New Joint : Scienz Of Life - Warrior Awakening - 2022

 

The group Scienz Of Life is back with a brand new joint entitled "Warrior Awakening". 

"It's the Brothers you may have heard Kicking 9 Ether through ya speakers with Bobbito Garcia in the mid 90's era or maybe you've heard them spitting outside the lounge with Talib Kweli, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and others. At the very least you should have witnessed their high-level lyricism alongside the Super Villain DOOM on Yikes, Sorcerers, New Music, and featured on King Geedorah's Next Level tune. Sci (J.R.) and Invizible Handz aka The Robinson Brothers are still cooking up their signature thought-provoking offerings a quarter century later and counting. Warrior Awakening is their latest release and they are letting the world know that the Warriors around the Globe both male and female, young and old are awakening more than ever to the truth about all things around us. The Warriors can't stay ASLEEP FOREVER YALL!" 

Organized Konfusion in Bomb Hip-Hop Magazine -1994

From Bomb Hip-Hop Magazine - Photos courtesy of Hakan Dougpark

Lastrawze - Instrawmental Limited Special Edition Box Set - 2022

My man PQuest teams up with SIM-E Auto a.k.a Mr Vibe to drop this very limited Lastrawze - Instrawmental "Special Edition Box Set" which contains a Limited Special Edition CD, Sticker and a mini press photo of the Lastrawze crew. 

The Special Edition comes with an alternate album cover art of the OG version from 1995. It also includes some rare/unreleased freestyles of the Strawze & crew on the infamous Miami Underground Hip Hop Radio Show, "The Saturday Night Funk Box“, an unreleased bonus track by Lastrawze & the legendary DJ CRAZE, two Instrumentals, and an 8 page booklet of a rare 1995 interview with the Lastrawze & Miami New Times Newspaper.

 Order : Special Edition Boxset (10 numbered boxes only) / Limited Special Edition CD  

The Wicked Takeover Ep #38 - Debonair P Mid-Late 90's Special

 

Here is the latest episode of the The Wicked Takeover aired on October 21st 2022. 

"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"

Video : High John X Ill Conscious - Amir Divine - 2022

Hamburg-based beatmaker High John and Baltimore-based emcee Ill Conscious deliver the first single "Amir Divine", taken from High John's project "High Jazz Reworks" which will be available soon on vinyl.

Professor Griff in HHC - May 1990

 

From HHC - May 1990 - Scans courtesy of Repo136 (Ageing B-Boys Unite)

Munk Wit Da Funk - Holly Hoodz Anthology, Vol. 3 LP - 2022

 

LP - 2022 - HHE  

HHE is back with the final part of their 3 volume collaboration with Munk Wit Da Funk, Illadelph Records and The Militant Mind State. This volume includes demos, unreleased tracks, original remixes, freestyles and rarities recorded between 1994 and 2000.

Money (Debonair P Remix) - 2011

Basically Real - 1995

Munk Wit Da Funk & Jay Rock On The Beat Box - 1995

DJ Ran Power 99 Thunder Storm Intro - 1995

Golden Boy Radio Intro - 1998

Cool DJ Frank Mixtape Freestyle - 1997

Wild Shorty (Ruff Live Studio Take 4 Track Cut) - 1995

Money (DJ RAN Remix) Feat. Dina Pullen - 1998

Been Round Feat. The Militant Mind - 1997

Down For Mine (Demo) - 1994

Cosmic Kev Free Style Mixtape Cut Feat. Cosmic Kev - 1996

True Gunslinger (Ruff 4 Track Cut) - 1996

Full Steppin Freestyle Feat. Knowmad – 1995

Life of Luxury (Original Take a.k.a. Clark Park Remix) - 1995

Exersize (Cannon Remix) - 1995

I Been Here I'm Stayin (Vocal Remix) - 1995

 

300 copies only available in 3 versions : 100 copies on Grey Opaque w/ Black Marbled Vinyl, 100 copies on Lila Opaque w/ Black Marbled Vinyl (HHV Exclusive), 100 copies on Traditional Black Vinyl. 

Pre-Order  

Pretty Bulli - Duffel Bag Bulli - 2022

 

Here is an interesting 6-track EP originally released this summer by the female emcee Kins Franklin a.k.a Pretty Bulli from Buffalo, NY. 

"Born and raised in Buffalo New York Ms. Franklin is the youngest of six children. Her love for music began at a very young age. Fueled by freestyle battles with the neighborhood boys, her passion for music was undeniable by the age of 13. By sharing her life lessons and experiences, listeners are able to both connect and relate to Pretty Bulli "

"Duffel Bag Bulli" is fully produced by Castle Money Beats from San Diego, Ca except the bonus track produced by Kidd Called Quest. The project features emcees such like Ruste Juxx, Alma Ave Writtens, L-Biz, and Illa Ghee. 

Check the full EP Here !

Method Man in Rap Sheet - 1995

 

From Rap Sheet Magazine - Scans courtesy of Babylon Falling 

New Joint : Homage & Josh Alias - No Regrets - 2022

New joint entitled "No Regrets" dropped by Josh Alias from Elmont ,NY and the Palm Springs-based beatmaker Homage. 

The Nemesis Two - Live / 1, 2 Checka - 2022

12" - 2005 - Nemtwo Ent.  

Scarborough, Ontario is definitely the place in Toronto which has developed one of the best indie hip-hop scene in Canada. Artists from this neighborhood have delivered a lot of good indie hip-hop projects through the years, and the first 12" released by The Nemesis Two is one of them. 

The Nemesis Two are a boom bap duo consisting of IQ & Oddball. "Live/ 1, 2 Checka" is their debut 12" released independently on their own label Nemtwo Entertainment in 2005. If you don't know this 12", it's a good surprise because it sounds like something released during the mid/late 90s. 

I had the pleasure to talk with IQ, he gave me more info about their story :

  

DJ IQ : " When I met oddball, we were in highschool and had both already been dj'ing for some time. My DJ name back then was Gremlin. I was hanging out at a local Scarborough emcee's house named Tha Mad Maska (Navro, the unofficial 3rd member of The Nemtwo) and Oddball was also there among others. Navro and I had previously discussed joining a big rap group which he was a part of. Navro would remain with us all through the years occasionally helping us out in what could be described as a manager's role. This rap group he was in was like 10 emcees deep (like wu-tang clan) and they already had a dj/producer in the group named Dj Biz-R (Oddball). I was joining the group as another DJ /producer.  I don't remember our first conversation but we must have bonded over our mutual love for DJ'ing and producing after meeting a few times at studio sessions etc. We both handled the Djing and the beats for the group for a good while. A lot of our sessions as a group in the beginning were done at "II crazy mental studios", run by engineer/artist Knia Singh who went on to become Toronto Mayoral Candidate. Oddball and I soon found ourselves practicing djing together, trading tips/techniques and advising each other on music gear. We would argue on which dj/producer was better, my favourite Pete Rock or his favourite Dj premier.  We would trade records, do record diggin together, participate in dj battles, travel to find music gear, do shows and dj gigs and even go to music school together. I also remember us DJ'ing for local artist Theology 3 who's name was Relevance at the time. All this was happening over the years, while at the same time, the larger group of emcees we were working with slowly dissipated and fell off. At one point we formed a DJ crew with another local DJ named DJ Junior Flow, who I met at a DJ battle, he became the DJ for Keys N Krates. We all practiced together and competed in Dj battles together. We battled in competitions against DJ's Son of Soul, Grouch, Lil Jazz, Subliminal, D Scratch etc. The friendship between the two of us gradually evolved into a music partnership. We ended up establishing our own label, Nemtwo Entertainment as co-owners and pursued even more endeavours. After the disappointment of losing all our emcees and having no success trying to work with new ones, we finally decided we would put out music on our own and do the raps ourselves since we had always been flowing and rapping in the background anyway. This led to us creating our own group, The Nemesis Two. The Two is for the two members, and Nemesis means one that inflicts vengeance or retribution, a formidable opponent etc.. Our experience as Hip Hop artists in Toronto was difficult and we felt at odds with the scene a lot of the time. In general we seemed to have the support of the people on the street but no support from the key players and Gatekeepers in Toronto. I can still remember some of the odd things that some of these so called "Hip Hop heads" had said to us..... "nobody wants to hear scratching", " why would you use records? ", "our music isn't hype", " we sound too old school" etc.  A lot of our time was spent just trying to navigate around the different obstacles that were in our way causing us to progress even slower. We felt slighted by the Toronto HipHop scene, and felt that as accomplished Dj's, we weren't given the respect that we deserved. We wanted our revenge, hence the name Nemesis. We wanted to make a DJ driven music ,where we were able to showcase our talents as Dj/Producers and make the element of Djing relevant again. We put out our first single "Live/1,2 Checka" as The Nemesis Two independently in 2005 and put out more projects which gained a lot more traction in the US and overseas where we focused our promotion. We decided to bypass Toronto for the time being. We've always had to do things independently, without assistance from any of the older artists or older people in the industry. Because of this we've managed to become very resilient and self-sufficient. With Oddball's recent absence, I've learned to do everything myself, from the first drum sound to the artwork. On our latest project "Plant'n Seeds", I handled almost all the production and a big chunk of the scratches myself. Oddball was able to appear on a few tracks providing vocals and scratches. I did all the mixing and Mastering and organized the project as well. There were also a lot of features on the album. Most artists are from Scarborough and a few from The Bay Area in the U.S. Oddball and I's music influences are very similar. As record collectors we mix almost all genres of music in our music. Our music is a fusion of Funk, Soul, Reggae, Dub, Jazz, rock, and more, all in a Hip Hop format. Our Hip Hop influences are a combination of pretty much all Hip Hop before the mid to late 1990's with the exception of a few new artists after that. "

Mad Props to IQ , thanks for your time.

New Joint : Benny Slumz & Tone Spliff - From The Slumz

 

New York-based emcee Benny Slumz teams up with Los Angeles based producer/DJ Tone Spliff to drop "From The Slumz", off the self-titled 6-Track EP which will be released on October 28th. CD available to pre-order here... 50 copies only. 

Video : ILL BILL - Root For The Villain ft. Kool G Rap & Vinnie Paz - 2022

 

Visuals for "Root For The Villain" featuring Kool G Rap & Vinnie Paz, produced by DJ Muggs, off Ill Bill's forthcoming album "BILLY®".

Burnt Batch - The Produce Aisle - 2022

 

2xLP - 2022 - 90s Tapes / HHV

" "The Produce Aisle" marked the full-length debut of Burnt Batch in 1999 and is one of those nuggets from the flourishing Westcoast underground scene around that time. The trio from Stockton, CA, was formed by Rukus, Pause and Pismo who mostly handled the production as well as the writing & raps. 15 tracks with that special blend of laid-back rhymes and Jazz-infected beats." - courtesy of 90s Tapes

Available on black vinyl 2LP (500 copies) CD (Digipak & Jewel Case, 150 copies each) and cassette (100 copies). 

Order : Vinyl / CD Digipak / CD Jewel Case / K7 

Boogie & The Barber w/ Stretch & Bobbito - September 15th 1996 - WQHT

Here is an episode of Boogie & The Barber show aired on September 15th 1996 on Hot97-WQHT. The guests that night were EDO.G and Prince Powerule. 

Ike Dirty - ?

Mista Meaner - It’s Been A Long Time (Real Rap Song)

Trigga Da Gambler feat DV Alias Khrist - Hitman For Hire 

Cru - Nuthin’ But

PMD feat Das EFX - Rugged-N-Raw

Heltah skeltah - Soldiers Gone Psyco

Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah

Gauge The Mental Murderah - Cranium

J-Live - Braggin Writes instrumental

Talk Break

EDO.G Interview & Freestyle

Talk Break with EDO.G

EDO.G - Acting

Erick Sermon / Heltah Skeltah / O.G.C. & Trigger Da Gambler - If You Don't Know

KRS ONE - The MC

? - Boogie & The Barber Promo

Mobb Deep - Drop The Game On ‘Em

Mic Geronimo - Unstoppable

Jigmastas - Beyond Real Remix

Raekwon feat Ghostface Killah - Rainy Dayz Remix

Talk Break with Prince Powerule

Prince Powerule Freestyle

Talk Break

Hillfiguz - Up On Prospect

Royal Flush - Worldwide

Jeru The Damaja - One Day

Adagio! - Ass & Benefits

Big Noyd - Usual Suspect (Stretch Armstrong Remix)

The Roots - Concerto of The Desperado

Al Tariq feat The Beatnuts - Peace Akki

Talk Break

Check the Stretch&Bobbito Archives for more shows !

Those Damn Horns! - Rap Sheet 1993

From Rap Sheet - 1993 - Scan by Babylon Falling

M.O.P. - To The Death 2xLP -2022

2xLP - 2022 - Get On Down / Tuff Kong Records 

"The legendary Brownsville duo of Lil Fame and Billy Danze followed up their first group single "How About Some Hardcore" with their first full-length studio album, To The Death, in the Spring of 1994, and they haven’t let up the pressure since.  While some solo offerings came earlier - most notably Fame’s appearance on The Hill That’s Real compilation- the classic aggressive energy the two emcees exhibit while trading rhymes back and forth is what street-rap fans have come to know and love from the group.  If you are not into the that smash-ya-face-in style, then simply put, the Mash Out Posse is not for you. 

The album was produced entirely by DR Period, except for track "Guns N' Roses" (produced by Silver D), and it solidified what has become a successful 30 year career for M.O.P.  Fame and Danze haven’t waivered from their grimy, crimey, high-energy boom bap style to this day, and the songs on this album established that fact early on.  Tracks like "Rugged Neva Smoove", “Blue Steel”, “Guns N’ Roses”, and the robbery-story driven "Heistmasters" are early indicators of the ruckus they would later bring on anthems like “Stick To Ya Gunz” and “Ante Up”." - courtesy Of Get On Down

 

A1. Crimetime 1-718 

A2. Rugged Neva Smoove

A3. Ring Ding 

A4. Heistmasters

B1. Blue Steel 

B2. Who Is M.O.P.?

B3. To The Death 

B4. Big Mal

C1. Top Of The Line

C2. This Is Your Brain 

C3. Drama Lord

D1. F.A.G. (Fake Ass Gangsta) 

D2. How About Some Hardcore 

D3. Positive Influences 

D4. Guns N' Roses

Available on Opaque Orange wax via Get On Down, and also available in Europe on Turquoise wax via Tuff Kong Records... 300 copies each. 

The Lyrical Underworld - Bring It On / We Like It Smooth - 1992

12" - 1992 - Phatt Wreckords Inc. 

 

Here is the debut 12" released in 1992 on Phatt Wreckords Inc. by the philly-based trio The Lyrical Underworld. The members of the group were Da Terminologist, Squeak Geez (RIP) and DJ Mello-Cee (RIP).

The 12" contains 2 tracks entitled "Bring It On" and "We Like It Smooth" produced by Genuine and co-produced by Maestro. Both tracks are available in their original and instrumental versions.

Squeak & Da Terminologist - Photo courtesy of C. Rowland

I was lucky to ask a few questions to C. Rowland a.k.a Da Terminologist. He gave me more info about how everything started for the group and more info about the producers Maestro & Genuine.   

Da Terminologist : "I moved to Philly from Bronx, NY in 1991 not knowing anyone except my kids’ mother and her family. I happened to meet Mello-Cee one day in the neighborhood hustlin’. I used to walk the hood with a notebook and pen because I was writing raps all the time. He saw me and asked where I was from cause I dressed differently from everyone, then he asked me if I rapped. When he was finished hustling, we went to his crib to what was famously called “The WreckShop” which was really the basement. Mello-Cee had turntables, mixer, records galore and we sat and drank some 40oz of beer and smoked some weed then he put on some beats and said “Lemme hear something” in a basement full of his homies. I rapped my heart out and from there I was his emcee from there on. I met Squeak at one of Mello’s house parties. He put me on the mic and Squeak got on after. We went back and forth. Squeak was a freestyle king. I was the only one that could come close to a run. From there we became writing partners.

The producers we did our singles with were from Long Island, NY if I remember. They were artist as well as in house producers for an independent label based in Philly. They heard the chemistry with me and Squeak and immediately started working with us. It was always a good working experience and bug out session when we were all together. Those guys would vibe off of what me and Squeak wrote and put a feel to the song and vice versa. They were the first to start the recording career. Maestro was the unorthodox producer. He had the real boom bap street sound that we liked. Genuine was the sample digger and soulful melodic producer that could give us radio play. "

A full album entitled "Da Land Down Under" was supposed to come out after the release of their second 12" (Flatline / It's On, It's On) in 1993, but unfortunately it never saw the light of day. 

"Bring It On / We Like It Smooth" is definitely their best 12"... you should try to grab this wax if you 're looking for a little piece of Philly hip-hop history.  

The Wicked Takeover Ep#37 - Diamond D 90s Production Tribute

 

Here is the latest episode of the The Wicked Takeover aired on October 7th 2022 and dedicated to Diamond D 90s Production. 

"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"

01. Class A Felony (feat. Diamond D & Lakim Shabazz) – I Can’t Take No More

02. Big Red – Created A Monster

03. Intro with Wicked

04. Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics – A Day In The Life (Instrumental)

05. Mos Def – Hip Hop

06. Ras Kass – Soul On Ice Remix

07. Xzibit (feat. Tash & J-Ro of Tha Alkaholiks) – Birds Eye View

08. Diamond D – Gather Round

09. Broadway – Enjoy Yourself

10. Big C – Look Alive

11. Scientifik (feat. Diamond D & DJ Nestle Quick) – I Got Planz

12. Diamond D (feat. Sadat X & Grand Puba of Brand Nubian) – I Flip Styles

13. Fat Joe – I’m Tryin’ To Tell ‘Em

14. Illegal (feat. Diamond D) – CrumbSnatcher

15. Leaders Of The New School – Classic Material (Remix

16. House Of Pain (feat. Diamond D) – Word Is Bond (Remix)

17. Tha Alkaholiks – Let It Out

18. Diamond D (feat. Phife Dawg & Pete Rock) – Painz & Strife

19. Diamond D (feat. Busta Rhymes) – This One

20. D.I.T.C. (Diamond D, Big L, A.G., Lord Finesse, O.C.) – Day One

21. Organized Konfusion – Questions

22. The Pharcyde – Groupie Therapy

23. Showbiz & A.G. (feat. Diamond D) – Hard To Kill

24. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth – Funky Technician

25. Ultimate Force – One Of The All Time Greats

26. Fat Joe Da Gangsta (feat. Grand Puba & Diamond D) – Watch The Sound

27. Justice System – Dedication To Bambaataa (Diamond D Reminisce Mix)

28. Brand Nubian (feat. Diamond D) – Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix)

29. Raazda Rukkuz – Da Chronic Asthmatics

30. Sadat X (feat. Shawn Black) – Petty People

31. A.D.O.R. – The Kid Is Crazy

32. Apache (feat. Nikki D) – Who Freaked Who

33. Shadz Of Lingo – Ill & Get Clowned

34. Ed O.G & Da Bulldogs – Streets Of The Ghetto

35. Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics – What You Seek

36. Ultimate Force (feat. Fat Joe) – C’mon

37. Fu-Schnickens – Sneakin’ Up On Ya

38. Urban Thermo Dynamics – Manifest Destiny

39. Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics (feat. Showbiz) – Feel The Vibe

40. Showbiz & A.G. – I’m Convinced

Kastaway & Cam The Downrocka - The Art Of Tradition - 2022

LP - 2022 - Counterweight Records 

"Two continents collide when Chicago rapper Kastaway and Swedish producer Cam The Downrocka join forces on this Boom Bap masterpiece.

"The Art of Tradition" is out now via Counterweight Records on gorgeous, orange 12" vinyl, aswell as on all digital platforms.

Hip Hop has always had that special ability unite people. And this LP encapsulates that very essence. Kastaway´s powerful delivery and personal, yet, braggadocio, rhymes are in perfect symbiosis with Cam´s sample based, hard hitting, jazzy rhythm compositions.

The Art of Tradition is a celebration of Hip Hop in its prime; the golden age era when simply dope beats & rhymes were the criteria of a good album. It follows the classic "He´s the DJ, I´m the rapper" formula, walking in the footprints of legendary acts such as Showbiz & A.G., Gang Starr, Eric B & Rakim, Pete Rock & CL Smooth.

Kastaway & Cam The Downrocka - The Art of Tradition will take you on a ride, possibly a bumpy one, considering your head will be nodding up and down throughout. Winter is coming... so we figured we´d bring you some heat to keep you and your speakers warm. In the words of J Dilla: Turn it up!" - courtesy of Counterweight Records

 

Order  

El Jazzy Chavo - S950 Funk - 2022

 

Here is a 5-Track instrumental project dropped by El Jazzy Chavo for Golden Era lovers. "This album is inspired by the retro sampler Akai S950 from the late 80’s, bringing skillfully together classic Hip-Hop, funk & jazz elements and improving it with selected vocal samples and scratches." 

Mix : DJ Skeli - Slow Indie Rap Jamz - 2022

 

DJ Skeli is back with a brand new selection of rare indie hip-hop joints with slow bpm (around 84/85 bpm). Here is a quick Tracklist from what I know or remember... feel free to fill the missing tracks in the comment section !

Blend : Revolutionary Suicide - Rotation Acapella / Trem - Amateurs RMX Instrumental

Revolutionary Suicide - Rotation

Da Shaüp Productions - Catastraphe

Rick Da Bro - Sins

Kamp Knomad - Knine Six

Wise Eyez - The Saga

Mafioso Chapter - Money Ambitions

Infa Red - East Side (Mix 2)

Homicide - Homicide Is On My Mind

Puerto Rock - Game Mobbers

North Carolina All Stars - Carolina

Shane Hunter - Scale 69

42:35 - ? 

Black Rein - Dope Hitz 

Merdagram - Da Craziest Instrumental

O Da Don - Twist Of Lime

Krown Rulers - Project Rain

Chain Gang - Door Die Instrumental

Unit-e - Planet Of The Apes

NFL - Times Are Trife

Enemy Lines - Ancient Wars

Underground Flava - Bonified Funk

MR. Bugz - One-N-Pass

DJ Markk - Fruitz From Da Treez

1:38:27 - ? 

Presha - Slydaz

1:34:45 ? Instrumental

Bloodshot - Blind Six