Sunday, November 29, 2020

Book : ELEMENTS Magazine Book

 



If you're looking for a Christmas gift, here is something for you ... The ELEMENTS Magazine Book !!! This is a limited edition, Hardcover book (300 pages -  Size: 8.75” x 11.25”) printed by FlipNJay Records in which you can revisit the old original copies of Elements magazine printed in the 90s. 

Photo courtesy of FlipNJay Records 



Bundles are also available including Rascalz "Dreaded Fist" b/w "Soul Obligation" 7" single and the ELEMENTS cover Tee... 

Orders  

Emskee - Wall To Wall / Supernatural Force - 2020

 

12" - 2020 - AE Productions 


Emskee will be back soon with a brand new 12" produced by Mr FantasticIt will be released on Bristol's indie hip-hop label AE Productions and will include Main version, Radio Edit and Instrumental of each track "Wall To Wall" & "Supernatural Force".






Coming out January 2021 ... Stay Tuned ! 


Freddie Black x Tone Spliff - Written Dialect EP - 2020

 



Rhode Island emcee Freddie Black teams up with LA-based DJ/Producer Tone Spliff and drop the 5-Track EP "Written Dialect", featuring King Magnetic, Skanks the Rap Martyr and Bliz Balboa. 



A limited CD version (Jewel Case w/ Bonus Instrumentals) is available for order on Tone Spliff's Bandcamp, 100 copies only... 


Friday, November 27, 2020

Un-Da Dawgz - 1st Thingz 1st - 1995


12" - 1995 - Un-Da Dawgz 

Here is the wax released in 1995 by the Unda Dawgz, a rap duo consisted of Big Pook a.k.a Pookie The Punisher from New Jersey and Dash-O a.k.a Steve-O from Harlem, NY. 


Their debut 12" was self-released. It consists of the tracks "1st Thingz 1st", "Me & My Juel" and "I Roc Dis" produced by Kool DJ Law (RIP).
 





If you're looking for more info about their stories, you need to know that in the early 90s, Pookie and Dash-O were students at Hampton University. They've been ripping up the local club scenes and Radio shows, that's how they met Kool DJ Law from Norfolk,VA, one half of the legendary Boodah Brothers on WOWI (103 JAMZ,VA). Kool DJ Law and his best friend and radio partner, Christopher "Big B" Belcher, started at WOWI in 1992, with their pioneering rap program, "Ya Mamma's Rap Show". DJ Law took Pookie & Dash-O under his wings, becoming their DJ and Producer...


BOODAH BROTHERS - Kool DJ Law (RIP) & Big B

Pookie : "We were all friends at Hampton. I'm from Newark, Steve-O is from Harlem. There was also an other kid from VA who made beats, his name was john...

One Friday night after classes, me and Steve started battling in the dorm. It started off as just us and then a couple of people watching us. By the time we looked up the whole dorm was there. It was a crazy scene, but it was cool...

One day a dude that ran the student union came to us and asked if we wanted to open for Ed O.G and Da Bulldogs on a boat at homecoming... I hate boats !! but Steve-O convinced me to do it... I remember throwing up on my white Reebok Classic before we went on... lol ... I took them off and threw them shits overboard, I performed with no shoes on ... Shit was wild !! 

I remember we killed because everyone there was from Hampton, then came battle of the beats at 103 JAMZ, VA. We did a song and sent it to Big B and DJ Law. I think we won like 5 weeks in a row, that's when we actually met them, we click immediately. Law became our DJ and producer and Unda Dawgz went from there... God rest his soul... 

It all went left when we graduated college, moved back home and we signed with a clown named Kyle Peace (Peace Entertainment)..."





Mad Props to Pookie, thanks for your time. 



Thursday, November 26, 2020

The Realist - Time Killaz / Gimme Love 3xLP - 2020


3xLP - 2020 - 90's Tapes / HHV 


90's Tapes is back one again with the release of another underground gem from Grand Rapid, MI. The album "Time Killaz" and the EP "Gimme Love" originally dropped by The Realist between 1995 and 1997 on Pit Records are now available on limited 3LP vinyl (300 copies - Gatefold Colored 3xLP), CD (300 copies) and cassette (100 copies).



Orders : Vinyl / CD / Tape 


New Joint : Steez Brothaz feat Artifacts - Living Legends - 2020




The Bogota-based crew Steez Brothaz drop a mad track produced Truzkull Zerokappa (cuts by Ecks mdc) and featuring the legendary Artifacts. Enjoy !


 



MiLKCRATE - Crate Royal - 2020

 




Monday, November 23, 2020

Independents Day

 

From Hip-Hop Connection - April 1999 


90‘s Tapes Radio Show #006 - with Science Of Sound & The Realist - 2020

 



"The sixth episode features the legendary Brooklyn based crew Science Of Sound from the Tribe Called Quest-sphere. Peter Chan, Tike-O & Beetle will talk about their album production progress and cameos with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Godfather Don, Grandmaster Melle Mel and more.


Next stop on our journey is Grand Rapids, MI. We present you the indie group The Realist alias Vito, Freeze, Mean Mark, Trent & DJ Shonski and we will look back to their formation, tragedies, and self-discovery in the early 90’s.


The last 20 minutes belong to DJ Skeli. We want to feature more and more DJs from our community to show support and Skeli will start this only vinyl guest mix series! 

100 minutes of 100% powerful underground vibes! PEACE & stay healthy!" - courtesy of 90's Tapes 




Built To Last Mix : Conception Records - 2020

 







01 - Kutfather - Thoughts I Generate 

02 - Eclipse - My Position 

03 - 3rd Degree - Better Days 

04 - Sharpshooters - Massacre (Hallucinating murder remix) 

05 - Samson & Swift - Watch Your Words

06 - Jake One - No introduction feat Kutfather 

07 - Da Grassroots - Last Days feat G-Knight & Marvel

08 - Diamond Mercenaries - Diamonds are forever 

09 - Fourfifths - Earth, Wind & Fire (original)



Mad Props to Corrado & I-Joe 


Sunday, November 22, 2020

RedefineHipHop - StoriesAboutSongs EP. 6 : Rhyme "Warrior's Ink" Demo - 1995

 



The legendary Kevin Beacham is back with the 6th episode of his StoriesAboutSongs series. This episode is about the Chicago-based artist Rhyme and his "Warrior's Ink" Demo recorded in 1995.


"Up to this point, I would guess that most anyone interested in listening to this podcast has thus far been aware of all the artists I’ve covered, but Rhyme might be the first exception. For the entire of my career in the music business, from my days running a home studio (Rage Cage Studios) in the late 80s to the early 90s, to my various other adventures, I’ve always sought to be an artist advocate, especially for those who I feel are the unheard. In 1995, Rhyme, from Chicago, was one of those artists to make an instant and long lasting impression on me. This is the story of his “Warrior’s Ink” Demo, as well as how his career developed from that moment, as well as how Daddy-O, from Stetsasonic was involved." - courtesy of Kevin Beacham 

Mr Eon (The High & Mighty) - Random WKCR Promos & Freestyles (1994 -1998)

 



Here is a batch of Mr Eon's Promos & Freestyles aired in the Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show on WKCR between 1994 and 1998. 



Saturday, November 21, 2020

S.T.E.E.L - Realism - 1996


This is the kind of stuff we'd like to see coming out on physical format like the rest of S.T.E.E.L unreleased material recorded at that time. Unfortunately the excellent "Realism" is the only track available nowadays from that batch recorded by S.T.E.E.L in the mid-90s, because all the tracks and their original masters are lost... 

S.T.E.E.L a.k.a Black S.T.E.E.L is an emcee from 7th Ward, New Orleans. His track "Realism" was produced in 1996 by his friend Yuset Pozo from Kenner, New Orleans. In 2001 it was remixed by Yuset who did what he could with what they had and in 2005 the track appeared on the Goldmic Compilation titled "Insurgency" which was released on CD only.


Could you tell us how everything started for you exactly ?

S.T.E.E.L : "I was just an avid writer in elementary and high school. Kinda made the switch to actually rapping after being urged to consider it by a friend of mine, who ended up giving me the name "Black Steel", after the Public Enemy song of the same title. Got shortened to S.T.E.E.L., and it's been that ever since."


S.T.E.E.L - Photo courtesy of S.T.E.E.L


Yuset Pozo : "I didn't start as a producer... I was a rapper in a group called Nubian Tribe... then later called it 3 Flavors... got lucky to find someone to put some money behind us and went to studios by 15. From there I met a producer named DJ Edward Precise...I sat next to him while he make tracks on EPS 16 choppin shit up...I knew I wanted to mess with beats right then...I was about 16 and got a settlement check from an accident and I bought my own keyboard and went to town...I was already practicing on a ASR-10 that a friend had...I had made a few beats that I rapped on and S.T.E.E.L laid that master piece and the rest is history... "



Yuset Pozo - Photo courtesy of Yuset Pozo 



How did the connection happen between both of you ? 


S.T.E.E.L : "Oh, we've been friends since around 91, 92. Just being in the same circle of people who shared the same love for the culture. Yuset and our friend Tito are the tie that binds, honestly. The 3 of us are still very close to this day."


Yuset Pozo :"Through WTUL (Tulane University-New Orleans) was a local radio station and through that we got to know rappers from the city like Psyco Ward and his crew was called Transparent.. and we were called Scratch Pro.. we did it all from scratch...

S.T.E.E.L was also working with DJ Khaled when he was living out here and I was cool with Khaled too before he moved to Orlando."




S.T.E.E.L, were you affiliated with a crew at that time ?


S.T.E.E.L : "Not particularly. When we recorded that song, I was still just kinda doing my own thing, trying to figure out how and where I fit in on the scene. I mean, I had friends who were active, but I was always the standout, so to speak."


Yuset, what were your music influences ?


Yuset Pozo : "Pete Rock and Dr Dre.. later was DJ Premier and Tony Dofat, No I.D. from Chicago who did Common album and Tribe Called Quest productions."



Why is there nothing else recorded after that ? Why is there no 12" or album released ?


S.T.E.E.L : "Never signed a deal, lots of music lost or destroyed, etc...

Actually... I take that back, I did sign a deal, back in 99, nothing ever came of it though. We recorded some music... The company -- local startup -- refused to release it. The files for that are also long gone...Katrina wiped away a lot of what we had..."


For all the wax diggers, the track contains a sample of the song "And Here You Are" performed by the Jazz-fusion group Stuff, and released in 1977.

LP - 1977 - Jet Sunshine Records 




Mad Props to S.T.E.E.L & Yuset, thanks for the interview. 



Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Hi-Lo - Rock On! - 1995

 

12" - 1995 - Noizemaker Records 


Hi-Lo ... Rock On 12"... this wax is a little gem !!!  It was released in 1995 by this hip-hop trio from Richmond,VA. Hi-Lo consisted of the lead vocalist Brutha Funk Marqwa, P.D Funk and DJ Tiny Tim.

From Left To Right : Dj Tiny Tim / P.D Funk & Marqwa - Photo courtesy of P.D Funk 


Dj Tiny Tim : "At that time, myself and the lead rapper Marcus a.k.a Marqwa (Messenger Asiatic Resolving Questions With Answers) who is my older brother were from South Richmond. The 3rd member of the group P.D Funk was from North Richmond. The group was together for about a year or two starting around 1992 to 1994, if I remember correctly. We all worked part time at an Italian restaurant in the city's westend, that's how we met !"

The 12" is composed of the lead single "Rock On" available in its LP, Instrumental and Remix versions, and the track "Walk In The Night", all the tracks produced by Marqwa.




The wax is really dope but unfortunately it's practically impossible to find a copy for sale nowadays... around 200 vinyl and 200 tapes were pressed in '95 and there is nothing else released by the group after that 12".

Dj Tiny Tim : "We were self managed, we did a few local shows and radio interviews back then but nothing major. After that we all pursued other things in life and ended the group, but we are still good friends."

Photo courtesy of P.D Funk



The good news is that someone somewhere is cooking something for you Fellas...so stay tuned! More info coming soon ...


F.O.N. - Gotta Get Mine - 1996

 

12" - 1996 - Fun Records Inc 


This wax came out in 1996 on Fun Records, Inc, a record label from Staten Island managed by Richard Woods who is now deceased. It was released by a group named F.O.N. which stands for Forces Of Nature.

The crew originally consisted of 3 members named Rasheed Gutter a.k.a Spiff from East NY Brooklyn, Haze from Staten Island NY, God Lamont a.k.a Mr. Luz a.k.a L Luz "Da Ear" from Lower East Side Manhattan. There is also a 4th member named Stoney who came after.


From Left to Right : Stoney, Spiff & Haze 

Haze : "Stoney was a solo artist who filled in for L Luz cause he made a choice to go military. And Stoney was a friend of ours through a music connect and then we went with him on the album cover to fill Mr Luz spot but he was really solo. 
All the members of the group are family except Stoney..."

Spiff :We are cousins and connected when I moved to Staten Island with my father...

Haze : "...we all loved Hip-Hop music so we came together through G-man who is Rasheed's father, our uncle. He played music and we wrote rhymes in his house in the studio he had called Pre Production...that's how we connected as Forces Of Nature."

Their 12" is composed of two songs "Gotta Get Mine" on the A-side and "Bring Wreck" on the B-side, both songs available in their original versions produced by Howard Gutter a.k.a G-man and in their remix versions produced by Brent 'Faroh' Toussaint for who the connection was arranged by Richard Woods (RIP). If you don't remember who is Brent Toussaint, he's the guy who also produced the excellent compilation Nodyaheadtodis Vol 1 in 1996.



 



 For your information, a full album with 15 songs and skits was recorded by the group, it was called "You Never Saw Us Coming!" but unfortunately it never saw the light of day...  


Monday, November 16, 2020

Outlaw Posse - Prophecy (Remix) / Prophecy (Original) - 2020


7" - 2020 - Origu  


The single "Prophecy" has been dropped recently by the legendary Outlaw Posse (Bello.B & Kgee). The original & remix versions of the single are now available on 7" with the help of the German Label Origu. 

A - Prophecy (Remix)

B - Prophecy (Original)









300 copies only ... 

S​-​KY THE COOKINJAX feat. Dan​-​e​-​o - Hot Popsicles - 2020


 5" - 2020 - TSUCHINOKO-PRO 


A1 - S-KY THE COOKINJAX feat. Dan-e-o - Hot Popsicles 

B1 - m-al - Pillow Talk






Order  


Sunday, November 15, 2020

MADD Intalec - Flowers In The Attic (M.A.D.D. Intalec) - 1995

 



"Flowers In The Attic" is a track recorded in the early 90s by the Baltimore-based crew MADD Intalec (Microphone Assassin Doin' Damage). The group consisted of David Ross a.k.a Mr Homicide, Andre Venable (RIP) a.k.a Trigga and Eric Atwell a.k.a DJ Kool Breez. They formed the group around 1992 when they were at Chesapeake High School. It wasn't really their debut because Eric and David already formed the rap duo named Base Comittee in 1990. 

News Paper Article - 1990 - Scan courtesy of Eric Atwell 


"Flowers In The Attic" is the only official track recorded by the group at that time and released on wax, so if you want to spin this song you need to buy the "Get That Ho! " EP released on Madd Capp Records by 2 Whyte Kidz, a production team consisted of DJ Big Red & DJ Kool Breez‎. This is an instrumental project in which "Flowers In The Attic" is the only track featuring MCs.

 




Saturday, November 14, 2020

DJ Nice Presents School of Hip Hop Radio Show - Spécial WILDELUX

 



1 hour of Wildelux's tracks mixed by DJ Nice, aired on November 13rd 2020 on the Radio Campus Toulouse 94 FM, France. 




1 – Just Listen (Low Cut prod)

2 – Inflated (Dj Brans prod)

3 – Come On

4 – Still Got It

5 – The Anticipated

6 – The Gudout

7 – All Mylife

8 – Down 4,Any Test

9 – The C-Syndrome

10 – Dreamin' (Dj Brans prod)

11 – Bond (Low Cut prod)

12 – The Time is Now

13 – Real Thang

14 – Sabastian Shaw Remix

15 – How To Rock

16 – The Next Chapter

17 – High Voltage

18 – Optimal Performance



Mix : The Pharcyde - LabCabinCalifornia 25th Anniversary - 2020

 



"This mixtape is mixed by NYC’s DJ Spinna and features “Nasty Habits”, an unreleased joint from the vault that features Ralph Tresvant & Bobby Brown. Imani & Bootie Brown also asked a group of producers to remix and add their own personal spin on a few of the Labcabincalifornia songs that you all know and love.


Dj Mike Relm re-works a mash up of “Drop”, SBBX remixes “Groupie Therapy”, Moka Only drops his version of “Y” and The Pharcyde’s own Bootie Brown remixes “Runnin’.”

DJ SPINNA is a heavily touted presence in the international soulful house music scene. He is known for his vast accomplishments as a producer, is celebrated for his “Soul Slam” events and Stevie Wonder inspired WONDER-Full Dj performances and subsequent collaborations.


The Pharcyde’s sophomore album “LabcabinCalifornia” was originally released on November 14th, 1995. The group enlisted a young and then unknown James Yancey aka J DILLA to produce beats, like the cult classic “Runnin.” They also collaborated with director Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich” “Adaptation”) on the video for “Drop.” Labcabincalifornia has consistently and continues to reinforce their steadfast refusal to tread familiar artistic grounds."






Friday, November 13, 2020

Record Report - The Source September 1991

 

From The Source - September 1991 - Scans courtesy of Steph Freshnews 

Hieroglyphics - Hiero Oldies Volume 1 (LP) - 2020

 



 The Hiero Oldies Volume 1 is a collection of early works from the Oakland-based Hieroglyphics crew featuring Del The Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love and Souls of Mischief, which was originally released on CD & Tape in 2001 and is now available for the first time on wax.  



A1 - Souls of Mischief
A2 - It Gets No Better
A3 - What Do You Say?
A4 - Gotta Lotta
A5 - Every Day Of The Week
B1 - Let it Ride
B2 - Step To My Girl
B3 - Where They At?
B4 - Nowadays
B5 - Reckless/Hush




Release Date : January 29th 2021
Pre-Orders : Fatbeats / HHV  



Video : Verbz & Mr Slipz - Decline Of Self Feat. Confucius MC & Coops - 2020



Here is the video of "Decline Of Self" the latest single drop by Verbz & Mr Slipz featuring Confucius MC & Coops, off their new album "Radio Waves" available on limited edition double vinyl, CD and limited edition hand numbered tape on High Focus Records.