E.R Now" LP was a solid pickup for me this month. Rapsody is always going to give you that work, and she brings in Jamla's Heather Victoria to handle hook duty while she gets busy on the verses over what I think is a 9th Wonder beat - it's certainly got the sonic characteristics. Black girl magic on that next level!
9th Wonder : Volume 3, Beat VII
A little something from a vinyl of unreleased instrumentals from 9th - although some of them were used on official releases eventually. I'd love the chance to go through his folders of unused material...
Earth, Wind, & Fire : Fantasy
The passing of Maurice White, founder of EWF, demands that we take some time to appreciate some of his work right here. From 1978's "All 'N All" LP, the lyrics were partly inspired by the film "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" - you can hear the space traveller vibes in there. It's beautifully smooth, and the perfect wind-down ending to the month. RIP Maurice White.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Now let me say it again, and say it with feeling."
- Jay Dee
Ten years since the passing of J Dilla. Feels odd just thinking about it being that long. As always on the show, we pay tribute to him with a solid selection of his work, and the title of the episode; in reference to his refusal to be boxed in by the orthodoxy of any particular style, I thought it was fitting. We also give respect this episode to the late greats Big L, Big Pun, and Maurice White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, who left us this month, and I hope this mix does them all justice.
Playlist/Notes
Jay Dee : The $
Some months I like to start with something gentle and refined. This is not one of those months. Big time slammer from the "Ruff Draft" EP, exemplifying the rawness he speaks of on the intro! Oh yes, if you know the track well and notice a difference - yes, I did sneak in a couple of extra sounds at one specific point, just for emphasis ;)
J Dilla : Go Get 'Em
From the recent "Lost Tapes, Reels + More" collection, I believe this is based around the same sample as KMD's "Nitty Gritty (Remix)", and bumps along nicely with the added keyboard and harder drums.
Q-Tip : Go Hard
The "Amplified" album, by and large, did not get much love when it came out back in 1999, going gold at a time when platinum sales were definitely achievable for Hip-Hop releases. The singles "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop" made a little commercial noise, on the underground tip "Let's Ride" is a popular one at J Dilla tributes, but this track never seems to get any shine! The beat is upbeat but kind of austere, with Jay Dee channelling some late-70s synth sounds and adding some sharp drums.
E-40 : The Slap
Always been a fan of this track, and it's been sitting here for the longest waiting to be played - finally, it makes the cut once I realised how perfectly it blended with the Q-Tip track! Living up to the title, this Rick Rock produced beat slaps crazy while E-40 goes into unrestrained Vallejo game spitting mode. This is on a 12" with "7 Much" on the flip, but you can also find this on the 2002 "Grit & Grind" album.
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : 99 Bottles
Not the longest track, but the kind of quality you'd expect from the union of Camp Lo and one of the greatest producers ever to do it! It's got that 70s cop show vibe to it, and while the samples sound familiar, I can't place them exactly; either way, Lo ride the instrumental impeccably on this gem from the second "80 Blocks From Tiffany's" free mixtape.
The X-Ecutioners ft. Kool G Rap & Big Pun : Dramacyde
An interesting combination of personnel on this one, with a legendary battle DJ crew hooking up with Big Pun and one of his biggest influences, an MC he called "Master" whenever they met. The production matches up to the title and gives a worthy setting for the MCs to go straight crime rhyme all over it, but the DJs absolutely get their shine here, with plenty of space to feature the cuts. The "Built From Scratch" album is definitely worth having for the varied track styles and collaborations throughout - we could do with more such experimentation!
Dela : Jay Electropietricus
It's not been that long since we visited the "Translation Lost" album, but when I heard this track while kicking back and relaxing I thought it might be time for a return! Nice boom-bap drums on top of some lush keyboard work, straight from Toronto.
Big L : Flamboyant 1
A little something from the all-too-short Big L catalogue, a freestyle which you can catch on the "Harlem's Finest" compilation, if you can find a copy! These lyrics eventually made their way onto the officially-released version of the track "Flamboyant" from "The Big Picture" LP. As for the beat, see below...
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz : We Will Ball
I could have saved this for another month, but with the recording quality of the previous track being pretty ropey, I thought I may as well draw on the original beat in all its shiny glory! When I first heard this on Westwood's show, I recorded one verse (not sure why) and didn't even hear what it was called, so it was a mystery to me for a long while. Eventually some lyric googling turned up a result, and I picked this up as a used 12". Lyrically, they're celebrating their success, going back and forth over a thumping, piano-seasoned Dave Atkinson track with flossy finesse. The 12" I have doesn't mention the guest MC on the third verse, and I can't even find her name on Discogs; you may see the correct credit given on the "Make It Reign" LP.
Panda One : The Essence
Even if this tune hadn't been fire, I might have been tempted to play it purely because of the artist's name :) Excellent 2002 underground release with Chops of the Mountain Brothers on the beat; solid drums, the bass backing the low horn sounds and some nice flute riding on the top! Panda himself was formely owner of Good Vibe recordings, but stepped out from behind the desk to the mic for three solo 12"s - he's not Rakim, but he's certainly competent and makes this a pleasure to listen to.
Janet Jackson : Together Again (DJ Premier 100 In A 50 Remix)
This was a big C'mon Feet record and I was lucky enough to be gifted my own copy of this vinyl! You already know about the quality of Janet Jackson's catalogue (or you should), and she has the nous to call in Hip-Hop royalty to remix this track from "The Velvet Rope". Premier has this one absolutely bumping, and spare enough to allow Janet's voice to breathe. On the same 12", there's an even more stripped-back remix with the non-drum/bass instruments removed - good enough that I had a hard decision working out which one to play :)
[Waajeed] Onra : The One (Waajeed Remix Instrumental)
When a noted producer hands the reins to another practitioner of the craft, it shows a huge level of respect; in this case, that respect is well earned. The original was dope, and the remix? Might be better. Both are available on Bandcamp, at a very reasonable price.
Slum Village ft. 5 Elementz : 5 Ela (Remix)
From the very early days of Slum Village comes this incredible flip of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me", just a great example of how chopping up a sample (actually, two different ones from the same track) gives a beatmaker a lot more versatility with the composition than a straight loop would ever allow. The trademark relaxed drum timing and handclaps are in effect even at this early stage, prefiguring a lot of the work that was to come later. Depending on which version of "Fan-tas-tic Vol.1" you see, this may be labelled as "Slow Up", but it looks like on the now-official version that the title here stands. As far as the lyrics...kind of up and down throughout the cut really. 5 Elementz is another crew from Detroit, and they take their place on here alongside the regular Slum MCs to administer a vicious verbal beatdown to some unknown antagonist...glad that wasn't me they were talking about!
Termanology ft. Big Pooh, Chaundon, and Joe Scudda : Pay Jay
My favourite cut from Termanology's "If Heaven Was A Mile Away" tribute mixtape. Taking the Michael Jackson-sampling "Inhuman Nature", one of my favourite unreleased Jay Dee beats as a basis, you get Termanology and a contingent from the Justus League paying homage and weaving Dilla-related song titles and other references into their flows. On the cuts, DJ Statik Selektah does the business to add a little extra flavour. The overall sound quality is kind of trash, but I included it despite that, just because the track is so ill!
Nas : It Ain't Hard To Tell (J.Period Meets Spinna Remix)
The original track from "Illmatic" is primarily based around the intro piece of "Human Nature", but this remix by J.Period and DJ Spinna from their "Man Or The Music 2" project takes the groove from the verse instead, which makes for a very different feel despite it being the exact same record! If you're an MJ fan at all, be sure to download this top-notch mixtape.
Tall Black Guy : Nature's Miracle
Again. He kills it again. This time, "Human Nature" gets the treatment from TBG on his 2010 "Tall Black Guy vs Michael Jackson" remix suite - he just atomises it and turns all the pieces into his own personal sonic puppets. Recommendation for the month - if you don't know his catalogue, get to know!
Rapsody ft. Heather Victoria : Black Girl Jedi
Five years old already but only just coming to my notice, the "Thank H.E.R Now" LP was a solid pickup for me this month. Rapsody is always going to give you that work, and she brings in Jamla's Heather Victoria to handle hook duty while she gets busy on the verses over what I think is a 9th Wonder beat - it's certainly got the sonic characteristics. Black girl magic on that next level!
9th Wonder : Volume 3, Beat VII
A little something from a vinyl of unreleased instrumentals from 9th - although some of them were used on official releases eventually. I'd love the chance to go through his folders of unused material...
Earth, Wind, & Fire : Fantasy
The passing of Maurice White, founder of EWF, demands that we take some time to appreciate some of his work right here. From 1978's "All 'N All" LP, the lyrics were partly inspired by the film "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" - you can hear the space traveller vibes in there. It's beautifully smooth, and the perfect wind-down ending to the month. RIP Maurice White.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"They don't make 'em like me no more..."
- Murs
I guess it's been a strange start to the year; this month both the UK producer Mark B and David Bowie have passed on, so I've included them both in this month's selection, one that ranges from the conscious to the without conscience! There was a lot of re-planning to come up with something that fit together well but I think I've achieved it, so let's get into the detail...
Playlist/Notes
Rakim : The Saga Begins
I'd not played this song from "The 18th Letter" for years, but was reminded of it on a recent episode of the Juan Epstein podcast. The intro is impossible to blend with anything, but playing this track at the very start allows it to get an airing; it's the sound of Pete Rock testing out the samples in his SP before he lets the beat drop. Add that beat to Rakim Allah on the mic, and you have a winner.
[Harry Fraud] Eddie B : Splash (Instrumental)
Eddie B isn't an MC I've been familiar with but I picked up the mixtape "The Johnny Utah Story" on the strength of the Harry Fraud production - after "Muslim Wedding", I'll always check for him in case he smacks me with a track like that again! This beat is a world away from that sonically, but it got my attention and it works well here.
Reckonize Real ft. M-Dot, Torae & Tribeca : Business
This one turned up for me recently while searching for Tribeca tracks on Spotify. Very grateful for that long drum intro (producers, please take note) that allows for a nice-sized blend to bring the track in! The MC out of Boston heads to New York to recruit Torae & Tribeca to bless this beat produced by Reckonize Real. This particular copy comes from the digital release of M-Dot's "Jake LaDotta" album, but also appears on Reckonize Real's "Dopamine" project.
Reks : Martyrs (Steve Biko)
I'd had Reks' "Eyes Watching God" collaborative album with the producer Hazardis Sounds bookmarked for a while, and finally got round to giving it a listen in the last couple of weeks; this was a standout for me. Unlike another excellent record which uses his name, this record actually is about Steve Biko, the South African activist who was killed by the police in 1977 - truly a man who died for the people.
Murs & 9th Wonder : God Black/Black God
Murs and 9th have a history going back to 2004's "Murs 3:16 : The 9th Edition" album (re-issue here), which made serious underground noise at the time. It's great to hear them come back together for a sixth collaboration on the brand new "name your price" release "Brighter Daze", which is a recommended pickup for everyone this month! On this cut, 9th's beat skips along at first before switching towards the end while Murs explores Black economic empowerment, survival, leadership, and more besides in confident fashion. Again, this New Year's Day release gets the thumbs up from me.
Mega Ran & Storyville ft. PT Starks : Medici Lions
MC extraordinaire and videogame superfan Mega Ran linked up with longtime friend and fellow underground head Storyville for last year's "Soul Veggies" album. While he's primarily known for incorporating video game sounds into his material, on this album Mega Ran explores a more live sound, exemplified on this cut. While we're here, bonus points for the Bodie and Stringer Bell samples from "The Wire"! On the mic, Ran is on point as always and comes with just the right flow to fit.
[DJ Premier] Prhyme : Prhyme (Instrumental)
After the sudden speed drop in the last track, we come up with an instrumental around 78bpm to match it; DJ Premier working with a (fully cleared!) sample from Adrian Younge and then adding some extra beef with the drums. The idea of sampling a single artist for a whole album was not something Premier had explored before Prhyme, but he took on the challenge and made it work!
Mark B & Blade ft. Lewis Parker : Intense Preparations
The union of Mark B and UK Hip-Hop veteran Blade was one of the most notable and successful in the history of the scene, and achieved some unexpected but deserved commercial success. However, that success was several years away when the "Hitmen For Hire" EP that this track is drawn from was released. Back in 1998, this was just a talented and dedicated producer matching up with an equally-skilled MC to give us a short set that was fantastic at the time and also just hinted at what was to come. This particular track works a classic library record sample that the diggers amongst you will know, and brings the Canterbury don Lewis Parker along for the ride. RIP Mark B.
Torae ft. Phonte : Clap Sh_t
Torae has given us six albums in eight years and his latest project "Entitled" is already pulling in solid reviews. I heard this joint and it just jumped out as something I had to play; Nottz' beat puts the thump and bump under some eerie pianos while Tor and Te kill every MC in sight with some incredible verses.
8Ball & MJG : Break 'Em Off
Memphis in the house! This is the radio version of the closing song from the duo's 1995 "On The Top Of The World" LP. T-Mix gets the synth action going on this dark uptempo track. Dope record, but that album cover... :)
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel : Ignorant Sh*t
In my opinion, this track (certainly the original, which I'll come back to) has the greatest use of the Isley Brothers' "Between The Sheets" of all time - pure fire from Just Blaze. For one thing, it's brilliant chopping and arrangement of the sounds from the original break. In addition, it's much faster than the original, and the thumping four-to-the-floor drum programming drives it forward to match the increased speed; most producers use this sample in slow jam mode, but not here! The original version had no Beanie and some different lyrics from Jay, but once it got leaked it never got a proper release in that form, resurfacing instead in this form on the "American Gangster" soundtrack. If you can find a decent copy anywhere, grab it!
Maticulous : Simple Minded Miracle (Simple Minds Flip)
Perfect beat for this spot, though I had to edit it a bit to make it a suitable length! Brooklyn's Maticulous gets very busy on this cut, chopping up a Simple Minds sample for his contribution to "The 80s Beat Tape" from the Producers I Know camp.
David Bowie : Let's Dance
I've never been a big Bowie listener, but if I had to name one song of his I enjoy it's this every time! The great Nile Rodgers from Chic helmed the production on this one and the combination of the two legends is a straight winner. This title track from Bowie's 1983 album (recorded in just seventeen days!) was a big single in its own right and deservedly so.
Prince : Extraloveable (Reloaded)
This show is usually about me digging back into my archives, but this song in particular is an example of Prince doing the same! The original was planned for Vanity 6 and recorded in 1982 but then shelved. In 2011, a new version was recorded, and then 2013 saw a modified version released for free on Prince's website. A rediscovered gem from one of the greats!
Rick James : Cold Blooded
Even if you never particularly followed his music, everyone knows the sound of at least one Rick James record - if it's not "Mary Jane", then for sure it's "Super Freak", either in its original form or after MC Hammer sampled it! On this title track from his 1983 album, James played all the instruments on this track, which with its synth-heavy construction is very different to a lot of his previous material - he could definitely get busy with a guitar! I only just read that the woman he's speaking to in the lyrics is his then-girlfriend Linda Blair - every day's a school day!
The Time : Jungle Love
I admit it, I've never seen "Purple Rain", and partly for that reason, didn't know this song until recently! Morris Day and the crew slay on this funk number from the 1984 "Ice Cream Castle" album, written by Morris Day and Prince (under the alias Jamie Starr). Some of the lyrics are pretty suspect though...
Missy Elliott : I'm Really Hot (Instrumental)
One of the good things about doing the podcast is that it sometimes forces me to give a listen to records in my collection I'd normally just flick past. I think I bought this vinyl for "Pass That Dutch" but this beat ended up coming in handy here!
Mark B & Tommy Evans : Move...Now
I closed many a set with this! Mark B gives us a seriously uptempo track built around a serious Bollywood sample, giving Leeds MC Tommy Evans a quality backing to flow over. This made the playlists for some mainstream radio stations, and worked every time on the dancefloor! Very affordable release available on all formats even now if you look around, well worth having in your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"They don't make 'em like me no more..."
- Murs
I guess it's been a strange start to the year; this month both the UK producer Mark B and David Bowie have passed on, so I've included them both in this month's selection, one that ranges from the conscious to the without conscience! There was a lot of re-planning to come up with something that fit together well but I think I've achieved it, so let's get into the detail...
Playlist/Notes
Rakim : The Saga Begins
I'd not played this song from "The 18th Letter" for years, but was reminded of it on a recent episode of the Juan Epstein podcast. The intro is impossible to blend with anything, but playing this track at the very start allows it to get an airing; it's the sound of Pete Rock testing out the samples in his SP before he lets the beat drop. Add that beat to Rakim Allah on the mic, and you have a winner.
[Harry Fraud] Eddie B : Splash (Instrumental)
Eddie B isn't an MC I've been familiar with but I picked up the mixtape "The Johnny Utah Story" on the strength of the Harry Fraud production - after "Muslim Wedding", I'll always check for him in case he smacks me with a track like that again! This beat is a world away from that sonically, but it got my attention and it works well here.
Reckonize Real ft. M-Dot, Torae & Tribeca : Business
This one turned up for me recently while searching for Tribeca tracks on Spotify. Very grateful for that long drum intro (producers, please take note) that allows for a nice-sized blend to bring the track in! The MC out of Boston heads to New York to recruit Torae & Tribeca to bless this beat produced by Reckonize Real. This particular copy comes from the digital release of M-Dot's "Jake LaDotta" album, but also appears on Reckonize Real's "Dopamine" project.
Reks : Martyrs (Steve Biko)
I'd had Reks' "Eyes Watching God" collaborative album with the producer Hazardis Sounds bookmarked for a while, and finally got round to giving it a listen in the last couple of weeks; this was a standout for me. Unlike another excellent record which uses his name, this record actually is about Steve Biko, the South African activist who was killed by the police in 1977 - truly a man who died for the people.
Murs & 9th Wonder : God Black/Black God
Murs and 9th have a history going back to 2004's "Murs 3:16 : The 9th Edition" album (re-issue here), which made serious underground noise at the time. It's great to hear them come back together for a sixth collaboration on the brand new "name your price" release "Brighter Daze", which is a recommended pickup for everyone this month! On this cut, 9th's beat skips along at first before switching towards the end while Murs explores Black economic empowerment, survival, leadership, and more besides in confident fashion. Again, this New Year's Day release gets the thumbs up from me.
Mega Ran & Storyville ft. PT Starks : Medici Lions
MC extraordinaire and videogame superfan Mega Ran linked up with longtime friend and fellow underground head Storyville for last year's "Soul Veggies" album. While he's primarily known for incorporating video game sounds into his material, on this album Mega Ran explores a more live sound, exemplified on this cut. While we're here, bonus points for the Bodie and Stringer Bell samples from "The Wire"! On the mic, Ran is on point as always and comes with just the right flow to fit.
[DJ Premier] Prhyme : Prhyme (Instrumental)
After the sudden speed drop in the last track, we come up with an instrumental around 78bpm to match it; DJ Premier working with a (fully cleared!) sample from Adrian Younge and then adding some extra beef with the drums. The idea of sampling a single artist for a whole album was not something Premier had explored before Prhyme, but he took on the challenge and made it work!
Mark B & Blade ft. Lewis Parker : Intense Preparations
The union of Mark B and UK Hip-Hop veteran Blade was one of the most notable and successful in the history of the scene, and achieved some unexpected but deserved commercial success. However, that success was several years away when the "Hitmen For Hire" EP that this track is drawn from was released. Back in 1998, this was just a talented and dedicated producer matching up with an equally-skilled MC to give us a short set that was fantastic at the time and also just hinted at what was to come. This particular track works a classic library record sample that the diggers amongst you will know, and brings the Canterbury don Lewis Parker along for the ride. RIP Mark B.
Torae ft. Phonte : Clap Sh_t
Torae has given us six albums in eight years and his latest project "Entitled" is already pulling in solid reviews. I heard this joint and it just jumped out as something I had to play; Nottz' beat puts the thump and bump under some eerie pianos while Tor and Te kill every MC in sight with some incredible verses.
8Ball & MJG : Break 'Em Off
Memphis in the house! This is the radio version of the closing song from the duo's 1995 "On The Top Of The World" LP. T-Mix gets the synth action going on this dark uptempo track. Dope record, but that album cover... :)
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel : Ignorant Sh*t
In my opinion, this track (certainly the original, which I'll come back to) has the greatest use of the Isley Brothers' "Between The Sheets" of all time - pure fire from Just Blaze. For one thing, it's brilliant chopping and arrangement of the sounds from the original break. In addition, it's much faster than the original, and the thumping four-to-the-floor drum programming drives it forward to match the increased speed; most producers use this sample in slow jam mode, but not here! The original version had no Beanie and some different lyrics from Jay, but once it got leaked it never got a proper release in that form, resurfacing instead in this form on the "American Gangster" soundtrack. If you can find a decent copy anywhere, grab it!
Maticulous : Simple Minded Miracle (Simple Minds Flip)
Perfect beat for this spot, though I had to edit it a bit to make it a suitable length! Brooklyn's Maticulous gets very busy on this cut, chopping up a Simple Minds sample for his contribution to "The 80s Beat Tape" from the Producers I Know camp.
David Bowie : Let's Dance
I've never been a big Bowie listener, but if I had to name one song of his I enjoy it's this every time! The great Nile Rodgers from Chic helmed the production on this one and the combination of the two legends is a straight winner. This title track from Bowie's 1983 album (recorded in just seventeen days!) was a big single in its own right and deservedly so.
Prince : Extraloveable (Reloaded)
This show is usually about me digging back into my archives, but this song in particular is an example of Prince doing the same! The original was planned for Vanity 6 and recorded in 1982 but then shelved. In 2011, a new version was recorded, and then 2013 saw a modified version released for free on Prince's website. A rediscovered gem from one of the greats!
Rick James : Cold Blooded
Even if you never particularly followed his music, everyone knows the sound of at least one Rick James record - if it's not "Mary Jane", then for sure it's "Super Freak", either in its original form or after MC Hammer sampled it! On this title track from his 1983 album, James played all the instruments on this track, which with its synth-heavy construction is very different to a lot of his previous material - he could definitely get busy with a guitar! I only just read that the woman he's speaking to in the lyrics is his then-girlfriend Linda Blair - every day's a school day!
The Time : Jungle Love
I admit it, I've never seen "Purple Rain", and partly for that reason, didn't know this song until recently! Morris Day and the crew slay on this funk number from the 1984 "Ice Cream Castle" album, written by Morris Day and Prince (under the alias Jamie Starr). Some of the lyrics are pretty suspect though...
Missy Elliott : I'm Really Hot (Instrumental)
One of the good things about doing the podcast is that it sometimes forces me to give a listen to records in my collection I'd normally just flick past. I think I bought this vinyl for "Pass That Dutch" but this beat ended up coming in handy here!
Mark B & Tommy Evans : Move...Now
I closed many a set with this! Mark B gives us a seriously uptempo track built around a serious Bollywood sample, giving Leeds MC Tommy Evans a quality backing to flow over. This made the playlists for some mainstream radio stations, and worked every time on the dancefloor! Very affordable release available on all formats even now if you look around, well worth having in your collection.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...and my verse didn't rhyme."
- Phonte
2015 has been a tough year for so many people - let's hope 2016 is ours! We round out the year's shows with a selection that starts on the heavy side but tends towards the light as it approaches the end. We visit both sides of the Atlantic, hit about three or four genres, and once again put speakers to the test. We shall...proceed...and continue...
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon : Treasurers
Bit of an odd route to playing this one.. I got a low-bitrate MP3 of it somewhere random a long while back and gave it a rare five-star rating in my library. Over the years I hunted for any way to buy it so that I could DJ it in good conscience, and eventually found it on the "The Da Vinci Code : The Vatican Vol.2" mixtape in 2010, so snatched up a copy. After getting the CD delivered and having a listen, I realised that the mixtape version had atrocious sound quality, with an unexplained EQ change partway through pretty much ruining it. I carried on looking for a better retail version, but had at this point put money in the artist's pockets and so was comfortable playing the version I had in the first place - on a mixtape, at least :) Great cut though, with a main sample I absolutely love and have only just had identified. The call and response between the horns and the other instruments always make me think of the difference between athletes or gladiators coming out ready for the contest versus the nerves and contemplation in the tunnels beforehand. No idea who produced this unfortunately, but they did a great job.
[Nick Wiz] Ran Reed ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq : Murderous Flow (Instrumental)
One day I may play the vocal version, but for now you just get the ill Nick Wiz beat from this 2000 Bronx Science 12" - just quality drum sampler work. I used this on one of my first mixtapes, so it's probably due another outing :)
Hip-Hop For Respect : Protective Custody
A song that sadly remains as relevant today as it was when it was recorded in 1999. Amadou Diallo was a 22-year-old Guinean ex-pat living in New York who was shot dead outside his home by four NYPD officers, who claimed to mistake his wallet for a gun. Forty-one shots were fired, and nineteen hit him. As per usual, the officers were acquitted on all charges - in fact, one of them just got a promotion. Shortly after the shooting, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Devin Roberson from Rawkus proposed the idea of a charity "Hip-Hop For Respect" EP addressing the situation, and police brutality more generally. This particular track from the EP is produced by Mr.Khaliyl and on the mic we have (deep breath) - Breezly Brewin, Dante and Main Flow (of Mood), El-P, Imani Uzuri, Jah Born, John Forte, Mr.Khaliyl, Mr.Len, Nine, Punchline, Talib Kweli, Tiye Phoenix, and What?What? (b.k.a Jean Grae) - all laying down fire for a righteous cause.
Essa ft. Brotherman : Evade & Seek
Killer track with Tall Black Guy on production (playing Manchester soon!) that I got from First Word's just-released "Two Syllables Volume 12" compilation. Essa is a mature, experienced presence in the UK Hip-Hop scene and together with Brotherman, a newer artist but one definitely deserving on the title, a tale of the perils of street life is spun. For my UK listeners, never forget that there are gems close to home!
Kosheen : I Want It All
I rediscovered this one in my collection this month and thought that even though it would be a bit left-field for some, that it deserved a play for those that don't know it. Taken from their debut album "Resist", it's got it all (no pun intended) - an alternately cracking and soaring vocal performance from Sian Evans, gritty guitars, well-fitted synth work, and a load of strings. In short, a great song from another excellent Bristol-based group; must be something in the water. I lost track of the group after the first album, so was surprised to find while doing my research for the notes that they've released five albums, the most recent being in 2013. It looks as though the band may have fractured, but I'll definitely be checking out their back catalogue.
Bronx Slang : Run Away Sucker
Bronx Slang is the union of my man Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs (f.k.a. Kasper Gomez), who have been putting in work on the mics for many a year! This new track sees them both in battling form over a raucous guitar-led beat from London's own Jadell. While roasting the competition, they also take time to pay respect to Shaun Tucker and Sammy, two fellow MCs from Co-Op City in the Bronx who passed before their time. The word is to expect to hear a mixtape and debut album from Bronx Slang in 2016 - repping for their borough!
J-Zone : The Zone Report (Instrumental)
Recently I picked up the 1999-2006 box set of J-Zone instrumentals from his Bandcamp page, and it was well worth the price; he's one of the most creative producers we've ever seen, and as good as he is on the mic, having the tracks without vocals allows you to appreciate the precision. The full version of this track is Zone giving his own opinions on each of his albums up to that point - a clever idea that is definitely worth you taking the time to listen to!
Krumbsnatcha : Never Grow Up
I've always liked this one :) The "Peter Pan" sample straight away lets you know the tone to expect - Krumbsnatcha indulges his playful and immature side over a heavy beat from Nottz. If nothing else, you have to laugh at him eventually owning up to some of his childhood...escapades! Great 12", easily affordable, with the Pete Rock-produced "Here We Go" on the flip.
Grand Agent & Tribeca ft. Camp Lo and Raynge : Minivan
One of those tracks that I wasn't sure I liked at first. Then I played it a few more times. The shoulders started going, the hook got stuck in my head...and that was it. Grand Agent combined with Tribeca for the "Tribeca-Grand" EP, and this is arguably the standout. Grand Agent goes straight ahead, the always-dope Camp Lo bring the heavy slang, and Raynge (aka Liv L'Raynge) holds down the closing verse over Tribeca's playful but thumping beat. This one sneaks up on you.
Little Brother : Whatever You Say
An early century classic :) From LB's debut "The Listening", Phonte and Big Pooh kick some fun rhymes about trying to get with the ladies. The 9th Wonder-produced beat is heavy, but the highlight of the whole track has to be Phonte on the second verse, from which this month's epigraph is taken. Genius!
Terrace Martin ft. AB and Ill Camille : Life & Times
Found this one on Spotify and it's been getting a lot of play from me this month! It let me know there's a lot more in Terrace's discography than I ever knew - in this case, the second "Locke High" mixtape which sounds like a great pickup. Vocals are handled by AB and Ill Camille, with AB telling stories of growing up in LA and loving Hip-Hop; one real fan can recognise another in these lyrics!
Hexsagon : VI
Friend of the show Hexsagon is one of the more prolific beatmakers out there, and this is a great pick from his "Aries" beat tape from March this year - one that gets your head nodding just right.
KwolleM & AJ Tracey : Hood Antics
In the last month or two I was introduced to the concept of "mellow grime", and found it interesting enough that I thought I'd play one of the first tracks I heard this month! Up to now, I can't say I'd ever enjoyed grime, and a lot of that was down to the production style - however, this new variant digs more into soulful grooves for the body of the track, rather than grinding synth sounds. My understanding is that East London's KwolleM (Mellow K?) is one of the standard bearers of this new sound, and this track from his "Mellow EP" is sweet but all too short! Definitely an artist to keep an ear on.
Sir Michael Rocks : Bahamas
This has been getting a few headphone rewinds this month, but would usually be a little too slow to blend with anything - as it turns out, it combines smoothly with the preceding mellow sounds! Sir Michael Rocks may be better known to you as Mikey Rocks from The Cool Kids, but on his solo excursions (including this, "The Rocks Report"), the vibes are more smoothed out than you might be used to. Fellow Chicago natives The Produktionix handle the beat on this one.
Massive Attack : One Love
Winding it back to 1991 for this selection from Massive Attack's debut "Blue Lines" album. The legendary reggae vocalist Horace Andy takes centre stage over the sparse but well-crafted sample-based backing. The components come from multiple places but the result is unmistakably British. An album you must have in your collection.
J-Live : Simmer Down
You don't have to be acting hard all the time. That's the message from this slow and low killer from J-Live's "Then What Happened?" LP, and he delivers it with his usual wit and verbal dexterity. Cap D from All Natural supplies a beat much slower than the average and it's a great fit! This track is a 21st century, Hip-Hop, much more moody take on The Wailers' debut single "Simmer Down" from 1963, as J acknowledges himself in the album's liner notes.
Three 6 Mafia : The End (Instrumental)
I don't really listen to this group so I can't remember what prompted me to pick this one up in the first place, but it fits just right here! This is the instrumental from the title track of the Memphis-based crew's second album, back in their early days. You may have heard their name after they won the Best Original Song Oscar at the 78th Academy Awards for "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" (hey, it surprised me), but they walked a long road before that.
Janelle Monae ft. Prince : Givin' 'Em What They Love
When you have Prince as a guest star on your record, you know you must be doing something! The brilliant Janelle Monae brings the low-slung rock flavour on this track, which was the first vocal track on the "The Electric Lady" album. Unusually for a funk-inspired record, the emphasis is on the two and four beats of each bar, rather than the one - listen and check how it influences the feel. As far as the vocals, Janelle kills it. As usual!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...and my verse didn't rhyme."
- Phonte
2015 has been a tough year for so many people - let's hope 2016 is ours! We round out the year's shows with a selection that starts on the heavy side but tends towards the light as it approaches the end. We visit both sides of the Atlantic, hit about three or four genres, and once again put speakers to the test. We shall...proceed...and continue...
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon : Treasurers
Bit of an odd route to playing this one.. I got a low-bitrate MP3 of it somewhere random a long while back and gave it a rare five-star rating in my library. Over the years I hunted for any way to buy it so that I could DJ it in good conscience, and eventually found it on the "The Da Vinci Code : The Vatican Vol.2" mixtape in 2010, so snatched up a copy. After getting the CD delivered and having a listen, I realised that the mixtape version had atrocious sound quality, with an unexplained EQ change partway through pretty much ruining it. I carried on looking for a better retail version, but had at this point put money in the artist's pockets and so was comfortable playing the version I had in the first place - on a mixtape, at least :) Great cut though, with a main sample I absolutely love and have only just had identified. The call and response between the horns and the other instruments always make me think of the difference between athletes or gladiators coming out ready for the contest versus the nerves and contemplation in the tunnels beforehand. No idea who produced this unfortunately, but they did a great job.
[Nick Wiz] Ran Reed ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq : Murderous Flow (Instrumental)
One day I may play the vocal version, but for now you just get the ill Nick Wiz beat from this 2000 Bronx Science 12" - just quality drum sampler work. I used this on one of my first mixtapes, so it's probably due another outing :)
Hip-Hop For Respect : Protective Custody
A song that sadly remains as relevant today as it was when it was recorded in 1999. Amadou Diallo was a 22-year-old Guinean ex-pat living in New York who was shot dead outside his home by four NYPD officers, who claimed to mistake his wallet for a gun. Forty-one shots were fired, and nineteen hit him. As per usual, the officers were acquitted on all charges - in fact, one of them just got a promotion. Shortly after the shooting, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Devin Roberson from Rawkus proposed the idea of a charity "Hip-Hop For Respect" EP addressing the situation, and police brutality more generally. This particular track from the EP is produced by Mr.Khaliyl and on the mic we have (deep breath) - Breezly Brewin, Dante and Main Flow (of Mood), El-P, Imani Uzuri, Jah Born, John Forte, Mr.Khaliyl, Mr.Len, Nine, Punchline, Talib Kweli, Tiye Phoenix, and What?What? (b.k.a Jean Grae) - all laying down fire for a righteous cause.
Essa ft. Brotherman : Evade & Seek
Killer track with Tall Black Guy on production (playing Manchester soon!) that I got from First Word's just-released "Two Syllables Volume 12" compilation. Essa is a mature, experienced presence in the UK Hip-Hop scene and together with Brotherman, a newer artist but one definitely deserving on the title, a tale of the perils of street life is spun. For my UK listeners, never forget that there are gems close to home!
Kosheen : I Want It All
I rediscovered this one in my collection this month and thought that even though it would be a bit left-field for some, that it deserved a play for those that don't know it. Taken from their debut album "Resist", it's got it all (no pun intended) - an alternately cracking and soaring vocal performance from Sian Evans, gritty guitars, well-fitted synth work, and a load of strings. In short, a great song from another excellent Bristol-based group; must be something in the water. I lost track of the group after the first album, so was surprised to find while doing my research for the notes that they've released five albums, the most recent being in 2013. It looks as though the band may have fractured, but I'll definitely be checking out their back catalogue.
Bronx Slang : Run Away Sucker
Bronx Slang is the union of my man Jerry Beeks and Ollie Miggs (f.k.a. Kasper Gomez), who have been putting in work on the mics for many a year! This new track sees them both in battling form over a raucous guitar-led beat from London's own Jadell. While roasting the competition, they also take time to pay respect to Shaun Tucker and Sammy, two fellow MCs from Co-Op City in the Bronx who passed before their time. The word is to expect to hear a mixtape and debut album from Bronx Slang in 2016 - repping for their borough!
J-Zone : The Zone Report (Instrumental)
Recently I picked up the 1999-2006 box set of J-Zone instrumentals from his Bandcamp page, and it was well worth the price; he's one of the most creative producers we've ever seen, and as good as he is on the mic, having the tracks without vocals allows you to appreciate the precision. The full version of this track is Zone giving his own opinions on each of his albums up to that point - a clever idea that is definitely worth you taking the time to listen to!
Krumbsnatcha : Never Grow Up
I've always liked this one :) The "Peter Pan" sample straight away lets you know the tone to expect - Krumbsnatcha indulges his playful and immature side over a heavy beat from Nottz. If nothing else, you have to laugh at him eventually owning up to some of his childhood...escapades! Great 12", easily affordable, with the Pete Rock-produced "Here We Go" on the flip.
Grand Agent & Tribeca ft. Camp Lo and Raynge : Minivan
One of those tracks that I wasn't sure I liked at first. Then I played it a few more times. The shoulders started going, the hook got stuck in my head...and that was it. Grand Agent combined with Tribeca for the "Tribeca-Grand" EP, and this is arguably the standout. Grand Agent goes straight ahead, the always-dope Camp Lo bring the heavy slang, and Raynge (aka Liv L'Raynge) holds down the closing verse over Tribeca's playful but thumping beat. This one sneaks up on you.
Little Brother : Whatever You Say
An early century classic :) From LB's debut "The Listening", Phonte and Big Pooh kick some fun rhymes about trying to get with the ladies. The 9th Wonder-produced beat is heavy, but the highlight of the whole track has to be Phonte on the second verse, from which this month's epigraph is taken. Genius!
Terrace Martin ft. AB and Ill Camille : Life & Times
Found this one on Spotify and it's been getting a lot of play from me this month! It let me know there's a lot more in Terrace's discography than I ever knew - in this case, the second "Locke High" mixtape which sounds like a great pickup. Vocals are handled by AB and Ill Camille, with AB telling stories of growing up in LA and loving Hip-Hop; one real fan can recognise another in these lyrics!
Hexsagon : VI
Friend of the show Hexsagon is one of the more prolific beatmakers out there, and this is a great pick from his "Aries" beat tape from March this year - one that gets your head nodding just right.
KwolleM & AJ Tracey : Hood Antics
In the last month or two I was introduced to the concept of "mellow grime", and found it interesting enough that I thought I'd play one of the first tracks I heard this month! Up to now, I can't say I'd ever enjoyed grime, and a lot of that was down to the production style - however, this new variant digs more into soulful grooves for the body of the track, rather than grinding synth sounds. My understanding is that East London's KwolleM (Mellow K?) is one of the standard bearers of this new sound, and this track from his "Mellow EP" is sweet but all too short! Definitely an artist to keep an ear on.
Sir Michael Rocks : Bahamas
This has been getting a few headphone rewinds this month, but would usually be a little too slow to blend with anything - as it turns out, it combines smoothly with the preceding mellow sounds! Sir Michael Rocks may be better known to you as Mikey Rocks from The Cool Kids, but on his solo excursions (including this, "The Rocks Report"), the vibes are more smoothed out than you might be used to. Fellow Chicago natives The Produktionix handle the beat on this one.
Massive Attack : One Love
Winding it back to 1991 for this selection from Massive Attack's debut "Blue Lines" album. The legendary reggae vocalist Horace Andy takes centre stage over the sparse but well-crafted sample-based backing. The components come from multiple places but the result is unmistakably British. An album you must have in your collection.
J-Live : Simmer Down
You don't have to be acting hard all the time. That's the message from this slow and low killer from J-Live's "Then What Happened?" LP, and he delivers it with his usual wit and verbal dexterity. Cap D from All Natural supplies a beat much slower than the average and it's a great fit! This track is a 21st century, Hip-Hop, much more moody take on The Wailers' debut single "Simmer Down" from 1963, as J acknowledges himself in the album's liner notes.
Three 6 Mafia : The End (Instrumental)
I don't really listen to this group so I can't remember what prompted me to pick this one up in the first place, but it fits just right here! This is the instrumental from the title track of the Memphis-based crew's second album, back in their early days. You may have heard their name after they won the Best Original Song Oscar at the 78th Academy Awards for "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" (hey, it surprised me), but they walked a long road before that.
Janelle Monae ft. Prince : Givin' 'Em What They Love
When you have Prince as a guest star on your record, you know you must be doing something! The brilliant Janelle Monae brings the low-slung rock flavour on this track, which was the first vocal track on the "The Electric Lady" album. Unusually for a funk-inspired record, the emphasis is on the two and four beats of each bar, rather than the one - listen and check how it influences the feel. As far as the vocals, Janelle kills it. As usual!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Use our music to get by."
- unknown
At times like these, you have to take your comforts where you can find them, and hopefully this month's mix can be a part of that. The month did have one highlight for me - I finally got to see the Zapp Band live in concert, after about thirty years of waiting for an opportunity! As such, I've decided to make them and some of the records that sample them the focus, but not exclusive content, of this episode. As usual, some you'll probably know straight off and some you won't, but I think the selection has come together nicely.
Playlist/Notes
Zapp & Roger : Living For The City
Heavy in all senses - serious content and kicking on the low end. The Zapp band have a tradition of interesting covers going back to Roger's take on "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (which was partly intended to help people understand talkbox-recorded vocals), and this was one of their last while he was still with us. I think it's a great re-work of the classic Stevie Wonder record, miles away sonically and also changing the lyrical emphasis slightly by leaving out the final verse, which was often dropped from radio play anyway. As far as I knew, this was only available on "The Compilation - Greatest Hits II And More", which is where this version comes from, but it apparently also got a promo single release with several remixes. I'm making no guarantees you won't hear one of those in the future.
Oddisee : Inglewood
He may be from the DMV, but Oddisee knows his West Coast funk! One of the many ill beats on his "Oddisee West Coast Beats" beat tape.
Redman ft. Erick Sermon : Funkorama (Double Green Remix)
"...the first one to bring the Zapp clap to rap" - Erick Sermon certainly has a strong claim. There's a subtle little sample in this tune, but it's just one element of this very satisfyingly chunky remix. Tucked away as the final track on the flip of L.O.D's "I Feel It" single, this was a tune I'd not heard for years until I got the 12" this month. Redman is still very much active and skilled, but it's still nice to go back and hear him wrecking the mic as a younger man! If you want to hear the original version, that and the L.O.D track are on Erick Sermon's "Insomnia" compilation.
L.E.G.A.C.Y : Nice
So many quotables that could easily have been the epigram for the month. "Seed made from a bad poppy". The Konami code. "Agony of the heat, carry the torch on". Legacy manages to sound thoroughly dismissive of anyone competing with him on the mic, and spits some great bars in his cause on this lead track from the "Project Mayhem" LP. There is a 12" release of this single, but the sound quality is pretty bad - I've got it but ended up using an MP3 here. Khrysis is on the boards (with the heat, as he would say), and the beat has a nice shuffle to it - check the changing volume and pitch on the shaker pattern, and the relaxed timing on the snare/clap sounds. The topper is the Greg Nice sample on the hook - one of the most distinctive voices in Hip-Hop history brought into play!
Tall Black Guy : I Wanna Play Summthin' For You
If you're a regular listener, you know how much I rate Tall Black Guy, and admire his consistency. I was flicking through his Bandcamp page at the few things I didn't already have, and found this on his "Hollyweird 2.0" album. That bass line should give you all the good feelings, and the piano samples and keyboard work float nicely over the top. Also, those claps...big.
Ahmad fr. Roger Troutman : The Jones'
Straight up - it was the Roger Troutman guest appearance, not the big single "Back In The Day" that made me pick up this album, probably 1995. It's that same cassette I dug out of the shoeboxes to sample and play for this episode. Granted, the hook could have done with a bit less repetition - Ahmad does wear it out a bit - but Roger's accompaniment is absolutely worth the price of admission. On the whole though, I definitely rate this track. The Ahmad and Kendal beat is dope, and on the mic Ahmad has a vocal tone somewhere between Hiero and Das EFX.
Jake One : Computro Love
This was originally going to be the instrumental bed for the first voiceover this month, until I realised that the speed change halfway through made it ideal to bridge between the first and second mix segments of the show! It makes no secret of the fact that it's a flip of Zapp's hit single "Computer Love" (which presaged internet dating by more than ten years), but the divide means you actually get two different constructions from the same track. You can get Jake's "Seaplane" beat tape free on Soundcloud, and you really should - he's an excellent producer.
Keith Murray : Danger
Another Erick Sermon production, another Zapp sample, this time in the background on the hook. Last track on the A-side of Murray's 1994 debut "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World", the sound quality of the pressing is every bit as bad as Jive were renowned for at the time. I gave it a bit of an EQ boost but it's still pretty sketchy!
Edo G : Let's Be Realistic
I once had a housemate who found it amusing how low-key Hip-Hop night names were; at the time, I was playing at one event called "Homegrown" and an associated night "Maintain". He'd have loved the title of this track :) Boston styles over Brooklyn beats, with DJ Spinna giving Edo a neck-snapper to get busy on. Sixteen years old now but still sounding great, you can get this on "Superrappin Vol.1" along with some other great examples of the underground flavour of the time.
De La Soul : The Pitch
Always a winning combination - De La Soul over J Dilla beats. If you want more - and you should, head straight to De La's website where the "Smell The D.A.I.S.Y (Da Inner Soul Of Yancey)" mixtape is available as a free download.
7 Days Of Funk : Do My Thang
I wouldn't blame anyone for not recognising the artist name here, but 7 Days is the combination of Pasadena's Dam-Funk, and Snoop Dogg (aka Snoopzilla); both artists have been dedicated to the funk on their very distinct career paths, and the union of the two came from real-life meeting and collaboration. Their eponymous debut is primarily influenced by the Parliament/Funkadelic style and the thump of the West Coast sound that went on to sample those records later. Only eight tracks long, but definitely worth a listen - top-down music!
BMB : CadillacLedy
I only heard of this Russian producer while looking up the credits for Dr Dre's "Compton" album, where a beat he'd originally done with DJ Premier made the cut, but then he popped up today while I was searching Bandcamp for "P-Funk". The "GP-Funk" EP is a very reasonably priced collection that shows that the funk can come from anywhere, as long as it's in your soul! The snare timing on this one is a little...laissez-faire, so it's not easy to mix perfectly, but the pure flavour of the track means I can't be too mad at that.
Roger : Breakthrough
Uptempo dance workout from Roger's final solo album, 1991's "Bridging The Gap". Just one thing to note on this track - is that mid-bass note at 40:31 supposed to be there, or do you think it's a mistake? It feels to me like either a mistake that sounds good and ended up being kept, or an absolute stroke of genius to know that just adding that one key hit would increase the funk level...
Compton's Most Wanted : I Don't Dance
I mentioned this track in the notes for Episode 56, and here it is at last! My man Nick L introduced me to this track way back when (well, some point after "Straight Checkn 'Em" was released in 1991) and it's a great mixture of the deadpan and the funky. You'll recognise a lot of well known samples in the mix, pretty much all notable for being big dance records, while Eiht lets us know how much he can't be bothered with actually getting on the floor himself. I wish I could communicate the vision I have in my head of him at the end of the first verse, in a daze watching an over-energetic mover :)
Public Enemy : 1 Million Bottlebags
The second I heard that a malt liquor company had sampled Chuck D's voice for an advert, I knew the thunder was coming right back at them; it was one of the most inappropriate sample uses of all time! He was well known for his criticism of these companies and their products, which were pointedly targeted at the Black community, and couldn't have his voice out there promoting them. This great album cut from "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black" leaves you in no doubt what Chuck thinks of the effects and marketing of malt liquor (for UK readers, our closest equivalent is something like the notorious Special Brew), and the Bomb Squad keep up the ferocity, backing him up with the "More Bounce To The Ounce"-sampling track.
Zapp : Mega Medley (with bonus beats)
Keeping that "More Bounce" groove going at the start, the Greg Beasley edit of some of Zapp & Roger's biggest hits first came to my attention on their "All The Greatest Hits" compilation, but this specific version with the extra drums at the end is a B-side from a 12" release - handy for DJs to blend over.
Nuyorican Soul : The Nervous Track
Struggled to find the right record to follow up with but I dug up this one and it offered the chance to blend out the "Mega Medley" drums just in time for this track's own drums to fade in - thought it was a nice little move! From the re-issue of the classic "Nuyorican Soul" LP, Masters At Work do a top job with the production on this; I didn't realise it, but apparently this was MAW's first track under the Nuyorican banner and preceded the original album by several years.
Dungeon Family : Follow The Light
I love the introductory words on this track, and while I originally had the idea of starting an episode with it, it fit in really well as a closer for this month. For those that don't know, the Dungeon Family is the Atlanta-based collective that spawned OutKast, Goodie Mob, and more - the "Dungeon" being the basement studio of producer Rico Wade from Organized Noize. Their "Even In Darkness" collaborative LP delivers many permutations of all the members over the course of the album, and this track features Big Boi, Big Gipp, Sleepy Brown, Cee-Lo, and Shuga Luv in fine form. A record absolutely worth picking up if you see it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Use our music to get by."
- unknown
At times like these, you have to take your comforts where you can find them, and hopefully this month's mix can be a part of that. The month did have one highlight for me - I finally got to see the Zapp Band live in concert, after about thirty years of waiting for an opportunity! As such, I've decided to make them and some of the records that sample them the focus, but not exclusive content, of this episode. As usual, some you'll probably know straight off and some you won't, but I think the selection has come together nicely.
Playlist/Notes
Zapp & Roger : Living For The City
Heavy in all senses - serious content and kicking on the low end. The Zapp band have a tradition of interesting covers going back to Roger's take on "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (which was partly intended to help people understand talkbox-recorded vocals), and this was one of their last while he was still with us. I think it's a great re-work of the classic Stevie Wonder record, miles away sonically and also changing the lyrical emphasis slightly by leaving out the final verse, which was often dropped from radio play anyway. As far as I knew, this was only available on "The Compilation - Greatest Hits II And More", which is where this version comes from, but it apparently also got a promo single release with several remixes. I'm making no guarantees you won't hear one of those in the future.
Oddisee : Inglewood
He may be from the DMV, but Oddisee knows his West Coast funk! One of the many ill beats on his "Oddisee West Coast Beats" beat tape.
Redman ft. Erick Sermon : Funkorama (Double Green Remix)
"...the first one to bring the Zapp clap to rap" - Erick Sermon certainly has a strong claim. There's a subtle little sample in this tune, but it's just one element of this very satisfyingly chunky remix. Tucked away as the final track on the flip of L.O.D's "I Feel It" single, this was a tune I'd not heard for years until I got the 12" this month. Redman is still very much active and skilled, but it's still nice to go back and hear him wrecking the mic as a younger man! If you want to hear the original version, that and the L.O.D track are on Erick Sermon's "Insomnia" compilation.
L.E.G.A.C.Y : Nice
So many quotables that could easily have been the epigram for the month. "Seed made from a bad poppy". The Konami code. "Agony of the heat, carry the torch on". Legacy manages to sound thoroughly dismissive of anyone competing with him on the mic, and spits some great bars in his cause on this lead track from the "Project Mayhem" LP. There is a 12" release of this single, but the sound quality is pretty bad - I've got it but ended up using an MP3 here. Khrysis is on the boards (with the heat, as he would say), and the beat has a nice shuffle to it - check the changing volume and pitch on the shaker pattern, and the relaxed timing on the snare/clap sounds. The topper is the Greg Nice sample on the hook - one of the most distinctive voices in Hip-Hop history brought into play!
Tall Black Guy : I Wanna Play Summthin' For You
If you're a regular listener, you know how much I rate Tall Black Guy, and admire his consistency. I was flicking through his Bandcamp page at the few things I didn't already have, and found this on his "Hollyweird 2.0" album. That bass line should give you all the good feelings, and the piano samples and keyboard work float nicely over the top. Also, those claps...big.
Ahmad fr. Roger Troutman : The Jones'
Straight up - it was the Roger Troutman guest appearance, not the big single "Back In The Day" that made me pick up this album, probably 1995. It's that same cassette I dug out of the shoeboxes to sample and play for this episode. Granted, the hook could have done with a bit less repetition - Ahmad does wear it out a bit - but Roger's accompaniment is absolutely worth the price of admission. On the whole though, I definitely rate this track. The Ahmad and Kendal beat is dope, and on the mic Ahmad has a vocal tone somewhere between Hiero and Das EFX.
Jake One : Computro Love
This was originally going to be the instrumental bed for the first voiceover this month, until I realised that the speed change halfway through made it ideal to bridge between the first and second mix segments of the show! It makes no secret of the fact that it's a flip of Zapp's hit single "Computer Love" (which presaged internet dating by more than ten years), but the divide means you actually get two different constructions from the same track. You can get Jake's "Seaplane" beat tape free on Soundcloud, and you really should - he's an excellent producer.
Keith Murray : Danger
Another Erick Sermon production, another Zapp sample, this time in the background on the hook. Last track on the A-side of Murray's 1994 debut "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World", the sound quality of the pressing is every bit as bad as Jive were renowned for at the time. I gave it a bit of an EQ boost but it's still pretty sketchy!
Edo G : Let's Be Realistic
I once had a housemate who found it amusing how low-key Hip-Hop night names were; at the time, I was playing at one event called "Homegrown" and an associated night "Maintain". He'd have loved the title of this track :) Boston styles over Brooklyn beats, with DJ Spinna giving Edo a neck-snapper to get busy on. Sixteen years old now but still sounding great, you can get this on "Superrappin Vol.1" along with some other great examples of the underground flavour of the time.
De La Soul : The Pitch
Always a winning combination - De La Soul over J Dilla beats. If you want more - and you should, head straight to De La's website where the "Smell The D.A.I.S.Y (Da Inner Soul Of Yancey)" mixtape is available as a free download.
7 Days Of Funk : Do My Thang
I wouldn't blame anyone for not recognising the artist name here, but 7 Days is the combination of Pasadena's Dam-Funk, and Snoop Dogg (aka Snoopzilla); both artists have been dedicated to the funk on their very distinct career paths, and the union of the two came from real-life meeting and collaboration. Their eponymous debut is primarily influenced by the Parliament/Funkadelic style and the thump of the West Coast sound that went on to sample those records later. Only eight tracks long, but definitely worth a listen - top-down music!
BMB : CadillacLedy
I only heard of this Russian producer while looking up the credits for Dr Dre's "Compton" album, where a beat he'd originally done with DJ Premier made the cut, but then he popped up today while I was searching Bandcamp for "P-Funk". The "GP-Funk" EP is a very reasonably priced collection that shows that the funk can come from anywhere, as long as it's in your soul! The snare timing on this one is a little...laissez-faire, so it's not easy to mix perfectly, but the pure flavour of the track means I can't be too mad at that.
Roger : Breakthrough
Uptempo dance workout from Roger's final solo album, 1991's "Bridging The Gap". Just one thing to note on this track - is that mid-bass note at 40:31 supposed to be there, or do you think it's a mistake? It feels to me like either a mistake that sounds good and ended up being kept, or an absolute stroke of genius to know that just adding that one key hit would increase the funk level...
Compton's Most Wanted : I Don't Dance
I mentioned this track in the notes for Episode 56, and here it is at last! My man Nick L introduced me to this track way back when (well, some point after "Straight Checkn 'Em" was released in 1991) and it's a great mixture of the deadpan and the funky. You'll recognise a lot of well known samples in the mix, pretty much all notable for being big dance records, while Eiht lets us know how much he can't be bothered with actually getting on the floor himself. I wish I could communicate the vision I have in my head of him at the end of the first verse, in a daze watching an over-energetic mover :)
Public Enemy : 1 Million Bottlebags
The second I heard that a malt liquor company had sampled Chuck D's voice for an advert, I knew the thunder was coming right back at them; it was one of the most inappropriate sample uses of all time! He was well known for his criticism of these companies and their products, which were pointedly targeted at the Black community, and couldn't have his voice out there promoting them. This great album cut from "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black" leaves you in no doubt what Chuck thinks of the effects and marketing of malt liquor (for UK readers, our closest equivalent is something like the notorious Special Brew), and the Bomb Squad keep up the ferocity, backing him up with the "More Bounce To The Ounce"-sampling track.
Zapp : Mega Medley (with bonus beats)
Keeping that "More Bounce" groove going at the start, the Greg Beasley edit of some of Zapp & Roger's biggest hits first came to my attention on their "All The Greatest Hits" compilation, but this specific version with the extra drums at the end is a B-side from a 12" release - handy for DJs to blend over.
Nuyorican Soul : The Nervous Track
Struggled to find the right record to follow up with but I dug up this one and it offered the chance to blend out the "Mega Medley" drums just in time for this track's own drums to fade in - thought it was a nice little move! From the re-issue of the classic "Nuyorican Soul" LP, Masters At Work do a top job with the production on this; I didn't realise it, but apparently this was MAW's first track under the Nuyorican banner and preceded the original album by several years.
Dungeon Family : Follow The Light
I love the introductory words on this track, and while I originally had the idea of starting an episode with it, it fit in really well as a closer for this month. For those that don't know, the Dungeon Family is the Atlanta-based collective that spawned OutKast, Goodie Mob, and more - the "Dungeon" being the basement studio of producer Rico Wade from Organized Noize. Their "Even In Darkness" collaborative LP delivers many permutations of all the members over the course of the album, and this track features Big Boi, Big Gipp, Sleepy Brown, Cee-Lo, and Shuga Luv in fine form. A record absolutely worth picking up if you see it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"At the sound of the tone, leave me the f*** alone."
- Alchemist
With this episode being released on Halloween, the overall vibe is dark, spooky, and occasionally horrific, but there is the odd opportunity to come up for air ;) I was on holiday this month and even though that meant I was one week down on my usual preparation time, I'm pleased with the selection and think that even the really knowledgeable heads will get a surprise or two! Enter the lair...
Playlist/Notes
Agallah ft. Alchemist : Ride Out (O.G.G.G.)
As you'll find from listening, this month's epigram comes from this track - I always loved that line, together with the edited voicemail sample that follows. (Note to self: re-record voicemail message in similar style). Anyway, while Agallah is a dope producer in his own right, on this track from 2006's "You Already Know" he gives up the reins to Alchemist for this dark cut, and also invites him in on the mic. The lyrical layout is unusual and worth paying attention to - each MC rhymes three bars with an occasional slight overlap into the fourth, where you hear the "O.G.G.G" refrain. You still get sixteen bars between appearances of the hook, but it's an interesting way of organising the track.
[Charlemagne] Capone-N-Noreaga : Halfway Thugs (Instrumental)
I still remember going to buy "The War Report", but it was many years later before I found an instrumental version - even then, it was clearly taken from a different revision of the album. This Charlemagne beat was on both versions though, and fits perfectly - knocking drums with the reverbed stick/snare kit, deep bass, and the haunting piano and voice samples. Charlemagne did some great beats for people like Natural Elements back then and CNN were wise to reach out to him!
Guilty Simpson ft. Spacek : Power Outage
Great track from the tail end of Guilty's new album "Detroit's Son", going X-rated on the lyrics. Production comes from Katalyst, of the Quakers crew, and there's something of a Blaxploitation feel to the instrumental - although maybe that's the opening speech sample influencing me!
Darc Mind : Visions Of Blur
From the 1997 "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack, I feel like I can't be the only person who overlooked this! I can't think of anyone who sounds quite Kev Roc vocally, and he's intricate with the lyrics over X-Ray's dark, twanging beat. Their "Symptomatic Of A Greater Ill" album, from which this was originally taken, was unfortunately never released while they were on Loud Records, and after the label folded it seemed as though it might disappear. Luckily, Loud gave them the album back and it came out on Anticon in 2006. They've been active as recently as 2011, and you can check their Bandcamp for more.
Slum Village ft. DJ Babu : Bare Witness
I love the fact that Slum Village, in various forms, continued to power through despite losing not one but two members long before their time; their sixth album, "Villa Manifesto" isn't new but it's definitely worth having. This Khrysis-produced opener thumps and slides with a subtle growling bass and hard kicks undergirding the triumphant horns; this is also a track where the hi-hit pattern really determines how you react to it. On top of all that, the legendary DJ Babu (of the Beat Junkies and Dilated Peoples) comes through to contribute some of his world-class scratching. Big tune for me this month.
Ski Beatz ft. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz : Prowler 2
Good rock guitars don't antiseptically lock onto a timing grid, and this track swings and lopes just as it should - but then, Ski is an expert in the beat game! Those drums make you rock side to side while your neck is going at the same time... and then there are those MCs. Jean Grae always has the sound of someone with total command of her craft, and to have her backed by the elusive Jay Electronica and Joell Ortiz makes this a beast of a cut. I only just got my own copy of the "24 Hour Karate School" album after more than three years - now that you know about it, don't sleep!
Greedy Fingers : There You Go (Instrumental)
I didn't know about this album until a week ago, but it was released sixteen years ago; "Shady Sirens" is the dark product of Belgium's DJ Grazzhoppa and the UK's DJ Greedy Boy, with some mic contributions bubbling up from the underground. MCs on the album include Cage and Necro - both of whom could go into scoring horror films - as well as MF DOOM, but here you get one of the instrumental numbers. Strangely, I can't much imagine this one being improved by a rapper, but it would be a good one for some heavy cutting...
Willie Evans Jr. : Dumbtron
Fire. Willie Evans Jr is the man for all things beats at This Week In Blackness - I heard a piece of this track on the "TWiB Prime" podcast, and knew I just had to find a copy! I'd never heard of Evans before but he's clearly got a truckload of talent, is equally at home behind the boards or on the mic, and walks his own path. The surprise on this track is undoubtedly the speed change - from about 89bpm it abruptly jumps to 103 (occasionally dropping back down), and the faster sections just kill. I think that Paton Locke features on this track - it certainly sounds like two MCs, and both Locke and Evans are a duo called "Dumbtron" - and the mic just gets brutalised for a minute and a half. Short, but nothing sweet here. More flavour available on the "Introducin'" album.
Above The Law : What Cha Can Prove
As ATL are underrated in general, I'd imagine this remix/re-record of "Untouchable" from "Livin' Like Hustlers" - a great album - will be a new one to most listeners. However, this version was actually the one the 1990 video was based on, with that heavily-used "Funky Drummer" sample banging hard (you'll rarely hear it nowadays), and Cold 187um and KMG slightly tweaking their deliveries to fit. To me, the original is basically perfect, but this remix is major.
Mobb Deep : Horror Flick
I should really remember the name of the well-known piece this track is based around, but it's just escaping me right now. Regardless, Havoc beefs it up with some low-end and a nice bit of drum programming; it's the open hats right on each beat that give it the feel, if you wind back and listen. I got this from the "Something Like A Horror Flick" mixtape - while I'd rather have had it without the DJ drops, it's not as though I'm claiming to be out here with all exclusives :) 2Pac is renowned for the depth of his unreleased catalogue, but Mobb Deep are arguably up there - there's a ton of their material floating about which never made any official album releases.
Gravediggaz : Here Come The Gravediggaz
Not my favourite, or even second favourite track from the "6 Feet Deep" album (originally titled "Niggamortis"), but it fit well here. It was around the time of this release that the term "horrorcore" started appearing; everything has to have a label, it seems. The Gravediggaz were Prince Paul and Frukwan (both of Stetsasonic), Poetic (RIP) and RZA, who rose to prominence as the head of the Wu-Tang Clan. While articles about the group often painted it as a RZA vehicle, this album was actually recorded the year before the first Wu album came out in 1993, but released in 1994; if anything, you could say it was a Prince Paul-led project!
Funkmaster Flex : Six Million Ways To Die
I can't remember if I learned this track from pirate radio or Westwood back in the day, but it's a dope one. For those who don't know, Flex has been a huge DJ for years, best known for his long run on NYC's Hot 97 radio station, and like many DJs he has production experience as well. This 1993 12" had a wicked vocal version of the track featuring an MC called 9 Double M (later Nine, who amusingly denied in one interview that his name had anything to with guns), but here is the DJ-only mix which I heard first and think stands up in its own right. There are a few well-known samples here, but if you ever wondered where the much, much used titular sample comes from, it's from Cutty Ranks' "Ah Who Seh Me Dun" - dancehall classic.
Kuartz : The Block
Yet another quality piece from the "40 Fatal Beats" collection, only short so I had to do a little re-editing - but that just lets you enjoy it for a little longer :)
Roc Marciano : Jaws
This right here is the kind of dark, threatening track that fits into the theme perfectly. You can get this one on the digital edition of the "Greneberg" EP as a bonus cut, and it's well worth having. Oh No kills it on the beat, rocking the familiar underwater doom sample to great effect, allowing Roc Marc to bring it home with his trademark complex yet downcast rhyme style.
Dr Dooom ft. Jacky Jasper : Call The Cops
From one of Kool Keith's many, many aliases comes this track from the serial-killer themed "First Come, First Served" album. Super-bizarre lyrics (standard) from Keith and current gossip king Jacky Jasper, and the beat comes from KutMasta Kurt. Note to current producers - we DJs appreciate a clean 8-bar intro and long instrumental outro to mix with, like what you get here! Those sirens at the end also open the door to some interesting mix possibilities too...
Voodoo Black : Cassius Clay
Keeping it local with this low-key banger. Manchester's Voodoo Black sees Dubbul O, Ellis Meade, Sparkz, and DJ Cutterz combine into some kind of north-western Voltron, and they fully represent on the "OutSauced" EP. Production on this is uncomplicated but refined, the Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay, of course) samples are always welcome, and with this crew the rhymes can absolutely be relied on.
Skitz ft. Rodney P : Never (Dynamite MC Remix)
The "Sticksman" album never grabbed me as much as Skitz' debut "Countryman", but that doesn't mean there weren't quality tracks on there. You certainly can't front on the value, with the second CD in this package being crammed with remixes of the first, and that's where we find this conscious gem with one of the elder statesmen of UK Hip-Hop, Rodney P. The Riddim Killa covers everything from fakery in the music scene, to religion, to unrepresentative politics with the air of a man who's been around and seen some things; that last topic seems apt with the tenor of political discussion in this country right now...
K-Def & 45 King : Taste
Big producer connection here for the connoisseur. The 45 King has been recording since the early-mid 80s; all of you will recognise his track "The 900 Number" and many will know the work he did with Queen Latifah and the rest of the Flavor Unit. New Jersey's K-Def is probably best known as half of Real Live, but he has a extensive discography outside the group and gets all the love from those in the know. Their 2014 collaborative "Back To The Beat" album is the sound of two veterans with mutual respect flipping ideas off each other, and this is just one of the gems. For what it's worth...great programming music!
Jedi Mind Tricks : Heavenly Divine (Remix)
This track may have only been released with the curses edited out, but when you actually listen to the rest of the lyrics from Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah...I'd be amazed if this actually got any radio play! I even had to make an extra edit myself, for one line that was just a little too much.. This was the last track on the b-side of the "Heavenly Divine" 12" release, and I actually think the beat is far superior to the original from the "Violent By Design" album. Stoupe The Enemy Of Mankind gives it a dramatic, ominous feel which you settle into for most of the track, and then apropos of nothing during the third verse, switches out the drums for a killer drum & bass-style rhythm! By that time, we're up around 180bpm and even a lot of D&B doesn't go that fast - so it seems perfect to let the final note of this draw the episode to a suspenseful end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"At the sound of the tone, leave me the f*** alone."
- Alchemist
With this episode being released on Halloween, the overall vibe is dark, spooky, and occasionally horrific, but there is the odd opportunity to come up for air ;) I was on holiday this month and even though that meant I was one week down on my usual preparation time, I'm pleased with the selection and think that even the really knowledgeable heads will get a surprise or two! Enter the lair...
Playlist/Notes
Agallah ft. Alchemist : Ride Out (O.G.G.G.)
As you'll find from listening, this month's epigram comes from this track - I always loved that line, together with the edited voicemail sample that follows. (Note to self: re-record voicemail message in similar style). Anyway, while Agallah is a dope producer in his own right, on this track from 2006's "You Already Know" he gives up the reins to Alchemist for this dark cut, and also invites him in on the mic. The lyrical layout is unusual and worth paying attention to - each MC rhymes three bars with an occasional slight overlap into the fourth, where you hear the "O.G.G.G" refrain. You still get sixteen bars between appearances of the hook, but it's an interesting way of organising the track.
[Charlemagne] Capone-N-Noreaga : Halfway Thugs (Instrumental)
I still remember going to buy "The War Report", but it was many years later before I found an instrumental version - even then, it was clearly taken from a different revision of the album. This Charlemagne beat was on both versions though, and fits perfectly - knocking drums with the reverbed stick/snare kit, deep bass, and the haunting piano and voice samples. Charlemagne did some great beats for people like Natural Elements back then and CNN were wise to reach out to him!
Guilty Simpson ft. Spacek : Power Outage
Great track from the tail end of Guilty's new album "Detroit's Son", going X-rated on the lyrics. Production comes from Katalyst, of the Quakers crew, and there's something of a Blaxploitation feel to the instrumental - although maybe that's the opening speech sample influencing me!
Darc Mind : Visions Of Blur
From the 1997 "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack, I feel like I can't be the only person who overlooked this! I can't think of anyone who sounds quite Kev Roc vocally, and he's intricate with the lyrics over X-Ray's dark, twanging beat. Their "Symptomatic Of A Greater Ill" album, from which this was originally taken, was unfortunately never released while they were on Loud Records, and after the label folded it seemed as though it might disappear. Luckily, Loud gave them the album back and it came out on Anticon in 2006. They've been active as recently as 2011, and you can check their Bandcamp for more.
Slum Village ft. DJ Babu : Bare Witness
I love the fact that Slum Village, in various forms, continued to power through despite losing not one but two members long before their time; their sixth album, "Villa Manifesto" isn't new but it's definitely worth having. This Khrysis-produced opener thumps and slides with a subtle growling bass and hard kicks undergirding the triumphant horns; this is also a track where the hi-hit pattern really determines how you react to it. On top of all that, the legendary DJ Babu (of the Beat Junkies and Dilated Peoples) comes through to contribute some of his world-class scratching. Big tune for me this month.
Ski Beatz ft. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz : Prowler 2
Good rock guitars don't antiseptically lock onto a timing grid, and this track swings and lopes just as it should - but then, Ski is an expert in the beat game! Those drums make you rock side to side while your neck is going at the same time... and then there are those MCs. Jean Grae always has the sound of someone with total command of her craft, and to have her backed by the elusive Jay Electronica and Joell Ortiz makes this a beast of a cut. I only just got my own copy of the "24 Hour Karate School" album after more than three years - now that you know about it, don't sleep!
Greedy Fingers : There You Go (Instrumental)
I didn't know about this album until a week ago, but it was released sixteen years ago; "Shady Sirens" is the dark product of Belgium's DJ Grazzhoppa and the UK's DJ Greedy Boy, with some mic contributions bubbling up from the underground. MCs on the album include Cage and Necro - both of whom could go into scoring horror films - as well as MF DOOM, but here you get one of the instrumental numbers. Strangely, I can't much imagine this one being improved by a rapper, but it would be a good one for some heavy cutting...
Willie Evans Jr. : Dumbtron
Fire. Willie Evans Jr is the man for all things beats at This Week In Blackness - I heard a piece of this track on the "TWiB Prime" podcast, and knew I just had to find a copy! I'd never heard of Evans before but he's clearly got a truckload of talent, is equally at home behind the boards or on the mic, and walks his own path. The surprise on this track is undoubtedly the speed change - from about 89bpm it abruptly jumps to 103 (occasionally dropping back down), and the faster sections just kill. I think that Paton Locke features on this track - it certainly sounds like two MCs, and both Locke and Evans are a duo called "Dumbtron" - and the mic just gets brutalised for a minute and a half. Short, but nothing sweet here. More flavour available on the "Introducin'" album.
Above The Law : What Cha Can Prove
As ATL are underrated in general, I'd imagine this remix/re-record of "Untouchable" from "Livin' Like Hustlers" - a great album - will be a new one to most listeners. However, this version was actually the one the 1990 video was based on, with that heavily-used "Funky Drummer" sample banging hard (you'll rarely hear it nowadays), and Cold 187um and KMG slightly tweaking their deliveries to fit. To me, the original is basically perfect, but this remix is major.
Mobb Deep : Horror Flick
I should really remember the name of the well-known piece this track is based around, but it's just escaping me right now. Regardless, Havoc beefs it up with some low-end and a nice bit of drum programming; it's the open hats right on each beat that give it the feel, if you wind back and listen. I got this from the "Something Like A Horror Flick" mixtape - while I'd rather have had it without the DJ drops, it's not as though I'm claiming to be out here with all exclusives :) 2Pac is renowned for the depth of his unreleased catalogue, but Mobb Deep are arguably up there - there's a ton of their material floating about which never made any official album releases.
Gravediggaz : Here Come The Gravediggaz
Not my favourite, or even second favourite track from the "6 Feet Deep" album (originally titled "Niggamortis"), but it fit well here. It was around the time of this release that the term "horrorcore" started appearing; everything has to have a label, it seems. The Gravediggaz were Prince Paul and Frukwan (both of Stetsasonic), Poetic (RIP) and RZA, who rose to prominence as the head of the Wu-Tang Clan. While articles about the group often painted it as a RZA vehicle, this album was actually recorded the year before the first Wu album came out in 1993, but released in 1994; if anything, you could say it was a Prince Paul-led project!
Funkmaster Flex : Six Million Ways To Die
I can't remember if I learned this track from pirate radio or Westwood back in the day, but it's a dope one. For those who don't know, Flex has been a huge DJ for years, best known for his long run on NYC's Hot 97 radio station, and like many DJs he has production experience as well. This 1993 12" had a wicked vocal version of the track featuring an MC called 9 Double M (later Nine, who amusingly denied in one interview that his name had anything to with guns), but here is the DJ-only mix which I heard first and think stands up in its own right. There are a few well-known samples here, but if you ever wondered where the much, much used titular sample comes from, it's from Cutty Ranks' "Ah Who Seh Me Dun" - dancehall classic.
Kuartz : The Block
Yet another quality piece from the "40 Fatal Beats" collection, only short so I had to do a little re-editing - but that just lets you enjoy it for a little longer :)
Roc Marciano : Jaws
This right here is the kind of dark, threatening track that fits into the theme perfectly. You can get this one on the digital edition of the "Greneberg" EP as a bonus cut, and it's well worth having. Oh No kills it on the beat, rocking the familiar underwater doom sample to great effect, allowing Roc Marc to bring it home with his trademark complex yet downcast rhyme style.
Dr Dooom ft. Jacky Jasper : Call The Cops
From one of Kool Keith's many, many aliases comes this track from the serial-killer themed "First Come, First Served" album. Super-bizarre lyrics (standard) from Keith and current gossip king Jacky Jasper, and the beat comes from KutMasta Kurt. Note to current producers - we DJs appreciate a clean 8-bar intro and long instrumental outro to mix with, like what you get here! Those sirens at the end also open the door to some interesting mix possibilities too...
Voodoo Black : Cassius Clay
Keeping it local with this low-key banger. Manchester's Voodoo Black sees Dubbul O, Ellis Meade, Sparkz, and DJ Cutterz combine into some kind of north-western Voltron, and they fully represent on the "OutSauced" EP. Production on this is uncomplicated but refined, the Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay, of course) samples are always welcome, and with this crew the rhymes can absolutely be relied on.
Skitz ft. Rodney P : Never (Dynamite MC Remix)
The "Sticksman" album never grabbed me as much as Skitz' debut "Countryman", but that doesn't mean there weren't quality tracks on there. You certainly can't front on the value, with the second CD in this package being crammed with remixes of the first, and that's where we find this conscious gem with one of the elder statesmen of UK Hip-Hop, Rodney P. The Riddim Killa covers everything from fakery in the music scene, to religion, to unrepresentative politics with the air of a man who's been around and seen some things; that last topic seems apt with the tenor of political discussion in this country right now...
K-Def & 45 King : Taste
Big producer connection here for the connoisseur. The 45 King has been recording since the early-mid 80s; all of you will recognise his track "The 900 Number" and many will know the work he did with Queen Latifah and the rest of the Flavor Unit. New Jersey's K-Def is probably best known as half of Real Live, but he has a extensive discography outside the group and gets all the love from those in the know. Their 2014 collaborative "Back To The Beat" album is the sound of two veterans with mutual respect flipping ideas off each other, and this is just one of the gems. For what it's worth...great programming music!
Jedi Mind Tricks : Heavenly Divine (Remix)
This track may have only been released with the curses edited out, but when you actually listen to the rest of the lyrics from Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah...I'd be amazed if this actually got any radio play! I even had to make an extra edit myself, for one line that was just a little too much.. This was the last track on the b-side of the "Heavenly Divine" 12" release, and I actually think the beat is far superior to the original from the "Violent By Design" album. Stoupe The Enemy Of Mankind gives it a dramatic, ominous feel which you settle into for most of the track, and then apropos of nothing during the third verse, switches out the drums for a killer drum & bass-style rhythm! By that time, we're up around 180bpm and even a lot of D&B doesn't go that fast - so it seems perfect to let the final note of this draw the episode to a suspenseful end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...serial numbers is Braille, so when you rub against it, feel all twos..."
- Raekwon
Just after the last episode was released, "Straight Outta Compton" came out in UK cinemas and a few of us went to see it opening night. Since NWA were one of the first Hip-Hop groups I really got into, I thought I'd try and include some work from each member's discography - without going for obvious picks - and I think you'll enjoy it! The selection doesn't stop there though, as we bring Manchester, the DMV, NYC and more into the mix. Let's get it going...
One link for the month - welcome back to NouGold, who return to the podcast world after an almost two year hiatus!
Playlist/Notes
C.I.A : My Posse
I’d been saving this for a while, though wasn’t sure what would make me break it out; I can’t say I expected it to be an N.W.A biopic! The crew you see Ice Cube with at the start of the film, before forming N.W.A…this is them. Not necessarily my favourite track on a pure listening level but as a piece of history, I’m glad to have it. The style is so different to what came after - Cube sounds like he could be an extra member of Run DMC or the Beasties, but that just goes to show how you define and refine your voice over time. I believe this 1986 track is his first record, as this 12" was C.I.A’s only release. The other members - Sir Jinx (one of the best rap names ever) and K-Dee - didn’t vanish though. They were both part of Cube’s Lench Mob crew, and Jinx did a lot of production for Cube throughout his solo career. Bit of trivia - I cut this track short, but the “Yo Dre - kick in the bass!” you hear on N.W.A’s “Dopeman” comes from here :)
Kool Moe Dee : Suckers
As I played only a piece of the preceding track, I decided to give you something else so you didn’t feel short-changed! From pretty much the same era, which was the only way to get a mix that was going to work, we have a record from one of the real movers and shakers of the time. This track is from the platinum-plus "How Ya Like Me Now?" album, 1987 style all the way. One little thing I noticed; part of Kool's lyrics are scratched up on the second hook of Ice-T's track "Ricochet", and both Ice-T and Kool Moe Dee (check the album cover) had beef with LL Cool J in the past - a coincidence more than likely, but an interesting one.
[The Neptunes] Noreaga : N.O.R.E (Instrumental)
One of those late 90s synth beats that I actually liked! Title track from the first Noreaga solo album; it was overshadowed by "Superthug" which was a massive hit, but still a good track. The album as a whole - I wouldn't say it's a must-buy if you don't already have it, but it's worth checking out.
Black Josh : Paul Scholes
Opening up the segment with some Manchester material, this is something I first heard on Soundcloud that had my head nodding regularly enough that I had to let you all hear it. Great display of rhyme skills from the Ape Cult representative, with really heavy use of multi-syllabic rhymes through both verses, listen closely! Morq gives him a simple (but not plain) beat to flow over, and the result is a quality piece of work. Get this on Bandcamp as part of the "#blahblahblackjosh" album.
Curren$y : 100 Spokes
A fairly recent release from Curren$y from this year's "Even More Saturday Night Car Tunes" EP, and once again it lives up to the title - short, sweet, and about that ridin'. I still haven't found out who did the production, which is a shame because they have that bass doing some very serious things, especially near the start. Big downside of digital releases - often credits get left off!
Torae ft. Rapsody : Let's Rap
A couple of new school MCs just showing the skills, getting on those mics with no gimmicks! This is a selection from the Peter Rosenberg "What's Poppin'" mixtape which you might still be able to find if you have a dig around online - I just came up with dead links. Khrysis is on the beat and comes up with a clever vocal sample for the hooks, then just laces it in classic Justus League style.
Bootsy Collins : Hollywood Squares
A bit of funk from one of the legends! I wanted to play Eazy-E and Ron-De-Vu's "L.A. Is The Place" on this episode, but it just didn't fit speed-wise, so instead I went with this track - which is sampled for part of the hook. Bootsy Collins has been part of the original J.B.'s (James Brown's backing band from early 1970), as well as a core member of Parliament/Funkadelic, and a solo artist/bandleader with a stack of albums to his name. If you're not a funk follower, you might have even heard him on Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart"! This track comes from the 1978 "Bootsy? Player Of The Year" LP by Bootsy's Rubber Band - definitely worth a listen if you're not familiar.
Stanley Clarke & George Duke : Wild Dog
The last track made it necessary to stay with something on the funk side of things, but we have a little jazz in the mix as well, with 1981's "The Clarke/Duke Project" providing the perfect cut for this spot. The album is ok, but you really need to check the rest of their catalogues - so much music to enjoy.
Eazy-E : Neighborhood Sniper
Uplifting message? Nope! Eazy-E understood his lane, and he made it work. As I put this episode together, I realised that he was a great example of someone who absolutely maximised the talent he was born with; he wasn’t a rapper to start with and would take all day to lay a track, but ended up with three solo and two group albums (plus an EP and a compilation). This track is from the "5150 : Home 4 Tha Sick" EP, and Cold 187um comes through with a great beat, dark and threatening, for E to spit his serial killer rhymes. I'd probably have just gone with two verses here if I didn't love the beat so much - the nice long instrumental outro was fun for mixing too. Also note the instance on the hook of the de rigeur early 90s dancehall toaster!
MC Ren : Mad Scientist
In the modern era, a very much underrated MC - Ren had good reason to feel neglected in his portrayal in the “Straight Outta Compton” film. Back when N.W.A had their run, he was very much respected on the mic and was the only member besides Ice Cube who wrote all his own lyrics. That pedigree is very much in evidence on this cut from his second solo LP "The Villain In Black", where he speaks on what he saw as the decline in lyricism and quality of Hip-Hop at the time. The grinding, bass-heavy beat comes from Dr. Jam and the Madness 4 Real team; an all-Danish affair (though Jam was based in L.A.), showing that good work can come from anywhere! Dr. Jam is apparently now a host on one of the Danish national radio stations - hope he manages to sneak some Ren in there...
Raekwon ft. Lyfe Jennings : Catalina
Dr Dre on production for this one, and while it wasn’t an immediate favourite for me compared to some of the sonically grittier selections on “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt.2”, as I listened to it more I came to appreciate it. Originally titled "Congo", it got a rename in time for the album release and somehow seems to fit the new title better - even though there's no explanation for it in the lyrics! Vintage Raekwon gangster rhymes, and the hook definitely adds on - "cos I don't know when my karma gon' catch up" - love it. For those into production, check how the beat sounds with a total absence of hi-hats, the rhythm being totally carried by the kicks and claps.
[DJ Yella] Eazy-E : 2 Hard Muthas
I didn’t have the solo DJ Yella album (“One Mo Nigga Ta Go"), so needed an alternative. While I could have gone with any number of the NWA tracks he had his hand in producing, I opted for this specific track from Eazy-E’s first album “Eazy-Duz-It”, where he shows his skills on the drums! This is a re-edit where I looped up the start of the beat, then let it go after the voiceover and jumped to the end, where he gets to give you some solo flourishes.
Oddisee : Own Appeal
After seeing Oddisee play a storming show in Manchester this month, it was only right to include one of his tracks. This isn't the latest, but comes from the 2013 "Tangible Dream" album and very much fits into the theme set by the title - talking about how he's dedicating himself to his career in the ways that really matter. It's a centred, inspiring message, and he delivers it with polish. Trivia for this track; right at the end of the final verse he shouts out Cru, who used the same guitar sample for the core of their single "Just Another Case" - giving credit where it's due :)
Gang Starr ft. Total : Discipline
Reasonably well-known for the heads, but I don't think this built a huge commercial profile despite the Total feature. One of the new tracks that was included on the "Full Clip" greatest hits compilation, the only classic Gang Starr feature this is missing is the DJ Premier scratched hook! He does come through with a solid beat though, pounding drums and some chopped-up 70s jazz, and Guru takes on the weathered elder (but not old man) role with his trademark monotone style. Every track on this compilation should be somewhere in your collection!
DJ JS-1 ft. O.C. & Pharoahe Monch : Ridiculous
Queens' DJ JS-1 spent a long time assembling the incredible roster of guests on the "Ground Original 2" album, and the fact that he got these two legends on a deep album cut speaks volumes! They dominate the beat here, with Pharoahe having the edge in my opinion - you really have to be going some to out-rhyme him!
Large Professor : Off Your Azz On Your Feet
I half wonder if this track should be part of a public information campaign encouraging people to exercise! Can't really fault a track which simply tells you to get up and apply yourself as much as you're able. Self-produced as usual (come on, why go anywhere else?), the beat smacks hard, and the legendary DJ Rob Swift drops in at the end to bless the proceedings with his cuts. If you want to hear more, then Large Pro's latest release "Re:Living" needs to be added to your shopping cart.
For Beat’s Sake : Magician
I was trawling Bandcamp again as I do every month trying to dig up instrumental gems, and this one just happened to come from an album called "Straight Outta Consoles"! An collection of beats made from video game music, it's a "name your price" release from this Fort Myers, Florida producer that's definitely worth checking if you're a fan of the 8-bit sound.
2Pac : Until The End Of Time
Nineteen years since Tupac passed, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that there was yet more unreleased material still to hear. I can't even front, I like the tune that was sampled to be the basis of this ("Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister), and Johnny J and the Trackmasters don't change it much; it was even supposed to share the same title but had to be renamed just before release. Apparently, there's a version with Mr. Mister's Richard Page guesting on vocals in place of R.L. Huggar, but I've not managed to find it yet. When it comes to the main lyrics, it's textbook Pac style from the latter stages of his career - he even uses the trademark "Hennessy/enemies" rhyme :) This is the title track from his 2001 posthumous LP, one of the first to be constructed without his input aside from the lyrics - if you're a fan, you'll probably want to get yourself a copy.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...serial numbers is Braille, so when you rub against it, feel all twos..."
- Raekwon
Just after the last episode was released, "Straight Outta Compton" came out in UK cinemas and a few of us went to see it opening night. Since NWA were one of the first Hip-Hop groups I really got into, I thought I'd try and include some work from each member's discography - without going for obvious picks - and I think you'll enjoy it! The selection doesn't stop there though, as we bring Manchester, the DMV, NYC and more into the mix. Let's get it going...
One link for the month - welcome back to NouGold, who return to the podcast world after an almost two year hiatus!
Playlist/Notes
C.I.A : My Posse
I’d been saving this for a while, though wasn’t sure what would make me break it out; I can’t say I expected it to be an N.W.A biopic! The crew you see Ice Cube with at the start of the film, before forming N.W.A…this is them. Not necessarily my favourite track on a pure listening level but as a piece of history, I’m glad to have it. The style is so different to what came after - Cube sounds like he could be an extra member of Run DMC or the Beasties, but that just goes to show how you define and refine your voice over time. I believe this 1986 track is his first record, as this 12" was C.I.A’s only release. The other members - Sir Jinx (one of the best rap names ever) and K-Dee - didn’t vanish though. They were both part of Cube’s Lench Mob crew, and Jinx did a lot of production for Cube throughout his solo career. Bit of trivia - I cut this track short, but the “Yo Dre - kick in the bass!” you hear on N.W.A’s “Dopeman” comes from here :)
Kool Moe Dee : Suckers
As I played only a piece of the preceding track, I decided to give you something else so you didn’t feel short-changed! From pretty much the same era, which was the only way to get a mix that was going to work, we have a record from one of the real movers and shakers of the time. This track is from the platinum-plus "How Ya Like Me Now?" album, 1987 style all the way. One little thing I noticed; part of Kool's lyrics are scratched up on the second hook of Ice-T's track "Ricochet", and both Ice-T and Kool Moe Dee (check the album cover) had beef with LL Cool J in the past - a coincidence more than likely, but an interesting one.
[The Neptunes] Noreaga : N.O.R.E (Instrumental)
One of those late 90s synth beats that I actually liked! Title track from the first Noreaga solo album; it was overshadowed by "Superthug" which was a massive hit, but still a good track. The album as a whole - I wouldn't say it's a must-buy if you don't already have it, but it's worth checking out.
Black Josh : Paul Scholes
Opening up the segment with some Manchester material, this is something I first heard on Soundcloud that had my head nodding regularly enough that I had to let you all hear it. Great display of rhyme skills from the Ape Cult representative, with really heavy use of multi-syllabic rhymes through both verses, listen closely! Morq gives him a simple (but not plain) beat to flow over, and the result is a quality piece of work. Get this on Bandcamp as part of the "#blahblahblackjosh" album.
Curren$y : 100 Spokes
A fairly recent release from Curren$y from this year's "Even More Saturday Night Car Tunes" EP, and once again it lives up to the title - short, sweet, and about that ridin'. I still haven't found out who did the production, which is a shame because they have that bass doing some very serious things, especially near the start. Big downside of digital releases - often credits get left off!
Torae ft. Rapsody : Let's Rap
A couple of new school MCs just showing the skills, getting on those mics with no gimmicks! This is a selection from the Peter Rosenberg "What's Poppin'" mixtape which you might still be able to find if you have a dig around online - I just came up with dead links. Khrysis is on the beat and comes up with a clever vocal sample for the hooks, then just laces it in classic Justus League style.
Bootsy Collins : Hollywood Squares
A bit of funk from one of the legends! I wanted to play Eazy-E and Ron-De-Vu's "L.A. Is The Place" on this episode, but it just didn't fit speed-wise, so instead I went with this track - which is sampled for part of the hook. Bootsy Collins has been part of the original J.B.'s (James Brown's backing band from early 1970), as well as a core member of Parliament/Funkadelic, and a solo artist/bandleader with a stack of albums to his name. If you're not a funk follower, you might have even heard him on Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart"! This track comes from the 1978 "Bootsy? Player Of The Year" LP by Bootsy's Rubber Band - definitely worth a listen if you're not familiar.
Stanley Clarke & George Duke : Wild Dog
The last track made it necessary to stay with something on the funk side of things, but we have a little jazz in the mix as well, with 1981's "The Clarke/Duke Project" providing the perfect cut for this spot. The album is ok, but you really need to check the rest of their catalogues - so much music to enjoy.
Eazy-E : Neighborhood Sniper
Uplifting message? Nope! Eazy-E understood his lane, and he made it work. As I put this episode together, I realised that he was a great example of someone who absolutely maximised the talent he was born with; he wasn’t a rapper to start with and would take all day to lay a track, but ended up with three solo and two group albums (plus an EP and a compilation). This track is from the "5150 : Home 4 Tha Sick" EP, and Cold 187um comes through with a great beat, dark and threatening, for E to spit his serial killer rhymes. I'd probably have just gone with two verses here if I didn't love the beat so much - the nice long instrumental outro was fun for mixing too. Also note the instance on the hook of the de rigeur early 90s dancehall toaster!
MC Ren : Mad Scientist
In the modern era, a very much underrated MC - Ren had good reason to feel neglected in his portrayal in the “Straight Outta Compton” film. Back when N.W.A had their run, he was very much respected on the mic and was the only member besides Ice Cube who wrote all his own lyrics. That pedigree is very much in evidence on this cut from his second solo LP "The Villain In Black", where he speaks on what he saw as the decline in lyricism and quality of Hip-Hop at the time. The grinding, bass-heavy beat comes from Dr. Jam and the Madness 4 Real team; an all-Danish affair (though Jam was based in L.A.), showing that good work can come from anywhere! Dr. Jam is apparently now a host on one of the Danish national radio stations - hope he manages to sneak some Ren in there...
Raekwon ft. Lyfe Jennings : Catalina
Dr Dre on production for this one, and while it wasn’t an immediate favourite for me compared to some of the sonically grittier selections on “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt.2”, as I listened to it more I came to appreciate it. Originally titled "Congo", it got a rename in time for the album release and somehow seems to fit the new title better - even though there's no explanation for it in the lyrics! Vintage Raekwon gangster rhymes, and the hook definitely adds on - "cos I don't know when my karma gon' catch up" - love it. For those into production, check how the beat sounds with a total absence of hi-hats, the rhythm being totally carried by the kicks and claps.
[DJ Yella] Eazy-E : 2 Hard Muthas
I didn’t have the solo DJ Yella album (“One Mo Nigga Ta Go"), so needed an alternative. While I could have gone with any number of the NWA tracks he had his hand in producing, I opted for this specific track from Eazy-E’s first album “Eazy-Duz-It”, where he shows his skills on the drums! This is a re-edit where I looped up the start of the beat, then let it go after the voiceover and jumped to the end, where he gets to give you some solo flourishes.
Oddisee : Own Appeal
After seeing Oddisee play a storming show in Manchester this month, it was only right to include one of his tracks. This isn't the latest, but comes from the 2013 "Tangible Dream" album and very much fits into the theme set by the title - talking about how he's dedicating himself to his career in the ways that really matter. It's a centred, inspiring message, and he delivers it with polish. Trivia for this track; right at the end of the final verse he shouts out Cru, who used the same guitar sample for the core of their single "Just Another Case" - giving credit where it's due :)
Gang Starr ft. Total : Discipline
Reasonably well-known for the heads, but I don't think this built a huge commercial profile despite the Total feature. One of the new tracks that was included on the "Full Clip" greatest hits compilation, the only classic Gang Starr feature this is missing is the DJ Premier scratched hook! He does come through with a solid beat though, pounding drums and some chopped-up 70s jazz, and Guru takes on the weathered elder (but not old man) role with his trademark monotone style. Every track on this compilation should be somewhere in your collection!
DJ JS-1 ft. O.C. & Pharoahe Monch : Ridiculous
Queens' DJ JS-1 spent a long time assembling the incredible roster of guests on the "Ground Original 2" album, and the fact that he got these two legends on a deep album cut speaks volumes! They dominate the beat here, with Pharoahe having the edge in my opinion - you really have to be going some to out-rhyme him!
Large Professor : Off Your Azz On Your Feet
I half wonder if this track should be part of a public information campaign encouraging people to exercise! Can't really fault a track which simply tells you to get up and apply yourself as much as you're able. Self-produced as usual (come on, why go anywhere else?), the beat smacks hard, and the legendary DJ Rob Swift drops in at the end to bless the proceedings with his cuts. If you want to hear more, then Large Pro's latest release "Re:Living" needs to be added to your shopping cart.
For Beat’s Sake : Magician
I was trawling Bandcamp again as I do every month trying to dig up instrumental gems, and this one just happened to come from an album called "Straight Outta Consoles"! An collection of beats made from video game music, it's a "name your price" release from this Fort Myers, Florida producer that's definitely worth checking if you're a fan of the 8-bit sound.
2Pac : Until The End Of Time
Nineteen years since Tupac passed, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that there was yet more unreleased material still to hear. I can't even front, I like the tune that was sampled to be the basis of this ("Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister), and Johnny J and the Trackmasters don't change it much; it was even supposed to share the same title but had to be renamed just before release. Apparently, there's a version with Mr. Mister's Richard Page guesting on vocals in place of R.L. Huggar, but I've not managed to find it yet. When it comes to the main lyrics, it's textbook Pac style from the latter stages of his career - he even uses the trademark "Hennessy/enemies" rhyme :) This is the title track from his 2001 posthumous LP, one of the first to be constructed without his input aside from the lyrics - if you're a fan, you'll probably want to get yourself a copy.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
Every so often I get questions on this, as many people don't listen to podcasts at all, so I thought I'd write a little post to help. There are three ways to listen to this show - subscribing, downloading MP3s individually, or streaming.
- Subscribe if you can install apps on your computer/phone, and want to be able to get the latest episodes automatically. They will downloads as MP3s so you can play them anywhere once they arrive.
- Download individually if you don't want to install a podcast app, but just want to grab the audio files to play on any device, especially if you just want the odd episode here and there.
- Stream if you're on a computer where you're not at liberty to actually download/install programs or MP3s, and/or use a device that has TuneIn built in.
HOW-TO
- Subscription
- iTunes
- Launch iTunes, search for "Air Adam Podcast" - you'll find me there and can subscribe or manually get one of the old episodes.
- Each of my webpages has a link you just have to click which will launch iTunes and take you to the page in the store. At the Podcast section of http://airadam.com, it's the big black icon on the right. If you're at http://podcast.airadam.com, it's the first white icon in the right hand panel, showing the iTunes logo. Once you're in iTunes at the podcast's page, you can just press "Subscribe"!
- iPhone "Podcasts" application
- Very similar to the above; click the "Podcasts" item, put "Air Adam Podcast" in the search, and it'll be there in the list of podcasts. Subscribe from there, and you'll be able to get episodes delivered directly to your phone.
- Any other podcast applications
- There'll be an option somewhere to "Add Feed," "Subscribe Manually," or similar. These programs will ask for the URL (or sometimes "RSS address") for the show. You need to give this text; http://airadam.libsyn.com/rss
- I'm an Android mobile user, and BeyondPod is my favoured app; in there, you'd select "Add Feed," then click the icon in the top right, then "Enter Feed Address," then paste the address in.
- For iPhone users, I hear Downcast is good.
- Pocket Casts for Android and iPhone is recommended by many people, though it's not free - only a couple of quid though.
- There'll be an option somewhere to "Add Feed," "Subscribe Manually," or similar. These programs will ask for the URL (or sometimes "RSS address") for the show. You need to give this text; http://airadam.libsyn.com/rss
- iTunes
- One-off downloads
- On the main webpage (http://podcast.airadam.com), each episode has a little icon that says "Pod" before each title. That icon is a link to the MP3 file with the episode audio in it, so just do the usual right-click "Save link as..." browser stuff you normally would to save a file, and it'll download.
- If you're on http://airadam.com, it's similar - the link is in text, directly below the episode title.
- Streaming
- The easiest way to listen to the podcast streaming is on TuneIn radio. If you're on a computer with a web browser, just head to http://tunein.com/radio/Air-Adam-Podcast-p570554/ - you'll be able to listen to episodes with no extra software needed. There's also a link icon on the right of my main podcast page which will take you there.
- If you have the TuneIn mobile app, or a Sonos device, or similar, you can search for "Air Adam Podcast" and it'll show up - go from there.
- If you're on Facebook, there's a "Podcast Player" tab on the Air Adam page which allows you to stream episodes.
If you're new to the world of podcasts, I hope you find this helpful!
Peace,
Adam
]]>Every so often I get questions on this, as many people don't listen to podcasts at all, so I thought I'd write a little post to help. There are three ways to listen to this show - subscribing, downloading MP3s individually, or streaming.
- Subscribe if you can install apps on your computer/phone, and want to be able to get the latest episodes automatically. They will downloads as MP3s so you can play them anywhere once they arrive.
- Download individually if you don't want to install a podcast app, but just want to grab the audio files to play on any device, especially if you just want the odd episode here and there.
- Stream if you're on a computer where you're not at liberty to actually download/install programs or MP3s, and/or use a device that has TuneIn built in.
HOW-TO
- Subscription
- iTunes
- Launch iTunes, search for "Air Adam Podcast" - you'll find me there and can subscribe or manually get one of the old episodes.
- Each of my webpages has a link you just have to click which will launch iTunes and take you to the page in the store. At the Podcast section of http://airadam.com, it's the big black icon on the right. If you're at http://podcast.airadam.com, it's the first white icon in the right hand panel, showing the iTunes logo. Once you're in iTunes at the podcast's page, you can just press "Subscribe"!
- iPhone "Podcasts" application
- Very similar to the above; click the "Podcasts" item, put "Air Adam Podcast" in the search, and it'll be there in the list of podcasts. Subscribe from there, and you'll be able to get episodes delivered directly to your phone.
- Any other podcast applications
- There'll be an option somewhere to "Add Feed," "Subscribe Manually," or similar. These programs will ask for the URL (or sometimes "RSS address") for the show. You need to give this text; http://airadam.libsyn.com/rss
- I'm an Android mobile user, and BeyondPod is my favoured app; in there, you'd select "Add Feed," then click the icon in the top right, then "Enter Feed Address," then paste the address in.
- For iPhone users, I hear Downcast is good.
- Pocket Casts for Android and iPhone is recommended by many people, though it's not free - only a couple of quid though.
- There'll be an option somewhere to "Add Feed," "Subscribe Manually," or similar. These programs will ask for the URL (or sometimes "RSS address") for the show. You need to give this text; http://airadam.libsyn.com/rss
- iTunes
- One-off downloads
- On the main webpage (http://podcast.airadam.com), each episode has a little icon that says "Pod" before each title. That icon is a link to the MP3 file with the episode audio in it, so just do the usual right-click "Save link as..." browser stuff you normally would to save a file, and it'll download.
- If you're on http://airadam.com, it's similar - the link is in text, directly below the episode title.
- Streaming
- The easiest way to listen to the podcast streaming is on TuneIn radio. If you're on a computer with a web browser, just head to http://tunein.com/radio/Air-Adam-Podcast-p570554/ - you'll be able to listen to episodes with no extra software needed. There's also a link icon on the right of my main podcast page which will take you there.
- If you have the TuneIn mobile app, or a Sonos device, or similar, you can search for "Air Adam Podcast" and it'll show up - go from there.
- If you're on Facebook, there's a "Podcast Player" tab on the Air Adam page which allows you to stream episodes.
If you're new to the world of podcasts, I hope you find this helpful!
Peace,
Adam
]]>
"...they give us free like Amistad."
- Sean Price
Hip-Hop took a terrible blow this month with the great Sean Price returning to the essence at just 43 years of age. From his early work with Heltah Skeltah to his more recent solo career, he was a consistently excellent MC who blended incredible skill and ferocity with wit and humour - and he was still improving right to the end. His material has been played many times before on this show, but this month we're going to have several of his cuts in the mix, along with some other classics and new gems. I hope it's a worthy tribute. P!
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price & Agallah : Rising To The Top (Vocal/Instrumental)
One of the earliest tracks from this pairing. Agallah hooks up a great beat based on Dexter Wansel's "What The World Is Coming To", and just check what he's done with adding the extra bassline - it's quality work. This was part of Sean's demo to get a solo deal, which he and Agallah worked on regularly at Game Records. When Rock Star came calling looking for some music for "Grand Theft Auto III", Game included this track in their submission and it made the cut! I'd been thinking about opening an episode with this tune for a long while but this month, with Sean's son on the intro, it couldn't have been a more perfect time.
Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier: Takeit2thetop
Dipping back into the 2012 "StOoDiOtYmE" EP (I won't front, I had to copy and paste that title) for this one, Bumpy and DJ Premier combine once again for the solidness. The EP was a warm up for the "Kolexxxion" LP - and at only £2.49 on iTunes, why not grab a copy if you don't already have it?
A&E (Masta Ace & Edo G) : Ei8ht Is Enough
No hook, just rhymes and more rhymes! These two veterans go back to back, swapping eight-bar sections - hence the title. Toronto's Frank Dukes gives them enough space in the track so that you catch every word, and they don't disappoint. I picked up the "Arts & Entertainment" album that this comes from after a Masta Ace show - it's a 2009 release with a good selection of producers and features, worth checking out.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Louieville Sluggah : Prowl
Taking it back to the start of Sean's career as Ruck, this was a low-key banger from Heltah Skeltah's "Nocturnal" album. It's also a record about which people who don't (or don't want to) know better would say "oh, they just took that Portishead song and then rapped over it" - not grasping that both groups based their tracks around a common sample, Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident" to be precise. Mr Walt of Da Beatminerz hooks it up lovely, with some smacking boom-bap drums and filtering of the main sample weaving in and out during the verses. It's stuff like this that had me ignoring "Reasonable Doubt" when it came out ;) On the vocals, while Rock had the voice that was instantly distinctive, on the low it was Ruck who had the better bars - not that there's any slight there, you're talking about an all-time great!
Portishead : Sour Times
From the first Portishead album "Dummy", this shows you that they were a group that came out the gate with their skills already at a very high level. With lighter drums (fittingly so) than the preceding track, this is great production and with Beth Gibbons' haunting vocals and lyrics floating over the top...classic. The rare piece of genuine excellence to reach the upper reaches of the pop charts, this deserved every bit of acclaim it got.
Kay & Luke of The Foundation : Everybody's Here
Not even sure how I found this - maybe a tweet/post from FWMJ's "Rappers I Know". The Foundation are a large crew out of Houston, and this project ("Laura Mvula Chopped") is helmed by two members; Kay on sampling/sequencing/drum programming and Luke on keyboards/synths. They take as source material a performance by British West Indian vocalist Laura Mvula (who I need to start studying) and Metropole Orkest, and turn their hands to re-interpreting it. The result, as you can imagine from this one track, is a beautiful listen - and on top of that, an absolutely free download!
J-Zone : Time For A Crime Wave
While I'll always be a vinyl fan, the modern practice of digital releases makes it a lot easier to release singles out to a wide audience, and also makes them very affordable! J-Zone has made very effective use of this channel on his return to the music industry, and as a fan I'm glad of it. This particular track and its remix are available on Bandcamp and it's typically excellent; Zone sounds like he's totally wilding out but if you listen properly he's actually making very cogent points! Backed with his distinctive production style, this is dope as hell.
Sean Price : Boom Bye Yeah
Huge stomping track from "Monkey Barz", Sean's debut solo album - when this first dropped, it was getting a lot of play from guys like me and DJ Mathmatics, who was the one to put me up on it. Toronto's Tone Mason production crew come with something noisy, gritty, and booming which destroys everything in its path and forms a great backing for Sean to get busy. Definitely pick up this 12", with the nice little B-side "60 Bar Dash" sealing the deal.
Side note: for the longest I assumed this track's title was drawn from Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye", but someone suggested recently that it's a corruption of "Ali boma ye" - never thought of that!
LMNO : [more] Pawns [than] Dons
Another track that Mathmatics put me up on - and one I probably never would have encountered on my usual record shopping! LMNO ("Leave My Name Out") is an MC from Long Beach, California, but connected to the skate/surf scene - a different side of things from someone like Snoop or Warren G. He wouldn't categorise himself as a "Christian rapper" but that content is definitely there on this track from the "Economic Food Chain Music" LP (and the B-side to "Hit"). Production comes from Oh No, and it's just...a weapon of bass destruction. The kind of crowd who liked D&B, grime, and dubstep loved this record.
Sean Price : Pyrex
I don't know who Amp is, but he basically did a very DJ Premier beat on this one! From Sean Price's final studio album "Mic Tyson", he kicks some of his trademark witty thugged-out rhymes, at one point winking to the listener "I'm lying, just like the rest of these dumb-ass rappers" :)
[DJ Premier] Jay-Z : So Ghetto (Instrumental)
This popped into my head as a similar sounding beat to "Pyrex" - not identical, but reminiscent with the hard piano and drums. The full version of the track is on Jay's "Vol. 3 : Life & Times Of S.Carter".
El Da Sensei ft. Sean Price : No Matter
Was looking for one Sean P's many, many collaborations to feature here and ended up choosing this one partly for this episode's epigram, but of course it's just dope overall. From El's "The Unusual" album, the MC split the first verse and then solo the second and third, which is an unusual layout - I kept expecting the other to jump in. El is solid as always, and Sean P's bars are brutal but also clever for those who get all the references - very much his style! Production is provided by 3rd Rell; all the guitar stuff going on is kind of discordant - it's not my favourite, but it does the job.
Dr Dre ft. Anderson .Paak : Animals
Talk about a major, major come up - and on the other side of the ledger, a meeting of the minds. The original production was done by DJ Premier with the young Russian producer BMB (aka Spacekid), and when MF Doom had to bow out of recording due to illness, Anderson.Paak stepped in. This was just after Freddie Gray was killed in Baltimore, and the rightful anger is all over the verse. When Dre heard the track, he wanted it on his own album, and added an extra verse - he may not have written it (Anderson and King Mez did), but he does an excellent job delivering it. This isn't even my favourite track on the new "Compton" album, but it did fit well here. Oh yes - that sample of DeRay McKesson speaking on Baltimore isn't part of the track, but I thought that would fit well too.
Blak Twang : Creme De La Crop
The "Dettwork SouthEast" album was originally scheduled for release in 1996, but record company machinations meant that it was shelved and from that point it took on a legendary, mythical status for all those who had never heard it. Tony Rotton went on to record many other albums, even using some of the rhymes from the unreleased project, and yet the desire of the fans to hear that initial record never waned. Finally, it got a release in 2014 - meaning there were adults around on the release date who hadn't been born when it was first recorded! I jumped on a vinyl copy on a trip to London and am glad I did; it reminds me of the particular era in British Hip-Hop production that turned me on to more of our domestic product. This track is centred around the low end, but the little guitar licks and flute sample combined with the cuts add crucial extra flavour. When you consider that Rotton did all the rhyming as well as the production (alongside DJ Rumple), you have to take your hat off - and remember, this is eighteen years old!
First Division : Pure
Canada stand up! I came across First Division in the last couple of weeks after seeing a link to their video for "This Iz Tha Time". I went to iTunes to buy it and found that the album it was on was up for pre-order, with only two tracks currently available - that one, and this. Even though this isn't the tune getting the big push, it's one they can be proud of! BeatWyze is on the boards mixing up Eastern-sounding pipes and strings with quintessential boom-bap and bass sounds while the MCs Expertise and Shylow (also on the cuts) speak on their dedication to the artform. Let me just go back to the cuts for a second - some serious work was clearly done to find all the phrases that go into the scratched hook; some rhyme, and some just fit together to form a coherent whole. As someone who once put together a sixteen-bar verse from samples, I respect that effort!
Vanilla : Real Thing
This month's random Bandcamp find isn't a million miles from home, with this smooth number being part of UK producer Vanilla's "Sweet Talk" project, available as a "name your price" release! S/he's also on Soundcloud, so be sure to have a listen.
Sean Price : Sabado Gigante
"When god made me, he broke the mould, set that shit on fire, flushed it down the commode" - pretty much. I found this freestyle very recently and it turned out to be a perfect way to end the show, with Sean spitting his trademark disrespectful bars straight over...Keni Burke's "Risin' To The Top", thus bringing the episode full circle.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always YouTube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...they give us free like Amistad."
- Sean Price
Hip-Hop took a terrible blow this month with the great Sean Price returning to the essence at just 43 years of age. From his early work with Heltah Skeltah to his more recent solo career, he was a consistently excellent MC who blended incredible skill and ferocity with wit and humour - and he was still improving right to the end. His material has been played many times before on this show, but this month we're going to have several of his cuts in the mix, along with some other classics and new gems. I hope it's a worthy tribute. P!
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price & Agallah : Rising To The Top (Vocal/Instrumental)
One of the earliest tracks from this pairing. Agallah hooks up a great beat based on Dexter Wansel's "What The World Is Coming To", and just check what he's done with adding the extra bassline - it's quality work. This was part of Sean's demo to get a solo deal, which he and Agallah worked on regularly at Game Records. When Rock Star came calling looking for some music for "Grand Theft Auto III", Game included this track in their submission and it made the cut! I'd been thinking about opening an episode with this tune for a long while but this month, with Sean's son on the intro, it couldn't have been a more perfect time.
Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier: Takeit2thetop
Dipping back into the 2012 "StOoDiOtYmE" EP (I won't front, I had to copy and paste that title) for this one, Bumpy and DJ Premier combine once again for the solidness. The EP was a warm up for the "Kolexxxion" LP - and at only £2.49 on iTunes, why not grab a copy if you don't already have it?
A&E (Masta Ace & Edo G) : Ei8ht Is Enough
No hook, just rhymes and more rhymes! These two veterans go back to back, swapping eight-bar sections - hence the title. Toronto's Frank Dukes gives them enough space in the track so that you catch every word, and they don't disappoint. I picked up the "Arts & Entertainment" album that this comes from after a Masta Ace show - it's a 2009 release with a good selection of producers and features, worth checking out.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Louieville Sluggah : Prowl
Taking it back to the start of Sean's career as Ruck, this was a low-key banger from Heltah Skeltah's "Nocturnal" album. It's also a record about which people who don't (or don't want to) know better would say "oh, they just took that Portishead song and then rapped over it" - not grasping that both groups based their tracks around a common sample, Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident" to be precise. Mr Walt of Da Beatminerz hooks it up lovely, with some smacking boom-bap drums and filtering of the main sample weaving in and out during the verses. It's stuff like this that had me ignoring "Reasonable Doubt" when it came out ;) On the vocals, while Rock had the voice that was instantly distinctive, on the low it was Ruck who had the better bars - not that there's any slight there, you're talking about an all-time great!
Portishead : Sour Times
From the first Portishead album "Dummy", this shows you that they were a group that came out the gate with their skills already at a very high level. With lighter drums (fittingly so) than the preceding track, this is great production and with Beth Gibbons' haunting vocals and lyrics floating over the top...classic. The rare piece of genuine excellence to reach the upper reaches of the pop charts, this deserved every bit of acclaim it got.
Kay & Luke of The Foundation : Everybody's Here
Not even sure how I found this - maybe a tweet/post from FWMJ's "Rappers I Know". The Foundation are a large crew out of Houston, and this project ("Laura Mvula Chopped") is helmed by two members; Kay on sampling/sequencing/drum programming and Luke on keyboards/synths. They take as source material a performance by British West Indian vocalist Laura Mvula (who I need to start studying) and Metropole Orkest, and turn their hands to re-interpreting it. The result, as you can imagine from this one track, is a beautiful listen - and on top of that, an absolutely free download!
J-Zone : Time For A Crime Wave
While I'll always be a vinyl fan, the modern practice of digital releases makes it a lot easier to release singles out to a wide audience, and also makes them very affordable! J-Zone has made very effective use of this channel on his return to the music industry, and as a fan I'm glad of it. This particular track and its remix are available on Bandcamp and it's typically excellent; Zone sounds like he's totally wilding out but if you listen properly he's actually making very cogent points! Backed with his distinctive production style, this is dope as hell.
Sean Price : Boom Bye Yeah
Huge stomping track from "Monkey Barz", Sean's debut solo album - when this first dropped, it was getting a lot of play from guys like me and DJ Mathmatics, who was the one to put me up on it. Toronto's Tone Mason production crew come with something noisy, gritty, and booming which destroys everything in its path and forms a great backing for Sean to get busy. Definitely pick up this 12", with the nice little B-side "60 Bar Dash" sealing the deal.
Side note: for the longest I assumed this track's title was drawn from Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye", but someone suggested recently that it's a corruption of "Ali boma ye" - never thought of that!
LMNO : [more] Pawns [than] Dons
Another track that Mathmatics put me up on - and one I probably never would have encountered on my usual record shopping! LMNO ("Leave My Name Out") is an MC from Long Beach, California, but connected to the skate/surf scene - a different side of things from someone like Snoop or Warren G. He wouldn't categorise himself as a "Christian rapper" but that content is definitely there on this track from the "Economic Food Chain Music" LP (and the B-side to "Hit"). Production comes from Oh No, and it's just...a weapon of bass destruction. The kind of crowd who liked D&B, grime, and dubstep loved this record.
Sean Price : Pyrex
I don't know who Amp is, but he basically did a very DJ Premier beat on this one! From Sean Price's final studio album "Mic Tyson", he kicks some of his trademark witty thugged-out rhymes, at one point winking to the listener "I'm lying, just like the rest of these dumb-ass rappers" :)
[DJ Premier] Jay-Z : So Ghetto (Instrumental)
This popped into my head as a similar sounding beat to "Pyrex" - not identical, but reminiscent with the hard piano and drums. The full version of the track is on Jay's "Vol. 3 : Life & Times Of S.Carter".
El Da Sensei ft. Sean Price : No Matter
Was looking for one Sean P's many, many collaborations to feature here and ended up choosing this one partly for this episode's epigram, but of course it's just dope overall. From El's "The Unusual" album, the MC split the first verse and then solo the second and third, which is an unusual layout - I kept expecting the other to jump in. El is solid as always, and Sean P's bars are brutal but also clever for those who get all the references - very much his style! Production is provided by 3rd Rell; all the guitar stuff going on is kind of discordant - it's not my favourite, but it does the job.
Dr Dre ft. Anderson .Paak : Animals
Talk about a major, major come up - and on the other side of the ledger, a meeting of the minds. The original production was done by DJ Premier with the young Russian producer BMB (aka Spacekid), and when MF Doom had to bow out of recording due to illness, Anderson.Paak stepped in. This was just after Freddie Gray was killed in Baltimore, and the rightful anger is all over the verse. When Dre heard the track, he wanted it on his own album, and added an extra verse - he may not have written it (Anderson and King Mez did), but he does an excellent job delivering it. This isn't even my favourite track on the new "Compton" album, but it did fit well here. Oh yes - that sample of DeRay McKesson speaking on Baltimore isn't part of the track, but I thought that would fit well too.
Blak Twang : Creme De La Crop
The "Dettwork SouthEast" album was originally scheduled for release in 1996, but record company machinations meant that it was shelved and from that point it took on a legendary, mythical status for all those who had never heard it. Tony Rotton went on to record many other albums, even using some of the rhymes from the unreleased project, and yet the desire of the fans to hear that initial record never waned. Finally, it got a release in 2014 - meaning there were adults around on the release date who hadn't been born when it was first recorded! I jumped on a vinyl copy on a trip to London and am glad I did; it reminds me of the particular era in British Hip-Hop production that turned me on to more of our domestic product. This track is centred around the low end, but the little guitar licks and flute sample combined with the cuts add crucial extra flavour. When you consider that Rotton did all the rhyming as well as the production (alongside DJ Rumple), you have to take your hat off - and remember, this is eighteen years old!
First Division : Pure
Canada stand up! I came across First Division in the last couple of weeks after seeing a link to their video for "This Iz Tha Time". I went to iTunes to buy it and found that the album it was on was up for pre-order, with only two tracks currently available - that one, and this. Even though this isn't the tune getting the big push, it's one they can be proud of! BeatWyze is on the boards mixing up Eastern-sounding pipes and strings with quintessential boom-bap and bass sounds while the MCs Expertise and Shylow (also on the cuts) speak on their dedication to the artform. Let me just go back to the cuts for a second - some serious work was clearly done to find all the phrases that go into the scratched hook; some rhyme, and some just fit together to form a coherent whole. As someone who once put together a sixteen-bar verse from samples, I respect that effort!
Vanilla : Real Thing
This month's random Bandcamp find isn't a million miles from home, with this smooth number being part of UK producer Vanilla's "Sweet Talk" project, available as a "name your price" release! S/he's also on Soundcloud, so be sure to have a listen.
Sean Price : Sabado Gigante
"When god made me, he broke the mould, set that shit on fire, flushed it down the commode" - pretty much. I found this freestyle very recently and it turned out to be a perfect way to end the show, with Sean spitting his trademark disrespectful bars straight over...Keni Burke's "Risin' To The Top", thus bringing the episode full circle.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always YouTube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I hide behind the dank, I hide behind the drink..."
- Cold 187um
I've got to say - I think this is a good one! There are knowledgeable DJs I know out there who might only have heard six or seven of these tracks, even though maybe only one is particularly rare. We start things off fairly downtempo, paying homage to the late KMG, taking a step up in tempo in each section until you might want to hit the floor! There are some 90s head-nodders, some modern UK cuts, and even a little dance in the selection - so let's get it cracking...
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : Promise Me
A downbeat track to open up but one I've always thought was excellent, lyrically especially. Ice-T often says he knows which supposedly gangsta MCs are fake because they never talk about the downside of the game, but fellow West Coast natives ATL have always covered that aspect. Taken from their fifth album, "Legends", which is well worth having, this track sees Cold 187um and KMG speak on the stress that the street lifestyle has on the innocent families of the participants. The hook is an adaption of an old Luther Vandross tune, and Cold 187um meets the heaviness of the lyrics head on with a booming but haunting beat.
Tall Black Guy : Funky Drummer
Got hold of this track recently and had to play it for two reasons. Firstly, it sounds great. Secondly...what...did...he...do?! If you know Hip-Hop, you've heard James Brown's "Funky Drummer" sampled many a time and would recognise it backwards, but this is way past backward. A fantastic re-edit which should serve as a reminder that you should check for everything this man puts out. Now.
Fatal : Ghetto Star
I went to my record library to pull something by Fatal Hussein for this episode and on looking at the vinyl, realised that this was one of the first tracks I used to learn how to rock doubles; I'd found copies of the "In The Line Of Fire" sampler cheaply, they weren't warped, and even though I was on the least-suitable turntables you can imagine, I picked it up. Just a bit of personal history, but back to the track; it's got a very mournful feel, somehow feels like the one to play. Fatal and The Artifacts' Tame One, both New Jersey MCs, put the bravado in the lyrics but the vulnerability is in the hook, where you also get a nice little change-up in the beat from Reef. While best known for being a member of 2Pac's Outlawz, this track shows what Fatal could do following his own path. RIP.
Main Source : What You Need
Those drums are thumping nicely. K-Def takes the beat reins on this track for the second incarnation of Main Source after the departure of Large Professor, who was not only the sole MC but also the producer! This was the first and only single from the 1994 album "F*** What You Think". Mikey D took over the mic duties, and while he's no Extra P he does a solid job. Incidentally, if this track sounds strangely familiar to you even though you've never heard it, there's a good reason - Dave "Jam" Hall and Madonna sampled it heavily for the track "Human Nature" from the "Bedtime Stories" LP.
Omniscence : Touch Y'all
A bit of an obscure one here - a 1996 release (video caption is wrong, apparently) from this North Carolina MC had people warmed up for the release of the "The Raw Factor" LP...but it got shelved by the record company and that appeared to be the end of that. However, in November last year the entire LP emerged on Bandcamp as a digital release, and after a nineteen-year enforced hibernation I thought I really should pick up a copy :) Quality nineties underground flavour with the production being handled by Fanatic, hooking up a classic smooth soul sample that you'll have heard used on a past episode...start digging...
Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun ft. Tyler Woods : Monumental
Although I knew I liked this track, I'd somehow managed to overlook it for ages until it came up in shuffle recently! The title track from the collaborative album from these New York legends, this one swaggers along with those triumphant horns and makes its claim to be every bit as solid in its own way as "That's Hard", which got a lot more light when this was released.
Enes Suleman : Anomalia
A little independent interlude here, with this coming from a beat tape I found while browsing Bandcamp. Enes is an MC/producer/label head I believe is from Barcelona but now in Singapore; I thought this cut from his name-your-price "StreetSoul" release was just the thing to keep things going with quality while slightly dipping the energy before stepping up to...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Bam (Jungle Brothers) : What'd I Do?
*airhorn* Big new single - and a free single, if you'd like - from the Manchester crew who continue to make noise, whether it's live shows or an appearance in session on BBC 6 Music! The beat is ill as expected, and the special guest on the mic for the whole tune is Bam (aka Afrika Baby Bam) of the Jungle Brothers in solid form; in fact, I'd love to hear more from this combination...
Triple Threat ft. Zion I : Hit 'em Off
The last track I selected before recording, this was a real back-of-the-crate find! In the days when the turntablism resurgence was making itself felt in Hip-Hop, DJs Apollo and Shortkut (both of Invisibl Skratch Piklz) and Vin Roc of 5th Platoon came together to form Triple Threat, who are still going strong today. My understanding at the time was that the three threats alluded to were scratching, beat juggling, and mixing...but I wouldn't be surprised if I'd got that wrong! Anyway, they only recorded one actual album, 2003's "Many Styles", and so it's there we go to pull this energetic track featuring Zion I. The album is worth having just for the skits of different people pestering the DJs - fellow sufferers will be able to relate ;)
Slum Village ft. Samiyya : Tainted (Remix)
I failed to find this on YouTube, which means it might be a much rarer release than I thought it was! Absolute killer white label, with the beat mercilessly chopping James Brown's "The Big Payback" on a jerky, shoulder-working rhythm.
Children Of Zeus : Push Push On
The soulful Manchester duo of Konny Kon and Tyler Daley with another quality track; they're making a habit of it and need to get an album out so I can buy it! In the meantime, their Soundcloud is the place to go to check the catalogue. That drum line reminds me very much of an 80s soul hit (though I don't think it's a sample) and the electric piano and bass fit it just perfectly. Another victory!
[Rich 5] Bumpy Knuckles ft. Nas : Turn Up The Mic (Instrumental)
I'd never actually noticed the name Rich 5 before but he's definitely put in work for Boston MCs like Edo G and Krumb Snatcha, so he has a solid pedigree. Right here his skipping drums and trilling guitar make for a clean but not too clean beat on which you can find Bumpy and Nas trading verses on this 12" - worth having in my opinion! This track was remixed by DJ Premier on "The Kolexxxion" LP...but this is the one.
Ras Kass ft. Kendrick Lamar, ProVerb, and LaToyia Williams : Focus
I love the way this beat pushes along, it's almost got a bit of a Prince vibe in the drum and bass foundation! If you've got some sunshine where you are right now, this West Coast cut is a more fitting soundtrack than it is for Manchester at the mo. Either way, one of my favourites from the "Barmageddon 2.0" album, with Ras, Kendrick, and ProVerb (who I've actually not heard of before) doing the business over Focus' production, plus LaToyia on the hook. The album is worth having, digital-only I think but one I've given a solid number of listens!
Julius Papp ft. Lisa Shaw : Way Back (Extended Album Mix)
I checked out this track on the strength of Lisa Shaw's name - her phenomenally clear and controlled voice is one I absolutely love. As it turns out, the whole track had me moving, and when I did my research it turned out that Julius Papp is no neophyte producer, but a veteran who's been DJing for the last thirty years! Right here he shows how to give you what is essentially a four-to-the-floor beat but keep things interesting with the way the drum dynamics and percussion programming are done. That's not even getting into that lead/bass synth sound, or the warm pads running through the track. This 2010 EP has nine tracks, but this is the one right here.
Samantha James : Enchanted Life
I played a track from the "Rise" album fairly recently, I'd thought - until I checked back and found it was three years ago! With that kind of time gap, returning to this LP is more than justified, especially with a beautiful cut like this. Samantha's voice sounds like she could turn it to a number of genres (actually, she's done acoustic versions of some of her tracks, including "Rain" which is gorgeous), but this feels like home. Vikter Duplaix is on the production, putting a little samba flavour in the groove, and the mix and overall polish of the track is top notch. If you've got half an ear for this kind of stuff, pick up the album.
Chic : Good Times (A Touch Of Jazz Remix)
Now this is brave - "Good Times" is one of the canonical Hip-Hop breaks, with the original bassline being one of the most recognisable in history (think "Rappers' Delight") - and yet, here's a remix! DJ Jazzy Jeff's "A Touch Of Jazz" collective (in this case, him alongside Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer) take on the classic and change up pretty much everything save the vocals and the strings. At times it actually feels to me like the vocal is running just a sliver behind the beat, but it's not as though the original was recorded to a drum machine! Jeff adds some extra flavour with the cuts and Philly's Ivan Barias drops in with the short rap section. I got this on a 12" but it's more easily available on the 2002 "Ultimate Chic" compilation.
[Just Blaze] Joe Budden : Pump It Up (Instrumental)
Some real heat here, with the Kool & The Gang "Soul Vibrations" sample being the basis for this big 2003 single. I used to do a little beat juggling with this one, so did some to lead this track in. The vinyls are so nice, I didn't even bother backing it up into Serato!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Leaders Of The New School and Kid Hood : Scenario (Remix)
Didn't want to waste the opportunity to link this track with the Just Blaze beat it inspired! One of the truly great Hip-Hop remixes, this should really just be called a re-record since both the lyrics and the beat are completely different from the original "The Low End Theory" track. The complete lineups of Tribe and LONS take the mic, alongside the opener, an MC called Kid Hood who was killed just two days after recording this verse (hence being referred to in the intro as being "in spiritual essence). I believe this is his only recorded material - a fierce verse to be remembered by.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I hide behind the dank, I hide behind the drink..."
- Cold 187um
I've got to say - I think this is a good one! There are knowledgeable DJs I know out there who might only have heard six or seven of these tracks, even though maybe only one is particularly rare. We start things off fairly downtempo, paying homage to the late KMG, taking a step up in tempo in each section until you might want to hit the floor! There are some 90s head-nodders, some modern UK cuts, and even a little dance in the selection - so let's get it cracking...
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : Promise Me
A downbeat track to open up but one I've always thought was excellent, lyrically especially. Ice-T often says he knows which supposedly gangsta MCs are fake because they never talk about the downside of the game, but fellow West Coast natives ATL have always covered that aspect. Taken from their fifth album, "Legends", which is well worth having, this track sees Cold 187um and KMG speak on the stress that the street lifestyle has on the innocent families of the participants. The hook is an adaption of an old Luther Vandross tune, and Cold 187um meets the heaviness of the lyrics head on with a booming but haunting beat.
Tall Black Guy : Funky Drummer
Got hold of this track recently and had to play it for two reasons. Firstly, it sounds great. Secondly...what...did...he...do?! If you know Hip-Hop, you've heard James Brown's "Funky Drummer" sampled many a time and would recognise it backwards, but this is way past backward. A fantastic re-edit which should serve as a reminder that you should check for everything this man puts out. Now.
Fatal : Ghetto Star
I went to my record library to pull something by Fatal Hussein for this episode and on looking at the vinyl, realised that this was one of the first tracks I used to learn how to rock doubles; I'd found copies of the "In The Line Of Fire" sampler cheaply, they weren't warped, and even though I was on the least-suitable turntables you can imagine, I picked it up. Just a bit of personal history, but back to the track; it's got a very mournful feel, somehow feels like the one to play. Fatal and The Artifacts' Tame One, both New Jersey MCs, put the bravado in the lyrics but the vulnerability is in the hook, where you also get a nice little change-up in the beat from Reef. While best known for being a member of 2Pac's Outlawz, this track shows what Fatal could do following his own path. RIP.
Main Source : What You Need
Those drums are thumping nicely. K-Def takes the beat reins on this track for the second incarnation of Main Source after the departure of Large Professor, who was not only the sole MC but also the producer! This was the first and only single from the 1994 album "F*** What You Think". Mikey D took over the mic duties, and while he's no Extra P he does a solid job. Incidentally, if this track sounds strangely familiar to you even though you've never heard it, there's a good reason - Dave "Jam" Hall and Madonna sampled it heavily for the track "Human Nature" from the "Bedtime Stories" LP.
Omniscence : Touch Y'all
A bit of an obscure one here - a 1996 release (video caption is wrong, apparently) from this North Carolina MC had people warmed up for the release of the "The Raw Factor" LP...but it got shelved by the record company and that appeared to be the end of that. However, in November last year the entire LP emerged on Bandcamp as a digital release, and after a nineteen-year enforced hibernation I thought I really should pick up a copy :) Quality nineties underground flavour with the production being handled by Fanatic, hooking up a classic smooth soul sample that you'll have heard used on a past episode...start digging...
Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun ft. Tyler Woods : Monumental
Although I knew I liked this track, I'd somehow managed to overlook it for ages until it came up in shuffle recently! The title track from the collaborative album from these New York legends, this one swaggers along with those triumphant horns and makes its claim to be every bit as solid in its own way as "That's Hard", which got a lot more light when this was released.
Enes Suleman : Anomalia
A little independent interlude here, with this coming from a beat tape I found while browsing Bandcamp. Enes is an MC/producer/label head I believe is from Barcelona but now in Singapore; I thought this cut from his name-your-price "StreetSoul" release was just the thing to keep things going with quality while slightly dipping the energy before stepping up to...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Bam (Jungle Brothers) : What'd I Do?
*airhorn* Big new single - and a free single, if you'd like - from the Manchester crew who continue to make noise, whether it's live shows or an appearance in session on BBC 6 Music! The beat is ill as expected, and the special guest on the mic for the whole tune is Bam (aka Afrika Baby Bam) of the Jungle Brothers in solid form; in fact, I'd love to hear more from this combination...
Triple Threat ft. Zion I : Hit 'em Off
The last track I selected before recording, this was a real back-of-the-crate find! In the days when the turntablism resurgence was making itself felt in Hip-Hop, DJs Apollo and Shortkut (both of Invisibl Skratch Piklz) and Vin Roc of 5th Platoon came together to form Triple Threat, who are still going strong today. My understanding at the time was that the three threats alluded to were scratching, beat juggling, and mixing...but I wouldn't be surprised if I'd got that wrong! Anyway, they only recorded one actual album, 2003's "Many Styles", and so it's there we go to pull this energetic track featuring Zion I. The album is worth having just for the skits of different people pestering the DJs - fellow sufferers will be able to relate ;)
Slum Village ft. Samiyya : Tainted (Remix)
I failed to find this on YouTube, which means it might be a much rarer release than I thought it was! Absolute killer white label, with the beat mercilessly chopping James Brown's "The Big Payback" on a jerky, shoulder-working rhythm.
Children Of Zeus : Push Push On
The soulful Manchester duo of Konny Kon and Tyler Daley with another quality track; they're making a habit of it and need to get an album out so I can buy it! In the meantime, their Soundcloud is the place to go to check the catalogue. That drum line reminds me very much of an 80s soul hit (though I don't think it's a sample) and the electric piano and bass fit it just perfectly. Another victory!
[Rich 5] Bumpy Knuckles ft. Nas : Turn Up The Mic (Instrumental)
I'd never actually noticed the name Rich 5 before but he's definitely put in work for Boston MCs like Edo G and Krumb Snatcha, so he has a solid pedigree. Right here his skipping drums and trilling guitar make for a clean but not too clean beat on which you can find Bumpy and Nas trading verses on this 12" - worth having in my opinion! This track was remixed by DJ Premier on "The Kolexxxion" LP...but this is the one.
Ras Kass ft. Kendrick Lamar, ProVerb, and LaToyia Williams : Focus
I love the way this beat pushes along, it's almost got a bit of a Prince vibe in the drum and bass foundation! If you've got some sunshine where you are right now, this West Coast cut is a more fitting soundtrack than it is for Manchester at the mo. Either way, one of my favourites from the "Barmageddon 2.0" album, with Ras, Kendrick, and ProVerb (who I've actually not heard of before) doing the business over Focus' production, plus LaToyia on the hook. The album is worth having, digital-only I think but one I've given a solid number of listens!
Julius Papp ft. Lisa Shaw : Way Back (Extended Album Mix)
I checked out this track on the strength of Lisa Shaw's name - her phenomenally clear and controlled voice is one I absolutely love. As it turns out, the whole track had me moving, and when I did my research it turned out that Julius Papp is no neophyte producer, but a veteran who's been DJing for the last thirty years! Right here he shows how to give you what is essentially a four-to-the-floor beat but keep things interesting with the way the drum dynamics and percussion programming are done. That's not even getting into that lead/bass synth sound, or the warm pads running through the track. This 2010 EP has nine tracks, but this is the one right here.
Samantha James : Enchanted Life
I played a track from the "Rise" album fairly recently, I'd thought - until I checked back and found it was three years ago! With that kind of time gap, returning to this LP is more than justified, especially with a beautiful cut like this. Samantha's voice sounds like she could turn it to a number of genres (actually, she's done acoustic versions of some of her tracks, including "Rain" which is gorgeous), but this feels like home. Vikter Duplaix is on the production, putting a little samba flavour in the groove, and the mix and overall polish of the track is top notch. If you've got half an ear for this kind of stuff, pick up the album.
Chic : Good Times (A Touch Of Jazz Remix)
Now this is brave - "Good Times" is one of the canonical Hip-Hop breaks, with the original bassline being one of the most recognisable in history (think "Rappers' Delight") - and yet, here's a remix! DJ Jazzy Jeff's "A Touch Of Jazz" collective (in this case, him alongside Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer) take on the classic and change up pretty much everything save the vocals and the strings. At times it actually feels to me like the vocal is running just a sliver behind the beat, but it's not as though the original was recorded to a drum machine! Jeff adds some extra flavour with the cuts and Philly's Ivan Barias drops in with the short rap section. I got this on a 12" but it's more easily available on the 2002 "Ultimate Chic" compilation.
[Just Blaze] Joe Budden : Pump It Up (Instrumental)
Some real heat here, with the Kool & The Gang "Soul Vibrations" sample being the basis for this big 2003 single. I used to do a little beat juggling with this one, so did some to lead this track in. The vinyls are so nice, I didn't even bother backing it up into Serato!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Leaders Of The New School and Kid Hood : Scenario (Remix)
Didn't want to waste the opportunity to link this track with the Just Blaze beat it inspired! One of the truly great Hip-Hop remixes, this should really just be called a re-record since both the lyrics and the beat are completely different from the original "The Low End Theory" track. The complete lineups of Tribe and LONS take the mic, alongside the opener, an MC called Kid Hood who was killed just two days after recording this verse (hence being referred to in the intro as being "in spiritual essence). I believe this is his only recorded material - a fierce verse to be remembered by.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Confederate flags I burn..."
- Nas
Somehow, someway, we've reached the sixth birthday of the show! To celebrate, I'm bringing out a few favourites that I kept saving for "just the right time", and blending them with some other gems from the crates. Goodness knows, after the horrors of this past month, I think we need it...
Playlist/Notes
Little Brother ft. Joe Scudda : Lovin' It / Diary Of A Mad Black Daddy
The lead single from "The Minstrel Show", the second LB album, this is the one with the video that BET infamously allegedly claimed was "too intelligent" for their viewership - quite the insult. Great tune regardless, and I felt like I just had to let it play off the end into the skit that follows it on the album, as it always makes me laugh :)
Kuartz : Runna
One of the most prolific beatmakers about came back with another project in the last month - the "40 Fatal Beats" cassette, which he kindly sent in for me to have a listen to. There were a good few tracks I'd happily have played, but settled on this one, with its beautifully laid-back air - had to loop it up a bit to give you chance to hear it and still leave room for me to speak, but on the tape this is one of forty short and sweet gems. Keep an eye on this man!
SPOX PhD ft. Apani B.Fly : Actual Fact
That. Beat. Eagle-eared (or maybe moth-eared?) listeners will recognise it from aaalll the way back on Episode 3, where it was a b-side DJ Spinna instrumental called "Spirit of '94", and it's a killer. Wisely, it got brought back to life as the beat for this wicked track from the collaboration project between Spinna and Oxygen, and once again it's a b-side - this time, on the "Chicken Scratch" 7". Apani B.Fly drops in to add some hook flavour and put this track even further over the top. Bottom line - you need this record.
Kool G Rap : Blowin' Up In The World
This one always makes me reminisce. First heard it courtesy of DJ Greenpeace, who included it on a mixtape he gave me while I was still in high school! Kool G Rap is in biographical mode on the mic on this album cut from his first solo release "4, 5, 6", showing why he's very much the MC's MC. When you've got lyrics like this you need a beat that can stand proud alongside, and DITC's Buckwild certainly delivers; as an aside, I can't believe that I've only just realised what the sample is - it sounds so mournful somehow.
O.C. ft. Yvette Michelle : Far From Yours
You know what? Buckwild again! This time, he takes a piece from what would then have been a relatively recent track and is just subtle with it, looping it just right, adding some steady drums and beefing up the bass. This was the lead single from O.C.'s second LP "Jewelz" - now well-regarded, but very underrated when it was released!
B-1 : Hustle
I think it'd be accurate to describe this as a very obscure release, and also to say that it's a shame! B-1 has recorded with big names from Kool G Rap to Large Pro, but for whatever reason never quite broke out there. According to Discogs he was one of the first artists signed to Rawkus, which really does speak to his underground credentials. Getting back to this track, it was the b-side to the UK-only release of the "Put Yo' Self In My Place" 12", and it's just an unapologetic street record. Production is credited to Kool G, who it turns out is fellow Queens native Ayatollah, producer of many great records including Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty", and there's nothing about this beat I don't like. The bugged thing is that I can barely describe it, it's just dope! There are a couple of interesting details to point out though - check those little low-frequency drum rolls, and the fact that there's no hook at all - not a word, not a scratch!
Pete Rock : Cosmic Slop
Love this beat, nice work from one of the best ever to touch a drum machine. Fourteen years after the release of his "Petestrumentals" album as part of the Beat Generation producer series, "Petestrumentals 2" is here and this was the first cut I heard. Like the first album, I think this one is going to take time to really marinate and get into people's consciousness - I know it's going to be getting a bunch of listens from me while I'm at work.
Pumpkinhead : Rock On
Just wanted to play something from the underground stalwart who passed away unexpectedly this month. I had the chance to see him live many moons ago at C'mon Feet, and heard bits of his work as part of Brooklyn Academy - he was just a man devoted to his art. This track is a tribute to that devotion, a career rundown which I feel couldn't be more appropriate right now. Find this on 12" or on the respected "Orange Moon Over Brooklyn" LP.
OutKast : Two Dope Boys In A Cadillac
Great track from "ATLiens" - Organised Noize killing the beat for real. No deep background on this, just a recommendation that you must have this album in your collection!
The Coup : Cars & Shoes
Shout out to anyone who's on first name terms with their garage! Funky as hell and funny into the bargain, this is a great cut from one of the most conscious - and still entertaining - crews in the artform. The broken-down car anecdotes are hilarious on the face, but the track subtly makes a serious point - if you're poor, sometimes you end up having to take the long-term cost-ineffective choice in order to survive in the now. Just one of the great tracks from "Steal This Album" which you should...buy.
DJ Jimmie Jam : Jimmie's Jam
Representing Richmond (California), DJ Jimmie Jam gets busy on the wheels for his contribution to the second in the "Return Of The DJ" compilations from Bomb Hip-Hop Records. I picked up this album right when it was released back in 1997, when the turntablist movement was really picking up some steam, and the first ROTDJ record did play a part in that in my opinion. It had been years since DJs in rap groups got tracks to themselves to shine, so getting a whole album of that material was huge. So many sounds in this one, anyone who listens to a reasonable amount of Hip-Hop will recognise a few of the pieces Jam cuts up :)
[Solid Scheme] Das EFX : Straight Out The Sewer (Instrumental)
Heavy beat, instrumental of the closing track of Das' essential 90s debut, "Dead Serious". The duo of Derek Lynch and Chris Charity produced the bulk of the album plus several tracks on the follow up; sadly, Chris Charity has left us but he did leave us with work to remember him by.
Domino : Jam
Not to be confused with "Getto Jam", the big single from the same album, 1993's eponymous debut! While that was a favourite for many, this cut was also one of my top picks and I've always enjoyed it - proper Cali P-Funk workout on a party vibe. DJ Battlecat is on the beat, and if you like synth bass runs, you're in luck here! Random note for the b-ball fans - a custom remix of this under-played track made it onto one of the "NBA Superstars" VHS tapes, used as the musical backdrop for Alonzo Mourning's highlights. Big up Long Beach!
Guru ft. The Roots : Lift Your Fist
Didn't give this one the correct credit on the voiceover - it's not just Black Thought, but the whole group featuring! "Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 : Streetsoul" brought some different flavour to the series of collaborative albums, and I think this was one of the more inspired choices. Black Thought is a fearsome MC to go head-to-head with but it works, and the rest of The Roots get busy on the instrumental side. Definitely an album worth checking.
Visoneers ft. Voice : Replay (Terry Tester Remix)
This was one of those late picks I made while scouring the shelves, but I think it fit well here and made a solid bridge. I'd never heard of Voice before hearing this track, but that's probably due to the fact that she's only got the one solo album, and a handful of 12"s, but she was clearly visible enough for 4hero's Marc Mac to pull her in for this track, which she handles solidly. Copenhagen's Terry Tester is on remix duties, ably blending digital sounds with more natural-sounding instruments. This is one the "Dirty Old Remix EP", available pretty cheaply on vinyl if you see it around, or with a bunch more tracks as a digital release!
India.Arie ft. Akon : I Am Not My Hair (Konvict Remix)
Love the message as well as the music on this one, talking primarily about the judgement of women based on appearance, although Akon throws in a little on a different angle. I picked this up on 12" and of all the versions, this in my opinion clearly had the most fitting instrumentation, so that was what got it the nod over the others. The lyrics seem to me like they might especially resonate with Black women, who are very often judged by their hair in a very specific way, but the last verse is a specific reference to Melissa Etheridge, who performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards while bald due to the chemotherapy she was undertaking to beat breast cancer. Powerful tune - find the original on "Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationship".
Dela : West Side Story
Looping and then warping a track from one of my favourite groups of all-time, Dela gets his galactic funk on on this pick from his "Translation Lost" project.
Nas : Doo Rags
Such a classic, if not as well known as it ought to be - an inclusion on Nas' "The Lost Tapes" compilation, this clearly slid through the cracks when first recorded. An ode to the African-American experience from his own perspective, Nas is just masterful on this, jumping around from his own youth, to the cynical recruitment of Black men into the military before they even had full human rights at home, to self-image, to upliftment - and a lot more besides. This Precision-produced track absolutely deserved your full attention, and it's one reason I've saved it; it needed to play in full and close an episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Confederate flags I burn..."
- Nas
Somehow, someway, we've reached the sixth birthday of the show! To celebrate, I'm bringing out a few favourites that I kept saving for "just the right time", and blending them with some other gems from the crates. Goodness knows, after the horrors of this past month, I think we need it...
Playlist/Notes
Little Brother ft. Joe Scudda : Lovin' It / Diary Of A Mad Black Daddy
The lead single from "The Minstrel Show", the second LB album, this is the one with the video that BET infamously allegedly claimed was "too intelligent" for their viewership - quite the insult. Great tune regardless, and I felt like I just had to let it play off the end into the skit that follows it on the album, as it always makes me laugh :)
Kuartz : Runna
One of the most prolific beatmakers about came back with another project in the last month - the "40 Fatal Beats" cassette, which he kindly sent in for me to have a listen to. There were a good few tracks I'd happily have played, but settled on this one, with its beautifully laid-back air - had to loop it up a bit to give you chance to hear it and still leave room for me to speak, but on the tape this is one of forty short and sweet gems. Keep an eye on this man!
SPOX PhD ft. Apani B.Fly : Actual Fact
That. Beat. Eagle-eared (or maybe moth-eared?) listeners will recognise it from aaalll the way back on Episode 3, where it was a b-side DJ Spinna instrumental called "Spirit of '94", and it's a killer. Wisely, it got brought back to life as the beat for this wicked track from the collaboration project between Spinna and Oxygen, and once again it's a b-side - this time, on the "Chicken Scratch" 7". Apani B.Fly drops in to add some hook flavour and put this track even further over the top. Bottom line - you need this record.
Kool G Rap : Blowin' Up In The World
This one always makes me reminisce. First heard it courtesy of DJ Greenpeace, who included it on a mixtape he gave me while I was still in high school! Kool G Rap is in biographical mode on the mic on this album cut from his first solo release "4, 5, 6", showing why he's very much the MC's MC. When you've got lyrics like this you need a beat that can stand proud alongside, and DITC's Buckwild certainly delivers; as an aside, I can't believe that I've only just realised what the sample is - it sounds so mournful somehow.
O.C. ft. Yvette Michelle : Far From Yours
You know what? Buckwild again! This time, he takes a piece from what would then have been a relatively recent track and is just subtle with it, looping it just right, adding some steady drums and beefing up the bass. This was the lead single from O.C.'s second LP "Jewelz" - now well-regarded, but very underrated when it was released!
B-1 : Hustle
I think it'd be accurate to describe this as a very obscure release, and also to say that it's a shame! B-1 has recorded with big names from Kool G Rap to Large Pro, but for whatever reason never quite broke out there. According to Discogs he was one of the first artists signed to Rawkus, which really does speak to his underground credentials. Getting back to this track, it was the b-side to the UK-only release of the "Put Yo' Self In My Place" 12", and it's just an unapologetic street record. Production is credited to Kool G, who it turns out is fellow Queens native Ayatollah, producer of many great records including Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty", and there's nothing about this beat I don't like. The bugged thing is that I can barely describe it, it's just dope! There are a couple of interesting details to point out though - check those little low-frequency drum rolls, and the fact that there's no hook at all - not a word, not a scratch!
Pete Rock : Cosmic Slop
Love this beat, nice work from one of the best ever to touch a drum machine. Fourteen years after the release of his "Petestrumentals" album as part of the Beat Generation producer series, "Petestrumentals 2" is here and this was the first cut I heard. Like the first album, I think this one is going to take time to really marinate and get into people's consciousness - I know it's going to be getting a bunch of listens from me while I'm at work.
Pumpkinhead : Rock On
Just wanted to play something from the underground stalwart who passed away unexpectedly this month. I had the chance to see him live many moons ago at C'mon Feet, and heard bits of his work as part of Brooklyn Academy - he was just a man devoted to his art. This track is a tribute to that devotion, a career rundown which I feel couldn't be more appropriate right now. Find this on 12" or on the respected "Orange Moon Over Brooklyn" LP.
OutKast : Two Dope Boys In A Cadillac
Great track from "ATLiens" - Organised Noize killing the beat for real. No deep background on this, just a recommendation that you must have this album in your collection!
The Coup : Cars & Shoes
Shout out to anyone who's on first name terms with their garage! Funky as hell and funny into the bargain, this is a great cut from one of the most conscious - and still entertaining - crews in the artform. The broken-down car anecdotes are hilarious on the face, but the track subtly makes a serious point - if you're poor, sometimes you end up having to take the long-term cost-ineffective choice in order to survive in the now. Just one of the great tracks from "Steal This Album" which you should...buy.
DJ Jimmie Jam : Jimmie's Jam
Representing Richmond (California), DJ Jimmie Jam gets busy on the wheels for his contribution to the second in the "Return Of The DJ" compilations from Bomb Hip-Hop Records. I picked up this album right when it was released back in 1997, when the turntablist movement was really picking up some steam, and the first ROTDJ record did play a part in that in my opinion. It had been years since DJs in rap groups got tracks to themselves to shine, so getting a whole album of that material was huge. So many sounds in this one, anyone who listens to a reasonable amount of Hip-Hop will recognise a few of the pieces Jam cuts up :)
[Solid Scheme] Das EFX : Straight Out The Sewer (Instrumental)
Heavy beat, instrumental of the closing track of Das' essential 90s debut, "Dead Serious". The duo of Derek Lynch and Chris Charity produced the bulk of the album plus several tracks on the follow up; sadly, Chris Charity has left us but he did leave us with work to remember him by.
Domino : Jam
Not to be confused with "Getto Jam", the big single from the same album, 1993's eponymous debut! While that was a favourite for many, this cut was also one of my top picks and I've always enjoyed it - proper Cali P-Funk workout on a party vibe. DJ Battlecat is on the beat, and if you like synth bass runs, you're in luck here! Random note for the b-ball fans - a custom remix of this under-played track made it onto one of the "NBA Superstars" VHS tapes, used as the musical backdrop for Alonzo Mourning's highlights. Big up Long Beach!
Guru ft. The Roots : Lift Your Fist
Didn't give this one the correct credit on the voiceover - it's not just Black Thought, but the whole group featuring! "Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 : Streetsoul" brought some different flavour to the series of collaborative albums, and I think this was one of the more inspired choices. Black Thought is a fearsome MC to go head-to-head with but it works, and the rest of The Roots get busy on the instrumental side. Definitely an album worth checking.
Visoneers ft. Voice : Replay (Terry Tester Remix)
This was one of those late picks I made while scouring the shelves, but I think it fit well here and made a solid bridge. I'd never heard of Voice before hearing this track, but that's probably due to the fact that she's only got the one solo album, and a handful of 12"s, but she was clearly visible enough for 4hero's Marc Mac to pull her in for this track, which she handles solidly. Copenhagen's Terry Tester is on remix duties, ably blending digital sounds with more natural-sounding instruments. This is one the "Dirty Old Remix EP", available pretty cheaply on vinyl if you see it around, or with a bunch more tracks as a digital release!
India.Arie ft. Akon : I Am Not My Hair (Konvict Remix)
Love the message as well as the music on this one, talking primarily about the judgement of women based on appearance, although Akon throws in a little on a different angle. I picked this up on 12" and of all the versions, this in my opinion clearly had the most fitting instrumentation, so that was what got it the nod over the others. The lyrics seem to me like they might especially resonate with Black women, who are very often judged by their hair in a very specific way, but the last verse is a specific reference to Melissa Etheridge, who performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards while bald due to the chemotherapy she was undertaking to beat breast cancer. Powerful tune - find the original on "Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationship".
Dela : West Side Story
Looping and then warping a track from one of my favourite groups of all-time, Dela gets his galactic funk on on this pick from his "Translation Lost" project.
Nas : Doo Rags
Such a classic, if not as well known as it ought to be - an inclusion on Nas' "The Lost Tapes" compilation, this clearly slid through the cracks when first recorded. An ode to the African-American experience from his own perspective, Nas is just masterful on this, jumping around from his own youth, to the cynical recruitment of Black men into the military before they even had full human rights at home, to self-image, to upliftment - and a lot more besides. This Precision-produced track absolutely deserved your full attention, and it's one reason I've saved it; it needed to play in full and close an episode.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"It's all for you."
- Ronnie Laws
A good amount of this month's listening for me has been a mix of 80s stuff on a Miami Vice vibe and 80s soul, along with all my Hip-Hop, so that's the kind of flavour I've tried to bring to this episode, coming at it from a variety of angles. I'm really into this selection and I hope you feel the same!
Thanks to everyone who has left 5* reviews for the show on iTunes - I've given you a shout out on the show! It only takes a minute to leave a review but really helps the show, which did make it into "New & Noteworthy" on the UK store this month!
Dedicating this one to my man Juma, who passed away at the start of the month. He will never be forgotten.
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : Bright Lights
One of the first singles from the brand new Lo LP "Ragtime Hightimes," which features Ski on production for the whole album for the first time since their debut "Uptown Saturday Night." Sounds like Ski broke out the live guitar, to name just one element - the stuttering keyboards, the snare hit every couple of bars with the panned delay on it, a little electric piano...it all comes together into a gleaming final product. With the rhymes...Sonny Cheeba & Geechi Suede are doing what they always do, which is why I love it and as good a reason as any to give this record the opening spot for the month.
K-Murdock : Star Stories
Whether you know him for his solo projects, his production for Mega Ran, or his work as part of Panacea, you know K-Murdock is always going to do something interesting on the beats. This was a beautiful little track from his "Soundscapes, Vol.1" album, the first in a series that will be making previously-unreleased Panacea instrumentals available for the first time! The main sample in this is also present in a classic mid-90s unreleased single...nice to hear it again.
Ras Kass : Miami Life
Going back to Ras' debut "Soul On Ice" to lead off the first four-song mix of the show, and he's an MC that's always going to give you the business on the mic - this time out it's the street hustle, with Crockett & Tubbs references and all. A lot of people fronted on the production on this album but I think it's much better than often claimed - this particular track is a collaboration between Ras Kass & Michael Barber, and it's a winner.
Above The Law : Extasy
That spelling just kills me. I can never find the track when I need to look it up. Anyway, this quasi X-rated selection from the "Sex, Money, & Music" album makes it on for two main reasons. Firstly, the sonics; there's just something about Cold 187's production here that makes you just want to rock back and groove to it, most of that comes from the interplay between the high and low parts of the synth work. The drums are slightly unusual, check the handclap on the two of each bar but then having snare only on the four - only picked up on that after a bunch of listens. Second reason is the voice of KMG (RIP) on this cut - he just sounds so good, regardless of what he's saying! This digital-only album may not have been their finest, but it was their final release before KMG passed.
Compton's Most Wanted : It's A Compton Thang
The obvious move to play a track with this sample would be to go with AZ's "Sugar Hill," so of course I didn't do it :) Instead, we go with the title track from the very first CMW album, released all the way back in 1990. MC Eiht had settled into his voice even then, but you can hear that his flow wasn't as developed as it would become later; also, this track is *almost* completely radio friendly! On the beats, DJ Slip and Unknown load up all the 80s samples for this one - not going to expose any of them though ;)
Zion I ft. Goapele : Boom Bip
Many moons ago, when I might at times acquire the odd record before release via unofficial digital channels, I knew this as a track from the "Deep Water Slang" LP labelled as "We Staying" - which certainly fit the chorus. A while later, I picked up a Zion I 12" which included a track called "Boom Bip" which turned out to be this...but with a Goapele-less hook. It was not an upgrade. Thankfully, the official album version on "Deep Water Slang v2.0" has all the flavour of the original but with the new (?) name. Amp Live's beats really don't sound like anyone else's, and he's versatile with the styles - liable to be wildly different from track to track, and he's a master of working the synth sounds into something with the right amount of bump and thump. On the lyrics, MC Zion isn't going to hit you with the slick one-liners or the mixtape punchlines, but thoughtful lyrics and a willingness to rock over pretty much any type of beat. Zion I records are always an interesting listen, and if you've not heard this album then it is very much worth buying!
Jasper Byrne : Miami
As I mentioned in last month's notes, I've actually been playing a few video games lately and recently picked up "Hotline Miami." After my first game ended, I heard this tune playing and after my brain melted a little bit, searched Google to find out if I could buy it anywhere! For a kid raised in the 80s and into the synth styles, this simple/subtle track is incredible. Unmistakeably video-game music (in the best way), somewhere between Out Run and Miami Vice, with that crime thriller feel...dope. Nice low-end to it too. Jasper Byrne is a D&B producer by trade, working under several aliases, but he switched his style impeccably here. Find this one and more on the Hotline Miami EP.
Natural Elements : Paper Chase
From one of the original 12 inch releases from this fierce crew of NYC mic-melters, NE exemplify the adage "B-Side Wins Again" here on the flip of "Bust Mine". Mr.Voodoo conjours up a few "Scarface"-esque visions on the first verse, with the song overall talking about trying to come up after spending years paying dues. Charlemagne does a great job on production though, slowing and chopping an 80s sample to haunting effect.
Kidz In The Hall : Make It Last
Got a little fancy with the mix on this one - looped up a section from the end to use as an extended intro (as there was no open instrumental area on the preceding track) and then used it again to fade out of the vocals during the second verse. Truth be told, I thought the end of that verse got kind of slack and seeing as I'd always created a way to mix out...apart from that though, I think this track is heavy - can't go wrong with that Keith Sweat sample. Check the "Geniuses Need Love Too" mixtape, where these Chicago boys do their thing over a selection of dope beats mostly constructed from 80s/early 90s tracks.
T Gaston : Anita Baker Remix
Found this one on SoundCloud and have been caning it with plays all month - great instrumental cut from this NY producer, who you should definitely check out if you want some work doing! He's got the sample stuttering crazy and some seriously tight drum programming here - a little gem.
Reks : Winners & Survivors
Out of Lawrence, Massachussetts (same hometown as Termanology), Reks has quietly fashioned an eight-album career to date, and this is from his seventh release "Revolution Cocktail." Befitting an industry veteran, the topic of the day is trying to stay afloat and relevant in the music industry. Seattle's DeliBeatz supplies the production, which with its particular flavour is what made it an inclusion for this episode!
Onra : Hold Tight
Onra has been on the 80s sampling tip for a while, reanimating some of those old slow jams into modern instrumental(-ish) bangers. The swing/timekeeping on this one flips all over the place, which you can hear in some of the drum rolls. This version is on the 2012 "Deep In The Night" EP, but apparently there was an unreleased version with rhymes from Chuck Inglish of The Cool Kids - available free!
Tony Bullard : Don't Hurt Me, Jan Hammer!
There's no shame in not knowing this one - found it during an internet scouring mission! Tony Bullard is a musician and developer out of Atlanta who, on discovering that there was a whole underground niche of people doing retro synth music, threw his hat into the ring with this cut which could easily have fit into the world of Crockett & Tubbs. The track name reflects this, while also being a little nod to MC Hammer, I assume! Most of his Soundcloud is on more of a metal vibe, so this was a bit of a departure - but a welcome one.
MF DOOM : The Finest
I know many people who are much more into DOOM than me, but I loved his post-KMD debut album "Operation: Doomsday" - just sounded like someone lashing together beats in their bedroom and then rhyming on an old beat-up mic, proper underground tape style. Onto a cassette. One that had previously been used. A lot. This track is probably still my favourite; I don't think it's any secret at this point that DOOM took "The Finest" by the SOS Band. He correctly worked out it didn't need much doing to it, and just jumped on the mic alongside Tommy Gunn to just go back and forth in 100% raw style. Fire.
Loose Ends : Hanging On A String
Now this is an 80s classic. It might surprise some of the younger ones of you out there to know that UK soul was actually popular and influential in the US, and London's Loose Ends were one of those groups who definitely got love out there. This is a big tune from their second album ("So Where Are You?") which reached the top of the US R&B chart and went into the UK top 20 as well. As it happens, the drum programming on this track is a pretty straight borrow from the SOS Band, but a lot of the rest is done by group member Carl McIntosh on multiple instruments - check his interview at RBMA!
DJ Quik : Tonite
I first heard this on Pete Tong's Rap Selection (here's a different episode) on Radio 1 back in 1991, when it was the brand-new second single from Quik's debut LP "Quik Is The Name". It seems in retrospect that non only did he have to censor it (in the pre-digital editing age) for language, but also for content - with the curses and the drug references cut round, it was a bit of a bizarre listen! It was years later that I finally heard the whole thing, and it makes a lot more sense. That said, I can't personally relate to the story of drinking too much, but I know quite a few of you can :) The production was top-notch too, with Quik working in Kleeer's "Tonight" and a few other bits alongside some extra keyboard and guitar work. I was actually planning to mix out during that great breakdown after the second verse, but keeping the third verse for the humour won the day!
Ronnie Laws : All For You
Taking things in a jazz fusion direction with the opening track from the 1978 "Flame" LP, well worth picking up if you see a copy; this is from the vinyl but I hear the CD availability has been pretty wavy over the years. I've heard pure jazz fans front on Ronnie Laws a little, but I always pick up his stuff when I see it on a digging mission. "Tidal Wave" basically gives him a lifetime pass to my record collection.
Jan Hammer : Too Much To Lose
The don, the composer and performer of all those great Miami Vice tunes! Great instrumental track, a cover version of one of his older tunes from the "Melodies" album which originally featured vocals and Jan getting busy on the Minimoog. This version, I heard somewhere, is an outing on the now-vintage (and always incredibly expensive) Fairlight sampling synth where he handles all the playing himself. This one from "Snapshots" fit best here, but you can't go wrong with either.
Stezo : It's My Turn
"I'm putting dancers to the maximum test." Damn right! Stezo came out of New Haven, CT back in 1989 with his debut release on Sleeping Bag Records and once again, when it came to the lead single...that B-Side kills it. "To The Max" is dope no question, but this track on the flip is a monster - at least two classic 80s samples which a lot of heads will recognise, and one of the illest drum breaks of all time. Only one complaint; "anthenem" is not a word ;) That said, if Dickens can make up words, I'm giving my man here a pass :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"It's all for you."
- Ronnie Laws
A good amount of this month's listening for me has been a mix of 80s stuff on a Miami Vice vibe and 80s soul, along with all my Hip-Hop, so that's the kind of flavour I've tried to bring to this episode, coming at it from a variety of angles. I'm really into this selection and I hope you feel the same!
Thanks to everyone who has left 5* reviews for the show on iTunes - I've given you a shout out on the show! It only takes a minute to leave a review but really helps the show, which did make it into "New & Noteworthy" on the UK store this month!
Dedicating this one to my man Juma, who passed away at the start of the month. He will never be forgotten.
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : Bright Lights
One of the first singles from the brand new Lo LP "Ragtime Hightimes," which features Ski on production for the whole album for the first time since their debut "Uptown Saturday Night." Sounds like Ski broke out the live guitar, to name just one element - the stuttering keyboards, the snare hit every couple of bars with the panned delay on it, a little electric piano...it all comes together into a gleaming final product. With the rhymes...Sonny Cheeba & Geechi Suede are doing what they always do, which is why I love it and as good a reason as any to give this record the opening spot for the month.
K-Murdock : Star Stories
Whether you know him for his solo projects, his production for Mega Ran, or his work as part of Panacea, you know K-Murdock is always going to do something interesting on the beats. This was a beautiful little track from his "Soundscapes, Vol.1" album, the first in a series that will be making previously-unreleased Panacea instrumentals available for the first time! The main sample in this is also present in a classic mid-90s unreleased single...nice to hear it again.
Ras Kass : Miami Life
Going back to Ras' debut "Soul On Ice" to lead off the first four-song mix of the show, and he's an MC that's always going to give you the business on the mic - this time out it's the street hustle, with Crockett & Tubbs references and all. A lot of people fronted on the production on this album but I think it's much better than often claimed - this particular track is a collaboration between Ras Kass & Michael Barber, and it's a winner.
Above The Law : Extasy
That spelling just kills me. I can never find the track when I need to look it up. Anyway, this quasi X-rated selection from the "Sex, Money, & Music" album makes it on for two main reasons. Firstly, the sonics; there's just something about Cold 187's production here that makes you just want to rock back and groove to it, most of that comes from the interplay between the high and low parts of the synth work. The drums are slightly unusual, check the handclap on the two of each bar but then having snare only on the four - only picked up on that after a bunch of listens. Second reason is the voice of KMG (RIP) on this cut - he just sounds so good, regardless of what he's saying! This digital-only album may not have been their finest, but it was their final release before KMG passed.
Compton's Most Wanted : It's A Compton Thang
The obvious move to play a track with this sample would be to go with AZ's "Sugar Hill," so of course I didn't do it :) Instead, we go with the title track from the very first CMW album, released all the way back in 1990. MC Eiht had settled into his voice even then, but you can hear that his flow wasn't as developed as it would become later; also, this track is *almost* completely radio friendly! On the beats, DJ Slip and Unknown load up all the 80s samples for this one - not going to expose any of them though ;)
Zion I ft. Goapele : Boom Bip
Many moons ago, when I might at times acquire the odd record before release via unofficial digital channels, I knew this as a track from the "Deep Water Slang" LP labelled as "We Staying" - which certainly fit the chorus. A while later, I picked up a Zion I 12" which included a track called "Boom Bip" which turned out to be this...but with a Goapele-less hook. It was not an upgrade. Thankfully, the official album version on "Deep Water Slang v2.0" has all the flavour of the original but with the new (?) name. Amp Live's beats really don't sound like anyone else's, and he's versatile with the styles - liable to be wildly different from track to track, and he's a master of working the synth sounds into something with the right amount of bump and thump. On the lyrics, MC Zion isn't going to hit you with the slick one-liners or the mixtape punchlines, but thoughtful lyrics and a willingness to rock over pretty much any type of beat. Zion I records are always an interesting listen, and if you've not heard this album then it is very much worth buying!
Jasper Byrne : Miami
As I mentioned in last month's notes, I've actually been playing a few video games lately and recently picked up "Hotline Miami." After my first game ended, I heard this tune playing and after my brain melted a little bit, searched Google to find out if I could buy it anywhere! For a kid raised in the 80s and into the synth styles, this simple/subtle track is incredible. Unmistakeably video-game music (in the best way), somewhere between Out Run and Miami Vice, with that crime thriller feel...dope. Nice low-end to it too. Jasper Byrne is a D&B producer by trade, working under several aliases, but he switched his style impeccably here. Find this one and more on the Hotline Miami EP.
Natural Elements : Paper Chase
From one of the original 12 inch releases from this fierce crew of NYC mic-melters, NE exemplify the adage "B-Side Wins Again" here on the flip of "Bust Mine". Mr.Voodoo conjours up a few "Scarface"-esque visions on the first verse, with the song overall talking about trying to come up after spending years paying dues. Charlemagne does a great job on production though, slowing and chopping an 80s sample to haunting effect.
Kidz In The Hall : Make It Last
Got a little fancy with the mix on this one - looped up a section from the end to use as an extended intro (as there was no open instrumental area on the preceding track) and then used it again to fade out of the vocals during the second verse. Truth be told, I thought the end of that verse got kind of slack and seeing as I'd always created a way to mix out...apart from that though, I think this track is heavy - can't go wrong with that Keith Sweat sample. Check the "Geniuses Need Love Too" mixtape, where these Chicago boys do their thing over a selection of dope beats mostly constructed from 80s/early 90s tracks.
T Gaston : Anita Baker Remix
Found this one on SoundCloud and have been caning it with plays all month - great instrumental cut from this NY producer, who you should definitely check out if you want some work doing! He's got the sample stuttering crazy and some seriously tight drum programming here - a little gem.
Reks : Winners & Survivors
Out of Lawrence, Massachussetts (same hometown as Termanology), Reks has quietly fashioned an eight-album career to date, and this is from his seventh release "Revolution Cocktail." Befitting an industry veteran, the topic of the day is trying to stay afloat and relevant in the music industry. Seattle's DeliBeatz supplies the production, which with its particular flavour is what made it an inclusion for this episode!
Onra : Hold Tight
Onra has been on the 80s sampling tip for a while, reanimating some of those old slow jams into modern instrumental(-ish) bangers. The swing/timekeeping on this one flips all over the place, which you can hear in some of the drum rolls. This version is on the 2012 "Deep In The Night" EP, but apparently there was an unreleased version with rhymes from Chuck Inglish of The Cool Kids - available free!
Tony Bullard : Don't Hurt Me, Jan Hammer!
There's no shame in not knowing this one - found it during an internet scouring mission! Tony Bullard is a musician and developer out of Atlanta who, on discovering that there was a whole underground niche of people doing retro synth music, threw his hat into the ring with this cut which could easily have fit into the world of Crockett & Tubbs. The track name reflects this, while also being a little nod to MC Hammer, I assume! Most of his Soundcloud is on more of a metal vibe, so this was a bit of a departure - but a welcome one.
MF DOOM : The Finest
I know many people who are much more into DOOM than me, but I loved his post-KMD debut album "Operation: Doomsday" - just sounded like someone lashing together beats in their bedroom and then rhyming on an old beat-up mic, proper underground tape style. Onto a cassette. One that had previously been used. A lot. This track is probably still my favourite; I don't think it's any secret at this point that DOOM took "The Finest" by the SOS Band. He correctly worked out it didn't need much doing to it, and just jumped on the mic alongside Tommy Gunn to just go back and forth in 100% raw style. Fire.
Loose Ends : Hanging On A String
Now this is an 80s classic. It might surprise some of the younger ones of you out there to know that UK soul was actually popular and influential in the US, and London's Loose Ends were one of those groups who definitely got love out there. This is a big tune from their second album ("So Where Are You?") which reached the top of the US R&B chart and went into the UK top 20 as well. As it happens, the drum programming on this track is a pretty straight borrow from the SOS Band, but a lot of the rest is done by group member Carl McIntosh on multiple instruments - check his interview at RBMA!
DJ Quik : Tonite
I first heard this on Pete Tong's Rap Selection (here's a different episode) on Radio 1 back in 1991, when it was the brand-new second single from Quik's debut LP "Quik Is The Name". It seems in retrospect that non only did he have to censor it (in the pre-digital editing age) for language, but also for content - with the curses and the drug references cut round, it was a bit of a bizarre listen! It was years later that I finally heard the whole thing, and it makes a lot more sense. That said, I can't personally relate to the story of drinking too much, but I know quite a few of you can :) The production was top-notch too, with Quik working in Kleeer's "Tonight" and a few other bits alongside some extra keyboard and guitar work. I was actually planning to mix out during that great breakdown after the second verse, but keeping the third verse for the humour won the day!
Ronnie Laws : All For You
Taking things in a jazz fusion direction with the opening track from the 1978 "Flame" LP, well worth picking up if you see a copy; this is from the vinyl but I hear the CD availability has been pretty wavy over the years. I've heard pure jazz fans front on Ronnie Laws a little, but I always pick up his stuff when I see it on a digging mission. "Tidal Wave" basically gives him a lifetime pass to my record collection.
Jan Hammer : Too Much To Lose
The don, the composer and performer of all those great Miami Vice tunes! Great instrumental track, a cover version of one of his older tunes from the "Melodies" album which originally featured vocals and Jan getting busy on the Minimoog. This version, I heard somewhere, is an outing on the now-vintage (and always incredibly expensive) Fairlight sampling synth where he handles all the playing himself. This one from "Snapshots" fit best here, but you can't go wrong with either.
Stezo : It's My Turn
"I'm putting dancers to the maximum test." Damn right! Stezo came out of New Haven, CT back in 1989 with his debut release on Sleeping Bag Records and once again, when it came to the lead single...that B-Side kills it. "To The Max" is dope no question, but this track on the flip is a monster - at least two classic 80s samples which a lot of heads will recognise, and one of the illest drum breaks of all time. Only one complaint; "anthenem" is not a word ;) That said, if Dickens can make up words, I'm giving my man here a pass :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"The rejected stone is now the cornerstone..."
- Guru
Besides putting the sounds and notes together this month, there's been one extra task for the podcast happening in the background that's paid off - it's finally in the iTunes Store! For those of you on iPhones or with iTunes installed on your computer, it's now super-simple to subscribe, just search for the show and press the button.
What anyone with iTunes can do - subscriber or not - that would really help is to leave a review (with a five-star rating). Write a five-star review, tweet/mail me when it's up and tell me which country you're from, and I'll give you a shout-out on the show!
Some good current affairs/political podcasts, as promised;
Citizen Radio, Radio Dispatch, The Black Guy Who Tips (lot of great jokes in this one, but knowledge too), Democracy Now, NWAP
Playlist/Notes
Gang Starr : You Know My Steez
A classic Gang Starr cut, a solid opening shot from the "Moment of Truth" album which was also the first single - so with the intention of paying respect to Guru this episode, it was a good choice to start with here. While the samples used for this track are widely known to beatmakers and detail junkies, I don't know if they were ever cleared, so I won't reveal them; I'll just say that DJ Premier cooked up a great blend of old-school Hip-Hop and classic soul, topped with his then-emerging use of the multi-phrase scratched hooks. Do the knowledge.
[DJ ALK] Underclassmen : 365 Live
Switzerland represent! I needed something with a little weight in the drums and some guitar licks to transition from the previous track, so after a good deal of scouring the shelves I came up with this one. This 12" has been featured before (the B-side "Crush Competition" all the way back on Episode 18), so just the instrumental today!
MindsOne & Kev Brown : Equinox
Can't remember how I came to find this one on Soundcloud but I had bought the whole "Pillars" EP before even getting through a single listen of this track! MindsOne are a group hailing from North Carolina, New York, and DC, and on this one Landover's Kev Brown comes in to give them some of that MPC magic on production, chopping up some nice piano and knocking drums. KON Sci and Tronic on the mic represent very well for their crew, and overall this is a project well worth checking for.
The Last Poets, dead prez, and Common : Panthers (Tony Galvin Remix)
The degree to which the police are out of control makes me think we need the Black Panthers back right now. As it happens, I only chanced on this track this month, and it seemed like an appropriate one to play. I picked it up on a 12" and this is one of the remixes but I believe it's also on a mixtape for "The Boondocks" too. It feels a little like the vocal and beat don't quite mesh, but I like the Tony Galvin (no, not the footballer) instrumental, and the lyrics are on-topic, unlike one tune I know! There seems to be one error though - Common keeps talking about the "five point plans" but the Panthers were known for their Ten Points - is there something I'm missing?
Royce The 5'9" : Ding
The obvious Royce & Premo track to play would have been "Boom," or something from the "PRhyme" album, but you know I like to be a little different. The B-side to the mighty "Hit 'Em" as well as a cut from "The Bar Exam" mixtape, this has a much less abrasive and more reflective sound, and with Royce bringing some boxing references in to describe himself, it serves as a nice warm-up for the middle section of the show...
All City : Just Live
The closer from All City's patchy (if we're being real) sole album, "Metropolis Gold," and it's a good one. Latif King is on the beat with a super-smooth jazz sample accented with some in-the-cut drums and nice work on the keys - check the little bridge starting at 18:14! Lyrics are solid, and Greg Valentine does double duty, taking half of the rhyming and singing the hook too. I can't quite decide if he's hitting the notes in the hook right or not, but I enjoy it enough anyway :)
Dela : My Ni@#a [Instrumental]
Back to the "Changes Of Atmosphere" EP after a long time on the shelf, picked out the instrumental version of this Elzhi-featured track, just because I felt it deserved an airing!
Fashawn : Manny Pacquiao
First track this episode getting the nod due to the big fight coming up, and it's all in the name! Fresno native Fashawn is in full battle mode on this cut from the "Higher Learning 2" mixtape. Andy Peek put me up on this track, and the producer Phonix does a great job with a Queen track that I don't even like that much (note: Queen do have some tunes)! Apologies for the slight sonic distortion, but it's part of the original recording - needed a little lighter hand on the mix/master. On the vocals, intro could have been better in my opinion but once Fashawn gets going...
stic.man ft. Zayd Malik and Baba Jim : Joe Louis
Keeping the pugilistic theme going as well as the rock-influenced, abrasive sonics, we head to stic's innovative "The Workout" album for this self-produced track that all the boxing trainers should appreciate. "Speedbag sounds like I'm programming drums"? Yes, I am fully on-board with this tune.
Raekwon : 100 Rounds
From the much maligned, and dare I say it, underrated "Immobilarity" album, we get a track representing Floyd Mayweather, who as a much younger man appears in the video (with a cameo from Zab Judah). Of course, the album was no "...Cuban Linx..." (which is why it was so savaged) but there are a surprising number of decent tracks on it, and we'll definitely be revisiting it in future. Triflyn of American Cream Team is on the synth production, kind of glossy but that high end is what you remember and it's got just enough in the bottom to keep it rooted. Good track for heavy bag sessions, I find!
Jadakiss : The Champ Is Here
Title track from Jada's "The Champ Is Here" mixtape. No feature credit for Will Smith? ;) The voice sample for the hook, along with the little African drum flourish is taken from the "Ali" biopic - at the point where Ali (as played by Smith) comes in to disrupt George Foreman's training session before the "Rumble In The Jungle." Great grab by Green Lantern.
[Timbaland] Clipse : Re-Up Anthem (Instrumental)
Kind of a third-choice beat here! I originally wanted to go with the instrumental for "Grindin'," which I thought would mix well with the Jadakiss track, but I found I didn't have a copy and couldn't get a legit one in time to finish the episode. Had a browse in Vinyl Exchange and this 12" turned up - at first I thought I'd found a vinyl of "Re-Up Intro" but no, just a similar name!
P Lo : Let's Go
Had utterly forgotten about this one until I was at home having a big Justus League shuffle binge this month! I don't know if P Lo ever did much outside these early 2000s JL mixtapes (this was from "Just Us, Volume 5), and can't find any info on him out there. With that said, it's this beat (probably 9th Wonder) that gets this track included this month - I love the sample as well as how it gets pitched down every four bars, and I feel like it's an obvious one but I can't place it for the life of me. Could have mixed out of this right before the last hook but the switch-up where the whole track slows down presented an opportunity for a change of pace...
DJ Spinna ft. J-Treds & Breez Brewin' : Making Your Way In The World
Spinna's "Sonic Smash" album definitely didn't get the light it deserved; I at least used to be able to point people to it on Spotify but when it even went from there, a lot of people totally missed it. Anyway, this is one of the many dope tracks. If you followed late 90s-early 2000s underground stuff, you might recognise the MCs - nice to hear them still active. They get a gem of a beat from Spinna, with a lazy neck-snapper of a drum beat, an Asian-sounding string sample, and if you listen carefully you'll hear some of his trademark squelchy synth sounds in the midrange. If you see the album, it's worth picking up!
Camp Lo : Diamond Crookz
I've been playing a lot of "Payday 2," (add me if you want to link up) and combined with a recent incident down in London...this track popped into my head! Camp Lo have had that jewel-heisting motif since the first LP, and the "Stone and Rob : Caught On Tape" release kept it going. Standardly-dope Lo lyrical fare, though probably not quite as impenetrably slang heavy as some of their other cuts, with Smoking Apples on production adding the boom to a slice of Faith Evans' "Reasons." Top down music.
Children Of Zeus : Happiness
Great tune coming from Manchester, the duo of Konny Kon and Tyler Daly bringing their trademark mix of Hip-Hop and soul in a much more genuine way than many who try to do the same. The album isn't out yet, but you can find this track on their Soundcloud page, along with plenty more good stuff.
T-Mos : Famoso
Low-key beat from The Beat Tape Project's "Return of the Tec: The Beatnuts Beat Tape," where each producer takes inspiration from The Beatnuts. To my ears, this one doesn't wear too obvious an influence, but it stands proudly on its own.
Scorzayzee : Great Britain
"Could've spent the war money on homes, food, and water." Yes. One to think about with our General Election coming up in less than two weeks, and Trident being debated...
The show closes with this powerful track which I only heard for the first time in the last few months (live, which was amazing), but which actually came out more than ten years ago, right after the last Iraq War was started. Scorzayzee is one of the most respected MCs in the country, and could never, ever be said to be watering things down for mainstream appeal! Right here, he lays down a verbal scourging on the corruption he sees in the nation, relentless from end to end. Apparently, it wasn't going to be released at first, but the P Brothers included it on a compilation and built up buzz from there. This song kicked up a serious fuss after it was played on BBC Radio, and there were some people who were even saying it should be banned. I don't expect anyone to agree 100% with what anyone says (and I wouldn't be surprised if some nerves are touched with this selection), but I think it's important for artists to push boundaries, and Scor certainly shook things up with this one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"The rejected stone is now the cornerstone..."
- Guru
Besides putting the sounds and notes together this month, there's been one extra task for the podcast happening in the background that's paid off - it's finally in the iTunes Store! For those of you on iPhones or with iTunes installed on your computer, it's now super-simple to subscribe, just search for the show and press the button.
What anyone with iTunes can do - subscriber or not - that would really help is to leave a review (with a five-star rating). Write a five-star review, tweet/mail me when it's up and tell me which country you're from, and I'll give you a shout-out on the show!
Some good current affairs/political podcasts, as promised;
Citizen Radio, Radio Dispatch, The Black Guy Who Tips (lot of great jokes in this one, but knowledge too), Democracy Now, NWAP
Playlist/Notes
Gang Starr : You Know My Steez
A classic Gang Starr cut, a solid opening shot from the "Moment of Truth" album which was also the first single - so with the intention of paying respect to Guru this episode, it was a good choice to start with here. While the samples used for this track are widely known to beatmakers and detail junkies, I don't know if they were ever cleared, so I won't reveal them; I'll just say that DJ Premier cooked up a great blend of old-school Hip-Hop and classic soul, topped with his then-emerging use of the multi-phrase scratched hooks. Do the knowledge.
[DJ ALK] Underclassmen : 365 Live
Switzerland represent! I needed something with a little weight in the drums and some guitar licks to transition from the previous track, so after a good deal of scouring the shelves I came up with this one. This 12" has been featured before (the B-side "Crush Competition" all the way back on Episode 18), so just the instrumental today!
MindsOne & Kev Brown : Equinox
Can't remember how I came to find this one on Soundcloud but I had bought the whole "Pillars" EP before even getting through a single listen of this track! MindsOne are a group hailing from North Carolina, New York, and DC, and on this one Landover's Kev Brown comes in to give them some of that MPC magic on production, chopping up some nice piano and knocking drums. KON Sci and Tronic on the mic represent very well for their crew, and overall this is a project well worth checking for.
The Last Poets, dead prez, and Common : Panthers (Tony Galvin Remix)
The degree to which the police are out of control makes me think we need the Black Panthers back right now. As it happens, I only chanced on this track this month, and it seemed like an appropriate one to play. I picked it up on a 12" and this is one of the remixes but I believe it's also on a mixtape for "The Boondocks" too. It feels a little like the vocal and beat don't quite mesh, but I like the Tony Galvin (no, not the footballer) instrumental, and the lyrics are on-topic, unlike one tune I know! There seems to be one error though - Common keeps talking about the "five point plans" but the Panthers were known for their Ten Points - is there something I'm missing?
Royce The 5'9" : Ding
The obvious Royce & Premo track to play would have been "Boom," or something from the "PRhyme" album, but you know I like to be a little different. The B-side to the mighty "Hit 'Em" as well as a cut from "The Bar Exam" mixtape, this has a much less abrasive and more reflective sound, and with Royce bringing some boxing references in to describe himself, it serves as a nice warm-up for the middle section of the show...
All City : Just Live
The closer from All City's patchy (if we're being real) sole album, "Metropolis Gold," and it's a good one. Latif King is on the beat with a super-smooth jazz sample accented with some in-the-cut drums and nice work on the keys - check the little bridge starting at 18:14! Lyrics are solid, and Greg Valentine does double duty, taking half of the rhyming and singing the hook too. I can't quite decide if he's hitting the notes in the hook right or not, but I enjoy it enough anyway :)
Dela : My Ni@#a [Instrumental]
Back to the "Changes Of Atmosphere" EP after a long time on the shelf, picked out the instrumental version of this Elzhi-featured track, just because I felt it deserved an airing!
Fashawn : Manny Pacquiao
First track this episode getting the nod due to the big fight coming up, and it's all in the name! Fresno native Fashawn is in full battle mode on this cut from the "Higher Learning 2" mixtape. Andy Peek put me up on this track, and the producer Phonix does a great job with a Queen track that I don't even like that much (note: Queen do have some tunes)! Apologies for the slight sonic distortion, but it's part of the original recording - needed a little lighter hand on the mix/master. On the vocals, intro could have been better in my opinion but once Fashawn gets going...
stic.man ft. Zayd Malik and Baba Jim : Joe Louis
Keeping the pugilistic theme going as well as the rock-influenced, abrasive sonics, we head to stic's innovative "The Workout" album for this self-produced track that all the boxing trainers should appreciate. "Speedbag sounds like I'm programming drums"? Yes, I am fully on-board with this tune.
Raekwon : 100 Rounds
From the much maligned, and dare I say it, underrated "Immobilarity" album, we get a track representing Floyd Mayweather, who as a much younger man appears in the video (with a cameo from Zab Judah). Of course, the album was no "...Cuban Linx..." (which is why it was so savaged) but there are a surprising number of decent tracks on it, and we'll definitely be revisiting it in future. Triflyn of American Cream Team is on the synth production, kind of glossy but that high end is what you remember and it's got just enough in the bottom to keep it rooted. Good track for heavy bag sessions, I find!
Jadakiss : The Champ Is Here
Title track from Jada's "The Champ Is Here" mixtape. No feature credit for Will Smith? ;) The voice sample for the hook, along with the little African drum flourish is taken from the "Ali" biopic - at the point where Ali (as played by Smith) comes in to disrupt George Foreman's training session before the "Rumble In The Jungle." Great grab by Green Lantern.
[Timbaland] Clipse : Re-Up Anthem (Instrumental)
Kind of a third-choice beat here! I originally wanted to go with the instrumental for "Grindin'," which I thought would mix well with the Jadakiss track, but I found I didn't have a copy and couldn't get a legit one in time to finish the episode. Had a browse in Vinyl Exchange and this 12" turned up - at first I thought I'd found a vinyl of "Re-Up Intro" but no, just a similar name!
P Lo : Let's Go
Had utterly forgotten about this one until I was at home having a big Justus League shuffle binge this month! I don't know if P Lo ever did much outside these early 2000s JL mixtapes (this was from "Just Us, Volume 5), and can't find any info on him out there. With that said, it's this beat (probably 9th Wonder) that gets this track included this month - I love the sample as well as how it gets pitched down every four bars, and I feel like it's an obvious one but I can't place it for the life of me. Could have mixed out of this right before the last hook but the switch-up where the whole track slows down presented an opportunity for a change of pace...
DJ Spinna ft. J-Treds & Breez Brewin' : Making Your Way In The World
Spinna's "Sonic Smash" album definitely didn't get the light it deserved; I at least used to be able to point people to it on Spotify but when it even went from there, a lot of people totally missed it. Anyway, this is one of the many dope tracks. If you followed late 90s-early 2000s underground stuff, you might recognise the MCs - nice to hear them still active. They get a gem of a beat from Spinna, with a lazy neck-snapper of a drum beat, an Asian-sounding string sample, and if you listen carefully you'll hear some of his trademark squelchy synth sounds in the midrange. If you see the album, it's worth picking up!
Camp Lo : Diamond Crookz
I've been playing a lot of "Payday 2," (add me if you want to link up) and combined with a recent incident down in London...this track popped into my head! Camp Lo have had that jewel-heisting motif since the first LP, and the "Stone and Rob : Caught On Tape" release kept it going. Standardly-dope Lo lyrical fare, though probably not quite as impenetrably slang heavy as some of their other cuts, with Smoking Apples on production adding the boom to a slice of Faith Evans' "Reasons." Top down music.
Children Of Zeus : Happiness
Great tune coming from Manchester, the duo of Konny Kon and Tyler Daly bringing their trademark mix of Hip-Hop and soul in a much more genuine way than many who try to do the same. The album isn't out yet, but you can find this track on their Soundcloud page, along with plenty more good stuff.
T-Mos : Famoso
Low-key beat from The Beat Tape Project's "Return of the Tec: The Beatnuts Beat Tape," where each producer takes inspiration from The Beatnuts. To my ears, this one doesn't wear too obvious an influence, but it stands proudly on its own.
Scorzayzee : Great Britain
"Could've spent the war money on homes, food, and water." Yes. One to think about with our General Election coming up in less than two weeks, and Trident being debated...
The show closes with this powerful track which I only heard for the first time in the last few months (live, which was amazing), but which actually came out more than ten years ago, right after the last Iraq War was started. Scorzayzee is one of the most respected MCs in the country, and could never, ever be said to be watering things down for mainstream appeal! Right here, he lays down a verbal scourging on the corruption he sees in the nation, relentless from end to end. Apparently, it wasn't going to be released at first, but the P Brothers included it on a compilation and built up buzz from there. This song kicked up a serious fuss after it was played on BBC Radio, and there were some people who were even saying it should be banned. I don't expect anyone to agree 100% with what anyone says (and I wouldn't be surprised if some nerves are touched with this selection), but I think it's important for artists to push boundaries, and Scor certainly shook things up with this one.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Tourbillon don, in sync with the sun and moon."
- Agu
I thought I'd try to touch on just a few events of the month in this episode's selection. We go from some underground legends making their return after a long absence, through classic crate material to a young artist making his mark on the modern scene in a big way, and finish up with something for International Women's Day. Along the way, we mark the anniversary of the passing of Biggie Smalls, as always in March. Enjoy the show!
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : All Hail NE
They're baaaack! My goodness, I was so happy to hear that these devastating MCs had returned after a long period out of the spotlight, and sometimes working on other projects. "The NEp" was an instant purchase decision... Looking forward to more material from the newly-reformed crew, and they deserve everyone's support. I believe this was the first track released from the EP, and it's been on heavy, heavy rewind all month. Anthony Cruz (p.k.a. A-Butta), Swigga (p.k.a. L-Swift), and Agu (p.k.a. Mr.Voodoo) work their trademark "three-man weave" technique through the track, bouncing ridiculous lines off each other rather than the usual approach of giving everyone a solo verse each, and it generates an energy that just can't be achieved any other way. The beat is ill too, Scram Jones getting busy on the board but not upstaging the rhymes - a great complement. Loving this track. A lot of MCs might brag about their flashy watches, but who else could casually liken themselves to a very specific, highly technical component from the world of hand-made timepieces?
[Nashiem Myrick] The Notorious B.I.G. : Who Shot Ya? (Instrumental)
Originally this beat was a "blink and you'll miss it" interlude on Mary J. Blige's "My Life" album, with Keith Murray rapping on it; but then it found its way to Biggie and became what it needed to be. One of the classic instrumentals, still amazed by how they got such a hard track from such gentle source material...
Mobb Deep ft. Tragedy Khadafi : First Day Of Spring
I have to admit - it took me a little while to really appreciate Mobb Deep. Remember, a lot of acknowledged classic Hip-Hop isn't retro or what some call "old school" to me - I'm not that old, but if it came out in 1989 or later... Anyway, when "The Infamous" album was the only Mobb release out there for most of us, I was actually a bit lukewarm on it at first. What really flicked the switch for me was when someone passed me a copy of DJ Mister Cee's "Best Of Mobb Deep" mixtape - it was crammed full of remixes, features, and unreleased cuts, and when mixed in with the already-released tracks, I understood. This track in particular I managed to get on "Pre-Hell" - a compilation of unreleased Mobb that didn't make the "Hell On Earth" LP, and very unusually, Prodigy isn't on it! Havoc takes the second verse, but cedes the opener to fellow Queensbridge alum Tragedy, and it's just straight-up street business. It's listed as being produced by Mobb Deep, so I'd guess Havoc's hand is on this pretty heavy. Bad sound quality on this pressing, but I hope you like it anyway!
DJ Adam 12 ft. Erule and Ed O.G. : Lessons (Remix)
Dug up this track from DJ Adam 12's "World Wide Originals" EP, which I've featured on the show once before. The Mike Caren beat is nice, Boston's Ed O.G. is on point as always, but Erule steals the show for me. Just rhymes after rhymes after rhymes, it's a huge shame he never blew up the way he deserved to. If you want another example, wind back to the episode featuring his track "Worldwide"; absolutely nuts.
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Consequence : What Really Goes On
A more appropriate hook is rarely heard, because this track bumps for real! Definitely one of the top picks from the "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" album, and one that I think bridged the gap nicely between what they were doing on "Midnight Marauders" and the production style brought by The Ummah.
The Isley Brothers : You Still Feel The Need
Some serious funk for your ears right here - there's just something about those Ohio groups! I don't think my parents had much/any Isley Brothers vinyl in the house, and I actually first knew of this song via the Ronnie Laws jazz cover on his "Harvest For The World" album. Went back to hear the original and knew I was going to have to include it on the show one month! The closing track on the Isley's original "Harvest For The World" LP, this is a classic tale of pulling heartstrings wrapped between some funky guitar sheets. See what I did there? ;)
Kuartz : Tammi Thai
Manchester/Oldham-based Kuartz came out this month with a new beat tape on Brainfood records, and I mean that literally - he actually came through with a real cassette, which was a nice surprise for someone like me who still keeps a working tape machine handy. Luckily, there's a digital download code for everyone else too :) Anyway, this particular beat was done a while back but he gave it the nod for inclusion on the latest release. He takes "All I Do Is Think About You" by Tammi Terrell (which he says he found pretty easily and for a good price) and dices it up under a nice staccato drumline. This is a very limited release, but if you want a copy - or want to buy a beat for your project - get in touch with the man himself!
DJ Jean Maron & M-Dot ft. Punchline & Keith Murray : Beautiful Thir[13]teen (Remix)
I totally can't remember how I found this one - probably while looking for some Keith Murray tracks for digital purchase. Had a quick listen and the calm, steady production from French producer DJ Jean Maron sounded good to me so I thought I'd grab a copy for this month's show. I'm usually a Keith Murray fan but I have to say Punchline and M-Dot carried the day on this one, with some top verses!
Phat Kat ft. Dwele : Rainy Days
The other end of the mood spectrum from the previous track, but still with a beautiful instrumental courtesy of Jake One - a rare call outside of the incredibly talented Detroit production community, but an excellent one. From the "Undeniable" album (and EP), Phat Kat pours his heart out over the loss of loved ones. I chose this just for the sound and then after recording realised how it might resonate given this month's news...
Grand Agent ft. Declaime & Li'l Dap : The Right Way (Remix)
Nice little track I've had on deck for inclusion for a long while now - it just fits really well into a mixtape format. The well-travelled Agent gets busy on this alongside a few MCs, but I just love Dap's verse - his voice is just so dope when he rhymes! You can find this on the "Fish Outta Water : The Remixes" album, in collaboration with Beat Society who let a whole load of producers loose to do their thing. This track in particular is handled by Street Orchestra who have all kinds of horns and things filling out the sound, making the tune all-round solid.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Juicy (Remix)
The first of the two definitive Biggie "come up" tracks, both of which make it onto this episode. While this is labelled a remix, it actually has a more interesting history than meets the ear. A Pete Rock composition which Puffy happened to hear on a visit to The Basement ended up..."inspiring" the beat that ended up on the "Ready To Die" LP. The main change was the removal of Pete's hard drums in favour of the softer, 80s R&B drum sound, but the use of the main Mtume "Juicy Fruit" sample was otherwise identical. Pete Rock was eventually brought in to do this remix, which if I understand correctly is pretty much what the track was supposed to be in the first place!
[Mr Pink] Mr.Pink & Mr.Blonde of Hijack : Jamaica Crimewave (Instrumental)
Deep into the post-"Horns Of Jericho" era, Hijack may not have had their original lineup but there was still some music coming out and this was a highlight for me. The vocal version of this cut is ill but it is brutal; it goes in on British prison and street life with the air of those who know that of which they speak. The instrumental has been stripped down even more than the original cut, which is a shame; if you do check the original though, you'll find it's not complex, but highly effective - when you combine it with the lyrics, that balance is just right. This is a 12" I think is well worth having in your collection.
Kendrick Lamar ft. James Fauntleroy and Ronald Isley : How Much A Dollar Cost
It's just too early to say if Kendrick's surprise release ("To Pimp A Butterfly") this month is a classic record, but I think it can be agreed that it is definitely an important record. An absolutely recommended purchase, it sounds like nothing else that's out right now and is pretty overwhelming in terms of density and scope, as well as being a very clearly Black album and centres on his perspective of the Black experience. I would say to have a listen, but have a few and then you may begin to digest it all. It's not an album that lends itself to picking and choosing but nonetheless I wanted to feature one track and went with this; a tale of Kendrick coming across a homeless beggar which has strong parallels to one particular Bible passage. Great storytelling and rhyme skills, and the production is right there with him - so many people involved in the project overall, it's worth me pointing you to this article to give them their due. I hope some of the younger generation of rappers and producers listen to this album and take it as a cue to step their respective games up!
The Mouse Outfit : Saga
At last, the second album from The Mouse Outfit ("Step Steadier") has been released and it's another excellent one. This track is the closer, probably not one that would be a single release but that bassline and accompanying piano tickles my brain just right! The Mouse Outfit are knocking out top-line production with amazing regularity and have just the MCs on hand to complement it; Sparkz and Dubbul O bless the mic on this one. Definitely a crew and a release worthy of your support!
Black Moon : This Goes Out To You
Why is this here this month? Well, it's from the "Total Eclipse" album ;) Ok, we only had about a 90% eclipse in Manchester, but still... Anyway - this album is nowhere near as well known as it should be, it's definitely one to pick up as there are some top tracks on it. We'll definitely be revisiting this one. Coptic is on the production for this particular track, and Buckshot reflects on the struggles the group went through to build a record label and a career. Low-key dopeness.
The Notorious B.I.G. ft. 112 : Sky's The Limit
The second "come up" anthem, this time from the posthumously released "Life After Death" LP. Very smoothed out, with DJ Clark Kent on production with a Bobby Caldwell sample, really not doing much to it but arguably not needing to!
Kardinal Offishall : U R Ghetto When... (Instrumental)
T Dot in the house! Nice bit of self-production on this smooth track, which I think did make a little underground noise at the time as the second A-side track on the "Mic T.H.U.G.S" 12", back in 2000.
Katch 22 ft. Malaika B : Enigma
This is one of those that I've always had on my various MP3 players, always loved...and most people probably don't know at all! One of the great UK Hip-Hop crews of the early 90s, "Dark Tales From Two Cities" was an ambitious double album showing how far their range stretched, and I remember at the time a lot of people were not ready for this track. The poet Malaika B takes the lead on this spoken word piece and illustrates one face of the UK Black female experience in fine style, clear as a bell, with an instrumental reminiscent of the classic 80s UK soul style. Of course, International Women's Day is every year, but I thought I'd play something to mark it on this episode and felt like this was a worthy choice.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Tourbillon don, in sync with the sun and moon."
- Agu
I thought I'd try to touch on just a few events of the month in this episode's selection. We go from some underground legends making their return after a long absence, through classic crate material to a young artist making his mark on the modern scene in a big way, and finish up with something for International Women's Day. Along the way, we mark the anniversary of the passing of Biggie Smalls, as always in March. Enjoy the show!
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : All Hail NE
They're baaaack! My goodness, I was so happy to hear that these devastating MCs had returned after a long period out of the spotlight, and sometimes working on other projects. "The NEp" was an instant purchase decision... Looking forward to more material from the newly-reformed crew, and they deserve everyone's support. I believe this was the first track released from the EP, and it's been on heavy, heavy rewind all month. Anthony Cruz (p.k.a. A-Butta), Swigga (p.k.a. L-Swift), and Agu (p.k.a. Mr.Voodoo) work their trademark "three-man weave" technique through the track, bouncing ridiculous lines off each other rather than the usual approach of giving everyone a solo verse each, and it generates an energy that just can't be achieved any other way. The beat is ill too, Scram Jones getting busy on the board but not upstaging the rhymes - a great complement. Loving this track. A lot of MCs might brag about their flashy watches, but who else could casually liken themselves to a very specific, highly technical component from the world of hand-made timepieces?
[Nashiem Myrick] The Notorious B.I.G. : Who Shot Ya? (Instrumental)
Originally this beat was a "blink and you'll miss it" interlude on Mary J. Blige's "My Life" album, with Keith Murray rapping on it; but then it found its way to Biggie and became what it needed to be. One of the classic instrumentals, still amazed by how they got such a hard track from such gentle source material...
Mobb Deep ft. Tragedy Khadafi : First Day Of Spring
I have to admit - it took me a little while to really appreciate Mobb Deep. Remember, a lot of acknowledged classic Hip-Hop isn't retro or what some call "old school" to me - I'm not that old, but if it came out in 1989 or later... Anyway, when "The Infamous" album was the only Mobb release out there for most of us, I was actually a bit lukewarm on it at first. What really flicked the switch for me was when someone passed me a copy of DJ Mister Cee's "Best Of Mobb Deep" mixtape - it was crammed full of remixes, features, and unreleased cuts, and when mixed in with the already-released tracks, I understood. This track in particular I managed to get on "Pre-Hell" - a compilation of unreleased Mobb that didn't make the "Hell On Earth" LP, and very unusually, Prodigy isn't on it! Havoc takes the second verse, but cedes the opener to fellow Queensbridge alum Tragedy, and it's just straight-up street business. It's listed as being produced by Mobb Deep, so I'd guess Havoc's hand is on this pretty heavy. Bad sound quality on this pressing, but I hope you like it anyway!
DJ Adam 12 ft. Erule and Ed O.G. : Lessons (Remix)
Dug up this track from DJ Adam 12's "World Wide Originals" EP, which I've featured on the show once before. The Mike Caren beat is nice, Boston's Ed O.G. is on point as always, but Erule steals the show for me. Just rhymes after rhymes after rhymes, it's a huge shame he never blew up the way he deserved to. If you want another example, wind back to the episode featuring his track "Worldwide"; absolutely nuts.
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Consequence : What Really Goes On
A more appropriate hook is rarely heard, because this track bumps for real! Definitely one of the top picks from the "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" album, and one that I think bridged the gap nicely between what they were doing on "Midnight Marauders" and the production style brought by The Ummah.
The Isley Brothers : You Still Feel The Need
Some serious funk for your ears right here - there's just something about those Ohio groups! I don't think my parents had much/any Isley Brothers vinyl in the house, and I actually first knew of this song via the Ronnie Laws jazz cover on his "Harvest For The World" album. Went back to hear the original and knew I was going to have to include it on the show one month! The closing track on the Isley's original "Harvest For The World" LP, this is a classic tale of pulling heartstrings wrapped between some funky guitar sheets. See what I did there? ;)
Kuartz : Tammi Thai
Manchester/Oldham-based Kuartz came out this month with a new beat tape on Brainfood records, and I mean that literally - he actually came through with a real cassette, which was a nice surprise for someone like me who still keeps a working tape machine handy. Luckily, there's a digital download code for everyone else too :) Anyway, this particular beat was done a while back but he gave it the nod for inclusion on the latest release. He takes "All I Do Is Think About You" by Tammi Terrell (which he says he found pretty easily and for a good price) and dices it up under a nice staccato drumline. This is a very limited release, but if you want a copy - or want to buy a beat for your project - get in touch with the man himself!
DJ Jean Maron & M-Dot ft. Punchline & Keith Murray : Beautiful Thir[13]teen (Remix)
I totally can't remember how I found this one - probably while looking for some Keith Murray tracks for digital purchase. Had a quick listen and the calm, steady production from French producer DJ Jean Maron sounded good to me so I thought I'd grab a copy for this month's show. I'm usually a Keith Murray fan but I have to say Punchline and M-Dot carried the day on this one, with some top verses!
Phat Kat ft. Dwele : Rainy Days
The other end of the mood spectrum from the previous track, but still with a beautiful instrumental courtesy of Jake One - a rare call outside of the incredibly talented Detroit production community, but an excellent one. From the "Undeniable" album (and EP), Phat Kat pours his heart out over the loss of loved ones. I chose this just for the sound and then after recording realised how it might resonate given this month's news...
Grand Agent ft. Declaime & Li'l Dap : The Right Way (Remix)
Nice little track I've had on deck for inclusion for a long while now - it just fits really well into a mixtape format. The well-travelled Agent gets busy on this alongside a few MCs, but I just love Dap's verse - his voice is just so dope when he rhymes! You can find this on the "Fish Outta Water : The Remixes" album, in collaboration with Beat Society who let a whole load of producers loose to do their thing. This track in particular is handled by Street Orchestra who have all kinds of horns and things filling out the sound, making the tune all-round solid.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Juicy (Remix)
The first of the two definitive Biggie "come up" tracks, both of which make it onto this episode. While this is labelled a remix, it actually has a more interesting history than meets the ear. A Pete Rock composition which Puffy happened to hear on a visit to The Basement ended up..."inspiring" the beat that ended up on the "Ready To Die" LP. The main change was the removal of Pete's hard drums in favour of the softer, 80s R&B drum sound, but the use of the main Mtume "Juicy Fruit" sample was otherwise identical. Pete Rock was eventually brought in to do this remix, which if I understand correctly is pretty much what the track was supposed to be in the first place!
[Mr Pink] Mr.Pink & Mr.Blonde of Hijack : Jamaica Crimewave (Instrumental)
Deep into the post-"Horns Of Jericho" era, Hijack may not have had their original lineup but there was still some music coming out and this was a highlight for me. The vocal version of this cut is ill but it is brutal; it goes in on British prison and street life with the air of those who know that of which they speak. The instrumental has been stripped down even more than the original cut, which is a shame; if you do check the original though, you'll find it's not complex, but highly effective - when you combine it with the lyrics, that balance is just right. This is a 12" I think is well worth having in your collection.
Kendrick Lamar ft. James Fauntleroy and Ronald Isley : How Much A Dollar Cost
It's just too early to say if Kendrick's surprise release ("To Pimp A Butterfly") this month is a classic record, but I think it can be agreed that it is definitely an important record. An absolutely recommended purchase, it sounds like nothing else that's out right now and is pretty overwhelming in terms of density and scope, as well as being a very clearly Black album and centres on his perspective of the Black experience. I would say to have a listen, but have a few and then you may begin to digest it all. It's not an album that lends itself to picking and choosing but nonetheless I wanted to feature one track and went with this; a tale of Kendrick coming across a homeless beggar which has strong parallels to one particular Bible passage. Great storytelling and rhyme skills, and the production is right there with him - so many people involved in the project overall, it's worth me pointing you to this article to give them their due. I hope some of the younger generation of rappers and producers listen to this album and take it as a cue to step their respective games up!
The Mouse Outfit : Saga
At last, the second album from The Mouse Outfit ("Step Steadier") has been released and it's another excellent one. This track is the closer, probably not one that would be a single release but that bassline and accompanying piano tickles my brain just right! The Mouse Outfit are knocking out top-line production with amazing regularity and have just the MCs on hand to complement it; Sparkz and Dubbul O bless the mic on this one. Definitely a crew and a release worthy of your support!
Black Moon : This Goes Out To You
Why is this here this month? Well, it's from the "Total Eclipse" album ;) Ok, we only had about a 90% eclipse in Manchester, but still... Anyway - this album is nowhere near as well known as it should be, it's definitely one to pick up as there are some top tracks on it. We'll definitely be revisiting this one. Coptic is on the production for this particular track, and Buckshot reflects on the struggles the group went through to build a record label and a career. Low-key dopeness.
The Notorious B.I.G. ft. 112 : Sky's The Limit
The second "come up" anthem, this time from the posthumously released "Life After Death" LP. Very smoothed out, with DJ Clark Kent on production with a Bobby Caldwell sample, really not doing much to it but arguably not needing to!
Kardinal Offishall : U R Ghetto When... (Instrumental)
T Dot in the house! Nice bit of self-production on this smooth track, which I think did make a little underground noise at the time as the second A-side track on the "Mic T.H.U.G.S" 12", back in 2000.
Katch 22 ft. Malaika B : Enigma
This is one of those that I've always had on my various MP3 players, always loved...and most people probably don't know at all! One of the great UK Hip-Hop crews of the early 90s, "Dark Tales From Two Cities" was an ambitious double album showing how far their range stretched, and I remember at the time a lot of people were not ready for this track. The poet Malaika B takes the lead on this spoken word piece and illustrates one face of the UK Black female experience in fine style, clear as a bell, with an instrumental reminiscent of the classic 80s UK soul style. Of course, International Women's Day is every year, but I thought I'd play something to mark it on this episode and felt like this was a worthy choice.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...do yo' city love you?"
- Mr. Wrong
My goodness, getting this one out on time was tough! I think it's a good one though, and I do like the shot I put together for the cover art too :) As always in February, we celebrate the lives of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L - all make an appearance on the episode, alongside some other greats. Enjoy!
Oh yes - one excellent thing I heard this month was an interview with Joe Schloss, absolutely exceptional scholarly discussion on the Hip-Hop culture, origins, and ethics. A must-listen!
Playlist/Notes
Xzibit ft. KRS-ONE : The Kenny Parker Show 2001
This popped into my head recently, and with that intro it was a good candidate to lead off the episode! Despite the words of KRS-ONE, this track from Xzibit's "Restless" LP was actually produced by X and Thayod, with Dr.Dre taking Executive Producer credit as with the rest of the album. As far as I know, Kenny Parker himself isn't on this track but this is basically a retouched cover of the original track from the Boogie Down Productions "Edutainment" album; Hip-Hop doesn't do covers often, but this one clearly has the blessing of the original artist. Respectful.
Sepalot : Measured Amount
For some reason, I was sure I'd already played this one for you but it must have been on a mixtape somewhere, away from the podcast. Straight out of Munich, Sepalot has very much shown he can work that jerky-rhythmed electronic angle to good effect (I recommend "She Likes Me" with Frank Nitty of Frank N Dank), and this one jumps and tics along nicely. Find it on the "Beat Dimensions Vol.1" compilation.
Jay Dee ft. Frank N Dank : Off Ya Chest
First Dilla track of the month! A man whose beats covered many styles and moods, this came from the phase where he basically worked out what all the "for the club" producers were doing and then did it better, even if he didn't get the big sales. I've always been a bit of a fan of this 12", despite (or maybe because) it not fitting into what most people think of as the Dilla sound. His compadres Frank N Dank take joint charge of the verses and keep it simple. Good one for the gym!
Antonique Smith : Hold Up Wait A Minute
Heard a snippet of this on the "The Black Guy Who Tips" podcast (excellent, by the way), and rushed to scribble the artist name down - I'd never heard of her, and thought this track was a killer! Apparently this got a Grammy nomination (Best Traditional R&B Performance), and it was well deserving. Antonique will be known to some of you as an actress, having played Mimi in the Broadway show "Rent" and Faith Evans in the Biggie biopic "Notorious," but she is *not* playing with her debut single! She lets it all hang out on the vocals, and the production has to be top-notch to keep up - luckily, Darryl "Darulah" Farmer gets busy with the heavy drums and the choppy, stuttering organ line just to name the two foremost elements. Great way to open a career!
Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics : I'm Outta Here
Heavy. One of the many great cuts from Diamond's debut "Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop" (as summarised on Episode 12), and the final choice to follow up the Antonique Smith track after a long period of digging for tracks with organ sounds and heavy drums! Great bit of storytelling, based on the chaos of the 80s, with a protagonist who keeps getting himself into terrible situations which he's then forced to run away from. Trivia note: to hear him tell it, the voice of the would-be robber in the cinema in the first verse is that of a pre-fame Fat Joe!
Big Pun ft. Tony Sunshine : 100%
Went to Pun's posthumously-released second album for this one, which has some of that commercial appeal alongside some of those seriously hardcore lines for the undergound! Sean C brings the Latin flavour to the production, and Terror Squad's Tony Sunshine the spice on the hook. Pun reps Puerto Rico 100% on this one, hence the name...
Frankie Cutlass : Puerto Rico (Instrumental)
A spot-on fit I think - with the "Puerto Rico" sample already inserted into the background of the outro of the preceding track, the speeds being similar, and this being an instrumental...it'd have been a waste to use it any other time. Working a vocal sample from DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore's "Live Convention '82" tape, Frankie Cutlass shouts out his homeland atop some classic drum and bassline samples. This is one of the few well-known classic Hip-Hop singles that doesn't have a rapper on it at all, but will always get a reaction and people joining in when you play it in a club!
J Dilla ft. Tone Plummer & Mr Wrong : Rebirth Is Necessary
This incredible beat was first heard on one of Dilla's famous (on the underground) beat tapes, and I always loved it, so was glad to see it get picked up for a better airing. It's so dark, you could only really match that vibe with the lyrics, and Detroit's Tone Plummer and Mr Wrong do just that, speaking on the severe effects of the economic downturn on their city. Well put-together piece from the J Dilla "Rebirth Of Detroit" album, which is worth checking out - it turns up a few choice gems.
Bumpy Knuckles : Teach The Children
As I say on the voiceover, I thought that in terms of theme, this worked well as a follow-up to "Rebirth Is Necessary," especially with the closing news sample. Picked this 12" up in London recently and Bumpy embraces the wise elder role and offers jewels on life to the young. Great B-side to the Nas-featured "Turn Up The Mic," with DJ Premier's production providing the perfect reflective backing.
Oh No ft. Posdnuos : Smile A Li'l Bit
Had forgotten all about this but it popped into my head at just the right time! Oh No's "Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" LP was a journey into the catalogue of the Canadian composer Galt MacDermot, who has supplied the world of Hip-Hop with many a dope sample. Sampling strictly from one artist can be a challenge (well, unless you're going James Brown or something), but Oh No makes it work and the album features a host of MCs who make it a solid package. I'm a big fan of Posdnuos' lyrics here, talking about the industry while reminding all the wannabe hard rocks to smile once in a while :)
Skinnyman : When I Give My Heart To You (Joe Budha Remix)
DJ Mentat did a sterling job on the original version of this track, but Nottingham's Joe Budha takes it in completely different direction that for me fits the subject even better. Luckily, there's a 12" with both mixes on which is well worth having, especially with the bonus of Mystro's "Waiting" on there too - there's a track very likely to make a future episode!
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Searchin' (Instrumental)
All it's going to take is a small research grant to prove that it's scientifically impossible to dislike this beat. SP-1200 all the way as Pete Rock works his magic on a sample from the legendary Roy Ayers' and his vibraphone. If you don't have the Pete & CL album "The Main Ingredient," definitely fix that - it's a staple.
Big L : Stretch Debut
The Stretch & Bobbito radio show on WKCR (1990-1998) was an absolute landmark in Hip-Hop radio, helping to break more important acts than you could shake a very large stick at, and one of the many was Big L! In 1992, before most of us knew him, a then-18-year-old L went up to the studios and laid down these vicious bars over a classic breakbeat. Someone gave me a digital copy of this, and I thought this was a perfect month to share it. Just check the raw talent, and some of the rhyme influences of the period coming through in his flow.
Keith Murray : It's That Hit
I have this on a 12", and yet only had a clean version on the Erick Sermon "Insomnia" compilation! Staying with the "Impeach The President" drums that came in on the last track, Erick blends up multiple funk sources on the instrumental and lets the man from Carlton Avenue do what he does on the mic.
Artifacts : It's Gettin' Hot (DJ Spinna Remix)
Newark, NJ in the house on this one, connecting with Brooklyn as the man DJ Spinna lends his hands and ears to remix duties. The classic boom-bap original of this track came from their second album "That's Them," but this bubbling version is a bit harder to find; look for the "DJ Spinna Remixes" white label, and you should be in business.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Mattic : Fantasy Function
This Manchester crew are continuing to make big moves, and ahead of the release of their second album, they collaborated with North Carolina born, Paris-resident MC Mattic for the "Born Lupers EP," a quality little set available for a very reasonable price. This particular tune is early on the EP but also an early favourite for me, and check how the beat changes halfway through, with a noticeable speed increase to boot, making it an interesting one to mix in and out of. Would have liked a longer instrumental intro and outro though ;)
[J Dilla] Busta Rhymes : Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Jay Dee Bounce Remix)
If I drank, this would be the kind of track to sip a glass of wine to. Don't let me stop you though :) Released before Dilla entered most people's consciousness, he cooks up a track that probably couldn't be further away from the Rashad Smith-produced original!
Robert Glasper : Dillalude #2
Very classy tribute. Houston jazz virtuoso Robert Glasper turns his hand(s) to a medley of his own renditions of classic Dilla beats, running over nine minutes in total. My favourite piece has to be his take on the beat for Busta Rhymes' "Show Me What You Got" starting @ 54:29 - worth the money for that bit alone. "Black Radio Recovered : The Remix EP" is available for under £4 currently and is absolutely a recommended purchase for all lovers of quality music.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...do yo' city love you?"
- Mr. Wrong
My goodness, getting this one out on time was tough! I think it's a good one though, and I do like the shot I put together for the cover art too :) As always in February, we celebrate the lives of J Dilla, Big Pun, and Big L - all make an appearance on the episode, alongside some other greats. Enjoy!
Oh yes - one excellent thing I heard this month was an interview with Joe Schloss, absolutely exceptional scholarly discussion on the Hip-Hop culture, origins, and ethics. A must-listen!
Playlist/Notes
Xzibit ft. KRS-ONE : The Kenny Parker Show 2001
This popped into my head recently, and with that intro it was a good candidate to lead off the episode! Despite the words of KRS-ONE, this track from Xzibit's "Restless" LP was actually produced by X and Thayod, with Dr.Dre taking Executive Producer credit as with the rest of the album. As far as I know, Kenny Parker himself isn't on this track but this is basically a retouched cover of the original track from the Boogie Down Productions "Edutainment" album; Hip-Hop doesn't do covers often, but this one clearly has the blessing of the original artist. Respectful.
Sepalot : Measured Amount
For some reason, I was sure I'd already played this one for you but it must have been on a mixtape somewhere, away from the podcast. Straight out of Munich, Sepalot has very much shown he can work that jerky-rhythmed electronic angle to good effect (I recommend "She Likes Me" with Frank Nitty of Frank N Dank), and this one jumps and tics along nicely. Find it on the "Beat Dimensions Vol.1" compilation.
Jay Dee ft. Frank N Dank : Off Ya Chest
First Dilla track of the month! A man whose beats covered many styles and moods, this came from the phase where he basically worked out what all the "for the club" producers were doing and then did it better, even if he didn't get the big sales. I've always been a bit of a fan of this 12", despite (or maybe because) it not fitting into what most people think of as the Dilla sound. His compadres Frank N Dank take joint charge of the verses and keep it simple. Good one for the gym!
Antonique Smith : Hold Up Wait A Minute
Heard a snippet of this on the "The Black Guy Who Tips" podcast (excellent, by the way), and rushed to scribble the artist name down - I'd never heard of her, and thought this track was a killer! Apparently this got a Grammy nomination (Best Traditional R&B Performance), and it was well deserving. Antonique will be known to some of you as an actress, having played Mimi in the Broadway show "Rent" and Faith Evans in the Biggie biopic "Notorious," but she is *not* playing with her debut single! She lets it all hang out on the vocals, and the production has to be top-notch to keep up - luckily, Darryl "Darulah" Farmer gets busy with the heavy drums and the choppy, stuttering organ line just to name the two foremost elements. Great way to open a career!
Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics : I'm Outta Here
Heavy. One of the many great cuts from Diamond's debut "Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop" (as summarised on Episode 12), and the final choice to follow up the Antonique Smith track after a long period of digging for tracks with organ sounds and heavy drums! Great bit of storytelling, based on the chaos of the 80s, with a protagonist who keeps getting himself into terrible situations which he's then forced to run away from. Trivia note: to hear him tell it, the voice of the would-be robber in the cinema in the first verse is that of a pre-fame Fat Joe!
Big Pun ft. Tony Sunshine : 100%
Went to Pun's posthumously-released second album for this one, which has some of that commercial appeal alongside some of those seriously hardcore lines for the undergound! Sean C brings the Latin flavour to the production, and Terror Squad's Tony Sunshine the spice on the hook. Pun reps Puerto Rico 100% on this one, hence the name...
Frankie Cutlass : Puerto Rico (Instrumental)
A spot-on fit I think - with the "Puerto Rico" sample already inserted into the background of the outro of the preceding track, the speeds being similar, and this being an instrumental...it'd have been a waste to use it any other time. Working a vocal sample from DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore's "Live Convention '82" tape, Frankie Cutlass shouts out his homeland atop some classic drum and bassline samples. This is one of the few well-known classic Hip-Hop singles that doesn't have a rapper on it at all, but will always get a reaction and people joining in when you play it in a club!
J Dilla ft. Tone Plummer & Mr Wrong : Rebirth Is Necessary
This incredible beat was first heard on one of Dilla's famous (on the underground) beat tapes, and I always loved it, so was glad to see it get picked up for a better airing. It's so dark, you could only really match that vibe with the lyrics, and Detroit's Tone Plummer and Mr Wrong do just that, speaking on the severe effects of the economic downturn on their city. Well put-together piece from the J Dilla "Rebirth Of Detroit" album, which is worth checking out - it turns up a few choice gems.
Bumpy Knuckles : Teach The Children
As I say on the voiceover, I thought that in terms of theme, this worked well as a follow-up to "Rebirth Is Necessary," especially with the closing news sample. Picked this 12" up in London recently and Bumpy embraces the wise elder role and offers jewels on life to the young. Great B-side to the Nas-featured "Turn Up The Mic," with DJ Premier's production providing the perfect reflective backing.
Oh No ft. Posdnuos : Smile A Li'l Bit
Had forgotten all about this but it popped into my head at just the right time! Oh No's "Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms" LP was a journey into the catalogue of the Canadian composer Galt MacDermot, who has supplied the world of Hip-Hop with many a dope sample. Sampling strictly from one artist can be a challenge (well, unless you're going James Brown or something), but Oh No makes it work and the album features a host of MCs who make it a solid package. I'm a big fan of Posdnuos' lyrics here, talking about the industry while reminding all the wannabe hard rocks to smile once in a while :)
Skinnyman : When I Give My Heart To You (Joe Budha Remix)
DJ Mentat did a sterling job on the original version of this track, but Nottingham's Joe Budha takes it in completely different direction that for me fits the subject even better. Luckily, there's a 12" with both mixes on which is well worth having, especially with the bonus of Mystro's "Waiting" on there too - there's a track very likely to make a future episode!
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Searchin' (Instrumental)
All it's going to take is a small research grant to prove that it's scientifically impossible to dislike this beat. SP-1200 all the way as Pete Rock works his magic on a sample from the legendary Roy Ayers' and his vibraphone. If you don't have the Pete & CL album "The Main Ingredient," definitely fix that - it's a staple.
Big L : Stretch Debut
The Stretch & Bobbito radio show on WKCR (1990-1998) was an absolute landmark in Hip-Hop radio, helping to break more important acts than you could shake a very large stick at, and one of the many was Big L! In 1992, before most of us knew him, a then-18-year-old L went up to the studios and laid down these vicious bars over a classic breakbeat. Someone gave me a digital copy of this, and I thought this was a perfect month to share it. Just check the raw talent, and some of the rhyme influences of the period coming through in his flow.
Keith Murray : It's That Hit
I have this on a 12", and yet only had a clean version on the Erick Sermon "Insomnia" compilation! Staying with the "Impeach The President" drums that came in on the last track, Erick blends up multiple funk sources on the instrumental and lets the man from Carlton Avenue do what he does on the mic.
Artifacts : It's Gettin' Hot (DJ Spinna Remix)
Newark, NJ in the house on this one, connecting with Brooklyn as the man DJ Spinna lends his hands and ears to remix duties. The classic boom-bap original of this track came from their second album "That's Them," but this bubbling version is a bit harder to find; look for the "DJ Spinna Remixes" white label, and you should be in business.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Mattic : Fantasy Function
This Manchester crew are continuing to make big moves, and ahead of the release of their second album, they collaborated with North Carolina born, Paris-resident MC Mattic for the "Born Lupers EP," a quality little set available for a very reasonable price. This particular tune is early on the EP but also an early favourite for me, and check how the beat changes halfway through, with a noticeable speed increase to boot, making it an interesting one to mix in and out of. Would have liked a longer instrumental intro and outro though ;)
[J Dilla] Busta Rhymes : Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Jay Dee Bounce Remix)
If I drank, this would be the kind of track to sip a glass of wine to. Don't let me stop you though :) Released before Dilla entered most people's consciousness, he cooks up a track that probably couldn't be further away from the Rashad Smith-produced original!
Robert Glasper : Dillalude #2
Very classy tribute. Houston jazz virtuoso Robert Glasper turns his hand(s) to a medley of his own renditions of classic Dilla beats, running over nine minutes in total. My favourite piece has to be his take on the beat for Busta Rhymes' "Show Me What You Got" starting @ 54:29 - worth the money for that bit alone. "Black Radio Recovered : The Remix EP" is available for under £4 currently and is absolutely a recommended purchase for all lovers of quality music.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...because I...am going to kill...the f***'ry out there..."
- Peter Tosh
It's an all Hip-Hop month, but we've got at least three different languages, three decades, and skills across the board! Some serious pieces for you here, no wackness or weakness permitted. Let's get it cracking...
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price : Haraam
This beast of a tune has been blasting in my headphones all month! For those that don't know, "haraam" is an Arabic word used in Islam meaning "forbidden," as compared with "halal" which is "permitted." Sean drops the reason for the title in the first verse, then proceeds to carry on beating the hell out of the Team Demo track. I'm a bit salty I had to pay extra for this one though - it's only on the iTunes version of the "Mic Tyson" album, so even though I bought the CD I had to buy this tune separately, and I think it's one of the best in the entire package! Had to put this one at the start just so I could include all the samples of the ill Peter Tosh press conference where he airs out his label :)
[Kanye West] Scarface : In Cold Blood (Instrumental)
A lot of people get caught up in the media hype and forget that at the heart of it all, Kanye was and is an extremely talented Hip-Hop producer. Here he does the business for one of the lead tracks from Scarface's "The Fix" album, perfect for one of the Houston legend's crime tales.
Saigon : Mr.Cool (That Ain't Cool)
From the "Warning Shots 3" mixtape, Saigon spits some serious judgemental fire on those within the community who he would consider in different ways are damaging it and its children. Scram Jones supplies the Temprees-sampled beat and the combination is a winner. That 70s feel mixed with the lyrics kind of reminds me of Goldie in "The Mack" telling the kids not to be like him...
The Step Brothers ft. Rakaa & Blu : Tomorrow
"It's as good as gone, it's as bad as here." Been a good few months since we last visited this album and it just so happens that my second-favourite track on there formed a nice bridge between the Saigon track and the next one. Evidence and The Alchemist come correct again with a nicely cooled-out record and bring in a couple of Los Angeles underground(ish) mainstays to help out on the mic.
IAM : La Tangente
I've got another IAM track I'm saving for a future episode, but right now peep this one from Marseille's finest, a crew that have been together since 1989. This is the second track on the "Strategie D'un Pion" single/EP from 2004, and while I personally can't understand many of the lyrics, they just sound so good. There's a lot of good material out there that's not in English, the trick is finding it if you're not plugged into the scenes. I'll take suggestions if anyone's offering :)
Tash & Dilated Peoples : Soundbombing
While the song I really wanted to play here was "Motion 2000" by Polyrhythm Addicts (too fast), I think this is still a good fit. This was effectively the title track from the 100% classic mixtape "Soundbombing II" by J-Rocc and Babu of the Beat Junkies, who expertly blended a collection of great records of the time from the Rawkus label. Oh yes, I would like to stake my claim as probably the only person to bump that tape while rallying a Trabant in Hungary. Long story...
9th Wonder : Black Album Rejects, Track 22
Taken from a collection of beats that was circulating in 2003, allegedly a set from 9th Wonder that was submitted for a possible placement on Jay-Z's "The Black Album." As it happens, none of them were selected, and instead Jay asked 9th to flip an R.Kelly song, which became the track "Threat."
Wale : Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)
I'd be lying if I claimed to be a follower of Wale's music, but somehow I stumbled upon this track from his "The Gifted" LP, and think it's quality. Rhymed from the perspective of Jesus, Wale speaks to those who profess to be religious but for whom it goes no further than flaunting a jewelled, golden medallion. Virginia's Lee Major (not to be confused with Manchester's Lee Majors!) kills the heavy church-infused beat - it's the vocals within the track itself and the little keyboard bass runs that do it for me.
Apollo Brown & Ras Kass ft. inDJnous : Bon Voyage
I'd say this track is somewhat reminiscent of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Big Daddy Kane's "The Garden" in spirit, and Ras Kass is more than worthy to carry that flame on. Deep album cut from the new collaborative "Blasphemy" LP (which was to be titled "How To Kill God" until Apple said they wouldn't stock it in iTunes with that name), the Apollo Brown beat is suitable regal and Anaheim's inDJnous cuts up DJ Premier's voice with skill. In fact, that's something of a role reversal for Premo, who would usually be doing that to someone else!
Hannibal King ft. ARXV and Bub Styles : Tangerine Dream
Friend of the show Kataclysmik put me up on the free "Floral Print" album from this currently-unsigned Queens, NY-based producer turned MC, and this was easily my favourite track on the first listen through. ARXV and Bub Styles are new to me as well, but all involved make this dusted-sounding track work. Extra points for the Ghostface sample in the hook :)
Count Bass D : Kumbuka Watu Penda Peda (Part 2)
Hadn't heard this one for ages, but was reminded of it recently and had to go and buy the MP3! Apologies for the sound quality - not quite sure what happened there. In keeping with the spirit of the show, do head out to get yourself a copy of the "BEGBORROWSTEEL" album; Count Bass D is a talent to be treasured.
Terrace Martin : Angel
Terrace has put together some banging beats in his time as a producer, but on his "3ChordFold" album he goes on a fresh tangent, going jazzy with it - and it works! He dedicates this track to his daughter (Akai - perfect for a producer's child), and brings in 9th Wonder and Craig Brockman to work their extra magic on the production. So, so fresh.
Juice (Nwamazi) & Justin : Ngbanwe
Going obscure but dope to start this section! I don't have any Nigerian Hip-Hop on vinyl so went on a trawl around Bandcamp, discovered this tune on a compilation, and thought it was worth a spin for you all :) It's rhymed in Igbo, and while I don't understand the words I respect the flavour - apparently they are doing the business though. Beat-wise, it's got a late 90s-early 2000s feel, very reminiscent of Nick Wiz's production on Shabaam Sahdeeq's "Soundclash." As for the title, I've heard it described as "changes" or "converter," something in that vein - any listeners want to get in touch and tell me more about it?
Mos Def : Mathematics
Shout out to the man DJ Mathmatics! A 90s classic from an album ("Black On Both Sides") which, truth be told, I don't rate as much as many others do! DJ Premier has his signature all over the beat while Mos talks about the world and works numbers upon numbers into the rhyme. Decided to keep the theme going with...
Organized Konfusion : Numbers
...a track I've loved for years! I was just thinking about buying a digital version to play when I wandered into the city centre and found it on a vinyl sampler of the "The Equinox" album for a great price :) Pharoahe and Prince Po are on top form here; "In 40 Projects drinking 40s till I'm 40 with Corley / Truncatin' drum loops with Pauly / On the SP-1200 at twelve-twelve you feel it..." Absolute sickness if you get all the references. The producer is a guy called Casper, who did two tracks on the album but who otherwise I can't honestly say I know - I do really like the beat though, it just fits.
Scram Jones : Diabolic
That sample will probably sound familiar to everyone, as it was also used in the intro to a famous party tune! That's just one of the dope samples incorporated into this track, which is an irreverant head-nodder from Jones' appropriately named "Dead Giveaway" free mixtape.
[Vinyl Reanimators] L The Head Toucha : It's Your Life
Bringing thing towards a close with the beat from a great 1997 independent 12" release which had the mighty "Too Complex" on the A-side. Vinyl Reanimators on the beat again with some straight-up NYC boom-bap. I miss it.
Little Brother ft. Carlitta Durand : After The Party (S1 & Caleb's Who Shot JR Ewing Remix)
Classic comedy intro (that I'm sure at least some of you can relate to!) adapted from some Jamie Foxx leads things off before sliding into a shoulder-slumping remix of this tribute to end-of-the-night pulling, capturing the desperation perfectly! That beat by Symbolyc One (who you may know from Strange Fruit Project) and Caleb Sean (who has since worked with Beyonce and Jay-Z) is absolute fire - great closer to the episode, and to the "Leftback" album, the final Little Brother release.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...because I...am going to kill...the f***'ry out there..."
- Peter Tosh
It's an all Hip-Hop month, but we've got at least three different languages, three decades, and skills across the board! Some serious pieces for you here, no wackness or weakness permitted. Let's get it cracking...
Playlist/Notes
Sean Price : Haraam
This beast of a tune has been blasting in my headphones all month! For those that don't know, "haraam" is an Arabic word used in Islam meaning "forbidden," as compared with "halal" which is "permitted." Sean drops the reason for the title in the first verse, then proceeds to carry on beating the hell out of the Team Demo track. I'm a bit salty I had to pay extra for this one though - it's only on the iTunes version of the "Mic Tyson" album, so even though I bought the CD I had to buy this tune separately, and I think it's one of the best in the entire package! Had to put this one at the start just so I could include all the samples of the ill Peter Tosh press conference where he airs out his label :)
[Kanye West] Scarface : In Cold Blood (Instrumental)
A lot of people get caught up in the media hype and forget that at the heart of it all, Kanye was and is an extremely talented Hip-Hop producer. Here he does the business for one of the lead tracks from Scarface's "The Fix" album, perfect for one of the Houston legend's crime tales.
Saigon : Mr.Cool (That Ain't Cool)
From the "Warning Shots 3" mixtape, Saigon spits some serious judgemental fire on those within the community who he would consider in different ways are damaging it and its children. Scram Jones supplies the Temprees-sampled beat and the combination is a winner. That 70s feel mixed with the lyrics kind of reminds me of Goldie in "The Mack" telling the kids not to be like him...
The Step Brothers ft. Rakaa & Blu : Tomorrow
"It's as good as gone, it's as bad as here." Been a good few months since we last visited this album and it just so happens that my second-favourite track on there formed a nice bridge between the Saigon track and the next one. Evidence and The Alchemist come correct again with a nicely cooled-out record and bring in a couple of Los Angeles underground(ish) mainstays to help out on the mic.
IAM : La Tangente
I've got another IAM track I'm saving for a future episode, but right now peep this one from Marseille's finest, a crew that have been together since 1989. This is the second track on the "Strategie D'un Pion" single/EP from 2004, and while I personally can't understand many of the lyrics, they just sound so good. There's a lot of good material out there that's not in English, the trick is finding it if you're not plugged into the scenes. I'll take suggestions if anyone's offering :)
Tash & Dilated Peoples : Soundbombing
While the song I really wanted to play here was "Motion 2000" by Polyrhythm Addicts (too fast), I think this is still a good fit. This was effectively the title track from the 100% classic mixtape "Soundbombing II" by J-Rocc and Babu of the Beat Junkies, who expertly blended a collection of great records of the time from the Rawkus label. Oh yes, I would like to stake my claim as probably the only person to bump that tape while rallying a Trabant in Hungary. Long story...
9th Wonder : Black Album Rejects, Track 22
Taken from a collection of beats that was circulating in 2003, allegedly a set from 9th Wonder that was submitted for a possible placement on Jay-Z's "The Black Album." As it happens, none of them were selected, and instead Jay asked 9th to flip an R.Kelly song, which became the track "Threat."
Wale : Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)
I'd be lying if I claimed to be a follower of Wale's music, but somehow I stumbled upon this track from his "The Gifted" LP, and think it's quality. Rhymed from the perspective of Jesus, Wale speaks to those who profess to be religious but for whom it goes no further than flaunting a jewelled, golden medallion. Virginia's Lee Major (not to be confused with Manchester's Lee Majors!) kills the heavy church-infused beat - it's the vocals within the track itself and the little keyboard bass runs that do it for me.
Apollo Brown & Ras Kass ft. inDJnous : Bon Voyage
I'd say this track is somewhat reminiscent of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Big Daddy Kane's "The Garden" in spirit, and Ras Kass is more than worthy to carry that flame on. Deep album cut from the new collaborative "Blasphemy" LP (which was to be titled "How To Kill God" until Apple said they wouldn't stock it in iTunes with that name), the Apollo Brown beat is suitable regal and Anaheim's inDJnous cuts up DJ Premier's voice with skill. In fact, that's something of a role reversal for Premo, who would usually be doing that to someone else!
Hannibal King ft. ARXV and Bub Styles : Tangerine Dream
Friend of the show Kataclysmik put me up on the free "Floral Print" album from this currently-unsigned Queens, NY-based producer turned MC, and this was easily my favourite track on the first listen through. ARXV and Bub Styles are new to me as well, but all involved make this dusted-sounding track work. Extra points for the Ghostface sample in the hook :)
Count Bass D : Kumbuka Watu Penda Peda (Part 2)
Hadn't heard this one for ages, but was reminded of it recently and had to go and buy the MP3! Apologies for the sound quality - not quite sure what happened there. In keeping with the spirit of the show, do head out to get yourself a copy of the "BEGBORROWSTEEL" album; Count Bass D is a talent to be treasured.
Terrace Martin : Angel
Terrace has put together some banging beats in his time as a producer, but on his "3ChordFold" album he goes on a fresh tangent, going jazzy with it - and it works! He dedicates this track to his daughter (Akai - perfect for a producer's child), and brings in 9th Wonder and Craig Brockman to work their extra magic on the production. So, so fresh.
Juice (Nwamazi) & Justin : Ngbanwe
Going obscure but dope to start this section! I don't have any Nigerian Hip-Hop on vinyl so went on a trawl around Bandcamp, discovered this tune on a compilation, and thought it was worth a spin for you all :) It's rhymed in Igbo, and while I don't understand the words I respect the flavour - apparently they are doing the business though. Beat-wise, it's got a late 90s-early 2000s feel, very reminiscent of Nick Wiz's production on Shabaam Sahdeeq's "Soundclash." As for the title, I've heard it described as "changes" or "converter," something in that vein - any listeners want to get in touch and tell me more about it?
Mos Def : Mathematics
Shout out to the man DJ Mathmatics! A 90s classic from an album ("Black On Both Sides") which, truth be told, I don't rate as much as many others do! DJ Premier has his signature all over the beat while Mos talks about the world and works numbers upon numbers into the rhyme. Decided to keep the theme going with...
Organized Konfusion : Numbers
...a track I've loved for years! I was just thinking about buying a digital version to play when I wandered into the city centre and found it on a vinyl sampler of the "The Equinox" album for a great price :) Pharoahe and Prince Po are on top form here; "In 40 Projects drinking 40s till I'm 40 with Corley / Truncatin' drum loops with Pauly / On the SP-1200 at twelve-twelve you feel it..." Absolute sickness if you get all the references. The producer is a guy called Casper, who did two tracks on the album but who otherwise I can't honestly say I know - I do really like the beat though, it just fits.
Scram Jones : Diabolic
That sample will probably sound familiar to everyone, as it was also used in the intro to a famous party tune! That's just one of the dope samples incorporated into this track, which is an irreverant head-nodder from Jones' appropriately named "Dead Giveaway" free mixtape.
[Vinyl Reanimators] L The Head Toucha : It's Your Life
Bringing thing towards a close with the beat from a great 1997 independent 12" release which had the mighty "Too Complex" on the A-side. Vinyl Reanimators on the beat again with some straight-up NYC boom-bap. I miss it.
Little Brother ft. Carlitta Durand : After The Party (S1 & Caleb's Who Shot JR Ewing Remix)
Classic comedy intro (that I'm sure at least some of you can relate to!) adapted from some Jamie Foxx leads things off before sliding into a shoulder-slumping remix of this tribute to end-of-the-night pulling, capturing the desperation perfectly! That beat by Symbolyc One (who you may know from Strange Fruit Project) and Caleb Sean (who has since worked with Beyonce and Jay-Z) is absolute fire - great closer to the episode, and to the "Leftback" album, the final Little Brother release.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm the animal that Hugh Hefner created..."
- Nas
The end of another year, and an eventful one in so many ways. Some of that influences this month's selection; overall I've just looked to put together a set of tunes to give your speaker boxes that extra bump to see out 2014 in style!
Playlist/Notes
Wu-Tang Clan ft. Nas : Let My Niggas Live
Dark, dark, dark! The intro sample from the film "Short Eyes" sets the tone and it just stays tough from there. Guest-starring on a Wu track seems to bring the best out of Nas (think "Verbal Intercourse"), and his verse here is a gutter classic which manages to steal the show from both Raekwon and Inspectah Deck. The beat is a masterclass on how to use percussion and drums other than the kick/snare to give the atmosphere, and the main sample for the track is worked to perfection. Easily the standout on "The W."
Pro P : The Breadline
Manchester's Pro P putting in yet more work on the MPC, and last month he released his "Concrete Jungle" beat tape on Bandcamp. It's well worth a listen, and this beat was one that grabbed me from the first run-through.
Jeru The Damaja : Invasion
An overlooked "airing out the police" gem, surprising since the "Wrath Of The Math" album is a pretty well known one for the core heads. DJ Premier is on production and weaves several samples together expertly for the backing, and then kills it with his simple(ish) and highly effective scratching with the word "invasion" from Nas' "It Ain't Hard To Tell."
El Da Sensei : Under Pressure
I just thought this was a great opportunity to slot this track in, with the hook cutting up vocal samples from the preceding Jeru record - no better place for it. This was originally on the 1998 compilation "New York State Of Rhyme" which I never got round to buying, but thankfully this track at least is available for digital purchase. P.Original on the quirky beat, but for me the production highlight is those cuts.
Rodney P ft. Skinnyman, Mr. 45 & DJ Grazzhoppa : Worldwide (Muneshine Remix)
Picked this one up as a free download from Rodney P's Soundcloud page, and was pleased to come across it! I think this is even better than the Joe Buhdha-produced original, which was the A2 track on the 2001 "Big Tings We Inna" 12". I'd not heard of Muneshine before but s/he sounds like a producer to check for, and I think you can find some more work here.
J-Live : One To 31
A mini autobiography and career summary from J-Live, patterned after Lessons 1-31 of the Nation of Gods and Earths' Supreme Wisdom Lessons (hence the title). An excellent choice to open his "Then What Happened?" album, setting the stage for all the tracks to come. I would have sworn this was a DJ Spinna track had I not read the credits, but it's DJ Jazzy Jeff with some serious bounce in the bass, great layered horns, and judicious scratching.
DJ Spinna : Germz
You can never go wrong with a Spinna beat. Grabbed this one from the "Compositions 2" vinyl, and I'm thinking I need to find the others in the series...
Bounty Killer & Future Troubles : Kill A Sound
What a combination; the Stalag riddim driving the track, with the hook reusing the melody from the hymn "Gloria In Excelsis" with decidedly un-Christmassy intent! This was a 1996 7" single on VP Records, perfect for clash purposes. On the vocals, the two deejays work together well as they have on several other records, with their contrasting tones filling the spectrum. Fire! *airhorn*
Emanon : Count Your Blessings
Keeping the dancehall spirit going with the quality Exile production on this track, slicing and dicing Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam," giving it a speed boost and adding some slightly off-beat snare to keep you off-balance! Emanon ("No name" backwards) is the combination of Exile on the beats and Aloe Blacc on the mic, and this cut from "The Waiting Room" LP always gets a big reception when I include it in a set. Lyrically - absolutely nuts. Listen carefully and check how Aloe counts from 1 to 30 as the track progresses - sometimes using the number explicitly, sometimes by reference. Great work.
Shabaam Sahdeeq : Do You
Like I said, Spinna beat = automatic good move. These two have combined to good effect many times in the past (notably as half of Polyrhythm Addicts), and Shabaam shows he's still up for the challenge of riding an unusual backing; Spinna goes space age on this one! This is available as a digital download or as the B-Side of the "Motion Picture" single.
Lost Boyz : Music Makes Me High
Taking it back with a track that was a big single when it was released - I certainly remember it from my first year at university! A lot of people are into the remix, but there was never anything wrong with this original version :) Great party track from the "Legal Drug Money" album. RIP Freaky Tah.
[Just Blaze] Beanie Sigel : Beanie (Mack Bitch) (Instrumental)
Tough beat, even if you're not into the synth sound much you can't deny it. Seems like an age ago when something this heavy could be a relatively mainstream track/club banger, but there we go. Check that drum pattern and see if it has an air of familiarity; it's the same layout as "It's All About The Benjamins," which was a heavy club tune in its own right.
The Roots : Panic!!!!!
That line I cut up jumped into my head when the Eric Garner grand jury ruling came out and I just knew I was going to include this track from "Illadelph Halflife" on the next episode. Very short, but Black Thought crams the whole story into a compact package with skill.
Brian Digby Jr. ft Donte and King Solomon : Showtime
Best MC name. Ok, second to Edgar Allan Floe. Obscure piece here, the B-side of the 2001 Raw-N-Tellect single "The Game" - I didn't know anything about any of the personnel on this record but gave it a go! Turns out the B-side takes it, with the MCs doing a good job over Jahson's string and piano-laden beat. If you like this, I've seen copies on Discogs going cheaply!
Camp Lo : Army
One of those 12"s with tracks that never showed up on an album but were serious flames all the same! The super-basic hook somehow totally works for me, and contrasts with the standard slang-heavy Lo style on the verses. Production is courtesy of Tribeca, who once again hammers the drum machine like it owes him money, with sound exploding all over the place. If you're a DJ, you'd do well to have this single in your crates.
M.O.P. : Shake 'Em Up
Brownsville's foremost representatives killed their performance of this at their recent show in Manchester, and as it was an early favourite of mine on the new "Street Certified" EP, it makes the cut. Los Angeles' Jazi Moto is on production, and the highlight has to be the drumming - not sure if it's live or programmed but she kills it! A little more low end would have been a bonus in my opinion but then it might have made it sound less natural. Big tune anyway :)
J-Zone : The Fox Hunt (Instrumental)
I wanted to follow the M.O.P. track with something where the drums were pretty active, and then remembered that on his return to releasing music, J-Zone had learned to play the drums and was incorporating a lot of live work into his tracks. This is the no-vocal version of one of the tracks from his latest album "The Peter Pan Syndrome," which is an album I'd recommend, just like the rest of Zone's output - he just doesn't sound like anyone else!
Dirty Diggers : Let The Pound Get A Round
Yorkshireman Young Max and Londoner Pat Stash put a perfect UK spin on the J Dilla beat that sampled Billy Paul's "Let The Dollar Circulate" and was the underpinning for Steve Spacek's "Dollar." Hopefully the worldwide listeners can appreciate this one as much as my domestic audience will :) Got this on one of those mysterious unofficial vinyls with a few other blends/remixes, so it may not have got an official release - snatch it up if you find it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm the animal that Hugh Hefner created..."
- Nas
The end of another year, and an eventful one in so many ways. Some of that influences this month's selection; overall I've just looked to put together a set of tunes to give your speaker boxes that extra bump to see out 2014 in style!
Playlist/Notes
Wu-Tang Clan ft. Nas : Let My Niggas Live
Dark, dark, dark! The intro sample from the film "Short Eyes" sets the tone and it just stays tough from there. Guest-starring on a Wu track seems to bring the best out of Nas (think "Verbal Intercourse"), and his verse here is a gutter classic which manages to steal the show from both Raekwon and Inspectah Deck. The beat is a masterclass on how to use percussion and drums other than the kick/snare to give the atmosphere, and the main sample for the track is worked to perfection. Easily the standout on "The W."
Pro P : The Breadline
Manchester's Pro P putting in yet more work on the MPC, and last month he released his "Concrete Jungle" beat tape on Bandcamp. It's well worth a listen, and this beat was one that grabbed me from the first run-through.
Jeru The Damaja : Invasion
An overlooked "airing out the police" gem, surprising since the "Wrath Of The Math" album is a pretty well known one for the core heads. DJ Premier is on production and weaves several samples together expertly for the backing, and then kills it with his simple(ish) and highly effective scratching with the word "invasion" from Nas' "It Ain't Hard To Tell."
El Da Sensei : Under Pressure
I just thought this was a great opportunity to slot this track in, with the hook cutting up vocal samples from the preceding Jeru record - no better place for it. This was originally on the 1998 compilation "New York State Of Rhyme" which I never got round to buying, but thankfully this track at least is available for digital purchase. P.Original on the quirky beat, but for me the production highlight is those cuts.
Rodney P ft. Skinnyman, Mr. 45 & DJ Grazzhoppa : Worldwide (Muneshine Remix)
Picked this one up as a free download from Rodney P's Soundcloud page, and was pleased to come across it! I think this is even better than the Joe Buhdha-produced original, which was the A2 track on the 2001 "Big Tings We Inna" 12". I'd not heard of Muneshine before but s/he sounds like a producer to check for, and I think you can find some more work here.
J-Live : One To 31
A mini autobiography and career summary from J-Live, patterned after Lessons 1-31 of the Nation of Gods and Earths' Supreme Wisdom Lessons (hence the title). An excellent choice to open his "Then What Happened?" album, setting the stage for all the tracks to come. I would have sworn this was a DJ Spinna track had I not read the credits, but it's DJ Jazzy Jeff with some serious bounce in the bass, great layered horns, and judicious scratching.
DJ Spinna : Germz
You can never go wrong with a Spinna beat. Grabbed this one from the "Compositions 2" vinyl, and I'm thinking I need to find the others in the series...
Bounty Killer & Future Troubles : Kill A Sound
What a combination; the Stalag riddim driving the track, with the hook reusing the melody from the hymn "Gloria In Excelsis" with decidedly un-Christmassy intent! This was a 1996 7" single on VP Records, perfect for clash purposes. On the vocals, the two deejays work together well as they have on several other records, with their contrasting tones filling the spectrum. Fire! *airhorn*
Emanon : Count Your Blessings
Keeping the dancehall spirit going with the quality Exile production on this track, slicing and dicing Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam," giving it a speed boost and adding some slightly off-beat snare to keep you off-balance! Emanon ("No name" backwards) is the combination of Exile on the beats and Aloe Blacc on the mic, and this cut from "The Waiting Room" LP always gets a big reception when I include it in a set. Lyrically - absolutely nuts. Listen carefully and check how Aloe counts from 1 to 30 as the track progresses - sometimes using the number explicitly, sometimes by reference. Great work.
Shabaam Sahdeeq : Do You
Like I said, Spinna beat = automatic good move. These two have combined to good effect many times in the past (notably as half of Polyrhythm Addicts), and Shabaam shows he's still up for the challenge of riding an unusual backing; Spinna goes space age on this one! This is available as a digital download or as the B-Side of the "Motion Picture" single.
Lost Boyz : Music Makes Me High
Taking it back with a track that was a big single when it was released - I certainly remember it from my first year at university! A lot of people are into the remix, but there was never anything wrong with this original version :) Great party track from the "Legal Drug Money" album. RIP Freaky Tah.
[Just Blaze] Beanie Sigel : Beanie (Mack Bitch) (Instrumental)
Tough beat, even if you're not into the synth sound much you can't deny it. Seems like an age ago when something this heavy could be a relatively mainstream track/club banger, but there we go. Check that drum pattern and see if it has an air of familiarity; it's the same layout as "It's All About The Benjamins," which was a heavy club tune in its own right.
The Roots : Panic!!!!!
That line I cut up jumped into my head when the Eric Garner grand jury ruling came out and I just knew I was going to include this track from "Illadelph Halflife" on the next episode. Very short, but Black Thought crams the whole story into a compact package with skill.
Brian Digby Jr. ft Donte and King Solomon : Showtime
Best MC name. Ok, second to Edgar Allan Floe. Obscure piece here, the B-side of the 2001 Raw-N-Tellect single "The Game" - I didn't know anything about any of the personnel on this record but gave it a go! Turns out the B-side takes it, with the MCs doing a good job over Jahson's string and piano-laden beat. If you like this, I've seen copies on Discogs going cheaply!
Camp Lo : Army
One of those 12"s with tracks that never showed up on an album but were serious flames all the same! The super-basic hook somehow totally works for me, and contrasts with the standard slang-heavy Lo style on the verses. Production is courtesy of Tribeca, who once again hammers the drum machine like it owes him money, with sound exploding all over the place. If you're a DJ, you'd do well to have this single in your crates.
M.O.P. : Shake 'Em Up
Brownsville's foremost representatives killed their performance of this at their recent show in Manchester, and as it was an early favourite of mine on the new "Street Certified" EP, it makes the cut. Los Angeles' Jazi Moto is on production, and the highlight has to be the drumming - not sure if it's live or programmed but she kills it! A little more low end would have been a bonus in my opinion but then it might have made it sound less natural. Big tune anyway :)
J-Zone : The Fox Hunt (Instrumental)
I wanted to follow the M.O.P. track with something where the drums were pretty active, and then remembered that on his return to releasing music, J-Zone had learned to play the drums and was incorporating a lot of live work into his tracks. This is the no-vocal version of one of the tracks from his latest album "The Peter Pan Syndrome," which is an album I'd recommend, just like the rest of Zone's output - he just doesn't sound like anyone else!
Dirty Diggers : Let The Pound Get A Round
Yorkshireman Young Max and Londoner Pat Stash put a perfect UK spin on the J Dilla beat that sampled Billy Paul's "Let The Dollar Circulate" and was the underpinning for Steve Spacek's "Dollar." Hopefully the worldwide listeners can appreciate this one as much as my domestic audience will :) Got this on one of those mysterious unofficial vinyls with a few other blends/remixes, so it may not have got an official release - snatch it up if you find it!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You killed the god, might as well throw a chair at me."
- Raekwon
If the Ferguson grand jury decision had come earlier in the month, I would have absolutely breathed fire through the entire selection - as it is, some of the third main segment ended up influenced by that travesty. I didn't even get into talking about Tamir Rice. Anyway, while a few tracks do communicate some of my thoughts on the whole affair, the selection as a whole has some brand new gems, some tracks to pay tribute to ODB and Big Bank Hank, and a little for anyone who enjoyed the electro era!
Links for this month;
The 2014 Good Podcasts award show, and the Straight To Your Head Podcast.
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass ft. Xzibit & Saafir : NBA
There was a long period when Ras just couldn't seem to catch a break and in the early 2000s, label and legal drama meant that his "Goldyn Child" album was shelved, which was a great shame. He's just managed to release it for sale on Bandcamp (minus the brilliant original version of the title track) and so I had to pick it up and support. On this cut, the theme from "NBA On NBC" forms the basis, with mic support from Ras' Cali compatriots Xzibit and Saafir. The three were an unofficial group calling themselves Golden State Warriors until the NBA team of the same name sent them a "cease and desist" notice; as just "Golden State," I believe they put one 12" out but for various reasons the planned album never came to be.
Lacks aka Ta'raach : Mann Up
A bonus beat from the instrumental version of the first Lacks album - don't have any back story on it, just a nice beat you're unlikely to hear anywhere else!
DJ Quik ft. Mack 10 : The Conduct
One of the big tunes of the last month from where I'm sitting! Im a big DJ Quik fan but have to admit I just wasn't feeling "The Book Of David" LP - however, he's back on form with "The Midnight Life!" This guitar and talkbox-packed monster is a great track musically and a sonic devastator; play it on a good system and just compare it to so many of the under-mixed rush jobs that make up the bulk of the market right now. Lyrically, Mack 10 resurfaces with a solid verse, but there's no-one with a cutting tongue quite like Quik. "And they gotta reapply every year for that job?" Ouch.
M-Phazes, Sean Price, Billy Danze, & Matthew Ragazino : Land Of The Crooks
Not enough street bangers like this one about right now, and this Brooklyn anthem is helmed by a producer many thousands of miles away from the borough - Queensland's M-Phazes, who brings the huge kick drums through! This is the title track of the "Land Of The Crooks" EP, which is a great pickup if this is your kind of thing. With a heavy beat like this one you need to be careful not to waste it, but Sean P and Billy Danze (of M.O.P) bring the veteran hardcore mic work, and relative newcomer Matthew Ragazino does his thing on the close too.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Jay Dee : Act Like You Know
Waajeed on the production for this shoulder-slumping head-nodder from the Bling 47 camp and extended Slum Village family. The late J Dilla pops in to do his thing on the mic here and as he says, "holla at the boy, he don't just produce beats!" From the "Triple P" album, which isn't super well-known but is well worth investigating.
Voodoo Black : Day To Day
A fine local product I hope all the listeners worldwide can appreciate! Manchester's Voodoo Black is Dubble O, Ellis Meade, and Sparkz on the mic, plus DJ Cutterz on the wheels, and their second EP ("Outsauced," available on Bandcamp) is a keeper. All the MCs do the business over the ill Pete Cannon beat which has the kind of flavour the NouGold guys would enjoy! Classic sample in the mix driving this one...
Air Adam : Harvester
Dug up this MP3 of a little beat I made a long while back, at least twelve or thirteen years ago, working on my PC before that was the fashionable thing to do! Long since lost the files for this one, but then I've done a lot more since :)
Zapp : It Doesn't Really Matter
I first saw/heard this (big Youtube find right there!) on a TV programme called "Solid Soul" back when I was about seven and thought "this is one of the greatest things I have ever heard," and so began a lifelong love of all things from Zapp and Roger Troutman. A tribute to the greats of soul, funk, and R&B, this was an overlooked record only because the same album ("The New Zapp IV U") also contained the runaway classic "Computer Love." Not even a very heavily sampled track as it turns out, so might be worth experimenting with for any producers listening!
NWA : Panic Zone
Probably not the sound you conjour up in your head when you think of NWA! Owing far more to Dr.Dre's lineage from the World Class Wreckin' Cru than the "Straight Outta Compton" explosion, this is a serious electro workout. Taken from what is sometimes considered their debut, the compilation "NWA & The Posse," this was co-written by Krazy Dee, a Mexican-American MC who originally wrote it as "Hispanic Zone!" (No, I'm not making a joke). Dre talked him out of it, and it became what it is now. That's got to be a suitably obscure-enough fact for you to be glad you're reading these notes.
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force : Looking For The Perfect Beat
I've heard a lot of this tune this month! Second single from Bambaataa, and you have to bear in mind that people simply weren't making records that sounded like this back in 1983! Arthur Baker and John Robie pulled out all the stops on the production, and the video in this article will tell you everything you might ever have wanted to know about the process. Oh yes - someone at the Hip-Hop History event at Leeds City Museum asked Bam if he ever found the perfect beat; he said he was still searching :)
Run The Jewels ft. BOOTS: Early
The combo of Killer Mike and El-P are back with a new album ("Run The Jewels 2") and it's probably even better than the first one - and at the grand price of £0, everyone should really have it! This track is my favourite and turned out to be a very timely inclusion for this month's episode (well, any month really), given its focus on police brutality. The great move in this track is the switch to the harder, more hectic beat partway through each verse as the situation takes a downward turn. BOOTS (not to be confused with Boots Riley) provides the hook, and El-P has a great verse, but Killer Mike... he lives up to his name.
Orbital : Know Where To Run
Hadn't heard this one from "The Middle Of Nowhere" in a while, but dug it out while looking for something to mix well with the preceding track and it was a great fit. That fourth Orbital album is underrated in my opinion, but if you like electronic music it really is worth having in the collection.
Wu-Tang Clan : Severe Punishment
Fierce track from the second Wu album, with the beat just stomping. Everyone slays their verses, and this month's epigram could easily have come from just about anything GZA spits here! On top of that, everyone who knows this album remembers the kung-fu sample that opens things and comes back at the close - it's from the film "Three Evil Masters," which I need to add to the collection...
Ol Dirty Bastard ft. Method Man : Dirty Dancin'
Ten years now since Dirty left us. I thought I'd share this bonus track from the CD/digital versions of the "Return To The 36 Chambers : The Dirty Version" album, even though it should have been a bonus just for the vinyl heads :) RZA on production as always, and some classic ODB bizarreness on the mic!
Public Enemy : Brothers Gonna Work It Out
Classic PE from "Fear Of A Black Planet," just the right speed and the right sentiment for this spot. While it takes its name from a 1973 Willie Hutch track, it's sonically a world away and packs in so much more lyrically - as is the advantage of rap. Chuck D in great form on the mic over some of that peak Bomb Squad production, which is a story in itself.
Ice Cube : Wicked
When this track first came out, I taped it off pirate radio and listened over and over - in my head, I had really vivid images of rioting and chaos. When I eventually saw the video, I was stunned to find it looked almost exactly like I'd imagined! This was the slamming lead single from "The Predator" released in the shadow of the Rodney King verdict and Los Angeles uprising, and much of the album carries the raw anger and rebellion of those times. The track is dense like something the Bomb Squad might have produced, but this beat is co-produced by Ice Cube and Torcha Chamba, who worked on a few West Coast records around that time. To top things off, we have the debut of Don Jagwarr, filling in the role of obligatory early 90s dancehall toaster ;) Heat!
Leaders Of The New School : Connections (Instrumental)
Big ups to DJ Omas for gifting me the "What's Next?" 12" this came from! Milo on the beat, early 90s drum-fest. The full version is either on this 12" or the 1993 "T.I.M.E" album.
Sugarhill Gang : 8th Wonder
With the passing of Big Bank Hank I figured everyone else was playing "Rapper's Delight" (despite its murky history), so I'd go with something different - it's not as though they only ever recorded one song! My vinyl was pretty beat so bought a digital copy and went with the full length version - there are a few shorter edits out there. In keeping with what Sugarhill Records were doing at the time, the beat is a live band recreation of a record that was being used by the Hip-Hop DJs of the time; in this case, "Daisy Lady" by 7th Wonder, hence the title!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You killed the god, might as well throw a chair at me."
- Raekwon
If the Ferguson grand jury decision had come earlier in the month, I would have absolutely breathed fire through the entire selection - as it is, some of the third main segment ended up influenced by that travesty. I didn't even get into talking about Tamir Rice. Anyway, while a few tracks do communicate some of my thoughts on the whole affair, the selection as a whole has some brand new gems, some tracks to pay tribute to ODB and Big Bank Hank, and a little for anyone who enjoyed the electro era!
Links for this month;
The 2014 Good Podcasts award show, and the Straight To Your Head Podcast.
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass ft. Xzibit & Saafir : NBA
There was a long period when Ras just couldn't seem to catch a break and in the early 2000s, label and legal drama meant that his "Goldyn Child" album was shelved, which was a great shame. He's just managed to release it for sale on Bandcamp (minus the brilliant original version of the title track) and so I had to pick it up and support. On this cut, the theme from "NBA On NBC" forms the basis, with mic support from Ras' Cali compatriots Xzibit and Saafir. The three were an unofficial group calling themselves Golden State Warriors until the NBA team of the same name sent them a "cease and desist" notice; as just "Golden State," I believe they put one 12" out but for various reasons the planned album never came to be.
Lacks aka Ta'raach : Mann Up
A bonus beat from the instrumental version of the first Lacks album - don't have any back story on it, just a nice beat you're unlikely to hear anywhere else!
DJ Quik ft. Mack 10 : The Conduct
One of the big tunes of the last month from where I'm sitting! Im a big DJ Quik fan but have to admit I just wasn't feeling "The Book Of David" LP - however, he's back on form with "The Midnight Life!" This guitar and talkbox-packed monster is a great track musically and a sonic devastator; play it on a good system and just compare it to so many of the under-mixed rush jobs that make up the bulk of the market right now. Lyrically, Mack 10 resurfaces with a solid verse, but there's no-one with a cutting tongue quite like Quik. "And they gotta reapply every year for that job?" Ouch.
M-Phazes, Sean Price, Billy Danze, & Matthew Ragazino : Land Of The Crooks
Not enough street bangers like this one about right now, and this Brooklyn anthem is helmed by a producer many thousands of miles away from the borough - Queensland's M-Phazes, who brings the huge kick drums through! This is the title track of the "Land Of The Crooks" EP, which is a great pickup if this is your kind of thing. With a heavy beat like this one you need to be careful not to waste it, but Sean P and Billy Danze (of M.O.P) bring the veteran hardcore mic work, and relative newcomer Matthew Ragazino does his thing on the close too.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Jay Dee : Act Like You Know
Waajeed on the production for this shoulder-slumping head-nodder from the Bling 47 camp and extended Slum Village family. The late J Dilla pops in to do his thing on the mic here and as he says, "holla at the boy, he don't just produce beats!" From the "Triple P" album, which isn't super well-known but is well worth investigating.
Voodoo Black : Day To Day
A fine local product I hope all the listeners worldwide can appreciate! Manchester's Voodoo Black is Dubble O, Ellis Meade, and Sparkz on the mic, plus DJ Cutterz on the wheels, and their second EP ("Outsauced," available on Bandcamp) is a keeper. All the MCs do the business over the ill Pete Cannon beat which has the kind of flavour the NouGold guys would enjoy! Classic sample in the mix driving this one...
Air Adam : Harvester
Dug up this MP3 of a little beat I made a long while back, at least twelve or thirteen years ago, working on my PC before that was the fashionable thing to do! Long since lost the files for this one, but then I've done a lot more since :)
Zapp : It Doesn't Really Matter
I first saw/heard this (big Youtube find right there!) on a TV programme called "Solid Soul" back when I was about seven and thought "this is one of the greatest things I have ever heard," and so began a lifelong love of all things from Zapp and Roger Troutman. A tribute to the greats of soul, funk, and R&B, this was an overlooked record only because the same album ("The New Zapp IV U") also contained the runaway classic "Computer Love." Not even a very heavily sampled track as it turns out, so might be worth experimenting with for any producers listening!
NWA : Panic Zone
Probably not the sound you conjour up in your head when you think of NWA! Owing far more to Dr.Dre's lineage from the World Class Wreckin' Cru than the "Straight Outta Compton" explosion, this is a serious electro workout. Taken from what is sometimes considered their debut, the compilation "NWA & The Posse," this was co-written by Krazy Dee, a Mexican-American MC who originally wrote it as "Hispanic Zone!" (No, I'm not making a joke). Dre talked him out of it, and it became what it is now. That's got to be a suitably obscure-enough fact for you to be glad you're reading these notes.
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force : Looking For The Perfect Beat
I've heard a lot of this tune this month! Second single from Bambaataa, and you have to bear in mind that people simply weren't making records that sounded like this back in 1983! Arthur Baker and John Robie pulled out all the stops on the production, and the video in this article will tell you everything you might ever have wanted to know about the process. Oh yes - someone at the Hip-Hop History event at Leeds City Museum asked Bam if he ever found the perfect beat; he said he was still searching :)
Run The Jewels ft. BOOTS: Early
The combo of Killer Mike and El-P are back with a new album ("Run The Jewels 2") and it's probably even better than the first one - and at the grand price of £0, everyone should really have it! This track is my favourite and turned out to be a very timely inclusion for this month's episode (well, any month really), given its focus on police brutality. The great move in this track is the switch to the harder, more hectic beat partway through each verse as the situation takes a downward turn. BOOTS (not to be confused with Boots Riley) provides the hook, and El-P has a great verse, but Killer Mike... he lives up to his name.
Orbital : Know Where To Run
Hadn't heard this one from "The Middle Of Nowhere" in a while, but dug it out while looking for something to mix well with the preceding track and it was a great fit. That fourth Orbital album is underrated in my opinion, but if you like electronic music it really is worth having in the collection.
Wu-Tang Clan : Severe Punishment
Fierce track from the second Wu album, with the beat just stomping. Everyone slays their verses, and this month's epigram could easily have come from just about anything GZA spits here! On top of that, everyone who knows this album remembers the kung-fu sample that opens things and comes back at the close - it's from the film "Three Evil Masters," which I need to add to the collection...
Ol Dirty Bastard ft. Method Man : Dirty Dancin'
Ten years now since Dirty left us. I thought I'd share this bonus track from the CD/digital versions of the "Return To The 36 Chambers : The Dirty Version" album, even though it should have been a bonus just for the vinyl heads :) RZA on production as always, and some classic ODB bizarreness on the mic!
Public Enemy : Brothers Gonna Work It Out
Classic PE from "Fear Of A Black Planet," just the right speed and the right sentiment for this spot. While it takes its name from a 1973 Willie Hutch track, it's sonically a world away and packs in so much more lyrically - as is the advantage of rap. Chuck D in great form on the mic over some of that peak Bomb Squad production, which is a story in itself.
Ice Cube : Wicked
When this track first came out, I taped it off pirate radio and listened over and over - in my head, I had really vivid images of rioting and chaos. When I eventually saw the video, I was stunned to find it looked almost exactly like I'd imagined! This was the slamming lead single from "The Predator" released in the shadow of the Rodney King verdict and Los Angeles uprising, and much of the album carries the raw anger and rebellion of those times. The track is dense like something the Bomb Squad might have produced, but this beat is co-produced by Ice Cube and Torcha Chamba, who worked on a few West Coast records around that time. To top things off, we have the debut of Don Jagwarr, filling in the role of obligatory early 90s dancehall toaster ;) Heat!
Leaders Of The New School : Connections (Instrumental)
Big ups to DJ Omas for gifting me the "What's Next?" 12" this came from! Milo on the beat, early 90s drum-fest. The full version is either on this 12" or the 1993 "T.I.M.E" album.
Sugarhill Gang : 8th Wonder
With the passing of Big Bank Hank I figured everyone else was playing "Rapper's Delight" (despite its murky history), so I'd go with something different - it's not as though they only ever recorded one song! My vinyl was pretty beat so bought a digital copy and went with the full length version - there are a few shorter edits out there. In keeping with what Sugarhill Records were doing at the time, the beat is a live band recreation of a record that was being used by the Hip-Hop DJs of the time; in this case, "Daisy Lady" by 7th Wonder, hence the title!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We were trading our crowns for our souls..."
- James Fauntleroy
Had I finished this episode earlier, it would have had a different title - but as it's Halloween and a Friday, I couldn't pass up the opportunity! Got some quality new releases and some definite archive raiding all lined up, which I encourage you to spread the word about as much as possible!
PS I mention Afrika Bambaataa appearing in Leeds next month; here's the info!
Playlist/Notes
Common ft. Cocaine 80s & Lil Herb : The Neighbourhood
If that intro doesn't get you, I suggest you head to the bathroom to check if you have a reflection. James Fauntleroy of Cocaine 80s opens it up with a fantastic vocal and lyric, before the sweeping, Curtis Mayfield-fuelled No I.D track comes in and helps Common to paint a dark picture of growing up in 70s-80s Chicago. He doesn't carry the mic alone though, with 90s baby Lil Herb taking the second verse and giving a perspective from his own generation. Common couldn't have opened his new "Nobody's Smiling" album any better.
[J.Cardim] AZ : Vendetta (Instrumental)
Few words. Dope beat. Soul sample. Sounds familiar. "The Format." That's all.
Fu-Schnickens ft. Shaquille O'Neal : What's Up Doc (Can We Rock)?
When this came out back in 1992 and I saw who was featuring, I cringed. Shaq was in his rookie year in the NBA and getting an insane amount of hype, and I thought this was just a quick cash-in move; in some ways it was, since he was added onto the end of an already-done track. Credit where it's due though, he put in a decent enough performance, and it turned out to be the prelude to his own little rap career. Moc Fu on the third verse takes the crown for me, despite not having the straight up speed or density of the other group members that appear on the track before him. Beat-wise, Main Source's K-Cut brings the bounce in a decidedly early 90s style. This was the lead single for the Fu's "Nervous Breakdown" album but actually first appeared on Shaq's debut - so at least three options there for finding it!
Oh yes - "when it comes to money," Shaq was not like Dick DeVos, given that this was the man who was paying him...
The Mouse Outfit : Power
This Manchester crew have been making moves since the release of their debut album "Escape Music," and now they're back with a brand new track. Sparkz and Ape Cult's Truthos Mufasa tag team the mic duties over some instrumental work that sounds like nothing this crew have done before. Constantly expanding, great to hear.
Jungle Brothers : 40 Below Trooper
I think this has to be my favourite track from this foundation crew, despite the fact that it's from one of their less-regarded albums ("J Beez Wit The Remedy"). I caught the video on MTV many moons ago back in 1993 and was an instant favourite. Reportedly, the production of this album was mired in drama as the group wanted to go experimental, and the record company (Warner Bros) kept rejecting their material and sending them back to the studio. The final version was much less out-there than the original, and this track maybe speaks to that - very dope, but also accessible to the average head of the time, like me.
Kazahaya : Remember Hip-Hop (Instrumental)
2009 release on Breakin' Bread from Kazahaya, a Japanese beatmaker very much in the cut-and-paste vein and wedded to the classic sound. This is the instrumental of course but to get the full effect, search out the "Remember Hip-Hop" EP, if you can!
EMC : Charly Murphie
Big stomping track! To really appreciate the full awesomeness of this track, you need to have seen the now-legendary episode of the Dave Chappelle Show where Charlie Murphy (brother of Eddie) tells the story of his run-ins with Rick James. All the MCs - Masta Ace, Stricklin, and Wordsworth - slay this track with callbacks to that famous sketch, and 14KT handles the production, with a track based around "Three Blind Mice." Stormer from the new EP "The Turning Point."
Tall Black Guy ft. Ozay Moore : Mon amie De'troit
Beautiful production by Tall Black Guy, just absolutely golden. That bassline lets you know straight off, but the skittering hat work and the guitar line elevate it right out of whatever building you're in. Ozay Moore, formerly known as Othello, brilliantly carries off his lyrical personification of Detroit as a woman going through hard times. The album "8 Miles To Moenart" isn't long, and doesn't have many vocals, but it's truly high-quality and gets my recommendation.
Dilated Peoples : Century Of The Self (ft. Catero)
After a long layoff from working as a group, Dilated are back with the "Directors Of Photography" album (damn, wish I'd thought of using that title) and it's a good return to the stage. This is one of my favourites on there, but it's an unusual lineup; Oh No on production, and with only Rakaa on the verses. Oh, and what verses! All the way political, and what would be called "paranoid" if so much of it wasn't actually documented fact, it's definitely worth sitting down with this one and really absorbing the lyrics.
The Brotherhood : Alphabetical Response
Trivia note - this was the first track on my first ever mixtape! It turns out it's a lot easier putting it at the start than mixing it in, the intro is a DJ nightmare - took some careful listening :) Late 90s UK single taken from the "Elementalz" album, with Underdog on the haunting head-nod beat and working in the Speak & Spell for the hook! I would also wager this one track has more uses of the word "bonce" than the rest of Hip-Hop to date combined. I'm glad we righted that ship.
C2C : The Beat
France stand up! Turntablists par excellence C2C get very busy on this, cutting and scratching everything in sight/hearing on a track I have to believe would work very well on a discerning dancefloor. It's also a bonus they kicked it off with another Speak & Spell sample! If you want more, you need to pick up the "Tetra" LP.
The Action Figures : Russell Westbrook
Had this one hanging around for a while, and it was not only a sonically good fit but the title is pretty topical if you're an NBA fan! TAF hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are tied into the wider Hip-Hop community centred around Detroit - in fact, this track was produced by Young RJ of BR Gunna and Slum Village, and you can definitely hear the Motor City sound in there. Just a nice little digital single, which you can get free from their Soundcloud.
Clear Soul Forces ft. Kooley High : Freq Freq
Detroit yet again, striking to see so much material coming from a city which pre-Slum Village was never thought of as a Hip-Hop hotbed! Clear Soul Forces combine with North Carolina's Kooley High (who I'm only just hearing for the first time) to just kick lyrics over the crisp drums provided by Ilajide to great effect. Bargain price on Bandcamp, so don't be shy about picking it up and following both crews!
Mos Def : The Edge
The album "The New Danger" contained a track titled "Close Edge," which is almost identical to this; I got this on a while label a while before the album was released, and it seems that they gave it a bit more tweaking and changed the title. Either way, a solid track with Mos in low-key battle mode on a Minnesota beat that has all kinds of percussion going on in the background - have a keen listen for it and note how empty the track would sound without it.
O.C. : The Professional
What you know about this one? You could justifiably call "Starchild" O.C.'s "lost album" - hamstrung by sample clearance problems, not a big seller, rarely remembered as part of his discography, and produced without any input from the rest of the DITC crew. If you can get hold of it though, then do - you'll probably have to go for digital download since only 20,000 were ever pressed. I think it's fair to say O.C. is never one to disappoint with the lyrics, so the concern is always going to be whether the rest of the package can keep up. A producer named Vanguard takes the boards for this heavy horn-laden outing, with the infamous DJ Revolution contributing the extra-sharp cuts - mission accomplished.
Damu The Fudgemunk : Work In Progress
One for the DMV! Washington's true-school stalwart beatmaker is always reliable for some classic drum and sample tracks, and this (maybe unfinished) one from his "Spare Time" album delivers the goods.
The Lench Mob : Lord Have Mercy
If you weren't listening to Hip-Hop in the early 90s, you probably never heard of this crew. If you were, you definitely have! Their controversial debut album "Guerillas In Tha Mist" from which this track is drawn made some noise at the time with some of the big hammering tunes but this little gem was overlooked. Uncomplicated but dope use of a well-known sample made the perfect backdrop for the heartfelt lyrics. Ice Cube put this LA crew on, and it was all there for them but unfortunately a murder conviction for J-Dee was a near-final blow; they replaced him for their second album, before fading away. Regardless, this track will always stand tall.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We were trading our crowns for our souls..."
- James Fauntleroy
Had I finished this episode earlier, it would have had a different title - but as it's Halloween and a Friday, I couldn't pass up the opportunity! Got some quality new releases and some definite archive raiding all lined up, which I encourage you to spread the word about as much as possible!
PS I mention Afrika Bambaataa appearing in Leeds next month; here's the info!
Playlist/Notes
Common ft. Cocaine 80s & Lil Herb : The Neighbourhood
If that intro doesn't get you, I suggest you head to the bathroom to check if you have a reflection. James Fauntleroy of Cocaine 80s opens it up with a fantastic vocal and lyric, before the sweeping, Curtis Mayfield-fuelled No I.D track comes in and helps Common to paint a dark picture of growing up in 70s-80s Chicago. He doesn't carry the mic alone though, with 90s baby Lil Herb taking the second verse and giving a perspective from his own generation. Common couldn't have opened his new "Nobody's Smiling" album any better.
[J.Cardim] AZ : Vendetta (Instrumental)
Few words. Dope beat. Soul sample. Sounds familiar. "The Format." That's all.
Fu-Schnickens ft. Shaquille O'Neal : What's Up Doc (Can We Rock)?
When this came out back in 1992 and I saw who was featuring, I cringed. Shaq was in his rookie year in the NBA and getting an insane amount of hype, and I thought this was just a quick cash-in move; in some ways it was, since he was added onto the end of an already-done track. Credit where it's due though, he put in a decent enough performance, and it turned out to be the prelude to his own little rap career. Moc Fu on the third verse takes the crown for me, despite not having the straight up speed or density of the other group members that appear on the track before him. Beat-wise, Main Source's K-Cut brings the bounce in a decidedly early 90s style. This was the lead single for the Fu's "Nervous Breakdown" album but actually first appeared on Shaq's debut - so at least three options there for finding it!
Oh yes - "when it comes to money," Shaq was not like Dick DeVos, given that this was the man who was paying him...
The Mouse Outfit : Power
This Manchester crew have been making moves since the release of their debut album "Escape Music," and now they're back with a brand new track. Sparkz and Ape Cult's Truthos Mufasa tag team the mic duties over some instrumental work that sounds like nothing this crew have done before. Constantly expanding, great to hear.
Jungle Brothers : 40 Below Trooper
I think this has to be my favourite track from this foundation crew, despite the fact that it's from one of their less-regarded albums ("J Beez Wit The Remedy"). I caught the video on MTV many moons ago back in 1993 and was an instant favourite. Reportedly, the production of this album was mired in drama as the group wanted to go experimental, and the record company (Warner Bros) kept rejecting their material and sending them back to the studio. The final version was much less out-there than the original, and this track maybe speaks to that - very dope, but also accessible to the average head of the time, like me.
Kazahaya : Remember Hip-Hop (Instrumental)
2009 release on Breakin' Bread from Kazahaya, a Japanese beatmaker very much in the cut-and-paste vein and wedded to the classic sound. This is the instrumental of course but to get the full effect, search out the "Remember Hip-Hop" EP, if you can!
EMC : Charly Murphie
Big stomping track! To really appreciate the full awesomeness of this track, you need to have seen the now-legendary episode of the Dave Chappelle Show where Charlie Murphy (brother of Eddie) tells the story of his run-ins with Rick James. All the MCs - Masta Ace, Stricklin, and Wordsworth - slay this track with callbacks to that famous sketch, and 14KT handles the production, with a track based around "Three Blind Mice." Stormer from the new EP "The Turning Point."
Tall Black Guy ft. Ozay Moore : Mon amie De'troit
Beautiful production by Tall Black Guy, just absolutely golden. That bassline lets you know straight off, but the skittering hat work and the guitar line elevate it right out of whatever building you're in. Ozay Moore, formerly known as Othello, brilliantly carries off his lyrical personification of Detroit as a woman going through hard times. The album "8 Miles To Moenart" isn't long, and doesn't have many vocals, but it's truly high-quality and gets my recommendation.
Dilated Peoples : Century Of The Self (ft. Catero)
After a long layoff from working as a group, Dilated are back with the "Directors Of Photography" album (damn, wish I'd thought of using that title) and it's a good return to the stage. This is one of my favourites on there, but it's an unusual lineup; Oh No on production, and with only Rakaa on the verses. Oh, and what verses! All the way political, and what would be called "paranoid" if so much of it wasn't actually documented fact, it's definitely worth sitting down with this one and really absorbing the lyrics.
The Brotherhood : Alphabetical Response
Trivia note - this was the first track on my first ever mixtape! It turns out it's a lot easier putting it at the start than mixing it in, the intro is a DJ nightmare - took some careful listening :) Late 90s UK single taken from the "Elementalz" album, with Underdog on the haunting head-nod beat and working in the Speak & Spell for the hook! I would also wager this one track has more uses of the word "bonce" than the rest of Hip-Hop to date combined. I'm glad we righted that ship.
C2C : The Beat
France stand up! Turntablists par excellence C2C get very busy on this, cutting and scratching everything in sight/hearing on a track I have to believe would work very well on a discerning dancefloor. It's also a bonus they kicked it off with another Speak & Spell sample! If you want more, you need to pick up the "Tetra" LP.
The Action Figures : Russell Westbrook
Had this one hanging around for a while, and it was not only a sonically good fit but the title is pretty topical if you're an NBA fan! TAF hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are tied into the wider Hip-Hop community centred around Detroit - in fact, this track was produced by Young RJ of BR Gunna and Slum Village, and you can definitely hear the Motor City sound in there. Just a nice little digital single, which you can get free from their Soundcloud.
Clear Soul Forces ft. Kooley High : Freq Freq
Detroit yet again, striking to see so much material coming from a city which pre-Slum Village was never thought of as a Hip-Hop hotbed! Clear Soul Forces combine with North Carolina's Kooley High (who I'm only just hearing for the first time) to just kick lyrics over the crisp drums provided by Ilajide to great effect. Bargain price on Bandcamp, so don't be shy about picking it up and following both crews!
Mos Def : The Edge
The album "The New Danger" contained a track titled "Close Edge," which is almost identical to this; I got this on a while label a while before the album was released, and it seems that they gave it a bit more tweaking and changed the title. Either way, a solid track with Mos in low-key battle mode on a Minnesota beat that has all kinds of percussion going on in the background - have a keen listen for it and note how empty the track would sound without it.
O.C. : The Professional
What you know about this one? You could justifiably call "Starchild" O.C.'s "lost album" - hamstrung by sample clearance problems, not a big seller, rarely remembered as part of his discography, and produced without any input from the rest of the DITC crew. If you can get hold of it though, then do - you'll probably have to go for digital download since only 20,000 were ever pressed. I think it's fair to say O.C. is never one to disappoint with the lyrics, so the concern is always going to be whether the rest of the package can keep up. A producer named Vanguard takes the boards for this heavy horn-laden outing, with the infamous DJ Revolution contributing the extra-sharp cuts - mission accomplished.
Damu The Fudgemunk : Work In Progress
One for the DMV! Washington's true-school stalwart beatmaker is always reliable for some classic drum and sample tracks, and this (maybe unfinished) one from his "Spare Time" album delivers the goods.
The Lench Mob : Lord Have Mercy
If you weren't listening to Hip-Hop in the early 90s, you probably never heard of this crew. If you were, you definitely have! Their controversial debut album "Guerillas In Tha Mist" from which this track is drawn made some noise at the time with some of the big hammering tunes but this little gem was overlooked. Uncomplicated but dope use of a well-known sample made the perfect backdrop for the heartfelt lyrics. Ice Cube put this LA crew on, and it was all there for them but unfortunately a murder conviction for J-Dee was a near-final blow; they replaced him for their second album, before fading away. Regardless, this track will always stand tall.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Rich for a poor man, poor for a rich man..."
- Essa
What a month - started a new day job, had a couple of photo assignments, plus needed to plan a mix including some Biggie (20 years since "Ready To Die" was released), 2Pac (18 years since he passed), and a few other tracks I've had on standby for a while. So far, all is good - let's get into the notes for the month...
Playlist/Notes
Essa : The Middle Man (Tall Black Guy Remix)
A bit of a poetic start to the proceedings; great new UK track to kick things off, with the production getting a top-line upgrade with Tall Black Guy on the boards! I didn't know until researching the episode that Essa went to school at Eton, but it makes sense since he's also a practicing lawyer - it all shows in his lyrics. This particular version is a limited edition 7" release you can buy through Bandcamp, but for more of his quality rhymes grab the "The Misadventures Of A Middle Man" album - bargain price for it right now.
[Buckwild] Mendoughza : Club Banga (Instrumental)
One of those random tunes I dug out trying to find an instrumental, only to find it's pretty notable in its own way! Mendoughza was down with the late great Guru of Gang Starr, and featured on a few things but this looks like it may have been his only 12" release. If you're only going to have the one, then having D.I.T.C's Buckwild produce it is a pretty huge result!
Main Ingredient : Summer Breeze
We're just leaving summer, so here's the last flush of the season. Soul cover version (and an upgrade, I feel) of the Seals and Crofts track, but you only get one verse before...
The Notorious B.I.G : Things Done Changed
"Whatever happened to the summertime cookouts?" Gone. Gone like the preceding track, which provided the bulk of the samples for this incredible Darnell Scott beat. Whatever happened to him? I actually did a web search looking for more credits and it seems he only did this one perfect track. The first full song on Biggie's "Ready To Die" was instantly arresting, and it stopped me dead the first time I heard it roughly twenty years ago. Biggie's lyrics on how life got so much harsher for so many people as he grew up set the tone perfectly for a beautifully dark album - or was it darkly beautiful?
Cocaine 80s : To Tell You The Truth
No I.D.'s collective are a little on the mysterious side but do turn out some serious free releases. I got this one from the "The Pursuit EP," and it's got a nice bit of edge to it. James Fauntleroy is a killer on the lead vocals for the group, and they really, really need to get a full album out there!
2Pac : Temptations
It's been eighteen years? Feeling old again. Taken from the "Me Against The World" album, 2Pac gives his take on temptation (of course), commitment, and loneliness in his own style; nothing tongue-twisting, just very simply worded. The Easy Mo Bee beat is insane, blending Zapp's "Computer Love" (for the bassline), Redman's "Watch Yo Nuggets," and more besides. From the twilight of the period of 2Pac's career that interested me, before the Death Row era, this was a fantastic single. Funny video too :)
Nitty Gritty ft. Wise Intelligent : Good Morning Teacher (Crush Sounds Poppa Fred Mix)
Quality dedication to the late reggae artist Nitty Gritty (for whose killing Super Cat was once charged) and other fallen dancehall stars by Wise Intelligent of Trenton, New Jersey's Poor Righteous Teachers. Nitty Gritty recorded the original for King Jammys sound in Jamaica, but Wise Intelligent takes the vocals for the hook and adds his own lyrics for the bulk of the tune. Ill Will Fulton does the business on the remix production, working around the famous "Stalag" riddim.
Hieroglyphics : Love Flowin' (A-Plus Remix Instrumental)
Another under-appreciated beat unearthed from the vinyl vaults! A-Plus of Souls Of Mischief on the boards for this one.
Boot Camp Clik ft. Aaliyah : Night Riders (Original Remix)
Brooklyn! A nice 90s piece recently put out for free by the official BCC Soundcloud page. The first version was on the 1997 "For The People" LP, and there's a more modern remix done by 9th Wonder, but apparently this was the original remix version. It keeps the Buckshot and Boogie Brown instrumental, but exchanges LaVoice for the late Aaliyah to give little extra to the hook. Works. Oh yeah, look out for Omar from "The Wire" in the original video ;)
Lowkey ft. Shadia Mansour : Too Much
More UK flavour, this time with an MC who is unafraid to take on political topics - whether it's militarism, Palestine, media, or whatever - and puts himself in the vein of the Immortal Techniques of this world. Absolutely love his breakdown of what money can and can't get you, and the laid-back Nutty P production and Shadia Mansour on the hook give it a smoothness that helps the medicine go down. Taken from the "Soundtrack To The Struggle" album, this wasn't a single but I think definitely could have been.
Sean Price ft. Phonte : Let It Be Known
Two of my favourite MCs combine here, each with their own style but pure talent regardless. On this selection from Sean's second album "Jesus Price Supastar," check how the rhyme schemes on the two verses are actually the same, with just the actual words changing - very cleverly done. On the beat, 9th Wonder comes in - people often complain about his drums, but you have to appreciate what he brings here with that drum pattern - unusual, and very dope.
The Regiment ft. Guilty Simpson : Beef
"Beef is guns and butter, no peace line / Sauteed, fried, with hate on the side..." I've had this one on deck for months, never quite being able to fit it in - finally got there this episode! Detroit's OSI and Ise Qold go in hard on the mic alongside hometown guest Guilty Simpson over a grimy Nick Speed beat. I got this free from Bandcamp, but it's also on their debut "Live From The Coney Island" album, which is well worth checking.
Om Unit : Folding Shadows
The man also known as 2Tall for his turntablist exploits is also a very accomplished producer, and he showcases a deft touch on this dark, dark track from his "Threads" album.
3rd Bass ft. Chubb Rock : Kick 'Em In The Grill
Just so we're clear, we're totally coming back to this album in the future! "Derelicts Of Dialect," the group's second album is an extremely underrated 90s release which I think everyone should have. The Brooklyn/Queens trio only had a two-album run before an acrimonious split, but both were quality. Right here you have (now label exec and reality TV host) MC Serch and (current baseball memorabilia dealer) Pete Nice ripping the mic on an SD50-produced track, with Daddy Rich jumping in with the cuts and Chubb Rock with a dope guest verse.
Camp Lo : Cold Retarded
New flavour from one of my personal favourites, a preview for their forthcoming album which will be solely produced by Ski - the man responsible for the beats on "Uptown Saturday Night." As usual, an absolute slang torrent on this short and sweet track, and on the instrumental side, pay close attention to the ridiculously dextrous bass work; all kinds of runs and slides going on!
OutKast ft. Raekwon : Skew It On The Bar-B
I think I underrated this one when it came out, but that was partly because I just preferred "ATLiens" to "Aquemini," the album this was on. My bad! Raekwon, responsible for one of my top two albums of all time ("...Cuban Linx...") absolutely melts down his guest appearance - pay attention to how he keeps the same rhyme going through the entire verse. Insane. Organized Noise have the drums snapping, and OutKast themselves are quality on the mic as always, but that Rae verse though...
Ty ft. Bémbé Ségué : Groovement (Parts 1 & 2)
I kept meaning to ask Agent J if his website/podcast is named after this tune, then in the middle of a Google search found out it was! Ty has been one of the great talents of the UK scene for a long time and this is one of my favourite tracks from him, proper funk workout with just a hint of Latin flavour. I got this on the 12" with "Ha Ha" on the flip but it's also on the "Upwards" album. Great track to have in your collection either way.
Professor Griff : Bro Kemit Splitting Atom's In The Corporate War Zone [sic]
Sorry for the needle skip - tried to clean it out but to no avail!
This song is at least in part being included because of that incredible title, which I remember using once in a high school game of "Hangman" (seriously). Before a field trip to a place called Cober Hill, I had a few quid in my pocket to buy just one new record to tape and take with me; the choice came down to Public Enemy's "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" and Professor Griff's second album "Kao's II Wiz *7* Dome," and Griff won it. Turned out to be a good thing since the PE album has remained available, whereas I've not seen a copy of this outside my own library in years. This track closes the album and is very much of its era - a long posse cut, pro-Black lyrics, and the most incredible amount of shout-outs ever. Even dedicated "shout out" tracks on other albums don't have as many as this one. The beat comes from The Soul Society, of which Griff is a member, and bears the Miami influence of the Skyywalker Records label that this was released under - listen out for the sub-bass drops!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Rich for a poor man, poor for a rich man..."
- Essa
What a month - started a new day job, had a couple of photo assignments, plus needed to plan a mix including some Biggie (20 years since "Ready To Die" was released), 2Pac (18 years since he passed), and a few other tracks I've had on standby for a while. So far, all is good - let's get into the notes for the month...
Playlist/Notes
Essa : The Middle Man (Tall Black Guy Remix)
A bit of a poetic start to the proceedings; great new UK track to kick things off, with the production getting a top-line upgrade with Tall Black Guy on the boards! I didn't know until researching the episode that Essa went to school at Eton, but it makes sense since he's also a practicing lawyer - it all shows in his lyrics. This particular version is a limited edition 7" release you can buy through Bandcamp, but for more of his quality rhymes grab the "The Misadventures Of A Middle Man" album - bargain price for it right now.
[Buckwild] Mendoughza : Club Banga (Instrumental)
One of those random tunes I dug out trying to find an instrumental, only to find it's pretty notable in its own way! Mendoughza was down with the late great Guru of Gang Starr, and featured on a few things but this looks like it may have been his only 12" release. If you're only going to have the one, then having D.I.T.C's Buckwild produce it is a pretty huge result!
Main Ingredient : Summer Breeze
We're just leaving summer, so here's the last flush of the season. Soul cover version (and an upgrade, I feel) of the Seals and Crofts track, but you only get one verse before...
The Notorious B.I.G : Things Done Changed
"Whatever happened to the summertime cookouts?" Gone. Gone like the preceding track, which provided the bulk of the samples for this incredible Darnell Scott beat. Whatever happened to him? I actually did a web search looking for more credits and it seems he only did this one perfect track. The first full song on Biggie's "Ready To Die" was instantly arresting, and it stopped me dead the first time I heard it roughly twenty years ago. Biggie's lyrics on how life got so much harsher for so many people as he grew up set the tone perfectly for a beautifully dark album - or was it darkly beautiful?
Cocaine 80s : To Tell You The Truth
No I.D.'s collective are a little on the mysterious side but do turn out some serious free releases. I got this one from the "The Pursuit EP," and it's got a nice bit of edge to it. James Fauntleroy is a killer on the lead vocals for the group, and they really, really need to get a full album out there!
2Pac : Temptations
It's been eighteen years? Feeling old again. Taken from the "Me Against The World" album, 2Pac gives his take on temptation (of course), commitment, and loneliness in his own style; nothing tongue-twisting, just very simply worded. The Easy Mo Bee beat is insane, blending Zapp's "Computer Love" (for the bassline), Redman's "Watch Yo Nuggets," and more besides. From the twilight of the period of 2Pac's career that interested me, before the Death Row era, this was a fantastic single. Funny video too :)
Nitty Gritty ft. Wise Intelligent : Good Morning Teacher (Crush Sounds Poppa Fred Mix)
Quality dedication to the late reggae artist Nitty Gritty (for whose killing Super Cat was once charged) and other fallen dancehall stars by Wise Intelligent of Trenton, New Jersey's Poor Righteous Teachers. Nitty Gritty recorded the original for King Jammys sound in Jamaica, but Wise Intelligent takes the vocals for the hook and adds his own lyrics for the bulk of the tune. Ill Will Fulton does the business on the remix production, working around the famous "Stalag" riddim.
Hieroglyphics : Love Flowin' (A-Plus Remix Instrumental)
Another under-appreciated beat unearthed from the vinyl vaults! A-Plus of Souls Of Mischief on the boards for this one.
Boot Camp Clik ft. Aaliyah : Night Riders (Original Remix)
Brooklyn! A nice 90s piece recently put out for free by the official BCC Soundcloud page. The first version was on the 1997 "For The People" LP, and there's a more modern remix done by 9th Wonder, but apparently this was the original remix version. It keeps the Buckshot and Boogie Brown instrumental, but exchanges LaVoice for the late Aaliyah to give little extra to the hook. Works. Oh yeah, look out for Omar from "The Wire" in the original video ;)
Lowkey ft. Shadia Mansour : Too Much
More UK flavour, this time with an MC who is unafraid to take on political topics - whether it's militarism, Palestine, media, or whatever - and puts himself in the vein of the Immortal Techniques of this world. Absolutely love his breakdown of what money can and can't get you, and the laid-back Nutty P production and Shadia Mansour on the hook give it a smoothness that helps the medicine go down. Taken from the "Soundtrack To The Struggle" album, this wasn't a single but I think definitely could have been.
Sean Price ft. Phonte : Let It Be Known
Two of my favourite MCs combine here, each with their own style but pure talent regardless. On this selection from Sean's second album "Jesus Price Supastar," check how the rhyme schemes on the two verses are actually the same, with just the actual words changing - very cleverly done. On the beat, 9th Wonder comes in - people often complain about his drums, but you have to appreciate what he brings here with that drum pattern - unusual, and very dope.
The Regiment ft. Guilty Simpson : Beef
"Beef is guns and butter, no peace line / Sauteed, fried, with hate on the side..." I've had this one on deck for months, never quite being able to fit it in - finally got there this episode! Detroit's OSI and Ise Qold go in hard on the mic alongside hometown guest Guilty Simpson over a grimy Nick Speed beat. I got this free from Bandcamp, but it's also on their debut "Live From The Coney Island" album, which is well worth checking.
Om Unit : Folding Shadows
The man also known as 2Tall for his turntablist exploits is also a very accomplished producer, and he showcases a deft touch on this dark, dark track from his "Threads" album.
3rd Bass ft. Chubb Rock : Kick 'Em In The Grill
Just so we're clear, we're totally coming back to this album in the future! "Derelicts Of Dialect," the group's second album is an extremely underrated 90s release which I think everyone should have. The Brooklyn/Queens trio only had a two-album run before an acrimonious split, but both were quality. Right here you have (now label exec and reality TV host) MC Serch and (current baseball memorabilia dealer) Pete Nice ripping the mic on an SD50-produced track, with Daddy Rich jumping in with the cuts and Chubb Rock with a dope guest verse.
Camp Lo : Cold Retarded
New flavour from one of my personal favourites, a preview for their forthcoming album which will be solely produced by Ski - the man responsible for the beats on "Uptown Saturday Night." As usual, an absolute slang torrent on this short and sweet track, and on the instrumental side, pay close attention to the ridiculously dextrous bass work; all kinds of runs and slides going on!
OutKast ft. Raekwon : Skew It On The Bar-B
I think I underrated this one when it came out, but that was partly because I just preferred "ATLiens" to "Aquemini," the album this was on. My bad! Raekwon, responsible for one of my top two albums of all time ("...Cuban Linx...") absolutely melts down his guest appearance - pay attention to how he keeps the same rhyme going through the entire verse. Insane. Organized Noise have the drums snapping, and OutKast themselves are quality on the mic as always, but that Rae verse though...
Ty ft. Bémbé Ségué : Groovement (Parts 1 & 2)
I kept meaning to ask Agent J if his website/podcast is named after this tune, then in the middle of a Google search found out it was! Ty has been one of the great talents of the UK scene for a long time and this is one of my favourite tracks from him, proper funk workout with just a hint of Latin flavour. I got this on the 12" with "Ha Ha" on the flip but it's also on the "Upwards" album. Great track to have in your collection either way.
Professor Griff : Bro Kemit Splitting Atom's In The Corporate War Zone [sic]
Sorry for the needle skip - tried to clean it out but to no avail!
This song is at least in part being included because of that incredible title, which I remember using once in a high school game of "Hangman" (seriously). Before a field trip to a place called Cober Hill, I had a few quid in my pocket to buy just one new record to tape and take with me; the choice came down to Public Enemy's "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" and Professor Griff's second album "Kao's II Wiz *7* Dome," and Griff won it. Turned out to be a good thing since the PE album has remained available, whereas I've not seen a copy of this outside my own library in years. This track closes the album and is very much of its era - a long posse cut, pro-Black lyrics, and the most incredible amount of shout-outs ever. Even dedicated "shout out" tracks on other albums don't have as many as this one. The beat comes from The Soul Society, of which Griff is a member, and bears the Miami influence of the Skyywalker Records label that this was released under - listen out for the sub-bass drops!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"They plant drugs on us, stamp 'thugs' on us..."
- Guilty Simpson
Back from a great two-week trip to Barbados, I'm working some West Indian vibes into the selection this month! Got some nice long blends going too, and a bit of a subwoofer test :)
Only one link up in this section this month - leave me a drop from the comfort of your own computer!
Playlist/Notes
Dawn Penn : You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)
Starting it off with a classic! Dawn Penn recorded a track called "You Don't Love Me" back in 1967, before taking a break from the music industry in 1970. She came back to the scene in the late 80s, and in the early 90s reprised the '67 track with more of a contemporary dancehall feel - still the same soul though! Lisyen back to that original, then come back and enjoy this one - it just goes to show that when it comes down to it, songwriting and vocal talent are portable and enduring, fads and trickery are not. Salute!
Jae Millz : No, No, No
Big up Andy Peek for playing this 12" at In The Loop one month! Scram Jones (credited as Marc Schemer) takes the intro of the Dawn Penn track and bases his own beat on it, and then Jae Millz rhymes around the "no, no, no" interjections - not a unique idea, but a well-executed one. I don't know if Millz has any Jamaican background but the video is shot there and he's rhyming in front of the flag for parts of it! Despite having been around on the fringes for years, he's just now getting ready to put out a debut album - with the Young Money crew though, so possibly not as much my speed sonically as this track is. This is a nice record, though one where the beat definitely outshines the mic work!
Tnght (Hudson Mohawke x Lunice) : Higher Ground
Big Scottish/Canadian combination, I would never have come across this record if I hadn't heard DJ A-Up and Agent J drop it in a club to serious effect! Very electronic, nothing acoustic sounding in the whole track, booming kick and handclaps taking the place where many hi-hat patterns would normally sit - while the hats here go independent :) Great track from the "Tnght" EP, which is only about £3 as a digital download if this is to your taste!
Assassin :Anywhere We Go
Anthemic dancehall track from St.Andrews Parish (JA) native Assassin, expounding on how much the women love him! Big tune on the "85" riddim by Dave Kelly, also heard on Baby Cham's "Ghetto Story," which is definitely better known around these parts. There are 7"s of this one around for very reasonable prices, so this is one for the dancehall DJs to grab.
Run The Jewels : Get It
Good test for your bass setup right here. El-P and Killer Mike combine here for some unadulterated hardcore from their eponymous free mini-album. All kinds of low-end kicks, and listen out for that repeating/echoing snare drum - it wouldn't be half the track with a normal one there.
Paul Wall ft. Big Pokey : Sittin' Sidewayz
Love this record. The Salih Williams beat is an absolute monster; as I said many episodes ago, built around that little guitar sample, but that bass is what most people will remember! Houston's Paul Wall had this as the first single from his solo debut "The People's Champ" after he parted ways with Chamillionaire. One thing that did stay the same (in a good way) was his lyrical content - no nations being uplifted, just stunting like Lee Majors in "The Fall Guy!"
Shinehead : Billie Jean
First became aware of this one when the sound system Mighty Crown dropped a special of it during a soundclash I was listening to. That snare is so intrusive and crunchy on the high end, it snatches your attention almost as much as the Wild West whistling running through the intro! An unexpected, unusual, but excellent cover version of the legendary Michael Jackson track from the UK-born, Bronx raised Shinehead.
Byron Lee and The Dragonaires : Mission Impossible
A treat for the steel pan fans! Tenor pan getting busy here on those rolls with a Caribbean take on the well-known Lalo Schifrin spy theme. The Dragonaires have been going since 1950 with Byron Lee passing in 2008, and always had a rep for being able to play any style of music; with that in mind, it makes sense that they could take this track and make it extra-hot! You can get this on the 1997 "Socarobics" album, along with a lot of other flavour :)
Guilty Simpson : Pigs
The first of two critiques (to say the least) of the police, and as it happens they're both out of Detroit. Here we have Guilty Simpson with a short but crushing track from his 2008 debut "Ode To The Ghetto" album, going in on the police for their well-documented racial profiling and the kind of laziness on the job that leads to real criminals snitching and walking while others take the fall. The somehow busy and bare beat comes courtesy of Madlib, on fine form.
Jay Dee : Fuck The Police
This will be much better known to most heads than the Guilty Simpson track - in fact, some people will know this even better than NWA's certified classic "Fuck Tha Police" from 1989! Dilla wrote this at the suggestion of his mother, who put the idea forward after seeing him suffer from constant police harrassment. You can find this as a 12" with the incredible "Move" on the B-side, and it's a must-own.
Boogie Down Productions : Gimme Dat (Woy)
Wanted to go with "Who Protects Us From You?" but as it wasn't close to a speed match, I went for a different track from the same album ("Ghetto Music : The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop") that was a better fit in terms of tempo and composition. Don't be fooled by the relative smoothness of the beat, the drums knock and KRS is on battle mode on this one.
Blak Twang ft. K9 :Where Lions Roam
I'm a big Black Twang fan but wasn't totally sold on "The Rotton Club" - this was one of the body-moving standouts though. Tony Rotton self-produced this one and it bounces along nicely in a stripped-back kind of way!
Ali Vegas : Gangsta Boogie (Instrumental)
One of those tracks where I'm really unlikely to play the vocal (it's not actually that good), but the beat has the little charm of sampling a recognisable 80s song...which I won't reveal here since I think it might be uncleared! I think this is a 12"-only release, but the A-side isn't really hitting so only pick it up if you need this track.
Teff Mayweather : Starz
I was looking for some contemporary Bajan hip-hop to play, and so far as I can see this is one of the guys making the most noise right now. It's a little commercial sounding, and fits in with the mainstream American vibe - I was a little surprised, but I'm not sure why. As such, the lyrics aren't especially complex but if you're anything like me, you can hear that there's something he's holding back! If you like this, there's more on his "Dream World" album.
Chuck Nubian & Konny Kon : The Skullsnap
Next up is UK Bajan Konny Kon, alongside Chuck Nubian, exchanging ill flows and lyrics over a beat by Finimo from the "The First Connect" EP - on Skullsnap Records as it happens! For those that don't get the reference, an old-school funk group called Skull Snaps recorded a track called "It's A New Day" with some legendary drums which have been sampled many times, and the record itself is a collectible. Anyway, this is a fine bit of UK Hip-Hop, and the EP is worth putting on your wantlist!
Grandmaster Flash : Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel
You may not know this but Flash is a 100% Bajan, born in Bridgetown, and so the country can feel proud of their contribution to Hip-Hop's foundation :) This is an extremely important record which I'd been meaning to play for those who aren't deep in the scene and might not know it; it's really the first record to display the particular skills of Hip-Hop DJing, and was mind-blowing at the time. Flash insisted on recording this live, using three turntables, with no editing, multitracking, or other studio technology - real rawness. This is one of the most revolutionary records of all time.
Ohio Players : Boardwalkin'
I was looking for something funky to go alongside the "Good Times" sample the Flash track was based on, and found this tune in my collection that I'd never heard before. Nice little cut from the 1981 "Tenderness" album, one of two they released in the same year!
Gorg : Meh Rum
This was probably the big tune of Crop Over in Barbados this year, the kind of soca tune with a hook that really lives up to the name - sticks in your head and can't be removed! Whoever Gorg's woman was, she was cold for taking those Jordans*. That's unforgivable.
*apparently the woman is real, but the Jordans stayed. Also, he stretched it to get that rhyme to work.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"They plant drugs on us, stamp 'thugs' on us..."
- Guilty Simpson
Back from a great two-week trip to Barbados, I'm working some West Indian vibes into the selection this month! Got some nice long blends going too, and a bit of a subwoofer test :)
Only one link up in this section this month - leave me a drop from the comfort of your own computer!
Playlist/Notes
Dawn Penn : You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)
Starting it off with a classic! Dawn Penn recorded a track called "You Don't Love Me" back in 1967, before taking a break from the music industry in 1970. She came back to the scene in the late 80s, and in the early 90s reprised the '67 track with more of a contemporary dancehall feel - still the same soul though! Lisyen back to that original, then come back and enjoy this one - it just goes to show that when it comes down to it, songwriting and vocal talent are portable and enduring, fads and trickery are not. Salute!
Jae Millz : No, No, No
Big up Andy Peek for playing this 12" at In The Loop one month! Scram Jones (credited as Marc Schemer) takes the intro of the Dawn Penn track and bases his own beat on it, and then Jae Millz rhymes around the "no, no, no" interjections - not a unique idea, but a well-executed one. I don't know if Millz has any Jamaican background but the video is shot there and he's rhyming in front of the flag for parts of it! Despite having been around on the fringes for years, he's just now getting ready to put out a debut album - with the Young Money crew though, so possibly not as much my speed sonically as this track is. This is a nice record, though one where the beat definitely outshines the mic work!
Tnght (Hudson Mohawke x Lunice) : Higher Ground
Big Scottish/Canadian combination, I would never have come across this record if I hadn't heard DJ A-Up and Agent J drop it in a club to serious effect! Very electronic, nothing acoustic sounding in the whole track, booming kick and handclaps taking the place where many hi-hat patterns would normally sit - while the hats here go independent :) Great track from the "Tnght" EP, which is only about £3 as a digital download if this is to your taste!
Assassin :Anywhere We Go
Anthemic dancehall track from St.Andrews Parish (JA) native Assassin, expounding on how much the women love him! Big tune on the "85" riddim by Dave Kelly, also heard on Baby Cham's "Ghetto Story," which is definitely better known around these parts. There are 7"s of this one around for very reasonable prices, so this is one for the dancehall DJs to grab.
Run The Jewels : Get It
Good test for your bass setup right here. El-P and Killer Mike combine here for some unadulterated hardcore from their eponymous free mini-album. All kinds of low-end kicks, and listen out for that repeating/echoing snare drum - it wouldn't be half the track with a normal one there.
Paul Wall ft. Big Pokey : Sittin' Sidewayz
Love this record. The Salih Williams beat is an absolute monster; as I said many episodes ago, built around that little guitar sample, but that bass is what most people will remember! Houston's Paul Wall had this as the first single from his solo debut "The People's Champ" after he parted ways with Chamillionaire. One thing that did stay the same (in a good way) was his lyrical content - no nations being uplifted, just stunting like Lee Majors in "The Fall Guy!"
Shinehead : Billie Jean
First became aware of this one when the sound system Mighty Crown dropped a special of it during a soundclash I was listening to. That snare is so intrusive and crunchy on the high end, it snatches your attention almost as much as the Wild West whistling running through the intro! An unexpected, unusual, but excellent cover version of the legendary Michael Jackson track from the UK-born, Bronx raised Shinehead.
Byron Lee and The Dragonaires : Mission Impossible
A treat for the steel pan fans! Tenor pan getting busy here on those rolls with a Caribbean take on the well-known Lalo Schifrin spy theme. The Dragonaires have been going since 1950 with Byron Lee passing in 2008, and always had a rep for being able to play any style of music; with that in mind, it makes sense that they could take this track and make it extra-hot! You can get this on the 1997 "Socarobics" album, along with a lot of other flavour :)
Guilty Simpson : Pigs
The first of two critiques (to say the least) of the police, and as it happens they're both out of Detroit. Here we have Guilty Simpson with a short but crushing track from his 2008 debut "Ode To The Ghetto" album, going in on the police for their well-documented racial profiling and the kind of laziness on the job that leads to real criminals snitching and walking while others take the fall. The somehow busy and bare beat comes courtesy of Madlib, on fine form.
Jay Dee : Fuck The Police
This will be much better known to most heads than the Guilty Simpson track - in fact, some people will know this even better than NWA's certified classic "Fuck Tha Police" from 1989! Dilla wrote this at the suggestion of his mother, who put the idea forward after seeing him suffer from constant police harrassment. You can find this as a 12" with the incredible "Move" on the B-side, and it's a must-own.
Boogie Down Productions : Gimme Dat (Woy)
Wanted to go with "Who Protects Us From You?" but as it wasn't close to a speed match, I went for a different track from the same album ("Ghetto Music : The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop") that was a better fit in terms of tempo and composition. Don't be fooled by the relative smoothness of the beat, the drums knock and KRS is on battle mode on this one.
Blak Twang ft. K9 :Where Lions Roam
I'm a big Black Twang fan but wasn't totally sold on "The Rotton Club" - this was one of the body-moving standouts though. Tony Rotton self-produced this one and it bounces along nicely in a stripped-back kind of way!
Ali Vegas : Gangsta Boogie (Instrumental)
One of those tracks where I'm really unlikely to play the vocal (it's not actually that good), but the beat has the little charm of sampling a recognisable 80s song...which I won't reveal here since I think it might be uncleared! I think this is a 12"-only release, but the A-side isn't really hitting so only pick it up if you need this track.
Teff Mayweather : Starz
I was looking for some contemporary Bajan hip-hop to play, and so far as I can see this is one of the guys making the most noise right now. It's a little commercial sounding, and fits in with the mainstream American vibe - I was a little surprised, but I'm not sure why. As such, the lyrics aren't especially complex but if you're anything like me, you can hear that there's something he's holding back! If you like this, there's more on his "Dream World" album.
Chuck Nubian & Konny Kon : The Skullsnap
Next up is UK Bajan Konny Kon, alongside Chuck Nubian, exchanging ill flows and lyrics over a beat by Finimo from the "The First Connect" EP - on Skullsnap Records as it happens! For those that don't get the reference, an old-school funk group called Skull Snaps recorded a track called "It's A New Day" with some legendary drums which have been sampled many times, and the record itself is a collectible. Anyway, this is a fine bit of UK Hip-Hop, and the EP is worth putting on your wantlist!
Grandmaster Flash : Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel
You may not know this but Flash is a 100% Bajan, born in Bridgetown, and so the country can feel proud of their contribution to Hip-Hop's foundation :) This is an extremely important record which I'd been meaning to play for those who aren't deep in the scene and might not know it; it's really the first record to display the particular skills of Hip-Hop DJing, and was mind-blowing at the time. Flash insisted on recording this live, using three turntables, with no editing, multitracking, or other studio technology - real rawness. This is one of the most revolutionary records of all time.
Ohio Players : Boardwalkin'
I was looking for something funky to go alongside the "Good Times" sample the Flash track was based on, and found this tune in my collection that I'd never heard before. Nice little cut from the 1981 "Tenderness" album, one of two they released in the same year!
Gorg : Meh Rum
This was probably the big tune of Crop Over in Barbados this year, the kind of soca tune with a hook that really lives up to the name - sticks in your head and can't be removed! Whoever Gorg's woman was, she was cold for taking those Jordans*. That's unforgivable.
*apparently the woman is real, but the Jordans stayed. Also, he stretched it to get that rhyme to work.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm scared of Mother Earth..."
"...and I'm scared to communicate over the phone."
- KMG
Back once again! It's been two years since KMG of Above The Law passed away, so I've got a couple of great ATL tracks in this month's choices. Overall, we have a few recent releases and some gems that I think really have been overlooked. Maybe next month will be the one for the sunshiney summer selection, but for right now...
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Summer
I've been waiting for summer to come so I can play this! Dark track from the Brownsville MC and producer, one of my favourites from the short (but not sweet) "Grief Pedigree" album (find a video of the whole thing here). Don't be lulled by the hook - he packs some serious rhyming skills into the two verses, and backs it up with a subtle, almost drumless production. It's the opposite of the average Hip-Hop summer anthem, and with good reason; he has pointed out himself that the summer is actually when more bad stuff happens, since everyone is outside and there's more chance of confrontations. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince this is not.
Bob James : Far From Turtle
Knowing that there's little Hip-Hop at the speed of "Summer" which would mix with it, I went to my soul/jazz/other shelves and heard this particular track for the very first time - I knew it had to work. It's sped up a reasonable amount but hopefully not enough to take away from the feeling. Bob James has been sampled over and over again, but this is from a 1990 album ("Grand Piano Canyon") which probably hasn't been used much. After doing a little internet reading to look for interesting facts about this record, I found that apparently this is Guilty Simpson's favourite song of all time!
Redman : Basically
Back with the dark sound, and maybe te lyrics to a certain extent. I do wish it was a little longer, but maybe the brevity makes it more concentrated. You'll find this self-produced killer around the middle of Redman's sophomore album "Dare Iz A Darkside," one widely respected by those in the know - although as it happens, Redman himself doesn't like it for personal reasons.
Njena Reddd Foxxx : Watercolor
Coming out of Brooklyn, Njena is an MC with an interesting history - accepted into Cooper Union, after completion she decided to forsake the traditional fine art world in favour of picking up the mic! Hopefully it all works out, but based on this she certainly has the skills. She sinks deep into this laid-back track and gets what she wants to say said in under two minutes, just as GZA would advise :) I got this free from her Soundcloud account - keep an eye on it!
GQ ft. Nipsey Hussle and Rapper Big Pooh : Count 'Em Up
In another example of life changing directions, Oakland's Quentin Thomas had a great run on the ball court, all the way up to a national championship with the University of North Carolina, before switching careers. He had to battle the negative stigma of "ballers who think they can rap" before winning over 9th Wonder, who took him under his wing and onto the Jamla Records label. I'd not heard of him until his name and the title of his latest album "Rated Oakland" kept bubbling up on my Twitter feed, so I went and had a listen and was very impressed! I could have played any of a number of tracks, but this ended up winning out - produced by 9th himself, and featuring Little Brother's Big Pooh and South Central LA spitter Nipsey Hussle. I can relate to the end of that last verse...
Tanya Morgan ft. Napoleon : Plan B
Was struggling to work out how to end this little mix but ended up finding this one on my CD of the "Brooklynati" album, and it fit pretty well (could have done with a longer intro though). This is a great story of the everyman rhymer, rather than the superstar talk you often hear, talking about the scraping and sacrifices that are often made to pursue a music career. The production by Brick Beats is nice, but the lyrics are the clear star here.
deadxbeat : lifes.a.snitch
Found this one on a scouting run through Bandcamp, as just one of thirty-eight beats on the "Pure Dopeness Vol.11" beat tape from worldwide producer collective Sinoptic International. This particular beat is out of New Jersey, and is chilled out and low-slung enough to match the previous track and the next...
Slum Village : Forth & Back (Original)
Bit of a summery vibe here before we take the temperature down for the next few. This is the original "Forth & Back" from the "Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol.1" album - an album which itself has many, many supposed versions. I actually prefer this to the more well-known version on "Fantastic, Vol.2," but then it's pretty impossible not to like! Signature Dilla production of the time, with the laid-back vibe and the handclaps.
Above The Law : Marvin
I only wish the mixing/mastering was a little better, but easily one of the best tracks on the "Forever : Rich Thugs" album. The late KMG definitely has the best verse, writing with a little paranoia and a sense of trepidation of the modern world; makes me wonder what he'd make of today's current events. Cold 187um puts a more hyped verse in but really makes his presence felt in the production, a late-night creeper of a beat accented by the voice of Marvin Gaye through the hooks. Quality...just deserves better sound!
J-Live : Vampire Hunter J
Had this one stashed for a while, and this month I find a chance to use it in a winning combination with two other great tracks. J-Live deftly rhymes from an 5% perspective, taking on the evildoers of the world - the 10%, according to their lessons, and slips all kinds of NGE references into the lyrics. The beat is dark, subtle, and minimal without being minimalist, great work by Grap Luva. This is just one of the quality tracks on "The Best Part" (another 5% reference there!)
DJ Skitz : Fingerprints Of The Gods
A true UK classic. I actually dropped Skeleton's verse from the end (sorry), but that should be an incentive for you to check the whole thing! With so many great MCs and the beat changing for each one, this could easily have been a set of different songs but instead this was one monster track. Originally released as a single in 1998, it's also available on the "Countryman" LP which is an essential if you can find it - a masterful collection. Back to the sonics, as much of a Phi Life Cypher fan as I am, I think Roots Manuva takes it here. "I used to want the Queen's heads, now I want the crown?" Serious! He does also benefit from having the best beat on the track; the section in the intro with the high piano part and Vegas cutting over it still sends chills up me even now.
Da Beatminerz : Let's Talk About It (T.R.O.Y Remix Instrumental)
Just a little instrumental from the brilliant "Brace 4 Impak" album which feels fresh but actually came out all the way back in 2001 :) Even though the full version this was far from my favourite cut on there, it'll still bury a lot of records out right now!
Above The Law : Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust
I don't know if this is now a full-on rarity, but it's definitely not well known. From the 12"/EP of "Kalifornia," we have some back-and-forth rhymes from the highly underrated mic duo of KMG and Cold 187um over one of Hutch's gangsta funk beats. The talkbox hook is kind of crazy, though I can't say I can make out most of the words... The "Kalifornia" 12" is definitely worth having if this is at all your style - somehow, the title track is actually the third best thing on there out of three!
Cormega ft. Raekwon : Honorable
Brand new track from the "Mega Philosophy" album, just released this Monday. The whole album is produced by Large Professor, which alone should be reason enough to check it out, but of course it's Cormega's album and he's settling more and more into the veteran role, which definitely suits him. I think this might be the most instantly-accessible track though, with Rae on the criminology rhymes on the first verse and Mega bringing it home. Definitely peep the album.
Amerie : Talkin' About
Those drums are just killing it. The percussion line is super-busy in the go-go style, and for that you can thank Rich Harrison - it should slightly remind you of the drum work on "1 Thing," which is also on the "Touch" album. Amerie (now Ameriie) is a seriously underrated artist, and if you've passed by her records before I'd really recommend going back and giving them a try. Here, she unleashes her surprisingly powerful voice to be heard over the hectic track, and knocks it out in fine style.
Mya : Fallen
Maybe a bit gentle for some, but you've got to appreciate it for its integration of the Dilla beat for Pharcyde's "Runnin'." It does add all kinds of strings and lighter touches but at its heart, the drum pattern and the loop of the Stan Getz/Luiz Bonfa sample keep the blood pumping. I can't remember what made me pick up Mya's "Moodring" LP years back, but I do think it's a quality record - the rare modern(ish) R&B album that finds a home in my collection. One aside; your ears aren't tricking you, this track does actually get louder as it goes along! I actually re-recorded the mix once as I thought I'd been turning up the wrong tune...
Visioneers ft. Luke Parkhouse : Mystic Brew
Picked this one up on Record Store Day this year and both sides were quality! Visioneers is a studio project, a pseudonym of Marc Mac from 4Hero and you can always rely on him for something interesting. This of course is a cover version of the famous Ronnie Foster track that's best known for being sampled on Tribe's "Electric Relaxation," but with almost a Latin flavour on the rhythm. The flip of this 7" has a cover of "Smilin' Billy Suite" by the Heath Brothers, which you'll recognise from Nas' "One Love." Actually, I've just realised while typing that both of the sampling records I mentioned were produced by Q-Tip!
Jean Grae : Planes (The Trilogy)
Made me smile and nod in agreement! If you've ever travelled on a plane, at least one of these short songs should make you do the same, or even make you adjust your behaviour ;) The final pick this month is from Jean's recent release "That's Not How You Do That : An Instructional Album For Adults," a set of short songs offering advice on how to get along in the world! Listen, laugh, and fix up!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm scared of Mother Earth..."
"...and I'm scared to communicate over the phone."
- KMG
Back once again! It's been two years since KMG of Above The Law passed away, so I've got a couple of great ATL tracks in this month's choices. Overall, we have a few recent releases and some gems that I think really have been overlooked. Maybe next month will be the one for the sunshiney summer selection, but for right now...
Playlist/Notes
Ka : Summer
I've been waiting for summer to come so I can play this! Dark track from the Brownsville MC and producer, one of my favourites from the short (but not sweet) "Grief Pedigree" album (find a video of the whole thing here). Don't be lulled by the hook - he packs some serious rhyming skills into the two verses, and backs it up with a subtle, almost drumless production. It's the opposite of the average Hip-Hop summer anthem, and with good reason; he has pointed out himself that the summer is actually when more bad stuff happens, since everyone is outside and there's more chance of confrontations. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince this is not.
Bob James : Far From Turtle
Knowing that there's little Hip-Hop at the speed of "Summer" which would mix with it, I went to my soul/jazz/other shelves and heard this particular track for the very first time - I knew it had to work. It's sped up a reasonable amount but hopefully not enough to take away from the feeling. Bob James has been sampled over and over again, but this is from a 1990 album ("Grand Piano Canyon") which probably hasn't been used much. After doing a little internet reading to look for interesting facts about this record, I found that apparently this is Guilty Simpson's favourite song of all time!
Redman : Basically
Back with the dark sound, and maybe te lyrics to a certain extent. I do wish it was a little longer, but maybe the brevity makes it more concentrated. You'll find this self-produced killer around the middle of Redman's sophomore album "Dare Iz A Darkside," one widely respected by those in the know - although as it happens, Redman himself doesn't like it for personal reasons.
Njena Reddd Foxxx : Watercolor
Coming out of Brooklyn, Njena is an MC with an interesting history - accepted into Cooper Union, after completion she decided to forsake the traditional fine art world in favour of picking up the mic! Hopefully it all works out, but based on this she certainly has the skills. She sinks deep into this laid-back track and gets what she wants to say said in under two minutes, just as GZA would advise :) I got this free from her Soundcloud account - keep an eye on it!
GQ ft. Nipsey Hussle and Rapper Big Pooh : Count 'Em Up
In another example of life changing directions, Oakland's Quentin Thomas had a great run on the ball court, all the way up to a national championship with the University of North Carolina, before switching careers. He had to battle the negative stigma of "ballers who think they can rap" before winning over 9th Wonder, who took him under his wing and onto the Jamla Records label. I'd not heard of him until his name and the title of his latest album "Rated Oakland" kept bubbling up on my Twitter feed, so I went and had a listen and was very impressed! I could have played any of a number of tracks, but this ended up winning out - produced by 9th himself, and featuring Little Brother's Big Pooh and South Central LA spitter Nipsey Hussle. I can relate to the end of that last verse...
Tanya Morgan ft. Napoleon : Plan B
Was struggling to work out how to end this little mix but ended up finding this one on my CD of the "Brooklynati" album, and it fit pretty well (could have done with a longer intro though). This is a great story of the everyman rhymer, rather than the superstar talk you often hear, talking about the scraping and sacrifices that are often made to pursue a music career. The production by Brick Beats is nice, but the lyrics are the clear star here.
deadxbeat : lifes.a.snitch
Found this one on a scouting run through Bandcamp, as just one of thirty-eight beats on the "Pure Dopeness Vol.11" beat tape from worldwide producer collective Sinoptic International. This particular beat is out of New Jersey, and is chilled out and low-slung enough to match the previous track and the next...
Slum Village : Forth & Back (Original)
Bit of a summery vibe here before we take the temperature down for the next few. This is the original "Forth & Back" from the "Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol.1" album - an album which itself has many, many supposed versions. I actually prefer this to the more well-known version on "Fantastic, Vol.2," but then it's pretty impossible not to like! Signature Dilla production of the time, with the laid-back vibe and the handclaps.
Above The Law : Marvin
I only wish the mixing/mastering was a little better, but easily one of the best tracks on the "Forever : Rich Thugs" album. The late KMG definitely has the best verse, writing with a little paranoia and a sense of trepidation of the modern world; makes me wonder what he'd make of today's current events. Cold 187um puts a more hyped verse in but really makes his presence felt in the production, a late-night creeper of a beat accented by the voice of Marvin Gaye through the hooks. Quality...just deserves better sound!
J-Live : Vampire Hunter J
Had this one stashed for a while, and this month I find a chance to use it in a winning combination with two other great tracks. J-Live deftly rhymes from an 5% perspective, taking on the evildoers of the world - the 10%, according to their lessons, and slips all kinds of NGE references into the lyrics. The beat is dark, subtle, and minimal without being minimalist, great work by Grap Luva. This is just one of the quality tracks on "The Best Part" (another 5% reference there!)
DJ Skitz : Fingerprints Of The Gods
A true UK classic. I actually dropped Skeleton's verse from the end (sorry), but that should be an incentive for you to check the whole thing! With so many great MCs and the beat changing for each one, this could easily have been a set of different songs but instead this was one monster track. Originally released as a single in 1998, it's also available on the "Countryman" LP which is an essential if you can find it - a masterful collection. Back to the sonics, as much of a Phi Life Cypher fan as I am, I think Roots Manuva takes it here. "I used to want the Queen's heads, now I want the crown?" Serious! He does also benefit from having the best beat on the track; the section in the intro with the high piano part and Vegas cutting over it still sends chills up me even now.
Da Beatminerz : Let's Talk About It (T.R.O.Y Remix Instrumental)
Just a little instrumental from the brilliant "Brace 4 Impak" album which feels fresh but actually came out all the way back in 2001 :) Even though the full version this was far from my favourite cut on there, it'll still bury a lot of records out right now!
Above The Law : Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust
I don't know if this is now a full-on rarity, but it's definitely not well known. From the 12"/EP of "Kalifornia," we have some back-and-forth rhymes from the highly underrated mic duo of KMG and Cold 187um over one of Hutch's gangsta funk beats. The talkbox hook is kind of crazy, though I can't say I can make out most of the words... The "Kalifornia" 12" is definitely worth having if this is at all your style - somehow, the title track is actually the third best thing on there out of three!
Cormega ft. Raekwon : Honorable
Brand new track from the "Mega Philosophy" album, just released this Monday. The whole album is produced by Large Professor, which alone should be reason enough to check it out, but of course it's Cormega's album and he's settling more and more into the veteran role, which definitely suits him. I think this might be the most instantly-accessible track though, with Rae on the criminology rhymes on the first verse and Mega bringing it home. Definitely peep the album.
Amerie : Talkin' About
Those drums are just killing it. The percussion line is super-busy in the go-go style, and for that you can thank Rich Harrison - it should slightly remind you of the drum work on "1 Thing," which is also on the "Touch" album. Amerie (now Ameriie) is a seriously underrated artist, and if you've passed by her records before I'd really recommend going back and giving them a try. Here, she unleashes her surprisingly powerful voice to be heard over the hectic track, and knocks it out in fine style.
Mya : Fallen
Maybe a bit gentle for some, but you've got to appreciate it for its integration of the Dilla beat for Pharcyde's "Runnin'." It does add all kinds of strings and lighter touches but at its heart, the drum pattern and the loop of the Stan Getz/Luiz Bonfa sample keep the blood pumping. I can't remember what made me pick up Mya's "Moodring" LP years back, but I do think it's a quality record - the rare modern(ish) R&B album that finds a home in my collection. One aside; your ears aren't tricking you, this track does actually get louder as it goes along! I actually re-recorded the mix once as I thought I'd been turning up the wrong tune...
Visioneers ft. Luke Parkhouse : Mystic Brew
Picked this one up on Record Store Day this year and both sides were quality! Visioneers is a studio project, a pseudonym of Marc Mac from 4Hero and you can always rely on him for something interesting. This of course is a cover version of the famous Ronnie Foster track that's best known for being sampled on Tribe's "Electric Relaxation," but with almost a Latin flavour on the rhythm. The flip of this 7" has a cover of "Smilin' Billy Suite" by the Heath Brothers, which you'll recognise from Nas' "One Love." Actually, I've just realised while typing that both of the sampling records I mentioned were produced by Q-Tip!
Jean Grae : Planes (The Trilogy)
Made me smile and nod in agreement! If you've ever travelled on a plane, at least one of these short songs should make you do the same, or even make you adjust your behaviour ;) The final pick this month is from Jean's recent release "That's Not How You Do That : An Instructional Album For Adults," a set of short songs offering advice on how to get along in the world! Listen, laugh, and fix up!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"God walks the earth as MCs..."
- H.U.G.
The fifth birthday episode! For someone who once took over two years to finish a mixtape, you might just have an idea of what a big achievement that actually is :) There's a lot going on right now and I really had to dig deep to put together this month's mix, but I think you'll be pleased with it. It's also been five years since Michael Jackson passed, and I've included a couple of pieces you probably don't have.
Quick shout out to Scott at Good Podcasts, who gave me a great write-up and was even inspired to jump on the mic ;)
RIP to the great Bobby Womack; I wasn't able to include any of his music this time round, but his legacy is carved into what we do.
Playlist/Notes
Hood Headlinaz (Mata, Mali Boi, Jhi Ali, & Money Addict) : Soul Glo
Been holding off on this one for ages! There's not even much that blends with it, but you don't want to put anything in front of it anyway to take away from that mighty intro :) I can't even remember how I stumbled on this one, but it was a digital release and it was initially free - would definitely have paid though! This track comes from Alabama's Paper Route Gangstaz (PRGz) crew, and it just is what it is. Building a whole track off the hair product advert from Eddie Murphy's "Coming To America" was genius, and while it may not be calling for the upliftment of the nation I will note that they do in fact use the word "plethora" in context in true "Sophisticated As Hell" style ;)
Jan Hammer : Rico's Blues
Now that's the 80s right there :) While Jan Hammer's "Crockett's Theme" was easily one of the best-known instrumentals of the decade, this was also a great track from the "Miami Vice," the theme tune for Rico Tubbs. Kind of makes you want to be on a yacht to really feel it though...
Krimewave : Increase The Pressure
I was passed this instrumental by a friend and asked to see what I could do with it on the cuts, so here we go! I went trying to scratch up some info on Krimewave and found that he's a Manchester producer, and clearly someone with talent as this is a nicely refined beat. I almost feel bad for butting in! You can find this and plenty more on Bandcamp.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Delta Force II
Been banging this one since 93! Great Ced Gee solo cut from Ultra's "The Four Horsemen" album, which in my opinion is leagues ahead of "Ced Gee (Delta Force One)" from the classic and highly significant "Critical Beatdown" album. Straight MC business on here, and my guess would be that Ced Gee did a lot of the beat himself. While the production is credited to the group, but Ced is an oft-overlooked figure in the history of Hip-Hop production who actually did the bulk of the work on BDP's "Criminal Minded" LP and is justly respected as someone who got busy on the SP-1200. No pop flavour here!
Public Enemy : How To Kill A Radio Consultant
With recent events, this seemed like a very appropriate choice! Pretty deep album cut from "Apocalypse 91 : The Enemy Strikes Black" with Chuck D going in on the BS of the modern radio model and the lack of connection commercial stations have with the communities they supposedly serve. This tune might be over twenty years old but it's even more true today than it ever was. On the music side, it's Bomb Squad production as always - listen out for the Run DMC "Beats To The Rhyme" sample, which is then swiftly buried under a whole heap of other stuff going on in the track. I was kind of lukewarm on the production at the time but have grown to appreciate it with more mature ears!
Raekwon : House Of Flying Daggers
Fast-forward eighteen years and head across the water from Long Island to Staten Island for this big opening track from "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.2!" Raekwon put together a great album but unlike the first one, he went for a range of different producers; on this track, he got the legend J Dilla to give him a dramatic, pounding, relentless banger that just doesn't let up...ever. Inspektah Deck slays the opening verse once again (remember "Triumph?"), but every single MC on here is on top form. I just wish I could totally hear and parse those first two bars on Rae's verse - sounds ill as hell, but I don't think I could tell you exactly what he said :)
One last detail - that kung-fu dialog sample at the end is from the well-known but still incredible "Drunken Master." If you've not seen it, do so...
J-Zone & H.U.G : I'm Fuckin' Up The Money
This was the song that got me into J-Zone, and he wasn't even on the mic! The rolling, dramatic instrumental is the perfect landscape for Huggy Bear to absolutely go off on the mic, dropping quotable after quotable on the dark state of the world. That BDP/UN line? "Peacekeeping with a gun is fraudulent?" "Prisons got signs up reading 'no vacancy,' but those locked up are still earning for the industry?" Come on now. Huggy (aka H.U.G) has spit some quality rhymes in his time but for me, this is the pinnacle. The "Pimps Don't Pay Taxes" album as a whole is on a slightly different vibe, but very much a great purchase.
Eightball & MJG : Break 'em Off (Instrumental)
I could never decide if I wanted to play the vocal of this - it's been up for selection a few times in the past - but right here the instrumental just kind of fit. Memphis' Eightball & MJG produced this themselves and probably came up with one of the few tracks not to be improved by a Beatminerz remix!
SPOX PhD (DJ Spinna & Oxygen) : Chicken Scratch
Brand new 7" release with both sides being amazing, all I can say is "get it!" The man DJ Spinna gets on the turntables cutting up an ill break with a crazy chicken sound in it, and Oxygen of SoundSci gets on the echoey mic - the combination is straight park jam style. Oxygen actually came to my "Manchester Marauders" exhibition last year before playing a show in the city, and he's a properly good guy - nice to see him link with another well-regarded man in the scene.
NWA : Quiet On Tha Set
Deeeep album cut (the closer on the vinyl, not quite on the cassette) from the legendary "Straight Outta Compton" LP, and one of two MC Ren solo tracks on there. It's also notable for actually being completely clean on an album that is famously...not. Leaning away from the "gangsta" vibes on the rest of the record, he's just in Hip-Hop party MC mode, but nothing corny - never would be with him really! Dr Dre is on the beat as always, several years before the G-Funk sound many people associate with him; instead you just get hard drums and some James Brown samples lying back there in the mix. As much as this is a 1988 record, it really doesn't sound quite that old.
Michael Jackson : I Can't Help It (Todd Terje Remix)
Here we have a modern remix of a track from MJ's big breakout solo album, 1979's "Off The Wall," as constructed by the Norwegian producer Todd Terje - I have to admit, I thought it might have been an alias of Todd Terry, but in fact his name was chosen as a tribute! The original was masterful and not really to be bettered, but the remix just brings in a lot more percussion and is also much longer; I've cut it short here but it carries on for several more minutes. This came from a promo vinyl of MJ remixes, so probably not the easiest to find - and also part of the reason for the questionable sound quality, it's not your headphones...
De La Soul : Breakadawn
I did think "is it too obvious?" and then remembered that not everyone listening will actually know these records. This was the first single from "Buhloone Mindstate" and from the first time I saw the video on "Yo! MTV Raps," I knew it was a winner. There's a lot going on in the production, from the main sample from the original of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It," to the Smokey Robinson snatch for the hook, and other bits besides - have a listen out. The lyrics and delivery very much reflected their "grown man" style, so to speak - despite not even being old at the time of release, they wrote with the gravity of the industry veterans they were. Top quality record.
BR Gunna : Somethin Good
This was such a short instrumental I had to loop it up a few times to use it here! BR Gunna was a group made up of Detroit's Black Milk, Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and this track came from an obscure release of the "Dirty District Vol.2" EP. Just something a little laid back to give you a quick break on the way into the home straight...
Michael Jackson : Starlight
Rareness! I know you don't know about this one - ok, a few of you might - but I want to have just one small collar-popping moment :D The album we now know as "Thriller" was originally going to be called "Midnight Man" and this would have been one of the main singles. When the decision was made to flip the whole concept of the record and go darker, Rod Temperton came up with the title "Thriller" and this demo was reworked, remixed, and re-written to become the giant record we have today. Can you imagine a world that didn't have "Thriller?" I can't. Anyway, all things considered I'm sure you'll overlook the sound quality on this one just for all the history points :) If you want a real rundown from someone who was at the very core of the work, check out this interview with the master engineer Bruce Swedien.
Alena : Changes (Ron Basejam Remix)
I think this was another internet radio find! I'm not even sure exactly what genre this fits under - house-ish, maybe? - but I think it's a great record. Did a little research on it and apparently it blew up back in 2011 when it came out, deservedly so in my opinion! I can't actually find any info on Alena, but wouldn't mind hearing more of her - the nature of the track means we only get snatches really. And who is Ron Basejam, you ask? Well, we put it through the anagram machine and we get James Baron, one of the members of the electronic group Crazy P - great job by him on the bouncy production. I haven't been able to find the original, but Yam Who have another remix which you might like!
The Coup : We Are The Ones
Street revolutionary direction on this one from the "Pick A Bigger Weapon" album. Boots Riley is one of the sharpest thinkers in Hip-Hop, and his approach on this is hilarious, with the faux-posh voice and associated vocabulary telling the story of someone you totally wouldn't associate with the delivery. He self-produces it too and brings in players for the guitar, bass, and keys to give it a real live feel.
Big Daddy Kane : Nuff Respect
Getting hype with it, going to the soundtrack for the 1992 Ernest Dickerson film "Juice" - well worth having. There's a lot of great tracks on there and I'm sure I'll be returning to it on a future episode. For now, you get King Asiatic Nobody's Equal spitting ridiculously over a hectic Gary G-Wiz and Hank Shocklee track. Very much of its era, and all the better for it.
Toni T : Disco Groove (Siesta House Mix)
I'd be lying if I said I knew who Toni T was really - I picked this track up on a Mastercuts Beach Bar compilation. It gets the nod here for fitting in smoothly between two other tracks I wanted to play, and also using a classic b-boy break as the main element! Nominally I suppose it's house, but without that four-to-the-floor kick pattern, it really does come off as something else.
Ice-T : Lethal Weapon
Huge track from the "Iceberg" LP. Definitely playing this one for me, as it was a huge favourite for me when I first heard it back in high school - and even more once I saw the video! That image of all the hoods in the library really stuck with me - in fact, I suppose they kind of looked like me! Afrika Islam and Ice-T make the beat super hectic in a way that just doesn't happen these days and Ice keeps right up with it lyrically. And how often now would you hear a big-selling artist explicitly telling you to take yourself to a library?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"God walks the earth as MCs..."
- H.U.G.
The fifth birthday episode! For someone who once took over two years to finish a mixtape, you might just have an idea of what a big achievement that actually is :) There's a lot going on right now and I really had to dig deep to put together this month's mix, but I think you'll be pleased with it. It's also been five years since Michael Jackson passed, and I've included a couple of pieces you probably don't have.
Quick shout out to Scott at Good Podcasts, who gave me a great write-up and was even inspired to jump on the mic ;)
RIP to the great Bobby Womack; I wasn't able to include any of his music this time round, but his legacy is carved into what we do.
Playlist/Notes
Hood Headlinaz (Mata, Mali Boi, Jhi Ali, & Money Addict) : Soul Glo
Been holding off on this one for ages! There's not even much that blends with it, but you don't want to put anything in front of it anyway to take away from that mighty intro :) I can't even remember how I stumbled on this one, but it was a digital release and it was initially free - would definitely have paid though! This track comes from Alabama's Paper Route Gangstaz (PRGz) crew, and it just is what it is. Building a whole track off the hair product advert from Eddie Murphy's "Coming To America" was genius, and while it may not be calling for the upliftment of the nation I will note that they do in fact use the word "plethora" in context in true "Sophisticated As Hell" style ;)
Jan Hammer : Rico's Blues
Now that's the 80s right there :) While Jan Hammer's "Crockett's Theme" was easily one of the best-known instrumentals of the decade, this was also a great track from the "Miami Vice," the theme tune for Rico Tubbs. Kind of makes you want to be on a yacht to really feel it though...
Krimewave : Increase The Pressure
I was passed this instrumental by a friend and asked to see what I could do with it on the cuts, so here we go! I went trying to scratch up some info on Krimewave and found that he's a Manchester producer, and clearly someone with talent as this is a nicely refined beat. I almost feel bad for butting in! You can find this and plenty more on Bandcamp.
Ultramagnetic MCs : Delta Force II
Been banging this one since 93! Great Ced Gee solo cut from Ultra's "The Four Horsemen" album, which in my opinion is leagues ahead of "Ced Gee (Delta Force One)" from the classic and highly significant "Critical Beatdown" album. Straight MC business on here, and my guess would be that Ced Gee did a lot of the beat himself. While the production is credited to the group, but Ced is an oft-overlooked figure in the history of Hip-Hop production who actually did the bulk of the work on BDP's "Criminal Minded" LP and is justly respected as someone who got busy on the SP-1200. No pop flavour here!
Public Enemy : How To Kill A Radio Consultant
With recent events, this seemed like a very appropriate choice! Pretty deep album cut from "Apocalypse 91 : The Enemy Strikes Black" with Chuck D going in on the BS of the modern radio model and the lack of connection commercial stations have with the communities they supposedly serve. This tune might be over twenty years old but it's even more true today than it ever was. On the music side, it's Bomb Squad production as always - listen out for the Run DMC "Beats To The Rhyme" sample, which is then swiftly buried under a whole heap of other stuff going on in the track. I was kind of lukewarm on the production at the time but have grown to appreciate it with more mature ears!
Raekwon : House Of Flying Daggers
Fast-forward eighteen years and head across the water from Long Island to Staten Island for this big opening track from "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.2!" Raekwon put together a great album but unlike the first one, he went for a range of different producers; on this track, he got the legend J Dilla to give him a dramatic, pounding, relentless banger that just doesn't let up...ever. Inspektah Deck slays the opening verse once again (remember "Triumph?"), but every single MC on here is on top form. I just wish I could totally hear and parse those first two bars on Rae's verse - sounds ill as hell, but I don't think I could tell you exactly what he said :)
One last detail - that kung-fu dialog sample at the end is from the well-known but still incredible "Drunken Master." If you've not seen it, do so...
J-Zone & H.U.G : I'm Fuckin' Up The Money
This was the song that got me into J-Zone, and he wasn't even on the mic! The rolling, dramatic instrumental is the perfect landscape for Huggy Bear to absolutely go off on the mic, dropping quotable after quotable on the dark state of the world. That BDP/UN line? "Peacekeeping with a gun is fraudulent?" "Prisons got signs up reading 'no vacancy,' but those locked up are still earning for the industry?" Come on now. Huggy (aka H.U.G) has spit some quality rhymes in his time but for me, this is the pinnacle. The "Pimps Don't Pay Taxes" album as a whole is on a slightly different vibe, but very much a great purchase.
Eightball & MJG : Break 'em Off (Instrumental)
I could never decide if I wanted to play the vocal of this - it's been up for selection a few times in the past - but right here the instrumental just kind of fit. Memphis' Eightball & MJG produced this themselves and probably came up with one of the few tracks not to be improved by a Beatminerz remix!
SPOX PhD (DJ Spinna & Oxygen) : Chicken Scratch
Brand new 7" release with both sides being amazing, all I can say is "get it!" The man DJ Spinna gets on the turntables cutting up an ill break with a crazy chicken sound in it, and Oxygen of SoundSci gets on the echoey mic - the combination is straight park jam style. Oxygen actually came to my "Manchester Marauders" exhibition last year before playing a show in the city, and he's a properly good guy - nice to see him link with another well-regarded man in the scene.
NWA : Quiet On Tha Set
Deeeep album cut (the closer on the vinyl, not quite on the cassette) from the legendary "Straight Outta Compton" LP, and one of two MC Ren solo tracks on there. It's also notable for actually being completely clean on an album that is famously...not. Leaning away from the "gangsta" vibes on the rest of the record, he's just in Hip-Hop party MC mode, but nothing corny - never would be with him really! Dr Dre is on the beat as always, several years before the G-Funk sound many people associate with him; instead you just get hard drums and some James Brown samples lying back there in the mix. As much as this is a 1988 record, it really doesn't sound quite that old.
Michael Jackson : I Can't Help It (Todd Terje Remix)
Here we have a modern remix of a track from MJ's big breakout solo album, 1979's "Off The Wall," as constructed by the Norwegian producer Todd Terje - I have to admit, I thought it might have been an alias of Todd Terry, but in fact his name was chosen as a tribute! The original was masterful and not really to be bettered, but the remix just brings in a lot more percussion and is also much longer; I've cut it short here but it carries on for several more minutes. This came from a promo vinyl of MJ remixes, so probably not the easiest to find - and also part of the reason for the questionable sound quality, it's not your headphones...
De La Soul : Breakadawn
I did think "is it too obvious?" and then remembered that not everyone listening will actually know these records. This was the first single from "Buhloone Mindstate" and from the first time I saw the video on "Yo! MTV Raps," I knew it was a winner. There's a lot going on in the production, from the main sample from the original of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It," to the Smokey Robinson snatch for the hook, and other bits besides - have a listen out. The lyrics and delivery very much reflected their "grown man" style, so to speak - despite not even being old at the time of release, they wrote with the gravity of the industry veterans they were. Top quality record.
BR Gunna : Somethin Good
This was such a short instrumental I had to loop it up a few times to use it here! BR Gunna was a group made up of Detroit's Black Milk, Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and this track came from an obscure release of the "Dirty District Vol.2" EP. Just something a little laid back to give you a quick break on the way into the home straight...
Michael Jackson : Starlight
Rareness! I know you don't know about this one - ok, a few of you might - but I want to have just one small collar-popping moment :D The album we now know as "Thriller" was originally going to be called "Midnight Man" and this would have been one of the main singles. When the decision was made to flip the whole concept of the record and go darker, Rod Temperton came up with the title "Thriller" and this demo was reworked, remixed, and re-written to become the giant record we have today. Can you imagine a world that didn't have "Thriller?" I can't. Anyway, all things considered I'm sure you'll overlook the sound quality on this one just for all the history points :) If you want a real rundown from someone who was at the very core of the work, check out this interview with the master engineer Bruce Swedien.
Alena : Changes (Ron Basejam Remix)
I think this was another internet radio find! I'm not even sure exactly what genre this fits under - house-ish, maybe? - but I think it's a great record. Did a little research on it and apparently it blew up back in 2011 when it came out, deservedly so in my opinion! I can't actually find any info on Alena, but wouldn't mind hearing more of her - the nature of the track means we only get snatches really. And who is Ron Basejam, you ask? Well, we put it through the anagram machine and we get James Baron, one of the members of the electronic group Crazy P - great job by him on the bouncy production. I haven't been able to find the original, but Yam Who have another remix which you might like!
The Coup : We Are The Ones
Street revolutionary direction on this one from the "Pick A Bigger Weapon" album. Boots Riley is one of the sharpest thinkers in Hip-Hop, and his approach on this is hilarious, with the faux-posh voice and associated vocabulary telling the story of someone you totally wouldn't associate with the delivery. He self-produces it too and brings in players for the guitar, bass, and keys to give it a real live feel.
Big Daddy Kane : Nuff Respect
Getting hype with it, going to the soundtrack for the 1992 Ernest Dickerson film "Juice" - well worth having. There's a lot of great tracks on there and I'm sure I'll be returning to it on a future episode. For now, you get King Asiatic Nobody's Equal spitting ridiculously over a hectic Gary G-Wiz and Hank Shocklee track. Very much of its era, and all the better for it.
Toni T : Disco Groove (Siesta House Mix)
I'd be lying if I said I knew who Toni T was really - I picked this track up on a Mastercuts Beach Bar compilation. It gets the nod here for fitting in smoothly between two other tracks I wanted to play, and also using a classic b-boy break as the main element! Nominally I suppose it's house, but without that four-to-the-floor kick pattern, it really does come off as something else.
Ice-T : Lethal Weapon
Huge track from the "Iceberg" LP. Definitely playing this one for me, as it was a huge favourite for me when I first heard it back in high school - and even more once I saw the video! That image of all the hoods in the library really stuck with me - in fact, I suppose they kind of looked like me! Afrika Islam and Ice-T make the beat super hectic in a way that just doesn't happen these days and Ice keeps right up with it lyrically. And how often now would you hear a big-selling artist explicitly telling you to take yourself to a library?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Why you wanna fuck up my last few days with the news?"
- Suga Free
I seem to have ended up with a reasonably high proportion of West Coast records on this month's mix, at least nine tunes - didn't plan it that way, it was just how it came out! Tough picks this month but I think there are some interesting ones you may not know - get in touch and let me know how you like it!
One link promised in the show - free tickets for the last In The Loop cypher session, and two others - Janelle Monáe controlling the crowd, and then the whole place exploding in the climactic pillow fight and crowd surf!
Playlist/Notes
Yo-Yo : Black Pearl
I have never heard this record anywhere outside my own house! First caught it on "Yo! MTV Raps" many moons ago and loved it, so was very glad to come across a 12". One for the women from one who famously went head-to-head with Ice Cube on his track "It's A Man's World," this is the title track from her second album, which I've not heard in full but will definitely pick up if I see a copy! The beat is provided by a crew I've not heard of - Down Low Productions, doing a nice job with something that could easily have fit in with some of the rougher, slower New Jack tracks of the time.
Dam-Funk : Mirrors
I actually hadn't paid much attention to Dam-Funk until I saw him in the Stones Throw documentary "Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton," and I found his story interesting enough to go back and check for his music. He worked for years trying to get his career going before being picked up by Stones Throw and this track comes from his debut release; the five-vinyl opus "Toeachizown." It's definitely his own take on soul and funk, in a space-traveller kind of way, produced by Leon Sylvers III, who was instrumental in many of SOLAR Records' hits back in the 70s and 80s.
Suga Free : Sana Sana
Quite a polarity change from the opening track! Again, I may not co-sign Suga Free's admitted day job, but my goodness he can rhyme. That opening verse packs plenty in, and I would have never taken him for someone who'd drop that kind of anti-war/draft lyric - followed succinctly in the hook with the adlib "draft these nuts" :D Second verse starts off with the classic quote that makes up this month's epigram, before switching to another language altogether! I don't really speak Spanish, but I understand enough to know that verse is nothing nice. At all. Co-T handles musical duties, with the kind of beat that I can't really hear anyone else rhyming over - very tailored to the artist. Just one piece of heat from the excellent "Smell My Finger" album.
(As an aside - his line of "I gotta be honest with you sargeant, you give me that gun, I'll probably shoot you with it" reminds me somewhat of this quote from Malcolm X speaking in 1965; "This is what they thought of you and me in those days. For one thing, they didn’t trust us. They feared that if they put us in the army and trained us on how to use rifles and other things, that we might shoot at some targets that they hadn’t picked out. And we would have. Any thinking man knows what target to shoot at. And if a man doesn’t, if he has to have someone else to choose his target, then he’s not thinking for himself—they’re doing the thinking for him.")
Tash ft. Raekwon : Rap Life
From the Alkaholiks, Tash released a pretty decent album in "Rap Life" which apparently just didn't sell that well. Shame as there were some quality tracks on it - this isn't even my favourite but fit well in the mix. Production comes from Young Lord, and an energised Raekwon helps out on the mic while they trade tales of splashing out music money on cars, jetskis, and plenty more...even if it's true, a far cry from today's industry! This is the clean version from a 12" album sampler - I actually greatly prefer it with the censoring. Oh, and if it's not blindingly obvious, I put in that little pause and cut at the end of the first verse - thought it just added a bit of extra flavour :)
Murs & Fashawn : Peace Treaty
Staying West Coast again, we take a cut from the "My Generation" collaboration album, calling for and dreaming of a truce between Los Angeles' gangs. Both headliners hold it down on the lyrics, as you'd expect, and they are given some quality production to ride by Beatnick and K-Salaam; special mention must be given to the cuts in the hook, sampling Watts native Kam's 1993 "Peace Treaty," which itself spoke on the topic of the real 1992 gang treaty. Great homage.
Janelle Monáe ft. Esperanza Spalding : Dorothy Dandridge Eyes
Janelle's range is so incredibly wide that there's no one song that could give you a picture of just what kind of artist she is, so I just chose a quality song from her latest album ("Electric Lady")! This is apparently inspired by a particular scene ("the jeep scene?") in the film "Carmen Jones," but I've not seen it so can only speak on it as a stand-alone piece - top notch groove, could fit in with some of the 80s Quincy Jones productions, just a really nice track. The multi-talented jazz musician Esperanza Spalding comes in on the second verse and it's a winning combination.
Lex (de Kalhex) : Revelation
I went scouting around on Bandcamp for something new here, and found a compilation by "The Find" magazine which was centred around jazz-style beatmaking, from which I took this track. Nothing crazy, but I thought the pianos and live-sounding drums would lead into the next track nicely!
Sean C & LV ft. Styles P, ASAP 12vvy, & Charlie RED : Tomorrow May Never Come
These guys are the kind of producers who can sneak right past you, but they've been doing big work for years for all kinds of artists - Jay-Z, Big Pun, and Clipse to name but three. Sean C was actually a co-founder of the legendary X-Men DJ crew which gives you an idea of the kind of pedigree he comes from. The duo released a free producer project "Loud Dreams" which linked them up with a wide roster of vocalists, and this is a track that stood out for me.
DJ Babu ft. Little Brother, Joe Scudda, & Darien Brockington : Fan Mail
California production but a North Carolina roll call on the mic - two-thirds of Little Brother alongside Justus League compatriot Joe Scudda, and Darien Brockington on the hook. I got this on an unofficial 12" pressing, but this was on Volume 3 of Babu's "Duck Season" projects. Just in case you didn't know, before becoming the DJ for Dilated Peoples, Babu was one of the founders of the Beat Junkies DJ crew and also invented the word "turntablist" to describe one who plays the turntable as a musical instrument. In short, a man worthy of respect in this culture!
Joey Chavez ft. Iriscience & DJ Babu : Live
Back-to-back Babu! This time he's strictly on the turntables, doing great work cutting up the phone call sample from the closing verse of A Tribe Called Quest's "Keep It Rollin'" on the hook. Joey Chavez gives us some straightforward but low-key boom-bap, and Rakaa Iriscience comes with the kind of lyrical style you'll know from Dilated Peoples. You can get this one on the 2001 "Original Structure" EP, which is still available digitally should you be so inclined.
Large Pro ft. Nas : Stay Chisel
Great little track that originally appeared on Large Professor's "1st Class" LP. That version transitioned straight out of what you hear here into a second, rougher part with Akinyele on the mic; this came of a 12" which helpfully had them both edited into separate tracks. I've heard the original sample for this and it's actually not been changed much at all - sometimes, the best thing to do is get out of the way and let the loop rock...
Washed Out : Feel It All Around
I got Netflix the other month and discovered an odd little comedy called Portlandia, and thought the intro music was interesting, so decided to search it out - this is it. Washed Out is a musician out of Georgia who put out his first releases in 2009 - about the same time the podcast started! He cites Hip-Hop as an influence without being part of the culture directly; hopefully he'd appreciate being included here.
Capone-N-Noreaga : Illegal Life
You can't take anything away - 1997's "The War Report" was an incredible debut and definitely one of the best records to be released that year. I think this was the first CNN track I heard, and it's still right up there as one of my favourites! Tim Westwood played it on Radio 1 and me and my friends were bugging out about it the next day; that eastern-sounding sample coming off like it's playing across a desolate desert sandscape, neck-snapping drum programming (by Havoc of Mobb Deep), and a bassline that has only a passing interest in melody - just grit. Tragedy Khadafi cooked up a mean piece on this one. When it comes to the rhymes, you were getting that raw street business and nothing but that - which was really what these guys were all about. Remember when it was reported at one early showing of the film "Juice" that someone was shot at a cinema? Well...adolescent Noreaga would have to put his hands up to that one...
Cesar Comanche ft. Kenn Starr & Rapper Big Pooh : The Future
Proper excavation from the archives, a nice Justus League B-side. All the MCs hold it down - in fact, I could stand to hear a little more Cesar Comanche about the place! Nothing crazy topic-wise, just showing out. DJ Resident shows a little Pete Rock influence on the beat, I'd say. This is a B-side to the also good "Miss You (Remix)," but is also on the 2005 "Squirrel And The Aces" album - not got it, but might look out for a copy.
Stacy Epps : Movement
I pretty much have to check for everything she puts out. Found this on Spotify but then bought it from Bandcamp, where you can find it on the "AURA" release (which actually looks incomplete on there). Short but sweet, she delivers the vocals low-key and rides along with that tasty production - unfortunately can't find a credit for it, one of the problems with digital releases...
Lacks : Beautiful
Gorgeous bit of production here, very much befitting the track title. Detroit's Lacks (now known as Ta'raach) crafts a great track; that bassline and then the harp (?) make it. Well, those and the countering string line that runs behind the bass. Drums are tight too. Ok, pretty much everything. If you see a copy of "Re:Lacks // Vol.1 With The World" (yeah, odd title), pick it up as it's got some really good tracks on there.
[Madlib] Prince Po : Mecheti Lightspeed (Instrumental)
I've never been a huge Madlib fan; people who know me know that about me. Nevertheless, when he nails it I have to give him his credit and this right here is one of those times! Wicked B-side to "Holla" (which itself was on the podcast way back on episode 11), get this 12" if you see it!
Dr. Dre : Let Me Ride
One of the doctor's best! The closing section of this song, for me, is just perfection, with the sung hook interplaying with the sample of Glenn Goins singing on Parliament's "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot" - that's the kind of beauty I'd like to have played for me when it's all over and I finally return to the Earth. This solo track was the final single from "The Chronic" and rightfully won Dre a Grammy in 1994. I wonder if he knew how much his life would change in twenty years...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Why you wanna fuck up my last few days with the news?"
- Suga Free
I seem to have ended up with a reasonably high proportion of West Coast records on this month's mix, at least nine tunes - didn't plan it that way, it was just how it came out! Tough picks this month but I think there are some interesting ones you may not know - get in touch and let me know how you like it!
One link promised in the show - free tickets for the last In The Loop cypher session, and two others - Janelle Monáe controlling the crowd, and then the whole place exploding in the climactic pillow fight and crowd surf!
Playlist/Notes
Yo-Yo : Black Pearl
I have never heard this record anywhere outside my own house! First caught it on "Yo! MTV Raps" many moons ago and loved it, so was very glad to come across a 12". One for the women from one who famously went head-to-head with Ice Cube on his track "It's A Man's World," this is the title track from her second album, which I've not heard in full but will definitely pick up if I see a copy! The beat is provided by a crew I've not heard of - Down Low Productions, doing a nice job with something that could easily have fit in with some of the rougher, slower New Jack tracks of the time.
Dam-Funk : Mirrors
I actually hadn't paid much attention to Dam-Funk until I saw him in the Stones Throw documentary "Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton," and I found his story interesting enough to go back and check for his music. He worked for years trying to get his career going before being picked up by Stones Throw and this track comes from his debut release; the five-vinyl opus "Toeachizown." It's definitely his own take on soul and funk, in a space-traveller kind of way, produced by Leon Sylvers III, who was instrumental in many of SOLAR Records' hits back in the 70s and 80s.
Suga Free : Sana Sana
Quite a polarity change from the opening track! Again, I may not co-sign Suga Free's admitted day job, but my goodness he can rhyme. That opening verse packs plenty in, and I would have never taken him for someone who'd drop that kind of anti-war/draft lyric - followed succinctly in the hook with the adlib "draft these nuts" :D Second verse starts off with the classic quote that makes up this month's epigram, before switching to another language altogether! I don't really speak Spanish, but I understand enough to know that verse is nothing nice. At all. Co-T handles musical duties, with the kind of beat that I can't really hear anyone else rhyming over - very tailored to the artist. Just one piece of heat from the excellent "Smell My Finger" album.
(As an aside - his line of "I gotta be honest with you sargeant, you give me that gun, I'll probably shoot you with it" reminds me somewhat of this quote from Malcolm X speaking in 1965; "This is what they thought of you and me in those days. For one thing, they didn’t trust us. They feared that if they put us in the army and trained us on how to use rifles and other things, that we might shoot at some targets that they hadn’t picked out. And we would have. Any thinking man knows what target to shoot at. And if a man doesn’t, if he has to have someone else to choose his target, then he’s not thinking for himself—they’re doing the thinking for him.")
Tash ft. Raekwon : Rap Life
From the Alkaholiks, Tash released a pretty decent album in "Rap Life" which apparently just didn't sell that well. Shame as there were some quality tracks on it - this isn't even my favourite but fit well in the mix. Production comes from Young Lord, and an energised Raekwon helps out on the mic while they trade tales of splashing out music money on cars, jetskis, and plenty more...even if it's true, a far cry from today's industry! This is the clean version from a 12" album sampler - I actually greatly prefer it with the censoring. Oh, and if it's not blindingly obvious, I put in that little pause and cut at the end of the first verse - thought it just added a bit of extra flavour :)
Murs & Fashawn : Peace Treaty
Staying West Coast again, we take a cut from the "My Generation" collaboration album, calling for and dreaming of a truce between Los Angeles' gangs. Both headliners hold it down on the lyrics, as you'd expect, and they are given some quality production to ride by Beatnick and K-Salaam; special mention must be given to the cuts in the hook, sampling Watts native Kam's 1993 "Peace Treaty," which itself spoke on the topic of the real 1992 gang treaty. Great homage.
Janelle Monáe ft. Esperanza Spalding : Dorothy Dandridge Eyes
Janelle's range is so incredibly wide that there's no one song that could give you a picture of just what kind of artist she is, so I just chose a quality song from her latest album ("Electric Lady")! This is apparently inspired by a particular scene ("the jeep scene?") in the film "Carmen Jones," but I've not seen it so can only speak on it as a stand-alone piece - top notch groove, could fit in with some of the 80s Quincy Jones productions, just a really nice track. The multi-talented jazz musician Esperanza Spalding comes in on the second verse and it's a winning combination.
Lex (de Kalhex) : Revelation
I went scouting around on Bandcamp for something new here, and found a compilation by "The Find" magazine which was centred around jazz-style beatmaking, from which I took this track. Nothing crazy, but I thought the pianos and live-sounding drums would lead into the next track nicely!
Sean C & LV ft. Styles P, ASAP 12vvy, & Charlie RED : Tomorrow May Never Come
These guys are the kind of producers who can sneak right past you, but they've been doing big work for years for all kinds of artists - Jay-Z, Big Pun, and Clipse to name but three. Sean C was actually a co-founder of the legendary X-Men DJ crew which gives you an idea of the kind of pedigree he comes from. The duo released a free producer project "Loud Dreams" which linked them up with a wide roster of vocalists, and this is a track that stood out for me.
DJ Babu ft. Little Brother, Joe Scudda, & Darien Brockington : Fan Mail
California production but a North Carolina roll call on the mic - two-thirds of Little Brother alongside Justus League compatriot Joe Scudda, and Darien Brockington on the hook. I got this on an unofficial 12" pressing, but this was on Volume 3 of Babu's "Duck Season" projects. Just in case you didn't know, before becoming the DJ for Dilated Peoples, Babu was one of the founders of the Beat Junkies DJ crew and also invented the word "turntablist" to describe one who plays the turntable as a musical instrument. In short, a man worthy of respect in this culture!
Joey Chavez ft. Iriscience & DJ Babu : Live
Back-to-back Babu! This time he's strictly on the turntables, doing great work cutting up the phone call sample from the closing verse of A Tribe Called Quest's "Keep It Rollin'" on the hook. Joey Chavez gives us some straightforward but low-key boom-bap, and Rakaa Iriscience comes with the kind of lyrical style you'll know from Dilated Peoples. You can get this one on the 2001 "Original Structure" EP, which is still available digitally should you be so inclined.
Large Pro ft. Nas : Stay Chisel
Great little track that originally appeared on Large Professor's "1st Class" LP. That version transitioned straight out of what you hear here into a second, rougher part with Akinyele on the mic; this came of a 12" which helpfully had them both edited into separate tracks. I've heard the original sample for this and it's actually not been changed much at all - sometimes, the best thing to do is get out of the way and let the loop rock...
Washed Out : Feel It All Around
I got Netflix the other month and discovered an odd little comedy called Portlandia, and thought the intro music was interesting, so decided to search it out - this is it. Washed Out is a musician out of Georgia who put out his first releases in 2009 - about the same time the podcast started! He cites Hip-Hop as an influence without being part of the culture directly; hopefully he'd appreciate being included here.
Capone-N-Noreaga : Illegal Life
You can't take anything away - 1997's "The War Report" was an incredible debut and definitely one of the best records to be released that year. I think this was the first CNN track I heard, and it's still right up there as one of my favourites! Tim Westwood played it on Radio 1 and me and my friends were bugging out about it the next day; that eastern-sounding sample coming off like it's playing across a desolate desert sandscape, neck-snapping drum programming (by Havoc of Mobb Deep), and a bassline that has only a passing interest in melody - just grit. Tragedy Khadafi cooked up a mean piece on this one. When it comes to the rhymes, you were getting that raw street business and nothing but that - which was really what these guys were all about. Remember when it was reported at one early showing of the film "Juice" that someone was shot at a cinema? Well...adolescent Noreaga would have to put his hands up to that one...
Cesar Comanche ft. Kenn Starr & Rapper Big Pooh : The Future
Proper excavation from the archives, a nice Justus League B-side. All the MCs hold it down - in fact, I could stand to hear a little more Cesar Comanche about the place! Nothing crazy topic-wise, just showing out. DJ Resident shows a little Pete Rock influence on the beat, I'd say. This is a B-side to the also good "Miss You (Remix)," but is also on the 2005 "Squirrel And The Aces" album - not got it, but might look out for a copy.
Stacy Epps : Movement
I pretty much have to check for everything she puts out. Found this on Spotify but then bought it from Bandcamp, where you can find it on the "AURA" release (which actually looks incomplete on there). Short but sweet, she delivers the vocals low-key and rides along with that tasty production - unfortunately can't find a credit for it, one of the problems with digital releases...
Lacks : Beautiful
Gorgeous bit of production here, very much befitting the track title. Detroit's Lacks (now known as Ta'raach) crafts a great track; that bassline and then the harp (?) make it. Well, those and the countering string line that runs behind the bass. Drums are tight too. Ok, pretty much everything. If you see a copy of "Re:Lacks // Vol.1 With The World" (yeah, odd title), pick it up as it's got some really good tracks on there.
[Madlib] Prince Po : Mecheti Lightspeed (Instrumental)
I've never been a huge Madlib fan; people who know me know that about me. Nevertheless, when he nails it I have to give him his credit and this right here is one of those times! Wicked B-side to "Holla" (which itself was on the podcast way back on episode 11), get this 12" if you see it!
Dr. Dre : Let Me Ride
One of the doctor's best! The closing section of this song, for me, is just perfection, with the sung hook interplaying with the sample of Glenn Goins singing on Parliament's "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot" - that's the kind of beauty I'd like to have played for me when it's all over and I finally return to the Earth. This solo track was the final single from "The Chronic" and rightfully won Dre a Grammy in 1994. I wonder if he knew how much his life would change in twenty years...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies, and prisoners..."
- Nas
This April marks both four years since the passing of Guru and twenty (!) years since the release of Nas' "Illmatic," so I had to pay homage to both on this episode. We start the show off at blunted speed and work our way up to the dancefloor!
Couple of links I promised you;
The Soul Twins new podcast is here - give them some support!
Watch Deez' selection for Groovement. Coming up!
Playlist/Notes
Black Josh : Purple Rain
Slightly left-field and admittedly drug-enhanced lust story, with a beat that just makes me want to rewind and drive slow! With Metrodome on production, 40% of Manchester's Ape Cult, a young crew on the rise, get busy on this one from the "Blick Flair's Ape Mountain" album.
The Mouse Outfit : Kickstart (Instrumental)
I was privileged enough to be treated to the instrumentals from the "Escape Music" album, and this track fits in nicely here. The album has been getting a lot of well-deserved respect, which has been really good to see. This particular track has an unusual sound for a group who are primarily known for their live instrument chops, but it shows that they can definitely get versatile with it!
Onyx & Wu-Tang Clan : The Worst
Ok, sorry about the pun :) Did you ever see "Ride?" Nope, me neither. Those mid-90s film soundtracks were a clearinghouse for all kinds of studio offcuts, but you'd always be guaranteed at least one quality tune and this is the one on this occasion. Couldn't afford the 12" when it first came out but managed to pick up the whole album last year for a few quid! On this hardcore meeting of the minds, you have Fredro, Sticky Fingaz, Sonsee, and X-1 on the Onyx side, and Raekwon, Method Man, and Killa Sin (from Killarmy) representing for the Wu. The verse structure obviously has to lean away from the three 16-bar model, and of particular note is how Sticky and Meth share the closing verse - rightly so. The production is handled by Latief; if you know the original sample, you'll appreciate how just a small amount of rearrangement can do good things!
Planet Asia : Place Of Birth
One of the Cali Agents puts in the work on a lovely Evidence beat. Heard this one for the first time this month, but it fit beautifully into this spot! This is on the 2000 "Always Bigger And Better Vol.1" compilation on ABB records, but was a 12" release back at the time too. Planet Asia has definitely kept grinding away over a 16-year career, so if you like his rhyme style you'll be able to find plenty more material out there.
Gang Starr : Jazz Music
This was the first Gang Starr tune I ever heard, back in about 1989 - on a mixtape that was followed by NWA's "Boyz N Tha Hood." Memories! Anyway, this is a great little track from the debut "No More Mr Nice Guy" album - 25 years old this month - with Guru reminiscing on the history of jazz, and DJ Premier with an early production credit. Nice work with the Ramsey Lewis sample, and the little transformer cuts still get me even though I could pull them off myself these days!
Roni Size / Reprazent : Play The Game (Extended)
Looove this one. It was a pain to get hold of though - the original version on the UK album is much shorter. The last track on the "In The Mode" LP, it's a complete change of pace from the rest, which is very high-tempo D&B. Onallee is strong on the vocals, and the instrumental behind her is classily done. Bristol can justifiably be proud of this crew.
No I.D : Jump On It (Instrumental)
Just a little Chicago here, a head nodder from the "Sky's The Limit" 12" and the "Accept Your Own & Be Yourself" album. Nothing complicated!
Marlena Shaw : California Soul
A soul classic! Only a short piece though, to warm you up for the track to follow. I thought this was the first version of "California Soul" but it was in fact one of a series of covers, with the original being recorded by The Messengers in 1967. This wasn't even a single for Marlena Shaw, but what turned out to be a standout album track that ended up hitting for those in the know. Pretty much everyone knows it now, and rightly so.
Gang Starr : Check The Technique (Remix)
Here we go with a slight tweak on a well-known classic! I have this on a compilation of Gang Starr rarities but I think this has had a 12" release. It's not wildly different to the original that was on the "Step In The Arena" album, but it's got a liberal sprinkling of extra horns. Thought I'd throw this one in for the older heads just in case they hadn't heard it.
Oh No ft. Wildchild : Stomp That, V.2
That bassline does the damage. The title is no affectation - there was at least one previous version of this track already. The MC and producer who was at the time of this release primarily referred to as "Madlib's brother" had to be given props for a very solid debut album, 2004's "The Disrupt," and this was one of the top tracks. Using the bassline from the same break as X-Clan's "Verbs Of Power," Oxnard's own give us some quality alongside Wildchild of Lootpack - Madlib's old group!
Common Sense : Soul By The Pound
Never knew when this came out what kind of a career this guy would have, and I don't think there was necessarily any indication here. Still, this was a well-regarded track when it came out as I recall. Didn't realise this was the third single from "Can I Borrow A Dollar?" - it was certainly the first track I heard from him. Produced by Immenslope, who later changed his name to No I.D, it just pounds away on the low end leaving plenty of room for the MC to operate. As I'm sure you know, he eventually had to shorten his name to just "Common" because these guys forced it - probably a pain at the time, but overall I think the cropped version did ok :)
J-Live : Not Listening
This impressed me on the very first airing when it came out online a few weeks ago! It sounds like it comes out of sheer exasperation at a lot of the material out there right now, and the always-insightful J-Live even notes that there are plenty of other songs saying very similar things. That said, a lot of those tracks lack the honesty to say that a lot of records saying nothing...actually sound really good! You could level the same accusation at most genres, but he's speaking on what's closest to him. Atlanta's Korede handles the beat, and this is a great preview for the "Around The Sun" album, which should have just been released as you read this.
[The Neptunes] MC Lyte : I Can't Make A Mistake
From where I was standing, this 1998 single pretty much disappeared even though it was blatantly a big reach for radio - I bet most people won't know it, and the rest will only vaguely remember it! I like this beat, it is very much the sound of The Neptunes as we first came to know them, and this could easily mix with a track like N.O.R.E's "Superthug." Brooklyn's Lyte is more known for her late 80s/early 90s output like "Poor Georgie" and "Ruffneck," but this is towards the tail end of her recording career. Even though this didn't hit big, I can understand trying to work within the sound of the time!
Roger : So Ruff, So Tuff
Easily one of my all-time favourite records, and I used to be unbeatable at video games whenever this was playing! Regular listeners to the podcast will know of my love for Roger Troutman's genius, and this is one of his finest tracks. From his first solo album, 1981's "The Many Facets Of Roger," this has been heavily sampled and is a true funk classic. The talkbox harmony at 41:07 is absolutely flawless, the highlight for me of an amazing track. 11 out of 10.
The Whispers : Keep On Lovin' Me
Only got up on this one earlier this year, after Phonte guested on the "The Black Guy Who Tips" podcast and they were all laughing about the video :) I'd imagine the best known Whispers track is "And The Beat Goes On," but they've been doing it since the 60s, with changing members over that time - sadly, often due to health reasons or deaths. They had a heavy run in the 80s on Dick Griffey's Solar Records, which is the time period this track comes from, with Leon and Ricky Sylvers killing it on the production.
Zo! ft. Eric Roberson & Phonte : We Are On The Move (Original/Black Coffee Remix)
The reason the Whispers video came up in the first place was that they did their own take on it when it came time to do a video for this song! Zo! is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Detroit who has quietly racked up ten solo albums dating back to 2001, three EPs, and a handful of collaborative projects. From his latest release, "Manmade" comes this uncomplicated and beautiful track, with Eric Roberson doing a bang-up job on the lead vocal, ably assisted by Phonte (formerly of Little Brother). I also thought I'd do a little blending in of the Black Coffee remix (I think done by the South African DJ?), which takes it into a house style and makes its own additions. Appreciate.
The Jones Girls : Nights Over Egypt
The preceding track reminded me very much of this for some reason! An old classic, but only introduced to me at Zumbar in Manchester in the early 2000s. A phenomenal soul track that only peaked at #23 in the US R&B charts back in 1982, this should have been a big hit. Another Detroit act, the Jones Girls were backup singers for many years - working with Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin to name but two - before striking out on their own. This track was on their third album, "Get As Much Love As You Can" and written by the combination of Cynthia Biggs and the brilliant keyboardist Dexter Wansel. Beautiful late-night cool.
[DJ Spinna] Akil : Hey Luv (Instrumental)
It's that patented DJ Spinna bass on this B-side from Beyond Real. Not to be confused with the MC of the same name from Jurassic 5, Akil only had a couple of solo 12"s out, as well as a track with a group known as the BX Crew. The little organ sound in the background is a nice little link to the final tune of the episode...
Nas : Memory Lane
So many great tracks on "Illmatic," which was released twenty years ago this month, but this might just be my favourite. Despite only being 19 at the time, Nas reminisces on life and Hip-Hop from his own perspective - he says in an interview for Spotify Landmark that he felt able to do so because he had lived an accelerated life. Great lyricism, and a top-shelf DJ Premier beat - five-star track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies, and prisoners..."
- Nas
This April marks both four years since the passing of Guru and twenty (!) years since the release of Nas' "Illmatic," so I had to pay homage to both on this episode. We start the show off at blunted speed and work our way up to the dancefloor!
Couple of links I promised you;
The Soul Twins new podcast is here - give them some support!
Watch Deez' selection for Groovement. Coming up!
Playlist/Notes
Black Josh : Purple Rain
Slightly left-field and admittedly drug-enhanced lust story, with a beat that just makes me want to rewind and drive slow! With Metrodome on production, 40% of Manchester's Ape Cult, a young crew on the rise, get busy on this one from the "Blick Flair's Ape Mountain" album.
The Mouse Outfit : Kickstart (Instrumental)
I was privileged enough to be treated to the instrumentals from the "Escape Music" album, and this track fits in nicely here. The album has been getting a lot of well-deserved respect, which has been really good to see. This particular track has an unusual sound for a group who are primarily known for their live instrument chops, but it shows that they can definitely get versatile with it!
Onyx & Wu-Tang Clan : The Worst
Ok, sorry about the pun :) Did you ever see "Ride?" Nope, me neither. Those mid-90s film soundtracks were a clearinghouse for all kinds of studio offcuts, but you'd always be guaranteed at least one quality tune and this is the one on this occasion. Couldn't afford the 12" when it first came out but managed to pick up the whole album last year for a few quid! On this hardcore meeting of the minds, you have Fredro, Sticky Fingaz, Sonsee, and X-1 on the Onyx side, and Raekwon, Method Man, and Killa Sin (from Killarmy) representing for the Wu. The verse structure obviously has to lean away from the three 16-bar model, and of particular note is how Sticky and Meth share the closing verse - rightly so. The production is handled by Latief; if you know the original sample, you'll appreciate how just a small amount of rearrangement can do good things!
Planet Asia : Place Of Birth
One of the Cali Agents puts in the work on a lovely Evidence beat. Heard this one for the first time this month, but it fit beautifully into this spot! This is on the 2000 "Always Bigger And Better Vol.1" compilation on ABB records, but was a 12" release back at the time too. Planet Asia has definitely kept grinding away over a 16-year career, so if you like his rhyme style you'll be able to find plenty more material out there.
Gang Starr : Jazz Music
This was the first Gang Starr tune I ever heard, back in about 1989 - on a mixtape that was followed by NWA's "Boyz N Tha Hood." Memories! Anyway, this is a great little track from the debut "No More Mr Nice Guy" album - 25 years old this month - with Guru reminiscing on the history of jazz, and DJ Premier with an early production credit. Nice work with the Ramsey Lewis sample, and the little transformer cuts still get me even though I could pull them off myself these days!
Roni Size / Reprazent : Play The Game (Extended)
Looove this one. It was a pain to get hold of though - the original version on the UK album is much shorter. The last track on the "In The Mode" LP, it's a complete change of pace from the rest, which is very high-tempo D&B. Onallee is strong on the vocals, and the instrumental behind her is classily done. Bristol can justifiably be proud of this crew.
No I.D : Jump On It (Instrumental)
Just a little Chicago here, a head nodder from the "Sky's The Limit" 12" and the "Accept Your Own & Be Yourself" album. Nothing complicated!
Marlena Shaw : California Soul
A soul classic! Only a short piece though, to warm you up for the track to follow. I thought this was the first version of "California Soul" but it was in fact one of a series of covers, with the original being recorded by The Messengers in 1967. This wasn't even a single for Marlena Shaw, but what turned out to be a standout album track that ended up hitting for those in the know. Pretty much everyone knows it now, and rightly so.
Gang Starr : Check The Technique (Remix)
Here we go with a slight tweak on a well-known classic! I have this on a compilation of Gang Starr rarities but I think this has had a 12" release. It's not wildly different to the original that was on the "Step In The Arena" album, but it's got a liberal sprinkling of extra horns. Thought I'd throw this one in for the older heads just in case they hadn't heard it.
Oh No ft. Wildchild : Stomp That, V.2
That bassline does the damage. The title is no affectation - there was at least one previous version of this track already. The MC and producer who was at the time of this release primarily referred to as "Madlib's brother" had to be given props for a very solid debut album, 2004's "The Disrupt," and this was one of the top tracks. Using the bassline from the same break as X-Clan's "Verbs Of Power," Oxnard's own give us some quality alongside Wildchild of Lootpack - Madlib's old group!
Common Sense : Soul By The Pound
Never knew when this came out what kind of a career this guy would have, and I don't think there was necessarily any indication here. Still, this was a well-regarded track when it came out as I recall. Didn't realise this was the third single from "Can I Borrow A Dollar?" - it was certainly the first track I heard from him. Produced by Immenslope, who later changed his name to No I.D, it just pounds away on the low end leaving plenty of room for the MC to operate. As I'm sure you know, he eventually had to shorten his name to just "Common" because these guys forced it - probably a pain at the time, but overall I think the cropped version did ok :)
J-Live : Not Listening
This impressed me on the very first airing when it came out online a few weeks ago! It sounds like it comes out of sheer exasperation at a lot of the material out there right now, and the always-insightful J-Live even notes that there are plenty of other songs saying very similar things. That said, a lot of those tracks lack the honesty to say that a lot of records saying nothing...actually sound really good! You could level the same accusation at most genres, but he's speaking on what's closest to him. Atlanta's Korede handles the beat, and this is a great preview for the "Around The Sun" album, which should have just been released as you read this.
[The Neptunes] MC Lyte : I Can't Make A Mistake
From where I was standing, this 1998 single pretty much disappeared even though it was blatantly a big reach for radio - I bet most people won't know it, and the rest will only vaguely remember it! I like this beat, it is very much the sound of The Neptunes as we first came to know them, and this could easily mix with a track like N.O.R.E's "Superthug." Brooklyn's Lyte is more known for her late 80s/early 90s output like "Poor Georgie" and "Ruffneck," but this is towards the tail end of her recording career. Even though this didn't hit big, I can understand trying to work within the sound of the time!
Roger : So Ruff, So Tuff
Easily one of my all-time favourite records, and I used to be unbeatable at video games whenever this was playing! Regular listeners to the podcast will know of my love for Roger Troutman's genius, and this is one of his finest tracks. From his first solo album, 1981's "The Many Facets Of Roger," this has been heavily sampled and is a true funk classic. The talkbox harmony at 41:07 is absolutely flawless, the highlight for me of an amazing track. 11 out of 10.
The Whispers : Keep On Lovin' Me
Only got up on this one earlier this year, after Phonte guested on the "The Black Guy Who Tips" podcast and they were all laughing about the video :) I'd imagine the best known Whispers track is "And The Beat Goes On," but they've been doing it since the 60s, with changing members over that time - sadly, often due to health reasons or deaths. They had a heavy run in the 80s on Dick Griffey's Solar Records, which is the time period this track comes from, with Leon and Ricky Sylvers killing it on the production.
Zo! ft. Eric Roberson & Phonte : We Are On The Move (Original/Black Coffee Remix)
The reason the Whispers video came up in the first place was that they did their own take on it when it came time to do a video for this song! Zo! is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Detroit who has quietly racked up ten solo albums dating back to 2001, three EPs, and a handful of collaborative projects. From his latest release, "Manmade" comes this uncomplicated and beautiful track, with Eric Roberson doing a bang-up job on the lead vocal, ably assisted by Phonte (formerly of Little Brother). I also thought I'd do a little blending in of the Black Coffee remix (I think done by the South African DJ?), which takes it into a house style and makes its own additions. Appreciate.
The Jones Girls : Nights Over Egypt
The preceding track reminded me very much of this for some reason! An old classic, but only introduced to me at Zumbar in Manchester in the early 2000s. A phenomenal soul track that only peaked at #23 in the US R&B charts back in 1982, this should have been a big hit. Another Detroit act, the Jones Girls were backup singers for many years - working with Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin to name but two - before striking out on their own. This track was on their third album, "Get As Much Love As You Can" and written by the combination of Cynthia Biggs and the brilliant keyboardist Dexter Wansel. Beautiful late-night cool.
[DJ Spinna] Akil : Hey Luv (Instrumental)
It's that patented DJ Spinna bass on this B-side from Beyond Real. Not to be confused with the MC of the same name from Jurassic 5, Akil only had a couple of solo 12"s out, as well as a track with a group known as the BX Crew. The little organ sound in the background is a nice little link to the final tune of the episode...
Nas : Memory Lane
So many great tracks on "Illmatic," which was released twenty years ago this month, but this might just be my favourite. Despite only being 19 at the time, Nas reminisces on life and Hip-Hop from his own perspective - he says in an interview for Spotify Landmark that he felt able to do so because he had lived an accelerated life. Great lyricism, and a top-shelf DJ Premier beat - five-star track.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I do shows, I go home, I spell my name in cash like I'm Busy Bee..."
- Konny Kon
March is here again, and so we celebrate the life of the great Biggie Smalls. Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way!
Here are the links for things mentioned in the show;
EPMD tickets? If you're in Manchester (or anywhere within reach), you really should...
The podcasts I mentioned were Peer Pressure Radio (the URL for subscription is http://feeds.feedburner.com/peerpressureradio/INMq) and In All Airness - both great listens!
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G : One More Chance (Hip-Hop Remix)
Definitely preferred this to the first remix! Rashad Smith and Puffy throw out the smoother vibe and go with a stripped down instrumental based on the same break as Marley Marl and Craig G's "Droppin' Science," somehow more fitting for Biggie's raw take on his way with women.
Akinyele : In The World (Large Pro Remix Instrumental)
Just dug this up on a white label I had hanging around - sound quality isn't the best but hopefully you can appreciate it all the same. While I actually preferred the DJ Enuff-produced original (also on episode 30), this is just trying to do something completely different sonically, harder and darker.
[Easy Mo Bee] Craig Mack : Flava In Ya Ear (Instrumental)
One of the best beats ever, not in needless complexity but just in that...ugh! Easy Mo Bee kills it with that one-note guitar sample pitched up and down, and possibly the greatest drum sounds you'll hear anywhere, programmed just right. Every aspiring Hip-Hop producer should study this beat.
Craig Mack ft. The Notorious B.I.G, Rampage, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes : Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)
One of my favourite remixes of all time, with a classic Biggie verse leading things off. The beat is only slightly tweaked (hell, there was nothing wrong with it), this version is all about letting the MCs get busy. Craig Mack (second verse) was a decent rhymer in my opinion, but at best he's the fourth best on here - though looking at the lineup, there's no shame in that! This track also has one of my favourite Hip-Hop videos, a minimalistic masterstroke from Hype Williams before he went fisheye crazy, and if it's to be believed, then the cuts on here are courtesy of Funkmaster Flex, putting the icing on the cake!
EPMD : Da Joint
With EPMD coming to the city in April, I had to include one of their tracks this month. This was the first single from their fifth album, "Back In Business," which as you might expect from the title was the first one after their reunion. At the time, everyone was just ecstatic to hear Erick and Parrish together again, and this Erick Sermon and Rockwilder-produced track was a great one to come back with. For those that don't know the old skool (note : that's before Run DMC :) ), the hook is a direct reference to the Funky Four Plus One's 1980 single "That's The Joint" - know your history, kids ;)
Call O' Da Wild : Ruffturrain
Find of the decade! Let me qualify that :) I first heard this on Radio 1 in 1996, but as far as I know they never mentioned the track title or the artist, so I just had it down as "Riders Of The Storm." I spent a long, long time trying to find out what it was, using every method I could think of to search it out, but to no avail. This year I decided to dig the tape out, record a bit, and mail it out to DJs I knew to see if anyone recognised it. No-one knew the record at all, but Agent J of Groovement correctly identified the main sample, and then Obelix of Too Many Cooks worked out the artist and title! Great work by those guys, Barron Ricks and Angelo Campanioni on the mic and Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs with the dark and sinister beat. Turns out that this track was only released as a promo 12", which I splashed out on as soon as I found a copy on Discogs. Unfortunately, the album went unreleased by Sony after they handed it in and the duo broke up shortly after. Crying shame, because if they had anything else like this, it would have been a really quality LP.
The Notorious B.I.G ft. Beanie Sigel, Black Rob, Ice Cube : If I Should Die Before I Wake
Tracks like this feel a bit unsettling to listen to in hindsight, given what happened to Biggie. It's also one of the tracks that was constructed around his unreleased lyrics posthumously, but one of the best I think. The "Born Again" LP this comes from is unfortunately (and understandably) pretty patchy but has a few good bits, this one included. Charlemagne, Coptic, and D-Dot cook up a beat that could easily have been on "Life After Death," and the MC roster is one that definitely makes sense - if anything, Ice Cube is the wildcard but easily the best.
Dubbul O & Pro P : Slang To Ya Brain
Manchester material from one of my favourite MCs on the scene right now, alongside the man Pro P on the beats; both these artists are being really productive and coming out with polished material. This is my early favourite from the newly released "Omega" LP, and has the characteristic darkness that these guys can summon up at will. You can name your price on the album, so check it out and see what you think!
Large Pro : After School (Instrumental)
Another Large Pro beat - only occurred to me after I'd recorded it all! Head-nodding 12"-only release, this is the B-side to "The Beginning," which is an ill track indeed.
Nas : 2nd Childhood
A nice beat from DJ Premier, but an unusual one structure-wise; even if you don't study these things, you might get the feeling! Easily one of the standouts from Nas' "Stillmatic" LP, and one of those tracks that for me show clearly why he's one of the greats. The stories of people stuck in their lives and not moving on ring very true, and the music behind him has a kind of bittersweet sound to it. I will always, always take Nas over Jay-Z when it comes to the rhymes...
Children Of Zeus : Elevate
More Manchester for you! Mainstay of the scene Konny Kon combines with Tyler Daly for this track which is actually just a demo - but that hasn't stopped me having it on repeat since I got it from their Soundcloud! They self-produced this track and the music is just beautiful, and will only shine more with a final mix. On the lyrics, Konny is smashing over buildings on his verse, and I can't get enough of Tyler's hook. When this album is mixed and released, it's definitely going to be one to check for!
Gaelle : Moonsglow
Love with bass! I last visited the "Transient" LP on episode 9, so I think it's fine to head back for more :) This album closer is one of the top tunes on there, downtempo and gliding. Just to mention one small point of detail, this is Exhibit A on when to use a shaker rather than a hi-hat in the rhythm track - listen and imagine it had been done the other way.
Source Direct : Love & Hate
Bit of a change-up here with some D&B which manages to be sparse but kind of luxurious at the same time. One of the select few five-star tracks on my iPod, it's one of the best tracks on Source Direct's "Exorcise The Demons" album which has darkness aplenty. Those of you who listen to D&B regularly (I honestly don't) might have a different opinion, let me know!
EPMD : Scratch, Bring It Back (Part 2 - Mic Doc)
This might be far from the biggest track on the "Business Never Personal" album - which I have a horrible feeling may have been deleted - but I've always liked it since it flipped my wig back in the pirate radio days! All about that second section with the beat change, and the amazing DJ Scratch cuts. EPMD got through a lot of DJs in their time (K La Boss, Diamond J to name but two) but when they got Scratch they stayed with him. Good move. Besides being a ridiculously ill DJ, he also carved out a very respectable career as a producer, which basically means everyone in the group is top shelf on the beats :)
Freak L : When The Pen Hits The Paper
Now this is seriously obscure! I heard Dan Greenpeace play this once on the radio, but I'd never heard of the artist before and hadn't seen any records around either. When I eventually came across it in Fat City years later...snatched it up! This is the B-side (yes, it wins again) from a 1988/89 12" which was produced by Vandy C but was mixed by the late great Paul C. SP-1200 goodness all around, with absolutely stacks of samples thrown into the mix - none of which I'm telling if you don't know them, since I doubt there was any clearance! Freak L only put out a couple of singles, but that's two more than most, and he shows his mettle on here.
Diamond : Best Kept Secret (Remix)
If you're a long-time listener, you might have caught a chunk of this on episode 12 when I did a whistle-stop tour around the "Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop" album, but it fit well here and I thought the whole track deserved an airing! Diamond is a production legend in his own right but for this remix he brings in Mark The 45 King, and this is just vicious - the relentless bassline makes it.
Chic : (Funny) Bone
A nice little funk/disco workout which closes the 1978 "C'est Chic" album, though this was also on the B-side of the "I Want Your Love" single. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards hold it down on the guitar and bass, and Tony Thompson on the drums gets that little extra accent with the claps on top of the snares. Not a big hit as a track by itself as far as I know, but a great tune!
The Notorious B.I.G. : "Microphone Murderer" (1991 demo)
Note: The interview segment you hear in front of this comes from the Juan Epstein podcast, it's well worth listening to the whole episode!
This track was before everything you ever heard, a 19-year-old Biggie slaying the mic on a demo with the then local DJ 50 Grand on the turntables. When Big Daddy Kane's DJ Mister Cee heard it, he loved it and played it for Matty C of the Source who then got B.I.G into the "Unsigned Hype" section, which was then read by Puffy (or Diddy, as you may know him now)...and the rest is history!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I do shows, I go home, I spell my name in cash like I'm Busy Bee..."
- Konny Kon
March is here again, and so we celebrate the life of the great Biggie Smalls. Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way!
Here are the links for things mentioned in the show;
EPMD tickets? If you're in Manchester (or anywhere within reach), you really should...
The podcasts I mentioned were Peer Pressure Radio (the URL for subscription is http://feeds.feedburner.com/peerpressureradio/INMq) and In All Airness - both great listens!
Playlist/Notes
The Notorious B.I.G : One More Chance (Hip-Hop Remix)
Definitely preferred this to the first remix! Rashad Smith and Puffy throw out the smoother vibe and go with a stripped down instrumental based on the same break as Marley Marl and Craig G's "Droppin' Science," somehow more fitting for Biggie's raw take on his way with women.
Akinyele : In The World (Large Pro Remix Instrumental)
Just dug this up on a white label I had hanging around - sound quality isn't the best but hopefully you can appreciate it all the same. While I actually preferred the DJ Enuff-produced original (also on episode 30), this is just trying to do something completely different sonically, harder and darker.
[Easy Mo Bee] Craig Mack : Flava In Ya Ear (Instrumental)
One of the best beats ever, not in needless complexity but just in that...ugh! Easy Mo Bee kills it with that one-note guitar sample pitched up and down, and possibly the greatest drum sounds you'll hear anywhere, programmed just right. Every aspiring Hip-Hop producer should study this beat.
Craig Mack ft. The Notorious B.I.G, Rampage, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes : Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)
One of my favourite remixes of all time, with a classic Biggie verse leading things off. The beat is only slightly tweaked (hell, there was nothing wrong with it), this version is all about letting the MCs get busy. Craig Mack (second verse) was a decent rhymer in my opinion, but at best he's the fourth best on here - though looking at the lineup, there's no shame in that! This track also has one of my favourite Hip-Hop videos, a minimalistic masterstroke from Hype Williams before he went fisheye crazy, and if it's to be believed, then the cuts on here are courtesy of Funkmaster Flex, putting the icing on the cake!
EPMD : Da Joint
With EPMD coming to the city in April, I had to include one of their tracks this month. This was the first single from their fifth album, "Back In Business," which as you might expect from the title was the first one after their reunion. At the time, everyone was just ecstatic to hear Erick and Parrish together again, and this Erick Sermon and Rockwilder-produced track was a great one to come back with. For those that don't know the old skool (note : that's before Run DMC :) ), the hook is a direct reference to the Funky Four Plus One's 1980 single "That's The Joint" - know your history, kids ;)
Call O' Da Wild : Ruffturrain
Find of the decade! Let me qualify that :) I first heard this on Radio 1 in 1996, but as far as I know they never mentioned the track title or the artist, so I just had it down as "Riders Of The Storm." I spent a long, long time trying to find out what it was, using every method I could think of to search it out, but to no avail. This year I decided to dig the tape out, record a bit, and mail it out to DJs I knew to see if anyone recognised it. No-one knew the record at all, but Agent J of Groovement correctly identified the main sample, and then Obelix of Too Many Cooks worked out the artist and title! Great work by those guys, Barron Ricks and Angelo Campanioni on the mic and Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs with the dark and sinister beat. Turns out that this track was only released as a promo 12", which I splashed out on as soon as I found a copy on Discogs. Unfortunately, the album went unreleased by Sony after they handed it in and the duo broke up shortly after. Crying shame, because if they had anything else like this, it would have been a really quality LP.
The Notorious B.I.G ft. Beanie Sigel, Black Rob, Ice Cube : If I Should Die Before I Wake
Tracks like this feel a bit unsettling to listen to in hindsight, given what happened to Biggie. It's also one of the tracks that was constructed around his unreleased lyrics posthumously, but one of the best I think. The "Born Again" LP this comes from is unfortunately (and understandably) pretty patchy but has a few good bits, this one included. Charlemagne, Coptic, and D-Dot cook up a beat that could easily have been on "Life After Death," and the MC roster is one that definitely makes sense - if anything, Ice Cube is the wildcard but easily the best.
Dubbul O & Pro P : Slang To Ya Brain
Manchester material from one of my favourite MCs on the scene right now, alongside the man Pro P on the beats; both these artists are being really productive and coming out with polished material. This is my early favourite from the newly released "Omega" LP, and has the characteristic darkness that these guys can summon up at will. You can name your price on the album, so check it out and see what you think!
Large Pro : After School (Instrumental)
Another Large Pro beat - only occurred to me after I'd recorded it all! Head-nodding 12"-only release, this is the B-side to "The Beginning," which is an ill track indeed.
Nas : 2nd Childhood
A nice beat from DJ Premier, but an unusual one structure-wise; even if you don't study these things, you might get the feeling! Easily one of the standouts from Nas' "Stillmatic" LP, and one of those tracks that for me show clearly why he's one of the greats. The stories of people stuck in their lives and not moving on ring very true, and the music behind him has a kind of bittersweet sound to it. I will always, always take Nas over Jay-Z when it comes to the rhymes...
Children Of Zeus : Elevate
More Manchester for you! Mainstay of the scene Konny Kon combines with Tyler Daly for this track which is actually just a demo - but that hasn't stopped me having it on repeat since I got it from their Soundcloud! They self-produced this track and the music is just beautiful, and will only shine more with a final mix. On the lyrics, Konny is smashing over buildings on his verse, and I can't get enough of Tyler's hook. When this album is mixed and released, it's definitely going to be one to check for!
Gaelle : Moonsglow
Love with bass! I last visited the "Transient" LP on episode 9, so I think it's fine to head back for more :) This album closer is one of the top tunes on there, downtempo and gliding. Just to mention one small point of detail, this is Exhibit A on when to use a shaker rather than a hi-hat in the rhythm track - listen and imagine it had been done the other way.
Source Direct : Love & Hate
Bit of a change-up here with some D&B which manages to be sparse but kind of luxurious at the same time. One of the select few five-star tracks on my iPod, it's one of the best tracks on Source Direct's "Exorcise The Demons" album which has darkness aplenty. Those of you who listen to D&B regularly (I honestly don't) might have a different opinion, let me know!
EPMD : Scratch, Bring It Back (Part 2 - Mic Doc)
This might be far from the biggest track on the "Business Never Personal" album - which I have a horrible feeling may have been deleted - but I've always liked it since it flipped my wig back in the pirate radio days! All about that second section with the beat change, and the amazing DJ Scratch cuts. EPMD got through a lot of DJs in their time (K La Boss, Diamond J to name but two) but when they got Scratch they stayed with him. Good move. Besides being a ridiculously ill DJ, he also carved out a very respectable career as a producer, which basically means everyone in the group is top shelf on the beats :)
Freak L : When The Pen Hits The Paper
Now this is seriously obscure! I heard Dan Greenpeace play this once on the radio, but I'd never heard of the artist before and hadn't seen any records around either. When I eventually came across it in Fat City years later...snatched it up! This is the B-side (yes, it wins again) from a 1988/89 12" which was produced by Vandy C but was mixed by the late great Paul C. SP-1200 goodness all around, with absolutely stacks of samples thrown into the mix - none of which I'm telling if you don't know them, since I doubt there was any clearance! Freak L only put out a couple of singles, but that's two more than most, and he shows his mettle on here.
Diamond : Best Kept Secret (Remix)
If you're a long-time listener, you might have caught a chunk of this on episode 12 when I did a whistle-stop tour around the "Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop" album, but it fit well here and I thought the whole track deserved an airing! Diamond is a production legend in his own right but for this remix he brings in Mark The 45 King, and this is just vicious - the relentless bassline makes it.
Chic : (Funny) Bone
A nice little funk/disco workout which closes the 1978 "C'est Chic" album, though this was also on the B-side of the "I Want Your Love" single. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards hold it down on the guitar and bass, and Tony Thompson on the drums gets that little extra accent with the claps on top of the snares. Not a big hit as a track by itself as far as I know, but a great tune!
The Notorious B.I.G. : "Microphone Murderer" (1991 demo)
Note: The interview segment you hear in front of this comes from the Juan Epstein podcast, it's well worth listening to the whole episode! This track was before everything you ever heard, a 19-year-old Biggie slaying the mic on a demo with the then local DJ 50 Grand on the turntables. When Big Daddy Kane's DJ Mister Cee heard it, he loved it and played it for Matty C of the Source who then got B.I.G into the "Unsigned Hype" section, which was then read by Puffy (or Diddy, as you may know him now)...and the rest is history!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm a lion in the day, I'm a tiger at night..."
- Illa J
It's February again, so once again we remember J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun, as well as Donald Byrd. Sadly, we add a local name to the roll this month - the man known as Salford John. Each of these men gets their moment in the selection; I hope you find it worthy.
Playlist/Notes
Fat Joe ft. Big L : The Enemy
Claaassic. In a gathering of hardcore heads, this one will always get the heads nodding and someone rhyming along! I was working out which Big L track to play this month and a video I was shown recently made the choice for me, though this track really focuses on racial profiling. L snatches the starring role on this brilliant A-side, but both MCs get busy on the eerie DJ Premier beat. Nighttime track for sure, you can find this on 12", Big L's "The Big Picture," or DITC's debut album. No excuse to miss it really!
K-Def : Preying Mantis
Bit of a horror-film sounding beat from K-Def's "Beats From the 90s Vol.2" vinyl, useful one to have for the DJs and beat connoisseurs :)
Fat Joe ft. Raekwon, Armageddon, and Big Pun : Firewater
"95% alcohol, 5% cancer?" Serious! I first heard this on Radio 1, I think it might have been Westwood's show by then (when it was good), but can't really remember. That little ringing sound in the Showbiz beat caught my ear, and it's just straight head-nod 90s flavour. All the verses are dope, but of course it's Big Pun's aggro closing verse that gets this on the show this month. This was one of his first appearances, and this classic B-side (to "Envy") had him blazing with the hunger of a new MC aiming for the top.
Jigmastas : Resurge
They're back! DJ Spinna (easily one of my favourite producers) and Kriminul return from a long hiatus with this track that was kindly made available for free on Spinna's Soundcloud. It's the first peek at the forthcoming "Resurge" EP, so be sure to support that when it comes out.
All City : Afta Hourz
The "Metropolis Gold" album is a bit of a mixed bag to say the least, but besides the two killers "The Actual" and "Priceless," I found this low-key boom-bap piece I thought would be worth sharing. V.Black on the beat with an assist from DJ Premier on the mix, it's just that 90s filtered bassline flavour with a sprinkling of piano. If you see the album cheap, grab it, but as I say it's patchy so don't overpay!
De La Soul ft. Mos Def & Truth Enola : Stakes Is High (Jay Dee Remix)
This month, for twenty-four hours only, De La Soul gave away their entire catalogue for free download (I posted about it on my Facebook page!) and when I was flicking through the files, there was a collection of remixes that included this version I didn't know. As it turns out, it's a Dilla production so that's yet another reason to include it this episode! The original "Stakes Is High" was a great record of course, but this remix definitely stands eye-to-eye with it. You should recognise how the bass is based around the main melody of the original, and I think the drums here are actually better. This is how you rework one of your own classics.
Grussle : S.U.F.L.A.N
I thought I'd already played a track from The Beat Tape Project's "The Ghostface Beat Tape" album, but I was wrong! Anyway, this is a nice track I found on there which I could definitely hear the man in question rhyming on. Grussle is a producer from the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) area who has a well-stocked Soundcloud page, so if you like this then give it a visit and check him out!
Cake Boys (Illa J & Frank Nitt) : Do It For Dilla Dawg
Win! Heard a rough instrumental on one of the many compilations of Dilla beats that you see circulating, and always loved it - great to see it used at last. Family affair on this one, with his brother Illa J and longtime friend and colleague Frank Nitt (of Frank N Dank) grabbing the mic. Dilla's beat on this is just super-staccato on the verses, with a super-tight snare and those stabs coming out with the little delay/reverb going on. Fire. Got this on the "Rebirth Of Detroit" CD this month at Manchester's "J Dilla Changed My Life" gig - there are some other quality tracks on there, so expect me to come back to it in the future!
I.G. Off & Hazadous : The Nicest
I digitised this months ago, ended up not using it, then realised it gave me the perfect bridge between two tracks. It's also an appropriate selection for this month because unfortunately I.G. Off is no longer with us. I.G. Off & Hazadous were actually unsigned according to Discogs, but put out a few 12" singles in the late 90s/early 00s on Spinna's Beyond Real Recordings label. This particular track was on two of those 12"s, as well as the "The Beyond Real Experience" compilation, which also includes a couple of their other cuts.
Phife : #dearDilla
Very new track from another artist who can claim to go way back with Dilla, as part of A Tribe Called Quest of course. Phife said "I’ve been wanting to record a dedication to J Dilla for the longest, it just seemed to finally be the right time to do it," and the patience shows in the quality of the result. Never one to bite his tongue, Phife speaks on what he doesn't like in the scene today, what he remembers from an earlier time, and most importantly - his feelings on the passing of a friend. Someone I've not come across before, DJ Rasta Root, is on the production and he does a very nice job - taking the same drums as on Slum Village's "Hold Tight" and sampling plenty of Slum/Dilla classics for the hooks. On top of all that, he's got a KC & The Sunshine band loop running through it alongside guests on the keys (V.Rich) and bass (DETOXXX). Fittingly quality material.
Hexs and Miranda : I Don't Know
Friend of the show Hexsagon returns with another piece of quality production! Hexs and his fellow Arizonan, the MC Mr.Miranda have kindly given us the totally free "The H&M EP," which you can get over at their Bandcamp page. It's uptempo for the most part but this is the more reflective closing track, with Hexsagon's clean and refined production leaving the perfect space for Mr.Miranda to shine! On top of all that, it's got a nicely-executed video. Phoenix rising!
Donald Byrd : Onward 'Til Morning
The jazz trumpeter (and Hip-Hop guest star) Donald Byrd passed away in February last year and after sitting in the house listening to some of his stuff, I thought it'd be good to include one of his songs this month. From the 1976 "Caricatures" album, it's hot even before Byrd grabs the trumpet, at which point it becomes amazing. Enjoy the mastery.
The Step Brothers ft. Roc Marciano : See The Rich Man Play
Evidence and The Alchemist have been working together at least since Alchemist was producing stuff like "Worst Comes To Worst" for Dilated Peoples, and at last we get a full-length collaboration project - the "Lord Steppington" album. It's got that backstreet, sample-heavy grittiness to it, and is definitely worth picking up. Also, it has a track called "Swimteam Rastas," so is worth buying for that reason alone :) Anyway, this track is one of my favourites, and Roc Marciano is the perfect guest to close it out - the beat could have some straight from one of his albums. The lyrics and the subdued are definitely conjour in my mind images of a late night casino and the dashed dreams of the gamblers...dope.
Massive Attack : What Your Soul Sings
I never really got into the "100th Window" album, which was a bit of a departure with only 3D of the original members taking part. Despite that, this track was easily a standout for me - beautiful pulsing and gliding production, and the always-interesting Sinead O'Connor on the vocals. Also, although it's subtle, check how much the guitar adds to the track. In fact, that comment just prompted me to do a little web research and it turns out that guitar riff is the only surviving piece of the original six months of recording sessions!
Genaside II : Under The Bridge
One of those little-known favourites from the collection. I didn't even know this was a cover version until a long time after the fact, as I'm not a Red Hot Chili Peppers listener! Great British production from the excellent "New Life 4 The Hunted" LP, working the speed trick of starting around 72bpm and then doubling up in the drums outside the verses. In my opinion, this album top-to-bottom sounds like nothing else. UK reggae singer Rose Windross was a great choice to sing this too, total switcharound from Anthony Kiedis on the original.
Skitz ft. Task Force & Juni : Rainy Day Science (Remix)
The "Sticksman" album had a very different flavour to the debut Skitz producer project "Countryman," which is only to be expected with the nine-year gap. I preferred the first one, but there were definitely good tracks on the second and this is one of the interesting remixes; Brothers Of The Stone's BVA puts in the work here with all kinds of reversing and effects on the vocal samples. On the mic you have some real veterans of the scene, Highbury's Task Force, and then Juni who I don't know - but the whole package works.
Three 6 Mafia : The End
Memphis style, but no Elvis! I bought this one especially for this episode after scouring my collection for the right instrumental for this spot; 70ish BPM is very slow for Hip-Hop, or at least the type I listen to. I'm not a Three 6 listener really but this tense 1996 track is top, DJ Paul and Juicy J on production getting busy with the guitar and drum machine. You can get this on "Chapter 1 : The End," their second album, but funnily enough...it's not the final track! That said, I've done exactly the same thing...
Bricky Mortar : Salford John
At the very end of last month, a man who was loved by many in the two cities of Manchester and Salford passed away. He was younger than me even, and lost his life because of the actions of some of the less evolved among us. I never knew him but certainly knew of him, and some mutual friends are really going through it right now because of his loss. Mancunian stalwart Bricks had done a track to big him up a few months ago, and there's no better time to let you hear it; he takes the idea of the hook from A$AP Ferg's "Shabba" and flips it into our local version on this drum machine workout. Gold indeed, RIP!
STOP PRESS : Dub Phizix, another close friend of John has just today released his own remix of the track here; it's an unrestricted download but he asks that you please make a donation to John's family in exchange - that's more than reasonable I think.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm a lion in the day, I'm a tiger at night..."
- Illa J
It's February again, so once again we remember J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun, as well as Donald Byrd. Sadly, we add a local name to the roll this month - the man known as Salford John. Each of these men gets their moment in the selection; I hope you find it worthy.
Playlist/Notes
Fat Joe ft. Big L : The Enemy
Claaassic. In a gathering of hardcore heads, this one will always get the heads nodding and someone rhyming along! I was working out which Big L track to play this month and a video I was shown recently made the choice for me, though this track really focuses on racial profiling. L snatches the starring role on this brilliant A-side, but both MCs get busy on the eerie DJ Premier beat. Nighttime track for sure, you can find this on 12", Big L's "The Big Picture," or DITC's debut album. No excuse to miss it really!
K-Def : Preying Mantis
Bit of a horror-film sounding beat from K-Def's "Beats From the 90s Vol.2" vinyl, useful one to have for the DJs and beat connoisseurs :)
Fat Joe ft. Raekwon, Armageddon, and Big Pun : Firewater
"95% alcohol, 5% cancer?" Serious! I first heard this on Radio 1, I think it might have been Westwood's show by then (when it was good), but can't really remember. That little ringing sound in the Showbiz beat caught my ear, and it's just straight head-nod 90s flavour. All the verses are dope, but of course it's Big Pun's aggro closing verse that gets this on the show this month. This was one of his first appearances, and this classic B-side (to "Envy") had him blazing with the hunger of a new MC aiming for the top.
Jigmastas : Resurge
They're back! DJ Spinna (easily one of my favourite producers) and Kriminul return from a long hiatus with this track that was kindly made available for free on Spinna's Soundcloud. It's the first peek at the forthcoming "Resurge" EP, so be sure to support that when it comes out.
All City : Afta Hourz
The "Metropolis Gold" album is a bit of a mixed bag to say the least, but besides the two killers "The Actual" and "Priceless," I found this low-key boom-bap piece I thought would be worth sharing. V.Black on the beat with an assist from DJ Premier on the mix, it's just that 90s filtered bassline flavour with a sprinkling of piano. If you see the album cheap, grab it, but as I say it's patchy so don't overpay!
De La Soul ft. Mos Def & Truth Enola : Stakes Is High (Jay Dee Remix)
This month, for twenty-four hours only, De La Soul gave away their entire catalogue for free download (I posted about it on my Facebook page!) and when I was flicking through the files, there was a collection of remixes that included this version I didn't know. As it turns out, it's a Dilla production so that's yet another reason to include it this episode! The original "Stakes Is High" was a great record of course, but this remix definitely stands eye-to-eye with it. You should recognise how the bass is based around the main melody of the original, and I think the drums here are actually better. This is how you rework one of your own classics.
Grussle : S.U.F.L.A.N
I thought I'd already played a track from The Beat Tape Project's "The Ghostface Beat Tape" album, but I was wrong! Anyway, this is a nice track I found on there which I could definitely hear the man in question rhyming on. Grussle is a producer from the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) area who has a well-stocked Soundcloud page, so if you like this then give it a visit and check him out!
Cake Boys (Illa J & Frank Nitt) : Do It For Dilla Dawg
Win! Heard a rough instrumental on one of the many compilations of Dilla beats that you see circulating, and always loved it - great to see it used at last. Family affair on this one, with his brother Illa J and longtime friend and colleague Frank Nitt (of Frank N Dank) grabbing the mic. Dilla's beat on this is just super-staccato on the verses, with a super-tight snare and those stabs coming out with the little delay/reverb going on. Fire. Got this on the "Rebirth Of Detroit" CD this month at Manchester's "J Dilla Changed My Life" gig - there are some other quality tracks on there, so expect me to come back to it in the future!
I.G. Off & Hazadous : The Nicest
I digitised this months ago, ended up not using it, then realised it gave me the perfect bridge between two tracks. It's also an appropriate selection for this month because unfortunately I.G. Off is no longer with us. I.G. Off & Hazadous were actually unsigned according to Discogs, but put out a few 12" singles in the late 90s/early 00s on Spinna's Beyond Real Recordings label. This particular track was on two of those 12"s, as well as the "The Beyond Real Experience" compilation, which also includes a couple of their other cuts.
Phife : #dearDilla
Very new track from another artist who can claim to go way back with Dilla, as part of A Tribe Called Quest of course. Phife said "I’ve been wanting to record a dedication to J Dilla for the longest, it just seemed to finally be the right time to do it," and the patience shows in the quality of the result. Never one to bite his tongue, Phife speaks on what he doesn't like in the scene today, what he remembers from an earlier time, and most importantly - his feelings on the passing of a friend. Someone I've not come across before, DJ Rasta Root, is on the production and he does a very nice job - taking the same drums as on Slum Village's "Hold Tight" and sampling plenty of Slum/Dilla classics for the hooks. On top of all that, he's got a KC & The Sunshine band loop running through it alongside guests on the keys (V.Rich) and bass (DETOXXX). Fittingly quality material.
Hexs and Miranda : I Don't Know
Friend of the show Hexsagon returns with another piece of quality production! Hexs and his fellow Arizonan, the MC Mr.Miranda have kindly given us the totally free "The H&M EP," which you can get over at their Bandcamp page. It's uptempo for the most part but this is the more reflective closing track, with Hexsagon's clean and refined production leaving the perfect space for Mr.Miranda to shine! On top of all that, it's got a nicely-executed video. Phoenix rising!
Donald Byrd : Onward 'Til Morning
The jazz trumpeter (and Hip-Hop guest star) Donald Byrd passed away in February last year and after sitting in the house listening to some of his stuff, I thought it'd be good to include one of his songs this month. From the 1976 "Caricatures" album, it's hot even before Byrd grabs the trumpet, at which point it becomes amazing. Enjoy the mastery.
The Step Brothers ft. Roc Marciano : See The Rich Man Play
Evidence and The Alchemist have been working together at least since Alchemist was producing stuff like "Worst Comes To Worst" for Dilated Peoples, and at last we get a full-length collaboration project - the "Lord Steppington" album. It's got that backstreet, sample-heavy grittiness to it, and is definitely worth picking up. Also, it has a track called "Swimteam Rastas," so is worth buying for that reason alone :) Anyway, this track is one of my favourites, and Roc Marciano is the perfect guest to close it out - the beat could have some straight from one of his albums. The lyrics and the subdued are definitely conjour in my mind images of a late night casino and the dashed dreams of the gamblers...dope.
Massive Attack : What Your Soul Sings
I never really got into the "100th Window" album, which was a bit of a departure with only 3D of the original members taking part. Despite that, this track was easily a standout for me - beautiful pulsing and gliding production, and the always-interesting Sinead O'Connor on the vocals. Also, although it's subtle, check how much the guitar adds to the track. In fact, that comment just prompted me to do a little web research and it turns out that guitar riff is the only surviving piece of the original six months of recording sessions!
Genaside II : Under The Bridge
One of those little-known favourites from the collection. I didn't even know this was a cover version until a long time after the fact, as I'm not a Red Hot Chili Peppers listener! Great British production from the excellent "New Life 4 The Hunted" LP, working the speed trick of starting around 72bpm and then doubling up in the drums outside the verses. In my opinion, this album top-to-bottom sounds like nothing else. UK reggae singer Rose Windross was a great choice to sing this too, total switcharound from Anthony Kiedis on the original.
Skitz ft. Task Force & Juni : Rainy Day Science (Remix)
The "Sticksman" album had a very different flavour to the debut Skitz producer project "Countryman," which is only to be expected with the nine-year gap. I preferred the first one, but there were definitely good tracks on the second and this is one of the interesting remixes; Brothers Of The Stone's BVA puts in the work here with all kinds of reversing and effects on the vocal samples. On the mic you have some real veterans of the scene, Highbury's Task Force, and then Juni who I don't know - but the whole package works.
Three 6 Mafia : The End
Memphis style, but no Elvis! I bought this one especially for this episode after scouring my collection for the right instrumental for this spot; 70ish BPM is very slow for Hip-Hop, or at least the type I listen to. I'm not a Three 6 listener really but this tense 1996 track is top, DJ Paul and Juicy J on production getting busy with the guitar and drum machine. You can get this on "Chapter 1 : The End," their second album, but funnily enough...it's not the final track! That said, I've done exactly the same thing...
Bricky Mortar : Salford John
At the very end of last month, a man who was loved by many in the two cities of Manchester and Salford passed away. He was younger than me even, and lost his life because of the actions of some of the less evolved among us. I never knew him but certainly knew of him, and some mutual friends are really going through it right now because of his loss. Mancunian stalwart Bricks had done a track to big him up a few months ago, and there's no better time to let you hear it; he takes the idea of the hook from A$AP Ferg's "Shabba" and flips it into our local version on this drum machine workout. Gold indeed, RIP!
STOP PRESS : Dub Phizix, another close friend of John has just today released his own remix of the track here; it's an unrestricted download but he asks that you please make a donation to John's family in exchange - that's more than reasonable I think.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...and that's what's wrong."
- Bumpy Knuckles
¡Feliz año nuevo! Last month's episode was obviously a special one which called for a particular selection, so there were some killer tunes I couldn't use which I've brought into this one - then combined them with some extra quality material I've managed to get my hands on.
As mentioned on the voiceover, the podcast is now on TuneIn Radio - that link will allow you to stream any episode on your computer, but you should also be able to find me on the search if you use the Android or iOS mobile apps, a Sonos device, or anything else that allows streaming. Just one more way to get me, and makes it easy to send on to other people to check out (hint hint :) )
Shows for the month coming are dead prez and Pharoahe Monch - don't miss out!
Playlist/Notes
Ken Cheong / Jacques Slade : Never Die Intro
I wish I could find a video of the whole scene, but this will have to do! I was properly rolling the first time I saw this episode of Community, and was determined to use this part to kick off the show for 2014 :) The absurdity of the scene was indicated by the fact that this teacher had supposedly had a track created just for this occasion, and I was pleasantly surprised that you can actually buy the full version - "I Never Die" by the LA rapper Jacques Slade (or "Kustoo").
T-Love : Chiquita
A bit of forgotten - or maybe just never-quite-known - Dilla production for the first full track of the episode. T-Love is an LA-native MC who debuted in 2003 with her "Long Way Back" LP, the sampler 12" for which I got this tune from. The discography I can find has her last release in 2010, but this multi-talented woman (she also produces, and was hip-hop editor for Urb magazine) looks to still be active, especially helping other artists coming up. Love indeed!
[DJ Premier] DITC : Thick (Instrumental)
Some late-90s boom bap for you! The slight offbeat-ness of the preceding track makes the mix harder than it might otherwise be, but this one is as on the mark as they come. Got this on a 12" but it's also the first track on the debut posse album by DITC (well, the vocal version, as you'd expect).
Raekwon ft. Mink : Rap Killers
Been searching for this one for absolutely ages, since I heard a snippet of what turned out to be a slightly different version on the second of Raekwon's "Vatican" mixtapes. The French duo Jazz E Cut and Skeezo are behind the boards and their beat bumps along very nicely, with the guitar licks and occasional vocal sample adding the flavour to the rewind-worthy production. Raekwon gives you the crime rhymes, and Mink (who I think is one of his understudies) puts his two cents in - little bit of a mismatch though. Hope your enjoyment of this one matches my pleasure in finding it!
LL Cool J : Life As...
Why, why does this tune never get any burn? Always been a top LL track for me, some straight up hardness from the "Mr.Smith" album, which is overall a bit of a mixed bag. Easy Mo Bee kills it on the beat, arranging a couple of handfuls of tiny stabs alongside his drums and bass to give LL a suitably tough backing for this shortish track. Never worked out why it wasn't just called "Life Of..." though...
Ugly Heroes : Ugly
I only really discovered Apollo Brown when he did the "Trophies" album with O.C, but he's a busy guy for sure. His new collaboration with Chicago's Verbal Kent and fellow Detroit native Red Pill, "Ugly Heroes" came out around the middle of last year, but this bonus track was released online a bit later. Big blasting track with all three members killing the mic outrageously and DJ Eclipse of Non Phixion contributing the cuts. Nice bonus, so do check the album.
Alchemist ft. Littles : Block Value
I'd be surprised if many people know this one - I'm not sure it ever made it to an album. When you get Queensbridge's Littles on a track, you'd be pretty safe to bet your house on him getting on the crime tip, and this one is no exception. The Alchemist takes the opening horns from Kool Moe Dee's "Monster Crack" and puts together a sparse track to keep the focus in the foreground - most of the time there aren't more than two or maybe three things happening in the instrumental. You can get this on a 12" backed with Mobb Deep, Noyd, and Bars & Hooks' "More Like Us."
Kev Brown : Batida
The beat that grabbed me immediately from last year's "Songs Without Words," which I was checking on Spotify the other week. It reminds me a little of the flavour Pete Rock had on the "Petestrumentals" LP, and would blend beautifully with many of those tracks...just a tip for the bedroom DJs out there ;)
H.U.G : Rebel Radio
A healthy helping of strings from the MPC of J-Zone, who has one of the most unique styles of anyone ever to do it. H.U.G (or Huggy Bear) came out of Zone's camp and rides his beats effortlessly, with this being a prime example. You can get this on the B-side of the "Fuckin Wit Hug" 12" if you look around.
Bumpy Knuckles : Somn'wrong
Been playing this soooo much this month. Bumpy is holding court on the BS he sees in the rap game - a topic he does well - but also puts in the work on the production. This beat is serious, with that snapping and trapping drum track, and all sorts going on in the bass area; the pitch bends and slides make it extra ill. Grab this on Bumpy's "The Mix Files" EP, and turn it up!
Inspectah Deck : Trouble Man
This one gives me that real "Rotten Apple," grimy New York feeling. From Deck's first solo "Uncontrolled Substance," he gives us the thoughts of the man on the street going through it. Pete Rock cooks up the beat, chopping up some vintage Isaac Hayes, and the Sade-borrowed hook has Vinia Mojica making a quick guest appearance. A little buried on the album, but pride of place here!
Roc Marciano ft. Ka & Guilty Simpson : Squeeze
Another track that got a lot of headphone time for me this month. Roc has a knack for the unusual when it comes to production, and this track is a great example - hardly any drums, but hitting the snare drum on the first beat of every bar. Lyrically, it's the street business Roc is a prime exponent of, and his regular collaborator Ka helps out in his incredibly low-key style. Guilty Simpson is the surprise guest; he doesn't have the same kind of quiet flow as the other two, but still turns in a great verse. Easily my favourite track from the "Marci Beaucoup" LP.
[DJ Slip & The Unknown DJ] Compton's Most Wanted : Compton's Lynchin' (Instrumental)
Straight gangster funk on this instrumental version of a track from the "Straight Checkn 'Em" LP, which is an underrated West Coast classic. Get that one for the title track and the hilarious "I Don't Dance," which will surely make a podcast appearance at some point in the future! CMW (led by MC Eiht) were always a quality act but often overlooked (certainly in the UK) as "just another Compton group," which I thought was very unfair. Credit where it's due though - I first heard them on Pete Tong's radio show!
Talib Kweli : Inner Monologue
Half of Black Star, half of Reflection Eternal returns with his new album "Gravitas" which just came out last month. I'm actually not the biggest Talib fan usually but picked this independent release (at a very reasonable price) up to support and was pleased with it! This is the opener, with Talib spitting on what he observes in the current state of the industry over a Khrysis beat. The album is only available through his website, so head over there to get the whole thing!
Naledge ft. Brandun Deshay, J Davey, & Geechi Suede : Pearl Heist
Can't even remember how I stumbled on this one but this space-age thump and bass number from "Chicago Picasso 2" is alright with me :) You might know Naledge from Kidz In The Hall, and he brings along his partner from that group (Double-O) to do the honours on production. Subject matter is kind of all over the place, but it's all about the flavour here really - especially with Geechi Suede cleaning up on the last verse.
Zero 7 : Pop Art Blue
Probably one of the more popular tracks from the "Yeah Ghost" album; I was lucky enough to hear this one live in concert before the album came out. A bit of a folk-flavoured number, with Martha Tilston on the vocals and the production centering around plenty of brush action on the drums. I've had it on the list of things to play for a while, not sure if it was too much of a left turn here but hopefully it doesn't lose you!
Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip : We Taking Off
If this doesn't sound like a natural combination to you, you must have forgotten "Scenario," to name but one! One of the few brand new tracks from the new "The Abstract & The Dragon" mixtape which rounds up some of their greatest collaborations from over the years and adds on a few new gems. You can get the tape for free, so what are you waiting for?
Gang Starr : Say Your Prayers (Instrumental)
Instrumental of one of the short tracks from the classic sophomore album "Step In The Arena," just something that fit nicely here. You're supposed to know that album, by the way :)
Ronny Jordan : Keep Your Head Up
An uplifting selection from a gifted musician who passed away this month, taken from his "Off The Record" LP. Nu Colours' vocalist Faye Simpson gives voice to the sentiment, and Ronny Jordan gets busy with his funky guitar licks in the band. On production, he has a couple of quality guys to help shape the vision - James Poyser (from the Soulquarians collective, and also sunny Sheffield) and Vikter Duplaix. Much respect!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...and that's what's wrong."
- Bumpy Knuckles
¡Feliz año nuevo! Last month's episode was obviously a special one which called for a particular selection, so there were some killer tunes I couldn't use which I've brought into this one - then combined them with some extra quality material I've managed to get my hands on.
As mentioned on the voiceover, the podcast is now on TuneIn Radio - that link will allow you to stream any episode on your computer, but you should also be able to find me on the search if you use the Android or iOS mobile apps, a Sonos device, or anything else that allows streaming. Just one more way to get me, and makes it easy to send on to other people to check out (hint hint :) )
Shows for the month coming are dead prez and Pharoahe Monch - don't miss out!
Playlist/Notes
Ken Cheong / Jacques Slade : Never Die Intro
I wish I could find a video of the whole scene, but this will have to do! I was properly rolling the first time I saw this episode of Community, and was determined to use this part to kick off the show for 2014 :) The absurdity of the scene was indicated by the fact that this teacher had supposedly had a track created just for this occasion, and I was pleasantly surprised that you can actually buy the full version - "I Never Die" by the LA rapper Jacques Slade (or "Kustoo").
T-Love : Chiquita
A bit of forgotten - or maybe just never-quite-known - Dilla production for the first full track of the episode. T-Love is an LA-native MC who debuted in 2003 with her "Long Way Back" LP, the sampler 12" for which I got this tune from. The discography I can find has her last release in 2010, but this multi-talented woman (she also produces, and was hip-hop editor for Urb magazine) looks to still be active, especially helping other artists coming up. Love indeed!
[DJ Premier] DITC : Thick (Instrumental)
Some late-90s boom bap for you! The slight offbeat-ness of the preceding track makes the mix harder than it might otherwise be, but this one is as on the mark as they come. Got this on a 12" but it's also the first track on the debut posse album by DITC (well, the vocal version, as you'd expect).
Raekwon ft. Mink : Rap Killers
Been searching for this one for absolutely ages, since I heard a snippet of what turned out to be a slightly different version on the second of Raekwon's "Vatican" mixtapes. The French duo Jazz E Cut and Skeezo are behind the boards and their beat bumps along very nicely, with the guitar licks and occasional vocal sample adding the flavour to the rewind-worthy production. Raekwon gives you the crime rhymes, and Mink (who I think is one of his understudies) puts his two cents in - little bit of a mismatch though. Hope your enjoyment of this one matches my pleasure in finding it!
LL Cool J : Life As...
Why, why does this tune never get any burn? Always been a top LL track for me, some straight up hardness from the "Mr.Smith" album, which is overall a bit of a mixed bag. Easy Mo Bee kills it on the beat, arranging a couple of handfuls of tiny stabs alongside his drums and bass to give LL a suitably tough backing for this shortish track. Never worked out why it wasn't just called "Life Of..." though...
Ugly Heroes : Ugly
I only really discovered Apollo Brown when he did the "Trophies" album with O.C, but he's a busy guy for sure. His new collaboration with Chicago's Verbal Kent and fellow Detroit native Red Pill, "Ugly Heroes" came out around the middle of last year, but this bonus track was released online a bit later. Big blasting track with all three members killing the mic outrageously and DJ Eclipse of Non Phixion contributing the cuts. Nice bonus, so do check the album.
Alchemist ft. Littles : Block Value
I'd be surprised if many people know this one - I'm not sure it ever made it to an album. When you get Queensbridge's Littles on a track, you'd be pretty safe to bet your house on him getting on the crime tip, and this one is no exception. The Alchemist takes the opening horns from Kool Moe Dee's "Monster Crack" and puts together a sparse track to keep the focus in the foreground - most of the time there aren't more than two or maybe three things happening in the instrumental. You can get this on a 12" backed with Mobb Deep, Noyd, and Bars & Hooks' "More Like Us."
Kev Brown : Batida
The beat that grabbed me immediately from last year's "Songs Without Words," which I was checking on Spotify the other week. It reminds me a little of the flavour Pete Rock had on the "Petestrumentals" LP, and would blend beautifully with many of those tracks...just a tip for the bedroom DJs out there ;)
H.U.G : Rebel Radio
A healthy helping of strings from the MPC of J-Zone, who has one of the most unique styles of anyone ever to do it. H.U.G (or Huggy Bear) came out of Zone's camp and rides his beats effortlessly, with this being a prime example. You can get this on the B-side of the "Fuckin Wit Hug" 12" if you look around.
Bumpy Knuckles : Somn'wrong
Been playing this soooo much this month. Bumpy is holding court on the BS he sees in the rap game - a topic he does well - but also puts in the work on the production. This beat is serious, with that snapping and trapping drum track, and all sorts going on in the bass area; the pitch bends and slides make it extra ill. Grab this on Bumpy's "The Mix Files" EP, and turn it up!
Inspectah Deck : Trouble Man
This one gives me that real "Rotten Apple," grimy New York feeling. From Deck's first solo "Uncontrolled Substance," he gives us the thoughts of the man on the street going through it. Pete Rock cooks up the beat, chopping up some vintage Isaac Hayes, and the Sade-borrowed hook has Vinia Mojica making a quick guest appearance. A little buried on the album, but pride of place here!
Roc Marciano ft. Ka & Guilty Simpson : Squeeze
Another track that got a lot of headphone time for me this month. Roc has a knack for the unusual when it comes to production, and this track is a great example - hardly any drums, but hitting the snare drum on the first beat of every bar. Lyrically, it's the street business Roc is a prime exponent of, and his regular collaborator Ka helps out in his incredibly low-key style. Guilty Simpson is the surprise guest; he doesn't have the same kind of quiet flow as the other two, but still turns in a great verse. Easily my favourite track from the "Marci Beaucoup" LP.
[DJ Slip & The Unknown DJ] Compton's Most Wanted : Compton's Lynchin' (Instrumental)
Straight gangster funk on this instrumental version of a track from the "Straight Checkn 'Em" LP, which is an underrated West Coast classic. Get that one for the title track and the hilarious "I Don't Dance," which will surely make a podcast appearance at some point in the future! CMW (led by MC Eiht) were always a quality act but often overlooked (certainly in the UK) as "just another Compton group," which I thought was very unfair. Credit where it's due though - I first heard them on Pete Tong's radio show!
Talib Kweli : Inner Monologue
Half of Black Star, half of Reflection Eternal returns with his new album "Gravitas" which just came out last month. I'm actually not the biggest Talib fan usually but picked this independent release (at a very reasonable price) up to support and was pleased with it! This is the opener, with Talib spitting on what he observes in the current state of the industry over a Khrysis beat. The album is only available through his website, so head over there to get the whole thing!
Naledge ft. Brandun Deshay, J Davey, & Geechi Suede : Pearl Heist
Can't even remember how I stumbled on this one but this space-age thump and bass number from "Chicago Picasso 2" is alright with me :) You might know Naledge from Kidz In The Hall, and he brings along his partner from that group (Double-O) to do the honours on production. Subject matter is kind of all over the place, but it's all about the flavour here really - especially with Geechi Suede cleaning up on the last verse.
Zero 7 : Pop Art Blue
Probably one of the more popular tracks from the "Yeah Ghost" album; I was lucky enough to hear this one live in concert before the album came out. A bit of a folk-flavoured number, with Martha Tilston on the vocals and the production centering around plenty of brush action on the drums. I've had it on the list of things to play for a while, not sure if it was too much of a left turn here but hopefully it doesn't lose you!
Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip : We Taking Off
If this doesn't sound like a natural combination to you, you must have forgotten "Scenario," to name but one! One of the few brand new tracks from the new "The Abstract & The Dragon" mixtape which rounds up some of their greatest collaborations from over the years and adds on a few new gems. You can get the tape for free, so what are you waiting for?
Gang Starr : Say Your Prayers (Instrumental)
Instrumental of one of the short tracks from the classic sophomore album "Step In The Arena," just something that fit nicely here. You're supposed to know that album, by the way :)
Ronny Jordan : Keep Your Head Up
An uplifting selection from a gifted musician who passed away this month, taken from his "Off The Record" LP. Nu Colours' vocalist Faye Simpson gives voice to the sentiment, and Ronny Jordan gets busy with his funky guitar licks in the band. On production, he has a couple of quality guys to help shape the vision - James Poyser (from the Soulquarians collective, and also sunny Sheffield) and Vikter Duplaix. Much respect!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Salute, pay homage, pay your respects"
- Rakim
With the truly great Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela returning to the essence this month, I decided to dedicate this episode to him. Not every song is necessarily directly relevant, but hopefully the overall arc works.
Rest In Power Madiba. Amandla!
Playlist/Notes
Soweto Gospel Choir : Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika
A short (only the first verse), and different kind of start to this month's episode - and really, the only song I could have started with. Composed in 1897 by Ernest Sontonga in the Xhosa language, this song was the offical anthem of the African National Congress during the Apartheid era and parts of it have now been incorporated into the current South African national anthem. Recorded many times as you might expect, this beautiful acappella version comes from the Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, and they do it justice.
Prince Far I : Royal Palace
Was going to blend this with the song above, but decided against. The late Jamaican deejay Prince Far I was no stranger to politically-themed work, and this comes from his final album, entitled "Umkhonto We Sizwe (Spear Of The Nation)," named after the ANC's military wing, founded in 1961. Subtly dubbed-out, nice warm-up before launching into something much more energetic...
Public Enemy : Prophets Of Rage
The mentions of Mandela and Thatcher (who also died this year, and who decried him as a "terrorist") get this one included! Once again, the "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" album gives us a quality tune for the show. This is very much an album cut rather than a single, and showcases the Bomb Squad production style - samples upon samples :)
X Clan : A Day Of Outrage, Operation Snatchback
Super-hard track from the classic "To The East Blackwards" LP, incorporating the Billy Squier "Big Beat" drums that the younger listeners might recognise from their use by Dizzee Rascal. Lyrically, this track is specifically based around the "Day Of Outrage" protest in Brooklyn in 1989, when demonstrators occupied the Brooklyn Bridge after the murders of Yusuf Hawkins in New York and the Black Panthers co-founder Huey P. Newton in Oakland. Professor X of X-Clan (Lumumba Carson) is the son of Sonny Carson, who was one of the organisers of the protest, so there's very much a direct connection.
Brand Nubian : All For One
Title track from the debut Brand Nubian album - gets the nod mostly on the title and the pedigree of the group more so than for the overall content, though they do quietly drop some knowledge in there! This track was early enough that Sadat X was still going by the name "Derek X," but even at this stage he was already standing out as my favourite MC from the crew. They handled their own production on this one, based around a nice little James Brown sample.
Jasiri X : Mandela (Listen To What The Drums Say)
Jasiri X is often the first off the mark with a track capturing the mood of the moment, and he doesn't disappoint here with his personal tribute released the very next day after Mandela's passing. Freely available on Bandcamp, and produced by London's Agent Of Change, based on the sonics it could easily be called "Listen To What The Bass Says" - very active at the low end!
Damu The Fudgemunk : Rather Unique 2
One for my Washington DC listeners! This is an instrumental I've had hanging around for a little while and thought might work well! In the "hook" (so far as it exists), it's based on Pete Rock's production on AZ's "Rather Unique," but then takes on an entirely different character in the "verse" sections. Nice production from Damu, who is obviously nice on the MPC but is also the DJ for Panacea, so clearly gets busy on the cuts too! You can get this on the 2008 "Spare Time" mixtape, though I understand this beat was a few years old even then.
Jeru The Damaja ft. Afu-Ra : Mental Stamina
The title was what got this one the nod this month - surviving 27 years inside under that kind of pressure would require an awesome amount of mental stamina. This is an album cut from Jeru's debut "The Sun Rises In The East," and he goes back and forth with his protege Afu-Ra just kicking lyrics. The DJ Premier beat is the kind of head-nodding but unconventional in the foreground thing he was doing a lot of around this time; and pay attention to the drums - chopped up from Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean!"
Life & Nappa : Soldiers
Life is definitely one of my favourite UK MCs and he lights up the mic here atop the production of fellow Phi Life Cypher member Nappa, with an anthem for everyone who fights in their own sphere. Picked this up on a digging mission in London the other day on DJ Skitz' "Homegrown Vol.1" release - made it worth the effort!
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz & Bedos : Revolution
Something local! From their "Check Your Pulse" EP, this one musically revolves around the bass and that flute on the chorus, with everything else slotting seamlessly around. As with Mouse Outfit stuff in general, the MC lineup shifts around and on this one we have Sparkz leading it off and the big man Bedos of In The Loop giving us a verse in French (his first language). A few of you might be able to appreciate both verses equally...I might need to chase up Bedos so I can catch the content as well as his flow!
dead prez : Together
Not a well known dead prez track, so that makes it perfect for me to include! Shouting out American political prisoners, M-1 and Stic.man speak on the themes of collective resistance and solidarity. I notice that the kids on the hook, thankfully, arent totally accurate on the call-and-response ;) The Ghetto Pros (V.I.C and Mike Heron) are on production with some acoustic guitar-led flavour, and this track comes from their little-known "Ghetto Pros Presents..." LP, which is worth seeking out if you like that no-nonsense NY style. You can also find this on a 12", but I've only ever seen it online. These guys are coming to Manchester on February 10th, and I'd recommend trying to get down there!
Apple Juice Kid : Transition
Low-key instrumental inspired by a different revolution, the Egyptian one. Apple Juice Kid might be a North Carolina native but he conjures up a hint of the North African vibes on this one, then adds a little extra weight. His "Beats Of A Revolution" soundtrack has plenty more like this, so you know what to do if you want more...
Rakim : Madiba
Brand new track from one of the greatest to ever do it, released as part of the promo effort for the Mandela biopic "Long Walk To Freedom." Interesting writing process on this one; Complex mag invited fans to contribute lyrics, which Rakim then weaved in amongst his own - so very much a collective effort. As far as can be done in under five minutes, it's pretty comprehensive; but take it as a spur for some reading homework if there's anything that sounds unfamiliar!
Junior Reid : One Blood
If you're not familiar with this track, you may well know the Wu-Tang track "One Blood Under W" which interpolates it, and actually features Junior himself. A song of unity, starting at the Jamaican level and then going all the way worldwide, it was a perfect track to put in this month. Junior Reid was the lead singer of the crucial reggae group Black Uhuru, but he goes it alone on this 1989 hit; I've heard that this is a remix, but it's not labelled as such. However, check that bassline, a replay of the killer on Dennis Edwards/Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further." Good choice.
Bus ft. MC Soom-T : Keep Life Right (Dabrye Remix)
I'd be willing to bet most people I know who "know" this tune actually never heard this vocal version! The instrumental made some noise in the Manchester underground with it's appearance on the Dabrye "Additional Productions Vol.1" EP, and it was several years later before I heard the track it was from properly. As such, I know a lot more about Dabrye than Bus or Soom-T, but with a bit of research, it seems that Soom-T has a fairly deep discography, and the original of this track was on the 2003 Bus & Soom-T album "Middle Of The Road." This remix is serious business though, a real speaker mover - if you have access to a big system, try it out...
Pharoahe Monch ft. Showtyme, MeLa Machinko, Tower Of Power : Push
Some upliftment and encouragement here to persevere through those tough times on this first single from the "Desire" album. I thought this was a bit of an odd choice for a single as it's not "catchy" in the classic sense, and Pharoahe isn't melting down the mic on it either - but that's not to say I don't enjoy it! He self-produces this one, but pulls a blinder getting the veterans Tower Of Power in to play the horns; that's production in the traditional sense, knowing what you need and getting the personnel in to execute your plan.
Patrick O'Hearn : Crossing The Divide
It was at this time last year I first played Patrick O'Hearn on the podcast, and here he is again with another incredible instrumental - I think this might have been the first track of his I'd ever heard. Second track on his 1996 "Metaphor" album, I just love the swelling keyboards over the acoustic backing.
Ice-T : Prepared To Die
When I decided to do this episode, this along with "Prophets Of Rage" were the first two Hip-Hop tracks that immediately sprang to mind. This short spoken word piece came from Ice-T's 1991 "O.G Original Gangster" album, released fifteen months after Mandela walked out of Victor Verster prison. He did eventually get that Nobel prize mentioned here - while he had to share it with De Klerk...everyone knows the deal.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Salute, pay homage, pay your respects"
- Rakim
With the truly great Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela returning to the essence this month, I decided to dedicate this episode to him. Not every song is necessarily directly relevant, but hopefully the overall arc works.
Rest In Power Madiba. Amandla!
Playlist/Notes
Soweto Gospel Choir : Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika
A short (only the first verse), and different kind of start to this month's episode - and really, the only song I could have started with. Composed in 1897 by Ernest Sontonga in the Xhosa language, this song was the offical anthem of the African National Congress during the Apartheid era and parts of it have now been incorporated into the current South African national anthem. Recorded many times as you might expect, this beautiful acappella version comes from the Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, and they do it justice.
Prince Far I : Royal Palace
Was going to blend this with the song above, but decided against. The late Jamaican deejay Prince Far I was no stranger to politically-themed work, and this comes from his final album, entitled "Umkhonto We Sizwe (Spear Of The Nation)," named after the ANC's military wing, founded in 1961. Subtly dubbed-out, nice warm-up before launching into something much more energetic...
Public Enemy : Prophets Of Rage
The mentions of Mandela and Thatcher (who also died this year, and who decried him as a "terrorist") get this one included! Once again, the "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" album gives us a quality tune for the show. This is very much an album cut rather than a single, and showcases the Bomb Squad production style - samples upon samples :)
X Clan : A Day Of Outrage, Operation Snatchback
Super-hard track from the classic "To The East Blackwards" LP, incorporating the Billy Squier "Big Beat" drums that the younger listeners might recognise from their use by Dizzee Rascal. Lyrically, this track is specifically based around the "Day Of Outrage" protest in Brooklyn in 1989, when demonstrators occupied the Brooklyn Bridge after the murders of Yusuf Hawkins in New York and the Black Panthers co-founder Huey P. Newton in Oakland. Professor X of X-Clan (Lumumba Carson) is the son of Sonny Carson, who was one of the organisers of the protest, so there's very much a direct connection.
Brand Nubian : All For One
Title track from the debut Brand Nubian album - gets the nod mostly on the title and the pedigree of the group more so than for the overall content, though they do quietly drop some knowledge in there! This track was early enough that Sadat X was still going by the name "Derek X," but even at this stage he was already standing out as my favourite MC from the crew. They handled their own production on this one, based around a nice little James Brown sample.
Jasiri X : Mandela (Listen To What The Drums Say)
Jasiri X is often the first off the mark with a track capturing the mood of the moment, and he doesn't disappoint here with his personal tribute released the very next day after Mandela's passing. Freely available on Bandcamp, and produced by London's Agent Of Change, based on the sonics it could easily be called "Listen To What The Bass Says" - very active at the low end!
Damu The Fudgemunk : Rather Unique 2
One for my Washington DC listeners! This is an instrumental I've had hanging around for a little while and thought might work well! In the "hook" (so far as it exists), it's based on Pete Rock's production on AZ's "Rather Unique," but then takes on an entirely different character in the "verse" sections. Nice production from Damu, who is obviously nice on the MPC but is also the DJ for Panacea, so clearly gets busy on the cuts too! You can get this on the 2008 "Spare Time" mixtape, though I understand this beat was a few years old even then.
Jeru The Damaja ft. Afu-Ra : Mental Stamina
The title was what got this one the nod this month - surviving 27 years inside under that kind of pressure would require an awesome amount of mental stamina. This is an album cut from Jeru's debut "The Sun Rises In The East," and he goes back and forth with his protege Afu-Ra just kicking lyrics. The DJ Premier beat is the kind of head-nodding but unconventional in the foreground thing he was doing a lot of around this time; and pay attention to the drums - chopped up from Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean!"
Life & Nappa : Soldiers
Life is definitely one of my favourite UK MCs and he lights up the mic here atop the production of fellow Phi Life Cypher member Nappa, with an anthem for everyone who fights in their own sphere. Picked this up on a digging mission in London the other day on DJ Skitz' "Homegrown Vol.1" release - made it worth the effort!
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz & Bedos : Revolution
Something local! From their "Check Your Pulse" EP, this one musically revolves around the bass and that flute on the chorus, with everything else slotting seamlessly around. As with Mouse Outfit stuff in general, the MC lineup shifts around and on this one we have Sparkz leading it off and the big man Bedos of In The Loop giving us a verse in French (his first language). A few of you might be able to appreciate both verses equally...I might need to chase up Bedos so I can catch the content as well as his flow!
dead prez : Together
Not a well known dead prez track, so that makes it perfect for me to include! Shouting out American political prisoners, M-1 and Stic.man speak on the themes of collective resistance and solidarity. I notice that the kids on the hook, thankfully, arent totally accurate on the call-and-response ;) The Ghetto Pros (V.I.C and Mike Heron) are on production with some acoustic guitar-led flavour, and this track comes from their little-known "Ghetto Pros Presents..." LP, which is worth seeking out if you like that no-nonsense NY style. You can also find this on a 12", but I've only ever seen it online. These guys are coming to Manchester on February 10th, and I'd recommend trying to get down there!
Apple Juice Kid : Transition
Low-key instrumental inspired by a different revolution, the Egyptian one. Apple Juice Kid might be a North Carolina native but he conjures up a hint of the North African vibes on this one, then adds a little extra weight. His "Beats Of A Revolution" soundtrack has plenty more like this, so you know what to do if you want more...
Rakim : Madiba
Brand new track from one of the greatest to ever do it, released as part of the promo effort for the Mandela biopic "Long Walk To Freedom." Interesting writing process on this one; Complex mag invited fans to contribute lyrics, which Rakim then weaved in amongst his own - so very much a collective effort. As far as can be done in under five minutes, it's pretty comprehensive; but take it as a spur for some reading homework if there's anything that sounds unfamiliar!
Junior Reid : One Blood
If you're not familiar with this track, you may well know the Wu-Tang track "One Blood Under W" which interpolates it, and actually features Junior himself. A song of unity, starting at the Jamaican level and then going all the way worldwide, it was a perfect track to put in this month. Junior Reid was the lead singer of the crucial reggae group Black Uhuru, but he goes it alone on this 1989 hit; I've heard that this is a remix, but it's not labelled as such. However, check that bassline, a replay of the killer on Dennis Edwards/Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further." Good choice.
Bus ft. MC Soom-T : Keep Life Right (Dabrye Remix)
I'd be willing to bet most people I know who "know" this tune actually never heard this vocal version! The instrumental made some noise in the Manchester underground with it's appearance on the Dabrye "Additional Productions Vol.1" EP, and it was several years later before I heard the track it was from properly. As such, I know a lot more about Dabrye than Bus or Soom-T, but with a bit of research, it seems that Soom-T has a fairly deep discography, and the original of this track was on the 2003 Bus & Soom-T album "Middle Of The Road." This remix is serious business though, a real speaker mover - if you have access to a big system, try it out...
Pharoahe Monch ft. Showtyme, MeLa Machinko, Tower Of Power : Push
Some upliftment and encouragement here to persevere through those tough times on this first single from the "Desire" album. I thought this was a bit of an odd choice for a single as it's not "catchy" in the classic sense, and Pharoahe isn't melting down the mic on it either - but that's not to say I don't enjoy it! He self-produces this one, but pulls a blinder getting the veterans Tower Of Power in to play the horns; that's production in the traditional sense, knowing what you need and getting the personnel in to execute your plan.
Patrick O'Hearn : Crossing The Divide
It was at this time last year I first played Patrick O'Hearn on the podcast, and here he is again with another incredible instrumental - I think this might have been the first track of his I'd ever heard. Second track on his 1996 "Metaphor" album, I just love the swelling keyboards over the acoustic backing.
Ice-T : Prepared To Die
When I decided to do this episode, this along with "Prophets Of Rage" were the first two Hip-Hop tracks that immediately sprang to mind. This short spoken word piece came from Ice-T's 1991 "O.G Original Gangster" album, released fifteen months after Mandela walked out of Victor Verster prison. He did eventually get that Nobel prize mentioned here - while he had to share it with De Klerk...everyone knows the deal.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"The only test is to survive..."
- Patrick
Got some interesting combinations this month I think! For a long while I've wanted to do a mix that started and ended with two particular songs that share the same name, and finally I found a good time to do it. There's a good mix of dramatic and laid-back production, a few legends, and some real corner-of-the-shelves finds. With that said, let's see what we have this month...
Playlist/Notes
Snowgoons ft. Smif-n-Wessun & Respect The God : Casualties Of War
Darkly-accented way to open the episode from the "Black Snow" LP, which is another showcase of the Snowgoons' production style. The Boot Camp Clik vets Tek and Steele come through on some street business, and Respect Tha God from Jeru's Perverted Monks crew gets it done on the hook. Production-side, that recurring operatic sample is the one - great element to build the track around.
[Tragedy Khadafi] Capone-n-Noreaga : Parole Violators (Instrumental)
One of the better beats from their thug classic debut; there's a piece on the vocal version which means I'll never play it on the podcast, but enjoy this instrumental! This is a Tragedy Khadafi beat, but it sounds like mid-90s Havoc (who mixed it, actually) all the way - real Queensbridge.
Frameworks & BluRum 13 : Moonlighting (Rondo Brothers Remix)
Manchester's My First Moth records have been putting out quality local material for a while now and this is a combination of MCR talent with someone outside our direct sphere. Local production head Frameworks links up with BluRum13 (who you may know from his work with DJ Vadim) here, with the remix coming courtesy of the Bay Area's Rondo Brothers. I love this one, taken from the very reasonably priced "Brickbuilders: The Remixes" collabo album; got a clean, technical sound to it.
Scram Jones : Wildstyle
I've never been quite sure how to judge Scram Jones as an MC. That said, he's not someone who's always out there and in your face so I'm pretty OK with the fact that he gets the urge to jump on the mic on what are, after all, his own tracks! This is a new one from his free "Dead Giveaway" mixtape. Overall a nice track, with some outrageous scratching going on - good to hear some fader skills nowadays!
2Tall : The Rise
I used to see 2Tall on the turntablist message boards back in the late 90s/early 2000s resurgence in scratching, and was lucky enough to get to know him in the real world through the turntablist/battling scene - as cool a guy as you could hope to find. He's been a serious DMC competitor, and this track is from that era; shows his scratching skills but also his production, which he's carried on and expanded in the following years. You may know him by the name Nyquist, or Om Unit - a man of many guises, but always top skill!
Shaquille O'Neal ft. Ice Cube, B-Real, Peter Gunz, & KRS-ONE : Men Of Steel
A tune that makes you think first "how did they get all these MCs on one track?" and then "how did Shaq get to be in charge?" NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal certainly could never be accused of passing up opportunities that came his way, and this is the main track from the soundtrack of "Steel" - a superhero film he starred in. I haven't seen it, and I bet you probably haven't either. Anyway, he'd been rhyming for a while by this point, and was a reasonable rapper, but nowhere near the same level as his guests on here! Poke and Tone (aka Trackmasterz) on the beat.
Tall Black Guy : The Big Payback
The Detroit-born, UK-based TBG strikes again with another ferocious beat flip, this time taking the knife to James Brown's classic revenge anthem. He's dropping quality material right now, and with his debut LP "8 Miles to Moenart" hitting the shelves, hopefully more people will recognise!
Wu-Tang Clan : Wu-Tang 7th Chamber, Part II
With this month marking twenty years since the release of the debut Wu album - which few realised would launch such a dominant force in the scene as it did - I thought it was a good time to break out one of the most rugged and raw bangers from that LP. RZA grips the ASR-10's Van Der Pol filter by the neck, forces it through a guitar amp, and produces the grittiest baseline of that already-grimy record. This was a great closing tune for the album and is still much appreciated by those who know. Roughness.
DJ Shadow ft The Federation & Animaniaks : Turf Dancing
I needed a bridge between the roughness of the last track and the clean electronicness of the next one - that also maintained the speed - and that gave me chance to pull this one! This is from Shadow's "The Outsider" album, where he embraced the "hyphy" sound of his Bay Area home, which might have wrong-footed the style mags but showed his versatility as far as I was concerned! Scene stalwarts The Federation smash all over the beat alongside the only recorded appearance I can find of The/Animaniaks, all with energy in buckets. I already know some of you will hate this, but hopefully a few will enjoy it!
Scritti Politti : A Place We Both Belong
I love Scritti but only heard this for the first time this month - a relatively recent track which was only released as part of their greatest-hits compilation "Absolute." David Gamson (who did some production for Roger Troutman on the "Bridging The Gap" LP) gets very busy on the keyboards/drum programming and of course, the incomparable Green Gartside provides his unmistakeable vocals. I only wish they released records more frequently, but at least it makes it easy for you to grab them all - which you should ;)
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Common & Patrick Stump : I Stand Alone
After finally discovered Robert Glasper a month or two back, it turned out he had a new album on the way - another dope release that's been getting heavy rotation from me since I got it. Common leads the way vocally with some uplifting lyrics, and then we have a highly unexpected guest appearance from Stump - the lead singer from Fallout Boy. He definitely gets it done on the hook though, had it stuck in my head all month. The final little accent on the track is the long breakdown section with a sample of a speech by Michael Eric Dyson about Black individuality and striving for originality and excellence; a nice addition I think!
King I Divine : Slick Pavement
Chilled piano beat here, taken from King's recent "Reign Showers" beat tape. The Queens-born, Atlanta-based MPC1000 hitter is pretty new to me, but from listening to this compared with older releases, I think you can definitely hear a refinement sonically, especially in the drums - the kicks, snares, and hats on this track are just right :)
Celph Titled & Buckwild : Miss Those Days
If you never heard the "Nineteen-Ninety Now" album, you should - Celph Titled got the veteran DITC producer to dig back in his disks of original 90s unused beats and bring them to the table for him to spit over in the modern day, which was an excellent idea. This is definitely one of the more relaxed cuts from the project, and a nice stroll down memory lane lyrically - quite a few things to make the older heads smile! On the cuts to end the track, you have the former X-Man/X-Ecutioner Mista Sinista; I've always been a fan of his beat juggling, but he certainly reminds you here he can get down when it comes to pure scratching.
Redman : Lost Ones (Freestyle)
Redman steals a beat from Jay-Z "New Jersey Drive" style and goes in with some lyrics representing his home state. Got this on an unofficial pressing, not sure if there's an official release you can find this on!
HKB Finn : The Path To Inner Peace
Was digging and digging for a good slowdown track and picked up my copy of the ambitious "Vitalistics" album (which had never got a proper run) to search for something new to me and came out with this zen-flavoured beauty :) Finn (formerly of Katch 22) can be heard occasionally in the background of this one, but officially, the main production is credited to Tunde Jegede, who plays multiple instruments and is also a classical composer, amongst other things. Helped along with the heavy kick drum and a much lighter touch on the snare, unplug from the rest of the world to listen to this one...
Questionmark Asylum : Hey Lookaway
A quiet little 90s gem! This tune blew up on the low at the time but the crew pretty much dropped off the radar shortly afterwards - still, one hit is more than most aspiring musicians ever make! This four-man group came out of Washington DC, which was mostly known for go-go, and represented for their city well. Unfortunately, crew member Ding Ding passed away a few years ago, and as far as I know, none of the others are active musically. As far as this tune, they kick a laid-back, almost sing-songy style over a beat based around the well-used "Thoughts Of An Old Flame" sample - perfect backing.
Rithma : (The Only) Dark In The Light (Steve Sampling Mix)
I think this was another late-night, insomnia-fuelled discovery on internet radio - all about the deep, rich bass and lead synth line, this is just beautiful production work. I got this download from the Om Lounge 15th Anniversary collection, and on the strength of this might just buy the whole thing!
Boot Camp Clik : Casualties Of War
For the longest, I wanted to start an episode with the Snowgoons/Smif-n-Wessun track of the same name, and then end it with this one on which they also feature; mission accomplished! A producer called Marvel brings the beat (including the fantastic no-words changeup between verses) and the MC roster for this track (Tek, Bukshot, Rustee Juxx, Steele) take turns to drop heartfelt lyrics of war, fallen loved ones, and struggle. From the BCC album of the same name, this makes a great episode closer - I don't think there's anything you could play after it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"The only test is to survive..."
- Patrick
Got some interesting combinations this month I think! For a long while I've wanted to do a mix that started and ended with two particular songs that share the same name, and finally I found a good time to do it. There's a good mix of dramatic and laid-back production, a few legends, and some real corner-of-the-shelves finds. With that said, let's see what we have this month...
Playlist/Notes
Snowgoons ft. Smif-n-Wessun & Respect The God : Casualties Of War
Darkly-accented way to open the episode from the "Black Snow" LP, which is another showcase of the Snowgoons' production style. The Boot Camp Clik vets Tek and Steele come through on some street business, and Respect Tha God from Jeru's Perverted Monks crew gets it done on the hook. Production-side, that recurring operatic sample is the one - great element to build the track around.
[Tragedy Khadafi] Capone-n-Noreaga : Parole Violators (Instrumental)
One of the better beats from their thug classic debut; there's a piece on the vocal version which means I'll never play it on the podcast, but enjoy this instrumental! This is a Tragedy Khadafi beat, but it sounds like mid-90s Havoc (who mixed it, actually) all the way - real Queensbridge.
Frameworks & BluRum 13 : Moonlighting (Rondo Brothers Remix)
Manchester's My First Moth records have been putting out quality local material for a while now and this is a combination of MCR talent with someone outside our direct sphere. Local production head Frameworks links up with BluRum13 (who you may know from his work with DJ Vadim) here, with the remix coming courtesy of the Bay Area's Rondo Brothers. I love this one, taken from the very reasonably priced "Brickbuilders: The Remixes" collabo album; got a clean, technical sound to it.
Scram Jones : Wildstyle
I've never been quite sure how to judge Scram Jones as an MC. That said, he's not someone who's always out there and in your face so I'm pretty OK with the fact that he gets the urge to jump on the mic on what are, after all, his own tracks! This is a new one from his free "Dead Giveaway" mixtape. Overall a nice track, with some outrageous scratching going on - good to hear some fader skills nowadays!
2Tall : The Rise
I used to see 2Tall on the turntablist message boards back in the late 90s/early 2000s resurgence in scratching, and was lucky enough to get to know him in the real world through the turntablist/battling scene - as cool a guy as you could hope to find. He's been a serious DMC competitor, and this track is from that era; shows his scratching skills but also his production, which he's carried on and expanded in the following years. You may know him by the name Nyquist, or Om Unit - a man of many guises, but always top skill!
Shaquille O'Neal ft. Ice Cube, B-Real, Peter Gunz, & KRS-ONE : Men Of Steel
A tune that makes you think first "how did they get all these MCs on one track?" and then "how did Shaq get to be in charge?" NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal certainly could never be accused of passing up opportunities that came his way, and this is the main track from the soundtrack of "Steel" - a superhero film he starred in. I haven't seen it, and I bet you probably haven't either. Anyway, he'd been rhyming for a while by this point, and was a reasonable rapper, but nowhere near the same level as his guests on here! Poke and Tone (aka Trackmasterz) on the beat.
Tall Black Guy : The Big Payback
The Detroit-born, UK-based TBG strikes again with another ferocious beat flip, this time taking the knife to James Brown's classic revenge anthem. He's dropping quality material right now, and with his debut LP "8 Miles to Moenart" hitting the shelves, hopefully more people will recognise!
Wu-Tang Clan : Wu-Tang 7th Chamber, Part II
With this month marking twenty years since the release of the debut Wu album - which few realised would launch such a dominant force in the scene as it did - I thought it was a good time to break out one of the most rugged and raw bangers from that LP. RZA grips the ASR-10's Van Der Pol filter by the neck, forces it through a guitar amp, and produces the grittiest baseline of that already-grimy record. This was a great closing tune for the album and is still much appreciated by those who know. Roughness.
DJ Shadow ft The Federation & Animaniaks : Turf Dancing
I needed a bridge between the roughness of the last track and the clean electronicness of the next one - that also maintained the speed - and that gave me chance to pull this one! This is from Shadow's "The Outsider" album, where he embraced the "hyphy" sound of his Bay Area home, which might have wrong-footed the style mags but showed his versatility as far as I was concerned! Scene stalwarts The Federation smash all over the beat alongside the only recorded appearance I can find of The/Animaniaks, all with energy in buckets. I already know some of you will hate this, but hopefully a few will enjoy it!
Scritti Politti : A Place We Both Belong
I love Scritti but only heard this for the first time this month - a relatively recent track which was only released as part of their greatest-hits compilation "Absolute." David Gamson (who did some production for Roger Troutman on the "Bridging The Gap" LP) gets very busy on the keyboards/drum programming and of course, the incomparable Green Gartside provides his unmistakeable vocals. I only wish they released records more frequently, but at least it makes it easy for you to grab them all - which you should ;)
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Common & Patrick Stump : I Stand Alone
After finally discovered Robert Glasper a month or two back, it turned out he had a new album on the way - another dope release that's been getting heavy rotation from me since I got it. Common leads the way vocally with some uplifting lyrics, and then we have a highly unexpected guest appearance from Stump - the lead singer from Fallout Boy. He definitely gets it done on the hook though, had it stuck in my head all month. The final little accent on the track is the long breakdown section with a sample of a speech by Michael Eric Dyson about Black individuality and striving for originality and excellence; a nice addition I think!
King I Divine : Slick Pavement
Chilled piano beat here, taken from King's recent "Reign Showers" beat tape. The Queens-born, Atlanta-based MPC1000 hitter is pretty new to me, but from listening to this compared with older releases, I think you can definitely hear a refinement sonically, especially in the drums - the kicks, snares, and hats on this track are just right :)
Celph Titled & Buckwild : Miss Those Days
If you never heard the "Nineteen-Ninety Now" album, you should - Celph Titled got the veteran DITC producer to dig back in his disks of original 90s unused beats and bring them to the table for him to spit over in the modern day, which was an excellent idea. This is definitely one of the more relaxed cuts from the project, and a nice stroll down memory lane lyrically - quite a few things to make the older heads smile! On the cuts to end the track, you have the former X-Man/X-Ecutioner Mista Sinista; I've always been a fan of his beat juggling, but he certainly reminds you here he can get down when it comes to pure scratching.
Redman : Lost Ones (Freestyle)
Redman steals a beat from Jay-Z "New Jersey Drive" style and goes in with some lyrics representing his home state. Got this on an unofficial pressing, not sure if there's an official release you can find this on!
HKB Finn : The Path To Inner Peace
Was digging and digging for a good slowdown track and picked up my copy of the ambitious "Vitalistics" album (which had never got a proper run) to search for something new to me and came out with this zen-flavoured beauty :) Finn (formerly of Katch 22) can be heard occasionally in the background of this one, but officially, the main production is credited to Tunde Jegede, who plays multiple instruments and is also a classical composer, amongst other things. Helped along with the heavy kick drum and a much lighter touch on the snare, unplug from the rest of the world to listen to this one...
Questionmark Asylum : Hey Lookaway
A quiet little 90s gem! This tune blew up on the low at the time but the crew pretty much dropped off the radar shortly afterwards - still, one hit is more than most aspiring musicians ever make! This four-man group came out of Washington DC, which was mostly known for go-go, and represented for their city well. Unfortunately, crew member Ding Ding passed away a few years ago, and as far as I know, none of the others are active musically. As far as this tune, they kick a laid-back, almost sing-songy style over a beat based around the well-used "Thoughts Of An Old Flame" sample - perfect backing.
Rithma : (The Only) Dark In The Light (Steve Sampling Mix)
I think this was another late-night, insomnia-fuelled discovery on internet radio - all about the deep, rich bass and lead synth line, this is just beautiful production work. I got this download from the Om Lounge 15th Anniversary collection, and on the strength of this might just buy the whole thing!
Boot Camp Clik : Casualties Of War
For the longest, I wanted to start an episode with the Snowgoons/Smif-n-Wessun track of the same name, and then end it with this one on which they also feature; mission accomplished! A producer called Marvel brings the beat (including the fantastic no-words changeup between verses) and the MC roster for this track (Tek, Bukshot, Rustee Juxx, Steele) take turns to drop heartfelt lyrics of war, fallen loved ones, and struggle. From the BCC album of the same name, this makes a great episode closer - I don't think there's anything you could play after it.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You too near me not to hear me."
- Big Boi
What a month! Podcast out in the nick of time, and with it being Halloween I decided you deserved a treat more than a trick - hope you enjoy it :) Things have been hectic this month with the opening of the Manchester Marauders exhibition, which went as well as I could possibly have hoped! Here and here you can find a few photos of the exhibition, and if you'd like to buy one of the prints from the collection, then click here to get the print catalogue. It's been a lot of work, but good work lasts forever...
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Show 'em Whatcha Got
Starting things off with the first track on the second side of what could well be the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back." Based around a killer sample from the Lafayette Afro Rock Band, the Bomb Squad layer things up with some vocal stabs from the group and then longer pieces from a speech - I wish I could tell you who by! Always enjoyed this, and it's a track that can only really come at the beginning of whatever mix it's on.
A Tribe Called Quest : Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts) (Instrumental)
First bit of Tribe this month, an instrumental from one of the tracks on their debut album. This never got a single release, but I happened on a collection of unreleased Tribe instrumentals on vinyl a while back, so that's where I found this one.
Big Daddy Kane ft. Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes : Come On Down
This is some classic heat. When some a lot of heads were doubting Kane's direction, he dropped this classic track on the "Prince Of Darkness" album which should have put everyone on notice that all those love records didn't mean the mic killer from the "Raw" days had been put to bed! He kills it on here and then recruits Q-Tip from Tribe and Busta in his LONS, destroy-the-last-verse guise to ensure quality mic work all the way through. He also self-produced this, basing it around a dramatic loop from the "Kelly's Heroes" soundtrack - nicely done!
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Poison
Yes, you're right. This is indeed where the vocal sample on Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison" came from. Old news for the Hip-Hop in-crowd perhaps, but I can see a lot of people not knowing that! Second straight Juice Crew selection, this is from the duo's debut album, "Road To The Riches," released all the way back in 1989 - one that everyone should aim to have at least have some familiarity with. Marley Marl is on the thumping production and Polo is on the scratches - cutting up Biz Markie, just for the record. Classic again!
Outkast : Red Velvet
Total direction change here, taking it to Y2K Atlanta and - at least initially - half speed. Deep album track from the "Stankonia" LP, with a very distinctive beat (check the piano mixed with all the crazy synth sounds), and a heavy admonishment/cautionary tale about materialism and flaunting wealth. For me Big Boi's first verse is the one but both MCs come off well, and in addition they both had a hand in the production!
The ARE : The Chase
Part of the low-key Tribe influence on this episode, I decided to pull out this track from The ARE's "Manipulated Marauders" project, which took the original records samples on "Midnight Marauders" and flips them into new beats. This particular one takes Steve Arrington's "Beddie-Bye" as used on "The Chase, Part II" and rather than using the laid-back main groove like Tribe did, The ARE does his work with the dark intro to the record. An interesting take I think, and the whole album is worth checking out!
dead prez presents M-1 ft. stic.man : Early
So basically...dead prez. Motivational music of a sort! I got this on a Source compilation, but it's originally from M-1's "M-1 Confidential" album - I need to get a copy of that and have a proper listen. I can definitely relate to the lyrics on this one...
Skyzoo & Torae : Get It Done
I've been intending to do this transition for goodness knows how long! There was no way I was using either the previous song or this one without highlighting where the hook sample came from - though it sounds like it may be from an accapella. I thought these two were actually a duo when this came out, but it's really more of a collaboration between two New York MCs who were just up and coming. DJ Premier handles the production, and for some reason I feel like I detect a little Super Mario Brothers in there...is it just me? On the mic, check that final verse where they work the names of classic Premo tracks and MCs he's worked with into the lyrics. This was a great 12" with "Click" on the B-side - one to get in your collection.
Jedi Mind Tricks ft. Crypt The Warchild : The Rage Of Angels
One of those downcast beautiful tracks, with very personal verses from both MCs. Vinnie Paz is someone who's lyrics I often have issue with but no complaints here, as he writes a letter in "One Love" fashion to a locked-down friend. The beat is top quality, with Stoupe not doing a huge amount to the original sample (I don't know if it's cleared, so I can't reveal it), but that turns out to be the right move - less is more here! You can find this on the "Visions Of Gandhi" album, which is very good, but...
Rapsody ft. Nipsey Hussle, Ab-Soul, & Terrance Martin : Never Know
Rapsody is an MC out of North Carolina who's been bubbling on the low for a little while but seems to be getting some traction right now; big time producers like DJ Premier and 9th Wonder are backing her, and it's 9th who gives her the gorgeous backdrop for this track from the "She Got Game" mixtape. A lot of people need to take notes from a track like this; she absolutely kills her verse and then lets the guest in to do their thing - Ab-Soul probably doing the best job. On the beat, check how the kick effectively lands just before the "one" of each bar, making the track sound super-relaxed or hurried depending on whether you focus on the kick or the snare; combine that with all the other elements and you have a winner!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Erykah Badu : I C U Doin' It
I'm not sure many people know this one! It was recorded for a Violator Records compilation "V3: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly," but apparently that never actually got released! I got this on a promo 12" plugging the non-existent album, but at least we got this one, which is probably one of the last records Tribe ever recorded together - it's post-"The Love Movement" by a few years, so that's my theory. All the same, they cover one of their recurring topics ;)
Logikbomb : Not Like Me
Nice little instrumental from "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" by the Beat Tape Project. I'm not even sure I can hear an MC going over the top of this - and yet here I am talking over the top. Anyway, it's a free download so why not grab the whole tape, turn the fire on, and kick back for a listen?
Wu-Block : Been Robbed
I shouldn't be laughing along with this record. I really shouldn't. It's the sample though, I can't help it! Apparently not the first time it's been used but it's new to me, and Joe Milly on production uses it well here. Sheek Louch (of D-Block) and Ghostface (of the Wu) have done an interesting thing with the song structure here - no full length verses, but working in four-bar vignettes which are then separated by four bars of the vocal sample coming in. Tale after tale of halfway crooks getting robbed! This is the clear standout for me from the "Wu-Block" collaboration album.
Yamin Semali & P.U.D.G.E : We Rockfresh
Got to admit I hadn't heard of either artist before this song! Pulled this one from Rockfresh's "Superimposed Headphones" mixtape, which people were hitting me up about when they saw the cover :) Sonically I'd have liked a touch more bass, but that's probably just how it came out on the tape - it's a dope track nonetheless! As far as I can tell, NY-LA operator P.U.D.G.E is the producer on this (and it's the beat that grabbed me immediately), and Yamin Semali took the mic on this one - yeah, it's kind of an extended advert, but then I always loved adverts as a kid :)
Mack Wilds : Keepin It Real
Until I heard Juan Epstein this month, I had no idea this guy had a music career! Tristan Paul Mack Wilds is better known to most for being the brilliant young actor who played Michael Lee in seasons 4 and 5 of "The Wire." I don't check for much modern R&B but gave this a listen and it gets a spin largely on the strength of Salaam Remi lifting the DJ Premier beat for Group Home's "The Realness" (ironically, needing to add some elements to soften it up a bit!). Wilds isn't exactly a romantic on this cut but does have a decent voice and carries it well! If you like this, have a listen to his album "New York : A Love Story" - some good stuff on there, a lot of 90s Hip-Hop borrowing so definitely something to get the heads nodding.
Rakim : NY To Cali
Correction to voiceover - this track was actually produced by Dominic Owen, not Clark Kent as is generally credited. Apologies!
I remember wigging out over this when I first heard it on Radio 1 in 1995 - it was the first thing that had been heard from Rakim for quite a while at that point, though it never got an album release as it turned out. I was disappointed when it was absent from "The 18th Letter," but I picked this up on a couple of "unofficial" releases - a 12" and then a collection of rare/unreleased Rakim stuff - years after the event. A real underplayed gem.
Superior Thought : Me & You
This London-based producer and MC is an underappreciated talent, the kind who sounds like he just works on his craft and ignores the BS. This super-chopped, kind of glitchy beat is from his instrumental album "The S'strumentals - Skyisthelimit LP" and is just the right kind of head-nodding calm to lead us to the finale for the month...
Nostalgia 77 ft. Alice Russell : Seven Man Army
Heard this at a birthday party last year and knew immediately that a) I had to own it, and b) that it was going to make the podcast one day! Completely different feel to the original by The White Stripes - and somehow even more stripped-down. An all-British affair on this version excursion, with Suffolk native Alice Russell letting the soul out on the vocals, and Nostalgia 77 on the production leading everything off with a heavy kick drum and building from there. This is the first thing I've heard from him but will be looking out for more!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You too near me not to hear me."
- Big Boi
What a month! Podcast out in the nick of time, and with it being Halloween I decided you deserved a treat more than a trick - hope you enjoy it :) Things have been hectic this month with the opening of the Manchester Marauders exhibition, which went as well as I could possibly have hoped! Here and here you can find a few photos of the exhibition, and if you'd like to buy one of the prints from the collection, then click here to get the print catalogue. It's been a lot of work, but good work lasts forever...
Playlist/Notes
Public Enemy : Show 'em Whatcha Got
Starting things off with the first track on the second side of what could well be the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back." Based around a killer sample from the Lafayette Afro Rock Band, the Bomb Squad layer things up with some vocal stabs from the group and then longer pieces from a speech - I wish I could tell you who by! Always enjoyed this, and it's a track that can only really come at the beginning of whatever mix it's on.
A Tribe Called Quest : Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts) (Instrumental)
First bit of Tribe this month, an instrumental from one of the tracks on their debut album. This never got a single release, but I happened on a collection of unreleased Tribe instrumentals on vinyl a while back, so that's where I found this one.
Big Daddy Kane ft. Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes : Come On Down
This is some classic heat. When some a lot of heads were doubting Kane's direction, he dropped this classic track on the "Prince Of Darkness" album which should have put everyone on notice that all those love records didn't mean the mic killer from the "Raw" days had been put to bed! He kills it on here and then recruits Q-Tip from Tribe and Busta in his LONS, destroy-the-last-verse guise to ensure quality mic work all the way through. He also self-produced this, basing it around a dramatic loop from the "Kelly's Heroes" soundtrack - nicely done!
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Poison
Yes, you're right. This is indeed where the vocal sample on Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison" came from. Old news for the Hip-Hop in-crowd perhaps, but I can see a lot of people not knowing that! Second straight Juice Crew selection, this is from the duo's debut album, "Road To The Riches," released all the way back in 1989 - one that everyone should aim to have at least have some familiarity with. Marley Marl is on the thumping production and Polo is on the scratches - cutting up Biz Markie, just for the record. Classic again!
Outkast : Red Velvet
Total direction change here, taking it to Y2K Atlanta and - at least initially - half speed. Deep album track from the "Stankonia" LP, with a very distinctive beat (check the piano mixed with all the crazy synth sounds), and a heavy admonishment/cautionary tale about materialism and flaunting wealth. For me Big Boi's first verse is the one but both MCs come off well, and in addition they both had a hand in the production!
The ARE : The Chase
Part of the low-key Tribe influence on this episode, I decided to pull out this track from The ARE's "Manipulated Marauders" project, which took the original records samples on "Midnight Marauders" and flips them into new beats. This particular one takes Steve Arrington's "Beddie-Bye" as used on "The Chase, Part II" and rather than using the laid-back main groove like Tribe did, The ARE does his work with the dark intro to the record. An interesting take I think, and the whole album is worth checking out!
dead prez presents M-1 ft. stic.man : Early
So basically...dead prez. Motivational music of a sort! I got this on a Source compilation, but it's originally from M-1's "M-1 Confidential" album - I need to get a copy of that and have a proper listen. I can definitely relate to the lyrics on this one...
Skyzoo & Torae : Get It Done
I've been intending to do this transition for goodness knows how long! There was no way I was using either the previous song or this one without highlighting where the hook sample came from - though it sounds like it may be from an accapella. I thought these two were actually a duo when this came out, but it's really more of a collaboration between two New York MCs who were just up and coming. DJ Premier handles the production, and for some reason I feel like I detect a little Super Mario Brothers in there...is it just me? On the mic, check that final verse where they work the names of classic Premo tracks and MCs he's worked with into the lyrics. This was a great 12" with "Click" on the B-side - one to get in your collection.
Jedi Mind Tricks ft. Crypt The Warchild : The Rage Of Angels
One of those downcast beautiful tracks, with very personal verses from both MCs. Vinnie Paz is someone who's lyrics I often have issue with but no complaints here, as he writes a letter in "One Love" fashion to a locked-down friend. The beat is top quality, with Stoupe not doing a huge amount to the original sample (I don't know if it's cleared, so I can't reveal it), but that turns out to be the right move - less is more here! You can find this on the "Visions Of Gandhi" album, which is very good, but...
Rapsody ft. Nipsey Hussle, Ab-Soul, & Terrance Martin : Never Know
Rapsody is an MC out of North Carolina who's been bubbling on the low for a little while but seems to be getting some traction right now; big time producers like DJ Premier and 9th Wonder are backing her, and it's 9th who gives her the gorgeous backdrop for this track from the "She Got Game" mixtape. A lot of people need to take notes from a track like this; she absolutely kills her verse and then lets the guest in to do their thing - Ab-Soul probably doing the best job. On the beat, check how the kick effectively lands just before the "one" of each bar, making the track sound super-relaxed or hurried depending on whether you focus on the kick or the snare; combine that with all the other elements and you have a winner!
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Erykah Badu : I C U Doin' It
I'm not sure many people know this one! It was recorded for a Violator Records compilation "V3: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly," but apparently that never actually got released! I got this on a promo 12" plugging the non-existent album, but at least we got this one, which is probably one of the last records Tribe ever recorded together - it's post-"The Love Movement" by a few years, so that's my theory. All the same, they cover one of their recurring topics ;)
Logikbomb : Not Like Me
Nice little instrumental from "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape" by the Beat Tape Project. I'm not even sure I can hear an MC going over the top of this - and yet here I am talking over the top. Anyway, it's a free download so why not grab the whole tape, turn the fire on, and kick back for a listen?
Wu-Block : Been Robbed
I shouldn't be laughing along with this record. I really shouldn't. It's the sample though, I can't help it! Apparently not the first time it's been used but it's new to me, and Joe Milly on production uses it well here. Sheek Louch (of D-Block) and Ghostface (of the Wu) have done an interesting thing with the song structure here - no full length verses, but working in four-bar vignettes which are then separated by four bars of the vocal sample coming in. Tale after tale of halfway crooks getting robbed! This is the clear standout for me from the "Wu-Block" collaboration album.
Yamin Semali & P.U.D.G.E : We Rockfresh
Got to admit I hadn't heard of either artist before this song! Pulled this one from Rockfresh's "Superimposed Headphones" mixtape, which people were hitting me up about when they saw the cover :) Sonically I'd have liked a touch more bass, but that's probably just how it came out on the tape - it's a dope track nonetheless! As far as I can tell, NY-LA operator P.U.D.G.E is the producer on this (and it's the beat that grabbed me immediately), and Yamin Semali took the mic on this one - yeah, it's kind of an extended advert, but then I always loved adverts as a kid :)
Mack Wilds : Keepin It Real
Until I heard Juan Epstein this month, I had no idea this guy had a music career! Tristan Paul Mack Wilds is better known to most for being the brilliant young actor who played Michael Lee in seasons 4 and 5 of "The Wire." I don't check for much modern R&B but gave this a listen and it gets a spin largely on the strength of Salaam Remi lifting the DJ Premier beat for Group Home's "The Realness" (ironically, needing to add some elements to soften it up a bit!). Wilds isn't exactly a romantic on this cut but does have a decent voice and carries it well! If you like this, have a listen to his album "New York : A Love Story" - some good stuff on there, a lot of 90s Hip-Hop borrowing so definitely something to get the heads nodding.
Rakim : NY To Cali
Correction to voiceover - this track was actually produced by Dominic Owen, not Clark Kent as is generally credited. Apologies!
I remember wigging out over this when I first heard it on Radio 1 in 1995 - it was the first thing that had been heard from Rakim for quite a while at that point, though it never got an album release as it turned out. I was disappointed when it was absent from "The 18th Letter," but I picked this up on a couple of "unofficial" releases - a 12" and then a collection of rare/unreleased Rakim stuff - years after the event. A real underplayed gem.
Superior Thought : Me & You
This London-based producer and MC is an underappreciated talent, the kind who sounds like he just works on his craft and ignores the BS. This super-chopped, kind of glitchy beat is from his instrumental album "The S'strumentals - Skyisthelimit LP" and is just the right kind of head-nodding calm to lead us to the finale for the month...
Nostalgia 77 ft. Alice Russell : Seven Man Army
Heard this at a birthday party last year and knew immediately that a) I had to own it, and b) that it was going to make the podcast one day! Completely different feel to the original by The White Stripes - and somehow even more stripped-down. An all-British affair on this version excursion, with Suffolk native Alice Russell letting the soul out on the vocals, and Nostalgia 77 on the production leading everything off with a heavy kick drum and building from there. This is the first thing I've heard from him but will be looking out for more!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Calling for the freedom of the backs that you steppin' on..."
- Boots
It's been an outrageously busy month, and I've really struggled to get this episode out but got there in the end! What's the problem, you ask? Well, of course there's always the months when the tune selection doesn't come easily, but this month I've had the added complication of being the sole hand planning the "Manchester Marauders" exhibition which opens on October 17th - come to the opening and make a very overworked DJ/photographer happy :)
Anyway - let's talk about this month's tunes...
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : 52
I pretty much had to take this opportunity to kick off an episode with this one :) Cheeba and Geechi riff on the number 52 over a drum/percussion-only track from Ski which you can get on the "Fort Apache" mixtape album or EP.
London Posse : Money Mad
While listening to the Camp Lo track, my brain was absolutely itching telling me there was a beat that would mix brilliantly with it - at first I thought it was BDP's "9mm Goes Bang," but that was far too slow. The correct answer turned out to be this UK classic which was produced by Bevington and none other than Mr "Big Dawg, kiss the ring, you need this in your life" Tim Westwood! Whatever you might think of his later career on Radio 1, he did put in work back in the day and that can't be denied. Great 1990 tune from the important London Posse album "Gangster Chronicle" - I looped this up to make an instrumental, but you should definitely seek out the original.
Deepo & Bricks : Let It Reign
Nice Manchester track which the producer Bricks sent to me the other day for a listen - I liked it so much I thought I'd include it in this month's mix! Sounds to me like they're going in on Jay-Z and the like, but you'd have to ask them :) Deepo is an MC who stays on the low and works on his lyrics, and Bricks has been putting in all kinds of work for a long while, from production to keyboard work to rhyming. This track is from an upcoming Deepo and Bricks EP - one to check out when it comes!
Non Phixion : Rock Stars
Meat-and-potatoes Hip-Hop here, with Brooklyn's Non Phixion spitting in their aggressive style over a DJ Premier beat with his signature vocal cuts on the hook - this time, centred around Inspectah Deck's line from Gang Starr's "Above The Clouds." Structurally, check out how each verse actually has two MCs on it - pretty unusual. Big single from their debut album "The Future Is Now," which is worth having if you like their style.
Chris Lowe ft. PMD : Buckwhylin'
I heard Didjit play this a couple of weeks ago and told him I was going to have to play it on the next podcast! Great cut from Chris Lowe's "The Black Life" LP, where he takes the same horns you may recognise from JVC Force's classic "Strong Island" and brings in Long Island legend PMD to join him on the mic. Straightforward and solid, the kind of tune that will always be playable!
Kali Ranks : Kill Dem All
One of the less-heralded (ok, not heralded at all) tracks from the soundtrack to the 1995 Def Jam-backed documentary "The Show." That soundtrack was highlighted by Method Man and Redman's "How High," with this cut buried way down in the running order - a little gem for anyone willing to stick with the album! The Kingston-born Kali doesn't have a deep discography - a 2009 album which I had to look up on Discogs just to confirm its existence - but this Andrew Massop/Marc Pomeroy-produced tune is not a bad one to be remembered by!
Dela : Get Busy
I last played the producer Dela on the very first podcast episode, and 51 later here he is again! Nice piano beat from his "The Robert Glasper Beat Tape," which as the title suggests is totally made up of tracks sampling the jazz artist Robert Glasper - to be specific, the "Double Booked" album. The beat tape is free, so grab that and then check out the Glasper album too!
Souls Of Mischief : Let 'Em Know
It's all about that bassline - not in a loud and overbearing way, but it's just obvious that it's the sonic centre of the track. This was the opener on the brilliant debut album "93 'Til Infinity," yet I never hear anyone else playing it! It's got that jazzy sound but the drum line kicks along harder. All four members set out their stall on the mic and Domino (not the Long Beach Domino) does his thing on the production. A favourite!
Chalk : If You Must
More local business! Chalk is an MC who has been working at his craft for many years, most notably as part of The Natural Curriculum, and has finally released his debut album, "One For Being Me." Much of the album has a real throwback sensibility, and it's very genuine - no put-on persona for Chalk. This track was the first release from the album, with a funny video appearing straight away; if you know Manchester, you'll definitely enjoy it. If not, you probably will anyway :)
Motion Man ft. Gift Of Gab : One Time For Your Mind
A bit more throwback flavour to follow on - this time, from the Bay Area! I've played Motion Man before, and you might well know him from working with Kut Masta Kurt and Kool Keith (alliteration all around). This is another KMK production with Blackalicious' Gift of Gab pitching in on mic duties. This was the second track on the "Pablito's Way" single, from the album of the same name. New school old school!
Bahamadia : Dialed Up
I've been holding onto this one for ages! Interesting concept from Bahamadia, with every single part of this track being done on her phone - the vocals, the beats, the mix, everything. The full version is actually much longer, clocking in at almost twelve minutes; this excerpt is enough to give you an idea, and certainly makes you think about the power of modern handheld computing!
J-Filt : Spanishmoodz
A little instrumental from J-Filt of The Beat Tape Project, from their "Return Of The Tec : The Beatnuts Beat Tape" project, made up of tracks reminiscent of The Beatnuts' sound. I'm not actually the biggest Beatnuts fan for some reason, and this beat doesn't much remind me of them either, but I do like it!
Kokane : Twilight Zone
Kokane has been around on the west coast for a long time, emerging as part of Above The Law's crew (he's Big Hutch's cousin), and has often been called in by artists from NWA to Snoop to add his vocal flavour to their tracks. He actually has a reasonable discography himself, and this is from his 2010 release "Gimme All Mine." Tha Chill from Compton's Most Wanted really outdoes himself with the string-laden production, and a very unusual bar repeating pattern!
Apologies for the lame homophobic expressions on this track - couldn't get the any censoring to sound right at all...
American Cream Team ft. Raekwon & RZA : It's Not A Game
More strings, more strings! I played the instrumental a few years ago, thought it was long ago enough that I could bring the vocal out! From the soundtrack of "Black And White," this crew of Raekwon proteges expound on a traditional subject - getting that money :) Not actually sure who produced this but I do like the classical slant, and while I don't know all the individual MCs by voice, they drop plenty of memorable/sample-able lines. Should have had a cut with the "52 block" line really...
Madvillain ft. Stacy Epps : Eye
Tied with "Strange Ways" (do check that video link) for favourite track on the "Madvillainy" album, which I probably didn't rate as much as most when it came out! Stacy Epps is the reason - a great vocalist with an all-too-short discography; you can check her out as part of Sol Uprising, and she apparently had a solo EP "222" and an album "The Awakening" I need to get a copy of! Beat-wise, I'm just not a big Madlib fan but this one is proper - credit where it's due.
[J Dilla] J-88 : The Look Of Love (Instrumental)
Slum Village by another name! Got this on a Groove Attack 12" but you can get the vocal version on the "Best Kept Secret" album, along with some other tracks which are worth having for Slum/Dilla collectors. Don't pay a stupid price for it though!
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Lalah Hathaway : Cherish The Day
Houston's Robert Glasper is a man on his own flex when it comes to jazz - not afraid to shake things up or reach out across styles. Either Agent J or my man Damian told me about him, and having heard the "Black Radio" album this came from, I'm definitely going to be digging into his catalogue! There were a few tracks I considered playing, but this ended up winning - a beautiful re-interpretation of Sade's original track with Lalah Hathaway on vocal and some nice rhythm changes. Top quality!
Soul Supreme: Beat 17
From an old beat tape "Instrumentals 4 Mind, Body, and Soul" came this track which used to be a headphone regular for me. If you want to hear more from this Swedish production wizard, your best bet is getting hold of the "Saturday Nite Agenda" album - a lot of serious legends on there giving him the co-sign!
The Coup : Lazymuthafucka
An anti-boss, anti-capitalist, anti-fatcat anthem. I'd be surprised if many people listening already know it, but I think that most people will be able to relate to it! Taken from the excellent "Party Music" album, Boots Riley lays down fire from the perspective of a hard working man being ridden like a rodeo by the money men from on high. Loved it since the first time I heard it, and outside of the slang, it's pretty much timeless. Production is nuts too - it's non-obvious, but at the same time I don't think it could have sounded any other way.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Calling for the freedom of the backs that you steppin' on..."
- Boots
It's been an outrageously busy month, and I've really struggled to get this episode out but got there in the end! What's the problem, you ask? Well, of course there's always the months when the tune selection doesn't come easily, but this month I've had the added complication of being the sole hand planning the "Manchester Marauders" exhibition which opens on October 17th - come to the opening and make a very overworked DJ/photographer happy :)
Anyway - let's talk about this month's tunes...
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : 52
I pretty much had to take this opportunity to kick off an episode with this one :) Cheeba and Geechi riff on the number 52 over a drum/percussion-only track from Ski which you can get on the "Fort Apache" mixtape album or EP.
London Posse : Money Mad
While listening to the Camp Lo track, my brain was absolutely itching telling me there was a beat that would mix brilliantly with it - at first I thought it was BDP's "9mm Goes Bang," but that was far too slow. The correct answer turned out to be this UK classic which was produced by Bevington and none other than Mr "Big Dawg, kiss the ring, you need this in your life" Tim Westwood! Whatever you might think of his later career on Radio 1, he did put in work back in the day and that can't be denied. Great 1990 tune from the important London Posse album "Gangster Chronicle" - I looped this up to make an instrumental, but you should definitely seek out the original.
Deepo & Bricks : Let It Reign
Nice Manchester track which the producer Bricks sent to me the other day for a listen - I liked it so much I thought I'd include it in this month's mix! Sounds to me like they're going in on Jay-Z and the like, but you'd have to ask them :) Deepo is an MC who stays on the low and works on his lyrics, and Bricks has been putting in all kinds of work for a long while, from production to keyboard work to rhyming. This track is from an upcoming Deepo and Bricks EP - one to check out when it comes!
Non Phixion : Rock Stars
Meat-and-potatoes Hip-Hop here, with Brooklyn's Non Phixion spitting in their aggressive style over a DJ Premier beat with his signature vocal cuts on the hook - this time, centred around Inspectah Deck's line from Gang Starr's "Above The Clouds." Structurally, check out how each verse actually has two MCs on it - pretty unusual. Big single from their debut album "The Future Is Now," which is worth having if you like their style.
Chris Lowe ft. PMD : Buckwhylin'
I heard Didjit play this a couple of weeks ago and told him I was going to have to play it on the next podcast! Great cut from Chris Lowe's "The Black Life" LP, where he takes the same horns you may recognise from JVC Force's classic "Strong Island" and brings in Long Island legend PMD to join him on the mic. Straightforward and solid, the kind of tune that will always be playable!
Kali Ranks : Kill Dem All
One of the less-heralded (ok, not heralded at all) tracks from the soundtrack to the 1995 Def Jam-backed documentary "The Show." That soundtrack was highlighted by Method Man and Redman's "How High," with this cut buried way down in the running order - a little gem for anyone willing to stick with the album! The Kingston-born Kali doesn't have a deep discography - a 2009 album which I had to look up on Discogs just to confirm its existence - but this Andrew Massop/Marc Pomeroy-produced tune is not a bad one to be remembered by!
Dela : Get Busy
I last played the producer Dela on the very first podcast episode, and 51 later here he is again! Nice piano beat from his "The Robert Glasper Beat Tape," which as the title suggests is totally made up of tracks sampling the jazz artist Robert Glasper - to be specific, the "Double Booked" album. The beat tape is free, so grab that and then check out the Glasper album too!
Souls Of Mischief : Let 'Em Know
It's all about that bassline - not in a loud and overbearing way, but it's just obvious that it's the sonic centre of the track. This was the opener on the brilliant debut album "93 'Til Infinity," yet I never hear anyone else playing it! It's got that jazzy sound but the drum line kicks along harder. All four members set out their stall on the mic and Domino (not the Long Beach Domino) does his thing on the production. A favourite!
Chalk : If You Must
More local business! Chalk is an MC who has been working at his craft for many years, most notably as part of The Natural Curriculum, and has finally released his debut album, "One For Being Me." Much of the album has a real throwback sensibility, and it's very genuine - no put-on persona for Chalk. This track was the first release from the album, with a funny video appearing straight away; if you know Manchester, you'll definitely enjoy it. If not, you probably will anyway :)
Motion Man ft. Gift Of Gab : One Time For Your Mind
A bit more throwback flavour to follow on - this time, from the Bay Area! I've played Motion Man before, and you might well know him from working with Kut Masta Kurt and Kool Keith (alliteration all around). This is another KMK production with Blackalicious' Gift of Gab pitching in on mic duties. This was the second track on the "Pablito's Way" single, from the album of the same name. New school old school!
Bahamadia : Dialed Up
I've been holding onto this one for ages! Interesting concept from Bahamadia, with every single part of this track being done on her phone - the vocals, the beats, the mix, everything. The full version is actually much longer, clocking in at almost twelve minutes; this excerpt is enough to give you an idea, and certainly makes you think about the power of modern handheld computing!
J-Filt : Spanishmoodz
A little instrumental from J-Filt of The Beat Tape Project, from their "Return Of The Tec : The Beatnuts Beat Tape" project, made up of tracks reminiscent of The Beatnuts' sound. I'm not actually the biggest Beatnuts fan for some reason, and this beat doesn't much remind me of them either, but I do like it!
Kokane : Twilight Zone
Kokane has been around on the west coast for a long time, emerging as part of Above The Law's crew (he's Big Hutch's cousin), and has often been called in by artists from NWA to Snoop to add his vocal flavour to their tracks. He actually has a reasonable discography himself, and this is from his 2010 release "Gimme All Mine." Tha Chill from Compton's Most Wanted really outdoes himself with the string-laden production, and a very unusual bar repeating pattern!
Apologies for the lame homophobic expressions on this track - couldn't get the any censoring to sound right at all...
American Cream Team ft. Raekwon & RZA : It's Not A Game
More strings, more strings! I played the instrumental a few years ago, thought it was long ago enough that I could bring the vocal out! From the soundtrack of "Black And White," this crew of Raekwon proteges expound on a traditional subject - getting that money :) Not actually sure who produced this but I do like the classical slant, and while I don't know all the individual MCs by voice, they drop plenty of memorable/sample-able lines. Should have had a cut with the "52 block" line really...
Madvillain ft. Stacy Epps : Eye
Tied with "Strange Ways" (do check that video link) for favourite track on the "Madvillainy" album, which I probably didn't rate as much as most when it came out! Stacy Epps is the reason - a great vocalist with an all-too-short discography; you can check her out as part of Sol Uprising, and she apparently had a solo EP "222" and an album "The Awakening" I need to get a copy of! Beat-wise, I'm just not a big Madlib fan but this one is proper - credit where it's due.
[J Dilla] J-88 : The Look Of Love (Instrumental)
Slum Village by another name! Got this on a Groove Attack 12" but you can get the vocal version on the "Best Kept Secret" album, along with some other tracks which are worth having for Slum/Dilla collectors. Don't pay a stupid price for it though!
Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Lalah Hathaway : Cherish The Day
Houston's Robert Glasper is a man on his own flex when it comes to jazz - not afraid to shake things up or reach out across styles. Either Agent J or my man Damian told me about him, and having heard the "Black Radio" album this came from, I'm definitely going to be digging into his catalogue! There were a few tracks I considered playing, but this ended up winning - a beautiful re-interpretation of Sade's original track with Lalah Hathaway on vocal and some nice rhythm changes. Top quality!
Soul Supreme: Beat 17
From an old beat tape "Instrumentals 4 Mind, Body, and Soul" came this track which used to be a headphone regular for me. If you want to hear more from this Swedish production wizard, your best bet is getting hold of the "Saturday Nite Agenda" album - a lot of serious legends on there giving him the co-sign!
The Coup : Lazymuthafucka
An anti-boss, anti-capitalist, anti-fatcat anthem. I'd be surprised if many people listening already know it, but I think that most people will be able to relate to it! Taken from the excellent "Party Music" album, Boots Riley lays down fire from the perspective of a hard working man being ridden like a rodeo by the money men from on high. Loved it since the first time I heard it, and outside of the slang, it's pretty much timeless. Production is nuts too - it's non-obvious, but at the same time I don't think it could have sounded any other way.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I've been...to places never seen..."
- Sheyenne Rivers
With involvement in two upcoming photo exhibitions, plus work and the podcast, this month has been off the scale for being busy! Nevertheless, managed to put together what I think is a quality mix, and the fact I've been going around listening to it heavily before release hopefully means it'll be an enjoyable one for you all!
A couple of links;
September 13th - I'll be one of the hosts for the second Example photo exhibition, and I have some good pieces to show. This opening runs until late with a heavy DJ roster, so would make a great night out!
October 17th - my first solo photo exhibition - "Manchester Marauders" opens. It's all about the Manchester Hip-Hop scene from my personal viewpoint, with the centrepiece being a Manchester recreation of A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" album. The opening will be heavy, do come down!
Anyway - let's get to the music...
Playlist/Notes
George Duke : Just For You
Starting things off gently, with the love song that closes the first side of Duke's 1977 "Reach For It" LP. I love how long the chorus is on this and how it builds. The album as a whole moved away from purist jazz, and is definitely worth having from a soul/R&B standpoint - George Duke brings his top-flight musicianship to the proceedings as always and it sounds fantastic.
Reks : Showoff Forever
Next up, a blend straight into the first of two tracks this month that sample the first one. I do like sample chops where a long note in the original becomes almost a continuous background presence due to the rearrangement, and that's how this one was hooked up by Walthamstow's Jewbei. After a bit of an "ehhh" intro, Reks settles into this one with his veteran flow. Taken from the "Revolution Cocktail" album, I could definitely see this one becoming a single - it's got that kind of bounce to it.
9th Wonder : Just For You
Finally, the track that I knew even before the George Duke one! I got this on a Justus League compilation, and thought it was an amazing beat - one of a select few five-star tunes on my iPod. It wasn't very long, and always had me wanting more. After picking up the George Duke album after a digging trip, I left it playing and was stunned and very happy to hear as the track was ending all the sample pieces 9th had used to make his beat! I actually got on my MPC and did my own recreation of it as an exercise, but here, we go with the genuine article.
Blak Twang : Surround Sound
Not sonically, but in terms of theme, this is very much like part 2 of the Blak Twang classic "Real Estate." Not the best known track, this was on the B-side of the "U Know" 12" and was never released on any albums. Tony Rotton self-produced this one; the beat is dark but not harsh, and the cuts on the hook work brilliantly - especially the Common parts. Low-key London stuff.
Shadowman : Rap Shit
I wonder if he's now in the post-rap stage of life? Shadowman rails against the BS of the rap industry on this selection from the 2002 "Beyond Real Experience Volume 2" compilation. It's a wise MC who hooks his wagon to DJ Spinna's production, and the signature killer synth bassline styled definitely drive this one along. Nice Slum Village sample on the hook, though I did keep wanting to hear the following line, which would have been perfect. Intentional omission for those that know, perhaps?
Termanology ft. Wais P and Ras Kass : We Stay High
The phrase that jumped into my head this morning when listening to this was "thug lullaby." No, it's not saying anything positive, but yes, it is a good record! From the seventh (!) of Term's "Hood Politics" releases, I think I only heard this for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Statik Selektah does a nice job on the beat and all the MCs make it their own - not an obvious combination of guests but no objection from me! Ras Kass has been a favourite on the mic for years and Wais the P is breaking out in this second stage of his career as a man with a vicious turn of phrase. Funnily enough, Da Ranjahz (Wais' old group) and Ras Kass have recorded together in the past - can't find the track online to link here but might play you it sometime as I have a vinyl stashed away :)
George Duke : Reach For It
Classic! Big single from the album of the same name, all kinds of funk going on on this one. Something of a Parliament/Funkadelic vibe to this track! I've heard this on the "American Pimp" soundtrack and sampled in a number of places I won't reveal here as I don't know if they were cleared...you might need to do some homework on this one!
Air Adam : Glaze
A little something from my MPC library! First thing you hear is the original sample (looped a few times, just to create a longer blend), and then it switches into my flip. I'm not sure if I ever shopped this one around to any MCs, but I do enjoy listening to it.
Tony Touch ft. Sean Price & Guilty Simpson : Random
Heard this on a Conspiracy Radio podcast and knew I had to get it! Tony Touch is a longtime NY DJ institution, a mixtape legend who has an amazingly deep catalogue. On his famous 50th tape, "Power Cypha," he featured fifty MCs, and on his new project - now far away from the cassette era - he does it again! Sean P and Guilty have already combined as the MCs for Random Axe and so you know what to expect here - no love for the weak!
Prodigy : P Broke The Switch
An unusual instrumental as far as Hip-Hop goes on this one, with the four-to-the-floor drumbeat (kick drum on every beat) driving it - that's something more typical of house music. It's perfect to match the original beat under the disco-soul record intro that makes up the main sample though, and Mobb Deep's Prodigy gives you a slow burn vocal that just seems to go perfectly with it despite the contrast! Alchemist on production, and you can find this on his "Cutting Room Floor" mixtape/compilation.
Run The Jewels : DDFH
Heavy, dark, political, nihilistic, and brilliant. I was late on really appreciating Killer Mike (despite having enjoyed him featuring with Outkast), but you really have to respect what he brings lyrically. Similarly, it wasn't until I listened to Killer Mike's "R.A.P Music" album that I realised just how good El-P is as a producer. The two unite for a full-length and absolutely free project "Run The Jewels" which you really should grab a download of - if nothing else, to hear something a little different from the norm!
(oh yes - "drones over Brooklyn?" The NYPD wouldn't mind...)
Jaylib : React
On the collaborative "Champion Sound" LP, I'm personally a believer that J Dilla had better beats than Madlib...and better rhymes. Basically, I just wanted a Dilla album. Madlib brings out his Quasimoto alter-ego for this track, but the beat is the star! When I heard it loud in a dark basement party in Manchester shortly after it was released, a love for the song was born. Those drums thump and snap hard and the crazy wah-wah violin (I think) is the most unusual high-end I can remember hearing in quite a while. All part of that Dilla genius :)
Legion : Brazil
Local flavour right here. Legion is one of the MCs from upcoming Manchester group Mothership Connection but here he goes on a solo spacewalk. Extra-Vehicular Activity, as it were! He almost sounds like he's freestyling, going abstract on this beat from The Mouse Outfit's MPC man Pitch. Get the whole thing here, and keep an eye on this crew!
[Asheru/Joe Money] Asheru : Mood Swing (Instrumental)
Not even sure when/where/why I got this 12", but I pulled it out this month and found this nice little instrumental - amazing what you can find tucked away in a record collection. I think this may have been a 12" only release, and it features Talib Kweli on vocals so if you're a fan, it looks like you could probably pick this up pretty inexpensively.
Ka ft. Roc Marciano : Soap Box
Now this is that stripped down, low-key, Brooklyn business. This is a standout for me from the "Night's Gambit" album, Ka's third. A former member of Natural Elements, Ka is someone you really need to check for if you want to hear someone who is really serious about their writing. He's also a very distinctive producer - sometimes throwing drums out of the window altogether, which is highly unusual for Hip-Hop. Nothing for the club, all for the headphones or a late-night cruise. If you like this, check out not just the latest album but also the "Grief Pedigree" LP. Really nothing that sounds like it.
Sneaker Pimps : Walking Zero
One of those deep album cuts you know I like! From the debut Sneaker Pimps album "Becoming X," this really does bring to mind walking across a dark and desolate landscape...or the darkest parts of a city somewhere. It's that open hi-hat pattern that really puts that trudging feel into it, even more than the more prominent elements of the track. Goes to show how much all the little pieces matter when it comes to production! This has been a headphone staple for me for 14 years...with no sign of stopping.
Common ft. The Last Poets : The Corner
I really don't hear much of this tune anymore, which is odd when I think about what a big deal it was at the time! Kanye West (who also directed the video) is on production, bringing a nice drum track and his signature sped-up soul sample to what is a deceptively slow song (79bpm), The Last Poets add a cross-generational angle, and Common holds down the forefront. He's a Chicago native but his lyrics could be talking about the corner in any number of cities. I wasn't a huge fan of the "Be" album, but this track? No denying it.
Lord Finesse & Roy Ayers : Soul Plan
I have no idea how this collaboration came to be, but it sounds good! DITC producer/MC Lord Finesse is blessed with the presence of jazz legend Roy Ayers on this one, who gives the whole thing a smothering of vibraphone magic. I don't know if this was ever on an album - I got it on a white label 12", and I've seen it as a B-side to "Gameplan," so it was probably released 1996-ish. More background on this one appreciated...
K-Murdock : Dreams Come True
This is an instrumental that just draws you in and won't let go. Panacea's K-Murdock has been featured on this podcast a number of times and every appearance is quality. On a recent listen to his Japanese-based "Beats From The East" EP, I just couldn't believe how dope this one was and it just happened to fit perfectly here!
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : Dream Journey
One of the many great tracks on the newly-released collaborative "80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part II" mixtape - a free release which is an absolutely unmissable download. You should have clicked that link by now. Anyway, this is just one of my favourites from the project, with Pete Rock channeling some 70s flavour and Camp Lo weaving their usual mic magic but maybe with just a touch less dense slang than usual! As an aside, the construction hook reminds me of the bridge from N.O.R.E's "Grimey." That's a good thing, trust me. Camp Lo do it again, Bronx style.
Blue Stone : Dreamcatcher
Final track on the dreaming theme - I heard this when half asleep on internet radio one night and snapped awake to find out what it was! Robert Smith and Bill Walters are Blue Stone, and handle the production and instrumentation - for me, while the verse sections are good, the chorus switch is just amazing. Of course, it'd only be half as good without a vocal, and the guest singer Sheyenne Rivers obliges with an ethereal but still strong performance. The album is worth checking out, but for me personally this is the standout by a mile - just presses my buttons I suppose...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I've been...to places never seen..."
- Sheyenne Rivers
With involvement in two upcoming photo exhibitions, plus work and the podcast, this month has been off the scale for being busy! Nevertheless, managed to put together what I think is a quality mix, and the fact I've been going around listening to it heavily before release hopefully means it'll be an enjoyable one for you all!
A couple of links;
September 13th - I'll be one of the hosts for the second Example photo exhibition, and I have some good pieces to show. This opening runs until late with a heavy DJ roster, so would make a great night out!
October 17th - my first solo photo exhibition - "Manchester Marauders" opens. It's all about the Manchester Hip-Hop scene from my personal viewpoint, with the centrepiece being a Manchester recreation of A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" album. The opening will be heavy, do come down!
Anyway - let's get to the music...
Playlist/Notes
George Duke : Just For You
Starting things off gently, with the love song that closes the first side of Duke's 1977 "Reach For It" LP. I love how long the chorus is on this and how it builds. The album as a whole moved away from purist jazz, and is definitely worth having from a soul/R&B standpoint - George Duke brings his top-flight musicianship to the proceedings as always and it sounds fantastic.
Reks : Showoff Forever
Next up, a blend straight into the first of two tracks this month that sample the first one. I do like sample chops where a long note in the original becomes almost a continuous background presence due to the rearrangement, and that's how this one was hooked up by Walthamstow's Jewbei. After a bit of an "ehhh" intro, Reks settles into this one with his veteran flow. Taken from the "Revolution Cocktail" album, I could definitely see this one becoming a single - it's got that kind of bounce to it.
9th Wonder : Just For You
Finally, the track that I knew even before the George Duke one! I got this on a Justus League compilation, and thought it was an amazing beat - one of a select few five-star tunes on my iPod. It wasn't very long, and always had me wanting more. After picking up the George Duke album after a digging trip, I left it playing and was stunned and very happy to hear as the track was ending all the sample pieces 9th had used to make his beat! I actually got on my MPC and did my own recreation of it as an exercise, but here, we go with the genuine article.
Blak Twang : Surround Sound
Not sonically, but in terms of theme, this is very much like part 2 of the Blak Twang classic "Real Estate." Not the best known track, this was on the B-side of the "U Know" 12" and was never released on any albums. Tony Rotton self-produced this one; the beat is dark but not harsh, and the cuts on the hook work brilliantly - especially the Common parts. Low-key London stuff.
Shadowman : Rap Shit
I wonder if he's now in the post-rap stage of life? Shadowman rails against the BS of the rap industry on this selection from the 2002 "Beyond Real Experience Volume 2" compilation. It's a wise MC who hooks his wagon to DJ Spinna's production, and the signature killer synth bassline styled definitely drive this one along. Nice Slum Village sample on the hook, though I did keep wanting to hear the following line, which would have been perfect. Intentional omission for those that know, perhaps?
Termanology ft. Wais P and Ras Kass : We Stay High
The phrase that jumped into my head this morning when listening to this was "thug lullaby." No, it's not saying anything positive, but yes, it is a good record! From the seventh (!) of Term's "Hood Politics" releases, I think I only heard this for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Statik Selektah does a nice job on the beat and all the MCs make it their own - not an obvious combination of guests but no objection from me! Ras Kass has been a favourite on the mic for years and Wais the P is breaking out in this second stage of his career as a man with a vicious turn of phrase. Funnily enough, Da Ranjahz (Wais' old group) and Ras Kass have recorded together in the past - can't find the track online to link here but might play you it sometime as I have a vinyl stashed away :)
George Duke : Reach For It
Classic! Big single from the album of the same name, all kinds of funk going on on this one. Something of a Parliament/Funkadelic vibe to this track! I've heard this on the "American Pimp" soundtrack and sampled in a number of places I won't reveal here as I don't know if they were cleared...you might need to do some homework on this one!
Air Adam : Glaze
A little something from my MPC library! First thing you hear is the original sample (looped a few times, just to create a longer blend), and then it switches into my flip. I'm not sure if I ever shopped this one around to any MCs, but I do enjoy listening to it.
Tony Touch ft. Sean Price & Guilty Simpson : Random
Heard this on a Conspiracy Radio podcast and knew I had to get it! Tony Touch is a longtime NY DJ institution, a mixtape legend who has an amazingly deep catalogue. On his famous 50th tape, "Power Cypha," he featured fifty MCs, and on his new project - now far away from the cassette era - he does it again! Sean P and Guilty have already combined as the MCs for Random Axe and so you know what to expect here - no love for the weak!
Prodigy : P Broke The Switch
An unusual instrumental as far as Hip-Hop goes on this one, with the four-to-the-floor drumbeat (kick drum on every beat) driving it - that's something more typical of house music. It's perfect to match the original beat under the disco-soul record intro that makes up the main sample though, and Mobb Deep's Prodigy gives you a slow burn vocal that just seems to go perfectly with it despite the contrast! Alchemist on production, and you can find this on his "Cutting Room Floor" mixtape/compilation.
Run The Jewels : DDFH
Heavy, dark, political, nihilistic, and brilliant. I was late on really appreciating Killer Mike (despite having enjoyed him featuring with Outkast), but you really have to respect what he brings lyrically. Similarly, it wasn't until I listened to Killer Mike's "R.A.P Music" album that I realised just how good El-P is as a producer. The two unite for a full-length and absolutely free project "Run The Jewels" which you really should grab a download of - if nothing else, to hear something a little different from the norm!
(oh yes - "drones over Brooklyn?" The NYPD wouldn't mind...)
Jaylib : React
On the collaborative "Champion Sound" LP, I'm personally a believer that J Dilla had better beats than Madlib...and better rhymes. Basically, I just wanted a Dilla album. Madlib brings out his Quasimoto alter-ego for this track, but the beat is the star! When I heard it loud in a dark basement party in Manchester shortly after it was released, a love for the song was born. Those drums thump and snap hard and the crazy wah-wah violin (I think) is the most unusual high-end I can remember hearing in quite a while. All part of that Dilla genius :)
Legion : Brazil
Local flavour right here. Legion is one of the MCs from upcoming Manchester group Mothership Connection but here he goes on a solo spacewalk. Extra-Vehicular Activity, as it were! He almost sounds like he's freestyling, going abstract on this beat from The Mouse Outfit's MPC man Pitch. Get the whole thing here, and keep an eye on this crew!
[Asheru/Joe Money] Asheru : Mood Swing (Instrumental)
Not even sure when/where/why I got this 12", but I pulled it out this month and found this nice little instrumental - amazing what you can find tucked away in a record collection. I think this may have been a 12" only release, and it features Talib Kweli on vocals so if you're a fan, it looks like you could probably pick this up pretty inexpensively.
Ka ft. Roc Marciano : Soap Box
Now this is that stripped down, low-key, Brooklyn business. This is a standout for me from the "Night's Gambit" album, Ka's third. A former member of Natural Elements, Ka is someone you really need to check for if you want to hear someone who is really serious about their writing. He's also a very distinctive producer - sometimes throwing drums out of the window altogether, which is highly unusual for Hip-Hop. Nothing for the club, all for the headphones or a late-night cruise. If you like this, check out not just the latest album but also the "Grief Pedigree" LP. Really nothing that sounds like it.
Sneaker Pimps : Walking Zero
One of those deep album cuts you know I like! From the debut Sneaker Pimps album "Becoming X," this really does bring to mind walking across a dark and desolate landscape...or the darkest parts of a city somewhere. It's that open hi-hat pattern that really puts that trudging feel into it, even more than the more prominent elements of the track. Goes to show how much all the little pieces matter when it comes to production! This has been a headphone staple for me for 14 years...with no sign of stopping.
Common ft. The Last Poets : The Corner
I really don't hear much of this tune anymore, which is odd when I think about what a big deal it was at the time! Kanye West (who also directed the video) is on production, bringing a nice drum track and his signature sped-up soul sample to what is a deceptively slow song (79bpm), The Last Poets add a cross-generational angle, and Common holds down the forefront. He's a Chicago native but his lyrics could be talking about the corner in any number of cities. I wasn't a huge fan of the "Be" album, but this track? No denying it.
Lord Finesse & Roy Ayers : Soul Plan
I have no idea how this collaboration came to be, but it sounds good! DITC producer/MC Lord Finesse is blessed with the presence of jazz legend Roy Ayers on this one, who gives the whole thing a smothering of vibraphone magic. I don't know if this was ever on an album - I got it on a white label 12", and I've seen it as a B-side to "Gameplan," so it was probably released 1996-ish. More background on this one appreciated...
K-Murdock : Dreams Come True
This is an instrumental that just draws you in and won't let go. Panacea's K-Murdock has been featured on this podcast a number of times and every appearance is quality. On a recent listen to his Japanese-based "Beats From The East" EP, I just couldn't believe how dope this one was and it just happened to fit perfectly here!
Camp Lo & Pete Rock : Dream Journey
One of the many great tracks on the newly-released collaborative "80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part II" mixtape - a free release which is an absolutely unmissable download. You should have clicked that link by now. Anyway, this is just one of my favourites from the project, with Pete Rock channeling some 70s flavour and Camp Lo weaving their usual mic magic but maybe with just a touch less dense slang than usual! As an aside, the construction hook reminds me of the bridge from N.O.R.E's "Grimey." That's a good thing, trust me. Camp Lo do it again, Bronx style.
Blue Stone : Dreamcatcher
Final track on the dreaming theme - I heard this when half asleep on internet radio one night and snapped awake to find out what it was! Robert Smith and Bill Walters are Blue Stone, and handle the production and instrumentation - for me, while the verse sections are good, the chorus switch is just amazing. Of course, it'd only be half as good without a vocal, and the guest singer Sheyenne Rivers obliges with an ethereal but still strong performance. The album is worth checking out, but for me personally this is the standout by a mile - just presses my buttons I suppose...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I dance and dance and dance and dance and dance and dance and dance...then I sat on the toilet"
- Ced Gee
Fifty episodes. Power Cipher. A lot of nights trawling the shelves and slaving over a hot mixer. With A Tribe Called Quest and Nas being recurring themes on this episode, this selection has some classic A-sides, killer remixes, some little-known gems, and top local talent. This is what it's all about. Let the world know!
One more thing - friend of the show Watch Deez has just started a blog. Quality posts on the regular, get on it!
Playlist/Notes
Nas : Blaze A 50
Well, I needed to start with something on the theme of "fifty!" This is taken from the well-regarded "Lost Tapes" compilation, but was originally slated for release on the original version of the "I Am..." LP, which ended up being massively reworked after it was leaked - and this was the early days of internet music sharing! L.E.S and Trackmasters produce this tangled tale of treachery.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : More Trife Life (Instrumental)
Not my favourite cut or even beat from Mobb's "Hell On Earth" LP, but it was so good for the mix that it had to be included. Havoc on production, as was always the case back then.
Asheru : Boondocks Theme
Only short, and sound quality isn't great, but I always loved this theme tune! The lyrics give me "that" feeling, that burst of inspiration and fire. The beat is dope and the cuts at the end are top notch as well - all in all, a small nugget of brilliance! After the first season I think it was slightly tweaked, but this original is the winner. If you don't know about Aaron McGruder's "The Boondocks," then seek it out - as well as the TV programme (UK spelling!), definitely chase down the original comic strips which are works of genius.
A Tribe Called Quest : Award Tour
One of the many classics in their catalogue, and after seeing it performed live I wanted to include it on this episode. Only while doing the research for the show notes did I realise who it is on the hook - Trugoy from De La Soul! This was the first single from the legendary, must-own "Midnight Marauders" album and still gets the party moving twenty years later. One thing to note - if you don't know this track already, the speed changes in the first verse aren't part of the original - just a little touch I added ;)
Ultramagnetic MCs : Two Brothers With Checks (San Francisco, Harvey)
A track I've had on my "to play" list for ages, but again, seeing it performed live this month really put the battery in my back to get it done. Smacking it with the famous Skull Snaps drums, the "Four Horsemen" get busy on a tale of baseball, weirdness, and going to the loo. This was a heavy single back in 93, one of those I first encountered on video before getting the chance to buy it sometime later. Never did understand the "San Francisco, Harvey" subtitle though. I tried to look it but found nothing. Harvey Milk reference?
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Tammy Lucas : 1nce Again (Jackin' For Beats Remix)
Pulling out one of my prize white labels for the 50th episode! The original "1nce Again" was another Tribe lead single, this time from their fourth album "Beats, Rhymes, and Life," and was produced by "The Ummah," in an era which marked a change of direction, many might even say decline. Some unknown bright spark evidently got the idea to take the accapella from the single and underscore it with a medley of other Tribe beats - making this a great party selection, if you can find it! You still get the smooth Tammy Lucas hook, and all the rhymes - I'll take that deal.
InI : Props
My only regret is that I brought in the the super-crispy snare pattern that starts this track off a little too subtly under the preceding beat - it really deserved room to breathe! You may not know InI well - coming out of Mount Vernon, they were a five-man group who had their first LP ("Center Of Attention") pretty much entirely produced by Pete Rock (brother of group member Grap Luva), only to see it shelved due to label shenanigans. Despite this, it was eventually heard as it was bootlegged a number of times, and one of those times I suppose produced the vinyl I ended up buying! While "Fakin' Jax" was the big track from the album, this was easily my favourite - just irresistible boom-bap.
DJ Q-Bert ft. D-Styles : Razorblade Alcohol Slide
Now this is scratching! Great duet by two of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, from Q-Bert's debut album/film "Wave Twisters." In the plot of the film, this track scores the section where the evil scratch warlords show their execution techniques. In real life, neither DJ is evil but they definitely occupy the very highest level of skill when it comes to scratching - both of them are legends in the field. This whole track is turntable-constructed, from the drums on up, yet is incredibly precise - the parts that don't need to sound like scratching don't at first, and that's how you can tell the crispness...
Tweet : Turn Da Lights Off (Remix)
This came out long before the verb "to tweet" had any meaning outside of what birds did...Tweet is a singer/songwriter who was a member of the group Sugah and had done some vocal work on Missy Elliott's "Miss E...So Addictive" album before breaking out as a solo artist. The original of this track was on her second album "It's Me Again," and had a very sample-based production thanks to Missy and Kwame (yes, polka dot Kwame!). When it was released as a single, the flip contained this outrageous, space-age version with RJD2 (known at the time for his alternative Hip-Hop production) totally taking it left field! The presence of the samples has a very different flavour, and it hits hard in a totally distinct way to the original. Worth picking up if you can find it
Sway ft. Ben Westbeech : Products (Die and Lean's Jekyll & Hyde Remix)
Going in with another space-age 12" remix; this time, the UK MC Sway has the track "Products" from his debut "This Is My Demo" turned from a nice and light instrumental to a brutal, giant robot stomping killer! I don't know much of Die & Lean outside of this track, but my guess would be that they aren't usually Hip-Hop producers - it's just in the sounds they use and how they come across I suppose. Anyway, looks like you can still find used copies of the single if you want to own this!
Camp Lo : Posse From The Bronx
"I'm on the corner of Valentine, a forty of Ballantine, you n****s can't battle mine, my Ruger just rattle spines?" Yooooo! Geechi Suede laying it down fierce alongside his road dog Sonny Cheeba on this fire opening cut from the "In Black Hollywood" album. Lyrically - you already know what it is when it comes to the Lo. Musically, there are a few things that stand out - the hook based on the famous line from BDP's "My Philosophy," the ill repeating/stuttering effect on the end of some of the lines, and groups of three hi-hat hits (listen closely) that put the extra funk in it. Phenomenal production from Ski.
[DJ Swindle] Rok One : Rokin' It (Instrumental)
One of those random inclusions that comes from a trawl of my vinyl shelves looking for the forgotten! Rok One had barely a handful of 12"s out betweem 1998 and 2002, of which this was one - think I just picked it up at a discount on spec. A bit of Googling indicates he may be doing his thing as a DJ now; nice to see people carry on in the culture.
Yasiin Bey, dead prez, Mikeflo : Made You Die (Trayvon Martin Tribute)
This actually came out last year but I missed it entirely - however, with the verdict in George Zimmerman's trial coming this month, it was getting a lot of reposts and so I came across it. Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), dead prez, and Mikeflo (from the RBG crew) spit with fury on this track, making the argument that protesting may not be an effective strategy for community protection and instead calling for self-defence training and the like. Not the usual thing you'd hear, but reminiscent of a point Malcolm X once made about demonstrations being a waste of time since a) any large gathering could be dangerous and b) the person who did you wrong knows very well already you don't like it - and you should do something about it instead. One to debate! Music-wise, it's of course based on the instrumental to Nas' "Made You Look," and if you pay attention, you'll notice that Yasiin's verse is a direct lift of the rhyme scheme from the first verse of the original - nicely done!
[Easy Mo Bee] Ilacoin : This That & The 3rd (Instrumental)
Bahamadia : Uknowhowwedu
Kind of appropriate that she chose to spell the title that way, since the first time I heard this on MTV my reaction was "ohmygodthisisamazing!" Guru used to say "it's mostly the voice" and Bahamadia's voice is just incredible, absolutely unique and clear as a bell. When you add that to her lyrical skill, you get an MC who represents Philly very well. For this track in particular, she lays it down over a nice Ski and DJ Redhanded beat. This was a big single from the "Kollage" LP, which I really need to get in my collection.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz : Blaze It Up
Another great track from the "Escape Music" album. I got the chance to hear this before it was released and just loved the way the beat bumped along but with the floaty sounds on top :) Sparkz comes through nice on the lyrics, throwing in some double-time flow on the second verse! Never even been interested in trying weed to be honest, but this is a tune for those who do smoke. Played this back using the Serato "key lock" feature to allow the track to be sped up without increasing in pitch, so it's a little glitchy in places - apologies for that!
Sol Uprising ft. Lacks and Mia Simone : Raach Ya Sol
I think this is a great track, but it's not well known. Sol Uprising is/was a group made up of Sci (the MC) and Stacy Epps, a singer whose voice you may recognise from some of her appearances on things like the "Madvillainy" album. This particular tune was produced by Ta'raach (hence the title), who at the time was still being credited as Lacks. He kills it on this, slicing and dicing a classic tune underneath a lively drum track. I don't know if the sample was cleared, so unfortunately I can't talk about it here...anyway, you can get this track either as a 12" or on the "Sol Power" album - not an essential, but a few good things on there.
Little Brother : Still Lives Through
The North Carolina natives gave us a track inspired by the A Tribe Called Quest track "God Lives Through" on their second album "The Minstrel Show." In keeping with the theme, they even use the same Busta Rhymes sample in the hook - and that sample itself came from another Tribe track on the same album!
Mathmatics : Visionz
Mathmatics is a guy who's done the business in his time on the Manchester scene, and is best known as a very accomplished DJ but also someone who puts in work on the beats as well. This is a recent track he sent me and I love how he's submerged his manipulated Stevie Wonder sampling (it really does remind me of something underwater) on this track. The drums and bass are just straight ahead, dope but primarily giving a nice framework to fit everything else around. Good work :)
DJ Quik ft. Wanya Morris : 50 Ways
Bookending the episode with tracks on the theme of fifty, this time Compton's finest DJ Quik with his reworking of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" on the instrumental. A serious track, to be sure, as he opens his heart on the deaths of those close to him, and the unrelenting drama of the business. Sometimes you can't even find the words for the hook, so Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris just sings it out. One of the standouts from the "Under Tha Influence" album, which is well worth having - also has a cover photo I love!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I dance and dance and dance and dance and dance and dance and dance...then I sat on the toilet"
- Ced Gee
Fifty episodes. Power Cipher. A lot of nights trawling the shelves and slaving over a hot mixer. With A Tribe Called Quest and Nas being recurring themes on this episode, this selection has some classic A-sides, killer remixes, some little-known gems, and top local talent. This is what it's all about. Let the world know!
One more thing - friend of the show Watch Deez has just started a blog. Quality posts on the regular, get on it!
Playlist/Notes
Nas : Blaze A 50
Well, I needed to start with something on the theme of "fifty!" This is taken from the well-regarded "Lost Tapes" compilation, but was originally slated for release on the original version of the "I Am..." LP, which ended up being massively reworked after it was leaked - and this was the early days of internet music sharing! L.E.S and Trackmasters produce this tangled tale of treachery.
[Havoc] Mobb Deep : More Trife Life (Instrumental)
Not my favourite cut or even beat from Mobb's "Hell On Earth" LP, but it was so good for the mix that it had to be included. Havoc on production, as was always the case back then.
Asheru : Boondocks Theme
Only short, and sound quality isn't great, but I always loved this theme tune! The lyrics give me "that" feeling, that burst of inspiration and fire. The beat is dope and the cuts at the end are top notch as well - all in all, a small nugget of brilliance! After the first season I think it was slightly tweaked, but this original is the winner. If you don't know about Aaron McGruder's "The Boondocks," then seek it out - as well as the TV programme (UK spelling!), definitely chase down the original comic strips which are works of genius.
A Tribe Called Quest : Award Tour
One of the many classics in their catalogue, and after seeing it performed live I wanted to include it on this episode. Only while doing the research for the show notes did I realise who it is on the hook - Trugoy from De La Soul! This was the first single from the legendary, must-own "Midnight Marauders" album and still gets the party moving twenty years later. One thing to note - if you don't know this track already, the speed changes in the first verse aren't part of the original - just a little touch I added ;)
Ultramagnetic MCs : Two Brothers With Checks (San Francisco, Harvey)
A track I've had on my "to play" list for ages, but again, seeing it performed live this month really put the battery in my back to get it done. Smacking it with the famous Skull Snaps drums, the "Four Horsemen" get busy on a tale of baseball, weirdness, and going to the loo. This was a heavy single back in 93, one of those I first encountered on video before getting the chance to buy it sometime later. Never did understand the "San Francisco, Harvey" subtitle though. I tried to look it but found nothing. Harvey Milk reference?
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Tammy Lucas : 1nce Again (Jackin' For Beats Remix)
Pulling out one of my prize white labels for the 50th episode! The original "1nce Again" was another Tribe lead single, this time from their fourth album "Beats, Rhymes, and Life," and was produced by "The Ummah," in an era which marked a change of direction, many might even say decline. Some unknown bright spark evidently got the idea to take the accapella from the single and underscore it with a medley of other Tribe beats - making this a great party selection, if you can find it! You still get the smooth Tammy Lucas hook, and all the rhymes - I'll take that deal.
InI : Props
My only regret is that I brought in the the super-crispy snare pattern that starts this track off a little too subtly under the preceding beat - it really deserved room to breathe! You may not know InI well - coming out of Mount Vernon, they were a five-man group who had their first LP ("Center Of Attention") pretty much entirely produced by Pete Rock (brother of group member Grap Luva), only to see it shelved due to label shenanigans. Despite this, it was eventually heard as it was bootlegged a number of times, and one of those times I suppose produced the vinyl I ended up buying! While "Fakin' Jax" was the big track from the album, this was easily my favourite - just irresistible boom-bap.
DJ Q-Bert ft. D-Styles : Razorblade Alcohol Slide
Now this is scratching! Great duet by two of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, from Q-Bert's debut album/film "Wave Twisters." In the plot of the film, this track scores the section where the evil scratch warlords show their execution techniques. In real life, neither DJ is evil but they definitely occupy the very highest level of skill when it comes to scratching - both of them are legends in the field. This whole track is turntable-constructed, from the drums on up, yet is incredibly precise - the parts that don't need to sound like scratching don't at first, and that's how you can tell the crispness...
Tweet : Turn Da Lights Off (Remix)
This came out long before the verb "to tweet" had any meaning outside of what birds did...Tweet is a singer/songwriter who was a member of the group Sugah and had done some vocal work on Missy Elliott's "Miss E...So Addictive" album before breaking out as a solo artist. The original of this track was on her second album "It's Me Again," and had a very sample-based production thanks to Missy and Kwame (yes, polka dot Kwame!). When it was released as a single, the flip contained this outrageous, space-age version with RJD2 (known at the time for his alternative Hip-Hop production) totally taking it left field! The presence of the samples has a very different flavour, and it hits hard in a totally distinct way to the original. Worth picking up if you can find it
Sway ft. Ben Westbeech : Products (Die and Lean's Jekyll & Hyde Remix)
Going in with another space-age 12" remix; this time, the UK MC Sway has the track "Products" from his debut "This Is My Demo" turned from a nice and light instrumental to a brutal, giant robot stomping killer! I don't know much of Die & Lean outside of this track, but my guess would be that they aren't usually Hip-Hop producers - it's just in the sounds they use and how they come across I suppose. Anyway, looks like you can still find used copies of the single if you want to own this!
Camp Lo : Posse From The Bronx
"I'm on the corner of Valentine, a forty of Ballantine, you n****s can't battle mine, my Ruger just rattle spines?" Yooooo! Geechi Suede laying it down fierce alongside his road dog Sonny Cheeba on this fire opening cut from the "In Black Hollywood" album. Lyrically - you already know what it is when it comes to the Lo. Musically, there are a few things that stand out - the hook based on the famous line from BDP's "My Philosophy," the ill repeating/stuttering effect on the end of some of the lines, and groups of three hi-hat hits (listen closely) that put the extra funk in it. Phenomenal production from Ski.
[DJ Swindle] Rok One : Rokin' It (Instrumental)
One of those random inclusions that comes from a trawl of my vinyl shelves looking for the forgotten! Rok One had barely a handful of 12"s out betweem 1998 and 2002, of which this was one - think I just picked it up at a discount on spec. A bit of Googling indicates he may be doing his thing as a DJ now; nice to see people carry on in the culture.
Yasiin Bey, dead prez, Mikeflo : Made You Die (Trayvon Martin Tribute)
This actually came out last year but I missed it entirely - however, with the verdict in George Zimmerman's trial coming this month, it was getting a lot of reposts and so I came across it. Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), dead prez, and Mikeflo (from the RBG crew) spit with fury on this track, making the argument that protesting may not be an effective strategy for community protection and instead calling for self-defence training and the like. Not the usual thing you'd hear, but reminiscent of a point Malcolm X once made about demonstrations being a waste of time since a) any large gathering could be dangerous and b) the person who did you wrong knows very well already you don't like it - and you should do something about it instead. One to debate! Music-wise, it's of course based on the instrumental to Nas' "Made You Look," and if you pay attention, you'll notice that Yasiin's verse is a direct lift of the rhyme scheme from the first verse of the original - nicely done!
[Easy Mo Bee] Ilacoin : This That & The 3rd (Instrumental)
Bahamadia : Uknowhowwedu
Kind of appropriate that she chose to spell the title that way, since the first time I heard this on MTV my reaction was "ohmygodthisisamazing!" Guru used to say "it's mostly the voice" and Bahamadia's voice is just incredible, absolutely unique and clear as a bell. When you add that to her lyrical skill, you get an MC who represents Philly very well. For this track in particular, she lays it down over a nice Ski and DJ Redhanded beat. This was a big single from the "Kollage" LP, which I really need to get in my collection.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz : Blaze It Up
Another great track from the "Escape Music" album. I got the chance to hear this before it was released and just loved the way the beat bumped along but with the floaty sounds on top :) Sparkz comes through nice on the lyrics, throwing in some double-time flow on the second verse! Never even been interested in trying weed to be honest, but this is a tune for those who do smoke. Played this back using the Serato "key lock" feature to allow the track to be sped up without increasing in pitch, so it's a little glitchy in places - apologies for that!
Sol Uprising ft. Lacks and Mia Simone : Raach Ya Sol
I think this is a great track, but it's not well known. Sol Uprising is/was a group made up of Sci (the MC) and Stacy Epps, a singer whose voice you may recognise from some of her appearances on things like the "Madvillainy" album. This particular tune was produced by Ta'raach (hence the title), who at the time was still being credited as Lacks. He kills it on this, slicing and dicing a classic tune underneath a lively drum track. I don't know if the sample was cleared, so unfortunately I can't talk about it here...anyway, you can get this track either as a 12" or on the "Sol Power" album - not an essential, but a few good things on there.
Little Brother : Still Lives Through
The North Carolina natives gave us a track inspired by the A Tribe Called Quest track "God Lives Through" on their second album "The Minstrel Show." In keeping with the theme, they even use the same Busta Rhymes sample in the hook - and that sample itself came from another Tribe track on the same album!
Mathmatics : Visionz
Mathmatics is a guy who's done the business in his time on the Manchester scene, and is best known as a very accomplished DJ but also someone who puts in work on the beats as well. This is a recent track he sent me and I love how he's submerged his manipulated Stevie Wonder sampling (it really does remind me of something underwater) on this track. The drums and bass are just straight ahead, dope but primarily giving a nice framework to fit everything else around. Good work :)
DJ Quik ft. Wanya Morris : 50 Ways
Bookending the episode with tracks on the theme of fifty, this time Compton's finest DJ Quik with his reworking of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" on the instrumental. A serious track, to be sure, as he opens his heart on the deaths of those close to him, and the unrelenting drama of the business. Sometimes you can't even find the words for the hook, so Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris just sings it out. One of the standouts from the "Under Tha Influence" album, which is well worth having - also has a cover photo I love!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Peace to Mandela..."
- Erick Sermon
The fourth birthday episode! Out of the nursery now and getting into real school. I've got some mixes on here I've been wanting to do for ages and with a landmark episode coming around (and once more having a mixer with 3-band EQ), it was the time to bring them out and combine them with some more recent ideas. For the most part this episode has the kind of laid-back feel that's just right for the summer...as though we're having a major one here!
Playlist/Notes
4Hero ft. Jill Scott : Another Day
I think there are very few people that can't relate to this one! London-Philly connection with 4Hero bringing the music which switches from Sunday morning ease to some D&B/broken beat style drumming, and Jill Scott on the vocals. If you like this, it's definitely worth picking up the whole "Creating Patterns" album.
[Dust Brothers] Tone Loc : Lōc'in On The Shaw
When you think of Tone Loc you probably think of "Funky Cold Medina" or "Wild Thing" but this is the track I remember most from that first album. I think I borrowed it from the library and was struck by this ill instrumental inclusion courtesy of the Dust Brothers. I didn't know much/anything about production at the time, but I do now and it sounds just as good to me today! It seems to alternate between chilled out and threatening, and it's got that classic 808 sound in the background - listen and appreciate.
Trae ft. HAWK : Swang
Commemmorating the death of Fat Pat from the Screwed Up Click, this is a real Houston anthem, remixed and versioned a bunch of times. Confession time - the video for this track was at least partially responsible for me deciding I needed to upgrade from a 1994 3-door Toyota Corolla! I understand that this is the original, but not the version that got an official release, due to problems clearing the Michael Jackson "Lady In My Life" sample that forms the backbone. In a tragic footnote, HAWK himself, Fat Pat's brother, was shot and killed less than a year after this song was released.
Photek : KJZ
I'm informed by those in the know that jungle and D&B aren't the same thing; I do remember that jungle never did it for me from the very start, and it was many years before I gave anything in that vague vein a try again. I can't remember why I listened to the "Modus Operandi" album years ago but it got my interest enough for me to put aside my previous disdain for D&B and spend some of my hard-earned cash on the CD. This is some seriously complex drum programming, and the bassline and ambient keyboard pads just tickle my ears the right way. If you're into this kind of thing, the album is pretty much a must.
Jay-Z : Politics As Usual
Ski Beats doing his thing with The Stylistics! Smooth and relaxed track on the ins and outs of the street life from Jay-Z's debut album. I don't have any big background on this track, but I do appreciate that when you get a good sample...don't mess with it too much!
Robin Thicke : Oh Shooter
This track is based on a true story; Robin Thicke was in a bank that was robbed when he was 18, and took the wise route of putting his hands up and getting down on the floor, rather than the lunatic hero fantasy option! My first experience of this track was flicking through Spotify and hearing the version "Shooter" with Lil Wayne rhyming on it, but since Lil Wayne is never getting played on this podcast (barring some kind of Malcolm X-type conversion), I was pleased to find this, the original track. On the music side, the bassline is pretty irresistable, but also check how the keyboard around the hook is playing something very reminiscent of Gang Starr's "Mass Appeal..."
Tony Dofat : Not Tryna
Picked up this 12" fairly randomly; the sample on it is from a track I love, and it's a fairly obvious usage :) If you don't know about Tony Dofat, he's from Mount Vernon and has worked with some of the giants of that town, like Heavy D (RIP) and Pete Rock.
Smoove ft. Jehst, Micall Parknsun, & DJ Jazz T : Fresh Pair
Something new, a free release sponsored by the UK sneaker shop Sole Heaven. The producer Smoove gives us the kind of flute-laced groove that fits summer to a tee, and then the combination of Jehst and Micall P on the mic kick rhymes (no pun intended) about their love for Nikes. Got to give major props to DJ Jazz T for finding and cutting up all those footwear-related samples so lovely!
UGK ft. Twista : Something Going Wrong
A track with a somewhat complicated release history; this MP3 was apparently an old leak, and when this track did eventually come out as "I's A Playa" on the late Pimp C's "The Sweet James Jones Stories" album, the hook had been replaced by a far, far inferior version. I've seen it credited as Twista's track, Pimp C's, and UGK's, and in addition to the two titles already mentioned, seen it called "Time." No matter, it's not making Germaine Greer's iPod! Pimp C and Bun B definitely do their thing on their verses but Twista might just steal the show with his trademark double-speed style to close things out. I think Pimp C produced it, and it's a slab of classic Southern funk - I won't even point out any specific element, just drink it all in!
Lisa Shaw : If I Could
Nice 12" from one of my favourite singers, best known for doing her thing on the deep house scene. A world away from that though, she lets it out on this low key plea to a lover. As it happens, it's produced by DJ Swingsett, who happens to be...her now ex-husband. Maybe singing from the heart in the truest sense?
M.O.P. : Blood, Sweat, and Tears
No matter how slow and chilled the track is...M.O.P are bringing it from the chest. Laze E Laze on the beat while Billy and Li'l Fame speak on hard times and hard work. Hadn't heard this in a while but thought it was a good one to bring in here. Strangely enough, I somehow have a completely clean vinyl version of the "First Family 4 Life" album, from which I grabbed this!
Trevor Rabin & Harry Gregson-Williams : Enemy Of The State Theme
If no-one else...at least the NSA are listening to the podcast.
James Brown : Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud
Soul Brother Number One with a classic empowerment anthem. I've known people take offence at such a message, saying that Black pride is just the same as the "White Pride" credo espoused by racist groups - at best, a naive reading of history and an ignorance of context. Anyway, top track which apparently was the first JB cut to feature Fred Wesley - so says Wikipedia anyway :)
Waajeed : Proud
Outrageously skilful sampler work here from the man who was given his first MPC by J Dilla himself! Composed purely of James Brown samples, he slices and dices them into one of my favourite tracks of the last ten years. You may recognise a snatch or two from the preceding track, a little of "The Payback," but there's just a stack in there - very clever. I think I read somewhere that Waajeed partly did this track to impress DJ Spinna, and if that's true I can only conclude he succeeded!
EPMD ft. Redman : Brothers On My Jock
This one popped into my head when I remembered DJ Scratch cutting up the James Brown "say it loud!" sample in the hook. Just the kind of nice deep album cut I like to feature, from EPMD's third LP "Business As Usual." Also a great example of the use of the Bob James "Nautilus" break!
Royal Flush ft. Noreaga : Iced Down Medallions
You missed out if you weren't checking for stuff like this in the 90s! Queens all the way on this, with Lefrak City's Noreaga (before blowing up with "The War Report") teaming up with Royal Flush for a big single off the "Ghetto Millionaire" album. Long before "Bling Bling," they were shouting out their diamond-encrusted pieces! EZ Elpee cooks up a classy beat from an old Gwen McCrae sample...dopeness.
Latryx : Lady Don't Tek No
I'm lucky enough to know someone very like the subject of this song! Kind of halfway between Hip-Hop and funk, this has been an iPod staple for me since it's release. Coming from the Solesides camp, Latryx is made up of Lateef and Lyrics Born, and on this one they have the heavyweight that is DJ Shadow on production. I love this track, it's rare to find a genuinely good song trying show respect to women without coming off false. Maybe this one might get a Germaine Greer listen? Nah, I still think that'd be too much of a reach...
[Evidence] Planet Asia : The Medicine (Instrumental)
Lots and lots of wide open space in this track, making it a good fit to bridge between the last two vocal tunes of the month. Evidence (best known as 1/3 of Dilated Peoples) shows less can be more on this title track from Planet Asia's fifth album, though this is from the 12" single release.
Zion I : Bird's Eye View
A beautiful track to close out the 4th birthday with. Zion I always stay on the positive side of things and on this 12" (taken from the "True & Livin'" album), Zion uses the device of personifying Hip-Hop as a woman to send a love letter, with Amp Live producing a beautiful instrumental based on a sample of a classic, but very sad, British record. I'll leave you to find it...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Peace to Mandela..."
- Erick Sermon
The fourth birthday episode! Out of the nursery now and getting into real school. I've got some mixes on here I've been wanting to do for ages and with a landmark episode coming around (and once more having a mixer with 3-band EQ), it was the time to bring them out and combine them with some more recent ideas. For the most part this episode has the kind of laid-back feel that's just right for the summer...as though we're having a major one here!
Playlist/Notes
4Hero ft. Jill Scott : Another Day
I think there are very few people that can't relate to this one! London-Philly connection with 4Hero bringing the music which switches from Sunday morning ease to some D&B/broken beat style drumming, and Jill Scott on the vocals. If you like this, it's definitely worth picking up the whole "Creating Patterns" album.
[Dust Brothers] Tone Loc : Lōc'in On The Shaw
When you think of Tone Loc you probably think of "Funky Cold Medina" or "Wild Thing" but this is the track I remember most from that first album. I think I borrowed it from the library and was struck by this ill instrumental inclusion courtesy of the Dust Brothers. I didn't know much/anything about production at the time, but I do now and it sounds just as good to me today! It seems to alternate between chilled out and threatening, and it's got that classic 808 sound in the background - listen and appreciate.
Trae ft. HAWK : Swang
Commemmorating the death of Fat Pat from the Screwed Up Click, this is a real Houston anthem, remixed and versioned a bunch of times. Confession time - the video for this track was at least partially responsible for me deciding I needed to upgrade from a 1994 3-door Toyota Corolla! I understand that this is the original, but not the version that got an official release, due to problems clearing the Michael Jackson "Lady In My Life" sample that forms the backbone. In a tragic footnote, HAWK himself, Fat Pat's brother, was shot and killed less than a year after this song was released.
Photek : KJZ
I'm informed by those in the know that jungle and D&B aren't the same thing; I do remember that jungle never did it for me from the very start, and it was many years before I gave anything in that vague vein a try again. I can't remember why I listened to the "Modus Operandi" album years ago but it got my interest enough for me to put aside my previous disdain for D&B and spend some of my hard-earned cash on the CD. This is some seriously complex drum programming, and the bassline and ambient keyboard pads just tickle my ears the right way. If you're into this kind of thing, the album is pretty much a must.
Jay-Z : Politics As Usual
Ski Beats doing his thing with The Stylistics! Smooth and relaxed track on the ins and outs of the street life from Jay-Z's debut album. I don't have any big background on this track, but I do appreciate that when you get a good sample...don't mess with it too much!
Robin Thicke : Oh Shooter
This track is based on a true story; Robin Thicke was in a bank that was robbed when he was 18, and took the wise route of putting his hands up and getting down on the floor, rather than the lunatic hero fantasy option! My first experience of this track was flicking through Spotify and hearing the version "Shooter" with Lil Wayne rhyming on it, but since Lil Wayne is never getting played on this podcast (barring some kind of Malcolm X-type conversion), I was pleased to find this, the original track. On the music side, the bassline is pretty irresistable, but also check how the keyboard around the hook is playing something very reminiscent of Gang Starr's "Mass Appeal..."
Tony Dofat : Not Tryna
Picked up this 12" fairly randomly; the sample on it is from a track I love, and it's a fairly obvious usage :) If you don't know about Tony Dofat, he's from Mount Vernon and has worked with some of the giants of that town, like Heavy D (RIP) and Pete Rock.
Smoove ft. Jehst, Micall Parknsun, & DJ Jazz T : Fresh Pair
Something new, a free release sponsored by the UK sneaker shop Sole Heaven. The producer Smoove gives us the kind of flute-laced groove that fits summer to a tee, and then the combination of Jehst and Micall P on the mic kick rhymes (no pun intended) about their love for Nikes. Got to give major props to DJ Jazz T for finding and cutting up all those footwear-related samples so lovely!
UGK ft. Twista : Something Going Wrong
A track with a somewhat complicated release history; this MP3 was apparently an old leak, and when this track did eventually come out as "I's A Playa" on the late Pimp C's "The Sweet James Jones Stories" album, the hook had been replaced by a far, far inferior version. I've seen it credited as Twista's track, Pimp C's, and UGK's, and in addition to the two titles already mentioned, seen it called "Time." No matter, it's not making Germaine Greer's iPod! Pimp C and Bun B definitely do their thing on their verses but Twista might just steal the show with his trademark double-speed style to close things out. I think Pimp C produced it, and it's a slab of classic Southern funk - I won't even point out any specific element, just drink it all in!
Lisa Shaw : If I Could
Nice 12" from one of my favourite singers, best known for doing her thing on the deep house scene. A world away from that though, she lets it out on this low key plea to a lover. As it happens, it's produced by DJ Swingsett, who happens to be...her now ex-husband. Maybe singing from the heart in the truest sense?
M.O.P. : Blood, Sweat, and Tears
No matter how slow and chilled the track is...M.O.P are bringing it from the chest. Laze E Laze on the beat while Billy and Li'l Fame speak on hard times and hard work. Hadn't heard this in a while but thought it was a good one to bring in here. Strangely enough, I somehow have a completely clean vinyl version of the "First Family 4 Life" album, from which I grabbed this!
Trevor Rabin & Harry Gregson-Williams : Enemy Of The State Theme
If no-one else...at least the NSA are listening to the podcast.
James Brown : Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud
Soul Brother Number One with a classic empowerment anthem. I've known people take offence at such a message, saying that Black pride is just the same as the "White Pride" credo espoused by racist groups - at best, a naive reading of history and an ignorance of context. Anyway, top track which apparently was the first JB cut to feature Fred Wesley - so says Wikipedia anyway :)
Waajeed : Proud
Outrageously skilful sampler work here from the man who was given his first MPC by J Dilla himself! Composed purely of James Brown samples, he slices and dices them into one of my favourite tracks of the last ten years. You may recognise a snatch or two from the preceding track, a little of "The Payback," but there's just a stack in there - very clever. I think I read somewhere that Waajeed partly did this track to impress DJ Spinna, and if that's true I can only conclude he succeeded!
EPMD ft. Redman : Brothers On My Jock
This one popped into my head when I remembered DJ Scratch cutting up the James Brown "say it loud!" sample in the hook. Just the kind of nice deep album cut I like to feature, from EPMD's third LP "Business As Usual." Also a great example of the use of the Bob James "Nautilus" break!
Royal Flush ft. Noreaga : Iced Down Medallions
You missed out if you weren't checking for stuff like this in the 90s! Queens all the way on this, with Lefrak City's Noreaga (before blowing up with "The War Report") teaming up with Royal Flush for a big single off the "Ghetto Millionaire" album. Long before "Bling Bling," they were shouting out their diamond-encrusted pieces! EZ Elpee cooks up a classy beat from an old Gwen McCrae sample...dopeness.
Latryx : Lady Don't Tek No
I'm lucky enough to know someone very like the subject of this song! Kind of halfway between Hip-Hop and funk, this has been an iPod staple for me since it's release. Coming from the Solesides camp, Latryx is made up of Lateef and Lyrics Born, and on this one they have the heavyweight that is DJ Shadow on production. I love this track, it's rare to find a genuinely good song trying show respect to women without coming off false. Maybe this one might get a Germaine Greer listen? Nah, I still think that'd be too much of a reach...
[Evidence] Planet Asia : The Medicine (Instrumental)
Lots and lots of wide open space in this track, making it a good fit to bridge between the last two vocal tunes of the month. Evidence (best known as 1/3 of Dilated Peoples) shows less can be more on this title track from Planet Asia's fifth album, though this is from the 12" single release.
Zion I : Bird's Eye View
A beautiful track to close out the 4th birthday with. Zion I always stay on the positive side of things and on this 12" (taken from the "True & Livin'" album), Zion uses the device of personifying Hip-Hop as a woman to send a love letter, with Amp Live producing a beautiful instrumental based on a sample of a classic, but very sad, British record. I'll leave you to find it...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Scattered records, had Aretha Franklin in the Pun case..."
- Rise
Four complete years of episodes! A lot of nights fretting over the right tunes to play, hunching over the turntables, digging up interesting links, and buried in recording software. Hope you're enjoying the journey!
I just had a good portion of the show notes I'd slaved over wiped out - Libsyn, why is the browser session length so short? I'll give the notes another browse soon and fill in any links I've missed in my lightning re-write...
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : You Might Get Stuck
Starting things off pretty harsh, but I do like some of that bass! A little known track even for Above The Law, and also one of the few not produced by Cold 187um. Too-little-known West Coast veteran Laylaw brings some late night creep, prowling & growling bass to this track and frees up the MCs to do what they do. Wonderfully dark track from the "The Lawhouse Experience, Volume One" LP, which is well worth having if you find it for a reasonable price!
[Alchemist] Casual : Gotta Get Down (Instrumental)
One of those Alchemist tracks that wasn't so much forgotten as not really heard in the first place! To my mind, Casual has never quite got the respect he deserved, and he's bounced around doing a fair few projects that escaped wide notice. This track was on an interesting 12", where the headline track wasn't really saying much but the other two cuts were definitely worth paying attention to.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz & Dubble O : Never Get Enough
We asked, and they delivered! One of Manchester's premier crews have finally released their debut album "Escape Music" and it is very, very worthy of your support. They've really pulled the stops out to produce a top quality product in a world of so many throwaway projects. I wanted to include a track this month that I hadn't already played, and so we go to this one which just happened to make for a good mix. Being primarily instrumentalists, the album has a wide slate of guest vocalists, and this track gives you the golden pairing of the city's own Dubble O and Sparkz. Manchester stand up!
Rise : Part Of The Game
A bit of a pain to mix - the right kind of speed and everything but some seriously awkwardly-placed change-ups! DJ Spinna throws some subtle curveballs on this cut, not to mention a healthy helping of bells and a layer of quality boom-bap drums. Pretty obscure track - the first B-side on Rise's "Evolution" 12", but easily the best thing on there!
Homeboy Sandman : Cops Get Scared Of Me
An unusual beat in a different way - in fact, quite a unique track overall! Exile is on this strange-sounding yet absolutely fire production from Sandman's "Chimera" EP. With both the MC and producer in experimental mood, it makes for something really individual. It floats, but it's hard in a way. Kind of like some kind of sonic stealth warship.
DJ Quik & Kurupt : 9x's Outta 10
The almost-absent drums on the last track created a nice space to blend the huge smackers from this one over the top. The third track I've pulled from the "BlaQKout" album over the time I've been doing the podcast, and probably the most speaker-destroying! Kurupt handles the mic almost completely on this cut, not letting Quik get a look-in on his own beat! It's a bit of a semi-abstract monster...
Only Child : Breakneck
If you know about the Manchester scene, then you know about the whole Fat City legacy - the famous shop, and the record label. I missed plenty of the records the first time round but found a CD of "Central Heating Vol.2" recently and found this nice little track on there! Only Child is half of the highly-regarded Unabombers DJ duo, but shows on here that he can get busy with the production too. He's got a couple of albums in his discography, so I might need to search those out.
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel : Streets Is Talkin'
While I do like this tune, there is one reason and one reason only why I'm playing it this month; this story. Sorry, couldn't resist!
Action Figures ft. T3 : Jumanji
I didn't know about these guys until I saw them on the support slot for Slum Village this month, but I remembered their Facebook Page name after they got the crowd to repeat it four or five times! Coming out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kysean Bell and MarQ Beyond are them men on the mix and they get the big Detroit co-sign here with T3 of Slum guesting. As far as the beat - is that the legendary "Funky Drummer" in the background? You can get this heavy tune, plus their other single "Russell Westbrook" on Soundcloud for free, so it'd be rude not to. Oh, and get well soon Russell!
Slum Village : How It Feel
Michigan again! Something fresh for 2013 from the "Dirty Slums 2" mixtape, and the latest Slum lineup - T3 (founding member), Illa J (brother of J Dilla), and Young RJ. They get the keyboards and sharp drums going on this one, with the keys being a little "awkward" alongside the drum layout. Good track, but think of the DJs! ;) Seriously though, it's just good to see that Slum Village flag flying after all they've faced. Much respect.
Kris Kross : Tonite's Tha Night (Kris Kross Redman Remix)
Bit of a flavour change, but with the passing of Chris Kelly (Mac Daddy) I wanted to get some Kris Kross on here and it'd have been a bit too obvious to go for "Jump" or something. I've only just heard this track, which was on a compilation of Kris Kross remixes, and has the slightly-older-than-you-remember MCs rhyming alongside Brick City heavyweight Redman. The beat should feel kind of familiar - Jermaine Dupri's production is a live take on the same sample EPMD used for "Please Listen To My Demo," giving them a smoothed-out backing. RIP Chris Kelly...
Buckwild : Move Your Feet
Nothing crazy, just a nice little beat from the DITC producer's 1998 "Still Diggin' Composition" EP. For some reason that snare sounds a bit weird to me, but then I'm not the one with a list of production credits the length of my arm :)
Tekitha : Walking Through The Darkness
Can't go wrong with that Bobby Womack sample/interpolation. If you're a Ghostface fan you might listen to this track and think there's something missing...you're only half right! This track was originally on the "Ghost Dog" soundtrack, exactly as you hear it now - as a Tekitha solo track. Sometime after that, Ghostface took it, kept the beat and the hook, and rhymed on it for a track of the same name on "Bulletproof Wallets." Got to say - I prefer the original!
Steve Arrington : Nobody Can Be You (But You)
Thirty years old this year! You might recognise it as the main sample on Brand Nubian's "Grand Puba, Positive and L.G.," which I was going to play here but decided against in the end. Formerly of the group Slave, Steve Arrington broke out on his own in 1982 with his own band "Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame" and this was one of his biggest hits. It sounds very much of its era but you have to love the positive, uplifting message! Great tune for riding in the sunshine too...
Roger : Everybody Get Up (EPMD Diesel Remix)
How about this for an interesting twist of fate for EPMD, who started their careers in 1988, had a monster second single with "You Gots To Chill," one of the first tracks to sample Zapp's "More Bounce To The Ounce?" They sampled the legendary Zapp and Roger Troutman heavily through their careers, and on this remix of the first track from Roger's "Bridging The Gap" album, he brings them in to collaborate - bridging the gap for real :) I got this on a 12" of "Everybody Get Up" which may or may not be rare, but I've only seen it once!
Trouble Funk : Still Smokin'
This song was my introduction to Trouble Funk back when it was released in 1985 - yes, I'm old :) I saw it on TV on "Solid Soul" or something and straight away respected that heat! You cannot argue with that lead guitar line. At all. Trouble Funk are and were one of the foremost groups in the Washington DC "Go-Go" scene, which much better people than me have written about. Hip-Hop and Go-Go are both dance-focused music forms at heart, but while Hip-Hop is rooted in finding the breaks on old records, go-go is a live instrument form, with big bands, all kinds of crazy drum action, and lots of call/response. Follow the links for more info on the style in general, but as for this track - I've got it on an old 12" and it's from the soundtrack of a film called "Good To Go" which is itself based in DC. The reviews indicate that the soundtrack may be better than the film...
Mike R. Max : Nasty
B-side of a random purchase from Leeds' Polar Bear Records on a cash-strapped day many moons ago - didn't hear it in advance but the cover drew me in! I don't know anything about it, and by the looks of things this was Mike's first and only release, a relatively obscure 2002 French house record - I wonder if he ever envisioned it turning up on a mix like this?
Zapp : Playin' Kinda Ruff
Huge tune from "Zapp II," straight funk classique ;) I'm not sure if Roger (sans talkbox) is on the lead vocal or if Bobby Glover or Greg Jackson took the reins (do educate me), but if you work hard every day to pay those bills, you can relate to those lyrics! Funky as hell all the way through, and all the vamping at the end is just amazing. If you're hearing this for the first time, I'm kind of jealous of you.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Scattered records, had Aretha Franklin in the Pun case..."
- Rise
Four complete years of episodes! A lot of nights fretting over the right tunes to play, hunching over the turntables, digging up interesting links, and buried in recording software. Hope you're enjoying the journey!
I just had a good portion of the show notes I'd slaved over wiped out - Libsyn, why is the browser session length so short? I'll give the notes another browse soon and fill in any links I've missed in my lightning re-write...
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : You Might Get Stuck
Starting things off pretty harsh, but I do like some of that bass! A little known track even for Above The Law, and also one of the few not produced by Cold 187um. Too-little-known West Coast veteran Laylaw brings some late night creep, prowling & growling bass to this track and frees up the MCs to do what they do. Wonderfully dark track from the "The Lawhouse Experience, Volume One" LP, which is well worth having if you find it for a reasonable price!
[Alchemist] Casual : Gotta Get Down (Instrumental)
One of those Alchemist tracks that wasn't so much forgotten as not really heard in the first place! To my mind, Casual has never quite got the respect he deserved, and he's bounced around doing a fair few projects that escaped wide notice. This track was on an interesting 12", where the headline track wasn't really saying much but the other two cuts were definitely worth paying attention to.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz & Dubble O : Never Get Enough
We asked, and they delivered! One of Manchester's premier crews have finally released their debut album "Escape Music" and it is very, very worthy of your support. They've really pulled the stops out to produce a top quality product in a world of so many throwaway projects. I wanted to include a track this month that I hadn't already played, and so we go to this one which just happened to make for a good mix. Being primarily instrumentalists, the album has a wide slate of guest vocalists, and this track gives you the golden pairing of the city's own Dubble O and Sparkz. Manchester stand up!
Rise : Part Of The Game
A bit of a pain to mix - the right kind of speed and everything but some seriously awkwardly-placed change-ups! DJ Spinna throws some subtle curveballs on this cut, not to mention a healthy helping of bells and a layer of quality boom-bap drums. Pretty obscure track - the first B-side on Rise's "Evolution" 12", but easily the best thing on there!
Homeboy Sandman : Cops Get Scared Of Me
An unusual beat in a different way - in fact, quite a unique track overall! Exile is on this strange-sounding yet absolutely fire production from Sandman's "Chimera" EP. With both the MC and producer in experimental mood, it makes for something really individual. It floats, but it's hard in a way. Kind of like some kind of sonic stealth warship.
DJ Quik & Kurupt : 9x's Outta 10
The almost-absent drums on the last track created a nice space to blend the huge smackers from this one over the top. The third track I've pulled from the "BlaQKout" album over the time I've been doing the podcast, and probably the most speaker-destroying! Kurupt handles the mic almost completely on this cut, not letting Quik get a look-in on his own beat! It's a bit of a semi-abstract monster...
Only Child : Breakneck
If you know about the Manchester scene, then you know about the whole Fat City legacy - the famous shop, and the record label. I missed plenty of the records the first time round but found a CD of "Central Heating Vol.2" recently and found this nice little track on there! Only Child is half of the highly-regarded Unabombers DJ duo, but shows on here that he can get busy with the production too. He's got a couple of albums in his discography, so I might need to search those out.
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel : Streets Is Talkin'
While I do like this tune, there is one reason and one reason only why I'm playing it this month; this story. Sorry, couldn't resist!
Action Figures ft. T3 : Jumanji
I didn't know about these guys until I saw them on the support slot for Slum Village this month, but I remembered their Facebook Page name after they got the crowd to repeat it four or five times! Coming out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kysean Bell and MarQ Beyond are them men on the mix and they get the big Detroit co-sign here with T3 of Slum guesting. As far as the beat - is that the legendary "Funky Drummer" in the background? You can get this heavy tune, plus their other single "Russell Westbrook" on Soundcloud for free, so it'd be rude not to. Oh, and get well soon Russell!
Slum Village : How It Feel
Michigan again! Something fresh for 2013 from the "Dirty Slums 2" mixtape, and the latest Slum lineup - T3 (founding member), Illa J (brother of J Dilla), and Young RJ. They get the keyboards and sharp drums going on this one, with the keys being a little "awkward" alongside the drum layout. Good track, but think of the DJs! ;) Seriously though, it's just good to see that Slum Village flag flying after all they've faced. Much respect.
Kris Kross : Tonite's Tha Night (Kris Kross Redman Remix)
Bit of a flavour change, but with the passing of Chris Kelly (Mac Daddy) I wanted to get some Kris Kross on here and it'd have been a bit too obvious to go for "Jump" or something. I've only just heard this track, which was on a compilation of Kris Kross remixes, and has the slightly-older-than-you-remember MCs rhyming alongside Brick City heavyweight Redman. The beat should feel kind of familiar - Jermaine Dupri's production is a live take on the same sample EPMD used for "Please Listen To My Demo," giving them a smoothed-out backing. RIP Chris Kelly...
Buckwild : Move Your Feet
Nothing crazy, just a nice little beat from the DITC producer's 1998 "Still Diggin' Composition" EP. For some reason that snare sounds a bit weird to me, but then I'm not the one with a list of production credits the length of my arm :)
Tekitha : Walking Through The Darkness
Can't go wrong with that Bobby Womack sample/interpolation. If you're a Ghostface fan you might listen to this track and think there's something missing...you're only half right! This track was originally on the "Ghost Dog" soundtrack, exactly as you hear it now - as a Tekitha solo track. Sometime after that, Ghostface took it, kept the beat and the hook, and rhymed on it for a track of the same name on "Bulletproof Wallets." Got to say - I prefer the original!
Steve Arrington : Nobody Can Be You (But You)
Thirty years old this year! You might recognise it as the main sample on Brand Nubian's "Grand Puba, Positive and L.G.," which I was going to play here but decided against in the end. Formerly of the group Slave, Steve Arrington broke out on his own in 1982 with his own band "Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame" and this was one of his biggest hits. It sounds very much of its era but you have to love the positive, uplifting message! Great tune for riding in the sunshine too...
Roger : Everybody Get Up (EPMD Diesel Remix)
How about this for an interesting twist of fate for EPMD, who started their careers in 1988, had a monster second single with "You Gots To Chill," one of the first tracks to sample Zapp's "More Bounce To The Ounce?" They sampled the legendary Zapp and Roger Troutman heavily through their careers, and on this remix of the first track from Roger's "Bridging The Gap" album, he brings them in to collaborate - bridging the gap for real :) I got this on a 12" of "Everybody Get Up" which may or may not be rare, but I've only seen it once!
Trouble Funk : Still Smokin'
This song was my introduction to Trouble Funk back when it was released in 1985 - yes, I'm old :) I saw it on TV on "Solid Soul" or something and straight away respected that heat! You cannot argue with that lead guitar line. At all. Trouble Funk are and were one of the foremost groups in the Washington DC "Go-Go" scene, which much better people than me have written about. Hip-Hop and Go-Go are both dance-focused music forms at heart, but while Hip-Hop is rooted in finding the breaks on old records, go-go is a live instrument form, with big bands, all kinds of crazy drum action, and lots of call/response. Follow the links for more info on the style in general, but as for this track - I've got it on an old 12" and it's from the soundtrack of a film called "Good To Go" which is itself based in DC. The reviews indicate that the soundtrack may be better than the film...
Mike R. Max : Nasty
B-side of a random purchase from Leeds' Polar Bear Records on a cash-strapped day many moons ago - didn't hear it in advance but the cover drew me in! I don't know anything about it, and by the looks of things this was Mike's first and only release, a relatively obscure 2002 French house record - I wonder if he ever envisioned it turning up on a mix like this?
Zapp : Playin' Kinda Ruff
Huge tune from "Zapp II," straight funk classique ;) I'm not sure if Roger (sans talkbox) is on the lead vocal or if Bobby Glover or Greg Jackson took the reins (do educate me), but if you work hard every day to pay those bills, you can relate to those lyrics! Funky as hell all the way through, and all the vamping at the end is just amazing. If you're hearing this for the first time, I'm kind of jealous of you.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...try to re-educate ones who are lost."
- Guru
Crazy month. Had to make sure to get a Boston track into the selection, and that's not even counting the Gang Starr track, with Guru - a native Boston MC - kicking classic lyrics. Just over an hour long, but it took me more than twice that to write all the show notes and find the links...
Thanks to everyone who came down to the Example photo exhibition this month! If you'd like to buy yourself one of my prints, follow this link and get at me :)
Playlist/Notes
O.C. : It's Only Right
Buried deep in the "Jewelz" album is this low-profile gem - pun only partially intended! It's all about that bassline, taken from a classic funk album (my copy was grabbed from my parents' collection) then slowed down to match those nice Beatminerz drums for something that sounds like it's straight from a park jam - and OC gets on the mic and does it justice!
Pro P : Friday Freestyle
Going local for the first instrumental bed of the month - Pro P is a Manchester beatmaker who has been getting very busy with a series of beat tapes as well as handling production for guys like Cheech (Old Man Reefer) of the Mothership Connection. Keep an eye out for this man.
Gang Starr : 2 Deep (City Lick Mix)
RIP Guru! I can still remember buying the "2 Deep" 12" when it first came out at Crash Records in Leeds (still there). At the time, I really didn't like this remix and hadn't heard it for about 20 years but dusted it off and found my tastes had matured enough to enjoy it :) The original track is of course from Gang Starr's third album, "Daily Operation" - that should have a home in any head's record box. The remix is courtesy of the UK's Dodge City Productions (IG Culture and DJ Dodge), who were performing as a group in the early 90s as well as getting busy in the production/remix arena. I think I may have something of theirs tucked away on cassette, so that may come out one month! They're working separately these days but still very much respected in their field, so don't be surprised to see their names in credits!
Panacea (ft. Green of The Five One) : Revolution World Crazy
Washington DC in the house! Capital business on this cut from the US capital :) Raw Poetic on the mic and K-Murdock on production make up Panacea, and Mr Murdock kindly passed me a copy of the "12 Step Program" album this month while on a visit to Manchester! I hear there's something new in the pipeline, so will definitely be checking for that. Raw and Green push their way to the fore on this one, which is in competition for the loudest track of the episode - and that's not because I was turning it up!
Slum Village : Reppin'
Chatting to Lee Majors of More Bounce (who are bringing SV to Manchester) the other day, I remarked that with all the lineup changes over the years, Slum Village is almost more of an idea, a spirit, than a group. Always representing Detroit and the lineage of J Dilla, this track from the "The Dirty Slums" mixtape with Mick Boogie is manned by the line up of original member T3, Illa J (brother of Dilla), and Young RJ. Unmistakeable Detroit sound here, drums and bass coming together beautifully - the surprise for me is the little guitar-led changeup at the hook though, bit of a change of pace!
Special Teamz : Get Down
A little something out of Boston! Special Teamz is made up of Edo G, Slaine, and Jaysaun, all big names out of the city, with Edo G probably being the most familiar to the average fan, having been in the game since 1991! From their 2007 "Stereotypez" album we get this rugged opening cut where they all set their stalls out, with Young Cee on production and Jayceeoh on the turntables. No frills, just Hip-Hop. The album is worth checking if you come across it, but is more solid than spectacular - do check for their respective solo records though!
DV Alias Khrist : New Testiment Of Soul (sic) (Instrumental)
Did anyone ever, ever call him just "Khrist?" I suspect not. DV was on a kind of half-singing, half-rapping flex in the 90s and had a number of 12"s but never really broke out big. He did co-produce this beat though (with Mr.B), a B-side to "The Attack Is On" which you may know if you're really into your 90s!
Brand New Heavies : Stay This Way (Slam Mix)
Love this tune and I feel like it's a good time to play it :D The beautifully soulful original was on the Heavies' first album, but you can find this harder remix on the first "Elephantitis" remix collection - which I highly recommend. I'm coming back to that one in the future to play another cut or two, please believe it...
Ultramagnetic MCs : Chorus Line, Pt. 2
Bronx! Great B-side track from the Ultras, on the flip of "Make It Happen" and of course the sequel to the original "Chorus Line" - I've chopped off the closing verse by TR Love here but that's simply to make the mix work...seek out the whole track to hear the conclusion! This track does have some elements of the original, but has big beat changeups for every MC - when it wasn't a common thing to hear at all. A lot harder to do when you're recording to reels of tape than on a PC!
Fluke : Atom Bomb
I'd be lying if I said I knew anything about Fluke outside of this track! Ok, I know they're British, but that's about all. I'm going to give you this link which will give you the lowdown - I recognise my limitations :) I know about this tune from the "Wipeout 2097" soundtrack which is a great compilation of electronic music (though I will never get Underworld. Oh, how I have tried).
Sway : Flo Fashion
No, not the MTV guy. This Sway is a Ghanaian-British MC who came up really grinding hard, producing his own stuff and releasing it independently, coming right up to All City releasing his first full album "This Is My Demo," which included this track. Definitely one of my favourites from the LP, he shows his characteristic humour on this story of living large on the never-never. Remember to pay your bills folks!
Fun-da-mental : Dog Tribe (Instrumental Primitive Mix)
Just dug this one out and dusted it off, I'd be surprised if it had been on my turntables in the last decade! It just kind of fit the tempo I needed for the blend - sometimes it's just like that :)
Mr. Mike : G's Perspective
Nothin' but the gangsta. Remember a time before No Limit and Cash Money got big? If you do, you may well remember Suave House, home of the group South Circle amongst others. I know I remember them from all the ads in "The Source" :) Anyway, South Circle (Mr. Mike & Thorough) were out of Houston way before it was a hotspot in the wider Hip-Hop consciousness, and dripping with that Southern funk flavour. On this tune from his solo "Wicked Wayz" LP, Mike gives you unrelenting street lyrics over a killer E-A-Ski & CMT production. Check how the heavy piano works as the bass on here, with wah-wah and keyboard just providing the seasoning. G indeed.
PRO ERA : Run Or Fly
I mentioned this track in the show notes a few months ago as my favourite on the "Peep: The aPROcalypse" mixtape/album - love the slightly off-centre feel and the voice sampling from Sacramento's Lee Bannon. The Nougold guys have told me more than one about the flavour coming from California's capital and they aren't wrong! On the mic we have Joey Bada$$ (whose profile seems to grow by the day), Dirty Sanchez, CJ Fly, and the late Capital STEEZ - swaggering all over the track. Nice to hear younger guys embracing something of the older sound but then bringing their own slant on it!
Sir Michael Rocks : New Dress
Dug this one out while flicking through various mixtape downloads I hadn't stuck on my iPod yet - pleasanly surprised to find it! Rocks is 50% of The Cool Kids and this is one of a collection of tracks left over from the "Premier Politics" mixtape - put together into a "Premier Politics 1.5" release. Might be a bit soft for some, but that beat just drew me in...
Oceanlab : I Am Who I Am
I can't totally remember how I found this one - might have heard it on internet radio somewhere. Thought it was great, so decided to search out more! I was probably a little wrong describing the rest of the "Sirens Of The Sea" album as not really being downtempo - it has it's share - but this track is still a clear standout to my ears. Amazingly for a group formed in 2000, they only released that album, their first, in 2008! Still, the wait probably gave them the time to really craft their sound, and this tune shows their polish, with the vocals gliding over some low-key drums and a synth-constructed track. Lyrically it sounds like one lover talking to another in frustration...you'd think that if you were with someone, you'd like them as they were without trying to change them...
The Underdog : From Beyond
Just a little something from an instrumental collection ("Attic Tapes, Vol. 2") by the UK's Underdog, probably best known for his work with The Brotherhood. A low key track to nod your head to!
Don Blackman : Holding You, Loving You
Soul classic! The only way to really pay tribute to the life of Don Blackman was to play this track. It's a love tape staple, and has been sampled a good few times to great effect - it's just gorgeous. The clear standout from his self-titled album - the only solo release of his career. Rest in peace!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...try to re-educate ones who are lost."
- Guru
Crazy month. Had to make sure to get a Boston track into the selection, and that's not even counting the Gang Starr track, with Guru - a native Boston MC - kicking classic lyrics. Just over an hour long, but it took me more than twice that to write all the show notes and find the links...
Thanks to everyone who came down to the Example photo exhibition this month! If you'd like to buy yourself one of my prints, follow this link and get at me :)
Playlist/Notes
O.C. : It's Only Right
Buried deep in the "Jewelz" album is this low-profile gem - pun only partially intended! It's all about that bassline, taken from a classic funk album (my copy was grabbed from my parents' collection) then slowed down to match those nice Beatminerz drums for something that sounds like it's straight from a park jam - and OC gets on the mic and does it justice!
Pro P : Friday Freestyle
Going local for the first instrumental bed of the month - Pro P is a Manchester beatmaker who has been getting very busy with a series of beat tapes as well as handling production for guys like Cheech (Old Man Reefer) of the Mothership Connection. Keep an eye out for this man.
Gang Starr : 2 Deep (City Lick Mix)
RIP Guru! I can still remember buying the "2 Deep" 12" when it first came out at Crash Records in Leeds (still there). At the time, I really didn't like this remix and hadn't heard it for about 20 years but dusted it off and found my tastes had matured enough to enjoy it :) The original track is of course from Gang Starr's third album, "Daily Operation" - that should have a home in any head's record box. The remix is courtesy of the UK's Dodge City Productions (IG Culture and DJ Dodge), who were performing as a group in the early 90s as well as getting busy in the production/remix arena. I think I may have something of theirs tucked away on cassette, so that may come out one month! They're working separately these days but still very much respected in their field, so don't be surprised to see their names in credits!
Panacea (ft. Green of The Five One) : Revolution World Crazy
Washington DC in the house! Capital business on this cut from the US capital :) Raw Poetic on the mic and K-Murdock on production make up Panacea, and Mr Murdock kindly passed me a copy of the "12 Step Program" album this month while on a visit to Manchester! I hear there's something new in the pipeline, so will definitely be checking for that. Raw and Green push their way to the fore on this one, which is in competition for the loudest track of the episode - and that's not because I was turning it up!
Slum Village : Reppin'
Chatting to Lee Majors of More Bounce (who are bringing SV to Manchester) the other day, I remarked that with all the lineup changes over the years, Slum Village is almost more of an idea, a spirit, than a group. Always representing Detroit and the lineage of J Dilla, this track from the "The Dirty Slums" mixtape with Mick Boogie is manned by the line up of original member T3, Illa J (brother of Dilla), and Young RJ. Unmistakeable Detroit sound here, drums and bass coming together beautifully - the surprise for me is the little guitar-led changeup at the hook though, bit of a change of pace!
Special Teamz : Get Down
A little something out of Boston! Special Teamz is made up of Edo G, Slaine, and Jaysaun, all big names out of the city, with Edo G probably being the most familiar to the average fan, having been in the game since 1991! From their 2007 "Stereotypez" album we get this rugged opening cut where they all set their stalls out, with Young Cee on production and Jayceeoh on the turntables. No frills, just Hip-Hop. The album is worth checking if you come across it, but is more solid than spectacular - do check for their respective solo records though!
DV Alias Khrist : New Testiment Of Soul (sic) (Instrumental)
Did anyone ever, ever call him just "Khrist?" I suspect not. DV was on a kind of half-singing, half-rapping flex in the 90s and had a number of 12"s but never really broke out big. He did co-produce this beat though (with Mr.B), a B-side to "The Attack Is On" which you may know if you're really into your 90s!
Brand New Heavies : Stay This Way (Slam Mix)
Love this tune and I feel like it's a good time to play it :D The beautifully soulful original was on the Heavies' first album, but you can find this harder remix on the first "Elephantitis" remix collection - which I highly recommend. I'm coming back to that one in the future to play another cut or two, please believe it...
Ultramagnetic MCs : Chorus Line, Pt. 2
Bronx! Great B-side track from the Ultras, on the flip of "Make It Happen" and of course the sequel to the original "Chorus Line" - I've chopped off the closing verse by TR Love here but that's simply to make the mix work...seek out the whole track to hear the conclusion! This track does have some elements of the original, but has big beat changeups for every MC - when it wasn't a common thing to hear at all. A lot harder to do when you're recording to reels of tape than on a PC!
Fluke : Atom Bomb
I'd be lying if I said I knew anything about Fluke outside of this track! Ok, I know they're British, but that's about all. I'm going to give you this link which will give you the lowdown - I recognise my limitations :) I know about this tune from the "Wipeout 2097" soundtrack which is a great compilation of electronic music (though I will never get Underworld. Oh, how I have tried).
Sway : Flo Fashion
No, not the MTV guy. This Sway is a Ghanaian-British MC who came up really grinding hard, producing his own stuff and releasing it independently, coming right up to All City releasing his first full album "This Is My Demo," which included this track. Definitely one of my favourites from the LP, he shows his characteristic humour on this story of living large on the never-never. Remember to pay your bills folks!
Fun-da-mental : Dog Tribe (Instrumental Primitive Mix)
Just dug this one out and dusted it off, I'd be surprised if it had been on my turntables in the last decade! It just kind of fit the tempo I needed for the blend - sometimes it's just like that :)
Mr. Mike : G's Perspective
Nothin' but the gangsta. Remember a time before No Limit and Cash Money got big? If you do, you may well remember Suave House, home of the group South Circle amongst others. I know I remember them from all the ads in "The Source" :) Anyway, South Circle (Mr. Mike & Thorough) were out of Houston way before it was a hotspot in the wider Hip-Hop consciousness, and dripping with that Southern funk flavour. On this tune from his solo "Wicked Wayz" LP, Mike gives you unrelenting street lyrics over a killer E-A-Ski & CMT production. Check how the heavy piano works as the bass on here, with wah-wah and keyboard just providing the seasoning. G indeed.
PRO ERA : Run Or Fly
I mentioned this track in the show notes a few months ago as my favourite on the "Peep: The aPROcalypse" mixtape/album - love the slightly off-centre feel and the voice sampling from Sacramento's Lee Bannon. The Nougold guys have told me more than one about the flavour coming from California's capital and they aren't wrong! On the mic we have Joey Bada$$ (whose profile seems to grow by the day), Dirty Sanchez, CJ Fly, and the late Capital STEEZ - swaggering all over the track. Nice to hear younger guys embracing something of the older sound but then bringing their own slant on it!
Sir Michael Rocks : New Dress
Dug this one out while flicking through various mixtape downloads I hadn't stuck on my iPod yet - pleasanly surprised to find it! Rocks is 50% of The Cool Kids and this is one of a collection of tracks left over from the "Premier Politics" mixtape - put together into a "Premier Politics 1.5" release. Might be a bit soft for some, but that beat just drew me in...
Oceanlab : I Am Who I Am
I can't totally remember how I found this one - might have heard it on internet radio somewhere. Thought it was great, so decided to search out more! I was probably a little wrong describing the rest of the "Sirens Of The Sea" album as not really being downtempo - it has it's share - but this track is still a clear standout to my ears. Amazingly for a group formed in 2000, they only released that album, their first, in 2008! Still, the wait probably gave them the time to really craft their sound, and this tune shows their polish, with the vocals gliding over some low-key drums and a synth-constructed track. Lyrically it sounds like one lover talking to another in frustration...you'd think that if you were with someone, you'd like them as they were without trying to change them...
The Underdog : From Beyond
Just a little something from an instrumental collection ("Attic Tapes, Vol. 2") by the UK's Underdog, probably best known for his work with The Brotherhood. A low key track to nod your head to!
Don Blackman : Holding You, Loving You
Soul classic! The only way to really pay tribute to the life of Don Blackman was to play this track. It's a love tape staple, and has been sampled a good few times to great effect - it's just gorgeous. The clear standout from his self-titled album - the only solo release of his career. Rest in peace!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Old school, new school need to learn though."
- Biggie
I recorded this on a brand new PC setup, been a bit fiddly but got it done! March is here again, so of course there's some Biggie Smalls in the selection. Besides that, got a couple of great Camp Lo tracks (saw them live this month), a new tune out of Manchester, and plenty more - enjoy this while you eat your Easter eggs :)
In other news; check out some of my nicest Hip-Hop photography at [Ex]hibition #1, opening on April 11th at 2022NQ Manchester, and follow it up with a night at More Bounce with Maseo (De La Soul) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) on the wheels!
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : Lumdi (Remix)
Pretty much every time I hear these guys on the mic, I know I'm going to enjoy it :) This one could do with being a bit longer, and being on vinyl! This has a little bit more boom to it than the original (which I think I heard after this) but doesn't change it too much. Both versions take the same classic soul sample but this remix made me think it was a Bollywood sample at first! I think Pete Rock might have produced this version...heavy either way.
Camp Lo : Krystal Karrington
Most people associate Camp Lo with that smoothed-out sound, and justifiably so, but this opener on "Uptown Saturday Night" is just hard as nails sonically. Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede just weave in and out with their legendary slang style all over this menacing Ski-produced banger. As an aside, with a bit of pitch-slider trickery on the turntable you make the sound at the start sound like "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" :)
[Q-Tip] A Tribe Called Quest : Butter (Instrumental)
One of my favourite Tribe beats from "The Low End Theory" - light and crunchy at the same time. There's probably an advertising slogan that would fit here. Several great samples blended into this beat, but I don't know if they're all cleared so you're going to have to do your own detective work on this one...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Black Josh : Air Max
Breezy and easy with a collaboration between one of the hottest crews coming out of Manchester and one of the MCs from the Ape Cult, another local crew who are coming up and making some noise. I don't know what the songwriting process is with these guys, who incorporate live instruments but also MPC work and of course MCs, but it is definitely working...single is available free here, but let's hear an album!
David Porter : I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
Bit of a soul classic! David Porter used to write and produce alongside Isaac Hayes at Stax but also had a recording career himself, and this 1972 number is a fantastic record. It's mostly here because it was the source material for the track that follows, but the eagle-eared (?) will spot at least one more sample here...
The Notorious B.I.G : Who Shot Ya?
Always feels a bit weird playing this given that Biggie was shot and killed, but it was one of his hardest tracks so it's a shame not to! 2Pac thought this was aimed at him (so to speak), but this was always denied. In fact, this song seems to have a fairly complicated history on other fronts; it wasn't on "Ready To Die" but I have a version of the album with this as a bonus track, and I think it was originally supposed to have Keith Murray on - I've got an MP3 of an early version that indicates such. The beat seems to be the only constant, a classic from Nashiem Myrick and Puffy (or P Diddy, for the youngsters). You should be able to find this on the B-side of the "Big Poppa" 12".
Kid Tsunami ft. Sean Price and Chuck Chilla : Bang Exclusive
I'd never heard of Kid Tsunami until I saw this track posted. He's a producer from way down south in Perth, Australia, but signed to a US label (Headbop) and works the Brooklyn connection by pulling in Sean Price on the mic to body this one. Very nice, and the whole single is available on Bandcamp.
Tall Black Guy : Make Life Better
Detroit business! If I remember correctly, it was a tweet by Phonte of Little Brother that put me up on this track. Absolutely brilliant piece, his own take on the Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt" with a stack of electronic bounce. This apparently didn't make the cut for the "Hollyweird 2.0" EP, so you know the rest has to be fire! I will definitely be checking for this man in the future...
Marco Polo w/ Big Daddy Kane : Nite & Day
An early leak from the upcoming Marco Polo production project "Newport Authority 2," this is easily one of the best new tracks I've heard this year. Once again a piece of the classic Al B. Sure! "Nite & Day" makes its way into a Hip-Hop track, but this use is centred around the vocal rather than the familiar groove. The resulting beat sounds to me just a little like Gang Starr's "Royalty," or would blend well with it at least! Based on this, that album/mixtape is going to be a must-own on release.
Ahmad : If You Want It
You may or may not recognise the name - LA artist, got a little shine with an early single "Back In The Day" in 1994. He released one eponymous album which I bought on the strength of the great Roger Troutman being featured on a couple of tracks. I looked Ahmad up and apparently he has really done well for himself - Sociology degree from Stanford, and still writing and producing to this day. Salute! Anyway, this particular track is from the 1995 "Pump Ya Fist (Hip-Hop Inspired By The Black Panthers)" compilation, worth getting if you see it cheap. The funked-out production here is by Big Dave, which would have been a great name for a UK artist...
E-40 & Ice Cube : Behind Gates
It's that "down" sample all the way through this Rick Rock beat that grabs me - your mileage may vary. Picked this 12" up cheap without hearing, just on the strength of the MCs on the track. It might not feature their best verses of all time by any stretch, but it's still pretty good! Nice to see two giants of the west (Vallejo and Los Angeles respectively) come together on this single from the "Loyalty & Betrayal" album.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Vinia Mojica : Therapy
Part of that first Boot Camp Clik wave; a single and a great cut from the debut "Nocturnal" album, but not even the best! If you like that heavy mid-90s sound, you should definitely pick up the whole LP. In the meantime, here's just a taste, with the head nod style of Baby Paul providing the base for them to talk about how life out there affects mental health.
The ARE : Keep On Trying (Instrumental)
I thought The ARE was a collective but Twitter tells me it's just one man, who has turned out some killer beats! He had a project "Dem Damb Jacksons" which was all based around Jacksons samples, and this is from the instrumental version. Definitely worth checking just for the cleverness!
The Notorious B.I.G ft. Diana King : Respect
Biggie running down his life story up to that point. I've had the impression from more than one person that they regard this song as a weak inclusion on "Ready To Die." Wrong :) This was one of my favourites early, that beat (by Poke of the Trackmasters) is extra-crunchy, slowing down the KC and the Sunshine Band version of George McRae's "I Get Lifted" and putting some extra weight on it. Diana King just broke through to the mainstream with "Shy Guy" after this appearance, where she brings some extra flavour on the hook with her take on Pan Head's "Gun Man Tune." Don't hate.
DJ Vadim ft. Motion Man : Till Sun's In Your Eyes
Nice UK track I'd been thinking about including for a few months, finally found a good place to blend it in; I've had it on 12" for a long while, a single from the "USSR : The Art Of Listening" album. This kind of heavy beat with the semi-wobbly bass is the kind of thing that definitely works for Manchester crowds, but the one thing everyone remembers about this track is the awkward silences in the hook - nice touch!
Clipse ft. Pharrell : Young Boy
Catchy (well, the hook anyway), bouncy, and amazingly dysfunctional! The super Thornton brothers come through with a track from their 2002 debut "Lord Willin'" describing how their family life lead them into the drug business. Great tune, but a pretty awful story if you think about it...
Fat Joe ft. Big Pun : My World
This one is being included in large part because the bit in the hook about Prince always makes me laugh :) The beat takes just a tiny snatch from Luther Vandross' "Don't You Know That?" and uses it well - a second Baby Paul track for this month. No other hidden gems to impart on this one, but you can get it on the "Don Cartagena." Probably a few missteps on there reaching for commercial appeal but where it hits, it hits hard!
pH7 : New York (Instrumental)
Sometimes you just pick up one of those really miscellaneous records when shopping, and this was one! Instrumental of the last track on the "Blazing Heat" 12" on Groove Attack records, which I didn't give much play to but dusted off to find the beat I needed for this spot. pH7 is from Cologne and I've just seen a recent interview with him and his production partner JR - if you like the track, then it's worth a read!
Public Enemy : Long & Whining Road
Great closer in my opinion - I'd recommend seeing the excellent video for this one too. Chuck D, a man too rarely mentioned in the discussion of greatest MCs of all time, gives a full career retrospective of himself and Public Enemy. Get that back catalogue if you haven't already! You could do worse than grab the album this features on, "How Do You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?," which also contains the track "Harder Than You Think" which was heavily used on the UK Paralympics coverage.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Old school, new school need to learn though."
- Biggie
I recorded this on a brand new PC setup, been a bit fiddly but got it done! March is here again, so of course there's some Biggie Smalls in the selection. Besides that, got a couple of great Camp Lo tracks (saw them live this month), a new tune out of Manchester, and plenty more - enjoy this while you eat your Easter eggs :)
In other news; check out some of my nicest Hip-Hop photography at [Ex]hibition #1, opening on April 11th at 2022NQ Manchester, and follow it up with a night at More Bounce with Maseo (De La Soul) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) on the wheels!
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : Lumdi (Remix)
Pretty much every time I hear these guys on the mic, I know I'm going to enjoy it :) This one could do with being a bit longer, and being on vinyl! This has a little bit more boom to it than the original (which I think I heard after this) but doesn't change it too much. Both versions take the same classic soul sample but this remix made me think it was a Bollywood sample at first! I think Pete Rock might have produced this version...heavy either way.
Camp Lo : Krystal Karrington
Most people associate Camp Lo with that smoothed-out sound, and justifiably so, but this opener on "Uptown Saturday Night" is just hard as nails sonically. Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede just weave in and out with their legendary slang style all over this menacing Ski-produced banger. As an aside, with a bit of pitch-slider trickery on the turntable you make the sound at the start sound like "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" :)
[Q-Tip] A Tribe Called Quest : Butter (Instrumental)
One of my favourite Tribe beats from "The Low End Theory" - light and crunchy at the same time. There's probably an advertising slogan that would fit here. Several great samples blended into this beat, but I don't know if they're all cleared so you're going to have to do your own detective work on this one...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Black Josh : Air Max
Breezy and easy with a collaboration between one of the hottest crews coming out of Manchester and one of the MCs from the Ape Cult, another local crew who are coming up and making some noise. I don't know what the songwriting process is with these guys, who incorporate live instruments but also MPC work and of course MCs, but it is definitely working...single is available free here, but let's hear an album!
David Porter : I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
Bit of a soul classic! David Porter used to write and produce alongside Isaac Hayes at Stax but also had a recording career himself, and this 1972 number is a fantastic record. It's mostly here because it was the source material for the track that follows, but the eagle-eared (?) will spot at least one more sample here...
The Notorious B.I.G : Who Shot Ya?
Always feels a bit weird playing this given that Biggie was shot and killed, but it was one of his hardest tracks so it's a shame not to! 2Pac thought this was aimed at him (so to speak), but this was always denied. In fact, this song seems to have a fairly complicated history on other fronts; it wasn't on "Ready To Die" but I have a version of the album with this as a bonus track, and I think it was originally supposed to have Keith Murray on - I've got an MP3 of an early version that indicates such. The beat seems to be the only constant, a classic from Nashiem Myrick and Puffy (or P Diddy, for the youngsters). You should be able to find this on the B-side of the "Big Poppa" 12".
Kid Tsunami ft. Sean Price and Chuck Chilla : Bang Exclusive
I'd never heard of Kid Tsunami until I saw this track posted. He's a producer from way down south in Perth, Australia, but signed to a US label (Headbop) and works the Brooklyn connection by pulling in Sean Price on the mic to body this one. Very nice, and the whole single is available on Bandcamp.
Tall Black Guy : Make Life Better
Detroit business! If I remember correctly, it was a tweet by Phonte of Little Brother that put me up on this track. Absolutely brilliant piece, his own take on the Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt" with a stack of electronic bounce. This apparently didn't make the cut for the "Hollyweird 2.0" EP, so you know the rest has to be fire! I will definitely be checking for this man in the future...
Marco Polo w/ Big Daddy Kane : Nite & Day
An early leak from the upcoming Marco Polo production project "Newport Authority 2," this is easily one of the best new tracks I've heard this year. Once again a piece of the classic Al B. Sure! "Nite & Day" makes its way into a Hip-Hop track, but this use is centred around the vocal rather than the familiar groove. The resulting beat sounds to me just a little like Gang Starr's "Royalty," or would blend well with it at least! Based on this, that album/mixtape is going to be a must-own on release.
Ahmad : If You Want It
You may or may not recognise the name - LA artist, got a little shine with an early single "Back In The Day" in 1994. He released one eponymous album which I bought on the strength of the great Roger Troutman being featured on a couple of tracks. I looked Ahmad up and apparently he has really done well for himself - Sociology degree from Stanford, and still writing and producing to this day. Salute! Anyway, this particular track is from the 1995 "Pump Ya Fist (Hip-Hop Inspired By The Black Panthers)" compilation, worth getting if you see it cheap. The funked-out production here is by Big Dave, which would have been a great name for a UK artist...
E-40 & Ice Cube : Behind Gates
It's that "down" sample all the way through this Rick Rock beat that grabs me - your mileage may vary. Picked this 12" up cheap without hearing, just on the strength of the MCs on the track. It might not feature their best verses of all time by any stretch, but it's still pretty good! Nice to see two giants of the west (Vallejo and Los Angeles respectively) come together on this single from the "Loyalty & Betrayal" album.
Heltah Skeltah ft. Vinia Mojica : Therapy
Part of that first Boot Camp Clik wave; a single and a great cut from the debut "Nocturnal" album, but not even the best! If you like that heavy mid-90s sound, you should definitely pick up the whole LP. In the meantime, here's just a taste, with the head nod style of Baby Paul providing the base for them to talk about how life out there affects mental health.
The ARE : Keep On Trying (Instrumental)
I thought The ARE was a collective but Twitter tells me it's just one man, who has turned out some killer beats! He had a project "Dem Damb Jacksons" which was all based around Jacksons samples, and this is from the instrumental version. Definitely worth checking just for the cleverness!
The Notorious B.I.G ft. Diana King : Respect
Biggie running down his life story up to that point. I've had the impression from more than one person that they regard this song as a weak inclusion on "Ready To Die." Wrong :) This was one of my favourites early, that beat (by Poke of the Trackmasters) is extra-crunchy, slowing down the KC and the Sunshine Band version of George McRae's "I Get Lifted" and putting some extra weight on it. Diana King just broke through to the mainstream with "Shy Guy" after this appearance, where she brings some extra flavour on the hook with her take on Pan Head's "Gun Man Tune." Don't hate.
DJ Vadim ft. Motion Man : Till Sun's In Your Eyes
Nice UK track I'd been thinking about including for a few months, finally found a good place to blend it in; I've had it on 12" for a long while, a single from the "USSR : The Art Of Listening" album. This kind of heavy beat with the semi-wobbly bass is the kind of thing that definitely works for Manchester crowds, but the one thing everyone remembers about this track is the awkward silences in the hook - nice touch!
Clipse ft. Pharrell : Young Boy
Catchy (well, the hook anyway), bouncy, and amazingly dysfunctional! The super Thornton brothers come through with a track from their 2002 debut "Lord Willin'" describing how their family life lead them into the drug business. Great tune, but a pretty awful story if you think about it...
Fat Joe ft. Big Pun : My World
This one is being included in large part because the bit in the hook about Prince always makes me laugh :) The beat takes just a tiny snatch from Luther Vandross' "Don't You Know That?" and uses it well - a second Baby Paul track for this month. No other hidden gems to impart on this one, but you can get it on the "Don Cartagena." Probably a few missteps on there reaching for commercial appeal but where it hits, it hits hard!
pH7 : New York (Instrumental)
Sometimes you just pick up one of those really miscellaneous records when shopping, and this was one! Instrumental of the last track on the "Blazing Heat" 12" on Groove Attack records, which I didn't give much play to but dusted off to find the beat I needed for this spot. pH7 is from Cologne and I've just seen a recent interview with him and his production partner JR - if you like the track, then it's worth a read!
Public Enemy : Long & Whining Road
Great closer in my opinion - I'd recommend seeing the excellent video for this one too. Chuck D, a man too rarely mentioned in the discussion of greatest MCs of all time, gives a full career retrospective of himself and Public Enemy. Get that back catalogue if you haven't already! You could do worse than grab the album this features on, "How Do You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?," which also contains the track "Harder Than You Think" which was heavily used on the UK Paralympics coverage.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"You thought I fell off? You smokin' somethin'..."
- Tim Dog
Big dedication episode. February is the month where we mark the passing of J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun, but this year we also lost Donald Byrd, Cecil Womack, and Tim Dog. Allow me to pay tribute in this month's selection the best way I know how...putting them into a quality mix.
Playlist/Notes
Caveman : I'm Ready (12" Version)
One of the generation of UK classics from just before I was really up on UK material. Caveman were real trailblazers, coming out of High Wycombe and getting themselves signed to Profile (home of Run DMC and others) back in 1990 - this 12" is based on a track from their "Positive Reaction" LP. Yes, you know the main sample - Jimi Hendrix' "Crosstown Traffic" - no secret there!
Public Enemy : Welcome To The Terrordome (Instrumental)
This is The Bomb Squad at their noisy best! You don't get tracks like this anymore, partly because the cost of all the sample clearances would be off the scale :( For the full version of this track, grab yourself the "Fear Of A Black Planet" album.
Big L & Kool G Rap : Fall Back
I've not played much Big L up to now but was looking for just the right track to slot into this episode. I think the link up with Kool G Rap on this one might have been an editing move, but someone else will know better! The "The Big Picture 1974-1999" album this appears on was released after L's murder, and was drawn from material he was working on at the time but had further work done on it. Regardless, he comes out here on the flamboyant style and then G Rap cleans up and handles the hook over a Shomari beat.
Pharcyde : Soul Flower (Wrong Tree)
After this month's great Pharcyde show (check the photos), I had to give them some love and play a track here! As usual though, tried to go for something a little different :) This is UK producer The Underdog's remix of this track from the debut "Bizarre Ride II..." album. There's apparently an EP of pure "Soul Flower" remixes but I got this on an unofficial-looking vinyl with two versions of "Ya Mama" on the other side.
EPMD ft. LL Cool J : Rampage (Pete Rock Hardcore To The Head Remix)
If you don't know the original for whatever reason you need to check it now - no-frills, extra-hard early 90s track based around a piece from Lowell Fulson's "Tramp." I put this remix a shade behind it but that's no shots, it's still a great cut - Pete Rock bringing out all the percussion on this one along with his signature horns. Great move on production (which a lot of people would have got wrong) to make sure to keep DJ Scratch's cuts in - wouldn't have been the same without them. The original is on the "Business As Usual" album, EPMD's third and, in my opinion, greatly underrated. I got this remix on a white label but I think it's on the original 12" release of the "Rampage" single too.
KRS-ONE & Tim Dog : I Get Wrecked
Bronx bass destruction! Producers TR Love and Moe Love probably locked the mixing room's doors and made Joe The Butcher turn everything up to 11 on this one :) They also provide that Ultra backing for Tim Dog here, and he comes with that raw, gruff style alongside KRS, who is not in "building a nation/saving the children" mode here - just battle mode all the way! Lead single from the "Do Or Die" album, which I don't actually have - didn't make as much noise as "Penicillin On Wax" did, but "F*** Compton" will ensure he's never forgotten...
J Dilla : Side 2, Beat 5
Short and very sweet - I wish I had a proper title for it though! This was from a "white label" (not actually white) of Dilla beats I got many moons ago, some of which turned up on retail tracks but I can't say I recognise this one from anywhere else. If anyone else does, fancy letting me know?
J Dilla ft. Havoc & Raekwon : 24K Rap
Took me a while to work out "why is that bassline familiar?" Then it hit me - Xzibit's "Los Angeles Times." It's used pretty much the same way on both tracks, but Dilla puts a touch more speed on it and hits with enough extra drumming and that spooky keyboard on the top to give it a totally different feel. You can get this one on the "Jay Stay Paid" album, which was released three years after Dilla's passing, formed from instrumentals he'd already done, and put together by a pair of executive producers - his mother, Maureen Yancey (aka Ma Dukes) and Pete Rock. They brought in guest contributions from people Dilla was a fan of, and here we get Havoc and Raekwon on some straight street business. Good choice.
The Beatnuts ft. Big Pun & Cuban Link : Off The Books (Remix)
I definitely prefer this to the original, and that was a great single! "Off The Books" was one of the first tunes to really introduce people to Pun - I can never decide whether they did the right thing letting him open the song or whether they should have put him at the end to nuke the whole thing Freddie Foxxx/GZA style...
DJ Lord Jazz ft. Doitall, Mr Funke, J-Ro, Tash, & Sticky Fingaz : Royalty
I was given the CD this is on by the man Lord Jazz himself after a show in Manchester! The DJ from New Jersey's Lords Of The Underground is definitely doing his own thing on the producer showcase album "The Plain Dealer" but has the whole group together on this track alongside most of The Alkaholiks and Sticky Fingaz. My goodness, does he give them an evil track to rhyme on...love it :)
Mystro ft. Mr Thing : Mystentatious
Illll.Lll. Great example of clever lyrics, Mystro taking a cue from GZA and weaving a street tale while working in the names of places all over the UK. The British listeners will probably appreciate this one the most, but hopefully everyone worldwide will be able to spot a good few :) Scratch expert Mr Thing (formerly of the Scratch Perverts) gets busy on the cuts in the hook, and the on the beat too - definitely dope but does take a back seat to the crazy lyrics on this one! Excellent work from two of the nation's finest, taken from the "Mystrogen" LP which features Junior Reid and Homeboy Sandman amongst others and can be got for a very reasonable price!
Donald Byrd : Wind Parade
A true jazz classic, and a record which has been sampled many times in Hip-Hop, by artists from Black Moon (maybe my favourite) to Organized Konfusion and 2Pac. The late, great Donald Byrd was serious with the bebop but showed plenty of stylistic versatility during his career. The 1975 "Places And Spaces" album, produced by the Mizell Brothers, yielded this beauty. RIP to one of the giants...
The Dazz Band : Let It Whip
Not sure if these guys ever blew up on this side of the pond, but this track won a Grammy! 80s funk with a glittery dancefloor flavour to it, you can tell the difference between this and your 70s kind of records. Dazz are a group from Cleveland, which makes me think there's just something about those Ohio bands - The Ohio Players and Roger Troutman/Zapp all hail from the same state. This track was from the "Keep It Live" album on Motown, though I got it on a 7" - as it was a big hit, it shouldn't be a hard one to find!
Michael Jackson : Get On The Floor
Check out the point at 45:58 coming out of the breakdown where he just overflows with joy and laughs on the track! Full-on disco from the 1979 "Off The Wall" which really is a classic, must-have piece. I thank my godmother for being the first to put me up on this album!
Womack & Womack : Teardrops
As a kid, this record was my introduction to the Womack family - big chart tune which still gets love today! There's a whole long story about how Cecil and Linda came together, for which I'll just give you a link - let's talk about this record. It doesn't hit you in the head with loads of different lyrics, but what is there works a treat and is delivered with quality by Linda Womack - makes it a great sing-along track for the dancefloor. On the music side, it's more sparse than you think; you get some subtle synth and ill bass playing, and those drums are smacking hard! This song will always be old, but never get old.
Blue Six : Bittersweet
This is definitely in the lane of cooled-out house-ish stuff I have grown to really enjoy over the last few years. Blue Six is an alias of the producer Jay Denes and this is from the third and most recent album under that name, the 2010 release "Noesis." More than once in reference to this album, I've heard Roxy Music mentioned, and I can hear little hints of that inspiration in there. Check out what I like to think of as the "unfinished" bassline, minimal and perfectly fitting. Vocals are from Aya, who I've played on the podcast before and who I still hope will release a second album - "Strange Flower" was great! One more subtle detail for the producers - check how the low-pass filter changes on the kick drum line...
Nuyorican Soul : Mind Fluid
For those with wide-ranging tastes in quality music, the 1997 Nuyorican Soul LP (headed up by Masters At Work) is an essential one for your collection. MAW are primarily house producers but the album has Latin, jazz, and a whole load of other flavours going on, played by live musicians for the most part. This track fit nicely in the mix and I love how frenetic it is, the percussion going absolutely mental at that speed and then the synth action really giving a rush too. Only giving you a portion here, but I'd say to you to go and get the rest :)
Wookie : Time
His surname is Chue - you can see how schoolyard business ends up generating his stage name! Wookie's a UK garage producer but his stuff is definitely towards the more soulful and complex end of the spectrum on both the lyrical and musical fronts. This is the closing track on his eponymous debut LP, which is very affordable and recommended!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"You thought I fell off? You smokin' somethin'..."
- Tim Dog
Big dedication episode. February is the month where we mark the passing of J Dilla, Big L, and Big Pun, but this year we also lost Donald Byrd, Cecil Womack, and Tim Dog. Allow me to pay tribute in this month's selection the best way I know how...putting them into a quality mix.
Playlist/Notes
Caveman : I'm Ready (12" Version)
One of the generation of UK classics from just before I was really up on UK material. Caveman were real trailblazers, coming out of High Wycombe and getting themselves signed to Profile (home of Run DMC and others) back in 1990 - this 12" is based on a track from their "Positive Reaction" LP. Yes, you know the main sample - Jimi Hendrix' "Crosstown Traffic" - no secret there!
Public Enemy : Welcome To The Terrordome (Instrumental)
This is The Bomb Squad at their noisy best! You don't get tracks like this anymore, partly because the cost of all the sample clearances would be off the scale :( For the full version of this track, grab yourself the "Fear Of A Black Planet" album.
Big L & Kool G Rap : Fall Back
I've not played much Big L up to now but was looking for just the right track to slot into this episode. I think the link up with Kool G Rap on this one might have been an editing move, but someone else will know better! The "The Big Picture 1974-1999" album this appears on was released after L's murder, and was drawn from material he was working on at the time but had further work done on it. Regardless, he comes out here on the flamboyant style and then G Rap cleans up and handles the hook over a Shomari beat.
Pharcyde : Soul Flower (Wrong Tree)
After this month's great Pharcyde show (check the photos), I had to give them some love and play a track here! As usual though, tried to go for something a little different :) This is UK producer The Underdog's remix of this track from the debut "Bizarre Ride II..." album. There's apparently an EP of pure "Soul Flower" remixes but I got this on an unofficial-looking vinyl with two versions of "Ya Mama" on the other side.
EPMD ft. LL Cool J : Rampage (Pete Rock Hardcore To The Head Remix)
If you don't know the original for whatever reason you need to check it now - no-frills, extra-hard early 90s track based around a piece from Lowell Fulson's "Tramp." I put this remix a shade behind it but that's no shots, it's still a great cut - Pete Rock bringing out all the percussion on this one along with his signature horns. Great move on production (which a lot of people would have got wrong) to make sure to keep DJ Scratch's cuts in - wouldn't have been the same without them. The original is on the "Business As Usual" album, EPMD's third and, in my opinion, greatly underrated. I got this remix on a white label but I think it's on the original 12" release of the "Rampage" single too.
KRS-ONE & Tim Dog : I Get Wrecked
Bronx bass destruction! Producers TR Love and Moe Love probably locked the mixing room's doors and made Joe The Butcher turn everything up to 11 on this one :) They also provide that Ultra backing for Tim Dog here, and he comes with that raw, gruff style alongside KRS, who is not in "building a nation/saving the children" mode here - just battle mode all the way! Lead single from the "Do Or Die" album, which I don't actually have - didn't make as much noise as "Penicillin On Wax" did, but "F*** Compton" will ensure he's never forgotten...
J Dilla : Side 2, Beat 5
Short and very sweet - I wish I had a proper title for it though! This was from a "white label" (not actually white) of Dilla beats I got many moons ago, some of which turned up on retail tracks but I can't say I recognise this one from anywhere else. If anyone else does, fancy letting me know?
J Dilla ft. Havoc & Raekwon : 24K Rap
Took me a while to work out "why is that bassline familiar?" Then it hit me - Xzibit's "Los Angeles Times." It's used pretty much the same way on both tracks, but Dilla puts a touch more speed on it and hits with enough extra drumming and that spooky keyboard on the top to give it a totally different feel. You can get this one on the "Jay Stay Paid" album, which was released three years after Dilla's passing, formed from instrumentals he'd already done, and put together by a pair of executive producers - his mother, Maureen Yancey (aka Ma Dukes) and Pete Rock. They brought in guest contributions from people Dilla was a fan of, and here we get Havoc and Raekwon on some straight street business. Good choice.
The Beatnuts ft. Big Pun & Cuban Link : Off The Books (Remix)
I definitely prefer this to the original, and that was a great single! "Off The Books" was one of the first tunes to really introduce people to Pun - I can never decide whether they did the right thing letting him open the song or whether they should have put him at the end to nuke the whole thing Freddie Foxxx/GZA style...
DJ Lord Jazz ft. Doitall, Mr Funke, J-Ro, Tash, & Sticky Fingaz : Royalty
I was given the CD this is on by the man Lord Jazz himself after a show in Manchester! The DJ from New Jersey's Lords Of The Underground is definitely doing his own thing on the producer showcase album "The Plain Dealer" but has the whole group together on this track alongside most of The Alkaholiks and Sticky Fingaz. My goodness, does he give them an evil track to rhyme on...love it :)
Mystro ft. Mr Thing : Mystentatious
Illll.Lll. Great example of clever lyrics, Mystro taking a cue from GZA and weaving a street tale while working in the names of places all over the UK. The British listeners will probably appreciate this one the most, but hopefully everyone worldwide will be able to spot a good few :) Scratch expert Mr Thing (formerly of the Scratch Perverts) gets busy on the cuts in the hook, and the on the beat too - definitely dope but does take a back seat to the crazy lyrics on this one! Excellent work from two of the nation's finest, taken from the "Mystrogen" LP which features Junior Reid and Homeboy Sandman amongst others and can be got for a very reasonable price!
Donald Byrd : Wind Parade
A true jazz classic, and a record which has been sampled many times in Hip-Hop, by artists from Black Moon (maybe my favourite) to Organized Konfusion and 2Pac. The late, great Donald Byrd was serious with the bebop but showed plenty of stylistic versatility during his career. The 1975 "Places And Spaces" album, produced by the Mizell Brothers, yielded this beauty. RIP to one of the giants...
The Dazz Band : Let It Whip
Not sure if these guys ever blew up on this side of the pond, but this track won a Grammy! 80s funk with a glittery dancefloor flavour to it, you can tell the difference between this and your 70s kind of records. Dazz are a group from Cleveland, which makes me think there's just something about those Ohio bands - The Ohio Players and Roger Troutman/Zapp all hail from the same state. This track was from the "Keep It Live" album on Motown, though I got it on a 7" - as it was a big hit, it shouldn't be a hard one to find!
Michael Jackson : Get On The Floor
Check out the point at 45:58 coming out of the breakdown where he just overflows with joy and laughs on the track! Full-on disco from the 1979 "Off The Wall" which really is a classic, must-have piece. I thank my godmother for being the first to put me up on this album!
Womack & Womack : Teardrops
As a kid, this record was my introduction to the Womack family - big chart tune which still gets love today! There's a whole long story about how Cecil and Linda came together, for which I'll just give you a link - let's talk about this record. It doesn't hit you in the head with loads of different lyrics, but what is there works a treat and is delivered with quality by Linda Womack - makes it a great sing-along track for the dancefloor. On the music side, it's more sparse than you think; you get some subtle synth and ill bass playing, and those drums are smacking hard! This song will always be old, but never get old.
Blue Six : Bittersweet
This is definitely in the lane of cooled-out house-ish stuff I have grown to really enjoy over the last few years. Blue Six is an alias of the producer Jay Denes and this is from the third and most recent album under that name, the 2010 release "Noesis." More than once in reference to this album, I've heard Roxy Music mentioned, and I can hear little hints of that inspiration in there. Check out what I like to think of as the "unfinished" bassline, minimal and perfectly fitting. Vocals are from Aya, who I've played on the podcast before and who I still hope will release a second album - "Strange Flower" was great! One more subtle detail for the producers - check how the low-pass filter changes on the kick drum line...
Nuyorican Soul : Mind Fluid
For those with wide-ranging tastes in quality music, the 1997 Nuyorican Soul LP (headed up by Masters At Work) is an essential one for your collection. MAW are primarily house producers but the album has Latin, jazz, and a whole load of other flavours going on, played by live musicians for the most part. This track fit nicely in the mix and I love how frenetic it is, the percussion going absolutely mental at that speed and then the synth action really giving a rush too. Only giving you a portion here, but I'd say to you to go and get the rest :)
Wookie : Time
His surname is Chue - you can see how schoolyard business ends up generating his stage name! Wookie's a UK garage producer but his stuff is definitely towards the more soulful and complex end of the spectrum on both the lyrical and musical fronts. This is the closing track on his eponymous debut LP, which is very affordable and recommended!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"We need more construction workers, more doctors, more lawyers..."
- Buckshot
Droppin' it heavy.
Happy new year! First podcast of 2013, got it done just in the nick of time thanks to being super-hectic at work and having a big photo project to work on...hopefully can expand on that later in the year. Anyway, hope you enjoy the tunes, got a few old favourites in there, a couple of left turns, and some great new stuff.
By the way, trying something different in the notes this month - linking to each artist's Twitter profile, not sure if I'll continue to do it in future months but let me know what you think!
Playlist/Notes
9th Wonder & Buckshot : The Solution
Kicking off the month with a very recent release, the title track from the third and latest collaboration between the producer from North Carolina and the Brooklyn mic legend. The album isn't classic, but it is solid enough to be worth a listen. This was a great closer that gave me this month's epigram :) It's so true too - there are far too many people trying to be professional MCs/DJs/producers/whatever who need to just do that as a hobby and have something else to pay the bills! (I have no delusions - I have a day job...)
Large Pro : Still Hanging Out
From his "Beatz Vol. 1" collection, a slight update on the beat he did on "Just Hangin' Out" on the first Main Source album, "Breaking Atoms." You should already know...but if not, it's never too late to learn!
Keith Murray : Escapism
Couldn't help but prick my ears up at the mention of "curiosity" in a track about travelling to Mars! The final non-bonus track from Keith Murray's debut album, and one I always liked. A bit of Hip-Hop trivia for you - allegedly, this track in particular (though the rest of the record too) is what Prodigy is referring to on "The Infamous Prelude" when he complains about MCs who talk about "how much weed you smoke, and that crazy space shit that don't even make no sense..." thus kicking off the beef between them!
Sadat X : Escape From New York
I used to have the "Wild Cowboys" album (one of my few compact discs at the time - goodness knows where it is now) and somehow managed to utterly overlook this track, didn't have it in my memory in the slightest! A few years ago, I was listening to the Mick Boogie & Terry Urban "Unbelievable" Biggie mixtape and the track "Escape From NY" had a Biggie verse followed by Prodigy's second verse from "Keep It Thoro" over a killer jazzy beat. Turned out to be this, and I'd had it for years right under my nose on a vinyl sampler for the Sadat album! The vibraphone and piano-splashed beat comes courtesy of Pete Rock - if nothing else gave it away, the voice samples around the hook are signature.
Joseph Cotton : King Selassie I Live
Bit of a direction change here, going with a quality Rastafari devotional on the Answer riddim. When I was a kid at home, I would hear this bassline everywhere, often coming from streets away, and always wondered why everyone was playing the same tune all the time :) I didn't yet understand the concept of a riddim being used and reused on multiple songs, and this is one of the classics - just check the catalogue...
Artifacts ft. Busta Rhymes : C'mon Wit Da Git Down (Remix)
It's a Newark/Brooklyn connection on the mic, with the Bronx supplying the beat (Buckwild from DITC does the honours). I don't own much Artifacts group stuff but picked this up on a white label; straight-ahead track, nothing left-field about it. The original version on "Between A Rock And A Hard Place" was dope, but this is definitely better - heavy but laid back. All about that bassline.
Mecca:83 : Detroit Twilight
Great Manchester instrumental here, despite the title! I've heard this guy drop his beats live and he's got plenty of talent. You can get this one on the "Life Sketches Vol 1&2" album for a very reasonable price, so have a listen!
Ras Kass & Doc Hollywood : Heidi Klum
From yet another free release, the "Spit No Evil" mixtape/album, they did just enough with this Seal sample to make it work; nicely covered in drums and percussion, with just the right amount of stuttering to add some extra flavour. I had this on the hard drive for quite a while before properly discovering it, but glad I dug it up. When this was recorded, Seal and Heidi had apparently just split up...I guess Ras just couldn't help himself!
Jasiri X : Universal Ruler
Besides "Bushes," this is easily my favourite cut on "#thewholeworldiswatching." Jasiri is a minister in the Nation Of Islam and brings his theological perspective to this tune, which was apparently originally released on a Malcolm X tribute CD. Someone called Kreid is credited with the production, which really grabbed me straight away, does have a very mystical/outer space feel.
Raekwon : Lead Season
Another new track, from the just-released Raekwon free (12-track!) EP "Lost Jewlry" - and funnily enough, right next to the leaked track I played last month! You should already know Rae is one of my favourite MCs, and here he's just bringing those classic street crime bars in his own style. As for the production - I don't know who Frank G is, but he slays it with some heavy chopped guitars all over this one. Get the EP, there's really no excuse not to :)
J-Live : Pronounced Spitta
The "S.P.T.A (Said Person of That Ability)" album kind of slid out there in 2011 without any fanfare (even by underground standards), but it is definitely worth having. J-Live is a true triple threat, who rhymes, produces, and also gets busy on the turntables - on the album, he displays all three sides with skill. On this particular track, Marco Polo brings his own style of modern-vintage production, and J is on the rhymes and cuts - very nice cuts at that!
[None] PM and Universal : Monsterous (Instrumental)
The "The Shinin' - Director's Cut" EP-type-thing has been getting passed over for so long, I had to show it the light of day! This was a 2000 release on Drunk Decibel records including tracks from guys like Dr. Oop, Samson S, and Vitamin D. I think local legend Pressy was the one who mentioned the name Dr. Oop to me so I picked this up on the strength of that all those moons ago. Doesn't look like the type of record to have had a huge run, so if you like the sound and you see a copy then snatch it up!
Guilty Simpson : Make It Fast
From a bit of a bizarre compilation - "Peanut Butter Wolf presents B-Ball Zombie War!" I was somehow under the impression that it was a soundtrack to one of the NBA 2K games, but not sure...anyway, this tune is Detroit all the way with the beat coming from the late great J Dilla.
Ghostface Killah ft. Method Man & Raekwon : Flowers (album version/original version)
This is from Ghost's 3rd album, "Bulletproof Wallets," which for me didn't hit like the first two but was still decent. The album version of this track (which plays for the majority of the time here) is actually my favourite, but on the internet at least the clear favourite appears to be the heavily-sampled original. Unfortunately, they couldn't clear the sample and so had to rework the track for release; this copy is off a white label 12". If you like it and want a copy, it's probably your only path...
Too Many Cooks & English : As The Record Revolves
My spars! Back in the day, myself and Too Many Cooks were the DJs behind the Manchester night Family Gathering, and for over four years put together what I'd like to think of as some classic parties :) I met Leeroy and Obelix at an open mic night and as well as DJing they really worked on their production skills - it was great to see them put their heads and wallets together to put some vinyl out. This was easily my favourite track from their "Live And Direct" 12" and features another member of the crew, London mic man English - listening to this will always take me back a little in time :)
Murs x Fashawn (ft. Adrian) : Reina De Barrio (Ghetto Queen)
When did "x" become the new "&" ? I definitely missed that memo. Anyway, I digress. Murs has been putting in work for years, coming out of L.A on what you might call the underground circuit, including a series of LPs with 9th Wonder. Fashawn is one of the new generation coming up and also a Californian - I know he's one of DJ A-Up's favourites, and that's a DJ who definitely stays up to date. The two MCs came together to give us the "This Generation" album and it's a very good piece of work - if you like the West Coast sound you definitely want to hear this. It's very much contemporary rather than harking back overly to the past, and lyrically they have great mic chemistry. Recommended listen!
A3 : LIML
I don't know who A3 is, but this is a nice little beat, taking a big chunk out of Michael Jackson's classic "Lady In My Life" and adding some vaguely Dilla-esque accents to it. Grabbed this from the free "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape," none of which tries to hide its source material - as such, a good one to listen to for aspiring beatmakers/producers!
Trinidad Steel Drummers : Cissy Strut
A classic track in a different style! The Meters' original version is a funk staple (even if you don't think you know it, you know it) which has been sampled many a time, but to hear it covered on steel pan makes me smile. The drummer on the standard drumkit gets busy - especially on the hi-hat - to keep the time and lets the pan players do their thing in beautiful harmony. Quality.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We need more construction workers, more doctors, more lawyers..."
- Buckshot
Droppin' it heavy.
Happy new year! First podcast of 2013, got it done just in the nick of time thanks to being super-hectic at work and having a big photo project to work on...hopefully can expand on that later in the year. Anyway, hope you enjoy the tunes, got a few old favourites in there, a couple of left turns, and some great new stuff.
By the way, trying something different in the notes this month - linking to each artist's Twitter profile, not sure if I'll continue to do it in future months but let me know what you think!
Playlist/Notes
9th Wonder & Buckshot : The Solution
Kicking off the month with a very recent release, the title track from the third and latest collaboration between the producer from North Carolina and the Brooklyn mic legend. The album isn't classic, but it is solid enough to be worth a listen. This was a great closer that gave me this month's epigram :) It's so true too - there are far too many people trying to be professional MCs/DJs/producers/whatever who need to just do that as a hobby and have something else to pay the bills! (I have no delusions - I have a day job...)
Large Pro : Still Hanging Out
From his "Beatz Vol. 1" collection, a slight update on the beat he did on "Just Hangin' Out" on the first Main Source album, "Breaking Atoms." You should already know...but if not, it's never too late to learn!
Keith Murray : Escapism
Couldn't help but prick my ears up at the mention of "curiosity" in a track about travelling to Mars! The final non-bonus track from Keith Murray's debut album, and one I always liked. A bit of Hip-Hop trivia for you - allegedly, this track in particular (though the rest of the record too) is what Prodigy is referring to on "The Infamous Prelude" when he complains about MCs who talk about "how much weed you smoke, and that crazy space shit that don't even make no sense..." thus kicking off the beef between them!
Sadat X : Escape From New York
I used to have the "Wild Cowboys" album (one of my few compact discs at the time - goodness knows where it is now) and somehow managed to utterly overlook this track, didn't have it in my memory in the slightest! A few years ago, I was listening to the Mick Boogie & Terry Urban "Unbelievable" Biggie mixtape and the track "Escape From NY" had a Biggie verse followed by Prodigy's second verse from "Keep It Thoro" over a killer jazzy beat. Turned out to be this, and I'd had it for years right under my nose on a vinyl sampler for the Sadat album! The vibraphone and piano-splashed beat comes courtesy of Pete Rock - if nothing else gave it away, the voice samples around the hook are signature.
Joseph Cotton : King Selassie I Live
Bit of a direction change here, going with a quality Rastafari devotional on the Answer riddim. When I was a kid at home, I would hear this bassline everywhere, often coming from streets away, and always wondered why everyone was playing the same tune all the time :) I didn't yet understand the concept of a riddim being used and reused on multiple songs, and this is one of the classics - just check the catalogue...
Artifacts ft. Busta Rhymes : C'mon Wit Da Git Down (Remix)
It's a Newark/Brooklyn connection on the mic, with the Bronx supplying the beat (Buckwild from DITC does the honours). I don't own much Artifacts group stuff but picked this up on a white label; straight-ahead track, nothing left-field about it. The original version on "Between A Rock And A Hard Place" was dope, but this is definitely better - heavy but laid back. All about that bassline.
Mecca:83 : Detroit Twilight
Great Manchester instrumental here, despite the title! I've heard this guy drop his beats live and he's got plenty of talent. You can get this one on the "Life Sketches Vol 1&2" album for a very reasonable price, so have a listen!
Ras Kass & Doc Hollywood : Heidi Klum
From yet another free release, the "Spit No Evil" mixtape/album, they did just enough with this Seal sample to make it work; nicely covered in drums and percussion, with just the right amount of stuttering to add some extra flavour. I had this on the hard drive for quite a while before properly discovering it, but glad I dug it up. When this was recorded, Seal and Heidi had apparently just split up...I guess Ras just couldn't help himself!
Jasiri X : Universal Ruler
Besides "Bushes," this is easily my favourite cut on "#thewholeworldiswatching." Jasiri is a minister in the Nation Of Islam and brings his theological perspective to this tune, which was apparently originally released on a Malcolm X tribute CD. Someone called Kreid is credited with the production, which really grabbed me straight away, does have a very mystical/outer space feel.
Raekwon : Lead Season
Another new track, from the just-released Raekwon free (12-track!) EP "Lost Jewlry" - and funnily enough, right next to the leaked track I played last month! You should already know Rae is one of my favourite MCs, and here he's just bringing those classic street crime bars in his own style. As for the production - I don't know who Frank G is, but he slays it with some heavy chopped guitars all over this one. Get the EP, there's really no excuse not to :)
J-Live : Pronounced Spitta
The "S.P.T.A (Said Person of That Ability)" album kind of slid out there in 2011 without any fanfare (even by underground standards), but it is definitely worth having. J-Live is a true triple threat, who rhymes, produces, and also gets busy on the turntables - on the album, he displays all three sides with skill. On this particular track, Marco Polo brings his own style of modern-vintage production, and J is on the rhymes and cuts - very nice cuts at that!
[None] PM and Universal : Monsterous (Instrumental)
The "The Shinin' - Director's Cut" EP-type-thing has been getting passed over for so long, I had to show it the light of day! This was a 2000 release on Drunk Decibel records including tracks from guys like Dr. Oop, Samson S, and Vitamin D. I think local legend Pressy was the one who mentioned the name Dr. Oop to me so I picked this up on the strength of that all those moons ago. Doesn't look like the type of record to have had a huge run, so if you like the sound and you see a copy then snatch it up!
Guilty Simpson : Make It Fast
From a bit of a bizarre compilation - "Peanut Butter Wolf presents B-Ball Zombie War!" I was somehow under the impression that it was a soundtrack to one of the NBA 2K games, but not sure...anyway, this tune is Detroit all the way with the beat coming from the late great J Dilla.
Ghostface Killah ft. Method Man & Raekwon : Flowers (album version/original version)
This is from Ghost's 3rd album, "Bulletproof Wallets," which for me didn't hit like the first two but was still decent. The album version of this track (which plays for the majority of the time here) is actually my favourite, but on the internet at least the clear favourite appears to be the heavily-sampled original. Unfortunately, they couldn't clear the sample and so had to rework the track for release; this copy is off a white label 12". If you like it and want a copy, it's probably your only path...
Too Many Cooks & English : As The Record Revolves
My spars! Back in the day, myself and Too Many Cooks were the DJs behind the Manchester night Family Gathering, and for over four years put together what I'd like to think of as some classic parties :) I met Leeroy and Obelix at an open mic night and as well as DJing they really worked on their production skills - it was great to see them put their heads and wallets together to put some vinyl out. This was easily my favourite track from their "Live And Direct" 12" and features another member of the crew, London mic man English - listening to this will always take me back a little in time :)
Murs x Fashawn (ft. Adrian) : Reina De Barrio (Ghetto Queen)
When did "x" become the new "&" ? I definitely missed that memo. Anyway, I digress. Murs has been putting in work for years, coming out of L.A on what you might call the underground circuit, including a series of LPs with 9th Wonder. Fashawn is one of the new generation coming up and also a Californian - I know he's one of DJ A-Up's favourites, and that's a DJ who definitely stays up to date. The two MCs came together to give us the "This Generation" album and it's a very good piece of work - if you like the West Coast sound you definitely want to hear this. It's very much contemporary rather than harking back overly to the past, and lyrically they have great mic chemistry. Recommended listen!
A3 : LIML
I don't know who A3 is, but this is a nice little beat, taking a big chunk out of Michael Jackson's classic "Lady In My Life" and adding some vaguely Dilla-esque accents to it. Grabbed this from the free "The Smooth Grooves Beat Tape," none of which tries to hide its source material - as such, a good one to listen to for aspiring beatmakers/producers!
Trinidad Steel Drummers : Cissy Strut
A classic track in a different style! The Meters' original version is a funk staple (even if you don't think you know it, you know it) which has been sampled many a time, but to hear it covered on steel pan makes me smile. The drummer on the standard drumkit gets busy - especially on the hi-hat - to keep the time and lets the pan players do their thing in beautiful harmony. Quality.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...pay the reparations for the damage I'm doin'."
- B-Luv
The British winter hasn't properly kicked in, but we stay prepared. For some reason it was a tough task getting the selection ready this month, but there's a good scattering of different stuff and I can almost guarantee there'll be something on here you don't know! Let's get into it...
Playlist/Notes
Jim Jones ft. Noe and Tom Gist : Christmas Eve
Not exactly the most festive song, but then when else am I going to play it? Lyrically maybe a glimmer of a jewel buried somewhere in the second verse but overall, a healthy dose of ignorance I think it's fair to say! I never quite worked out how Jim Jones came out of the Dipset camp to become large as a rapper, but I guess I'm not the target market. This is from the Jim Jones/Skull Gang "A Tribute To Bad Santa" project...sounds about right! I do love the sound of the hook though...
Patrick O'Hearn : So Flows The Current
Serious left turn. I only learned who Patrick O'Hearn is this year (thanks to Peaceful Moments Radio!) but he's made his way onto my relaxation listening playlists. A composer who also plays a string of instruments, he was schooled in the jazz tradition before going on to do a couple of years in Frank Zappa's band, then branching out to play in the bands Group 87 and Missing Persons, finally ending up as a solo artist. This is the title track from his eighth solo album, and hopefully it might pique the interest of some of you. Going New Age on this one!
Saigon : Rap Vs. Real
Big early track on the new Saigon album "The Greatest Story Never Told 2 : Bread & Circuses" and it's a killer; I definitely respect what Saigon's been trying to do as far as bringing some conscience to the rugged side of the music. Strong message here, basically calling out everyone who trots out the usual stereotypical subject matter - or tries to live that life - without considering the other side. Just Blaze and Clev Trev bring out a suitably haunting soundtrack to back the words.
Mad Skillz : Inherit The World
Long before he started doing a "Rap Up" of every year, Skillz had a "Mad" at the front and this was one of the final tracks on the Virginia MC's "From Where???" album. Nice combination on the musical side - Shawn J Period on the beat, and DJ Riz on the cuts, killing it with that sample from Onyx's "Shiftee." The album is worth checking - apparently but unsurprisingly it was out of print for years but is available now; notably, J Dilla is now the top-billed producer on the packaging, when he was just at the start of his career when this was originally released!
G-Dep ft. Faith Evans : Everyday (Remix)
2002 Bad Boy release - this is the remix but I think the original is pretty similar. Can't remember how I came up on this one, given that I never really followed his career at the time. It's odd listening to his records now knowing that he was holding onto such a heavy secret the whole time...
Dean Martin : Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Too! Many! Exclamation! Marks! I actually hate this song, but after hearing it at a Xmas house party, I got the idea of just playing a snatch of it before fading into...
Roc Marciano : Snow
...something a little more my speed! One of the standouts from the "Marcberg" album - heavy drums with that dusty, detached vibe underneath. Also worth checking the remix with Sean Price.
Pariah : Detroit Falls
Either Andy Peek or Agent J put me up on this tune originally, and despite my general dislike of anything leaning towards the so-called "future beats" style, this one can't be denied! I like the way it deceptively starts with the old soul sample before breaking it down like an organic compound (© Keith Murray) and drowning it in a sea of effects and bass - and yet somehow manages to keep the flavour. As far as I can tell online, Pariah is coming out of London but the exact identity of who's involved is a bit murky - the name Arthur Kayzer has come up more than once. Big props, whoever you are!
Mad Rapper ft. Desert Roze : Surviving The Game
Strangely, The Madd Rapper doesn't actually rhyme on this song from the "Tell Em Why U Madd" LP at all! However, under his real identity (Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, responsible for a good chunk of big tunes), he does produce it - nothing groundbreaking but it works for me. MC-wise, I've never heard of Desert Roze before or since (and she seems to ignore that name in favour of "Mae West" in this track), but she sounds very influenced by the Lil Kim rhyme style of that era - in fact, I half expect someone to tweet me and tell me it actually is her!
MF DOOM : Deep Fried Frenz
I must confess, I'm not the biggest DOOM fan - I mean, I liked KMD and thought "Operation : Doomsday" was very dope, but most stuff since then has been very hit and miss for me - and that's even before the pretty grubby history of live no-shows... Anyway, at least this track from" Mm...Food" is a heater! Bitter perhaps, but quality - and very appropriately uses a vocal sample from Whodini's big hit "Friends" and music from Ronnie Laws' "Friends and Strangers" - this info is already out there, I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble!
Raekwon ft. Altrina Renee : 86
That clean 80s R&B sound on production, but enough low end on it to make it...right. This is an early leak from an upcoming free EP Raekwon is recording, don't know if it'll be all this kind of stuff or if the rest will be a bit more rugged but I'm good with it. Now, where did I put my curl activator...?
Mica Paris : I Should've Known Better
Straight classic! British soul legend and Band On The Wall patron Mica Paris with easily my favourite track from her, a living testament to Chuck D's assertion that the "B-Side Wins Again!" This was on the flip of "South Of The River" and again on "I Never Felt Like This Before" (which is where I got it) - always a bridesmaid, so to speak. Mica and Omar collaborated on the production side...flawless victory.
Blahzay Blahzay : Federal Reserve Notez (FRN'Z) (Instrumental)
They may never again have reached the heights of "Danger," but they didn't stop putting out records after that first album! This was a self-produced 12" that came out on Game Recordings, not san essential on its own but one to look at if you're trying to complete a Blahzay or Game collection.
Red Cloud : In My Hands
Can't see many people outside some of the DJs having this one! Produced by the UK's own Nextmen and released on Bad Magic, this is the first of the only two Red Cloud 12" singles I can find any reference to. I remember reading he's a Native American MC (which rings true when you hear the name), making him a representative for a minority marginalised as a whole - even in Hip-Hop.
People Under The Stairs : The Cat
This is a 12" I think the vinyl collectors should be trying to get! The A-side is this cool-sounding piece which I instantly liked, but the B-side ("Live At The Fishbucket Pt 2") is a more uptempo workout - I can't even find a Youtube link to it, but trust me, it's fire! Anyway, Thes One is credited with the production on here but he brings a few live instrumentalists in on this one to add to his flavour and it's a winner. Big Los Angeles business.
PRO ERA : Wrecord Out
This was just released a couple of days ago, on the free new "PEEP The aPROcalypse" mixtape. PRO ERA is a pretty large crew of young MCs consisting of Joey Bada$$, CJ FLY, Kirk Knight, Chuck Strangers, and Capital STEEZ (RIP), and it definitely sounds like there's some promise there. This isn't my absolute favourite track on there (that honour goes to "Run Or Fly"), but it fit well here! Chuck Strangers on the beat, using the same Biz Markie sample that Tribe used on "The Chase, Part II" - sounds good again!
JVC Force : Keep A Handle
Ok, this is your second warning. Eventually you're going to listen to me when I tell you that you need the "Force Field" album in your collection. I've been listening from 1990 to now, and it still sounds quality -not necessarily current, but quality. This is a track towards the end, based on a sample from one of those undeniable 80s soul classics, "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett. (Watch the video. They don't make them like that anymore. Some would say "with good reason.")
[Hypno] IMC : IMC Freakstyles (Instrumental)
This could almost be the poster child for the anonymous 12" that sinks without trace! 2001 release on Thoroughbred Entertainment/MyMan Recordings, it looks like it's out of California somewhere. This is the instrumental of the B-side, which is a freestyle. Is it a "must own?" No, not to me. However, at least you get a chance to hear it now rather than it shrivelling away on the shelf - which is part of what this is all about!
The Brand New Heavies : Day By Day
Gorgeous uplifting tune to end the episode, from the 1997 "Shelter" album, with Siedah Garrett coming in as the lead vocalist. One of the great British bands in my opinion, and they've been doing it a long time without sounding "old" if you get my meaning - and having seen their live show for the first time recently (with N'Dea back on vocals), I hope they keep going for a long while yet!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...pay the reparations for the damage I'm doin'."
- B-Luv
The British winter hasn't properly kicked in, but we stay prepared. For some reason it was a tough task getting the selection ready this month, but there's a good scattering of different stuff and I can almost guarantee there'll be something on here you don't know! Let's get into it...
Playlist/Notes
Jim Jones ft. Noe and Tom Gist : Christmas Eve
Not exactly the most festive song, but then when else am I going to play it? Lyrically maybe a glimmer of a jewel buried somewhere in the second verse but overall, a healthy dose of ignorance I think it's fair to say! I never quite worked out how Jim Jones came out of the Dipset camp to become large as a rapper, but I guess I'm not the target market. This is from the Jim Jones/Skull Gang "A Tribute To Bad Santa" project...sounds about right! I do love the sound of the hook though...
Patrick O'Hearn : So Flows The Current
Serious left turn. I only learned who Patrick O'Hearn is this year (thanks to Peaceful Moments Radio!) but he's made his way onto my relaxation listening playlists. A composer who also plays a string of instruments, he was schooled in the jazz tradition before going on to do a couple of years in Frank Zappa's band, then branching out to play in the bands Group 87 and Missing Persons, finally ending up as a solo artist. This is the title track from his eighth solo album, and hopefully it might pique the interest of some of you. Going New Age on this one!
Saigon : Rap Vs. Real
Big early track on the new Saigon album "The Greatest Story Never Told 2 : Bread & Circuses" and it's a killer; I definitely respect what Saigon's been trying to do as far as bringing some conscience to the rugged side of the music. Strong message here, basically calling out everyone who trots out the usual stereotypical subject matter - or tries to live that life - without considering the other side. Just Blaze and Clev Trev bring out a suitably haunting soundtrack to back the words.
Mad Skillz : Inherit The World
Long before he started doing a "Rap Up" of every year, Skillz had a "Mad" at the front and this was one of the final tracks on the Virginia MC's "From Where???" album. Nice combination on the musical side - Shawn J Period on the beat, and DJ Riz on the cuts, killing it with that sample from Onyx's "Shiftee." The album is worth checking - apparently but unsurprisingly it was out of print for years but is available now; notably, J Dilla is now the top-billed producer on the packaging, when he was just at the start of his career when this was originally released!
G-Dep ft. Faith Evans : Everyday (Remix)
2002 Bad Boy release - this is the remix but I think the original is pretty similar. Can't remember how I came up on this one, given that I never really followed his career at the time. It's odd listening to his records now knowing that he was holding onto such a heavy secret the whole time...
Dean Martin : Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Too! Many! Exclamation! Marks! I actually hate this song, but after hearing it at a Xmas house party, I got the idea of just playing a snatch of it before fading into...
Roc Marciano : Snow
...something a little more my speed! One of the standouts from the "Marcberg" album - heavy drums with that dusty, detached vibe underneath. Also worth checking the remix with Sean Price.
Pariah : Detroit Falls
Either Andy Peek or Agent J put me up on this tune originally, and despite my general dislike of anything leaning towards the so-called "future beats" style, this one can't be denied! I like the way it deceptively starts with the old soul sample before breaking it down like an organic compound (© Keith Murray) and drowning it in a sea of effects and bass - and yet somehow manages to keep the flavour. As far as I can tell online, Pariah is coming out of London but the exact identity of who's involved is a bit murky - the name Arthur Kayzer has come up more than once. Big props, whoever you are!
Mad Rapper ft. Desert Roze : Surviving The Game
Strangely, The Madd Rapper doesn't actually rhyme on this song from the "Tell Em Why U Madd" LP at all! However, under his real identity (Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, responsible for a good chunk of big tunes), he does produce it - nothing groundbreaking but it works for me. MC-wise, I've never heard of Desert Roze before or since (and she seems to ignore that name in favour of "Mae West" in this track), but she sounds very influenced by the Lil Kim rhyme style of that era - in fact, I half expect someone to tweet me and tell me it actually is her!
MF DOOM : Deep Fried Frenz
I must confess, I'm not the biggest DOOM fan - I mean, I liked KMD and thought "Operation : Doomsday" was very dope, but most stuff since then has been very hit and miss for me - and that's even before the pretty grubby history of live no-shows... Anyway, at least this track from" Mm...Food" is a heater! Bitter perhaps, but quality - and very appropriately uses a vocal sample from Whodini's big hit "Friends" and music from Ronnie Laws' "Friends and Strangers" - this info is already out there, I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble!
Raekwon ft. Altrina Renee : 86
That clean 80s R&B sound on production, but enough low end on it to make it...right. This is an early leak from an upcoming free EP Raekwon is recording, don't know if it'll be all this kind of stuff or if the rest will be a bit more rugged but I'm good with it. Now, where did I put my curl activator...?
Mica Paris : I Should've Known Better
Straight classic! British soul legend and Band On The Wall patron Mica Paris with easily my favourite track from her, a living testament to Chuck D's assertion that the "B-Side Wins Again!" This was on the flip of "South Of The River" and again on "I Never Felt Like This Before" (which is where I got it) - always a bridesmaid, so to speak. Mica and Omar collaborated on the production side...flawless victory.
Blahzay Blahzay : Federal Reserve Notez (FRN'Z) (Instrumental)
They may never again have reached the heights of "Danger," but they didn't stop putting out records after that first album! This was a self-produced 12" that came out on Game Recordings, not san essential on its own but one to look at if you're trying to complete a Blahzay or Game collection.
Red Cloud : In My Hands
Can't see many people outside some of the DJs having this one! Produced by the UK's own Nextmen and released on Bad Magic, this is the first of the only two Red Cloud 12" singles I can find any reference to. I remember reading he's a Native American MC (which rings true when you hear the name), making him a representative for a minority marginalised as a whole - even in Hip-Hop.
People Under The Stairs : The Cat
This is a 12" I think the vinyl collectors should be trying to get! The A-side is this cool-sounding piece which I instantly liked, but the B-side ("Live At The Fishbucket Pt 2") is a more uptempo workout - I can't even find a Youtube link to it, but trust me, it's fire! Anyway, Thes One is credited with the production on here but he brings a few live instrumentalists in on this one to add to his flavour and it's a winner. Big Los Angeles business.
PRO ERA : Wrecord Out
This was just released a couple of days ago, on the free new "PEEP The aPROcalypse" mixtape. PRO ERA is a pretty large crew of young MCs consisting of Joey Bada$$, CJ FLY, Kirk Knight, Chuck Strangers, and Capital STEEZ (RIP), and it definitely sounds like there's some promise there. This isn't my absolute favourite track on there (that honour goes to "Run Or Fly"), but it fit well here! Chuck Strangers on the beat, using the same Biz Markie sample that Tribe used on "The Chase, Part II" - sounds good again!
JVC Force : Keep A Handle
Ok, this is your second warning. Eventually you're going to listen to me when I tell you that you need the "Force Field" album in your collection. I've been listening from 1990 to now, and it still sounds quality -not necessarily current, but quality. This is a track towards the end, based on a sample from one of those undeniable 80s soul classics, "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett. (Watch the video. They don't make them like that anymore. Some would say "with good reason.")
[Hypno] IMC : IMC Freakstyles (Instrumental)
This could almost be the poster child for the anonymous 12" that sinks without trace! 2001 release on Thoroughbred Entertainment/MyMan Recordings, it looks like it's out of California somewhere. This is the instrumental of the B-side, which is a freestyle. Is it a "must own?" No, not to me. However, at least you get a chance to hear it now rather than it shrivelling away on the shelf - which is part of what this is all about!
The Brand New Heavies : Day By Day
Gorgeous uplifting tune to end the episode, from the 1997 "Shelter" album, with Siedah Garrett coming in as the lead vocalist. One of the great British bands in my opinion, and they've been doing it a long time without sounding "old" if you get my meaning - and having seen their live show for the first time recently (with N'Dea back on vocals), I hope they keep going for a long while yet!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...the government lies..."
- stic.man
This was one of those months where I think I've really found some great blends with some very varied tunes - not an all Hip-Hop outing by any means, but stay with it :) Oh, and the episode title? Well, I may not have the biggest name, but those who know...know how I get down.
Playlist/Notes
Ab-Soul ft. Danny Brown and Jhene Aiko : Terrorist Threats
That. Hook. That could be the 2012 version of the big speech by Cyrus in "The Warriors!" I listen to The Combat Jack Show mostly for the chat/interviews but it was also the first place I heard this track - didn't know who it was or what it was called so I had to look it up, and it was well worth a purchase. This definitely falls into the category of the new Hip-Hop I'm not totally up on, but Ab-Soul is a Californian MC and member of a group called Black Hippy - this is no flower-power business though. He and Danny Brown connect on this with high-energy rhyme styles over Dave Free's slow, half-haunting, half-club beat, topped with Jhene Aiko's vocals. I need to put the "Control System" album on my homework list to see if there's anything else close to this!
[Timbaland] Aaliyah : One In A Million (Instrumental)
A true landmark record. It might be hard to remember but when this came out there was nobody doing drum programming like this - Timbaland unquestionably changed the game with his work on the "One In A Million" album. As an aside, I remember being at a battle at Jazz Cafe once where a band were playing in between rounds or something. When the drummer started playing this pattern live, the crowd went absolutely nuts! Aaliyah was definitely more established than Timbaland when this came out, but after having showed some of his style with his production of Ginuwine, this was really the start of the big breakout. A choice pick from a must-hear album.
School Of Seven Bells : Show Me Love
This is one of those records that'll throw people a bit! I don't listen to much at all in the "indie" lane but I do check out Shell Zenner's radio shows and one week I heard her play this record and it grabbed me straight away - heavyweight sound! This particular track reminds me a little of "Mezzanine"-era Massive Attack but that's just an observation. School of Seven Bells - or SVIIB as they're sometimes known - are a duo (formerly trio) out of New York City who blend electronic sounds with electric guitar and a style of dreamlike vocal that ticks my boxes. If you've got a system that does really good sub-bass, check the little sneaky licks under the main groove. Niiice :) If you're open on this, try checking the rest of the Ghostory album, their third - it's not the same sound all the way through, but it's a solid album which I'm glad I picked up.
Smith & Mighty ft. Tammy Payne : Move You Run
Such a great tune - extra-heavy bass, those background dub echoes and a crystal-clear vocal from Tammy Payne. I learned a top fact about these guys this month - they produced Massive Attack's first single! Now that is a serious credit, before you even get onto their own records. You can find this on the "Big World Small World" album, which is definitrely worth having if you like the British, West Indian-influenced sound.
Pete Rock ft. dead prez : Warzone
I don't think anyone would pick this up as a Pete Rock beat without being told beforehand, or even after - at the time this came out, it was an incredibly radical departure from anything he'd previously been known for. The second single from his second solo album ("Soul Survivor II"), it might at first sound like a common-or-garden club record but as it progresses you quickly realise it's something a lot more dystopian and political - Admiral Ackbar might describe it as a trap! dead prez get it dead on point with the lyrics, taking the surface sheen off the stereotypical club scene as portrayed on so many other records and exposing the dysfunction beneath. On the beat, Pete Rock gives it a sense of tension and urgency - and just check how those drums explode at 15:44. Man's a genius.
Hijack ft. Huntkillbury Finn, The Icepick, and Shaka Shazam : The Contract
If you don't know, Hijack are one of the most important groups in UK Hip-Hop history - founded as a DJ crew (Turntable Trixters), the addition of Kamanchi Sly on the mic and the further expansion of the crew created a monster. The monster was so powerful that Ice-T signed them to Rhyme Syndicate Records - a hugely significant deal. The "Horns Of Jericho" LP is a must-own in my opinion, and this was one of the closing tracks; all the speed of what some would call the "Britcore" era, but with a bit of refinement also. Classic!
Leftfield : Afro Ride
The opening sections of this track are just untouchable for me when it comes to this lane of music; the drum pattern, keyboard and African-sounding speech (it's nonsense, by the way) together are just super motivating :) Back in the mid 90s, when I was spurning anything I thought came under the banner "techno," I happened to get the chance to review "Wipeout," one of the first releases on a little something called the Sony Playstation. There was a marketing effort being made to move gaming from something for kids to something for young adults, maybe after a night at the club or whatever. In keeping with the strategy, the soundtrack to the game was made up of tracks licensed from different electronic acts, and this was one of them. After playing the game, I couldn't front on the flavour of Leftfield or Orbital, to name just two - who says video games don't teach you anything? Big B-side on the "Afro-Left" 12".
DJ Quik : Quik Is The Name
Taking it back to 1991, you can almost smell the jheri curl juice! Title track from DJ Quik's first album, and one of the more uptempo Hip-Hop records you'll hear (in keeping with the next two). When I think back to some of the press coverage of the time, I laugh at the ignoramuses who saw him as just a "Compton clone," a follower in the shadow of NWA - they evidently failed to spot the enormous talent. Hopefully they ate their words in time - he's clearly one of the best producers Hip-Hop history, and is pretty handy on the mic too!
Ellis Meade : Do Not Follow
Ellis aka L-Digz is one of the new generation of Mancunian artists coming up - doing his own style and making his own moves. I first heard this on NouGold but since then it's been released as part of the free "Conceptions" mixtape, which you should definitely check out! Rare to hear a modern track tear along at this kind of speed but this stripped down self-produced number does, and Ellis flows over it with confidence and clarity. Perfect length as well!
Leaders Of The New School : Transformers
Supreme Radio in Leeds back in the day is to be thanked for introducing me to this tune! For those who are older but not Hip-Hop savvy, or those who are pretty young, this is the group Busta Rhymes was in before he became a solo artist. This is from their debut "Future Without A Past," which everyone should at least hear! Dante Ross kills the production on this one, and the scratching tops it off - funnily enough though, not many transforms...
Louie Rankin : The Sting
A second straight pirate radio discovery for me - released back in 1992, someone played part of the track once and I flipped out over it! Despite that, I never quite managed to come up with the money for the "Typewriter" EP before it disappeared from the shops - and this is the pre-internet era, remember! A few years later when I came to Manchester in '96 I found it for a bargain price on vinyl and here it is for your enjoyment :) Louie Rankin doesn't have a huge discography - most of his stuff is in the 1991-1993 period though he does go back as far as 1983 - but he's been in at least one film, playing Teddy Bruk Shut in "Shottas" (not a great film, but some quality quotes!)
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep : Got It Twisted (Instrumental)
Has this Mobb single already been forgotten? I think I'm the only DJ who ever plays this out! Alchemist uses the Thomas Dolby single "She Blinded Me With Science" and made it evil. I approve.
James Brown : Funky President (People It's Bad)
Everyone should know this one. Not to say you already do, it's just that you should! Apparently this track was written about Gerald Ford, but I'm repurposing it on some President Obama business. Opening track on the "Reality" album, which came into my record collection via my father's record collection ;)
LL Cool J : Cheesy Rat Blues
I can't think of a song anywhere that better (or more humourously) describes how it goes when you've fallen off! Great album track from LL's "Mama Said Knock You Out" LP. I did wonder how based in reality it was, but LL says it wasn't autobiographical. I can't help but picture him though! On the music side, Marley Marl's on production rocking that same sample that you might know from the ATCQ "Scenario" remix, and this track also provides the hook sample for another track on this same LL album - "The Boomin' System." That's good recycling right there.
Chris Lowe : Round & Round
Not the one from the Pet Shop Boys :) This is a low-key man with an interesting story - a student of the late, great Paul C, he was most active in the late 80s/early 90s and produced classic tracks like Stezo's "It's My Turn" before largely dropping even further into the background, apart from the occasional release. The "Black Life" album this track is taken from was released in 2004 but I could have sworn I read somewhere it was recorded several years before. Anyway, if you like the no-nonsense classic production style, and good-time rhymes in the vein of Large Professor - get yourself a copy!
N.E.R.D. : Lazer Gun
(Yes, with a 'z.') We need to get rid of this "bonus track" business. To think that any number of people who bought the 2008 "Seeing Sounds" album might have missed out on this song makes me sad inside.
Ski Beatz : Ticket For 2 (Instrumental)
This needs to be on an airline commercial! Super-smooth production from the man behind Camp Lo's biggest tracks and some of the best of Jay-Z's first album. Got this on a 12" single - the main mix of the track has Camp Lo on the mic. Allow this to float you beautifully into the closer for this month...
Jazzanova : Takes You Back (Unexpected Dub)
So fresh, so clean :) One of less than thirty "five star" tracks on my iPod, it could have earned them just for that "I don't wanna lose you..." section at the start of the second verse - don't know why, just does it for me! The crew out of Berlin smack it out of the park on the production of this track from their debut album "In Between," with Desney Bailey supplying the vocals. The magazines might call it "nu-jazz," but whatever the label, it's quality and still a great listen ten years after release.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...the government lies..."
- stic.man
This was one of those months where I think I've really found some great blends with some very varied tunes - not an all Hip-Hop outing by any means, but stay with it :) Oh, and the episode title? Well, I may not have the biggest name, but those who know...know how I get down.
Playlist/Notes
Ab-Soul ft. Danny Brown and Jhene Aiko : Terrorist Threats
That. Hook. That could be the 2012 version of the big speech by Cyrus in "The Warriors!" I listen to The Combat Jack Show mostly for the chat/interviews but it was also the first place I heard this track - didn't know who it was or what it was called so I had to look it up, and it was well worth a purchase. This definitely falls into the category of the new Hip-Hop I'm not totally up on, but Ab-Soul is a Californian MC and member of a group called Black Hippy - this is no flower-power business though. He and Danny Brown connect on this with high-energy rhyme styles over Dave Free's slow, half-haunting, half-club beat, topped with Jhene Aiko's vocals. I need to put the "Control System" album on my homework list to see if there's anything else close to this!
[Timbaland] Aaliyah : One In A Million (Instrumental)
A true landmark record. It might be hard to remember but when this came out there was nobody doing drum programming like this - Timbaland unquestionably changed the game with his work on the "One In A Million" album. As an aside, I remember being at a battle at Jazz Cafe once where a band were playing in between rounds or something. When the drummer started playing this pattern live, the crowd went absolutely nuts! Aaliyah was definitely more established than Timbaland when this came out, but after having showed some of his style with his production of Ginuwine, this was really the start of the big breakout. A choice pick from a must-hear album.
School Of Seven Bells : Show Me Love
This is one of those records that'll throw people a bit! I don't listen to much at all in the "indie" lane but I do check out Shell Zenner's radio shows and one week I heard her play this record and it grabbed me straight away - heavyweight sound! This particular track reminds me a little of "Mezzanine"-era Massive Attack but that's just an observation. School of Seven Bells - or SVIIB as they're sometimes known - are a duo (formerly trio) out of New York City who blend electronic sounds with electric guitar and a style of dreamlike vocal that ticks my boxes. If you've got a system that does really good sub-bass, check the little sneaky licks under the main groove. Niiice :) If you're open on this, try checking the rest of the Ghostory album, their third - it's not the same sound all the way through, but it's a solid album which I'm glad I picked up.
Smith & Mighty ft. Tammy Payne : Move You Run
Such a great tune - extra-heavy bass, those background dub echoes and a crystal-clear vocal from Tammy Payne. I learned a top fact about these guys this month - they produced Massive Attack's first single! Now that is a serious credit, before you even get onto their own records. You can find this on the "Big World Small World" album, which is definitrely worth having if you like the British, West Indian-influenced sound.
Pete Rock ft. dead prez : Warzone
I don't think anyone would pick this up as a Pete Rock beat without being told beforehand, or even after - at the time this came out, it was an incredibly radical departure from anything he'd previously been known for. The second single from his second solo album ("Soul Survivor II"), it might at first sound like a common-or-garden club record but as it progresses you quickly realise it's something a lot more dystopian and political - Admiral Ackbar might describe it as a trap! dead prez get it dead on point with the lyrics, taking the surface sheen off the stereotypical club scene as portrayed on so many other records and exposing the dysfunction beneath. On the beat, Pete Rock gives it a sense of tension and urgency - and just check how those drums explode at 15:44. Man's a genius.
Hijack ft. Huntkillbury Finn, The Icepick, and Shaka Shazam : The Contract
If you don't know, Hijack are one of the most important groups in UK Hip-Hop history - founded as a DJ crew (Turntable Trixters), the addition of Kamanchi Sly on the mic and the further expansion of the crew created a monster. The monster was so powerful that Ice-T signed them to Rhyme Syndicate Records - a hugely significant deal. The "Horns Of Jericho" LP is a must-own in my opinion, and this was one of the closing tracks; all the speed of what some would call the "Britcore" era, but with a bit of refinement also. Classic!
Leftfield : Afro Ride
The opening sections of this track are just untouchable for me when it comes to this lane of music; the drum pattern, keyboard and African-sounding speech (it's nonsense, by the way) together are just super motivating :) Back in the mid 90s, when I was spurning anything I thought came under the banner "techno," I happened to get the chance to review "Wipeout," one of the first releases on a little something called the Sony Playstation. There was a marketing effort being made to move gaming from something for kids to something for young adults, maybe after a night at the club or whatever. In keeping with the strategy, the soundtrack to the game was made up of tracks licensed from different electronic acts, and this was one of them. After playing the game, I couldn't front on the flavour of Leftfield or Orbital, to name just two - who says video games don't teach you anything? Big B-side on the "Afro-Left" 12".
DJ Quik : Quik Is The Name
Taking it back to 1991, you can almost smell the jheri curl juice! Title track from DJ Quik's first album, and one of the more uptempo Hip-Hop records you'll hear (in keeping with the next two). When I think back to some of the press coverage of the time, I laugh at the ignoramuses who saw him as just a "Compton clone," a follower in the shadow of NWA - they evidently failed to spot the enormous talent. Hopefully they ate their words in time - he's clearly one of the best producers Hip-Hop history, and is pretty handy on the mic too!
Ellis Meade : Do Not Follow
Ellis aka L-Digz is one of the new generation of Mancunian artists coming up - doing his own style and making his own moves. I first heard this on NouGold but since then it's been released as part of the free "Conceptions" mixtape, which you should definitely check out! Rare to hear a modern track tear along at this kind of speed but this stripped down self-produced number does, and Ellis flows over it with confidence and clarity. Perfect length as well!
Leaders Of The New School : Transformers
Supreme Radio in Leeds back in the day is to be thanked for introducing me to this tune! For those who are older but not Hip-Hop savvy, or those who are pretty young, this is the group Busta Rhymes was in before he became a solo artist. This is from their debut "Future Without A Past," which everyone should at least hear! Dante Ross kills the production on this one, and the scratching tops it off - funnily enough though, not many transforms...
Louie Rankin : The Sting
A second straight pirate radio discovery for me - released back in 1992, someone played part of the track once and I flipped out over it! Despite that, I never quite managed to come up with the money for the "Typewriter" EP before it disappeared from the shops - and this is the pre-internet era, remember! A few years later when I came to Manchester in '96 I found it for a bargain price on vinyl and here it is for your enjoyment :) Louie Rankin doesn't have a huge discography - most of his stuff is in the 1991-1993 period though he does go back as far as 1983 - but he's been in at least one film, playing Teddy Bruk Shut in "Shottas" (not a great film, but some quality quotes!)
[Alchemist] Mobb Deep : Got It Twisted (Instrumental)
Has this Mobb single already been forgotten? I think I'm the only DJ who ever plays this out! Alchemist uses the Thomas Dolby single "She Blinded Me With Science" and made it evil. I approve.
James Brown : Funky President (People It's Bad)
Everyone should know this one. Not to say you already do, it's just that you should! Apparently this track was written about Gerald Ford, but I'm repurposing it on some President Obama business. Opening track on the "Reality" album, which came into my record collection via my father's record collection ;)
LL Cool J : Cheesy Rat Blues
I can't think of a song anywhere that better (or more humourously) describes how it goes when you've fallen off! Great album track from LL's "Mama Said Knock You Out" LP. I did wonder how based in reality it was, but LL says it wasn't autobiographical. I can't help but picture him though! On the music side, Marley Marl's on production rocking that same sample that you might know from the ATCQ "Scenario" remix, and this track also provides the hook sample for another track on this same LL album - "The Boomin' System." That's good recycling right there.
Chris Lowe : Round & Round
Not the one from the Pet Shop Boys :) This is a low-key man with an interesting story - a student of the late, great Paul C, he was most active in the late 80s/early 90s and produced classic tracks like Stezo's "It's My Turn" before largely dropping even further into the background, apart from the occasional release. The "Black Life" album this track is taken from was released in 2004 but I could have sworn I read somewhere it was recorded several years before. Anyway, if you like the no-nonsense classic production style, and good-time rhymes in the vein of Large Professor - get yourself a copy!
N.E.R.D. : Lazer Gun
(Yes, with a 'z.') We need to get rid of this "bonus track" business. To think that any number of people who bought the 2008 "Seeing Sounds" album might have missed out on this song makes me sad inside.
Ski Beatz : Ticket For 2 (Instrumental)
This needs to be on an airline commercial! Super-smooth production from the man behind Camp Lo's biggest tracks and some of the best of Jay-Z's first album. Got this on a 12" single - the main mix of the track has Camp Lo on the mic. Allow this to float you beautifully into the closer for this month...
Jazzanova : Takes You Back (Unexpected Dub)
So fresh, so clean :) One of less than thirty "five star" tracks on my iPod, it could have earned them just for that "I don't wanna lose you..." section at the start of the second verse - don't know why, just does it for me! The crew out of Berlin smack it out of the park on the production of this track from their debut album "In Between," with Desney Bailey supplying the vocals. The magazines might call it "nu-jazz," but whatever the label, it's quality and still a great listen ten years after release.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Look behind the camera..."
- Songvibe
Tough selection this month - decided I wanted to try and keep the same tempo through the whole episode only to find lots of tunes I quite fancied playing were 5 or 6 BPM slower! Still, the restriction made me dig a little harder and I think it's another good set. We start off in face-smashing mode and go from there...
Playlist/Notes
Hostyle : Guilty
No flash, no glamour - just a rugged street record! You can't expect anything less from a member of the ferocious Screwball. Hostyle attacks Godfather Don's beat not with any particular complexity but just a straight blast of aggression. You know what? Sometimes that's just what has to be done. This is the A-side of a great 2002 12" which I'll definitely be revisiting in a future episode...
donwill + suhBURB : Guilty
I was flicking through a few things when I realised I had this - no way was I passing up the opportunity to blend it in here. Same sample, not a massively different usage but the drum/percussion change definitely gives it a different feel. This is the second time I've dipped into the "Suburban Sprawl" album (last time was way back on episode 18!), and it's another winner. Short but sweet!
[Salaam Remi] Nas : Made You Look (Instrumental)
One of those classic Hip-Hop 12"s that Nas always has always had the ability to drop throughout his career. Of course here, we go without the vocals and just run with Salaam Remi's fierce beat, slowing down the classic Incredible Bongo Band "Apache" break (one of the foundation breaks of Hip-Hop, if you didn't know) and morphing it just slightly into something to get the guns out to!
Bekay ft. Canibus, Shuko, Heltah Skeltah, Chino XL, DJ Revolution : Do This
First heard just the Canibus verse on a promo mix for Coalmine Records a few years ago and thought it was incredible, but didn't know where to actually get the track! Ran into it while flicking through Spotify though and snatched up a digital copy. I can't say I know much about Bekay other than that he's from Brooklyn (BK!), but it's a solid enough track - I think he gets outshone by the guests though. That said, you want to put together a hot product at the end of the day so why go for people you can easily beat just to satisfy vanity?
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles : More Levels
Definitely one of my favourites from the "Kolexxxion" album (which I was lucky enough to get signed this month, thanks guys!) Reminds me a little of the Jackson 5 "Walk On By" version with the organ sounds and drumming but I don't think that it's necessarily sampled from there. The switch-up for the hook is ridiculously ill though, the guitars make it and the cut-ins add that extra flavour to blast it over the top.
Dynas ft. Skam : Dime Out
Apologies for the sound quality - I think it's the original recording itself. Heavy tune though, coming from the "Beyond Real Experience Vol.2" album, which I should note is available as a download for only a fiver right now! This is an example of something Dynas has wisely done all over his catalogue - get on a DJ Spinna beat :) Can't say fairer than that!
The Away Team ft. Billionz : Awesome
Bit of a funny one from the North Carolina group's "Training Day" album. I have half a feeling the main keyboard line may put some people off, and the lyrics aren't absolutely slaying it, but the drums are cracking and when the bass comes in during the hook...it comes in like an air raid siren on the low! Khrysis definitely snuck that little move in there to great effect. Even if you don't like this one as much as I do, I think it's fair to say the full album is worth having at the right price.
[J Dilla] Slum Village : Fall In Love (Chopped)
I thought the drums in "Awesome" were strikingly similar to the ones here (if not identical), so I thought it would be a good blend - however, as I don't have an instrumental of this Slum track I decided to do a little chopping up on Serato to create a little instrumental bed. Could probably have gone and done lots of edits to make it flawless but thought I'd keep the rawness :) Just to speak a little on the track itself - I got this on the vinyl of the classic "Fantastic, Vol 2" album and only found out much later that there were some issues with the sample clearance once it had been released and so a re-release had to be done, replacing this track with a remix. As such, a lot of people don't actually have the version you hear here but it's well worth seeking out as it's a gem.
Suga Free, Pimpin' Young : Succa Repellent
Decided to have a quick Spotify search to see if there was anything new from Suga Free and stumbled on an album called "Thunder & Lightning" alongside a guy called Pimpin' Young I hadn't heard of previously. Can't get enough of that hook and the beat - though due to the fact I bought this as a digital release, I'm not sure who produced it. I'd definitely like to see a consistent effort industry-wide to have credits included with digital music purchases...as a member of the liner note generation!
Dogg Pound : A Good Day
Took a chance on this one when Rap & Soul Mail Order were clearing out all kinds of stock just on the strength of the Dogg Pound name and I was rewarded; great summery BBQ tune, which is of course why I'm playing it in the damp and cold of the British autumn. Daz is on the production and gives it a classic West Coast sound. The 12" I have it on is titled as above, but a bit of searching around suggests this is also on the "Dogg Chit" album as "Itz A Good Azz Day" - might be worth checking out that album to see if there's anything else good on there.
Lyricalligraphy ft. Truthos Mufasa : David's Slingshot
When I first heard Lyricalligraphy rhyme he must have been somewhere around 14, as part of a whole bunch of guys on the mic at Manchester's Contact Theatre. In the cities, a lot of young guys try to rhyme and never improve, but I can say in the years that followed that he's continued to work at his craft and takes it seriously. Right now he's part of the new Manchester crew Ape Cult (who tore down In The Loop this month), and this track is from his debut EP "Lyricalligraphy Vol.1" which you can get on Bandcamp at a price of your choosing - worth checking out! Production is from Jus-Ru on this one, working a classic jazz sample but importantly not doing too much to it - nice.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Tiombe Lockhart : I Got You
The right kind of jazzy feel to follow up the last song I think! A beautiful wind-down track from the 2005 "Triple P" album, with Waajeed and Saadiq putting that Detroit shuffle into it and Tiombe hitting just the right tone on the vocals. The album is excellent and well worth having if you like an ever-so-slightly jazzy, left-field aspect to your Hip-Hop!
Kuartz : Back About
Another track from the North West, this time from Oldham - just a few miles around the M60. You've probably heard his beats here before and this is one I managed to miss the first time around. He's not got much up on Soundcloud right now but keep an eye on it, and if you're looking for beats, you know where to go!
Public Enemy ft. KRS-ONE : Unstoppable
Not your normal Public Enemy sound! I personally think this is a great record; an album cut from the "He Got Game" soundtrack (an excellent LP), with what I believe is the first collaboration between these two giants. Funnily enough, it's one of the few tracks on the album without an obvious connection to the film, so you just have to appreciate it for the quality. Gary G-Wiz is on the very low-key beat, and his cutting in of the woman humming in the hook is genius - the perfect seasoning on top. Now that we've seen KRS collab on albums with Buckshot and Bumpy Knuckles, reckon there's any chance of getting a full project with Chuck D?
Common ft. Chantay Savage : Reminding Me (Of Sef) (Roots Remix)
Common reminising on the old days, with a lot of detail I'd imagine you'd really appreciate if you're from Chicago and remember the places and the styles. I don't think this is a remix by The Roots - I thought from the sleeve notes that this was just the name of the remix! I think that Ynot produces this version which was on the flip of the "Reminding Me..." 12", which in turn was a release from the "One Day It'll All Make Sense" album. If you know better, please correct me!
M-1 ft. K'naan & Stori James : Til We Get There
I'd never given this a proper listen through until I was selecting tunes for this month, so was pleased to find it was just the right song for this space. Despite the fact it slipped under my radar, apparently this was a relatively successful tune that was even getting some radio rotation! A strong, positive track from half of dead prez alongside the Somali MC K'naan, who is very much about message music himself. This version comes from a promo 12" - if you like it, then you'll probably want to explore M-1's "Confidential" album.
Pete Rock : For The People
Nice head-nodding beat with the right feel for the autumn. One of the many dope beats on the man from Mount Vernon's "Petestrumentals" album from the BBE "The Beat Generation" series. If you like Pete Rock, you should definitely have this one!
Slaughterhouse : The Other Side
I was looking for tracks produced by Florida's J.U.S.T.I.C.E League (not to be confused with the North Carolina Justus League) largely because I can't stand listening to Rick Ross and when I saw they'd done something for the MC supergroup Slaughterhouse, I knew it was going to be worth a listen. Wasn't disappointed! The production almost sounds like a Hip-Hop take on indie, but in a good way, and the singer on the hook makes it work brilliantly. In fact, it reminds me a little of "Wonderwall" musically, except I actually like this record :) The lyrics on this were what really made me stop and listen though; Royce, Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden going introspective with stories of the struggles of life. Crooked I wasn't on this one, but he is on an unreleased extended version I just stumbled on! This track is on the deluxe version of the "Welcome To: Our House" LP...why can't we just have one version of each album?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Look behind the camera..."
- Songvibe
Tough selection this month - decided I wanted to try and keep the same tempo through the whole episode only to find lots of tunes I quite fancied playing were 5 or 6 BPM slower! Still, the restriction made me dig a little harder and I think it's another good set. We start off in face-smashing mode and go from there...
Playlist/Notes
Hostyle : Guilty
No flash, no glamour - just a rugged street record! You can't expect anything less from a member of the ferocious Screwball. Hostyle attacks Godfather Don's beat not with any particular complexity but just a straight blast of aggression. You know what? Sometimes that's just what has to be done. This is the A-side of a great 2002 12" which I'll definitely be revisiting in a future episode...
donwill + suhBURB : Guilty
I was flicking through a few things when I realised I had this - no way was I passing up the opportunity to blend it in here. Same sample, not a massively different usage but the drum/percussion change definitely gives it a different feel. This is the second time I've dipped into the "Suburban Sprawl" album (last time was way back on episode 18!), and it's another winner. Short but sweet!
[Salaam Remi] Nas : Made You Look (Instrumental)
One of those classic Hip-Hop 12"s that Nas always has always had the ability to drop throughout his career. Of course here, we go without the vocals and just run with Salaam Remi's fierce beat, slowing down the classic Incredible Bongo Band "Apache" break (one of the foundation breaks of Hip-Hop, if you didn't know) and morphing it just slightly into something to get the guns out to!
Bekay ft. Canibus, Shuko, Heltah Skeltah, Chino XL, DJ Revolution : Do This
First heard just the Canibus verse on a promo mix for Coalmine Records a few years ago and thought it was incredible, but didn't know where to actually get the track! Ran into it while flicking through Spotify though and snatched up a digital copy. I can't say I know much about Bekay other than that he's from Brooklyn (BK!), but it's a solid enough track - I think he gets outshone by the guests though. That said, you want to put together a hot product at the end of the day so why go for people you can easily beat just to satisfy vanity?
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles : More Levels
Definitely one of my favourites from the "Kolexxxion" album (which I was lucky enough to get signed this month, thanks guys!) Reminds me a little of the Jackson 5 "Walk On By" version with the organ sounds and drumming but I don't think that it's necessarily sampled from there. The switch-up for the hook is ridiculously ill though, the guitars make it and the cut-ins add that extra flavour to blast it over the top.
Dynas ft. Skam : Dime Out
Apologies for the sound quality - I think it's the original recording itself. Heavy tune though, coming from the "Beyond Real Experience Vol.2" album, which I should note is available as a download for only a fiver right now! This is an example of something Dynas has wisely done all over his catalogue - get on a DJ Spinna beat :) Can't say fairer than that!
The Away Team ft. Billionz : Awesome
Bit of a funny one from the North Carolina group's "Training Day" album. I have half a feeling the main keyboard line may put some people off, and the lyrics aren't absolutely slaying it, but the drums are cracking and when the bass comes in during the hook...it comes in like an air raid siren on the low! Khrysis definitely snuck that little move in there to great effect. Even if you don't like this one as much as I do, I think it's fair to say the full album is worth having at the right price.
[J Dilla] Slum Village : Fall In Love (Chopped)
I thought the drums in "Awesome" were strikingly similar to the ones here (if not identical), so I thought it would be a good blend - however, as I don't have an instrumental of this Slum track I decided to do a little chopping up on Serato to create a little instrumental bed. Could probably have gone and done lots of edits to make it flawless but thought I'd keep the rawness :) Just to speak a little on the track itself - I got this on the vinyl of the classic "Fantastic, Vol 2" album and only found out much later that there were some issues with the sample clearance once it had been released and so a re-release had to be done, replacing this track with a remix. As such, a lot of people don't actually have the version you hear here but it's well worth seeking out as it's a gem.
Suga Free, Pimpin' Young : Succa Repellent
Decided to have a quick Spotify search to see if there was anything new from Suga Free and stumbled on an album called "Thunder & Lightning" alongside a guy called Pimpin' Young I hadn't heard of previously. Can't get enough of that hook and the beat - though due to the fact I bought this as a digital release, I'm not sure who produced it. I'd definitely like to see a consistent effort industry-wide to have credits included with digital music purchases...as a member of the liner note generation!
Dogg Pound : A Good Day
Took a chance on this one when Rap & Soul Mail Order were clearing out all kinds of stock just on the strength of the Dogg Pound name and I was rewarded; great summery BBQ tune, which is of course why I'm playing it in the damp and cold of the British autumn. Daz is on the production and gives it a classic West Coast sound. The 12" I have it on is titled as above, but a bit of searching around suggests this is also on the "Dogg Chit" album as "Itz A Good Azz Day" - might be worth checking out that album to see if there's anything else good on there.
Lyricalligraphy ft. Truthos Mufasa : David's Slingshot
When I first heard Lyricalligraphy rhyme he must have been somewhere around 14, as part of a whole bunch of guys on the mic at Manchester's Contact Theatre. In the cities, a lot of young guys try to rhyme and never improve, but I can say in the years that followed that he's continued to work at his craft and takes it seriously. Right now he's part of the new Manchester crew Ape Cult (who tore down In The Loop this month), and this track is from his debut EP "Lyricalligraphy Vol.1" which you can get on Bandcamp at a price of your choosing - worth checking out! Production is from Jus-Ru on this one, working a classic jazz sample but importantly not doing too much to it - nice.
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Tiombe Lockhart : I Got You
The right kind of jazzy feel to follow up the last song I think! A beautiful wind-down track from the 2005 "Triple P" album, with Waajeed and Saadiq putting that Detroit shuffle into it and Tiombe hitting just the right tone on the vocals. The album is excellent and well worth having if you like an ever-so-slightly jazzy, left-field aspect to your Hip-Hop!
Kuartz : Back About
Another track from the North West, this time from Oldham - just a few miles around the M60. You've probably heard his beats here before and this is one I managed to miss the first time around. He's not got much up on Soundcloud right now but keep an eye on it, and if you're looking for beats, you know where to go!
Public Enemy ft. KRS-ONE : Unstoppable
Not your normal Public Enemy sound! I personally think this is a great record; an album cut from the "He Got Game" soundtrack (an excellent LP), with what I believe is the first collaboration between these two giants. Funnily enough, it's one of the few tracks on the album without an obvious connection to the film, so you just have to appreciate it for the quality. Gary G-Wiz is on the very low-key beat, and his cutting in of the woman humming in the hook is genius - the perfect seasoning on top. Now that we've seen KRS collab on albums with Buckshot and Bumpy Knuckles, reckon there's any chance of getting a full project with Chuck D?
Common ft. Chantay Savage : Reminding Me (Of Sef) (Roots Remix)
Common reminising on the old days, with a lot of detail I'd imagine you'd really appreciate if you're from Chicago and remember the places and the styles. I don't think this is a remix by The Roots - I thought from the sleeve notes that this was just the name of the remix! I think that Ynot produces this version which was on the flip of the "Reminding Me..." 12", which in turn was a release from the "One Day It'll All Make Sense" album. If you know better, please correct me!
M-1 ft. K'naan & Stori James : Til We Get There
I'd never given this a proper listen through until I was selecting tunes for this month, so was pleased to find it was just the right song for this space. Despite the fact it slipped under my radar, apparently this was a relatively successful tune that was even getting some radio rotation! A strong, positive track from half of dead prez alongside the Somali MC K'naan, who is very much about message music himself. This version comes from a promo 12" - if you like it, then you'll probably want to explore M-1's "Confidential" album.
Pete Rock : For The People
Nice head-nodding beat with the right feel for the autumn. One of the many dope beats on the man from Mount Vernon's "Petestrumentals" album from the BBE "The Beat Generation" series. If you like Pete Rock, you should definitely have this one!
Slaughterhouse : The Other Side
I was looking for tracks produced by Florida's J.U.S.T.I.C.E League (not to be confused with the North Carolina Justus League) largely because I can't stand listening to Rick Ross and when I saw they'd done something for the MC supergroup Slaughterhouse, I knew it was going to be worth a listen. Wasn't disappointed! The production almost sounds like a Hip-Hop take on indie, but in a good way, and the singer on the hook makes it work brilliantly. In fact, it reminds me a little of "Wonderwall" musically, except I actually like this record :) The lyrics on this were what really made me stop and listen though; Royce, Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden going introspective with stories of the struggles of life. Crooked I wasn't on this one, but he is on an unreleased extended version I just stumbled on! This track is on the deluxe version of the "Welcome To: Our House" LP...why can't we just have one version of each album?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Loyalty's worth more than wealth."
- Cormega
Is is true that life begins at forty? If so, then there are a lot of good records still to come! Thanks for staying with me, and I hope you all find time to spread the word to other music fans. It's my birthday this month (not my fortieth, mind!), so I thought I'd start the episode by pulling out the kind of tunes that used to get me going in my younger days. Some of them may seem like odd choices, but without the podcast they'd be sitting lonely on the shelf...hope they make you smile at least!
Playlist/Notes
K-Solo : Sneak Tip
This is exactly the kind of track I mentioned in my very first post on this site - I heard it at home on pirate radio but then didn't hear anywhere else, ever! If you're an 80s/90s fan you might remember K-Solo was a part of EPMD's Hit Squad collective and despite coming out with the style of spelling things on records once slipped up with the lyric "like a B-R-I-D in the S-K-Y." Oops! Anyway, let's not get too distracted - this is a beast of an album cut from the 1992 "Time's Up" LP, and Solo spins a tale somewhere between "The Wizard Of Oz," the story of Little Miss Bossy, and a copy of Sneaker Freaker magazine. The track is somewhere around 107bpm which is rare as hen's teeth twenty years down the line but he flows comfortably over the drum-heavy Sam Sneed beat. Remember him from the Death Row days?
Count Bass D : 118th St.
Word to Nashville! Nice little instrumental track tucked away at the end of the A-side of Count Bass D's "Internationally Known" 12” - good for breakers, perhaps?
Jane Child : I Got News For You
Yeah, going left-field on you early! I always loved Jane Child's "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" but didn't get a copy of her self-titled debut album until this year, though it was released in 1990. Anyway, having got it I found some tracks on there I loved and this is one. Sonically, it is very much of its time and couldn't be confused with anything more recent, but I think that's part of the charm. The vocal delivery really does it for me on this, really cold in the verses. However, I suspect this is a bit of a Marmite track for my audience :)
Ultramagnetic MCs : Traveling At The Speed Of Thought
First heard this one on one of Morgan Khan's "Streetsounds" compilations borrowed from the library. When years later I got a copy of "Critical Beatdown," despite its quality I was quite disappointed to hear the album version! This was an early case of the remix being a drastic departure from the original track - if anything, this one sounds a little like a Beastie Boys record. As much as I love it, it doesn't reflect the complexity of what Ultra were doing lyrically at the time - worth hearing though!
Force 'n' K-Zee : Jam (Hip-Hop Jam)
In my early days of building a vinyl collection, it's fair to say my budget was pretty limited. If I saw something cheap (we're talking pennies), and it was Hip-Hop, I'd probably just buy it - especially if it had ever been mentioned in Hip-Hop Connection. This is very much a piece from that era - a 1992 UK release from a crew perhaps best known for recording a Hip-Hop version of "Lord Of The Dance" which showed up on a British Knights advert once upon a time! Although I didn't realise it at the time, I think both MCs were pretty young when they recorded this, but they do their thing. However, despite the heavy rolling drums, the star of this track is for me the vocal sampling of Guy's "Teddy's Jam 2" - one of the few New Jack Swing records I actually liked!
Professor Griff & The Last Asiatic Disciples : Last Asiatic Disciples
I'd be amazed if even 5% of listeners have even heard this track! During Professor Griff's suspension/expulsion from Public Enemy, he signed with Skyywalker Records (headed by Luke from the 2 Live Crew) and took to the mic in a way he hadn't with PE up to that point. His 1990 debut "Pawns In The Game" wasn't a huge record and isn't a "must own" but did have a few solid cuts and this might have been the pick of them. Co-produced by Clay Dixon and Griff, you can definitely hear that Miami influence in those bass drops, while Griff and the rest of the group go Afrocentric on the mic. Glad to get a chance to dust this one off.
Massive Attack : Unfinished Sympathy (Instrumental)
You already know - or you should, at least. This is a classic British record, the second single from the debut Massive Attack album "Blue Lines." They would still be talked about now if this has been the only record they'd ever done, but they've come through style and lineup changes over the years and are still active. Apparently this instrumental was played on the last lap of all the distance races at the recent Olympics, but I didn't realise that; it just made for an interesting blend!
Raekwon : Respect Power
One of those "lost" soundtrack records. Remember when so many films had Hip-Hop and/or R&B soundtracks with most of the tracks having nothing to do with the film whatsoever? Yeah, like that. This was from the soundtrack to a film called "Whiteboys" which I have never seen, or for that matter heard of anyone else seeing, but there we go. Rae is on the street tip with the lyrics, nothing mind-bending but pretty dope - there is actually a radio version of this track that I prefer, but didn't realise it until I picked up this album and found the lyrics were different than I'd heard on a download many moons ago. That beat is still the same though, Infinite Arkatechs coming with some seriously dark production, all echoes and swooping sounds - love it.
Mic Geronimo : Lifecheck
Somehow this one didn't make the full impact on me the first time I heard it but it fits in nicely here and on revisiting it for this podcast, I found a new appreciation for it. Coming out of Queens, Mic had this on his debut album "The Natural" back in 1995 and Da Beatminerz blessed him with a beat which is just pure mid-90s all the way. Very nice, and well engineered - those ringing sounds had me checking if a phone or something was going off in the room, even on a pretty basic system!
Kool Keith : Livin' Astro
Kool Keith can always be relied on to come with slightly bizarre lyrics, though this is relatively tame compared to some of his crazier output! I always found his stuff a bit up-and-down outside the Ultramagnetic MCs albums, but there would always be something good on every release. This cut is from the solid "Black Elvis/Lost In Space" album which had some good tracks on including some of the last work by the great Roger Troutman. Someone working under the name "Nightcrawler" produced this, presumably before jetting back off in the spaceship...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dubble O and Sparkz : Children Of The Stars
Carrying on the space theme. Manchester's Mouse Outfit are killing it right now with some absolute gems - you heard one last month and here they come again! Sparkz is back on vocals and brings along another Mancunian up-and-comer in Dubble O of Mothership Connection to spit some quality lyrics - very refreshing to hear stuff like this from the younger generation. You can get a copy of this from iTunes - don't sleep!
Cormega : Take These Jewels
A record coming from street experience, but a message everyone can relate to I think. Deep album cut from Mega's "The True Meaning" album, which is excellent from start to finish and still gets plenty of play from me ten years after its first release. DJ Hi-Tek (who most will know from Reflection Eternal) is on production, with some interesting sonic things going on - the interplay between the repeated guitar licks and the swirling background sounds is a winner.
[D-Dot] Puff Daddy & The Family : All About The Benjamins (Instrumental)
One of the all-time great beats. A raw gem from the Bad Boy catalogue, D-Dot made sure Puffy didn't get to this to add any extra "shine" and the result is flawless. There's loads of good history and trivia on this track, and rather than repeat it all here I'll direct you to just one interesting link. The beat itself is based around a sample from Love Unlimited Orchestra's "I Did It For Love" and showcases Industry Rule #2021 - slowing anything down makes it better :)
Jean Grae : Kill Screen (aka Steve Wiebe)
Outrageous new release! Jean Grae has always been one of the best out there, but she really shines on this new cut. To quote the lady herself; "540 words. 683 syllables. 52.54 syllables per sentence. Rappity Rap." Weak MCs, step your games up. This is apparently a cut from her upcoming album "Gotham Down," but got a bit of an early leak. Not sure who produced it but they leave a lot of room for the lyrics to breathe, which is just what was needed. Ill. Oh, and if you don't know who Steve Wiebe is? Watch this film... (seriously, it's fantastic)
Kardinal Offishall : BaKardi Slang
I know a few people who'll be loving the fact I managed to include this one! It was a single (from the "Quest For Fire : Firestarter, Vol 1" LP), did have a video, but I'm not sure it was a huge hit - shame, as it's a quality record. In the tradition of tracks like "Ebonics" by Big L or Karl Hinds' "Don Gramma," Kardi breaks down some of the local (Toronto) slang for the outsiders; with a lot of West Indian migration to Canada (got family there myself) over the years, a lot of it is actually not too different to what you might hear in some parts of the UK! When it comes to beats, I'm always more of a sample than a keyboard fan but Solitair's production on this is serious, with some nicely done synth work over Al Green-ish drums. A banger.
Sean Price : Jamaican
Staying with the West Indian vibe for another track! I've only got the radio version of this one, too bad it needed so many cuts! Quality lyrics from Ruck though, just thugging it out on an ignorance excursion. Production is by Khrysis, using the classic Sister Nancy "Bam Bam" - and as my man Mathmatics noticed first, check how the tiny snatches of vocal sample leaking through sound a bit like "Sean P!" You can find a full version of this on the "Master P" mixtape, which I'll definitely be coming back to for a future selection.
Jay-Z : In My Lifetime (Remix)
Only heard this for the first time this month; grabbed the "Streets Is Watching" soundtrack in a sale at Chorlton's King Bee Records for half price and this sombre number was on the end of one of the sides. Historically interesting because while the original "In My Lifetime" was Jay-Z's debut single, this remix was done by his mentor - and later nemesis - Big Jaz aka Jaz-O. Best friends become strangers...
[Q-Tip] Mobb Deep : Temperature's Rising (Instrumental)
This might be my favourite track on "The Infamous," even ahead of "Shook Ones Pt II," which everyone likes! Just keeping it to Q-Tip's cracking intro drums here, but then finishing the show with a nice blend into...
Patrice Rushen : Where There Is Love
...which was sampled to give the Mobb track its beautiful melody and bassline. This is a classic from the ridiculously multi-talented singer, composer, producer, instrumentalist...you name it. Get yourself this and a bunch more great tracks on the 1982 "Straight From The Heart" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Loyalty's worth more than wealth."
- Cormega
Is is true that life begins at forty? If so, then there are a lot of good records still to come! Thanks for staying with me, and I hope you all find time to spread the word to other music fans. It's my birthday this month (not my fortieth, mind!), so I thought I'd start the episode by pulling out the kind of tunes that used to get me going in my younger days. Some of them may seem like odd choices, but without the podcast they'd be sitting lonely on the shelf...hope they make you smile at least!
Playlist/Notes
K-Solo : Sneak Tip
This is exactly the kind of track I mentioned in my very first post on this site - I heard it at home on pirate radio but then didn't hear anywhere else, ever! If you're an 80s/90s fan you might remember K-Solo was a part of EPMD's Hit Squad collective and despite coming out with the style of spelling things on records once slipped up with the lyric "like a B-R-I-D in the S-K-Y." Oops! Anyway, let's not get too distracted - this is a beast of an album cut from the 1992 "Time's Up" LP, and Solo spins a tale somewhere between "The Wizard Of Oz," the story of Little Miss Bossy, and a copy of Sneaker Freaker magazine. The track is somewhere around 107bpm which is rare as hen's teeth twenty years down the line but he flows comfortably over the drum-heavy Sam Sneed beat. Remember him from the Death Row days?
Count Bass D : 118th St.
Word to Nashville! Nice little instrumental track tucked away at the end of the A-side of Count Bass D's "Internationally Known" 12” - good for breakers, perhaps?
Jane Child : I Got News For You
Yeah, going left-field on you early! I always loved Jane Child's "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" but didn't get a copy of her self-titled debut album until this year, though it was released in 1990. Anyway, having got it I found some tracks on there I loved and this is one. Sonically, it is very much of its time and couldn't be confused with anything more recent, but I think that's part of the charm. The vocal delivery really does it for me on this, really cold in the verses. However, I suspect this is a bit of a Marmite track for my audience :)
Ultramagnetic MCs : Traveling At The Speed Of Thought
First heard this one on one of Morgan Khan's "Streetsounds" compilations borrowed from the library. When years later I got a copy of "Critical Beatdown," despite its quality I was quite disappointed to hear the album version! This was an early case of the remix being a drastic departure from the original track - if anything, this one sounds a little like a Beastie Boys record. As much as I love it, it doesn't reflect the complexity of what Ultra were doing lyrically at the time - worth hearing though!
Force 'n' K-Zee : Jam (Hip-Hop Jam)
In my early days of building a vinyl collection, it's fair to say my budget was pretty limited. If I saw something cheap (we're talking pennies), and it was Hip-Hop, I'd probably just buy it - especially if it had ever been mentioned in Hip-Hop Connection. This is very much a piece from that era - a 1992 UK release from a crew perhaps best known for recording a Hip-Hop version of "Lord Of The Dance" which showed up on a British Knights advert once upon a time! Although I didn't realise it at the time, I think both MCs were pretty young when they recorded this, but they do their thing. However, despite the heavy rolling drums, the star of this track is for me the vocal sampling of Guy's "Teddy's Jam 2" - one of the few New Jack Swing records I actually liked!
Professor Griff & The Last Asiatic Disciples : Last Asiatic Disciples
I'd be amazed if even 5% of listeners have even heard this track! During Professor Griff's suspension/expulsion from Public Enemy, he signed with Skyywalker Records (headed by Luke from the 2 Live Crew) and took to the mic in a way he hadn't with PE up to that point. His 1990 debut "Pawns In The Game" wasn't a huge record and isn't a "must own" but did have a few solid cuts and this might have been the pick of them. Co-produced by Clay Dixon and Griff, you can definitely hear that Miami influence in those bass drops, while Griff and the rest of the group go Afrocentric on the mic. Glad to get a chance to dust this one off.
Massive Attack : Unfinished Sympathy (Instrumental)
You already know - or you should, at least. This is a classic British record, the second single from the debut Massive Attack album "Blue Lines." They would still be talked about now if this has been the only record they'd ever done, but they've come through style and lineup changes over the years and are still active. Apparently this instrumental was played on the last lap of all the distance races at the recent Olympics, but I didn't realise that; it just made for an interesting blend!
Raekwon : Respect Power
One of those "lost" soundtrack records. Remember when so many films had Hip-Hop and/or R&B soundtracks with most of the tracks having nothing to do with the film whatsoever? Yeah, like that. This was from the soundtrack to a film called "Whiteboys" which I have never seen, or for that matter heard of anyone else seeing, but there we go. Rae is on the street tip with the lyrics, nothing mind-bending but pretty dope - there is actually a radio version of this track that I prefer, but didn't realise it until I picked up this album and found the lyrics were different than I'd heard on a download many moons ago. That beat is still the same though, Infinite Arkatechs coming with some seriously dark production, all echoes and swooping sounds - love it.
Mic Geronimo : Lifecheck
Somehow this one didn't make the full impact on me the first time I heard it but it fits in nicely here and on revisiting it for this podcast, I found a new appreciation for it. Coming out of Queens, Mic had this on his debut album "The Natural" back in 1995 and Da Beatminerz blessed him with a beat which is just pure mid-90s all the way. Very nice, and well engineered - those ringing sounds had me checking if a phone or something was going off in the room, even on a pretty basic system!
Kool Keith : Livin' Astro
Kool Keith can always be relied on to come with slightly bizarre lyrics, though this is relatively tame compared to some of his crazier output! I always found his stuff a bit up-and-down outside the Ultramagnetic MCs albums, but there would always be something good on every release. This cut is from the solid "Black Elvis/Lost In Space" album which had some good tracks on including some of the last work by the great Roger Troutman. Someone working under the name "Nightcrawler" produced this, presumably before jetting back off in the spaceship...
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dubble O and Sparkz : Children Of The Stars
Carrying on the space theme. Manchester's Mouse Outfit are killing it right now with some absolute gems - you heard one last month and here they come again! Sparkz is back on vocals and brings along another Mancunian up-and-comer in Dubble O of Mothership Connection to spit some quality lyrics - very refreshing to hear stuff like this from the younger generation. You can get a copy of this from iTunes - don't sleep!
Cormega : Take These Jewels
A record coming from street experience, but a message everyone can relate to I think. Deep album cut from Mega's "The True Meaning" album, which is excellent from start to finish and still gets plenty of play from me ten years after its first release. DJ Hi-Tek (who most will know from Reflection Eternal) is on production, with some interesting sonic things going on - the interplay between the repeated guitar licks and the swirling background sounds is a winner.
[D-Dot] Puff Daddy & The Family : All About The Benjamins (Instrumental)
One of the all-time great beats. A raw gem from the Bad Boy catalogue, D-Dot made sure Puffy didn't get to this to add any extra "shine" and the result is flawless. There's loads of good history and trivia on this track, and rather than repeat it all here I'll direct you to just one interesting link. The beat itself is based around a sample from Love Unlimited Orchestra's "I Did It For Love" and showcases Industry Rule #2021 - slowing anything down makes it better :)
Jean Grae : Kill Screen (aka Steve Wiebe)
Outrageous new release! Jean Grae has always been one of the best out there, but she really shines on this new cut. To quote the lady herself; "540 words. 683 syllables. 52.54 syllables per sentence. Rappity Rap." Weak MCs, step your games up. This is apparently a cut from her upcoming album "Gotham Down," but got a bit of an early leak. Not sure who produced it but they leave a lot of room for the lyrics to breathe, which is just what was needed. Ill. Oh, and if you don't know who Steve Wiebe is? Watch this film... (seriously, it's fantastic)
Kardinal Offishall : BaKardi Slang
I know a few people who'll be loving the fact I managed to include this one! It was a single (from the "Quest For Fire : Firestarter, Vol 1" LP), did have a video, but I'm not sure it was a huge hit - shame, as it's a quality record. In the tradition of tracks like "Ebonics" by Big L or Karl Hinds' "Don Gramma," Kardi breaks down some of the local (Toronto) slang for the outsiders; with a lot of West Indian migration to Canada (got family there myself) over the years, a lot of it is actually not too different to what you might hear in some parts of the UK! When it comes to beats, I'm always more of a sample than a keyboard fan but Solitair's production on this is serious, with some nicely done synth work over Al Green-ish drums. A banger.
Sean Price : Jamaican
Staying with the West Indian vibe for another track! I've only got the radio version of this one, too bad it needed so many cuts! Quality lyrics from Ruck though, just thugging it out on an ignorance excursion. Production is by Khrysis, using the classic Sister Nancy "Bam Bam" - and as my man Mathmatics noticed first, check how the tiny snatches of vocal sample leaking through sound a bit like "Sean P!" You can find a full version of this on the "Master P" mixtape, which I'll definitely be coming back to for a future selection.
Jay-Z : In My Lifetime (Remix)
Only heard this for the first time this month; grabbed the "Streets Is Watching" soundtrack in a sale at Chorlton's King Bee Records for half price and this sombre number was on the end of one of the sides. Historically interesting because while the original "In My Lifetime" was Jay-Z's debut single, this remix was done by his mentor - and later nemesis - Big Jaz aka Jaz-O. Best friends become strangers...
[Q-Tip] Mobb Deep : Temperature's Rising (Instrumental)
This might be my favourite track on "The Infamous," even ahead of "Shook Ones Pt II," which everyone likes! Just keeping it to Q-Tip's cracking intro drums here, but then finishing the show with a nice blend into...
Patrice Rushen : Where There Is Love
...which was sampled to give the Mobb track its beautiful melody and bassline. This is a classic from the ridiculously multi-talented singer, composer, producer, instrumentalist...you name it. Get yourself this and a bunch more great tracks on the 1982 "Straight From The Heart" LP.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Olympic torch flaming, we burn so sweet..."
- U-God
Been a big month - since the last show I've had an amazing trip to New York and also had the chance to see the Olympics in London! The idea for this month's cover art popped into my head while I was down there and I decided to put it together and see how it looked. Shout out to the man Node of The Charles Report for the loan of the blue and yellow records!
And to give you the links I promised;
More Bounce's events - "Trillmatic" ft. DJ Boogie Blind and Large Professor & Cormega - Queens classic!
In The Loop's 3rd birthday - will be recovered from two nights before ready for this one!
...and did you wonder who the "Bartendaz" I mentioned are? Trust, they don't serve alcohol, they serve this...serious!
Now let's talk about the month's tunes...
Playlist/Notes
Call O' Da Wild : New York Undercover
I reckon 99% of people fall into two camps when it comes to this tune - those who've never heard it, and those who overlooked it! Tucked away towards the end of the DJ Muggs "Soul Assassins Chapter 1" producer project, it lacked star power on an album containing everyone from Dr.Dre to Mobb Deep to Wyclef, and I've never heard anyone else mention it, ever. I love that slow-burn feel to it though, almost completely without drums - a serious rarity on a Hip-Hop record!
[DJ Life] Quakes : Fat Track Format (Inst)
It can only be said that this record languished, utterly forgotten in my collection. I think I grabbed it in a selection of other vinyls because it was on Son Records, but then it just kind of got filed away. Pulled it out this month to have a quick listen and found this nice little beat on there. I do know this is a 1998 release, but that's the extent of my knowledge on this one!
Samantha James : Rain
I think I became aware of Samantha James' debut "Rise" album on Om Records after having it recommended to me by Amazon based on previous purchases - about 5 years after it was released though. When I saw it for a decent price I thought I'd take a chance on it and was very pleased with the decision! It's all very well-produced electronic stuff but with her quality singing and writing giving the album its soul. Almost to underscore that the quality of the actual song stands separately from the production, there's an acoustic version which is just as good if not better. I think it's beautiful!
Nas ft. Cocaine 80s : Where's The Love?
One of those bonus tracks that really is a good addition, this is on the deluxe version of the killer new album "Life Is Good." In keeping with one of the big themes of the album, Nas devotes a good chunk of the lyrics to talking about the decline of those once considered street big-shots in their day - and as one of the best writers of all time, he does it with skill. Chicago's No I.D. turns it out on the beat, rocking the same drums as 3rd Bass' "Brooklyn/Queens" and then going over that with the dark instrumentation. Cocaine 80s was a new name to me but is apparently a Chicago collective including No I.D, Common, and James Fauntleroy - I would have to guess it's him singing on the hook, and I love it, fits like a glove.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dr.Syntax, Sparkz, and Kosyne : Escape Music
Great new UK track, from the first listen it stood out as one I thought more people should hear. Music is provided by the on-the-rise Manchester crew The Mouse Outfit, whose live Hip-Hop shows are not to be missed if you've not had the chance to see them yet! They've really been putting the work in and hopefully will get that break. Alongside them on here are a quality trio of MCs - Dr.Syntax and Sparkz from Manchester, and Birmingham's Kosyne - who are all names to be watched. They've done this track as a free release, so grab yourself a copy here. While you're at it, have a look at the video helmed by bass man Defty - nice work!
Slum Village : La La
There's a version of this on the 2002 "Trinity (Past, Present, and Future)" album, but I'm playing this from a 2001 12" which seems a little more stripped down. Waajeed on production here, very understated.
DJ Spinna : Verbz
Just a little something from the "Compositions 2" instrumental vinyl. It feels like I know it from somewhere else though...did anyone ever rhyme on this?
Erule : Worldwide (Domination)
Fire. What a record! First heard this on a compilation I downloaded of "Hip-Hop you may have missed" or similar and it was the standout for me by a mile. In true older generation/DJ style, I had to have it on vinyl, but it turned out to be pretty tough to get - long out of print, and probably not a big seller the first time round! After balking at the first few Discogs appearances it made, I finally got in there and got a good copy at a price that didn't need me to sell (m)any organs. The track is stripped-down genius - more bass pulse than bassline, a few guitar licks and busy, super-snappy drum programming from a producer going by the name of King, and Erule (sometimes written as E-Rule) just annihilates the track with his precise, rapid-fire rhymes. An unsung classic, released in 1998 on Kinetic Productions - if you find a copy, don't let it go!
Cocoa Brovaz : Won On Won
From the "Rude Awakening" album, this is a good tune to get amped up with, and seems somehow newer than it is - can't believe this is 1997! Tek and Steele sound ready to jump out there and fight all the way through, and Sean Cane keeps the track bumping along underneath. I should play this one out more! Like a broken fishing line, no hook - simply doesn't need one. Clever use of the "One, one, one" sample though, took me a while to fully appreciate that it was being used as a soundalike to "Won On Won!"
Royce Da 5'9" : Hit 'Em
Keeping the aggro level up after the last track! Detroit veteran Royce needed to bring the fire out on delivery to keep up with the instrumental and does so in spades. DJ Premier is smacking the hell out of that piano with some crazy harsh electric guitar and some other weirdness dropping in, not to mention one of his trademark cut-up hooks. I think Royce was always one of those underrated when it comes to his writing, but in recent times with Slaughterhouse he's probably appreciated a little more.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Pos of De La Soul : Let Me Hear U Clap
Not only is this a great track, but the piano makes it blend really well with the Royce record too. Ill production from Jazzy Jeff, with some deep bass, skipping hits, and an unorthodox sampling of Don Blackman's "Holding You, Loving You" - not the piece that everyone else would have chosen, but if you really know the record you immediately recognise it (or at least I did)! Pos solos it on the mic with the skill you'd expect, as usual. If you want to hear more, you need DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" album, especially at the price I'm seeing it for right now!
[No I.D.] Nas : Loco-Motive (instrumental loop)
I just liked the vocals on the intro, and the loop itself is hard. Nothing else to be said, apart from "'Life Is Good' is an excellent album which everyone should be checking right now" :)
Wais P ft. Roc Marciano : Jewels On It
Brooklyn's pimp on the mic is back, swaggering all over this Statik Selektah beat alongside the gravelly, stream-of-crime-consciousness that is Roc Marciano! My understanding was that this was an "official leak" from an as-yet-unreleased album called "Pussy Rich," but last I heard the forthcoming album is to be titled "Pimpin' Saved My Life," so who knows? The beat may have a vaguely familiar feel, especially to UK listeners - same break as this big hit from a few years back, but seems a bit darker somehow. The seasoning is provided by the cutting up of Prodigy's vocal from "Keep It Thoro" on the hook - right on the money.
Fresh/High Society ft. Camp Lo : Solar Powered II
When I saw this online, I won't lie - it was the words "Camp Lo" that made me click on it. Didn't know about the Fresh/High Society, but the duo of AO and Balistik out of NY seem to be attracting attention in the right places! This remix of their original "Solar Powered" features the Lo on vocals and Ski Beatz on the track to conjour up some gorgeous summer vibes. Very welcome even when your city is suffering from permanent rainfall...
Saigon : Spit
One of two tracks that seemed to make my shortlist for the last few months but didn't quite fit - finally got it on! Low-bass, thumping track from the "All In A Day's Work" digital-only release with Statik Selektah, which as the name implies was apparently all completed in a single day. Worth checking if you're a Saigon fan but not a patch on the more recent "Greatest Story Never Told" LP which you should *all* already have bought!
Gappy Ranks : Stinkin Rich
Another oft-shortlisted track which just so happened to blend well with the Saigon, so made it in the end :) Heard this on Manchester's Peace FM one day driving back from work and quickly jumped online to try and find it for myself! I don't keep up with dancehall as much as I might, but I did find that Gappy is a UK artist from Harlesden signed to the famous Greensleeves label. As I bought this as a digital release, I'm finding it tough to find who did the riddim but appropriately it's very much on the digital end of the scale, right down to the vocals - I can forgive that, this time :) Autotune is virtually always overdone, but here it just kind of helps the vocal to slot in I think.
K-Murdock : Neo Geo
The Panacea producer and friend of the show is back with a new instrumental release "Beats From The East" which is available for...well, as much as you'd like to pay for it! This beat samples the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and has just a hint of the video game about it with the digital textures that make it up. Quality as usual.
M.O.P. : New York Salute
As much as I love this track, I think it's reasonable to assume it won't be adopted as an anthem by the New York Tourist Board. All the same, a big favourite since it came out on the 1998 "First Family 4 Life" album, M.O.P's third. With a cool, reflective beat like this, the stage is set for maybe a song about how peaceful life was back in the day, or about burning incense and doing yoga...naaaah! M.O.P produced the track and so it's their prerogative to yell over it about robbery, guns, and other local delights. Who are we to tell them "no?"
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Olympic torch flaming, we burn so sweet..."
- U-God
Been a big month - since the last show I've had an amazing trip to New York and also had the chance to see the Olympics in London! The idea for this month's cover art popped into my head while I was down there and I decided to put it together and see how it looked. Shout out to the man Node of The Charles Report for the loan of the blue and yellow records!
And to give you the links I promised;
More Bounce's events - "Trillmatic" ft. DJ Boogie Blind and Large Professor & Cormega - Queens classic!
In The Loop's 3rd birthday - will be recovered from two nights before ready for this one!
...and did you wonder who the "Bartendaz" I mentioned are? Trust, they don't serve alcohol, they serve this...serious!
Now let's talk about the month's tunes...
Playlist/Notes
Call O' Da Wild : New York Undercover
I reckon 99% of people fall into two camps when it comes to this tune - those who've never heard it, and those who overlooked it! Tucked away towards the end of the DJ Muggs "Soul Assassins Chapter 1" producer project, it lacked star power on an album containing everyone from Dr.Dre to Mobb Deep to Wyclef, and I've never heard anyone else mention it, ever. I love that slow-burn feel to it though, almost completely without drums - a serious rarity on a Hip-Hop record!
[DJ Life] Quakes : Fat Track Format (Inst)
It can only be said that this record languished, utterly forgotten in my collection. I think I grabbed it in a selection of other vinyls because it was on Son Records, but then it just kind of got filed away. Pulled it out this month to have a quick listen and found this nice little beat on there. I do know this is a 1998 release, but that's the extent of my knowledge on this one!
Samantha James : Rain
I think I became aware of Samantha James' debut "Rise" album on Om Records after having it recommended to me by Amazon based on previous purchases - about 5 years after it was released though. When I saw it for a decent price I thought I'd take a chance on it and was very pleased with the decision! It's all very well-produced electronic stuff but with her quality singing and writing giving the album its soul. Almost to underscore that the quality of the actual song stands separately from the production, there's an acoustic version which is just as good if not better. I think it's beautiful!
Nas ft. Cocaine 80s : Where's The Love?
One of those bonus tracks that really is a good addition, this is on the deluxe version of the killer new album "Life Is Good." In keeping with one of the big themes of the album, Nas devotes a good chunk of the lyrics to talking about the decline of those once considered street big-shots in their day - and as one of the best writers of all time, he does it with skill. Chicago's No I.D. turns it out on the beat, rocking the same drums as 3rd Bass' "Brooklyn/Queens" and then going over that with the dark instrumentation. Cocaine 80s was a new name to me but is apparently a Chicago collective including No I.D, Common, and James Fauntleroy - I would have to guess it's him singing on the hook, and I love it, fits like a glove.
The Mouse Outfit ft. Dr.Syntax, Sparkz, and Kosyne : Escape Music
Great new UK track, from the first listen it stood out as one I thought more people should hear. Music is provided by the on-the-rise Manchester crew The Mouse Outfit, whose live Hip-Hop shows are not to be missed if you've not had the chance to see them yet! They've really been putting the work in and hopefully will get that break. Alongside them on here are a quality trio of MCs - Dr.Syntax and Sparkz from Manchester, and Birmingham's Kosyne - who are all names to be watched. They've done this track as a free release, so grab yourself a copy here. While you're at it, have a look at the video helmed by bass man Defty - nice work!
Slum Village : La La
There's a version of this on the 2002 "Trinity (Past, Present, and Future)" album, but I'm playing this from a 2001 12" which seems a little more stripped down. Waajeed on production here, very understated.
DJ Spinna : Verbz
Just a little something from the "Compositions 2" instrumental vinyl. It feels like I know it from somewhere else though...did anyone ever rhyme on this?
Erule : Worldwide (Domination)
Fire. What a record! First heard this on a compilation I downloaded of "Hip-Hop you may have missed" or similar and it was the standout for me by a mile. In true older generation/DJ style, I had to have it on vinyl, but it turned out to be pretty tough to get - long out of print, and probably not a big seller the first time round! After balking at the first few Discogs appearances it made, I finally got in there and got a good copy at a price that didn't need me to sell (m)any organs. The track is stripped-down genius - more bass pulse than bassline, a few guitar licks and busy, super-snappy drum programming from a producer going by the name of King, and Erule (sometimes written as E-Rule) just annihilates the track with his precise, rapid-fire rhymes. An unsung classic, released in 1998 on Kinetic Productions - if you find a copy, don't let it go!
Cocoa Brovaz : Won On Won
From the "Rude Awakening" album, this is a good tune to get amped up with, and seems somehow newer than it is - can't believe this is 1997! Tek and Steele sound ready to jump out there and fight all the way through, and Sean Cane keeps the track bumping along underneath. I should play this one out more! Like a broken fishing line, no hook - simply doesn't need one. Clever use of the "One, one, one" sample though, took me a while to fully appreciate that it was being used as a soundalike to "Won On Won!"
Royce Da 5'9" : Hit 'Em
Keeping the aggro level up after the last track! Detroit veteran Royce needed to bring the fire out on delivery to keep up with the instrumental and does so in spades. DJ Premier is smacking the hell out of that piano with some crazy harsh electric guitar and some other weirdness dropping in, not to mention one of his trademark cut-up hooks. I think Royce was always one of those underrated when it comes to his writing, but in recent times with Slaughterhouse he's probably appreciated a little more.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Pos of De La Soul : Let Me Hear U Clap
Not only is this a great track, but the piano makes it blend really well with the Royce record too. Ill production from Jazzy Jeff, with some deep bass, skipping hits, and an unorthodox sampling of Don Blackman's "Holding You, Loving You" - not the piece that everyone else would have chosen, but if you really know the record you immediately recognise it (or at least I did)! Pos solos it on the mic with the skill you'd expect, as usual. If you want to hear more, you need DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" album, especially at the price I'm seeing it for right now!
[No I.D.] Nas : Loco-Motive (instrumental loop)
I just liked the vocals on the intro, and the loop itself is hard. Nothing else to be said, apart from "'Life Is Good' is an excellent album which everyone should be checking right now" :)
Wais P ft. Roc Marciano : Jewels On It
Brooklyn's pimp on the mic is back, swaggering all over this Statik Selektah beat alongside the gravelly, stream-of-crime-consciousness that is Roc Marciano! My understanding was that this was an "official leak" from an as-yet-unreleased album called "Pussy Rich," but last I heard the forthcoming album is to be titled "Pimpin' Saved My Life," so who knows? The beat may have a vaguely familiar feel, especially to UK listeners - same break as this big hit from a few years back, but seems a bit darker somehow. The seasoning is provided by the cutting up of Prodigy's vocal from "Keep It Thoro" on the hook - right on the money.
Fresh/High Society ft. Camp Lo : Solar Powered II
When I saw this online, I won't lie - it was the words "Camp Lo" that made me click on it. Didn't know about the Fresh/High Society, but the duo of AO and Balistik out of NY seem to be attracting attention in the right places! This remix of their original "Solar Powered" features the Lo on vocals and Ski Beatz on the track to conjour up some gorgeous summer vibes. Very welcome even when your city is suffering from permanent rainfall...
Saigon : Spit
One of two tracks that seemed to make my shortlist for the last few months but didn't quite fit - finally got it on! Low-bass, thumping track from the "All In A Day's Work" digital-only release with Statik Selektah, which as the name implies was apparently all completed in a single day. Worth checking if you're a Saigon fan but not a patch on the more recent "Greatest Story Never Told" LP which you should *all* already have bought!
Gappy Ranks : Stinkin Rich
Another oft-shortlisted track which just so happened to blend well with the Saigon, so made it in the end :) Heard this on Manchester's Peace FM one day driving back from work and quickly jumped online to try and find it for myself! I don't keep up with dancehall as much as I might, but I did find that Gappy is a UK artist from Harlesden signed to the famous Greensleeves label. As I bought this as a digital release, I'm finding it tough to find who did the riddim but appropriately it's very much on the digital end of the scale, right down to the vocals - I can forgive that, this time :) Autotune is virtually always overdone, but here it just kind of helps the vocal to slot in I think.
K-Murdock : Neo Geo
The Panacea producer and friend of the show is back with a new instrumental release "Beats From The East" which is available for...well, as much as you'd like to pay for it! This beat samples the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and has just a hint of the video game about it with the digital textures that make it up. Quality as usual.
M.O.P. : New York Salute
As much as I love this track, I think it's reasonable to assume it won't be adopted as an anthem by the New York Tourist Board. All the same, a big favourite since it came out on the 1998 "First Family 4 Life" album, M.O.P's third. With a cool, reflective beat like this, the stage is set for maybe a song about how peaceful life was back in the day, or about burning incense and doing yoga...naaaah! M.O.P produced the track and so it's their prerogative to yell over it about robbery, guns, and other local delights. Who are we to tell them "no?"
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"To my peoples that I lost along the way..."
- Nicole
"To the G, still life is too quick..."
- KMG
I was going in a completely different direction with the selection for this episode until I got the news that the MC KMG of Above The Law, one of my favourite groups, has suddenly passed away at the age of just 43. Once I processed the news, I knew I had to feature some of his classic rhymes on this episode, and so went about replanning the whole thing. I could have done a whole ATL episode but will hold that thought for now...in the meantime, appreciate him on the tracks I drop this month.
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : Adventures Of...
I'd been thinking about this as an opening tune for a couple of months, and this turned out to be the time for it. I originally picked this up as a promo 12" before the release of the "Legends" LP when I was in the second year of university...blew me away from the first listen! Straight away I called my fellow ATL fan Nick L to let him know they were back with more top material, and I know he agreed when he heard it. KMG brings his trademark low-key style on the second verse, Cold 187um (Big Hutch) fits in with the half-whispery flow over his own brooding beat, and Nicole Hithe rounds it off with her silky vocals. This here is the one...in keeping with several other tracks on "Legends" in particular, it speaks on the downside and the guilt of the street life, rather than the glorification some artists indulge in. I just found out this track was pretty much ripped wholesale on "Die Besten Tage Sind Gezählt" by Kool Savas and Lumidee, and let me say this - they weren't worthy.
[Godfather Don] Cormega : You Don't Want It (Instrumental)
Wanted a kind of low-key instrumental that could bridge the tracks on either side and rediscovered this one, the vocal version of which is on Cormega's "The Realness" LP. Stripped of the lyrics it becomes a little quieter, a little more haunting. Nice work by the talented Godfather Don.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Chase, Pt. II
Overlooked track from the 100% classic 1993 "Midnight Marauders" LP; there's just nothing not to like! From the Biz Markie vocal sample to the back-and-forth on the mic to the Steve Arrington "Beddie Bye" main groove, the Tribe produce an absolute winner. Should have been a single!
Capital Tax : The Masha
One of those 12"s best known to either obsessive collectors or those who just happened to hear it when it came out (like me). Caught this one on pirate radio back in 93, taped it, and then never heard it anywhere else again, or for that much else by them! About four or five years later I found a copy in a Manchester record shop and snatched it up :) I for some reason assumed they were a New York group but they're a four-man crew out of Oakland with one album to their name, 1993's "The Swoll Package." Production is by DJ Smooth G, rocking the same sample as EPMD's "Please Listen To My Demo" - in fact, the record in question is on a back episode of the podcast, if you can find it...
Xzibit ft. Defari, Goldie Loc, & Kokane : Rimz & Tirez
Hip-Hop spelling FTW :) One of those tracks that makes you wish you were rolling a vintage Cadillac in the sunshine in Cali...instead of waiting for the bus! The conga drums in the background are the key to the whole sound I think, with enough space in the main drum pattern to bring them out; the bassline is just the finishing touch. Great production by Soopafly! When it comes to the rhymes, I think Xzibit's verse on here might be my least favourite - mostly because it just doesn't seem to fit! The closing verse is fresh though, taking on the persona of a car being passed from owner to owner. Definitely one of the top tracks on the "Restless" album.
Little Brother : Light It Up (Nicolay Remix)
I was never a huge fan of the first version of this track, which was originally an inclusion on the "Whatever You Say" single. The lyrics were cool, but for some reason I just couldn't get into the beat even though I'm usually a big fan of 9th Wonder - fortunately, Utrecht's finest Nicolay saw fit to give it a complete remix on his "Dutch Masters, Vol 1" project! I don't know how easy that one is to find but there are some nice tracks on the vinyl sampler so it looks well worth having the full release.
Taana Gardner : Heartbeat
Bit of a classic single here! This 1981 release on West End Records was a red-hot record at the time and has survived in the consciousness of people who never even knew it thanks to the many, many records that have sampled that bassline! When you listen to/mix with it, you realise the handclaps are wayyy behind the beat, but then this isn't one of your Ableton constructions...
Above The Law : Mee vs. My Ego
KMG leads things off on the mic here, on a real dark vibe - definitely the killer verse on this one. That said, it's interesting to hear Cold 187um go all the way from his usual animated style into dancehall mode - you can tell it's the early-ish 90s ;) I could be wrong, but for my money in 1993 there was no-one making tracks that sounded like this. Funky with that bassline but also so haunting and disturbed...absolutely in a lane of its own. There are so many different little pieces going on sonically that you have to remind yourself that this is the era before computer-based production became practical! A great piece, perfectly placed as the last full track on the "Black Mafia Life" LP. If you like your Hip-Hop, that's a must-own album, no question.
Real Live : Get Down For Mine
If you know, then you know! Larry-O and K-Def only came together for one album but it was very dope indeed - the somewhat hard to get "The Turnaround : A Long Awaited Drama." Outside that though, we did get this - a monster track from the "High School High" soundtrack which takes yet another sample EPMD used (coincidence!) but makes it its own. K-Def definitely doesn't have the kind of high profile as a producer that his skills merit! You can find this track, as I did, on the B-side of the "Wu Wear : The Garment Renaissance" 12".
Nas : Take It In Blood
One of those low-key Nas classics, taken from his pivotal second album "It Was Written." The lyrics have been commented on at length but what I didn't know until recently about this tune is that the beat was submitted by Stretch of the Live Squad who died before the record was completed. As such, they only had a cassette copy to work with, and no multitrack. Always thought it sounded a little grimy quality-wise, and that explains it all. What a track to be remembered for though.
Paris : Check It Out Ch'All
Taken from his second album, "Sleeping With The Enemy," which was the one that led to him being dropped from his record label. In the post "Cop Killer" era, they did not want the heat from someone who went at the president on his album! I always imagined this song being performed live on a soundsystem on an outdoor basketball court, it's got that kind of feel. Great self-produced, block-party styled tune from the San Francisco native mostly known for his ferociously political lyrics; even on this track where he's ostensibly just showing his flow, he gets a good amount in. A track that unfairly sunk into relative obscurity I think.
[7L] Outerspace : 151
One of the Philadelphia crews affiliated with Jedi Mind Tricks, I can't say I know Outerspace's whole catalogue but got a couple of copies of the "Divine Evils" 12" and found this killer on the B-side; beat from Boston's 7L, better known for his work with the MC Esoteric. Sonic drama, no doubt.
Apollo Brown & O.C. : Signs
One of the best new songs I've heard in ages - short but sweet, if that's the right word. Another insanely talented producer out of Detroit, Apollo Brown managed to somehow pass me by up to this point but my man Ro let me know about this album ("Trophies") and one listen (not even all the way through) on Spotify was enough to have me online ordering the CD! As for O.C., you should already know :) The DITC legend flows straight through here with some serious lyrics on the world today. Top rating.
Above The Law : Black Superman
Almost certainly ATL's best known track, this was the big single/video from the now out-of-print "Uncle Sam's Curse" LP; I remember that album took a while to really grow on me, but it's a definite classic. Of all the songs on the album, it's probably the closest to the "West Coast" sound most people would associate with the term (along with "Return Of The Real Shit"), and as such sounds very much of its time. Nice use of the talkbox too!
Sneaker Pimps : 6 Underground
I think I first heard this on some music TV channel in my parents' house - loved the lightness of the sound along with the Hip-Hop-styled drums (not to mention the De La sample)! A bigger hit in the UK than probably anywhere, but apparently it's been used in several films so they should be seeing some nice cheques (UK spelling) off the back of it :) This was the lead single from the "Becoming X" album, when Kelli Dayton was still in the group - it was a shame when she left, I thought her vocals really suited, but nothing lasts forever...
Nightmares On Wax ft. Sarah Winton : Finer
Late night Leeds coolness :) DJ Ease is a Leeds veteran and a huge influence on the music that would eventually be labelled "trip-hop." Primarily based around the low end, the production leaves lots of room for Sarah Winton's spacey, breathy vocal. Hands down my favourite cut on the "Carboot Soul" LP.
Grand Puba, Sadat X, Sir Menelik : 7XL
This was a last minute inclusion - was going to stop the segment after the last track but the blend worked so well there's no way I wasn't keeping it! Two-thirds of the Brand Nubian MCs combine with underground lyric wizard Sir Menelik on a standardly amazing DJ Spinna production, making it a classic 12" from the golden era of late 90s underground releases. First person I heard play this was DJ Greenpeace on a mixtape, but it's probably best known for its inclusion on the Rawkus "Soundbombing II" mixtape/compilation - one you should definitely have. Ill tracks from top to bottom and the mixing handled by DJ Babu and J-Rocc, it was an essential for me in the walkman days and still is in the iPod era!
A Kid Called Roots : Mike Heron
Not to be confused with Twizted Rootz! Bit of a mystery record, just titled "A Kid Called Roots Volume XIII" on Hydrabeats that I grabbed up from somewhere; a compilation of instrumentals with each one named after a different record executive! I don't know if it was just a naming thing or if the beats were made specifically for them to hear though...
Homeboy Sandman : Look Out
A New York MC who found a home at Stones Throw Records, Homeboy Sandman was a gent and a great performer when he came to Manchester recently. He's confidently and ably doing his own thing and that definitely deserves props! I can't think of any tune that sounds quite like this one, the opener on his "Chimera" EP; that beat by Paul White sounds completely alien in the best possible way, and the mic work is the antithesis of the "party and guns" business that some people think sums up Hip-Hop. The man covers a lot of quality topics throughout his catalogue and is definitely worth checking out if you're even a little adventurous with your listening...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"To my peoples that I lost along the way..."
- Nicole
"To the G, still life is too quick..."
- KMG
I was going in a completely different direction with the selection for this episode until I got the news that the MC KMG of Above The Law, one of my favourite groups, has suddenly passed away at the age of just 43. Once I processed the news, I knew I had to feature some of his classic rhymes on this episode, and so went about replanning the whole thing. I could have done a whole ATL episode but will hold that thought for now...in the meantime, appreciate him on the tracks I drop this month.
Playlist/Notes
Above The Law : Adventures Of...
I'd been thinking about this as an opening tune for a couple of months, and this turned out to be the time for it. I originally picked this up as a promo 12" before the release of the "Legends" LP when I was in the second year of university...blew me away from the first listen! Straight away I called my fellow ATL fan Nick L to let him know they were back with more top material, and I know he agreed when he heard it. KMG brings his trademark low-key style on the second verse, Cold 187um (Big Hutch) fits in with the half-whispery flow over his own brooding beat, and Nicole Hithe rounds it off with her silky vocals. This here is the one...in keeping with several other tracks on "Legends" in particular, it speaks on the downside and the guilt of the street life, rather than the glorification some artists indulge in. I just found out this track was pretty much ripped wholesale on "Die Besten Tage Sind Gezählt" by Kool Savas and Lumidee, and let me say this - they weren't worthy.
[Godfather Don] Cormega : You Don't Want It (Instrumental)
Wanted a kind of low-key instrumental that could bridge the tracks on either side and rediscovered this one, the vocal version of which is on Cormega's "The Realness" LP. Stripped of the lyrics it becomes a little quieter, a little more haunting. Nice work by the talented Godfather Don.
A Tribe Called Quest : The Chase, Pt. II
Overlooked track from the 100% classic 1993 "Midnight Marauders" LP; there's just nothing not to like! From the Biz Markie vocal sample to the back-and-forth on the mic to the Steve Arrington "Beddie Bye" main groove, the Tribe produce an absolute winner. Should have been a single!
Capital Tax : The Masha
One of those 12"s best known to either obsessive collectors or those who just happened to hear it when it came out (like me). Caught this one on pirate radio back in 93, taped it, and then never heard it anywhere else again, or for that much else by them! About four or five years later I found a copy in a Manchester record shop and snatched it up :) I for some reason assumed they were a New York group but they're a four-man crew out of Oakland with one album to their name, 1993's "The Swoll Package." Production is by DJ Smooth G, rocking the same sample as EPMD's "Please Listen To My Demo" - in fact, the record in question is on a back episode of the podcast, if you can find it...
Xzibit ft. Defari, Goldie Loc, & Kokane : Rimz & Tirez
Hip-Hop spelling FTW :) One of those tracks that makes you wish you were rolling a vintage Cadillac in the sunshine in Cali...instead of waiting for the bus! The conga drums in the background are the key to the whole sound I think, with enough space in the main drum pattern to bring them out; the bassline is just the finishing touch. Great production by Soopafly! When it comes to the rhymes, I think Xzibit's verse on here might be my least favourite - mostly because it just doesn't seem to fit! The closing verse is fresh though, taking on the persona of a car being passed from owner to owner. Definitely one of the top tracks on the "Restless" album.
Little Brother : Light It Up (Nicolay Remix)
I was never a huge fan of the first version of this track, which was originally an inclusion on the "Whatever You Say" single. The lyrics were cool, but for some reason I just couldn't get into the beat even though I'm usually a big fan of 9th Wonder - fortunately, Utrecht's finest Nicolay saw fit to give it a complete remix on his "Dutch Masters, Vol 1" project! I don't know how easy that one is to find but there are some nice tracks on the vinyl sampler so it looks well worth having the full release.
Taana Gardner : Heartbeat
Bit of a classic single here! This 1981 release on West End Records was a red-hot record at the time and has survived in the consciousness of people who never even knew it thanks to the many, many records that have sampled that bassline! When you listen to/mix with it, you realise the handclaps are wayyy behind the beat, but then this isn't one of your Ableton constructions...
Above The Law : Mee vs. My Ego
KMG leads things off on the mic here, on a real dark vibe - definitely the killer verse on this one. That said, it's interesting to hear Cold 187um go all the way from his usual animated style into dancehall mode - you can tell it's the early-ish 90s ;) I could be wrong, but for my money in 1993 there was no-one making tracks that sounded like this. Funky with that bassline but also so haunting and disturbed...absolutely in a lane of its own. There are so many different little pieces going on sonically that you have to remind yourself that this is the era before computer-based production became practical! A great piece, perfectly placed as the last full track on the "Black Mafia Life" LP. If you like your Hip-Hop, that's a must-own album, no question.
Real Live : Get Down For Mine
If you know, then you know! Larry-O and K-Def only came together for one album but it was very dope indeed - the somewhat hard to get "The Turnaround : A Long Awaited Drama." Outside that though, we did get this - a monster track from the "High School High" soundtrack which takes yet another sample EPMD used (coincidence!) but makes it its own. K-Def definitely doesn't have the kind of high profile as a producer that his skills merit! You can find this track, as I did, on the B-side of the "Wu Wear : The Garment Renaissance" 12".
Nas : Take It In Blood
One of those low-key Nas classics, taken from his pivotal second album "It Was Written." The lyrics have been commented on at length but what I didn't know until recently about this tune is that the beat was submitted by Stretch of the Live Squad who died before the record was completed. As such, they only had a cassette copy to work with, and no multitrack. Always thought it sounded a little grimy quality-wise, and that explains it all. What a track to be remembered for though.
Paris : Check It Out Ch'All
Taken from his second album, "Sleeping With The Enemy," which was the one that led to him being dropped from his record label. In the post "Cop Killer" era, they did not want the heat from someone who went at the president on his album! I always imagined this song being performed live on a soundsystem on an outdoor basketball court, it's got that kind of feel. Great self-produced, block-party styled tune from the San Francisco native mostly known for his ferociously political lyrics; even on this track where he's ostensibly just showing his flow, he gets a good amount in. A track that unfairly sunk into relative obscurity I think.
[7L] Outerspace : 151
One of the Philadelphia crews affiliated with Jedi Mind Tricks, I can't say I know Outerspace's whole catalogue but got a couple of copies of the "Divine Evils" 12" and found this killer on the B-side; beat from Boston's 7L, better known for his work with the MC Esoteric. Sonic drama, no doubt.
Apollo Brown & O.C. : Signs
One of the best new songs I've heard in ages - short but sweet, if that's the right word. Another insanely talented producer out of Detroit, Apollo Brown managed to somehow pass me by up to this point but my man Ro let me know about this album ("Trophies") and one listen (not even all the way through) on Spotify was enough to have me online ordering the CD! As for O.C., you should already know :) The DITC legend flows straight through here with some serious lyrics on the world today. Top rating.
Above The Law : Black Superman
Almost certainly ATL's best known track, this was the big single/video from the now out-of-print "Uncle Sam's Curse" LP; I remember that album took a while to really grow on me, but it's a definite classic. Of all the songs on the album, it's probably the closest to the "West Coast" sound most people would associate with the term (along with "Return Of The Real Shit"), and as such sounds very much of its time. Nice use of the talkbox too!
Sneaker Pimps : 6 Underground
I think I first heard this on some music TV channel in my parents' house - loved the lightness of the sound along with the Hip-Hop-styled drums (not to mention the De La sample)! A bigger hit in the UK than probably anywhere, but apparently it's been used in several films so they should be seeing some nice cheques (UK spelling) off the back of it :) This was the lead single from the "Becoming X" album, when Kelli Dayton was still in the group - it was a shame when she left, I thought her vocals really suited, but nothing lasts forever...
Nightmares On Wax ft. Sarah Winton : Finer
Late night Leeds coolness :) DJ Ease is a Leeds veteran and a huge influence on the music that would eventually be labelled "trip-hop." Primarily based around the low end, the production leaves lots of room for Sarah Winton's spacey, breathy vocal. Hands down my favourite cut on the "Carboot Soul" LP.
Grand Puba, Sadat X, Sir Menelik : 7XL
This was a last minute inclusion - was going to stop the segment after the last track but the blend worked so well there's no way I wasn't keeping it! Two-thirds of the Brand Nubian MCs combine with underground lyric wizard Sir Menelik on a standardly amazing DJ Spinna production, making it a classic 12" from the golden era of late 90s underground releases. First person I heard play this was DJ Greenpeace on a mixtape, but it's probably best known for its inclusion on the Rawkus "Soundbombing II" mixtape/compilation - one you should definitely have. Ill tracks from top to bottom and the mixing handled by DJ Babu and J-Rocc, it was an essential for me in the walkman days and still is in the iPod era!
A Kid Called Roots : Mike Heron
Not to be confused with Twizted Rootz! Bit of a mystery record, just titled "A Kid Called Roots Volume XIII" on Hydrabeats that I grabbed up from somewhere; a compilation of instrumentals with each one named after a different record executive! I don't know if it was just a naming thing or if the beats were made specifically for them to hear though...
Homeboy Sandman : Look Out
A New York MC who found a home at Stones Throw Records, Homeboy Sandman was a gent and a great performer when he came to Manchester recently. He's confidently and ably doing his own thing and that definitely deserves props! I can't think of any tune that sounds quite like this one, the opener on his "Chimera" EP; that beat by Paul White sounds completely alien in the best possible way, and the mic work is the antithesis of the "party and guns" business that some people think sums up Hip-Hop. The man covers a lot of quality topics throughout his catalogue and is definitely worth checking out if you're even a little adventurous with your listening...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"The respect in my city reflects the gods with me..."
- Redlight
Third birthday episode! Really pleased to still be going after all this time - big thanks to you all for supporting! I've got some absolutely choice tunes for this episode, definitely looking forward to getting this one onto the iPod. This was one of those months where all the tracks just fell together at the right time, so spread the word and let everyone hear it! Without further ado, let's get into the notes...
Playlist/Notes
Suga Free : I Wanna Go Home
Starting things off on an "improvised" vibe - a deep album cut from Suga Free ("The Pimp") coming from the debut album "Street Gospel." Drumming out a beat on the table in true jailhouse style, he showcases his signature smooth and yet animated flow on this tale of being caught up in the system. You might assume this was put together on multiple tracks in the studio, but I think the lyrics and the beat could well have been recorded at the same time; DJ Quik (who produced the first album) once told a story of Free auditioning for him by drumming a beat with a pen while rhyming at the same time. Skills, no doubt.
[Kut Masta Kurt] Motion Man : C'mon Y'all (Instrumental)
Sounds like something from the late 80s, I could definitely hear Kane or Ultra all over this track!
Quincy Jones ft. The Human Bean Band : Wee B. Dooinit
This is one of those tunes that probably has you looking at me sideways right now! Taken from Quincy Jones' 1989 album "Back On The Block," the most notable thing about this track is the almost total lack of actual instruments on it! All the main sounds are from the body - chest slaps, hums, finger clicks, and so on. You don't believe me, go back and listen again :) Genius bit of engineering/production to make it all fit together as well, but would you expect anything less from the man who produced "Thriller?"
Roc Marciano ft. KA : We Do It
It seems like a long time ago since Roc Marciano was buried among the many artists in Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad - seems like a parallel universe in fact, with Roc Marc emerging as an underground star in his own right. He's got a very distinctive rhyme and vocal style that pretty much assures you'll never hear a "Starships" from him ;) and besides that he's actually got skills on the boards too - again, doing it his way. The "Marcberg" album this is taken from is mostly self-produced and has a consistent dusty, vintage kind of vibe. This track personifies it, and also makes me smile because the hook can't have taken more than 10 seconds to come up with (obviously spent the time writing the verses instead), but it works brilliantly - less is more and all that. Guesting on the mic is KA who was apparently in the first lineup of Natural Elements - didn't know that!
Outkast : Babylon
Looove this one. One of my favourite tracks from what to me is hands down the best OutKast album, their sophomore release "ATLiens." Everything about this is dope - the main lyrics, the gorgeous hook, the deep bass, the little wah-wah guitar licks...perfection. Close your eyes and listen to this one properly, it's absolutely worth it.
Bo$$ : Deeper (Instrumental/Original)
Here's someone who was building up a little momentum and then seemed to just disappear! Bo$$ came out from the West Coast in 1993 with the "Born Gangstaz" album which I don't think was an enormous seller but had a couple of hot singles (this was the better, easily). The story I heard was that Bo$$ disappeared because she got exposed as having a much easier background than she'd made out, but since then I've read that her actual background was common knowledge but that she'd had some hard times as an adult. Either way, the story shows how much you were expected to back up your words in that era - a long way from the reign of Officer Ricky... Anyway, back to the track - Def Jef produced a classic backing with a bit of Gwen McRae here and some Barry White there, and the early-mid 90s token dancehall injection comes from Papa Juggy. Remember those days?
Teflon : Get Mine
My understanding is that Teflon came out under the MOP banner and it took several years of me seeing his records in passing before I finally heard him properly on the amazing "Brooklyn Stompin'." Following that, I saw this old 12" while on a digging mission in London and thought it was worth a whirl. Sure enough, a good pick - musically, Nesto delivers a track very reminiscent of the kinds of stuff AZ or OC were rhyming over in the same kind of time period, and the lyrics are on that thematic mainstay of Hip-Hop - the come up.
9th Wonder : Vol I, Beat VI
Just a little something from the man with two microwaves, from a compilation of unreleased beats. It fit, it's nice, it makes the cut :)
Redlight Boogie ft. Sean Price : Heat Rock
P! Ferocious track from Amsterdam but with the Brooklyn connection. Redlight Boogie is a Dutch MC who's been recording since the 90s but I don't think is much known outside his home country - should be obvious from this that he has serious mic skills though. Sean Price came to Amsterdam to link up to record this track and do the excellent video - I recall reading that the whole thing was written and completed in a couple of hours. Teemong directed the video and added the processing and graphics that give it a look quite unlike any other I can name off the top of my head! Killing Skills on the beat, an absolute killer - if you claim Hip-Hop but can't enjoy this, I'm looking at you funny ;)
Roscoe Umali ft. Raekwon & Smif 'n' Wessun : I Remember
One of those obscure tracks which I stumbled on during a Spotify browsing session! I'd never even heard of Roscoe Umali before but I understand he's a Filipino West Coast underground artist - on this 2007 track though, he calls in some serious East Coast reinforcements, with Raekwon and Smin 'n' Wessun laying down their signature styles. A note from your DJ - I bought this tracks as an MP3 download and found there were loads of digital clicks and glitches in it - I wanted to share it with you so badly that I opened the track up in a wave editor and manually removed them all, which took an age. All for you!
Shabaam Sahdeeq ft. Xzibit : Concrete
One of those 12"s you take a chance on, but not a huge gamble - The Alchemist is on production on both sides and Shabaam Sahdeeq I knew from his early Rawkus releases. Not a huge amount to say on this one but I think Xzibit complements him well; that's right youngsters, he was getting busy a long time before the "Pimp My Ride" days :) Other side is decent as well, not a "must own" for most but still a decent release.
Smoke DZA ft Dom Kennedy : Pow Wow
When the most modern era of Hip-Hop jumped off, with new free mixtape/album releases online pretty much every day and an explosion in the number of new artists, I have to admit that I pretty much lost touch. Where do you start? Luckily, due to factors like the NouGold podcast, well-informed friends and online streaming, I started to find the gems in the modern age. Until about two weeks ago I think I'd only seen the name Smoke DZA about and hadn't paid any attention, but then I found this collab with Leimert Park's Dom Kennedy and had to play it! It's from the 2011 "Rolling Stoned" album, the title of which pretty much gives the main subject matter away...worth a listen at least. Production is by the straightforwardly named Kenny Beats, and I've got to say it was the beat that pulled me in - this is the kind of modern stuff I can definitely vibe off.
[K-Murdock] Mega Ran : Drop The Load (Original Instrumental)
Serious 8-bit business from the inspired combination of K-Murdock and Mega Ran (although this is just the instrumental). Not sure how much is played vs samples - and if sampled, how much it was chopped) but I think this is a top-notch track that would have been a classic inclusion on many of the video games from my childhood. Get yourself a copy on the "Forever Famicom DLC" project!
Fly Guys : Fly Guys With Glasses
*airhorn* One of the best new tracks I've heard in a while - Kay and Donwill of Tanya Morgan come together as "The Fly Guys" to give props to all those like myself who rock the glasses. Not the fake lens-less NBA-fashion type, but the type needed so we can actually see. Original on the topic, done with flavour, and backed with a big-time beat from The ARE, who rocks the Donald Byrd "Wind Parade" sample to devastating effect. Five stars from me - check the rest of the very affordable Fly Guys album for more.
Statik Selektah w/ Talib Kweli & REKS : My Favourite Song (Remix)
I *think* this is inspired by the same break as Pete Rock's "T.R.O.Y?" Certainly reminds me of it musically anyway, and it's a nice job by the man Statik Selektah. This is from a Grand Theft Auto-themed EP entitled "The Lost and Damned," but that's just a detail - it doesn't particularly make me think of the games. Statik goes to his fellow Boston native REKS to supply some of the vocals, but the other man on the mic is the Brooklynite Talib Kweli, and both of them do the beat some serious justice. As an aside, the title has the handy side effect of making it sound like you're giving the tune props every time someone asks you what it's called :)
The Brotherhood : Incredible
A little bit of UK for you! I think The Brotherhood (one Black, one White, one Jewish) only ever released the one full album ("Elementalz") but it did make a little noise at the time, and there were a few tunes that stood out for me - this was one, even though it was never a single. The beat by The Underdog is nice, the lyrics are no-fronting UK style all the way, but the thing that puts it over the top for me is the extra-dope cutting-up of the Buckshot Shorty line from "How Many Emcees" in the hook. Fire!
Organized Konfusion : Thirteen
You know how we do on this podcast, always digging in for those overlooked album track gems! Thirteen is my favourite number and a recurring one, and Pharoahe Monch has a connection with it too - as such, he solos it on this Organized Konfusion track from the 1994 "Stress : The Extinction Agenda" album in fine style! The beat is just straight 90s style all the way, from DITC's Buckwild - you can keep your synths!
Hexsagon : Wichita Lineman
Jamie Lidell : A Little Bit More (Luke Vibert Remix)
I think I'd maybe only heard the name in passing when my mate Jonny started playing this remix when I'd see him playing at house parties; huge tune though! Had to do my research on this one - Jamie Lidell is a British singer who is apparently well-known for doing live multi-tracked beatbox tracks with a loop device, then singing over the top, something which is very difficult to do well! This track is from "Multiply Additions," a set of remixes based on his second album "Multiply" - well worth having! On the remix here we have Luke Vibert, a British legend in the electronic music scene, with a pretty much total replacement of the original sounds underlying the lead vocal - makes it a more conventional track in one way but the twisted beat really is its own animal. Deserved to be played right to the end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"The respect in my city reflects the gods with me..."
- Redlight
Third birthday episode! Really pleased to still be going after all this time - big thanks to you all for supporting! I've got some absolutely choice tunes for this episode, definitely looking forward to getting this one onto the iPod. This was one of those months where all the tracks just fell together at the right time, so spread the word and let everyone hear it! Without further ado, let's get into the notes...
Playlist/Notes
Suga Free : I Wanna Go Home
Starting things off on an "improvised" vibe - a deep album cut from Suga Free ("The Pimp") coming from the debut album "Street Gospel." Drumming out a beat on the table in true jailhouse style, he showcases his signature smooth and yet animated flow on this tale of being caught up in the system. You might assume this was put together on multiple tracks in the studio, but I think the lyrics and the beat could well have been recorded at the same time; DJ Quik (who produced the first album) once told a story of Free auditioning for him by drumming a beat with a pen while rhyming at the same time. Skills, no doubt.
[Kut Masta Kurt] Motion Man : C'mon Y'all (Instrumental)
Sounds like something from the late 80s, I could definitely hear Kane or Ultra all over this track!
Quincy Jones ft. The Human Bean Band : Wee B. Dooinit
This is one of those tunes that probably has you looking at me sideways right now! Taken from Quincy Jones' 1989 album "Back On The Block," the most notable thing about this track is the almost total lack of actual instruments on it! All the main sounds are from the body - chest slaps, hums, finger clicks, and so on. You don't believe me, go back and listen again :) Genius bit of engineering/production to make it all fit together as well, but would you expect anything less from the man who produced "Thriller?"
Roc Marciano ft. KA : We Do It
It seems like a long time ago since Roc Marciano was buried among the many artists in Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad - seems like a parallel universe in fact, with Roc Marc emerging as an underground star in his own right. He's got a very distinctive rhyme and vocal style that pretty much assures you'll never hear a "Starships" from him ;) and besides that he's actually got skills on the boards too - again, doing it his way. The "Marcberg" album this is taken from is mostly self-produced and has a consistent dusty, vintage kind of vibe. This track personifies it, and also makes me smile because the hook can't have taken more than 10 seconds to come up with (obviously spent the time writing the verses instead), but it works brilliantly - less is more and all that. Guesting on the mic is KA who was apparently in the first lineup of Natural Elements - didn't know that!
Outkast : Babylon
Looove this one. One of my favourite tracks from what to me is hands down the best OutKast album, their sophomore release "ATLiens." Everything about this is dope - the main lyrics, the gorgeous hook, the deep bass, the little wah-wah guitar licks...perfection. Close your eyes and listen to this one properly, it's absolutely worth it.
Bo$$ : Deeper (Instrumental/Original)
Here's someone who was building up a little momentum and then seemed to just disappear! Bo$$ came out from the West Coast in 1993 with the "Born Gangstaz" album which I don't think was an enormous seller but had a couple of hot singles (this was the better, easily). The story I heard was that Bo$$ disappeared because she got exposed as having a much easier background than she'd made out, but since then I've read that her actual background was common knowledge but that she'd had some hard times as an adult. Either way, the story shows how much you were expected to back up your words in that era - a long way from the reign of Officer Ricky... Anyway, back to the track - Def Jef produced a classic backing with a bit of Gwen McRae here and some Barry White there, and the early-mid 90s token dancehall injection comes from Papa Juggy. Remember those days?
Teflon : Get Mine
My understanding is that Teflon came out under the MOP banner and it took several years of me seeing his records in passing before I finally heard him properly on the amazing "Brooklyn Stompin'." Following that, I saw this old 12" while on a digging mission in London and thought it was worth a whirl. Sure enough, a good pick - musically, Nesto delivers a track very reminiscent of the kinds of stuff AZ or OC were rhyming over in the same kind of time period, and the lyrics are on that thematic mainstay of Hip-Hop - the come up.
9th Wonder : Vol I, Beat VI
Just a little something from the man with two microwaves, from a compilation of unreleased beats. It fit, it's nice, it makes the cut :)
Redlight Boogie ft. Sean Price : Heat Rock
P! Ferocious track from Amsterdam but with the Brooklyn connection. Redlight Boogie is a Dutch MC who's been recording since the 90s but I don't think is much known outside his home country - should be obvious from this that he has serious mic skills though. Sean Price came to Amsterdam to link up to record this track and do the excellent video - I recall reading that the whole thing was written and completed in a couple of hours. Teemong directed the video and added the processing and graphics that give it a look quite unlike any other I can name off the top of my head! Killing Skills on the beat, an absolute killer - if you claim Hip-Hop but can't enjoy this, I'm looking at you funny ;)
Roscoe Umali ft. Raekwon & Smif 'n' Wessun : I Remember
One of those obscure tracks which I stumbled on during a Spotify browsing session! I'd never even heard of Roscoe Umali before but I understand he's a Filipino West Coast underground artist - on this 2007 track though, he calls in some serious East Coast reinforcements, with Raekwon and Smin 'n' Wessun laying down their signature styles. A note from your DJ - I bought this tracks as an MP3 download and found there were loads of digital clicks and glitches in it - I wanted to share it with you so badly that I opened the track up in a wave editor and manually removed them all, which took an age. All for you!
Shabaam Sahdeeq ft. Xzibit : Concrete
One of those 12"s you take a chance on, but not a huge gamble - The Alchemist is on production on both sides and Shabaam Sahdeeq I knew from his early Rawkus releases. Not a huge amount to say on this one but I think Xzibit complements him well; that's right youngsters, he was getting busy a long time before the "Pimp My Ride" days :) Other side is decent as well, not a "must own" for most but still a decent release.
Smoke DZA ft Dom Kennedy : Pow Wow
When the most modern era of Hip-Hop jumped off, with new free mixtape/album releases online pretty much every day and an explosion in the number of new artists, I have to admit that I pretty much lost touch. Where do you start? Luckily, due to factors like the NouGold podcast, well-informed friends and online streaming, I started to find the gems in the modern age. Until about two weeks ago I think I'd only seen the name Smoke DZA about and hadn't paid any attention, but then I found this collab with Leimert Park's Dom Kennedy and had to play it! It's from the 2011 "Rolling Stoned" album, the title of which pretty much gives the main subject matter away...worth a listen at least. Production is by the straightforwardly named Kenny Beats, and I've got to say it was the beat that pulled me in - this is the kind of modern stuff I can definitely vibe off.
[K-Murdock] Mega Ran : Drop The Load (Original Instrumental)
Serious 8-bit business from the inspired combination of K-Murdock and Mega Ran (although this is just the instrumental). Not sure how much is played vs samples - and if sampled, how much it was chopped) but I think this is a top-notch track that would have been a classic inclusion on many of the video games from my childhood. Get yourself a copy on the "Forever Famicom DLC" project!
Fly Guys : Fly Guys With Glasses
*airhorn* One of the best new tracks I've heard in a while - Kay and Donwill of Tanya Morgan come together as "The Fly Guys" to give props to all those like myself who rock the glasses. Not the fake lens-less NBA-fashion type, but the type needed so we can actually see. Original on the topic, done with flavour, and backed with a big-time beat from The ARE, who rocks the Donald Byrd "Wind Parade" sample to devastating effect. Five stars from me - check the rest of the very affordable Fly Guys album for more.
Statik Selektah w/ Talib Kweli & REKS : My Favourite Song (Remix)
I *think* this is inspired by the same break as Pete Rock's "T.R.O.Y?" Certainly reminds me of it musically anyway, and it's a nice job by the man Statik Selektah. This is from a Grand Theft Auto-themed EP entitled "The Lost and Damned," but that's just a detail - it doesn't particularly make me think of the games. Statik goes to his fellow Boston native REKS to supply some of the vocals, but the other man on the mic is the Brooklynite Talib Kweli, and both of them do the beat some serious justice. As an aside, the title has the handy side effect of making it sound like you're giving the tune props every time someone asks you what it's called :)
The Brotherhood : Incredible
A little bit of UK for you! I think The Brotherhood (one Black, one White, one Jewish) only ever released the one full album ("Elementalz") but it did make a little noise at the time, and there were a few tunes that stood out for me - this was one, even though it was never a single. The beat by The Underdog is nice, the lyrics are no-fronting UK style all the way, but the thing that puts it over the top for me is the extra-dope cutting-up of the Buckshot Shorty line from "How Many Emcees" in the hook. Fire!
Organized Konfusion : Thirteen
You know how we do on this podcast, always digging in for those overlooked album track gems! Thirteen is my favourite number and a recurring one, and Pharoahe Monch has a connection with it too - as such, he solos it on this Organized Konfusion track from the 1994 "Stress : The Extinction Agenda" album in fine style! The beat is just straight 90s style all the way, from DITC's Buckwild - you can keep your synths!
Hexsagon : Wichita Lineman
Another cracking head-nodder from Arizona! From Volume 4 of the "Beat Flip Tuesdays" beattape series, I think I wanted to play this a few months ago but found a better fit and decided to save it - glad I did as I think it's perfect for this spot :)Jamie Lidell : A Little Bit More (Luke Vibert Remix)
I think I'd maybe only heard the name in passing when my mate Jonny started playing this remix when I'd see him playing at house parties; huge tune though! Had to do my research on this one - Jamie Lidell is a British singer who is apparently well-known for doing live multi-tracked beatbox tracks with a loop device, then singing over the top, something which is very difficult to do well! This track is from "Multiply Additions," a set of remixes based on his second album "Multiply" - well worth having! On the remix here we have Luke Vibert, a British legend in the electronic music scene, with a pretty much total replacement of the original sounds underlying the lead vocal - makes it a more conventional track in one way but the twisted beat really is its own animal. Deserved to be played right to the end.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Never a pretty boy, always a beautiful mind..."
- Malik
This month's title is kind of a nod to the ongoing NBA Playoffs as well as to trying to get through the struggles life can hit you with from time to time...all the same, back for another episode! Had a tough time picking tracks for this one but dug a few out I'd been saving for a while so hope they work for you!
RIP MCA, Chuck Brown, Donna Summer, & Robin Gibb...
Playlist/Notes
Bumpy Knuckles : Mic & Gun
Big opening tune! This track is actually a few years old, but it seems to have had the vocals re-recorded - I prefer the changes, but also liked the original delivery just a touch more! Anyway, that's maybe nit-picking - another ill performance from the New York third-verse legend on the mic (bonus points for the 52 reference) and on the beat, DJ Premier with another under-the-radar banger. Your best place to get this one is the deluxe edition (digital only?) of the new Bumpy & Premo album "Kolexxxion" which is definitely worth checking out; a few of the tracks have already been out so the DJs might know them, but it's overall a solid set!
[DJ Spinna] Dynas : Game Huntin' (Instrumental)
Thought this beat just worked well here, but I'd recommend peeping the vocal with Masta Ace and Krym guesting on it - pretty heavy co-signs all round!
Phat Kat ft. Elzhi : Cold Steel
Organised chaos all over this track! Gun talk from both sides of the equation in fine style on the first two verses by Detroit mainstays Phat Kat & Elzhi, with Kat coming back on the last verse to just go out battle style. Dilla comes through with an outrageously hard beat - not sure if he was alive when the lyrics were recorded but the two elements go together lovely :) Extra-gritty video too.
Mic Geronimo : Up Now
From the 2003 "Long Road Back" album (though I got this on a digital download), the Queens mic holder who brought us "Masta I.C" and "Shit's Real" resurfaced after a long absence on this gem, with production by another Queens stalwart, the legendary Large Professor. The flavour on the beat isn't the old-school Extra P but more of the sound from the "1st Class" album - not everyone's bag but in some places I think it can work, and I think this is definitely one of those places!
Samson & Sejour : Rock Rock Y'all
Is it the little tweaking electronic sound? Is it the constant back-and-forth style? Is it the nice little samples at the start? I don't know what it is, but there's something about this track I really like despite it not being anything crazy on the surface! I picked this 12" up a while ago mostly because it was on sale, which is fortunate because I've never seen or heard it anywhere else. In fact, I've not heard of this New York duo before or since, though the producer Mark Ronson has maintained a decent career. I expect some of you will really like this but a fair few others will be pretty nonplussed. Thought I'd put it out there anyway!
Al B. Sure! : Nite & Day (Onra Edit)
Ridiculously ill - first time I heard Agent J play this re-edit I stormed to the DJ booth to find out what it was! French producer and 80s soul fan Onra gives us a short and sweet bass-heavy re-edit of Al B. Sure's 1988 classic, which you can find on Episode 14 of the podcast as it happens! You can currently get this free on Bandcamp so run there now and treat yourself! Even though the original track is very much "of it's time," I think there's just something classic about it which means it'll always be being sampled, edited, or interpolated somewhere...I do still laugh at super-dramatic moves in the video though :)
Nu Vintage : Raw Essentials
The "Beats & Dreams" album was just one of those finds after an evening browsing Bandcamp, though as it happens I think I might have first heard a little something on NouGold. I thought I'd paid for this one but it seems to be a free download now so worth a listen. S/he is pretty sparse on details but I reckon I'll check back for more sometime!
Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West, Common, & JV : Wouldn't You Like To
"The most critically-acclaimed wordsmith in the game?" I think that might be stretching it a bit, but nonetheless a good track :) I heard this first on a compilation of Kanye tracks called "The High School Graduate" seemingly made up of tunes he did before he really blew up big [ Incidentally, watch this :) ]. The drums thump along in what was then quite a signature style, everything else floats around them nicely and then the lyrics take it from there! Great track that was on Chicago native and poet Malik Yusef's "The Great Chicago Fire" LP (which I haven't heard) and also the "Coach Carter" soundtrack LP (even though it wasn't in the film itself).
DJ Jazzy Jeff : Da Rebirth
A little non-album cut from the "The Magnificent" EP, this one showcases Cy Young on the mic reminiscing about the Golden Age of Hip-Hop and just bounces along nicely with the stuttering horn stabs and ill drums; thought this was an actual Jazzy Jeff beat but in fact Kev Brown produced it, little more of an upfront and aggressive sound than a lot of his other stuff (which I still love, let's not get confused here). As far as I know, Jazzy Jeff does come in with the ridiculously ill scratching to round off the package though - if you're in the know, you know how pioneering a DJ he was back in the day - peep him on this 1986 recording...
Casual : Chained Minds
Pretty poor vinyl pressing, Casual's "Fear Itself" (what a title) was a quality album! Coming out of Oakland, Casual's been a mainstay of the Hieroglyphics family from the start and is still roasting the mic right up to the current day. On this one he handles the (excellent) production himself and shares some of the lyrical shine with the man Phesto from Souls Of Mischief, speaking on survival in an aggressive world. Classic track, still a favourite after over 17 years!
Slick Rick : It's A Boy (Remix)
Extra Extra P! Another Large Professor production, with those heavy 90s SP-1200-style drums and the laid-back bass and vibes on top. Perfect backdrop for The Ruler's silky-smooth styles on the mic! The original version of this is on the "The Ruler's Back" album but I *think* this remix is only available on the 12" release of the single. An essential for the vinyl collectors!
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers : Ashley's Roachclip
1974 tune, one of the classic Hip-Hop breaks! I can hardly imagine how many times this has been used, I know it's shown up in a couple of past podcast tracks though...I'll let you go and find them ;) If Chuck Brown had done nothing but this track, he would still be notable. but as one of the inventors of go-go music as well...an immortal.
Beastie Boys : Hey Ladies
Is it intellectually edifying? Nah! Would we expect anything less? For the younger listeners, "Paul's Boutique" isn't just a clothing line ;) The second Beasties album can only be described as sample overload and is definitely one of those projects that could never be produced and released in the modern era - the cost of clearing all the samples would be astronomical, even assuming you could do it! I have to smile when I hear the drums right at the end, which ended up being sampled by another legend - I've looped them up a bit here so see if you recognise them!
Fusion Unlimited ft. Big Tone : Up 2 U
The first time I read about Fusion Unlimited it was an interview by Soulman. They were getting deep into chatting digging and sampling so I was quite surprised when I eventually heard his production on this; I like it, just not what I expected! Big Tone I'd never heard of at all, but I think he carries this one well. As it happens, Discogs has him with two albums in his discography but they've never come to my notice. And on the B-side to this single? A little someone called Joell Ortiz...
Parliament : Flash Light
One of the standouts in the Parliafunkadelic canon, hands down! Release in 1977 (a great year), this came off the mighty "Funkentelechy vs The Placebo Syndrome" LP. The low-end is serious, with Bernie Worrell on the synthesizers - I've heard them claim this is the first song ever to use a synth bass, but someone else could probably confirm or refute that! Sampled countless times, it's just part of our fabric now...
Rodney O & Joe Cooley : U Don't Hear Me Tho
West coast attitude in spades! Coming out of LA loud and proud, Rodney O spits some serious venom on this track, taken from an album which in an inspired, low-key, subtle way was called "F__k New York." Musically, this plunders some of the biggest funk tunes ever, and topping it all off is Joe Cooley on the cuts - one of those DJs not much spoken of nowadays but definitely influential! Check him out on this old tape or battling DJ Cash Money at the 1987 New Music Seminar!
T La Rock : Breakdown Dub
Big up to my man Jerry Beeks for blessing me with this vinyl! A futurisic MC who was ahead of his time but still sounded somewhat of his time, T La Rock split production duties on this one with the man Special K. 80s drum machine business all the way! Check the vocal version if you don't know it, old gold :)
Jeep Beat Collective : Hip-Hop Love, Hate, & Hope
(or at least, that's how I've seen it labelled!) Picked up this vinyl not that long after arriving in Manchester, and from that day to this it sounds amazing. A piece in three movements masterminded by Manchester's own Dave The Ruf, it's a brilliant example of instrumental/DJ composition - glad to finally have chance to play it for people!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Never a pretty boy, always a beautiful mind..."
- Malik
This month's title is kind of a nod to the ongoing NBA Playoffs as well as to trying to get through the struggles life can hit you with from time to time...all the same, back for another episode! Had a tough time picking tracks for this one but dug a few out I'd been saving for a while so hope they work for you!
RIP MCA, Chuck Brown, Donna Summer, & Robin Gibb...
Playlist/Notes
Bumpy Knuckles : Mic & Gun
Big opening tune! This track is actually a few years old, but it seems to have had the vocals re-recorded - I prefer the changes, but also liked the original delivery just a touch more! Anyway, that's maybe nit-picking - another ill performance from the New York third-verse legend on the mic (bonus points for the 52 reference) and on the beat, DJ Premier with another under-the-radar banger. Your best place to get this one is the deluxe edition (digital only?) of the new Bumpy & Premo album "Kolexxxion" which is definitely worth checking out; a few of the tracks have already been out so the DJs might know them, but it's overall a solid set!
[DJ Spinna] Dynas : Game Huntin' (Instrumental)
Thought this beat just worked well here, but I'd recommend peeping the vocal with Masta Ace and Krym guesting on it - pretty heavy co-signs all round!
Phat Kat ft. Elzhi : Cold Steel
Organised chaos all over this track! Gun talk from both sides of the equation in fine style on the first two verses by Detroit mainstays Phat Kat & Elzhi, with Kat coming back on the last verse to just go out battle style. Dilla comes through with an outrageously hard beat - not sure if he was alive when the lyrics were recorded but the two elements go together lovely :) Extra-gritty video too.
Mic Geronimo : Up Now
From the 2003 "Long Road Back" album (though I got this on a digital download), the Queens mic holder who brought us "Masta I.C" and "Shit's Real" resurfaced after a long absence on this gem, with production by another Queens stalwart, the legendary Large Professor. The flavour on the beat isn't the old-school Extra P but more of the sound from the "1st Class" album - not everyone's bag but in some places I think it can work, and I think this is definitely one of those places!
Samson & Sejour : Rock Rock Y'all
Is it the little tweaking electronic sound? Is it the constant back-and-forth style? Is it the nice little samples at the start? I don't know what it is, but there's something about this track I really like despite it not being anything crazy on the surface! I picked this 12" up a while ago mostly because it was on sale, which is fortunate because I've never seen or heard it anywhere else. In fact, I've not heard of this New York duo before or since, though the producer Mark Ronson has maintained a decent career. I expect some of you will really like this but a fair few others will be pretty nonplussed. Thought I'd put it out there anyway!
Al B. Sure! : Nite & Day (Onra Edit)
Ridiculously ill - first time I heard Agent J play this re-edit I stormed to the DJ booth to find out what it was! French producer and 80s soul fan Onra gives us a short and sweet bass-heavy re-edit of Al B. Sure's 1988 classic, which you can find on Episode 14 of the podcast as it happens! You can currently get this free on Bandcamp so run there now and treat yourself! Even though the original track is very much "of it's time," I think there's just something classic about it which means it'll always be being sampled, edited, or interpolated somewhere...I do still laugh at super-dramatic moves in the video though :)
Nu Vintage : Raw Essentials
The "Beats & Dreams" album was just one of those finds after an evening browsing Bandcamp, though as it happens I think I might have first heard a little something on NouGold. I thought I'd paid for this one but it seems to be a free download now so worth a listen. S/he is pretty sparse on details but I reckon I'll check back for more sometime!
Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West, Common, & JV : Wouldn't You Like To
"The most critically-acclaimed wordsmith in the game?" I think that might be stretching it a bit, but nonetheless a good track :) I heard this first on a compilation of Kanye tracks called "The High School Graduate" seemingly made up of tunes he did before he really blew up big [ Incidentally, watch this :) ]. The drums thump along in what was then quite a signature style, everything else floats around them nicely and then the lyrics take it from there! Great track that was on Chicago native and poet Malik Yusef's "The Great Chicago Fire" LP (which I haven't heard) and also the "Coach Carter" soundtrack LP (even though it wasn't in the film itself).
DJ Jazzy Jeff : Da Rebirth
A little non-album cut from the "The Magnificent" EP, this one showcases Cy Young on the mic reminiscing about the Golden Age of Hip-Hop and just bounces along nicely with the stuttering horn stabs and ill drums; thought this was an actual Jazzy Jeff beat but in fact Kev Brown produced it, little more of an upfront and aggressive sound than a lot of his other stuff (which I still love, let's not get confused here). As far as I know, Jazzy Jeff does come in with the ridiculously ill scratching to round off the package though - if you're in the know, you know how pioneering a DJ he was back in the day - peep him on this 1986 recording...
Casual : Chained Minds
Pretty poor vinyl pressing, Casual's "Fear Itself" (what a title) was a quality album! Coming out of Oakland, Casual's been a mainstay of the Hieroglyphics family from the start and is still roasting the mic right up to the current day. On this one he handles the (excellent) production himself and shares some of the lyrical shine with the man Phesto from Souls Of Mischief, speaking on survival in an aggressive world. Classic track, still a favourite after over 17 years!
Slick Rick : It's A Boy (Remix)
Extra Extra P! Another Large Professor production, with those heavy 90s SP-1200-style drums and the laid-back bass and vibes on top. Perfect backdrop for The Ruler's silky-smooth styles on the mic! The original version of this is on the "The Ruler's Back" album but I *think* this remix is only available on the 12" release of the single. An essential for the vinyl collectors!
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers : Ashley's Roachclip
1974 tune, one of the classic Hip-Hop breaks! I can hardly imagine how many times this has been used, I know it's shown up in a couple of past podcast tracks though...I'll let you go and find them ;) If Chuck Brown had done nothing but this track, he would still be notable. but as one of the inventors of go-go music as well...an immortal.
Beastie Boys : Hey Ladies
Is it intellectually edifying? Nah! Would we expect anything less? For the younger listeners, "Paul's Boutique" isn't just a clothing line ;) The second Beasties album can only be described as sample overload and is definitely one of those projects that could never be produced and released in the modern era - the cost of clearing all the samples would be astronomical, even assuming you could do it! I have to smile when I hear the drums right at the end, which ended up being sampled by another legend - I've looped them up a bit here so see if you recognise them!
Fusion Unlimited ft. Big Tone : Up 2 U
The first time I read about Fusion Unlimited it was an interview by Soulman. They were getting deep into chatting digging and sampling so I was quite surprised when I eventually heard his production on this; I like it, just not what I expected! Big Tone I'd never heard of at all, but I think he carries this one well. As it happens, Discogs has him with two albums in his discography but they've never come to my notice. And on the B-side to this single? A little someone called Joell Ortiz...
Parliament : Flash Light
One of the standouts in the Parliafunkadelic canon, hands down! Release in 1977 (a great year), this came off the mighty "Funkentelechy vs The Placebo Syndrome" LP. The low-end is serious, with Bernie Worrell on the synthesizers - I've heard them claim this is the first song ever to use a synth bass, but someone else could probably confirm or refute that! Sampled countless times, it's just part of our fabric now...
Rodney O & Joe Cooley : U Don't Hear Me Tho
West coast attitude in spades! Coming out of LA loud and proud, Rodney O spits some serious venom on this track, taken from an album which in an inspired, low-key, subtle way was called "F__k New York." Musically, this plunders some of the biggest funk tunes ever, and topping it all off is Joe Cooley on the cuts - one of those DJs not much spoken of nowadays but definitely influential! Check him out on this old tape or battling DJ Cash Money at the 1987 New Music Seminar!
T La Rock : Breakdown Dub
Big up to my man Jerry Beeks for blessing me with this vinyl! A futurisic MC who was ahead of his time but still sounded somewhat of his time, T La Rock split production duties on this one with the man Special K. 80s drum machine business all the way! Check the vocal version if you don't know it, old gold :)
Jeep Beat Collective : Hip-Hop Love, Hate, & Hope
(or at least, that's how I've seen it labelled!) Picked up this vinyl not that long after arriving in Manchester, and from that day to this it sounds amazing. A piece in three movements masterminded by Manchester's own Dave The Ruf, it's a brilliant example of instrumental/DJ composition - glad to finally have chance to play it for people!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"My real name is Kunta Kinte"
- Keak
Despite being a little under the weather this month I feel great about the selection! I'm paying respect to the great Guru, dropping a couple of ill new releases, and of course dipping into the vaults for some too-often-overlooked gems - 58 mins of goodness. Enjoy listening, and do spread the word!
A few links to things I mentioned on the show;
The Combat Jack Show ft. Dallas Penn
Nook Friday Sessions with Neighbourhood
and this is a great book : Nothing To Envy
Anyway, let's dig into the tracklist for the month...
Playlist/Notes
Lina : It's Alright (Gang Starr Remix)
Been sitting on this one for a while but this was the perfect month to bring it out. The original version is from Lina's 2000/2001 debut album "Stranger On Earth," but while looking up info on it, I found it doesn't even seem to be on all the releases! As far as this remix, it seems to be on just one of the vinyl releases, or on the 12" promo single that I'm playing from. Lina is a singer and songwriter with kind of a jazzy style, and three albums to her credit - probably worth searching out if you want that kind of old-school vocal with updated production!
DJ Premier : Waaaaaa
Premo twice in a row? Yeah, why not? This one's a slightly off-beat but extra-hard instrumental from the first volume of the "Beats That Collected Dust" series. How did no MC get on this one?
Tony Touch & Gang Starr : The Piece Maker
Premo three times in a row? Well, good things do come in threes! I'd forgotten all about this one, but found I had it on a compilation of Gang Starr B-sides and rarities. It's basically just a Gang Starr track since Guru is on the mic and DJ Premier is on production and even the cuts I think, but it's a special track done for the mixtape DJ legend Tony Touch for his compilation "The Piece Maker." If you don't know about Tony Touch...well, that's your homework assignment for the month!
Keak Da Sneak ft. E-40 : T-Shirt, Blue Jeans, & Nikes
Big slapping Hyphy track! Can't even remember how I came up on this one for the first time, but I think it's one of those tracks that can't be denied. Bought the digital download of this on a "Greatest Hits" compilation but it was originally on the 2003 independently-released "Counting Other People's Money" album (love that title) - a track definitely worth chasing down for a party! Keak is a seasoned Bay Area veteran with 16 solo albums in his discography, not to mention his work with 3X Krazy and others. On top of that, he came up with the word hyphy in the first place! Definitely feeling the contrast between his low and gruff style and the legendary E-40's higher-register rhymes.
stic.man : Sober Soldier
This could be my theme tune! Shout to the man Ro for being the first one to tell me about this album. "The Workout" is an LP based around the themes of exercise and healthy living; great gym motivation and also completely radio-friendly! If you didn't already know, stic.man is half of dead prez and he's taken a very interesting tack with the album and his RBG Fit Club movement - definitely worth a look, as so many of us could do to improve our health and fitness and then apply that same discipline to other parts of life.
Motion Man : Play Dough
Check KutMasta Kurt cutting up the ill Guru sample for the hook! Back to the Bay Area for this one from Motion Man's debut album "Clearing The Field," which is worth having - solid and on its own vibe! Motion was the MC on the well-regarded DJ Vadim cut "The Terrorist" and has worked alongside Kool Keith as well as putting out two solo albums. Not heard anything from him for a while, but I get the feeling he'll be back...
[Barbershop Kiz] Defari : Blast (Instrumental)
Just some low-key dopeness here, instrumental of a 12" release from the Tommy Boy Black Label "Hip-Hop 101" compilation (note: that link currently has copies going for a penny plus postage, so you can't say fairer). There are some gems on that so it's one worth picking up when the price is low!
Chamillionaire ft. Saigon : You Gon' Learn (Early Service)
The first of two tracks out of Houston this month, this is a hot-off-the-presses release from one of my favourite MCs, taken from his new "Ammunition" project; he's highly underrated in the actual Hip-Hop market but has great mic skills - check the Paul Wall & Chamillionaire "Get Ya Mind Correct" album or any number of his amazing mixtape flows for proof. Also one of the most tech- and business-savvy MCs around, his intelligence shows whenever he speaks or writes. Accompanying him is the man behind one of last year's best albums, "The Greatest Story Never Told" - always one to speak his mind and call out fakeness. Not a strikingly obvious pairing, but an excellent one! Love the heavy drums on this beat too, courtesy of the Atlanta-based Sweatbox Productions.
Funkadelic : I Bet You
Keeping the big thumping drums going for another track, I could have chosen another Hip-Hop record but instead reached back for a selection from Funkadelic's first LP, released all the way back in 1970! George Clinton's various musical projects have contributed a huge amount to the sonic fabric of Hip-Hop and this track is no exception...if you're of a certain listening age you should recognise that different parts of this track have been sampled by some of the greats!
Dilated Peoples : Heavy Lighting
Not 100% sure of the accurate history of this one. I first heard it on a download years ago on an album/compilation called "The Deta Lideracy Project," which nowadays seems to only come up on Google on dodgy-looking websites. I really wanted to play it on the podcast but only play stuff obtained the right way so did a search for this particular track and found it on an officially-released compilation of Dilated Peoples B-sides and rarities - sounds about right! Interesting track, which seems to sway topic-wise between environmental concern and taking out sucker MCs; I'm not sure who produced it, but I love what they've done with the samples in the hook, got a really eerie and dark feel.
Cormega : Therapy
One of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod, this has been a headphone staple for me since I first heard it almost ten years ago! All heads with refined taste should know about the Queensbridge legend Cormega, who not only writes great lyrics but also gives the impression in interviews of being a very sincere and straightforward person. In recent years he seems to have laid to rest a long-running dispute with Nas but the album this is taken from ("The True Meaning," which is definitely one for your collection) is from that era - doesn't show on this track though. Beat-wise, another Queensbridge foundation man (DJ Hot Day) cooks up a buttery-smooth track based on Chaka Khan's "Stronger Than Before" (that one's already out there, so I'm not blowing anyone up). Got to love this one.
Air Adam : Breezeblock
A little something from my beat archives, not given it a big mixdown or anything, just straight two-tracked out of the MPC and into the computer! Just replaced my whole pad set and as soon as all the tact switches have been replaced too I might jump back into the beat game...
Trae ft. Styles & Jadakiss : Smile
Not an MC with a high profile in the UK, Trae is one of my favourites out of Houston - not the super-technical type of rhymer but has a really cold feel to his style. Another non-obvious collaboration with two-thirds of The LOX/D-Block bringing their Yonkers style down south, but it definitely works! I didn't know at first but the beat is actually all taken from a record by San Quinn and Messy Marv also called "Smile" and produced by Sean-T - I can thank Youtube comments for that knowledge!
Strategy : Kill 'Em
This was the early favourite for me from the Broke 'n' English veteran's "Pre-Season Training" mixtape - "The Bleep Test" was a more popular track but I love the production on this one, and Strategy's from-the-heart lyrics can't be fronted on - if you're fortunate enough to know any of the context, then they have that added impact too. Always representing Salford & Manchester, he's been doing it for a long time now and I'm waiting for B'n'E to come out with their second album - with all the talent and a new studio up and running, expect good things!
Stalley : She Hates The Bass
He should have got himself a British girl.
Ok, I won't just stop writing there :) Stalley is quite a new MC to me - he first came out in 2008, but I only got up on any of his material last year. Coming out of Ohio, he's mostly been doing his thing independently (this is from the "Lincoln Way Nights" LP), but is now affiliated with the Maybach Music Group. Also definitely a member of #beardgang. Production on this is handled by Rashad, bringing that late night vibe to this track - and of course, the bass. Nice 80s sample and some other bits in there, skilfully blended together to give a great backdrop to the story of the girlfriend who just wishes he would turn the car stereo down :)
Zero 7 : Sleepr
This track manages the neat trick of sounding pretty uptempo despite only clocking in at around 80bpm! I'm just putting a dash of it in here for the flavour though - I absolutely love the breakdown that comes just before I mix out of the track. The rest of the tune is kind of angular and abstract, lots of effects and stuff so check it out if that's your bag. The album it's from ("Yeah Ghost") was pretty underrated I think - it's not another "Simple Things" by any means but at least it shows a willingness to experiment!
Gangrene : Due Work
The new Gangrene album "Vodka & Ayahuasca" is an absolute essential purchase for anyone who likes the real, and it was tough to even just choose a single track from it to play this month! This isn't totally typical of the sound of the rest of the album but fit nicely enough into the mix to make it my choice. Both Oh No and Alchemist are top producers and I'm not sure who gets the most credit for this but it pounds along and shows how to pull off the dark style with panache. Take notes!
[Kool Akiem Allah] Micranots : Glorious (Instrumental)
Dark tune from the Minneapolis-raised, Atlanta-based duo. Picked this up ages ago and it's just languished on the shelf for the most part so it's nice to dust it off! Extra-crunchy beat to say the least. You can find the vocal version of this on the A-Side of the "Welcome To The Empire" 12" (like I did) or on the "The Emperor & The Assassin" album.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly : Look At California
Classic soul! My parents didn't have any Maze in their collection so I wasn't up on them as a kid, but heard them mentioned on boards and so on and that was when I started to discover the magic :) Coming out of San Francisco, they give us this great 1977 track to end the show, paying homage to their home state. Structure-wise, it's quite something - almost like four songs in one! You can find this on their debut, self-titled album, where it also plays the closer role.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"My real name is Kunta Kinte"
- Keak
Despite being a little under the weather this month I feel great about the selection! I'm paying respect to the great Guru, dropping a couple of ill new releases, and of course dipping into the vaults for some too-often-overlooked gems - 58 mins of goodness. Enjoy listening, and do spread the word!
A few links to things I mentioned on the show;
The Combat Jack Show ft. Dallas Penn
Nook Friday Sessions with Neighbourhood
and this is a great book : Nothing To Envy
Anyway, let's dig into the tracklist for the month...
Playlist/Notes
Lina : It's Alright (Gang Starr Remix)
Been sitting on this one for a while but this was the perfect month to bring it out. The original version is from Lina's 2000/2001 debut album "Stranger On Earth," but while looking up info on it, I found it doesn't even seem to be on all the releases! As far as this remix, it seems to be on just one of the vinyl releases, or on the 12" promo single that I'm playing from. Lina is a singer and songwriter with kind of a jazzy style, and three albums to her credit - probably worth searching out if you want that kind of old-school vocal with updated production!
DJ Premier : Waaaaaa
Premo twice in a row? Yeah, why not? This one's a slightly off-beat but extra-hard instrumental from the first volume of the "Beats That Collected Dust" series. How did no MC get on this one?
Tony Touch & Gang Starr : The Piece Maker
Premo three times in a row? Well, good things do come in threes! I'd forgotten all about this one, but found I had it on a compilation of Gang Starr B-sides and rarities. It's basically just a Gang Starr track since Guru is on the mic and DJ Premier is on production and even the cuts I think, but it's a special track done for the mixtape DJ legend Tony Touch for his compilation "The Piece Maker." If you don't know about Tony Touch...well, that's your homework assignment for the month!
Keak Da Sneak ft. E-40 : T-Shirt, Blue Jeans, & Nikes
Big slapping Hyphy track! Can't even remember how I came up on this one for the first time, but I think it's one of those tracks that can't be denied. Bought the digital download of this on a "Greatest Hits" compilation but it was originally on the 2003 independently-released "Counting Other People's Money" album (love that title) - a track definitely worth chasing down for a party! Keak is a seasoned Bay Area veteran with 16 solo albums in his discography, not to mention his work with 3X Krazy and others. On top of that, he came up with the word hyphy in the first place! Definitely feeling the contrast between his low and gruff style and the legendary E-40's higher-register rhymes.
stic.man : Sober Soldier
This could be my theme tune! Shout to the man Ro for being the first one to tell me about this album. "The Workout" is an LP based around the themes of exercise and healthy living; great gym motivation and also completely radio-friendly! If you didn't already know, stic.man is half of dead prez and he's taken a very interesting tack with the album and his RBG Fit Club movement - definitely worth a look, as so many of us could do to improve our health and fitness and then apply that same discipline to other parts of life.
Motion Man : Play Dough
Check KutMasta Kurt cutting up the ill Guru sample for the hook! Back to the Bay Area for this one from Motion Man's debut album "Clearing The Field," which is worth having - solid and on its own vibe! Motion was the MC on the well-regarded DJ Vadim cut "The Terrorist" and has worked alongside Kool Keith as well as putting out two solo albums. Not heard anything from him for a while, but I get the feeling he'll be back...
[Barbershop Kiz] Defari : Blast (Instrumental)
Just some low-key dopeness here, instrumental of a 12" release from the Tommy Boy Black Label "Hip-Hop 101" compilation (note: that link currently has copies going for a penny plus postage, so you can't say fairer). There are some gems on that so it's one worth picking up when the price is low!
Chamillionaire ft. Saigon : You Gon' Learn (Early Service)
The first of two tracks out of Houston this month, this is a hot-off-the-presses release from one of my favourite MCs, taken from his new "Ammunition" project; he's highly underrated in the actual Hip-Hop market but has great mic skills - check the Paul Wall & Chamillionaire "Get Ya Mind Correct" album or any number of his amazing mixtape flows for proof. Also one of the most tech- and business-savvy MCs around, his intelligence shows whenever he speaks or writes. Accompanying him is the man behind one of last year's best albums, "The Greatest Story Never Told" - always one to speak his mind and call out fakeness. Not a strikingly obvious pairing, but an excellent one! Love the heavy drums on this beat too, courtesy of the Atlanta-based Sweatbox Productions.
Funkadelic : I Bet You
Keeping the big thumping drums going for another track, I could have chosen another Hip-Hop record but instead reached back for a selection from Funkadelic's first LP, released all the way back in 1970! George Clinton's various musical projects have contributed a huge amount to the sonic fabric of Hip-Hop and this track is no exception...if you're of a certain listening age you should recognise that different parts of this track have been sampled by some of the greats!
Dilated Peoples : Heavy Lighting
Not 100% sure of the accurate history of this one. I first heard it on a download years ago on an album/compilation called "The Deta Lideracy Project," which nowadays seems to only come up on Google on dodgy-looking websites. I really wanted to play it on the podcast but only play stuff obtained the right way so did a search for this particular track and found it on an officially-released compilation of Dilated Peoples B-sides and rarities - sounds about right! Interesting track, which seems to sway topic-wise between environmental concern and taking out sucker MCs; I'm not sure who produced it, but I love what they've done with the samples in the hook, got a really eerie and dark feel.
Cormega : Therapy
One of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod, this has been a headphone staple for me since I first heard it almost ten years ago! All heads with refined taste should know about the Queensbridge legend Cormega, who not only writes great lyrics but also gives the impression in interviews of being a very sincere and straightforward person. In recent years he seems to have laid to rest a long-running dispute with Nas but the album this is taken from ("The True Meaning," which is definitely one for your collection) is from that era - doesn't show on this track though. Beat-wise, another Queensbridge foundation man (DJ Hot Day) cooks up a buttery-smooth track based on Chaka Khan's "Stronger Than Before" (that one's already out there, so I'm not blowing anyone up). Got to love this one.
Air Adam : Breezeblock
A little something from my beat archives, not given it a big mixdown or anything, just straight two-tracked out of the MPC and into the computer! Just replaced my whole pad set and as soon as all the tact switches have been replaced too I might jump back into the beat game...
Trae ft. Styles & Jadakiss : Smile
Not an MC with a high profile in the UK, Trae is one of my favourites out of Houston - not the super-technical type of rhymer but has a really cold feel to his style. Another non-obvious collaboration with two-thirds of The LOX/D-Block bringing their Yonkers style down south, but it definitely works! I didn't know at first but the beat is actually all taken from a record by San Quinn and Messy Marv also called "Smile" and produced by Sean-T - I can thank Youtube comments for that knowledge!
Strategy : Kill 'Em
This was the early favourite for me from the Broke 'n' English veteran's "Pre-Season Training" mixtape - "The Bleep Test" was a more popular track but I love the production on this one, and Strategy's from-the-heart lyrics can't be fronted on - if you're fortunate enough to know any of the context, then they have that added impact too. Always representing Salford & Manchester, he's been doing it for a long time now and I'm waiting for B'n'E to come out with their second album - with all the talent and a new studio up and running, expect good things!
Stalley : She Hates The Bass
He should have got himself a British girl.Ok, I won't just stop writing there :) Stalley is quite a new MC to me - he first came out in 2008, but I only got up on any of his material last year. Coming out of Ohio, he's mostly been doing his thing independently (this is from the "Lincoln Way Nights" LP), but is now affiliated with the Maybach Music Group. Also definitely a member of #beardgang. Production on this is handled by Rashad, bringing that late night vibe to this track - and of course, the bass. Nice 80s sample and some other bits in there, skilfully blended together to give a great backdrop to the story of the girlfriend who just wishes he would turn the car stereo down :)
Zero 7 : Sleepr
This track manages the neat trick of sounding pretty uptempo despite only clocking in at around 80bpm! I'm just putting a dash of it in here for the flavour though - I absolutely love the breakdown that comes just before I mix out of the track. The rest of the tune is kind of angular and abstract, lots of effects and stuff so check it out if that's your bag. The album it's from ("Yeah Ghost") was pretty underrated I think - it's not another "Simple Things" by any means but at least it shows a willingness to experiment!
Gangrene : Due Work
The new Gangrene album "Vodka & Ayahuasca" is an absolute essential purchase for anyone who likes the real, and it was tough to even just choose a single track from it to play this month! This isn't totally typical of the sound of the rest of the album but fit nicely enough into the mix to make it my choice. Both Oh No and Alchemist are top producers and I'm not sure who gets the most credit for this but it pounds along and shows how to pull off the dark style with panache. Take notes!
[Kool Akiem Allah] Micranots : Glorious (Instrumental)
Dark tune from the Minneapolis-raised, Atlanta-based duo. Picked this up ages ago and it's just languished on the shelf for the most part so it's nice to dust it off! Extra-crunchy beat to say the least. You can find the vocal version of this on the A-Side of the "Welcome To The Empire" 12" (like I did) or on the "The Emperor & The Assassin" album.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly : Look At California
Classic soul! My parents didn't have any Maze in their collection so I wasn't up on them as a kid, but heard them mentioned on boards and so on and that was when I started to discover the magic :) Coming out of San Francisco, they give us this great 1977 track to end the show, paying homage to their home state. Structure-wise, it's quite something - almost like four songs in one! You can find this on their debut, self-titled album, where it also plays the closer role.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"All we do is drink, f***, and drive."
- Raekwon
As for our elected politicians...they just seem to drink, fight, and lie...for some reason they expect better of the rest of us! Anyway, back for another month with a pretty varied selection, from the sublime to the hostile. There are a few tracks people will definitely know (or ought to!) but I've pulled some pretty obscure ones out this month too.
As promised in the show audio - here are the pics from the last "In The Loop," where we seemed to be invaded by superheroes!
RIP Biggie Smalls & Trayvon Martin...
Playlist/Notes
Action Bronson : Muslim Wedding
I saw the title and wondered what it was about. As it turns out, not a thing to do with the title really :) Still, monster track with the Queens,NY chef/MC throwing down on a synth-heavy southern-flavoured track by Harry Fraud. Drive slow and swervy to this one...
Cliff Martinez : La Cagaste
Kind of ambient, awkward bar count and time signature...sounds like an excellent idea to put this into a mix! This is from the soundtrack to the excellent film "Traffic," and from the first time I saw the film I thought the music was amazing and so got the album. It's not one easy to get super-cheaply, and there are repeated motifs which Martinez keeps coming back to throughout so if you're looking for wild variation it might not be for you. I only knew of Cliff Martinez as a film composer but he was also the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on their first album!
Skibeatz & Curren$y : Fly By
Ski/Skibeatz has featured on the podcast before mostly because of the brilliant production he's done for Camp Lo, and you may or may not know about how much he did on Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt." In the last few years he seems to have got a bit of a second wind and the album "Twilight" from which this is taken is the latest in the "24Hr Karate School" series (though the branding is low-key on this one). Nicely chilled track with New Orleans' Curren$y providing some laid-back braggadocio.
Super Cat ft. Biggie Smalls : Dolly My Baby (Extended Remix)
One of the early Biggie appearances - personally, I think he should have been on there longer than 3rd Eye (Jesse West) as he clearly had the better performance! Stars all over this one, with Mary J. Blige on the hook and of course the don dada Super Cat taking the lead. Hot 1993 single, essential pickup for all DJs - not a rare one, I've seen copies online for £4 or so - don't miss out!
Blue Raspberry : Outta Bounds
Easily my favourite of all the Wu singers, Blue Raspberry seemed to drop out of sight for the most part after Raekwon's "...Cuban Linx..." album, after bringing the house down on "Rainy Dayz" (one of my top songs of all time, any genre). I heard a snippet of a song by her ("It's Time," I think?) years ago in the RealAudio era, but never found a copy, or much else. It seems there was a 2005 album "Out Of The Blue" but I've never even seen a copy for sale! A while ago I thought I'd type her name into Spotify and it came back with this track, from a compliation called "Wu-nited States" :) - not sure how old it is, but she certainly lets those lungs blast on here! I hope to hear more...
Casual : Say That Then
A great and underrated MC from the Hieroglyphics camp, Casual has been doing his thing low-key for years. On this cut from the "Smash Rockwell" LP, he teamed with the ever-original New York producer J-Zone for the kind of sound that no-one else can pull off. I forgot all about this one until I was picking out records for an appearance on the C'mon Feet Elements show a while back - pulled it off the shelf and when I put it on I couldn't believe I hadn't been playing it more! Cross-country funk.
Hexsagon : Yesterday
Arizona stand up! Hexsagon's back with a new selection; the fourth volume of the "Beat Flip Tuesdays" collections has recently been released, and it's packed with quality sampler work! This one was perfect for setting off the next selection, so it got the nod, but if you get the whole set you'll find a lot of fresh beats besides!
Innerzone Orchestra : People Make The World Go Round (J88 Remix)
Killer Dilla remix! The original track wasn't that different, but was pretty drum-deficient. Dilla fixes that and makes it a wicked track. Innerzone Orchestra is an alias of the techno producer Carl Craig, but he shows that he can get down on the soulful tip on this track; the 12" I have is pretty light on credits so I'm not sure who's on vocal. The song itself is a cover version of a track by The Stylistics, which was also famously covered by...
Michael Jackson : People Make The World Go Round
...the legend from Gary, Indiana! This version is from his solo/soundtrack album "Ben" and he puts in the kind of quality vocal performance you'd expect. Not an obvious track to sample, but just a snatch of it turns up on...
Mobb Deep : Apostle's Warning
...and that's why Havoc is Havoc. The prince of dark production out of Queensbridge takes just a tiny snatch of the MJ track to add some atmosphere at the start and end of the tune, but the rest of it is just the kind of crunchy, evil style that he made his mark with. He also starts off the lyrics nicely, but Prodigy...kills it. No hook, no hesitation, no heartbreak 808 business - just bar after bar of the rawness. If you want more, you need to check the rest of the "Hell On Earth" LP, a masterpiece of 90s street Hip-Hop.
Wu-Tang Clan : One Of These Days
Underrated track in my opinion, taken from the Wu's "Iron Flag" LP. As someone who was pretty lukewarm on "The W," I thought there were quite a few good tunes on this album! Production on this one is handled by Nick Fury, and the guitar/horn combo just works really well, very clean sonically but funky as hell. Everyone on the mic comes off too. If you'd pushed this album to the back of your racks, give it another chance!
Basement Khemist : Vibrate
Great cut - 1999 12" release on Beyond Real. I think Basement Khemist only ever put out two or three 12" singles, never an album, but at the end of the day, why force it? Anyway, I'm a big fan of this one - DJ Spinna brings the production, and while the beat is quality it's actually the cutting up of L'il Dap's rhymes from "Supa Star" in the hook which gets this one the rewind credentials. Dope.
[Alchemist] Capone-N-Noreaga ft. Foxy Brown : Bang Bang (Instrumental)
If it sounds like something from the score to a late 70s/early 80s crime flick, the odds are fairly good it's an Alchemist beat! This is from a limited 12" I got after entering a DMC heat (believe it or not!), but the original is from CNN's "The Reunion" album - it's not an album you have to have but it's not bad.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Machine Gun Funk (Live)
Ok, he's rhyming over the vocal track which is never ideal but still, a live version of one of my favourite tracks from the first album. I got this on a white label 12" labelled "Live In London" - not sure exactly when it was recorded or how it found its way onto vinyl, but it's worth a pickup if you see it!
Mr. Khaliyl ft. Pharoahe Monch & DCQ : Street Team
I only realised recently that Mr.Khaliyl is actually Mister Man from Da Bush Babees - back to school for me! That's a good piece of 90s Hip-Hop trivia :) He comes out hard here both lyrically and on the boards on this 2001 Rawkus 12" (this is the B-side to "Wages [Of Sin]") with DCQ of Medina Green and Pharoahe Monch contributing guest verses. Predictable. Pharoahe melts the mic down to close the track. Was it really going to end any other way?
DJ JS-1 ft. Akrobatik, J-Live, Supastition & Pack FM : Too Easy
Dug this one up from a solid enough album which I actually wasn't as much into as I hoped I would be when I bought it. Still though, this is a wicked track - the MC lineup is quality, and while they all drop some serious lyrics I think J-Live's basketball-metaphor verse is the standout for me. Just slays it.
Bumpy Knuckles : Inspired By Fire
Rugged but still clean enough for radio! Bumpy Knuckles drops some jewels for the kids on a short cut from the "StoodioTyme" digital-only EP, completely produced by DJ Premier and serving as a warm-up for the "Kolexxxion" album which is due to be released soon. If you like that real, no-nonsense boom-bap with tough lyrics, that might just be the release of the year!
Apple Juice Kid : Tears
Brand new, just released at the start of the month - Apple Juice Kid, who I first heard of doing production on Camp Lo's "Stone & Rob : Caught On Tape" was tapped to provide the score to "Poetic Portraits Of A Revolution," which explores the Arab Spring. The result worked well I think, a good listen and for a good price - if you like film scores, it's definitely worth giving this a check; as you'd expect, they're very much Hip-Hop beats with a strong Middle Eastern influence. I couldn't make my favourite fit into the selection this month...if you get the whole album, see if you can guess which one it might me!
Tanya Morgan : Stay Tuned (Sunset Version)
Phenomenal track. I admit I was late on the whole Tanya Morgan catalogue (only knew bits and pieces) but heard this tune this month and flipped out - brilliantly put together. Von Pea presents one of the cleverest sample uses I've heard in a while - after the verses finish, letting the original track just seamlessly play on at the repitched speed, then chops up the start of the second verse of the sample as it comes in, effectively creating a slightly-darker remix of the original. Just listen, that's all I can say...and I think this was on their very first EP!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"All we do is drink, f***, and drive."
- Raekwon
As for our elected politicians...they just seem to drink, fight, and lie...for some reason they expect better of the rest of us! Anyway, back for another month with a pretty varied selection, from the sublime to the hostile. There are a few tracks people will definitely know (or ought to!) but I've pulled some pretty obscure ones out this month too.
As promised in the show audio - here are the pics from the last "In The Loop," where we seemed to be invaded by superheroes!
RIP Biggie Smalls & Trayvon Martin...
Playlist/Notes
Action Bronson : Muslim Wedding
I saw the title and wondered what it was about. As it turns out, not a thing to do with the title really :) Still, monster track with the Queens,NY chef/MC throwing down on a synth-heavy southern-flavoured track by Harry Fraud. Drive slow and swervy to this one...
Cliff Martinez : La Cagaste
Kind of ambient, awkward bar count and time signature...sounds like an excellent idea to put this into a mix! This is from the soundtrack to the excellent film "Traffic," and from the first time I saw the film I thought the music was amazing and so got the album. It's not one easy to get super-cheaply, and there are repeated motifs which Martinez keeps coming back to throughout so if you're looking for wild variation it might not be for you. I only knew of Cliff Martinez as a film composer but he was also the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on their first album!
Skibeatz & Curren$y : Fly By
Ski/Skibeatz has featured on the podcast before mostly because of the brilliant production he's done for Camp Lo, and you may or may not know about how much he did on Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt." In the last few years he seems to have got a bit of a second wind and the album "Twilight" from which this is taken is the latest in the "24Hr Karate School" series (though the branding is low-key on this one). Nicely chilled track with New Orleans' Curren$y providing some laid-back braggadocio.
Super Cat ft. Biggie Smalls : Dolly My Baby (Extended Remix)
One of the early Biggie appearances - personally, I think he should have been on there longer than 3rd Eye (Jesse West) as he clearly had the better performance! Stars all over this one, with Mary J. Blige on the hook and of course the don dada Super Cat taking the lead. Hot 1993 single, essential pickup for all DJs - not a rare one, I've seen copies online for £4 or so - don't miss out!
Blue Raspberry : Outta Bounds
Easily my favourite of all the Wu singers, Blue Raspberry seemed to drop out of sight for the most part after Raekwon's "...Cuban Linx..." album, after bringing the house down on "Rainy Dayz" (one of my top songs of all time, any genre). I heard a snippet of a song by her ("It's Time," I think?) years ago in the RealAudio era, but never found a copy, or much else. It seems there was a 2005 album "Out Of The Blue" but I've never even seen a copy for sale! A while ago I thought I'd type her name into Spotify and it came back with this track, from a compliation called "Wu-nited States" :) - not sure how old it is, but she certainly lets those lungs blast on here! I hope to hear more...
Casual : Say That Then
A great and underrated MC from the Hieroglyphics camp, Casual has been doing his thing low-key for years. On this cut from the "Smash Rockwell" LP, he teamed with the ever-original New York producer J-Zone for the kind of sound that no-one else can pull off. I forgot all about this one until I was picking out records for an appearance on the C'mon Feet Elements show a while back - pulled it off the shelf and when I put it on I couldn't believe I hadn't been playing it more! Cross-country funk.
Hexsagon : Yesterday
Arizona stand up! Hexsagon's back with a new selection; the fourth volume of the "Beat Flip Tuesdays" collections has recently been released, and it's packed with quality sampler work! This one was perfect for setting off the next selection, so it got the nod, but if you get the whole set you'll find a lot of fresh beats besides!
Innerzone Orchestra : People Make The World Go Round (J88 Remix)
Killer Dilla remix! The original track wasn't that different, but was pretty drum-deficient. Dilla fixes that and makes it a wicked track. Innerzone Orchestra is an alias of the techno producer Carl Craig, but he shows that he can get down on the soulful tip on this track; the 12" I have is pretty light on credits so I'm not sure who's on vocal. The song itself is a cover version of a track by The Stylistics, which was also famously covered by...
Michael Jackson : People Make The World Go Round
...the legend from Gary, Indiana! This version is from his solo/soundtrack album "Ben" and he puts in the kind of quality vocal performance you'd expect. Not an obvious track to sample, but just a snatch of it turns up on...
Mobb Deep : Apostle's Warning
...and that's why Havoc is Havoc. The prince of dark production out of Queensbridge takes just a tiny snatch of the MJ track to add some atmosphere at the start and end of the tune, but the rest of it is just the kind of crunchy, evil style that he made his mark with. He also starts off the lyrics nicely, but Prodigy...kills it. No hook, no hesitation, no heartbreak 808 business - just bar after bar of the rawness. If you want more, you need to check the rest of the "Hell On Earth" LP, a masterpiece of 90s street Hip-Hop.
Wu-Tang Clan : One Of These Days
Underrated track in my opinion, taken from the Wu's "Iron Flag" LP. As someone who was pretty lukewarm on "The W," I thought there were quite a few good tunes on this album! Production on this one is handled by Nick Fury, and the guitar/horn combo just works really well, very clean sonically but funky as hell. Everyone on the mic comes off too. If you'd pushed this album to the back of your racks, give it another chance!
Basement Khemist : Vibrate
Great cut - 1999 12" release on Beyond Real. I think Basement Khemist only ever put out two or three 12" singles, never an album, but at the end of the day, why force it? Anyway, I'm a big fan of this one - DJ Spinna brings the production, and while the beat is quality it's actually the cutting up of L'il Dap's rhymes from "Supa Star" in the hook which gets this one the rewind credentials. Dope.
[Alchemist] Capone-N-Noreaga ft. Foxy Brown : Bang Bang (Instrumental)
If it sounds like something from the score to a late 70s/early 80s crime flick, the odds are fairly good it's an Alchemist beat! This is from a limited 12" I got after entering a DMC heat (believe it or not!), but the original is from CNN's "The Reunion" album - it's not an album you have to have but it's not bad.
The Notorious B.I.G. : Machine Gun Funk (Live)
Ok, he's rhyming over the vocal track which is never ideal but still, a live version of one of my favourite tracks from the first album. I got this on a white label 12" labelled "Live In London" - not sure exactly when it was recorded or how it found its way onto vinyl, but it's worth a pickup if you see it!
Mr. Khaliyl ft. Pharoahe Monch & DCQ : Street Team
I only realised recently that Mr.Khaliyl is actually Mister Man from Da Bush Babees - back to school for me! That's a good piece of 90s Hip-Hop trivia :) He comes out hard here both lyrically and on the boards on this 2001 Rawkus 12" (this is the B-side to "Wages [Of Sin]") with DCQ of Medina Green and Pharoahe Monch contributing guest verses. Predictable. Pharoahe melts the mic down to close the track. Was it really going to end any other way?
DJ JS-1 ft. Akrobatik, J-Live, Supastition & Pack FM : Too Easy
Dug this one up from a solid enough album which I actually wasn't as much into as I hoped I would be when I bought it. Still though, this is a wicked track - the MC lineup is quality, and while they all drop some serious lyrics I think J-Live's basketball-metaphor verse is the standout for me. Just slays it.
Bumpy Knuckles : Inspired By Fire
Rugged but still clean enough for radio! Bumpy Knuckles drops some jewels for the kids on a short cut from the "StoodioTyme" digital-only EP, completely produced by DJ Premier and serving as a warm-up for the "Kolexxxion" album which is due to be released soon. If you like that real, no-nonsense boom-bap with tough lyrics, that might just be the release of the year!
Apple Juice Kid : Tears
Brand new, just released at the start of the month - Apple Juice Kid, who I first heard of doing production on Camp Lo's "Stone & Rob : Caught On Tape" was tapped to provide the score to "Poetic Portraits Of A Revolution," which explores the Arab Spring. The result worked well I think, a good listen and for a good price - if you like film scores, it's definitely worth giving this a check; as you'd expect, they're very much Hip-Hop beats with a strong Middle Eastern influence. I couldn't make my favourite fit into the selection this month...if you get the whole album, see if you can guess which one it might me!
Tanya Morgan : Stay Tuned (Sunset Version)
Phenomenal track. I admit I was late on the whole Tanya Morgan catalogue (only knew bits and pieces) but heard this tune this month and flipped out - brilliantly put together. Von Pea presents one of the cleverest sample uses I've heard in a while - after the verses finish, letting the original track just seamlessly play on at the repitched speed, then chops up the start of the second verse of the sample as it comes in, effectively creating a slightly-darker remix of the original. Just listen, that's all I can say...and I think this was on their very first EP!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm 'bout to call the CIA on myself..."
- Jasiri X
February, what a month...one in which we mark the passings of Big Pun, Big L, J Dilla, and now Whitney Houston. There's some Dilla and Pun in this month's selection, alongside some political dubplate action, a touch of funk and one of those singles I had to close my eyes while paying for...
Big shouts to everyone who came to In The Loop/Family Gathering this month and the Manchester "J Dilla Changed My Life" tribute (pics here) - nights I'll always remember!
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Shine
That blues sample starts up and you just know it's going to be a good few minutes. I've definitely said before how much of a fan I am/was of this ridiculously-skilled crew of New York MCs who burned up some incredible underground tracks in the 90s. Most people who happen to know this one probably heard it on DJ Premier's "New York Reality Check 101" mixtape where it was somehow mislabelled as "Lyrical Tactics." Lyrics galore all the same, with Charlemagne on the production and an appearance by Essence (aka Ayana Soyini) who apparently was not a guest but an original member of the group - didn't know that!
[Ski] Camp Lo : Coolie High (Instrumental)
Bronx! Another group I have proclaimed my fandom of at least a couple of times on the podcast before :) This track is easily one of my favourite Hip-Hop singles of all time. DJ Greenpeace was the first person to play it for me and from that first listen I was sold. Of course here, there are no vocals, only the incredible beat from the man Ski, flipping a Janet Jackson sample heavily and adding the extra bump to put it in the pantheon of great singles. A monster.
Camp Lo : Coolie High (Paradise Remix)
...and then we have the little-known remix! I'd been looking for a copy of this for *years* since DJ Beware first picked it up before finding a copy on Discogs. This is a bit of a re-record - the lyrics are slightly different to the original, but it's the beat which is the huge change; while Ski sampled Janet Jackson on the original, he switches over to Michael on this version and it's just perfect. If you can find this on 12", hold onto it!
The Roots : I Remember
My favourite cut from the most recent Roots album, "Undun." Not the longest album in the world, but a top-quality release and definitely recommended (and not just by me)! As the album tells the story of the fall and death of a man in reverse, this track from near the end is from relatively early in the story. It's melancholy, and it's beautiful. Knocked the breath out of me the first time I heard it, hope it does the same for you!
Jewell : It's Not Deep Enough
Don't remember this? You probably weren't around during the monster Death Row Records run in the 90s. Ill track from the "Above The Rim" soundtrack, but very much to the back compared to joints like "Regulate" and "Afro Puffs." For me it was a favourite though, with the producer Mr.Dalvin (yes, of Jodeci) reaching into the jazz crates for the Donald Byrd "Wind Parade" sample which had been used in the surrounding period by Black Moon and 2Pac to name but two. Works here once again, with the slow neck-snapping drums. Jewell was a vocalist who as far as I know never put a full album out, but responsible for some of the hugest hooks of the era - "Let Me Ride" was her work, as was "Gin and Juice," and Snoop's "What's My Name?" too. Not quite the female Nate Dogg, but as good a comparison as any :) Love her vocals on this.
Mark B & Blade : Use Your Head
UK coming through with the heavy drums! As I recall, this was one of the first - if not the first - Mark B & Blade collaborations, on a two-disc EP called "Hitmen For Hire." Of the four tracks on there, this was the big standout for me, with those tough tough drums just smashing everything in sight - you can't give Blade a weak beat. The cuts are provided by the extra-ill, ex-Scratch Pervert Mr.Thing, one of the great all-rounders on the turntables, rounding off the whole package nicely!
Twizted Rootz : A Useful Waste Of Time
Rootz is a young producer coming out of Manchester getting play on the podcast for the second time - he got in contact to let me know he had some new stuff in a different style to some of his older beats, so you know I had to get that. Check him out on Soundcloud!
Jasiri X : Bushes
Huge tune on the ill political dubplate vibe! As with every big single, "Otis" ended up with all kinds of no-mark MCs chatting unpolished nonsense all over the Kanye-produced instrumental, but you can throw all those out of the window in favour of this one. In fact, I like this more than the original! Pittsburgh's Jasiri X, a fearlessly political MC, absolutely turns it out here by rhyming in the personas of George Bush and George W Bush - but taking the rhyme scheme from Jay and Kanye's original track. Brilliant piece of lyrical cleverness. Grabbed this as one of the tracks on the bargain-priced (edit: now *free*) "#thewholeworldiswatching" LP, which is definitely worth having!
Phat Kat ft. J Dilla & Black Milk : Door
AKA Subwoofer status check. Lows and more lows on the BR Gunna production. Drums are nice too, if you can hear them through all that! I've got this on a sampler 12" but it's probably most obtainable on Phat Kat's 2003 "The Undeniable" album. An all-Detroit affair, with the late great J Dilla and Black Milk giving nice turns on the mic alongside Phat Kat on a tune which just has the feel of Jason Voorhees on the MPC.
Akrobatik ft. Talib Kweli : Put Ya Stamp On It
Dilla on the beat this time, sounds hectic as hell but only 93bpm. Nice bit of extra sub bass on those kicks at the end of each four-bar section! Boston's Akrobatik (who you may know from The Perceptionists) goes hard on the mic to do the late James Yancey proud (this was released after his passing, as you may spot from the lyrics), and Talib Kweli gives a good backup performance too. Got this as a 12" but you can find it on the 2008 "Absolute Value" LP, which I still need to get!
Big Punisher : The Dream Shatterer
RIP Pun, and Rest In Pieces to the wack emcees he slays on this track! The first time I heard the "Capital Punishment" LP I knew I liked it, but when this track rolled on, it was rewind time! "Ayo I shatter dreams, like Jordan assault & batter your team?" You know I was loving that. The big Boricua from the Bronx bodied this beat big-time ;) with a head-on attack flow. Amazingly, this wasn't even the first choice of beat! Buckwild from DITC produced the original version, but the sample couldn't be cleared and so Domingo stepped in with this ill, dramatic, rushed, tightrope-walking track you hear on the album. Phenomenal.
[Marky Mark] LL Cool J : How I'm Comin'
Anyone else remember when LL started coming out gangsta style? I think this was the lead single from his "14 Shots To The Dome" album, apparently a 1996 release - feels older to me somehow! No vocals on this version of course, but LL Cool J is one of the most remarkable MCs of all time, incredible longevity and someone who was counted out at least once, only to come back blazing! I don't have anything rare from him but will definitely play something from the catalogue in the future.
Oh, and the producer isn't that Marky Mark :)
Oddisee : Don Cornelius
There was no question - this had to be played this month, even though I played the previous track from the same album two months ago! DMV representing but bringing the West Coast flavour, giving me nice synths to blend into the next track with. Oh, and that vocal sample? One of my all-time favourite artists (you already know), the late great Roger Troutman! Here's a short (but good) article at NewsOne summarising some of the things Don Cornelius influenced, and a longer one on NPR. What a legacy.
Lord Jamar : Supreme Mathematics (Knowledge Mix)
First of two Brand Nubian-related tracks this episode; on this one, Lord Jamar gives a surprisingly catchy breakdown of the symbolic meanings of the numerals in the Supreme Mathematics, a number system making up part of the Nation of Gods and Earths' core concepts. It's the last track on Jamar's "The 5% Album" which is, as the title suggests, based around the nation's teachings - regardless of whether you believe or not, it's a solid album worth checking, especially if you like conscious lyrical content. It'd have been even better if they could have included "The Sun!" Anyway, Lord Jamar handles the production on here himself - I'm not going to name the sample as I don't know if it's been cleared but it's definitely got that b-boy vibe, far superior to the original mix.
Public Enemy : You're Gonna Get Yours
Good excuse to get this tune in position for a road test! Wicked but underrated PE tune which opened up the first album, "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" back in 87. It almost feels like some kind of reverse world where Public Enemy have a song about a car, but it works! I think Bill Stephney is credited with the production, though it wouldn't surprise me if everyone in the group had piled in on this at some point - I'm sure someone knows better than me though!
ADC Band : Baby Love
Not an obvious selection, but pulled the "Long Stroke" (!) album out to give it a listen and this sounded like sonically it'd go pretty will with the PE track! I don't know much about the ADC Band, so I'll just post a Discogs link which seems to have the most info of anywhere I managed to find...
Grand Puba ft. Q-Tip : Good To Go
Two big names, but not a well-known track! This is from Puba's 2009 "Retroactive" album which totally passed me by - only heard it for the first time last year! Truth be told, not an essential LP top to bottom but worth a listen at least. It's been a long time since that first Brand Nubian album in 1990 where most of us first heard him, but he's still here! Alongside him on this track is the man Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, who also handles the production. Surprisingly awkward to mix with, but I like it!
[DJ Revolution] Mykill Myers : Killing Spree (Remix)
One of those 12"s that I don't expect is super-rare or anything, but that most DJs I know just wouldn't have bought! Mykill Myers is/was an MC out of Los Angeles who had a couple of albums out on Ill Boogie Records in 2000 & 2001, the first of which the original of this track was taken from. As for the producer, DJ Revolution - his beats are good, but he's more renowned for his ridiculous turntable skills...get to know!
GZA : Labels (Remix/Original?)
This was what I heard the first time I heard "Labels" on the radio, and when I bought "Liquid Swords" and got to that track I was gutted. Why? Totally different beat! It seems they couldn't get clearance for everything on here and had to go with a different version; in fact, if you listen right to the very end you can hear it! This for me is one of the hardest beats of an era that had a fair few of them - there was nothing else that sounded anything like it, which is just RZA all over. Lyrically though, you get the same incredible quality on both versions, with GZA weaving the names of 39 (by my count) record labels into a cohesive piece, just amazing. Not only did this probably send a ton of MCs back to school or into alternative employment, but also spawned more GZA tracks that used the same kind of idea with different contexts - I'll just give you one : "Fame..."
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm 'bout to call the CIA on myself..."
- Jasiri X
February, what a month...one in which we mark the passings of Big Pun, Big L, J Dilla, and now Whitney Houston. There's some Dilla and Pun in this month's selection, alongside some political dubplate action, a touch of funk and one of those singles I had to close my eyes while paying for...
Big shouts to everyone who came to In The Loop/Family Gathering this month and the Manchester "J Dilla Changed My Life" tribute (pics here) - nights I'll always remember!
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Shine
That blues sample starts up and you just know it's going to be a good few minutes. I've definitely said before how much of a fan I am/was of this ridiculously-skilled crew of New York MCs who burned up some incredible underground tracks in the 90s. Most people who happen to know this one probably heard it on DJ Premier's "New York Reality Check 101" mixtape where it was somehow mislabelled as "Lyrical Tactics." Lyrics galore all the same, with Charlemagne on the production and an appearance by Essence (aka Ayana Soyini) who apparently was not a guest but an original member of the group - didn't know that!
[Ski] Camp Lo : Coolie High (Instrumental)
Bronx! Another group I have proclaimed my fandom of at least a couple of times on the podcast before :) This track is easily one of my favourite Hip-Hop singles of all time. DJ Greenpeace was the first person to play it for me and from that first listen I was sold. Of course here, there are no vocals, only the incredible beat from the man Ski, flipping a Janet Jackson sample heavily and adding the extra bump to put it in the pantheon of great singles. A monster.
Camp Lo : Coolie High (Paradise Remix)
...and then we have the little-known remix! I'd been looking for a copy of this for *years* since DJ Beware first picked it up before finding a copy on Discogs. This is a bit of a re-record - the lyrics are slightly different to the original, but it's the beat which is the huge change; while Ski sampled Janet Jackson on the original, he switches over to Michael on this version and it's just perfect. If you can find this on 12", hold onto it!
The Roots : I Remember
My favourite cut from the most recent Roots album, "Undun." Not the longest album in the world, but a top-quality release and definitely recommended (and not just by me)! As the album tells the story of the fall and death of a man in reverse, this track from near the end is from relatively early in the story. It's melancholy, and it's beautiful. Knocked the breath out of me the first time I heard it, hope it does the same for you!
Jewell : It's Not Deep Enough
Don't remember this? You probably weren't around during the monster Death Row Records run in the 90s. Ill track from the "Above The Rim" soundtrack, but very much to the back compared to joints like "Regulate" and "Afro Puffs." For me it was a favourite though, with the producer Mr.Dalvin (yes, of Jodeci) reaching into the jazz crates for the Donald Byrd "Wind Parade" sample which had been used in the surrounding period by Black Moon and 2Pac to name but two. Works here once again, with the slow neck-snapping drums. Jewell was a vocalist who as far as I know never put a full album out, but responsible for some of the hugest hooks of the era - "Let Me Ride" was her work, as was "Gin and Juice," and Snoop's "What's My Name?" too. Not quite the female Nate Dogg, but as good a comparison as any :) Love her vocals on this.
Mark B & Blade : Use Your Head
UK coming through with the heavy drums! As I recall, this was one of the first - if not the first - Mark B & Blade collaborations, on a two-disc EP called "Hitmen For Hire." Of the four tracks on there, this was the big standout for me, with those tough tough drums just smashing everything in sight - you can't give Blade a weak beat. The cuts are provided by the extra-ill, ex-Scratch Pervert Mr.Thing, one of the great all-rounders on the turntables, rounding off the whole package nicely!
Twizted Rootz : A Useful Waste Of Time
Rootz is a young producer coming out of Manchester getting play on the podcast for the second time - he got in contact to let me know he had some new stuff in a different style to some of his older beats, so you know I had to get that. Check him out on Soundcloud!
Jasiri X : Bushes
Huge tune on the ill political dubplate vibe! As with every big single, "Otis" ended up with all kinds of no-mark MCs chatting unpolished nonsense all over the Kanye-produced instrumental, but you can throw all those out of the window in favour of this one. In fact, I like this more than the original! Pittsburgh's Jasiri X, a fearlessly political MC, absolutely turns it out here by rhyming in the personas of George Bush and George W Bush - but taking the rhyme scheme from Jay and Kanye's original track. Brilliant piece of lyrical cleverness. Grabbed this as one of the tracks on the bargain-priced (edit: now *free*) "#thewholeworldiswatching" LP, which is definitely worth having!
Phat Kat ft. J Dilla & Black Milk : Door
AKA Subwoofer status check. Lows and more lows on the BR Gunna production. Drums are nice too, if you can hear them through all that! I've got this on a sampler 12" but it's probably most obtainable on Phat Kat's 2003 "The Undeniable" album. An all-Detroit affair, with the late great J Dilla and Black Milk giving nice turns on the mic alongside Phat Kat on a tune which just has the feel of Jason Voorhees on the MPC.
Akrobatik ft. Talib Kweli : Put Ya Stamp On It
Dilla on the beat this time, sounds hectic as hell but only 93bpm. Nice bit of extra sub bass on those kicks at the end of each four-bar section! Boston's Akrobatik (who you may know from The Perceptionists) goes hard on the mic to do the late James Yancey proud (this was released after his passing, as you may spot from the lyrics), and Talib Kweli gives a good backup performance too. Got this as a 12" but you can find it on the 2008 "Absolute Value" LP, which I still need to get!
Big Punisher : The Dream Shatterer
RIP Pun, and Rest In Pieces to the wack emcees he slays on this track! The first time I heard the "Capital Punishment" LP I knew I liked it, but when this track rolled on, it was rewind time! "Ayo I shatter dreams, like Jordan assault & batter your team?" You know I was loving that. The big Boricua from the Bronx bodied this beat big-time ;) with a head-on attack flow. Amazingly, this wasn't even the first choice of beat! Buckwild from DITC produced the original version, but the sample couldn't be cleared and so Domingo stepped in with this ill, dramatic, rushed, tightrope-walking track you hear on the album. Phenomenal.
[Marky Mark] LL Cool J : How I'm Comin'
Anyone else remember when LL started coming out gangsta style? I think this was the lead single from his "14 Shots To The Dome" album, apparently a 1996 release - feels older to me somehow! No vocals on this version of course, but LL Cool J is one of the most remarkable MCs of all time, incredible longevity and someone who was counted out at least once, only to come back blazing! I don't have anything rare from him but will definitely play something from the catalogue in the future. Oh, and the producer isn't that Marky Mark :)
Oddisee : Don Cornelius
There was no question - this had to be played this month, even though I played the previous track from the same album two months ago! DMV representing but bringing the West Coast flavour, giving me nice synths to blend into the next track with. Oh, and that vocal sample? One of my all-time favourite artists (you already know), the late great Roger Troutman! Here's a short (but good) article at NewsOne summarising some of the things Don Cornelius influenced, and a longer one on NPR. What a legacy.
Lord Jamar : Supreme Mathematics (Knowledge Mix)
First of two Brand Nubian-related tracks this episode; on this one, Lord Jamar gives a surprisingly catchy breakdown of the symbolic meanings of the numerals in the Supreme Mathematics, a number system making up part of the Nation of Gods and Earths' core concepts. It's the last track on Jamar's "The 5% Album" which is, as the title suggests, based around the nation's teachings - regardless of whether you believe or not, it's a solid album worth checking, especially if you like conscious lyrical content. It'd have been even better if they could have included "The Sun!" Anyway, Lord Jamar handles the production on here himself - I'm not going to name the sample as I don't know if it's been cleared but it's definitely got that b-boy vibe, far superior to the original mix.
Public Enemy : You're Gonna Get Yours
Good excuse to get this tune in position for a road test! Wicked but underrated PE tune which opened up the first album, "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" back in 87. It almost feels like some kind of reverse world where Public Enemy have a song about a car, but it works! I think Bill Stephney is credited with the production, though it wouldn't surprise me if everyone in the group had piled in on this at some point - I'm sure someone knows better than me though!
ADC Band : Baby Love
Not an obvious selection, but pulled the "Long Stroke" (!) album out to give it a listen and this sounded like sonically it'd go pretty will with the PE track! I don't know much about the ADC Band, so I'll just post a Discogs link which seems to have the most info of anywhere I managed to find...
Grand Puba ft. Q-Tip : Good To Go
Two big names, but not a well-known track! This is from Puba's 2009 "Retroactive" album which totally passed me by - only heard it for the first time last year! Truth be told, not an essential LP top to bottom but worth a listen at least. It's been a long time since that first Brand Nubian album in 1990 where most of us first heard him, but he's still here! Alongside him on this track is the man Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, who also handles the production. Surprisingly awkward to mix with, but I like it!
[DJ Revolution] Mykill Myers : Killing Spree (Remix)
One of those 12"s that I don't expect is super-rare or anything, but that most DJs I know just wouldn't have bought! Mykill Myers is/was an MC out of Los Angeles who had a couple of albums out on Ill Boogie Records in 2000 & 2001, the first of which the original of this track was taken from. As for the producer, DJ Revolution - his beats are good, but he's more renowned for his ridiculous turntable skills...get to know!
GZA : Labels (Remix/Original?)
This was what I heard the first time I heard "Labels" on the radio, and when I bought "Liquid Swords" and got to that track I was gutted. Why? Totally different beat! It seems they couldn't get clearance for everything on here and had to go with a different version; in fact, if you listen right to the very end you can hear it! This for me is one of the hardest beats of an era that had a fair few of them - there was nothing else that sounded anything like it, which is just RZA all over. Lyrically though, you get the same incredible quality on both versions, with GZA weaving the names of 39 (by my count) record labels into a cohesive piece, just amazing. Not only did this probably send a ton of MCs back to school or into alternative employment, but also spawned more GZA tracks that used the same kind of idea with different contexts - I'll just give you one : "Fame..."
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...saliva and hand gestures..."
- Big Dubez
Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great 2012. The first episode for the year is one of those where if anyone knows every single track, I'll be very surprised. Definitely had fun with this selection - grew from one blend that popped into my head and just grew outwards from there...
Shout out to Jay Subterranea aka Jim Underground for donating the fresh chopping board in the cover art! As a DJ I mix and cut on the turntables, now I can take that style to the kitchen ;)
Quite a few links to throw up - not a regular thing as such but there are a number of events I want to mention right now;
- You can catch me DJing soon at the J Dilla Changed My Life tribute in Manchester on Feb 3rd, and then In The Loop/Family Gathering on Feb 17th, big tunes guaranteed both times!
- Go Dumb are playing in between those dates, on Feb 10th
- More Bounce are doing their thing every Saturday at Trof, Fallowfield
- Taste The Diff'rence are bringing the mighty Souls Of Mischief to Manchester on March 7th, and I'll be there with camera in hand!
Playlist/Notes
Yo-Yo : Mama Don't Take No Mess
Ladies first! A standout track from the "Boyz N The Hood" soundtrack, a compilation I'm definitely going to be revisiting in a future episode. Yo-Yo came out from under Ice Cube's wing on the track "It's A Man's World," going head-to-head with the west coast legend in a battle of the sexes on wax. She's from the era where skills were judged before appearance, definitely. I'm not going to front, I thought Yo-Yo was hot back then though - check the "Paint The White House Black" video. Ah, b-boy crushes... anyway, back to the present! Yo-Yo writes a great lyrical portrait of her strong mother and the upbringing she gave to her children, and production is by DJ Pooh and Rashad - funk-filled for real. 22 years old this cut...time flies!
[Rockwilder] Busta Rhymes : Do It Like Never Before (Instrumental)
Kind of awkward, kind of off-beat...yeah, nice choice to try and blend with! Nice Rockwilder beat though, strictly B-Side from the flip-side of "Do The Bus-A-Bus;" that track was on the "E.L.E : Extinction Level Event" album.
Michael Jackson : Speed Demon
Well, why not? The blend between this and the next tune was the seed for this episode. This isn't the tune that people bring up when talking about the "Bad" album, but I always loved it - it also inspired a memorable sequence in the "Moonwalker" film! Apparently this tune came about after MJ was stopped for speeding on the way to a studio session; Quincy Jones suggested he wrote down how he felt about it, and eventually it became the inspiration for the song. Nice bit of production there, Q :)
Ice-T : Drama
I was put up on this tune back in high school by my man Justin, one of the vanishingly small number of heads I met in my time there! I knew about the "OG : Original Gangster" album which had just been released but he knew about all the older Ice-T and so I have to thank him for hooking me up back then. (Note to the artist : I have since bought all those albums, so it all worked out!) Hugely overlooked track from the "Power" LP, this was never a single and is rarely mentioned. It's classic Ice-T - the crime story on most of the track, and then the downfall/moral at the end; if you like, the sugar and the medicine together. I always thought the production was incredible too, with the drum machine programming over the 303-type melody/bassline. Appreciate this, and then go and get that second album if you haven't already!
Genaside II : Waistline Firecracker
I almost feel bad including this tune as the first track I've played from these guys as I like some of their other so much more, but on the other hand it's the first one I ever heard so maybe it's right! I can't tell you too much about the group other than these snippets; they were from London, almost certainly the first UK act to work with any Wu members, and in style covered the spectrum from rave & drum 'n' bass to Hip-Hop. Their "New Life IV The Hunted" album is very difficult to describe, especially without resorting to cliche, but let me just say that it's always got play from me from the time it was released in 1996 right up to now. If you can find it, get it. This track was one of the lead singles, and rightly so; unique production, and serious gun chat over the top with the right amount of theatre to match.
dead prez : I'm A African
When it comes to dead prez, I think I'll always look to their first album (from which this is taken) as the overall best summation of what they're about, despite most of it being quite a big change in production style from some of their earlier work. Unashamedly pro-Black and anti-capitalist, they shook things up with the "Let's Get Free" album and one of the standouts for me was this early cut; certainly one of the most forthright declarations of being African since the Afrocentric Hip-Hop era. Hedrush and dead prez soundtrack their message with a speaker-smacking track, with drums coming from just about everywhere. Winner.
Kev Brown : Multiply (Instrumental)
The kind of dopeness you expect coming from the low-key, Low Budget representative. Got this from his official Instrumentals LP on Bandcamp, where he shows once again that Maryland shouldn't just be thought of for the university and the cookies :) How can you hate on this beat? Can't be done.
Sporty Thievz : Street Cinema 2
Remember these guys? For 90% of you that have, that'll be due to "No Pigeons," this Yonkers group's response to TLC's "No Scrubs." Actually, it just popped into my head that strangely, both groups were trios who lost one member in tragic accidents; such a shame. This is a great tune from the Thievz, been getting a lot of play in my headphones over the last few months; heard it randomly on Spotify, then tried to find a copy I could play. Was it on the "Street Cinema" album? Nope. I got it on an unofficial-looking 12", with "Enemies Of Hate" on the flip. The beat is nuts, Pete Rock rocking the Mardi Gras bells in a major way with lots of dope bassline action, and just a great amount of space between all the elements. On the mic, Marlon Brando (RIP) and King Kirk come through with low-key but attitude-filled deliveries - just a really cold overlay - and Big Dubez amps up the energy on the last verse, with the first four bars making me laugh out loud for real! Shame this track is so little known, but at least it's here for you guys!
NYGz : Policy
Premo beat. Straight away that should be enough to hook you in. Rugged tune which sounds slightly off-beat but all the better for it. Panch & Sha get busy on here, one of the early tracks from the Year Round Records "Get Used To Us" compilation. If you like this, you know you've got at least a little taste for that no-nonsense, meat & potatoes Hip-Hop :)
Skitz & Rootz Manuva : Blessed Be The Manner
Roots Manuva has really blossomed into a worldwide star for those that know, but this kind of style is always the version I enjoyed him rocking the most. Shout to Dave The Ruf - first heard this on one of his Radio Zero tapes! When it comes to the beef beat, the man Skitz, one of the UK's finest, gave him a track he could really shine on. Has Skitz ever made a bad beat, ever? Nice 12" on Ronin Records with "Where My Mind Is At" on the other side.
J-Live : How Real It Is
J-Live is one of the greatest all-around talents in Hip-Hop, with skills on the mic, the turntables and behind the boards - a true triple threat. All things considered, he may just be strongest on the lyrics, and this is just one of the many hot tracks he's laced over the years. J and Jay Money collaborate on the production, bringing in a small band to provide the instrumentation underlying this killer from the essential "All Of The Above" album. Do not sleep.
The Detroit Experiment : Vernors
The Detroit Experiment was a collaborative project between a number of notables - snuck up on me, I can't even remember where I heard this first, but it got a lot of play before I got a legit MP3 version. This isn't on Spotify unfortunately but if you get a chance to check the whole album, do. As far as this track, it's all about that beat switch halfway through...
J Dilla ft. Ta'Raach : Say It!
Great Dilla beat, light on the top but smacking it underneath! One from the "Jay Love Japan" release, or the version I have at least. I think going back-to-back Detroit here was a good move, hope you enjoy it also!
Freeway ft. Allen Anthony : Alright
Allen Anthony : Alright (Blackbeard Re-edit)
An entwined history for these two tracks! The original had the beat from the first tune, but the lyrics from the second - it was Allen Anthony's track. However, it became much better known after a different version was released with Freeway taking centre stage (and somewhat going off-topic with the lyrics, I might add) and Anthony sidelined to hook duty. Finally, the second track here was the A-side of two Blackbeard remixes/re-edits of these two tunes. Despite this, it was the first version I heard, on an MP3 from somewhere - absolutely loved it. I had no joy finding a vinyl until my man DJ A-Up found a copy for my birthday one year! Big props. Musically, Just Blaze (on the Freeway version) and Blackbeard (on the Allen Anthony track here) both catch wreck with their takes on the Ronnie Foster "Mystic Brew" sample, best known to the Hip-Hop nation for its use on A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation." Struggle music. PS - check the video links above; both of them were great in my opinion.
Basic Vocab : Likeness
On the low, Miami has some guys who really do it, even though it's not thought of as a traditional Hip-Hop hotbed. (Someone's going to mention Rick Ross here, but I'm yet to be convinced). BV are a three-man crew with Mental Growth and JL Sorell on the mic and Tony Galvin on production, and I've got a few tunes of theirs on 12" which are nice to have. You can't front on solid beats and solid rhymes, and this tune has a classic east coast Hip-Hop sound, no question.
K-Def : Yeah Def
You should already know about K-Def, I told you months ago ;) One of the many dope tracks on the very little known but extremely good "Willie Boo Boo The Fool" instrumental LP. The real heads want to have that one in the collection, especially if you're into making beats; good source of inspiration!
Dean Atta : I Am Nobody's Nigger
Not Hip-Hop, but unquestionably one of the big noisemakers of the last month. After an 18-year wait, two people were finally convicted for their parts in the racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. For those that doubted whether race was the motive, the attack was reportedly preceded by a challenge of "What, what, nigger?" from one of the killers. Taking inspiration from the fact that that hateful word was one of the last he ever heard (a though I've often had about other Black people), the London spoken word poet Dean Atta wrote a great piece blasting its casual use. He posted it on the Internet and it spread like wildfire, sparking discussion and prompting a number of people to try and set it to music. While I liked it in its raw form, this version constructed by Si Tew is one of Dean's favourites, so I've gone with it to close the show, and hopefully make people think. It's a word I never use - it'd be nice to think that this poem might just make other people check their speech in future.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...saliva and hand gestures..."
- Big Dubez
Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great 2012. The first episode for the year is one of those where if anyone knows every single track, I'll be very surprised. Definitely had fun with this selection - grew from one blend that popped into my head and just grew outwards from there...
Shout out to Jay Subterranea aka Jim Underground for donating the fresh chopping board in the cover art! As a DJ I mix and cut on the turntables, now I can take that style to the kitchen ;)
Quite a few links to throw up - not a regular thing as such but there are a number of events I want to mention right now;
- You can catch me DJing soon at the J Dilla Changed My Life tribute in Manchester on Feb 3rd, and then In The Loop/Family Gathering on Feb 17th, big tunes guaranteed both times!
- Go Dumb are playing in between those dates, on Feb 10th
- More Bounce are doing their thing every Saturday at Trof, Fallowfield
- Taste The Diff'rence are bringing the mighty Souls Of Mischief to Manchester on March 7th, and I'll be there with camera in hand!
Playlist/Notes
Yo-Yo : Mama Don't Take No Mess
Ladies first! A standout track from the "Boyz N The Hood" soundtrack, a compilation I'm definitely going to be revisiting in a future episode. Yo-Yo came out from under Ice Cube's wing on the track "It's A Man's World," going head-to-head with the west coast legend in a battle of the sexes on wax. She's from the era where skills were judged before appearance, definitely. I'm not going to front, I thought Yo-Yo was hot back then though - check the "Paint The White House Black" video. Ah, b-boy crushes... anyway, back to the present! Yo-Yo writes a great lyrical portrait of her strong mother and the upbringing she gave to her children, and production is by DJ Pooh and Rashad - funk-filled for real. 22 years old this cut...time flies!
[Rockwilder] Busta Rhymes : Do It Like Never Before (Instrumental)
Kind of awkward, kind of off-beat...yeah, nice choice to try and blend with! Nice Rockwilder beat though, strictly B-Side from the flip-side of "Do The Bus-A-Bus;" that track was on the "E.L.E : Extinction Level Event" album.
Michael Jackson : Speed Demon
Well, why not? The blend between this and the next tune was the seed for this episode. This isn't the tune that people bring up when talking about the "Bad" album, but I always loved it - it also inspired a memorable sequence in the "Moonwalker" film! Apparently this tune came about after MJ was stopped for speeding on the way to a studio session; Quincy Jones suggested he wrote down how he felt about it, and eventually it became the inspiration for the song. Nice bit of production there, Q :)
Ice-T : Drama
I was put up on this tune back in high school by my man Justin, one of the vanishingly small number of heads I met in my time there! I knew about the "OG : Original Gangster" album which had just been released but he knew about all the older Ice-T and so I have to thank him for hooking me up back then. (Note to the artist : I have since bought all those albums, so it all worked out!) Hugely overlooked track from the "Power" LP, this was never a single and is rarely mentioned. It's classic Ice-T - the crime story on most of the track, and then the downfall/moral at the end; if you like, the sugar and the medicine together. I always thought the production was incredible too, with the drum machine programming over the 303-type melody/bassline. Appreciate this, and then go and get that second album if you haven't already!
Genaside II : Waistline Firecracker
I almost feel bad including this tune as the first track I've played from these guys as I like some of their other so much more, but on the other hand it's the first one I ever heard so maybe it's right! I can't tell you too much about the group other than these snippets; they were from London, almost certainly the first UK act to work with any Wu members, and in style covered the spectrum from rave & drum 'n' bass to Hip-Hop. Their "New Life IV The Hunted" album is very difficult to describe, especially without resorting to cliche, but let me just say that it's always got play from me from the time it was released in 1996 right up to now. If you can find it, get it. This track was one of the lead singles, and rightly so; unique production, and serious gun chat over the top with the right amount of theatre to match.
dead prez : I'm A African
When it comes to dead prez, I think I'll always look to their first album (from which this is taken) as the overall best summation of what they're about, despite most of it being quite a big change in production style from some of their earlier work. Unashamedly pro-Black and anti-capitalist, they shook things up with the "Let's Get Free" album and one of the standouts for me was this early cut; certainly one of the most forthright declarations of being African since the Afrocentric Hip-Hop era. Hedrush and dead prez soundtrack their message with a speaker-smacking track, with drums coming from just about everywhere. Winner.
Kev Brown : Multiply (Instrumental)
The kind of dopeness you expect coming from the low-key, Low Budget representative. Got this from his official Instrumentals LP on Bandcamp, where he shows once again that Maryland shouldn't just be thought of for the university and the cookies :) How can you hate on this beat? Can't be done.
Sporty Thievz : Street Cinema 2
Remember these guys? For 90% of you that have, that'll be due to "No Pigeons," this Yonkers group's response to TLC's "No Scrubs." Actually, it just popped into my head that strangely, both groups were trios who lost one member in tragic accidents; such a shame. This is a great tune from the Thievz, been getting a lot of play in my headphones over the last few months; heard it randomly on Spotify, then tried to find a copy I could play. Was it on the "Street Cinema" album? Nope. I got it on an unofficial-looking 12", with "Enemies Of Hate" on the flip. The beat is nuts, Pete Rock rocking the Mardi Gras bells in a major way with lots of dope bassline action, and just a great amount of space between all the elements. On the mic, Marlon Brando (RIP) and King Kirk come through with low-key but attitude-filled deliveries - just a really cold overlay - and Big Dubez amps up the energy on the last verse, with the first four bars making me laugh out loud for real! Shame this track is so little known, but at least it's here for you guys!
NYGz : Policy
Premo beat. Straight away that should be enough to hook you in. Rugged tune which sounds slightly off-beat but all the better for it. Panch & Sha get busy on here, one of the early tracks from the Year Round Records "Get Used To Us" compilation. If you like this, you know you've got at least a little taste for that no-nonsense, meat & potatoes Hip-Hop :)
Skitz & Rootz Manuva : Blessed Be The Manner
Roots Manuva has really blossomed into a worldwide star for those that know, but this kind of style is always the version I enjoyed him rocking the most. Shout to Dave The Ruf - first heard this on one of his Radio Zero tapes! When it comes to the beef beat, the man Skitz, one of the UK's finest, gave him a track he could really shine on. Has Skitz ever made a bad beat, ever? Nice 12" on Ronin Records with "Where My Mind Is At" on the other side.
J-Live : How Real It Is
J-Live is one of the greatest all-around talents in Hip-Hop, with skills on the mic, the turntables and behind the boards - a true triple threat. All things considered, he may just be strongest on the lyrics, and this is just one of the many hot tracks he's laced over the years. J and Jay Money collaborate on the production, bringing in a small band to provide the instrumentation underlying this killer from the essential "All Of The Above" album. Do not sleep.
The Detroit Experiment : Vernors
The Detroit Experiment was a collaborative project between a number of notables - snuck up on me, I can't even remember where I heard this first, but it got a lot of play before I got a legit MP3 version. This isn't on Spotify unfortunately but if you get a chance to check the whole album, do. As far as this track, it's all about that beat switch halfway through...
J Dilla ft. Ta'Raach : Say It!
Great Dilla beat, light on the top but smacking it underneath! One from the "Jay Love Japan" release, or the version I have at least. I think going back-to-back Detroit here was a good move, hope you enjoy it also!
Freeway ft. Allen Anthony : Alright Allen Anthony : Alright (Blackbeard Re-edit)
An entwined history for these two tracks! The original had the beat from the first tune, but the lyrics from the second - it was Allen Anthony's track. However, it became much better known after a different version was released with Freeway taking centre stage (and somewhat going off-topic with the lyrics, I might add) and Anthony sidelined to hook duty. Finally, the second track here was the A-side of two Blackbeard remixes/re-edits of these two tunes. Despite this, it was the first version I heard, on an MP3 from somewhere - absolutely loved it. I had no joy finding a vinyl until my man DJ A-Up found a copy for my birthday one year! Big props. Musically, Just Blaze (on the Freeway version) and Blackbeard (on the Allen Anthony track here) both catch wreck with their takes on the Ronnie Foster "Mystic Brew" sample, best known to the Hip-Hop nation for its use on A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation." Struggle music. PS - check the video links above; both of them were great in my opinion.
Basic Vocab : Likeness
On the low, Miami has some guys who really do it, even though it's not thought of as a traditional Hip-Hop hotbed. (Someone's going to mention Rick Ross here, but I'm yet to be convinced). BV are a three-man crew with Mental Growth and JL Sorell on the mic and Tony Galvin on production, and I've got a few tunes of theirs on 12" which are nice to have. You can't front on solid beats and solid rhymes, and this tune has a classic east coast Hip-Hop sound, no question.
K-Def : Yeah Def
You should already know about K-Def, I told you months ago ;) One of the many dope tracks on the very little known but extremely good "Willie Boo Boo The Fool" instrumental LP. The real heads want to have that one in the collection, especially if you're into making beats; good source of inspiration!
Dean Atta : I Am Nobody's Nigger
Not Hip-Hop, but unquestionably one of the big noisemakers of the last month. After an 18-year wait, two people were finally convicted for their parts in the racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. For those that doubted whether race was the motive, the attack was reportedly preceded by a challenge of "What, what, nigger?" from one of the killers. Taking inspiration from the fact that that hateful word was one of the last he ever heard (a though I've often had about other Black people), the London spoken word poet Dean Atta wrote a great piece blasting its casual use. He posted it on the Internet and it spread like wildfire, sparking discussion and prompting a number of people to try and set it to music. While I liked it in its raw form, this version constructed by Si Tew is one of Dean's favourites, so I've gone with it to close the show, and hopefully make people think. It's a word I never use - it'd be nice to think that this poem might just make other people check their speech in future.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...let the whole town see my crown."
- Silver
Out in time for Christmas, my present to everyone - a sack of heavy tunes and not a lump of coal in sight! Glad to be able to get this one uploaded before a few days of lie-ins, nice food, and putting the day job out of my mind. Wrap up warm, turn the volume up, and check it...
Playlist/Notes
Illegal ft. Erick Sermon : We Getz Buzy
Get well Erick Sermon! The Funk Lord smashes it on this 93 low-slung headnodder, with the beat centred around that basic but undeniable bassline and then dropping in to contribute a quick verse at the end. The headliners though are the then-child MCs Jamal and Mr Malik, who go at pretty much every underage MC who was out at the time! They'd have ripped Soulja Boy a new one, that's for sure. Killer tune from their "The Untold Truth" album which is worth hearing for the excellent 90s production if nothing else!
[M-Boogie] Buckshot : The Real (Instrumental)
One of those singles you buy on spec on the strength of the personnel but which never seems to see the light of day once it gets home! Thought I'd include it here because for every tune someone thinks average, there's someone who thinks it's amazing and has probably been looking for it for ages :) For me, solid, not spectacular, but fit the space here nicely.
J-Zone : Root For The Villain (excerpt)
Just a short clip from the exclusive cassette audiobook of the brilliant J-Zone book; read it this month and enjoyed every page. Recommended - get yours here or here!
Jay-Z & Kanye West : New Day
I definitely think "Watch The Throne" was overrated (here's what my "Watch The Throne EP" would have had on it), but this was one of the tracks I think deserved the praise. Of course, that means it has zero chance of being a single. RZA, Kanye and Mike Dean craft a reflective track which perfectly fits the theme of two men speaking to their unborn sons. Great heartfelt, grown-man lyrics - love it. This is the kind of track your "Young/Yung
Special Teamz ft Devin The Dude : Long Time Comin
After hearing the similarity in the first two beats between this and "New Day," there was no way I wasn't playing it this episode! Special Teamz is the combination of Edo G, Slaine & Jaysaun, a Boston supergroup if you will. All of them are no-frills on the mic and they pass the hook duties over to the underrated Houston legend Devin The Dude - can't help but smile when you hear his voice! This is from their 2007 album "Stereotypez" which is worth a listen if you see it around! Production by Xplicit, who slipped under my radar a little but has some decent credits. Hell, he did a beat for Large Pro!
Cesar Comanche ft. Eternia : Up And Down
One of the original Justus League MCs, Cesar is just one of those low-key, consistent guys who you know is never going to drop foolishness on the mic. Positive, uplifting lyrics alongside Eternia on this 2005 12", and 9th Wonder is on production with his signature style. Vinyl collectors should look at getting this partly for this track but also for the ill B-side "Jacob's Ladder," produced by Nicolay - very nice.
Analog Brothers : Perms, Baldheads, Afros, & Dreds
Not in any way connected to the fact I watched and loved Chris Rock's "Good Hair" this month! The Analog Brothers were a one-album combination of Ice-T, Kool Keith, Marc Live, Black Silver and Pimp Rex - and that "Pimp To Eat" album is one you want to get if you like the crazy Octagon-style flow, pimp talk, futuristic references and keyboard bass! There were other tracks that grabbed me first but when the lightbulb went on with this one it became the absolute favourite.
Oddisee : Curl
DMV native Oddisee is someone I became familiar with via his work with guys like Kev Brown, but I only found the album this came from ("Oddisee West Coast Beats") while browsing Bandcamp looking for beats! The whole album is dripping with West Coast funk flavour, Zapp samples and all, and for only a minimum price of $1, I'd consider it an essential purchase - probably will sound better in the summer though :)
Stevie Wonder : Have A Talk With God
What can you say? It's Stevie Wonder, the legend! Love the keyboard flavour on this, taken from the massive "Songs In The Key Of Life" album. That album is testament to taking your time to get things just right; it was supposed to come out much earlier than it did but it was held up basically until Stevie felt it was done. If it had met the deadline, would it still be a classic?
Geto Boys ft. 3-2 : Straight Gangstaism
Big shout to Selina of Jelly Empire for sorting me out with a copy of this; I just couldn't get hold of a copy in the UK fast enough to ensure I could include it this month! This is from that weird period where Scarface left the Geto Boys, and was replaced by Big Mike. With him taking the first two verses and 3-2 taking the closer, many people wouldn't immediately recognise this as a Geto Boys tune at all unless they knew it! Not sure exactly who produced it, but a look on Discogs suggests a combination of Mike Dean, Bido, NO Joe and Tony Randle. Dope anyway.
Pusha T : My God
The beat is from Hit-Boy, who was also responsible for one of my most hated songs of the last year at least - "...Paris" from Watch The Throne. Hated it. Credit where it's due though, he brings it heavy on this track with that military-style drumline and when the church organs crackle into life it's a wrap. On the mic is the younger half of Clipse, who may not be in line for NAACP Image Awards anytime soon but has rhymes for days and days. Recent track this one, only released this year as Pusha's first solo piece - heard it when it came out and then on the "Fear Of God II : Let Us Pray" mixtape; definitely the standout on there.
Leftfield ft. Nicole Willis : Swords
I was one of those people who didn't like the "Rhythm & Stealth" LP as much as "Leftism," but this track here was a phenomenal standout. Leftfield have been in trouble more than once for the volume of their live shows, so in tribute crank this one all the way up! PS - interesting video concept too...
[Buckwild] O.C. : Burn Me Slow (Inst)
DITC action here on the lead track from the "Still Diggin' Composition EP," nice piano beat from Buckwild - unfortunately you miss out on O.C's lyrics here, but all the more reason to go and find a copy...
Co$$ : Kill 'Em All
I first got up on Co$$ after hearing him on "Pay The Co$$" on Exile's "Dirty Science" album, which was one of my favourite cuts on that project. Since then I've been following him via his Facebook Page and when I saw he had done a digital release of his "Instrument Of Emotion" album, I grabbed myself a copy for a bargain $3! Coming out of Leimert Park, Los Angeles (same area as Dom Kennedy, to name one), he's part of the new wave of Cali MCs emerging in recent years - keep an eye on him.
Rise : Do You Know Him?
I know very little about Rise other than the fact that he's certainly benefited from getting DJ Spinna beats in the past and he does so again here - cheeky lyrics on the braggadocio tip, definitely entertaining. I'd recommend picking this up but I'd never seen it before until I chanced on it on a record-shopping trip to London - there may not be many copies of this 12" floating around!
Asaviour ft. Kyza & Yungun : Money In The Bank (Remix)
Undeniably classic British 12"! I think of this as being "recent" (well, ish) but it's a 2004 track - always up for playing it though! Asaviour's a Yorkshire-born MC who came through Manchester and finally relocated to London, working with guys like Manchester's own Microdisiacs along the way. Here he throws down with Terra Firma's Kyza and the always-welcome Yungun on a heavy Jehst beat, with DJ IQ bringing the cuts. Sampling "Top Billin'" will never get old.
[Memo] Rasco : Gunz Still Hot (Remix Instrumental)
Just a nice headnodder, it doesn't hide from what is is! The vocal version has a Boston connection with Edo G and Reks both guesting alongside San Francisco's Rasco. B-side dopeness on the flip of the "Thin Line" single.
Eazy-E ft. Atbann Klann, Buckwheat, & Menajahwta : Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas
I hate most Christmas songs. This time of year though, there's no escaping them - every shop, on TV, on the radio, they keep coming back like some kind of chronic illness. At a time like this, there's no option but to reach for a Christmas song that offends everyone else. Only the late Eazy-E could give you a song like this! The final track on the "5150 : Home 4 Tha Sick," Eazy and friends give you a medley of filthy festive lyrics. Oh, and Atbann Klann? They must have suffered an allergic reaction and became...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...let the whole town see my crown."
- Silver
Out in time for Christmas, my present to everyone - a sack of heavy tunes and not a lump of coal in sight! Glad to be able to get this one uploaded before a few days of lie-ins, nice food, and putting the day job out of my mind. Wrap up warm, turn the volume up, and check it...
Playlist/Notes
Illegal ft. Erick Sermon : We Getz Buzy
Get well Erick Sermon! The Funk Lord smashes it on this 93 low-slung headnodder, with the beat centred around that basic but undeniable bassline and then dropping in to contribute a quick verse at the end. The headliners though are the then-child MCs Jamal and Mr Malik, who go at pretty much every underage MC who was out at the time! They'd have ripped Soulja Boy a new one, that's for sure. Killer tune from their "The Untold Truth" album which is worth hearing for the excellent 90s production if nothing else!
[M-Boogie] Buckshot : The Real (Instrumental)
One of those singles you buy on spec on the strength of the personnel but which never seems to see the light of day once it gets home! Thought I'd include it here because for every tune someone thinks average, there's someone who thinks it's amazing and has probably been looking for it for ages :) For me, solid, not spectacular, but fit the space here nicely.
J-Zone : Root For The Villain (excerpt)
Just a short clip from the exclusive cassette audiobook of the brilliant J-Zone book; read it this month and enjoyed every page. Recommended - get yours here or here!
Jay-Z & Kanye West : New Day
I definitely think "Watch The Throne" was overrated (here's what my "Watch The Throne EP" would have had on it), but this was one of the tracks I think deserved the praise. Of course, that means it has zero chance of being a single. RZA, Kanye and Mike Dean craft a reflective track which perfectly fits the theme of two men speaking to their unborn sons. Great heartfelt, grown-man lyrics - love it. This is the kind of track your "Young/Yung " rappers could never write.
Special Teamz ft Devin The Dude : Long Time Comin
After hearing the similarity in the first two beats between this and "New Day," there was no way I wasn't playing it this episode! Special Teamz is the combination of Edo G, Slaine & Jaysaun, a Boston supergroup if you will. All of them are no-frills on the mic and they pass the hook duties over to the underrated Houston legend Devin The Dude - can't help but smile when you hear his voice! This is from their 2007 album "Stereotypez" which is worth a listen if you see it around! Production by Xplicit, who slipped under my radar a little but has some decent credits. Hell, he did a beat for Large Pro!
Cesar Comanche ft. Eternia : Up And Down
One of the original Justus League MCs, Cesar is just one of those low-key, consistent guys who you know is never going to drop foolishness on the mic. Positive, uplifting lyrics alongside Eternia on this 2005 12", and 9th Wonder is on production with his signature style. Vinyl collectors should look at getting this partly for this track but also for the ill B-side "Jacob's Ladder," produced by Nicolay - very nice.
Analog Brothers : Perms, Baldheads, Afros, & Dreds
Not in any way connected to the fact I watched and loved Chris Rock's "Good Hair" this month! The Analog Brothers were a one-album combination of Ice-T, Kool Keith, Marc Live, Black Silver and Pimp Rex - and that "Pimp To Eat" album is one you want to get if you like the crazy Octagon-style flow, pimp talk, futuristic references and keyboard bass! There were other tracks that grabbed me first but when the lightbulb went on with this one it became the absolute favourite.
Oddisee : Curl
DMV native Oddisee is someone I became familiar with via his work with guys like Kev Brown, but I only found the album this came from ("Oddisee West Coast Beats") while browsing Bandcamp looking for beats! The whole album is dripping with West Coast funk flavour, Zapp samples and all, and for only a minimum price of $1, I'd consider it an essential purchase - probably will sound better in the summer though :)
Stevie Wonder : Have A Talk With God
What can you say? It's Stevie Wonder, the legend! Love the keyboard flavour on this, taken from the massive "Songs In The Key Of Life" album. That album is testament to taking your time to get things just right; it was supposed to come out much earlier than it did but it was held up basically until Stevie felt it was done. If it had met the deadline, would it still be a classic?
Geto Boys ft. 3-2 : Straight Gangstaism
Big shout to Selina of Jelly Empire for sorting me out with a copy of this; I just couldn't get hold of a copy in the UK fast enough to ensure I could include it this month! This is from that weird period where Scarface left the Geto Boys, and was replaced by Big Mike. With him taking the first two verses and 3-2 taking the closer, many people wouldn't immediately recognise this as a Geto Boys tune at all unless they knew it! Not sure exactly who produced it, but a look on Discogs suggests a combination of Mike Dean, Bido, NO Joe and Tony Randle. Dope anyway.
Pusha T : My God
The beat is from Hit-Boy, who was also responsible for one of my most hated songs of the last year at least - "...Paris" from Watch The Throne. Hated it. Credit where it's due though, he brings it heavy on this track with that military-style drumline and when the church organs crackle into life it's a wrap. On the mic is the younger half of Clipse, who may not be in line for NAACP Image Awards anytime soon but has rhymes for days and days. Recent track this one, only released this year as Pusha's first solo piece - heard it when it came out and then on the "Fear Of God II : Let Us Pray" mixtape; definitely the standout on there.
Leftfield ft. Nicole Willis : Swords
I was one of those people who didn't like the "Rhythm & Stealth" LP as much as "Leftism," but this track here was a phenomenal standout. Leftfield have been in trouble more than once for the volume of their live shows, so in tribute crank this one all the way up! PS - interesting video concept too...
[Buckwild] O.C. : Burn Me Slow (Inst)
DITC action here on the lead track from the "Still Diggin' Composition EP," nice piano beat from Buckwild - unfortunately you miss out on O.C's lyrics here, but all the more reason to go and find a copy...
Co$$ : Kill 'Em All
I first got up on Co$$ after hearing him on "Pay The Co$$" on Exile's "Dirty Science" album, which was one of my favourite cuts on that project. Since then I've been following him via his Facebook Page and when I saw he had done a digital release of his "Instrument Of Emotion" album, I grabbed myself a copy for a bargain $3! Coming out of Leimert Park, Los Angeles (same area as Dom Kennedy, to name one), he's part of the new wave of Cali MCs emerging in recent years - keep an eye on him.
Rise : Do You Know Him?
I know very little about Rise other than the fact that he's certainly benefited from getting DJ Spinna beats in the past and he does so again here - cheeky lyrics on the braggadocio tip, definitely entertaining. I'd recommend picking this up but I'd never seen it before until I chanced on it on a record-shopping trip to London - there may not be many copies of this 12" floating around!
Asaviour ft. Kyza & Yungun : Money In The Bank (Remix)
Undeniably classic British 12"! I think of this as being "recent" (well, ish) but it's a 2004 track - always up for playing it though! Asaviour's a Yorkshire-born MC who came through Manchester and finally relocated to London, working with guys like Manchester's own Microdisiacs along the way. Here he throws down with Terra Firma's Kyza and the always-welcome Yungun on a heavy Jehst beat, with DJ IQ bringing the cuts. Sampling "Top Billin'" will never get old.
[Memo] Rasco : Gunz Still Hot (Remix Instrumental)
Just a nice headnodder, it doesn't hide from what is is! The vocal version has a Boston connection with Edo G and Reks both guesting alongside San Francisco's Rasco. B-side dopeness on the flip of the "Thin Line" single.
Eazy-E ft. Atbann Klann, Buckwheat, & Menajahwta : Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas
I hate most Christmas songs. This time of year though, there's no escaping them - every shop, on TV, on the radio, they keep coming back like some kind of chronic illness. At a time like this, there's no option but to reach for a Christmas song that offends everyone else. Only the late Eazy-E could give you a song like this! The final track on the "5150 : Home 4 Tha Sick," Eazy and friends give you a medley of filthy festive lyrics. Oh, and Atbann Klann? They must have suffered an allergic reaction and became...
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"When I walk through I set off all sprinkler systems..."
- Trife
Two and a half years of episodes in the can now! Grateful to still have an audience after all this time :) This month I've got a few left-field unexpected picks, some stuff you won't know (yes, you), and some old favourites including a track by the late, great Heavy D who passed on November 8th.
In other news...
Catch me at the Badman Ting Charity Fundraiser on December 9th - it's mostly a D&B affair but in the back room I'll be doing a Hip-Hop set alongside some great DJs, and also donating a print of one of my photos as a prize for the tombola - please give generously :)
Shout out to Watch Deez - as I say on the voiceover, his new "Dream With Open Eyes" tape is a nice relaxing collection - have a listen here!
Playlist/Notes
Ghostface Killah & Trife : Fire
Big favourite from the "Put It On The Line" LP. The opening voice sample sets it off and the escalating guitar sample works brilliantly underneath the lyrics. Not much else to say about this one, except I've been waiting ages to get it in at the start of an episode and other things kept taking its place - not this time though!
[Alchemist] Poverty : Life Sucks (Instrumental)
One of those random 12"s I picked up because it was cheap and the production credit looked interesting! It didn't jump me out of my seat, but on the vocal version Poverty definitely does his thing - you just have to be in the right mood for it! I didn't know much about him at all, but he hails from Portland, ME and had a hard time - living on the streets and in shelters - before getting his break. The beat is from Alchemist, who is a master of the dark style and so hits the mark here when it comes to matching the theme.
J-Zone : Bling Around The Collar (Fake Gold Chain)
For me, one of the biggest, most entertaining personalities in Hip-Hop - but don't get confused by the humour, the lyrical skill and musical quality is always on point. He goes biographical on this one with a classic tale about coming out in fake jewellery back in the days, on top of a crazy piece of sample work; there's just no-one who makes beats like him. This is taken from the "$ick Of Bein' Rich" album, another quality Zone release. I just realised this was a 2003 record, which is crazy as I still bump it like it came out last week!
Wreckonize : Who's The Man?
From Miami, and with some bass, but not Miami Bass, comes the energetic Wreckonize. While looking up background info, I found out he was actually born in London but has been in the US since childhood, so any trace of a British accent is long gone! DJ Spinna on the production for this one - I shouldn't have to say any more, your ears will tell you all you need to know.
Heavy D & The Boyz : Who's The Man?
Same title, different tune - probably my favourite from the late, great Heavy D, an early 90s jeep-rattler of a track. The man from Mount Vernon flows with confidence with that unmistakeable voice, and Tony Dofat provides the production to go along with it. Like the next track in selection, I remember this one from the days in Leeds listening to the guys on pirate radio playing the quality stuff - was glad to get a vinyl of it a while back. RIP Dwight Myers.
Black Moon : Who Got The Props? (MW Smooth Mix)
Brooklyyyyyyn! The original version of this track was one of the most "what the hell was THAT?!" tunes from my teenage years when the man P-Wiz first played it on Supreme Radio in Leeds, and when I eventually found out the title I bought it the second the import 12" became available. Even though my funds were limited, and at £7.49 it was damn near the cost of an album, it was a must-own and remains so. The B-side was "F*** It Up" but the final B-side track was this remix, taking the same underlying sample but switching the drums. Evil Dee did the original and he (along with the rest of the group) actually hate this remix, which was done by Mike Weiss (owner of Nervous Records) and Schlomo. The original is definitely better to my ears but I don't mind this version, and it made for a much better blend here.
Camp Lo : Future
Tucked away at the tail end of what I think is the seriously underrated "Stone And Rob : Caught On Tape" release - I can't think of anything that sounds quite like it! The Bronx boys give you the usual slangy, back-and-forth vocal stylings, and the Apple Juice Kid is on the beat. Check how they channel Curtis Mayfield on the hook too...
Hans Zimmer : Bakara
Bit left-field in comparison to the tracks preceding it, but it blended so well I had to use it :) Hans Zimmer is one of the world's foremost film score composers, with more than 100 to his credit - from "As Good As It Gets" to "The Thin Red Line" and plenty more, as well as games like "CoD : Modern Warfare 2" and "Crysis 2." This particular track is from the "Black Hawk Down" score, and makes a good background to games of "Goldeneye" :) Nice album, not necessarily an essential purchase but if you see it for a good price and like instrumental stuff, pick it up.
The Intruders : Cowboys To Girls
One of the many records I have liberated from my parents' collection over the years :) The Intruders were an influential four-man soul group out of Philadelphia who had hits working with Gamble & Huff - in fact, they were the first group to do so, yet they are rarely mentioned! This particular track was a 1968 release which went as high as #6 on the US pop charts; only a snippet here but it shouldn't be hard to find a copy of the whole thing.
Big Noyd : Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang), Pt.1
Here we come to the flip of the above track - kind of bumps along with the way it's put together, and weaves the key bits of the vocal into the track with Noyd leaving space for them to come through. As with the second version, you can find this on the "Only The Strong" LP - not a "must own" but a solid enough album.
The Deele : Shoot 'Em Up Movies
Yes, serious cheese! Let me just say now that the phrase "all at once" is used inappropriately and far too many times in this song - must have been having an off-day on the lyrics! The Deele came out of Cincinnati in the 80s, and produced two breakout production and songwriting stars in L.A. Reid and Babyface (who also had a solo career as an artist). This tune is from their third album, though I got it on a "Best Of" compilation, and it was a big hit for them - been sampled a few times as well. A bit on the soft side for me but not without a certain charm!
Big Noyd ft. Mobb Deep : Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang), Pt.2
Definitely my preferred version of this track - brilliant sample flip and has just the right kind of pace and feel for me with the stabs and all the added handclaps; I think the vocal samples in this version work a little better than in the first one too. Nasty!
Air Adam : Key Ring
So-titled because of the little keyboard sound I put in there. This beat isn't properly mixed or anything, but just provides a little bridge from which I can blend into the next track...
Elzhi : Hands Up
Somehow managed to overlook this track on the "The Preface" album the first time round, then I heard it on shuffle in the gym and it smacked me in the face! My word, this is that real hardness. An all-Detroit affair, Black Milk on production gives you the ominous thumping, droning beat while Elzhi kicks some quality storytelling from the point of view of the low-end armed robber - top-notch writing. Don't get confused and think he's glorifying it though...it doesn't end well!
730 : 13th Commandment
Love that sample that the track's based around! I picked this up in London if I remember correctly, just on the strength of seeing that Lord Tariq was involved; from looking around it seems that 730 is the combination of Lord Tariz, Peter Gunz, and Cory Gunz (son of Peter). Despite that, it's a long way from "Deja Vu!" Lord Tariq's opening verse is the lyrical high point here, the flow is crazy. The only thing is that I wish they hadn't bothered with those horns in the hook - slightly on the corny side for my taste...
Beatnuts : Out Of State Case (Instrumental)
Got this on the "Hydrabeats 5" vinyl, just a collection of instrumentals I picked up many moons ago. This is a 1997 release on Hydra Entertainment, 12 tracks of Beatnuts-produced instrumentals - definitely worth having for mixtapes if you're a Hip-Hop DJ.
Onra : Send Me Your Love
A selection from Onra's 80s-flavoured "Long Distance" LP - a glittery but soulful MPC1000-programmed beat. If you like the sound of this at all, I'd definitely recommend getting yourself a copy of the album! I've been revisiting it lately and it's a really nice release.
Ras Kass : Won't Catch Me Runnin' (Moet Mix)
This was the first version of this track I heard, and I definitely prefer it to the original; a sample I won't reveal here stands alone as the intro before the drums come in to meet it, then continues in normal and filtered form throughout. Bird, the producer, who I must say I've not heard of elsewhere, definitely cooks up a beautiful track. Lyrically, this is early Ras, before even the debut "Soul On Ice" album, bringing out that kind of alternative West Coast flavour in the vein of (approximate) contemporaries like the Hieroglyphics camp - just really dope. I'd only ever heard this on MP3 before I came across a copy earlier this month in Vinyl Exchange - snatched it up quick, worried about the price later :)
Akinyele : In The World
Such a favourite of mine from this era (1996 release), I feel like I'm putting too many treats on here but it goes along so well with the previous two tracks! A very underrated MC out of Queens, you might know him better from his verse on the legendary Main Source track "Live At The BBQ" or the hit "Put It In Your Mouth" (which truth be told, I never liked much). As it happens, this was one of the B-side tracks on the "Put It In Your Mouth" EP and just shines. Production is by DJ Enuff and Jiv Pos - what's mental is that I have the record they sampled, I've sampled it myself, and I *still* didn't recognise it straight away - they made it work, definitely!
DJ Quik : Let You Havit
Damn, why don't you just say how you feel? Seriously though, Compton's own DJ Quik goes in with vigour on this 1995 track from the "Safe + Sound" album, mainly aimed at then-longtime rival MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted (note: Quik says on this track that he's wack. He's not.) They were definitely going at each other back then but these days I've read it's all smoothed out. All the same, this is a serious track, catches you straight away with those tough, smacking drums and then turning into a P-Funk, G-Funk keyboard extravaganza, right into the extended outro. If you don't have this one, get your West Coast collection up to par :)
[Just Blaze] Beanie Sigel : Beanie (Mack Bitch) (Instrumental)
Another record with a really tough beat driving it, but a sharper, more angular keyboard vibe and the occasional bit of piano for the low end. Completely different side of Philly to the Intruders track! Just Blaze was killing it on this, one of five tracks he produced on Beanie's second album "The Reason" - from which the very first post on this blog took its name!
London Symphony Orchestra : John Henry
Beautiful piece of music. I first heard this on the opening sequence of Spike Lee's brilliant "He Got Game" - the music and the images together are actually very moving if you have a deep connection to the game. While Public Enemy provide all the songs for the film (definitely worth buying their soundtrack), the orchestral score comes from the London Symphony Orchestra playing the music of the American composer Aaron Copland. This particular piece tells the story of the folklore figure John Henry, a Black steel-driver on the railroads who according to the story raced a steam-powered hammer bought by the railway owner to replace all the human workers, with the agreement that if he beat the machine that his co-workers would keep their jobs; he wins, but the effort kills him in the end. I'm no expert, but I think the music really communicates the story well - might not be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's tremendous.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"When I walk through I set off all sprinkler systems..."
- Trife
Two and a half years of episodes in the can now! Grateful to still have an audience after all this time :) This month I've got a few left-field unexpected picks, some stuff you won't know (yes, you), and some old favourites including a track by the late, great Heavy D who passed on November 8th.
In other news...
Catch me at the Badman Ting Charity Fundraiser on December 9th - it's mostly a D&B affair but in the back room I'll be doing a Hip-Hop set alongside some great DJs, and also donating a print of one of my photos as a prize for the tombola - please give generously :)
Shout out to Watch Deez - as I say on the voiceover, his new "Dream With Open Eyes" tape is a nice relaxing collection - have a listen here!
Playlist/Notes
Ghostface Killah & Trife : Fire
Big favourite from the "Put It On The Line" LP. The opening voice sample sets it off and the escalating guitar sample works brilliantly underneath the lyrics. Not much else to say about this one, except I've been waiting ages to get it in at the start of an episode and other things kept taking its place - not this time though!
[Alchemist] Poverty : Life Sucks (Instrumental)
One of those random 12"s I picked up because it was cheap and the production credit looked interesting! It didn't jump me out of my seat, but on the vocal version Poverty definitely does his thing - you just have to be in the right mood for it! I didn't know much about him at all, but he hails from Portland, ME and had a hard time - living on the streets and in shelters - before getting his break. The beat is from Alchemist, who is a master of the dark style and so hits the mark here when it comes to matching the theme.
J-Zone : Bling Around The Collar (Fake Gold Chain)
For me, one of the biggest, most entertaining personalities in Hip-Hop - but don't get confused by the humour, the lyrical skill and musical quality is always on point. He goes biographical on this one with a classic tale about coming out in fake jewellery back in the days, on top of a crazy piece of sample work; there's just no-one who makes beats like him. This is taken from the "$ick Of Bein' Rich" album, another quality Zone release. I just realised this was a 2003 record, which is crazy as I still bump it like it came out last week!
Wreckonize : Who's The Man?
From Miami, and with some bass, but not Miami Bass, comes the energetic Wreckonize. While looking up background info, I found out he was actually born in London but has been in the US since childhood, so any trace of a British accent is long gone! DJ Spinna on the production for this one - I shouldn't have to say any more, your ears will tell you all you need to know.
Heavy D & The Boyz : Who's The Man?
Same title, different tune - probably my favourite from the late, great Heavy D, an early 90s jeep-rattler of a track. The man from Mount Vernon flows with confidence with that unmistakeable voice, and Tony Dofat provides the production to go along with it. Like the next track in selection, I remember this one from the days in Leeds listening to the guys on pirate radio playing the quality stuff - was glad to get a vinyl of it a while back. RIP Dwight Myers.
Black Moon : Who Got The Props? (MW Smooth Mix)
Brooklyyyyyyn! The original version of this track was one of the most "what the hell was THAT?!" tunes from my teenage years when the man P-Wiz first played it on Supreme Radio in Leeds, and when I eventually found out the title I bought it the second the import 12" became available. Even though my funds were limited, and at £7.49 it was damn near the cost of an album, it was a must-own and remains so. The B-side was "F*** It Up" but the final B-side track was this remix, taking the same underlying sample but switching the drums. Evil Dee did the original and he (along with the rest of the group) actually hate this remix, which was done by Mike Weiss (owner of Nervous Records) and Schlomo. The original is definitely better to my ears but I don't mind this version, and it made for a much better blend here.
Camp Lo : Future
Tucked away at the tail end of what I think is the seriously underrated "Stone And Rob : Caught On Tape" release - I can't think of anything that sounds quite like it! The Bronx boys give you the usual slangy, back-and-forth vocal stylings, and the Apple Juice Kid is on the beat. Check how they channel Curtis Mayfield on the hook too...
Hans Zimmer : Bakara
Bit left-field in comparison to the tracks preceding it, but it blended so well I had to use it :) Hans Zimmer is one of the world's foremost film score composers, with more than 100 to his credit - from "As Good As It Gets" to "The Thin Red Line" and plenty more, as well as games like "CoD : Modern Warfare 2" and "Crysis 2." This particular track is from the "Black Hawk Down" score, and makes a good background to games of "Goldeneye" :) Nice album, not necessarily an essential purchase but if you see it for a good price and like instrumental stuff, pick it up.
The Intruders : Cowboys To Girls
One of the many records I have liberated from my parents' collection over the years :) The Intruders were an influential four-man soul group out of Philadelphia who had hits working with Gamble & Huff - in fact, they were the first group to do so, yet they are rarely mentioned! This particular track was a 1968 release which went as high as #6 on the US pop charts; only a snippet here but it shouldn't be hard to find a copy of the whole thing.
Big Noyd : Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang), Pt.1
Here we come to the flip of the above track - kind of bumps along with the way it's put together, and weaves the key bits of the vocal into the track with Noyd leaving space for them to come through. As with the second version, you can find this on the "Only The Strong" LP - not a "must own" but a solid enough album.
The Deele : Shoot 'Em Up Movies
Yes, serious cheese! Let me just say now that the phrase "all at once" is used inappropriately and far too many times in this song - must have been having an off-day on the lyrics! The Deele came out of Cincinnati in the 80s, and produced two breakout production and songwriting stars in L.A. Reid and Babyface (who also had a solo career as an artist). This tune is from their third album, though I got it on a "Best Of" compilation, and it was a big hit for them - been sampled a few times as well. A bit on the soft side for me but not without a certain charm!
Big Noyd ft. Mobb Deep : Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang), Pt.2
Definitely my preferred version of this track - brilliant sample flip and has just the right kind of pace and feel for me with the stabs and all the added handclaps; I think the vocal samples in this version work a little better than in the first one too. Nasty!
Air Adam : Key Ring
So-titled because of the little keyboard sound I put in there. This beat isn't properly mixed or anything, but just provides a little bridge from which I can blend into the next track...
Elzhi : Hands Up
Somehow managed to overlook this track on the "The Preface" album the first time round, then I heard it on shuffle in the gym and it smacked me in the face! My word, this is that real hardness. An all-Detroit affair, Black Milk on production gives you the ominous thumping, droning beat while Elzhi kicks some quality storytelling from the point of view of the low-end armed robber - top-notch writing. Don't get confused and think he's glorifying it though...it doesn't end well!
730 : 13th Commandment
Love that sample that the track's based around! I picked this up in London if I remember correctly, just on the strength of seeing that Lord Tariq was involved; from looking around it seems that 730 is the combination of Lord Tariz, Peter Gunz, and Cory Gunz (son of Peter). Despite that, it's a long way from "Deja Vu!" Lord Tariq's opening verse is the lyrical high point here, the flow is crazy. The only thing is that I wish they hadn't bothered with those horns in the hook - slightly on the corny side for my taste...
Beatnuts : Out Of State Case (Instrumental)
Got this on the "Hydrabeats 5" vinyl, just a collection of instrumentals I picked up many moons ago. This is a 1997 release on Hydra Entertainment, 12 tracks of Beatnuts-produced instrumentals - definitely worth having for mixtapes if you're a Hip-Hop DJ.
Onra : Send Me Your Love
A selection from Onra's 80s-flavoured "Long Distance" LP - a glittery but soulful MPC1000-programmed beat. If you like the sound of this at all, I'd definitely recommend getting yourself a copy of the album! I've been revisiting it lately and it's a really nice release.
Ras Kass : Won't Catch Me Runnin' (Moet Mix)
This was the first version of this track I heard, and I definitely prefer it to the original; a sample I won't reveal here stands alone as the intro before the drums come in to meet it, then continues in normal and filtered form throughout. Bird, the producer, who I must say I've not heard of elsewhere, definitely cooks up a beautiful track. Lyrically, this is early Ras, before even the debut "Soul On Ice" album, bringing out that kind of alternative West Coast flavour in the vein of (approximate) contemporaries like the Hieroglyphics camp - just really dope. I'd only ever heard this on MP3 before I came across a copy earlier this month in Vinyl Exchange - snatched it up quick, worried about the price later :)
Akinyele : In The World
Such a favourite of mine from this era (1996 release), I feel like I'm putting too many treats on here but it goes along so well with the previous two tracks! A very underrated MC out of Queens, you might know him better from his verse on the legendary Main Source track "Live At The BBQ" or the hit "Put It In Your Mouth" (which truth be told, I never liked much). As it happens, this was one of the B-side tracks on the "Put It In Your Mouth" EP and just shines. Production is by DJ Enuff and Jiv Pos - what's mental is that I have the record they sampled, I've sampled it myself, and I *still* didn't recognise it straight away - they made it work, definitely!
DJ Quik : Let You Havit
Damn, why don't you just say how you feel? Seriously though, Compton's own DJ Quik goes in with vigour on this 1995 track from the "Safe + Sound" album, mainly aimed at then-longtime rival MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted (note: Quik says on this track that he's wack. He's not.) They were definitely going at each other back then but these days I've read it's all smoothed out. All the same, this is a serious track, catches you straight away with those tough, smacking drums and then turning into a P-Funk, G-Funk keyboard extravaganza, right into the extended outro. If you don't have this one, get your West Coast collection up to par :)
[Just Blaze] Beanie Sigel : Beanie (Mack Bitch) (Instrumental)
Another record with a really tough beat driving it, but a sharper, more angular keyboard vibe and the occasional bit of piano for the low end. Completely different side of Philly to the Intruders track! Just Blaze was killing it on this, one of five tracks he produced on Beanie's second album "The Reason" - from which the very first post on this blog took its name!
London Symphony Orchestra : John Henry
Beautiful piece of music. I first heard this on the opening sequence of Spike Lee's brilliant "He Got Game" - the music and the images together are actually very moving if you have a deep connection to the game. While Public Enemy provide all the songs for the film (definitely worth buying their soundtrack), the orchestral score comes from the London Symphony Orchestra playing the music of the American composer Aaron Copland. This particular piece tells the story of the folklore figure John Henry, a Black steel-driver on the railroads who according to the story raced a steam-powered hammer bought by the railway owner to replace all the human workers, with the agreement that if he beat the machine that his co-workers would keep their jobs; he wins, but the effort kills him in the end. I'm no expert, but I think the music really communicates the story well - might not be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's tremendous.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I am sworn to life, I am bound to death"
- Professor X
* (but never the college dropout)
Thought I'd take the opportunity to show a little something I did this month :o) As it happens, three of the acts on this photo collage are included in this month's selection. Which ones, you ask? Well, read the show notes for the detail!
RIP Dr Geraldine Connor...
Playlist/Notes
Bass-O-Matic : Fascinating Rhythm
Starting things off with a big UK chart hit from 1990 which I've never stopped listening to! Based on the same Soul Searchers "Ashley's Roachclip" sample as Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full," it's packed with flavour in a way I don't think a lot of modern chart music can match. I didn't realise until recently that the producer on this track was William Orbit, better known to most as the production brain behind Madonna's 1998 "Ray Of Light" album - big move from him there!
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full (Drums only)
Thought it'd be a nice blend to come into this track, sharing as it does the drum sample from the opener. If you don't recognise this straight away, just head out and get a copy of the 1987 "Paid In Full" album, and cleanse yourself :) PS ...am I the only person who liked "Chinese Arithmetic?"
X-Clan : In The Ways Of The Scales
Maybe the best use ever of the Tom Tom Club "Genius Of Love" sample, tucked away as the last track on the indisputably classic "To The East, Blackwards" LP. Even if X-Clan weren't the best group of the Afrocentric era of Hip-Hop, they could definitely put in a strong claim for being the funkiest! Made up of the late Professor X (son of Sonny Carson), the late Sugar Shaft on the wheels and Brother J (handling most of the mic time), they had a combination of consciousness and danceability which is yet to be matched. The album, their first, drips with so much quality it's just ridiculous - a "must own."
New Flesh ft. Blackitude : Stick & Move
UK UK! Bassline action on this killer from the "Understanding" album produced by legendary UK graf writer Part 2 (York stand up!); I once heard he picked up some of his first production pointers many moons ago from DJ Greenpeace, who was also a great influence on my record buying as a teen! New Flesh (originally New Flesh For Old) were definitely unafraid to be original from the moment they came out, and in my opinion managed to do "futuristic" sounding tracks before there was any such thing as "future beats." This track is one of their more dancefloor-ready pieces, but check the albums to get an idea of the full scope of their sound - "Equilibrium" is the place to start, with that being the beginning...if you like the more technical, abstract sound, it'll be right up your alley.
Ice Cube : My Summer Vacation
Underrated to a ridiculous degree. For me this is one of the standouts of Ice Cube's sophomore "Death Certificate" album; the production (by DJ Pooh, Bobcat, & Rashad) is just ridiculously dope and Cube takes the mobbed-out, gangsta-funkin' track to spin a tale of a gang who leave LA to do business elsewhere...and things just go downhill from there. The topic of this song is serious - Ice Cube was rhyming about the spread of the LA gangs to other parts of the country when it was by many accounts barely getting underway. From what I've read, there were many reasons - from copycats, to members being sent out of the city by their families in an attempt to get them out of the firing line; as I say, that's what I've read and heard - you'd have to check with an expert though.
Foreign Legion : Voodoo Star
Changing the mood on this track, though it quite handily capitalises on the "my life is f**ked" ending of the track before (I'm saying that like I didn't choose the order!) Can't remember when I picked this one up but it was cheap as I remember and sometimes it's worth taking a chance on a tune. Not a huge fan of the semi-sung hook but in truth it does fit, and overall it's a strong package - funny rhymes from Prozack and Marc Stretch, good production, and a few cuts for good measure (from DJ Design, who also did the beat).
Gang Starr : Take A Rest (Instrumental)
I rarely pull out my white-label copy of the "Step In The Arena" instrumentals but flicked onto it while doing the selection and found that this track blended lovely with the preceding one so in it went :o) Hard to believe when listening to this beat (or any other on the same album) that DJ Premier once said he didn't have full confidence in the science of his production until "DWYCK" - I wish I could find the article where I read that!
Jasiri X : Occupy (We The 99)
Jasiri is his real name, and he's a member of the Nation Of Islam so the X is real too! A committed activist who also gets busy on the mic, Jasiri X has been behind such topical tracks as "What If The Tea Party Was Black?" and "Enough Is Enough." There aren't many young MCs right now hitting the issues of the day like him but he takes it all on and on this track, he gets into the grievances behind the Occupy movement. The strength comes not just from the lyrics but from the knowledge that it's not just posturing - he has the track record of speaking on social justice issues that lets you know it's not a cynical move. On top of all that, check the video - filmed at Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Pittsburgh.
Bumpy Knuckles : Pit In The Basement
Rugged tune that sounds like it should be the soundtrack for boxing training! Taken from the "Leaks, Vol.2" collection, it's just classic aggro Bumpy in fight mode. Definitely get both of the free "Leaks" mixtapes, turn them up, and try not to punch anyone in the face :o)
Grand Agent : Mingling Goes To Church (Shitake Monkey Remix)
I had this record (the "Fish Outta Water Remixes") hanging around for ages before I really had a proper listen, and when I first heard this track on there I couldn't believe how badly I'd slept on it! Over the years it's had a good number of outings in the record bag and really moves a big sound system. The well-travelled Philadelphia-native GA gets busy on the mic here regulating the garbage in the game, and the New York production crew Shitake Monkey absolutely smack it on the beat. Still haven't sussed out how the track got its title though...
Nine : Lyin' King
Underrated, and mostly unknown by people I know, this is a great 90s cut. Nine sets his stall out on the fakeness he doesn't like, and if the shoe fits, get a matching bag! Nine is probably best known for "Whutcha Want?" from the "Nine Livez" album (or, if you go back further, as 9mm on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die") but this is from his second album "Cloud Nine." His go-to producer Rob Lewis is on the track - it's the little breakdown and the voice sample that I think really make the beat.
Hexsagon : How Can I Love You (Instrumental)
DJ A-Up put me up on Hexsagon originally, and after checking out some of his stuff on Bandcamp I grabbed a download purchase of the "Beat Flip Tuesdays, Volume 1" tape (I can't help it, it's always a tape to me!). A great talent coming out of Arizona, keep an ear out for this man!
Curren$y & The Alchemist : Smoke Break
So very dope (no pun intended). I think I first heard this on the DJ Lee Majors "Bitches Leave" mix (word to Clarence Boddicker) and then got myself a copy a while later. It feels like a semi-interlude, but there's enough going on to make you realise it's a full track - just short and sweet. Coming out of New Orleans and originally part of The 504 Boyz on No Limit Records, as well as having stints on Cash Money and Young Money, it's interesting to see how Curren$y has kind of remade himself and opened up an audience who never would have checked for him before. The star here for me though is Alchemist on the beat - it's hard but dreamy, with drums to die for. Definitely my favourite from the "Covert Coup" EP.
NYOIL : I Tried
NYOIL came out blasting on his first track under that name, the pull-no-punches "Y'all Should Get Lynched," done on zero budget but grabbing a huge reaction. That track was just the warning shot for the full "Hood Treason" album, where NYOIL spits his manifesto over an international selection of beats. This was an early favourite for me despite the someone out-of-place hook, and I think the sentiment is something a lot of people can empathise with; to me, the beat even sounds like someone carrying or dragging a heavy load! Obligatory trivia : NYOIL was originally Kool Kim of the UMCs - quite a style change!
Massive Attack ft. Liz Frazer : Teardrop
Fantastic, classis track - by all accounts, went through a lot of work putting it together but it must have felt worth it in the end when the result sounds like this. Taken from the "Mezzanine" album, Massive Attack's third, Liz Frazer of The Cocteau Twins is on the vocals but what I didn't know until I was researching this episode was that Madonna was originally in the frame to sing on this instead! That's two Madonna mentions in the show notes now...
Dom Kennedy : Menace Beach
Heard this first on the Combat Jack Show in one of the musical breaks but had to to some Googling to actually find what it was called and who had recorded it. From Leimert Park, Los Angeles, he's got a track here which at least in the production style reminds me of something NWA might have rhymed over back in the day, pre-"Straight Outta Compton" even! Great cut from the free "Future Street / Drug Sounds" mixtape.
Danny Drive Thru : Violence Makes
If you missed this man on episode 19, head back and hear some of his thoughts on production and hear some more of his stuff! A dedicated and talented producer, as well as one of the humblest guys you'll ever meet, Drive Thru has just released his "Psychedelia Smith" 7" (it took me a while to notice the pun) on Mind On Fire records but as usual, I headed for the B-side to pull out this low-tempo, mournful instrumental. Really good to see someone who deserves it coming up!
Funkadelic : The Song Is Familiar
Dopeness from the "Let's Take It To The Stage" album (great write-up on it here). When I first heard this, I knew a little about Parliament and how much they'd been sampled, and that Funkadelic were parts of the same movement, but I didn't realise how different the sound was. True to thje name, Funkadelic could come with that rockish, psychedelic kind of feel with the heavy amp flavour, and despite not being much of a rock fan at the time (aged about 15), the hook on this was enough to make me want to pull the air guitar out and set it on fire :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I am sworn to life, I am bound to death"
- Professor X
* (but never the college dropout)
Thought I'd take the opportunity to show a little something I did this month :o) As it happens, three of the acts on this photo collage are included in this month's selection. Which ones, you ask? Well, read the show notes for the detail!
RIP Dr Geraldine Connor...
Playlist/Notes
Bass-O-Matic : Fascinating Rhythm
Starting things off with a big UK chart hit from 1990 which I've never stopped listening to! Based on the same Soul Searchers "Ashley's Roachclip" sample as Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full," it's packed with flavour in a way I don't think a lot of modern chart music can match. I didn't realise until recently that the producer on this track was William Orbit, better known to most as the production brain behind Madonna's 1998 "Ray Of Light" album - big move from him there!
Eric B & Rakim : Paid In Full (Drums only)
Thought it'd be a nice blend to come into this track, sharing as it does the drum sample from the opener. If you don't recognise this straight away, just head out and get a copy of the 1987 "Paid In Full" album, and cleanse yourself :) PS ...am I the only person who liked "Chinese Arithmetic?"
X-Clan : In The Ways Of The Scales
Maybe the best use ever of the Tom Tom Club "Genius Of Love" sample, tucked away as the last track on the indisputably classic "To The East, Blackwards" LP. Even if X-Clan weren't the best group of the Afrocentric era of Hip-Hop, they could definitely put in a strong claim for being the funkiest! Made up of the late Professor X (son of Sonny Carson), the late Sugar Shaft on the wheels and Brother J (handling most of the mic time), they had a combination of consciousness and danceability which is yet to be matched. The album, their first, drips with so much quality it's just ridiculous - a "must own."
New Flesh ft. Blackitude : Stick & Move
UK UK! Bassline action on this killer from the "Understanding" album produced by legendary UK graf writer Part 2 (York stand up!); I once heard he picked up some of his first production pointers many moons ago from DJ Greenpeace, who was also a great influence on my record buying as a teen! New Flesh (originally New Flesh For Old) were definitely unafraid to be original from the moment they came out, and in my opinion managed to do "futuristic" sounding tracks before there was any such thing as "future beats." This track is one of their more dancefloor-ready pieces, but check the albums to get an idea of the full scope of their sound - "Equilibrium" is the place to start, with that being the beginning...if you like the more technical, abstract sound, it'll be right up your alley.
Ice Cube : My Summer Vacation
Underrated to a ridiculous degree. For me this is one of the standouts of Ice Cube's sophomore "Death Certificate" album; the production (by DJ Pooh, Bobcat, & Rashad) is just ridiculously dope and Cube takes the mobbed-out, gangsta-funkin' track to spin a tale of a gang who leave LA to do business elsewhere...and things just go downhill from there. The topic of this song is serious - Ice Cube was rhyming about the spread of the LA gangs to other parts of the country when it was by many accounts barely getting underway. From what I've read, there were many reasons - from copycats, to members being sent out of the city by their families in an attempt to get them out of the firing line; as I say, that's what I've read and heard - you'd have to check with an expert though.
Foreign Legion : Voodoo Star
Changing the mood on this track, though it quite handily capitalises on the "my life is f**ked" ending of the track before (I'm saying that like I didn't choose the order!) Can't remember when I picked this one up but it was cheap as I remember and sometimes it's worth taking a chance on a tune. Not a huge fan of the semi-sung hook but in truth it does fit, and overall it's a strong package - funny rhymes from Prozack and Marc Stretch, good production, and a few cuts for good measure (from DJ Design, who also did the beat).
Gang Starr : Take A Rest (Instrumental)
I rarely pull out my white-label copy of the "Step In The Arena" instrumentals but flicked onto it while doing the selection and found that this track blended lovely with the preceding one so in it went :o) Hard to believe when listening to this beat (or any other on the same album) that DJ Premier once said he didn't have full confidence in the science of his production until "DWYCK" - I wish I could find the article where I read that!
Jasiri X : Occupy (We The 99)
Jasiri is his real name, and he's a member of the Nation Of Islam so the X is real too! A committed activist who also gets busy on the mic, Jasiri X has been behind such topical tracks as "What If The Tea Party Was Black?" and "Enough Is Enough." There aren't many young MCs right now hitting the issues of the day like him but he takes it all on and on this track, he gets into the grievances behind the Occupy movement. The strength comes not just from the lyrics but from the knowledge that it's not just posturing - he has the track record of speaking on social justice issues that lets you know it's not a cynical move. On top of all that, check the video - filmed at Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Pittsburgh.
Bumpy Knuckles : Pit In The Basement
Rugged tune that sounds like it should be the soundtrack for boxing training! Taken from the "Leaks, Vol.2" collection, it's just classic aggro Bumpy in fight mode. Definitely get both of the free "Leaks" mixtapes, turn them up, and try not to punch anyone in the face :o)
Grand Agent : Mingling Goes To Church (Shitake Monkey Remix)
I had this record (the "Fish Outta Water Remixes") hanging around for ages before I really had a proper listen, and when I first heard this track on there I couldn't believe how badly I'd slept on it! Over the years it's had a good number of outings in the record bag and really moves a big sound system. The well-travelled Philadelphia-native GA gets busy on the mic here regulating the garbage in the game, and the New York production crew Shitake Monkey absolutely smack it on the beat. Still haven't sussed out how the track got its title though...
Nine : Lyin' King
Underrated, and mostly unknown by people I know, this is a great 90s cut. Nine sets his stall out on the fakeness he doesn't like, and if the shoe fits, get a matching bag! Nine is probably best known for "Whutcha Want?" from the "Nine Livez" album (or, if you go back further, as 9mm on Funkmaster Flex's "Six Million Ways To Die") but this is from his second album "Cloud Nine." His go-to producer Rob Lewis is on the track - it's the little breakdown and the voice sample that I think really make the beat.
Hexsagon : How Can I Love You (Instrumental)
DJ A-Up put me up on Hexsagon originally, and after checking out some of his stuff on Bandcamp I grabbed a download purchase of the "Beat Flip Tuesdays, Volume 1" tape (I can't help it, it's always a tape to me!). A great talent coming out of Arizona, keep an ear out for this man!
Curren$y & The Alchemist : Smoke Break
So very dope (no pun intended). I think I first heard this on the DJ Lee Majors "Bitches Leave" mix (word to Clarence Boddicker) and then got myself a copy a while later. It feels like a semi-interlude, but there's enough going on to make you realise it's a full track - just short and sweet. Coming out of New Orleans and originally part of The 504 Boyz on No Limit Records, as well as having stints on Cash Money and Young Money, it's interesting to see how Curren$y has kind of remade himself and opened up an audience who never would have checked for him before. The star here for me though is Alchemist on the beat - it's hard but dreamy, with drums to die for. Definitely my favourite from the "Covert Coup" EP.
NYOIL : I Tried
NYOIL came out blasting on his first track under that name, the pull-no-punches "Y'all Should Get Lynched," done on zero budget but grabbing a huge reaction. That track was just the warning shot for the full "Hood Treason" album, where NYOIL spits his manifesto over an international selection of beats. This was an early favourite for me despite the someone out-of-place hook, and I think the sentiment is something a lot of people can empathise with; to me, the beat even sounds like someone carrying or dragging a heavy load! Obligatory trivia : NYOIL was originally Kool Kim of the UMCs - quite a style change!
Massive Attack ft. Liz Frazer : Teardrop
Fantastic, classis track - by all accounts, went through a lot of work putting it together but it must have felt worth it in the end when the result sounds like this. Taken from the "Mezzanine" album, Massive Attack's third, Liz Frazer of The Cocteau Twins is on the vocals but what I didn't know until I was researching this episode was that Madonna was originally in the frame to sing on this instead! That's two Madonna mentions in the show notes now...
Dom Kennedy : Menace Beach
Heard this first on the Combat Jack Show in one of the musical breaks but had to to some Googling to actually find what it was called and who had recorded it. From Leimert Park, Los Angeles, he's got a track here which at least in the production style reminds me of something NWA might have rhymed over back in the day, pre-"Straight Outta Compton" even! Great cut from the free "Future Street / Drug Sounds" mixtape.
Danny Drive Thru : Violence Makes
If you missed this man on episode 19, head back and hear some of his thoughts on production and hear some more of his stuff! A dedicated and talented producer, as well as one of the humblest guys you'll ever meet, Drive Thru has just released his "Psychedelia Smith" 7" (it took me a while to notice the pun) on Mind On Fire records but as usual, I headed for the B-side to pull out this low-tempo, mournful instrumental. Really good to see someone who deserves it coming up!
Funkadelic : The Song Is Familiar
Dopeness from the "Let's Take It To The Stage" album (great write-up on it here). When I first heard this, I knew a little about Parliament and how much they'd been sampled, and that Funkadelic were parts of the same movement, but I didn't realise how different the sound was. True to thje name, Funkadelic could come with that rockish, psychedelic kind of feel with the heavy amp flavour, and despite not being much of a rock fan at the time (aged about 15), the hook on this was enough to make me want to pull the air guitar out and set it on fire :)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
I was very honoured to be asked by Agent J to appear on Groovement, which is one of my favourite podcasts and should definitely be on your subscription list! I spent ages deciding what kind of tunes to take down to the session, knowing I was going to need as much as a couple of hours' worth; I hope you like them! It was nice to be able to give these an airing and to have a chat too - I was mostly intelligible, I think...
Click the pic to get to the download page on the Groovement site!
PS - If you've just arrived at this page as a result of going to Groovement, then thanks and welcome :o)
]]>I was very honoured to be asked by Agent J to appear on Groovement, which is one of my favourite podcasts and should definitely be on your subscription list! I spent ages deciding what kind of tunes to take down to the session, knowing I was going to need as much as a couple of hours' worth; I hope you like them! It was nice to be able to give these an airing and to have a chat too - I was mostly intelligible, I think...
Click the pic to get to the download page on the Groovement site!
PS - If you've just arrived at this page as a result of going to Groovement, then thanks and welcome :o)
]]>
"...as you sing your senseless songs to the mindless..."
- Chuck D
Got something of a theme this month - starting off really fast and bringing the speed down as we go through the episode; kind of like reverse club DJing! Got a bit of Public Enemy (saw them live again this month - they killed it, again), some great tunes from Manchester, and the usual selection of "I never heard that before" tracks to hopefully plant that digging bug in your head! Start playing this one in the gym and finish off driving at about 15mph under the speed limit...
Playlist/Notes
Suga Free & The Time : Cool
Starting things off with energy; I don't do drugs but the pace of this tune combined with the occasional high-pitched keyboard hits for some reason makes me think that this is what being extra-high in a club and dancing crazy must sound like! This is a semi-cover version of the original "Cool" from The Time's first album, with Suga Free spitting pimp talk all over a beefed-up version of the 1981 track. I got this as a download from the "The Features, Vol.2" compilation, would definitely love to have it on vinyl but I suppose Serato will have to do...
Cybotron : Clear
Great electro track from all the way back in 1982, one of the original records that started off what we now know as techno. Coming out of Detroit, Brian Davis and techno co-originator Juan Atkins combined to show just what could be done with all electronic instruments at a time when most people just couldn't see it. I dug a digital copy of this out after seeing it mentioned in the brilliant book "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" and instantly recognised it - it's one of those tracks which soaks into your subconscious the first time you hear it and never goes away! For the younger generation, this should sound familiar as the basis of Missy Elliott's "Lose Control," and for those who follow Mobb Deep's ridiculous amount of unreleased material, this was used on the incredibly menacing "Everything's Cool" (find it if you can) - the producer slowed this track down and it gives it a really nasty edge.
Ice-T ft. Nat The Cat & Donald D : Fly-By
Huge favourite of mine, from Ice-T's masterpiece album "OG : Original Gangster" (essential purchase). Ice-T opens up strong, I learned Donald D's killer closing verse off by heart when I was in school, and Nat The Cat's middle section is amazing when you hear how he kicks that style over a beat that's right around 120BPM.
The Roots : Boom!
Woooooooy! Super-tough drumming from Questlove provides the bedding for one of the illest solo MC performances you'll hear anywhere. Yes, I said solo. Black Thought throws down a heavy first verse before switching into jaw-dropping impersonations of Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap on the other two verses! Rewind it, play it again, appreciate! Taken from the "The Tipping Point" album, which wasn't my favourite Roots release (though I greatly preferred it to "Phrenology") - my pick is still "Things Fall Apart," which you should already own if you listen to my recommendations :o)
Public Enemy : Caught, Can We Get A Witness?
Overlooked PE track from the certified classic "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" album, closing the first side nicely (well, unless you have the CD...) On the Bomb Squad track, Chuck D, never a man backwards in coming forwards, thunders down his thoughts on everything from sampling to the vacuousness of love songs. I say and say again, if Chuck D doesn't get mentioned in your list of all-time great MCs, your list is wrong.
Master Fuol & ODB : Wingworms
Brooklyn stand up! This tune is from Thirstin Howl III's "Licensed To Skill" album but as far as I can tell he's actually not on this track at all - instead, mic duties are handled by fellow Lo-Life Master Fuol and the late great Wu-Tang loose cannon ODB, basically both just talking crazy on the beat; I've also seen this one around titled as "Last Call." This track is definitely too little-known! I'll just leave you with a choice lyric; "fall on your butt, yo' ass gon' hurt." That's wisdom right there.
PMD : Back To Work (Instrumental)
I love it...it's just kind of awkward. Parrish Smith handled the production himself on this one - many people forget he does beats as well as rocking the mic - and it's dope, but just loops kind of oddly! As such, it's not a record I pull out often as it's strange to mix with, but as I didn't need to mix right at this point, I took the opportunity to include it - hate to see a good record go to waste!
Two-One : Swing
Local talent coming up with a big tune here! Manchester's Two-One is a skilled MC and producer who you might know from In The Loop and many other events besides. On this track, he showcases a confident flow over a tasty beat from Oldham's Kuartz who you'll have heard on the podcast previously. This was taken from the "Mathematics" EP which was a free download - no longer available, but I kept on at the man until I could get a copy of this to play you :o) Keep an eye out for more material from Two-One here and Kuartz here!
Cormega : The Other Side
One of the realest MCs out on a great track from the "Born & Raised" LP on the unglamourous sides of the street life, featuring a light airy production from none other than Fizzy Womack of M.O.P! Yes, I was surprised too :o)
The Mouse Outfit ft. MC Presto : Who To Trust
If you've never seen The Mouse Outfit live, you're missing out. Coming out of Manchester, they're an absolutely firing band who in the last couple of years have added both members of Plato (MC Bedos and producer Pitch) to their lineup. To my mind, they're now at the start of the big push a lot of us have been waiting for them to make and have just released their debut EP "Check Your Pulse" from which this track is taken. On this tune, Bedos passes up mic duties to the American MC Presto who also turns out to be a good complement to the band, and this track just might be my favourite on the EP - the beat just works so well. Keep an eye out for these guys!
Troy S.L.U.G.S : Get It 4 Real
One of those 12" singles I've been waiting to play for a while, bringing a little harder edge sonically than the last few tracks. I can't even call this a forgotten gem since that would imply that people really knew about it the first time round! Pete Rock brings a dope, shoulder moving beat which already puts the track above the average and Troy contributes some fairly straight-ahead, solid rhymes - no crazy complex technique, but no nonsense either. I must say I don't know much about him except that he's from Astoria, NY, and that he had another 12" which I've got in the library with a nice B-side "88 Bars." That's good, but this is better - worth a pickup I think if you see a copy.
Superior Thought : Holding On
Like this beat? Find more of his stuff here. Talented UK producer out of South London who's really doing some good things staying true to the sampling style, keeping a very Hip-Hop flavour rather than going dubstep/grime/whatever. He's got a lot of stuff up on his Bandcamp, either free or cheap - definitely worth checking out. This particular tune is from his "S'strumentals" instrumental album, a free download you'd be mad to not at least give a listen!
2Pac : Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Can you believe it's been fifteen years this month since 2Pac died? Crazy. I've never been a huge Pac fan - people who know my listening know that about me - but I will always say that I greatly preferred the era of his first three albums to anything he recorded after that. This here is a track which always stays on the iPod, always enjoyed it since it was first released and it's a good motivational one for the weights too! Produced by Laylaw (who has some great Hip-Hop history), the slow and low, sample-heavy vibe fit the attitude of the lyrics much better than any synth outing could ever hope to. Lyrically, 'Pac would never fit into the super-complex category, but could always be said to put down how he felt whenever he hit the booth; there's something to be said for that in life as well as in music!
Dr.Dre ft. Lady Of Rage : Lyrical Gangbang (edit)
Didn't feel like having the whole song so just knocked out a quick edit to give you some instrumental after the first verse. Taken from "The Chronic" of course, this one plays slow and bangs loud - not the first tune people think of when this album comes up for discussion but sometimes, only this tune will do! If they end up creating a time machine I want a quick trip back to when hard rhymes like Rage's and heavy beats like this were standard issue...
Camp Lo : Something For Nothing
The Camp Lo unreleased/soundtrack/compilation/B-side catalogue is full of gems, if you can find them! I've definitely said before how much I rate this Bronx crew going back to the first time I heard "Coolie High," and this track is a seriously under-the-radar piece I was glad to add to the collection! This is on a white-label 12" with some other bits from other artists so is lacking full credits, but a quick web search tells me this is a 2001 track from the compilation "Stimulated, Vol.1" and Lord Digga was the man with the slow, swaggering, soulful beat. Add to that the Lo's dense slang styles and you've got a winner!
UNKLE ft. Alice Temple : Bloodstain
Bit of personal trivia - the first time I went to donate blood, I lay down on the bed and this tune came on my MP3 player on shuffle! That said, since it was the very early days of MP3 players and it had a grand total of 64MB memory (read that again, carefully), it wasn't that unlikely! This is still a headphone staple for me, it still sounds fresh - hard and heavy drum track with plenty of space for Alice Temple's vocal to breathe. Bit of trivia - apparently, Alice Temple was the first female UK and European BMX champion. All that and an angelic voice! As for UNKLE, this is the "Psyence Fiction" incarnation of the group, with James Lavelle and DJ Shadow being the driving forces behind the project.
[Slip Wax] Bomshot : Kill Em All (Instrumental)
2005 track out of Boston on Commonwealth Records; truth be told, this 12" is pretty nondescript on the whole. I got it primarily because Agallah produced the A-side, but the rhymes just didn't grab me. I do like this B-side beat and it worked nicely for the blend, but again, lyrically the track didn't do anything for me at all. It's just like that sometimes!
Raphael Saddiq ft. Q-Tip : Get Involved
First heard this on one of DJ A-Up's mixtapes a while ago, chased him up to find out what it was and managed to get a vinyl copy recently in time to get it on the podcast; I'd slowed the MP3 down before and liked how it sounded so knew it needed to be on here! Oakland's Raphael Saddiq is one of those artists who was always kind of at the periphery of my consciousness - never really knew his work properly but did know of Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl - but this track got me on board and having checked some of his albums since, I can better appreciate what he does! Got this on a 12" single but you can probably find it more easily on the soundtrack to "The PJs."
Nas : It Ain't Hard To Tell
One that everyone knows, so you've got a point of reference to go with! I love what the slowdown does to the "da-da, da da" in the hook, and Large Professor's filtered bass on this damn near drops out of the bottom of the speaker!
Unknown : Grand Theft Auto Theme
This is from the original Grand Theft Auto game, the top-down one that was released on the PC back in 1997; if I recall correctly, I searched the CD for sound files to get hold of this track and have been carting it around ever since! Not sure who put this track together, but it sounds like they were heavily "inspired" by Easy Mo Bee's beat for Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear." Grand Theft Audio?
Slum Village : Climax
On the very first podcast episode, you heard the instrumental of this - now you get the vocal, but missing more than 20% of the speed! From the "Fantastic, Volume 2" album, this is probably my favorite Slum Village track. The big speed drop here makes it sound more ghostly and eerie than seductive...try it at night! This is probably the beat that made me a Dilla believer - some of the stuff he'd done before this point I didn't know he'd done, and some wasn't to my taste, but this one smacked me round the head and got me up to speed. Fresh.
EPMD : You're A Customer
Winding up with one that the heads will certainly know, another classic! Over 23 years old but never fails to get the necks snapping! The samples/interpolations it uses are well known so I can talk about them; taking a four notes from ZZ Top's "Cheap Sunglasses," a little "Jungle Boogie," and of course the "Fly Like An Eagle" snatch and adding some drum machine, EPMD built a monster. Result.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...as you sing your senseless songs to the mindless..."
- Chuck D
Got something of a theme this month - starting off really fast and bringing the speed down as we go through the episode; kind of like reverse club DJing! Got a bit of Public Enemy (saw them live again this month - they killed it, again), some great tunes from Manchester, and the usual selection of "I never heard that before" tracks to hopefully plant that digging bug in your head! Start playing this one in the gym and finish off driving at about 15mph under the speed limit...
Playlist/Notes
Suga Free & The Time : Cool
Starting things off with energy; I don't do drugs but the pace of this tune combined with the occasional high-pitched keyboard hits for some reason makes me think that this is what being extra-high in a club and dancing crazy must sound like! This is a semi-cover version of the original "Cool" from The Time's first album, with Suga Free spitting pimp talk all over a beefed-up version of the 1981 track. I got this as a download from the "The Features, Vol.2" compilation, would definitely love to have it on vinyl but I suppose Serato will have to do...
Cybotron : Clear
Great electro track from all the way back in 1982, one of the original records that started off what we now know as techno. Coming out of Detroit, Brian Davis and techno co-originator Juan Atkins combined to show just what could be done with all electronic instruments at a time when most people just couldn't see it. I dug a digital copy of this out after seeing it mentioned in the brilliant book "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" and instantly recognised it - it's one of those tracks which soaks into your subconscious the first time you hear it and never goes away! For the younger generation, this should sound familiar as the basis of Missy Elliott's "Lose Control," and for those who follow Mobb Deep's ridiculous amount of unreleased material, this was used on the incredibly menacing "Everything's Cool" (find it if you can) - the producer slowed this track down and it gives it a really nasty edge.
Ice-T ft. Nat The Cat & Donald D : Fly-By
Huge favourite of mine, from Ice-T's masterpiece album "OG : Original Gangster" (essential purchase). Ice-T opens up strong, I learned Donald D's killer closing verse off by heart when I was in school, and Nat The Cat's middle section is amazing when you hear how he kicks that style over a beat that's right around 120BPM.
The Roots : Boom!
Woooooooy! Super-tough drumming from Questlove provides the bedding for one of the illest solo MC performances you'll hear anywhere. Yes, I said solo. Black Thought throws down a heavy first verse before switching into jaw-dropping impersonations of Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap on the other two verses! Rewind it, play it again, appreciate! Taken from the "The Tipping Point" album, which wasn't my favourite Roots release (though I greatly preferred it to "Phrenology") - my pick is still "Things Fall Apart," which you should already own if you listen to my recommendations :o)
Public Enemy : Caught, Can We Get A Witness?
Overlooked PE track from the certified classic "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" album, closing the first side nicely (well, unless you have the CD...) On the Bomb Squad track, Chuck D, never a man backwards in coming forwards, thunders down his thoughts on everything from sampling to the vacuousness of love songs. I say and say again, if Chuck D doesn't get mentioned in your list of all-time great MCs, your list is wrong.
Master Fuol & ODB : Wingworms
Brooklyn stand up! This tune is from Thirstin Howl III's "Licensed To Skill" album but as far as I can tell he's actually not on this track at all - instead, mic duties are handled by fellow Lo-Life Master Fuol and the late great Wu-Tang loose cannon ODB, basically both just talking crazy on the beat; I've also seen this one around titled as "Last Call." This track is definitely too little-known! I'll just leave you with a choice lyric; "fall on your butt, yo' ass gon' hurt." That's wisdom right there.
PMD : Back To Work (Instrumental)
I love it...it's just kind of awkward. Parrish Smith handled the production himself on this one - many people forget he does beats as well as rocking the mic - and it's dope, but just loops kind of oddly! As such, it's not a record I pull out often as it's strange to mix with, but as I didn't need to mix right at this point, I took the opportunity to include it - hate to see a good record go to waste!
Two-One : Swing
Local talent coming up with a big tune here! Manchester's Two-One is a skilled MC and producer who you might know from In The Loop and many other events besides. On this track, he showcases a confident flow over a tasty beat from Oldham's Kuartz who you'll have heard on the podcast previously. This was taken from the "Mathematics" EP which was a free download - no longer available, but I kept on at the man until I could get a copy of this to play you :o) Keep an eye out for more material from Two-One here and Kuartz here!
Cormega : The Other Side
One of the realest MCs out on a great track from the "Born & Raised" LP on the unglamourous sides of the street life, featuring a light airy production from none other than Fizzy Womack of M.O.P! Yes, I was surprised too :o)
The Mouse Outfit ft. MC Presto : Who To Trust
If you've never seen The Mouse Outfit live, you're missing out. Coming out of Manchester, they're an absolutely firing band who in the last couple of years have added both members of Plato (MC Bedos and producer Pitch) to their lineup. To my mind, they're now at the start of the big push a lot of us have been waiting for them to make and have just released their debut EP "Check Your Pulse" from which this track is taken. On this tune, Bedos passes up mic duties to the American MC Presto who also turns out to be a good complement to the band, and this track just might be my favourite on the EP - the beat just works so well. Keep an eye out for these guys!
Troy S.L.U.G.S : Get It 4 Real
One of those 12" singles I've been waiting to play for a while, bringing a little harder edge sonically than the last few tracks. I can't even call this a forgotten gem since that would imply that people really knew about it the first time round! Pete Rock brings a dope, shoulder moving beat which already puts the track above the average and Troy contributes some fairly straight-ahead, solid rhymes - no crazy complex technique, but no nonsense either. I must say I don't know much about him except that he's from Astoria, NY, and that he had another 12" which I've got in the library with a nice B-side "88 Bars." That's good, but this is better - worth a pickup I think if you see a copy.
Superior Thought : Holding On
Like this beat? Find more of his stuff here. Talented UK producer out of South London who's really doing some good things staying true to the sampling style, keeping a very Hip-Hop flavour rather than going dubstep/grime/whatever. He's got a lot of stuff up on his Bandcamp, either free or cheap - definitely worth checking out. This particular tune is from his "S'strumentals" instrumental album, a free download you'd be mad to not at least give a listen!
2Pac : Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Can you believe it's been fifteen years this month since 2Pac died? Crazy. I've never been a huge Pac fan - people who know my listening know that about me - but I will always say that I greatly preferred the era of his first three albums to anything he recorded after that. This here is a track which always stays on the iPod, always enjoyed it since it was first released and it's a good motivational one for the weights too! Produced by Laylaw (who has some great Hip-Hop history), the slow and low, sample-heavy vibe fit the attitude of the lyrics much better than any synth outing could ever hope to. Lyrically, 'Pac would never fit into the super-complex category, but could always be said to put down how he felt whenever he hit the booth; there's something to be said for that in life as well as in music!
Dr.Dre ft. Lady Of Rage : Lyrical Gangbang (edit)
Didn't feel like having the whole song so just knocked out a quick edit to give you some instrumental after the first verse. Taken from "The Chronic" of course, this one plays slow and bangs loud - not the first tune people think of when this album comes up for discussion but sometimes, only this tune will do! If they end up creating a time machine I want a quick trip back to when hard rhymes like Rage's and heavy beats like this were standard issue...
Camp Lo : Something For Nothing
The Camp Lo unreleased/soundtrack/compilation/B-side catalogue is full of gems, if you can find them! I've definitely said before how much I rate this Bronx crew going back to the first time I heard "Coolie High," and this track is a seriously under-the-radar piece I was glad to add to the collection! This is on a white-label 12" with some other bits from other artists so is lacking full credits, but a quick web search tells me this is a 2001 track from the compilation "Stimulated, Vol.1" and Lord Digga was the man with the slow, swaggering, soulful beat. Add to that the Lo's dense slang styles and you've got a winner!
UNKLE ft. Alice Temple : Bloodstain
Bit of personal trivia - the first time I went to donate blood, I lay down on the bed and this tune came on my MP3 player on shuffle! That said, since it was the very early days of MP3 players and it had a grand total of 64MB memory (read that again, carefully), it wasn't that unlikely! This is still a headphone staple for me, it still sounds fresh - hard and heavy drum track with plenty of space for Alice Temple's vocal to breathe. Bit of trivia - apparently, Alice Temple was the first female UK and European BMX champion. All that and an angelic voice! As for UNKLE, this is the "Psyence Fiction" incarnation of the group, with James Lavelle and DJ Shadow being the driving forces behind the project.
[Slip Wax] Bomshot : Kill Em All (Instrumental)
2005 track out of Boston on Commonwealth Records; truth be told, this 12" is pretty nondescript on the whole. I got it primarily because Agallah produced the A-side, but the rhymes just didn't grab me. I do like this B-side beat and it worked nicely for the blend, but again, lyrically the track didn't do anything for me at all. It's just like that sometimes!
Raphael Saddiq ft. Q-Tip : Get Involved
First heard this on one of DJ A-Up's mixtapes a while ago, chased him up to find out what it was and managed to get a vinyl copy recently in time to get it on the podcast; I'd slowed the MP3 down before and liked how it sounded so knew it needed to be on here! Oakland's Raphael Saddiq is one of those artists who was always kind of at the periphery of my consciousness - never really knew his work properly but did know of Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl - but this track got me on board and having checked some of his albums since, I can better appreciate what he does! Got this on a 12" single but you can probably find it more easily on the soundtrack to "The PJs."
Nas : It Ain't Hard To Tell
One that everyone knows, so you've got a point of reference to go with! I love what the slowdown does to the "da-da, da da" in the hook, and Large Professor's filtered bass on this damn near drops out of the bottom of the speaker!
Unknown : Grand Theft Auto Theme
This is from the original Grand Theft Auto game, the top-down one that was released on the PC back in 1997; if I recall correctly, I searched the CD for sound files to get hold of this track and have been carting it around ever since! Not sure who put this track together, but it sounds like they were heavily "inspired" by Easy Mo Bee's beat for Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear." Grand Theft Audio?
Slum Village : Climax
On the very first podcast episode, you heard the instrumental of this - now you get the vocal, but missing more than 20% of the speed! From the "Fantastic, Volume 2" album, this is probably my favorite Slum Village track. The big speed drop here makes it sound more ghostly and eerie than seductive...try it at night! This is probably the beat that made me a Dilla believer - some of the stuff he'd done before this point I didn't know he'd done, and some wasn't to my taste, but this one smacked me round the head and got me up to speed. Fresh.
EPMD : You're A Customer
Winding up with one that the heads will certainly know, another classic! Over 23 years old but never fails to get the necks snapping! The samples/interpolations it uses are well known so I can talk about them; taking a four notes from ZZ Top's "Cheap Sunglasses," a little "Jungle Boogie," and of course the "Fly Like An Eagle" snatch and adding some drum machine, EPMD built a monster. Result.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"...the optimum oxygen intake..."
- Strategy
(shout to DRS for the episode title!)
Crazy month, what with an outbreak of rioting in several UK cities, and in the US (at the time of writing) an earthquake and a tropical storm in roughly the same areas within about a week!
As I say in one of the links, I'm now on Twitter, just feeling out if it's something I need to stay with or not - follow me at airadam13, let's get some chatter going! But what are we going to talk about? Well, I reckon we should start with the tracks below...
Playlist/Notes
Random Axe : Black Ops
Wais P : Pimp Ops
The eponymous Random Axe (Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk) album was definitely one of the most anticipated releases of the year by the real heads, and it didn't disappoint - it wasn't overly long, but what you got was rawness. With any luck, there'll be more in the future - I think the combination works really well! Right here is probably the only time I'll play a track featuring Sean P but not include his verse - I just give you Guilty's verse on the original before switching into the second verse from Wais P's version from the "Random Pimp" mini-mixtape (so there's still some P in there...) Wais P was previously in a Roc-A-Fella-affiliated group called The Ranjahz but he's back now as a solo artist on the pimp tip and is definitely coming up and making some noise - keep a lookout! (even though he should have called his track "Mack Ops!")
Capone-N-Noreaga : Stay Tuned (Instrumental)
I love this beat, always have done since this album ("The War Report") first came out - I always thought it was a waste they just used it for an interlude instead of rhyming over it. Charlemagne, who did a lot of good stuff for Natural Elements, is on the boards for this one - props.
Roc Marciano w/ The Alchemist & Oh No : Jet Luggage
This is the kind of track to make you pull your collar up and your hat down! Not sure which of the three took the reigns on production here, but my betting is on The Alchemist - he's usually good for the 70s kind of feel. That crazy sound on the left took a few seconds to grow on me but then I saw the genius - wouldn't have been the same at all without it! This is taken from the excellent "Greneberg" EP; if you don't already know, Roc Marciano's album from this year was "Marcberg" and Oh No and Alchemist came together for an album as "Gangrene." All three of them get on the mic here and do the track justice!
Royal Flush ft. Khadeija Bass : Can't Help It (Remix)
I actually prefer the original but this is a version which will be new for more people, and it fits better in this slot too. Only available on the 12" of "Can't Help It" which I found by accident, didn't even realise that it had been released as a single. "Ghetto Millionaire" definitely had some gems on it, well worth having for some quality mid-90s vibes!
Simtraks ft. Kaze, Pierce Freelon & King Mez : Black Fantastic
I was searching for Camp Lo videos on Youtube and found a tune I'd never heard before called "Eternity Window" produced by someone called Simtraks. I liked it so followed the Bandcamp link in the video description and found his "Sputnik Sweetheart" album available for free download - definitely worth hearing! Not everything is up my street but there are some really good tunes on there, of which this is one, and "Eternity Window" is another. The MCs do their thing on here over the Stevie Wonder "You Will Know" sample (it's ok, Simtraks already revealed the sample!), and the producer wisely doesn't mess too much with a good loop!
Strategy : The Bleep Test
Now this is how you take a concept and execute! Broke 'n' English are definitely Manchester's best known Hip-Hop crew and have been putting it down for years as individuals and as a group. Fresh off the opening of their new studio space, frontman Strategy felt the creative fire and knocked out the smoking "Pre-Season Training" mixtape for free download and it's been blowing up all over the city and further afield. As good as this track is, it's probably not even my favourite on there (that would be "Kill 'Em") but this is one I really wanted to share - even though it brings back bad memories of high school PE lessons ;o) If this is anything to go by the upcoming Broke 'n' English album "Life On The Costa Del Salford" will be a classic!
Fakts One : One Time For Des
I plead innocence to the distortion - it's in the original beat :o) This is the kind of track that wants to bust out of the speakers and kick your TV in! This is the third track in a row to come from a freely-downloadable project - this time, it's "The Chop Shop" where Boston's Fakts One (of The Perceptionists) shows you how he gets down, generously sharing some quality material. If you're not already on the way to download it, fix that now :o)
Kid Capri w/ Cocoa Brovaz & Buckshot : Follow Me
Nothing fancy, just a good head-nodding tune! This is from Kid Capri's "Soundtrack To The Streets" compilation - not the most esoteric album title, granted, but sets his stall out clearly! Boot Camp combination on the mic bring the Brooklyn flavour to the vocal
Encore : Too Easy (Layover Outro)
I've had the album this is on ("Layover") for ages but don't know most of the tracks that well; I pulled this out while looking for some stuff new to me to include and it may just persuade me to give this LP another chance! Encore's from the Bay Area and has a lot of good co-signs on his LP, from Souls Of Mischief and Ladybug Mecca on the mic to Jake One on the beats - this beat though comes from Vitamin D, blending nicely with the previous track but having more of a jumpy, slightly unpredictable feel to it.
Mother Superia : Most Of All
Have you got this one? Now now, don't cry, it's ok. Seriously though, heard this on Westwood years ago when it came out, loved it but then heard it nowhere else - or any more from the artist for that matter! This turned up during a London digging mission, and seeing the credits confirmed that this is a Reggie Noble (Redman) production - I think it's definitely got his kind of sound. I could hear him ripping this but make no mistake - Mother Superia definitely comes off on the mic here. A bit of web searching reveals that she's from Miami (I'd assumed she was from Jersey) and is now known as Savana...still not heard any of her new stuff though!
D.I.T.C : Way Of Life
Some barely pre-millennial heat on this 12". This was a pretty big single on the scene if not for the wider public, so all the listeners who are heavily into their Hip-Hop will likely know this - for everyone else, hopefully it gives you the same kind of bounce! Show is on the beat, taking a sample that's been used before but tweaking it just right to bump the track along, and Fat Joe and the late Big L do their think mic-wise. I don't think it's unfair to say that Big L is definitely the star on this one!
[K-Murdock] & Mega Ran : Epoch (Instrumental)
Maryland definitely has some very serious beatmakers - a couple of episodes back I played some Kev Brown, and here you have another crazy talented producer, K-Murdock of Panacea & Neosonic. Is it something about the K? Anyway, I digress - this big, booming beat comes from the "Forever Famicom DLC" instrumental album of the "Forever Famicom" collaboration with Mega Ran, all based around Nintendo. If you play more games than me, you might recognise the sounds, but even if you don't, recognise the quality!
A.G. & Aloe Blacc : Hip-Hop Quotable
Dirty electronic business right here from A.G's "Get Dirty Radio" album. This Dilla beat was floating around for ages; I saw it labelled "Electronic Hum" on a beat tape, and it was later on "Jay Stay Paid" as "caDILLAc," but to me this track is the definitive appearance. Somehow when this was released on 12", it managed to be the B-side to "Frozen" - don't get me wrong, that's a dope track, but it's not seeing this. Anyone who has even half a Hip-Hop collection will find the lyrics to this one kind of familiar...hence the title. I actually remember a mate called Justin in high school who had this idea - he was going to call it "The Copy!"
Random (aka Mega Ran) : Shadowman
You only got an instrumental a couple of tracks up, but here you get to hear Mega Ran go in hard on the mic and on the boards too - Philly stand up! This killer tune comes from the "Mega Ran v1.3" album, which famously was all based around the Mega Man series of games - this track may be the least directly connected in terms of lyrics, but it's probably my favourite - getting all kinds of rewinds this month!
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon & Masta Killa : Black Jesus
Leading off the D-side of Ghost's "Ironman" album (which is probably still my favourite, and which everyone should own), RZA takes some sword-and-sandal-sounding sample and turns it into a basis for the two slangiest Wu members to batter the mic into submission alongside Masta Killa, whose unmistakable vocals close out proceedings. It took me a while to appreciate this track, but it's definitely one of the top cuts on what is definitely a classic album.
Tribeca, Masta Ace, Mr Complex & Lord Tariq : Get Large
The first time I heard this as an extra track on a Tribeca 12" I thought this track was brilliant, and I still do - it's just gor triumph all over it! The producers are two guys I've honestly never heard of - LeDamus and SLA - but they cook up a storming instrumental here and the MCs have to put in some serious work to balance out the largeness! I thought this was Tribeca's record with everyone guesting but I've since found it on this 12" and it looks like a producer-led project under the banner of Get Large Productions. Anyway, it's amazing what can be achieved when no-one cares who gets star billing :o) Winner.
Daft Punk : End Of Line (Photek Remix)
Truth be told, I'd never been a Daft Punk fan at all, but I made a rare trip to the cinema to see Tron : Legacy and was definitely impressed with their soundtrack. Turns out I wasn't the only one, and not only was the original soundtrack really popular but it also spawned a remix project, with all sorts of electronic artists getting in on the act. If this is at all your kind of thing, or if you're into the glitchy kind of sound, then it's one you should look to pick up.
Roughneck Jrs : Sound Of The Phuture
Included as an insert on the 1993 Breaking The Illusion "Lose Your Illusion" EP, I'm playing this as a tribute to Gavin, one of the MCs on the track who sadly died this month. None of the MCs were any older than 16 on this, and this was at a time when it wasn't common for young guys to really be doing stuff - there wasn't the access to technology etc that there is nowadays. RIP Gavin, just putting this energy out to spread a little further.
UGK : One Day
Opening track from the 1996 "Ridin' Dirty" LP; thought this would be a good one to play as a closer and a further tribute. The exact lyrics in the verses don't necessarily relate to this situation, but the sentiment and the feel I think are universal. UGK are from the town of Port Arthur, Texas and were made up of the late Pimp C and Bun B; these guys really did put their town on the map and turned out quality Hip-Hop for years before the rest of the country - or the world - took much notice. It took a long time for them to get their props, but it happened in the end. As it happens, just this year, August 30th was declared Bun B Day in Houston; an incredible honour, though I'm sure Bun would have loved his man to still be around to make it UGK Day.
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>"...the optimum oxygen intake..."
- Strategy
(shout to DRS for the episode title!)
Crazy month, what with an outbreak of rioting in several UK cities, and in the US (at the time of writing) an earthquake and a tropical storm in roughly the same areas within about a week!
As I say in one of the links, I'm now on Twitter, just feeling out if it's something I need to stay with or not - follow me at airadam13, let's get some chatter going! But what are we going to talk about? Well, I reckon we should start with the tracks below...
Playlist/Notes
Random Axe : Black OpsWais P : Pimp Ops
The eponymous Random Axe (Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk) album was definitely one of the most anticipated releases of the year by the real heads, and it didn't disappoint - it wasn't overly long, but what you got was rawness. With any luck, there'll be more in the future - I think the combination works really well! Right here is probably the only time I'll play a track featuring Sean P but not include his verse - I just give you Guilty's verse on the original before switching into the second verse from Wais P's version from the "Random Pimp" mini-mixtape (so there's still some P in there...) Wais P was previously in a Roc-A-Fella-affiliated group called The Ranjahz but he's back now as a solo artist on the pimp tip and is definitely coming up and making some noise - keep a lookout! (even though he should have called his track "Mack Ops!")
Capone-N-Noreaga : Stay Tuned (Instrumental)
I love this beat, always have done since this album ("The War Report") first came out - I always thought it was a waste they just used it for an interlude instead of rhyming over it. Charlemagne, who did a lot of good stuff for Natural Elements, is on the boards for this one - props.
Roc Marciano w/ The Alchemist & Oh No : Jet Luggage
This is the kind of track to make you pull your collar up and your hat down! Not sure which of the three took the reigns on production here, but my betting is on The Alchemist - he's usually good for the 70s kind of feel. That crazy sound on the left took a few seconds to grow on me but then I saw the genius - wouldn't have been the same at all without it! This is taken from the excellent "Greneberg" EP; if you don't already know, Roc Marciano's album from this year was "Marcberg" and Oh No and Alchemist came together for an album as "Gangrene." All three of them get on the mic here and do the track justice!
Royal Flush ft. Khadeija Bass : Can't Help It (Remix)
I actually prefer the original but this is a version which will be new for more people, and it fits better in this slot too. Only available on the 12" of "Can't Help It" which I found by accident, didn't even realise that it had been released as a single. "Ghetto Millionaire" definitely had some gems on it, well worth having for some quality mid-90s vibes!
Simtraks ft. Kaze, Pierce Freelon & King Mez : Black Fantastic
I was searching for Camp Lo videos on Youtube and found a tune I'd never heard before called "Eternity Window" produced by someone called Simtraks. I liked it so followed the Bandcamp link in the video description and found his "Sputnik Sweetheart" album available for free download - definitely worth hearing! Not everything is up my street but there are some really good tunes on there, of which this is one, and "Eternity Window" is another. The MCs do their thing on here over the Stevie Wonder "You Will Know" sample (it's ok, Simtraks already revealed the sample!), and the producer wisely doesn't mess too much with a good loop!
Strategy : The Bleep Test
Now this is how you take a concept and execute! Broke 'n' English are definitely Manchester's best known Hip-Hop crew and have been putting it down for years as individuals and as a group. Fresh off the opening of their new studio space, frontman Strategy felt the creative fire and knocked out the smoking "Pre-Season Training" mixtape for free download and it's been blowing up all over the city and further afield. As good as this track is, it's probably not even my favourite on there (that would be "Kill 'Em") but this is one I really wanted to share - even though it brings back bad memories of high school PE lessons ;o) If this is anything to go by the upcoming Broke 'n' English album "Life On The Costa Del Salford" will be a classic!
Fakts One : One Time For Des
I plead innocence to the distortion - it's in the original beat :o) This is the kind of track that wants to bust out of the speakers and kick your TV in! This is the third track in a row to come from a freely-downloadable project - this time, it's "The Chop Shop" where Boston's Fakts One (of The Perceptionists) shows you how he gets down, generously sharing some quality material. If you're not already on the way to download it, fix that now :o)
Kid Capri w/ Cocoa Brovaz & Buckshot : Follow Me
Nothing fancy, just a good head-nodding tune! This is from Kid Capri's "Soundtrack To The Streets" compilation - not the most esoteric album title, granted, but sets his stall out clearly! Boot Camp combination on the mic bring the Brooklyn flavour to the vocal
Encore : Too Easy (Layover Outro)
I've had the album this is on ("Layover") for ages but don't know most of the tracks that well; I pulled this out while looking for some stuff new to me to include and it may just persuade me to give this LP another chance! Encore's from the Bay Area and has a lot of good co-signs on his LP, from Souls Of Mischief and Ladybug Mecca on the mic to Jake One on the beats - this beat though comes from Vitamin D, blending nicely with the previous track but having more of a jumpy, slightly unpredictable feel to it.
Mother Superia : Most Of All
Have you got this one? Now now, don't cry, it's ok. Seriously though, heard this on Westwood years ago when it came out, loved it but then heard it nowhere else - or any more from the artist for that matter! This turned up during a London digging mission, and seeing the credits confirmed that this is a Reggie Noble (Redman) production - I think it's definitely got his kind of sound. I could hear him ripping this but make no mistake - Mother Superia definitely comes off on the mic here. A bit of web searching reveals that she's from Miami (I'd assumed she was from Jersey) and is now known as Savana...still not heard any of her new stuff though!
D.I.T.C : Way Of Life
Some barely pre-millennial heat on this 12". This was a pretty big single on the scene if not for the wider public, so all the listeners who are heavily into their Hip-Hop will likely know this - for everyone else, hopefully it gives you the same kind of bounce! Show is on the beat, taking a sample that's been used before but tweaking it just right to bump the track along, and Fat Joe and the late Big L do their think mic-wise. I don't think it's unfair to say that Big L is definitely the star on this one!
[K-Murdock] & Mega Ran : Epoch (Instrumental)
Maryland definitely has some very serious beatmakers - a couple of episodes back I played some Kev Brown, and here you have another crazy talented producer, K-Murdock of Panacea & Neosonic. Is it something about the K? Anyway, I digress - this big, booming beat comes from the "Forever Famicom DLC" instrumental album of the "Forever Famicom" collaboration with Mega Ran, all based around Nintendo. If you play more games than me, you might recognise the sounds, but even if you don't, recognise the quality!
A.G. & Aloe Blacc : Hip-Hop Quotable
Dirty electronic business right here from A.G's "Get Dirty Radio" album. This Dilla beat was floating around for ages; I saw it labelled "Electronic Hum" on a beat tape, and it was later on "Jay Stay Paid" as "caDILLAc," but to me this track is the definitive appearance. Somehow when this was released on 12", it managed to be the B-side to "Frozen" - don't get me wrong, that's a dope track, but it's not seeing this. Anyone who has even half a Hip-Hop collection will find the lyrics to this one kind of familiar...hence the title. I actually remember a mate called Justin in high school who had this idea - he was going to call it "The Copy!"
Random (aka Mega Ran) : Shadowman
You only got an instrumental a couple of tracks up, but here you get to hear Mega Ran go in hard on the mic and on the boards too - Philly stand up! This killer tune comes from the "Mega Ran v1.3" album, which famously was all based around the Mega Man series of games - this track may be the least directly connected in terms of lyrics, but it's probably my favourite - getting all kinds of rewinds this month!
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon & Masta Killa : Black Jesus
Leading off the D-side of Ghost's "Ironman" album (which is probably still my favourite, and which everyone should own), RZA takes some sword-and-sandal-sounding sample and turns it into a basis for the two slangiest Wu members to batter the mic into submission alongside Masta Killa, whose unmistakable vocals close out proceedings. It took me a while to appreciate this track, but it's definitely one of the top cuts on what is definitely a classic album.
Tribeca, Masta Ace, Mr Complex & Lord Tariq : Get Large
The first time I heard this as an extra track on a Tribeca 12" I thought this track was brilliant, and I still do - it's just gor triumph all over it! The producers are two guys I've honestly never heard of - LeDamus and SLA - but they cook up a storming instrumental here and the MCs have to put in some serious work to balance out the largeness! I thought this was Tribeca's record with everyone guesting but I've since found it on this 12" and it looks like a producer-led project under the banner of Get Large Productions. Anyway, it's amazing what can be achieved when no-one cares who gets star billing :o) Winner.
Daft Punk : End Of Line (Photek Remix)
Truth be told, I'd never been a Daft Punk fan at all, but I made a rare trip to the cinema to see Tron : Legacy and was definitely impressed with their soundtrack. Turns out I wasn't the only one, and not only was the original soundtrack really popular but it also spawned a remix project, with all sorts of electronic artists getting in on the act. If this is at all your kind of thing, or if you're into the glitchy kind of sound, then it's one you should look to pick up.
Roughneck Jrs : Sound Of The Phuture
Included as an insert on the 1993 Breaking The Illusion "Lose Your Illusion" EP, I'm playing this as a tribute to Gavin, one of the MCs on the track who sadly died this month. None of the MCs were any older than 16 on this, and this was at a time when it wasn't common for young guys to really be doing stuff - there wasn't the access to technology etc that there is nowadays. RIP Gavin, just putting this energy out to spread a little further.
UGK : One Day
Opening track from the 1996 "Ridin' Dirty" LP; thought this would be a good one to play as a closer and a further tribute. The exact lyrics in the verses don't necessarily relate to this situation, but the sentiment and the feel I think are universal. UGK are from the town of Port Arthur, Texas and were made up of the late Pimp C and Bun B; these guys really did put their town on the map and turned out quality Hip-Hop for years before the rest of the country - or the world - took much notice. It took a long time for them to get their props, but it happened in the end. As it happens, just this year, August 30th was declared Bun B Day in Houston; an incredible honour, though I'm sure Bun would have loved his man to still be around to make it UGK Day.
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"It's like tryna crack encryption codes..."
- Sly
What a month. The tragedy in Norway, Amy Winehouse dying, and maybe the beginning of the unravelling of Murdoch's hold on the UK?
I started doing the selection/recording before most of these events happened, so any coincidences are just that...
As promised, here are my photos from the Roy Ayers/Pete Rock gig;
@Air Adam Photography on Facebook
and here are my pocket camera shots from the Ice Cube/Naughty By Nature gig, while battling some bully-boy idiots at the front!
@Air Adam Photography on Facebook
Playlist/Notes
The Jackson 5 : Walk On
A live instrumental workout for the boys from Gary, Indiana - their own version of Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By." Been sampled a few times, including to great effect on...
Non Phixion : Cult Leader
Dave One of Obscure Disorder takes his cue from the preceding track, doesn't do anything crazy to it but just does enough - I think it fits the theme brilliantly. Ill Bill absolutely smashes it in the title role as a charismatic, malevolent religious figure and the whole package is finished off by Dave One's brother (the legendary DJ A-Trak) throwing down some of the most ridiculous cuts you'll hear anywhere. I scratch but there are things he's doing on here I can't even comprehend, never mind do. This track was an early selection for this month's show and recorded very early in the month; what with things that have happened since I kind of wish it had been another month but of course, no disrespect intended.
[Tic] Main One : Cross Examination (Instrumental)
Just a cool little instrumental, a nice bridge between the tracks on either side. I think I picked up this 12" in London on the strength of it featuring Smoothe & Trigger and Ski being on engineering duties, but in London most record shops don't have listening posts so I really didn't know what I was getting. Not a classic by any means but on the other hand it fit nicely here so I guess I was meant to find it?
Statik Selektah & Termanology ft. Reks : The Dream
Dark and brilliant. From the free 1982 EP, Termanology and Reks go in on the themes of substance abuse and depression over a killer Statik Selektah beat. If anyone can send me a message and let me know what the sample is on the hook, it would be much appreciated :o)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth :It's Not A Game
Such an ill Pete Rock beat, great one in the headphones or in the car! This is a classic B-side, coming on the flip of the "Lots Of Lovin'" 12" and absolutely winning like Chuck D would say! Not too much to say, except to hope you don't wear out your "rewind" buttons (or your touchscreens) running this one back...
Lake & Cormega : The Oath
Taken from the Lake & Cormega "My Brother's Keeper" album, Ax Tha Bull (!) on production with an alternately tense and dramatic number, could almost be part of a score! It's an all-Queensbridge affair on the mic, but while alleged hard-rock Lake gets the first two verses to himself, it's Cormega who really shines here with a storming close.
Snoop Dogg ft. The Dramatics & Lil 1/2 Dead : Ballin'
Horizontally laid back! Not the best known Snoop track and not one with his most complex rhyme schemes but I love it. From the album "Paid Tha Cost To Be Tha Boss," this is the second collaboration between Snoop & The Dramatics (after "It's A Doggy Dogg World"), with them basically doing a cover but with a dubplate-style flip of the hook from their track "Fell For You." Nighttime rollin'...
[Hi-Tek] Royal Flush : Shines (Instrumental)
Before everyone was giving him his props, Hi-Tek showed his skills using the classic Roy Ayers "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" sample on the B-side to Royal Flush's burner "Iced Down Medallions." Nice 90s joint with that filtered bassline flavour...great month to get this tune in!
Jan Hammer Group : Don't You Know?
Hope people like this, I paid out a fair bit to get myself a copy of this album ;o) Jan Hammer is known to most as the man behind the Miami Vice music, but he's got a long history as a respected composer and pianist/keyboardist in the jazz world. This is from the 1977 "Melodies" album, for those who collect this kind of thing! I played it partly because I really love it, and partly because it allows me to do a clever little mix into...
Da Beatminerz ft. Talib Kweli & Total : The Anti-Love Movement
One month I might try to do an episode made up solely of "opposite" tracks! Couldn't believe it when I realised how close together these tracks are tempo-wise, so this just had to be done. Besides, I'm sure some of you can relate to the conflict in feelings! This is from the essential "Brace 4 Impak" producer project from Da Beatminerz, which I constantly forget isn't a new record anymore. Looking at the link, it seems there are some very cheap deals on this release so do yourself a favour and get a copy - as nice as this track is, it's not even close to the best thing on there!
Roy Ayers : Funk In The Hole (PPP Remix)
From the "Virgin Ubiquity : Remixed" project, a nice pickup from Manchester's Kingbee records. Detroit's Platinum Pied Pipers bring heavy, knocking drums and all kinds of dropped in sounds to the original jazz flavour.
Edo. G : Fastlane
Boston business here. Edo G (sometimes Ed O.G.) has been doing it since the early 90s (I first heard him on "Be A Father To Your Child") and has that quiet level of respect that those who sell out will never understand. On this opening track from his new "A Face In The Crowd" album, DJ Premier brings a low-key but still solid beat for Edo to reflect on. Nice.
[Kenny The Seagull] Blacklover88rs (Dr.Oop + Two-B) : Don't Bounce (Instrumental)
The man Pressey was the first one to tell me about Dr.Oop, though more on the production side if I remember correctly (I probably don't!) The "Daze Like These" 12" that this came from isn't my favourite, but it did at least yield this beat. That said, it's probably one of those releases I'll come back to years from now and wonder how I slept on!
Smif-n-Wessun : Pete Rock Track
Sound rough, but worth sharing I think! A few years back, Smif-n-Wessun were signed to Rawkus Records (bet James Murdoch wishes deciding which MCs to sign was his only problem), and recorded an album which never came out. It did leak at the time and there were some excellent tracks on it, of which this is one. Not very imaginatively named, but maybe it'd have got a proper title with a proper release. Anyway, there's now a full-length collab ("Monumental") between Los Hermanos Chocolates and Pete Rock which is a solid release - check it out!
A Tribe Called Quest : Midnight
One of my favourites from Tribe's "Midnight Marauders" LP, but for some reason no-one ever talks about it! Anyway, take a little listen and see if it goes up in your estimation :o)
Sly Boogy : Everything
From the compilation "Back 2 Basics" (which I chanced upon in Vinyl Exchange at the right price) the "Wake-Up Show" duo of Sway and King Tech present this slightly off-beat, funky, twitchy bit of west coast flavour - Supa Dave West (who you might know from various De La Soul tracks) is on production and Sly Boogie has the right level of gruffness to ride over it. On top of all that, the "Everything" vocal sample is the kind of icing that makes me want to set off an airhorn!
Little Brother : The Becoming
As Phonte once said, "dope beats, dope rhymes...this Hip-Hop ain't really that hard." One of the most interesting everyman personalities on the mic, he comes here with a couple of verses on how Little Brother came together, and does so on a dope 9th Wonder beat that will get your neck moving if you have any funk whatsoever! Though you might expect a track on your origins to be on the first album, this is actually from Little Brother's second release, "The Minstrel Show."
The White Shadow of Norway : All My Friends (Instrumental)
It was only right to have something from Norway this episode - I didn't have this in my collection but bought it specially as an individual download from his "Instrumentals 2" project. It seems White Shadow is a serious veteran, having started DJing in the late 70s and over time making the move into production; by the sounds of things he's the elder statesman and reference point for the Norwegian scene!
Grandmaster Flash, KRS-ONE, Afasi, Kase.o, Maccho & Abass : We Speak Hip-Hop
I've had this kicking around for a while and this seemed like the perfect time to play it. An international collection of MCs led by KRS-ONE under the wing of the pioneering Grandmaster Flash, with a message of unity despite superficial differences. What could be better?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"It's like tryna crack encryption codes..."
- Sly
What a month. The tragedy in Norway, Amy Winehouse dying, and maybe the beginning of the unravelling of Murdoch's hold on the UK?
I started doing the selection/recording before most of these events happened, so any coincidences are just that...
As promised, here are my photos from the Roy Ayers/Pete Rock gig;
@Air Adam Photography on Facebook
and here are my pocket camera shots from the Ice Cube/Naughty By Nature gig, while battling some bully-boy idiots at the front!
@Air Adam Photography on Facebook
Playlist/Notes
The Jackson 5 : Walk On
A live instrumental workout for the boys from Gary, Indiana - their own version of Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By." Been sampled a few times, including to great effect on...
Non Phixion : Cult Leader
Dave One of Obscure Disorder takes his cue from the preceding track, doesn't do anything crazy to it but just does enough - I think it fits the theme brilliantly. Ill Bill absolutely smashes it in the title role as a charismatic, malevolent religious figure and the whole package is finished off by Dave One's brother (the legendary DJ A-Trak) throwing down some of the most ridiculous cuts you'll hear anywhere. I scratch but there are things he's doing on here I can't even comprehend, never mind do. This track was an early selection for this month's show and recorded very early in the month; what with things that have happened since I kind of wish it had been another month but of course, no disrespect intended.
[Tic] Main One : Cross Examination (Instrumental)
Just a cool little instrumental, a nice bridge between the tracks on either side. I think I picked up this 12" in London on the strength of it featuring Smoothe & Trigger and Ski being on engineering duties, but in London most record shops don't have listening posts so I really didn't know what I was getting. Not a classic by any means but on the other hand it fit nicely here so I guess I was meant to find it?
Statik Selektah & Termanology ft. Reks : The Dream
Dark and brilliant. From the free 1982 EP, Termanology and Reks go in on the themes of substance abuse and depression over a killer Statik Selektah beat. If anyone can send me a message and let me know what the sample is on the hook, it would be much appreciated :o)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth :It's Not A Game
Such an ill Pete Rock beat, great one in the headphones or in the car! This is a classic B-side, coming on the flip of the "Lots Of Lovin'" 12" and absolutely winning like Chuck D would say! Not too much to say, except to hope you don't wear out your "rewind" buttons (or your touchscreens) running this one back...
Lake & Cormega : The Oath
Taken from the Lake & Cormega "My Brother's Keeper" album, Ax Tha Bull (!) on production with an alternately tense and dramatic number, could almost be part of a score! It's an all-Queensbridge affair on the mic, but while alleged hard-rock Lake gets the first two verses to himself, it's Cormega who really shines here with a storming close.
Snoop Dogg ft. The Dramatics & Lil 1/2 Dead : Ballin'
Horizontally laid back! Not the best known Snoop track and not one with his most complex rhyme schemes but I love it. From the album "Paid Tha Cost To Be Tha Boss," this is the second collaboration between Snoop & The Dramatics (after "It's A Doggy Dogg World"), with them basically doing a cover but with a dubplate-style flip of the hook from their track "Fell For You." Nighttime rollin'...
[Hi-Tek] Royal Flush : Shines (Instrumental)
Before everyone was giving him his props, Hi-Tek showed his skills using the classic Roy Ayers "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" sample on the B-side to Royal Flush's burner "Iced Down Medallions." Nice 90s joint with that filtered bassline flavour...great month to get this tune in!
Jan Hammer Group : Don't You Know?
Hope people like this, I paid out a fair bit to get myself a copy of this album ;o) Jan Hammer is known to most as the man behind the Miami Vice music, but he's got a long history as a respected composer and pianist/keyboardist in the jazz world. This is from the 1977 "Melodies" album, for those who collect this kind of thing! I played it partly because I really love it, and partly because it allows me to do a clever little mix into...
Da Beatminerz ft. Talib Kweli & Total : The Anti-Love Movement
One month I might try to do an episode made up solely of "opposite" tracks! Couldn't believe it when I realised how close together these tracks are tempo-wise, so this just had to be done. Besides, I'm sure some of you can relate to the conflict in feelings! This is from the essential "Brace 4 Impak" producer project from Da Beatminerz, which I constantly forget isn't a new record anymore. Looking at the link, it seems there are some very cheap deals on this release so do yourself a favour and get a copy - as nice as this track is, it's not even close to the best thing on there!
Roy Ayers : Funk In The Hole (PPP Remix)
From the "Virgin Ubiquity : Remixed" project, a nice pickup from Manchester's Kingbee records. Detroit's Platinum Pied Pipers bring heavy, knocking drums and all kinds of dropped in sounds to the original jazz flavour.
Edo. G : Fastlane
Boston business here. Edo G (sometimes Ed O.G.) has been doing it since the early 90s (I first heard him on "Be A Father To Your Child") and has that quiet level of respect that those who sell out will never understand. On this opening track from his new "A Face In The Crowd" album, DJ Premier brings a low-key but still solid beat for Edo to reflect on. Nice.
[Kenny The Seagull] Blacklover88rs (Dr.Oop + Two-B) : Don't Bounce (Instrumental)
The man Pressey was the first one to tell me about Dr.Oop, though more on the production side if I remember correctly (I probably don't!) The "Daze Like These" 12" that this came from isn't my favourite, but it did at least yield this beat. That said, it's probably one of those releases I'll come back to years from now and wonder how I slept on!
Smif-n-Wessun : Pete Rock Track
Sound rough, but worth sharing I think! A few years back, Smif-n-Wessun were signed to Rawkus Records (bet James Murdoch wishes deciding which MCs to sign was his only problem), and recorded an album which never came out. It did leak at the time and there were some excellent tracks on it, of which this is one. Not very imaginatively named, but maybe it'd have got a proper title with a proper release. Anyway, there's now a full-length collab ("Monumental") between Los Hermanos Chocolates and Pete Rock which is a solid release - check it out!
A Tribe Called Quest : Midnight
One of my favourites from Tribe's "Midnight Marauders" LP, but for some reason no-one ever talks about it! Anyway, take a little listen and see if it goes up in your estimation :o)
Sly Boogy : Everything
From the compilation "Back 2 Basics" (which I chanced upon in Vinyl Exchange at the right price) the "Wake-Up Show" duo of Sway and King Tech present this slightly off-beat, funky, twitchy bit of west coast flavour - Supa Dave West (who you might know from various De La Soul tracks) is on production and Sly Boogie has the right level of gruffness to ride over it. On top of all that, the "Everything" vocal sample is the kind of icing that makes me want to set off an airhorn!
Little Brother : The Becoming
As Phonte once said, "dope beats, dope rhymes...this Hip-Hop ain't really that hard." One of the most interesting everyman personalities on the mic, he comes here with a couple of verses on how Little Brother came together, and does so on a dope 9th Wonder beat that will get your neck moving if you have any funk whatsoever! Though you might expect a track on your origins to be on the first album, this is actually from Little Brother's second release, "The Minstrel Show."
The White Shadow of Norway : All My Friends (Instrumental)
It was only right to have something from Norway this episode - I didn't have this in my collection but bought it specially as an individual download from his "Instrumentals 2" project. It seems White Shadow is a serious veteran, having started DJing in the late 70s and over time making the move into production; by the sounds of things he's the elder statesman and reference point for the Norwegian scene!
Grandmaster Flash, KRS-ONE, Afasi, Kase.o, Maccho & Abass : We Speak Hip-Hop
I've had this kicking around for a while and this seemed like the perfect time to play it. An international collection of MCs led by KRS-ONE under the wing of the pioneering Grandmaster Flash, with a message of unity despite superficial differences. What could be better?
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Days come and go, but..."
- Jane Child
Second birthday for the podcast! Nice little back catalogue building up now :o) To celebrate the occasion, here's another show crafted to caress your eardrums - I've got some old classics, unrecognised gems, and just a little new heat to add the spice! It also seems to be remix city this month...
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Freestyle
I think I've declared my Natural E fan-dom in the past, and I could listen to them rhyme all day. Probably have done at least once. Anyway, this is a nice no-hook track featuring them flowing over the Neptunes-produced beat from Nas' "The Flyest (Nas' Angels)" - not sure if it's a real off-the-dome freestyle, but knowing these guys it wouldn't be surprising! Sorry about the stereo dropouts near the start; don't know what happened there! Also check the beat juggle at the start - sound familiar?
[Butterfly] Digable Planets : Nickel Bags (Instrumental)
Super cooled-out instrumental for this break, should have the air of familiarity for anyone who heard Episode 24...this was my favourite Digable single I think.
The Pharcyde : Passing Me By / Passing By Me (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)
One of the classic Hip-Hop singles, a collection of tales of unrequited love, it would have been too basic just to play the original version so I switch it up after the first verse in favour of DJ Jazzy Jeff's remixed version "Passing By Me" which you can find on his free compilation "My Faves : Volume 1." That's your cue to get over there for the download. It's based around a gorgeous sample which then leads us nicely into...
Intelligent Hoodlum : Grand Groove (Bonus Mix)
I didn't realise for ages that this isn't the original version of this track - first time I heard it was on "Yo! MTV Raps" and this is the version on the video. K-Def and Marley Marl are responsible for the beat I believe, and Tragedy (side note: hope he drops the "Khadafi" from his current pen name) comes with some heartfelt lyrics. You can find this on the "Tragedy : Saga Of A Hoodlum" album, a nice hard-edged 90s release.
Kool G Rap ft. Nas : Fast Life (Norfside Remix)
Sound quality on this pressing is a little rough, so apologies for that, but you either fondly remember this remix if you were clued-up back when it first came out or this is new to you and should be knocking you sideways! The original "Fast Life" was on Kool G. Rap's "4, 5, 6" album but I'm not sure exactly where this remix first emerged. I got my copy on a little 12" from Pop Art in Manchester (RIP) while digging through the bins, but it's only in the last couple of weeks I found out who did the remix - Salaam Remi. Good work that man.
No I.D. : Sky's The Limit
Looove this...ever since my man DJ Beware introduced me to this track something like 10 years ago I've been enjoying it but now it's time to share! No I.D was the original producer for Common (when he was still Common Sense) and both of them come out of Chicago, a city which for a long time was far more associated with House than Hip-Hop. As it happens, you can tell on here that not only is he an ill producer but can do his thing on the mic too with some thought-provoking lyrics. More quality material can be found on his "Accept Your Own And Be Yourself" LP.
[Pete Rock] Phife Dawg : Lemme Find Out
I'd pretty much ignored this B-side (on the flip of "Flawless," which is a heavy tune) up to now; for whatever reason the vocal version doesn't do it for me, but when you strip the words away and just leave the beat it turns out to be an interesting number indeed. What else would you expect from Pete Rock?
The U.N. : Avenue
Pete Rock on the beat again, with an initially simple sounding but deeply hypnotic track which forms a great basis for the UN MCs to shine. It starts slowly I think but then picks up nicely and stays strong right through to the end. Not sure if the group is still together now but the "UN or U Out" album is just some straight-up Hip-Hop which is a great purchase for fnas of the gritty SP1200 & S950 aesthetic. No pretensions.
Sean Price, Meyhem Lauren & Roc Marciano : How The Gods Chill (Remix)
It's just some real Hip-Hop. Hard drums, nice cuts, and MCs getting busy. This here is why you don't let Sean Price get on the track first - Meyhem and Roc Marciano are both dope but my goodness...he comes out swinging! I want to hear Sean Price and Bumpy Knuckles do a joint album. Please? The original version of this track was headed up by the Hardcore group Cold World, but I don't know who's responsible for this remix - such are the downsides of digital releases :o(
Snowgoons w/ Skyzoo & Torae : Can't Go On Like That
Germany stand up! The Snowgoons are a pair of producers who have carved out a nice lane making beats for US underground MCs, often dramatic and virtually always banging and aggressive. This time out it's Brooklyn's Skyzoo and Torae who bless the beat with some New York straight talk. I found this on Spotify the other day and quickly realised I needed a copy of it to play this month! The *only* bad thing - the title doesn't quite match the words in the vocal sample in the hook...
Dilated Peoples : Triple Optics
Probably my favourite track from their debut "The Platform," this was the 3rd track on the "Work The Angles" 12" single. Evidence is on the production and Rakaa Iriscience takes the vocal lead, strongly representing the underground Los Angeles sound. Five albums deep, they've got quiet for the moment but will quite possible return with an independent release - stay tuned...
Stanley Clarke & George Duke : Quiet Time
Cooling things right down with a very short piano piece from the third "Clarke/Duke Project" collaborative album from two legends of the jazz fusion sphere. It's not as though I'm going to get chance to play this on a Friday night, so here it is :o)
[Ant] MF DOOM : Hoe Cakes (Remix Instrumental)
*This* is the tune I was referring to back in Episode 2 when I talk about referring to Anita Baker and someone had no clue who I was talking about! This remix takes the classic "Sweet Love" intro and layers it with a beatboxed drum pattern - not the most obvious move but it does work. The vocal version's worth hearing, though I have to say I'm not the biggest DOOM fan - "Operation Doomsday" is still the peak for me!
O.C. : Emotions (Album Version / JFish Remix)
Deep track from one of the more underrated members of the DITC crew, from his Mike Loe produced album "Smoke & Mirrors," which was released on the Hieroglyphics label. The album had mixed reviews, but personally I thought it was dope and I'm glad to have a vinyl copy. It might not have the classic DITC sound but who am I to say not to experiment?The remix comes courtesy of JFish of Soul Vibe Productions - they did a fully-remixed version of the album which was available on the net for free download a while ago; you may have to do some e-digging (e-xcavation?) to find it now!
Kev Brown ft. Grap Luva : Struggla's Theme
Nice. Very nice. Landover, Maryland's Kev Brown is a producer/MC with an emphasis on the former. He's best known for coming out of Jazzy Jeff's Touch Of Jazz camp and is something of a ninja when it comes to the basslines! This track has a lovely, smooth but active bassline under an understated drum track and a little keyboard accent and is so good that if your head's not bobbing at all...you may require medical attention. Lyrically, Kev comes in on the subject of trying to make an honest living, with Grap Luva of InI contributing a great second verse. Really hope you like this one!
AZ : Gimme Yours (Remix)
Queensbriiidge! Big big favourite of mine, Erick Sermon on the remix bringing a nice 80s soul sample and replacing Nas on the hook with Miss Jones, which is a huge upgrade. This is probably the only time in history that could be said of replacing Nas with anybody! The original version is on AZ's debut "Do Or Die," and it was fresh - but this is even better :o)
Jane Child : Words I Know (Album Version / Word Mix)
I would imagine the majority of listeners to the show don't know who Jane Child is; she had a hit in 1990 with "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" from her self-titled, self-produced debut, an album so great it had no less a man than Prince singing her praises! Her second album went straight under the radar for most and her third album ("Surge") was released on her own label. If that was under the radar, then the release this is taken from ("Surge Remixed") is under the whole plane but was an EP with a few select tracks from the original album redone. I thought the original album version might be too slow and all that for a lot of people so I only gave you a taste at the end, but I love it myself - reminiscent of Stevie Wonder on the keyboards!
Air Adam : Maria
I finally found a place to put a 66bpm instrumental and make it blend :o) This is something I knocked up on the MPC a couple of years ago on a quiet afternoon up in Leeds - couldn't see any MCs doing anything with it so it ended up just being left on the hard drive. At least a few people get to hear it now!
Spearhead : Hole In The Bucket
Special request for my man Eli - not a big Spearhead fan myself but I saw this video on MTV years ago and thought it was a great song. Michael Franti isn't tearing it down with super-complex lyrical schemes or rhyme flows but he crafts his story well, and it's a situation which pretty much anyone frequenting a big city can relate to. I must say though that the hook is a 100% winner; just nicely put together!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Days come and go, but..."
- Jane Child
Second birthday for the podcast! Nice little back catalogue building up now :o) To celebrate the occasion, here's another show crafted to caress your eardrums - I've got some old classics, unrecognised gems, and just a little new heat to add the spice! It also seems to be remix city this month...
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Freestyle
I think I've declared my Natural E fan-dom in the past, and I could listen to them rhyme all day. Probably have done at least once. Anyway, this is a nice no-hook track featuring them flowing over the Neptunes-produced beat from Nas' "The Flyest (Nas' Angels)" - not sure if it's a real off-the-dome freestyle, but knowing these guys it wouldn't be surprising! Sorry about the stereo dropouts near the start; don't know what happened there! Also check the beat juggle at the start - sound familiar?
[Butterfly] Digable Planets : Nickel Bags (Instrumental)
Super cooled-out instrumental for this break, should have the air of familiarity for anyone who heard Episode 24...this was my favourite Digable single I think.
The Pharcyde : Passing Me By / Passing By Me (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)
One of the classic Hip-Hop singles, a collection of tales of unrequited love, it would have been too basic just to play the original version so I switch it up after the first verse in favour of DJ Jazzy Jeff's remixed version "Passing By Me" which you can find on his free compilation "My Faves : Volume 1." That's your cue to get over there for the download. It's based around a gorgeous sample which then leads us nicely into...
Intelligent Hoodlum : Grand Groove (Bonus Mix)
I didn't realise for ages that this isn't the original version of this track - first time I heard it was on "Yo! MTV Raps" and this is the version on the video. K-Def and Marley Marl are responsible for the beat I believe, and Tragedy (side note: hope he drops the "Khadafi" from his current pen name) comes with some heartfelt lyrics. You can find this on the "Tragedy : Saga Of A Hoodlum" album, a nice hard-edged 90s release.
Kool G Rap ft. Nas : Fast Life (Norfside Remix)
Sound quality on this pressing is a little rough, so apologies for that, but you either fondly remember this remix if you were clued-up back when it first came out or this is new to you and should be knocking you sideways! The original "Fast Life" was on Kool G. Rap's "4, 5, 6" album but I'm not sure exactly where this remix first emerged. I got my copy on a little 12" from Pop Art in Manchester (RIP) while digging through the bins, but it's only in the last couple of weeks I found out who did the remix - Salaam Remi. Good work that man.
No I.D. : Sky's The Limit
Looove this...ever since my man DJ Beware introduced me to this track something like 10 years ago I've been enjoying it but now it's time to share! No I.D was the original producer for Common (when he was still Common Sense) and both of them come out of Chicago, a city which for a long time was far more associated with House than Hip-Hop. As it happens, you can tell on here that not only is he an ill producer but can do his thing on the mic too with some thought-provoking lyrics. More quality material can be found on his "Accept Your Own And Be Yourself" LP.
[Pete Rock] Phife Dawg : Lemme Find Out
I'd pretty much ignored this B-side (on the flip of "Flawless," which is a heavy tune) up to now; for whatever reason the vocal version doesn't do it for me, but when you strip the words away and just leave the beat it turns out to be an interesting number indeed. What else would you expect from Pete Rock?
The U.N. : Avenue
Pete Rock on the beat again, with an initially simple sounding but deeply hypnotic track which forms a great basis for the UN MCs to shine. It starts slowly I think but then picks up nicely and stays strong right through to the end. Not sure if the group is still together now but the "UN or U Out" album is just some straight-up Hip-Hop which is a great purchase for fnas of the gritty SP1200 & S950 aesthetic. No pretensions.
Sean Price, Meyhem Lauren & Roc Marciano : How The Gods Chill (Remix)
It's just some real Hip-Hop. Hard drums, nice cuts, and MCs getting busy. This here is why you don't let Sean Price get on the track first - Meyhem and Roc Marciano are both dope but my goodness...he comes out swinging! I want to hear Sean Price and Bumpy Knuckles do a joint album. Please? The original version of this track was headed up by the Hardcore group Cold World, but I don't know who's responsible for this remix - such are the downsides of digital releases :o(
Snowgoons w/ Skyzoo & Torae : Can't Go On Like That
Germany stand up! The Snowgoons are a pair of producers who have carved out a nice lane making beats for US underground MCs, often dramatic and virtually always banging and aggressive. This time out it's Brooklyn's Skyzoo and Torae who bless the beat with some New York straight talk. I found this on Spotify the other day and quickly realised I needed a copy of it to play this month! The *only* bad thing - the title doesn't quite match the words in the vocal sample in the hook...
Dilated Peoples : Triple Optics
Probably my favourite track from their debut "The Platform," this was the 3rd track on the "Work The Angles" 12" single. Evidence is on the production and Rakaa Iriscience takes the vocal lead, strongly representing the underground Los Angeles sound. Five albums deep, they've got quiet for the moment but will quite possible return with an independent release - stay tuned...
Stanley Clarke & George Duke : Quiet Time
Cooling things right down with a very short piano piece from the third "Clarke/Duke Project" collaborative album from two legends of the jazz fusion sphere. It's not as though I'm going to get chance to play this on a Friday night, so here it is :o)
[Ant] MF DOOM : Hoe Cakes (Remix Instrumental)
*This* is the tune I was referring to back in Episode 2 when I talk about referring to Anita Baker and someone had no clue who I was talking about! This remix takes the classic "Sweet Love" intro and layers it with a beatboxed drum pattern - not the most obvious move but it does work. The vocal version's worth hearing, though I have to say I'm not the biggest DOOM fan - "Operation Doomsday" is still the peak for me!
O.C. : Emotions (Album Version / JFish Remix)
Deep track from one of the more underrated members of the DITC crew, from his Mike Loe produced album "Smoke & Mirrors," which was released on the Hieroglyphics label. The album had mixed reviews, but personally I thought it was dope and I'm glad to have a vinyl copy. It might not have the classic DITC sound but who am I to say not to experiment?The remix comes courtesy of JFish of Soul Vibe Productions - they did a fully-remixed version of the album which was available on the net for free download a while ago; you may have to do some e-digging (e-xcavation?) to find it now!
Kev Brown ft. Grap Luva : Struggla's Theme
Nice. Very nice. Landover, Maryland's Kev Brown is a producer/MC with an emphasis on the former. He's best known for coming out of Jazzy Jeff's Touch Of Jazz camp and is something of a ninja when it comes to the basslines! This track has a lovely, smooth but active bassline under an understated drum track and a little keyboard accent and is so good that if your head's not bobbing at all...you may require medical attention. Lyrically, Kev comes in on the subject of trying to make an honest living, with Grap Luva of InI contributing a great second verse. Really hope you like this one!
AZ : Gimme Yours (Remix)
Queensbriiidge! Big big favourite of mine, Erick Sermon on the remix bringing a nice 80s soul sample and replacing Nas on the hook with Miss Jones, which is a huge upgrade. This is probably the only time in history that could be said of replacing Nas with anybody! The original version is on AZ's debut "Do Or Die," and it was fresh - but this is even better :o)
Jane Child : Words I Know (Album Version / Word Mix)
I would imagine the majority of listeners to the show don't know who Jane Child is; she had a hit in 1990 with "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" from her self-titled, self-produced debut, an album so great it had no less a man than Prince singing her praises! Her second album went straight under the radar for most and her third album ("Surge") was released on her own label. If that was under the radar, then the release this is taken from ("Surge Remixed") is under the whole plane but was an EP with a few select tracks from the original album redone. I thought the original album version might be too slow and all that for a lot of people so I only gave you a taste at the end, but I love it myself - reminiscent of Stevie Wonder on the keyboards!
Air Adam : Maria
I finally found a place to put a 66bpm instrumental and make it blend :o) This is something I knocked up on the MPC a couple of years ago on a quiet afternoon up in Leeds - couldn't see any MCs doing anything with it so it ended up just being left on the hard drive. At least a few people get to hear it now!
Spearhead : Hole In The Bucket
Special request for my man Eli - not a big Spearhead fan myself but I saw this video on MTV years ago and thought it was a great song. Michael Franti isn't tearing it down with super-complex lyrical schemes or rhyme flows but he crafts his story well, and it's a situation which pretty much anyone frequenting a big city can relate to. I must say though that the hook is a 100% winner; just nicely put together!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Just because you play the role, don't mean you get the part."
- Bavu
Getting this in barely in the nick of time before the month ends, things seem to have been conspiring against me! This episode marks the end of the second complete year of episodes and is an hour on the dot of gems from the 70s right up to last month. Hope you like it!
Just to give you a couple of links I mentioned on the show;
Nougold Podcast (DJ A-Up & Bedos) - monthly podcast of strictly new Hip-Hop, picked by two of Manchester's most discerning heads!
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T : High Rollers
I had this playing in the car the other day on the way to work and decided right there that it should open up this episode! Despite the fact that this was one of the singles from the "Power" album (Ice-T's second) it might not be familiar to everyone simply due to its age - 23 years old now! The sample's from Edwin Starr's "Easin' In" from the "Hell Up In Harlem" soundtrack, and the lyrics are classic Ice-T of the era - describing the glamourous life of the gangster for most of the song before teasingly asking at the end if you really think you want it. The video nicely intercuts the shiny exterior with the harsh reality of real footage, definitely worth a look.
Jeep Beat Collective : Like Dis Dat? (Instrumental)
JBC was just one facet of the man known as Dave The Ruf AKA Rufmouth, a man of respect in the UK Hip-Hop scene. When I was a student I used to buy records from his mail-order shop, as well as my first turntablism videos, and his Radio Zero monthly shows on cassette were a definite influence on me deciding to do a podcast in the form you have now! I'm proud to be able to say that nowadays I can count him as a friend, and a friend who can smash out a serious beat - I'd say without breaking a sweat, but when it comes to hosting a jam he's as energetic as they come!
Naughty By Nature : It's On
Without question one of my favourite Naughty By Nature tracks, coming from the "19 Naughty III" album. The little stabs of horn leaking through that early 90s drum track with the bassline running under it just add the seasoning to a killer Kaygee production on which the MCs can get busy. Love the video too. Naughty By Nature are coming to Manchester fairly soon and if they don't perform this track I'm going to be very disappointed!
D-Flame ft. Camp Lo : Nuh Like Dem Neither
Having been to Munich in the past month, I thought I should try to play something German! I believe D-Flame is from Frankfurt, and he makes the connection across to the Bronx to bring in the incomparable Camp Lo. This was one of the first tracks I found on Spotify, while searching for any Camp Lo I didn't know. The sample-free production might not be to everyone's taste, but to me the heavy low-end boom on the kicks and the insistent keyboard somehow work :o)
Phi-Life Cypher ft. Skit Slam : Rap It Up
As I've probably said before, PLC are one of my favourite UK groups - they just overwhelm mics with a verbal torrent on every track you hear them on.This is taken from their second album "Higher Forces" and along with guest Skit Slam (featured all over the album), they ride DJ Nappa's occasionally Indian-flavoured beat ferociously. These guys are high up on the list of Hip-Hop artists I'd love to see perform live but haven't seen yet!
Bavu Blakes : Play The Role (Bzzz Mix)
I didn't know much about Bavu Blakes so had to do a little research! He's from Texas (Austin, I think) and has one album, "Create & Hustle" which was released in 2003. The original version of this was the closing track on that album, and in short it gives everyone some very simple and useful advice - be yourself! Remix comes from Dallas' Hydroponic Sound System, and it's from their "Choice Cuts Vol. 1" EP that this track comes. Take the lesson, and meditate on it during the next song...
Peshay : Pacific
Gorgeous track, summery and laidback despite the tempo. Peshay is best known as a D&B producer/artist but his "Miles From Home" album from which this is taken shows more range than you might expect. Some reviews see that as a good thing, some as a negative - I'd say have a listen and make your own mind up! This track has been an iPod favourite for me for so long that it's almost a crime I hadn't played it until now :o) Still, mixes well with the Bavu track, no?
Suga Free ft. Porsha Jade : Married To My Cadillac
"Don't be like me." Wise words from the alter ego of Suga Free out of Pomona, California, who by all accounts is a real-life pimp with the prison record to prove it. His occupation tends to reflect itself in his lyrics, and he'll never make Germaine Greer's iPod, but my goodness can he rhyme! He's easily in the top 5 MCs for me when it comes to "rewind moments," in the sense of "he said WHAT?!" and one of those MCs who I will always check for every time he puts something out. He's got 5 good albums out of 6, with one due this year, so we shall see... On this track from the "Smell My Finger" album he takes this smooth beat by a producer called Khrys and weaves what at least starts as a story around his Cadillac pimpmobile in a style only he could pull off. Dope.
Rakim ft. Talib Kweli : Gettin' Up Anthem
One for the graf writers! Don't know too much about this one - got it on a bootleg-looking 12" of under-the-radar Rakim tracks, but I think it's the theme tune from the video game "Getting Up" which came out a few years ago. I've also seen it other places titled as "Subway Surfin'" (which would fit the voice sample in the hook), but no idea who produced it.
De La Soul : The Grind Date
Despite the fact that they didn't turn up to the Manchester gig this month where people were expecting to see them, here's a De La track that I've always liked. In addition, I'm sure it's one I'm sure a lot of people can relate to - the daily struggle of hard work to make a living! Supa Dave West is on production with a beat that sound halfway between celebration and some kind of working cadence - supa indeed.
Tek : All Massive
Ayatollah on the beat, bringing the reggae flavour to this Brooklyn track, with Tek of Smif 'n' Wessun on the mic. I never really listened to the lyrics on this properly before but it's actually much harder than I thought from just hearing it in passing - a proper vicious revenge story! This was on a 12" under Ayatollah's name but later turned up on Tek's "It Is What It Is" album, which is up and down but when it hits - knocks it out of the park.
DJ Quik & Kurupt : The Appeal
Great DJ Quik production on this track from the "BlaQKout" album with Kurupt. I've only played the first half of the track as that's my favourite part, after the hook the beat and theme changes and while it's still good it just doesn't do it for me like the opening half! It's all about the bassline I think, but also Kurupt's voice fits this track perfectly.
Ian Martin : Tell Me If You Still Care
Seems like a left-field selection but coming out of that Quik beat that precedes it it just seemed to go so well I couldn't see putting anything else in this spot! This is a jazz instrumental version of a track by The SOS Band which has been sampled a few times to good effect, with the bass probably being the focal element. I'd not heard of Ian Martin before I heard this track, but apparently he's a name when it comes to jazz bass - I'm sure some of you know his stuff a lot better than I do!
Elzhi : It Ain't Hard To Tell
Big move from Detroit! Any kind of cover or tribute version in Hip-Hop is dodgy ground, but my goodness did Elzhi and Will Sessions smack it with the "Elmatic" LP! They took a very wise approach to making the beats on that project, consciously avoiding adding all sorts of little live band cuteness and freelancing and keeping it focused to allow Elzhi (who you may know from the later incarnations of Slum Village) to come in on the mic with his quality lyrics, influenced a touch by the original but unmistakably his own. Get yourself a copy right now from here. While you're at it, every listener to this podcast should have a copy of Nas' "Illmatic" LP which "Elmatic" is of course based on. Every listener.
The Roots ft. Mos Def : Double Trouble
The main beat on this track is phenomenal, they shouldn't have even switched it up in the hook! Not that I'm an expert, but my neck doesn't lie :o) This is a pick from the "Things Fall Apart" album, which as far as I'm concerned is The Roots' best, closely followed by "Illadelph Halflife." Trust me, pick up those two albums and you will not be sorry. Bonus points if you read the novel "Things Fall Apart" from which the album takes its name. Anyway, as far as this track, Black Thought and Mos Def work their magic over the beat from the band, which incidentally has a nicely-mixed kick drum that can do damage on the right system!
Black Moon : Act Like U Want It
Nice B-Side to the mighty "How Many Emcees," in fact even though that track is a classic, I'm much more likely to be listening to this. Da Beatminerz handle the production as is standard for Black Moon and notably both Buckshot (the don) and 5ft Accelerator are on the vocals - 5ft missed a lot of the recording of the "Enta Da Stage" album itself due to legal problems, but he brings his sneaky aggro style in for the second verse here. Underappreciated track, definitely.
Kool DJ EQ ft Xzibit, Del The Funkee Homosapien & Casual : Three Emcees
I was listening to this tune in the days of downloading RealAudio files (ugh) onto floppy disks at university - and there was me thinking at the time how super-advanced that was! I think I prefer having a proper vinyl of this at last, thanks to the man Mikey Don :o) Three great West coast MCs grace EQ's beat - yes, some of you might only know X from "Pimp My Ride" but you need to go and do your homework!
Eric Lau : Ill Invasion (Left Steppin') (Instrumental)
Detroit-influenced spacey head-nodder but coming out of London! This is the instrumental of the lead track on the "Dudley and Friends" 12" and just bumps along with a nice clean sound and just a hint of off-beatness in the rhythm. Yes, I just sounded like some kind of Hip-Hop wine critic... let me switch gears and say I had the pleasure of meeting Eric a few years ago when he was in Manchester and he's a thoroughly down-to-earth guy as well as talented - fair play to him!
Gil Scott-Heron : Pieces Of A Man
I'm not someone who owns the whole catalogue or anything, but out of all the Gil Scott-Heron tracks I've heard, this is my favourite. The way the world economy is at the moment, there are probably a lot of people who can relate to the lyrics at least in part. Haunting and powerful, it says a lot in few words.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Just because you play the role, don't mean you get the part."
- Bavu
Getting this in barely in the nick of time before the month ends, things seem to have been conspiring against me! This episode marks the end of the second complete year of episodes and is an hour on the dot of gems from the 70s right up to last month. Hope you like it!
Just to give you a couple of links I mentioned on the show;
Nougold Podcast (DJ A-Up & Bedos) - monthly podcast of strictly new Hip-Hop, picked by two of Manchester's most discerning heads!
Playlist/Notes
Ice-T : High Rollers
I had this playing in the car the other day on the way to work and decided right there that it should open up this episode! Despite the fact that this was one of the singles from the "Power" album (Ice-T's second) it might not be familiar to everyone simply due to its age - 23 years old now! The sample's from Edwin Starr's "Easin' In" from the "Hell Up In Harlem" soundtrack, and the lyrics are classic Ice-T of the era - describing the glamourous life of the gangster for most of the song before teasingly asking at the end if you really think you want it. The video nicely intercuts the shiny exterior with the harsh reality of real footage, definitely worth a look.
Jeep Beat Collective : Like Dis Dat? (Instrumental)
JBC was just one facet of the man known as Dave The Ruf AKA Rufmouth, a man of respect in the UK Hip-Hop scene. When I was a student I used to buy records from his mail-order shop, as well as my first turntablism videos, and his Radio Zero monthly shows on cassette were a definite influence on me deciding to do a podcast in the form you have now! I'm proud to be able to say that nowadays I can count him as a friend, and a friend who can smash out a serious beat - I'd say without breaking a sweat, but when it comes to hosting a jam he's as energetic as they come!
Naughty By Nature : It's On
Without question one of my favourite Naughty By Nature tracks, coming from the "19 Naughty III" album. The little stabs of horn leaking through that early 90s drum track with the bassline running under it just add the seasoning to a killer Kaygee production on which the MCs can get busy. Love the video too. Naughty By Nature are coming to Manchester fairly soon and if they don't perform this track I'm going to be very disappointed!
D-Flame ft. Camp Lo : Nuh Like Dem Neither
Having been to Munich in the past month, I thought I should try to play something German! I believe D-Flame is from Frankfurt, and he makes the connection across to the Bronx to bring in the incomparable Camp Lo. This was one of the first tracks I found on Spotify, while searching for any Camp Lo I didn't know. The sample-free production might not be to everyone's taste, but to me the heavy low-end boom on the kicks and the insistent keyboard somehow work :o)
Phi-Life Cypher ft. Skit Slam : Rap It Up
As I've probably said before, PLC are one of my favourite UK groups - they just overwhelm mics with a verbal torrent on every track you hear them on.This is taken from their second album "Higher Forces" and along with guest Skit Slam (featured all over the album), they ride DJ Nappa's occasionally Indian-flavoured beat ferociously. These guys are high up on the list of Hip-Hop artists I'd love to see perform live but haven't seen yet!
Bavu Blakes : Play The Role (Bzzz Mix)
I didn't know much about Bavu Blakes so had to do a little research! He's from Texas (Austin, I think) and has one album, "Create & Hustle" which was released in 2003. The original version of this was the closing track on that album, and in short it gives everyone some very simple and useful advice - be yourself! Remix comes from Dallas' Hydroponic Sound System, and it's from their "Choice Cuts Vol. 1" EP that this track comes. Take the lesson, and meditate on it during the next song...
Peshay : Pacific
Gorgeous track, summery and laidback despite the tempo. Peshay is best known as a D&B producer/artist but his "Miles From Home" album from which this is taken shows more range than you might expect. Some reviews see that as a good thing, some as a negative - I'd say have a listen and make your own mind up! This track has been an iPod favourite for me for so long that it's almost a crime I hadn't played it until now :o) Still, mixes well with the Bavu track, no?
Suga Free ft. Porsha Jade : Married To My Cadillac
"Don't be like me." Wise words from the alter ego of Suga Free out of Pomona, California, who by all accounts is a real-life pimp with the prison record to prove it. His occupation tends to reflect itself in his lyrics, and he'll never make Germaine Greer's iPod, but my goodness can he rhyme! He's easily in the top 5 MCs for me when it comes to "rewind moments," in the sense of "he said WHAT?!" and one of those MCs who I will always check for every time he puts something out. He's got 5 good albums out of 6, with one due this year, so we shall see... On this track from the "Smell My Finger" album he takes this smooth beat by a producer called Khrys and weaves what at least starts as a story around his Cadillac pimpmobile in a style only he could pull off. Dope.
Rakim ft. Talib Kweli : Gettin' Up Anthem
One for the graf writers! Don't know too much about this one - got it on a bootleg-looking 12" of under-the-radar Rakim tracks, but I think it's the theme tune from the video game "Getting Up" which came out a few years ago. I've also seen it other places titled as "Subway Surfin'" (which would fit the voice sample in the hook), but no idea who produced it.
De La Soul : The Grind Date
Despite the fact that they didn't turn up to the Manchester gig this month where people were expecting to see them, here's a De La track that I've always liked. In addition, I'm sure it's one I'm sure a lot of people can relate to - the daily struggle of hard work to make a living! Supa Dave West is on production with a beat that sound halfway between celebration and some kind of working cadence - supa indeed.
Tek : All Massive
Ayatollah on the beat, bringing the reggae flavour to this Brooklyn track, with Tek of Smif 'n' Wessun on the mic. I never really listened to the lyrics on this properly before but it's actually much harder than I thought from just hearing it in passing - a proper vicious revenge story! This was on a 12" under Ayatollah's name but later turned up on Tek's "It Is What It Is" album, which is up and down but when it hits - knocks it out of the park.
DJ Quik & Kurupt : The Appeal
Great DJ Quik production on this track from the "BlaQKout" album with Kurupt. I've only played the first half of the track as that's my favourite part, after the hook the beat and theme changes and while it's still good it just doesn't do it for me like the opening half! It's all about the bassline I think, but also Kurupt's voice fits this track perfectly.
Ian Martin : Tell Me If You Still Care
Seems like a left-field selection but coming out of that Quik beat that precedes it it just seemed to go so well I couldn't see putting anything else in this spot! This is a jazz instrumental version of a track by The SOS Band which has been sampled a few times to good effect, with the bass probably being the focal element. I'd not heard of Ian Martin before I heard this track, but apparently he's a name when it comes to jazz bass - I'm sure some of you know his stuff a lot better than I do!
Elzhi : It Ain't Hard To Tell
Big move from Detroit! Any kind of cover or tribute version in Hip-Hop is dodgy ground, but my goodness did Elzhi and Will Sessions smack it with the "Elmatic" LP! They took a very wise approach to making the beats on that project, consciously avoiding adding all sorts of little live band cuteness and freelancing and keeping it focused to allow Elzhi (who you may know from the later incarnations of Slum Village) to come in on the mic with his quality lyrics, influenced a touch by the original but unmistakably his own. Get yourself a copy right now from here. While you're at it, every listener to this podcast should have a copy of Nas' "Illmatic" LP which "Elmatic" is of course based on. Every listener.
The Roots ft. Mos Def : Double Trouble
The main beat on this track is phenomenal, they shouldn't have even switched it up in the hook! Not that I'm an expert, but my neck doesn't lie :o) This is a pick from the "Things Fall Apart" album, which as far as I'm concerned is The Roots' best, closely followed by "Illadelph Halflife." Trust me, pick up those two albums and you will not be sorry. Bonus points if you read the novel "Things Fall Apart" from which the album takes its name. Anyway, as far as this track, Black Thought and Mos Def work their magic over the beat from the band, which incidentally has a nicely-mixed kick drum that can do damage on the right system!
Black Moon : Act Like U Want It
Nice B-Side to the mighty "How Many Emcees," in fact even though that track is a classic, I'm much more likely to be listening to this. Da Beatminerz handle the production as is standard for Black Moon and notably both Buckshot (the don) and 5ft Accelerator are on the vocals - 5ft missed a lot of the recording of the "Enta Da Stage" album itself due to legal problems, but he brings his sneaky aggro style in for the second verse here. Underappreciated track, definitely.
Kool DJ EQ ft Xzibit, Del The Funkee Homosapien & Casual : Three Emcees
I was listening to this tune in the days of downloading RealAudio files (ugh) onto floppy disks at university - and there was me thinking at the time how super-advanced that was! I think I prefer having a proper vinyl of this at last, thanks to the man Mikey Don :o) Three great West coast MCs grace EQ's beat - yes, some of you might only know X from "Pimp My Ride" but you need to go and do your homework!
Eric Lau : Ill Invasion (Left Steppin') (Instrumental)
Detroit-influenced spacey head-nodder but coming out of London! This is the instrumental of the lead track on the "Dudley and Friends" 12" and just bumps along with a nice clean sound and just a hint of off-beatness in the rhythm. Yes, I just sounded like some kind of Hip-Hop wine critic... let me switch gears and say I had the pleasure of meeting Eric a few years ago when he was in Manchester and he's a thoroughly down-to-earth guy as well as talented - fair play to him!
Gil Scott-Heron : Pieces Of A Man
I'm not someone who owns the whole catalogue or anything, but out of all the Gil Scott-Heron tracks I've heard, this is my favourite. The way the world economy is at the moment, there are probably a lot of people who can relate to the lyrics at least in part. Haunting and powerful, it says a lot in few words.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'm the Eric Cartman of this rap sh!t"
- Jean Grae
This has been such a ridiculously heavy month for me out in the world it's untrue - probably the closest I've ever been to not being able to assemble the show on time but a few flashes of inspiration mean that once again the goodies arrive on time :o)
PS - like the kicks?
Playlist/Notes
The Alan Parsons Project : Sirius
I bet you never expected to hear these guys on the podcast - going Prog Rock to set it off this month :o) If you really know, you know this track straight away from the opening notes - if you don't know, then this is the music that was used as the intro music for the Chicago Bulls, so during that Jordan era all b-ball fans had this tune burned into their subconscious. I actually fancy turning this into the intro for the podcast itself perhaps...
Scarface : Born Killer (Instrumental)
Not sure who produced it, but a dope beat anyway! This track's from Scarface's first solo album "Mr Scarface Is Back," big early 90s release on Rap-a-Lot. They don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure...
Zapp : Heartbreaker
The weather's just getting right for a bit of funk! Classic opening tune from the "Zapp III" LP, obviously the full version is much longer and is definitely recommended! I say and I say again, Roger Troutman (RIP) was one of the best to ever do it - please let this documentary school you on the greatness.
LBC Crew ft. Roger : Beware Of My Crew
...and Roger himself comes back on this track to re-work the "Heartbreaker" opening line into a hook on some quasi-dubplate flex! First heard just a snatch of this way back in the day on some of Channel 4's NBA coverage and thought it was heavy but that was the end of it (pre-internet era, after all) until a copy turned up for me in a record shopping mission in London. This original version seems to be pretty absent from Youtube etc as well, so take this as a gift!
B.T.I : (Deadly) Serious
Yorkshire stand up! Breaking The Illusion (P-Wiz & TD) were probably the premier Hip-Hop crew in Leeds when I was coming up and this is a cut from their 1993 "Lose Your Illusion" EP. This tune brings a safe sex, anti-AIDS message over a very 90s, 80s-soul-sampling beat; Diamond may have just used it first but a whole lot of people came after, so you know these guys know about records! I used to buy records from P-Wiz back in the day when he had a shop in Leeds (remember "Urban Rhythm?") then after BTI he went on to DJ for The Kaliphz - and the last time I saw him, he was rhyming on stage at a KRS-ONE gig! Good to see veterans with the fire still burning!
Public Enemy : Nighttrain (Pete Rock LIRR Remix)
Quality Pete Rock remix which seems to have flown below the radar over the years; the remix of "Shut 'Em Down" which is from the same album is still loved 20 years later but I've got to admit I preferred this at the time! Chuck D (who yes, is one of the best MCs of all time, don't ever forget it) brings his fire and brimstone b-boy style on the mic, with a message as always (that just because someone looks like your "brother" doesn't mean they are), Flava Flav adds a contrast, CL Smooth ducks his head round the door for a few bars, and Pete Rock does a great job remixing a joint that had an incredible beat to begin with!
Parliament : Theme From The Black Hole
Played this in the car for a couple of friends who'd never heard it (I tried to hide my shock) and it went down a storm! There's a lot of incredible super-rare funk but you can never forget about the George Clinton-driven Parliament/Funkadelic juggernaut. This is one of their classics which has been used in many a Hip-Hop beat - I won't call any out here, it's your homework to go and spot the samples ;o)
(Stoupe) Jedi Mind Tricks : Retaliation (Remix Instrumental)
Love this instrumental, though it's one of those where for some reason they include the hook, so I just looped it up a bit to extend it. This remix is streets ahead of the original track and is definitely one of my all-time favourites from Stoupe, who really is amazing on production but just isn't that well known. A lot of that is probably down to him producing mostly within the JMT extended family, kind of how Havoc was with Mobb Deep in the early days, but anything he touches is worth a listen!
Raekwon : Big Spender
This has been a favourite of mine for a long time but it's not very well known - I think it was on one of Rae's "Vatican" mixtapes and I had an MP3 for ages before finding an unofficial vinyl pressing. As obvious as the sample is, I doubt it was cleared! To me this murders the "Big Spender" track that Freeway and Jay-Z did later - it was cool, but didn't use the sample as cleverly in my opinion! Besides, Raekwon's one of my favourite MCs and he flows crazy here :o)
Jean Grae ft. Kevin Hill, Edgar Allen Floe & Joe Scudda : Smashmouth
Heavy posse cut from probably my favourite female MC, one who's had an up-and-down relationship with the industry but never fallen off skill-wise. This is from her 9th Wonder-produced LP "Jeanius" which leaked early and I believe was canned as a result but eventually got a proper release, and 9th brings not only an appropriately aggro beat but a bunch of Justus League MCs to feature on it beside Jean. Smash indeed.
(PS - never invited for sleepovers Scudda? Can't think why...)
Jerry Beeks & DJ Audio Ad : Across The Moor
Quite a few of you will know that I've worked with Mr Bronx Slang Jerry Beeks in the past (and will do in the future) but this track is from his new collaboration album with his original tour DJ Audio Ad and it's a drum-heavy banger! Best of all, the whole album is available for free download here so go on and get a copy!
Prodigy : Keep It Thoro (9th Wonder Remix)
One of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod, been rocking this for a long while but it was ages before I found a vinyl copy - it looks to be an unofficial 12" release of assorted 9th Wonder remixes. I personally prefer this to The Alchemist's original track, which is saying something as that's heavy in its own right. Good to see Prodigy home, hopefully there'll be a new Mobb Deep LP before long.
(DJ EMZ) Hom : You Won't Get It (Instrumental)
This right here presses my quiet menace buttons! I got this on a sampler 12" for the "Stimulated Volume 1" compilation but it was a bit light on credits; had to head over to Discogs to find who produced this. The lyrics on the full version? Forgettable. The beat? Undeniable.
Neek The Exotic & Large Professor : Still On The Hustle
Noisemaker Media, who did the video for this, posted it on Facebook and I only had to hear 20 seconds of it to go and buy a download! Large Pro kills it on the beat and puts in a nice contribution on the mic alongside Neek, who you might have heard on Main Source's "Fakin' The Funk." This is the title track from a full-length Neek/Extra P collaboration album coming out soon, which sounds like an essential purchase!
GZA ft. Method Man : Shadowboxing
"Amplified sample through vacuum tubes' compressions cause RZA to charge n****s 20 Gs a session..." Take that all you Dr Seuss, Mother Goose rappers! Obviously older and more raw-sounding than the preceding track, but with that bassline, the little guitar licks and the vocal sample it seemed like a great choice to follow it with! Definitely one of the best tracks on the classic "Liquid Swords" album (an essential for your collection). GZA played in Manchester this month so we had the pleasure of seeing this performed live, assuming you didn't pass out due to excess heat and a lack of water...
Ambersunshower : Serengeti Plains
Not a super well-known artist, but if you remember a group called Groove Garden, she was one of the members. Her first album "Walter T. Smith" is absolutely worth having if you find a copy (it's on Spotify actually, if you want a listen first), you could say it was "neo soul" before the term really got any traction, or you could just call it "soul" :o) "Running Song" was the lead single and was the track that sparked me to buy this album when I saw it years ago...can't find an international Youtube link for it but that's a great tune too.
L The Head Toucha : Too Complex
1997 underground classic 12", produced by the Vinyl Reanimators. Ok, I hate the 7-bar intro (can't we have just one more bar?) and the corresponding unpredictable drops into the hook, but DJ complaints aside, this is a serious record! Just ask DJ Premier, who included it on his ridiculously dope "New York Reality Check 101" mixtape. Straight-up drums on top of the Don Blackman loop, funky De La Soul cuts on the hook and an MC who just rhymes and rhymes...and then rhymes some more...
Twizted Rootz : Harakiri
One of the top young beatmakers in Manchester with another of his trademark nicely heavy, Eastern-flavoured beats. Check him out at http://www.soundcloud.com/rootiful
Saigon ft. Marsha Ambrosius : It's Alright
One of the standout tracks on the brilliant "The Greatest Story Never Told," an emotional track where Saigon (the co-originator of the "Abandoned Nation" concept and foundation) painting a picture of a people feeling effectively abandoned by their god and struggling in the world. Kanye West came in to do the production on this one (Just Blaze does the bulk of the album) and he takes it back a little to his soul-sampling, less left-field style of a few years ago and combines it with the excellent arrangement skill he's worked hard to acquire. The final 40 secs or so are a great musical climax and have had me rewinding repeatedly just to soak in the feeling...great work.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"I'm the Eric Cartman of this rap sh!t"
- Jean Grae
This has been such a ridiculously heavy month for me out in the world it's untrue - probably the closest I've ever been to not being able to assemble the show on time but a few flashes of inspiration mean that once again the goodies arrive on time :o)
PS - like the kicks?
Playlist/Notes
The Alan Parsons Project : Sirius
I bet you never expected to hear these guys on the podcast - going Prog Rock to set it off this month :o) If you really know, you know this track straight away from the opening notes - if you don't know, then this is the music that was used as the intro music for the Chicago Bulls, so during that Jordan era all b-ball fans had this tune burned into their subconscious. I actually fancy turning this into the intro for the podcast itself perhaps...
Scarface : Born Killer (Instrumental)
Not sure who produced it, but a dope beat anyway! This track's from Scarface's first solo album "Mr Scarface Is Back," big early 90s release on Rap-a-Lot. They don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure...
Zapp : Heartbreaker
The weather's just getting right for a bit of funk! Classic opening tune from the "Zapp III" LP, obviously the full version is much longer and is definitely recommended! I say and I say again, Roger Troutman (RIP) was one of the best to ever do it - please let this documentary school you on the greatness.
LBC Crew ft. Roger : Beware Of My Crew
...and Roger himself comes back on this track to re-work the "Heartbreaker" opening line into a hook on some quasi-dubplate flex! First heard just a snatch of this way back in the day on some of Channel 4's NBA coverage and thought it was heavy but that was the end of it (pre-internet era, after all) until a copy turned up for me in a record shopping mission in London. This original version seems to be pretty absent from Youtube etc as well, so take this as a gift!
B.T.I : (Deadly) Serious
Yorkshire stand up! Breaking The Illusion (P-Wiz & TD) were probably the premier Hip-Hop crew in Leeds when I was coming up and this is a cut from their 1993 "Lose Your Illusion" EP. This tune brings a safe sex, anti-AIDS message over a very 90s, 80s-soul-sampling beat; Diamond may have just used it first but a whole lot of people came after, so you know these guys know about records! I used to buy records from P-Wiz back in the day when he had a shop in Leeds (remember "Urban Rhythm?") then after BTI he went on to DJ for The Kaliphz - and the last time I saw him, he was rhyming on stage at a KRS-ONE gig! Good to see veterans with the fire still burning!
Public Enemy : Nighttrain (Pete Rock LIRR Remix)
Quality Pete Rock remix which seems to have flown below the radar over the years; the remix of "Shut 'Em Down" which is from the same album is still loved 20 years later but I've got to admit I preferred this at the time! Chuck D (who yes, is one of the best MCs of all time, don't ever forget it) brings his fire and brimstone b-boy style on the mic, with a message as always (that just because someone looks like your "brother" doesn't mean they are), Flava Flav adds a contrast, CL Smooth ducks his head round the door for a few bars, and Pete Rock does a great job remixing a joint that had an incredible beat to begin with!
Parliament : Theme From The Black Hole
Played this in the car for a couple of friends who'd never heard it (I tried to hide my shock) and it went down a storm! There's a lot of incredible super-rare funk but you can never forget about the George Clinton-driven Parliament/Funkadelic juggernaut. This is one of their classics which has been used in many a Hip-Hop beat - I won't call any out here, it's your homework to go and spot the samples ;o)
(Stoupe) Jedi Mind Tricks : Retaliation (Remix Instrumental)
Love this instrumental, though it's one of those where for some reason they include the hook, so I just looped it up a bit to extend it. This remix is streets ahead of the original track and is definitely one of my all-time favourites from Stoupe, who really is amazing on production but just isn't that well known. A lot of that is probably down to him producing mostly within the JMT extended family, kind of how Havoc was with Mobb Deep in the early days, but anything he touches is worth a listen!
Raekwon : Big Spender
This has been a favourite of mine for a long time but it's not very well known - I think it was on one of Rae's "Vatican" mixtapes and I had an MP3 for ages before finding an unofficial vinyl pressing. As obvious as the sample is, I doubt it was cleared! To me this murders the "Big Spender" track that Freeway and Jay-Z did later - it was cool, but didn't use the sample as cleverly in my opinion! Besides, Raekwon's one of my favourite MCs and he flows crazy here :o)
Jean Grae ft. Kevin Hill, Edgar Allen Floe & Joe Scudda : Smashmouth
Heavy posse cut from probably my favourite female MC, one who's had an up-and-down relationship with the industry but never fallen off skill-wise. This is from her 9th Wonder-produced LP "Jeanius" which leaked early and I believe was canned as a result but eventually got a proper release, and 9th brings not only an appropriately aggro beat but a bunch of Justus League MCs to feature on it beside Jean. Smash indeed. (PS - never invited for sleepovers Scudda? Can't think why...)
Jerry Beeks & DJ Audio Ad : Across The Moor
Quite a few of you will know that I've worked with Mr Bronx Slang Jerry Beeks in the past (and will do in the future) but this track is from his new collaboration album with his original tour DJ Audio Ad and it's a drum-heavy banger! Best of all, the whole album is available for free download here so go on and get a copy!
Prodigy : Keep It Thoro (9th Wonder Remix)
One of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod, been rocking this for a long while but it was ages before I found a vinyl copy - it looks to be an unofficial 12" release of assorted 9th Wonder remixes. I personally prefer this to The Alchemist's original track, which is saying something as that's heavy in its own right. Good to see Prodigy home, hopefully there'll be a new Mobb Deep LP before long.
(DJ EMZ) Hom : You Won't Get It (Instrumental)
This right here presses my quiet menace buttons! I got this on a sampler 12" for the "Stimulated Volume 1" compilation but it was a bit light on credits; had to head over to Discogs to find who produced this. The lyrics on the full version? Forgettable. The beat? Undeniable.
Neek The Exotic & Large Professor : Still On The Hustle
Noisemaker Media, who did the video for this, posted it on Facebook and I only had to hear 20 seconds of it to go and buy a download! Large Pro kills it on the beat and puts in a nice contribution on the mic alongside Neek, who you might have heard on Main Source's "Fakin' The Funk." This is the title track from a full-length Neek/Extra P collaboration album coming out soon, which sounds like an essential purchase!
GZA ft. Method Man : Shadowboxing
"Amplified sample through vacuum tubes' compressions cause RZA to charge n****s 20 Gs a session..." Take that all you Dr Seuss, Mother Goose rappers! Obviously older and more raw-sounding than the preceding track, but with that bassline, the little guitar licks and the vocal sample it seemed like a great choice to follow it with! Definitely one of the best tracks on the classic "Liquid Swords" album (an essential for your collection). GZA played in Manchester this month so we had the pleasure of seeing this performed live, assuming you didn't pass out due to excess heat and a lack of water...
Ambersunshower : Serengeti Plains
Not a super well-known artist, but if you remember a group called Groove Garden, she was one of the members. Her first album "Walter T. Smith" is absolutely worth having if you find a copy (it's on Spotify actually, if you want a listen first), you could say it was "neo soul" before the term really got any traction, or you could just call it "soul" :o) "Running Song" was the lead single and was the track that sparked me to buy this album when I saw it years ago...can't find an international Youtube link for it but that's a great tune too.
L The Head Toucha : Too Complex
1997 underground classic 12", produced by the Vinyl Reanimators. Ok, I hate the 7-bar intro (can't we have just one more bar?) and the corresponding unpredictable drops into the hook, but DJ complaints aside, this is a serious record! Just ask DJ Premier, who included it on his ridiculously dope "New York Reality Check 101" mixtape. Straight-up drums on top of the Don Blackman loop, funky De La Soul cuts on the hook and an MC who just rhymes and rhymes...and then rhymes some more...
Twizted Rootz : Harakiri
One of the top young beatmakers in Manchester with another of his trademark nicely heavy, Eastern-flavoured beats. Check him out at http://www.soundcloud.com/rootiful
Saigon ft. Marsha Ambrosius : It's Alright
One of the standout tracks on the brilliant "The Greatest Story Never Told," an emotional track where Saigon (the co-originator of the "Abandoned Nation" concept and foundation) painting a picture of a people feeling effectively abandoned by their god and struggling in the world. Kanye West came in to do the production on this one (Just Blaze does the bulk of the album) and he takes it back a little to his soul-sampling, less left-field style of a few years ago and combines it with the excellent arrangement skill he's worked hard to acquire. The final 40 secs or so are a great musical climax and have had me rewinding repeatedly just to soak in the feeling...great work.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Fast like Ramadan"
- Biggie
March 2011, 14 years after the death of the Notorious B.I.G - doesn't seem like that long ago. This show is sprinkled with a few gems from his catalogue, one you'll certainly know and others that you likely don't! Besides that, there's a track from the late Nate Dogg, the Michael Jordan of the hook, and plenty of other bits - quite a few obscure selections this month, but all very fresh in my humble opinion :o)
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass & Doo Wop : If This World Was Mine
Kicking things off for the month, a track which would probably have been more accurately titled "If I Could Turn Back Time"; Doo Wop is perhaps something of an unlikely choice of MC partner for Ras Kass, being known primarily as a DJ though he has picked up the mic before as part of The Diaz Brothers. Anyway, he opens the track with a re-imagining of March 9, 1997 where he stops the killing of Biggie Smalls, and Ras Kass follows up with a wish to be able to mentor his childhood self before spreading out to cover even more topics. Pete Rock brings a low key beat which I think fits the mood just right.
(Ayatollah) B-1 ft. Large Professor : Put Yourself In My Place (Instrumental)
I'm still working out the best way to label/credit these instrumentals! If you're looking for this 12", it's by B-1 and features Large Professor, but is produced by Ayatollah (going under his previous name of Kool G). Anyway, it's a nice bluesy track with that killer vocal sample - the origin of which won't be revealed here, but I'm sure you can find out where it's from as this month's homework assignment :o) The B-side of this ("Hustle") is phenomenally ill also, on a kind of smoothed-out late 90s crime tip - one for a future episode.
Smith & Mighty ft. Rudy Lee : No Justice
Bristol bass for real on this one, with a little reggae flavour and just a hint of D&B! The vocalist Rudy Lee dedicates this track to his brother, who was badly injured in a racist attack.
Photek presents Choc Ty ft. Chiara : We Got Heat
What you know 'bout this one? Nothing*. That's cool though, that's what I'm here for ;o) The St.Albans born, currently LA resident drum & bass programming genius comes out with something totally unexpected, a tough, dark Hip-Hop beat which sounds like it should have been on the soundtrack to "Terminator!"
* If you do know this one, I'm officially impressed.
213 : Keep It Gangsta
RIP Nate Dogg! I never worked out why this album ("The Hard Way") wasn't huge - Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, & Warren G all in the same group? Craziness. This is my favourite cut from the album, the production (by B Sharp) is somehow slick and squelchy all at the same time. Yes, some of the lyrics are scandalous, but that's par for the course...
E-40 ft. Leviti : 1-Luv
Staying in California for this pick, but taking it up to Vallejo, a great single from the "In A Major Way" album. This was one of the first, if not the first E-40 records I ever owned - I saw just a slice of the video on cable once and was glad to come across the vinyl a few years later. His career has been long and he has a lot of respect from those who really know Hip-Hop - do yourself a favour and search out his stuff. Studio Ton on production here, and Leviti puts the icing on things with the hook - wouldn't have been as good without it.
Bob James : Macumba
Awesome bit of African-influenced jazz fusion! Bob James, for those who don't know, is a big name in the jazz world but also in Hip-Hop production due to some of the tracks he wrote/performed on being absolute production staples; the two that stand out are "Nautilus" and "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" which have been sampled many, many times. This track is from his 1982 album "Hands Down" and is notable for a few reasons - not only does it subtly feature vocals from Patti Austin and Luther Vandross, but it was written by Rod Temperton, the legendary songwriter known best for his work with Michael Jackson on some of his best-known recordings. If I had been responsible for "Rock With You" and "Thriller," not to mention worked with Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald and Anita Baker, I would carry a championship belt around all day ;o) By all accounts, the Cleethorpes native is incredibly low-key - admirable.
The Notorious B.I.G : Kick In The Door
One of the undeniable classic Biggie tracks, with DJ Premier flipping the time signature on the Screamin' Jay Hawkins sample to give the big man a strong base to roast the opposition - quotable after quotable on this one. I've read in numerous places before that amongst the targets on this track are Jeru The Damaja and Premier himself ("son, I'm surprised you run with them...") after the whole "Ya Playin' Yaself" thing...can anyone confirm or refute that?
Money Boss Players : Games
Selection from the "America Is Dying Slowly" AIDS benefit compilation, which was a great collection of tracks but had two main problems; 1) no female MCs, so the whole thing came from a male perspective, and 2) some of the tracks had absolutely nothing to do with AIDS whatsoever - and this is one. However, it is a banger and so I'm glad to have it. The beat is by Minnesota and it's a solid piece for the MCs to kick street rhymes on. Want to know more about them? Check Unkut!
Heavy D, The Notorious B.I.G & Troo-Kula : Jam Session
"I'm strippin' like Scottie Pippen, giving a serious butt-kicking, breaking bones like Karl Malone - yes, I'm flippin!" Whoooaa! If you're a 90s NBA head you might recognise this track from NBA Video's "Jam Session" VHS tape, and what's more you'll be glad to hear it without the highlight clip sounds all over it! Biggie hadn't properly blown up when this came out and it was my man Mr. Mari who was going crazy telling us all how crazy this new guy Biggie was - definitely the best on this track, hands down. Heavy D is the actual headliner here, and he drops some lyrics for sure but has to settle for second place. I don't know who Troo-Kula is but he must be somebody to be given the whole third verse to himself! Jesse West is on production and brings in the infamous (and excellent) sample from Guy's "Teddy's Jam 2" which I will really have to play on here one month....
Leschea : How We Stay / The Notorious B.I.G : Dreams
Great head nodding track - and the way she sings that hook just sticks in my head! Leschea was part of Masta Ace's INC crew and he produces this one under the name Ase One, using a classic barely-midtempo break for her to do her thing on. This is another track I caught on a cable video programme back home when they were kind of working out what kind of thing to show! It didn't blow up over here so it's not the easiest record to find, so I treasure my copy...
Just blended in over the little instrumental break is a snatch of Biggie's infamous "Dreams" track which is based on the same sample and got Uptown Records pretty mad at him for the lyrical content when he was over there by all accounts! As far as I know this was never officially released, but I have a promo vinyl and I'm sure there are a fair number floating about.
Large Pro : Pun Tres Leches
A little something from his "Beatz : Volume 1" album; I'm going to take a wild unsubstantiated guess based on the track title that this might at one time have been the beat for Big Pun's "Tres Leches" from his debut album, but maybe that's what I'm supposed to think ;o) Heavy beat anyway!
The Notorious B.I.G & DJ Enuff : P***i Freestyle
(They get enough free advertising just from the audio)
Biggie even makes product placement sound good! He recorded this advert but shortly after was arrested and so it was never used. The company in question does seem to have a history of running from Black endorsers at the first sign of trouble; Michael Jackson and Ludacris, anyone? As far as the tune goes, DJ Enuff's beat is quality and Biggie's flow is impeccable - they missed out when they didn't use this.
Kool G Rap ft. The Rza : Cakes
I was sold just by the title :o) Great tune from the "Ghost Dog" soundtrack, just a loop and two MCs killing it with the flows. All Hip-Hop heads should already know about both these guys!
Joell Ortiz ft. Big Daddy Kane, Maino, Cashmere, Solomon : Brooklyn (Remix)
Joell Ortiz performed in Manchester this month and probably made a few new fans with his performance! Definitely one of the best MCs to come out in the last few years and I love this track from his "The Brick Bodega Chronicles" CD. All the guests do their thing, but it was an especially nice treat to hear the legend Big Daddy Kane on here, showing the young 'uns how to do it! This track cuts off kind of abruptly after his verse, otherwise I'd have started the mix out of this tune a few bars later. Big props to Joell for getting him on here and not being afraid!
will.i.am : Em A Double Dee (Instrumental)
Peter Rosenberg of the Juan Epstein podcast had an excellent line on this guy - "he uses his powers for evil!" He can make some beats when he really wants to (this is from his BBE producer album) but as for BEP...ehhh.
Blue Boy : Remember Me
Big 1997 club and chart tune - for some reason I thought it was older! For ages when this came out, as I remember, the actual identity of "Blue Boy" was a mystery but since then it has emerged that he is in fact the DJ Lex Blackmore. This was his only big hit as a main performer but what a hit! Still dope today, and if your neck isn't moving when you hear this, it had better be in a brace :o)
Marlena Shaw : Woman Of The Ghetto (Live)
...and here's the original sample. This info is already out there so I'm not blowing anyone up here :o) I've only played the very end of the track, starting from the "remember me" sample, but the full thing is about 10 minutes long and definitely worth hearing. Marlena Shaw is probably best known for "California Soul," and is still performing today! I missed her last time she was in Manchester but need to try and catch her live.
(Javon) Killah Priest : Big World (Instrumental)
Just picked it out while going through records this month and after giving it a quick listen thought it was worth a spin!
Terence Blanchard : Wading Through
Dedicated to all those in Japan; this is a sombre piece from "A Tale Of God's Will," New Orleans trumpeter/bandleader/composer Terence Blanchard's score for Spike Lee's masterwork "When The Levees Broke : A Requiem In Four Parts." Absolutely brilliant album that I'd recommend to anyone for a listen, especially if you fancy a change of pace.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Fast like Ramadan"
- Biggie
March 2011, 14 years after the death of the Notorious B.I.G - doesn't seem like that long ago. This show is sprinkled with a few gems from his catalogue, one you'll certainly know and others that you likely don't! Besides that, there's a track from the late Nate Dogg, the Michael Jordan of the hook, and plenty of other bits - quite a few obscure selections this month, but all very fresh in my humble opinion :o)
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass & Doo Wop : If This World Was Mine
Kicking things off for the month, a track which would probably have been more accurately titled "If I Could Turn Back Time"; Doo Wop is perhaps something of an unlikely choice of MC partner for Ras Kass, being known primarily as a DJ though he has picked up the mic before as part of The Diaz Brothers. Anyway, he opens the track with a re-imagining of March 9, 1997 where he stops the killing of Biggie Smalls, and Ras Kass follows up with a wish to be able to mentor his childhood self before spreading out to cover even more topics. Pete Rock brings a low key beat which I think fits the mood just right.
(Ayatollah) B-1 ft. Large Professor : Put Yourself In My Place (Instrumental)
I'm still working out the best way to label/credit these instrumentals! If you're looking for this 12", it's by B-1 and features Large Professor, but is produced by Ayatollah (going under his previous name of Kool G). Anyway, it's a nice bluesy track with that killer vocal sample - the origin of which won't be revealed here, but I'm sure you can find out where it's from as this month's homework assignment :o) The B-side of this ("Hustle") is phenomenally ill also, on a kind of smoothed-out late 90s crime tip - one for a future episode.
Smith & Mighty ft. Rudy Lee : No Justice
Bristol bass for real on this one, with a little reggae flavour and just a hint of D&B! The vocalist Rudy Lee dedicates this track to his brother, who was badly injured in a racist attack.
Photek presents Choc Ty ft. Chiara : We Got Heat
What you know 'bout this one? Nothing*. That's cool though, that's what I'm here for ;o) The St.Albans born, currently LA resident drum & bass programming genius comes out with something totally unexpected, a tough, dark Hip-Hop beat which sounds like it should have been on the soundtrack to "Terminator!"* If you do know this one, I'm officially impressed.
213 : Keep It Gangsta
RIP Nate Dogg! I never worked out why this album ("The Hard Way") wasn't huge - Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, & Warren G all in the same group? Craziness. This is my favourite cut from the album, the production (by B Sharp) is somehow slick and squelchy all at the same time. Yes, some of the lyrics are scandalous, but that's par for the course...
E-40 ft. Leviti : 1-Luv
Staying in California for this pick, but taking it up to Vallejo, a great single from the "In A Major Way" album. This was one of the first, if not the first E-40 records I ever owned - I saw just a slice of the video on cable once and was glad to come across the vinyl a few years later. His career has been long and he has a lot of respect from those who really know Hip-Hop - do yourself a favour and search out his stuff. Studio Ton on production here, and Leviti puts the icing on things with the hook - wouldn't have been as good without it.
Bob James : Macumba
Awesome bit of African-influenced jazz fusion! Bob James, for those who don't know, is a big name in the jazz world but also in Hip-Hop production due to some of the tracks he wrote/performed on being absolute production staples; the two that stand out are "Nautilus" and "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" which have been sampled many, many times. This track is from his 1982 album "Hands Down" and is notable for a few reasons - not only does it subtly feature vocals from Patti Austin and Luther Vandross, but it was written by Rod Temperton, the legendary songwriter known best for his work with Michael Jackson on some of his best-known recordings. If I had been responsible for "Rock With You" and "Thriller," not to mention worked with Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald and Anita Baker, I would carry a championship belt around all day ;o) By all accounts, the Cleethorpes native is incredibly low-key - admirable.
The Notorious B.I.G : Kick In The Door
One of the undeniable classic Biggie tracks, with DJ Premier flipping the time signature on the Screamin' Jay Hawkins sample to give the big man a strong base to roast the opposition - quotable after quotable on this one. I've read in numerous places before that amongst the targets on this track are Jeru The Damaja and Premier himself ("son, I'm surprised you run with them...") after the whole "Ya Playin' Yaself" thing...can anyone confirm or refute that?
Money Boss Players : Games
Selection from the "America Is Dying Slowly" AIDS benefit compilation, which was a great collection of tracks but had two main problems; 1) no female MCs, so the whole thing came from a male perspective, and 2) some of the tracks had absolutely nothing to do with AIDS whatsoever - and this is one. However, it is a banger and so I'm glad to have it. The beat is by Minnesota and it's a solid piece for the MCs to kick street rhymes on. Want to know more about them? Check Unkut!
Heavy D, The Notorious B.I.G & Troo-Kula : Jam Session
"I'm strippin' like Scottie Pippen, giving a serious butt-kicking, breaking bones like Karl Malone - yes, I'm flippin!" Whoooaa! If you're a 90s NBA head you might recognise this track from NBA Video's "Jam Session" VHS tape, and what's more you'll be glad to hear it without the highlight clip sounds all over it! Biggie hadn't properly blown up when this came out and it was my man Mr. Mari who was going crazy telling us all how crazy this new guy Biggie was - definitely the best on this track, hands down. Heavy D is the actual headliner here, and he drops some lyrics for sure but has to settle for second place. I don't know who Troo-Kula is but he must be somebody to be given the whole third verse to himself! Jesse West is on production and brings in the infamous (and excellent) sample from Guy's "Teddy's Jam 2" which I will really have to play on here one month....
Leschea : How We Stay / The Notorious B.I.G : Dreams
Great head nodding track - and the way she sings that hook just sticks in my head! Leschea was part of Masta Ace's INC crew and he produces this one under the name Ase One, using a classic barely-midtempo break for her to do her thing on. This is another track I caught on a cable video programme back home when they were kind of working out what kind of thing to show! It didn't blow up over here so it's not the easiest record to find, so I treasure my copy...Just blended in over the little instrumental break is a snatch of Biggie's infamous "Dreams" track which is based on the same sample and got Uptown Records pretty mad at him for the lyrical content when he was over there by all accounts! As far as I know this was never officially released, but I have a promo vinyl and I'm sure there are a fair number floating about.
Large Pro : Pun Tres Leches
A little something from his "Beatz : Volume 1" album; I'm going to take a wild unsubstantiated guess based on the track title that this might at one time have been the beat for Big Pun's "Tres Leches" from his debut album, but maybe that's what I'm supposed to think ;o) Heavy beat anyway!
The Notorious B.I.G & DJ Enuff : P***i Freestyle
(They get enough free advertising just from the audio)
Biggie even makes product placement sound good! He recorded this advert but shortly after was arrested and so it was never used. The company in question does seem to have a history of running from Black endorsers at the first sign of trouble; Michael Jackson and Ludacris, anyone? As far as the tune goes, DJ Enuff's beat is quality and Biggie's flow is impeccable - they missed out when they didn't use this.
Kool G Rap ft. The Rza : Cakes
I was sold just by the title :o) Great tune from the "Ghost Dog" soundtrack, just a loop and two MCs killing it with the flows. All Hip-Hop heads should already know about both these guys!
Joell Ortiz ft. Big Daddy Kane, Maino, Cashmere, Solomon : Brooklyn (Remix)
Joell Ortiz performed in Manchester this month and probably made a few new fans with his performance! Definitely one of the best MCs to come out in the last few years and I love this track from his "The Brick Bodega Chronicles" CD. All the guests do their thing, but it was an especially nice treat to hear the legend Big Daddy Kane on here, showing the young 'uns how to do it! This track cuts off kind of abruptly after his verse, otherwise I'd have started the mix out of this tune a few bars later. Big props to Joell for getting him on here and not being afraid!
will.i.am : Em A Double Dee (Instrumental)
Peter Rosenberg of the Juan Epstein podcast had an excellent line on this guy - "he uses his powers for evil!" He can make some beats when he really wants to (this is from his BBE producer album) but as for BEP...ehhh.
Blue Boy : Remember Me
Big 1997 club and chart tune - for some reason I thought it was older! For ages when this came out, as I remember, the actual identity of "Blue Boy" was a mystery but since then it has emerged that he is in fact the DJ Lex Blackmore. This was his only big hit as a main performer but what a hit! Still dope today, and if your neck isn't moving when you hear this, it had better be in a brace :o)
Marlena Shaw : Woman Of The Ghetto (Live)
...and here's the original sample. This info is already out there so I'm not blowing anyone up here :o) I've only played the very end of the track, starting from the "remember me" sample, but the full thing is about 10 minutes long and definitely worth hearing. Marlena Shaw is probably best known for "California Soul," and is still performing today! I missed her last time she was in Manchester but need to try and catch her live.
(Javon) Killah Priest : Big World (Instrumental)
Just picked it out while going through records this month and after giving it a quick listen thought it was worth a spin!
Terence Blanchard : Wading Through
Dedicated to all those in Japan; this is a sombre piece from "A Tale Of God's Will," New Orleans trumpeter/bandleader/composer Terence Blanchard's score for Spike Lee's masterwork "When The Levees Broke : A Requiem In Four Parts." Absolutely brilliant album that I'd recommend to anyone for a listen, especially if you fancy a change of pace.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Whole body blingin' like 3PO."
- J Dilla
A quiet month for me personally (day job excluded) but a huge month for the world - big changes in the Middle East have had me even more glued to Al-Jazeera than usual! Music-wise, this month has marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of the great J Dilla aka Jay Dee, and so I thought I'd include a few of my favourite Dilla tracks that don't usually make it onto the lists or the tribute mixes. Of course, there are plenty of other goodies too, so turn up the volume and take it all in...
Playlist/Notes
Jay Dee ft. Lacks & Big Tone : It's Like That
Simple on the surface, outrageously funky beat from the "Welcome 2 Detroit" album, the first of the "Beat Generation" producer series on BBE Records. DJ Jazzy Jeff said in a Wax Poetics interview that it was actually a little frightenting to be given the degree of freedom that was being offered, and both he and Kenny Dope allowed Dilla to be first to release, and he set the tone for everyone else - says a lot about him I think.
J-Zone/Apathy & Celph Titled : Nut Reception (Instrumental)
Straightforward but very dope instrumental off a 1981 funk break, also to be found on Yo-Yo & Ice Cube's "Bonnie & Clyde Theme." Great beat but not even one of his best, J-Zone is that dude when it comes to production, in case you didn't know...
Pete Rock ft. Kardinal Offishall : We Good
Chopmania on this Pete Rock production, you can just imagine his fingers flying over the MPC pads on this one! Kardinal Offishall brings the vocal heat here, one of my favourite MCs without question - keep an eye out for his releases.
Camp Lo : Sun Kiss
Killer B-Side from the Lo, on the flip of "Army," with both tracks appearing on the hard to find Japan-only released "Short Eyes" EP. Following on from Pete Rock's rapid guitar stabs on the last track, Tribeca is the producer here with a pad-smacking MPC assault for Sonny Cheeba & Geechi Suede to flip styles over, and as always, they deliver the goods. Lo-ah!
Sadat X ft. Agallah : Stack Up
Nottingham's own P Brothers provide the beat here and it's an old school/new school gem which is all the better for the presence of the Bronx veteran X and Brooklyn's Agallah. I almost forgot I had this on vinyl!
Natural Elements : 2 Tons
Drums and flows - sometimes you don't need much else. Dope single from one of the greatest groups never to make it big, and definitely a group I would love to see get back together! MCs would be cowering in fear...
Mixmaster Mike : ¿Agent Scanner 12?
I'm a bit puzzled on this one - it's from Mike's "Eye Of The Cyclops" 12" which is an amazingly confusingly-labelled record - it's hard to tell what's a title and what isn't, and where tracks begin and end; this is my best guess!
Reks : 25th Hour
Shout out to Lee Majors for putting me up on this one first! The MC from Lawrence, MA (not Boston, got it right this time!) is forceful and kind of low-key at the same time over this DJ Premier track. This is available as a digital release but not sure if there's a vinyl of it. Not a club track of course but one for deep personal listening, all day.
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science : Ritual Of The Nile
An appropriately Egyptian-themed track - I know nothing about J Boogie but with current events it seemed like a good time to play this! It's a cut taken from the Om Records "Deeper Concentration" compilation, which is comprised of slightly left-field instrumental and turntable cuts from the era when turntablism was beginning to gain in popularity. It's not an album I play every week but if you see it cheap, might be worth a spin!
J Dilla : Won't Do
Climax Pt.2? Dilla with an ode to not even threesomes now, but foursomes! The quote from this track at the top of this blog post is one of my favourite lines, and the production is, as you'd expect, top notch. The drums from the Isley Brothers' "Footsteps In The Dark" are centre stage and little slivers of the rest of that track flash through the spacey beat on this one.
Mary J. Blige : Every Day It Rains
Dopeness from the soundtrack to "The Show." I think I might have heard this on Westwood's show when it first came out and liked it straight away, even in my teenage R&B-hating years! Can't front on Mary though, especially over that break...
Michael Jackson : Human Nature & J Dilla : Inhuman Nature
Just a taste of the classic MJ tune to set you up for the fresh Dilla sample flip - top work from the MPC master. Unfortunately, this was never released and by the sounds of things never mixed either; a shame as I would have loved to hear this with MCs on, at release quality - maybe Nas would have been a good pick?
Jay Dee ft Frank N Dank : Move
B-Side of the "F**k The Police" 12", doesn't seem to be very popular but I preferred this track for a long time; just a really dark, slightly off-balance, menacing beat with plenty of space left for the vocals - or for scratching, if you have the instrumental. Classic Detroit.
Fakts One ft. Little Brother : Grown Folks
"Simon says 'shut the F**K up' when you try to rhyme"...oooooohhhh! Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother go in hard on this beat from Boston's Fakts One (who you may know from The Perceptionists). In particular, when Phonte decides to put the smack down on the proverbial sucker MC or any other subject of his ire for that matter, you might as well call the ambulance.
J Dilla ft. Pacific Division : Fantasy
Taken from the version I have of Dilla's "Jay Love Japan" EP - I understand there are a few. The slight off-beatness of this makes it slightly awkward to mix, but it's worth it for all the flavour on here, not least the Art Of Noise "Moments In Love" sample between verses. Beautiful!
Miguel Atkins-Ferguson & Orchestra : Don't Nobody Care About Us
Now this is the kind of thing that could bring me to an orchestral performance; fantastic re-interpretation of Dilla's production on the Phat Kat track of the same title. This concert was performed in 2009 but the "Suite For Ma Dukes" album only emerged the following year. On this project, Miguel Atkins-Ferguson brings a 60-piece orchestra to play huge arrangements of some of Dilla's highlights; absolutely amazing stuff and absolutely worth buying if you're a fan of the man's music, or just good music full stop.
Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No) : Not High Enough
DJ A-Up was bugging out about the beat for this track on Facebook; I couldn't hear it straight away but after 40 seconds I understood what he meant - killer. Tense, melancholy, reflective all at the same time, one to throw on repeat. Oh No and Alchemist are two of the most interesting producers out and the "Gutter Water" album this is taken from sees them coming together to form "Gangrene" - more of this please!
Remember to support the artists! If there's anything you like here, search out more of their material and try to buy the stuff you like the most - whatever the format! Seeing the artists live whenever they're in your area is probably the best way to put money in their pocket, so if you can stretch to it in these recessionary times then that's a winner :o) If you have Spotify in your country, it's a great way to familiarise yourself with a vast sea of tunes...
]]>"Whole body blingin' like 3PO."
- J Dilla
A quiet month for me personally (day job excluded) but a huge month for the world - big changes in the Middle East have had me even more glued to Al-Jazeera than usual! Music-wise, this month has marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of the great J Dilla aka Jay Dee, and so I thought I'd include a few of my favourite Dilla tracks that don't usually make it onto the lists or the tribute mixes. Of course, there are plenty of other goodies too, so turn up the volume and take it all in...
Playlist/Notes
Jay Dee ft. Lacks & Big Tone : It's Like That
Simple on the surface, outrageously funky beat from the "Welcome 2 Detroit" album, the first of the "Beat Generation" producer series on BBE Records. DJ Jazzy Jeff said in a Wax Poetics interview that it was actually a little frightenting to be given the degree of freedom that was being offered, and both he and Kenny Dope allowed Dilla to be first to release, and he set the tone for everyone else - says a lot about him I think.
J-Zone/Apathy & Celph Titled : Nut Reception (Instrumental)
Straightforward but very dope instrumental off a 1981 funk break, also to be found on Yo-Yo & Ice Cube's "Bonnie & Clyde Theme." Great beat but not even one of his best, J-Zone is that dude when it comes to production, in case you didn't know...
Pete Rock ft. Kardinal Offishall : We Good
Chopmania on this Pete Rock production, you can just imagine his fingers flying over the MPC pads on this one! Kardinal Offishall brings the vocal heat here, one of my favourite MCs without question - keep an eye out for his releases.
Camp Lo : Sun Kiss
Killer B-Side from the Lo, on the flip of "Army," with both tracks appearing on the hard to find Japan-only released "Short Eyes" EP. Following on from Pete Rock's rapid guitar stabs on the last track, Tribeca is the producer here with a pad-smacking MPC assault for Sonny Cheeba & Geechi Suede to flip styles over, and as always, they deliver the goods. Lo-ah!
Sadat X ft. Agallah : Stack Up
Nottingham's own P Brothers provide the beat here and it's an old school/new school gem which is all the better for the presence of the Bronx veteran X and Brooklyn's Agallah. I almost forgot I had this on vinyl!
Natural Elements : 2 Tons
Drums and flows - sometimes you don't need much else. Dope single from one of the greatest groups never to make it big, and definitely a group I would love to see get back together! MCs would be cowering in fear...
Mixmaster Mike : ¿Agent Scanner 12?
I'm a bit puzzled on this one - it's from Mike's "Eye Of The Cyclops" 12" which is an amazingly confusingly-labelled record - it's hard to tell what's a title and what isn't, and where tracks begin and end; this is my best guess!
Reks : 25th Hour
Shout out to Lee Majors for putting me up on this one first! The MC from Lawrence, MA (not Boston, got it right this time!) is forceful and kind of low-key at the same time over this DJ Premier track. This is available as a digital release but not sure if there's a vinyl of it. Not a club track of course but one for deep personal listening, all day.
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science : Ritual Of The Nile
An appropriately Egyptian-themed track - I know nothing about J Boogie but with current events it seemed like a good time to play this! It's a cut taken from the Om Records "Deeper Concentration" compilation, which is comprised of slightly left-field instrumental and turntable cuts from the era when turntablism was beginning to gain in popularity. It's not an album I play every week but if you see it cheap, might be worth a spin!
J Dilla : Won't Do
Climax Pt.2? Dilla with an ode to not even threesomes now, but foursomes! The quote from this track at the top of this blog post is one of my favourite lines, and the production is, as you'd expect, top notch. The drums from the Isley Brothers' "Footsteps In The Dark" are centre stage and little slivers of the rest of that track flash through the spacey beat on this one.
Mary J. Blige : Every Day It Rains
Dopeness from the soundtrack to "The Show." I think I might have heard this on Westwood's show when it first came out and liked it straight away, even in my teenage R&B-hating years! Can't front on Mary though, especially over that break...
Michael Jackson : Human Nature & J Dilla : Inhuman Nature
Just a taste of the classic MJ tune to set you up for the fresh Dilla sample flip - top work from the MPC master. Unfortunately, this was never released and by the sounds of things never mixed either; a shame as I would have loved to hear this with MCs on, at release quality - maybe Nas would have been a good pick?
Jay Dee ft Frank N Dank : Move
B-Side of the "F**k The Police" 12", doesn't seem to be very popular but I preferred this track for a long time; just a really dark, slightly off-balance, menacing beat with plenty of space left for the vocals - or for scratching, if you have the instrumental. Classic Detroit.
Fakts One ft. Little Brother : Grown Folks
"Simon says 'shut the F**K up' when you try to rhyme"...oooooohhhh! Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother go in hard on this beat from Boston's Fakts One (who you may know from The Perceptionists). In particular, when Phonte decides to put the smack down on the proverbial sucker MC or any other subject of his ire for that matter, you might as well call the ambulance.
J Dilla ft. Pacific Division : Fantasy
Taken from the version I have of Dilla's "Jay Love Japan" EP - I understand there are a few. The slight off-beatness of this makes it slightly awkward to mix, but it's worth it for all the flavour on here, not least the Art Of Noise "Moments In Love" sample between verses. Beautiful!
Miguel Atkins-Ferguson & Orchestra : Don't Nobody Care About Us
Now this is the kind of thing that could bring me to an orchestral performance; fantastic re-interpretation of Dilla's production on the Phat Kat track of the same title. This concert was performed in 2009 but the "Suite For Ma Dukes" album only emerged the following year. On this project, Miguel Atkins-Ferguson brings a 60-piece orchestra to play huge arrangements of some of Dilla's highlights; absolutely amazing stuff and absolutely worth buying if you're a fan of the man's music, or just good music full stop.
Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No) : Not High Enough
DJ A-Up was bugging out about the beat for this track on Facebook; I couldn't hear it straight away but after 40 seconds I understood what he meant - killer. Tense, melancholy, reflective all at the same time, one to throw on repeat. Oh No and Alchemist are two of the most interesting producers out and the "Gutter Water" album this is taken from sees them coming together to form "Gangrene" - more of this please!
Remember to support the artists! If there's anything you like here, search out more of their material and try to buy the stuff you like the most - whatever the format! Seeing the artists live whenever they're in your area is probably the best way to put money in their pocket, so if you can stretch to it in these recessionary times then that's a winner :o) If you have Spotify in your country, it's a great way to familiarise yourself with a vast sea of tunes...
]]>- Extra Love - 10 piece band
- Professor P (Freedom Masses)
- Homegrown Effect
The host for the evening is Mega Ras and all the Neighbourhood residents will be in the place - myself, Omas, DJ Mischief, Longshot, Ed Speed, and Mind on Fire DJs.
The event runs from 10pm-4am - come on down and get your weekend started off right!
]]>
- Extra Love - 10 piece band
- Professor P (Freedom Masses)
- Homegrown Effect
The host for the evening is Mega Ras and all the Neighbourhood residents will be in the place - myself, Omas, DJ Mischief, Longshot, Ed Speed, and Mind on Fire DJs.
The event runs from 10pm-4am - come on down and get your weekend started off right!
]]>
"Like my dun Ron-Ron Artest, we teach y'all 'bout wildin'..."
- Prodigy
"Start out on the street, end up in the court"
- Nick Javas
Just couldn't choose between these two quotes - but then they both go well together :o) Happy New Year everyone! This month the selection just seemed to come really easily for the most part; I've pulled out a fair amount of old-ish Hip-Hop and mixed it up with a few more modern pieces - anyone who knows them all really is a veteran!
Playlist/Notes
JVC Force : Tear The Show Up
Starting off 2011 by taking it back to 1990! JVC Force are indisputably best known for their mighty single "Strong Island" from 1987, but in my opinion this track is the best one they ever did. Yes, you heard me, better than "Strong Island." This is taken from their amazing (and criminally overlooked) second album "Force Field," which is one of the very first Hip-Hop albums I ever had (shout out to Dan Clarke) and is still one of my very favourite from the era. Please, if you love Hip-Hop with that classic essence, rush out and buy this one! To this day I listen to something from this album at least once a week, and it's one of my most prized vinyls. While the group disbanded some time ago, AJ Rock , B Luv, and Curt Cazal are all still involved in music in different capacities; Manchester listeners may be most familiar with Curt Cazal for the work he did with Grand Central in the late 90s.
Mark Ronson ft. Ghostface Killah & Nate Dogg : Ooh Wee (Instrumental)
Loved this when it came out, and I still do. Sped this up quite a bit to fit it into the mix but it's still a fair bit slower than the original Boney M sample it's based around. This one always works well in a club, if you've got enough other tunes fast enough to fit round it!
Above The Law : Untouchable
Back to 1990 :o) As I've probably said before, Above The Law are one of my all-time favourite groups and this track was my absolute favourite on their first album; I must have worn the tape out just running it back over and over again! The lead MC Cold 187um is responsible for the fire production (ignore all the misinformed fools who try to tell you Dr.Dre did their beats), and both he and KMG keep pace with their contrasting styles on the mic.
Hustlers HC : Let The Hustlers Play
Someone else is obviously an Above The Law fan, since they are sampled twice on this track! Asian flavour all over this hot 1993 UK track from a Sikh crew out of West London. This is the B-Side of the single "Big Trouble In Little Asia" and while it's not tackling heavy issues like the A-Side it is to me the far better track, production-wise at least. I grew up in an area where I'd hear a lot of Asian music and thought it worked really well when blended with the uptempo, drum/break-focused style of beats of the late 80s/early 90s. You're unlikely to see copies of this around now without specifically looking for it, so take this sample as a gift from the neglected corners of my record collection!
London Posse : Jump Around
Love this tune, though I've not included all six minutes of it! This is from the landmark 1990 UK Hip-Hop LP "Gangster Chronicle" which has one of my favourite album covers, besides anything else :o) I'm not sure what Bionic is doing these days, but those of you who keep up with UK Hip-Hop will know that Rodney P has continued to put out classic material to the present day!
Donald D : Rage Of The Rap Renegade
I am a Donald D fan. Back in my high school days I used to hear him as part of Ice-T's Rhyme $yndicate killing it on the mic, and his verse on "Fly By" (from the Ice-T "OG" album) is one of my all-time favourites, I learned it by heart back then! I ran into him by chance in Leeds before a KRS-ONE show and got the chance to tell him so, a big highlight of 2010 for me :o)
Buckshot LeFonque : James Brown (Pt. 1 & 2)
Buckshot LeFonque was a Branford Marsalis side-project, blending his style of jazz with Hip-Hop amongst other styles; if you ever wanted to hear live musicians playing jungle, for instance, you need to pick up the "Music Evolution" album!
Mobb Deep : Another Victory
I'd forgotten all about this one until it popped up when I was playing a stack of MP3s at random! It's from the soundtrack to the game "NBA Live 2004" (I'll just say that I have my own long history of handing out beatdowns on the NBA Live series from its inception) but despite that I think it's actually pretty good! It's also one of the rare Mobb tracks that's totally radio-friendly, and manages to not talk about any shooting...apart from a basketball!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. J-Live : Practice
The first of two tracks to sample the famous outburst from the much-maligned Allen Iverson. I remember reading somewhere (and this detail is generally wilfully unreported) that the trigger for the kickoff was that someone close to him had died. As far as this track, it's from the "Return Of The Magnificent" album and is the kind of smooth dopeness you expect from Jazzy Jeff, with J-Live on the vocals giving us the real story of the work that goes into a career in music.
Nick Javas : Not A Game
When I heard this track, I knew it was going to be on the show this month and I also knew what track had to precede it! DJ Premier comes in with a brilliant use of the Iverson quote and new artist Nick Javas uses it as a springboard to explore "games, " with plenty of sporting metaphors, similies, and double meanings along the way; the second verse is amazing. This is from the Year Round Records compilation "Get Used To Us," essential listening for those who like that hard Hip-Hop!
Evidence : Ragtime
Nice piano beat taken from the "Yellow Tape Instrumentals" vinyl. Evidence of Dilated people tends to be somewhat underrated as an MC and as a producer, he's done some heavy tracks over the years.
Soul II Soul : Back To Life (Accapella) & Masta Ace : Jeep Ass N!guh (Bizcapella) (Instrumental)
A little blend for you! If you have a copy of the Soul II Soul album, you'll know that it's actually an accapella and it's only the single versions that have music (and the vocals were re-recorded). This has been much sampled over the years for one reason - it sounds amazing. Soul II Soul are one of the great innovative British groups who found success here and abroad by creating their own lane.
Blended with that is the awesome beat from the remix of Masta Ace's ode to the auto sound system; of course there was the original jazzy album version, plus the retitled "Born To Roll" version which are both cool. Some people prefer those versions, it's just that those people are wrong ;o) Essential 12" for your collection, no question. On top of that I've just sprinkled a little seasoning to make the whole thing mwah!
Lexxus : Divine Reasoning
I'm not someone who follows the latest dancehall releases or anything, but when I find a tune I like I run with it! I loved Lexxus' "Ring Mi Cellie" and picked up a copy on 12" to play out, but on the B-side found this killer. Big tune from Mr.Lex! *airhorn*
T La Rock : Lyrical King (From The Boogie Down Bronx)
(Loving the bracketed bit) Taking it back to the 80s with one of the overlooked greats, T La Rock of "It's Yours" fame. This is the title track from his first album and showcases vintage production from Kurtis Mantronik. Plenty of you wouldn't have been born when this was released, which is pretty freaky to think about...
Archive : All Time
Keeping the 808 beat going with this one, but on a very different vibe. I still need to play you their amazing "Nothing Else," but this tune holds down this spot perfectly. You may not know them, but Archive are a UK group originally formed by former members of Genaside II - their main style has generally been what is often called "trip-hop" but they're very versatile. Definitely worth digging into!
Unwrapped : Flava In Ya Ear
Jazz cover version wind-down business! I came across Unwrapped a few years ago; they basically do live instrument, jazzified covers of rap tracks (hence the name), and have six albums out which hardly anyone I know seem to have even heard of, much less heard! This version of Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear" will never challenge the original for supremacy in my ears at least, but I thought it was fairly interesting!
E-40 : Practice Looking Hard
I've been hanging onto this one a while, decided this would be the month through it - a nice relaxed wind-down to the episode. E-40 is a veteran from Vallejo, California who started off doing his thing independently and was one of the pioneers in that respect, building his fan base with a lot of hard work and no major backing. This is from his third LP "The Mail Man," and it's a great track about having to keep up a tough facade for the world. The sample for the hook comes from Boots Riley of The Coup - another Bay Area act well worth checking out!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Like my dun Ron-Ron Artest, we teach y'all 'bout wildin'..."
- Prodigy
"Start out on the street, end up in the court"
- Nick Javas
Just couldn't choose between these two quotes - but then they both go well together :o) Happy New Year everyone! This month the selection just seemed to come really easily for the most part; I've pulled out a fair amount of old-ish Hip-Hop and mixed it up with a few more modern pieces - anyone who knows them all really is a veteran!
Playlist/Notes
JVC Force : Tear The Show Up
Starting off 2011 by taking it back to 1990! JVC Force are indisputably best known for their mighty single "Strong Island" from 1987, but in my opinion this track is the best one they ever did. Yes, you heard me, better than "Strong Island." This is taken from their amazing (and criminally overlooked) second album "Force Field," which is one of the very first Hip-Hop albums I ever had (shout out to Dan Clarke) and is still one of my very favourite from the era. Please, if you love Hip-Hop with that classic essence, rush out and buy this one! To this day I listen to something from this album at least once a week, and it's one of my most prized vinyls. While the group disbanded some time ago, AJ Rock , B Luv, and Curt Cazal are all still involved in music in different capacities; Manchester listeners may be most familiar with Curt Cazal for the work he did with Grand Central in the late 90s.
Mark Ronson ft. Ghostface Killah & Nate Dogg : Ooh Wee (Instrumental)
Loved this when it came out, and I still do. Sped this up quite a bit to fit it into the mix but it's still a fair bit slower than the original Boney M sample it's based around. This one always works well in a club, if you've got enough other tunes fast enough to fit round it!
Above The Law : Untouchable
Back to 1990 :o) As I've probably said before, Above The Law are one of my all-time favourite groups and this track was my absolute favourite on their first album; I must have worn the tape out just running it back over and over again! The lead MC Cold 187um is responsible for the fire production (ignore all the misinformed fools who try to tell you Dr.Dre did their beats), and both he and KMG keep pace with their contrasting styles on the mic.
Hustlers HC : Let The Hustlers Play
Someone else is obviously an Above The Law fan, since they are sampled twice on this track! Asian flavour all over this hot 1993 UK track from a Sikh crew out of West London. This is the B-Side of the single "Big Trouble In Little Asia" and while it's not tackling heavy issues like the A-Side it is to me the far better track, production-wise at least. I grew up in an area where I'd hear a lot of Asian music and thought it worked really well when blended with the uptempo, drum/break-focused style of beats of the late 80s/early 90s. You're unlikely to see copies of this around now without specifically looking for it, so take this sample as a gift from the neglected corners of my record collection!
London Posse : Jump Around
Love this tune, though I've not included all six minutes of it! This is from the landmark 1990 UK Hip-Hop LP "Gangster Chronicle" which has one of my favourite album covers, besides anything else :o) I'm not sure what Bionic is doing these days, but those of you who keep up with UK Hip-Hop will know that Rodney P has continued to put out classic material to the present day!
Donald D : Rage Of The Rap Renegade
I am a Donald D fan. Back in my high school days I used to hear him as part of Ice-T's Rhyme $yndicate killing it on the mic, and his verse on "Fly By" (from the Ice-T "OG" album) is one of my all-time favourites, I learned it by heart back then! I ran into him by chance in Leeds before a KRS-ONE show and got the chance to tell him so, a big highlight of 2010 for me :o)
Buckshot LeFonque : James Brown (Pt. 1 & 2)
Buckshot LeFonque was a Branford Marsalis side-project, blending his style of jazz with Hip-Hop amongst other styles; if you ever wanted to hear live musicians playing jungle, for instance, you need to pick up the "Music Evolution" album!
Mobb Deep : Another Victory
I'd forgotten all about this one until it popped up when I was playing a stack of MP3s at random! It's from the soundtrack to the game "NBA Live 2004" (I'll just say that I have my own long history of handing out beatdowns on the NBA Live series from its inception) but despite that I think it's actually pretty good! It's also one of the rare Mobb tracks that's totally radio-friendly, and manages to not talk about any shooting...apart from a basketball!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. J-Live : Practice
The first of two tracks to sample the famous outburst from the much-maligned Allen Iverson. I remember reading somewhere (and this detail is generally wilfully unreported) that the trigger for the kickoff was that someone close to him had died. As far as this track, it's from the "Return Of The Magnificent" album and is the kind of smooth dopeness you expect from Jazzy Jeff, with J-Live on the vocals giving us the real story of the work that goes into a career in music.
Nick Javas : Not A Game
When I heard this track, I knew it was going to be on the show this month and I also knew what track had to precede it! DJ Premier comes in with a brilliant use of the Iverson quote and new artist Nick Javas uses it as a springboard to explore "games, " with plenty of sporting metaphors, similies, and double meanings along the way; the second verse is amazing. This is from the Year Round Records compilation "Get Used To Us," essential listening for those who like that hard Hip-Hop!
Evidence : Ragtime
Nice piano beat taken from the "Yellow Tape Instrumentals" vinyl. Evidence of Dilated people tends to be somewhat underrated as an MC and as a producer, he's done some heavy tracks over the years.
Soul II Soul : Back To Life (Accapella) & Masta Ace : Jeep Ass N!guh (Bizcapella) (Instrumental)
A little blend for you! If you have a copy of the Soul II Soul album, you'll know that it's actually an accapella and it's only the single versions that have music (and the vocals were re-recorded). This has been much sampled over the years for one reason - it sounds amazing. Soul II Soul are one of the great innovative British groups who found success here and abroad by creating their own lane. Blended with that is the awesome beat from the remix of Masta Ace's ode to the auto sound system; of course there was the original jazzy album version, plus the retitled "Born To Roll" version which are both cool. Some people prefer those versions, it's just that those people are wrong ;o) Essential 12" for your collection, no question. On top of that I've just sprinkled a little seasoning to make the whole thing mwah!
Lexxus : Divine Reasoning
I'm not someone who follows the latest dancehall releases or anything, but when I find a tune I like I run with it! I loved Lexxus' "Ring Mi Cellie" and picked up a copy on 12" to play out, but on the B-side found this killer. Big tune from Mr.Lex! *airhorn*
T La Rock : Lyrical King (From The Boogie Down Bronx)
(Loving the bracketed bit) Taking it back to the 80s with one of the overlooked greats, T La Rock of "It's Yours" fame. This is the title track from his first album and showcases vintage production from Kurtis Mantronik. Plenty of you wouldn't have been born when this was released, which is pretty freaky to think about...
Archive : All Time
Keeping the 808 beat going with this one, but on a very different vibe. I still need to play you their amazing "Nothing Else," but this tune holds down this spot perfectly. You may not know them, but Archive are a UK group originally formed by former members of Genaside II - their main style has generally been what is often called "trip-hop" but they're very versatile. Definitely worth digging into!
Unwrapped : Flava In Ya Ear
Jazz cover version wind-down business! I came across Unwrapped a few years ago; they basically do live instrument, jazzified covers of rap tracks (hence the name), and have six albums out which hardly anyone I know seem to have even heard of, much less heard! This version of Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear" will never challenge the original for supremacy in my ears at least, but I thought it was fairly interesting!
E-40 : Practice Looking Hard
I've been hanging onto this one a while, decided this would be the month through it - a nice relaxed wind-down to the episode. E-40 is a veteran from Vallejo, California who started off doing his thing independently and was one of the pioneers in that respect, building his fan base with a lot of hard work and no major backing. This is from his third LP "The Mail Man," and it's a great track about having to keep up a tough facade for the world. The sample for the hook comes from Boots Riley of The Coup - another Bay Area act well worth checking out!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"My attitude is celibate...I just don't give a f**k"
- Kriminul
Here we are at the end of 2010, and for the first time ever the podcast features a special guest! Danny Drive Thru is a Manchester producer and DJ who has what can only be described as a burning passion for music as well as a bucketful of talent. I met him a few years ago at the scratch workshop A Kut Above The Rest where he was already ferocious on the turntables but in the years since then his production knowledge has really come along as well. He's not only released solo material but has been drafted in by names like Sneaky (Fingathing) and Chima Anya to bring his special flavour, and he's kindly come in for a chat and brought along a few tracks for us to hear!
You can keep up with Drive Thru on Soundcloud and on Twitter - good things coming for 2011!
Apologies for the voiceover sound quality; I know the volume moves around a bit, but it was tough for us to both work around the one mic setup!
PS - the very fly "Boomboxatron" t-shirt in the photo was designed by Selina from Jelly Empire :o)
Playlist/Notes
Danny Drive Thru : Virtua Rap
We kick things off with a track from this month's guest, what can only have been a painstaking piece of work. This track was premiered at last year's C'mon Feet Xmas Party, and everyone (including me) lost their minds! Drive Thru had already made some noise with his "Virtua Ante Up," and this tune just took the concept to the level where no-one else should even attempt to do anything like it. Good way to open the proceedings!
For those that don't know, the tracks being versioned here are; "Simon Says" by Pharoahe Monch, "Full Clip" by Gang Starr and "Shook Ones, Pt.2" by Mobb Deep - three certified classics!
Air Adam : 1-Up
Just keeping things on a similar sonic vibe with this one; I did this track a few years ago for the Game Over graffiti crew strictly using sounds from old 80s arcade machines! I keep wondering whether or not to get an MC on this one...
Erick Sermon : Stay Real (Remix)
90s business! Not too many people seem to know this remix but it's classic Erick Sermon, reworking a track from his first solo album "No Pressure." I think I first heard this back in Leeds on a wicked DJ P-Wiz aka Oddball (formerly of Breaking The Illusion) mixtape, so it brought back memories to pull it out for this episode.
Otis Jackson : It's All The Same (Hip-Hop Version)
Remixed soul number for you; Otis Jackson is famously (well, amongst record geeks) the father of Madlib and Oh No, and it's Oh No who brings the remix flavour on this single. Isn't family a wonderful thing? The other side of this 12" has a version labelled as the "R&B version" which I think is actually better, but wouldn't have fit into this spot!
GZA ft. D'Angelo : Cold World (RZA Remix)
Very appropriate for the current conditions! Coming back with another 90s remix, this time from the Wu's big power streak of monster solo LPs. This particular version is the A-side of the "Cold World (Remix)" 12", which also includes a mix by the legendary engineer Bob Power and the brilliant "B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)" by Killah Priest.
1982 (Termanology & Statik Selektah) : Word Up
This is taken from their smile-worthy free EP which you should be dashing to another window to download right now! The combination of these two has been very fruitful in terms of quality material, and I hope it's something that continues into the future!
Danny Drive Thru : Hound
The man's back again with a warped bluesy beat, showing how he likes to get dark and dense with the sound. This beat is available for any MC who thinks they can tame it - get in touch via his Soundcloud if you're interested!
1982 (Termanology & Statik Selektah) ft. Bun B & Masspike Miles : You Should Go Home
One of the tunes I've played a lot lately; I just couldn't resist having two tunes by these guys this month. An added bonus is the great guest verse by the Port Arthur, Texas legend Bun B of UGK (who has worked with Termanology previously on "This Is How We Rock" and the hook by Boston vocalist Masspike is good enough to make me wish I had the skills to sing along :o) Probably the most obvious choice for a single on the album, but also one of the best tracks on there regardless.
Larry Gold & Carol Riddick : Loving You
Larry Gold is a legendary string arranger as well as a cellist and producer, known and respected for his work for everyone from McFadden & Whitehead and Teddy Pendergrass to Mary J. Blige and Kanye West. Carol Riddick is a Philadelphia born-and-raised soul singer who has brought her magic touch to artists like Jill Scott and Musiq, as well as her own material. The two combine on this gorgeous track from the "Larry Gold presents Don Cello & Friends" album; you've got to like this, no matter how hard you are!
DMP : Don't Wanna Give That Up
Virginia in the house! Been meaning to play this for aaages! Nottz' production on this is nice and silky, and the lyrics are fairly decent but I think they should have kept the metaphor going for a while longer before revealing the real subject of the track; for me, it becomes obvious too quickly. Still, maybe I'm grading harshly - good tune.
Marvin Gaye : "T" Stands For Trouble
If you know your 90s Hip-Hop, you might recognise a sample here, and either way, you've got to appreciate the quality of this killer instrumental soundtrack cut. If you don't know about Marvin Gaye at all, you should probably go stand in the corner and think about what you did. Anyway, I've mostly been playing the "Here, My Dear" album this month but this is from his top-class "Trouble Man" soundtrack - do yourself a favour and buy both.
Danny Drive Thru : Eclipsemoonsun
Another instrumental from this month's guest, and funnily enough we also had a lunar eclipse this month! Once again, available for MCs, get in touch with Danny if you're interested.
Blahzay Blahzay ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard : Danger 2004
No-one seems to know this remix - I've played it out a few times but sometimes it's hard to appreciate a track for the first time when you've had a few drinks, so hopefully you'll enjoy it here! ODB was famously sampled on the legendary hook of the original and so it's fitting to have him on this version; can't even remember where I found the vinyl but it's a treasured piece, just that extra bass is worth the price of admission!
Jigmastas : Let Me Hear It
Yes please! This tune's on the Tommy Boy Black Label "Hip Hop 101" compilation which is where I first encountered it, but a little shopping trip in London uncovered it on a 12" - the instrumental will definitely come in handy! As usual with Jigmastas, DJ Spinna is on production and the bassline master brings a bouncy, squelchy low end and some cracking drums to this one for Kriminul to effortlessly ride over.
Doujah Raze : Irish Cream
Unashamed, straightforward, dope Hip-Hop, 2002 banger. Can't remember where I heard this first (probably on a download) but have had the 12" for a while and think it's one that every Hip-Hop DJ should have, even though it's not well known. Doujah Raze is a Virginian MC who's worked with Tribeca which is how I think I was introduced to him, and he just has a really confident flow on here. Production here is handled by someone called Rollen Salvenera; never heard of him before or since, but he smacks it out of the park and the scratching at the end is just ridiculous - I made a conscious decision not to even mix over it just so you could hear it as he intended!
Big Twan : One Time 4 The Lyricist
Love this - Spinna on production, hard vocals, and that Raekwon sample in the hook just completes it. This 12" is also worth owning for the wicked "Hellgate Rebel" which features Big Kwam on the mic and Tony Vegas of Scratch Perverts on the cut.
Alchemist ft. Twin : Big T.W.I.N.S (Instrumental)
Hard beat on this Mobb-connected number, Danny's next to me saying he's now amped up to go and make some beats that sound rugged like this one!
Chima Anya : Good Lord (produced by Danny Drive Thru)
This is a draft version, but Danny's kindly brought this along for you guys to have the first listen!
Remember to support the artists! If there's anything you like here, search out more of their material and try to buy the stuff you like the most - whatever the format! Seeing the artists live whenever they're in your area is probably the best way to put money in their pocket, so if you can stretch to it in these recessionary times then that's a winner :o) If you have Spotify in your country, it's a great way to familiarise yourself with a vast sea of tunes...
]]>"My attitude is celibate...I just don't give a f**k"
- Kriminul
Here we are at the end of 2010, and for the first time ever the podcast features a special guest! Danny Drive Thru is a Manchester producer and DJ who has what can only be described as a burning passion for music as well as a bucketful of talent. I met him a few years ago at the scratch workshop A Kut Above The Rest where he was already ferocious on the turntables but in the years since then his production knowledge has really come along as well. He's not only released solo material but has been drafted in by names like Sneaky (Fingathing) and Chima Anya to bring his special flavour, and he's kindly come in for a chat and brought along a few tracks for us to hear! You can keep up with Drive Thru on Soundcloud and on Twitter - good things coming for 2011!
Apologies for the voiceover sound quality; I know the volume moves around a bit, but it was tough for us to both work around the one mic setup!
PS - the very fly "Boomboxatron" t-shirt in the photo was designed by Selina from Jelly Empire :o)
Playlist/Notes
Danny Drive Thru : Virtua Rap
We kick things off with a track from this month's guest, what can only have been a painstaking piece of work. This track was premiered at last year's C'mon Feet Xmas Party, and everyone (including me) lost their minds! Drive Thru had already made some noise with his "Virtua Ante Up," and this tune just took the concept to the level where no-one else should even attempt to do anything like it. Good way to open the proceedings!
For those that don't know, the tracks being versioned here are; "Simon Says" by Pharoahe Monch, "Full Clip" by Gang Starr and "Shook Ones, Pt.2" by Mobb Deep - three certified classics!
Air Adam : 1-Up
Just keeping things on a similar sonic vibe with this one; I did this track a few years ago for the Game Over graffiti crew strictly using sounds from old 80s arcade machines! I keep wondering whether or not to get an MC on this one...
Erick Sermon : Stay Real (Remix)
90s business! Not too many people seem to know this remix but it's classic Erick Sermon, reworking a track from his first solo album "No Pressure." I think I first heard this back in Leeds on a wicked DJ P-Wiz aka Oddball (formerly of Breaking The Illusion) mixtape, so it brought back memories to pull it out for this episode.
Otis Jackson : It's All The Same (Hip-Hop Version)
Remixed soul number for you; Otis Jackson is famously (well, amongst record geeks) the father of Madlib and Oh No, and it's Oh No who brings the remix flavour on this single. Isn't family a wonderful thing? The other side of this 12" has a version labelled as the "R&B version" which I think is actually better, but wouldn't have fit into this spot!
GZA ft. D'Angelo : Cold World (RZA Remix)
Very appropriate for the current conditions! Coming back with another 90s remix, this time from the Wu's big power streak of monster solo LPs. This particular version is the A-side of the "Cold World (Remix)" 12", which also includes a mix by the legendary engineer Bob Power and the brilliant "B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)" by Killah Priest.
1982 (Termanology & Statik Selektah) : Word Up
This is taken from their smile-worthy free EP which you should be dashing to another window to download right now! The combination of these two has been very fruitful in terms of quality material, and I hope it's something that continues into the future!
Danny Drive Thru : Hound
The man's back again with a warped bluesy beat, showing how he likes to get dark and dense with the sound. This beat is available for any MC who thinks they can tame it - get in touch via his Soundcloud if you're interested!
1982 (Termanology & Statik Selektah) ft. Bun B & Masspike Miles : You Should Go Home
One of the tunes I've played a lot lately; I just couldn't resist having two tunes by these guys this month. An added bonus is the great guest verse by the Port Arthur, Texas legend Bun B of UGK (who has worked with Termanology previously on "This Is How We Rock" and the hook by Boston vocalist Masspike is good enough to make me wish I had the skills to sing along :o) Probably the most obvious choice for a single on the album, but also one of the best tracks on there regardless.
Larry Gold & Carol Riddick : Loving You
Larry Gold is a legendary string arranger as well as a cellist and producer, known and respected for his work for everyone from McFadden & Whitehead and Teddy Pendergrass to Mary J. Blige and Kanye West. Carol Riddick is a Philadelphia born-and-raised soul singer who has brought her magic touch to artists like Jill Scott and Musiq, as well as her own material. The two combine on this gorgeous track from the "Larry Gold presents Don Cello & Friends" album; you've got to like this, no matter how hard you are!
DMP : Don't Wanna Give That Up
Virginia in the house! Been meaning to play this for aaages! Nottz' production on this is nice and silky, and the lyrics are fairly decent but I think they should have kept the metaphor going for a while longer before revealing the real subject of the track; for me, it becomes obvious too quickly. Still, maybe I'm grading harshly - good tune.
Marvin Gaye : "T" Stands For Trouble
If you know your 90s Hip-Hop, you might recognise a sample here, and either way, you've got to appreciate the quality of this killer instrumental soundtrack cut. If you don't know about Marvin Gaye at all, you should probably go stand in the corner and think about what you did. Anyway, I've mostly been playing the "Here, My Dear" album this month but this is from his top-class "Trouble Man" soundtrack - do yourself a favour and buy both.
Danny Drive Thru : Eclipsemoonsun
Another instrumental from this month's guest, and funnily enough we also had a lunar eclipse this month! Once again, available for MCs, get in touch with Danny if you're interested.
Blahzay Blahzay ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard : Danger 2004
No-one seems to know this remix - I've played it out a few times but sometimes it's hard to appreciate a track for the first time when you've had a few drinks, so hopefully you'll enjoy it here! ODB was famously sampled on the legendary hook of the original and so it's fitting to have him on this version; can't even remember where I found the vinyl but it's a treasured piece, just that extra bass is worth the price of admission!
Jigmastas : Let Me Hear It
Yes please! This tune's on the Tommy Boy Black Label "Hip Hop 101" compilation which is where I first encountered it, but a little shopping trip in London uncovered it on a 12" - the instrumental will definitely come in handy! As usual with Jigmastas, DJ Spinna is on production and the bassline master brings a bouncy, squelchy low end and some cracking drums to this one for Kriminul to effortlessly ride over.
Doujah Raze : Irish Cream
Unashamed, straightforward, dope Hip-Hop, 2002 banger. Can't remember where I heard this first (probably on a download) but have had the 12" for a while and think it's one that every Hip-Hop DJ should have, even though it's not well known. Doujah Raze is a Virginian MC who's worked with Tribeca which is how I think I was introduced to him, and he just has a really confident flow on here. Production here is handled by someone called Rollen Salvenera; never heard of him before or since, but he smacks it out of the park and the scratching at the end is just ridiculous - I made a conscious decision not to even mix over it just so you could hear it as he intended!
Big Twan : One Time 4 The Lyricist
Love this - Spinna on production, hard vocals, and that Raekwon sample in the hook just completes it. This 12" is also worth owning for the wicked "Hellgate Rebel" which features Big Kwam on the mic and Tony Vegas of Scratch Perverts on the cut.
Alchemist ft. Twin : Big T.W.I.N.S (Instrumental)
Hard beat on this Mobb-connected number, Danny's next to me saying he's now amped up to go and make some beats that sound rugged like this one!
Chima Anya : Good Lord (produced by Danny Drive Thru)
This is a draft version, but Danny's kindly brought this along for you guys to have the first listen!
Remember to support the artists! If there's anything you like here, search out more of their material and try to buy the stuff you like the most - whatever the format! Seeing the artists live whenever they're in your area is probably the best way to put money in their pocket, so if you can stretch to it in these recessionary times then that's a winner :o) If you have Spotify in your country, it's a great way to familiarise yourself with a vast sea of tunes...
]]>
"I'mma show you how to do it."
- Royal Flush
It's that time again, fifty minutes of the good stuff coming from my collection! It's an all Hip-Hop selection this month, but I think pretty much everyone listening will hear a minimum of 4 or 5 tracks they've never heard before. Heavy on the B-sides, album cuts, remixes and internet tracks this month...enjoy!
Playlist/Notes
Mr.Voodoo : Don't Do It
Tough tune from the former Natural Elements MC, taken from his "Let The World Know" 12"/EP - this is the last track of six (so a deep B-side) and is easily my favourite track on there. Voodoo did an outstanding job self-producing this one and combines the heavy beat with an all-out microphone assault!
Cali Agents : Point Blank Range (Instrumental)
Roddy Rod of Maspyke brings us this extra chunky beat from the B-side of the "Neva Forget" 12" single, one I flicked past so much in the last few months while doing selections I thought I just had to include it here - I think it made for a nice blend with the opening cut.
Royal Flush : Do It
The power of suggestion? A more incredibly negative message is difficult to find, but it does sound good... Originally I heard this on Spotify but then found it on the Yosumi (break it down slowly) Records compilation "Game Over II" which is definitely worth picking up, along with the original "Game Over," which was notable for its liberal use of video game samples! Production here is by Domingo and DJ Rob, one of those beats you can't help but move your neck to!
Katch 22 : Lifestyles Of The Poor And Ruffneck
Heavy UK action from one of the best acts of their era, taken from their second (and double) album, "Dark Tales From Two Cities." If you can find it, pick up a copy! Katch put out three albums before disbanding, but Huntkillbury Finn (now HKB:FiNN) is still recording in a variety of styles and DJ Marga is doing some DJing again.
Underclassmen : Crush Competition
Huge B-side from this Swiss crew (A-side was "365 Live") - the MCs are originally from Boston so that explains the accents, in case you were wondering!
Das EFX : Gimme Dat Micraphone
I never took to the "Straight-Up Sewaside" LP as much as "Dead Serious," but very few groups were forced to so radically change their style between their first and second albums due to massively widespread biting! That said, this was the first track I heard off this album and I think it's a killer. I believe Charlie Marotta did the production on this and it has that kind of dense early/mid 90s heaviness that you often miss nowadays; home cooking vs microwave beats?
Trick Daddy : Thug Niggas Don't Live That Long (Instrumental)
A little something from Florida, taken from the soundtrack to the HBO series "Oz" - I got this on a sampler 12" so unfortunately can't tell you who produced it. Just a cool instrumental I've finally found a chance to play :o)
DJ Spinna ft. Shadowman : Drive
Spacey and bassy number from a producer who really is a master of the style, and as longtime listeners to the podcast will know, a favourite of mine. Taking on the vocal duties is Shadowman, from a crew called Old World Disorder who I can't say I know much about but he definitely does his thing on this track. You can find this one on Spinna's BBE album "Here To There," where he runs styles from Hip-Hop all the way through to House!
Saukrates, Self Scientific & E-Rule : Wonderful World
Taken from DJ Adam 12's "World Wide Originals" EP, I somehow either didn't hear this track or forgot it existed; dug it out this month and it fit perfectly! All the MCs come with quality verses over the dark beat, making this a definite underground gem. E-Rule/Erule is an MC who has powerful entry on my own vinyl wants list; if you see a copy of that record, buy it without hesitation as it's fantastic. If you're feeling generous, buy it without hesitation for me as a present :o)
Blue Sky Black Death : Lord Of Our Vice
Picked up the "Late Night Cinema" album on spec from Fat City in Manchester before it closed and it turned out to be a great purchase - a double vinyl package of big, dramatic instrumental Hip-Hop. BSBD are a West Coast (San Francisco & Seattle) production duo who seem to have that epic sound down to a tee!
The X-Ecutioners ft. Wayne-O : Raida's Theme (Remix)
I forgot I had this - probably because it was on CD :o) The original is good but the remix is definitely superior; the drums still smack but there's more space in the track to help the scratching stand out even more! You can find this on a 12" but this is from the Asphodel Records "Asphodelic" compilation - and is one of the standout cuts.
Kuartz : Hey Hey (Instrumental)
Kuartz is an up-and-coming Manchester producer who is one to watch out for; he's finding his style and he's extremely prolific, cranking out beats for local MCs at a rate the rest of us can only wish to keep up with! He sent me a few things to check out a little while back and this was just the right time to slot this particular number in. Keep up the good work!
donwill + suhBURB : Salsoul
I *think* I first found this via FWMJ's "Rappers I Know" blog, which is well worth checking out. This track is from the combination of suhBURB on the beats and Tanya Morgan's Donwill on the mic, and in fact the "Suburban Sprawl" collaboration album it comes from is available totally free! Just click the link to get at the whole project.
The Kid Daytona : Never Be The Same
I first heard of this MC on the brilliant Juan Epstein podcast. From what I can make out, The Kid Daytona has come up under the wing of Cipha Sounds and has some powerful co-signs - keep an eye on this one. The whole album is available absolutely free here - worth grabbing a download!
Theodore Unit : Wicked With Lead
Ghostface and Trife take the mic on this one, with K-Def on production. That break never gets old!
Foreign Exchange : Downtime (Nicky Troutman Bounce To The Ounce Remix)
Whooooooooo! I bought the "Connected" album (as you should too) on vinyl when it came out and this wasn't on there - I just chanced upon it on Spotify, apparently it's from an extended version which is available on CD. Nicolay kills it on the beat and Phonte (of Little Brother, for those that don't know) is on point with the flow as always, though he's also up for oxymoron of the month; "I'm roasting you f****ts 'cos I'm so diplomatic?"
Jay-Z : Change The Game (Instrumental)
The Bay Area's Rick Rock on production; probably better known for his work with people like E-40, this was one of his really big moves on the East Coast and to be honest, a beat that made me go back and check for more Jay-Z when I'd really not been the biggest fan up to that point.
Peanut Butter Wolf : The Chronicles (i will always love h.e.r)
From the first "Return Of The DJ" compilation, this isn't the most technical track on the album but I just love all the samples that he brings into this one! There's one that I think is incredible but have never been able to identify; first person to post in the comments for this article where it comes from wins a prize - seriously!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"I'mma show you how to do it."
- Royal Flush
It's that time again, fifty minutes of the good stuff coming from my collection! It's an all Hip-Hop selection this month, but I think pretty much everyone listening will hear a minimum of 4 or 5 tracks they've never heard before. Heavy on the B-sides, album cuts, remixes and internet tracks this month...enjoy!
Playlist/Notes
Mr.Voodoo : Don't Do It
Tough tune from the former Natural Elements MC, taken from his "Let The World Know" 12"/EP - this is the last track of six (so a deep B-side) and is easily my favourite track on there. Voodoo did an outstanding job self-producing this one and combines the heavy beat with an all-out microphone assault!
Cali Agents : Point Blank Range (Instrumental)
Roddy Rod of Maspyke brings us this extra chunky beat from the B-side of the "Neva Forget" 12" single, one I flicked past so much in the last few months while doing selections I thought I just had to include it here - I think it made for a nice blend with the opening cut.
Royal Flush : Do It
The power of suggestion? A more incredibly negative message is difficult to find, but it does sound good... Originally I heard this on Spotify but then found it on the Yosumi (break it down slowly) Records compilation "Game Over II" which is definitely worth picking up, along with the original "Game Over," which was notable for its liberal use of video game samples! Production here is by Domingo and DJ Rob, one of those beats you can't help but move your neck to!
Katch 22 : Lifestyles Of The Poor And Ruffneck
Heavy UK action from one of the best acts of their era, taken from their second (and double) album, "Dark Tales From Two Cities." If you can find it, pick up a copy! Katch put out three albums before disbanding, but Huntkillbury Finn (now HKB:FiNN) is still recording in a variety of styles and DJ Marga is doing some DJing again.
Underclassmen : Crush Competition
Huge B-side from this Swiss crew (A-side was "365 Live") - the MCs are originally from Boston so that explains the accents, in case you were wondering!
Das EFX : Gimme Dat Micraphone
I never took to the "Straight-Up Sewaside" LP as much as "Dead Serious," but very few groups were forced to so radically change their style between their first and second albums due to massively widespread biting! That said, this was the first track I heard off this album and I think it's a killer. I believe Charlie Marotta did the production on this and it has that kind of dense early/mid 90s heaviness that you often miss nowadays; home cooking vs microwave beats?
Trick Daddy : Thug Niggas Don't Live That Long (Instrumental)
A little something from Florida, taken from the soundtrack to the HBO series "Oz" - I got this on a sampler 12" so unfortunately can't tell you who produced it. Just a cool instrumental I've finally found a chance to play :o)
DJ Spinna ft. Shadowman : Drive
Spacey and bassy number from a producer who really is a master of the style, and as longtime listeners to the podcast will know, a favourite of mine. Taking on the vocal duties is Shadowman, from a crew called Old World Disorder who I can't say I know much about but he definitely does his thing on this track. You can find this one on Spinna's BBE album "Here To There," where he runs styles from Hip-Hop all the way through to House!
Saukrates, Self Scientific & E-Rule : Wonderful World
Taken from DJ Adam 12's "World Wide Originals" EP, I somehow either didn't hear this track or forgot it existed; dug it out this month and it fit perfectly! All the MCs come with quality verses over the dark beat, making this a definite underground gem. E-Rule/Erule is an MC who has powerful entry on my own vinyl wants list; if you see a copy of that record, buy it without hesitation as it's fantastic. If you're feeling generous, buy it without hesitation for me as a present :o)
Blue Sky Black Death : Lord Of Our Vice
Picked up the "Late Night Cinema" album on spec from Fat City in Manchester before it closed and it turned out to be a great purchase - a double vinyl package of big, dramatic instrumental Hip-Hop. BSBD are a West Coast (San Francisco & Seattle) production duo who seem to have that epic sound down to a tee!
The X-Ecutioners ft. Wayne-O : Raida's Theme (Remix)
I forgot I had this - probably because it was on CD :o) The original is good but the remix is definitely superior; the drums still smack but there's more space in the track to help the scratching stand out even more! You can find this on a 12" but this is from the Asphodel Records "Asphodelic" compilation - and is one of the standout cuts.
Kuartz : Hey Hey (Instrumental)
Kuartz is an up-and-coming Manchester producer who is one to watch out for; he's finding his style and he's extremely prolific, cranking out beats for local MCs at a rate the rest of us can only wish to keep up with! He sent me a few things to check out a little while back and this was just the right time to slot this particular number in. Keep up the good work!
donwill + suhBURB : Salsoul
I *think* I first found this via FWMJ's "Rappers I Know" blog, which is well worth checking out. This track is from the combination of suhBURB on the beats and Tanya Morgan's Donwill on the mic, and in fact the "Suburban Sprawl" collaboration album it comes from is available totally free! Just click the link to get at the whole project.
The Kid Daytona : Never Be The Same
I first heard of this MC on the brilliant Juan Epstein podcast. From what I can make out, The Kid Daytona has come up under the wing of Cipha Sounds and has some powerful co-signs - keep an eye on this one. The whole album is available absolutely free here - worth grabbing a download!
Theodore Unit : Wicked With Lead
Ghostface and Trife take the mic on this one, with K-Def on production. That break never gets old!
Foreign Exchange : Downtime (Nicky Troutman Bounce To The Ounce Remix)
Whooooooooo! I bought the "Connected" album (as you should too) on vinyl when it came out and this wasn't on there - I just chanced upon it on Spotify, apparently it's from an extended version which is available on CD. Nicolay kills it on the beat and Phonte (of Little Brother, for those that don't know) is on point with the flow as always, though he's also up for oxymoron of the month; "I'm roasting you f****ts 'cos I'm so diplomatic?"
Jay-Z : Change The Game (Instrumental)
The Bay Area's Rick Rock on production; probably better known for his work with people like E-40, this was one of his really big moves on the East Coast and to be honest, a beat that made me go back and check for more Jay-Z when I'd really not been the biggest fan up to that point.
Peanut Butter Wolf : The Chronicles (i will always love h.e.r)
From the first "Return Of The DJ" compilation, this isn't the most technical track on the album but I just love all the samples that he brings into this one! There's one that I think is incredible but have never been able to identify; first person to post in the comments for this article where it comes from wins a prize - seriously!
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
- The Mouse Outfit : Live Hip-Hop band, making noise right now, and now incorporating Plato (Bedos & Pitch) - the entry fee is worth it just to see these guys!
- The Natural Curriculum : Manchester party-rocking true school Hip-Hop - DJ, MCs, beatboxing; the complete musical package.
- Whoami & Trebor : New production/lyrical duo on MyFirstMoth
- Neighbourhood resident DJs - yours truly included!
As Camp Lo and Masta Ace might say; Uptown Saturday Night Live!
]]>- The Mouse Outfit : Live Hip-Hop band, making noise right now, and now incorporating Plato (Bedos & Pitch) - the entry fee is worth it just to see these guys!
- The Natural Curriculum : Manchester party-rocking true school Hip-Hop - DJ, MCs, beatboxing; the complete musical package.
- Whoami & Trebor : New production/lyrical duo on MyFirstMoth
- Neighbourhood resident DJs - yours truly included!
As Camp Lo and Masta Ace might say; Uptown Saturday Night Live!
]]>In keeping with the Hip-Hop attitude to representing where you're from, I'm using a combination of feedback from listeners and location information provided by my podcast host to produce a complete a map as possible of all the locations where downloads have been done from! The observant amongst you might have noticed the "Podcast On Tour" link in the right-hand panel; that also jumps to this map. Have a browse around, and if any of the pins in a very "general" (e.g country, state, province) area is you, let me know so I can correct it! If your town's not represented at all, let me know (ideally via a comment on this post) and I'll get it added!
PS - the colour/text on the pins has no meaning, just a way of getting round what looks like a bug in the mapping application :o)
Peace,
Adam
]]>
In keeping with the Hip-Hop attitude to representing where you're from, I'm using a combination of feedback from listeners and location information provided by my podcast host to produce a complete a map as possible of all the locations where downloads have been done from! The observant amongst you might have noticed the "Podcast On Tour" link in the right-hand panel; that also jumps to this map. Have a browse around, and if any of the pins in a very "general" (e.g country, state, province) area is you, let me know so I can correct it! If your town's not represented at all, let me know (ideally via a comment on this post) and I'll get it added!
PS - the colour/text on the pins has no meaning, just a way of getting round what looks like a bug in the mapping application :o)
Peace,
Adam
]]>
"Took 'til now to understand it."
- Lisa Shaw
Fairly low-key month for me, but I'm pleased with the way this episode came together - finding the right tunes just seemed to come easily! Still not liking the upfaders on my old mixer, but I digress. Hope you like this month's collection!
RIP Gregory Isaacs and Eyedea...
Playlist/Notes
Kurupt : Yessir
Heard this ages ago on the Spine Magazine blog and glad it eventually got a proper release. This was something like the fourth single off Kurupt's "Streetlights," which is insane as it's better than any of the others! Pete Rock is on the beat and it's a low-bubbling gem...the only thing I could say is some of the cuts aren't great and maybe a little too loud! Solid track all the same though.
Black Moon : Murder MCs (Instrumental)
On the B-side of the "Buck 'em Down" remix 12" single, this was one of the lesser-known gems from the Boot Camp Clik; DJ Evil Dee on production, bringing plenty of darkness with a side order of threat! Ok, I'm hungry now :o) This 12" has an awesome 1-2 punch, should definitely be in your collection.
KRS-ONE : Kill A Rapper
In a sense, staying with the theme from the last track...I only heard this for the first time this month when KRS performed it live in Leeds; grabbed me straight away and it stuck out as a good one for the podcast as most people won't know it. I don't know if this was at all inspired by the Chris Rock sketch that preceded it, but as it popped into my head as I was listening I thought I'd play them both together.
Group Home : Express (as labelled on 12" single, album names this "A Train X-Press")
From the beginning of what can only be called their "Post-Primo" period! The 12" I have this on is a little light on credits but I believe Li'l Dap produced this one himself and the eerie feel is bang on, as is his opening verse. Let me also say that he has one of the best voices in Hip-Hop, he could read my shopping list and it would sound ill :o) Melachi's verse isn't quite as good, but I think it's reasonable to say it's a step above his writing on the (still classic) "Livin' Proof" LP!
Nonchalant : 5 O'Clock (B.L.A.K Remix)
They don't make 'em like this anymore! Nonchalant was something of a one-hit wonder on the scene but this tune is just as relevant as when it was released 15 years ago. This particular version is taken from a 12" of remixes I found on a bargain bin shopping mission; lucky pickup!
Big Pun ft. dead prez & Prospect : The Rain And The Sun
This interlude is one of my favourite tracks on Big Pun's "Capital Punishment" LP despite the fact he doesn't rhyme on it! Featuring and produced by dead prez, after having heard this and "Selling D.O.P.E" frm the "Slam" soundtrack, I was pretty disappointed to find that their debut album sounded not much like either! Anyway, back to Pun - the late great Punisher came out in the late 90s absolutely melting down mics and while this track doesn't show his rhyme skills, I've got some things in my list of stuff to play for you in future months...for now just take this one and this too :o)
Lisa Shaw : Dim Light
Another great interlude, maybe not to everyone's taste but along with "The Rain And The Sun" it's one of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod. This is from her debut album "Cherry" and aside from being absolutely beautiful, is very fitting given the change in seasons we're going through here right now...
Air Adam : Reflex
Another beat from my archives, one of my favourites in terms of the vibe and manipulating the sample; really good for a listen I think but not one MCs were breaking their necks to jump on; a few too many changes in it perhaps.
Jay-Z : Friend Or Foe 98
Short, but not exactly sweet...killer tune though. Jay goes to his mental notebook for a grimy drug story, and DJ Premier smacks this beat crazy! I won't give away the original sample, but it's been worked just enough here to combine with the tough drums and become a monster...
Marley Marl & Craig G : Not A Word
Get 'em Craig! From the "Operation : Take Back Hip-Hop" album comes this banger; Marley Marl (one of the pioneers of sampling) with as vicious a beat as an MC could ever want, and Craig G in full-on smackdown mode against loudmouth rappers - fiiire!
Rasco : Back On The Scene
This just sprung to mind as having the right kind of sound to hold down this spot. The San Francisco native (maybe better known to some as half of Cali Agents) is just one of those solid MCs who's been putting in work for a long time. If you don't already know it, check "The Unassisted" too.
Freddie Foxxx : 8 Bars To Catch A Body
If you know Hip-Hop, that beat sounds familiar to you, doesn't it? You're saying to yourself "why is Foxxx rhyming over the 'Sound Of Da Police' instrumental?" Well I don't know all the facts but this could be an interesting story for the Hip-Hop history/trivia lovers! This track is from the original demo version of the "Crazy Like A Foxxx" album, produced by DITC - however, this version of the album was rejected and it was re-recorded with different production and the tracklist changed. Showbiz produced this and of course also "Sound Of Da Police" so what I think happened is that with the original Foxxx album shelved, the beat was re-used for what went on to be regarded as a Hip-Hop classic! Foxxx is one of the most relentlessly aggressive MCs in Hip-Hop, you won't hear him going through the motions on a verse - he's definitely not for the faint hearted!
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek : Move Something (Instrumental)
From the era when Rawkus Records was making a lot of noise as the dominating force in the independent scene (on the East Coast, at least), and there was plenty of buzz around the label's artists as they prepared to burst out! This is one of the big tracks from that time that made some impact above ground a little bit - though I only just saw the video for the first time this month!
Onra : My Comet
First off, "Onra" sounds like the name of an Egyptian god :o) Anyway, he's actually a Vietnamese-Parisian producer who ,while often grouped under the so-called "future beats" umbrella, comes out with tracks actually containing rhythm, melody, and that certain "je ne sais quoi" ;o) This track is basically just bult around slowing and looping an old 80s R&B number and adding some effects and damn it sounds good! Shout out to Danny Drive Thru for putting me up on this one originally!
Intro : Funny How Time Flies
One of those tunes that even in my "I hate R&B" years I still had to love; mostly because it uses the same break as Mobb Deep's "Temperature's Rising!" DJ Clark Kent is on the remix production here, and if I'd have played it a little longer you'd have heard a verse from Li'l Kim - but I know some people are already listening with screwed up faces, so we keep it moving swiftly to...
O.C. : Can't Go Wrong
Underappreciated dopeness! Taken from O.C's second album "Jewelz" which wasn't entirely warmly received when it was released but which seems to have picked up a bit of a following in retrospect, and rightfully so. As far as this track, it's nice to have a love story now and again, and a real one at that! DJ Ogee, who I must say I know little about, provides the dark, swirling production which somehow fits just right.
Common & Sadat X : One-Nine-Nine-Nine
Another Rawkus Records entry, notable for being part of the fantastic Soundbombing 2 compilation; in fact, I might have attempted to have a big of a cut/juggle with this if J-Rocc & Babu hadn't pre-emptively made anything I might do pale in comparison! Great bit of Hi-Tek production with the Chicago/Bronx connection doing the business on the mic.
J-Zone : Finale, Movement A (Instrumental)
Had to loop this to play a second time to make it long enough to use! Dope beat with serious bass from J-Zone's instrumental soundtrack (for a non-existing film) "To Love A Hooker" - worth picking up for something a little different! Zone is one of the most creative producers out and this is a better conceived and executed piece of than a lot of actual so-called soundtracks - which have the additional advantage of having a real film to follow!
Richard Ace : Stayin' Alive
You've heard this song many times, but not like this! I got this on a compilation called "Reggae Round The Clock" which I liberated from my parents' collection, but doing some looking around it seems that this was released in 1978 on 7". Couldn't believe this when I first heard it, and I've never seemed to have the opportunity to play it for anyone - until now :o)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"Took 'til now to understand it."
- Lisa Shaw
Fairly low-key month for me, but I'm pleased with the way this episode came together - finding the right tunes just seemed to come easily! Still not liking the upfaders on my old mixer, but I digress. Hope you like this month's collection!
RIP Gregory Isaacs and Eyedea...
Playlist/Notes
Kurupt : Yessir
Heard this ages ago on the Spine Magazine blog and glad it eventually got a proper release. This was something like the fourth single off Kurupt's "Streetlights," which is insane as it's better than any of the others! Pete Rock is on the beat and it's a low-bubbling gem...the only thing I could say is some of the cuts aren't great and maybe a little too loud! Solid track all the same though.
Black Moon : Murder MCs (Instrumental)
On the B-side of the "Buck 'em Down" remix 12" single, this was one of the lesser-known gems from the Boot Camp Clik; DJ Evil Dee on production, bringing plenty of darkness with a side order of threat! Ok, I'm hungry now :o) This 12" has an awesome 1-2 punch, should definitely be in your collection.
KRS-ONE : Kill A Rapper
In a sense, staying with the theme from the last track...I only heard this for the first time this month when KRS performed it live in Leeds; grabbed me straight away and it stuck out as a good one for the podcast as most people won't know it. I don't know if this was at all inspired by the Chris Rock sketch that preceded it, but as it popped into my head as I was listening I thought I'd play them both together.
Group Home : Express (as labelled on 12" single, album names this "A Train X-Press")
From the beginning of what can only be called their "Post-Primo" period! The 12" I have this on is a little light on credits but I believe Li'l Dap produced this one himself and the eerie feel is bang on, as is his opening verse. Let me also say that he has one of the best voices in Hip-Hop, he could read my shopping list and it would sound ill :o) Melachi's verse isn't quite as good, but I think it's reasonable to say it's a step above his writing on the (still classic) "Livin' Proof" LP!
Nonchalant : 5 O'Clock (B.L.A.K Remix)
They don't make 'em like this anymore! Nonchalant was something of a one-hit wonder on the scene but this tune is just as relevant as when it was released 15 years ago. This particular version is taken from a 12" of remixes I found on a bargain bin shopping mission; lucky pickup!
Big Pun ft. dead prez & Prospect : The Rain And The Sun
This interlude is one of my favourite tracks on Big Pun's "Capital Punishment" LP despite the fact he doesn't rhyme on it! Featuring and produced by dead prez, after having heard this and "Selling D.O.P.E" frm the "Slam" soundtrack, I was pretty disappointed to find that their debut album sounded not much like either! Anyway, back to Pun - the late great Punisher came out in the late 90s absolutely melting down mics and while this track doesn't show his rhyme skills, I've got some things in my list of stuff to play for you in future months...for now just take this one and this too :o)
Lisa Shaw : Dim Light
Another great interlude, maybe not to everyone's taste but along with "The Rain And The Sun" it's one of the few 5-star tracks on my iPod. This is from her debut album "Cherry" and aside from being absolutely beautiful, is very fitting given the change in seasons we're going through here right now...
Air Adam : Reflex
Another beat from my archives, one of my favourites in terms of the vibe and manipulating the sample; really good for a listen I think but not one MCs were breaking their necks to jump on; a few too many changes in it perhaps.
Jay-Z : Friend Or Foe 98
Short, but not exactly sweet...killer tune though. Jay goes to his mental notebook for a grimy drug story, and DJ Premier smacks this beat crazy! I won't give away the original sample, but it's been worked just enough here to combine with the tough drums and become a monster...
Marley Marl & Craig G : Not A Word
Get 'em Craig! From the "Operation : Take Back Hip-Hop" album comes this banger; Marley Marl (one of the pioneers of sampling) with as vicious a beat as an MC could ever want, and Craig G in full-on smackdown mode against loudmouth rappers - fiiire!
Rasco : Back On The Scene
This just sprung to mind as having the right kind of sound to hold down this spot. The San Francisco native (maybe better known to some as half of Cali Agents) is just one of those solid MCs who's been putting in work for a long time. If you don't already know it, check "The Unassisted" too.
Freddie Foxxx : 8 Bars To Catch A Body
If you know Hip-Hop, that beat sounds familiar to you, doesn't it? You're saying to yourself "why is Foxxx rhyming over the 'Sound Of Da Police' instrumental?" Well I don't know all the facts but this could be an interesting story for the Hip-Hop history/trivia lovers! This track is from the original demo version of the "Crazy Like A Foxxx" album, produced by DITC - however, this version of the album was rejected and it was re-recorded with different production and the tracklist changed. Showbiz produced this and of course also "Sound Of Da Police" so what I think happened is that with the original Foxxx album shelved, the beat was re-used for what went on to be regarded as a Hip-Hop classic! Foxxx is one of the most relentlessly aggressive MCs in Hip-Hop, you won't hear him going through the motions on a verse - he's definitely not for the faint hearted!
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek : Move Something (Instrumental)
From the era when Rawkus Records was making a lot of noise as the dominating force in the independent scene (on the East Coast, at least), and there was plenty of buzz around the label's artists as they prepared to burst out! This is one of the big tracks from that time that made some impact above ground a little bit - though I only just saw the video for the first time this month!
Onra : My Comet
First off, "Onra" sounds like the name of an Egyptian god :o) Anyway, he's actually a Vietnamese-Parisian producer who ,while often grouped under the so-called "future beats" umbrella, comes out with tracks actually containing rhythm, melody, and that certain "je ne sais quoi" ;o) This track is basically just bult around slowing and looping an old 80s R&B number and adding some effects and damn it sounds good! Shout out to Danny Drive Thru for putting me up on this one originally!
Intro : Funny How Time Flies
One of those tunes that even in my "I hate R&B" years I still had to love; mostly because it uses the same break as Mobb Deep's "Temperature's Rising!" DJ Clark Kent is on the remix production here, and if I'd have played it a little longer you'd have heard a verse from Li'l Kim - but I know some people are already listening with screwed up faces, so we keep it moving swiftly to...
O.C. : Can't Go Wrong
Underappreciated dopeness! Taken from O.C's second album "Jewelz" which wasn't entirely warmly received when it was released but which seems to have picked up a bit of a following in retrospect, and rightfully so. As far as this track, it's nice to have a love story now and again, and a real one at that! DJ Ogee, who I must say I know little about, provides the dark, swirling production which somehow fits just right.
Common & Sadat X : One-Nine-Nine-Nine
Another Rawkus Records entry, notable for being part of the fantastic Soundbombing 2 compilation; in fact, I might have attempted to have a big of a cut/juggle with this if J-Rocc & Babu hadn't pre-emptively made anything I might do pale in comparison! Great bit of Hi-Tek production with the Chicago/Bronx connection doing the business on the mic.
J-Zone : Finale, Movement A (Instrumental)
Had to loop this to play a second time to make it long enough to use! Dope beat with serious bass from J-Zone's instrumental soundtrack (for a non-existing film) "To Love A Hooker" - worth picking up for something a little different! Zone is one of the most creative producers out and this is a better conceived and executed piece of than a lot of actual so-called soundtracks - which have the additional advantage of having a real film to follow!
Richard Ace : Stayin' Alive
You've heard this song many times, but not like this! I got this on a compilation called "Reggae Round The Clock" which I liberated from my parents' collection, but doing some looking around it seems that this was released in 1978 on 7". Couldn't believe this when I first heard it, and I've never seemed to have the opportunity to play it for anyone - until now :o)
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"My name pops inside your head like Johnny Wishbone..."
- Riddla
Probably the perfect time to use this photo :o) Been a busy but good month for me, hoped to get this out a little earlier but spend a bit too much time trying to tweak the sound! Hope you enjoy it anyway, dusted off some stuff I haven't played even for myself in ages...or at all for anyone else!
PS - in keeping with the title, I was going to just play 16 tracks, but couldn't resist throwing the last one in and messing it up ;o)
Playlist/Notes
Terminator X ft. Chuck D & Sister Souljah : Buck Whylin'
Militant Public Enemy representation on this big early 90s track from Terminator X's first solo LP, "Terminator X & The Valley Of The Jeep Beats." The video was classic PE material too, and not the kind of thing you'd see on your average track nowadays!
Phat Kat : Don't Nobody Care About Us (Instrumental)
Detroit all the way - J Dilla beat, B-Side to "Dedication To The Suckers" 12", and to me the far better track.
K-Solo : Letterman (Pete Rock Remix)
Bam! Incredible Pete Rock remix, smashing the original with a big bat! Not only do you get the hard snare and P-Funk groove, but those trademark repeated horns in the hook combined with the cuts make this a 10/10 beat without question. K-Solo was part of EPMD's Hit Squad (this is in the days before every group had an extended musical crew), and also had the track "Spellbound" which was the source of a beef with DMX; both claimed they'd written it and been ripped off by the other. Here's the DMX version, just for comparison!
Sly & Robbie : Boops (Here To Go) & Boops (CJ Scratch Instrumental)
The legendary reggae rhythm section with their big chart hit from 1987 - I remember thinking this was amazing when I heard it as a kid and when I started buying vinyl years later I was ecstatic to find this cheap. Not only did the 12" have the original version but the other track featured here, an instrumental/scratch version featuring CJ Mackintosh, who was the 1987 DMC UK Champion. Although nowadays there's nothing technical about it, I love that transform at 11:06 - so fresh!
A Tribe Called Quest : Rap Promoter
Only short but one of my favourite cuts from "The Low End Theory," and one that performers of many stripes can probably relate to!
FT ft. M.A.F.I.A : Money All The Time
Time for a little aggro! This is from "The Anti-Backpack Movement" compilation on Tru Criminal Records, which tells you most of what you need to know about the lyrical vibe this is on :o) Production is by Buckwild of DITC and the beat really drives this track; that bassline is outrageous!
DJ Brasco ft. Frank 'n' Dank : Shut It Down (Instrumental)
French producer Brasco comes through with a banging track - Frank 'n' Dank didn't really kill this beat to be honest but I'd love to hear some freestyling over this. In fact, that might be an idea for a future episode...
DJ Skitz ft. Riddla : Vocal Workout
Skitz' classic "Countryman" producer project provides us with this track - I'm definitely going to play you more cuts from that album in the future though! He shows a lot of range on the album and on this laid-back piece he brings in London MC Riddla on the vocals. I've only just got Skitz' new "Sticksman" album in the post and I'm sure there'll be some tracks on there that'll appear on future episodes!
Faze-O : Riding High
Funk/soul classic from 1977, vintage from a fine year :o) Much sampled but not heard often enough in its original form! I could write loads of trivia here, but why don't I let you hear it from the source?
Choclair ft. Frankenstein, Marvel & Kardinal Offishall : Internal Affairs
1998 All-Star Toronto material, produced by Day For Day. I don't have much trivia on this one, except to say I think I've used the instrumental on a number of mixtapes for myself, but somehow never got round to playing it for anyone else - until now :o)
Trishes ft. Cold Showda : New Wave
Picked this one up in Piccadilly Records in Manchester on spec and was pleased to find both sides of the 12" were solid! Trishes is an Austrian producer and Cold Showda is an American MC, so it just goes to show that quality material can come from anywhere!
DJ Premier : Sing Like Bilal (Instrumental)
Taken from the "Beats That Gathered Dust" instrumental vinyl, this beat may be familiar to those of you who have heard Joell Ortiz rhyme on it recently, but while doing the research for this show I also found that Reks had used it too - so I suppose it hasn't gathered as much dust as all that! Apologies for the weird stereo movement during the juggle - I think I need new needles!
Jeru The Damaja : D.Original
It's not one of those pretty pretty beats, and that's why it works! Jeru first came to most people's notice on Gang Starr's "I'm The Man" on the "Daily Operation" LP and while he was dope, I don't know how many predicted his huge 1-2 punch of albums that followed! First was "The Sun Rises In The East" that this is from, and then "Wrath Of The Math" (underrated?) I remember hearing this track on a mix*tape* right when it was released and it just smacked everyone in the face with its hardness. Gem!
Jigmastas : Stones
Produced by Nick Fury - you'd better do a good job producing a group if DJ Spinna is one of the members, and on this one he definitely gets it done.
Keith Lawrence ft. Rodney P : Style & Fashion
British flavour with the London Posse veteran Rodney P bringing his unmistakeable style to this track on Keith Lawrence's "Goin' True" EP; Keith's a veteran DJ with an underrated production CV (or "resume" for my US listeners!), not the biggest names necessarily but serious quality.
Krumbsnatcha : Take The Pain Away (Instrumental)
Sounds kind of Primo, maybe a little like Dilla, but it's actually a Nottz beat, from the B-Side of the "Killer In Me" 12". It's worth checking out the vocal version of this anti-domestic violence track too.
Little Brother : Nighttime Maneuvers (Remix)
Southern quality from North Carolina. The only Little Brother I've played on the podcast so far has been "Atari 2600" on Episode 6 and I'm finally getting round to playing a non-joke track by them! The original of this was on "The Listening" and was good but I like this remix from the "Chitlin Circuit 1.5" mixtape even more.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>"My name pops inside your head like Johnny Wishbone..."
- Riddla
Probably the perfect time to use this photo :o) Been a busy but good month for me, hoped to get this out a little earlier but spend a bit too much time trying to tweak the sound! Hope you enjoy it anyway, dusted off some stuff I haven't played even for myself in ages...or at all for anyone else!
PS - in keeping with the title, I was going to just play 16 tracks, but couldn't resist throwing the last one in and messing it up ;o)
Playlist/Notes
Terminator X ft. Chuck D & Sister Souljah : Buck Whylin'
Militant Public Enemy representation on this big early 90s track from Terminator X's first solo LP, "Terminator X & The Valley Of The Jeep Beats." The video was classic PE material too, and not the kind of thing you'd see on your average track nowadays!
Phat Kat : Don't Nobody Care About Us (Instrumental)
Detroit all the way - J Dilla beat, B-Side to "Dedication To The Suckers" 12", and to me the far better track.
K-Solo : Letterman (Pete Rock Remix)
Bam! Incredible Pete Rock remix, smashing the original with a big bat! Not only do you get the hard snare and P-Funk groove, but those trademark repeated horns in the hook combined with the cuts make this a 10/10 beat without question. K-Solo was part of EPMD's Hit Squad (this is in the days before every group had an extended musical crew), and also had the track "Spellbound" which was the source of a beef with DMX; both claimed they'd written it and been ripped off by the other. Here's the DMX version, just for comparison!
Sly & Robbie : Boops (Here To Go) & Boops (CJ Scratch Instrumental)
The legendary reggae rhythm section with their big chart hit from 1987 - I remember thinking this was amazing when I heard it as a kid and when I started buying vinyl years later I was ecstatic to find this cheap. Not only did the 12" have the original version but the other track featured here, an instrumental/scratch version featuring CJ Mackintosh, who was the 1987 DMC UK Champion. Although nowadays there's nothing technical about it, I love that transform at 11:06 - so fresh!
A Tribe Called Quest : Rap Promoter
Only short but one of my favourite cuts from "The Low End Theory," and one that performers of many stripes can probably relate to!
FT ft. M.A.F.I.A : Money All The Time
Time for a little aggro! This is from "The Anti-Backpack Movement" compilation on Tru Criminal Records, which tells you most of what you need to know about the lyrical vibe this is on :o) Production is by Buckwild of DITC and the beat really drives this track; that bassline is outrageous!
DJ Brasco ft. Frank 'n' Dank : Shut It Down (Instrumental)
French producer Brasco comes through with a banging track - Frank 'n' Dank didn't really kill this beat to be honest but I'd love to hear some freestyling over this. In fact, that might be an idea for a future episode...
DJ Skitz ft. Riddla : Vocal Workout
Skitz' classic "Countryman" producer project provides us with this track - I'm definitely going to play you more cuts from that album in the future though! He shows a lot of range on the album and on this laid-back piece he brings in London MC Riddla on the vocals. I've only just got Skitz' new "Sticksman" album in the post and I'm sure there'll be some tracks on there that'll appear on future episodes!
Faze-O : Riding High
Funk/soul classic from 1977, vintage from a fine year :o) Much sampled but not heard often enough in its original form! I could write loads of trivia here, but why don't I let you hear it from the source?
Choclair ft. Frankenstein, Marvel & Kardinal Offishall : Internal Affairs
1998 All-Star Toronto material, produced by Day For Day. I don't have much trivia on this one, except to say I think I've used the instrumental on a number of mixtapes for myself, but somehow never got round to playing it for anyone else - until now :o)
Trishes ft. Cold Showda : New Wave
Picked this one up in Piccadilly Records in Manchester on spec and was pleased to find both sides of the 12" were solid! Trishes is an Austrian producer and Cold Showda is an American MC, so it just goes to show that quality material can come from anywhere!
DJ Premier : Sing Like Bilal (Instrumental)
Taken from the "Beats That Gathered Dust" instrumental vinyl, this beat may be familiar to those of you who have heard Joell Ortiz rhyme on it recently, but while doing the research for this show I also found that Reks had used it too - so I suppose it hasn't gathered as much dust as all that! Apologies for the weird stereo movement during the juggle - I think I need new needles!
Jeru The Damaja : D.Original
It's not one of those pretty pretty beats, and that's why it works! Jeru first came to most people's notice on Gang Starr's "I'm The Man" on the "Daily Operation" LP and while he was dope, I don't know how many predicted his huge 1-2 punch of albums that followed! First was "The Sun Rises In The East" that this is from, and then "Wrath Of The Math" (underrated?) I remember hearing this track on a mix*tape* right when it was released and it just smacked everyone in the face with its hardness. Gem!
Jigmastas : Stones
Produced by Nick Fury - you'd better do a good job producing a group if DJ Spinna is one of the members, and on this one he definitely gets it done.
Keith Lawrence ft. Rodney P : Style & Fashion
British flavour with the London Posse veteran Rodney P bringing his unmistakeable style to this track on Keith Lawrence's "Goin' True" EP; Keith's a veteran DJ with an underrated production CV (or "resume" for my US listeners!), not the biggest names necessarily but serious quality.
Krumbsnatcha : Take The Pain Away (Instrumental)
Sounds kind of Primo, maybe a little like Dilla, but it's actually a Nottz beat, from the B-Side of the "Killer In Me" 12". It's worth checking out the vocal version of this anti-domestic violence track too.
Little Brother : Nighttime Maneuvers (Remix)
Southern quality from North Carolina. The only Little Brother I've played on the podcast so far has been "Atari 2600" on Episode 6 and I'm finally getting round to playing a non-joke track by them! The original of this was on "The Listening" and was good but I like this remix from the "Chitlin Circuit 1.5" mixtape even more.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"This music is mine...but I'm giving it all to you."
- Space Lady
I had a different selection starting to pan out nicely but unfortunately my nice mixer with 3-band EQ mysteriously bit the dust so I decided that rather than try to force the same blends on my back-from-retirement mixer I'd go in a different direction for the month. Normal service will be resumed with a handing over of cash to the repair company, I'm sure...
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah & Blue Raspberry : Rainy Dayz
My favourite song on one of my favourite albums of all time, this absolutely stunned me the first time I heard it on a Saturday night in my bedroom up in Leeds, and I played it at least once every day for a good six months. I read a RZA interview once (in Fat Lace maybe?) where he said this is one of the beats he would have gladly kept for himself, and you can hear why. Blue Raspberry kills it with the vocals too - definitely my favourite Wu-singer! I think she did eventually record a solo LP but had kind of fallen out of the spotlight by then; I'd love to find a copy!
LA The Darkman : As The World Turns (Instrumental)
LA is a Wu-affiliate out of Michigan, though of course you don't hear him on this 4th Disciple-produced instrumental. Can't believe this track is over 12 years old already!
El Da Sensei ft. Pacewon, Diamond, Big Kwam : Live Shit
The ex-Artifact comes in with a slow and low number, the AA side on the "Got Dat?" single. The oft-underrated Buckwild of DITC did this beat and it shuffles along nicely with its horn and dirty guitar groove.
Blak Twang ft. Roots Manuva : Shhhoosh / ft. Seanie T et al : Shhhoosh (Remix)
I got Blak Twang's "19 Long Time" album at the same time as Gang Starr's "Moment Of Truth" - the Gang Starr was better of course but they were both getting heavy rotation and it was great to have a UK album that knocked like that. I never could hear the whole hook to this one properly, but I always remembered the line "backstabbin' me like Monica, whaaaa!" Yes, off-colour but that's part of Hip-Hop - saying some wild stuff that makes people rewind and say "no, he didn't!" The remix is a little hard to find but I decided just to slide in one of the many guest verses.
Dr.Dooom ft. Jacky Jasper : Call The Cops
From the "First Come, First Served" album, Kool Keith on a serial killer alter-ego vibe, bringing along Jacky Jasper who comes with a seriously off-key verse in keeping with the theme! I think this might have been a Kutmaster Kurt beat, correct me if I'm wrong!
Soul Supreme ft. Shuman : Shine It On 'Em
Had this 12" hanging around for ages (I think this is the bottom-billed of the three tracks on there) and this just seemed to be the right month to play it! Apologies for the sound quality - I think this vinyl and my needles don't get on! Soul Supreme is a producer out of Sweden who has cooked up some great beats. Tack! (that's Swedish for "thanks," not a dis!) As for the sample, easy one for those who remember the Eighties...
Da Beatminerz ft. M.O.P : We Run NY (Instrumental)
Big and booming, this instrumental is from a track which I believe had to be left off the "Brace 4 Impak" album due to clearance issues. The vocal is definitely worth having if you can find it, good solid shouty M.O.P!
Kurupt / Tray Deee & Slip Capone : C-Walk
Taken from Kurupt's "Kuruption!" compilation LP, always liked this one, got a West Coast bounce but not what a lot of people would class as a "typical" WC beat. Tray Deee went on to be in The Eastsidaz (alongside Goldie Loc) for those who remember. And the title? Well, that's talking about the Crip Walk, and if you need to look it up on Youtube, it's something you shouldn't be trying at home - or anywhere else!
Ras Kass : Understandable Smooth
Unreleased killer, thanks to an unclearable (and very dope) sample under those drums. Not a hard one to recognise, so I'll let you do the work ;o) Definitely one of my favourite Ras tracks, don't know who produced it but I take my hat off to them!
De La Soul : Big Mouf
Dug this one up late, it's from De La's "Are You In?" project, a mini-album/mixtape/running soundtrack which was produced in conjunction with Nike and slipped under most people's radars entirely. Took me a couple of listens to get with this track and now I'm wondering why it took even that long! I love the little edits and stops in the intro drums; reminds me of the kind of edits you might have heard the Latin Rascals or Shep Pettibone doing with reel-to-reels, razors and sticky tape!
Das EFX : Brooklyn To T-Neck
When I eventually heard of Teaneck, New Jersey, I thought "Ah, so *that's* what they were on about!" Das EFX are the only group I can think of that had their style bitten so badly (I'm not naming names, just go back and listen to releases around the same time) that they pretty much had to change it up after this album! Solid Scheme (Derek Lynch and the late Chris Charity) provide the funky instrumental, not Erick Sermon as a lot of people who didn't read the credits thought!
Willus Drummond : L.A Vacation (Instrumental)
Vocal version - not up to much. This - thumping. Got this on a 12" alongside J-Zone's "No Consequences" (quality tune). Sometimes it's just all about the beat...nice "Diff'rent Strokes" reference in his name though!
Agallah : Club Hoppin'
The shop I bought this from labelled it with something to the effect of this being something for the MTV crowd, but I don't think that kind of crowd would appreciate this beat - the real old-skool heads will recognise this break all the way! This is pretty atypical of Agallah's sound, but I like it and his energy definitely carries it strong - 24 bar final verse? I guess he liked the beat as much as me! (as an aside, the delivery of "you have no idea" in the hook is class.)
Space Lady : The Gift, Pt.2
Got to credit the man Johnny Dub for putting me up on this one when it came out, an ill 12" on GAMM records which works well in a Hip-Hop or Zapp-type mix. Apparently Space Lady is an alter-ego of someone in Swedish Hip-Hop, but as that's far from my specialist subject I couldn't tell you who. Watch it be Soul Supreme now :o)
The Beat Kids ft. Sadat X : Life Is A Juggle
Picked this one up for a listen just because I saw Sadat X was on it, and it was so unusual I just had to buy it. I can't find any info on The Beat Kids so I don't know what else they've done - I don't think I'd listen to a whole album's worth but in bite-size chunks, just right!
Afrodisiac Sound System ft. Raashan Ahmad : It's So Nice
Illlllll! Not sure why I picked this one up as I'd not heard of them but this tune is the best club tune I never hear in clubs - a nation of DJs are sleeping on it!
Rodan : Ruler Of Day And Night (Instrumental)
I've got this on 12" but I hear it's on MF DOOM's "MM...More Food" album. Produced by M.Moreau & MF DOOM, of course based on a very well known sample for the soul crowd (even alluded to in the title), and one of those tracks that to be honest sounds better to me as an instrumental; I absolutely hated the rhyming on the vocal version, it sounded to me like a textbook example of ignoring the beat and just going off on one... *ducks DOOM fans*
Vikter Duplaix : Looking For Love (Critical Point 58th St.Mix)
Despite the electro-bass on this one I think it needed the comedown from the last instrumental rather than being blended straight from the Afrodisiac Sound System tune. The original was a Marc Mac production but this remix is by the artist and James Poyser, and was done in the famous Electric Lady studios. Nice broken beat-type cut with a sentiment I'm sure a lot of people can relate to...
Remember to support the artists! Search out more material from those you like (if you're in a country where Spotify is available, it's a good cheap way), buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads you like the most and do go to live shows - it puts the most money in their pockets and keeps that live scene alive too :o)
]]>
"This music is mine...but I'm giving it all to you."
- Space Lady
I had a different selection starting to pan out nicely but unfortunately my nice mixer with 3-band EQ mysteriously bit the dust so I decided that rather than try to force the same blends on my back-from-retirement mixer I'd go in a different direction for the month. Normal service will be resumed with a handing over of cash to the repair company, I'm sure...
Playlist/Notes
Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah & Blue Raspberry : Rainy Dayz
My favourite song on one of my favourite albums of all time, this absolutely stunned me the first time I heard it on a Saturday night in my bedroom up in Leeds, and I played it at least once every day for a good six months. I read a RZA interview once (in Fat Lace maybe?) where he said this is one of the beats he would have gladly kept for himself, and you can hear why. Blue Raspberry kills it with the vocals too - definitely my favourite Wu-singer! I think she did eventually record a solo LP but had kind of fallen out of the spotlight by then; I'd love to find a copy!
LA The Darkman : As The World Turns (Instrumental)
LA is a Wu-affiliate out of Michigan, though of course you don't hear him on this 4th Disciple-produced instrumental. Can't believe this track is over 12 years old already!
El Da Sensei ft. Pacewon, Diamond, Big Kwam : Live Shit
The ex-Artifact comes in with a slow and low number, the AA side on the "Got Dat?" single. The oft-underrated Buckwild of DITC did this beat and it shuffles along nicely with its horn and dirty guitar groove.
Blak Twang ft. Roots Manuva : Shhhoosh / ft. Seanie T et al : Shhhoosh (Remix)
I got Blak Twang's "19 Long Time" album at the same time as Gang Starr's "Moment Of Truth" - the Gang Starr was better of course but they were both getting heavy rotation and it was great to have a UK album that knocked like that. I never could hear the whole hook to this one properly, but I always remembered the line "backstabbin' me like Monica, whaaaa!" Yes, off-colour but that's part of Hip-Hop - saying some wild stuff that makes people rewind and say "no, he didn't!" The remix is a little hard to find but I decided just to slide in one of the many guest verses.
Dr.Dooom ft. Jacky Jasper : Call The Cops
From the "First Come, First Served" album, Kool Keith on a serial killer alter-ego vibe, bringing along Jacky Jasper who comes with a seriously off-key verse in keeping with the theme! I think this might have been a Kutmaster Kurt beat, correct me if I'm wrong!
Soul Supreme ft. Shuman : Shine It On 'Em
Had this 12" hanging around for ages (I think this is the bottom-billed of the three tracks on there) and this just seemed to be the right month to play it! Apologies for the sound quality - I think this vinyl and my needles don't get on! Soul Supreme is a producer out of Sweden who has cooked up some great beats. Tack! (that's Swedish for "thanks," not a dis!) As for the sample, easy one for those who remember the Eighties...
Da Beatminerz ft. M.O.P : We Run NY (Instrumental)
Big and booming, this instrumental is from a track which I believe had to be left off the "Brace 4 Impak" album due to clearance issues. The vocal is definitely worth having if you can find it, good solid shouty M.O.P!
Kurupt / Tray Deee & Slip Capone : C-Walk
Taken from Kurupt's "Kuruption!" compilation LP, always liked this one, got a West Coast bounce but not what a lot of people would class as a "typical" WC beat. Tray Deee went on to be in The Eastsidaz (alongside Goldie Loc) for those who remember. And the title? Well, that's talking about the Crip Walk, and if you need to look it up on Youtube, it's something you shouldn't be trying at home - or anywhere else!
Ras Kass : Understandable Smooth
Unreleased killer, thanks to an unclearable (and very dope) sample under those drums. Not a hard one to recognise, so I'll let you do the work ;o) Definitely one of my favourite Ras tracks, don't know who produced it but I take my hat off to them!
De La Soul : Big Mouf
Dug this one up late, it's from De La's "Are You In?" project, a mini-album/mixtape/running soundtrack which was produced in conjunction with Nike and slipped under most people's radars entirely. Took me a couple of listens to get with this track and now I'm wondering why it took even that long! I love the little edits and stops in the intro drums; reminds me of the kind of edits you might have heard the Latin Rascals or Shep Pettibone doing with reel-to-reels, razors and sticky tape!
Das EFX : Brooklyn To T-Neck
When I eventually heard of Teaneck, New Jersey, I thought "Ah, so *that's* what they were on about!" Das EFX are the only group I can think of that had their style bitten so badly (I'm not naming names, just go back and listen to releases around the same time) that they pretty much had to change it up after this album! Solid Scheme (Derek Lynch and the late Chris Charity) provide the funky instrumental, not Erick Sermon as a lot of people who didn't read the credits thought!
Willus Drummond : L.A Vacation (Instrumental)
Vocal version - not up to much. This - thumping. Got this on a 12" alongside J-Zone's "No Consequences" (quality tune). Sometimes it's just all about the beat...nice "Diff'rent Strokes" reference in his name though!
Agallah : Club Hoppin'
The shop I bought this from labelled it with something to the effect of this being something for the MTV crowd, but I don't think that kind of crowd would appreciate this beat - the real old-skool heads will recognise this break all the way! This is pretty atypical of Agallah's sound, but I like it and his energy definitely carries it strong - 24 bar final verse? I guess he liked the beat as much as me! (as an aside, the delivery of "you have no idea" in the hook is class.)
Space Lady : The Gift, Pt.2
Got to credit the man Johnny Dub for putting me up on this one when it came out, an ill 12" on GAMM records which works well in a Hip-Hop or Zapp-type mix. Apparently Space Lady is an alter-ego of someone in Swedish Hip-Hop, but as that's far from my specialist subject I couldn't tell you who. Watch it be Soul Supreme now :o)
The Beat Kids ft. Sadat X : Life Is A Juggle
Picked this one up for a listen just because I saw Sadat X was on it, and it was so unusual I just had to buy it. I can't find any info on The Beat Kids so I don't know what else they've done - I don't think I'd listen to a whole album's worth but in bite-size chunks, just right!
Afrodisiac Sound System ft. Raashan Ahmad : It's So Nice
Illlllll! Not sure why I picked this one up as I'd not heard of them but this tune is the best club tune I never hear in clubs - a nation of DJs are sleeping on it!
Rodan : Ruler Of Day And Night (Instrumental)
I've got this on 12" but I hear it's on MF DOOM's "MM...More Food" album. Produced by M.Moreau & MF DOOM, of course based on a very well known sample for the soul crowd (even alluded to in the title), and one of those tracks that to be honest sounds better to me as an instrumental; I absolutely hated the rhyming on the vocal version, it sounded to me like a textbook example of ignoring the beat and just going off on one... *ducks DOOM fans*
Vikter Duplaix : Looking For Love (Critical Point 58th St.Mix)
Despite the electro-bass on this one I think it needed the comedown from the last instrumental rather than being blended straight from the Afrodisiac Sound System tune. The original was a Marc Mac production but this remix is by the artist and James Poyser, and was done in the famous Electric Lady studios. Nice broken beat-type cut with a sentiment I'm sure a lot of people can relate to...
Remember to support the artists! Search out more material from those you like (if you're in a country where Spotify is available, it's a good cheap way), buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads you like the most and do go to live shows - it puts the most money in their pockets and keeps that live scene alive too :o)
]]>
"Backup plan's got backup..."
- Redman
(Shoutout to DJ Greenpeace for the episode title - an old joke from back in the day!)
Just squeezing this episode in with minutes to spare - the choice of the first few tracks seemed to flow easily but it took me a long while to settle on what to include for the rest of the show. It goes from the sunny, to the abrasive, to the paranoid, and more besides, and all in under an hour - enjoy!
Playlist/Notes
Al B. Sure! : Nite And Day
Shout out to Al - he's put a lot of people on over the years! Depending on your musical background, this is one of those tunes which either you'll recognise straight away or never have heard at all. Just giving you a taster here, largely so you can appreciate the next tune...
The Federation : My Rimz
Fairfield stand up! Fantastic Bay Area track from the guys who brought you the term "Hyphy" - when this song plays even your bike turns into a box Chevrolet, just for a while :o) You can find this on the "It's Whateva" album - I don't know if it was ever on vinyl but you can definitely get CD and MP3 versions from your favourite web shop (unless that's http://welikewackbeats.com)
E-40 ft. The Clipse : Quarterbackin' (Instrumental)
Bay Area again! Only the instrumental here, but will definitely have to give you some E-40 in a future episode - he's an underappreciated MC, certainly in the UK where he's not well known at all. This beat (by E-A-Ski and CMT) swaggers and knocks in a defiantly West Coast fashion, grab a copy of the 12" if it's up your alley; here's the video with the full tune.
Styly Cee ft. Midnyte : Kofi's Night
Maybe I'm biased because Midnyte dissed Michael Jackson, but this is included more for the fit of the beat than the lyrics! This is a track out of Nottingham, Styly Cee being a veteran of their scene - Midnyte may be too but I've got to be honest, I don't know too much about him! This was on a 12" on Son Records with "Joyrider" on the A-Side - got the vinyl but I've just noticed you can buy it on Bandcamp as a download.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad ft. Chip-Fu : Lord Can I Have This Mercy
I can't find where I originally read this, but one interviewer asked Ali about the metallic shaking noise ("like scissors") that runs throughout the beat, and he replied that it was the sound of chains - like slaves would have worn. That image has always stayed with me and comes to mind every time I hear this track, originally from his 2004 "Shaheedullah and Stereotypes" album. That bass is pretty serious, and Chip-Fu comes back from the Fu-schnickens days to deliver some decent material, although when he switches from singing to rhyming he seems to go off-topic?
Ta'raach : Yeah
Another one of the many gifted Detroit producers (as well as a very solid MC). Love this one, that repeated vocal sample every bar is *just* right, everything on the track just seems to fit together as it should. No real hook, extended (for this era, anyway) cuts at the end, nice change from the standard verse/hook/verse/hook/outro structure. I've been looking for a place to fit this one in for a while, so here it is - only downer is now I can't play it on the show again!
PMD : '87 To The Present
The "Parrish Making Dollars" part of EPMD with a sneaky little cut which I bet hardly anyone on here has heard! While Parrish is actually overlooked for his production and has cooked up many classics, this one was produced by the Ghetto Professionals (ex-Beatnut V.I.C and Mike Heron). Taken from the "The Awakening" album, picked it up cheap from somewhere - got a couple of good joints on there, worth a check at least.
Hijack : The Paranoid Schizophrenic With Homicidal Tendencies
Quite a title, and a departure from everything else on Hijack's certified UK classic "The Horns Of Jericho" (which you should have if at all possible, at the time of writing it's not the cheapest though). Hijack are simply legends on the UK scene for what they did in their day. At a time when UK Hip-Hop was written off by many, they made enough noise that Ice-T came over to sign them to Rhyme $yndicate Records, and this is when Ice-T was unquestionably one of the biggest MCs on the scene. Though eventually the crew split up to do all sorts of different things, the album is a landmark.
Tribeca ft. Doujah Raze : Throw Heat
"Who?" you ask? Tribeca is a Bronx MC and producer who's done some great stuff but just isn't well-known enough; he's done tracks with Pharoahe Monch ("The Life") and Camp Lo ("Sunkiss" and "Army" to name two) and I'd love to hear him producing for more MCs. I don't know exactly how to describe it but he's just...dramatic, or maybe forceful? He's not too shy to use quite aggressive programming or to play with the panning on sounds in a dynamic style, and I have visions of him pounding on the MPC pads like a drumkit!
M.O.P ft. Li'l Red : City
Discovered this tune last month and decided it absolutely had to be on the next episode - it's on the soundtrack album to the film "Paid In Full" which is worth seeing, by the way. I bought a digital copy of this and don't know who did the beat, but it's dope; I especially love the stuttering feel on the second half of each four-bar segment, the first half just sets you up nicely waiting for it every time. Great chorus as well!
PS - "Paid In Full" is worth seeing, but do read Azie Faison's "Game Over" which is the true story on which the film is very loosely based.
Redman ft. B.I.G, Big L, Big Pun & 2Pac : I C Dead People
This may be the only time you hear an Eminem production on the podcast! I've never taken to his beats at all but this one here works well with the concept of the spirits of the dead MCs filling in the lyrics. I got this on a 12" with some other Redman tracks but this is more readily available on Red's "Ill At Will Vol.1" mixtape/CD. Sorry about the sound quality - probably part bad pressing, part harsh cartridge?
Jimmy Page : Jam Sandwich
Yes, the Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin - this is from the "Death Wish II" soundtrack which I picked up a while ago in the hope of finding some sample material but managed to find this track to play as a bit of a bonus! I had heard in the past that he's not a lover of Hip-Hop and doesn't clear samples but he did take that cheque to feature on Puff Daddy's "Come With Me," which goes to show it's all about the Benjamins...
Joell Ortiz : Project Boy
Something from this year for you; Primo on the beat and one of the foremost new MCs ripping the verses. It's dark, it's paranoid, it's brilliant. Me and my man Watch Deez disagree on the video for this though; I think it's genius and fits perfectly (and the style of the shots is similar to the style of photos I like to take), he thinks it could have been a lot better. What do you think?
Dark Sun Riders ft. Brother J : Rhythmous Flex
1996 banger! After X-Clan, Brother J linked up with this crew (not sure if he started it or not) and recorded the "Seeds Of Evolution" album from which this is taken. Those drums are just killing it - the producer (Ultraman) can always point with pride and say "I did that!" Those of you who are/have been turntablists or followers of that scene might recognise this from one of Mixmaster Mike's old mixtapes - I know a lot of people wanted to know what this was...
Black Milk ft. DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monche & Sean Price : The Matrix
Heavyweight lineup here - B-side to the "Give The Drummer Sum" single, and the best track on there comfortably. Detroit native Black Milk handles the crunchy digital production and opening verse but Pharoahe and Sean P kill this one. "Kryptonite...but I'm a Blood today, Latin King tomorrow?" Oh hell no, that kind of line puts other MCs into retirement!
Slum Village : Set It
Despite an incredible number of setbacks, Slum Village still exists as a group these days, though T3 is the only remaining founder member after the passings of Dilla and Baatin. This track is from the 2005 self-titled album, with just T3 and Elzhi on the mic. Elzhi is definitely the man on this one, filling in all the gaps left in Black Milk's spare, thumping beat.
Lord Digga : K.I.M (Instrumental)
Formerly "Digga," now "Diggaman" so I hear, he got his start in Masta Ace's INC crew before branching out to make some noise as a producer on other projects; notably as part of the Bluez Brothers, who produced three tracks on Biggie's classic "Ready To Die" - the album version of "One More Chance" plus "Everyday Struggle" (heat) and "Me & My Bitch" (looove that beat). I can't believe when I first heard this track that I didn't recognise the sample straight away - it's right in your face once you hear the original...
Linton Kwesi Johnson : Liesense Fi Kill
Born in Jamaica, LKJ is very much an elder statesman of the UK Black artistic community and a living legend of poetry. I first heard this 1998 track on TV - as part of an all-star show celebrating the arrival of the Windrush back in the 50s - and just thought it was incredible. I didn't even think it would be commercially released and was pleasantly surprised to find it on vinyl during one digging mission, so here it is. Google some of the names mentioned for more info...
Remember, if you like what you hear then please do support the artists - seeing them live is the best, and buying the music on whatever format suits you at the very least demonstrates that there's a market for it. If you're in a country where Spotify is available, do get it - it's a great way to hear stuff and be a bit adventurous!
]]>"Backup plan's got backup..."
- Redman
(Shoutout to DJ Greenpeace for the episode title - an old joke from back in the day!)
Just squeezing this episode in with minutes to spare - the choice of the first few tracks seemed to flow easily but it took me a long while to settle on what to include for the rest of the show. It goes from the sunny, to the abrasive, to the paranoid, and more besides, and all in under an hour - enjoy!
Playlist/Notes
Al B. Sure! : Nite And Day
Shout out to Al - he's put a lot of people on over the years! Depending on your musical background, this is one of those tunes which either you'll recognise straight away or never have heard at all. Just giving you a taster here, largely so you can appreciate the next tune...
The Federation : My Rimz
Fairfield stand up! Fantastic Bay Area track from the guys who brought you the term "Hyphy" - when this song plays even your bike turns into a box Chevrolet, just for a while :o) You can find this on the "It's Whateva" album - I don't know if it was ever on vinyl but you can definitely get CD and MP3 versions from your favourite web shop (unless that's http://welikewackbeats.com)
E-40 ft. The Clipse : Quarterbackin' (Instrumental)
Bay Area again! Only the instrumental here, but will definitely have to give you some E-40 in a future episode - he's an underappreciated MC, certainly in the UK where he's not well known at all. This beat (by E-A-Ski and CMT) swaggers and knocks in a defiantly West Coast fashion, grab a copy of the 12" if it's up your alley; here's the video with the full tune.
Styly Cee ft. Midnyte : Kofi's Night
Maybe I'm biased because Midnyte dissed Michael Jackson, but this is included more for the fit of the beat than the lyrics! This is a track out of Nottingham, Styly Cee being a veteran of their scene - Midnyte may be too but I've got to be honest, I don't know too much about him! This was on a 12" on Son Records with "Joyrider" on the A-Side - got the vinyl but I've just noticed you can buy it on Bandcamp as a download.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad ft. Chip-Fu : Lord Can I Have This Mercy
I can't find where I originally read this, but one interviewer asked Ali about the metallic shaking noise ("like scissors") that runs throughout the beat, and he replied that it was the sound of chains - like slaves would have worn. That image has always stayed with me and comes to mind every time I hear this track, originally from his 2004 "Shaheedullah and Stereotypes" album. That bass is pretty serious, and Chip-Fu comes back from the Fu-schnickens days to deliver some decent material, although when he switches from singing to rhyming he seems to go off-topic?
Ta'raach : Yeah
Another one of the many gifted Detroit producers (as well as a very solid MC). Love this one, that repeated vocal sample every bar is *just* right, everything on the track just seems to fit together as it should. No real hook, extended (for this era, anyway) cuts at the end, nice change from the standard verse/hook/verse/hook/outro structure. I've been looking for a place to fit this one in for a while, so here it is - only downer is now I can't play it on the show again!
PMD : '87 To The Present
The "Parrish Making Dollars" part of EPMD with a sneaky little cut which I bet hardly anyone on here has heard! While Parrish is actually overlooked for his production and has cooked up many classics, this one was produced by the Ghetto Professionals (ex-Beatnut V.I.C and Mike Heron). Taken from the "The Awakening" album, picked it up cheap from somewhere - got a couple of good joints on there, worth a check at least.
Hijack : The Paranoid Schizophrenic With Homicidal Tendencies
Quite a title, and a departure from everything else on Hijack's certified UK classic "The Horns Of Jericho" (which you should have if at all possible, at the time of writing it's not the cheapest though). Hijack are simply legends on the UK scene for what they did in their day. At a time when UK Hip-Hop was written off by many, they made enough noise that Ice-T came over to sign them to Rhyme $yndicate Records, and this is when Ice-T was unquestionably one of the biggest MCs on the scene. Though eventually the crew split up to do all sorts of different things, the album is a landmark.
Tribeca ft. Doujah Raze : Throw Heat
"Who?" you ask? Tribeca is a Bronx MC and producer who's done some great stuff but just isn't well-known enough; he's done tracks with Pharoahe Monch ("The Life") and Camp Lo ("Sunkiss" and "Army" to name two) and I'd love to hear him producing for more MCs. I don't know exactly how to describe it but he's just...dramatic, or maybe forceful? He's not too shy to use quite aggressive programming or to play with the panning on sounds in a dynamic style, and I have visions of him pounding on the MPC pads like a drumkit!
M.O.P ft. Li'l Red : City
Discovered this tune last month and decided it absolutely had to be on the next episode - it's on the soundtrack album to the film "Paid In Full" which is worth seeing, by the way. I bought a digital copy of this and don't know who did the beat, but it's dope; I especially love the stuttering feel on the second half of each four-bar segment, the first half just sets you up nicely waiting for it every time. Great chorus as well!
PS - "Paid In Full" is worth seeing, but do read Azie Faison's "Game Over" which is the true story on which the film is very loosely based.
Redman ft. B.I.G, Big L, Big Pun & 2Pac : I C Dead People
This may be the only time you hear an Eminem production on the podcast! I've never taken to his beats at all but this one here works well with the concept of the spirits of the dead MCs filling in the lyrics. I got this on a 12" with some other Redman tracks but this is more readily available on Red's "Ill At Will Vol.1" mixtape/CD. Sorry about the sound quality - probably part bad pressing, part harsh cartridge?
Jimmy Page : Jam Sandwich
Yes, the Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin - this is from the "Death Wish II" soundtrack which I picked up a while ago in the hope of finding some sample material but managed to find this track to play as a bit of a bonus! I had heard in the past that he's not a lover of Hip-Hop and doesn't clear samples but he did take that cheque to feature on Puff Daddy's "Come With Me," which goes to show it's all about the Benjamins...
Joell Ortiz : Project Boy
Something from this year for you; Primo on the beat and one of the foremost new MCs ripping the verses. It's dark, it's paranoid, it's brilliant. Me and my man Watch Deez disagree on the video for this though; I think it's genius and fits perfectly (and the style of the shots is similar to the style of photos I like to take), he thinks it could have been a lot better. What do you think?
Dark Sun Riders ft. Brother J : Rhythmous Flex
1996 banger! After X-Clan, Brother J linked up with this crew (not sure if he started it or not) and recorded the "Seeds Of Evolution" album from which this is taken. Those drums are just killing it - the producer (Ultraman) can always point with pride and say "I did that!" Those of you who are/have been turntablists or followers of that scene might recognise this from one of Mixmaster Mike's old mixtapes - I know a lot of people wanted to know what this was...
Black Milk ft. DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monche & Sean Price : The Matrix
Heavyweight lineup here - B-side to the "Give The Drummer Sum" single, and the best track on there comfortably. Detroit native Black Milk handles the crunchy digital production and opening verse but Pharoahe and Sean P kill this one. "Kryptonite...but I'm a Blood today, Latin King tomorrow?" Oh hell no, that kind of line puts other MCs into retirement!
Slum Village : Set It
Despite an incredible number of setbacks, Slum Village still exists as a group these days, though T3 is the only remaining founder member after the passings of Dilla and Baatin. This track is from the 2005 self-titled album, with just T3 and Elzhi on the mic. Elzhi is definitely the man on this one, filling in all the gaps left in Black Milk's spare, thumping beat.
Lord Digga : K.I.M (Instrumental)
Formerly "Digga," now "Diggaman" so I hear, he got his start in Masta Ace's INC crew before branching out to make some noise as a producer on other projects; notably as part of the Bluez Brothers, who produced three tracks on Biggie's classic "Ready To Die" - the album version of "One More Chance" plus "Everyday Struggle" (heat) and "Me & My Bitch" (looove that beat). I can't believe when I first heard this track that I didn't recognise the sample straight away - it's right in your face once you hear the original...
Linton Kwesi Johnson : Liesense Fi Kill
Born in Jamaica, LKJ is very much an elder statesman of the UK Black artistic community and a living legend of poetry. I first heard this 1998 track on TV - as part of an all-star show celebrating the arrival of the Windrush back in the 50s - and just thought it was incredible. I didn't even think it would be commercially released and was pleasantly surprised to find it on vinyl during one digging mission, so here it is. Google some of the names mentioned for more info...
Remember, if you like what you hear then please do support the artists - seeing them live is the best, and buying the music on whatever format suits you at the very least demonstrates that there's a market for it. If you're in a country where Spotify is available, do get it - it's a great way to hear stuff and be a bit adventurous!
]]>
"If I die, my seed'll be ill like me..."
- Ghostface
First birthday, yay! It's encouraging to look back on the back catalogue of episodes and see all the tracks I've been putting people up on...every time someone tells me they've chased up some stuff based on something from the podcast it's a great feeling.
I started this month in New York - fantastic trip, so many memories I'll carry with me. Shout outs to Pami, Jerry Beeks, Black Robb, Selina, everyone at Tools Of War, David, and both Crumbs Bakery and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for causing me to owe a lot of pull-ups and rowing machine time...
Playlist/Notes
Mantronix : Needle To The Groove
An 80s classic given to me by the man Jerry Beeks on wax, so only right that I open up this month's show with it! Serious vocoder-type action on the outro, so just had to play the whole thing :o)
Brand Nubian : Don't Let It Go To Your Head (Remix Instrumental)
Not a typical Brand Nubian track but certainly sounds like the Neptunes production it is - never heard this outside my house, I don't know if that's because no-one knows it or everyone else hates it?
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz : Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) (Pro-Black Mix)
Not a well-known remix - I've lost the info sheet I had with the record but I've heard Ayatollah produced this one; I like it just as much as the original, but in a different way. Trivia: I heard that Steely Dan took 100% of the publishing on the original for the uncleared "Black Cow" sample - once it blew up. One note though; "N****s in the Bronx call me Lex, 'cos I push a Lex, and I rock a Rolex, and I lounge on Lex', and I love sex?" No they don't. I bet if Peter Gunz dropped his wallet walking down the street, and someone picked it up and shouted after him "Hey Lex!" that he wouldn't turn round :o)
Gang Starr : The Place Where We Dwell
So many Brooklyn tunes I could have gone for (Biggie and Jay-Z's "Brooklyn's Finest" sprang to mind) but I settled on this short and sweet dedication to the borough from one of Hip-Hop's greatest duos; it was good enough to be sampled on "Crooklyn," so who am I to rate anything above it?
Onyx : Shiftee
The funniest thing I heard about these guys when they came out was from a Hip-Hop Connection reviewer who said their voices sounds like they had been "gargling with peanut butter!" The "Bacdafucup" album is definitely worth searching out for a listen if you don't know it and aren't easily offended, but it certainly won't get any play on Smooth FM...
Wu-Tang Clan : 7th Chamber Part II
Monster track at the end of the first Wu-Tang album - loved this from the first listen, RZA with the vicious bassline going through the ASR-10 Van Der Pol filter and guitar amp, the dirty drums...perfect base for the Wu MCs to get busy. They don't make 'em like this anymore...well, at least not with rhyming and the drums in time!
Cocoa Brovaz ft. Tony Touch & Hurricane G : Spanish Harlem
Low-key headnodder from the period when Smif-n-Wessun had to change their name due to a trademark complaint from Smith & Wesson. To be fair, I wouldn't want any legal trouble with a gun company myself... Hurricane G always seemed to be shouted out loads by EPMD but was rarely heard, and Tony Touch does some moonlighting here from his usual DJing and sounds better than 90% of the rappers I see on TV right now!
DJ Cam : Voodoo Child (Instrumental)
Non Phixion ft. DV Alias Khrist : 5 Boros (Remix)
That's DV Alias Khrist on two straight episodes now. Best name in Hip-Hop perhaps? The funniest thing about it is that I've never heard anyone call him just "DV" or "Khrist" - you have to say the whole thing :o) Anyway, I'm getting distracted - love this tune, the pianos make it sound grand, drums are banging, the vocal sample is appropriately dark and while the verses are very decent, I can't get enough of that hook!
Mega Banton : Sound Boy Killing (Smoothed Out Remix/Original Dancehall Mix)
One of those tracks from the 90s when it looked like dancehall was trying to stage an invasion into the US - didn't blow up huge but it was good to see some impact, and back then I loved the combination of dancehall vocals with Hip-Hop beats. Thank you Salaam Remi for the remix, but I just had to sneak a little of the original in there too.
Al Johnson & Jean Carn : Back For More
1980 track, but not an overpowering synth anywhere in earshot. Classy soul number, a really nice duet - someone must have sampled that intro, it's crying out for it!
Mary J. Blige : Be Happy
Even back in the day when I had little time for R&B, this track just could not be denied - 1994 soul flavour here from the Yonkers legend, with a Curtis Mayfield sample just riding nicely underneath. Hotness.
GZA : Fame (Instrumental)
Not 100% sure who produced this - for some reason the vinyl of the single I have doesn't have any credits on it at all! Anyone know?
Nicholas R. Flawless ft. Camp Lo : Cheetah
This seems to never have had an official release, and I've seen different credits in different places for it - the vinyl has this as strictly a Camp Lo track but I think that's wrong. Anyway, I paid some horrible amount to get this on wax, and the sound quality isn't the greatest but that's always the chance you take with unofficial pressings - I think the track shines through all that though!
Braintax : Rational Geographics
Regardless of where he's based now, I always like to let it be known that Braintax started in Leeds! This is taken from "The Travel Show" EP, from the solo incarnation of Braintax, after the departure of DJ T.E.S.T, and a record which has been sitting undisturbed in my collection too long! A nice airy tune longing for a simpler, freer lifestyle, and maybe a bit of sun!
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Sun Won't Come Out
...better not come here then! As an aside, this track gives us the second mention of Castro on the podcast, purely by accident! Hard-drummed, big-bassed trunk rattler from Pete Rock with CL Smooth doing what he does best - rhyming on a Pete Rock beat. Sadly, we've probably had as much of that as we're going to get...do yourself a favour and run to buy "Mecca & The Soul Brother" and "The Main Ingredient" if you don't already have them - thank me later.
K-Def : The Magnum
One of the great underrated (if not completely unmentioned) producers/beatmakers, K-Def was half of Real Live and has done tracks for the likes of Ghostface/Theodore Unit ("Paychecks," biiiig!), Lords Of The Underground, ODB, and more. This is taken from an instrumental-only release, "Beats From The 90s Vol.2" - one for the Hip-Hop DJs to own!
Donnie : People Person
Amazing modern soul - the production/instrumentation works well with a singer who's got a fantastic voice, great lyrics, and doesn't fit the MTV mould. Thank goodness for that!
Please support the artists if you hear anything on here you like! Check stuff out on Spotify, and of course do buy the vinyl/CD/downloads, and go to see live performances whenever you can!
]]>"If I die, my seed'll be ill like me..."
- Ghostface
First birthday, yay! It's encouraging to look back on the back catalogue of episodes and see all the tracks I've been putting people up on...every time someone tells me they've chased up some stuff based on something from the podcast it's a great feeling.
I started this month in New York - fantastic trip, so many memories I'll carry with me. Shout outs to Pami, Jerry Beeks, Black Robb, Selina, everyone at Tools Of War, David, and both Crumbs Bakery and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for causing me to owe a lot of pull-ups and rowing machine time...
Playlist/Notes
Mantronix : Needle To The Groove
An 80s classic given to me by the man Jerry Beeks on wax, so only right that I open up this month's show with it! Serious vocoder-type action on the outro, so just had to play the whole thing :o)
Brand Nubian : Don't Let It Go To Your Head (Remix Instrumental)
Not a typical Brand Nubian track but certainly sounds like the Neptunes production it is - never heard this outside my house, I don't know if that's because no-one knows it or everyone else hates it?
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz : Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) (Pro-Black Mix)
Not a well-known remix - I've lost the info sheet I had with the record but I've heard Ayatollah produced this one; I like it just as much as the original, but in a different way. Trivia: I heard that Steely Dan took 100% of the publishing on the original for the uncleared "Black Cow" sample - once it blew up. One note though; "N****s in the Bronx call me Lex, 'cos I push a Lex, and I rock a Rolex, and I lounge on Lex', and I love sex?" No they don't. I bet if Peter Gunz dropped his wallet walking down the street, and someone picked it up and shouted after him "Hey Lex!" that he wouldn't turn round :o)
Gang Starr : The Place Where We Dwell
So many Brooklyn tunes I could have gone for (Biggie and Jay-Z's "Brooklyn's Finest" sprang to mind) but I settled on this short and sweet dedication to the borough from one of Hip-Hop's greatest duos; it was good enough to be sampled on "Crooklyn," so who am I to rate anything above it?
Onyx : Shiftee
The funniest thing I heard about these guys when they came out was from a Hip-Hop Connection reviewer who said their voices sounds like they had been "gargling with peanut butter!" The "Bacdafucup" album is definitely worth searching out for a listen if you don't know it and aren't easily offended, but it certainly won't get any play on Smooth FM...
Wu-Tang Clan : 7th Chamber Part II
Monster track at the end of the first Wu-Tang album - loved this from the first listen, RZA with the vicious bassline going through the ASR-10 Van Der Pol filter and guitar amp, the dirty drums...perfect base for the Wu MCs to get busy. They don't make 'em like this anymore...well, at least not with rhyming and the drums in time!
Cocoa Brovaz ft. Tony Touch & Hurricane G : Spanish Harlem
Low-key headnodder from the period when Smif-n-Wessun had to change their name due to a trademark complaint from Smith & Wesson. To be fair, I wouldn't want any legal trouble with a gun company myself... Hurricane G always seemed to be shouted out loads by EPMD but was rarely heard, and Tony Touch does some moonlighting here from his usual DJing and sounds better than 90% of the rappers I see on TV right now!
DJ Cam : Voodoo Child (Instrumental)
Non Phixion ft. DV Alias Khrist : 5 Boros (Remix)
That's DV Alias Khrist on two straight episodes now. Best name in Hip-Hop perhaps? The funniest thing about it is that I've never heard anyone call him just "DV" or "Khrist" - you have to say the whole thing :o) Anyway, I'm getting distracted - love this tune, the pianos make it sound grand, drums are banging, the vocal sample is appropriately dark and while the verses are very decent, I can't get enough of that hook!
Mega Banton : Sound Boy Killing (Smoothed Out Remix/Original Dancehall Mix)
One of those tracks from the 90s when it looked like dancehall was trying to stage an invasion into the US - didn't blow up huge but it was good to see some impact, and back then I loved the combination of dancehall vocals with Hip-Hop beats. Thank you Salaam Remi for the remix, but I just had to sneak a little of the original in there too.
Al Johnson & Jean Carn : Back For More
1980 track, but not an overpowering synth anywhere in earshot. Classy soul number, a really nice duet - someone must have sampled that intro, it's crying out for it!
Mary J. Blige : Be Happy
Even back in the day when I had little time for R&B, this track just could not be denied - 1994 soul flavour here from the Yonkers legend, with a Curtis Mayfield sample just riding nicely underneath. Hotness.
GZA : Fame (Instrumental)
Not 100% sure who produced this - for some reason the vinyl of the single I have doesn't have any credits on it at all! Anyone know?
Nicholas R. Flawless ft. Camp Lo : Cheetah
This seems to never have had an official release, and I've seen different credits in different places for it - the vinyl has this as strictly a Camp Lo track but I think that's wrong. Anyway, I paid some horrible amount to get this on wax, and the sound quality isn't the greatest but that's always the chance you take with unofficial pressings - I think the track shines through all that though!
Braintax : Rational Geographics
Regardless of where he's based now, I always like to let it be known that Braintax started in Leeds! This is taken from "The Travel Show" EP, from the solo incarnation of Braintax, after the departure of DJ T.E.S.T, and a record which has been sitting undisturbed in my collection too long! A nice airy tune longing for a simpler, freer lifestyle, and maybe a bit of sun!
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Sun Won't Come Out
...better not come here then! As an aside, this track gives us the second mention of Castro on the podcast, purely by accident! Hard-drummed, big-bassed trunk rattler from Pete Rock with CL Smooth doing what he does best - rhyming on a Pete Rock beat. Sadly, we've probably had as much of that as we're going to get...do yourself a favour and run to buy "Mecca & The Soul Brother" and "The Main Ingredient" if you don't already have them - thank me later.
K-Def : The Magnum
One of the great underrated (if not completely unmentioned) producers/beatmakers, K-Def was half of Real Live and has done tracks for the likes of Ghostface/Theodore Unit ("Paychecks," biiiig!), Lords Of The Underground, ODB, and more. This is taken from an instrumental-only release, "Beats From The 90s Vol.2" - one for the Hip-Hop DJs to own!
Donnie : People Person
Amazing modern soul - the production/instrumentation works well with a singer who's got a fantastic voice, great lyrics, and doesn't fit the MTV mould. Thank goodness for that!
Please support the artists if you hear anything on here you like! Check stuff out on Spotify, and of course do buy the vinyl/CD/downloads, and go to see live performances whenever you can!
]]>
"Shine on me."
- CL Smooth
Twelve episodes, a complete year! Been a hectic month but managed to get just enough time to give you another podcast of audio goodness - here's to more of the same next year!
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass : Release Yourself
New track available for free on Bandcamp! The Carson, CA veteran MC links up with Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies crew for an energetic, offbeat track from his upcoming "ADIDAS (All Day I Dream About Spittin')" album. After a difficult time with his career in the past he seems to be making moves with the new digital distribution model, nice to see some artists taking more control.
Twisted Rootz : Samurai Mind Control
Great beat from a young producer coming out of Manchester - we were both demonstrating at a workshop organised by In The Loop, and after we played each other beats as part of the session he passed me a CD; I played it in the car and this was the standout for me! You can hear more of his stuff at twistedrootz.com.
Trigger Tha Gambler ft. DV Alias Khrist : Hitman For Hire
Does anyone other than me think of DV Alias Khrist as the East Coast, underground version of Nate Dogg? Anyway, been looking for this one for a long while ever since I heard it played on Radio 1 - by Westwood, I believe! Trigger attacks the mic with an approach similar to that on the aggressive classic "Broken Language," and whoever did the beat - I tip my hat to you! Got this on white label, so no credits on it at all...
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Shine On Me
2002 single on Fat Beats, long after the original split between Pete and CL - just shows that whatever their personal feelings towards each other, they bring the best out of each other musically!
Plato : New Born
New Manchester duo who have just put out their first EP "Ease The Word," Plato consist of Pitch on production and Francophone MC Bedos on the mic. This is one of my favourite tracks right now; this was played on Agent J's Groovement show a few weeks ago when these guys were guesting and I bothered the hell out of them asking when it was going to come out! That beat...killer. Bedos' flow is ill but I have to admit my French isn't good enough to understand most of the lyrics!
Knucklehedz : All She Wanted
Erick Sermon on the beat, this is an early 90s funk bomb of the type they just don't seem to make any more - lyrics on the vocal version aren't anything spectacular but I could read my council tax bill over this beat and sound like the man :o)
The Squeeze #1 : Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics - Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop
Trying out an idea, basically trying to summarise the feel of an album. At first I thought this could be done in three or four minutes - pretty quickly found out otherwise! Every track from the album is in here somewhere, if only for a note or two in some cases. For the record (no pun intended) I've heard a DJ track end before with "so put that in your pipe and smoke it," probably on one of the "Return Of The DJ" albums; only sprang to mind when I'd finished, but it was also the only part of that Diamond track I could work out what to do with!
DJ Jazzy Jeff : BossyNova
Lovely summery track with a nice bit of low-end keyboard work from Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" EP - not on the album, so you'll have to look a little harder to get your hands on this one!
The Clipse : Mr Me Too
Shout out to Jon K (then of Fat City Records) for putting me up on this when it was very first released - spacey and bassy, love it. I think The Clipse definitely have mic skills and I do keep an eye on what they put out, but I personally could never look at them quite the same way after they dropped the line "Deep like the Hutu, you cockroaches" on the "Wamp Wamp" single...
All City : Priceless
Illlll! Pete Rock on the beat on this monster B-Side to "The Actual," I know some people who've had trouble finding a copy of this so here's something to get your head nodding on the way to wherever you go to make money!
ODB : Brooklyn Zoo (Instrumental)
Not a RZA beat as most people would assume, but the work of True Master - who also did "Fish," one of my favourite Ghostface tracks. This is definitely one of the all-time great Hip-Hop party starters!
Alicia Keys : Girlfriend
Based around the "Brooklyn Zoo" piano line, I hadn't heard this until recently; I was re-reading Joseph Schloss' "Making Beats" and he mentioned it, so I had a listen and thought it'd be worth including here for anyone else who missed it the first time round!
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Neco Redd : 1 Luv 2 U
Waajeed of Bling47 on production, heard this floating around on MP3 for ages and then found a vinyl of it by accident while on a flying visit to the record shop - result!
Marco Polo ft. J*Davey : Relax
Not usually one for Hip-Hop remakes but this kind of works for me - nicely produced by Marco Polo and J*Davey gives a gender-reversal aspect to the original.
The ARE : Eclectic Relaxation
Love the heavy, slumping rhythm on this cut from the free (and excellent) "Manipulated Marauders" instrumental album, which takes the original samples from each track on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" and does something with them - sometimes close to the originals, sometimes not...definitely worth a download!
Thirstin Howl III ft. Sadat X : I Can't Dance
I laughed when I stumbled on this on Spotify and had to get a copy! I quite like having a bit of a dance in a club but records about not dancing are always amusing, this being no exception - Thirstin Howl III (of the Lo-Lifes, of course) always brings humour to the proceedings and he combines well with Sadat X here. Of course the track is based around Bowie's "Let's Dance" - if you ever wondered why that track is so good, the reason is that it was produced by the great Nile Rodgers of Chic, who is scientifically proven to be incapable of creating weak material!
Please support the artists if you hear anything on here you like! Check stuff out on Spotify, and of course do buy the vinyl/CD/downloads, and go to see live performances whenever you can!
]]>"Shine on me."
- CL Smooth
Twelve episodes, a complete year! Been a hectic month but managed to get just enough time to give you another podcast of audio goodness - here's to more of the same next year!
Playlist/Notes
Ras Kass : Release Yourself
New track available for free on Bandcamp! The Carson, CA veteran MC links up with Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies crew for an energetic, offbeat track from his upcoming "ADIDAS (All Day I Dream About Spittin')" album. After a difficult time with his career in the past he seems to be making moves with the new digital distribution model, nice to see some artists taking more control.
Twisted Rootz : Samurai Mind Control
Great beat from a young producer coming out of Manchester - we were both demonstrating at a workshop organised by In The Loop, and after we played each other beats as part of the session he passed me a CD; I played it in the car and this was the standout for me! You can hear more of his stuff at twistedrootz.com.
Trigger Tha Gambler ft. DV Alias Khrist : Hitman For Hire
Does anyone other than me think of DV Alias Khrist as the East Coast, underground version of Nate Dogg? Anyway, been looking for this one for a long while ever since I heard it played on Radio 1 - by Westwood, I believe! Trigger attacks the mic with an approach similar to that on the aggressive classic "Broken Language," and whoever did the beat - I tip my hat to you! Got this on white label, so no credits on it at all...
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Shine On Me
2002 single on Fat Beats, long after the original split between Pete and CL - just shows that whatever their personal feelings towards each other, they bring the best out of each other musically!
Plato : New Born
New Manchester duo who have just put out their first EP "Ease The Word," Plato consist of Pitch on production and Francophone MC Bedos on the mic. This is one of my favourite tracks right now; this was played on Agent J's Groovement show a few weeks ago when these guys were guesting and I bothered the hell out of them asking when it was going to come out! That beat...killer. Bedos' flow is ill but I have to admit my French isn't good enough to understand most of the lyrics!
Knucklehedz : All She Wanted
Erick Sermon on the beat, this is an early 90s funk bomb of the type they just don't seem to make any more - lyrics on the vocal version aren't anything spectacular but I could read my council tax bill over this beat and sound like the man :o)
The Squeeze #1 : Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics - Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop
Trying out an idea, basically trying to summarise the feel of an album. At first I thought this could be done in three or four minutes - pretty quickly found out otherwise! Every track from the album is in here somewhere, if only for a note or two in some cases. For the record (no pun intended) I've heard a DJ track end before with "so put that in your pipe and smoke it," probably on one of the "Return Of The DJ" albums; only sprang to mind when I'd finished, but it was also the only part of that Diamond track I could work out what to do with!
DJ Jazzy Jeff : BossyNova
Lovely summery track with a nice bit of low-end keyboard work from Jeff's "Return Of The Magnificent" EP - not on the album, so you'll have to look a little harder to get your hands on this one!
The Clipse : Mr Me Too
Shout out to Jon K (then of Fat City Records) for putting me up on this when it was very first released - spacey and bassy, love it. I think The Clipse definitely have mic skills and I do keep an eye on what they put out, but I personally could never look at them quite the same way after they dropped the line "Deep like the Hutu, you cockroaches" on the "Wamp Wamp" single...
All City : Priceless
Illlll! Pete Rock on the beat on this monster B-Side to "The Actual," I know some people who've had trouble finding a copy of this so here's something to get your head nodding on the way to wherever you go to make money!
ODB : Brooklyn Zoo (Instrumental)
Not a RZA beat as most people would assume, but the work of True Master - who also did "Fish," one of my favourite Ghostface tracks. This is definitely one of the all-time great Hip-Hop party starters!
Alicia Keys : Girlfriend
Based around the "Brooklyn Zoo" piano line, I hadn't heard this until recently; I was re-reading Joseph Schloss' "Making Beats" and he mentioned it, so I had a listen and thought it'd be worth including here for anyone else who missed it the first time round!
Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Neco Redd : 1 Luv 2 U
Waajeed of Bling47 on production, heard this floating around on MP3 for ages and then found a vinyl of it by accident while on a flying visit to the record shop - result!
Marco Polo ft. J*Davey : Relax
Not usually one for Hip-Hop remakes but this kind of works for me - nicely produced by Marco Polo and J*Davey gives a gender-reversal aspect to the original.
The ARE : Eclectic Relaxation
Love the heavy, slumping rhythm on this cut from the free (and excellent) "Manipulated Marauders" instrumental album, which takes the original samples from each track on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" and does something with them - sometimes close to the originals, sometimes not...definitely worth a download!
Thirstin Howl III ft. Sadat X : I Can't Dance
I laughed when I stumbled on this on Spotify and had to get a copy! I quite like having a bit of a dance in a club but records about not dancing are always amusing, this being no exception - Thirstin Howl III (of the Lo-Lifes, of course) always brings humour to the proceedings and he combines well with Sadat X here. Of course the track is based around Bowie's "Let's Dance" - if you ever wondered why that track is so good, the reason is that it was produced by the great Nile Rodgers of Chic, who is scientifically proven to be incapable of creating weak material!
Please support the artists if you hear anything on here you like! Check stuff out on Spotify, and of course do buy the vinyl/CD/downloads, and go to see live performances whenever you can!
]]>
"All praises due, if you know what I mean..."
- Guru
(By the way - no, that photo isn't Photoshopped - that's really how the sky looked that day!)
This is about as close as a lot of people have got to flying recently, the volcanic eruption in Iceland has stranded a lot of people, including some of my listeners - hope you get home safe soon!
As promised in the episode, here's the link where you can get the info on this week's Neighbourhood party - hope to see you there!
The sad news was just announced yesterday that Guru passed away, apparently after a long and painful illness. RIP Baldhead Slick...above the clouds...
Playlist/Notes
J-Zone : Flight 212/Bullshit City
I thought I'd start off with something on the airline theme and could have gone a few different ways (Ice Cube's "My Summer Vacation" and "Altitudes" by Little Brother spring to mind). I love J-Zone, he's not only a fantastic producer but has more personality than the next ten MCs in line combined - humour and individuality on the mic are greatly underrated these days!
Air Adam : Ground Effect
Another beat from my vaults, got this one pressed onto a dub plate as I liked it so much! Burning things onto a CD to play just isn't the same...especially if you don't use CDJs anyway :o)
Mobb Deep ft. Noyd: Scam
Unreleased track from 2000, can't remember where I first got an MP3 of this but I love it - very dark and minimal, lots of little touches you might not pick up on straight away, very Mobb. After much searching I managed to find an unofficial vinyl pressing of it to play this month :o) There's a "Mark The 45 King" remix of this track on the B-side but it's nowhere near as good - this is the one.
Cormega ft. Ghostface : Tony/Montana
If you didn't know, the title comes from the fact that this track is by Ghostface (aka Tony Starks) and Cormega (aka Mega Montana); totally forgot about this one until I went for a good root in the collection. Is Mega's section about the Sprewell trade awkward or genius?
Blahzay Blahzay : Sending Dem Back
Of course when you talk about Blahzay you think about "Danger" and "The Pain I Feel," but I've loved this track since the man DJ Greenpeace hit me with a cassette of the album preview back in my salad days. Tanya Brewer is the singer on this, for anyone who wanted to know!
Faith Evans : You Used To Love Me (Ali Mix)
The original track is great too but this is a nice reworking, airy and spacey, giving Faith's vocals plenty of room. I edited the intro to this slightly to make it a bit longer and better for blending with, then used Serato to mix it live; got to love all this modern technology :o)
Jake One & Freeway : Know What I Mean (Instrumental)
The "Stimulus Package" album is hot right now and not only does it sound good but the packaging and ability to download an official digital version of the album and instrumentals perhaps point the way to how people can be persuaded to shell out for the physical copy of an album in these downloading times!
The Roots : Proceed V (Beatminerz Mix)
Philly. New York. Nice.
Johnnie Taylor : Somebody's Gettin' It
Taken from the 1976 "Eargasm" album, which has some top tracks on it. If you don't know who Johnnie Taylor is, you may just recognise this track which borrows from one of his tunes heavily. Picked this one up in Manchester's King Bee Records, great spot for digging for old vinyl and worthy of support, as are all good independent record shops - don't let them disappear!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Raise It Up
From the Wild Pitch era of Ultra, the "Four Horsemen" album is a quality 90s New York release - no frills, no R&B, just straight up Hip-Hop. Used to play this one heavily on cassette back in the days, but finally got a vinyl copy of this track on the "Hi-Phat Diet" compilation.
Guru : The Anthem
It would have been too easy to go to the library of big Gang Starr classics here, and I'm sure there will be some fitting tribute mixes popping up all over the net this week. This is from the "Baldhead Slick & Da Click" album which was mixed overall but certainly had a few gems on it. DJ Roach on production here, and of course the one and only Guru Keith E handling the mic in his unmistakable style.
Outerspace : 151° (Instrumental) / The Cutthroats ft. Guru : Stop Looking At Me
Outerspace are part of the extended Jedi Mind Tricks family and part of Army Of The Pharaohs, and this serious beat was produced by 7L - I got it on a 12" with "Divine Evil" on the other side but it's apparently taken from the "Blood And Ashes" EP.
I just had to play that bit of the Cutthroats/Guru track - for light relief if nothing else!
Prince Po : Holla
Self-produced track from the former Organized Konfusion MC, from the "Prettyblack" album but also on the B-Side of "Mecheti Lightspeed" - that tune got a decent amount of play in these parts but I felt like this one was overlooked; yes, it's clubbish and all that, but is that a crime?
Joe Budden ft. LL Cool J & Dutchess : Focus (Remix)
Shout out to DJ A-Up who wanted to know about this tune when I played it out a few months ago! It's called a remix but the beat is just the same as the original, which is good since there was nothing wrong with it :o) Dutchess I don't know anything about I have to say, but LL is of course one of those guys who just kept on going and always seemed to be able to keep up as the era and audience changed; respect for that!
Missy Elliott ft. Jay-Z : Wake Up
Missy is definitely one of those artists who's done so many things you forget! I hadn't heard this tune for so long but heard it the other day while going through some things and then played it a few more times in a row!
1st Infantry : The Midnight Creep (Instrumental)
Nice crime-story Alchemist production: Havoc and Twin are on the vocal version of this, worth having I think!
The Coup : 5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO
Even if the revolution isn't televised, at least it'll have a soundtrack! 2001 track here from the deeply political Oakland duo (Boots Riley on the mic, Pam the Funkstress on the wheels); also notable for having the great Bernie Worrell on the Theremin!
Please support the artists whenever you can if there's anything on here you like; go to see them live, check them out on Spotify, and buy their output too!
]]>"All praises due, if you know what I mean..."
- Guru
(By the way - no, that photo isn't Photoshopped - that's really how the sky looked that day!)
This is about as close as a lot of people have got to flying recently, the volcanic eruption in Iceland has stranded a lot of people, including some of my listeners - hope you get home safe soon!
As promised in the episode, here's the link where you can get the info on this week's Neighbourhood party - hope to see you there!
The sad news was just announced yesterday that Guru passed away, apparently after a long and painful illness. RIP Baldhead Slick...above the clouds...
Playlist/Notes
J-Zone : Flight 212/Bullshit City
I thought I'd start off with something on the airline theme and could have gone a few different ways (Ice Cube's "My Summer Vacation" and "Altitudes" by Little Brother spring to mind). I love J-Zone, he's not only a fantastic producer but has more personality than the next ten MCs in line combined - humour and individuality on the mic are greatly underrated these days!
Air Adam : Ground Effect
Another beat from my vaults, got this one pressed onto a dub plate as I liked it so much! Burning things onto a CD to play just isn't the same...especially if you don't use CDJs anyway :o)
Mobb Deep ft. Noyd: Scam
Unreleased track from 2000, can't remember where I first got an MP3 of this but I love it - very dark and minimal, lots of little touches you might not pick up on straight away, very Mobb. After much searching I managed to find an unofficial vinyl pressing of it to play this month :o) There's a "Mark The 45 King" remix of this track on the B-side but it's nowhere near as good - this is the one.
Cormega ft. Ghostface : Tony/Montana
If you didn't know, the title comes from the fact that this track is by Ghostface (aka Tony Starks) and Cormega (aka Mega Montana); totally forgot about this one until I went for a good root in the collection. Is Mega's section about the Sprewell trade awkward or genius?
Blahzay Blahzay : Sending Dem Back
Of course when you talk about Blahzay you think about "Danger" and "The Pain I Feel," but I've loved this track since the man DJ Greenpeace hit me with a cassette of the album preview back in my salad days. Tanya Brewer is the singer on this, for anyone who wanted to know!
Faith Evans : You Used To Love Me (Ali Mix)
The original track is great too but this is a nice reworking, airy and spacey, giving Faith's vocals plenty of room. I edited the intro to this slightly to make it a bit longer and better for blending with, then used Serato to mix it live; got to love all this modern technology :o)
Jake One & Freeway : Know What I Mean (Instrumental)
The "Stimulus Package" album is hot right now and not only does it sound good but the packaging and ability to download an official digital version of the album and instrumentals perhaps point the way to how people can be persuaded to shell out for the physical copy of an album in these downloading times!
The Roots : Proceed V (Beatminerz Mix)
Philly. New York. Nice.
Johnnie Taylor : Somebody's Gettin' It
Taken from the 1976 "Eargasm" album, which has some top tracks on it. If you don't know who Johnnie Taylor is, you may just recognise this track which borrows from one of his tunes heavily. Picked this one up in Manchester's King Bee Records, great spot for digging for old vinyl and worthy of support, as are all good independent record shops - don't let them disappear!
Ultramagnetic MCs : Raise It Up
From the Wild Pitch era of Ultra, the "Four Horsemen" album is a quality 90s New York release - no frills, no R&B, just straight up Hip-Hop. Used to play this one heavily on cassette back in the days, but finally got a vinyl copy of this track on the "Hi-Phat Diet" compilation.
Guru : The Anthem
It would have been too easy to go to the library of big Gang Starr classics here, and I'm sure there will be some fitting tribute mixes popping up all over the net this week. This is from the "Baldhead Slick & Da Click" album which was mixed overall but certainly had a few gems on it. DJ Roach on production here, and of course the one and only Guru Keith E handling the mic in his unmistakable style.
Outerspace : 151° (Instrumental) / The Cutthroats ft. Guru : Stop Looking At Me
Outerspace are part of the extended Jedi Mind Tricks family and part of Army Of The Pharaohs, and this serious beat was produced by 7L - I got it on a 12" with "Divine Evil" on the other side but it's apparently taken from the "Blood And Ashes" EP.
I just had to play that bit of the Cutthroats/Guru track - for light relief if nothing else!
Prince Po : Holla
Self-produced track from the former Organized Konfusion MC, from the "Prettyblack" album but also on the B-Side of "Mecheti Lightspeed" - that tune got a decent amount of play in these parts but I felt like this one was overlooked; yes, it's clubbish and all that, but is that a crime?
Joe Budden ft. LL Cool J & Dutchess : Focus (Remix)
Shout out to DJ A-Up who wanted to know about this tune when I played it out a few months ago! It's called a remix but the beat is just the same as the original, which is good since there was nothing wrong with it :o) Dutchess I don't know anything about I have to say, but LL is of course one of those guys who just kept on going and always seemed to be able to keep up as the era and audience changed; respect for that!
Missy Elliott ft. Jay-Z : Wake Up
Missy is definitely one of those artists who's done so many things you forget! I hadn't heard this tune for so long but heard it the other day while going through some things and then played it a few more times in a row!
1st Infantry : The Midnight Creep (Instrumental)
Nice crime-story Alchemist production: Havoc and Twin are on the vocal version of this, worth having I think!
The Coup : 5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO
Even if the revolution isn't televised, at least it'll have a soundtrack! 2001 track here from the deeply political Oakland duo (Boots Riley on the mic, Pam the Funkstress on the wheels); also notable for having the great Bernie Worrell on the Theremin!
Please support the artists whenever you can if there's anything on here you like; go to see them live, check them out on Spotify, and buy their output too!
]]>
"We be listening to beats to keep the cipher complete..."
- Guru
Going into double figures this month! I managed to fight off a nasty sore throat for just long enough to get all the voiceover done, and in response to Coxy I think I've turned my voice up so it's not so quiet compared to the music - I'm sure he'll let me know if I've hit or missed the mark!
Big shout out to Guru who as many of you know is currently in hospital after suffering a heart attack and (reportedly) being induced into a coma. Best wishes going out to you from the Hip-Hop Nation, get well soon!
Playlist/Notes
Brand Nubian ft. Redd Foxx : Black Star Line
From the great "In God We Trust" LP - as much as I love this track, it's not my absolute favourite on the album - but then where else but here would I get chance to play an album cut about Marcus Garvey and have people actually listen?
Air Adam : Street Kingdom
An old beat of mine - for some reason I was in a club where Ja Rule's "Living It Up" (which I hate) was playing and thinking to myself how you could flip the intro and turn it into something with a very different feel, which turned out to be this. I might re-do it on the MPC sometime with new drums to make it thump a bit more, but then I'm not looking to sell this beat so maybe not :o) And the title? Well, that's from the incredible book by Doug Century - absolutely worth a read, or ten!
Greg Osby ft. CL Smooth : Raise (Ali Shaheed Muhammad Remix)
Jazz meets Hip-Hop here as it often does, but in this case you have a top player live on the track rather than sampled - the saxophonist Greg Osby was on Blue Note for years so you know his credentials are correct. This is one of those tracks where the version I knew isn't the one on the album; I first heard this on "Yo! MTV Raps" years ago and loved it, but the original version on the "3D Lifestyles" album just doesn't quite do it for me. Check the "Speak & Spell" sounds in the background too!
OutKast : Players' Ball (Remix)
The B-side of the "Players' Ball" 12" from their first album, before anyone had any idea of some of the craziness that would follow in later years...it's pretty sped up but I like it like that.
DJ Faust : Mind Over Matter
Forgot all about this one competely - pulled from the "Fathomless" EP by Faust, Craze (before his incredible streak of world domination) and Shortee, released just when turntablism was starting to bubble up in the public consciousness. Faust isn't the first name that comes to the mind of many when they think tablism but he's certainly respected among those that know.
Large Professor : Liveguy Saga
Biiiiig! One of my favourite B-sides of all time! This on the flip of "Bout That Time" - which truth be told is pretty blah. This tune is serious though, and I'd consider giving my kingdom for an instrumental! Minimal, but not crazy minimal, just bumps nicely.
Zion I : Luv (Instrumental)
Amp Live bringing a killer beat - very underrated producer for sure. Search out the vocal version of this as it's a very good track, I've certainly given it lots of play before. In fact, look out for any Zion I stuff you can pick up...
Easy Mo Bee ft. Gang Starr : Soul
You don't know it do you? Ha! Well, it's all about sharing so you do now :o) This was originally released on Easy Mo Bee's little-known "Now Or Never : Odyssey 2000" album, a producer-driven project from the man who brought us, amongst other things, the mighty "Flava In Ya Ear" which is one of my all-time favourite beats. I had this track on the album, bought the 12" hoping to get an instrumental and then found they'd accidentally missed it off - gutted!
Que D : In Your Face
Dilla on the beat which was probably the reason I picked this up originally to give it a listen as I didn't know much about Que D beforehand - even now, all I really know is that he's one of the MCs out of Detroit in the extended Slum Village/Dilla family, and he rides this beat well.
Strange Fruit Project : Soul Clap
Texas Hip-Hop with a difference! Got this for a bargain price the other day - put it on the listening deck in the record shop and decided I had to have it. The group of course are named after the famous song.
En Vogue : Hold On
90s classic, dug this one out after forgetting I had it in the first place! I heard Kid Capri use this on a mixtape once, so if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me ;o) Oh yes - check the sloppiness of the snare on beat 4 of each bar! Didn't notice that until I had to mix into it...
M.O.P : G-Building (Instrumental)
Self-produced, D&D studio-recorded, thumping banger from the Brownsville hardrocks. One of my favourite MOP beats and also blended nicely with the En Vogue cut - who'd have thought?
Michael Jackson : Pretty Young Thing (Demo) (U-Tern Edit)
Newness - well, where new=old but little known :o) This has been slightly re-edited for length but the main composition is unchanged; this is the original demo version of "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson. The song was later massively reworked into a more untempo number by MJ, James Ingram and Quincy Jones, and it's that version which appears on the Thriller album. On the one hand, I *think* I prefer this version, but on the other, listen to the instrumental of the album version...when those voices come in on the lead-up to the hook it's just illlll...
Aya : Put Your Faith In Us
Another Naked Music killer, taken from Aya's "Strange Flower" album. I've been absolutely caning this song on Spotify lately so it was only right that I buy a copy and let you hear it too. For some reason I kept thinking it would have been great if Michael Jackson had recorded a version of this song; it sounds like the kind of thing that would have fit him like a glove (no pun intended). Also notice what it does to the tension in the track to have no kick drum on the first beat of every bar - subtle but effective!
Tim Dog : Step To Me (Instrumental)
Maybe not the obvious track to go into from the previous one, but where would the fun be in being predictable? I thought the drum break sounded good here and also provided a springboard to launch into the next track...
Eric B & Rakim : Teach The Children
Second track on the oft-overlooked "Check The Technique" album, definitely worth a pickup if you've not already got it in your collection. That little four-bar change in the piano riff in the first verse starting at the line "I approached it slow..." still puts the chills up me eighteen years since I first heard it. Lyrically, when I listen to something like this, and then some of the alleged rappers coming out now...well, maybe they should have spent more time listening to stuff like this and less playing video games...and yes, I know that makes me sound like an old man.
Wildchild : Code Red (Instrumental)
Oh No on production, this was flipping wigs like crazy in Manchester when it came out a few years back and as soon as all the DJs found out what is was, we all bought it and played it heavy; it's been a while so time to bring it back!
Gang Starr ft. K-Ci and JoJo : Royalty
When this came out I'll admit I was skeptical about having K-Ci and JoJo guesting on a Gang Starr track, but it works and it's a classic. Production-wise, DJ Premier kills it with an amazing sample chop which sounds impossible even when you hear the original track. Guru brings his unique flavour on the mic, and it's the complete package!
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>"We be listening to beats to keep the cipher complete..."
- Guru
Going into double figures this month! I managed to fight off a nasty sore throat for just long enough to get all the voiceover done, and in response to Coxy I think I've turned my voice up so it's not so quiet compared to the music - I'm sure he'll let me know if I've hit or missed the mark!
Big shout out to Guru who as many of you know is currently in hospital after suffering a heart attack and (reportedly) being induced into a coma. Best wishes going out to you from the Hip-Hop Nation, get well soon!
Playlist/Notes
Brand Nubian ft. Redd Foxx : Black Star Line
From the great "In God We Trust" LP - as much as I love this track, it's not my absolute favourite on the album - but then where else but here would I get chance to play an album cut about Marcus Garvey and have people actually listen?
Air Adam : Street Kingdom
An old beat of mine - for some reason I was in a club where Ja Rule's "Living It Up" (which I hate) was playing and thinking to myself how you could flip the intro and turn it into something with a very different feel, which turned out to be this. I might re-do it on the MPC sometime with new drums to make it thump a bit more, but then I'm not looking to sell this beat so maybe not :o) And the title? Well, that's from the incredible book by Doug Century - absolutely worth a read, or ten!
Greg Osby ft. CL Smooth : Raise (Ali Shaheed Muhammad Remix)
Jazz meets Hip-Hop here as it often does, but in this case you have a top player live on the track rather than sampled - the saxophonist Greg Osby was on Blue Note for years so you know his credentials are correct. This is one of those tracks where the version I knew isn't the one on the album; I first heard this on "Yo! MTV Raps" years ago and loved it, but the original version on the "3D Lifestyles" album just doesn't quite do it for me. Check the "Speak & Spell" sounds in the background too!
OutKast : Players' Ball (Remix)
The B-side of the "Players' Ball" 12" from their first album, before anyone had any idea of some of the craziness that would follow in later years...it's pretty sped up but I like it like that.
DJ Faust : Mind Over Matter
Forgot all about this one competely - pulled from the "Fathomless" EP by Faust, Craze (before his incredible streak of world domination) and Shortee, released just when turntablism was starting to bubble up in the public consciousness. Faust isn't the first name that comes to the mind of many when they think tablism but he's certainly respected among those that know.
Large Professor : Liveguy Saga
Biiiiig! One of my favourite B-sides of all time! This on the flip of "Bout That Time" - which truth be told is pretty blah. This tune is serious though, and I'd consider giving my kingdom for an instrumental! Minimal, but not crazy minimal, just bumps nicely.
Zion I : Luv (Instrumental)
Amp Live bringing a killer beat - very underrated producer for sure. Search out the vocal version of this as it's a very good track, I've certainly given it lots of play before. In fact, look out for any Zion I stuff you can pick up...
Easy Mo Bee ft. Gang Starr : Soul
You don't know it do you? Ha! Well, it's all about sharing so you do now :o) This was originally released on Easy Mo Bee's little-known "Now Or Never : Odyssey 2000" album, a producer-driven project from the man who brought us, amongst other things, the mighty "Flava In Ya Ear" which is one of my all-time favourite beats. I had this track on the album, bought the 12" hoping to get an instrumental and then found they'd accidentally missed it off - gutted!
Que D : In Your Face
Dilla on the beat which was probably the reason I picked this up originally to give it a listen as I didn't know much about Que D beforehand - even now, all I really know is that he's one of the MCs out of Detroit in the extended Slum Village/Dilla family, and he rides this beat well.
Strange Fruit Project : Soul Clap
Texas Hip-Hop with a difference! Got this for a bargain price the other day - put it on the listening deck in the record shop and decided I had to have it. The group of course are named after the famous song.
En Vogue : Hold On
90s classic, dug this one out after forgetting I had it in the first place! I heard Kid Capri use this on a mixtape once, so if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me ;o) Oh yes - check the sloppiness of the snare on beat 4 of each bar! Didn't notice that until I had to mix into it...
M.O.P : G-Building (Instrumental)
Self-produced, D&D studio-recorded, thumping banger from the Brownsville hardrocks. One of my favourite MOP beats and also blended nicely with the En Vogue cut - who'd have thought?
Michael Jackson : Pretty Young Thing (Demo) (U-Tern Edit)
Newness - well, where new=old but little known :o) This has been slightly re-edited for length but the main composition is unchanged; this is the original demo version of "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson. The song was later massively reworked into a more untempo number by MJ, James Ingram and Quincy Jones, and it's that version which appears on the Thriller album. On the one hand, I *think* I prefer this version, but on the other, listen to the instrumental of the album version...when those voices come in on the lead-up to the hook it's just illlll...
Aya : Put Your Faith In Us
Another Naked Music killer, taken from Aya's "Strange Flower" album. I've been absolutely caning this song on Spotify lately so it was only right that I buy a copy and let you hear it too. For some reason I kept thinking it would have been great if Michael Jackson had recorded a version of this song; it sounds like the kind of thing that would have fit him like a glove (no pun intended). Also notice what it does to the tension in the track to have no kick drum on the first beat of every bar - subtle but effective!
Tim Dog : Step To Me (Instrumental)
Maybe not the obvious track to go into from the previous one, but where would the fun be in being predictable? I thought the drum break sounded good here and also provided a springboard to launch into the next track...
Eric B & Rakim : Teach The Children
Second track on the oft-overlooked "Check The Technique" album, definitely worth a pickup if you've not already got it in your collection. That little four-bar change in the piano riff in the first verse starting at the line "I approached it slow..." still puts the chills up me eighteen years since I first heard it. Lyrically, when I listen to something like this, and then some of the alleged rappers coming out now...well, maybe they should have spent more time listening to stuff like this and less playing video games...and yes, I know that makes me sound like an old man.
Wildchild : Code Red (Instrumental)
Oh No on production, this was flipping wigs like crazy in Manchester when it came out a few years back and as soon as all the DJs found out what is was, we all bought it and played it heavy; it's been a while so time to bring it back!
Gang Starr ft. K-Ci and JoJo : Royalty
When this came out I'll admit I was skeptical about having K-Ci and JoJo guesting on a Gang Starr track, but it works and it's a classic. Production-wise, DJ Premier kills it with an amazing sample chop which sounds impossible even when you hear the original track. Guru brings his unique flavour on the mic, and it's the complete package!
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>
"Gazing at the worldly things like a showcase..."
- Killah Priest
Podcast podcast number nine... been a quiet month for me but a bad month or so in music with Teddy Pendergrass, Sha Lumie and Apache all passing away due to illnesses. Appreciate your favourite artists while they're here!
Playlist/Notes
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon & Cappadonna : Camay
A love song, Wu-Tang style, from Ghost's "Ironman" album, which is actually still my favourite album of his! This samples the late great Teddy Pendergrass' "Can We Try?"
Jamal : Fades 'Em All (Pete Rock Remix Instrumental)
One of those beloved 90s Pete Rock remixes pretty much unknown to those outside the Hip-Hop scene. Jamal was one of the MCs in the kiddie-but-not-kiddie group Illegal whose album "The Untold Truth" had one of the most amazing lineups on the beats you can imagine - Lord Finesse, Erick Sermon, Diamond D, and more...how did they pull that off? And while I'm asking questions, anyone know what Malik is doing these days?
Sunz Of Man : No Love Without Hate
An old favourite of mine from the extended Wu camp, I got a RealAudio (remember that?) file of this from the net, recorded it to tape and had it on my walkman heavy - perfect soundtrack to those nighttime walks trying to get my head right. Not sure how other people will feel about this tune but this is almost the poster child for the podcast - a track I loved which I never get chance to play anywhere!
Scritti Politti ft. Lee Majors & Mos Def : Tinseltown To Boogiedown (Pete Rock Variation)
Green Gartside & co have always had an affinity with Black music so it's not totally surprising to see this collaboration. Some of you will remember the track they did with Shabba Ranks ("She's A Woman") and Roger Troutman worked with them on the "Provision" album, there's a nice bit of trivia for you. I love Scritti Politti actually, will have to play some more in future - not even remixes, just straight up 80s pop styles!
Masta Ace & Stricklin : The Hitman
Produced by Create & Devastate, a nice little 2006 12" release, shouts to Reptile of the Assmatics crew for putting me up on this one when it was first released. I've just given this one a little edit to make it two verses and then instrumental just to let the beat ride by itself for a few bars :o) Not sure if the producers have done much since but Masta Ace continues to put out good music today a full twenty years after "Take A Look Around" - how time flies...
Da Beatminerz ft. Sha Lumie : Hip-Hop (Da Essence)
Truth be told this is not my favourite Beatminerz production by a long way, but I always liked the lyrics and they're even more striking now with the passing of Sha Lumie this year. "Stay in tune to the game 'til my heartbeat stop..." Those who knew him and have spoken about him publicly will say that he certainly did.
Hyenas In The Desert : Concubinez (Instrumental)
As far as I'm aware these guys only released one EP on Chuck D's Slam Jamz label and then pretty much disappeared. There were a few decent tracks on it but this was the clear winner, just a big pounding tune which moves a big sound system (get a copy and try it)!
J Sands : Southern Lady
This is one I do actually play a bit in clubs, taken from the "Hip Hop Love Soul" compilation on Fat City; I love that quasi-Charleston flavour with a bit of added bump! Someone called Beats Fa Daze (90s-style phonetic spelling there) did the production on this one - can't find credits on any other releases, but would be interested to hear more!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. J-Live & every DJ ever : Break It Down
There's another version of this floating about with a different beat which I don't think suits it, but this is the one on my vinyl copy of DJ Jazzy Jeff's "The Magnificent" album on BBE and I'm glad for it! Teacher/MC/DJ J-Live skips in and out of the beat and there's a huge roster of DJs on this track giving you a few quick cuts each; great idea! Bet there were a few wreck crossfaders behind this one...
MC Serch : Here It Comes Again
From the "Return Of The Product" album comes the much-improved version of "Here It Comes," drums galore and the former 3rd Bass frontman on the mic in his pre-executive days. You barely hear any Hip-Hop this speed these days - whether that's a good or bad thing depends on your taste!
Fun-Da-Mental : Tribal Revolution (Homeland Mix)
A UK 12" from an Asian and Black crew which I picked up for a bargain price many years ago, before I was DJing - this is an instrumental, and a good one, but their lyrics are always political and forthright, which is to be respected!
DJ Shadow ft. Chris James : Erase You
A track I initially overlooked from Shadow's "The Outsider" album, only to discover it when my iPod was on shuffle one day. This is some of the most outrageously good drum programming you'll hear anywhere, a brilliant production job all round to give it that live performance feel - right down to what I assume is an artifically-inserted feedback squeal partway through the vocals, have a listen out for it! Chris James of the band Stateless (Leeds stand up!) is the featured singer and I'll be checking for their own material.
Gaelle : Separate Rooms
Does anyone remember a late-90s house track called "King Of My Castle" by Wamdue Project? Well, this is the same vocalist, several years later and with some very silky production. If you like this kind of thing at all, you must buy her "Transient" album because not to put too fine a point on it, it's pure quality. I've been waiting for a chance to slot this tune in and this segment of uptempo tunes fits nicely.
D-Train : You're The One For Me
80s classic! Big club track from 1981 (no, I'm not old enough to have been clubbing back then, unless you count eating Club biscuits or clubbing people with soft toys), keyboard overload with a real sanger over the top, no Autotune here!
Exile ft. Ta'raach : Move On 'Em
80s through the looking glass :o) Exile flips a strangely familiar groove, adds some serious Moog and lets Ta'Raach get busy on the mic on this selection from the "Dirty Science" album.
Nature : Don't Stop (Instrumental)
Trackmasters production on this instrumental of a track from the "For All Seasons" LP. Nature's lyrics on the vocal version of this are a little forgettable, but he will always get props from me for his opening of Noreaga's "Banned From TV."
DJ Spinna ft. Jigmastas : New York
Monster tune with one of those sample usages that makes you wonder why you never thought of doing it! I'm a big Spinna fan but it was my man Gez who originally let me know about this one by sending me a link to the video which immediately made it into my list of all-time favourites; just check the camera, editing and colour work! I think I'll do a post on favourite Hip-Hop videos of all time in a blog post sometime...
As I say every month, if there's stuff on here you like then do support the artists - look into their catalogues and buy some of their work and/or go to see them live! Whatever you can do, it all helps fight back the forces of wackness...
]]>"Gazing at the worldly things like a showcase..."
- Killah Priest
Podcast podcast number nine... been a quiet month for me but a bad month or so in music with Teddy Pendergrass, Sha Lumie and Apache all passing away due to illnesses. Appreciate your favourite artists while they're here!
Playlist/Notes
Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon & Cappadonna : Camay
A love song, Wu-Tang style, from Ghost's "Ironman" album, which is actually still my favourite album of his! This samples the late great Teddy Pendergrass' "Can We Try?"
Jamal : Fades 'Em All (Pete Rock Remix Instrumental)
One of those beloved 90s Pete Rock remixes pretty much unknown to those outside the Hip-Hop scene. Jamal was one of the MCs in the kiddie-but-not-kiddie group Illegal whose album "The Untold Truth" had one of the most amazing lineups on the beats you can imagine - Lord Finesse, Erick Sermon, Diamond D, and more...how did they pull that off? And while I'm asking questions, anyone know what Malik is doing these days?
Sunz Of Man : No Love Without Hate
An old favourite of mine from the extended Wu camp, I got a RealAudio (remember that?) file of this from the net, recorded it to tape and had it on my walkman heavy - perfect soundtrack to those nighttime walks trying to get my head right. Not sure how other people will feel about this tune but this is almost the poster child for the podcast - a track I loved which I never get chance to play anywhere!
Scritti Politti ft. Lee Majors & Mos Def : Tinseltown To Boogiedown (Pete Rock Variation)
Green Gartside & co have always had an affinity with Black music so it's not totally surprising to see this collaboration. Some of you will remember the track they did with Shabba Ranks ("She's A Woman") and Roger Troutman worked with them on the "Provision" album, there's a nice bit of trivia for you. I love Scritti Politti actually, will have to play some more in future - not even remixes, just straight up 80s pop styles!
Masta Ace & Stricklin : The Hitman
Produced by Create & Devastate, a nice little 2006 12" release, shouts to Reptile of the Assmatics crew for putting me up on this one when it was first released. I've just given this one a little edit to make it two verses and then instrumental just to let the beat ride by itself for a few bars :o) Not sure if the producers have done much since but Masta Ace continues to put out good music today a full twenty years after "Take A Look Around" - how time flies...
Da Beatminerz ft. Sha Lumie : Hip-Hop (Da Essence)
Truth be told this is not my favourite Beatminerz production by a long way, but I always liked the lyrics and they're even more striking now with the passing of Sha Lumie this year. "Stay in tune to the game 'til my heartbeat stop..." Those who knew him and have spoken about him publicly will say that he certainly did.
Hyenas In The Desert : Concubinez (Instrumental)
As far as I'm aware these guys only released one EP on Chuck D's Slam Jamz label and then pretty much disappeared. There were a few decent tracks on it but this was the clear winner, just a big pounding tune which moves a big sound system (get a copy and try it)!
J Sands : Southern Lady
This is one I do actually play a bit in clubs, taken from the "Hip Hop Love Soul" compilation on Fat City; I love that quasi-Charleston flavour with a bit of added bump! Someone called Beats Fa Daze (90s-style phonetic spelling there) did the production on this one - can't find credits on any other releases, but would be interested to hear more!
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. J-Live & every DJ ever : Break It Down
There's another version of this floating about with a different beat which I don't think suits it, but this is the one on my vinyl copy of DJ Jazzy Jeff's "The Magnificent" album on BBE and I'm glad for it! Teacher/MC/DJ J-Live skips in and out of the beat and there's a huge roster of DJs on this track giving you a few quick cuts each; great idea! Bet there were a few wreck crossfaders behind this one...
MC Serch : Here It Comes Again
From the "Return Of The Product" album comes the much-improved version of "Here It Comes," drums galore and the former 3rd Bass frontman on the mic in his pre-executive days. You barely hear any Hip-Hop this speed these days - whether that's a good or bad thing depends on your taste!
Fun-Da-Mental : Tribal Revolution (Homeland Mix)
A UK 12" from an Asian and Black crew which I picked up for a bargain price many years ago, before I was DJing - this is an instrumental, and a good one, but their lyrics are always political and forthright, which is to be respected!
DJ Shadow ft. Chris James : Erase You
A track I initially overlooked from Shadow's "The Outsider" album, only to discover it when my iPod was on shuffle one day. This is some of the most outrageously good drum programming you'll hear anywhere, a brilliant production job all round to give it that live performance feel - right down to what I assume is an artifically-inserted feedback squeal partway through the vocals, have a listen out for it! Chris James of the band Stateless (Leeds stand up!) is the featured singer and I'll be checking for their own material.
Gaelle : Separate Rooms
Does anyone remember a late-90s house track called "King Of My Castle" by Wamdue Project? Well, this is the same vocalist, several years later and with some very silky production. If you like this kind of thing at all, you must buy her "Transient" album because not to put too fine a point on it, it's pure quality. I've been waiting for a chance to slot this tune in and this segment of uptempo tunes fits nicely.
D-Train : You're The One For Me
80s classic! Big club track from 1981 (no, I'm not old enough to have been clubbing back then, unless you count eating Club biscuits or clubbing people with soft toys), keyboard overload with a real sanger over the top, no Autotune here!
Exile ft. Ta'raach : Move On 'Em
80s through the looking glass :o) Exile flips a strangely familiar groove, adds some serious Moog and lets Ta'Raach get busy on the mic on this selection from the "Dirty Science" album.
Nature : Don't Stop (Instrumental)
Trackmasters production on this instrumental of a track from the "For All Seasons" LP. Nature's lyrics on the vocal version of this are a little forgettable, but he will always get props from me for his opening of Noreaga's "Banned From TV."
DJ Spinna ft. Jigmastas : New York
Monster tune with one of those sample usages that makes you wonder why you never thought of doing it! I'm a big Spinna fan but it was my man Gez who originally let me know about this one by sending me a link to the video which immediately made it into my list of all-time favourites; just check the camera, editing and colour work! I think I'll do a post on favourite Hip-Hop videos of all time in a blog post sometime...
As I say every month, if there's stuff on here you like then do support the artists - look into their catalogues and buy some of their work and/or go to see them live! Whatever you can do, it all helps fight back the forces of wackness...
]]>
"Weapons of mass percussion."
Happy New Year! Welcome to the first episode of the decade, 50+ minutes of audio gems for your headphones, car, shop...
Big event of the month has unfortunately been the tragic earthquake in Haiti - if you have a little spare cash, please donate to any of the many organisations trying to help out there.
Playlist/Notes
Fugees ft. A Tribe Called Quest, Forte & Busta Rhymes : Rumble In The Jungle
Remember, if you like any of the artists' work you hear then please try to support them in whatever way you can! Showing that the quality material has an audience willing to put their hands in their pockets to show support will help the constant struggle against the cheap knockoffs that currently take up the radio and TV time...
]]>
"Everybody else on the Earth don't exist."I suppose this is the Christmas episode, not that I've got any Christmas records to play! I did think about putting sleigh bell sounds behind some of the tunes but decided against ;o) Ah well, time to close out 2009 with this one, and looking forward to heading onwards and upwards for 2010!
Playlist/Notes
Camp Lo : Son Of A...
PS - I'm not sure what he did in Seattle!
As I always say, if there are things on here you like please do search out other material from the artists, buy the best of it and even better, try and catch them playing live!
]]>
"Don't be shady, just pay me"
- Roger
Wow, it's been half a year already! It's a challenge to keep coming up with stuff but the feedback I get makes it all well worth the effort, especially when people are discovering something new. Anyway, let's have a look at this month's offering...
Playlist/Notes
Little Brother : Atari 2600
"I love this game."
This is the first month I've had to go into my boxes of cassettes to find a particular tune for you, hence the title of this episode! Thanks to the wonders of modern technology I recorded it into my computer and can manipulate the sound with the turntables via Serato - very space age. Ironically, I think this is the first episode which isn't quite short enough to go on one side of a tape...
I've got a bit of a bad cold this month, but have tried to do a decent job on the voiceovers - bear with me!
Playlist/Notes
Count Bass D : Junkies
I was really late on these guys, and while not all of their stuff is to my liking this tune is very heavy - deceptive in its simplicity I think!
PS "You dance in the morning when you eat your cornflakes" - lyrics.
I had to convert this from tape - the version on the "Gap Band VI" vinyl is better sound quality of course but a quite different mix, and the beeper noise runs through the entire song and would have driven a lot of you mad...
The "Cuban Linx Pt.II" album has barely been out of my car stereo since it was released and this is one of the many gems on it - if I hadn't played this, it would probably have been "Surgical Gloves" which is one of the most relentlessly evil beats I've heard in a long time (courtesy of The Alchemist), with Raekwon on the mic coming off almost MF DOOM-ish. As for this, it feels like it came out of a 70s crime film soundtrack, and in a world of autotune and snap beats, thank goodness someone is making tracks like this!
"Sometimes you gotta do right."
As Columbo would say, "just one more thing" - after many years of waiting, Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Part II" is finally out this month - do yourself a favour and grab a copy!
Playlist/Notes
Natural Elements : Paper Chase 2005
Common ft. Erykah Badu, Pharrell & Q-Tip: Come Close Remix (Closer) ft.
Just one thing though - "month" and "us" do not rhyme...
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!]]>
Neighbourhood
The place: Saki Bar, Wilmslow Road, Manchester
The time: First Friday every month, 9pm-3am
The tax: £4 before 11pm, £5 after
Facebook group: http://groups.to/neighbourhood
There's a new night starting up in Manchester, bringing the finest in Hip-Hop, Reggae, Funk & Dub on the first Friday every month! It's split over two floors - "The Block" and "Yard", each taking turns to bring in a headline act in the appropriate style. We're all about finding the best talent even where that means not going for the biggest name, and above all creating an environment for the good party vibes! The resident DJ lineup is one of the strongest you'll find, including;
Joe W - Mind On Fire band member and organiser
http://www.mindonfire.co.uk
Myself; Air Adam - Family Gathering/Assmatics
http://airadam.com
DJ Mischief - The Pinch / MyFirstMoth Records
http://www.myfirstmoth.co.uk
Ed Speed - Dub Smugglers Sound System
http://www.dubsmugglers.com/
Louis Longshot – Drum Music/Longshot
http://www.longshotsoundsystem.com
http://www.drummusic.org
Omas – At Large
http://www.myspace.com/atlargeprodu
Next party is Friday October 2nd, with MEGA RAS and WIZZY DAN headlining for Yard; come down and party with us!
]]>
This episode's title is a quote from "At War" by Snowgoons - it's been tickling me since I heard it a few months ago :o) Anyway, here's another podcast of audio goodness for you, just about the right size to fit one side of a cassette if you're so inclined...hope you all make some discoveries this month, let me know what you think.
Quick mention - thanks to Coxy's Blog for the article on the podcast last month!
Playlist/Notes
Chic : Sometimes You Win
Lisa Shaw : It's Been Awhile
Zion I : Inner Light (Icey Mix)
American Cream Team : It's Not A Game (Inst)
Slum Village : Conant Gardens
Skhool Yard (sic) : Here We Come (Inst)
Phi-Life Cypher : ABC
If you do hear anything you especially like then do get in touch and let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>
Hi,
I got a really good response to the first episode (thanks everyone!) so here we go with the second; you can expect a new one every month. I'll be aiming to keep it an easily digestible size every time, and to make it something to look forward to!
Can't let this post go by without wishing Michael Jackson a peaceful journey - that was definitely one of those "where were you when you heard?" moments. I just had to include one of his tracks this time around...
Playlist/Notes
Peanut Butter Wolf ft. Encore : The Undercover
Q-Tip : Dance On Glass
Coppershot : Hesitate
Mobb Deep : Clap (Instrumental)
Michael Jackson : Stranger In Moscow
JS-1 : Move Like This (Instrumental)
Foreign Exchange : Theme
AZ : Sugar Hill (Remix Instrumental)
N.O.R.E : Cocaine Cowboys
If you do hear anything you especially like do let me know, and please support the artists - find more output of theirs on Spotify to get a feel for it, go to live shows if you can (that's where they really get paid) and buy the stuff you like the most!
]]>
So without further ado, here's the first episode! Hope you enjoy it - do leave comments!
Playlist
DJ Spinna : Nostalgia
Large Pro : 'Maica Living
Zero 7 : You're My Flame (Dabrye Remix)
Dela ft. Talib Kweli : Long Life
Jean Michel Jarre : Oxygene 2
Jake One w/ Pharoahe Monche & Kardinal Offishal : Hurt
Platinum Pied Pipers : Shotgun (Inst)
Torae, Marco Polo, Masta Ace & Sean Price : Hold Up
Nas : Where Are They Now? (90s Remix)
Black Ivory : I Keep Asking You Questions
Prodigy & Alchemist : Return Of The Mac (Inst)
Jerry Beeks & Air Adam : Back To England (Part 2)
Slum Village : Climax (Inst)
Kool G Rap & Polo : Cars
Gary Numan : Cars
J Dilla : Trucks
Playlist
DJ Spinna : Nostalgia Large Pro : 'Maica Living Zero 7 : You're My Flame (Dabrye Remix) Dela ft. Talib Kweli : Long Life Jean Michel Jarre : Oxygene 2 Jake One w/ Pharoahe Monche & Kardinal Offishal : Hurt Platinum Pied Pipers : Shotgun (Inst) Torae, Marco Polo, Masta Ace & Sean Price : Hold Up Nas : Where Are They Now? (90s Remix) Black Ivory : I Keep Asking You Questions Prodigy & Alchemist : Return Of The Mac (Inst) Jerry Beeks & Air Adam : Back To England (Part 2) Slum Village : Climax (Inst) Kool G Rap & Polo : Cars Gary Numan : Cars J Dilla : Trucks
]]>So why am I doing a podcast? Well, I wanted a way to widely play some tunes I was interested in! Commercial radio is inaccessible to most would-be hosts of course, and while online radio shows can be good, you're relying on people to be able to tune in at a specific time on a specific day. That's not even taking into account the fact that it locks you into playing at that specific time, or all the streaming problems that seem to pop up! Playing in clubs is cool but restricts you to how many people you can get into the venue, and of course you need to keep it danceable so there's a lot of stuff which is difficult/impossible to fit into a set. Besides all that, mixtapes are harder to sell than they have been in the past, as the market has changed and there's more of an expectation of getting things for free. With a podcast, I can use a radio-like format, go on at length or keep it brief, and everyone can download easily/automatically and listen at a time of their choosing!
Putting all the "technical" considerations aside, it's really a way for me to share and get into discussions on music. I grew up in the pre-internet era (cue Hovis music or EPMD's "Strictly Business," whichever you prefer) - at that time, there was little if any Hip-Hop on TV or commercial radio, and so for a kid with a limited budget wanting to learn about it there were three main sources of music and info; tape swapping, pirate radio and magazines.
The pirate stations would play whatever they thought was good - the DJs weren't in anyone's pocket, and were playing records they'd bought with their own money - and over the years I got the chance to hear a wide selection; some of the records they played came from artists who went on to become legends, while others were one or two-hit wonders, but wonders all the same. The variety of stuff they played allowed me to develop and define my taste - finding an artist or record you liked lead to searching for info on them in the magazines, seeing who they were associated with or might be similar to, and then trying to get hold of some of that, and so on...then exchanging tapes of albums you'd bought with friends would send you on another path. This kind of cycle meant that records could become underground hits in one particular area while being pretty much ignored elsewhere.
Somehow, despite the explosion in media availability and speed of access in the modern era, this seems to be happening less and less! The DJs I grew up with very much kept a balance between playing stuff that people would obviously like and playing things they personally liked themselves, and so the range was very interesting. This is what I'm going to try and do with this podcast; I guarantee pretty much every episode, someone I know will say "I was really into (song x) that you played" and then go on to say "but what was up with that bullshit (song y)? You actually like that?" There'll be a mixture of Hip-Hop and music more generally, "underground" and "commercial," the somewhat known and the utterly forgotten, new and old, the conscious and the ignorant, and the straightforward and the slightly bizarre! I hope you'll find it interesting and entertaining, and that it leads you towards discovering and enjoying some music that's new to you :o)
Stay tuned - first episode soon come!
Peace,
Adam]]>