Likwid Pleasure, Likwid Pain

From The Source - September 1997 

VA - The Daisy Age 2xLP - 2019

2xLP - 2019 - ACE Records 

"It wasn’t really a movement, barely even a moment, but the Daisy Age was an ethos that briefly permeated pop, R&B and hip hop. The name was coined by Long Island trio De La Soul; they claimed D.A.I.S.Y. stood for “da inner sound, y’all”, but then De La Soul said a lot of things. Playfulness and good humour were central to their 1989 debut album, which cast a long, multi-coloured shadow. The 90s, it promised, would be a lot easier going than the 80s.

In Britain, the timing for De La Soul’s “3 Feet High And Rising” couldn’t have been better. The acid house explosion of 1988 would lead to a radical breaking down of musical barriers in 1989. Just 18 months earlier, snobbery had been so rife that Bomb The Bass’ ‘Beat Dis’ was faked as a US import (pressed in the States, then imported back) to get club play; by the summer of ’89, however, something as previously unhip as Chris Rea’s ‘Josephine’ could become a dancefloor hit and indie veterans Primal Scream would be reborn as space-seeking Sun Ra initiates and still taken seriously. Ecstasy was largely responsible, of course, and its associated look – loose clothing, dayglo colours, smiley faces – chimed with the positivity of rising New York rap acts the Jungle Brothers and De La Soul, both at the heart of a growing collective called Native Tongues.

What was so new about De La Soul’s sound? Previously, sample material for hip hop had been almost exclusively taken from 60s and 70s soul and funk, especially from James Brown and his extended family – Bobby Byrd, Maceo Parker, Lyn Collins, the stuff of purists. The freewheeling collage of “3 Feet High And Rising” gleefully raided the non-U catalogues of Billy Joel and Hall & Oates; soul heroes Wilson Pickett and the Mad Lads were now abutting such unlikely material as the Turtles’ ‘You Showed Me’ and French Linguaphone lessons. The Invitations’ sweet, Drifters-like ‘Written On The Wall’ provided the hook for De La Soul’s first single ‘Plug Tunin’’ which, along with follow-up ‘Potholes In My Lawn’, referenced “the daisy age”. With the album including a cover of Bob Dorough’s ‘Three Is The Magic Number’ from Schoolhouse Rock – a song every American kid knew from Sunday morning TV – the essence of Sesame Street was everywhere.

By 1989 hip hop had made major inroads in Britain with rock fans (via Run DMC) and pubescent teens (the Beastie Boys), while NME writers had voted Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back” the best album of 1988. Still, it had an air of exclusivity, with Tim Westwood its mirthless UK gatekeeper. De La Soul were also fans of Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Run DMC; they were fans in general, and threw their love of music into the blender, giving more time to melodies and mind-expanding samples while most contemporary rap records still revolved around the biggest sounding beats.

Above all, De La Soul were welcoming. They had grown up with their parents’ eclectic musical taste, a TV culture grab bag, and black radio stations that played Hall & Oates and Steely Dan alongside the Spinners and Brass Construction. They had also attended the same high school as producer and Stetsasonic member Prince Paul who, intimidatingly, was two years above them. He knew their faces but it wasn’t until he heard a demo of ‘Plug Tunin’’ that he realised they were all on the same wavelength; working with their rough sketch, Paul added a sample from Billy Joel’s ‘Stiletto’ into the mix.

In 1990, the third Native Tongues act to release an album was A Tribe Called Quest, and “People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm” was heavily indebted to “3 Feet High”’s airy nature. The Native Tongues’ charismatic aura spread west to the Bay Area’s similarly minded Hieroglyphics crew (Del Tha Funkeé Homosapien, Souls Of Mischief); Canada’s Dream Warriors used the “3 Feet High” colour palette and, borrowing Count Basie and Quincy Jones riffs, scored a brace of major UK hits; Naughty By Nature were mentored by Native Tongues heroine Queen Latifah, while Londoner Monie Love was also adopted by the collective, resulting in her Grammy-nominated ‘It’s A Shame (My Sister)’.

A Tribe Called Quest’s second album, “The Low End Theory”, would pick up the baton, giving a platform for and inspiration to Leaders Of The New School (who included future superstar Busta Rhymes) and the abstract technique of Brand Nubian. Meanwhile, the Jungle Brothers’ second album, “Done By The Forces Of Nature”, was in essence a concept album about Africa, fusing hip hop with jazz, doo wop, soul, Harlem – a new direction for the Native Tongues, away from ‘Multiplication Rock’, bubble writing and the gently psychedelic.

As hip hop rapidly became a bigger commercial concern, rights owners smelt money and – for the rest of the 90s – made sample clearance unfeasibly expensive. Robbed of their pick-and-mix approach, some Daisy Age-era acts moved towards consciousness and a jazz-leaning live feel, which down the line would lead to the rise of Arrested Development, and beyond them the Fugees and the Roots; meanwhile, on the West Coast, the gut-churning violence and misogyny of Dr Dre’s “The Chronic” took rap to a whole new commercial level. Neither direction, sadly, would involve much use of Sesame Street, Turtles samples, or magic numbers." - BOB STANLEY

 Vinyl (Gatefold) & CD format are available for Pre-order.

Release Date : End of August 

Amerigo Gazaway Presents The Notorious J​.​B​.​'s: The B​.​I​.​G. Payback

The Notorious B.I.G. and the Godfather of Soul James Brown join forces on Amerigo's latest Soul Mates collaboration, "The Notorious J.B.'s: The B.I.G. Payback".

01. Intro 

02. B.I.G. Poppa's Got A Brand New Bag

03. Sex Machine Gun Funk 

04. Ten Crack Commandments feat. Fela Kuti 

05. Don't Do Drugs PSA (Interlude) 

06. The B.I.G. Payback

07. Kick In The Door

08. Say It Loud (I'm Black & Proud) 

09. Everyday Struggle

10. Stay In School PSA (Outro)

11. Think B.I.G. (Bonus Track) 

More info on Amerigo's Bandcamp 

Showbiz & A.G. - LIVE TV Interview SF, CA. - 1992

Here is an old interview of Showbiz & A.G. from New World Music Videos TV show (San Francisco, CA) which was aired in 1992 and hosted by Gary Baca aka "G-Spot" & Barry Dow. Very rare video footage here ... Big thanks to Gary Baca !!

Video : The I.M.F. x Lmt.Break - Reign Supreme feat. DJ Quest - 2019

Here is the video of the first single titled "Reign Supreme", off The I.M.F.'s upcoming EP which will be released soon on The Get Down Records, a record label based in Bristol, UK. It 's produced by Lmt.Break along with turntablistic maneuvers provided by Dj Quest. 
Coming soon... Stay tuned !!! 

Pecue - ’96 Native - 2019

Unsigned Hype : Steve

From The Source - September 1997 

Rashid Hadee - The Dreamer EP / Sunday Breakfast - 2019

The Chicago-based producer Rashid Hadee is back this summer with a few interesting projects. The first one is the "The Dreamer" EP which was dropped in June and is available in Digital format only. This previously unofficial EP is mostly composed of tracks released in 2011.

 The Second one is the "Sunday Breakfast" album fully produced by Rashid Hadee and featuring WateRR from Chicago. The album is available on CD (40 copies) and on Cassette (30 copies). The next one titled "Aural Sex" will be released in August. 

DJ Invasion Presents A Guilty Soul (Guilty Simpson x Pete Rock) - 2019

"DJ Invasion is back. This time mixing the Detroit Emcee known as Guilty Simpson, with the beats of New York's Soul Brother, Pete Rock. A Guilty Soul features Guilty Simpson rocking with special guests, M.E.D., Cormega, Meyhem Lauren, Sean Price, Black Milk, Kokane, Rozewood, Planet Asia, SmooVth, Skillz, Cadillac Dale, DJ Grazzhoppa, & Ty Farris. DJ Invasion has seamlessly woven Guilty Simpson onto Pete Rock's classic production that spans over multiple decades." - Bandcamp

6th Floor - Project Logic - 1995

12" - 1995 - Kick Live Records  

An other good indie wax released in 1995 on Kick Live Records and released by 6th Floor, a duo consisted of Shaun B and Stan hailing from Peyton Place, Red Hook Projects, BK. 

Both tracks of the records "Project Logic / Louder" are produced by Supreme aka Su-Preme who was also known for his productions at that time for Speedknotz, Da Last Future or Shabazz the Disciple. To make it quick, Shaun B and Stan lived in the same building and grow up together. Supreme lived in a different building on the same block. They all lived on the 6th floor... thats where the name comes from !  

Kick Live Records label was managed by D. Payton and R. Blemin aka Eniqueity who released a few 12-inches in the late 80s. Both were also from Peyton Place.

That's their only 12" officially released in 1995. The 6th Floor EP will come out in 2015 on a Roots Forward cassette project which contains 2 previously unreleased tracks "Simple Simon" and "Now Ya Know Me".

Mad Props to Preme Wilder.

Vinyl rip courtesy of 90's Hip-Hop Blog 

Album Review : Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard - Give 'Em The Finger - 1993

LP - 1993 - Giant Records

From The Source - September 1993 - Scan courtesy of Frederic Thecle 

Grown Man Rap Show - Episode 223 - Birthday Tribute to Kool G Rap

Hosted by veteran DJ Toast and broadcast live every Sunday night 10pm-12 midnight (ET) from 91.5 WRPI (Troy/Albany NY), Toast brings you 2 hours of the best in vintage & contemporary true school Hip Hop.  

This is Episode 223 - Birthday tribute to Kool G Rap - DJ Toast - originally aired on July 21, 2019

Kool G Rap f. MF Grimm & B-1 “Take ‘Em to War” (1995)
Kool G Rap “It’s a Shame” (1995)
Kool G Rap f. Black Child, Cadillac Tah, Ma Barker & Jnx “Spill Blood” (2002)
38 Spesh & Kool G Rap “Upstate 2 Queens” (2018)
Kool G Rap f. Biz Markie & Big Daddy Kane “Erase Racism” (1990)
Kool G Rap “4, 5, 6” (1995)
Ghostface Killah f. Kool G Rap & AZ “The Battlefield” (2014)
Kool G Rap “I’m Fly (original 12” version)” (1986)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Ill Street Blues” (1992)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Fuck U Man” (1992)
Bumpy Knuckles f. Kool G Rap & Lil Fame “Head Count” (2018)
The Fatback Band “Got to Learn How to Dance” (1975)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Streets of New York” (1990)
Fat Joe f. Apache & Kool G Rap “You Must Be Out of Your Fucking Mind” (1993)
Kool G Rap “The Streets” (2001)
M.O.P. f. Kool G Rap “Stick to Ya Gunz” (1996)
Kool G Rap “First Nigga” (2001)
Kool G Rap “First Nigga (Remix)” (2001)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Rikers Island” (1987)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Check the Bitch” (1995)
Kool G Rap f. Nas “Fast Life (Norfside Mix)” (1996)
B-1 f. Kool G Rap & B.O.M.B. “Cardinal Sins” (1998)
Marley Marl f. Masta Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane “The Symphony” (1988)
UGK f. Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap “Next Up” (2007)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Crime Pays” (1992)
Kool G Rap “Foul Cats” (1998)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Butcher Shop” (1988)
The X-Ecutioners f. Kool G Rap & Big Pun “Dramacyde” (2002)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Road to the Riches” (1989)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “It’s a Demo” (1986)
Kool G Rap f. RZA “Cakes” (2000)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Operation CB” (1992)
Heavy D. f. Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane, Q-Tip & Pete Rock “Don’t Curse” (1991)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Poison” (1988)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Bad to the Bone (Remix)” (1990)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Talk Like Sex” (1990)
Syl Johnson “Sexy Wayz” (1967)

Grown Man Rap Show  

Supastition - Sacrifice EP - 2019

I've been following Supastition since the beginning of his career. 

His last project deeply means something to me because I went through the same situation this year...

"In March 2019, Supastition’s wife was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer. All proceeds from this release will help to cover the medical costs and other expenses accrued during the surgeries and hospital stay. If there's ever been a Supastition music release that needs your support then this would be the one. Your support would greatly be appreciated.

After taking a long hiatus after the release of Gold Standard and a strenuous 60+ city U.S. tour, Supastition returns with the self-produced Sacrifice EP. The project features guest appearances from Blueprint and Yamin Semali as well as scratches from DMC Germany champion DJ Robert Smith. The project speaks on everything from learning to sacrifice your own dreams for the betterment of your family to the negative effects of attention and social media. Of course, there's some bars on here too! All songs were written, arranged, recorded, and produced by Supastition. Graphic design is handled by the artist himself. " 

Maximum shares and full support !

Video : Daniel Son x Futurewave - Waffle Brunch - 2019

Video of the single "Waffle Brunch", taken from the last Daniel Son x Futurewave's album titled "Yenaldooshi".

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Microphone Check : Gravediggaz - Can You Dig It ?

From The Source - September 1997 

Click-Clack X OTESLA - Sequence EP - 2019

I'm just coming back from Denmark so it's the good time to blog that "Sequence"EP recently produced by the Copenhagen-based beatmaker OTESLA and featuring Click -Clack from Austin, Texas. 

Rising Son - Dj Krush

From Hip-Hop Connection - October 1997

Album Review : Yo Yo - You Better Ask Somebody - 1993

LP - 1993 - EastWest Records America 

From The Source - July 1993 - Scan Courtesy of Frederic Thecle

Imperial & K.I.N.E.T.I.K.- Those Were The Days - 2019

The UK-based artists Imperial and K.I.N.E.T.I.K are back with a new single titled "Those Were The Days" featuring BREIS, which is now available digitally on illect recordings.

Screem! - Hot Peas 'N' Butter / Ill Tippy Toe - 1994

12" - 1994 - Homegrown Records

Screem! was a rap trio consisted of Badger, Chizzle and Demon hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn. They released in 1994 their first and only one single "Hot Peas 'N' Butter" on the Brooklyn-based record label named Homegrown Records which was founded by the members of the group named Full Force. Screem! was their first signing group. 

The wax is composed of 2 songs titled "Hot Peas 'N' Butter" and "Ill Tippy Toe". "Hot Peas 'N' Butter" is the lead single of the record and is available in 5 versions (Album, Mystic Mix, Cook 'n' Curry Mix, Radio and Basement Dweller Mix) produced by K Swift, J Blood and Hidden Agenda. "Ill Tippy Toe" is the last track of the B-Side and is produced by Basement Dwellers and Hidden Agenda. 

  That's all I know about this group... I've tried to ask a few questions to some of the Full Force Members... but no answers until now, so I don't know what happened to the forthcoming "Screem For Ya Life" album... Sorry Matt ;)

Video : Che Noir feat 38 Spesh - Dying Breed - 2019

The Buffalo-based female emcee Che Noir is back with a new video of her single "Dying Breed", from her last project titled "The Thrill Of The Hunt 2" fully produced by 38 Spesh. 
Cop the CD asap !

DJ C.S.P. - Still A Fan - 2019

LP - 2019 - Butchah Beatz

Here is an instrumental project recently released by the German beatmaker DJ C.S.P from Hamburg. 

DJ C.S.P : "During the last 20 years a lot of unused productions have been captured on my hard drives waiting to be released. It was my lovely wifes wish, that I put some of the songs together for an instrumental vinyl.  And so we’ve put all our love in making „STILLaFAN“. The 10 soulful boom bap beats and scratches have been produced between 2000 and 2003 and on March 23, we have released the record over our small label BUTCHAH BEATZ.  The hand numbered gatefold vinyl is limited to 500 copies with 6 different color effects and includes a voucher with digital download code." 

Orders  

Calm Before The Storm

From Hip-Hop Connection - December 1997 

Grown Man Rap Show - Episode 222 - Spotlight on Sleeping Bag/Fresh Records

Hosted by veteran DJ Toast and broadcast live every Sunday night 10pm-12 midnight (ET) from 91.5 WRPI (Troy/Albany NY), Toast brings you 2 hours of the best in vintage & contemporary true school Hip Hop.  
This is Episode 222 - Spotlight on Sleeping Bag/Fresh Records - DJ Toast - originally aired on July 14, 2019

EPMD “Please Listen to My Demo” (1989)

Mikey D & The LA Posse “Comin’ in the House” (1988)
Just-Ice “Going Way Back” (1987)
T La Rock “Lyrical King (From the Boogie Down Bronx)” (1987)
MC EZ & Troup “Get Retarded” (1988)
EPMD “Let the Funk Flow” (1988)

Cash Money & Marvelous “Play It Kool” (1988)

EPMD “You’re a Customer” (1987)

2 Smooth MC’s “The Inventor” (1990)

Stezo “To the Max” (1989)

Cash Money & Marvelous “A Real Mutha For Ya” (1988)

EPMD “Strictly Business” (1988)

Tricky Tee “I’ve Got It Good” (1986)

Mikey D & The LA Posse “Out of Control” (1988)

Stezo “Getting Paid” (1989)

Cash Money & Marvelous “Ugly People Be Quiet” (1988)

Mantronix “Fresh is the Word” (1985)

Nice & Smooth “More & More Hits” (1989)

Nice & Smooth “No Delayin’” (1989)

Mantronix “Who Is It?” (1986)

Tricky Tee “Leave It to the Drums (Here Come the Drums)” (1986)

EPMD “You Gots to Chill” (1988)

Nice & Smooth “Funky for You” (1989)

12:41 “Success is the Word” (1985)

Stezo “Bring the Horns” (1989)

Nice & Smooth “Early to Rise” (1989)

T La Rock “Breaking Bells” (1986)

EPMD “It’s My Thing” (1987)

Cash Money & Marvelous “Where’s the Party At?” (1988)

EPMD “So Wat Cha Sayin’” (1989)

Mantronix “Ladies” (1985)

EPMD “The Big Payback” (1989)

Stezo “It’s My Turn” (1989)

T La Rock “It’s Time to Chill” (1987)

Cash Money & Marvelous “New Sheriff in Town” (1989)

EPMD “I’m Housin’” (1988)

Stezo “Going for Mine” (1989)

Just-Ice “Back to the Old School” (1986)

Stezo “Freak the Funk” (1989)

EPMD “Get Off the Bandwagon” (1988)

Just-Ice “Gangster of Hip Hop” (1986)

EPMD “The Steve Martin” (1988)

Grown Man Rap Show  

New Batch of LPs !!!!

Here is a new batch of vinyl reissues available for pre-order on the Netherlands-based label De Rap Winkel Records. The official release date is September 6th 2019 for all the LPs. 

LP - 2019 - de Rap Winkel Records  

Available in Black vinyl (150 copies), Ultra Clear Splatter (50 copies) & Ultra Clear Splatter OBI (50 Copies)

Pre-Order 

2xLP - 2019 - de Rap Winkel Records 

Available in Black vinyl (200 copies), Trans Purple vinyl (100 copies) & Trans Purple OBI (50 Copies)

Pre-Order  

LP - 2019 - de Rap Winkel Records

Available in Black vinyl (100 copies) & Black OBI (50 Copies)

Pre-Order 

LP - 2019 - de Rap Winkel Records 

Available in Black vinyl (150 copies), Ultra Clear Splatter (50 copies) & Ultra Clear Splatter OBI (50 Copies)

Pre-Order