F.T. from Street Smartz back in effect.
Back cover:
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If you haven’t caught this on the newsstand, fear not.
The Hip-Hop Blog World Cup 2008 a.k.a. “the hot dog eating award for black weirdos” according to some skirt.
You can also vote if you’re not happy with the original result, for whatever reason. I thought it was pretty decent, personally.
This one is a bit different. This track wasn’t officially released until a couple of years back via Stones Throw, so whatever issues Stezo had with his former employers was long buried by the time anyone heard this.
Here’s what Stezo’s producer Chris Lowe had to say about it when I spoke to him a while back:
Robbie: There was an old song from Stezo that came out a year ago where he had some words for EPMD. What’s the story there?
Chris Lowe: We was still friends, that was when we was younger. Stones Throw got a hold of that stuff years after and decided to put it out. We all pretty good now – Erick and Parrish are back on tour right now. I speak to Stezo and I did a record with Parrish on my last album.
Why am I pulling this out now? For starters, it has a quality flip of ‘Nautilus‘. Oh, and this shit is hilarious.
Stezo feat. Dooley O - ‘Piece of the Pie’
Stezo – ‘It’s My Turn’ video:
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Lord Finesse on the beat for this vaulted Constantine action. From the DITC Rare & Unreleased CD.
Milano - ‘Drama’
Another year, another annual vinyl order. It’s become something of an Unkut tradition to grab vinyl copies of this year’s finest around the yuletide season, but as I was browsing the virtual racks the other day it really hit home as to just how effin’ messed up the vinyl game has become. Unless you’re a skinny-jeans sunglasses-is-a-must DJ looking for the latest ‘party rockin’ mash-up, good luck finding any of 2008′s better rap shit’s on black plastic. There are still some white labels to fill in the gaps, only one of my top five album’s was given an official issue. Which raises the question – what did you actually buy this year (including CD’s)?
So, you’re a rapper looking to reach your fans and make some new one along the way via the series of tubes that we like to call the interwebs, huh? Beyond the mandatory official MySpace and Facebook pages, if you follow these ten simple rules you’re guaranteed to be the next Souljah Boy by the end of the month.
1. ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS. You’re saying something important. Make sure it gets noticed!
2. Get mad at your label with numerous emo outbursts. What use is an online presence if you aren’t raging against the machine? Just look what it did for Saigon (currently now sans-record contract).
3. Pen letters from jail ranting against the illuminati and ‘J.Z.’ (who are in cahoots, natch). If you’re name is Prodigy from Mobb Deep then write in all caps, also.
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Nothing like some M.O.P crew to get you through a Monday.
Teflon feat. M.O.P - ‘The Rawness’
Not me, obviously. But was there a particular incident or album that made you rip all your Word Up! posters off your wall and never listen to a particular rapper ever again? For some, it was Big Daddy Kane‘s Prince of Darkness LP. For others, it was KRS-One taking out PM Dawn (if you’re one of these foolish folk, please fall into your nearest volcano).
Dallas Penn offers: “Only dude I ever had faith in was Ice Cube and I think after I saw Boyz N The Hood I was like ‘Fuck this fake ass rap shit!’. Remember ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’? The next thing you know this dude is doing movies. I learned then that revolution is only the act of revolving – spinning around in the same place.”
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The Rhyme Inspector with live band > Percee over Madlib beats.
Connie Price and the Keystones feat. Percee P - ‘Thundersounds’
Yeah, I copped The Chronic tape when it dropped and liked most of it. If I’d been old enough to drive around with a ridiculously loud system I’m sure I would have appreciated it even more, but even on a Sony Megabass it sounded pretty good. The problem was, once everyone on the West Coast heard Dr. Dre‘s opus, they decided to throw out all their P-Funk and Zapp records and buy keyboards. Hell, even the previously awesome Rap-A-Lot production crew in Houston abandoned their church organ and harmonica beats for synths and live bands. Sure it was more ‘creative’ but it sounded like crap compared to the old shit. LA Rap had a great period in the late 80′s once they got off that Egyptian Lover tip, with the Rhyme Syndicate, King T‘s crew, NWA and others who brought their own take on hard beats, but as soon as they figured out that a combination of a soft drums, whining keyboards and some random guitar licks could knock out a hit less than ten minutes, it was over. Not convinced? Does the name Warren G mean anything to you? If you answered yes, kill yourself.
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Photo by Glen E. Friedman
Sure to upset your girl and embarrass you in front of your grandparents, songs about smashing it have provided some of rap’s most entertaining moments ever. There’s no way to cover them all here, but these are twelve of the finest ignorant dirty rapp joints you’ll ever hear. Keep in mind that I’ve had to exclude the entire musical output of Too $hort, 2 Live Crew, Disco Rick, Akinyele and NWA in order to keep this down to a dozen.
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At long last, all your non-Internets using associates, well-wishers and acquaintances can enjoy the exploits of New York’s most celebrated basement dweller’s in HD (Husky Definition). Go here to cop and enjoy Rafi and Dallas’ exploits involving pee, swine-based snack foods, cereal, check-cashing spots and more on DVD (Batamax copies available on request).
While we’re on the topic of dope videos, for anyone who missed this originally:
‘Who The Eff Is Asher Roth?’ video:
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When it rains it pours when it comes to unearthed rap shit. Not to be outdone by the Showbiz & AG demos album, the Diggers With Gratitude crew have recently unleashed three projects worthy of selling a kidney for. Starting things off with the Lungbutters mix CD:
A 60 minute mix of unadulterated audio pleasure presented in radio show format and hosted by our very own Sureshot La Rock with DJ Format on the wheels of steel. Listen as we take you through an eclectic blend of audio goodness featuring cuts ranging from the obscure and slept on to the much more easily obtained but
equally dope, with more than the odd smattering of unreleased gems, guest appearances and certified groin melters thrown in for good measure.
The Bronx lost another trooper yesterday with the passing of Party Arty (aka P-80) due to heart complications. A long-time D.I.T.C. affiliate, Party was one half of the Ghetto Dwellas crew with D-Flow, as well as being a close associate of Show & AG. His gruff, Cookie Monster delivery demonstrated in his early appearances evolved over the years, and by the time he was featured in the SBX! Holding Down Tradition DVD had toned it down to a less abrasive technique. P-80 was the kind of MC that you either loved or hated – there was no middle ground. But regardless of which camp you fell into, let’s take a minute to appreciate ten of his finest recordings. Respect due.
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Having already given us the Heavy Bronx Experience series, the Hear No Evil mix CD series and The Zulu Beat CD, as well as having produced Cappo’s debut album, the P Brothers really stepped it up a notch with their new album. A few years back I talked to Ivory, now it’s Paul S’ turn in the spotlight, as we discuss The Gas, the legacy of Nottingham and the merits of Betamax videotape factories.
What’s your take on the album?
Paul S: I think we got the best rappers we could get, and I think we got good results from ‘em. If I wanted to go and buy a record myself, it’s the kind of thing I wanna hear. It’s been hard, going back-and-forth trying to get it finished. I’m pleased with it, hand on my heart. It’s the kinda LP where you can just sit back and listen to the whole thing and take it all in. For the last eight years, if I’ve ever bought an LP I’ve only ever like three or four tunes on the LP – if that.
Ivory: I’ve never put so much effort into something. This album was hard, man. Every obstacle that could be put in the way has been put in the way – prison, two people rapping on the same beat and you can only use one version. When it comes out, the one thing I can do is stand behind it with my arms folded and say, ‘Well fuckin’ beat that, then!’
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