Friday, April 30, 2021

The Beatnuts - Props Over Platinum


From Elemental Magazine - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton


Video : Datkid & Illinformed - Thick Lip / One Way Or Another - 2021

 



Brand new double single "Thick Lip / One Way Or Another" from Datkid & Illinformed, dropped on High Focus Records. Video directed and produced by Honey JD



Video : Thorough - Sedatives - 2021

 



The Queens-based emcee Thorough is back with a video of his brand new single "Sedatives" produced by CrazyBeatsP. 




Thursday, April 29, 2021

Microphone Check - The Source, April 1995

 

From The Source - April 1995 - Scans courtesy of Frederic Thecle 


Gettin' Dusty : Ahmad Jamal - Jamalca - 1974

 

LP - 1974 - 20th Century

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #23 - Scan courtesy of Max The Keeper





Demos : Chia Sess - The Lost Tapes (1994 -1996)

 



RAH : "Back in late 1993, I was in a meeting with Stu Fine, MC Serch and Kool Keith at Wild Pitch Records in Manhattan. They were planning Keith's first solo album, and wanted me to do the production.

At the time, Serch was head of A&R at the label. Once he found out I was from the DMV area, he gave me the phone number of a femcee from VA named Chia. He said "Don't let her monotone fool you. She's dope". He wasn't lying. 

Unfortunately, Wild Pitch shut down in 1994, and Serch got real busy with Serchlite Music and that new kid Nasty Nas !

This is a collection of some of the demos we did during that period."






 Produced by RAH For RAH Produkshunz. All scratches by RAH and Omar Retnuh aka DJ Dirty Ice. Written by Crista Tompson and Benoit Tshiwala for Dirty Room Muzik (ASCAP)




DIRTYTHREE - Street Sketches - 2021

 


LP - 2021 - Village Live Records  


 The Russian hip-hop producer DIRTYTHREE drops his debut instrumental LP untiled "Street Sketches" on Village Live Records. 




Available to pre-order on limited edition black & white swirl vinyl with OBI strip (50 copies), black & white swirl vinyl (50 copies), black vinyl (200 copies), cassette tape (50 copies) & digital.


Pre-order (begin Friday, April 30th at 7PM UK Time)


Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Video : Skyzoo - Bed-Stuy is Burning - 2021

 

Visuals for Skyzoo's new single "Bed-Stuy Is Burning" featuring Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and produced by Rashid Hadee, taken off  Skyzoo's latest project "All The Brilliant Things" which will be released in July 2021 on Mello Music Group, available to Pre-order now.




The Juggaknots - Demo - 1995



Here is a demo recorded in 1995 by the Juggaknots. It was played by Bobbito aka DJ Cucumber Slice on the CM Famalam Radio Show from October 26th 2000.


Mad Props to DJ Nes for the Demo, It comes from his tapes collection.



 

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Divine Beings - Whatever Tracks


EP - 2014 - Dope Folks Records  


If you're looking for some dope 90's Philly Hip-Hop flavor, the group  Divine Beings is definitely for you. Here is the previously unreleased and shelved LP recorded by Divine Beings in 1993 and released on Dope Folks Records in 2014. This 6-track EP came out with the help of the legendary Kenny White (Underground North / Da Philly Street Buzz Magazine) who was their group manager.

From Left to Right : Da Gr8 - Kenny White & Air Smooth - Photo courtesy of Kenny White

 



Divine Beings consisted of Shawn White (RIP) a.k.a Air Smooth and Andrea Aston a.k.a Da Gr8, but Andrea Da Gr8 wasn't part of the group at the beginning... She was a solo artist. The Divine Beings was originally a trio formed in 1991 comprised of Air Smooth, Wise Truth a.k.a Kool Est and Saladean a.k.a The Dean.

The Dean : "The group's name started at Central State in Ohio... by a group of Gods that Air Smooth was apart of. He brought the name back home to Philly. Air Smooth was a MC and also did the production. I was a MC and hype man, Wise Truth was the DJ."


From Left to Right : Air Smooth - The Dean & Wise Truth - Photo courtesy of The Dean






When did Andrea Da Gr8 join the group exactly ? 


The Dean : "Drea joined in 93, we were all apart of a theater group called YOACAP (Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program). We did hip-hop plays then we wrote and produced ourselves based around anti violence and HIV prevention... Drea was a solo artist apart of the Rap Underground North as we all were... our musical collaborations started as we started to travel the country with Woody Wood (of 3 Times Dope) doing our play. We did celebrity basketball games and performed at halftime. Black Thought was also apart of YOACAP."


1992 - On tour with 3 Times Dope, Kwame & Tat Money - Photo courtesy of The Dean



From Left to Right : Da Gr8 - Air Smooth & The Dean - Photo courtesy of The Dean



Divine Beings became a duo after that, consisted of Air Smooth and Da Gr8. Why did you stop?

The Dean : "Zukhanbeats... he produced "Fly High" for Jim jones, was also apart of YOACAP... We got close and formed a group called Barca Brothers. And DJ Woody Wood was our Manager... we remained family just went in different directions musically.

We still performed together... we did a song called "Revolution". With myself, Zukhan and Air Smooth. Drea did spoken word. The song was  crazy hot, but it was more along the lines of what me and Zu were doing and not what the Beings were doing !"



If you're looking for more info about their previous releases, the group dropped their debut single on Master Jam Records in 1992. It was composed of the lead single "Wreckyard" available in its original, remix and instrumental versions and the track "Loyal Land Lovers", fully produced by Air Smooth except the remix version of "Wreckyard" produced by Robert "Speedy" Johnson. 


12" - 1992 - Master Jam Records  



Do you remember how the connection happened with Master Jam Records for the release of the first single in 1992 ?

The Dean : "Kenny White.. he was our Manager...Kenny was major . He was a big reason the Underground North and the groups from Philly were heard and had a platform... and also Tab Edwards... Kenny made that single deal, Master Jam records was Kenny White ! "


From Left to Right : Air Smooth - Kenny White - Wise Truth & The Dean - Photo courtesy of The Dean


It was followed by the single "Funky Ultimatum" originally released on 4x4 Records in 1993 and on Reprise Records in 1994, with Air Smooth still on the production. It was their last release. 

12" - 1994 - Reprise Records







Mad Props to Fred Burnette a.k.a The Dean, thanks for your time. 
This is dedicated to Dr. Shawn "Air Smooth" White... Rest In Peace 



DJ Philly & 210Presents - Trackside Burners Radio Show #386


 


Here is the latest episode of the Trackside Burners Radio Show (Episode #386) hosted by DJ Philly & 210Presents and aired on the London-based radio ITCH FM



More info on TracksideBurners.com 


Monday, April 26, 2021

Microphone Check - The Source, November 1993

 


From The Source - November 1993- Scans courtesy of Frederic Thecle 


Choppin' Mastah Not Chopin - The Remix Series vol​.​2 - 2021

 


El Jazzy Chavo a.k.a Choppin' Mastah Not Chopin from Athens, Greece is back with the second volume of his Remix Series. 




Video : Nivek Bogeezi & Craig G - Get Involved - 2021


 


Music video of Nivek Bogeezi & MC Craig G's single "Get Involved" produced by Tone Spliff, off their "The Assignment" EP. 


Classic : 3rd Bass - Brooklyn Queens - 1990


12" - 1990 - Def Jam / Columbia  


"Brooklyn Queens" was the 3rd single off their debut album named "The Cactus" released on Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records in 1989. The song was produced by Prince Paul and was a dedication to all the Brooklyn's ladies. 
According to Prince Paul in a Vibe article from 1999, he met 3rd Bass at the Rush (Artist) Management offices in 1989, right after "3 feet high and rising" came out. They told him "make us a record like (De La's) 'Buddy", so he gave them "Gas Face" and "Brooklyn Queens". 


Promo Photo courtesy of Drewhuge

 





Saturday, April 24, 2021

Microphone Check - The Source, June 1994

 

From The Source - June 1994 - Scans courtesy of Fred Thecle 


DJ Emskee - Pen Joints Show #209 - April 23rd 2021

 



This is the Pen Joints Show #209 aired on Bushwick Radio (www.nevasayneva.com). The Show can be heard every Friday evening for the Rush Hour from 5PM to 6PM, where DJ Emskee plays the best in raw, underground/independant Hip-Hop. 






The Wicked Takeover Ep#010 - April.23.2021

 


10th episode of The Wicked Takeover aired on April 23, 2021 hosted by DJ Wicked on WRAPfm.

"The Wicked Takeover brings you deep into the Vinyl crates of Wicked. Expect to hear everything from album cuts to b-sides, remixes, white labels, bootlegs, etc. You'll also hear Hip-Hop from the Golden Era of 1988 to the Mid-90's all the way to current times. A large focus will be on 2k Hip-Hop, especially 2010 to current. Fridays 9pm EST | 6pm PST www.wrap.fm





DJ Philly & 210Presents - Trackside Burners Radio Show #385


 


Here is the latest episode of the Trackside Burners Radio Show (Episode #385) hosted by DJ Philly & 210Presents and aired on the London-based radio ITCH FM




More info on TracksideBurners.com



JAY EF - Believe It or Not - 2021




Here is the NYC Turntablist Jay-Ef 's latest EP featuring Masta Ace, Torae, Planet Asia, Wordsworth, Rob Swift and Total Eclipse of the X-ecutioners... "Believe it or Not"... one of the best project released digitally this week. 




Pete Twist x M.A.V. x Jay Royale - Multiply The Wealth - 2021

 



VA-based producer Pete Twist is back with a new joint entitled "Multiply The Wealth" featuring MAV from Rochester, NY and the Baltimore-based emcee Jay Royale. 



Radio Show : NO TV RAPS - CANADA SPECIAL - April 16th 2021

 


Here is the latest episode (Canada Special) of No TV Raps Radio Show aired on April 16th 2021 on Radio FSK, Hamburg (Germany), mixed by Rugged Mind & Samplemind. 




Video : Da Steez Brothaz - 1400Kms feat Dusty Husky - 2021

 


Video of the single "1400kms" off the "Ghetto Spread" EP dropped this year by Da Steez Brothaz on the excellent UK-based label Chopped Herring Records (Los Herrings Records). The joint is produced by JAZZQUARTERZ (cuts by ECKSMDC) and features DUSTY HUSKY from Japan. 



Evidence - Unlearning Vol. 1 - 2021


 
2xLP - 2021 - Rhymesayers 

A1 - Better You
A2 - Start The Day With A Beat
A3 - Sharks Smell Blood
A4 - Pardon Me
B1 - All Of That Said (feat. Boldy James)
B2 - Won't Give Up The Danger (feat. Murkage Dave)
B3 - Moving On Up (feat. Conway the Machine)
B4  - Talking To The Audience
C1 - All Money 1983
C2 - Pray With An A (feat. Navy Blue)
C3 - Lost In Time (Park Jams)
D1 - Delay The Issue (feat. Fly Anakin)
D2 - Taylor Made Suit
D3 - Where We Going From Here...