Saturday, February 28, 2009

Rap Treats #64: BDP Interview On WBAU (1987)


This is a crazy interview that KRS One and DJ Scott La Rock did on Doctor Dre's "The Operating Room" show on 90.3FM WBAU back in early '87. What makes it crazy is there aren't too many BDP interviews that I've heard that are with both KRS One and Scott La Rock due to La Rock's tragic passing in August of '87. The other reason this interview is dope is because it was during the height of the BDP vs. Mr. Magic, Marley Marl and MC Shan feud. This is just before Criminal Minded dropped and both KRS and Scott La Rock air out Mr. Magic and break down what led to the legendary battle. If you don't know about BDP vs. Juice Crew (which was really more BDP vs. MC Shan) then it's time to play catch up. Check the video below which breaks down the whole "Bridge Wars" and features interviews with KRS One, MC Shan, and Marley Marl (who concedes that BDP won).

Doctor Dre's "The Operating Room" Show on 90.3FM WBAU






Wednesday, February 25, 2009

D-Nice's True Hip-Hop Stories - Dana Dane


Dana Dane is one of my favorites and IMO one of the more slept on rappers ever. It might have been the fake english accent or the simularity in styles to Slick Rick, but fuck it - his shit was just fresh. Plus he was part of the Kangol Crew with MC Ricky D himself. Dana Dane With Fame is classic material - download the album below. D-Nice and True Hip-Hop Stories let Dana take us on a journey through Fort Green Projects and discusses what motivated him to write his classic recording Cinderfella Dana Dane".


Rap Treats #63: LL Cool J Live @ Brixton Academy ('87/'88)


Here is a live recording of LL Cool J rocking The Brixton Academy in South London back in '87 or '88 - I'm not sure the exact date. This was the same show he performed on the '87 Def Jam tour with Public Enemy and Eric B & Rakim that you can get HERE, but since The Brixton Academy is one of the more legendary venues in the world and this was LL Cool J at the absolute top of his game I just felt that I had to throw this up. Ladies Love Cool James was so fucking raw at this moment in time. This is the LL that I want to remember, not the "Hey Lover" LL Cool J of the 1990's.

LL COOL J



Saturday, February 21, 2009

Demos: BIGGIE SMALLS' Unsigned Hype Demo Tape (1992)


When it comes to BIGGIE's demo tape that got him recognized by The Source and their Unsigned Hype column (and eventually by Puffy) I had to question which version is the real demo tape. I've heard that THIS is his Unsigned Hype demo, however one listen and all it sounds like is a collection of freestyles that have DJ drops all over them (even though it does include some of the songs below). On top of that, the Unsigned Hype column said there were 4 songs on the tape and there are 6 songs on the demo in question so I'm saying FUCK THAT. I don't buy it, not as BIGGIE's demo tape that was shopped to labels back in '91/92 anyways.

Then there is the 3 songs that are on the Notorious soundtrack and also at the #1 spot on Complex's Demo List. "Guaranteed Raw", "Love No Hoe", and "Microphone Murder" are by all accounts on the tape that made its way to The Source. There was also a 4th song on the demo that, through hours and hours of extensive research, I believe was "The Wickedest". "The Wickedest" eventually found a home on Funk Flex's Mix Tape Volume 4 that came out in '94 and was credited to Biggie & Mister Cee (who was responsible for shopping BIG's demo around) so it makes sense that it wasn't included on the Notorious soundtrack as a "previously unreleased demo".

That brings us to the 4 songs below that were on BIGGIE's Unsigned Hype demo tape. This isn't a rip of the tape itself, however, but it is the best sounding versions of the 4 songs that made up the demo tape that sparked the career of one of the greatest rapper to ever do it - BIGGIE SMALLS!

BIGGIE SMALLS

1. "Microphone Murderer"
2. "Guaranteed Raw"
3. "Love No Hoe"
4. "The Wickedest"

*If you have a good copy of the actual demo tape (without DJ drops all over it) that The Source heard back in '92 then I would love to hear it and have my Sherlock Holmes routine proven wrong. Although, I'm 99% sure I'm on point with this one. Enjoy the demo - BIGGIE SMALLS is the ILLEST!




Rap Treats #62: Kid Wizard @ Wyandanch High School (1985)


The year is 1985. The location is the Wyandanch High School gymnasium. The performers are Kid Wizard, Biz Markie, MC Chilly Dawg, Grandwizard BMC & DJ Fantasy. Oh yeah, Kid Wizard is the God Rakim Allah!

This one is crazy to me simply for that reason alone. This was just before Ra and Eric B made their debut and Rakim, uh, I mean Kid Wizard, spits his '7 MC's" verse. I've included the recording of both the full party as well as just Ra's appearance. Doesn't get much more nerdy on the rap tip than this one. Thanks to OldSchoolHipHopTapes for being so incredible and jackable!

Various Artists

Kid Wizard (Rakim)


Sunday, February 15, 2009

Rap Treats #61: 2Pac & Boot Camp Clik 'One Nation' LP



Around the time Pac was going at half of New York, he was also working on an album with the Boot Camp Clik called One Nation. I never thought this was going to see the light of day but luckily I was wrong.

2Pac & Boot Camp Clik
One Nation LP


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Records: Black Moon - Enta Da Stage 12"s


Brothers who Lyrically Act and Combine Kickin Music Out On Nations.

Black Moon is one of those groups that helped make early/mid 90's Hip-Hop one of the illest eras in music. Their debut album Enta Da Stage is a certified classic and every single off the album are easily classics in their own right. No joke, every song on every side is a banger. Buckshot, 5Ft, and DJ Evil Dee crafted a sound that was heavy on samples, boom bap drums, and hardcore lyrics. There's nothing pretty here - no club jams, no radio friendly joints, no shiny suits, and no cute dances. Black Moon during this era is what Hip-Hop should be, what Hip-Hop is, and what Hip-Hop probably never will be again.

Black Moon
(Wreck Records)

A1 "Who Got The Props" (Evil Dee's Deadly Mix)
A2 "Who Got The Props" (Evil Dee's Deadly Instrumental)
A3 "Who Got The Props" (MW Smooth Mix)
B1 "Fuck It Up" (Rugged And Ruff Mix)
B2 "Fuck It Up" (Rugged And Ruff Instrumental)
B3 "Who Got The Props" (MW Smooth Instrumental)

Produced By DJ Evil Dee
A3 & B3 Co-Produced By S. Sonnenfeld


Black Moon
(Wreck Records)

A1 "How Many Emcee's" (Bushwick Jeep Mix)
A2 "How Many Emcee's)" (Bushwick Jeep Beats)
A3 "How Many Emcee's)" (Clean Radio Edit)
A4 "How Many Emcee's)" (Acapella)
B1 "Act Like U Want" (F.A.P. Mix)
B2 "Act Like U Want" (F.A.P. Instrumental)
B3 "Act Like U Want" (Clean Radio Edit)

Produced By Da Beatminerz


Black Moon
(Wreck Records)

A1 "Buck Em Down" (Da Beatminerz Remix)
A2 "Buck Em Down" (Instrumental)
B1 "Murder MC's" (B Side Vocals)
B2 "Murder MC's" (Instrumental)

Produced by DJ Evil Dee


Black Moon
(Wreck Records)

A1 "I Got Cha Opin" (Vocal)
A2 "I Got Cha Opin" (Instrumental)
A3 "I Got Cha Opin" (Album Version)
B1 "Reality (Killing Every...)" (Vocal)
B2 "Reality (Killing Every...)" (Instrumental)

Side A Produced By Da Beatminerz
Side B Produced By William Rosario


Black Moon & Smif-N-Wessun
(Wreck Records)

A1 "Headz Aint Redee" (Original Buckshot Mix)
feat. Heltah Skeltah & O.G.C.
A2 "Headz Aint Redee" (Beatminerz Remix)
feat. Heltah Skeltah & O.G.C.
B1 "Black Smif-N-Wessun" (Vocal)
B2 "Black Smif-N-Wessun" (Instrumental)

Side A1 Produced By Buckshot
Side A2 Remixed By DJ Evil Dee & Mr. Walt
Side B Produced By DJ Evil Dee


Rap Treats #60: Jaylib Live In Los Angeles (2004)


Thanks to StonesThrow for this one. This is a live recording of Jaylib performing in LA back in 2004. I'm throwing this up as a Rap Treat because it's exactly that - a fucking rap treat. I'll let the fine folks at StonesThrow break it down for you.

"This was recorded at the Henry Fonda Theater, April 4, 2004, on the first night of the Madvillain/Jaylib tour for Madvillainy. Madlib & J. Rocc had performed Jaylib songs live, but this was the first show with J. Dilla, who had just moved to Los Angeles and joined the tour without being announced on the flyers. Another unannounced guest late into the set was Common. The voices you hear are B+ & Melo-D, who recorded this set."

Jaylib


The Sopranos In 27 Minutes (Uncensored)


The Sopranos are easily one of my favorite series ever. It may have been number 1 until The Wire came along. Anyways, here is The Sopranos in 27 minutes. At least every cuss word from The Sopranos in 27 minutes. If you are offended by words suck as FUCK then you probably shouldn't watch this. NSFW for real.

D-Nice's True Hip-Hop Stories - Buckshot + Masta Ace


This is dope. D-Nice has become somewhat of a Hip-Hop Historian since his days of rockin' the mic and DJn for BDP. Check his Vimeo D-NiceTV page to check all his True Hip-Hop Story videos, but this is his latest featuring Buckshot of Black Moon.

And just because it's really dope, check Masta Ace's True Hip-Hop Story below where he breaks down his role in THE GREATEST POSSE CUT EVER "The Symphony".



Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Rap Treats #59: BIGGIE & 2PAC's St. Ides Commercials


There is absolutely no reason that I put both BIGGIE's and PAC's St. Ides commercials in the same post, it just felt like the thing to do. St. Ides still wins for having the best roster of artists repping their fine malt liquor... and by fine malt liquor I mean horrible tasting beer. Whatever though, its all about these commercials.

BIGGIE

Monday, February 9, 2009

Detroit Loves Dilla (A Tribute To Jay Dee)


Dillamation (J Dilla Video Tribute)


"I've been wanting to do a lil suttin suttin for a while now, and since it is officially Dilla Month and tomorrow is Dilla's 35th birthday, then what better time to drop a Dillamation. Thats Dilla mixed with stop motion animation. Can't believe it's been three years already...anyways, enjoy and pass this around for my mans......Dilla!!!! we miss you." Andy Brown

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Rap Treats #58: Old School Hip-Hop Tapes (Website)



In my travels through cyber space I came across a site that really blew me away. It wasn't your average blog. It was strictly dedicated to old school Hip-Hop tapes. I'm not talking about albums on cassette tape, I'm talking about tapes of legendary Hip-Hop events that went down in the early 80's as well as radio shows from the 80's & 90's. My first thought was I have Rap Treats for years to come! But then I thought fuck it, this whole site is a Rap Treat. If you're a rap nerd like myself and love that authentic shit then you're gonna love this site. For the aging B-Boy (or educated young'n) you've hit the jackpot - the Old School Hip-Hop Tapes blog. I'm talking about radio shows like Mr. Magic's Rap Attack, Marley Marl's In Control, DJ Red Alert on KISS FM, and Tim Westwood's Capital Rap Show. Live shows like Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel @ Christ The King High School in 1980, Kool DJ Herc & Wiz Kid with The Herculoids @ T-Connection in 1981, Treacherous 3 First Anniversary @ Disco Fever in 1981, and Doug E. Fresh's Birthday @ The Rooftop in 1987. There is way too much shit to mention. You really need to spend hours going through all the classic material. Hit the link below for the Treats. Enjoy!

"Keep the spirit of the early days alive!"


Mr. Magic & Marley Marl
Rap Attack w/ Run DMC Pt. 1 & 2





Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sneakerheads - The Art Of Sneaker Collecting


A brief glimpse into the heart and insoles of special edition sports shoe collectors. A half-dozen young fanatics camp for days outside L.A.'s Undefeated LaBrea store, waiting for the release of an exclusive Nike model.