Over the last few days I been rotating...
Z-Trip and Lateef - Ahead Of The Curve Mix CD (Quannum Projects) Japanese Release 2007
^I have been trying to catch up on some old mixes I forgot about until recently, this one is a pretty cool mix by Z-Trip with Lateef flowing over every other song. Like a lot of Z-Trips mixes this one is very genre-hoping, but still loaded with great blends. It's a really fun mix to revisit.
Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People LP, White People Instrumentals LP, and How's Your Girl CD (Elecktra and Tommy Boy) 2004 and 1999
^Was chatting with JB about HBMS the other night so I had to bust these out and refresh my memory a bit. I wish I had HYG on wax because ultimately that was the better album. The Instrumentals of White People has a fairly unknown DJ Shadow track that isn't on the full album, It's almost like a hidden track since they don't fuss about it in the liner notes. It's an impressive track too worthy of a DJ Shadow Best of. Both of the albums are still pretty groundbreaking to this day.
Prince Paul - Hip Hop Gold Dust LP (Antidote) 2005
^Some really dope sleepers on this compilation of Prince Paul productions. One of my favorite Stet tracks ever is on this, a live Stetsasonic track from who knows when, really raw. Besides that there are some top notch beats PP drops for the likes of his underground crew mates Sha, Resident Alien, and Gravediggaz to name a few. A solid compilation of great mixtape contenders.
Trinity - 20 in LP (Fat Beats) 2013
^Picked this up last night, played it right away... Honestly, for as many huge names (especially AG and Sadat X) that are on this I guess I was expecting it to be a 10. It starts off pretty weak production wise, there's nothing wrong with the rap at all, but DJ Jab, the producer, wasn't doing em any big favors in the beats department. The posse cut is an exception though, super dope, containing verses from Audible Doctor, Eternia, Everlast, Grand Puba, ILL BILL, Immortal Technique, D-Stroy, Reef The Lost Cause, Roc Marciano, Roxane Shante, Sha Stimuli, and Slug. A few other tracks are dope, especially the Intereview where Sadat X is getting interviewed about getting arrested over some of the best beats in the LP, he starts off talking and then it's almost as if he can't help but start to flow over the beats accompanying him. If it wasn't for the 3-4 really strong tracks I'd say this is disappointing. Worthy of a few listens though for the money tracks.
Normskola - Can't Be Touched 12" (Ashima Records) 1999
^Besides his extremely dope 12" entitled Half Man, this is the one to get. Can't be touched has one of the dopest beats and rhymes I've heard, totally worth the 40 bones I paid for this rare random rap single.
Normskola - Narcotic Love 12" (Ashima Records) 2000
^Not his best but still damn good rhymes and beats on this. I bought it for the 2 accapellas. Normskola is a sleeper, keep your eyes peeled for this guys singles.
Suff Daddy and Ta-Ku - Bricks & Mortar EP (Melting Pot Music) 2013
^I heard enough of this German producers beats to be able to take an educated chance on buying this EP and I wasn't disappointed at all. Man, he has a really unique Hip Hop beat style, very simple but still distinct and not overly layered. Reminds me of some Damu beats in a way. I will definitely be looking to get a lot more of his albums on Melting Pot.
The Beat Junkies - Picture Disc Collection 12" Picture Disc (Fat Beats) 2013 RSD LE
^Don't ask me where I got this 2013 RSD Picture Disc, I technically should not have it until Record Store Day 4-20. Oh well, I was gonna get it anyway, so whatever. I
had to get this, their sheet is on my MUST have list. This one is as dope as I hoped it would be. The A side has the vocal versions of the obscure remix from Duck Season 2 leftovers, Live From Master Control - Dj Babu feat. Rakaa Iriscience, Phil Da Agony, Evidence, Krondon, Planet Asia, Akil, Chace Infinite, & Chali 2na. Number 2 is a classic scratch composition "Talkin’ Handjive" feat. Rhettmatic & Shortkut. The classic underground track from The World Famous Beat Junkies Vol 2 mixtape "Blessings" by the Visionaries, and the cherry on the sundae is a sick turntable track from D-Styles' album Phantasmagoria, "Felonious Funk" with D-Styles feat. Melo-D, Dj Babu, & Q-bert. As a bonus the instrumentals (just the beats, no scratching at all) are on the flip so you can get your scratch on and miserably fail at trying to imitate the pros.
Kev E Kev - Welcome to Dopeland EP (Good Fellons) 2013
^Last and absolutely not least one of my favorite new Hip Hop EPs landed yesterday straight from the man himself. There is a lot of hype and frankly, anarchy surrounding the failed release of this record. All that hype and hate about those who got burned was enough for me to dish up the dough for this and it (I am sounding like a broken record, my bad!)
was worth every penny. Seriously, this is now one of the best Hip Hop records I own. Absolutely a stormer of Golden Era beats and rhymes.
Every single track on this is dope as hell. It really blows my mind that something like this sat idle on a DAT for all these years and then due to strange circumstances got released in 2013. I don't need to rehash all the now infamous release of this EP, it is what it is, water under the bridge. I'm just happy I got mine because if I woulda waited a minute longer I'd be S.O.L, because as many of you probably already know, this will skyrocket in price when the demand for this goes up even more. Watch this on Ebay,
here is a red one. Bid is at 99 cents right now and I wouldn't be surprised if the winning bid exceeds100 bucks.
“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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