Not many of us actually buy records anymore, since everyone with a music blog gets sent free CD’s or just downloads everything.¹ OK, well some people still buy stuff, and if something really makes an impression on me², then I might actually pick up the vinyl. But there was once a time when those wacky A&R’s used to pull stunts such as adding “Bonus Cassette-Only” songs, which explains why I copped G Rap’s Live & Let Die on tape after I bought the LP³, or just not releasing many copies of the vinyl (Return of the Funkyman and Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop in particular). (more…)

1. 1. Thanks, Rapidshare![back]
2. 2. Meaning: I’m not bored of it after two weeks.[back]
3. 3. Little did I know that the three bonus Trakmasterz cuts were to be eventually issued as b-sides.[back]

When I was younger, I tried to steer clear of rap videos, since they were almost always a let-down. A song such as “Follow The Leader” paints such a vivid visual picture in your head when you hear it that some low-budget Untouchables style video could never hope to do it justice.¹

Admittedly, the introduction of chicks in bikinis, hot-pants and various other slutty gear helped me watch some awful songs over the years, but the rest of the time it’s just the same old “walk through the block with your weed carriers” scenario. Apart from the stock-standard video concepts, in the late 80′s and early 90′s there was a lot more experimental style clips being made, as they tried to do something different with very limited budgets. Sometimes they were a little too different…

Unkut.com’s Top Three Cheesiest Rap Videos Ever:
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1. 1. Not to say that Ra didn’t do his thing in the clip, but his descriptions of astral travelling didn’t exactly make me think of a mob flick when I first heard it.[back]

I can’t confirm that Priority One were official Flavor Unit (actually I’m pretty sure they weren’t), but Louie Louie was 45 King‘s right-hand man for a while, so his work deserves a mention here. His first record was with his crew Priority One, who dropped “I Can’t Go For That”/”Showin’ My Stuff” on Tuff City in 1988. At this stage the group consisted of MC Ron Delite, Naikwan, DJ Smitty B, Louie Louie and JV-1.

Five Things You Need To Know About Ron Delite:

1. He’s a solo poet (that means he rocks alone).
2. He’s a South Bronx resident (that’s quite evident).
3. He’s been rockin’ rhymes ever since he was ten (but that was ten years ago)¹
4. If Ron Delite was spaghetti, Smitty B would be sauce.
5. He’s clean, crisp and clearer (like 7UP).
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1. 1. Circa 1988.[back]

While I finish my next Flavor Unit post, here’s a few things I’ve written elsewhere:

A Salute To Weed Carriers - Corny Hipster Alert

Oh Word – I Got Ethered By Jeru and All I Got Is This Lousy T-Shirt

Opinions Are Like Beer Cans – Top 5 Gully Rap Covers

Plus a couple of Lakim Shabazz videos:
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At long last, someone has run with Killa Kam‘s trademark disclaimer and turned it into a full length track. I’m amazed it’s actually taken this long. With lines like “I can’t hug no homo thug, have him laying in my crib or playin’ round with my son” and “on the screen rappers look all buff, but before the shoot they let a dude oil ‘em up!” this song is assured it’s place in the “gulliest rap songs of all-time” top ten.

Lakey The Kid - No Homo [Lake's Home mixtape, Death Row East, 2006]

After reading through the thousands hundreds handful of entries we received for the “Are You Hip-Hop’s Biggest Stan?” contest, a clear winner has been decided. While there were some great stories, including a drunken attempt to scoop Jean Grae, a D-Nice look-a-like and pretending to be a fan of Dice Raw, the $20 record voucher from 33Third has been awarded to Bozack Nation, who provided this amusing account of a Mos Def encounter gone wrong: (more…)

Flavor of Love Season 2 trailer:

Once again proving that the only good TV is really bad TV.

Back when the internet was an “exciting new media platform”, there was an online radio show called 88HipHop.com, which had live webcasts that let you watch what was happeneing in the studio and all of that. One possible problem with this whole concept was the fact that back then most people were on dial-up, so the idea of sitting around your computer trying to watch some choppy video stream that would “buffer” every 30 seconds wasn’t exactly going to take the world by storm. After six years off the air, they’re now back in action, as explained here. Given the fact that everyone is on cable now, this could be a good time to get back into the game (assuming they can tear us away from YouTube and the various copycats that are springing up).
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One of the best things about hip-hop is the tradition of white label remixes. Whether it’s a sample clearance issue or an unauthorised remake, many tracks that wasted quality lyrics over so-so beats have their chance at redemption.

Buckwild went through a period where everything he touched was given a moody, late night lah-session type of feel. His second re-intereptation¹ of Nas‘ “Life A Bitch” replaces the smoothed-out L.E.S. track with a skillful chop of Johnny Pate‘s “Look of Love” vibes (that he also utilized on the promo-only remix to Show & AG‘s “You Know Now”) over a crisp snare and some atmospheric sound effects.

For the semi-official S. Carter The Re-Mix vinyl, Just Blaze replaces his original track² with another searing church-organ based piece, using a familiar break that I can’t quite place right now but you’ll no doubt recognise from somewhere. Good shit all round.

Nas & AZ - Life’s A Bitch (Buckwild Remix #2)

Jay-Z - PSA (Just Blaze Remix)

Last day for the Stan contest as well, so get your entry in if you haven’t already.

1. 1. The first remix uses the Mr. Magic break.[back]
2. 2. You might remember that Black Moon were pissed when he used the same loop they used on “Stay Real” single for the LP version.[back]

By popular demand, here’s the first of our regular competitions.

Thanks to the crew over at 33 Third (aka “the best on-line record store ever”)¹ we will be awarding a $20 record voucher to spend on vinyl, CD’s or whatever, to the best “hip-hop stan” story that gets sent in. (more…)

1. 1. I’m just assuming that’s true since I haven’t bought anything from them yet.[back]

For everyone still sporting tye-dye.

What a load of hot garbage…this shit is good for a laugh though, as we get a showcase of all the retirement-age rappers and young weed carriers who wil soon be earning “$8 an album”. Even quality performers like Cormega rock wack music in this. Plus for some reason the Def Squad are back on deck?
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Following an unfortunate incident with my laptop, I’ve had to basically start from scratch and reinstall everything, which has thrown things out of whack a little but as they say: “Shit happens when you party naked”.

For a slight change of pace, here are five quality album cuts that you might have missed the first-time around.

Jeru The Damaja made some major noise with his single’s from The Sun Rises In The East, but it’s easy to forget about the low end attribute’s of this ill BK dedication. “Brooklyn Took It” wins in the the ride and on the walkman.
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