One of the staples in the increasingly competitive world of music magazines was sticking some extra crap on the cover – be it a CD, mixtape or a min-mag supplement. In 1999, Jeremy Miller assembled ’32 of Hip-Hop’s Best Verses’ as a pocket-sized pal, perfect for train rides, BBQ’s and…rap karaoke? While you might be…
Mobb Deep – Avirex
You know you’ve made it when you can afford to pay the best rappers of the era to make songs advertising your shit. There was that Biggie verse which later turned up as a song with Black Rob with the store name references muted (‘Jeans and Sneakers’), and of course this pristine snippet of prime-time…
Mobb Deep – Cop Hell
Finally got my hands on a bootleg of this masterpiece, yet another casualty of the ‘Cop Killer’ fallout which resulted in any rap lyrics involving shooting police being either censored or the whole song getting pulled. DJ Premier really went all-in with that demented horn loop that recalls a squeaky screen door swinging in the…
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Live on Marley Marl’s In Control Radio Show [1989]
This is a weird one. The cynical part of my brain tells me that Marley Marl is deliberately messing with Ced-Gee and the crew here, as he acts as if he’s never heard an Ultramagnetic record before in his life – despite the fact that they’ve been making some serious noise since 1986 with ‘Ego…
Jiggy Visits Loud Records
As the ancient philosophers’ once told us: ‘Sometimes you’re DJ Crazy Cortez, and sometimes your Jiggy’. Salutes to Noah Callahan-Bever, who drew this strip when he started out at ego trip before holding it down at Blaze, Vibe and Complex.
Masters of Ceremony – Crime
I present the first (and only) edition of M-Low News, possibly the finest collection of press clippings ever included in a rap single. M-LOW (aka Music Lovers of the World) was the Rocky Bucano’s first foray into the music business, before he teamed-up with Jazzy Jay to form Strong City. The first release from Wayne…
Bronx Bombers: Ultramagnetic MC’s interview with The Source, June 1992
Click for full size scan Click for full size scan The world would be a far better place if Kool Keith’s Straight Outta Bellvue Into Creedmore album actually existed.
A Salute to DEZ aka DJ Kay Slay
Back in the early days of Twitter, I complained about how DEZ interrupted KASE2 from rapping so that he could recite a bit of ‘The Message’ in Style Wars. The Drama King was frankly appalled that anyone would bring that up thirty years later, which is valid, but how do we know what kind of…
De La Soul – Say No Go [Dum ‘De La’ Dum Remix]
Soulshock and Cutfather are a couple of Danish DJ’s who both managed top three placings at the DMC’s in the 1989 and 1988 respectively, which served as something of a rite-of-passage for any DJ trying to make a name for themselves internationally. Wikipedia claims that this led to Soulshock getting booked to tour as Queen…
The Unkut Guide to ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’ Demos, Remixes and Remakes
If you were hanging out at clubs in 1992, there was no way you could miss the impact of the SWV’s ‘Right Here’ [Human Nature Mix], which was also the second and final modern R&B tape I bought after the What’s The 411? album. Who could forget that video with ya gals suited up for…
The 45 King – Live at Hustler’s Convention, 1989
Billed as ‘The World’s First Ever Live Rap Album’, this is taken from a showcase put together by the Music of Life label, recorded at Cafe de’Paris London March 14th 1989, featuring Tim Westwood and a bunch of UK performers such as Demon Boyz, MC Duke, Merlin and Daddy Freddy, as well as The 45…
The Wacky World of Rap White Labels: Pete Rock with extra cheese?
This one is from years back, when Pete Rock and CL Smooth bootlegs were the popping up every other day. I’m assuming the title is an attempt at some cheap humour, since three of these songs had very much ‘come out’ on movie soundtracks, and ‘In The House’ is just a regular old song from…
The Wacky World of Rap White Labels: Awesome Two Edition
I can’t seem to leave the house these days without tripping over a crate of rap bootlegs with 300 Yen price tags on the sleeve. Apparently Japanese record dealers have decided to unload all of the nineties rap white labels they bought by the container-load from Beat Street Records, and as a result the place…
Farewell to Gentlemen’s Relief Records
Earlier this week I was enjoying a few beers at a bar (set to the soothing sounds of a four-hour Japanese jazz and soul set courtesy of CRC representative Callum), and was soon joined by my old mate Debonaire, who proceeded to drop a bomb on me when he announced that he’s decided to shut-up…
Looking back at the first hundred issues of The Source magazine
Issue #62 of The Source (with a cover date of November 1994) marked the point that co-founder Dave Mays said ‘fuck it’ and threw-in a four page special on the group he was managing at the time just before the issue went to press. As a result, Jon ‘J. The Sultan’ Shecter, James Bernard, Reginald…
Download: A Salute To Scratch Tracks On Rap Albums
Much like the dreaded Rap Ballad, Hip-House Track or the R&B Crossover Attempt, the DJ Scratch Track has long been relegated to the foggy past of old rap albums. While the Rap DJ eventually got to the point where they could release entire albums of them scratching at a billion miles an hour, following on…
Video: Doo Wop and Da Bounce Squad – 1994 Electronic Press Kit
This is amazing on a number of levels. If you’re wondering why Da Bounce Squad album never dropped on Noo Trybe, Wop discussed that with me in 2009: So how did you get the Virgin deal? I only ever saw the 12″. Doo Wop: ‘The Bounce Master’ and ‘Hit ‘Em In The Head’. That’s what…
Chill Rob G – Dope Rhymes (original demo version)
If you don’t know the Ride The Rhythm album by heart then I’m not sure that we can be associates, let alone friends. Hearing this rough mix of Rob’s ‘Dope Rhymes’ has made my year. Download: Chill Rob G – Dope Rhymes (original demo version) Thanks again to Wilizm for putting me onto this incredible…
D-Nice – Call Me D-Nice (original version)
Here’s another one I used to rock the shit out of when a kid from my street got his hands on some Red Alert and Chuck Chillout radio tapes. I left the Black Rock and Ron and Latee promos in there because why wouldn’t you? Download: D-Nice – Call Me D-Nice (original version)
Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx (Crackhead DJ Diss Version)
I just lost my shit hearing this on a KISS-FM rip tonight, thinking I’d unearthed some lost treasure for the first time in recent history…but quickly realised it had already been released on the Traffic Entertainment gun-shaped USB stick (and later the ‘Elite Edition’) of Criminal Minded. Regardless, it’s great to hear this new intro…
The Other Finesse and Showbiz
I guess these Canadian lads didn’t have a subscription to The Source magazine in 1992. Pity the fool who copped 64 Crayons by mail-order and expected some prime D.I.T.C. music to appear on their door step. To add to the confusion, it seems that Finesse & Showbiz is the name of the group – not…
Captain G. Wiz – Red Alert Promo
One of these dudes is G. Wiz I guess. Captain G. Wiz was a member of the Mighty Mike Masters, who held it down with Freddy B for the memorable ‘The Main Event’ and the not-quite-as-great ‘The Main Event (Round 2)’, plus that single they did with Ced-Gee and Paul C. (‘We’re Back’/’Coolin’ On The…
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Bait (original version)
Photo by Janette Beckman Super duper, extra-large shout out to Wilizm in the comments for finding this gem, long since removed from when I first posted the YouTube version. If this isn’t in your top ten then why are you even listening to rap? Download: Ultramagnetic MC’s – ‘Bait’ (original version) Source: A vintage episode…
Mythical Rap Songs That Never Made It To The Internets
Countless demo tapes and outtakes have appeared on Youtube and boutique vinyl releases over the last twenty years, yet these five tunes still elude me: 1. Showbiz and Diamond D – ‘Where’s AG?’ 2. Da Lench Mob – ‘Pin The Tail On The Honky’ 3. KRS-One – ‘Return of the Boom Bap’ [OG version with…
Clever 1 and Lord Beatjitzu – Frozen Barrelz of Beer
It turns out that new Buze Bruvaz is enough to awaken me from my ‘no updates for a month’ blog slumber. Who knew? There are still copies of the Clever 1 iz Perverted and Drunken wit Lord Beatjitzu available for order over at the recently expanded Grilchy Party website (or CDs via the Bandcamp is…
Wonder if anyone caught an angry two-way page over this?
Before rap blogging, print magazines dipped their toes into the wacky world of making fun of rappers. More often than not, this led to someone getting put into a yoke at an open bar even the following week. Let’s hope that no interns were harmed following the release of the 5th anniversary issue of XXL…
Three Classic DJ Scott La Rock Print Features
After catching this NME piece from Frank Owen’s vault (courtesy of Mask Of Norro), which featured an actual interview with the great man shortly before he was fatally shot, I thought I’d dig out the 2002 XXL Mag piece by Noah Callahan-Bever and revisit the original New York Times report. The New Musical Express piece…
KRS-One – Sound Of Da Police [Future Flavas Remix]
Stumbled across this while conducting my annual search for the cancelled version of ‘Return of the Boom Bap’ with the Oscar Meyer jingle. See also: the Kenny Parker remix.
Grifter’s Unite: Floppy Disk’s Hit Discogs!
Click for full size screen shot. Need a retirement fund? Track down a box of 3.5 inch floppy disks, load them up with MPC loops and whack hand-written stickers all over them with stuff like ‘Shook Ones Drums’ and ‘Godfather Don Loops #6’ and fill your boots!
A collection of classic Mr. Magic on-air disses
Mr. Magic (or ‘Madame Tragic’ as Chuck Chillout’s boys The Dismasters once dubbed him) seemed to relish taunting anyone who was down with Red Alert, BDP or…basically wasn’t in the Juice Crew. Actually, ignore that – even his own crew wasn’t safe from the wrath of the Magic Man! Here are some timeless examples of…
Download: A Salute To Rap Songs Under Two And A Half Minutes Long, Volume Three
I think I done scraped the bottom of the barrel on a few of these. All that’s left is some old UTFO and Fat Boys songs at this point… Download: A Salute To Rap Songs Under Two And A Half Minutes Long, Volume Three Track Listing:
Apparently A$AP Twelvvy Is A Big L Expert
“Foul Child: The Legend of Big L incorporates rare archival interviews and performance footage of Big L alongside exclusive interviews with cultural consiglieres of Hip Hop and Harlem including RZA, Buckwild, A$AP Ferg, Dave East, A$AP Twelvyy, Stretch Armstrong, Bobbito Garcia and Peter Rosenberg.” You wot, mate? Buckwild/Stretch and Bob are clearly qualified to talk…
Download: A Salute To Rap Songs Under Two And A Half Minutes Long, Volume 2
Here’s a photo of two diminutive rappers, neither of whom made this compilation. Jokes on you, Jack! We made another Uploadfiles International Music Group Worldwide pka Zippyshare Raecords and Tapes compilations! After seeing how many quality suggestions appeared in the comments section and Martorialist’s own compilation following the same rules, I thought I’d compile another…
Download: A Salute To Rap Songs Under Two And A Half Minutes Long
Thirty three rap songs that clock-in at under two and a half minutes, from shortest to longest. Make it brief, son, half short and twice strong. A Salute To Rap Songs Under Two And A Half Minutes Long Track listing:
The Source magazine’s Ear To The Street, May 1990
Sheck meets Ced Now this is the kind of rap news I can get behind! A summary of Biz Markie’s Mom Jokes and news about a Kool Keith solo album produced by Ced Gee that never saw the light of the day.
Joe Pesci – The World’s Real Greatest Entertainer?
Sorry Doug E. Fresh, but Lil’ Joe has got you beat. While D.E.F. can rap while dancing and playing the harmonica, has he ever starred in a Scorsese joint? Ya boy Joe dropped an album of his crooning back in 1968, before he was done bit by the ol’ acting bug. Thirty years later he…
The time that Daddy-O from STET was a rapping parrot to sell string cheese
If you’re of the right vintage, you may recall that the Polly-O rapping parrot from this 1991 TV commercial sounded remarkably similar to a certain Stetsasonic member. After being outed for this spot in the Pistol Pete column of The Source, it’s unclear whether the ODAD upped his fees or just retired from voicing Lyrical…
Five classic rap album liner notes
Liner notes and the shout-outs on the back of rap albums were a big deal at one point, providing a clue as to other groups worth checking out in the ever-crowded late-80s rap explosion. Here are six memorable efforts (click the pics for larger versions)…
Top fifteen rap acts for people who hate rap
According to jerks who still think rap is a ‘rubbish genre’, these artists and crews still get a lotta luh: 1. Eminem 2. Beastie Boys 3. Kendrick Lamar 4. Jurassic 5 5. Cypress Hill 6. Wu-Tang Clan 7. The Roots 8. Public Enemy 9. Outkast 10. FU-Gees 11. Kanye West 12. MF Doom 13. Biz…
Main Source – Looking At The Front Door [Uncut Alternative Version]
Stumbled onto this one again the other night, as heard on one of the many weird re-issues of the first Main Source LP. Even though I posted this in 2008 while discussing how much Large Pro doesn’t like TV, hearing it again reminded me of how great it is to hear alternative takes of classic…