"Cerberus" is the latest joint released on Receptor Records by the North London duo Combined Mentalz featuring Kakarot. The production is handled by King Kashmere with cuts from Jazz T.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Video : Amadeus360 ft. Craig G & Masta Ace - Why Not - 2024
Amadeus360 The Beat King drops the visuals for "Why Not" featuring legends Craig G & Masta Ace, taken from the album "THE MPC JEDI" which was released last year.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Various - 1994 Sunbelt Records Sampler
If you're a fan of North Carolina hip-hop, you should try to find this various artist compilation album released in 1993 on CD format only. It features NC artists of all kinds who were signed by Sunbelt Records in the early 90s. Sunbelt Records was a record label originally owned and managed by D.S. Davis from Charlotte, NC. , and later managed by Vincent Black.
To be honest 75% of the material in this comp isn't really my cup of tea (Singers, R&B...), but it contains 3 dope hip-hop tracks recorded by the group Lower Level, Double Threat, and Rashi & Ali, all of them produced by Lower Level's members KHB & Will Nice.
I think that I don't need to introduce this group but if you don't know Lower Level yet, you need to know that it was a crew from Charlotte, NC comprised of Jay Flav, Money Milt, and the brothers Will Nice and KHB. Sadly, KHB passed away this year... Rest In Peace.
Lower Level crew at Reflections Studio - 1993 - Photo courtesy of Joseph Caldwell
Lower Level dropped their debut 12" (Top Notch / Flavorable Fluids) in 1995 on Queen City Production Records. This ultra rare wax is a must have !!! One of their joints features on the excellent Kakalaka Raw compilation album released by Mark Sparks in 1996, and some of their unreleased joints were also dropped in 2016 by Chopped Herring Records.
About Double Threat, he was a Charlotte,NC-based emcee. I had the pleasure to talk to him and he gave me more details about his story and about the record label.
Double Threat : " Well, originally, Sun Belt Records got started because of me. The Owner D.S. Davis was a semi-close friend who was a hustler / dope man, and I used to always tell him he should put some of that money behind me. He'd always say ok but I figured we were just kidding until one day he reached out to a mutual friend and told him he wanted me to go in the studio, I pulled up at the friend's house as he proceeded to tell me D.S. wants to put me in the studio, he pulled up in his car, proceeded to tell me he wanted to put me in the studio, so I told him ok and to call me later to let me know when he laughed and said NOW!!!! My reply was now meaning next week, and he said no now, and I already have you beats to choose from. Needless to say, I went in and freestyled 5 songs in 3 hours, then he sent one of them to Jack the Rapper 3 weeks past the deadline, and they accepted it (unsigned hype).
Double Threat : " The plan was to get me a record deal but after that music conference, D.S. went to visit Devante Swing of Jodeci for advice, and Devante told him to start his own label, and I was his first artist, then the next to sign was A-Plus.
I recorded multiple songs from '93-'95 up until around 2007.
I started out with a buddy of mine in a group called POI (Point of Intrest) in Jr. High School, we rapped with classmates such as Sunshine Anderson (heard it all before) and Beverly Crowder who was signed to Babyface's wife's label, but then I went solo and Double Threat was born. Some people think Double Threat means that there's two people, but it doesn't. It means that I am a double threat because I can spit knowledge or gangster shit.
Right before we started recording the compilation album D.S. went to prison on trafficking charges, so his partner in the company took over and continued to run the company, and then he ended up getting busted on drug charges, and that shut it all down. After that, I started producing my music and started rapping with my old rap group member from POI, and we changed our names... he was no longer known as The Prince Supreme, his new name was Tragic and Double Threat became K.O. The Kotic One. We did such songs, "Madd Atonement", after we went to the Million Man March and we teamed up with a rapper by the name of Poker Face a.k.a the Glass Maker and Tomeka from the group A-Plus which later became the mother of my child. I did so many other songs with the hopes of starting my own label but I owned my company and it was growing really fast and then I started a family and I walked away from the music all together. "
About Rashi & Ali, they are also from Charlotte, NC. Rashi is from Keyway, that's Westside like West Blvd. Ali is from Beechwood like Hovis Rd, Northwest Charlotte. Ali is currently in Prison, so only Rashi gave me some info about their duo.
Rashi told me that they're both South Mecklenburg graduates. They first met in High School and the connection between both of them happened through some friends, particularly Reece Way who is Anthony Hamilton's brother. They formed the group around 1989-1990 and their name was originally "Third Degree Roshi and Ali". They were spotted in the early 90s by Sunbelt Records during Auditions at King Richard's Nightclub. More tracks were recorded at the time by Rashi & Ali but nothing came out unfortunately because of the same problem as Double Threat... the executive producer was indicted.
Mad Props to Double Threat & Rashi. Thanks for your time fellas.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Video : Chief Kamachi - 4th Lecture - 2024
After a 10 year hiatus, Philly-based MC Chief Kamachi is back with a brand new single titled "4th Lecture" featuring DJ TMB, taken from his forthcoming album "GODBODY" which will be released soon on Vinyl (100 copies only) and CD (300 copies).
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show - February 20th 1997 - WKCR
Here is the Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito show aired on February 20, 1997 on WKCR. The guests that night were Casual and the group Dutchmin. Tracklisting by yours truly !
Lord Sear - Alcohol Vibes
Masterminds - I’m Talented
Reflexions - This Could Be The Day
Sir Menelik & Kool Keith - So Intelligent Remix
Talk Break
Chakachas - Jungle Fever
Joe Sample - All my Wildest Dreams
Powerule - Bright Lights Big City
Thrust - Lights Camera Action Remix
Saukrates feat. Common - Play Dis Remix
Buckshot - Freestyle (Funkmaster Flex)
Dj Muggs feat LA The Darkman - Devil in a Blue Dress
Dutchmin - Surrounded
Dj Muggs feat Mobb Deep - It Could Happen to You
L the Headtoucha - It's your Life
The High & Mighty - Cranial Lumps
Ras Kass - Soul On Ice Remix
Shabaam Sahdeeq - Arabian Nights
Cru - Nuthin’ But
Da Naba Hood Threat - Mind Tricks
Street Smartz - Problemz
Camp Lo feat Trugoy the Dove - B-Side To Hollywood
Al Tariq - God Connection
Grav Feat. Al Tariq & Lil Ray - City to City
Street Smartz feat O.C. & Pharoahe Monch - Metal Thangz
Talk Break
Dutchmin - ’97 Stretch & Bobbito Interview & Freestyle
Black Attack - Black Attack
Rampage feat Busta Rhymes - Wild For The Night
Cru - Bubblin’
L the Headtoucha - Too Complex
Talk Break
Casual - ’97 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle
Talk Break
D.V. Alias Khrist - Building
Talk Break
Casual - Turkey & Dressin’
Talk Break
Royal Flush - Ice Down Medallions
Shabaam Sahdeeq - Side 2 Side
CNN feat Tragedy Khadafi - Stay Tuned
The Dwellas - Main Aim
Brainwash 2000 - Break It Down
Natural Resource - Bum Deal
Big Pun - You Ain’t a Killer
Redman - Iz He 4 Real
Redman - Rock Da Spot
Tha Alkaholiks feat Ol’Dirty Bastard - Hip-Hop Drunkies
Saukrates feat Masta Ace & O.C - Rollin’ Remix
Jeru The Damaja - Too Perverted
Company Flow - Collude Intrude
Artifacts - The Ultimate
Talk Break
Phone Calls
Check the Stretch&Bobbito Archives for more shows !
Monday, December 16, 2024
Mike Flips & Seize - Minds Combined - 2024
Beatmakers Mike Flips and Seize deliver a very good album entitled "Minds Combined" featuring NOEL IS, English Harry, Gee Bag, Benaddict, Lewis Parker, Ash the Author, MysDiggi, Mongo, Ramson Badbonez & Mista Spyce. Don't sleep fellas !
Available in a limited run on Black vinyl (50 copies) and on Marble vinyl (Astro Green / 50 copies)
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Nick Wiz - Cellar Selections 1 (2xLP) - 2024
2xLP - 2024 - GRR
" Nearly impossible to obtain since its original release 15 years ago, Cellar Selections 1 finally gets a much-demanded reissue. This classic compilation of Nick Wiz productions features the likes of Cella Dwellas, Shadowz in da Dark, Ran Reed, Shabaam Sahdeeq and many more, all recorded between 1994 and 1997. " - courtesy of Gentleman's Relief Records
1. Cella Dwellas - It's Time (1997)
2. LSD - Parkside Madness (1994)
3. Shadowz In Da Dark - Bright Lights (1994)
4. Pudgee feat. Hostile - Get Down (1995)
5. Shabaam Sahdeeq - Can't Be Ya Lover (1994)
6. Miilkbone feat. K-Banger - Dirty Delaney (1994)
7. Ran Reed - Black Book Interlude (1994)
8. Ran Reed feat. Cella Dwellas - The Definition (1997)
9. Nautilus - Untitled (1994)
10. Red Hot Lover Tone - 4 My Peeps (Remix) (1994)
11. Chubb Rock - Verse (1996)
12. Shadowz In Da Dark - Break Fool (1994)
13. Chubb Rock, Ran Reed & Cella Dwellas - Lyricist Lounge Freestyle (1995)
14. Nautilus - Contact (1994)
15. Shabaam Sahdeeq Feat. Black Sun - When The Shit Hits the Fan (1995)
16. Dark Mind - We In This (1996)
17. Shabaam Sahdeeq feat. Maybe - Sexy (1994)
18. Hitman - Real Niggas (1994)
Available on Black Vinyl (500 copies) & Clear Red Vinyl (200 copies)
Pre-Orders : HHV / Vinylism / Vinyl Digital
Omniscence - The Lost Tapes (2xLP) - 2024
" Following on from the success of the recent CD version, this 2LP edition compiles super rare and unreleased tracks that were scrapped from the Raw Factor as well as joints recorded before and after the Raw Factor sessions. Please note the sound quality on a couple of these demos was a bit rough, but we have restored and remastered everything as good as possible." - courtesy of Gentleman's Relief Records
1. Intro
2. The Flav's About to Drop
3. Set It Off
4. This Year (Original Version)
5. Down South
6. We Do It Like This
7. Mind Games
8. Everybody Got An Ego
9. Take Another Hit
10. Keep Giving Me Love
11. Turn The Party Out
12. Causin' Terror
13. The Glamorous Life
14. Halfway
15. Bunkbedz
16. It's A Demo
17. We Could Get Used To This
18. Tail
19. Testin' the Waters
20. Outro
400 copies only... dropping late January 2025
Pre-Orders: HHV / Vinylism / Vinyl Digital
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