The Golden Age, G-Funk And Everything In Between!

Throwback Video

2011-10-17T10:15:00.000+02:00

Mc Lyte : Ruffneck (Beatnuts Remix) (1993)

Throwback Video

2011-09-18T10:14:00.000+02:00

Da Youngstas : Wild Child [Beatnuts Remix] (1993)

FunkDaddy : FunkDaddy is Tha Source

2011-09-12T12:36:00.003+02:00

Artist : FunkDaddy
Album : Funkdaddy Is Tha Source
Label : Till Ya Tight Records
Year : 1995
Producer : Funk Daddy

1 Intro
2 Streets Of S.E.A.
3 Crooked Path Homies Featuring – Delirious , E-Dawg, J-Skee
4 Feel The Funk
5 Still Who Ridin' Featuring – Delirious
6 Beat Wit Funk Daddy Featuring – Fracci
7 Early Days
8 Neva Learned The Real Featuring – J-Skee
9 Balling In The Bay
10 72 On The Grind Featuring – A.r.t
11 Throw Up Ya Sets Featuring – E-Dawg
12 FU?K
13 Rainy Day Hustle Featuring – DMS
14 Tha Source
15 Yo Flow

Funkdaddy has a strong foundation in the Northwest music scene, and his presence beyond the Emerald City is felt on many levels. Born and raised in Seattle, Funkdaddy has produced, engineered, and written songs for groups all over the country since his high school days, and has blessed gold and platinum artists with his incredible turntable skills. He became well known for his battle technique, taking first place in DJ battles in and out of the country.

With the success of his deejaying and rhyming, Funkdaddy wanted to make his mark on his first love, producing. Friend J.D. Hill met Bay Area legend E-40 at the Gavin Convention in San Francisco and within a couple of weeks, E-40 brought Funkdaddy in to produce three tracks on his first RIAA Certified Platinum Album In A Major Way.

The experience turned out to be the launching pad for Funkdaddy to put out his own debut solo album, Funk U Right On Up. He went on to record three additional solo albums! His music was featured in the former ABC weekly series Dangerous Minds, featured in the Hip Hop documentary Rhyme and Reason, as well as in the movie and on the soundtrack for 3 Strikes, and later in the hot nationally released documentary Street Racing.

Funkdaddy's production has received critical acclaim, and his work includes tracks with Daz, D12, Livio, Spice 1, Dru Down, Noreaga, E-40, B-Legit, Ras Kass, Money B, N2Deep, Cool Nutz, Mac Dre, and many others. His reputation for being the most consistent and hottest deejay in the area earned him the 1999 "Best Club and Mix Tape DJ Award" at The Northwest Music Awards. In 2002. 2003, and 2004 he rocked the Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee's Phat Farm fashion show, the Microsoft X-Box Holiday Party at Seahawk Stadium, and performed in Las Vegas with Erick Sermon and Too $hort.

He also secured a spot on the weekly Mixshow at 104.5 KMIH FM in Seattle, and branched out through the promotional opportunities at the station. While he still maintains a busy schedule spinning at the hottest clubs and events in the Northwest and beyond, he has been in the studio non-stop.

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Detroits Most Wanted : Bow The Fuck Down

2011-09-08T08:48:00.000+02:00

Artist : D.M.W
Album : Bow The Fuck Down
Production : Swift, Motsi
Label : Push Play Records
Year : 1994

1 Intro / Break Em' Off 7:12
2 21 & 20 Years 5:32
3 Dirt 5:12
4 Smoke With You 4:05
5 Let It Go 5:18
6 Ghetto Life 4:29
7 Sunrise 5:13
8 Zoning 7:28
9 Legalize It (Remix) 4:51
10 Paying Dues 4:16
11 Once Again It's On 5:28

Detroit's Most Wanted (DMW) surfaced during the early-'90s gangsta rap phenomenon and faded away in the mid- to late '90s once the hoopla simmered. Similar to the countless other niche market-orientated gangsta rap start-ups of the time, the group was essentially a Detroit-style NWA: The members rapped about violence, drugs, sex, and anything else with shock value over West Coast-style beats. DMW released a number of LPs throughout the '90s, averaging around one release every year. Bryant Records released the albums, going through a number of small distributors. Despite the group's productivity, DMW never attained much commercial success, and the little success the group had was confined to the Midwest, for the most part.

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Funky Technicians : Mike Dean

2011-09-04T11:49:00.001+02:00

I hate being late!!

Last year (before the blog hiatus) I had plans on doing a write up on one of my favorite producers Mike Dean. A guy who has been putting in work for over a decade but never really gotten the props he deserved. Then before you know it he pops up on the brilliant "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album by Kanye West and again on the Jay-Z/Kanye album "Watch The Throne" and suddenly all eyes are on him. I decided however to finish the piece despite him already being in the spotlight.

He started out mixing records for the Rap-A-Lot crew working on albums like "Little Big Man" and "The World Is Yours". Then in 1995 his first production started apperaing on albums by 5th Ward Juvenilez, 5th Ward Boyz and Scarface and from then on he never looked back. The list of people Dean has worked with is beyond impressing, this is just a short list of people he has worked with : Kanye West, Jay-Z, King Tee, Z-Ro, Jamal, Devin The Dude, UGK, Nas, 3xKrazy, C-bo, 2Pac, Daz, Seagram, geto Boys and E-40.

His sound is very hard to define, he's always used live instrumentations over samples and I'd have to say his sound has always been influenced by the Bay Area sound which makes sense considering his close friendship with fellow producer Tone Capone who is from the Bay Area.

Here is what he had to say about the Rap-A-Lot/Houston sound he helped pioneer :

"We were kind of isolated in Houston from the industry, We were just down there making those records, locked in the basement. That's why we kind of got such an original thing going down there, because we were isolated. Until I came to California in like 1995, '96, we had no influences, just the records we were listening to...it really was just me, Vito, Scarface and just a couple of other guys...that pretty much pioneered the whole thing that turned into the South sound. The South music now is not the same now. The South music now is now slowed down bass music [from the '80s]...instead of being 120 [BPM], it's slowed down to 70 [BPM]."

He is married to singer Tanya Herron (whom he has collaborated with several times).

I've tried compiling a "Best of" mix for you, which was quite hard considering the high quality of his work (I'm a Rap-A-Lot fiend if anyone was wondering). I've tried to make a list with beats solely produced by Dean, a bit tricky since some of his finest work lists him as co-producer. Normally I don't rip songs in 320 kbps quality (you want decent sound, BUY the music) but I've made an exception here as this is a compilation mix. Enjoy!

I didn't included his recent work with Kanye West since everybody already know those tracks.

1. Yukmouth feat ABN : Hard Tymez (from the "Godzilla" album)
2. C-Bo feat.Daz : Crippin' (from the "Enemy of the State" album)
3. Bushwick Bill : Subliminal Criminal (from the "Phantom of the Opera" album)
4. Big Mike : Creepin - Rollin' (from the "Somethin' Serious" album)
5. Z-Ro : Blast Myself (from the "Heroin" album)
6. Jamal : The Come Up (from the "Last Chance No Breaks" album)
7. Geto Boys : The World Is A Geto (from the "Resurrection" album)
8. Do Or Die : Kill Or Be Killed (from the "Picture This" album)
9. Kurupt feat Daz : Gangstas (from the "Space Boogie" album)
10. Outlawz feat Napolean : Die If You Wanna (from the "Novakane" album)
11. Seagram feat.Scarface : Sleepin' In My Nikes (from the "Soul On Ice" album)
12. Devin The Dude : R&B (from the "Just Tryin' Ta Live" album)
13. Bun B feat T.I : I'm A "G" (from the "Trill" album)
14. Scarface : I Seen A Man Die (from "The Diary") [credited as co-producer]
15. 5th Ward Boyz : Once Again It's On [from the "Gangsta Funk" album)

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Ice T : Return of the Real (OG Version)

2011-09-01T01:23:00.000+02:00

Artist : Ice T
Album : Return of the Real (Demo)
Label/Year : Unreleased 1996
Production : Not sure but probably SLJ and DJ Ace

1. File #143
2. To Live And Die In L.A.
3. Groups Of Ghetto Bastards
4. Press Your Luck
5. Down With Us
6. Here I Go Again
7. Ballin Bitch I Knew
8. Fuck That Shit
9. Victim Of The Criminal Zone

The early ninetees were a turbulent time for the Iceberg. He released the critically acclaimed album "Original Gangster", starred in New Jack City and Trespass and released an album with Bodycount and received a lot of criticism due to the lyrical content on the track "Copkiller". His 1993 album "Home Invasion" got a lot of coverage due to the Copkiller controversy but although a solid album at times it failed to live up to the expectations set by "Original Gangster".

In 1996 he released his 6th studio album entitled "Return of the Real". The album wasn't too well received by critics and fans weren't too impressed either. His earlier work was always very politically charged but this album was more or less just straight up gangsta rap. At the time the west coast scene was still very much caught up in the G-funk sound and this album just didn't match the other west coast albums released at the time.

What few people know however, is that the retail version is not the original recorded version of the album. In 1995 Ice T turned in the album to Priority Records who rejected it and sent Ice back in the lab. Some tracks he kept, a few was remixed but the majority of the album was scrapped.

Personally I thought the retail version was a decent album. I still miss the Ice T who had a message instead of the cliche gangster rap he does these days but he is a pioneer of the genre and as capable as any of doing his gangsta thing.
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As far as the rejected album, well let's just say I understand Prioritys decision. It's not a horrible album but the retail version just sounds better to me. But give it a listen and make up your own mind. And leave a comment as to which album you like better.

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Throwback Video

2011-08-27T10:09:00.000+02:00

Gang Green : I'll Murder You (1995)

Troubleneck Brothers : Fuck All Y'all

2011-08-24T09:42:00.000+02:00

Artist : Troubleneck Brothers
Album : Fuck All Y'all
Label : StepSun Entertainment
Year : 1992
Production : Bill Stephney, Kelly Jackson

1 Live From Troubleneck Projects
2 Troubleneck Wreck
3 Open Up, The Gates
4 Suck My Dick
5 Fuck All Y'all
6 Hoods Up, Caps Down
7 Poets At War
8 Pockin' In Harmony
9 Outro
10 Represent (Trouble Version)
11 Represent (Villain Version)
12 Release Me
13 85 Live
14 862
15 Maintain

Tape/vinyl only release from Bronx natives The Troubleneck Brothers. The group will forever mostly be remembered for either their 1994 single "Back To The Hip Hop" (not included on this album) or for their part in SOHH.COM (founded by Troubleneck Brother Steven Samuel and his wife).

The album is hardly groundbreaking but boom bap fans will surely enjoy this for at least a day or two. Partly produced by Bill Stephney who also helped produced Public Enemys "Yo! Bumrush The Show".

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Grav : Down To Earth

2011-08-20T08:11:00.000+02:00

Artist : Grav
Album : Down To Earth
Label : Correct Records
Year : 1996
Production : Kanye West, No ID, Dug Infinite, Andy C, Big Q

1 Intro 1:12
2 What 4:18
3 World Domination 4:14
4 Snakebite
5 Sick Thoughts
6 City To City [Featuring Al' Tariq & Lil Ray]
7 Thought It Was On
8 Line For Line
9 Interlude
10 Keep Movin
11 Sex
12 One Puff
13 Down To Earth
14 The Battle
15 C'mon

I really feel sorry for this guy. Not only did his label fold shortly after this album was released but this excellent album will forever be remembered as the first album Kanye West produced...

That's a damn shame because Grav is a rapper who can hold his own regardless of the production (handled by Chi Towns finest aka No Id, Dug Inf, Kanye and Andy C). His not the second coming of Rakim but if it's mid 90's hiphop you're looking for this is not to be overlooked. The same label also released the excellent "God Connections" by Al Tariq and "Audio Sedative" by LA duo Mannish [both albums coming later]. Soundwise it's not all that different from the Al Tariq album although not quite as good simply because Fashion is a better rapper than Grav.

The term "lost classic" or "overlooked album" is thrown around very loosely these days but this one fits the bill.

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Sleestack’z : Behind The Iron Curtain

2011-08-17T09:32:00.001+02:00

Artist : Sleestack’z
Album : Behind The Iron Curtain
Label : Ichiban Records
Year : 1995
Production : Straight Roots

1 Intro 0:38
2 All You Want 3:23
3 Crystal Clear (Morning Blunt Mix) 5:33
4 X-Filez 3:55
5 Bulletproof Shoutouts 2:32
6 Ruination 4:45
7 Murderlize 0:49
8 Raw Raps 4:28
9 Live Hardknox 3:28
10 Word To The Wise 1:45
11 Wealth & Real Estate 3:47
12 Troublez & Trialz 3:08
13 Satisfaction 0:42
14 Kings Of Kaos 3:44
15 Play The Victim 3:29
16 Aqua 1:03
17 Crystal Clear (Rusty Water Mix) 4:57
18 Behind The Iron Curtain 5:41

The Sleestack’z were a 4 man hip-hop group from the mid 90s, based out of Atlanta (originally from NY). In 1994 they released an album titled "The Well Awaited And Anticipated" under the name Sleestack'z Enterprise.
Their 2nd album “Behind The Iron Curtain” was released in 1995 via Ichiban Records (who released a bunch of overlooked albums in the mid 90s) and is wrongly mistaken as their first and only album.

The members are J-Nailz, Dwella, Nic Da Nobody & Oxx. I'm not sure what happened to the group after this album was released but Nic Da Nobody is still active as an artist/producer.

Don't be fooled dy the awful album cover, this is a great album with dope east coast sound.

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Fat Joe Drops 100 Lbs.

2011-08-16T10:59:00.002+02:00

Good for you Joe!

Read the article here

Top 30 - My favorite albums [Part One]

2011-08-12T09:06:00.000+02:00

I've been thinking about doing this for a while now and I've been thinking real hard about what album actually deserved to be in the top 30.

To help myselv narrow it down (and to put a twist on the whole topic) I decided to pick 10 albums from the last 3 decades. So I have picked 10 albums from the 80s, ten albums from the 90s and ten albums released from the year 2000 and until now.

1980-1989 (in completely random order)

PUBLIC ENEMY : IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK (1988)
Was there ever any doubt that this album would be on the list? Anyone who read my review knows this is my favorite album of all times. No other hip-hop album comes even remotely close to fucking with this (well, actually one albuim is really close to the greatness found on this album but more on that later).

ERIC B & RAKIM : PAID IN FULL (1986)
Some people prefer Follow The Leader and both albums are classic as far as I'm concerned. I decided to only include the artist once each decade. The production on this album was so innovative at the time and you can't ever deny the influence Rakim had on every single rapper who came out after this album dropped.

BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTION : CRIMINAL MINDED (1987)
The music on this album speaks for itself and although BDP would continue to release some classics albums even after DJ Scott LaRock was murdered I can't help wondering how the BDP/KRS sound would be today he hadn't died so tragically back then. Maybe we would have been spared that god awful "Spiritual Minded" album... This album is dope though, with great (uncredited) production by the one and only Ced-Gee

ULTRAMAGNETIC MC'S : CRITICAL BEATDOWN (1988)
Remember when Kool Keith was dope? Before horrible releases like "Spankmaster" and "Dr Doooom" the man also known as Rhythm X were the only emcee who could fuck with Rakim and Kane. I don't know what went wrong but after the dope Four Horsemen album dropped in 1994 Keith fell the fuck off (although the Dr Octagon deserves props). This album is dope for many reason, Keiths rapid-fire delivery (this shit was FAST!) combined with Ced-Gees gruff delivery made them one of the greatest duo's of the 80's. I Could write for ages about the production but when arguably one of the best hip-hop producers of that era was involved how could it ever go wrong? Ced-Gee was the fucking man!

NWA : STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (1988)
I still remember the first time I heard "Fuck Tha Police"...I was 11 years old and I though this was the coolest thing in the whole fucking world....and it still is. Hard ass beats paired with some of the most charismatic rappers in the history of hiphop (whether Dre, Eazy, Ren or Cube was your favorite doesnt matter, they were all dope). You could argue that "No One Can Do It Better" has better production and that The D.O.C is a better rapper than the NWA guys....you'd be wrong though.

KOOL G RAP & DJ POLO : ROAD TO THE RICHES (1989)
G Rap is always mentioned as one of the godfathers of modern day gangsta rap and no doubt was Road To The Riches one of the first mafia flavored tracks released. But to view this album as the predecessor to some of the albums to come out of Queensbridge 6-7 years later is to miss the point completely. yes, there is a gangster element to the album but the thing that makes this album so damn good is G Raps ability to rap his motherfucking ass off. The dopest tracks (It's A Demo; Men At Work) are just Kool G Rap taking out sucker emcees like he had never done anything else. Oh, the beats are kinda dope too ;-)

BIG DADDY KANE : LONG LIVE THE KANE (1988)
RAW! There is one track that every b-boy/b-girl over 30 can rap in his/her sleep and that track is "Ain't No Half Steppin". This is the 3rd album on this list produced by Marley Marl and there is no doubt that the late 80s belonged to him and the Juice Crew. I've always loved Kanes delivery and tracks like "Raw", "Ain't No Halsteppin" and "Set It Off" are perfect timeless examples of emceeing.

BEASTIE BOYS : PAUL'S BOUTIQUE (1989)
Chuck D was once quoted as saying that the "dirty secret" among the black hip-hop community at the time of release was that "Paul's Boutique had the best beats. This is coming from a man who in 1988 had released the greatest album of all times (and who a year later would release the 2nd best album ever). Was he kidding? Hell no! The album (obviously released before the infamous Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros lawsuit) is as sample heavy as they come with the trios warped vocals making the perfect contribution to beats. Essential.

EPMD : STRICTLY BUSINESS (1988)
Just like Pauls Boutique this album would probably be impossible to record today due to the fucked sample laws in the music industry today. It's a funk filled masterpiece sampling everything from "More Bounce To The Ounce" to "Jungle Boogie" (twice!) and making it sound brand new in the process. At 10 tracks it never gets boring as opposed the the bloated 24-track albums we hear today. One of the most influential hiphop albums ever released.

SLICK RICK : THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF SLICK RICK (1988)
Rick has always been known as one of the best storytellers in the game and this album proves why. Witty lyrics, a delivery like no other rappers and production from The Bomb Squad and Rick himself makes this a must-have album for any hiphop junkie. The songs on this album has been sampled by everyone from Ice Cube, KRS-One and Jay-Z to Missy Elliott, Onyx and TLC.

Part two (1990-1999) coming soon. Please leave a comment if you agree/disagree with my choices.

Albums that almost made the list...

Public Enemy : Yo! Bumrush The Show
Eric B & Rakim : Follow The Leader
The D.O.C : No One Can Do It Better (the nearest miss)
Ice T : Power
BDP : By All Means Necessary
Biz Markie : Goin' Off
Low Profile : We're In This Together

Re-Issues

2011-08-10T08:54:00.002+02:00

Over the years a shitload of hiphop albums have been made available to the public again (and by public I mean for those of us who still BUY music). Traffic Entertainment especially has released some killer album from the Cold Chillin' catalogue and with labels like Wild Pitch re-releasing their work classics like "Breaking Atoms" and "Four Horsemen" were available once more.

So once in a while I'll try and keep the site updated with current and upcoming re-issues.

The thing about re-issues is that sometimes the label responsible is just too damn lazy. The recent re-releases of "Mecca & The Soul Brother" and "Criminal Minded" are class examples of how a re-issue should be handled while other albums like "A Constipated Monkey" by Kurious and Ice T's "Home Invasion" seems somehow cheap compared to other re-issues.

Why didn't they include the excellent "Mansion & A Yacht" on A Constipated Moneky? If you're going to re-release Home Invasion, which is a good album but hardly anticipated as a re-release, why not release it as a double disc and include the Temptation of Ice disc as well as "Mixed Up" from the I Ain't New Ta This 12"?

The class example of pointless re-issues however is the recent Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved series which featured re-releases of "Eazy Duz It", "Ghetto D" and "Strictly Business" by EPMD. Now that last one makes sense as it has been out of print for a while but both the Eazy-E and Master P albums have been re-released not long ago (and with extra tracks included unlike the Snoop Dogg versions).

Enough with the negative shit though, here is an album that althoug not being an official re-release should make a lot of ageing b-boys happy :

1. Think You Can Hang 5:51
2. Pay Ya Dues 4:44
3. We're in This Together 4:27
4. Aladdin's On a Rampage 4:46
5. Funky Song 4:01
6. How Ya Livin' 3:53
7. Comin' Straight From the Heart 4:20
8. Playing for Keeps 3:54
9. Make Room for the Dub.b.u 3:47
10. No Mercy 3:21
11. Easy Money 3:11
12. Keep Em' Flowin 4:58
13. The Dub B.u. Just Begun 3:20
14. Thats Why They Do It 4:33
15. Funky Song (Remix) 3:46
16. Pay Ya Dues (Inst) 3:56
17. Funky Song (Remix Inst) 3:48
18. Hip Hop I Crave 5:04
19. My Dreams 4:03

A DJ Aladdin endorsed release of Low Profiles long out-of -print "Were In This Together"! The tracks a sequenced totally different but the entire original album is included. In addition you also get "Think You Can Hang" from the Rhyme Syndicate compilation as well as "Hip Hop I Crave"/"My Dreams" from the 1987 12-inch release on Nu School Records + a few remixes/instrumentals.
The best thing is it will only set you back 11$ compared to 100$ for a copy of the original album!

Also be on the lookout for new versions of "XL" and "Strictly Ghetto" by King Sun, "On Fire" by Stetsasonic,"Escape" by Whodini, "Call Me D-Nice" by D-Nice "From Where!?!?!" by Mad Skillz, "Searching 4 Jerry Garcia" by Proof, "Episodes of a Hustler" by Big Boyd as well as self-titled debut albums by Kool Moe Dee and Nice & smooth

On the vinyl tip the self-titled "Cypress Hill" album has been released as a 20th Anniversary Red Vinyl edition, and both GZAs "Liquid Swords" and "Kill At Will" by Ice Cube will drop soon

And finally, check out this great article in The Guardian about hiphop re-releases.

The D.E.E.P : Paralayin'

2011-08-08T20:10:00.004+02:00

Artist : D.E.E.P.
Album : Paralayin'
Label : Unleashed Records/Family Affair
Year : 1995
Production : Paris

1 D.A. Entertainment 2:02
2 Coast Love 4:39
3 D.E.E.P. 3:50
4 I'm High 4:05
5 Mobbin' Wit Da D.E.E.P. 4:48
6 Late Night 4:41
7 Hit Me On My Hip 4:34
8 Player Man 4:05
9 Lockdown 4:48
10 Middle Of The Madness 5:15
11 Keepin' It Real 4:09

The D.E.E.P. (aka Downta Earth & Everybody People) released this album in 1997 on Unleashed Records.

This album is kind of weird to me though....The whole thing says it was produced by Paris but the entire release went under the radar for most people. Then the same year 3 of the beats found on this album would end up on the "Black Bossalini" album by Spice 1. And not just the beats but more or less the entire song arrangements were lifted from this album ("I'm High" and "Player Man" even kept the same titles...).

According to members of The D.E.E.P the album was turned into Paris in 1995 when he was still running Scarface Records. They also claim that they produced the whole thing but Paris took credit and sold the tracks to Spice 1.

Regardless of how it went down the album is quite good.

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Throwback Video

2011-08-08T08:54:00.001+02:00

From the slept on "Here To Save You All" album

Worst album cover ever?? [Part 1]

2011-08-04T11:02:00.006+02:00

Yesterday I was going through some of the earlier posts and found this post about the We Cant Be Stopped album cover

Now the funny thing was that while I was reading the post I was listening to the "Little Big Man" album by Bushwick Bill...and you know I had to comment on that cover as well.

Because what the fuck were they thinking?

Now hip-hop is filled with badly drawn album covers (Doggystyle anyone?) but this takes the cake. This is possibly even worse than some of the worst photoshopped Pen & Pixel covers from the No Limit era (a whole seperate post about "Doin' Thangs" by Big Bear coming up sooner or later).

I picked this CD up in 1992 and I honestly never thought about how horrible this cover was until now. It looks like it was drawn by an 8 year old kid. However, further investigation reveals that an artist by the name of Kid Styles was involved. Now with a name like that the thought of a school kid making the cover may not be that far off...

In 2001 Kid Styles would return to do the artwork for Bushwicks Universal Small Souljah which not only has an awful title but the cover for that album really isn't all that impressive either...

By no means does this rant have anything to do with the quality of the music on the Little Big Man album. It's a good album and I advise everyone to get a copy

Gee Dawg & Joe Boy :

2011-08-03T09:32:00.003+02:00

Artist : Gee Dawg & Joe Boy
Album : They Don't Understand
Label : Menace Muzik / Solar Redcords
Year : 1996
Production : Artists

1. Intro
2. Niggaz U Can't Trust
3. Death's Knockin
4. Why
5. They Don't Understand
6. Walkin As A Menace
7. Judgement Night
8. I Miss U
9. Konfessin A Feelin
10. Last But Not Least
11. The Good Times

Yet another under the radar album from Los Angeles (Compton to be more exact). It is by no means an exceptionally good album but it does have a few good songs. I have no info on the group at all except from what I understand Joe Boy (worst rap name ever?) is no longer alive.

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5th Ward Juvenilez : Deadly Groundz

2011-07-30T14:48:00.003+02:00

Artist : 5th Ward Juvenilez
Album : Deadly Groundz
Year : 1995
Label : Rap-A-Lot
Production : Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, Krazy Z, Grizz, O.G. Dewey

The 5th Ward Juvenilez was an American rap group from the 5th Ward of Houston, Texas. The group consisted of Daddy Lo, Mr. Slimm and Nickelboy and was signed to Rap-a-Lot Records.

Formed in 1993, the 5th Ward Juvenilez made their debut on 2-Low's 1993 debut album, Funky Lil Brotha on the track entitled "Comin' Up". After guest appearances on the 5th Ward Boyz' Gangsta Funk and the Blac Monks' Secrets of the Hidden Temple in 1994, Rap-a-Lot issued the Juvenilez debut single "G-Groove" in late 1994. The following year saw the release of their debut Deadly Groundz. The album barely made the Billboard 200, making it to the very last spot on the chart, but found better success on the R&B and Heatseekers charts, peaking at 28 and 9 respectively.

In 1998, Nickelboy and Mr. Slimm changed their names to Gotti and Frank Nitti and became known as the F.W.C., or Fifth Ward Circle. They released an album entitled Organized Crime in 1998 before calling it quits for good.

1."5th Ward Juvenilez"- 3:00
2."Gangsta N My Hood"- 3:45
3."G-Groove"-4:58
4."No Conscious"- 3:39
5."G-ing N tha Nickel"- 4:29
6."Kar Phreak"- 3:30
7."Mr. Slimm"- 3:49
8."Deadly Groundz"- 4:29
9."Busta Azz Niggaz"- 5:25
10."Menace"- 3:48
11."Bad Newz"- 4:47
12."Not 2 Young"- 3:05
13."Nut Check"- 6:01
14."Ghetto Talez"- 3:41
15."Gotsta Get Paid"- 2:42

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A new beginning?

2011-07-29T14:42:00.001+02:00

Well...I don't know.

I kind of miss posting stuff so I'll start putting stuff up again soon. It won't be as often though but hopefully people will enjoy the music.

Support the artists, buy some music dammit!

The End

2011-02-28T11:45:00.005+01:00

This will be the last post on BlackMafiaLife.

The site never really turned out the way I wanted it and I don't have the time necessary to keep making posts that are worth reading.

The site will stay up for a months or so before I delete it and the links should be available for that long as well

To get your daily hip-hop fix check out these amazing sites instead :

WWW:UNKUT.COM
Hands down the best blog out there if you're looking for in-depth interviews with East Coast artists.

www.phuk-tha-muthaphukkin-police.blogspot.com
This really says it all : "This is ya #1 source for West Coast Gangsta Rap, West Coast G Funk and some of the most rare, unreleased, hard-to-find West Coast dopeness… mixed with the right amount of Funk. This is everything Ruthless and Death Row. WEST UP!" Damn right it is!!

www.HIPHOPSITE.com
The first rap related website I ever visited and it's still dope to this day (although I miss the shop!!).

WWW.UGHH.com
Best online retail shop online. Support the artists and buy some music muthafuckaz!!

and last but least, buy the new Saigon album for fucks sake. It's dope as hell!!

Saigon : The Greatest Story Never Told (Review)

2011-02-16T09:09:00.004+01:00

Watch what you name your album....it might just come true! Back in 2002 he was featured in The Sources "Unsigned Hype" column and with his "Yardfather Volume 1 + 2" mix-tapes he created a rather big buzz in the New York area. His 2004 street album "Warning Shots" has long been considered as one of the best examples of how to release a successful street album without compromising the quality of the music. A year later Saigon and Papoose were the biggest thing in rap music and both were destined to blow in 2006.....but nothing happened.

Like many rappers Saigon began to feel the truth of industry rule #4080, in other words Atlantic Records fucked up. On one hand it's hard to see why an album produced by the one of the hottest producers around would get shelved but I guess Atlantic Records just didn't know what to do with a rapper who refused to dumb down his music. I guess they hoped they signed a rapper who would glorify drug dealing like 50 Cent and sell a million records while doing so but Saigon has always been a much more lyrical cat. In the end Atlantic Records figured that they didn't need a rapper with a positive message on their roster (or they realized they are greedy people who only care about the money and not the music and that they couldn't market him properly?) and Sai was dropped from the label.

A few years later and Suburban Noize Records/Fort Knocks Entertainment finally releases the album and the question is of course, was it worth the wait?

The answer to that question is a big HELL YEAH! Just a few weeks onto 2011 and we have a serious contender to album of the year.

Production:
I've always liked Just Blaze but I've always felt that he lacked something in order to prove his status as a super producer, that something being an album entirely (or almost entirely) produced by him. Making a hot track is one thing but making an entire album with the same rapper requires something different and I've always wanted to see if he could make an album as coherent as Kanye West, Premier or Pete Rock could. Well, he finally gets his chance (with a little help from Kanye, Buckwild and Scram Jones) and the result is just as good as I had hoped. Rich soulful production that matches the Saigons voice and flow perfectly.

Vocals:
Saigon come through! While a lot of rappers today spend most of their records glorifying the life of a petty drug dealer Sai chooses a different approach, mixing his street mart lyrics with well chosen words of wisdom. His subject matters are varied and whatever he choose to rap about he never comes across as preachy which is a rare feat for a so-called "conscious rapper". The guest features are brilliant as well, most of them are for the chorus only and Black Though kills his appearance!

Overall:
Like I said earlier, this could easily be one of the best albums this year. There are a few things that could have been handled better though. A few tracks could have been left on the cutting floor. Not because they aren't good but simply to trim the album down a bit, leaving it more coherent (so for your iPod leave out "Enemies" and "Clap"). And I know that "Pain In My Life" is old as hell now but I would have liked to have that track included...

Best tracks : "Bring Me Down Pt.2", "Believe It" and "Better Way"

Rating :

50 Cent Vs.....Dre & Jimmy ??

2011-02-16T01:37:00.000+01:00

Has 50 finally gone too far? He's had beef with everyone but going against Dre is hardly a smart move. Or could it possibly be another publicity stunt?

Oh well, I just hope Detox drops soon...

N.O.B.L.E : Finally Dunn

2011-02-15T09:26:00.000+01:00

Artist : N.O.B.L.E.
Album : Finally Dunn
Label : Zu-J Records
Year : 2005
Produced by: Mavix Productions (except track 5 produced by Luiz Ronco for Ronco Productions and track 8 produced by Greazballs)
Country : DENMARK

1. Intro
2. Finally Dunn
3. Nowhere Nigguh Feat. K-Dub
4. Untouchable Music
5. Hot 2Nite Feat. Maximus
6. Live For Today Feat. Erann DD
7. Ready For War
8. Skool Night
9. Blood Money Feat. Szhirley
10. The Legacy Feat. Tjes Boogie
11. Connected
12. Ignition Feat. Knox
13. CPH Paradise
14. I Believe Feat. Jonas
15. Dont Thank Me
16. Mistakes

Debut album from Copenhagen duo N.O.B.L.E (Diaz & Cruz). It features guestappearences from various Funk FLush members as well as Szhirley known for working with Den Gale Pose (Madness 4 Real)

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Creative : The Exclusive Presentation EP

2011-02-10T11:32:00.001+01:00

Artist : Creative
Album : The Exclusive Presentation EP
Year : 1996
Label : Track Team Productions
Production : Copenhaniacs, Dj Typhoon
Country : DENMARK

1 - Natural
2 - One On One
3 - Expect Wreck
4 - The Hard Way (Featuring Kuku Agami, cuts by DJ Noize)

Debut EP from 1/3 of the group Funk Flush. The production is very influenced by what people like The Trackmasters did at the time. A really good listen if you ask me, the first track "Natural" is my favorite. The beat sounds like a track that never made the tracklist of "It Was Written"

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Warlocks : Mic Knights

2011-02-09T09:52:00.000+01:00

Artist : Warlocks
Album : Mic Knights
Year : 1998
Label : Tee Productions
Production : Hawk and Tommy Tee
Country : NORWAY

1 Battlegrounds
2 Top Rock
3 Those Who Never Saw This
4 Dimention Of Darkness
5 The Wolf
6 Strictly Kings And Better (Featuring Diaz & Father Blanco)
7 Karmageddon
8 King Jingle
9 Hawk The Overseer
10 Techniques And Styles
11 Bag The Game
12 Kroner (Featuring Opaque)
13 Storms
14 Special FX (Featuring N-Light-N)
15 Foul Child / City Soldier

Warlocks has been one of the most respected rap acts in Norway for almost two decades, and the group has also been heavily involved in the graffiti and b-boy scene in Oslo since day one. The trio, which was formed in 1992, consists of producer Hawk and the rappers Tech and Karma, who are twins. Warlocks released their debut album, “Lyrical Marksmen”, on a local independent label (dBut Records) in 1995, and the intense street buzz resulted in a contract with Norway’s leading rap label Tee Productions.

Tee Productions owner Tommy Tee recorded and co-produced Warlocks’ sophomore set, “Top Notch”, and the first single off the album entered at 3 on the Norwegian single chart. The album received a Norwegian Grammy nomination in 1997. The love from streets and the critical acclaim, combined with several negative tabloid newspaper stories about the group’s involvement in graffiti, helped Warlocks become the best-selling rap act in Norway ever. Warlocks released their third album, “Mic Knights”, in 1998. The set was another smash-hit, receiving outstanding reviews, not only from the Norwegian press; UK magazine Hip-Hop Connection labeled the track "Strictly Kings And Better" the best graffiti song ever recorded.

Ten years deep in the game, in 2001, the veteran trio released another brilliant album; “Afterlife”. The love from the Norwegian music press was not an exception, as the new release was receiving tremendous love and coverage from the Norwegian media. The first single, “Rap Game”, went straight to heavy rotation on the biggest Norwegian radio stations, and Warlocks received the prestigious Alarm Award for best hip-hop album. The group second single was the playful track called “Hahaha!”, accompanied by a hilarious video where the trio dresses up as foul police officers. Besides being aimed at the law enforcement, the song and video also focuses on the Oslo city council's Giuliani-adapted zero-tolerance politics towards graffiti writers.

After four years of silence, Warlocks in 2005 released their fifth album “The Neverending Story”. The album, celebrating their 10 years anniversary as recording artists, was released on Christer Falcks C+C Records with joining ventures from Tee Productions. Once again Warlocks manifested their position as one of Norways best hiphop acts. Warlocks and Falck also got much attention for mocking with the established major recordcompanies hypocrisy. Teaming up with fans all over Norway and buying their own records, they had their single “Stay Warm” making the top 5 on the Norwegian charts. They also got NRK (National TV station) to make a documentary about the scam, making the mission complete. Check the videos “Stay Warm” and “Soundboy”.

Warlocks are currently in studio working with their sixth set, and they are doing shows all over Scandinavia.

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Tommy Tee : Bonds, Beats & Beliefs

2011-02-07T13:39:00.000+01:00

Artist : Tommy Tee
Album : Bonds, Beats & Beliefs
Label : Tee Productions
Year : 1998
Production : Tommy Tee
Country : NORWAY

1. Bonds Intro (1:37) (Featuring - Father Blanco)
2. International Connects (3:28) (Featuring - El Da Sensei , Mike Zoot
3. The Reply (3:31) (Featuring - Diaz, Father Blanco, N-Light-N, Opaque, Warlocks)
4. Horizon (4:37)(Featuring - Bansheeba Earth, Black Sun, Mr. Eon, Tru Personna)
5. So Fantastic (3:10) (Featuring - N-Light-N)
6. Blood Rush (3:55) (Featuring - F.T., P Dap)
7. The Conjunction (4:13) (Featuring - Zombi Squad)
8. Takin Ova US Version (3:59) (Featuring - Joe Sexx, Mr. Eon, Reservoir Dogs, Shabaam Sahdeeq
9. Educated (4:53) (Featuring - Line, Opaque)
10. Primoz II (3:19) (Featuring - El Santo, The Eye, Father Blanco)
11. That's My Fucking Word (1:15) (Featuring - COD Crew)
12. It's All True (3:51) (Featuring - COD Crew, Debbie Dro)
13. Aerodynamics (4:19) (Featuring - Father Blanco, N-Light-N, Tech-Rock)
14. Intense (4:11) (Featuring - Craig G, Will Pack)
15. Hip Hop Love (4:53) (Featuring - Shawn J Period, Star Orion, Wisdom Life)
16. Day By Day (4:48) (Featuring - A.L., Punch & Words, Talib Kweli)
17. Defenders of the North Sea (3:12) (Featuring - Diaz)
18. Crown Holders (4:05) (Featuring - Skam, l.G. Off And Hazadous)
19. Spectators (4:31) (Featuring - Opaque, Tech-Rock)
21. Takin Ova (3:50) (Featuring - Diaz, Father Blanco, N-Light-N, Opaque, Warlocks)

Tommy Flaaten (born December 18, 1971), best known by his stage name Tommy Tee is a record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns the label Tee Productions, which is located in Oslo, Norway and is Norway's leading hip hop label. As well, he publishes Norway's only graffiti magazine and hosts a weekly national radio program.

Tommy Tee was first introduced to hip hop culture in the 1980's. He started as a graffiti artist and breakdancer, and later became moved on to music through DJing. He has been a radio and club DJ since mid 80´s - something that sparked his interest in music production.

In 1989, Tee started Norway's first hip hop magazine Fat Cap which has been amongst the world´s big graffiti magazines with international distribution. FatCap just celebrated 20 years of documentation of Aerosol Art FatCap Mag.

Tommy Tee also started doing production work in the late 1980s but got more serious on the music throughout the 90´s. That being said he is credited for creating one of the very first Norwegian Hip-Hop record on wax in 1989. The record "The Crazy Minister" (also Tee´s nickname at the time) appeared on the group Snikk Snakk´s album "More Muffens" in 1989. Tee has also said to have done a lot of tracks and remixes under many aliases from this time. For Ice Cube's 1990 Oslo concert he was the support act. He was the DJ for Norway's first rap group on record. Tee also arranged concerts by Ice Cube, Run DMC, The Fugees, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and 50 Cent in Norway.

In 1992, Danish company Mega Records appointed Tee as its Norwegian sales manager. Norway's national broadcaster NRK offered him a prime time show on its new P3 network. The show is called "National Rap Show" and is still running. It quickly became popular and has featured guest acts such as Snoop Dogg, the Roots and Big Pun. DJ Herkules is the co-host of the show which is the channels longest lived show to date.

Tommy Tee started Tee Productions in 1995. He produced his first whole album, jazz artist Helén Eriksen's Standards, in 1996. This album was later released by Blue Note Records in Europe and Japan. Eriksen won a Norwegian Grammy as Best New Artist in 1996.

Tee's first album Bonds Beats and Beliefs was released in 1998 becoming Norway's most successful hip hop record. It featured Talib Kweli on the track "Day by Day" which was released as a single in the US. While the album was not officially released in the US, it did have a following on college radio and in hip hop magazines and also received reviews in Australia, England, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Tee then featured on a compilation album of the artists on his label T.P. Allstars: Norske Byggeklosser debuted in the Norwegian top 5 and was released in the US in late 1999 through Fat Beats Records. It featured US rapper Pete Rock on the first single "World Renown". The Source said the single was a "contender for Indie Release of the year."

The T.P. Allstars album also featured a collaboration between Swedish artist Petter and TP artist Diaz on the track "Crossing Borders" which was a top ten hit in Scandinavia in 1999. In return, Tee produced two tracks on Petter's album Bananrepubliken which went platinum and won three Swedish Grammy awards in 2001.

Tommy Tee's recent work includes producing the song "Church" on Sean Price's 2007 album Jesus Price Supastar, two songs on the album "Ghetto Warfare" by M.O.P., and five songs off the Smif-n-Wessun album "The Album" (2007).

Tommy Tee released a street-album entitled "No Studio No Time" with artists like Grafh, Masta Ace, Agallah, Tim Dog, AG, Party Arty, Large Professor, JoJo Pellegrino and many more to warm up for the new offial album.

Tommy Tee released his newest album Studio-Time 5. October 2009. The album was highly praised in media and won a Norwegian Grammy (SPellemannsprisen) for best Rap/Hip-Hop album of the year.

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Adam Tensta : It's A Tensta Thing

2011-02-01T11:32:00.002+01:00

Artist : Adam Tensta
Album : It's A Tensta Thing
Label : K-Werks Records
Year : 2007
Production : Howard Who, Addeboy vs. Cliff ,
Country : SWEDEN

1 "It's a Tensta Thing"
2 "Bangin' On the System"
3 "My Cool"
4 "Walk With Me"
5 "Dopeboy" (feat. Eboi)
6 "See U Watchin" (feat. Nitti Gritti)
7 "Do the Right Thing"
8 "They Wanna Know"
9 "I M Sayin'" (feat. Isay)
10 "80's Baby"
11 "S.t.o.l.d." (feat. Eboi)
12 "Incredible" (feat. Isay)
13 "Before U Know It"
14 "Same Face"

Born Adam Momodou Eriksson Taal, on 1 August 1983, Adam grew up the son of a single mother and an absent, heroin-addicted father in Tensta, Stockholm. Despite his upbringing in a neighborhood where violence and crime was the norm Adam Tensta refused to take the path of many of his peers. Instead of delinquency he found sanctuary in music. Artists like Bob Marley and hiphop acts like Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and Nas became the source of inspiration for his first rhymes.

To honor his roots, Adam took "Tensta" as his artist name.

Adam Tensta excludes alcohol, cigarettes and drugs from his lifestyle. He is a representative for the Save the Children Sweden and an ambassador for Alla Olika Alla Lika, a youth campaign against racism, prejudice and discrimination in Sweden. He is also a socialist, and performed at the Swedish leftist party Vänsterpartiet's 1May celebration in Stockholm 2010.

Adam Tensta has opened for artists like Jay-Z, Youssou N’Dour, Akon, Dead Prez and Rihanna.

His song "My Cool" was also featured in the HBO Series Entourage (Season 7, Episode 7). It also appeared on the soundtracks for the skateboarding video game, Tony Hawk: Ride and the basketball video game, NBA 2K10.

With the Scandinavian release of his fourth single, "Dopeboy ft. Eboi", Adam Tensta is now turning his focus on an international career. In September 2008, he performed with Yung Berg and Rick Ross in California, his very first US gig.

Todd Kane, Artist Manager/Marketer was instrumental in the success of Adam Tensta in the United States. With shows at CMJ, SXSW, LA & NYC Todd was able to push Adam to the forefront of listeners ears. Including such branding opportunities such as MISHKA, The Hundreds, GSHOCK and Orisue.

In April 2009, Adam Tensta went to the United States of America for a 12 day trip to Los Angeles, California, where he performed at legendary clubs like The Viper Room, Cinespace, and The Roxy Theatre.

Currently, he is putting the final touches of an International Release of "It's a Tensta Thing," for an expected release in 2011. He's also working on his second album.

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Lazee : Setting Standards

2011-01-27T12:02:00.000+01:00

Artist : Lazee
Album : Setting Standards
Label : BMG
Year : 2008
Production : Ishi
Country : SWEDEN

1. (00:03:31) Lazee - Setting Standards
2. (00:03:43) Lazee - I'm Not Pop
3. (00:03:13) Lazee - Hold On (feat. Neverstore)
4. (00:03:17) Lazee - All Across The World (feat. Million Styles)
5. (00:03:53) Lazee - Rock Away
6. (00:03:36) Lazee - Back To 85 (feat. Charlie King)
7. (00:03:28) Lazee - Fast Life (feat. Charlie King)
8. (00:03:20) Lazee - Heartless
9. (00:03:26) Lazee - Baby (feat. Loon and Wayne Beckford)
10. (00:04:00) Lazee - Get To Know Me
11. (00:03:38) Lazee - Can't Change Me
12. (00:04:41) Lazee - Trend Setter (Get Up)
13. (00:03:10) Lazee - My Hero (Words Can't Describe)
14. (00:04:51) Lazee - Missing You (Bonus Track)
15. (00:03:59) Lazee - Drop Bombs (Bonus Track)
16. (00:03:53) Lazee - Rock Away (Remix feat. Fred Durst) (Bonus Track)

Lazee was born in Malmö, Sweden, to parents of Ghanaian origin. His passion for music grew from a young age and he was heavily influenced by the musical tastes of his father who was a DJ. He introduced young Lazee to soul, R&B and reggae. Lazee first became interested in hip hop when he was seven and wrote his first rhyme at the age of 10.

Just before Lazee's 13th birthday his mother sent him to England where she believed he could "be someone." He attended Elliott School in Putney, Greater London. Whilst still a teenager at school Lazee heard the song "Players Anthem" by The Notorious B.I.G. and describes it as a "turning point" in his life. Together with Marcus Nzaku Curtis he started writing lyrics and rap battling with other students. Lazee continued to listen to hip hop and began work on his first mixtape until he eventually moved back to Sweden in 2004 where he attended John Bauer High School in his native Malmö.

Lazee released his first major work as a mixtape entitled "It is what it is" with the help of New York DJ Kayslay; the mixtape was a free sample given to 5000 members of the Swedish urban underground from which Lazee gained critical acclaim and notoriety. The mixtape included tracks like "Top Notch" and "Bigga Nigga" and there are two music videos for the tracks as well. Things became serious for Lazee in 2007 when he moved to Stockholm and began working with producer Ishi. The collaboration gave birth to Lazee's debut single"Rock Away" on his new label 2Stripes and major label Sony BMG which was released across Scandinavia in 2008.
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Since then Lazee has released several critically acclaimed songs including "Drop Bombs", "I'm not pop", "Pusherman, featuring Swedish rapper J-Son" and his current hit single "Hold On" featuring Neverstore a Swedish punk rock band which has been a featured single on UK radio stations including Radio 1 and Kiss100

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Ro-Cee Whydamin : Da Persiadic Gee

2011-01-25T08:26:00.001+01:00

Artist : Ro-Cee Whydamin
Album : Da Persiadic Gee
Label : Virgin Records
Year : 1996
Production : Polarbear, Ro-Cee
Country : SWEDEN

1 Intro 1:56
2 Straight Out'a Persia 4:00
3 Interlude Da' Pimp 0:40
4 Da' Pimp 3:48
5 Interlude Show Respect 0:43
6 Show Respect 4:25
7 Back In Da' Days 4:04
8 Coming Like This 3:38
9 Interlude I Know It's Phunky... 0:27
10 I Know It'z Phunky 2 You 3:58
11 Getting All Da' Babes 4:00
12 Da' Persiadic Gee 3:54
13 Angel Of Death 3:44
14 Girl You Look So Fine 4:09
15 There's A Hood In Every City 3:57 [Featuring Khaalis & Polarbear]
16 Ra-Ta-Ta-Ta 3:00 [Featuring Scrappy G]
17 Fake World 6:19
18 Outro 4:15

Swedish G-Funk?? Hell yeah!

This 26-year old Persian born but Sweden raised rapper had a no.1 Swedish Dance Chart hit with "Gettin' All Da' Babes" at the end of 95 and released his debut album "Ro-Cee: The Persiadic Gee" in the spring of 96. He has also rapped in the Infinite Mass song "Playin' not Playin'".

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Infinite Mass : Alwayz Somethang

2011-01-24T11:13:00.000+01:00

Artist : Infinite Mass
Album : Alwayz Somethang
Label : Rooftop Records
Year : 1997
Production : Polarbear, Infinite Mass, MC Eiht. Prodeje, QD III
Country : SWEDEN

1 Intro (The Infinite Theme) 0:52
2 Massacre 2:49
3 Caught Up In Da Game 3:51
4 Alwayz Somethang 6:17 [Featuring Khaalis , Polarbear , Rodg , Shorty]
5 Interlude / Still Somethang (Shorty's Revenge) 0:31
6 Comptown 2 Stocktown 3:46 [Featuring MC Eiht]
7 Fo' Sho' 3:49 [Featuring Helluva]
8 Betta' Reqognize 4:52
9 Eye For An Eye 4:41
10 Interlude / WMASS 0:33
11 Reazide 4:34 [Featuring Helluva]
12 Mad Times Placed On Me 2:27
13 44 Times 4:12 [Featuring Prodeje of South Central Cartel]
14 Pimp Daddy's 3:49 [Featuring Melle Mel]
15 High On Life 2:57
16 Four Seasons 3:38
17 Champain & Rigomortiz 2:56
18 If I Ain't Packin' 3:35 [Featuring Helluva , Ms Dvs , Rodogg , Silhouette]
19 Breakin' Up Beats 2:55 [Featuring Khaalis]
20 Once Mo' 1:55
21 Outro (Da End) 0:56

The 2nd album from Infinte Mass found the group relocation to Los Angeles and getting major players like MC Eiht and Melle Mel to get on their album. Naturally the tracks produced by Eiht, Prodeje and QD3 are the best but the album overall is pretty good.

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Infinite Mass : The Infinite Patio

2011-01-23T13:40:00.000+01:00

Artist : Infinite Mass
Album : The Infinite Patio
Label : Rooftop Records
Year : 1995
Production : Infinite Mass, Polarbear
Country : SWEDEN

1 Intro: Divine Intervention 0:58
2 Trique Slappin' Clique 4:47
3 Nine 5 Vibe 5:07
4 Bomba Atomica 3:31
5 Survivin' (Clad We've Got Da Music) 6:24
6 Area Turns Red 5:13
7 Idiots Don't Sleep 5:42
8 Interlude: Infinite Intervention 1:00
9 G-Ride 5:05
10 Playin' Not Payin' 7:18
11 Mah Boyz 4:10
12 Price Of Freedom 4:15
13 Red White & Blue 6:27
14 Keep On 6:29
15 Still On 1:56
16 Outro: Welcome To Our Patio 3:21

Infinite Mass is a Swedish hip hop group that was formed in 1991. In 1992 the group won the talent show Swedish Championship of Rap. The same year, they achieved fame when they participated in the movie Sökarna and released the single "Shoot the Racist" which was later renamed "Area Turns Red". There was some controversy in the Swedish mass media at the time regarding the song's lyrics.

They ended up on the top charts for the first time with the album Alwayz Somethang (1997) and the single "Caught up in da Game". With the album The Face (2001) and the songs "She’s A Freak", "Bullet", "Blazin", and "Enter The Dragon" they established a characteristic style: a G-funk base with a blend of heavy guitars, rapping, singing, and unusual samplings. In 2004 they had a Swedish hit with the song "No. 1 Swartskalle" (Svartskalle is a traditionally derogatory Swedish slang term for an African or any person belonging to both the groups non-blonde and non-Nordic.)

Infinite Mass is, alongside The Latin Kings and Looptroop, one of the more important groups that has emerged from the Swedish hip hop scene.

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Rico Won : Aceept What You Can't Change

2011-01-21T10:17:00.000+01:00

Artist : Rico Won
Album : Accept What You Can't Change
Label : Illicit Music
Year : 2006
Production : Dj Large, Astma, Masse, Sam-E
Country : SWEDEN

01 - It's Rico
02 - Im back (4:12)
03 - Right here (3:41)
04 - It´s the weekend (4:00)
05 - Accept what you can´t change (3:07)
06 - Always remember (5:41)
07 - Holla at ya dawg (5:45)
08 - Live ya life (4:42)
09 - Im Rick James (1:53)
10 - Beef (4:23)
11 - Move some (4:09)
12 - All that (3:33)
13 - Anxiety (4:23)
14 - Memories (4:14)
15 - Movin on (5:32)

Gothenburg rapper Rico Won is back with his second album "AWYCC". His debut album " Takin Over" (2004) recieved great acclaims from the Swedish rap community as from the industry in general. Rico got nominated for best Rap/R´nB album in 2004 at the Independant music awards "Manifest".
On "AWYCC" you will find top notch producing by Swedens finest, ASTMA, MASSE, DJ LARGE, SAM - E and more...
Guest appearences by Cos-m.i.c of Looptroop, Jay Json and upcoming Swedish soul singer Ashar Kahn.

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Sherlock : Made To Measure

2011-01-20T09:43:00.001+01:00

Artist : Sherlock
Album : Made To Measure
Label : Rooftop Records
Year : 1997
Production : Seb Roc, Thomas Rusiak, Colleone & Webb
Country : SWEDEN

1 Intro 0:11
2 Natural Bond 4:14
3 Bleeding Facts 3:49
4 Swamps Of Corruption 4:18
5 Hopes Of Spring 3:56
6 You're Supreme 3:33
7 Beautiful Ways 3:46
8 These Days 3:11
9 Made To Measure 4:36
10 Vipers 4:34
11 Aisle Of Illusions 3:29
12 Shortcuts 4:15
13 Universal Soldiers 5:11
14 Color Tales 3:49
15 Résumé (Outro)

Even though it's been more than a decade since Sherlock was active as a group, people still talk about them in Sweden.
The members were: Thomas Rusiak, Peewee, Speedknock & Seb-Rock (Infra Red also used to be in the group but left before the classic album "Made To Measure")

The album has an unmistakenly New York inspired sound and I think it's pretty safe to say that albums by Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Cland and Group Home were in heavy rotation when this album was recorded

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Scandinavian Hip-Hop

2011-01-19T09:27:00.000+01:00

That hip-hop is a worldwide phenomenon should come as no surprise to anyone but most people have never heard rap from outside the US. Over the next weeks I'll bring you some of the best artists from Sweden, Norway and Denmark and I hope you enjoy the music. I'll stick to the artists who have released albums in english.

But first up, some background info :

Swedish hip hop

Emerging in the first half of the 1980s, Swedish hip hop was first heard from the cities of Stockholm and Malmö. In the early days, most rappers in Sweden rapped in English. Funkalics and The Latin Kings, two very different acts united by their innovative use of the Swedish language, debuted a decade later and paved the way for a second, and bigger, breakthrough for Swedish hip hop.

The beginning

Percussionisttt Per Cussion along with Grandmaster Funk is generally credited with bringing hip hop to Sweden. In 1984 they released the songs "Don't Stop", "Snow Blind" and "Payin´ The Price". Breakdancing had arrived a year earlier and spread quickly, its forerunners known as Robot Lasse, Mark, Spirio and Perkeles.

In the summer of 1984, following a major dance competition, Double M Crew, Abdula & The Rockers, Rock Ski, Almighty T and MC II Fresh joined together to form the hip hop collective Ice Cold Rockers, a crew consisting of rappers, scratchers, dancers and graffiti artists. Broadcaster D and One Eye Que (later recording under the name Ayo) started their collaboration.

Sweden, outside of Stockholm, soon became familiar with hip hop when the popular movie Stockholmsnatt, which featured the IC Rockers, came out. Pop-C and Snoopy were on the soundtrack and had a hit in 1986 with their single "Next Time".

New artists followed in their tracks. Rob'n'Raz produced the album Competition Is None and introduced Papa Dee's dub and dancehall influenced rap to the Swedes. See-Que, from Stockholm, collaborated with the American label Priority Records on their compilation album Basement Flavor.

The first real rap song in Swedish "Jag Är Def" came from MC Tim in 1989. The year after, Just D was formed and their decision to rap in Swedish would earn them a huge fan base, and introduce rap to the general populace.

The first breakthrough

In the end of the 1980s, hip hop became increasingly more popular in Sweden. The international success of rapper/singer Neneh Cherry's crossover album, Raw Like Sushi, made the Swedish media take a closer look at the genre in the context of Sweden's native artists. The Swedish Championship in Rap was held for the first time in 1989 and the winner was ADL's group Sons Of Soul. The runner-up was Ms Melodie, who went on to have a career as Leila K. Briefly picking up the torch of Neneh Cherry, Leila K had an international crossover hit with the rap track "Got To Get". There was now a solid market for rap music and record companies were taking notice.
Modern Tensta, with its concrete apartment buildings of Plattenbau style, was (like nearby Rinkeby and Hjulsta) part of the so-called Million Programme.

Just D's ironically titled album Rock N Roll became popular with many people who had yet to embrace hip hop. Snoopy (aka Quincy Jones III) had moved to the USA to produce acts like Young MC, LL Cool J and Ice Cube. The Sure Shot Groove (MC Stranger and Complicated C) debuted with the 12-inch Rhymes R Flowin'. The collective Infinite Mass won the Swedish qualification finals for the World Rap Competition and released their EP Da Blackmass. One of their songs, "Shoot The Racist", was on the soundtrack for the 1993 movie Sökarna and became hugely popular. It was later renamed "Area Turns Red" due to some media controversy over the lyrics.

The Latin Kings ushered in a new wave of Swedish hip hop artists. They used ”Rinkeby Swedish”, sometimes described as a kind of a pidgin language, to describe life in the 'Million Programme' suburbs of Stockholm. Their 1994 debut album Välkommen till Förorten (Welcome to the suburb), produced by Gordon Cyrus and founder of first the Swedish Hip Hop label Breakin Bread, was a success in the charts and favorite with the critics. The coming generation of Swedish hip hop artists would be distinguished from the first by their inclusion of Swedish language rhymes, as opposed to the exclusive use of English rhymes by Sweden's first generation of rappers.

The second breakthrough

In 1998 Petter debuted with the album Mitt sjätte sinne, which became an enormous success and started the Swedish hip hop boom of the late 1990s. With him came an array of artists, such as Thomas Rusiak (a member of the group Sherlock), DJ Sleepy and Eye-n'-I. Other artists that achieved mainstream popularity following Petter's break include Ken Ring and Ayo. Feven released her acclaimed album Hela Vägen Ut. Looptroop developed a middle class revolutionary style. Timbuktu, a native of Lund, emerged and went on to gain a reputation as one of Sweden's most popular MCs.

In the 21st century

Recent acts that has achieved nationwide recognition include: Promoe, Snook, Ayesha, Fjärde Världen, Fattaru, Ison & Fille, Advance Patrol, Lazee, and Adam Tensta.

Many of these artists have been exposed to a domestic hip hop culture since they were born, or very young. In a sense the Swedish scene has become less volatile, and also less vulnerable to becoming extinct. Influence from the U.S. culture is no longer as significant; American hip hop is still important but outside influences also come from French, British, Danish, and Japanese hip hop, and other regions around the world with vibrant and innovative music scenes. Due to file sharing via the Internet and changing consumer markets, the number of records an artist has sold is not necessarily indicative of how popular or important that artist is. There are Swedish hip hop acts who release records for what they know is going to be an economic loss, in hope of earning their money through concerts and other ventures.

The hip hop genres represented in Swedish hip hop are plentiful. Alternative hip hop is, most likely, bigger than Gangsta and Hardcore combined. There are also many fusion genres such as Neo soul, Grime, and Reggaeton.

Swedish rap often deals with themes of multiculturalism and positive suburban identity. Many rappers affirm their ethnic and racial background, but tend to identify more with their community and with Swedish minorities in general rather than with specific ethnic cultures, or with mainstream Swedish culture. Rapper Adam Tensta, for instance, takes his name from the suburb of Tensta and rhymes in his "Banging on the System": "Every burb the same man / and we got every color / we all the same man / at least to them we are / we all immigrants".

2008 is a European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and part of this effort was a hip hop summit in Stockholm called Make it blast!, which took place on the 27th of May. Chaired by Timbuktu, the festival featured rappers from Sweden and elsewhere in Europe and aimed to create dialogue between artists as well as audiences of the European urban music scene.

BrassMunk : Live Ordeal EP

2011-01-18T08:37:00.002+01:00

Artist : BrassMunk
Album : Live Ordeal EP
Label : Heavy Heads Ent.
Year : 2000
Production : Agile, Mr Attic, DJ Serious

1. Live Ordeal
2. Rise Up
3. Serious Business
4. Magnetic

BrassMunk is a Canadian hip hop group from Scarborough, Ontario, located in east Toronto. Formed in 1997, the group consists of emcees S-Roc, Clip, Reign (aka King Reign), and DJ/producer Agile. Founding member, May 19, was replaced by Reign prior to 2007.

Brassmunk released a number of independent singles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and released their first EP, Dark Sunrise, in 2002 on 54th/Virgin Music Canada. The following year, Dark Sunrise was re-released worldwide on Battleaxe Records as an LP, and included their previous independent releases. Dark Sunrise was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 2004 Juno Awards. Their follow up album, FEWturistic, was released on March 20, 2007, and featured the singles "Take It Easy" and "Drive Me Crazy". In 2008, the album earned them another Juno nomination.

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Throwback Video

2011-01-02T17:20:00.001+01:00

Throwback Video

2010-12-31T17:06:00.000+01:00

T-Kash : Bombthreat

2010-12-29T17:05:00.000+01:00

Finally found a copy of this courtsey of the good people over at RapVaults.

Get it while it's up :-)

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Throwback Video

2010-12-26T17:02:00.001+01:00

Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg : The Kush (Video)

2010-12-14T15:36:00.000+01:00

Peanut Butter Wolf : My Vinyl Weighs A Ton

2010-12-13T10:56:00.000+01:00

Artist : Peanut Butter Wolf
Album : My Vinyl Weighs A Ton
Label : Stones Throw
Year : 1999
Production : PB Wolf, DJ Design

1 Sit Down Shut Up 0:15
2 In Your Area 2:25 (Feat Planet Asia)
3 Styles Crew Flows Beats 5:50 (Feat Lootpack)
4 Casio 3:50 (Feat Dj Babu)
5 Barter 0:21
6 Hold Up 3:45 (Feat Rasco)
7 The Everliving 0:42
8 Rock Unorthodox 2:58 (Feat Pablo)
9 Top Illin 0:22
10 Necromancin 2:05 (Feat Dave Dub)
11 Keep On Rockin It 4:31 (Featuring Charizma)
12 T Shirts 0:29
13 Breaks 'Em Down 3:59 (Feat Kazi)
14 Tale Of Five Cities 8:50 (Feat A whole bunch of deejays)
15 Mr. Dibbs 0:22
16 Definition Of Ill 3:20 (Featuring Planet Asia)
17 Theme From A Peanut Butter Wolf 0:59
18 Run The Line 5:18 (Featuring Rasco)
19 Phonies 3:15 (Feat Dj Design)
20 Ten Minutes Left 3:15 (Featuring Capt. Funkaho)
21 Mobbin 3:09 (Featuring Persevere & Vin Roc)
22 Competition Gets None (Featuring - Grand & Shortkut]
23 Interruptions 3:30
24 Hawaii 5000

As a young kid growing up in San Jose, Chris Manak sought out an escape from suburbian life in the Silicon Valley. The age of nine was his coming of age. This was the year he discovered sports (Pittsburgh Pirates), video games (Pac man), girls (Anita Balderama), and hip hop ("Rappers Delight"). Alongside partner Sweet Steve, young Chris fashioned primitive mix-tapes (using the pause button) and ran amok at the local roller rink.

He took on the name Peanut Butter Wolf in the late-80s when he realized that, in an odd turn of events, a girlfriend’s youngest brother feared the “peanut butter wolf monster” more than death itself. Wolf and his more conventionally-named counterpart, Charizma, began recording in 1989 when the two were still teenagers. Within three years, the duo signed a contract with Hollywood Basic (Disney) alongside label mates Organized Konfusion and DJ Shadow. Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf were riding high, touring Europe, receiving press in magazines such as Billboard and (a then newspaper format) Urb , hanging with radio legends Sway & King Tech on Wake Up Show and performing live shows with groups like House of Pain, Nas and The Pharcyde. Then, in December of 1993, Charizma tragically lost his life. Stunned, Wolf temporarily gave up on music.

After releasing the song "Just Like A Test" with Charizma for David Paul's Bomb Hip Hop Compilation early in 1994, Upstairs Records, a label known primarily for house music, approached Wolf to record an instrumental LP. Thus, the Peanut Butter Breaks was born; the record became the Wolf’s calling card, leading to meetings and collaborations with like-minded DJs like Q-bert, Cut Chemist and Rob Swift.

After the release of Peanut Butter Breaks, PB Wolf found himself in demand as a producer. His track for the all-scratching compilation Return of the DJ was labeled “incredible” by The Source magazine. He released a 6 song compilation for South Paw Records in 1995, featuring collaborations with up and coming San Jose MCs. He also produced Kool Keith's first single as a solo artist "Wanna Be A Star." These releases, amongst others, led to a picture disc EP for British label 2 Kool Records.

In 1996, Peanut Butter Wolf founded Stones Throw Records. Charizma’s posthumous "My World Premiere" was the single to launch the label. A few highlights in the beginning were the songs "Unassisted" by Rasco, Super Duck Breaks LP by DJ Babu, and hip hop 7” series.

Lately, PB Wolf has moved away from producing (save the odd remix or compilation track) to build the Stones Throw label and to travel as a DJ to Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and across the US. Through his willingness to experiment and provide Stones Throw’s artists with musical carte blanche, he has overseen the releases of Lootpack’s Soundpieces, Quasimoto’s The Unseen, Breakestra’s Live Mix, Yesterdays New Quintet’s Angles Without Edges, Madlib's Shades of Blue, and Jaylib's Champion Sound.

My Vinyl Weighs a Ton is the first solo album by Wolf, released in 1999, on his own Stones Throw label in conjunction with Copasetik Records. The album title is a reference to the Public Enemy song "Miuzi Weighs a Ton" from Yo! Bum Rush the Show.

Bringing together the many artists Peanut Butter Wolf has worked with over the years, My Vinyl Weighs a Ton is a veritable who's who of Left Coast talent. Integrating pyrotechnic lyricism from Cali MCs like Rasco, Planet Asia, and the Lootpack with the finest in turntablism skills around the world, the disc challenges both the hegemony of East Coast hip-hop and elevates scratch DJing to its rightful place at the center of rap music's revival. Underneath it all are Wolf's infectious grooves and vibrant soundscapes, which manage to be at once diverse and consistent. Here's one big bad wolf you don't need to be scared of

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Evidence : I Don't Need Love [Free EP]

2010-12-11T19:36:00.003+01:00

In a nice surprise, we get some new Evidence before the end of 2010 via his I Don’t Need Love EP. Although the Dilated Peoples emcee didn’t intend for this to leak yet, he has given the ok for his Beatles inspired project to be shared now. EV gives you 9 tracks with guest appearances by Rakaa Iriscience, Fashawn, The Alchemist & Oh No. Tracklist & link after the jump. Look out for Cats & Dogs early next year!

01. Because
02. Let The Beat Flip
03. Can’t Be Found feat. Rakaa
04. Lines Of Cocaine
05. The World feat. Oh No
06. Frame Of Mind
07. Egg Men (Step Brothers)
08. If They Only Knew
09. Think’n Bout Thinking feat. Fashawn

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PHD : Without Warning

2010-12-10T10:57:00.000+01:00

Artist : PHD
Album : Without Warning
Label : Tuff City

|01-PHD - Dark Side
|02-PHD - Without Warning
|03-PHD - Life on the Edge
|04-PHD - Pandemonium
|05-PHD - Showdown
|06-PHD - Set It Off (Feat.Cormega)
|07-PHD - I'm Flippin'
|08-PHD - Tell It Like It Is
|09-PHD - Night to Remember
|10-PHD - Do It Any Way You Wanna Do It
|11-PHD - It's Hot
|12-PHD - Snakes in the Grass

Review taken from WWW:OHWORD.COM
Coming out of Queensbridge, Poet would have you believe that he is the most dangerous MC in the world. Several years after defending the honor of Queens in a showdown on wax with BDP, Poet takes his listeners on a comical yet convincing tour of a QB landscape that is cartoonishly violent. With the unsmiling, measured coldness of Parrish Smith and the colloquial clarity of rival KRS-One, Poet obliterates lesser emcees, corrupt cops, and damn near all of his detractors in concise verses devoid of mystical jargon or superscientifical abstraction. This is not to say that Poet’s raps lack social insight or poetic guile. He simply prefers to convey his worldview in what he believes to be a more immediately comprehensible manner. Oddly, it is during these straight-ahead diatribes that his eccentricity is most apparent. On the perfectly titled “Tell It Like It Is” his front stoop political commentary quickly assumes the shapelessness of wonderfully unapologetic drunken digression.

Without Warning can be viewed as a portrait of a man whose surroundings are so hopelessly blighted that the cultivation of a paranoid, overactive imagination proves to be liberating, even empowering. We are left with a subtly stylized but enraged confrontation with reality, the type of slang editorial that is often mistaken for the stark literality of news correspondence. Cuts like the murderous LP version of “I’m Flippin’” and the viciously apocalyptic “Pandemonium” build vividly on themes and concerns related to daily survival, be it moneywise or physiology. Producer Hot Day’s beats, save for a couple of ineffective stabs at party jams, are hard, deeply funky, and swing just enough to sound strangely jubilant underneath Poet’s venomous verbiage.

Without Warning is one of the least affected slice-of-Queensbridge-life documents available for our perusal and analysis. Its accessibility is partly a function of timing, as it was recorded several years before musical mentors like Large Professor and Q-Tip chose to unite the Q-borough’s disparate artistic sensibilities into their disciples Mobb Deep’s singularly penetrating ghetto exposition The Infamous. While Without Warning might sound and feel somewhat dated by now, especially in comparison to Poet’s recent work as a soloist and as a member of Screwball, it is essential listening for fans of the QB sub-genre/movement and stands out as a brutally honest, if eccentric, depiction of inner city strife.

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KVbeats : The Resume [Review]

2010-12-09T08:40:00.009+01:00

When it comes to producer albums you can't get around "In Control" by Marley Marl. It was the first album released by a producer and for years it was the only one. then in the late 90's people like Pete Rock, Prince Paul and XXX all started to release compilation style albums showcasing their production (and in the case of Pete Rock their rapping skills). Over the years people like Hi-Tek, PB Wolf, Jake One, DJ Babu, Statik Selektah and Snowgoons have all released albums. Some were really good ("A Prince Among Thieves", "My Vinyl Weighs a Ton, "White Van Music"), some were pretty mediocre (Babus "Duck Season 3" , the last two "Hi-Teknology albums") and some we're just plain boring (Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor 2").

A producer album that really works is the album that sounds like more than just a handful of random songs thrown together. It doesn't matter if the songs are good, if there is connection between one track and the next you're left with the feeling that you could just download some tracks of the net and make a compilation that was just as good yourself. That's why a guy like Prince Paul always manage to release a top notch product. He's the king of skits and has a unique way of elevating the producer album to something great.

Over the last years lot's of (more or less) unknown producers have released albums with american rappers but few have managed to release anything that truly stood out. In 2009 Germanys Soulbrotha released their "Collectors Item" album featuring Craig, Sadat X and Blaq Poet to name a few. In 2006 Finlands Kollabo Brothers released "For My People" featuring Tim Dog, Paris and Donald D and in 1998 Tommy Tee released his "Beats Bonds & Beliefs" album with verses from Talib Kweli, Mike Zot and Mr Eon.

These are just three examples of producers who make nice beats, have nice features on their albums but regardless they fail to release a really good album. The albums were good no doubt about that but could probably have been so much more.

So when KVbeats released his "The Resume" album in 2010 the question was, would it be an album that would be mentioned in the same breath as "My Vinyl weighs A Ton" or would it be another Now or Never: Oddysey 2000 (Easy Mo Bee's awful producer album). Well, it would seem that it places itself safely between the two.

Looking at the tracklist you know there is going to be some heat. A verse from Royce Da 5'9 is a guaranteed succes and Slum Village is one of my favorite groups so no doubt that's going to be ill as well.

1. The Résumé (intro)
2. We Do It feat. Slum Village
3. I’m Serious feat. Retsam, D.V. Alias Khryst & Smoothe Da Hustler
4. Maria feat. Chaundon
5. 5’9+Won feat. Royce Da 5’9” & Pace Won
6. Clap To This feat. Mic Geronimo
7. Ambitions Of A Writer feat. Chaundon
8. Where We Go feat. Oddisee, D.V. Alias Khryst & Prince Po
9. Orange Alert feat. Little Vic
10. Da Bouncemasta feat. Doo Wop
11. Things I Need feat. Pace Won
12. She Gave Me The World feat. Prince Po

As it turns out "We Do It" by SV is one of the albums highlights. The beat suits the group well and this track would not have sounded out of place on "Villa Manifesto". The following tracks are decent although the beats really aren't too exciting. Props for getting DV Alias Khrist on the track though.

"5´9+Won" is exactly the banger you would expect with Royce making another killer appearence. The trasc is followed by the very forgetful "Clap To This" featuring the equally forgettable Mic Geronimo (who apparently is still living of his one good album from 1995).

"Ambitions of a Writer" and "Where We Go" are great but once again dope tracks is followed by something that is neither good or bad, just really average.

The 10th track is (somewhat surprisingly) the best song on the album. The beat is different from the rest of the album and Doo Wops shoutouts to KV and Copenhagen makes the track stand out from the other phoned in verses on the album. The album closes out with two tracks that despite good production doesn't really move you due to some rather dull verses from Prince Po and Pace Won.

It's a good album, the beats are nice (the usual mixture of Pete Rock/DJ Premier/9th Wonder style beats) but KV lacks a distinct sound to make him stand out to from the rest of the producers with the same sound. "Da Bouncemaster" is the only track that really separates him from the rest of the beatmakers out there. The lyrics are for the most part good but apart from a few verses none really stand out. I'm not sure if the producer and the rappers were ever really in the studio together but it sounds like the verses were just e-mailed and therefor lacking any real chemistry.

I do recommend you track this album sown though as it's a nice slice of hiphop and I'm sure this won't be the last time we hear from KVbeats.

Rating :

Check out his blog detailing how he made the album, the story about Cappadonna is hilarious. you can also find the purchasing info on the site.

KVbeats blog

Ray Luv : Forever Hustlin'

2010-12-08T11:01:00.001+01:00

Ártist : Ray Luv
Album : Forever Hustlin'
Label : YBB Records / Atlantic Records
Year : 1995
Production : Khayree, Mopreme, Mike Mosley

Intro 1:27
Forever Hustlin' 3:54
Tha Factor 3:58
Bubble 5:21 [Featuring Young Dre]
In The Game 4:22
Keep Ya Mask On 3:38
I'd Rather Be A Pimp 5:16
Definition Of Ah Hustla' 4:40 [Featuring Ant Dog & Young Grin]
We Do This Everyday 1:59
Ride Wit The Luvva Man 4:18
24K 4:45 [Featuring The Link Crew]
What U In It 4 5:52 [Featuring Ant Dog & Young Grin]
Still Smokin' Indo 4:21
Stormy Weather 5:08 [Featuring Rated R & Mopreme of Thug Life]
Luv From Ah "G" 3:58
Last Nite (CD Bonus Track) 5:01
Cage Bird (CD Bonus Track) 4:57 [Featuring Shima]

Ray Tyson, better known by his stage name Ray Luv, is an American rapper from Santa Rosa, California.

Ray Luv performed with Tupac Shakur in the group Strictly Dope. Early in his career, Luv was signed to the independent labels Strictly Business and Young Black Brotha. Raised in West Ninth Street in Santa Rosa California.Ray Luv has stated that he got his name from Tupac Shakur, and that his original name was MC ROC.

His first album Who Can Be Trusted was released in 1993 by Mac Dre's record label Strictly Business. "Get Your Money On" from Trusted was popular on local radio at the time. Forever Hustlin', released in 1995 by Atlantic Records through the Bay Area label Young Black Brotha run by Khayree, was his major label debut; it reached #39 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. That same year, Luv was featured on the soundtrack to the film New Jersey Drive.

Ray Luv wrote "Trapped" and "Rebel of the Underground" from the 2PACALYPSE album making him the only rapper to ghost-write for 2Pac

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Dubee : Aka Sugawolf

2010-12-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

Artist : Dubee
Album : Aka Sugawolf
Label : YBB Records / Atlantic Records
Year : 1996
Production : Khayree

1. I'm Ah Hog
2. Word, The
3. Y.B.B. Bomb
4. Game U Feenin 4
5. Mackin Is My Duty
6. Mac Dre (Game I'm Spittin)
7. That's What We Do
8. My Thang
9. Unda da Trees
10. Off da Heezy
11. Reek Daddy
12. Pit Bull Vicious
13. Dubee, Mall & Sleep
14. Hair Shop Hoes

Dubee A.K.A. Sugawolf (born Major Norton), is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. A longtime player in the Northern California Bay Area rap scene, he signed his first deal with local producer Khayree Shaheed's Young Black Brotha Records in 1995 and released a self titled album on the imprint through Atlantic Records. He has been a long collaborator with performers from Northern California (such as label mates Ray Luv and Young Lay) and beyond, and in recent years his album releases have been on the late rapper Mac Dre's Thizz Entertainment label.

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Miilkbone : Da Miilkrate

2010-12-02T10:40:00.000+01:00

Artist : Miilkbone
Album : Da Miilkrate
Year : 1995
Label : Capitol Records
Production : Nick Wiz, Kay Gee, Mufi & Butch Whip

01. No Gimmicks
02. Ghettobiz
03. Keep It Real
04. Mindgamez
05. Traffic Jam
06. Move Wit' Da' Groove
07. How Ya Like It?
08. Freestyle
09. Set It Off
10. Where'z Da' Party At?
11. Murder Verbs
12. Fast Cash
13. Kids On The Ave
14. Check Me Out
15. Bamma Fam
16. Ketchrek
17. It Ain't The Same
18. 2 All Y'all
19. Keep It Real [Remix]

Don't let the name fool you. New Jersey emcee Miilkbone was more than just a stereotypicla white rapper. Dude had skills and this album sounds nice today even when compared to albums like "Doe Or Die", "Illmatic" or "Word...Life". I'm not saying it's a classic like those albums but it has some dope ass golden-era beats that unlike many others from that era don't sound dated.

The singles "Keep It Real" and "Where'z Da Party At?" are great but tracks like "Kids From The Ave", "Ghettobiz" and "Mindgamez" were dope as well.

This is some seriously slept on mid-90s dopeness.

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Stone Rivers : All My Life

2010-12-01T10:15:00.003+01:00

Artist : Stone Rivers
Album : All My Life
Label : Serchlite Music / Warlock Records
Year : 2001
Production : E-Blaze, Self Service, D.T, Chad Elliott

1 Intro
2 S.T.O.N.E
3 What's Going On
4 I Cry
5 The Fiasco
6 Skit
7 All My Life
8 We Don't Stop
9 Devil's Advocate
10 Shut 'Em Down 2001 (featuring Onyx)
11 I'm You
12 Scold You
13 This Song Is For You
14 If You Have No Heart
15 Close Your Eyes
16 It's Over Now
17 It's Showtime
18 Who's The Man

What does Nas and O.C have in common? Well, they are both from New York and their debut albums have overshadowed everything they've made since. That's not all though, both those rappers came up under Serchlite Music, the publishing company run by Mc Serch of 3rd Bass fame.

Stone Rivers, a Mt.Vernon native was to be Serchlites return to the music scene but although a decent rapper he lacks the charisma and lyrical talents of Nasir Jones and Omar Creedle.

While Rivers uses many of the same thug scenarios that so many rappers do, he struggles to find a deeper meaning in songs like "What's Going On" and "I Cry." He also manages to create convincing up-tempo tracks like "The Song Is You" and "I'm You." While his lyrics often don't match the high production value, Rivers makes up for it with his sincerity and unique rhyming style. All My Life manages to be equally aggressive and introspective

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Mac Mall : Untouchable

2010-11-21T14:00:00.001+01:00

Artist : Mac Mall
Album : Untouchable
Label : Relativity Records
Year : 1996
Production : Khayree, Ant Banks, Rick Rock, Mike Mosley,Tone Capone, Prodeje, Cold 187um, others

1 "Intro" 0:55
2 "Let's Get a Telly" (Feat. Do Thangs) 4:51
3 "Straight Lace" 4:57
4 "Servin Game" 4:44
5 "Young N*gga" 4:21
6 "Dopefiends Lullaby" 2:40
7 "Ghetto Stardom" 4:46
8 "Get Right" 4:28
9 "Playas Wit da Choppas" 3:43
10 "Get Away" 3:49
11 "Pimp or Die" (Feat. Ray Luv & Young Lay) 4:09
12 "Untouchable" 4:31
13 "Opening Doors" (Feat. Cold 187um & Kokane) 4:52
14 "Playa Tip" 3:58
15 "Crestside" (Feat. Do Thangs) 5:06
16 "Outro" 0:54

Untouchable is a the second studio album by Mac Mall, released April 23, 1996 on Relativity Records. The song "Get Right" was a minor hit but Relativity Records foldes and Mac Mall was left without a label.

He returned in 1999 after a three-year absence with "Illegal Business 2000" and few listeners seemed to notice. Mall was no longer on a major label and the Bay Area scene was no longer the hotspot it had been a few years earlier. Given his brief moment in the spotlight and his sudden decline, it was perhaps no surprise when Mall changed his style in 2001, incorporating a surprising amount of spirituality on his "Immaculate" album.

He then embraced the Thizz movement and released albums such as "Thizziana Stoned & Tha Temple of Shrooms" (gotta love that title!) and "The Macuscripts Vol. 1-4"

Rumor has it that Mac Mall and Khayree is working on a new album together for a 2011 release on Mac's Thizz Or Die label

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Mac Mall : Illegal Business?

2010-11-19T13:48:00.004+01:00

Artist : Mac Mall
Album : Illegal Business?
Label : Young Black Brotha Records
Year : 1993
Production : Khayree

1 "Crest Side Playah" 2:06
2 "Sic Wit Tis" 4:40
3 "It's All Good" 4:45
4 "I Gots 2 Have It" 4:44
5 "Cold Sweat" 4:55
6 "Nathan But Game" 4:44
7 "Versatile" 4:19
8 "Crack Da 40" 5:10
9 "Bank Heist" 4:43
10 "Don't Wanne See Me" 5:06
11 "Young N Da Game" 4:50
12 "$$ on da Dank" 4:37
13 "My Opinion" 4:04
14 "Illegal Business?" 5:39
15 "Ghetto Theme" (Featuring Eboni Foster) 5:15
16 "Pimp Shit" (Featuring Mac Dre & Ray Luv) 5:08

Mac Mall, (born Jamal Rocker in Vallejo, California) is a West Coast rapper who became known in the mid/late 1990s, as one of the local artists putting the Bay Area on the hip hop map. Mac Mall was signed to Young Black Brotha Records

In 1993 Mac Mall released his debut album Illegal Business? on the Young Black Brotha label. Khayree Shaheed worked as the producer and the album featured Ray Luv, Mac Dre and The Mac.

One of Mac Mall's first singles was a song called "Ghetto Theme", and the music video directed by Tupac Shakur in 1994.

In 1996 he signed a record deal with Relativity Records, which released his second, and most commercially successful album, "Untouchable".

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Khayree : The Blackalation (The World Is Yours)

2010-11-15T13:53:00.004+01:00

Artist: Khayree
Album : The Blackalation (The World Is Yours)
Label : Young Black Brotha Records
Year : 1997
Production : Khayree

1 Welcome To The Blackalation 1:04
2 Mista Mista Dopeman 5:04 (Feat Big Syke)
3 The World Is Yours 4:52 (Feat Alf, Sleepdank & Young Dre)
4 Back 2 My Mission 4:40 (Feat Mac Dre)
5 Slow Ya Role 3:58 (Feat The Group No Name Yet)
6 It's Alright 4:51 (Feat The Link Crew & Ray Luv)
7 Elevate Your Game 4:50 (Feat Dosha , Dubee AKA Sugawolf , JT the Bigga Figga)
8 All We Do 5:07 (Feat The Confident One)
9 Thangs You Do 4:27 (Feat Problem Child)
10 Pass Days 5:50 (Feat Moozaliny)
11 It's Rainin' Game 4:59 (Feat Mac Dre)
12 Ah Little Somethin' 4:40 (Feat Shima)
13 Livin' That Life 5:09 (Feat Mac Dre)
14 Clap To This 4:30 (Feat The Group No Name Yet)
15 Black Man's Prayer 2:38
16 I Lose Control 6:03

Khayree is a music producer, from Vallejo, California. He is best known for producing for Bay Area rappers such as Mac Dre, Mac Mall, Ray Luv, and Young Lay. He produced most of Young Lay's album Black 'N Dangerous and Mac Mall's Illegal Business?, as well as many others. Some of the best known songs he produced include Young Lay's "All About My Fetti", which was used for the soundtrack to the movie New Jersey Drive, and also Mac Mall's "Ghetto Theme", whose music video was directed by Tupac Shakur. His production style is similar to the G-Funk that was commonly found in West Coast Rap in the mid 1990s, but usually without the use of samples.

I'll be posting a handful of YBB releases the next days so stay tuned. His music isn't for everybody but fans of the Bay Area scene will love this for sure.

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Celly Cel : The G-Filez

2010-11-09T03:42:00.002+01:00

Artist: Celly Cel
Album: The G-Filez
Label: Jive / Sick-Wid-It
Year: 1998
Production: Artist, Studio Ton, Sam Bostic, Rick Rock, QDIII, Tone Capone, others

1."Why Must I Be Like That?" Featuring E-40- 3:44
2."Fuck tha World" Featuring Silkk The Shocker- 4:11
3."Every Day Is tha Weekend" Featuring Otis & Shug- 4:05
4."The G Filez" Featuring L.I.T.- 3:54
5."Don't Wanna See Us" Featuring Messy Marv & San Quinn- 4:34
6."Can I Kick It?" Featuring Keak Da Sneak & Young Mugzi- 4:36
7."Get a Real Job"- 4:44
8."Ride" Featuring C-Bo- 3:55
9."All I Know"- 3:57
10."Pop the Trunk" Featuring UGK- 4:03
11."Get It Crackin'" Featuring Otis & Shug- 4:12
12."It's Goin' Down" (RMX) Featuring Rappin' 4-Tay, Mack 10, B-Legit & E-40- 5:41
13."Eternal Life"- 4:08
14."Sick Wid It Party"- 4:07
15."You Neva Know"- 3:44
16."In the Traffic" Featuring Mac Reese & Chill- 4:08
17."The Bay"- 3:45
18."The Function" Featuring E-40- 4:21

The G Filez is the third album by Vallejo, California rapper, Celly Cel. The album was released in 1998 and was Celly Cel's last studio album for Jive Records. The album was not as successful as his previous album, Killa Kali, only making it to #53 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. The album spawned 4 singles, "Fuck tha World", Get a Real Job" and "Pop the Trunk". Guests include Silkk the Shocker, UGK, Mack 10, Rappin' 4-Tay and E-40.

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Celly Cel : Killa Kali

2010-11-07T09:58:00.001+01:00

Artist : Celly Cel
Album : Killa Kali
Label : Sick-Wid-It / Jive Records
Year : 1995
Production : Studion Ton, Celly Cel, Emgee

1."Round 2 (Intro)"- 1:47
2."What U Niggaz Thought"- 4:44
3."4 tha Scrilla"- 4:09 feat. E-40 & B-Legit
4."It's Goin' Down"- 5:25
5."Can't Tell Me Shit"- 5:18
6."Tha Bullet"- 4:44
7."Red Rum"- 4:27 feat. Spice 1
8."Skanlezz Call"- :45
9."Scanlezz Azz Butcher"- 5:16
10."Remember Where You Came From"- 4:16
11."Killa Kali"- 5:02
12."Playerizm"- 5:03
13."Funk Season"- 5:17

Killa Kali is the second album by Vallejo, California rapper, Celly Cel. The album was released in 1996 for Jive Records and was produced by Celly Cel, Studio Ton and Emgee. The album was a huge success making it to #26 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. The album featured three singles, "4 tha Scrilla", "It's Goin' Down" and "Can't Tell Me Shit". Guests on the album include Spice 1, B-Legit and E-40.

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All City : Metropolis Gold

2010-11-04T13:05:00.001+01:00

Artist : All City
Album : Metropolis Gold
Label : MCA
Year : 1998
Production : DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Rockwilder, Amen-Ra, EZ Elpee, Clark Kent, Fredro Starr

1 Who Dat (Skit) (1:16)
2 Stay Awake (4:30)
3 Priceless (4:10)
4 Metrotheme (4:11)
5 Xtreme (2:26) [Feat.Onyx]
6 The Hot Joint (Remix) (5:20)
7 The Actual (4:11)
8 NY Live It Up (3:57)
9 Afta Hourz (3:34)
10 Ded Right (5:07)
11 Get Paid (4:56)
12 Timez Is Hard (4:21)
13 Daydreaming (5:19)
14 Favorite Things (3:43)
15 The Hot Joint (4:48 )
16 Move On You (Remix) (5:03)
17 Just Live (4:44)

Metropolis Gold is the only album by Brooklyn hip hop duo All City, composed of rapper J. Mega and rapper/singer Greg Valentine. The album was released October 20, 1998 on MCA Records. The duo was formed in 1993 after the two members met after back-to-back solo performances at the Lyricist's Lounge.

All City is best known through their affiliation with hip hop group Onyx, which served as Executive producers on the album. Metropolis Gold featured an all-star production lineup, including many prominent New York producers such as DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Rockwilder, DJ Clark Kent, Hitmen member Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, and EZ Elpee.

With producers of this calibre you'd expect this group to be a household name today. Unfortunately the album is a mixed pleasure. There are lots of dope tracks but also a few wanna-be club bangers that ruin the continuity of the album.

There are some bangers on the disc though so check it out and re-format it for your own playlist.

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D-Don : Bonafide - Portrait of a hustler

2010-11-01T12:56:00.002+01:00

Artist : D-Don
Album : Bonafide - Portrait of a hustler
Label : Lightyear Ent. / Lockdown Records
Year : 2000
Production : D-Don, GovMattic

1. Intro - Izzum Man Returns
2. Blazin' (featuring GovMattic)
3. Funky Me
4. What You Git (featuring Noreaga)
5. Good, Bad, Tha Ugly
6. Ready Or Not (featuring Fish Grease/GovMattic/Chyna White)
7. And You Know That (featuring Redman)
8. A Bitch Want My Bitch
9. Murder Kill
10. Uptown Connection
11. Smoke Wit Us
12. Bonafide
13. Money (M.T.W.L.D.) (featuring Sig Not)
14. Heaven Or Hell
15. Momma (featuring Nikko)
16. How Many Times?
17. Ghetto Red Hot REMIX (featuring Redman/GovMatic)

Most people only know Mark Sutton aka D-Don from his appearences on Redmans albums but this Jersey emcee was making lots of noize in the underground with his rhyme partner GovMattic. His debut album is witty, well produced and guaranteed to make your head nod. Don't sleep on the Izzum Man!!

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Neek The Exotic : Exotic's Raw

2010-10-29T12:21:00.001+02:00

Artist : Neek The Exotic
Album : Exotics's Raw
Label : Hi-Rise Records
Year : 2003
Production : Large Professor, J-Love, Big Grudge

1. Intro
2. N.E.E.K.
3. Prepared To Get Stomped
4. Make That Money ft. Royal Flush
5. Don't Stop
6. Exotic's Raw ft. Large Professor
7. Backs ''N'' Necks
8. Cake Up ft. Da Blak Boyz
9. Letter To Ma ft. Jasmine Lowther
10. Hardcore ft. Large Professor
11. Straight Out To Get It ft. Da Blak Boyz
12. Queens Anthem
13. The Mothafuckin Man ft. Joe Flav
14. This Here's Gangsta ft. Royal Flush, Universal

While Large Professor is something of a legend among fans of hip hop's Golden Era, and even among old school aficionados, his longtime cohort/collaborator Neek The Exotic has somehow languished on the periphery of Large's legacy, never breaking through. That is about to change.

As one of the MCs on Main Source's hugely influential classic Fakin the Funk, he was poised to share the limelight with other ascendant New York MCs such as Nas, Biggie and Masta Ace. He had a close brush with fame in 1999; his Turn it Out single on Freeze Records would have been followed up by an album on a label that was riding high off another signing - young Jay-Z. Instead, the album saw release and limited distribution and promotion years later on fledgling label Hi-Rise Records.

With Extra P producing the majority of the album you know the beats are fire and Neek is definately a talented emcee. He might lack the depth of Nas or the intensity of Cormega but he's still a dope rapper.

Later this year (December 7th 2010 to be exact) Trafic Records will release "Exotic Species", a collabo album between Neek and Large Pro. So be sure to look out for that one!!!

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Celly Cel : Heat 4 Yo Azz

2010-10-28T09:50:00.003+02:00

Artist : Celly Cel
Album : Heat 4 Yo Azz
Label : Sick-Wid-It
Year : 1994
Production : Studio Ton, Mike Mosley, Sam Bostic

1. Heat 4 Yo Azz
2. Ballin' Thru My Hood (Feat. B-Legit Tha Savage)
3. What Am I Supposed To Do
4. How To Catch A Bitch (Feat. E-40, Mugzi & T-Pup)
5. Funk 4 Life (Feat. Levitti)
6. Gin Wit No Juice
7. Retaliation (Feat. E-40)
8. Tha Body Shop
9. Pimps, Playas & Hustlas (Feat. Kaveo, Tha Mossie, Mac Shawn & Funk Mobb)
10. Hot Sunny Day (Feat. Levitti, Marjuna Mitchell & Kim Larson)
11. Nuthin But Dick
12. Zig Zags & Body Bags
13. Empty Tha Clip

Marcellus McCarver, better know by his stage name Celly Cel, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. He released his first single on his independent record label Realside Records in 1992 called "Lifestyle of a Mack."

Heat 4 Yo Azz is the debut album by Vallejo, California rapper, Celly Cel. The album was released in 1994 for Sick Wid It Records and was produced by Celly Cel, Sam Bostic and Studio Ton. The album was mildly successful, making it to #34 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop album chart and today is considered to be a West Coast classic. Guests include B-Legit, E-40 and Funk Mobb. It was later re-released on Jive but without the track "Zig Zags & Body Bags".

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CNN : Pain (Video)

2010-10-26T07:39:00.001+02:00

From the seriously overlooked "War Report 2" album.

Pick up that real NY shit

Saukrates : Underground Tapes Vol.1

2010-10-25T11:13:00.004+02:00

Artist : Saukrates
Album : Underground Tapes Volume 1
Year : 1999
Label : Capitol Hill
Production : Saukrates, Mr Attic

1 Intro (1:12)
2 Can't Touch Us (3:52)
3 Moeny Or Love (4:18 )
4 Bad Da Biscuit (2:40)
5 Professional (5:57)
6 Keep It Movin' (3:23) Featuring - Xzibit
7 Innovations Remix (3:59) Featuring - Pharoahe Monch
8 Fineline (2:36)
9 Play Dis 99' (3:35) Featuring - Common
10 Body Language (4:08 ) Featuring - Choclair
11 Check For Me (4:35)
12 Ultimate Rush (3:03) Featuring - Heltah Skeltah
13 Rollin' (4:11) Featuring - Masta Ace , O.C.
14 Suga Daddy (3:54)
15 Bad Da Biscuit (Ain't Nuttin But A....) (3:47)
16 Vietnam (3:56)
17 Killed Or Be Killed (3:15)
18 Ay, Ay, Ay. / Father Time (8:15)

BONUS TRACKS (from the Canadian version)
Night Nurse
That's Action
Maybe I Should Change (Feat Jully Black)[Probably my favorite track, really dope!]
Action

Karl Amani Wailoo (born December 20, 1977), better known by his stage name Saukrates is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer of Guyanese descent. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music, and lead singer of hip-hop/R&B group Big Black Lincoln. He is also a member of Redman's Gilla House collective.

In 1994, his first track was titled "Still Caught Up", which earned a nomination for Best Rap Recording at the 1996 Juno Awards. He was also nominated for another Juno of the same award in 2000 for "Money or Love". In 2001, Saukrates produced the track "Uh-Huh" for Redman's Malpractice album, and appeared on a track called "Enjoy Da Ride". He also did a track called "Fine Line" for the soundtrack to Method Man and Redman's How High movie. In 2002, Saukrates teamed up with fellow Canadian producer Agile from BrassMunk to produce the track "Heaven", for Nas' album God's Son, which featured Jully Black.

Canadian hip hop artists have had a hard time getting established south of the border, and Saukrates is no exception. In 1996, he was signed to Warner Bros. Records. Unfortunately for Saukrates, Warner dropped him in 1998 which was one year before his debut album The Underground Tapes was released on Capitol Hill. By the year 2000, Saukrates reached another big deal with Def Jam and Gilla House Records (owned by Redman). Eventually, Saukrates was dropped by Def Jam because he was no longer considered a priority, however he remained with Gilla House. He appears on two tracks of Redman's latest album Red Gone Wild, released in March 2007.

He completed a second album, Bad Addiction, in 2004, but has faced difficulty securing widespread release on a major label. In the meantime he has produced material for Big Black Lincoln and R&B singer Andreena Mill. He also toured with Nelly Furtado on her Get Loose Tour, as a percussionist, backing vocalist and supporting act.

In late 2010, Saukrates will (hopefully) release his much delayed second studio album, Season One. Singles include "Ms. Yesterday", "Hot Like Summer" and "On the Run" with k-os and Nelly Furtado, which is also featured on k-os' album, Yes!, as the alternatively titled "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman".

He has a son with Mos Def's ex-wife, Alana Wyatt-Smith.

"Underground Tapes Volume 1" is his self-produced debut album. It dropped in the US in June 1999 and a few months later it was re-released in Canada. The tracklist on the two albums weren't the same but this link contains all all the tracks from both versions.

Why Saukrates was never a priority at the major labels is beyond me. I'm guessing the top bosses didn't know how to market a Canadian rapper in a market where you have to act like an insane gangbanger or a major drug dealer (or in the case of Rick Ross, a guy who makes sure the drug dealers are comfortable behind bars). This album is straight heat from beginning to end. Rock solid production and an emcee with a really impressive flow and an ear for hooks. Do not sleep on this!

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Almighty RSO : Doomsday (Forever RSO)

2010-10-14T13:24:00.006+02:00

Artist : Almighty RSO
Album : Doomsday (Forever RSO)
Label : Surrender Records / Rap-A-Lot Records
Year : 1996
Production : Hangmen 3, Havoc, Crazy C, John Bido, Kay Gee, T-Mix

1 Doomsday Intro (0:38 )
2 Forever RSO (4:38 )
3 The War's On (4:22) (Feat Mobb Deep)
4 Thought You Knew (4:24)
5 Gotta Be A Better Way (3:53)
6 Summer Knightz (4:04) (feat Tangg The Juice)
7 Sanity (4:16)
8 You'll Never Know (4:30) (Feat Mad Lion)
9 You Could Be My Boo (4:45) (feat Faith Evans)
10 Mix Of Action (4:30)
11 Keep Alive (4:10) (feat Cool Gsus)
12 Illicit Activity (5:14) (Feat Eightball & MJG)
13 Killin' Em (3:35)
14 One In Tha Chamba Pt2 (4:27) (feat Smif-N-Wessun & M.O.P.)
15 Quarter Past Nine (4:32) (feat Wiseguys)
16 We'll Remember You (3:48 )

The Almighty RSO was a hip hop group from Boston, Massachusetts. RSO stands for Rock Shit On or Real Strong Organization. Members included MCs E-Devious (later known as Antonio Twice Thou) (Marco Antonio Ennis), Ray Dog (later known as Benzino) (Ray Scott), Tony Rhome, Orange Man and DJ Deff Jeff. Former member Rock was murdered in 1991.

One of their first breakthroughs was winning the ICA B-Town Rap Battle in 1986. In 1988 they released the single, "We're Notorious." Current Boston hip hop favorite Akrobatik said "Initially I would think of RSO Crew who were from here and making any type of noise. Locally, if I turned on the radio, those would be the guys that I would know who they were and follow their songs. I've definitely been checking them out from the beginning."

In 1992 they released the EP Revenge of da Badd Boyz which created controversy with the single "One in the Chamba," which was inspired by two killings of youths by Boston Police. The Boston Police Patrolman's Association (BPPA) pressed charges against the group under a state law that prohibits inciting assaults against public figures. The Almighty RSO spent a short period being part of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit, appearing on the album "Rollin' With The Flavor".

In 1996 they produced their first full length LP Doomsday: Forever RSO which included the singles "You Could Be My Boo" featuring Faith Evans, "The War's On" featuring Mobb Deep and "You'll Never Know.

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Break

2010-09-21T12:56:00.002+02:00

I've just been really busy the last month so I had to put the blog on hold.

Expect it to be back to narmal within a week or so

Big Hutch : Executive Decisions

2010-08-20T14:40:00.002+02:00

Artist : Big Hutch aka Cold 187um
Album : Executive Decisions
Label : West World Records / Street Solid
Year : 1999
Production : Big Hutch, DJ Silk, Tha Chill, Big Mil, Aaron

01. Intro
02. Lost Angels (L.A. L.A.)
03. Girl Next Door
04. My Life (Feat. Bam & HaHa L.O.C.)
05. Ways To Come Up (Feat. Above The Law & Tha Chill)
06. 2 Killas (Feat.Xzibit)
07. Velvet Lifestyle (Prelude)
08. Gangsta Shit (Feat. Safecracka)
09. Elevate
10. Bubonic Plague
11. Do You Know (Feat. Bam & Young Ten)
12. Playas, Gangstas, Ballers (Feat. Saafir)
13. True Lies
14. Playa Hater (Feat. Young Mad)
15. Velvet Lifestyle (Feat. Above The Law & Bam)
16. Just Another Day

Big Hutch aka Gregory Fernan Hutchinson (born August 2, 1961 in Pomona, California), better known as Cold 187um of Above The Law

A solo album from Cold 187um should be a pleasure but this is a mediocre album full of boring productions and mediocre lyrics.

It starts of well with the intro and there are some highlights like "2 Killaz", "Ways To Come Up" and "Velvet Lifestyle" (the two latter both feature KM.G) but for the most part it sounds like a low-budget album. I'm surprised that Hutch left so much of the production to other people when he is more than capable of producing himself.

This was the first album ATL dropped after leaving Tommy Boy so I'm sure the recording budget had something to say when it comes to the quality. By 1999 the majority of westcoast producers had gone away from using funk samples and relied more on synths, drum machines and live instruments.

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Top Authority : Rated G

2010-08-18T09:31:00.002+02:00

Artist : Top Authority
Album : Rated G
Label : Trak Records
Year : 1995
Production : Dalo

1. National Anthem (feat DJ Aladdin)
2. Down For My Scratch
3. Ghetto Soldier
4. Flintown G's (feat Niggaclan)
5. It Be Real
6. Smokin' (Intermission)
7. Coppers (feat DJ Aladdin)
8. Livin' 2 Die
9. So High
10. Murda
11. Channel 12 Newz
12. Freestyle

Top Authority is a trio from Flint, MI consisting of producer Dalo plus emcees Flex and Shotgun. Most people have heard their debut "Somethin' To Blaze To" but for some reason this remains overlooked. It's not as catchy as their first album but definately worth checking out.

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Guerilla Funk news

2010-08-17T10:11:00.001+02:00

New Paris Album in Production Now!
Paris' latest album is in production now! Currently untitled, it's his leanest and most aggressive project in years, and his first offering since 2008's critically-acclaimed Acid Reflex. It promises to deliver hard truth over raw, rough music as never before.

Coming Q1, 2011.

The Return of THE BOMB!
Thang featuring Funkmaster George Clinton on Guerrilla Funk!
Guerrilla Funk is proud to announce its latest artist signing, Thang (featuring George Clinton). An homage to the sound of the glory days of P-Funk, this Paris-produced tour-de-force features the Good Doctor hisself -- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Parliament/Funkadelic frontman George Clinton! We love those meeces to pieces...

Coming Q1, 2011.

New T-K.A.S.H. Album in Production Now!
T-K.A.S.H.'s new album, Street Legal, is in production now!

If you're not up on T-K.A.S.H., dig his brilliant Brains All Over the Streets LP -- and feel why he continues to be one of the strongest voices in Hard Truth hip-hop.

DJ True Justice Signs to Guerrilla Funk!
True Justice, long-time tour support DJ for both Paris and T-K.A.S.H., has signed to Guerrilla Funk! His new album, The Man of Steel, is in production now.

Uno the Prophet's Guerrilla Funk Debut in Production Now!
Uno the Prophet's long-awaited Guerrilla Funk debut, Split the Prophet, is finally in production! Unapologetic in his convictions, he's one of the few remaining voices in hip-hop representing brutal hard truth!

Kool G Rap : The Giancana Story

2010-08-12T10:54:00.002+02:00

Artist : Kool G Rap
Album : The Giancana Story
Label : Koch / Rawkus
Year : 2002
Production : Jaz-O, Ghetto Pros, Buckwild, Young Lord, Rockwilder, Dr Butcher, Bink!

1 Thug For Life
2 Where You At [Featuring] - Prodigy
3 Holla Back [Featuring AZ , Nawz & Tito]
4 It's Nothin' [Featuring Joell Ortiz]
5 Drama (Bitch *igga)
6 Thug Chronicles [Featuring Havoc]
7 Blaze Wit Ya'll [Featuring Jinx Da Juvy]
8 Black Widow
9 Fight Club [Featuring Shaqueen]
10 My Life
11 Good Die Young
12 The Streets
13 Gangsta Gangsta
14 My Life (Remix) [Featuring Capone -N- Noreaga]

The fall of Rawkus Records had Kool G Rap's fifth LP on delay for a hot minute but for fans of gangsta rap, THE GIANCANA STORY was well worth the wait.

Continuing in the violent tradition of New York Mafia-themed hip-hop originated by the veteran MC, THE GIANCANA STORY is another collection of vivid, crime-life vignettes not for the faint of heart. Wielding his signature machine-gun flow from start to finish, G Rap sprays murderous rhymes over beats by Rockwilder, Ghetto Pros, Young Lord, Bink Dog, and Buckwild.

Whether he's taking gangsta-lifestyle boasting to another level ("Thug For Life," "My Life") or lyrically bodying his enemies without a hint of pity ("It's Nothing," "Thug Chronicles," The Streets"), Kool G Rap proves that he's long mastered the gangsta rap hustle (akthough I prefer the G Rap from his Juice crew days)

Due to label politics and sampling issues some of the best tracks were left off the album (the DJ Premier produced track "First Nigga" and the excellent Hi-Tek produced "Keep Going" featuring Snoop Dogg and Devin The Dude" just to mention a few).

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Kool G Rap : 4,5,6

2010-08-11T11:18:00.000+02:00

Artist : Kool G Rap
Album : 4,5,6
Label : Epic / Cold Chillin'
Year : 1995
Production : Dr Butcher, Buckwild, T-Ray, Naughty Shorts

1 Intro 1:03
2 4, 5, 6 3:21
3 It's A Shame 4:04
4 Take 'Em To War 3:54 [Featuring B-1 & MF Grimm]
5 Executioner Style 4:07
6 For Da Brothaz 3:45
7 Blowing Up In The World 4:26
8 Fast Life 4:55 [Featuring Nas]
9 Ghetto Knows 4:29
10 It's A Shame (Da Butcher's Mix) 3:10
11 Money On My Brain 4:53 [Featuring B-1 & MF Grimm]

After almost three years in hiding, the Kool Genius of Rap reclaims his throne (this time without the help of DJ Polo) on 4, 5, 6, summing up his lifestyle with vicious truths, New York-based producers, and a metaphorical rhyming style that puts all other MCs to sleep.

The album's title track exercises G. Rap's street-inspired lyrics, and its boom-bap beat represents a more old-school sound. "It's A Shame" is a slowed down sequel to Kool G. Rap's 1993 underground smash "Ill Street Blues," mixing soulful vocals with the rapper's hardcore feel in an approximation of a West Coast-sounding background. With the help of producer Buck-Wild, Kool G. Rap makes an East Coast anthem out of "Fast Life," joining forces with Nas to make "a team out of Queens with the American dream...plotting up a scheme to get the 7-digit C.R.E.A.M."

As a member of the infamous Juice Crew, Kool G. Rap upholds the group's reputation of supplying hip-hop with the finest lyricists. Despite a healthy lisp, he manages to flip each graphic rhyme too quickly to catch the first time around, making himself and 4, 5, 6 influential to a number of artists.

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Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Rated XXX

2010-08-10T09:18:00.002+02:00

Artist : Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Album : Rated XXX
Label : Cold Chillin'
Year : 1996
Production : Marley Marl, Kool G Rap, Tony T, Poke, Dr. Butcher, Saran Rap & Thyst

1 "I Ain't Trickin'"
2 "Under 21 Not Permitted"
3 "No More Mister NIce Guy"
4 "Check the Bitch"
5 "Fuck U Man"
6 "Talk Like Sex"
7 "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"
8 "Enter the Dragon (Remix)"
9 "I'm Fly (Original Version)"
10 "Rhyme Tyme"
11 "Rikers Island"
12 "Keep It Swingin'"

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Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Live & Let Die

2010-08-08T09:33:00.003+02:00

Artist : Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Album : Live & Let Die
Label : Cold Chillin' / Warner Brothers
Year : 1992
Production : Sir Jinx, Trackmasters, Kool G Rap

1. Intro
2. On the Run
3. Live and Let Die
4. Crime Pays
5. Home Sweet Home
6. Train Robbery
7. No. 1 With a Bullet (Featuring Big Daddy Kane)
8. Operation CB
9. Straight Jacket
10. Ill Street Blues
11. Go for Your Guns
12. Letters
13. 'Nuff Said
14. Edge of Sanity
15. Fuck U Man
16. Still Wanted Dead or Alive
17. Two to the Head (Featuring Scarface, Bushwick Bill & Ice Cube)

Live And Let Die is the final studio album recorded by the duo before parting ways and was released November 1992. The album features guest appearances from fellow Juice Crew member and labelmate Big Daddy Kane, West Coast rapper and former N.W.A group member Ice Cube, and Geto Boys members Scarface, and Bushwick Bill. The singles "Ill Street Blues," and "On the Run" both received consistent airplay on Yo! MTV Raps, and BET's Rap City upon the album's release.

Warner Bros. Records -- due to pressure on its parent company, Time Warner, for its high-profile reputation of marketing what was considered to be violent music, thanks to the Ice-T "Cop Killer" controversy -- eventually refused to distribute the album as part of its deal with Cold Chillin' Records because of the lyrical content and cover art.

The original cover was to have Kool G Rap and DJ Polo robbing a bank, with the photo being in black and white through a surveillance camera's perspective. The idea was eventually cut, being that every bank that they went to would not allow them to take such a graphic photo in their buildings. The second option was to have a photo of Kool G Rap and DJ Polo hopping inside a van with sacks of money and guns. Although this idea was more promising, being that this photo would cost less, and they could easily do it inside a photo studio, there was a new policy that record labels were taking at that time, which didn't allow weapons on album covers. The third and final option was thought of by legendary photographer George Dubose.

Cold Chillin' decided to release the album itself, making it the very first album ever released independently for the label, and also its most successful without a distributing label. (They would eventually release other select projects independently throughout the years during and after the remainder of their relationship with Warner Bros. which officially ended in 1994.)

Live and Let Die remained out of print for a long time throughout the later 1990s until it was re-released and remastered with various bonus material in August 2008 by Traffic Entertainment Group, the current owners of the Cold Chillin' catalog.

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2010-08-06T10:26:00.001+02:00

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Road To The Riches [Special Edition]

2010-08-04T09:06:00.000+02:00

Artist : Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Album : Road To The Riches [Special Edition]
Label : Cold Chillin'
Year : 1989
Production : Marley Marl

CD1
01.Road to the Riches
02.It's a Demo
03.Men at Work
04.Truly Yours
05.Cars
06.Trilogy of Terror
07.She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
08.Cold Cuts
09.Rhymes I Express
10.Poison
11.Butcher Shop
12.Radio Album Introduction
13.Radio Freestyle feat Craig G
14.Radio Interview
15.Riker's Island Radio Promo
16.Raw - Big Daddy Kane Feat Kool G Rap (Extended Altemate Version)

CD2
01.It's a Demo [Original 12' Version]
02.I'm Fly [Original 12' Version]
03.Riker's Island [Original 12' Version]
04.Rhyme Tyme [Original 12' Version]
05.Poison [Hip Hop Version]
06.Poison [Dub Version]
07.Poison [Remix]
08.Men at Work [Extended Version]
09.It's a Demo [Instrumental]
10.I'm Fly [Instrumental]
11.Riker's Island [Instrumental]
12.Men at Work [Extended Instrumental]
13.She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not [Instrumental]
14.Men at Work [A Cappella]

Kool G Rap DJ Polo's "Road to the Riches" had been a long time coming when Cold Chillin' released it in 1989. It didn't disappoint. After some successful singles and G Rap's contributions to Marley Marl's Juice Crew, the duo arrived almost fully formed on its debut.

Whether boasting (his greatest strength at this point) or spinning tales, G Rap's knife-edged rhymes -- delivered with the hardest-sounding lisp in hip-hop -- tear through Marley Marl's productions and DJ Polo's scratching with all the ferocity of a pit bull devouring a piece of meat. Though tracks like "Poison", "It s a Demo", and the title track won this record a lot of respect, there are several other moments that help make this a remarkable debut.

On "Men at Work", lines like, "I drop rhymes on paper and then build a skyscraper/When I die scientists will preserve my brain/Donate it to science to answer the unexplained" whip by so fast that it s easy to overlook Marl and Polo's perfectly snarling, densely percussive backdrop.

Marl's imaginative sampling gleans from all sorts of unexpected sources, like the harmonica from Area Code 615's "Stone Fox Chase", the odd phasings of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" (no one used it like this), and the burbling synths from Gary Numan's "Cars" (remember, this was the late 80s). People throw the word classic around lightly. Kool G Rap and DJ Polo's debut album is a triumph in the Hip Hop world that has withstood the test of time, and will always be referred to as a cohesive project that demonstrates lyrical and production ability, as well as artistic chemistry.

Cold Chillin' Records and Traffic proudly present Kool G Rap and DJ Polo's "Road To The Riches", available for the first time as a 2-disc set, including the original album, and a plethora of substantial bonus material, from artwork to audio with all songs being digitally re-mastered.

Buy "Road To The Riches - Special Edition"
Download Disc 1
Download Disc 2

Da King & I : Contemporary Jeep Music

2010-08-03T08:48:00.000+02:00

Artist : Da King & I
Album : Contemporary Jeep Music
Label : Rowdy Records
Year : 1993
Production : Dallas Austin, artists

Contemporary Jeep Music 1:15
Let's Take A Trip 3:08
Flip Da Scrip 3:54
Interlude 1/MC Asshole 0:34
Krak Da Weazel 3:13
Interlude 2/Amusement Park 4:05
Brain 2 U 4:01
Tears 4:03
Soul Shack Interlude 0:57
Ghetto Instinct 3:22
Interlude 3/Jazz Skit 0:20
This Is How We Do 3:53
Interlude 4/Izzy Sings Da Blues 0:50
Lost My Mind 3:43
Represent 3:13
What's Up Doc 3:40

Da King & I, the members of which include MC Izzy Ice and DJ Majesty, signed with Rowdy Records in 1992 and were often compared to another MC-DJ duo, Pete Rock & CL Smooth. The duo's first release was the 5-track maxi single titled Flip da Scrip, which was released on November 24, 1992.

A few months later, on July 13, 1993, Da King & I's first and only album, Contemporary Jeep Music was released, containing the singles "Flip Da Scrip" and "Tears." Although the album did gain many positive reviews, the success and poularity of Gangsta rap caused the album to become a commercial failure. The duo disbanded shortly after the release of the album.

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Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Wanted Dead Or Alive [Special Edition]

2010-08-02T08:49:00.002+02:00

Artist : Kool g Rap & DJ Polo
Album : Wanted Dead Or Alive
Label : Cold Chillin' / Traffic Ent.
Year : 1990 (re-released in 2007)
Production : Marley Marl, Large Professor, Eric B, Biz Markie, Anton, Kool g Rap

1.01 Streets Of New York 4:20
1.02 Wanted: Dead Or Alive 4:35
1.03 Money In The Bank [Feat Ant Live, Freddie Foxxx & Large Professor] 4:59
1.04 Bad To The Bone 5:22
1.05 Talk Like Sex 5:14
1.06 Play It Again, Polo 4:07
1.07 Erase Racism [Feat Big Daddy Kane & Biz Markie] 4:31
1.08 Kool Is Back 3:25
1.09 Play It Kool 4:31
1.10 Death Wish 4:05
1.11 Jive Talk 4:35
1.12 The Polo Club 4:01
1-13 Rikers Island 5:33

DISC TWO
2.01 Talk Like Sex (Bladerunners Edit) 3:11
2.02 Bad To The Bone (Street Remix) 4:25
2.03 Streets Of New York (Long Version) 5:43
2.04 Wanted: Dead Or Alive (Remix) 3:57
2.05 Talk Like Sex (Club Version) 5:08
2.06 Bad To The Bone (Radio Remix) 3:51
2-07 Talk Like Sex (Radio Version) 3:24
2.08 Bad To The Bone (Street Remix Instrumental) 4:26
2.09 Streets Of New York (Instrumental Dub) 4:00
2.10 Wanted: Dead Or Alive (Remix Dub) 3:56
2.11 Wanted: Dead Or Alive (Remix Instrumental) 3:55
2.12 Death Wish (Instrumental) 4:03
2.13 Bad To The Bone (Instrumental) 5:20

Marley Marl remained on board (although only for 1 track), and Large Pro and Eric B. also hopped on to help produce Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's second album (although the tracks credited to Eric B were really produced by Large Professor). With a wider range of sounds and the expansion of G Rap's lyrical range, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" is wholly deserving of classic status.

The opening "Streets of New York" remains one of the most thrilling and unique rap singles released; the sparse rhythm, adorned with assured piano runs that complement the song to the point of almost making the song, falls somewhere between a gallop and a strut, and G Rap outlines more vivid scenes than one film could possibly contain. The track cemented their role as East Coast legends and showed Kool G Rap's talent as an adept storyteller like nothing before or since.

Likewise, "Talk Like Sex" is the nastiest, raunchiest thing he ever recorded, with "I m pounding you down until your eyeballs pop out" acting as an exemplary claim, as well as one of the few that is printable, made in the song.

The boasts, as ever, are in no short supply, but "Erase Racism" takes a break from the normal proceedings with guest spots from Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie. It's both funny and sobering, with Biz's Three Dog Night chorus providing comic relief after each verse. This album is only part of a major swarm of brilliant rap records from 1990, but it will never be lost in it, and it's important because it's the release that influenced Rakim and Kane to step their game up to levels they didn't know they could go to.

Cold Chillin' and Traffic proudly present "Wanted: Dead or Alive", available for the first time as a double disc set, including the original album, and a plethora of substantial bonus material, from artwork to audio. With all the songs being digitally re-mastered, this project has been thought out, done right and handled with care.

Download Disc 1
Download Disc 2
Buy "Special Edition"

Hard Knocks : School of Hard Knocks

2010-08-01T08:48:00.002+02:00

Artist : Hard Knocks
Album : School of Hard Knocks
Label : Wild Pitch / EMI
Year : 1992
Production : The Spear Chuckers

01 Dirty Cop Named Harry 4:04
02 Nigga For Hire 4:21
03 Ghetto Love 4:35
04 Thoughts Of A Negro 4:39
05 Opposite Side 3:35
06 Road To The Precinct 4:20
07 A Blow To The Head 4:26
08 Hands Of A Stranger 3:51
09 Runaway Child, Running Wild 3:45
10 Young Black Male 4:33
11 Young Guns 4:30
12 Strictly From The Bronx 4:23

Hard Knocks were a duo straight outta the Bronx. They were originally called 3rd The Hardway and released their debut single "A Dirty Cop Named Harry" on Noontime records in 1990.

After signing to Wild Pitch Records they changed their name to Hard Knocks and released their classic "School of Hard Knocks" album.

The group consisted of emcee Hardhead and deejay Stoneface. The album was produces by J1 and Zulu aka The Spear Chuckers who managed to create a unique sound at the time. Production wise it was ahead of it's time and other producers like Pete Rock and Ayatollah would use breaks found on this records a decade later.

After this album they fell of the face of the earth. All I know is that Hardhead relocated to Atlanta.

The album was re-released on CD and Vinyl in 2008 and is a must have. It's a shame though that they didn't include "Ladies" from the A Dirty Cop Named Harry 12-inch since it wasn't found on the album.

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Incognegro : Keepin' It Lovely

2010-07-30T07:52:00.000+02:00

Artist : Incognegro
Album : Keepin' It Lovely
Label : Doxa Records
Year : 2001
Production : Incognegro

Keepin' It Lovely
Shotgun Shack
Brand New Caddy
Fancy Prance
Bartender
Philly (Live Remake)
Big Man
Sunny Days
Philly (Original)
Come On Down (Remake)
Couch Surfin'
Come On Down (Original)
Grooves Galore
Last Call
Can You Feel It?

After The Goats broke up in 1997 lead rapper Madd formed Incognegro with Dj Smoove and Mark Boyce, both of the Goats. After releasing one self-titled album, the group went their seperate ways and Madd formed electro-hiphop group Black Landlord.

The "Keepin' it Lovely" is obviously not as good as Tricks of the Shade but it still a good album and fans of The Goats need to check this out as well.

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Imam T.H.U.G. : Die Hard

2010-07-29T07:52:00.001+02:00

Artist : Imam T.H.U.G
Album : Die Hard
Label : QB Entertainment
Year : 2003
Production : Ayatollah, Ric Rude, Marley Marl, G-Money, Michelob & Irv Gotti

1 Intro
2 Tholdiers & Thorties
3 True Confessions [Feat Tragedy Khadafi]
4 QB2G [Feat Tragedy Khadafi]
5 Driver's Seat [Featuring Busta Rhymes & N.O.R.E.]
6 I Eat, U Eat (Stay True)
7 The Greatest
8 Its Never Ovah [Feat V12]
9 Imam Be Thuggin'
10 Freestyle
11 Get It & Shine [Feat Wiz of The Bravehearts]
12 Verrazano
13 Death B4 Dishonor [Feat G.O.D. Pt3 of Infamous Mobb]
14 So Cruel [Feat V12]
15 My Knife [Feat V12 & AK]
16 True Confessions Pt. 2
17 My Style (Dirty South Flow)[Feat Pastor Troy]
18 Lady [Feat V12]

Imam THUG was raised in the Queensbridge housing projects that claim infamous hip-hop artists MC Shan, Nas, Mobb Deep and Capone of Capone n Noreaga (CNN). Known to the NYPD as a menace to society, a “common thug” and an outlaw, Imam THUG transitioned from street hustler to artist to CEO. His name represents all that he has been through - Imam means faith and T.H.U.G. stands for Truth, Hunger, Understanding and Growth.

In 1996, after a two-year incarceration at Clinton Correctional, Imam was recruited by his then best friend Tragedy Khadafi a.k.a. Intelligent Hoodlum to work in the offices of 25 to Life Entertainment. Desiring to be more of an asset to the company, Imam set out to become a rapper and dedicated himself to perfecting his skills. As a test of those skills he was asked to write the 16 bars that became CNN’s “Driver’s Seat” on their classic album “The War Report”. Imam not only wrote a banging verse, but also wrote the engaging hook recited by Noreaga. The album was an instant hip-hop classic and the beginning of a promising career for Imam.

Confident in Imam’s talent, Tragedy and Imam formed the now infamous underground rap group the Iron Sheiks to tell the “thug stories” of street life in Queensbridge. The group’s first single “True Confessions” was an underground hit, but without adequate promotional backing, the record never reached its full commercial potential. In 1997 the group went on to record their second EP, titled “Illuminati”. The group’s Tony Touch freestyle is still one of the most talked about freestyles in hip hop, as well as the classic DJ Clue freestyle “Show Me The Money, Part II”, which Imam recorded with Mase.

In 1999, Imam was featured on “Violator: The Album”, a compilation CD showcasing artists signed to Chris Lighty’s Violator Management as well as the hottest up and coming MCs in the rap game. The platinum-selling album was a smash hit and features songs by Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Big Pun and many more of the biggest names in hip-hop.

After a year of silence, Imam came back in the year 2000, collaborating on Nas’ QB album with a joint entitled “Our Way” featuring Capone-n-Noreaga and several notorious freestyles on DJ Envy’s and DJ Kay Slay’s hot-selling mixtapes. Later that year he formed a group called INS and recorded the single “Dass Wassup”, which sold 10,000 copies in 2001 and was distributed by Light Year / Weir Entertainment. 2002 was the year Imam and Steve Sola met while working with QB MCs Infamous Mobb. Imam spent most of that year in the lab working on his next project, a full length album titled “Die Hard”, which he released independently in 2003. The Source picked up on the buzz Imam was creating on the street, giving “Die Hard” both an album review and a full length article.

Recently Imam Thug has been featured on the lead single "Thug Planet" from Capone-N-Noreagas upcoming "War Report 2" and he has plans of dropping an album in the near future.

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Mad CJ Mac : True Game

2010-07-28T07:41:00.000+02:00

Artist : Mad CJ Mac
Album : True Game
Year : 1995
Label : Rap-A-Lot Records / Noo Trybe
Production : MAD
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1 Intro 2:01
2 Let My Niggas Out Tha Pen 4:46
3 True Game 3:19
4 Come And Take A Ride (Feat Poppa LQ) 4:06
5 Realism 3:00
6 Powda Puff 4:58
7 Losin' My Mind 5:59
8 Can't Cee Thee Ahh! 4:06
9 Tryina Survive 3:42
10 Trust No 4:44
11 Dead Man Walkin' 5:11
12 Moment Of Silence 0:20
13 I Can't Stand A Rat 4:58

A lot of people think this album is the work of only one man. It is however a group consisting of MAD and CJ Mac. CJ Mac was the rapper and MAD produced the whole damn thing. The album was intended to drop on Ruthless Records but disagreements regarding the contract led the duo to sign with Rap-A-Lot instead.

In 1999 CJ Mac released another album on Hoo Bangin' (production was handled by Ant Banks, Crazy Toons and Johnny J + a few tracks by MAD).

The only other projects I know Mad worked on was Bushwick Bill "Phantom of the Rapra" and Poppa LQs "My Life Your Entertainment"

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Nut-Rageous : Raw Nuts

2010-07-27T12:11:00.000+02:00

Artist : Nut-Rageous
Album : Raw Nuts
Label : Poor Pocket Muzik
Year : 2008
Production : Ron Mills, Cuban, KS 40 Below, Seando

1. Danger
2. 1979
3. Play Da Field
4. They Wanna Know
5. Best In This Profession
6. G-Ride
7. Flushing Da Last Stop (Featuring Kyron, Semi, QU & Fortune)
8. Rap Issue
9. Devilz Gun (Featuring Semi-Auto & Kyron)
10. Ghetto Jam (Featuring Semi-Auto)
11. Rap Author P.A. (Featuring Craig G)
12. We Ring Bells (Featuring Jak Danielz)
13. Wat's Poppin (Featuring KL From Screwball)
14. Don't Tell Me Tell Her (Featuring Dana Dane)
15. Somebody Loves Me

I rarely post newer albums since they normally are available to buy but once in a while I'll make an exception in order to give some shine to lesser known artists.

Nut-rageous is an emcee from Queens who has something on his mind! It's so rare these days to come across a rapper who is truly funny and no too serious about himself. This album is full of witty, well-written verses and dope production.

Do yourself a favor, check out the album and then buy the damn thing!

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A problem with links

2010-07-26T12:06:00.005+02:00

The following links are incorrect ( I think it has something to do with Rapidshare changing their database)

Whoridas : Whoridin'
Messy Marv : Messy Situationz [LINK FIXED!]
Pooh-Man : Ain't No Love [LINK FIXED!]

I'll have new links up ASAP

Pooh-Man : Ain't No Love

2010-07-26T07:23:00.003+02:00

Artist : Pooh-Man
Album : Ain't No Love
Year : 1994
Label : In-A-Minute Records
Production : G-Man Stan
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. In the Gutter
2. Gangsta
3. What the Deuce Look Like
4. Just Another Drive By
5. If It's Going Down
6. Back Breaker
7. Ain't No Love
8. Don't Test Yo Pimpin
9. Let's Ride
10. Murder Rap
11. Letters from the Pen
12. Down Low (Feat Money B.)
13. Fade My Flow
14. Street Games
15. Why I Gotta Be a Bitch [*]

Some mid-90s west coast shit from Bay Area rapper Pooh-Man (formerly MC Pooh). I posted his Judgment Day album a while back so check that post for the 411,

He really goes hard at Too Short and Ant Banks on this album, especially on the title track.

Download "Ain't No Love"
Buy "Ain't No Love"

Throwback Video

2010-07-24T06:25:00.000+02:00

Dana Dane : Rollin' With Dana Dane

2010-07-23T11:52:00.001+02:00

Artist : Dana Dane
Album : Rollin' With Dana Dane
Label : Maverick
Year : 1995
Production : Battlecat, 3rd Rail & Smash Money
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1."Dedication"- 2:09
2."Once Again"- 3:55
3."In da Mix"- 4:17 Feat.Don Perryon
4."Rollin' Wit Dane"- 4:21
5."Booty Call"- 1:33
6."Record Jock"- 4:06
7."Ain't No Love"- :44
8."Chester"- 3:51
9."Nina"- 4:27
10."Mama Told Me"- 4:52 Feat.Don Perryon
11."Show Me Love"- 4:00
12."Fort Greene (S)Killz"- 5:07 Feat.Lady Terra, DonPerryon,3rd Rail, Gap da Rippa & Ike Capone
13."Ain't No Love"- 4:30

Dana Dane (born Dana McLeese) is an American hip hop artist known for humorous lyrics (performed with a fake British accent) and for his fashion sense. He was born in the Walt Whitman housing project in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in New York City, and began his career as part of the Kangol Crew with fellow emcee Slick Rick, to whom he sounded markedly similar, although Slick Rick's English lilt was actually genuine. His biggest hit in the United States was "Cinderfella Dana Dane", which peaked at #11 on Billboard magazine's R&B charts in 1987.

His debut album peaked at #46 on the Billboard album chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. After a long stint at the legendary Profile Records, where he was one of that label’s core artists, he recorded briefly for Rap-A-Lot Records, where he didn’t release anything.

"Rollin' Wit Dana Dane" is the third and final studio album released by Dana Dane. It was released on March 28, 1995, on Maverick Records and was produced by DJ Battlecat, along with Smash Money and 3rd Rail. Rollin' Wit Dana Dane only peaked at #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, but two singles did fairly well: "Record Jock" made it to #61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and #11 on the Hot Rap Singles, while "Rollin' Wit Dane" made it to #77 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single & Tracks and #25 on Hot Rap Singles.

The album was met with mixed reviews though as the east-coast heads didn't quite get the west coast inspired Battlecat beats and the west-coast crown didn't relate to his east-coast rhyme style.

Dane operated a clothing boutique in New York for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is an on-air host for Sirius/XM Satellite Radio on its old school hip-hop channel BackSpin.

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Whoridas

2010-07-21T11:53:00.003+02:00

Artist : Whoridas
Album : Whoridin'
Label : Delicious Vinyl
Year : 1997
Production : JZ, J Groove, Daz Dillinger, Shock G, Big Nous, D.O.T, Bob Durham, J-Cutt, G-Man, Merg-One
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1 Never Heard 4:39
2 Pounds, Ki's & OZ's 3:46
3 Taxin' 3:30
4 Shot Callin' & Big Ballin' 3:43
5 Keep It Going 4:37
6 Whoridin' 3:03
7 Talkin' Bout Bank 3:42
8 Till The Wheels Fall Off 3:59
9 Westbound Campain 3:13
10 Off The Ringa! 4:07
11 Down On My Luck 4:01
12 World Wide Whoride 3:40
13 Stackin' $'s 3:35
14 True Playas (Remix) 5:21
15 Bumpin' 3:32
16 Pull Off That Whoride 3:51

Coming out of Oakland during the mid-'90s, the WhoRidas represented a new generation of hip-hop: hard but intelligent, musical but still deeply funky. Cousins King Saan (Hasaan Mahmoud) and Mr. Taylor (Meikeo Taylor) began freestyling together, and after King Saan made an appearance on his older brother Saafir's 1994 debut album, Boxcar Sessions, the WhoRidas began recording. Their first single, "Shot Callin' & Big Ballin'," sold 15,000 copies out of the back of their car, and with the help of Saafir the pair signed to Delicious Vinyl. With the help of their production crew, Hobo Junction, the WhoRidas released their debut album, Whoridin', in August 1997; the follow-up, Hightimes, appeared in 1999 and in 2002 they dropped "Corner Store" on their own label.

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Throwback Video

2010-07-19T14:00:00.000+02:00

B-Legit : The Hemp Museum

2010-07-17T11:53:00.000+02:00

Artist : B-Legit
Album : The Hemp Museum
Label : Sick-Wid-It / Jive Records
Year : 1996
Production : Studio Ton, Mike Mosley, Femi Ojetunde, Funk Daddy, Tone Capone, Redwine
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Intro
2. City 2 City (Feat. Levitti)
3. For So Long
4. Check It Out (Feat. E-40, Kurupt)
5. Gotta Buy Your Dope From Us (Feat. C-Bo, Little Bruce)
6. The Hemp Museum
7. Neva Bite (Feat. The Mossie)
8. Ghetto Smile (Feat. Daryl Hall)
9. Don't Do It (Interlude)
10. Can My Nine Get Ate (Feat. Mac Shawn)
11. Niggaz Get They Wig Split (Feat. Celly Cel, C-Bo)
12. Rollin' Wit Hustlers (Feat. Harm)
13. Get's Down Like That (Feat. A-1)
14. D-Boy Blues (Feat. Levitti)
15. My Flow of Cash (Feat. Funk Mobb)

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Messy Marv : Messy Situationz

2010-07-15T11:54:00.001+02:00

Artist : Messy Marv
Album : Messy Situationz
Label : Ammo
Year : 1996 (re-released in 2004 with a DVD)
Production : G-Man Stan, JT The Bigga Figga
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1.Ghetto Blues
2.Children's Story
3.PHD's (featuring HK)
4.In The Game
5.Dank Session
6.Messy Situationz
7.A Poor Man's Dream (featuring JT The Bigga Figga & San Quinn)
8.On The DL
9.Ghetto Glamour Hood Hoe's
10.Game To Be $old & Told
11.Too Hot
12.Freak Down (featuring Trev-G)
13.The Back Streets
14.The Chronic

Marvin Watson, better known by his stage name Messy Marv, is an American rapper from the Fillmore District of San Francisco, California. He is the cousin of San Quinn.

Marvin claims to not have taken rap seriously when his first record Messy Situationz was released in 1996. It sold only 15,000 units but lead to the collaboration with San Quinn and their classic hit record Explosive Mode in 1997 which has sold over 50,000 copies.

Though introduced to the rap life Messy was still living out of his car, 'doing very bad things' as he states it. It was at this point that the family of rapper San Quinn took him in so he could clean up. Messy Marv has admitted to being a cocaine dealer and abuser, he states it was inherited to him. He is known to comment on his mothers cocaine addiction in many songs but he has not confirmed that it had anything to do with his own substance abuse.

Despite being recognized as a classic hit in the bay area he was unable to leave his criminal life behind and this finally caught up to him in 2001 when jumping out of a fourth floor window he broke both his legs, crushed his foot and lost a lot of blood. In one of his video from the Still Explosive album of 2001 he can be seen exiting the hospital in a wheel chair, he was confined to this wheelchair for 6 months before he could walk again. During this time he actually continued to perform on stage.

Since his near brush with death he has recorded numerous albums between the years 2002 and the present, 2007. Among other projects another classic bay area record called DisoBAYish featuring collaborations with E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Too Short and Nate Dogg, and many more.

Messy Marv, along with Guce and Killa Tay makes up the group Bullys Wit Fullys, which is the recipient of the 2006 B.A.R.S. award for best collaboration.

In addition to his collaborative efforts with Guce, Messy Marv has released several albums with his cousin and fellow prominent Bay Area rapper San Quinn. He has received considerable attention for his hit song "Get On My Hype", and the Bullys Wit Fullys music video, "So Hood" was in heavy rotation on MTV Jams.

He also released a video for his single "Don't You Say That".

He collaborated with David Banner and Pastor Troy on the album What You Know Bout Me? Part 1 and also released an album with Yukmouth titled 100 Racks. He released a 2007 album with San Diego rapper Mitchy Slick entitled "Messy Slick".

On November 2, 2007, Messy Marv was released from jail after serving nine months on weapons charges.

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Above The Law : Forever - Rich Thugs

2010-07-13T11:56:00.000+02:00

Artist : Above The Law
Album : Forever - Rich Thugs
Label : Street Solid / Westworld Records
Year : 1999
Production : Cold 187um, DJ Silk, Tha Chill, Big Mil

Rich Thugs (Intro) 1:47
Black Mob (Featuring Safecracka) 4:36
Marvin 4:11
Three Strikes 0:33
Recycle The Black Dollar 3:23
Respect (Featuring Young Ten) 4:20
Pawns 4:02
Thug In Your Life 5:14
Smoke 4:14
Rich Thugs Movement (Interlude) 2:34
A.T.L. True 4:31
It Ain't Where You From 4:00
The Money (Interlude) 0:32
Sax 4:07
P.I.M.P. (Featuring Ha-Ha L.O.C. , Safecracka , Young Ten) 5:29

The last studio album from ATL to be released as a physical album (their latest album was only released digitally). It's also the first ATL album since their debut to feature outside production and their first on their own West World label. It's not as good as their previous efforts but there are still plenty of bangers ("Black Mob", "Pawns", "Smoke" and "Sax" to name a few) and it's a lot better than the lackluster "Sex Money & Music" album. So despite the horrible title and awful cover this is a dope album that you need to check. The Big Hutch solo album from 2000 is very similar to this and I'll have that up as well soon.

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Slow Pain : The Baby O.G

2010-07-11T11:52:00.000+02:00

Artist : Slow Pain
Album : The Baby O.G.
Label : Thump Records
Year : 1994
Production : Julio G & Tony G, OMD, Carlo Zanella
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Intro: The Funky Funky Bomb
2. Baby Og'z
3. Slow Pain Baby (To the Left, To the Right)
4. Money Maid (Fallin' in Love)
5. Ride With Me
6. Saturday Night Ballin'
7. Wicked Ass Funk
8. So Many City's
9. If You Get High
10. My Trigger Finger
11. We on a Mission
12. Saturday Night Ballin (Remix)

West Coast rapper Slow Pain started beatboxing in 1992 with Street Mentality, a gangsta rap group who eventually landed a deal with BMG. Street Mentality, Slow Pain, LiL-V, and Bandit toured with Southern Latin hip-hopsters Lighter Shade Of Brown and A.L.T. throughout 1993, yet their debut recording was only mildly successful. Shortly thereafter, Slow Pain began working with A.L.T., recording the single "Coupe de Ville." This newfound inspiration led to the musical change of adding rapper Kid Frost and incorporating Latin tinges in their gangsta rap sound. The group Three Deep was born -- however, overshadowing tragedy lurked in the background.

Upon striking a deal with Ruthless Records, Three Deep's musical hopes were shattered by the devastating death of fellow West Coast rapper Eazy-E. This misfortune led Slow Pain and A.L.T. to venture off into solo projects. Slow Pain signed with Thump Records in the mid-'90s and recorded The Baby OG, which included the popular cut "Money Maid." New projects surfaced into the new millennium: Slow Pain was working with Too Short and shaping a new group with Kid Frost, Mellow Man Ace, A.L.T., and O.G.Enius (the Blvd. Knights). His sophomore effort, The Hit List, was released in March 2000. Lil' Don Juan and Presents Old Town Gangsters were both issued the following year. Raider 4 Life appeared in 2003, followed by L.A. Blues in 2004 and In the Hood in 2005

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Have a nice day peoples!

2010-07-10T10:21:00.001+02:00

C-Bo : Enemy of the State

2010-07-09T11:54:00.000+02:00

Artist : C-Bo
Album : Enemy of the State
Label : West Coast Mafia / Warlock Records
Year : 2000
Production : Mike Dean, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock, DJ Squeeky, JT the Bigga Figga, Beezy, Wino, Meko, Mr. Lee, One Drop Scott
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1."Enemy of the State"
2."Crippin'" (featuring Daz Dillinger)
3."Death Rider's"
4."Paper Made"
5."Get The Money"
6."9.6" (featuring Killa Tay)
7."It's War" (featuring Little Keek & Yukmouth)
8."Forever Thuggin' (featuring Dotty)
9."Ride Til' We Die" (featuring WC)
10."Nothin' over My G's" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Killa Tay)
11."Spray Yourself" (featuring Yukmouth)
12."C and the Mac" (featuring CJ Mac)
13."Picture Me Ballin'"
14."Born Killaz" (featuring Mob Figaz)
15."Pimpin' and Jackin'" (featuring Too Short)
16."Tycoon"
17."No Surrender, No Retreat" (featuring Mob Figaz)
18."Here We Come, Boy!"

Enemy of the State is the seventh studio album by American rapper C-Bo, released July 11, 2000 on C-Bo's own label West Coast Mafia Records and Warlock Records. It peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 91 on the Billboard 200. Enemy of the State was C-Bo's first album on his new label West Coast Mafia Records. The album features guest performances by WC, Daz Dillinger, Killa Tay, Yukmouth, CJ Mac and Too Short. Along with a single, a music video was produced for the song, "Get The Money".

He is currently signed to Young Bucks CASHVILLE RECORDS although I fail to see an album ever materializing since Bucks own career is in the toilet at the moment.

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C-Bo : Tales From The Crypt

2010-07-07T11:54:00.003+02:00

Artist : C-Bo
Album : Tales From The Crypt
Label : AWOL
Year : 1995
Production : DJ Daryl, D-Wiz, Mike Mosley, Sam Bostic,
Bitrate : 320 kbps

1."Jackin' and Assassin'" - 0:08
2."Murder That He Ritt" - 3:51
3."Free Style" (featuring Mississippi) - 5:12
4."Hard Core" - 3:44
5."Want to Be a "G"" - 3:12
6."Stompin' In My Steel Toes" (featuring Marvaless) - 4:01
7."Birds In the Kitchen" (featuring E-40) - 4:30
8."187 Dance" - 4:05
9."Groovin' On Sunday" (Radio) (featuring Mississippi) - 3:06
10."Who Ride" (featuring Snap) - 3:07
11."Take It How You Want Too" (featuring Marvaless) - 3:58
12."Ain't No Sunshine" (featuring Tuna Bug & Mississippi) - 4:10

Tales from the Crypt is the third studio album by American rapper C-Bo, released June 15, 1995 on AWOL Records. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 99 on the Billboard 200. Along with a single, a music video was produced for the song "Birds in the Kitchen" which featured E-40.

West Coast Mafia Records, C-Bo's own label, reissued Tales from the Crypt in 2002.

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C-Bo : Till My Casket Drops

2010-07-05T11:55:00.002+02:00

Artist : C-Bo
Album : Till My Casket Drops
Label : AWOL / Noo Trybe Records
Production : BC, C-Bo, DJ Daryl, Femi Ojetunde, JT the Bigga Figga, Mike Mosley, One Drop Scott, Rick Rock
Year : 1998
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1."Ride Til' We Die" (featuring 151 & Mob Figaz) - 4:31
2."Deadly Game" (featuring X-Raided) - 4:55
3."Major Pain & Mr. Bossalini" (featuring Spice 1) - 4:30
4."Money by the Ton" (featuring Mississippi) - 4:08
5."40 & C-Bo" (featuring E-40) - 3:49
6."Hard Labor" (featuring Outlawz & Big Lurch) - 4:31
7."Raised In Hell" (featuring Big Syke) - 4:22
8."Can We All Ball" (featuring Killa Tay & JT the Bigga Figga) - 3:43
9."Desperado Outlaws" - 4:31
10."Real N**gas" (featuring Mob Figaz) - 4:31
11."Professional Ballers" (featuring Marvaless, Pizzo, Mac Mall, JT the Bigga Figga & Killa Tay) - 4:22
12."Big Gangsta" (featuring Laroo, Lil Bo & Mob Figaz) - 5:31
13."All I Ever Wanted" (featuring Lunasicc & 151) - 4:37
14."Boo Yow!" (featuring X-Raided) - 3:51
15."No Pain No Gain" (featuring Lunasicc & Laroo) - 4:38
16."Til My Casket Drops" - 4:12
17."357" (featuring X-Raided) - 4:05

Shawn Thomas, better known by his stage name C-Bo (abbr. for Cowboy) is an American rapper. He was born and raised in the Garden Blocc of Sacramento, California. He has sold over 3.5 million albums independently since 1993 although he is perhapt most known for appearing on "All Eyez On Me" and for being put in jail over his lyrical content (over the track "Deadly Game" which included the line "So when they try to pull you over, shoot 'em in the face, y'all" which according to his parole officers, violated the terms of his parole. Subsequently, C-Bo was arrested for parole violation and faced one year in prison.

Til My Casket Drops is his fifth studio album released February 24, 1998 on AWOL Records. The album was produced by C-Bo, DJ Daryl, Mike Mosley, One Drop Scott and Rick Rock. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 41 on the Billboard 200.

Along with a single, a music video was produced for the song "Money by the Ton". The album features guest performances by Spice 1, E-40, Big Syke, Outlawz and X-Raided, as well as labelmates Killa Tay and Lunasicc. Mob Figaz made their first appearance on the album.

It is one of his most popular albums to date. West Coast Mafia Records, C-Bo's own label, reissued Til My Casket Drops in 2002.

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Mackadelics : Exposed To The Game

2010-07-03T22:14:00.005+02:00

Artist : Mackadelics
Album : Exposed To The Game
Label : Sunset Blvd Records / Explicit Entertainment
Year : 1996
Production : DJ Aladdin
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Pimptro... (Insert)
2. Power Of A Playa
3. Bank-N-Comers
4. Devil's Dope
5. On A Ride
6. Hustlin
7. P.I. Convo
8. Mackadelics
9. Are U Ready?
10. Lush-N-Lavish
11. Tweed Cadillac Bar
12. Gotta Be Fly
13. Like This
14. Man In The Mirror
15. Stack-N-Mack-N
16. Voodoo
17. How Many
18. Devil Made Me Do It
19. From Tha Ghetto
20. (I Wanna) Spend The Night With U

LA based "supergroup" consisting of the legendary DJ Aladdin (of Low Profile and Rhyme Syndicate fame), Tweed Cadillac (from Penthouse Players Clique) and B-Low-Zero (aka G-Avanni). Most 21-track albums won't be good al the way through and this is no exception but the majority of the album is really dope. It's laid-back player rap from LA just the way we looove it and with DJ Aladdin behind the board you know it's worth checking out.

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Street Military : Don't Give A Damn [EP]

2010-07-02T10:14:00.000+02:00

Artist : Street Military
Album : Don't Give A Damn [EP]
Label : Wild Pitch
Year : 1993
Production : Icy Hott
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Tears Came From Making This Dream
2. I Don't Give a Damn
3. Another Hit
4. Street Military Outro
5. Don't Play With a Gun
6. Gasta Get Paid [Featuring Klondike Kat]
7. Dead in a Year

Don't Give a Damn, Street Military's debut mini-album, hints at a more thoughtful side of gangsta rap, although it's usually not on the surface -- the subject matter is, after all, typical gangsta fare with some typical gangsta posturing. However, the group examines the causes and consequences of the lifestyle much more than usual for the genre in the '90s, which places Street Military a cut above most of its peers and makes this a promising debut

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Summer Joints 2

2010-07-01T09:44:00.003+02:00

Artist : Various
Album : Summer Joints II
Year : 2010
Production : DJ Rectangle, RJD2, Prodeje, Battlecat, Cold 187um, G-Man Stan, others
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Whoridas : Get Lifted
2. Aceyalone : Fire
3. Incidents : West Coast
4. South Central Cartel : U Couldn't Deal Wit This
5. Slow Pain : Ride With Me
6. Dana Dane : Record Jock
7. Spice 1 : Nature To Ride
8. Coolio : Fantastic Voyage
9. South Central Cartel : It's An SCC Thang
10. TQ : Westside
11. B-Legit, C-Bo & Celly Cel : Niggaz Get They Wig Split
12. 5th Ward Boyz : Gangsta Funk
13. Mac Mall : Opening Doors
14. Noggin Nodders : Bounce
15. Foesum : Loyalty & Respect
16. Mad CJ Mac & Poppa LQ : Come And Take A Ride
17. Jayo Felony : Zoom Zooms and Wam Wam
18. Pooh-Man : Let's Ride

I made a similar compilation last summer and it was pretty well receivedso here is volume two. Just download it, burn it to a disc and bump it in your car or in your backyard while you enjoy an ice cold brew! Also check out Volume 1 if you missed it.

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Zoo Crew : Migrate, Adapt Or Die

2010-06-30T10:13:00.004+02:00

Artist : The Zoo Crew
Album : Migrate, Adapt Or Die
Label : Zoo Life Records
Year : 1998
Production : Prodeje, Tony G & Julio G, K9, Natural Born
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1 Zoo Terrorists 3:40
2 Down Syndrome 4:09
3 Keepin' It Live 3:23
4 Camouflage 5:13
5 Phoney Homies 4:09
6 Migrate Adapt Or Die 4:06 [Featuring Prodeje]
7 West Bound 4:11
8 Money In The 90's 3:48
9 Only Fuck With Killas 3:19 [Featuring Havoc & Spice 1]
10 Lyrical Game 4:34
11 Bring It Ruff 4:24
12 Hittin' Liks 4:04
13 40 Acres And A Mule 4:46
14 Mortal Combat

The Zoo Crew consists of K-9, 40 Glocc, Natural Born & W.S. Bugg. The only one of these emcees who really made a mark following this album is 40 Glocc

40 Glocc aka Lawrence White was born in Galveston Texas on December 16, 1979. At the age of eight he moved with his mother to various locations in California, until finally settling in the Inland Empire district of Colton also known as "The Zoo". There, he joined the local set of the Crips gang known as the Colton City Crips, though during an injunction against the Crip set, he later denied his involvement in the gang.

He then began to rap with local friends and by 1997, his group, the "Zoo Crew", were recording and promoting their first album, Migrate, Adapt or Die, produced by Prodeje, Tony G and Julio G.

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Prince Paul presents Horror City

2010-06-28T09:15:00.000+02:00

Those who picked up Prince Pauls "Politics of the Business" might have noticed the excellent track "Champion Sound" featuring Horror City and Jean Grae or you might have heard them on his "Prince of Thieves" album. Maybe you are one of the people who wondered what became of them?? Well, here's what Prince Paul himself has to say :

This was a project that I wanted to put together with Amityville MC legend Superstar . as I thought about it more I wanted to recruit more Mcs we knew to make it diverse . Superstar already had the name “Horror City” so we recorded under that name . This project was recorded right after the first Gravedigga album ” 6ft deep”in 1995 . I shopped the demo but unfortunately it got looked over and never got signed . I sat on this project for a while but it always had a dear place in my heart because I thought it was really good and the talent was there . I stripped some of the music from the demo and put it on ” a prince among thieves” and actually had a few of the guys perform on the ” Thieves ” album as well but to be honest I always liked these originals better. So now I have decided share these songs with all of you because holding on to them made no sense .. why not share great music . Hopefully you the listener will enjoy this project as much as I do . please share it , thats why I made this for free download . For more group info please log on to their Facebook for a proper bio of “Horror City “. – prince paul

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Above The Law : Legends

2010-06-27T07:55:00.001+02:00

Artists : Above The Law
Album : Legends
Label : Tommy Boy
Year : 1998
Production : Cold 187um

1.Intro "Floetry"
2.X.O. Wit Me featuring Jayo Felony
3.Set Trippin'
4.Promise Me
5.Be About You Bizniz featuring Ha-Ha L.O.C.
6.Clinic Niggaz featuring Young Ten
7.Soliciting
8.Deep Az the Root
9.Streets
10.Sumner Days
11.L.A. Vibe
12.Worldwide
13.Karma
14.Soul Searching featuring Yukmouth
15.Adventures of...
16.In God We Trust featuring Big Rock

The 5th full length studio album from ATL and their second and last for Tommy Boy. It's a darker and more sinister sound than their previous albums but to me this is their second best album. On tracks like "Deep Az The Root", "Promise Me" and "Soul Searching" Hutch and KM.G really shine and come off as more than just your average gangster rapper. A fitting album title indeed.

Download "Legends"
Buy "Legends"

Rap-O-Mania Volume 2

2010-06-25T09:51:00.000+02:00

Artist : Various
Album : Rap-O-Mania Volume 2
Label : Track Team / Virgin
Year : 1997
Production : Copenhaniacs, YB, Detail, Merry T
Bitrate : 320 kbps MP3

1. Intro - Got The Call
2. Kuku Agami - Allstar
3. Timbuktu feat. Y.B. & Black Musketeer
4. Creative - The Presentation
5. Lunatick feat. Shirley - Leaving The Game
6. Nubalinc - Too Much Man
7. Plain N´ Simple - No Matter Where I Go
8. Creative - Natural
9. Flava Most - Verbal Jihad
10. Kuku / Plain N´ Simple / Nubalinc / Lunatick - The Borderline
11. Tjes Boogie - Money Skeem
12. Attaboy - Stand Strong
13. Detail - Day Of The Doom

Although a majority of the Danish hiphop releases are in Danish there are a few still representing in english. This compilation is 13 years old and productionwise a bit dated on some tracks and you will no doubt notice the accent in places but overall a nice album showcasing some talented emcees and beatmakers.

A lot of the tracks are produced by production duo The Copenhaniacs who among others also did songs/remixes for Memphis Bleek, Mariah Carey, Nelly and Montell Jordan

In case you are wondering about the first volume, it's an compilation just like this only all the songs are in danish.

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David Banner & 9th Wonder : Slow Down [Video]

2010-06-24T18:29:00.001+02:00

Top Quality : Magnum Opus

2010-06-23T12:25:00.002+02:00

Artist : Top Quality
Album : Magnum Opus
Label : RCA / PMD Records
Year : 1994
Production : Jesse West, Charlie Marotta, Solid Sheme, others

1. Messages From Uptown
2. Someone So Fly
3. Caught Up In The Flizny
4. Magnum Opus
5. Check The Credentials
6. What
7. You Gotta Check It
8. Something New
9. I Can't Hear You
10. Graveyard Shift
11. U Know My Name

Underrated and underappreciated mid-90s safety pin-wearing PMD protege (and featured in The Sources Unsigned Hype coloumn when it mattered) drops some gems, particularly "Magnum Opus" and "Messages From Uptown". Apart from cameos on PMDs first solo album and the excellent posse cut "Trooperz Represent" by 3rd Eye the dude vanished from the face of the earth. A damn shame cause this album is pretty damn great.

Download "Magnum Opus"
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