Tribalife ‎- Destination: UNKNOWN - 2000

EP - 2000 - Illogic Records  

"Destination: UNKNOWN" is a very good EP which was released in 2000 by Tribalife, a duo comprised of Geenuistick and Asiatik a.k.a AL duMaurier from the Bay Area. The wax came out on Illogic Records and it contains 5 tracks titled "Zero visibility" featuring Planet Asia and Rikochet, "Damistageenuistick!", "Destination : UNKNOWN?", "Cali Rain" and "Polar Ices". Most of the tracks were recorded at Walter Taylor's studios better known under the name of Eclipse 427, and the productions were managed by Phlipside and Rikochet a.k.a Rka Sha.

- How did the connection first happen between both of you ?

Tribalife : " We were both in breakdance crews from rival schools and we actually met in a battle against one another. Those two crews would eventually merged and would later evolve to become Tribalife. "

- Where did you come from exactly ?

Tribalife : " Though we’re from different parts of the world and reside in different places now, Tribalife was birth in Fresno, CA. "

- How did everything start for the group ?

Tribalife : " We started out as b-boys. The rapping didn’t come about until later. We were both writing raps separately and then we both hopped on the mic at a house party and we’ve been rocking together since. We called into the local radio station’s “Battle of the Rappers” and won week after week before retiring from the contest. We were eventually invited into the station to come and freestyle and we returned regularly on the hip hop show which played from 12am - 2am on a Saturday. We would hone our skills freestyling in the radio station and hitting local rap cyphers whenever possible. We finally got serious about putting something together and recorded our first single “Level 19” in 1998 at Fast traxx studios. Produced by Rka Sha. "

- Who did manage Illogic Records ? 

Tribalife : " Illogic Records was managed by Eric Smith a.k.a Phlipside. "

- Could you tell us how the connection happened between you and 427 & Planet Asia ?

Tribalife : " We recorded our first EP at Eclipse 427’s Darcman studios in Oakland, CA. Thru Rka Sha we linked up with Planet Asia on a track, but we already knew Asia from the local hip-hop freestyle cyphers we all would frequent. "

- Could you give us more info about the producers Rikochet and Phlipside ? 

Tribalife : " Thru local networking we met with Rka Sha who produced and Phlipside who also produced and Dj’ed back in the day. They were also affiliated thru music before we met them. Both based out of Fresno, CA. " 

- Why is there no more release after Destination: UNKNOWN in 2000 ? What happened with the album ?

Ironically, a full joint Tribalife project never came to fruition until 2024. “Soundtrack to Life” was supposed to be the next Tribalife album but Geenuistick moved to from Fresno to San Diego and began to focus his creative energies on his budding career as a graphic designer while Al duMaurier (formerly known as Asiatik) got into the production side of things and continued to make music independently. He would release a number of projects starting in 2003, many with guest features from Geenuistick as well as a number of other underground MCs. 

- Al duMaurier “Soundtrack to Life” (2003)

- Al duMaurier “Wreckonception”  (2006)

- Al duMaurier & Ensilence “Between The Lines”(2008)

- Al duMaurier “Bamboo Shack LP”  (2014)

- Al dumaurier “Bamboo Shack Beats Vol.1” (2020)

Geenuistick would finally release a solo project in 2022 but it was more of a collection of collabs and unreleased tracks throughout the years. In 2024, he released a four song EP which had guest feature from Al duMaurier.

- Geenuistick “Somewhere Between Art & Science” (2022)

- Geenuistick “Tides” (2024)

As mentioned before, Al duMaurier and Geenuistick finally released the EP “Old Heads” in 2024. It was their first group effort since their 1999 debut. Al duMaurier and Geenuistick remain close to this day.

Mad props to Al duMaurier and Geenuistick. Thanks for your time !

StillCatchinWreck - Ground Zero - 2000

 

12" - 2000 - Hoztyl Records / Fourelementfundamentalist Recordings  

Here is another dope 12" for your records collection ! It was released in 2000 by the group StillCatchinWreck, a duo comprised of MCs / Producers Kove One & EGOed from Colorado Springs, CO. The A-side of the wax contains the tracks "Ground Zero", "Testimony" and Stillcatchinwreck", with all the instrumentals versions on the B-side. 

Kove One : "Everything first started for me and Ego back in TX. We started making music together around 95-96. We were both from the same town in Texas and we used to skateboard with the same friends. We both kind of found out each other was into Hip Hop. Ego was into everything at one point, Djing, rhyming, making beats and at the time I was just into rhyming so we would connect and freestyle and just listen to music a lot. Then at one point we were like "man we should make a group and try to do this!" Lol, we were so hyped to start creating songs and come up with ideas. It was a fun experience to say the least.

I'm not sure but we both moved to Colorado in September of 1996 and quickly got to work making connections with other MC's, DJ's, Graff writers, I mean basically anybody that was into Hip Hop lol.

What were your hip-hop influences at that time as producers and emcees ? 

Kove One : "So many to name honestly but off the top of my head I would have to say The Beatminers, People Under The Stairs and Godfather Don. I loved his production and delivery. His lyrics were so sharp as well. I just pictured him as like the whole package. I can't remember at the moment what Ego's specific influences were but I can tell you he sure loved him some Hieroglyphics lol..."

Could you tell me who managed Hoztyl Records and FourElementFundamentalist Recordings ?

Kove One : " This guy named Y.D. did Hoztyle Records. Me & Ego managed F.E.F. "

4 years between the first 12" and the release of the debut album in 2004. What happened to the group during this period ?

Kove One : " Ego took a bit of a sabbatical around that time period so I took it upon myself to record and release my first album. I also did a mixtape with other artists in the area and just collabed on songs as well. Dj Cenik & I were doing shows whenever and however we could around that time too. Once Ego was cool to jump back in we started working on The Greatest That  Never Made It. "

The album came out on CD format only and is the last official record dropped by the group. About the 12" Ground Zero, I highly recommend you to buy it if you can, it's a must have !

Primeridian in Trasher Magazine - August 2000

 

From Trasher Magazine - August 2000

Ill Mentals - Ill Mentals EP - 2000

EP - 2000 - Not On Label 

Here is something I dug at Marché Dauphine, Saint Ouen Flea Market in Paris last weekend. This is a compilation EP entitled "Ill Mentals" coming straight from Montreal, Québec, Canada. It was released on wax and CD in 2000.

Scans courtesy of PQuest PQ 

The wax consists of 8 tracks : 4 tracks on the A-side entitled "Ronin" produced by DJ Choice featuring Chilán a.k.a Noman, Chance One and Unknown (of Agent Orange), "Ghetto Youth" produced by Dave One featuring Mr. Len Sosa and Manchilde (of The Butta Babees), "365" produced by DJ Choice (of Dubmatique) featuring Chilán and the female emcee Dee (of Atach Tatuq) who spits in French, and "Raise The Stakes" produced by Hadji & LMO featuring DJ Storm (of Shades Of Culture) and DJ Devious on the Scratches/Cuts. The B-side contains the instrumental versions and one accapella.

For the info, all those artists were originally from Montreal, Canada except LMO who was originally from Maryland (USA) and was part of a crew named Third Eye Movement which was comprised of MCs, Producers and Musicians. LMO moved to Canada, met Hadji and formed the duo Hadji & LMO. Hadji was murdered in a Montreal night club in the early/mid 2000s and LMO passed away a few years ago... Rest in Peace. DJ Storm and DJ Choice are still in the music industry, but I don't know about the others.

CM Famalam Radio Show - Demos

Here is a batch of Demos, rare tracks or promo tracks played by Bobbito and Lord Sear on the CM Famalam Radio show on WKCR between 1998 and 2000. Enjoy !

Gang Starr in Trasher Magazine - 2000

 

From Trasher Magazine - March 2000

Discreet Merchants - Mouth Of Madness - 2000

12" - 2000 - 8th & Dawson Records 

Let's talk about this 12" released by Producing crew named Discreet Merchants from Long Beach,Ca, a group consisting of Ptah (Herb), Deviant and Xsite.

"Mouth Madness" came out in 2000 on 8th & Dawson Records. The song features Moziz, an emcee originally from Long Beach, Ca who is now living in Phoenix, Arizona. It also features Field Marshall from Long Beach on the cuts. This is the only track available on the record, Radio version on the A-side and instrumental version on the flip side. 

Moziz - Photo courtesy of Moziz Mcdonald

About the connection between all the group members, you need to know that Ptah and Deviant are apart of a diggin crew named Drum Majors, along with Aaron and Einstein from Ugly Ducklings. And Xsite and Pthat were from a dance group in the late 80's/early 90's called Prime Time. They were back up dancers...

Prime Time - Photo courtesy of Ptah

They came up with the producing group name in 1998. Discreet meaning underground, Merchants meaning working...They work and dwell in the Underground. 

They didn’t put out any other projects as producers after the 12", but they did put out projects from their label 8th & Dawson Records. Ptah, Deviant & Xsite owned the label, then they added Swiss Precise (Halfway House Mcees) & Dizzy Dustin (from Ugly Ducklings) a few years later. The label isn't still active nowadays unfortunately but Discreet Merchants is thinking about release a bunch of content from the late 90's and 2000's. 

Mad Props to Ptah 

The Grand Extravagant Funkghost

12" - 2000 - Slopfunkdust 

This 12" was dropped by the MC/ Producer Funkghost a.k.a the grand extravagant Funkghost from Tampa, Florida. The wax was released in 2000 on Slopfunkdust. The A-side consists of the tracks "Instructions" featuring Phobi One a.k.a Phobia, "Tampa International" featuring Phobi One and I-Man and "Tampa International Remix" featuring Phobi One, I-Man and Celph Titled who also produced the track. The other tracks are produced by Funkghost and the B-side consists of all the instrumental versions.

This 12" single saw the light of day after the release on CD of the album "Ultra-Boogie Highlife" on Grand Extravagant Entertainment in 1999, and recently reissued for the first time on vinyl by my man Michel Mees via Hip-Hop Enterprise.

For the story, the grand extravagant Funkghost is well-known for being one of the forefathers of the local hip-hop scene. In the early 90's he formed the group Black Saturday, with his partners Tap a.k.a Spinal Tap and Phobia. The group was also known as Tap, Ghost & Phobia. 

Tap, Ghost & Phobia dropped a first project in 1992 titled "Black Saturday" and a second project around 1993 called "Rugged Aspects In The Diary Of Funk" which is a 5-Track EP released on tape only (same tracks on both side of the tape). They also have a lost album that was recorded in 1997 called "The Kaaba" which means "Building in Mecca".

"Rugged Aspects In The Diary Of Funk" Promo Sheet - Photo courtesy of DJ Sandman

Funkghost is also a member of Crazy Bayshore Stylin' (C.B.S). This crew consists of Idris Muhammad who is consider as the founder member of the group, Funkghost, Superstarr O, Phobi 1, Tap, Keshem Sadiq and DJ Sandman. 

Funkghost : " Idris Muhammad started Crazy Bayshore Stylin around 1989-1990. I was in a group called Black Saturday also known as Tap, Ghost & Phobia. Idris Muhammad was a big fan of ours and started performing with us as a hype man slash manager of sorts.

Superstarr O, was close with Idris and we all knew DJ Sandman who at the time was a college radio DJ for the university of South Florida in Tampa FL. Keshem Sadiq is a long time friend of mine since high school, we always made beats and chased some of the same girls. 

Tap, Ghost & Phobia and the Hip Hop Dickheads was me, Phobi 1, Tap, Idris Muhammad & Superstarr O... just another moniker we also go by "The Bayshore Heights Brothers."

Bayshore Heights Bros. circa 1998-1999 - photo courtesy of Funkghost

Funkghost : "The name for our production unit is Slopfunkdust productions or SFDP. That name was given by Tap to describe the type of beats I made. As a producer my music influences were Q-tip, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, Marley Marl, Hank Shocklee, Teddy Riley... but Edwin Birdsong who played with Roy Ayers mentored me in the studio during my early 20s... he was a major influence." 

In 1995, Crazy Bayshore Stylin' dropped the excellent 12" entitled "The Hip Hop Dickheads" produced by Funkghost and Keshem Sadiq. It came out on Bayshore Heights Brothers Music, a record label managed by Idris Muhammad and Omar Heshimur Holmes a.k.a Superstarr O. This wax is definitely hard to find so keep your eyes open !

12" - 1995 - Bayshore Heights Brothers Music 

Mad Props to Funkghost and DJ Sandman, thanks for your time. 

CM Famalam Show - 09-21-2000 (w/Guru & Mendoza) - WKCR

DJ Nes is back with a new episode of the CM Famalam Show hosted by Bobbito and DJ Lord Sear. He chopped up portions of the show from his tape which was aired on September 21st 2000. It includes a freestyle session with Guru (RIP), Enjoy !

 

Single Review - Elemental Magazine #24

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #24 - Scan courtesy of Tim Burton 

Rasco in Elemental Magazine

From Elemental Magzine - Issue #22 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

Highruallahz PCP ALLSTARS - Go Figure EP - 2000

EP - 2000 - Hedrub Records 

Highruallahz / PCP Massive a.k.a The PCP All stars (Please Call Police) from Chicago, IL consist of Race Bannon, Original Super Legend, Big Malcolm Little, Swams, C Jillz & Crown Jewelz. 

If you're looking for their  "Go Figure" EP  initially released on Hedrub Records in 2000, you need to know that some original 12" are available for sale via Supa Sounds. 

"This was the second release from the PCP Allstars, also known as Highruallahz / PCP Massive. It contains five songs and an instrumental. Songs produced by C Jillz, Race Bannon, and Crown Jewelz. There was a limited edition vinyl run, and some of those promo editions have been uncovered. After we listened to this at Supa Sounds, we instantly knew this music has continued relevance and we wanted to share some of these vinyl copies with you!" - Supa Sounds 

Order  

Down To Erf feat Dub Ill ‎– Weapons 7" - 2019

7" - 2019 - Tree House  

Nick Holder and his Tree House Record label are back with a new Down to Erf 7". On the A-side, you can listen to the track "Weapons" featuring Mathematik and Dub Ill (Sic Sense) which was originally released in 2000 on the comp titled "Drop The Beat". The B-side features the track "Diligence's Beat". Everything is produced by the Twins aka Erf Productions. 

100 copies only and the copies are sold on Discogs gradually ... stay tuned !

Orders