Back in 2010 I received a recording of a TJ Swan demo recorded from Tim Westwood‘s show in 1988 titled “Mellow Love”, although someone claiming to be affiliated with Swan then contacted me and demand that I remove the track on the grounds that: “This was a practice session. Swan wrote and sang the song to get a feel for it”. He also claimed that a bunch of TJ Swan music was about to drop, but three years later we’re still waiting.
In the meantime, Rap Blog Godd noz recently blessed me with a few more cuts which may have been intended for Have No Fear Swan Is Here. or are simply more “practice sessions”. The first track, “Sensitive Love” features Swan flexing his microphone techniques and busting some rhymes, while “Love Is Blind” is more of an uptempo number on the Al. B Sure tip. Was Marley Marl involved with these tracks? Are they finished LP cuts or just demos? Sadly, there’s also no sign of the lost Big Daddy Kane/MC Shan cameos that I hoped for…
The greatest rap radio show of the 90′s had one more go-around at 89 tech 9 the other night as Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito shared some classic tapes of the show from 1993. While the live stream was straining under the weight of all the old heads trying to tune in across the globe, I was able to catch the authentic 90′s flashback of using Real Player for the first time in fifteen years. Be on the look-out for the priceless ethering that Ricky Powell caught when he called into the show way back when.
Queens battle MC veteran Mikey D hit up Unkut HQ the other day to make the following announcement:
Mikey D: All through the years, since the 80’s, with [LL] Cool J, each interview that I have the topic of the conversation is always about me and him. Although we went through what we went through, me looking back as a grown man, technically he didn’t do anything to me that was wrong. He did everything that he was supposed to do! But I got caught-up in people’s misery. You know how they say “misery needs company”, so by me still drinking 40 oz’s and still trying to hold on to being the “baddest MC in the neighborhood” title – and you’ve got these miserable people in your ears all the time, hating on him for what he’s doing? Of course I fell into that. I’m going to keep it real and say to him that I apologize for any form of disrespect. I can’t fault a man for my failures. After I left the beer and all of the negative people alone, that’s when I started seeing clearly. Melle Mel also, what happened happened at the New Music Seminar, that was 25 years ago. Let’s get over it. I want to apologize to both of them as a man, because we are all under the same umbrella. Let’s get it poppin’!
Mikey’s new crew Elements of Hip-Hop consists of Mikey D on the mic, DJ Mercury (who worked with Professor X) and Philly DJ legend Grand Wizard Rasheen. Calm Before The Storm drops April 2, with Day of Destruction following later in the year.
This is the world premier of the debut solo release from The Almighty $amhill, who delivers The Preface for you to chew on while he completes work on his first album. With beats from Preservation (Mos Def), RTNC (Timeless Truth), Superstar Dave Dar (Luv NY) as well as some self-produced tracks, the EP offers $am’s brutally honest views on broads, dames and lames. This is that unkut, raw New York rap that lives and breathes the mean streets of The Bronx.
World premier of this new Roc Marciano cut, produced by Australian production duo Fre$heep. You can cop this on limited-edition 45 (200 only) or the Antidepressants CD over here, fuckboys.
Introducing a new Unkut video series – DJ Sheep‘s VHS Vault, Episode 1:
MCA, King Ad-Rock, Mike D and DJ Hurricane make an unruly appearance on Japanese TV during their glory years at Def Jam. Thanks to the wonders of live broadcasting, we get to witness a cameo appearance from Ricky Powell (aka The Rickster) involving a bed, a chick in a tight dress and an ice cream. So many classic scenes and bonus lines including ‘Fondle my balls with your fingers’ and ‘With your oriental pussy you can suck my dick’
Masta Killa from the Wu-Tang is dropping his third solo album, Selling My Soul, this December, in standard and deluxe editions:
Limited to only 200 copies, the deluxe edition comes in a custom hand-numbered box with a lyric book, autographed poster, MK wool cap, and download card giving access to all three MK albums plus his live album. In addition, Masta Killa has teamed up with RAW Rolling Papers to include a handful of RAW papers and an exclusive “Ooh Baby I Like It RAW” T-shirt in each deluxe box, paying tribute to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who is featured on Selling My Soul.
Nature Sounds have got a copy of the deluxe edition to give away to the Unkut reader who can name Masta Killa’s finest moment on the mic tell us the story behind their best Wu-Tang related incident. Post it in the comments section before midnight, Friday 26 October to be in the running. Everyone else can pre-order the pack from here.
Here’s your first look at some more J-Zone live drumming action via this new Fre$heep 45. This limited-edition 7″ features ‘Just Let Me Be’ featuring Roc Marciano on the A-side and ‘Sailing High On Valium’ featuring Zone getting his Clyde Stubblefield on for the flip. Check back in a few days for audio of the Marci track…
You can pre-order both the single and the Anti-Depressants CD now via Bullet Proof Crates. Only 200 copies of the 45 are being produced, with a choice between blue and regular vinyl.
Think there isn’t much money in selling old rap records these days? You’re just doing it wrong – Ultramagnetic MC’s acetates are the future! ‘CHILLING w/ Chuck Chill out’ by Ocean Ultra Magnetic went for over $2,800 in 2010, despite the fact that a bootleg taken off a tape recording of Chuck’s KISS FM show was also released on 10″. This past September, another Dick Charles Recordings acetate appeared, this time fetching just over $3,200! Labeled as ‘Simple Metaphore’ by Ultramegnetic MC’s feat. Kool Keith, T.R. Love and with ‘MC’s Ultra – Remix’ on the b-side.
Here’s hoping that a fifteen minute version of ‘Bait’ appears, as well as ‘Mentally Mad Pt.2′ or any of the seemingly endless alternative versions of ‘MC Champion’ in the near future.
The following clips go to prove that there is no such thing as too much ’80′s Ultramagnetic… (more…)
Over 200 tracks have plundered the bounty of the tripped-out musical voyage that the Scroggins sisters took way back in 1981, so I’ve chosen the 24 finest uses of the ‘UFO’ break for this compilation. (more…)
Prince Paul just pulled this out of the vault for Halloween. Who said Twitter was useless?
“This is the First song we recorded as the Gravediggaz in 92″ . It was the intro to our demo and it was actually recorded the day I introduced these guys to each other at my house . This track never made the album but It was one of my favorite productions. This was the track that started it all .. RIP Poetic . Enjoy.”
Here’s an all-star remix to Mega‘s cut from Born & Raised, produced by Large Professor, as heard on the new DJ Rated R tape, which you can grab from here.
Thanks to The Funkologist for the tip.
Cormega feat. Sadat X, Large Pro & O.C. - ‘Journey [Remix]‘
Doo Wop just blessed with a dope new mixtape full of quality Chick Rap:
The Women of Strength Foundation founded by Tashera Simmons (wife of DMX) was established to assist and support women and children who have suffered from abandonment, homelessness, drug addiction, domestic violence and other social conflicts. Women of Strength intends to lend not only financial support but also much need emotional support as well.
As promised, Doo Wop and Pete Rock have been working on a project together. Here’s a leak with Joell Ortiz and a snippet of a second track that Wop previewed on his Twitter.
Doo Wop & Pete Rock feat. Joell Ortiz - ‘Do Thangs’
Portrait by Pritt Kelsi
