Gang Starr in The Desert Sun - 2001

 

From The Desert Sun - Apr 27, 2001 

Madlib in Mass Appeal - 2001

From Mass Appeal Magazine - Scans courtesy of Babylon Falling

Divine Mind - Front Page / Centerstage - 2001

12" - 2001 - Rent Money Recordings 

Divine Mind was an ATL-based production crew formed by Merlin, Resol and Mr Rictor who can be considered as the core member of the group. This 12" is the third and final Divine Mind's release. It came out in 2001 on Rent Money Recordings. The wax is composed of the track "Front Page" on the A-side produced by Chris Craft a.k.a Mr Rictor featuring Rubix, Scienz Of Life & Mikchek, and the track "Centerstage" produced by Resol featuring MF Doom (RIP), Supremacy and Felix on the B-side.

Swift Wizdom - Straight From NJ... The EP (CD) - 2022

 

CD - 2022 - HHE 

If you want more info about this Swift Wizdom's EP, you can check something I've blogged in 2020 about the vinyl HERE . 

150 copies only ...

Order  

Yeshua, HeadBop & Wee Bee Foolish So What ?

 

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #32 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

ED O.G Still Gotta Have It

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #28 - 2001 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

Hieroglyphics - Hiero Oldies Volume 1 (LP) - 2020

 

LP - 2020 - Hieroglyphics Imperium

 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  

Swift Wizdom - Straight From NJ​.​.​. The EP - 2001

EP - 2015 - Central Wax 

Let's talk about this "Straight From NJ​.​.​."EP originally released in 2001 by the New Jersey-based MC Swift Wizdom and produced by Keith Dittmar a.k.a Keith Science and Dj Uncut Raw. 

The original 7-track EP was produced in 2000 and was released on CDr in 2001, followed by a reissue on vinyl (7 tracks + 1 bonus track) in 2015 on Central Wax Records, an independent label managed by Keith Science and his brother DJ Uncut Raw. Keith has been producing since 1993 and his first official release was Manchild 12" which came out in 1997.

Swift Wizdom is not alone on this EP, a few other emcees from New Jersey like L.Fleks, Afterbirth & Troop are also featuring on it. I 've recently talked with Keith and he gave me more info about all of them...

Keith Science :"Swift Wizdom was from Dover, New Jersey. His first appearance on a record was on the B-Side of Manchild’s "Got Away With Some Bullshit" vinyl single from 1997.

Swift and I met through a mutual friend who recognized both of our musical talents and was determined to get us together.  As soon as we met each other it was like magic. We had great musical chemistry right from the beginning and started recording right away.  Although our first official record didn’t come out until 1997, we had been recording together since we met in 1993."

Swift Wizdom - Photo courtesy of Keith Science

Keith Science : "L. Fleks was also from Dover, New Jersey... He was Swift Wizdom’s best friend and right hand man. They both started rhyming together when they were little kids in the 80’s."

Afterbirth was from Budd Lake, New Jersey... About halfway through the making of this EP, production had stalled for a number of reasons and it wasn’t clear if we would be finishing the project.  During this time, Afterbirth recorded his verse for "Call Me Evil" with DJ Uncut Raw.  Once Swift Wizdom and L. Fleks heard Afterbirth’s verse, they were inspired and had renewed interest in finishing the project.

Troop was from Dover, New Jersey.  Unfortunately I don’t have much information on him because he was only into music for a brief time and ultimately pursued other interests.

All scratches of the EP are by DJ Uncut Raw. DJ Uncut Raw is my youngest brother.  I got him into hip-hop at a young age and we both got into DJing together.  He was a much better DJ than me so I decided to just focus on production.  But he produces as well, and he produced "Call Me Evil" which in my opinion is the best track on the EP."

100 copies are still available in Keith Science's vault, so if you're still looking for a physical copy of this excellent EP, you can grab it via his Bandcamp. 

Dynasty

I didn't like what hip-hop in general became in the late 90s/early 2000s, and it is mainly the reason why I stopped buying records at that time. Fortunately, there were a few groups from NYC who were there to raise the level like the duo named Dynasty.

If you don't know this group , you need to know that it consisted of 2 dope emcees named Ness a.k.a Finesse (a.k.a Rapper Ness, a.k.a Classy Freddie Blassie, a.k.a Ness Boogie, a.k.a Dj Freddy Blassie...) and Sun Magnetic a.k.a Sun Magnetic Allah who was also known under the name of Zigg Zagg in the early 90s (yes...the same Zigg Zagg who released his material on Chopped Herring Records in 2013).

To clearly understand how this duo started you need to read this interesting write-up written by Dj Eclipse a long time ago :

Courtesy of Eric Eclipse Winn 

I don't own Dynasty's full discography but the two 12-inches, "Wildcat / Poisonous Youth" released in 1998 and "Bonafide / Lovely Day" released in 2001, which are in my collection are their best releases to me. Both 12" were produced by DJ Armstead and were released on Dj Eclipse's  Record label (Eclipse Records).

12" - 1998 - Eclipse Records  

12" - 2001 - Eclipse Records  

Interview : Ghostface Killah in Pound Magazine

From Pound Magazine - December 2001 / January 2002 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton

Kardinal Offishall in Pound Magazine

From Pound Magazine - June 2001 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

Documentary : Raisin' Kane - A Rapumentary

A documentary about the rise of independent / underground Juno-nominated rap group Citizen Kane from the Scarborough projects as they try to release their first feature length album and take the crown of best hip hop group in the Canadian music industry. Awarded HBO Award for Best Documentary at Urbanworld Film Festival 2001, Best Canadian Documentary at Reelworld Film Festival 2001.

Mixtape : DJ Koco A.k.a. Shimokita ‎- Independent Vol. 1 - 2001

Mixtape - 2001 - No Label  

A1 - Odin Another Day 

A2 - Othorized F.A.M. We Othorized 

A3 - Ill Mentality Lovin' U 4 Dayz 

A4 - Pen Pals Madness 

A5 - Naughty Ax Congo Madness 

A6 - Infared Feat. N.E.U.K. Wartime 

A7 - Brain Dead A Soldiers Story (Instrumental) 

A8 - Dysfunkshunal Familee Easy Come Easy Go 

A9 - Problem Solver Drug Dealz 

A10 - ChillTown Cartel Malt Liquor (Remix) 

B1 - Nightbreed Long Time Coming 

B2 - DNA Bronx Criminal County 

B3 - Pauly Paps War Scarz 

B4 - Darkside Mob Darkside For Life 

B5 - Three Hundred Sixty Degrees 360° 

B6 - DJ Joint & T-Flawless (The Lyrical Attorney) Feat. Wenona Wyche Latoya '98 

B7 - Trife God World And Beyond 

B8 - Cipha Rock Rock On 

B9 - Power Hittin Artist Chasin' Clouds 
B10 - Global Platoon Keep Your Day Job

Props to DJ MP45

Abstract Mindstate - Equiponderance - 2001

12" - 2001 - 4 The Soul 

Album Review : Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - Reflection Eternal - 2000

From The Source - December 2000

From Billboard - September 30, 2000

From Vibe - January 2001

Concrete Mob ‎- Concrete Mob Promo EP - 2001

CD - 2001 - Concrete Mob Enterprises 

01 - Intro

02 - Thug Shit (Main Mix)

03 - Poo Butt (Main Mix)

04 - Couldn't See (Main Mix)

05 - Friend Or Foe (Main Mix)
06 - Boiling Point (Bonus Track)

Courtesy of the Artists , guys from Dust & Dope Recordings have in their possession Concrete Mob Promo cd's. These were manufactured in 2001 to promote the self titled cd release, and these remaining copies have been stored away ever since. Like most promo cd's, the artwork was never included, so they have included a 3"x3" vinyl sticker of the album cover with every order.

Order your copy now .. don't sleep !

Cannibal Ox in Mass Appeal - 2001

 

From Mass Appeal Magazine - 2001 - Scans by Babylon Falling 

Diggin' Session : The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra VS Pete Rock

"Tensity" from The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra - 1970 - Capitol Records  

"A Little Soul" from PeteStrumentals - 2001 - BBE  

Square One

"English rappin' German Hip Hop band. Ali Rakhshandeh and Iman Shahidi met in the early 90's in Munich and started with a pre-production studio which wasn't too successful - and Ali left for an US residence. After his return to Germany one year later the duo started a new try. Soon a big party in Ali's Club in Munich took place, where Ali invited all famous German Hip Hop DJs, and they earned success. Hamburg based label "Showdown" signed Square One and DJ Edward Sizzerhand and MC Gianni joined the group. The first 12" "Mind, Body And Soul" was released in 1999. Rasul did a famous solo track - branded as Square One - on DJ Thomilla's "Genuine Draft" album. Next 12" "State Of The Art" finally brought the breakthrough and was followed by 2001 "Walk of Life", together with Munich rappers "Providence" and "Yinka" and Reggae bard "Patrice"."

12" - 1999 - Showdown 

A1 - Mind. Body. Soul. (Vocal) 

A2 - Mind. Body. Soul. (Instrumental)

A3 - Mind. Body. Soul. (A Cappella)

B1 - My Own World (Vocal)

B2 - My Own World (Instrumental)

B3 - My Own World (A Cappella)

12" - 2000 - Showdown 

A1 - State Of The Art (Part One) 

A2 - Until Then...  

A3 - State Of The Art (Part Two)

B1 - State Of The Art (Part One) (Instrumental)

B2 - Until Then... (Instrumental)

B3 - State Of The Art (Part Two) (Instrumental)

12" - 2001 - Showdown  

A1 - Applause (Vocal) 

A2 - Applause (Instrumental)

A3 - Applause (Acapella)

B1 - Hundred Percent (Vocal) 

B2 - Hundred Percent (Instrumental)

B3 - Hundred Percent (Acapella)